3: Sweet Evelon

I slipped out the window of my bedroom when the clock struck midnight and hurried down the meandering path, quickly submerging myself in the fields of wheat.

I looked back at the house for a moment, squinting in the smothering darkness to see my little home sitting pristinely amongst the towering apples trees, its glass windows reflecting the full moon in the sky and smiled fondly at the sight, my mind wandering to my childhood days where my siblings and I would run around and play till the sun set in the horizon and mother would call us in.

That was before Levine decided to run away of course and Silvia changed for the worse.

I turned away and continued my midnight expedition, it took a while for me to get through the field without trampling on the yellow stalks and leaving behind a trail of evidence for my father to find the next morning but I managed to do so and stepped into the small grassy plains that divided our small plot of land and the bustling roads that led to downtown.

I wasn't heading there tonight however (not that I ever did), there wasn't anything there for me other than prostitutes and the black market that came alive at this time under the protection of the darkness.

Instead I turn to the opposite direction and began to climb up the sleepy hill until I reached the summit, it was a long and tiring expedition but when I reached the top, it was like something out of a fairytale.

I turned east to see the burning lights of Devora, their tall ominous buildings blended into the darkness of the sky and I watched their delicate wisps of smoke drift from the roofs and disappear in the air.

There wasn't a emerald cluster showcasing nature in sight and in almost every spot stood a brooding tower of some sort. Even their homes were built on top of each other which I found quite remarkable, it was strange seeing such architecture when I was so use to living a cottage surrounded by fields and trees.

I could only imagine how it must be like to live in such conditions, without the comfort vegetation and the beauty of undergrowth. I suppose they were use to it, I didn't know anyone from Devora personally but I heard from others that they were especially tough people and could accustom to any hardship thrown their way. From the far distance I could just about make out their city flag, a little ugly if I say so myself but I do quite like the hammer crossed over the grey backdrop, gave it an interesting look.

I scanned my gaze over the foggy city once more before turning eagerly to the south where Ocelia lay, I sucked in a anticipated breath and stared at the port city. Words cannot describe the beauty of that land, there's something about Ocelia that when you look at it you're filled with nothing but hope and fascination. Maybe it's the way the moon reflects against the water, shimmering in a milky white orb, or the little hut that dot the coastline, the smell of the salty ocean and the sounds of the tide crashing against the rocks.

I went to a ruguf once in Ocelia once when I was seventeen, which is a party held on the beach every year. It was a spectacular occasional, they were shot fireworks that erupted in the sky in an explosion of glorious colours and danced across the sea before fading away gradually leaving behind the smell of smoke and feelings of wonder.

Oceils are celebratory people and enjoy a electrifying gathering which explains the amount of alcohol that been jammed into the sand next to the ocean since no one thought of bringing ice. I threw up a lot as well if I can remember clearly but it was a fun occasion nonetheless. The entire night felt like a fever dream, the smells, the people, the food and the sand I kept finding in my clothes when I returned home the next day.

I closed my eyes as a breeze fell upon my face, the ocean brought many winds somehow and sometimes there would be storms so bad we could hear the noise of chaos from our own bedrooms.

I didn't feel like looking at Imperial district, but I turned anyway, grimacing in spite. My stomach twisted uncomfortably as I set my gaze on the undeniable fineness the lay in the far distance.

It was almost tragically beautiful- the Tiano palace- stunning of course in its own right but almost heart wrenching as I could only see the blood stained handprints of the slaves that built it.

The Imperial district is a little smaller than the other city but richer than the three states combined. That is where the elitists live, the painfully rich, almost achingly unbearable tyrants of society. Most hated of course but rightly so as I cannot stand anyone from there. Calling them spoilt is an understatement, they are outrageously unaware of the privilege and power they hold, at least pretend to be, they don't mind exercising those rights when a poor man wrongs them in any way.

That doesn't mean of course that there isn't any wealthy people in other cities as well, that is just where most of them are situated.

That is also the capital and where the Tiano live as well who are the rulers of Evelon. You can see everything from heroine hill, including the kings palace, in fact you can smell the richness all the way from here.

Still, the imperial district is breathtakingly beautiful. Every home is gorgeous mansion and they have such wonderful greenery, not our type of greenery here in a Aleand but an expensive kind off greenery, the trees barley move in the wind and the flowers are brighter than any other plant I've seen before. Admirable but confusing. I can only dream of what it's like to live such live over there, it must be so comfortable and terribly nice. To have the things that girls there have, balls and pretty gowns, to live in such home and eat such food.

I shake away the envious thoughts that begin to fill my mind and spin away from the west and turn to the north where the rest of the Aleand is visible from where I stood. There isn't much to see except rows and rows of agriculture and farms. Not to mention expansive pastures and the fading sound of a flute, probably from some drunkard lying on the side of the road.

The people of Aleand love music, we love art too and theatre, basically anything to do with performance or the display of beauty. We grow the food that the entire nation eats and take much pride in that, harvest time has just finished so the land looks a little bare at the moment. Give it a few months and entire city will look magnificent, like the bloom of a trillion flowers ranging from colours of sky high turquoise and deep, alluring shades of pinks and yellows. Spring is our time.

There are neighbouring countries around Evelon, which would be Cardeil and the country of Ambline. They are so far that even though I stand on the highest point in the entire country I still can't make out those mysterious lands. There is also the land of slaves as well, the forsakens, as we call them, their history is tragic and even thinking about them brings tears to my eyes.

I wonder what it's like in other countries such as Cardeil and Ambline? Are they exactly like the school books told us they were? I want to see the countries where we get our silk and spices from, I want to travel.

I sit down and stretch out my legs with a sigh, fiddling with a piece of bark. My mind drifted into a daydream so I didn't hear the crunching sounds of footsteps behind me and I had just began to turn around when someone wrapped their arm around my neck.

"Look what we have here."