CHAPTER ONE

Long hair, fall at her back, black and beautiful, comb is moving up to down bringing more beauty out of it. Her eyes glance at the mirror in front of her, her refection stare at her. She smile knowing that the lady behind her is doing a great job. Her hair is tie in a bun on top of her head, a butterfly hairpin is place on it. Her smile faded at the sight of the butterfly realizing the weight of this preparation. The refection copy any expression she keep as she stare at it while the lady do her thing.

A brush is dig into a light color, place it on her nose, forehead, left and right side of the face then smooth them together to bring out the beauty of her face. Her full lips was color with red.

Looking at her face, she is pretty, her mother did a great job giving her such a look in her coming of age ceremony. She finally smile reacting to the finishing touch.

Her mother walk to a long pink grown with flowering design while she stand up to welcome the beautiful dress,"Maya, this is for you" she smile as a thank you, she went into the dressing room while her mother wait, few moments she came out smiling wide,"I like it"

"I sew it with love" her mother bend down while Maya sit down and stretch out her left feet while a red shoes was place before her,"they said good shoes bring good luck" Maya dig her feet and it fit perfectly well. She did same with the right foot.

The door open, a little girl glance from afar while she smile, "sister Maya" running to her.

"Are you ready, Grandmother, Uncle, aunty and Sister Mary are all waiting for you"

"Mia tell me about your sister new look" Maya is curious about what her younger sister is about to said. Her comment is so important between the mother and daughter. Mia been six years of age love beautiful dress, she watches when her mother sew everyday to people. Today she had finally see cloth she sew for her senior sister.

"Mother, sew this kind of dress for me" Mia is someone that will never tell you weither is beautiful or ugly but used herself if it is beautiful.

Maya laugh understand what Mia mean,"of course, my princess Mia, I will sew this for you"

Mia hearing the promise, smile,"Sister, it is beautiful"

Maya smile while Mia run out. Happy about the response her sister gave to her. Mia is a little girl that love beautiful things, she want to grow up so fast at the age of six, she went to a fashion event where girls participate to earn money, she wanted to join but her mother refused because only the noble daughters can participate and they're middle class. Mia don't have such an opportunity but never give up, believe that one day she will participate.

Her mother help Maya to stand up, she walk Maya to the center hall where seven people sitting waiting to welcome her. Maya stop at the center and bowed by bending down a little while both hands are clinch together with her head bend not touching the ground then raise up after the greetings is over. She move to sit on a chair.

The seven persons are all scaring at her then someone among them stand up, another person stand up which is most younger than her, she is carrying a plate cover with blue cloth.

Maya smile as the lady walk to her, she is her aunt and Master of the ceremony. All the girl child in Tasara kingdom must go through the basic training of a lady before her coming of age ceremony that mean they have to be close with their mothers or Master if she don't have a mother.

"You have enter the next stage of your life which carry a huge responsibility. Today those responsibility is transfer to you although you haven't engaged to anyone yet but your love will find you"

The second person carrying the plate is her cousin, the daughter of her aunt, she is six months older than her. Mary pull the blue cloth out of the flat plate. A blue hairpin in form of a bamboo is staring at her.

Maya smile, she love the color her mother pick for her, aunt Jemma place the hairpink on her hair as Maya bowed to her while She kiss her forehead, "you're now a woman representing our family"

Aunt Jemma always emphasis on family though she is not the eldest. Maya understands that she have high expectations of her. Taking the role of a mother even though she has one. In fant everyone in the family play the role of both father and mother in Maya life. She has to give them all the respect as a thank you and never disappoint them in her new journey.

She walk to the first person which is her grandmother then bowed with both hands joint together. Grandmother hug her then kiss her forehead, "my blessing will always go with you in this new journey of yours"

Maya smile,"thank you, grandmother"

Maya walk to the second person which is her uncle,he brought out a gift, which is a pink flower hairpin, "ladies are meant to look pretty always, don't forget that" then place the hairpin on her hair.

Maya bowed her head then smile as a thank you,"I will always take care of myself"

Maya move to the third person which is her cousin, with a smile she hug her,"Maya, you have grow up into a beautiful lady and finally join me as an adult, we are in this together, we will overcome every challenge that adult face" Maya smile then hold hands together,"yes we will"

She move to the fourth person, which is her father(Cyril Otto), "father..." Knowing that he is unable to hide the tear in his eyes. "Father" she call again trying to have a conversation with him,"father don't cry" she is the closer to her father seeing this emotional make her want to cry too.

She wanted to touch his face but Cyril stop her then used a white little towel to clean the tears that is about to fall. "It is tears of joy, my daughter"

"I know father"

"I watch you from the day you were born to today, you have grown up into such a beautiful lady ready to take on a new journey. You're no longer that child that run to me and play with my hair, that little girl that want to learn everything am doing. You're now grow up to know what is good and bad, high expectations from the society but I your father will always support any direction you're taking"

"Thank you, father, I will never disappoint you"

She walk to her mother then she bowed, "my daughter"

"Yes, mother" she smile.

"Today is a special day because it is your coming of age ceremony. Today you're fifteen years old, our culture said before our daughters reach this age she must have learn everything her mother had taught her, you have learn everything from me, your father, your aunt, uncle and grandmother. It is your time to put into practice what we have all thaugh you"

"Thank you, Mother, I will not forget the love my family show me"

She walk to the last person which is her little sister Mia. "Sister Maya, am proud to call your sister"

Maya smile,"thank you"

"But this ceremony is not over, as a young woman you have to bring home my brother in law"

Everyone brust into laughter,"I will bring him"

A hand is over her shoulder, "grandmother, auntie and uncle please allow me to take your granddaughter and daughter to have fun"

"Mother, do you give them that permission?" Maya father asked.

"let her have fun, today is her day but come home early"

"Yes, grandmother"

"Can I come too"

"No, my little angel, stay with the family"

"You're mean" then run into the house.

"Why do you do that? She wanted to follow us"

"Maya, will you take the responsibility to start checking for her when she goes missing"

Maya sigh, "she will be upset with me"

"She is a child, auntie will take care of her"

Two horses run into the compound, everyone bowed down as the two men dress in blue jump down. Maya glance at her cousin wandering what is happening, she shake her head in response to Maya confusion.

A long scroll is in his hands as he open it,"This is an order from the emperor, Cyril Otto from zaland state has caught the eyes of the king for his talent for medicine and the contribution to cure the illness of the people. Therefore Cyril Otto is giving the position of head palace physician, everything a head physician need will be giving to his family"

"I will never disappoint his emperor" Cyril yelled out as the two men climb on their horses and ride away.

Everyone raise up their head, their gaze is on Cyril. "My son, am proud of you, finally our prayer have been heard"

"Am happy too, we can all leave this place"

"We are not going" the first son speak.

"Why!?"

"This is our compound, if all of us go with you, who will look after father property, someone should be here and that person is me"

"We should stay back while you and your family go to Boland state to represent us" his wife speak.

Maya watch as her family talk amongst each other. Is Boland such a nice place that her parents are happy to go?