19. Ryu

Ryu looked around at Riveran, the village of waves. It had changed a bit since he had last been there. The construction of the Emperor's office had been completed. It stood at two stories tall, as opposed to the other buildings which only had one story. Riveran was the styx of the continent. Everything was constructed of wood. There was no use of bricks or any other sort of materials. All of the buildings were shabby and looked like they were all built before the reign of the last Emperor, who had reigned for 40 years before his death a month ago. 

The old Emperor had been a wise old man. He was shorter than average, but he was still more intimidating than anyone Ryu had met in Windrise. He was the first to be able to use water manipulation seemingly without a source of water. He also was able to manipulate earth, and specialized in mud manipulation, which was viewed as the ultimate defense. Water manipulation had the ability to create forms of any shape, it required a lot of focus to make it solid. Earth manipulation was difficult to break through, but couldn't be shaped as easily, requiring precise control and concentration. Mud manipulation had the best of both worlds. It was easily shaped, and was naturally more tough. 

Because of this, along with an innate skill for strategizing, he was the most respected Emperor in any of the villages. His rule was what resulted in the run-down appearance of the village. Everyone kept their homes looking broken and old on the outside to hide the wealth of the village from outsiders. Even the newly constructed office was built to look as if it were old and run-down. 

Ryu strolled toward the office where his meeting would be held. 

When he entered, he saw that the inside looked just like the outside did.

"Welcome, Ryu," A younger woman sat at a table in the middle of the room. 

"Thank you, Madoka. I see you remain the diplomat of Riveran even after the passing of your grandfather. Congratulations," Ryu said after he sat down.

"Thank you, Ryu. Riku decided that he appreciated my skills of negotiating, and reinstated me after his coronation. I didn't just get the role because the old man was my grandfather," she said smoothly.

Riku was a childhood friend of Ryu's They were around the same age and met when Ryu's parents decided to bring him to Riveran.

"I know. I've been a victim of some of your negotiations. To think you've been the diplomat since you were 15."

"You speak as if it was a long while that I've been in this position. It has only been 4 years."

"True. Anyway, this is not what we are meeting for. What are the terms of our countries' continued alliance?"

She slid over a piece of paper. "The terms are that things continue as they had while Riveran was under the rule of my grandfather, with the addition of a request of increasing trade between our nations, along with a joint project to improve the travel route between Riveran and Windrise. This would include redoing the path, adding some rest stops that will be worked at by people delegated by the Emperor of Riveran and the Empress of Windrise, and having a maintenance crew that tidies up or repairs the path every few months."

Ryu took out his pen and signed the paper. 

Fountain pens are the only pens that exist in the world, other than using a quill and ink.

"That was simple enough. Please have a safe trip back to Windrise. Would you like a recommendation of a good inn to stay at for the night?"

"I'm fine. Thank you though. I will be traveling straight home. There are matters that must be attended to," Ryu said as he stood up. 

Right before he exited, he stopped. "I do have one more question before I go," He said, still facing away from Madoka. "Have you heard of anyone who can heal the gravely wounded? Perhaps somebody in your village?" 

"I have. But that information comes at a price. Along with there being no guarantee that said healer would accept, or that the treatment would work."