Chapter One

10 Years Later

Feral has been completely divided. The distinction between the villagers and those who live in the city is as clear as the sky on noonday. The citizens did not know of the existence of the villagers and vice versa. Or perhaps they knew but did not care.

The time where everyone was a whole unit has passed and the corruption of politics has entered Feral. What occurred in the village was only known by the villagers, the city people did not know. Also, what happens in the city is only known by its citizens.

This distinction occurred ten years after the birth of Sun Lucian and Aurelius. When a man named Caesar Flavius did not appreciate the laws and rules of the Sa Rang Era.

Where everything belonged to everyone and nothing belonged to one person.

Caesar's dream was to create a civilization that made a profit off of what one buys and owns. Make it a fair deal. He decided that trade was unnecessary and the development of advanced technology will guide the people. Sa Rang, or Love, could not satisfy the people's hearts any longer. So, he didn't just dream, he planned, executed, and created the city or better known as Estervale.

Caesar knew that once he died that Estervale would continue, but it could fail. So, he opened up a modern school to educate the people on how Estervale should operate. He made sure to stress the fact that advanced technology should never cease, but it should always be in progress. This way, no one will have the morale to terminate Estervale and destroy his dream.

However, not everyone agreed with Caesar. Many individuals opposed it. The head of most of the clans denied the civilization idea because it took away all the morals and values that they had. The idea of Estervale took away most of the morals from Sa Rang, and the leaders did not like that. Despite their detest to the idea, Caesar continued to work on his dream of a profiting civilization and took the people and the clans that agreed with him. Once he departed from Feral, it was known that most of the villagers had forsaken Sa Rang and became a Valite.

50 Years Later

On the outskirts of Feral is a ginormous Minka. A Minka that occupies close to half of the space of farmland. Surrounding this Minka are chrome base fences that prevent small children from escaping. Within its boundaries is a grass bank with flowers and other crops. There are no sport-based fields or bicycles or toys because this is the land of Feral.

"Mira! It's dinner time." A voice calls from within the Minka. Pausing from picking up an orchard, is a small girl called Mira. She pouts her small lips at the call since she wishes to continue playing outside. So, being the stubborn girl she is, she grabs the orchard and runs towards the back of the Minka, where all the trees and bushes are.

"If you want me, you're going to have to come and get me!"The young girl runs as fast as she can, maneuvering through the tall trees and tripping a few times between her feet, but she reaches a dead end. She drops her orchard and gazes at the chrome bars preventing her from crossing to the other side.

"I hear that's where the Valites live," a feminine voice says.

Mira whips around, terrified of the sudden voice.

"Who's there?" Her petite voice murmurs. Suddenly, she hears a chuckle. "Ease up, Mira. It's just me." A young girl hops down from a tree and faces Mira.

"Mai!"

Mira joyfully runs towards Mai and gives her a hug. "I was so scared! I didn't know who was there."

"That's why you should go to Mama when she calls you for dinner," Mai scolds and breaks the hug. "Mama always gets worried because of your curiosity and stubbornness."

Mai ruffles Mira's strawberry blonde hair and creates a mess of it. Mira swats Mai's hand and tries to reach for Mai's hair.

While ridiculously jumping, Mira notices Mai's relatively short black hair. It's cut in a bob, but not perfectly. It compliments her big royal blue eyes that's accompanied by a beauty mark on her cheek. Mai was Mira's image of beauty.

"You won't be able to reach me so just quit, you tree stump."

Not paying attention to what Mai is saying, Mira gives up her initial goal and faces the chrome bars once again. "Who are the Valites?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure, but all I know is that they live directly outside of this Minka."

"Mira!" A stern voice calls. "I called for dinner, why are you still outside?" Coming into view, a middle-aged woman with brown eyes and brown hair appears. She dusts her hands on the apron covering her purple dress.

Terrified, the young girl tries to make an excuse, but nothing seems to muster in her childish brain of hers.

"We just wanted to finish our game of tag," Mai says. "And as you can tell, I caught her."

Not believing the excuse, Mama gently grabs Mira's hand and ushers for Mai to follow in suit.

"Honestly what am I going to do with you?" Mama questions, picking out leaves from Mira's strawberry blonde hair. "Your curls are messed up too!"

"Mama please calm down," Mai says, putting her hand on Mama's shoulder. "Mira's a kid, so let her be a kid."

Staying quiet, Mama picks up the pace so that the youngsters can have dinner on time.

***

"Mama, what are Valites?" Mira questions, as she watches through a vanity mirror, Mama combing her wet curls.

Mama's eyes widen, but she quickly recomposes herself, trying to seem calm in front of the child. However, her uneasiness does not go unnoticed by Mira.

"Look at my beautiful girl," she coos, as she pulls Mira's hair into a loose ponytail. Her luscious curls falling into place. "Mira, look into the mirror."

"I am."

Letting out a chuckle, Mama points to Mira's face. "You have a beautiful skin tone that matches the first lady of a Master. Olive kissed-skin. Then your big grey eyes that just make you look so cute! Plus your deep dimples."

Mira smiles at the praise coming from Mama as she sways side to side on the chair she's sitting on.

"Most importantly, your strawberry blonde curls that just look like juicy springs! Indeed, you are gorgeous."

"Thanks Mama, but I heard you said the same thing to Steffan, Mai, and Eira. Or maybe all the kids here." Mira informs with a smirk on her face.

Caught off guard, Mama scratches her cheek. "Well, I must praise all the children here, you know? You guys are my children."

"Really?"

"Of course." Mama answers as she puts the hair supplies away.

However, the answer does not satisfy the seven-year-old girl.

"Mama?"

"Yes, child?"

"Where are my real parents?"

Silence embarks the room, as Mama has nothing to say.

"I'm right he--"

"No, I mean the ones that gave birth to me."

A deep frown plasters on to Mira's chubby face. She crosses her arms and waits for Mama's answer, but she remains silent.

"If we were all your children we would have some things in common with you. I'm darker than you and have curly hair. Mai has green eyes and Steffan and Eira have a darker skin colour than me. Those are just a few examples. Not only that, but there are fifteen of us and only one of you. And Steffan said that Mama would have to cook something with a boy in order to have children and I don't see any other boy like you."

Astonished by her calculated answer, Mama kneels to Mira's level and tries to gain eye contact, but Mira looks away.

"It seems to me that you have been wondering about this for awhile," Mama chuckles, attempting to discard the shock she is feeling.

She should have known that Mira was not just a naive kid.

"The truth is that your parents were either killed, have died, or abandoned you children. And I, as well as other Mama's have taken the responsibility to raise children like you."

"Forever?"

"No, you may be adopted by another parent who wishes to care for you as if you were their own child."

Realization sparks Mira's eyes. "That's why Serena and the others left the minka? Because they got adopted?"

"That's correct," Mama answers, smoothing out Mira's hair.

"Are you upset with me, child?"

"No...but does everyone else know?"

"Yes, you just didn't because I was planning on how I would tell you. Besides, you're the youngest one, so I thought I should just let you be a kid." Mama says, recounting Mai's words. "It's time for bed now. Go say goodnight to your brothers and sisters." Mira nods and joyfully hops off the chair, running to her siblings.

Wiping her hands with a cloth, Mama sighs, "Ignorance is bliss."