Deep Within Time (Supremacy Of Aequenoctium)

II | Friends with the Hunchback

Deep Within Time: Friends with the Hunchback
By: Aphrodosia Casablancas

Warning: This chapter will contain violence and strong languages. Read at your own risk!

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Still riding the not so pleasing caravan, and enduring the wheels hitting various sizes of rocks that awakens your soul like the broken bell at the old tower whenever it pounds the clapper, Mahiah found herself peeping through a crack where only a limited amount of sunlight can pass through—enough to see the views of plains and greens enticing her soul. Despite the small opening, it was never a hindrance for the princess to appreciate the billowing mixture of hornbeam, honey locust, maidenhair, and oak billowing on the roadsides. On the middle of a field was a willow tree that she could hardly make out due to the distance. Just like yesterday, it was a normal day in the beginning of summer where rays weren’t as harsh as it is during the seventh month of the year.

Ah, the back road is still the same.

It was a rather peaceful ride when blabbers and pounding of metals disrupted the peace, tall trees incredulously shrunk until none was left, the paths of rock became stable as they enter the brick bridge that connects the back road to the main town, the sound of the crickets and herons were replaced by the reed pipes of the orchestra, and the booming tuba that overflows the other instrument at every pump of the player colored the place. Mahiah was smiling as her fingers laced with the wooden wall, peaking to see a variety of colorful pennants hanging on stings connected to house of different sizes and confetti hanging on the air when a puff of smoke blew past the caravan, blocking her sight.

A few more blocks from the bridge connecting the path where they came from, the caravan stopped. Yet, Mahiah doesn’t seem to notice that the ride did stop since her eyes were busy looking at the children in ragged clothes who frolicked merrily near a fountain with a naked water bearer, spewing water with its large basin on top that cascades down to two more tiers before the base. A sorcerer nearby scooped the water with the use of hand movements instead of actually holding it and started molding few animals found in the forest.

“The world is definitely flat. If it is round, no doubt, we would have fallen to the sky. Only the Northern continent survives,” a man wearing a red handkerchief tied in his head reasoned to another.

“According to studies my friend, someone ventured the sea, set sail to the south, but landed to a neighboring land thirty-five degrees to the east,” argued a man with a thick mustache that doesn’t seem to bother him even if the hairs were long enough to enter his mouth whenever he talks.

Must be thinkers debating again, Mahiah thought, why discuss about useless topics? Surely, Sorcerers will be around town to entertain with their newly found tricks, Swordsmen will be occupying the coliseums for their battles, and Thinkers would be hanging around the bulletins to discuss the certain issues posted on the board. This is how they usually are during a feast—lively and showing off their skills.

Wondering too much, Mahiah didn’t noticed that the hunchback was already pulling the barrel that kept her in the dark. She was just woken up by a low squawking of the man. “Young Lady! Ya surprised me!”

Mahiah tried to stand up in order to apologize, but she stepped the heel of her boots in a tilted angle collapsing her balance. Mahiah’s body made a loud thud against the floor, matched with grunts that escaped from her lips. Much to her surprise, the hunchback lend his hand instead of rebuking despicable words towards her, sneaking at the back of his caravan. Mahiah was truly touched by his thoughtful actions. If that was one of the council members, they will help her, but surely, the next thing they’ll talk about was the emperor’s wealth, or some information that would benefit them as well.