Snow sat with his back very straight, trying to pass airs of composure and dignity worthy of a lady. Which was easier said than done, with how much the whole thing shook from one side to the other.

Since he was back to wearing his dress, no matter how much ZenTar¹Literally zen (silent) + tar (wind) had argued that he’d been traveling on horse back all this time just fine, VinWei²Literally vin (hard) + wei (crystal) had insisted that he’d take the carriage she’d especially prepared for the esteemed Tien’Elhar³Literally tien (Heaven) + el (supreme) + har (girl child). The Heavenly Beings also known as Celestials in the common language..

In fact, she had insisted in a lot of things, such as the route they must take, and the Temple’s Guards that should escort them and that now marched glued to the carriage just outside his window.

Of course, she had also insisted that she must personally accompany them. And Snow had quickly concluded that there were probably very few things that normally didn’t go her way.

And so there she was, sitting practically in front of him, the flawless image of a perfect lady, even though she wore the same simple, plain clothes she wore the day before. Looking at her, Snow couldn’t help wonder if there were classes to teach noble girls such things, like how to sit or how to pose their hands and head in order to transmit that impressive feeling of poise and dignity that naturally emanated from the woman in front of him.

For more than one reason, thankfully the distance they had to travel wasn’t that long. Any more than that and he would have started to feel uncomfortable with the awkward silence inside that small space, added to the way that VinWei kept shamelessly staring at him, a strange, creepy smile on her beautiful, elegant face.

He almost sighed from relief when the carriage finally stopped.
Rising one corner of the white curtain covering the small window, Snow peered outside.

“Welcome to our main Wei Household,” VinWei told him with obvious pride. “Please don’t worry. I’ll personally see to it that you won’t lack anything, during our stay with us. A shame that that stubborn man won’t stay for a few days,” she added with an annoyed frown, since that had been the only thing that, no matter how much she’d argued, ZaiWin⁴Literally zai (blade) + win (chaos). hadn’t give in.

The door of the carriage opened and a young man with dark-brown hair bowed respectfully.

“Welcome home, Jundai⁵Literally jun (work / worker) + dai (light). Or Workers of Light, or in service of the Light. Name given to the priests and priestesses of the Temple.!”

“Well thank you. It’s nice to see you too, WarmAmber,” she happily replied, accepting his helpful hand to climb out of the carriage. The instant the man looked up to smile at her Snow immediately understood the reason behind his name, his eyes a warm amber color. “How’s the family? I heard you had a little one, this summer.”

“With the grace of the Gods, Jundai. A healthy baby boy,” he declared, his entire expression glowing at the mention of his newborn son, and VinWei nodded, clearly happy for him.

“Since I have finally come home after so long, If you’d like, later I can pay you a visit and personally bless the child.”

“Oh, that would be my honor, Jundai! Thank you very much!” the man immediately replied, bowing time and time again, making her laugh while she tried to stop him from courtesying so much.

Suddenly a dark mass covered the entire warm scene and those blue eyes stared coldly at him. A long, pale hand reached out for him and Snow sighed, accepting his help.

He thought that he would simply help him down, like WarmAmber had done to VinWei. But the instant he could reach him, the monster simply grabbed him by his waist and effortlessly picked him up, the same way he used to do to help him off his horse. For a moment all he could see was that frightening darkness, as if he’d been swallowed by a massive dark cloud, and the warm breath that touched his ear made him cringe, his heart jumping into a freezing beat.

“Remember. Don’t say a word. Don’t look up. Never leave MenTar⁶Literally men (lake) + tar (wind)’s side,” he whispered into his ear, repeating the same recommendations that he’d given him before they left the Temple, and finally set him down. Still he just stood there, towering over him in a way that, no matter how much Snow wished to, it would be impossible to ignore the dark mountain standing beside him.

“ZaiWin!!”

The shout that echoed throughout the entire courtyard made everyone turn back and, in the next instant, a flutter of pink and a wave of sweet perfume flew past Snow and happily jumped into that darkness. For a moment she was completely wrapped in it, the only colors that could be seen belonging to her pink dress and to the blond shade of her carefully braided hair.

“LanWei⁷Literally lan (white) + wei (crystal)! Know some manners! This is no way to welcome our guests,” VinWei scolded her, even though she’d done practically the same thing the first time she’d see him, and the sound of a soft, deep chuckle echoed from the darkness as he gently settled her down.

