I met you

Disclaimer: This chapter does not support underage activities. This is a work of cultural fiction.

We were on the second floor of the bird cage like pavillion. A lady with short black hair, holding onto the hands of two toddlers, walked towards us.

Mom whispered to me," Shuya, it's time." We stood up to greet her. "Xifua! It's been so long!" Mom burst into tears and hugged Lady Xifua.

"How's everything so far?" Lady Xifua asked.

"It's wonderful! Have you been watching Yuena?" Mom asked as they both stared at the stage below us. "Yes, you did an excellent job teaching her!" the lady said.

After the lady and the two toddlers sat down at our table, I went back to my seat.

Mom didn't seem to be joking about Lavendar being Yuena. So, dumbfounded, I just sat there, watching her dance as everyone snacked on grapes.

"She's pretty good," I said aloud.

"Hehe, you getting entranced by her beauty, Shu?" Mother joked.

"Wha- I was just saying she's pretty good at dancing," I said, a little flustered by her comment.

"So, Shuya, I know we haven't had a proper conversation about this, but how do you feel... about this arranged engagement?" Lady Xifua asked me. I gave her my full attention, my blue eyes meeting her light brown eyes, " This..'engagement'.. is to be expected as it will bring forth a stronger bond between our familes and conjoin the politics of the neighboring nations. I have been prepared all my life to meet the expectations of both parties for the near and far future."

"I see that you've had knowledge about the 'other reasons', but I'd like to ask you, not what do you know or what expectations you're to be held for, but how do you feel?" her eyes, though gentle and kind, were seriously concerned of her soon-to-be son-in-law.

"I.. don't really understand why we still continue traditions of arranged marriages. I know that they can benefit both parties and create a more stable political standing, but.. we're still kids. I mean, I know it might sound silly coming from a boy, but even I dream of meeting the right person for me. I guess it's because I still don't know my partner well enough or because I feel this engagement is more of a deal rather than a decision," I said.

"Then do you want to continue this or do you want to go back to the way things were before?" she asked me.

" It's kinda late to ask this isn't it? We're already more than halfway done with the ceremony and I'm still here," I said.

"Not at all. We can still break things off now if you want it to be," she said.

"Xifua!" Mom gasped," What're you say-"

"No, even so, I will stick by this deal. There must be a reason why the honorable Valenhyme's have arranged this. But, this is also part of my own selfishness. It's my only way to gain myself a little more freedom," I looked towards my grandfather toasting to everyone.

"I see..." she smiled sadly," Well, it is true that we have a reason and I do hope to explain it to you soon. But I'm glad that this arrangement has some use for you," she got up and brought us our feast.

I can hear the dancing twinkles of bells from the hall and spotted Lavender coming to join us.

"Yes, now we're all together. Just before the feast, please allow me to present an early wed gift," Lady Xifua placed a small red floral black box in front of me. I could feel the daggers of Lavendar's glare. I opened the small box. It was a light blue fang like pendant.

"That's!" Xian quickly shut his mouth. I noticed Lavendar had been wearing a matching pink one around her neck.

Lady Xifua wrapped the red threaded bracelet around my wrist and said," This is the other half that broke from the pendant this morning."

I froze in terror," M-mother Xifua! Why are you giving me such a noble gift? This is an heirloom of the Valenhyme's isn't it? And I even broke it. Do I deserve such a gift?" I quickly blurted, scrambling my brain to it's full capacity to use respectable language.

It is rude to speak informally with your mother in law in the Tayen family. Being the grandson and heir to the Tayen family, my actions represent our family and politics. There are always watchful eyes in and out of the Tayen territory.

"Just call me Mom!" Lady Xifua laughed out loud," And this, is a gift. I know well what happened, but this gift, I would rather you hold onto it than anyone else. And even if we were to fix the necklace, it can't be done," I felt a cold drop in my throat," The pendant was made of an ancient stone long ago. Our ancestors say it was made from the pure blood and tears the Goddess of Death, Azora, and the king of all Gods, Zephrim, had shed during The Nuclium."

The Nuclium was a nuclear war that had wiped out an ancient civilization known as the Aerisians. It was also around the time that the first sightings of Azora's Comet had appeared.

"They say that, because the Aerisians had not believed in God and were lead astray, Azora and Zephrim had sent them to Zenaya as punishment," Mother Xifua said.

Zenaya is the realm of Death where the dead travel in search for redemption or wander aimlessly into the darkness of insanity.

"But the blood and tears they shed were a sign of mercy for the broken souls. The Gods had blessed the souls who found their way in Zenaya, to be given salvation and-"

"And one day meet their loved ones in another life time," I finished.

"Haha, yes. I see you seem to be well adversed in the history," she said.

"Well, we learn some of the history in school or at the festival plays, and I kinda like history. It's a story about the past," I blushed a bit.

"Then you might know that Azora and Zephrim are the Gods of Reunion," she held my hand and Lavendar's hand," I'm giving you this pendant in hopes your relationship together will blossom and to bless the two of you, for a happier future."

Thunder pounded, bells rang, and strings zang as eyes followed each step we took onto the main stage. The pastor painted a red floral pattern on the back of my left hand and on Yuena's right hand. The paint was made of the dye of a rare red wine flower named Zephria. The pastor tied our wrists with a white ribbon, symbolizing everlasting youth in our relationship and our lives being joined as one.

The pastor asked me," And by the blood of this flower, do you vow to accept Yuena Valehyme as your partner?" It is traditon for the partner who accepts the engagement proposal to vow, showing they will take care of their partner and to show acknowledgement of the engagement.

"By the blood of the red wined flower, I vow to accept Yuena Valenyme as my partner," he gives me a small bowl of glassy, bitter, red liquid and I drink it. The medicinal herbs promote longevity, youth, and "stamina" as well as a blessing for the couple's future. Each cup represents a solemn vow of dedication. Because of the strong bitterness and medicinal affects, the more cups you drink, four being the highest, the more blessings and the higher the recognition of your dedication to the relationship.

"Do you vow under the silver moon of fate entwined between you, that you, Shuya Tayen, will still confirm this oath on the moon you two will join, seven years from now?"

Though the bloody juice numbed my tongue, I reminded myself, compared to the last ten years of my life, this was worth enduring.

"I , Shuya Tayen, promise, under the moon seven years from now, I will confirm this oath." I drank my four cups and locked my fingers with hers.

We held up our joined hands wrapped in ribbon and everyone cheered.

"And so! Let us bless the new couple! I'm looking forward," the green haired old man smiled at me," to our new family!" he had announced, pointing his toast to us. I rose our joined hands to my lips and kissed the ribbon tied onto her hand.

I could feel her disgust burning as she gripped onto my hand like a lion.

"Thank you, Grandfather. Thank you everyone. May this coming year bring forth many more blessings," I replied to the toast.