Hello 2020, let's start the year off the same way we ended 2019. In Wakanda.

The reason there will be a lot of Iqadi and Imanu parts and chapters is because they're both going through the same changes as the Academy group.

Year One: Deep Underground

Wakanda's Vibranium Mines - 8:20 AM

If there was one thing Iqadi would change about herself, it was her claustrophobia. She didn't understand where it came from aside from genetics. Her mother got hers from a traumatic childhood event. Iqadi just inherited hers.

Iqadi would say she won the genetic lottery except for that trait. Although it's good to have fear because it makes her more human, it weakens her. She's supposed to be a powerful leader yet she crumbles when there are no windows in a given space. Nobody wants that in a queen.

But it's a work in progress.

Today, she's risking an outburst to go into the vibranium mines. Back when she was selecting a husband, Imanu told her that he was a child worker because his family desperately needed the money. She didn't know the mines did that and there was no way her parents knew because they would never allow such a thing (especially since she would've been Imanu's age at the time). Iqadi had to make sure that it wasn't in practice anymore.

If she dealt with it, it would be less of a commotion. Her father would go ballistic on everyone.

Iqadi could never get mad at Imanu's parents for putting him here. She respects a family willing to do anything to remain sustaining. They're her in-laws and she understands what they went through. Now, they're better. Imanu's little sister is now in a better school and has nicer clothes while his parents don't have to stress about work.

Iqadi put on a lab coat with goggles on to get a look at workers as she walks across observation decks. Everyone seems like they were at a proper age. The youngest here was likely her age and they'd be an intern or assistant at most, not a legitimate labourer. Maybe they stopped when Imanu was chosen? Even a tiny sliver of knowledge feels like discovering something rare and precious.

She can't see the sun from here. Her heart races as she tries to calm down. Her body trembles with every step she takes and she tries to distract herself. There's another adult worker. There's a scientist. She can feel her eyes wanting to turn opaque and make a storm but she balls her hands into fists to hold herself together.

This is how Imanu feels in every formal situation he's in. Think about that. Now she's in his environment about to lose her mind. It's important not to panic. When alarmed, she'll stop evaluating information mindfully and start reacting physically. If she lost control of herself in here, the mines would explode and Wakanda would be exterminated. Possibly the world.

Split-second decisions are rooted in knowledge. She can act fast and be impulsive because she knows what she's doing. And she'll know what she's doing if she has the patience to let herself learn. Patience is never fun but it's good for her.

That was the thing about the world: it wasn't that things were harder than she thought they'd be, it was that they were hard in ways she didn't expect. It's ugly and brutal. Hard work doesn't always assure positive outcomes.

Imanu didn't have a choice to be brave because nobody ever has a choice. He had to learn to survive in here which makes gave her a new light on him. The child who has to learn to do whatever it takes for his family is smarter than the child who was given everything.

-o-

Wakanda's Palace - 10:09 AM

Iqadi walks out of her bedroom after taking a short shower from the mines. Not only was she rinsing out any residual dust and dirt, but she wanted to scrub away any memories of almost losing control in there. She walks down the hallways, breathing heavily and quickly. Everything is fine down there. It fixed itself. She's fine from down there. She fixed herself.

"Iqadi! Iqadi!"

Iqadi turns around at the sound of a child screaming for her. She turns around and sees Kili, her sister-in-law, running up to her excitedly. Once she's in front of her, she bounces on her toes, holding Iqadi's arm.

"Hello, Kili," Iqadi greets. "What are you up to?"

"Come draw with me," she says.

Before Iqadi could agree, Kili's already dragging her. Iqadi willingly follows because she adores Kili. She, like Imanu's parents, brings a new joy into the palace. They're rays of sunshine. Most people here are serious around Iqadi and her parents because they're in charge. Imanu's family took a while to adjust and, although they don't live in the palace (they live in a new house nearby), they warmed up to Iqadi and her parents. Kili did so quicker than her parents. Imanu may still be working on it but he has more pressure on his shoulders. And she put it there when she asked him for his hand in marriage.

Kili takes Iqadi to one of the lounge rooms. On the centre table, there are craft supplies sprawled out and a blank sheet of paper. Kili sits at the head at the table, crossing her legs in her seat and Iqadi sits next to her.

"What are you drawing?" Iqadi asks.

Kili shrugs. "I don't know yet. I was thinking of a castle."

Iqadi lights up with surprise. "Why a castle?"

"Because now I know what one looks like on the inside."

Iqadi bites down on her lips and puts a hand on Kili's shoulder. Kili doesn't notice until Iqadi interrupts her drawing to hug her. This is the closest she gets to a little sister and she loves it. Kili screeches a little before maneuvering her arms through Iqadi's embrace.

"You're forgetting the bailey," Iqadi says, pointing to the empty space beside Kili's drawing.

Kili shrugs. "That's not in my word bank."

Iqadi exhales a small laugh as she grabs another pencil and starts sketching the bailey as Kili works on the front gate. As the two of them continue sketching, Imanu walks in. Kili doesn't acknowledge him but Iqadi smiles.

He walks over and stands beside Iqadi, ruffling Kili's hair. That's when she notices and frowns. Iqadi laughs a little, looking up at him. He bends down and gives her a quick peck before helping out with the drawing.

Iqadi watches him reach for a pencil and start adding in. She could kiss him again and again. The more they kiss, the more they'll get used to it.

-o-

"Can I ask you something?" Iqadi asks as Imanu lies on their bed.

Imanu looks up at Iqadi who stands by her side of the bed. "Anything."

Iqadi sits on her side of the bed, crossing her legs as she faces him. "Were there any other kids with you when you were in the mines?"

Imanu sits up, back straight against the bedframe. He sees Iqadi's concern on her face and he exhales. A part of him regrets telling her that part of his past because she's guilty of not knowing about it for years. It was happening in the foundation of her home, her country. But if he never told her, would he be here right now?

"A few," he whispers back.

"I went down to the mines earlier," Iqadi tells him.

"But you're claustrophobic -"

"I kept myself together for as long as I could."

Imanu nods. "So, what'd you see?"

"I could never picture a child down there. I didn't see any. Maybe they stopped or maybe they weren't there, but still."

"Iqadi, don't worry about it." Imanu puts a hand on her arm, rubbing it up and down.

"I have to worry about it."

"Iqadi -"

"Imanu -"

They silenced each other, staring into each other's eyes. They're not sure if this is a fight. If it is, it'll be the first in their marriage. Before, there was nothing for them to argue about because they were amicably in love. Now, they were getting to know each other's weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Neither of them were used to that.

Change is so painfully normal. It's the most basic of all tragedies and, although they know that, it doesn't make it hurt less.

"I've never seen you fight," Iqadi mutters. "Not in a debate but a physical one. Like combat."

"That's because I'm not stupid enough to fight," Imanu responds.

"Are you calling me stupid?"

Imanu shakes his head. "Not at all. You have training and I don't like fighting. Even if you don't try, you could still destroy me."

"I'm not going to fight you." Iqadi eyes him before lying on her side. "It will get easier."

His hand rests on her shoulder and his thumb rubs a circle. "Royal life or marriage?"

Iqadi remains silence because she isn't sure. She grew up in royalty and it's even getting harder for her. She's not looking at him so she's unsure of his current facial expression. Iqadi isn't afraid to fall in love, but she's being afraid of being the only one who falls.

Things get better for them, I promise.