•the Mayors Mansion•
"… Alone on a Train. Aimlessly wander. An outdated map, crumpled in my pocket. And I didn't where I was goin'. So all the different names for the same place…"
A
large white mansion stood before Ebsolon. Beautifully engraved
pillars supported the awning that covered the porch that stretched
around the mansion. Next to the front steps, a flower garden spread
from the window sill around to the back of the mansion.
"You
live here?" Ebsolon gaped.
"Mhmmm" Kairi nodded, opening the
large stained glass door and walked into entry way, which was as
magnificent as the outside. To the right, a stained oak staircase
twisted upward to the second floor, and polished marble flooring
covered the ground. To the left a carpeted room that passed for the
family room. The hallway that Ebsolon and Kairi stood in stretched to
the back the mansion, several rooms spawning off of it in the
process. As well as other rooms, the hallway served to the right just
after the staircase. Kairi moved towards it, "I'll go and get the
mayor. I'll be back in a sec!" She disappeared around the
corner.
After Kairi left, Ebsolon looked up at the ceiling, a
chandelier hung in the center. She moved towards the stairs and sat
down on the steps.
"It's pretty massive." She said, talking
to herself, "Not as big as the ones on Startide though…"
Comparing the mansion to the large houses on the Startide Islands,
where dragons had to fit into them.
Just then, Kairi came
around the corner with a large stout man who was round in the
stomach, and had a curly head of hair. He was dressed nicely and had
a pleasant smile, "Why hello there! You're Ebsolon?"
She
nodded.
"Well, it'd be a pleasure if you could stay with us
here!"
"Wait, what? You're… letting me stay?" She
asked.
"Well certainly. There's plenty of room, and it does
get very quiet around here sometimes."
Ebsolon pursed her lips
and took into consideration what he had said.
"So, I'll have
some of the keepers ready your bed shall I?" He asked.
"What?"
Ebsolon snapped up.
"Well you'd like to have clean sheets and
clothing wouldn't you? I'll let the misses know that you need to
be taken to the market for new outfits."
Ebsolon stared,
dumbfounded.
"Oh- you expect us to let you wear on outfit all
the time? That's nonsense!" The mayor laughed.
"So then,
I'll be off." He smiled and turned back to the hall he came
from.
Ebsolon turned to Kairi with an expression of shock
mixed with horror fixed on her face.
"What's wrong?" Kairi
asked, concerned.
"Why… Is he doing this for… Me? I… don't
deserve-" Kairi cut her off.
"Don't say that." She shook
her head, "The mayor's nice like that. And I'm sure anybody
would've taken you in. Now c'mon, let's have some lunch." She
smiled, leading Ebsolon into the kitchen.
"So I'm sure
you'll like it here." Kairi smiled as she finished eating,
leaning against the table. "Everyone's really nice here
too."
Ebsolon got up and put her dish in the sink and turned to
Kairi, "So… you're not from here either?" Ebsolon
asked.
Kairi shook her head, "I don't remember anything from
before I came here… It's weird, cause I washed up onto the shore,
just like you…" Kairi crossed her arms, "This can't be
coincidence, can it?" She turned to Ebsolon.
"Who knows."
Ebsolon shrugged, "Something's are better left unsaid."
"Yeah…
You gotta point there." Kairi agreed, "Hey, how about tomorrow I
show you around the islands?"
"Uh… Sure." Ebsolon blinked,
her stomach gave a weird lurch, at the though of being surrounded by
humans for God knows how long…
"… The coast disappeared, the sea drowned the sun. I know words to share with anyone. But boundaries of language quietly occurs. For all the different names for the same thing…"
