The Crown Prince Thinks I'm a Guy

On the Streets of Free Malaya

It was hard to describe the flying island of Malaya. Sure, it was beautiful. But, that wasn't all.

After we had landed onto the solid pavement, it was easy to imagine that we were simply back on normal ground. The magically controlled temperatures and air movement also contributed to the feeling that we weren't floating in air.

But, really, that's when all of the normality ended.

When they said that the Isle was "free", I hadn't really expected much. So, when we had entered into the bustling island center, I was simply caught unaware.

The colors were so different that it made me blink my eyes in confusion. From one corner, I could see the muted colors of the Empire, and in another I saw the vibrant hues from my own kingdom. But, there was more than just that. Clothes with such dark and heavy dyes fluttered all around me. Patterns of foreign origins. Designs that made me gasp for their ingenuity. Everything was new and weird and wonderful.

And the people!

Stuck in the Aerim Continent for all of my life, I had only encountered other races very rarely. Here, I saw huge men with the darkest of skins, much more darker than the pallor of the Empire's people. I saw skin as white as snow, and eyes of every possible color. I saw hair more untamed than mine, and I saw hides of straight orange locks.

Everything was dazzling. I could see all sorts of people, with all sorts of magic, and all sorts of cultures. And everything was gathered into one spot.

The Free Isle of Malaya.

"This is the kind of place I am at..." I muttered in awe, staring wide-eyed at the scene. I knew I probably looked disrespectful, and I even saw some people looking at me oddly, but I couldn't help but stare. Anyway, I would think they would forgive a six-year-old child's curiosity.

I felt a hand land on my shoulder. "Well, I am glad you seem to like it. I reckon we will be staying here for quite a while."

I stared at my mentor with expectant eyes. "Really? I thought we already sold off most of our wine. Can we hold off for long?"

Farseer smiled. "Do not worry. I have my own ways to keep my business going. Anyway, I am actually here to meet some people."

I smiled happily. Then, I saw my mentor look down on his other side. I looked over to see Janmira tugging at Farseer's sleeves. She was pointing at a wooden stand selling some sort of candy. "Jilapi," the ghost chanted reverently.

I flinched at the foreign word, wondering what she meant by that. My mentor laughed softly in reply. "You haven't had those in a long while, I suppose."

Janmira nodded with pink cheeks, looking almost like a child and not a ghostly apparition. "I've saved some pennies from the trip. I'll be right back."

She dashed forward, fiddling with a pouch that hung from her waist. My mentor clucked his tongue and shook his head of white hair. "I couldn't even stop her. Ah, how about you, Eleftherion? Would you like some sweets too?"

I was too shy to say that I was saving my money for more meaningful things, but before I could even complain, he had taken out a copper penny from his sleeves and gave it to me. "Go buy some for me too while you're at it. I haven't had southern delicacies in decades."

Seeing his flushed cheeks, I gladly obliged. I suppose even the elderly long for sweets just like children do. In my own childish body, I realized I had reacquired the sweet-tooth I had once had. Back at the palace, I had tried tasting my favorite sour-bitter teas from the Empire, but I had found it revolting in my current tastes. On the other hand, the milk and candied fruits I had detested as I grew older became treats for me now.