“It’s been a while, LanWei,” he greeted her and she wrapped her arms around his arm, which was kind of confusing to watch, Snow thought, blinking, wishing he knew how to go back to seeing only a man, instead of all that formless darkness.

“A while?! It’s been three years!! Three whole years! And you never even wrote! Is that all you have to say? It’s been a while?!” she immediately complained, raising her head to look up at him, her delicate lips arching into a perfect pout, and Snow could immediately see the obvious similarities between her and VinWei.

Not much younger than her sister, LanWei shared the same beautiful eye-color, the same heart-shaped face, the same light-blond hair. They even had more or less the same height, even though LanWei’s feminine curves were a bit more pronounced. The difference was that, while VinWei had apparently adopted the plain, simple style of the Temple, LanWei was from top to bottom what one would expect from a noblewoman.

Her pink dress flew gracefully, hugging her body like a second skin, leaving her creamy-white arms bare. Covered in small flowers made with pink sequins, the delicate fabric glistened under the sun with every move she made. Her naked arms were adorned with golden bracelets paved with shiny stones that Snow would never be able to name. And small, pink butterflies made of crystal ornamented her hair, capturing the white daylight and glistening like tiny stars.

Unlike her sister, she wore makeup, but nothing excessive like JanHai⁸Literally jan (flower) + hai (laugh / laughter). had worn. Her lips were painted a soft shade of pink, her eyeliner making her beautiful eyes look even bigger, bright crystal earrings dangling from her ears.

“Are you really going to simply ignore the rest of us, lar-har⁹Literally lar (lady) + har, suffix meaning girl child, or a child of the female sex. An endearing form to call a child of noble blood.?” ZenTar asked, a mocking smile on his face, and LanWei peered at him from where she stood, apparently unwilling to let go of the dark monster.

“I most certainly am! And stop calling me a child!”

“Well, young ones like you will always be children in my eyes,” ZenTar declared with superior tone, to which LanWei replied with a very childish disgusted face.

“ZenTar-lor¹⁰Suffix -lor meaning lord is absolutely right. Especially when you behave like a little girl!” a deeper voice stated and they all turned to see the man calmly coming down the stone stairs leading to the entrance hall.

All dressed in rich dark-blue and white, an insignia that looked like a small cluster of crystals embroidered in silver over his chest, he was a tall, well-built, middle-aged man. The green color of his eyes couldn’t hide the blood relationship to the Imperial Family, but his long hair, braided and tied up at the top of his head, was the same pale blond color as the two young women, the few flakes of white meshed with the blond only adding to his imposing figure.

At the sight of him everyone bowed respectfully at the waist, surprising Snow and leaving him lost about what he should do.

“Am I not allowed to miss my future husband?” LanWei petulantly complained, still holding on to that big mass of darkness, and VinWei sighed impatiently.

“You are most certainly not allowed to be rude to our guests,” she countered, which earned her childish sneer from her sister.

“Lun Calzai¹¹Literally lun (black) plus cal (bright) + zai (blade), or Blade of Light. It can be translated in common language as Black General, one of military leaders of the Empire. Each Province has it’s own Calzai. To distinguish them they were giver different colors., please forgive my silly daughters,” the older man said, ignoring the small squabble between the two women. “It is my pleasure to welcome you all to our Wei Household,” he declared, sounding terribly formal and serious, his green eyes glowing astutely, and the dark monster shifted, becoming taller again.

“We thank you for your hospitality, Nai Calzai¹²Literally nai (transparent / translucent) plus cal (bright) + zai (blade), or Blade of Light. It can be translated in common language as Invisible General, one of military leaders of the Empire. Each Province has it’s own Calzai. To distinguish them they were giver different colors.,” he returned and the other man nodded appreciatively.

“But come, please follow me. I’ve prepared some refreshments. I just wished you’d have informed us of your arrival as soon as you entered the city.”

“We didn’t want to take any more of your time than necessary,” ZaiWin replied, following him up the stairs, LanWei still hanging from his arm, and the Nai Calzai gave him a reproachful, all too aware glare.

“I’m certain you didn’t.”

Silvareiel

Everyone! Meet the old fox RimMyu, the Nai Calzai of Wei -_-;