The Capital of Aarti

[6 months ago]

The sun rose and gave color to the world once again. From the vast and clear sky is a silver moon hiding behind the clouds of the early sunrise.

Leone stopped in her tracks and took a deep breath, raising her hand to cover the sun from her eyes. A ray of sunlight passed through the small gaps in her fingers, reflecting into a pair of gray silvery eyes that reminds one of diamonds.

Her long ash gray hair was tied in a ponytail which perfectly match her running outfit that hugged her body and emphasized those enviable contours.

Early morning run had been part of her daily routine. At one point she hated it and forced herself but she learned to appreciate it as time goes by. Expectations usually put pressure on every people but it is the opposite for her, she wished her family had expectations of her even a little.

The taxing morning run become her method of escape she looked forward to every day. The beauty of the world offered solace to her lonely life.

She leaves the hill where the estate is built and goes down to the capital every morning. The guards back at the mansion had grown accustomed to her routine and simply sends a pair of knights to look after her from afar.

The mansion was built at the top of the hill. She had to run along the road with trees lined to its side.

She could finally see the capital from her location. The view opened up as she reached the middle of the hill. The houses look so small, like building blocks spread on a playground. The western side has the elegant palace and mansions of nobles and the eastern sides of the town are endless fields of green forests and unindustrialized lands for agricultural purposes. The far north glimmers as the sea look like an extension of the sky.

The most enchanting of all was watching in awe the mysterious floating islands in the sky.

The world of Intarsia is a creation of the Goddess of Light, Intarsia, one among the seven Primordial Gods and Goddesses. In her absence, she appointed five Deities to oversee the world, spread through the five Mainlands and is said to appear in those floating islands.

As homage to these Deities, a temple was built. It became the center for belief and later on the influence of these Deities become the core religion of the race they represent.

The presence of these Deities also influences the strength of the race. A great example of this is the strongest human kingdom, Lahore Empire, to the far west. The Deity that represents the human race is Dianale, the deity of justice, law, and order and she oversees the Western Mainland.

This capital city of Aarti from the Kingdom of Astana is located in the Eastern Mainland which is home to the Deity of Home and Fire, Lakapati. Lakapati represents the race of Dwarves. Thus, it is obvious the strongest in the east is the neighboring dwarven kingdom, Krayon, located to the north of the kingdom.

She crossed the bridge separating the hill from the capital. She entered through the small gate southwest of the wall which is a residential area.

A young boy with a satchel and embracing a pile of paper is tossing tabloids to the doorsteps of the still closed houses.

At the corner of the street, under the lamppost, is a woman segregating their garbage before the thrash bins. On her way back, she stood before the mailbox, took the mails and newspaper that the newspaper boy might have painstakingly placed inside, then picked up the bottle of fresh milk on the fence.

The houses were starting to be alive as the sun rises. The sunlight fell onto the potted ornamental and flowering plants hanged at the balcony railings, to the trees and grasses inside the front yards, and to the flowerbeds by the sidewalks.

The silence was slowly broken as the birds tweeted, the carriages rattled and the horses neighed.

Children in their uniforms and energetic voices exited their homes and boarded the carriages waiting for them, waving goodbye to their mothers and seeing them off.

While watching these scenes unfold, she noticed the changes as she advances closer to the town's center.

The houses were getting bigger and more sophisticated. The roads were bustling from the large number of carriages that come and go. Finally, the many shops and tall public and private buildings cast a shadow on the roads beneath it.

Leone stopped before a shop. It was a café she frequently drop by to grab her breakfast. She pushed the door open and with the ringing of the bell comes the greeting of the shop employees.

The aroma of coffee lingers inside the café. Potted ornamental plants adorned the corners of the room. Unlike the usual days, several tables were already occupied by customers being served by the two waitresses.

She went to the counter and she opened the pouch tied to her waist.

"Good morning. Would you like the usual?" The woman from behind the counter asked.

"Yes, please."

"That would be 3 bronze and 5 copper coins."

Leone took the required number of coins and placed them at the coin tray. She observed the woman prepare her order; a cup of hot chocolate and 3 big muffins.

Leone knew that the woman is this café's manager, Mrs. Amelia, a kind woman in her early to middle sixties with auburn hair, wearing the shop's apron above her collared blouse.

Then she noticed a box with a ribbon placed beside the paper bag containing her order.

Mrs. Amelia immediately explained after seeing Leoene's confused eyes. "The store is offering coffee mugs as free giveaways in celebration of its anniversary."

"Oh. Thank you and congratulations on a happy anniversary."

"No, we thank you for patronizing our shop. Also, we extended invitations to a select few. We would be happy to have your presence tonight to celebrate with us."

Leone really wanted to reject the invitation but she don't have the heart to decline the old woman's goodwill. After all, the shop had always been there to provide her breakfast.

"It would be an honor." Leone accepted the invitation card offered to her after a quick deliberation.