TA Chapter 2 Mazi City

  My eyes widened, taking in the crowds walking along the streets, the cars and motorbikes on the road, and the infrastructure that was ushering in a new age. The there was the smog, the thick black smoke rising from almost every single vehicle on the road.

  The city was loud. The car engines and horns from all manner of vehicles. The people, some of whom were speaking loudly, as if trying to raise their voices above the chaotic sounds around them. I hurriedly pulled my head back inside after a bike slithered a little too close to my face. We were caught in a traffic jam. There was movement, but it was slow. Every single person among the five states who could afford it had now converged within this city, raising its population.

  "Chappati! Chappati! Hot and fresh! Young lady, can I get you some? Don't worry, they are still warm."

  The man had dark chocolate skin, his brows slick with sweat, and wet patches on his white shirt, especially around the armpits and his chest. He had an enthusiastic smile plastered across his face while his eyes carried hopeful expectation. My eyes moved to the transparent plastic bucket cradled within one hand. Moisture droplets had gathered on the walls within its inner surface, and I could see the circular fried treats inside. Since his bucket was a little too close, the faint aroma made my mouth water before my head whipped to my mom. With a nod, I opened my purse and purchased two.

  The taste exploded within my mouth. Chewing became a fun activity as I savored the few flavors dancing along my taste buds. Because I had been too focused on my work, all meals had been cooked food provided by my mom. Besides, it had been quite some time since I had indulged in street flavors.

  "Mmmmm! Mmmmmm! Wow! This guy knows what he's doing!" exclaimed my mom, earning herself a glare from me.

  "What?!"

  "Those were some weird sounds, mom." I said while taking another bite from my delicious chappati.

  "Why?"

  Did she really need to ask that question?!

  -----

  Minutes had elapsed by the time we reached the ring road, which accepted and spat out vehicles from and onto the four cardinal roads that converged upon it. A statue crafted from bronze and human-sized, stood in the middle of the road on its own lone patch of soil. The marble cube that it rested upon had only a single line...

  Nameless Hero, The inventor of the first machine to harvest Dark energy!

  His features were deliberately masculine yet the statue lacked any defining facial features, as if it was meant to be mysterious.

  According to those that loved making theories, it had been speculated that the person had some relation to the Dugavu clan. After all, they were the only ones who had managed to improve upon the technology the figure had left behind. There was also the fact that Dugavu state was the first to bring that technology to the war, effectively changing the way humans engaged the beasts forever.

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  Just like any other person in the field, I was curious about that figure of bronze. Mostly, how such a person could have stumbled upon such a civilization altering discovery.

  My eyes lingered upon the statue until we curved around the ring road, exiting onto the northern road towards our destination.

  -----

  The car finally arrived at the destination and I opened the door the moment it stopped, stepping out onto the pavement, with my breath being taken away as my eyes rose to follow the glass panes embedded within the building before me all the way to the point that the tilt of my head started straining my neck.

  Romantic tales had been spun from those that had climbed the building. Comparisons had been made with others, yet none could have ever hoped to match its sheer height. This was The Monument, the tallest building in the world right now. It was the administrative centre of Dugavu state.

  I took a deep breath to try and refresh my lungs and mute the awe, yet immediately after that, I wrinkled my nose. The bad odors of progress, the fumes from the vehicles carried by the air were heavy here, within this fortress city.

  I spread my arms and wiggled my shoulders to loosen any stuck part of the gaudy golden inverted flower dress I was decked in. Mother had chosen it for me, reasoning that this was a diplomatic mission that didn't allow youthful girls like me wearing their tight jeans and wide airy and comfortable shirts.

  Before I could stretch, my instincts picked up on someone staring with unknown intentions. Directing my gaze to the front of the building, where a few people were either passing by, entering, or exiting, my eyes fell into the pupils of another. The crimson rimmed gaze was locked with mine as if the owner had simply been waiting for me to appear.

  He was a man with a chiseled jawline, dark short curled dreamy hair, with a white band wrapped around his forehead. He was clad in a dark shirt with a crimson jacket delicately draped upon his shoulders. A spine of white bones was the only stain in the blood colored jacket. His hands were within the pockets of his grey pants and the grin oozing with confidence that was pasted across his face rubbed me the wrong way.

  'He's familiar. Where have I seen him before?'

  Then he approached, only stopping when he was just a few feet away. For some reason, goosebumps rose on my skin, a chill coursing down my nape, and I could have sworn I had smelled blood and death!

  "You must be Ril Milena. I have heard good things about you, young woman." He said, his voice a deep drawl that oozed charm. Just by speaking, many women would gladly throw themselves at him. Such a thought crossed my mind even as I felt a certain aversion to him.

  "David Lutalo!" mom's voice came from behind me, deep and unkind. The way she had uttered the name and the realization I gained upon hearing it made me take a step backwards, my body trembling in both fear and disgust.

  "And I had placed an inner bet to not be recognized right away. What gave me away? The crimson eyes? My attire? Or could it be something else? Do tell!" he spoke, voice laced with excitement.

  "What do you want?" despite myself, I asked. The Lutalos weren't the sort of people we wanted to associate with. Their methods were ones we disapproved of.

  "I was wondering whether I could intercept you for a moment. Don't worry, all I want is to have a chat about some things."

  "No!" there was something final in that one word that served to end any conversation.

  "Why? It's not as if I am going to murder you. Do you see me as a bad guy?" he spread his hands in a harmless gesture.

  "We, the Milenas don't get along with you people. You should know that. Why would you approach us?" mom rested her hands upon my shoulders, her tone revealing her curiosity.

  "Enemies! Friends! It's like two sides of the same coin. You just flip the sides any time you want. Surely, you do understand such things considering that you play the game of politics, Ravena."

  "I am your senior! Don't ever let my name leave those lips casually." mom bristled.

  "It looks like I won't be able to get a conversation. Well then... Till we meet again." he said before blowing a kiss my way and walking away.

  I cringed at his gesture, with a shiver trailing down my my spine.

  "What do you think he wanted?" I asked while my gaze lingered at his back. The way the man was moving even after being rejected was still filled with the same wild confidence from before, as if our words had simply slid off him.

  "Probably another war." answered mother thoughtfully.

  "And I had thought everyone would crave peace now that we have banished all the most powerful threats from our lands if you discount the water bodies."

  "Have you forgotten those tree worshipers in the north?" asked mother.

  "For now, they aren't a threat. The best course of action right now would be to develop. The population is still too small to take over every inch of land on this continent."

  "Its good thing you can see the bigger picture." mom tapped my shoulders and we started moving towards the entrance of the tall building that David had vanished into. Apparently, all the delegations from the various states were supposed to occupy this building. It was a good thing the five States had somewhat good relations with each other, even the Lutalos hadn't yet become too extreme to be marginalized.

  I took a deep breath before coughing violently when the diluted fumes made it into my lungs. The people in this part of the city had solemn and serious expressions. Each step they took was filled with both urgency and purpose, as if they had a million things to do, with too little time on their hands. I suppose it was the price for development.