The city brims with excitement. Elen Sulae, City of the Light, shines brightly this night under the blue moon and bright stars. Jewel of Namek, it gleams in a whirl of colours, and sparkles with the wild strains of music that stream endlessly from the instruments of skilled players, everything blending together in a cacophony of light and sound. Tonight, it is Festival.
The Nameks dance in the streets, masked and dressed in silken cloth of the brightest hues. They sing and laugh together, enjoying their anonymity. They are freed from their identities, freed of responsibilities, free to become who they always wanted to be, acting out their wildest fantasies. The light from torches throws back the darkness of the deep blue midnight sky, leaving it safely distant from the revels.
This is what Semace came for. This excitement, this fire that envelops them all, he feels it too, now. It was worth coming to the city a few days early, if only to experience this night that comes only once every three years. He smiles under his bright mask, adjusts his scarlet cloak, and wades off into the crowds.
He spends a few hours dancing below the statues of various heroes long dead and gone from the world, loving every minute of it. Tired then, he moves on to a shop where he drinks drafts of cool, sweetened water and sitting back comfortably in a worn chair, he listens to the stories of the other patrons.
One Namek, masked as a kind of snake, downs his drink and continues with his tale.
"I'll tell you, now, I was just about lost in those forests and I was hearin' a strange sorta sound. You know how every noise when you're alone sounds like you're in mortal danger? That's what I thought too. So I just kept walking, being all nonchalant and all..."
"Bet it was jus' a bird!" shouts a yellow-robed Namek in the corner.
"But it wasn't! Y'see, that's just what I thought too. A bird or something small, but it wasn't!" He pauses expectantly. No one reacts, but not to be deterred, he continues on just as enthusiastically.
"I thought it was just a little animal, but then I get jumped by a full-grown kapata!" There is a reaction now from the crowd. "Now I was pretty shocked, as y'might imagine, but I kept my cool. Never panic, always remember that! I could feel its fangs at my throat, right at my throat, and those claws were pinning my arms to the ground, but I fought on bravely. I caught it in the side with my spear and when it jumped, I rolled out from underneath it. I flung it up against a tree, but it jumped right back at me. A kapata's pretty strong you know, but I was stronger. All day we fought, and I never gave an inch. And then, just as the red sun started to go down, I caught it and I killed it, thus saving my village."
Applause rings out through the room. The storyteller, quite pleased with himself, downs another drink and settles back comfortably in his seat.
Semace can't help but laugh. The idea of attacking a kapata with a spear was completely ludicrous. No one would be stupid enough to do that. Either the storyteller was a liar, or he had an excellent healer, or both. Still, thinks Semace, why ruin the fun? It was a good story.
"It is pretty funny isn't it?" asks the Namek seated right next to him. Semace turns and looks into the dark eyes just barely visible behind the other Namek's mask. He is a bird of prey with a cruel hooked beak. "The story, I mean," adds the stranger. "Given the way you were laughing, I gather you know something about hunting."
Semace nods and replies, "Enough to know that you can't kill a kapata with a spear."
"He's a good storyteller though, don't you think? Nice man. I think I've guessed who he really is under that mask. I didn't know he told stories, however. He never has before."
Semace smiles again under his mask before remembering that the stranger can't see it. "Yes," he replies. "But I wouldn't know. I'm new in town."
"Really," states the stranger, adjusting his royal blue cloak. "Where are you from?"
"Oh, just a little village outside of Haretyk. It's about a three hour flight to the south."
"Yes, I've been there."
"Have you?" asks Semace, surprised. "I didn't think anyone traveled there."
The stranger shrugs slightly. "I travel a lot. Is this your first time in Elen Sulae?"
Semace nods.
"You picked a fine night to come." He stands, blue cloak falling almost to his ankles. "Come on, I'll show you around."
Semace hesitates a moment, but then follows the stranger back out into the street. They walk under the light of the blue moon, past endless buildings shining in white marble. Gardens surround the streets, with tall trees and small flowers everywhere he looks. "It's beautiful," he says suddenly, feeling impulsive.
"It is," murmurs the Namek in the blue hawk mask. "I love the city." He points. "Over there are the three temples: one temple for each god. The one with the gold roof is the temple of the Sun, the one with the blue glass is the temple of the Moon and the farthest is the temple of the Stars." All three shine brightly in the darkness of the night.
"Where's the palace?" asks Semace.
The stranger waves his hand dismissively of to his right. "Over there behind those hills. It's nothing particularly special."
"Maybe, but if I'm gonna work there, I'll need some directions."
"You're going to work at the palace?"
Semace smiles proudly. "Yep. You're looking at the newest member of the King's Guard."
Semace is getting the impression that the other Namek is frowning. "What's wrong with that? I'm pretty proud of it, myself."
"And so you should be," says the stranger slowly. "It's quite an honour. I'm sure you'll have a great time."
"What's wrong though? I've heard the king is pretty good, that the officers are fair. I'll get lots of free time."
"What have you heard about the king?"
"That he's great! I mean, everyone's always talking about him. He's the greatest king in Namekian history. He's going to change the world!"
"They say that?"
"Everyone says that! Who doesn't love Katat?"
"I can think of a few people."
Semace sighs. "Well, there's bound to be a few dissenters anywhere. But most people see the truth."
The stranger smiles too then, under his mask. Semace is sure of it. The sapphire hawk reaches over and touches the younger Namek's shoulder affectionately. "To get to the palace, go down this road until you come to a fountain. Then turn right and go past the school. You'll be able to see the way from there."
"Thanks."
The stranger shrugs. "Yeah, well I've got to go. There's lots of work to be done."
Semace smiles, "I'll see you again, I hope?"
"You can count on it." The stranger turns and walks away, his deep blue cape floating in the light breeze.
