The Shadow

f i v e

A/N: Happy Reading!!

Mellifluous music tickled Saerah's ears.  A group of exuberant children with vibrant flowers in their braided hair were running around, laughing. It was a tradition in Trousse to braid the hair of all children with flowers. Peddlars and fortune tellers were shouting in an endeavour to attract customers.   The Rainbow Market was another thing Saerah loved about the Isahaki Carnivale. Always a day before the Lilac Revel, the market had a variety of people, in terms of both selling and visiting. It was held in The Hue Garden, as was the Lilac Revel.In a corner, members of The League had put up an archery and dagger shooting display. On another corner, young children were braiding circlets of the enchanting Ashaha flowers. These flowers were said to be magical as they never  whithered. There were said to be a symbol of the ceaseless radiance and joy of Trousse. They also happened to be the national emblem of Trousse and The Tewagi. Teenagers were dancing the traditional Tarhk dance, with sticks in their hands. There was a group of elderly people who were decorating their hands with the dark sap of the Ashaha flower, a natural ink which danced when applied. It only added to the magical and wondrous nature of the flower.

Saerah was wearing an elaborate peach gown with flowers on it and her hair was pulled into a bun and adorned with flowers. Cleisha was wearing a golden satin and gossamer gown and a Ashaha flower brooch. For once, she had left her hair open. Dane was wearing a grey tunic. Saerah had pleasant memories of visiting the Rainbow Market with her friend and classmates in the past. In fact, during a visit to the Rainbow Market three years ago was when she realised she wanted to attend The Phrontistery and be admitted to the League. She remembered having watched the League's feats with awe and admiration. Their synchronization was commendable. 

All this merymaking made her forget the previous day's events. Everyone had been muddled after that voice had said that Saerah's answer was wrong. Everyone knew there were only three Mafia lords. Weren't there? Meihn Phyllis had demanded the person who had disrupted the session to turn themselves in. Nothing of the sort had happened yet.

Cleisha nudged her. "Come one. Lets get our hands inked."

Saerah was just about to follow Dane and Cleisha when someone caught hold of her elbow. She turned to see a young child . Their hair was braided into multiple small braids and they were wearing a flower circlet. Their eyes were stark white. They were wearing a loose grey frock and their feet were bare. The attire of a seer. The child's voice was was an unification of multiple voices. Female, male, young, old. "You know nothing. What you believe is just a shadow covering the truth. The land of the ones long lost will unravel the truth for you. A memory you shall encounter. " And then the child ran away. Saerah was bewildered. What had the child meant? Land of the ones long lost? A memory she shall encounter? Saerah tried to tell herself that none of it meant anything. Just something a child babbled. A seer child, a voice whispered in her head. Saerah believed in magic, prophesies and destiny. She couldn't leave the prophecy alone. What in the world did it mean? Did it have something to do with her mother's death? The Mafia?

"Saerah!" Cleisha shook her arm and jolted Saerah out of her haze. "is everything alright?" she inquired looking at Saerah nervously.

"Yeah. Everything's all right. I just zoned out for a moment. Lets go."

After getting her arm inked, Saerah observed the League performing their feats. That was until a someone tugged at her arm. She turned to look at a beaming little girl. Her head was shaved but tendrils of ink danced on it. Her face angeled and her features chiseled. She could not have been more than twelve or thirteen. She was wearing a black dress which reached just below her knees and was adorned with turquoise flowers. 

"You are gorgeous. Will you come dance with me?" she asked softly, her soothing caramel eyes twinkling.

"Yeas, for sure," Saerah replied, stooping to reach the girl's height. "You're beautiful as well. What is your name?"

"Laeta." 

"That is a unique name. Come, lets dance," Saerah remarked.

The girl nodded, elated. They joined the dancing teenagers and were accepted into the circle. Saerah used to dance the Tarhk with her friends. That seemed such a long time ago. She wasn't even in touch with anyone of them except for Khaire, who was also at the Phrontistery. But they were not that close anymore. There were more people from her school, acquaintances. But in all the times she had visited the Market, and all the friends she had had, she had not witnessed anyone dance as alluringly as Laeta. She had an aura of elegance and agility around her. The way her body moved was almost surreal. Saerah just danced awkwardly, trying to remember the steps she had followed years ago. Laeta noticed that and guided her. After a good fifteen minutes of dancing, Saerah heard Cleisha calling her. "My friend is calling me. I must go. Perhaps I'll see you around. Enjoy," she said, a bit apologetically. She kissed Laeta's forehead who in turn smiled and whispered goodbye in that melodious voice of hers.

Cleisha smirked at Saerah when she found her and Dane. "So, that was courageous. Dancing all by yourself. It was awkward, but courageous."

Saerah chuckled. "Oh no. A sweet little girl asked me to dance with her and I obliged."

Dane raised an eyebrow. "Which girl? You seemed to be dancing alone."

"The one in the black dress with turquoise flowers. She was bald. About twelve years old."

Cleisha seemed puzzled. "What? All the girls there seemed to be above fourteen years of age. And I saw no one of that description. Especially around you."

Now Saerah was confused. "Well, if you saw me you must have seen me say bye and kiss her forehead."

Cleisha seemed baffled, as did Dane. Then Cleisha's eyes widened, as she seemed to realise something. "Searah," she started slowly. "Do you now this girls name?"

"Yeah. Laeta," Saerah replied, still puzzled. Dane and Cleisha exchanged a look, their eyes wide. "Okay seriously, are guys like pranking me or something? What is going on?"

Dane looked at Saerah. "Saerah. In the Ancient Language, 'Laeta' means 'one that does not exist'. "

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DUH DUH DUN. First twist/ cliffhanger, yay! Do vote and comment. Will update soon.

Love,

Aarna.