The far south-eastern side of the Iwote continent was covered by a large and mostly empty mountain range known as the Tinnei Mountains. Centered in the middle of the mountain range lay the city of Tinnei. It was not a very big city, but it was a hot tourist spot for those who enjoyed the pleasures mountains often had to offer–rock climbing and skiing.
But for the Mayoress, Faria Dragonheart, the mountains and tourists only offered annoyance. She hated the tourists and was hard at work in her office trying to write legislation that would get the mountains declared a protected national reserve–on the account of some insignificant insect that happened to make its home in the mountains–and would have the tourists removed for once and for all.
The 6′ raven-haired Faria sat behind her extravagant desk, wearing her usual bright purple dress, purple pumps and purple hair band. Her bright blue eyes read feverishly over a final draft of the legislation that she had been revising only minutes earlier. Satisfied, she reached over on her desk and pressed a large button labeled secretary. With a smirk she spoke firmly, “please bring Kaiten here now.”
“Right away ma’am” a female voice replied through the intercom.
* * *
On the eastern end of Tinnei, away from the main strip of hotels and restaurants, sat a clunker of a blue car which sat in the gravel driveway of a tiny little house next to a tiny little lake. The house was in fairly bad shape, with the steps having completely rotted away (making it quite a leap to enter) and those who passed by it in their cars often did double takes. Who could possibly live in such a run-down place? they thought. They should really tear it down and build a new one.
Sitting on a log near the lake was a man who stood 5’10″ and had black moppy hair. Dark-green eyes pierced through tiny little glasses at a small owl asleep next to him. “Oh Eisen” he said, petting the oblivious owl. “It’s such a nice and beautiful day and you spend it all away sleeping.”
“Hoooo” Eisen purred in response, probably dreaming about eating a fish or a rodent or something.
The man stood up and brushed off his blue jeans and green shirt when he heard the familiar sound of crunching gravel; a car was climbing up his driveway. As he approved the driveway he saw a black limo. Must be important!
“Kaiten Ryu” the limo driver said in a very annoyed tone. He hated the gravel and was always worried it would pop the tires.
“Yes?”
“Faria Dragonheart has called for you.”
“Oh I see. I will get my things then.” With a huge leap up, Kaiten landed just inside his front door with a loud thud. Eisen hooted loudly as he was awoken prematurely. Kaiten grabbed his favorite red trench coat, whistled for Eisen to land on his shoulder, and departed.
* * *
Although Kaiten despised the main part of the city, he always did enjoy looking at the city hall building. The building stretched up 20 stories in height, the tallest in the whole city. At the very top lie the dojo of Master Kron–a very exclusive and powerful martial arts teacher. While Kaiten had never had the pleasure of being taught by him (really only Faria could afford his services), he had heard rumors that Kron had once defeated 100 men at the same time in armed combat. He often wondered what Kron looked like and what it would be like to learn under him.
Right below Kron’s dojo was Faria’s office. It had one of the best views in the entire city; half the office was made of windows that overlooked everything. It was breath taking every time.
“Lady Faria, Kaiten is here to see you now” the intercom buzzed with the female voice again.
Faira nodded to herself and pressed the button to respond. “Great. Please send him in.”
Kaiten pushed open a beautiful mahogany door and bowed, nearly causing Eisen to fall off his shoulder. “Ma’am.’
“Sit down Kaiten.” She opened a hand to a seat in front of the desk. “I have summoned you here today to embark on a great quest for me.”
She took a moment’s pause for Kaiten to seat himself. “You see, this city is infested with the worst kind of plague known to humankind.” Another pause, she turned dramatically and slammed her fist on the desk. “TOURISTS!” She snarled. “I can’t stand them.”
“I..er.. well, don’t they bring in money?” Kaiten said, unsure if he should be speaking yet.
Faira regained her composure. “Sure, they might bring in money for the city but they also bring in crime, alcohol, disease, deaths, injuries, and arrogance.” She really stressed the last word. “I can’t stand them!” she repeated. “When I took over Tinnei I vowed to the people that I would return Tinnei back to how it was in my great, great, great, great..” –Kaiten zoned out for a brief moment–”great grandmother’s time. That is, only Tinnei-ans are allowed to live here. We take care of ourselves–are you listening to me?” She snapped her fingers and glared at Kaiten’s glazed over face.
“Yes ma’am, of course I am.” Eisen hooted audibly in agreement.
Faria turned and walked over to a printer in the corner of the room. The bill to have Tinnei closed off was laying, freshly printed. “And so today I will keep my promise to the people who have elected me.” She folded the letter and put it into a nicely pressed official brown envelope, sealing it with her official royal insignia.
“Inside this envelope contains the future of our great city. And I am entrusting my most favorite and dependable government office clerk to handle this grave matter.”
Kaiten gulped.
“I need you to deliver this envelope, in person, to the president of Crim. Only he has the power to make Tinnei a true protected reserve that will save our city from the scum tourists.” She sighed and made a grand gesture with the envelope to Kaiten. “Are you up to this quest of mine, oh Kaiten?”
“But.. tonight’s the season finale of Turpentine. I was really hoping to find out if Ike would defeat Barclay to save Renee from being killed by a giant guillotine.” Faria shook the envelope in front of him, oblivious to his objections. “On the other hand, I suppose I can always record it.” Kaiten stood up and took the envelope. “I am. I won’t let you down.”
“You better not” she said sternly. “I remind you again that the very FUTURE of this city is in your small little hands.” She leaned closer to him, making him feel uneasy. “If you do not succeed in this quest you better, never, ever let me see you again. I will rip your heart out, feed it to a mountain goat while doctors keep you alive so that you can watch. Then I will cut your appendages off and beat your own head in with them.” Her eyes narrowed and Kaiten could swear he saw flames dancing within them. “Do you understand?”
“I…er… I.. yes.”
“Good.” She straightened herself out and smiled a huge grin. “Then take this.” She reached into her desk and pulled out a small white letter-sized envelope. “Inside is $500 and two train tickets. The first will take you to Bikko, the train hub, while the second will take you the rest of the way to the capitol.” She continued to smile as he took it from her. “Now off you go. And remember what I said…”
He would never forget it.
