Eastpearl’s Mercy

Eastpearl, ten years before the events of Chapter 1

The pristine white walls of the palace came into sight, its edges framed by fake golden vines. The late morning sunlight reflected off of the golden metal, piercing to the eyes. Evenly-cut green bushes surrounded the courtyard and the giant doorway. 

The chatter that went on before the palace suddenly dimmed to a silence as a shadowy figure walked through the groups of people, like a dark split between the light. The people started whispering amongst themselves.

“Look, that’s her…!”

“She looks like a witch.”

“She looks mean.” 

With piercing purple eyes, Kalliyan scanned the crowd for the person who spoke the last sentence. Everyone seemed to look away when she came across them, their eyes ducking downwards, as if they were ashamed.

At the castle door, she took out the rest of the cigarette from her mouth and dropped it to the white stoned path, stifling the fading glimmer of flame with her heavy boots.

She pushed the door open, ready to be out of sight of judging eyes, only to realize that three even sharper pairs of even judgier eyes now stared at her.

“Late by ten minutes.” Lan read his watch, his icy blue eyes not betraying anything except coldness.

“It’s summer, Kalliyan. Take that cape off and quit showing off.” Mliss’ tone was rude, as usual.

“Come on, Tamarind is waiting.” Vui didn’t even bother looking up. 

With some sort of dread-like emotion sitting on her heart, Kalliyan followed the other three. 

If she had became an artist like how she always wanted to, maybe her life wouldn’t be as miserable as now. Having three of the world’s most annoying people as colleagues, literally zero friends, and having everyone in the district judge you every time you go outside… Kalliyan’s life is literally the worst in the entire district of Eastpearl - no, the entire planet.

She inwardly shook her head, attempting to get every single strand of complaint out of her. She’s an adult now. Adults aren’t supposed to complain about their life anymore, not even inside their heads.

The throne room lead to a variety of rooms, as well as two huge grand staircases which lead to the upstairs space of the palace. Tamarind’s personal office is upstairs. Kalliyan followed the others, not bothering to take off her hat or her cape that dragged on the floor, even though it was kind of hot.

Lan pushed open the door first. The office was quiet, the single wooden desk and the chair that was turned the other way. As the four of them lined up and stared, the chair slowly turned around, making an unpleasant creaking sound.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite deputies!” Tamarind’s bright orange hair came into view, his cheerful voice contradictory to the mood of his office.

“We are your only deputies, sir.” Mliss said, unflinching.

“Oh, by now you should know not to be so formal.” Tamarind waved his arms in the air. “How has life been?”

“It hasn’t been that long since we last saw each other, sir.” Vui said.

Tamarind blinked. “Ah, of course! Well, anything interesting happening during these three days?”

Silence.

“Instances of concerning behavior among the people?”

Silence again. Kalliyan shifted her gaze to Lan and Vui, wondering if they were going to mention it first. 

The twin brothers seemed to have no intention of saying anything, and Mliss was focused on the stack of papers on Tamarind’s desk, her long pink bangs almost entirely covering her blue eyes. 

“Everything within Eastpearl has been running well, sir.” Lan said finally.

No, it hasn’t. Kalliyan opened her mouth to object, “sir, the people from the town of Mangosteen-”

“Have reported yet another good harvest, sir.” Mliss cut her off aggressively, her eyes still fixed on the papers.

Kalliyan tried to ignore the fury in her chest. It’s summer!

“That’s good to hear! I should perhaps pay a visit to them soon…” Tamarind said, although Kalliyan knew that when he remembers to actually visit, it will have been two weeks after he’s dead.

The silence ensued as Tamarind stared at the clock. “Alright, let’s take a lunch break, and we’ll start sorting out the papers afterwards.”

Lan and Vui exited first, their facial expressions still betraying nothing. Mliss left afterwards, not forgetting to give Kalliyan a derisive look.

“Are you not going with them?” Tamarind looked up once the door closed, giving Kalliyan an acute look. 

Kalliyan hesitated, oppressing her nerves to this life-or-death matter at hand that she had to speak up about. “Sir, the people of Mangosteen are starving.” She blurted out. “Children have died and they’ve been eaten afterwards!”

“What?” From the deepest flames of Tamarind’s eyes rose shock. “But look outside… it’s summer, and everyone has a full belly and never has to worry about simple subjects like food…” his muttering trailed off.

“It’s because we live in the capital, that’s all we will ever see.” Kalliyan told him.

“That’s unacceptable, we have to help them.” Tamarind said. He could be a good leader sometimes, if he was just a little more serious. “Kalliyan, you know how to ride a broomstick. Why don’t you take some food over… from the supermarket, tell them I will pay them back afterwards.”

I don’t think anyone would object even if you didn’t. Kalliyan thought. “Right now?”

“Right now. The four of us will work on the papers alone.” Tamarind said, his eyes focused. “Go!”

Kalliyan backed out of the room, relieved to be alone once more. The three of the others are probably long gone.

In front of the palace’s windows, she took off on her broomstick, heading towards the supermarket right near center Maharlika. The breeze felt nice on her face in this hot day.

For most of her adolescence, she lived in Wynn, where she learned to ride a broomstick and do a few simple magic tricks. But then her parents passed away, and she rode back to Eastpearl by herself. The thunders of that journey still echo in her head now, even as the sun shined.

She finally found the giant white rooftop of the supermarket, situated along the tall buildings of the grand city of Maharlika. She landed in front of the automatic doors, glancing up at the sign as she felt the eyes of the other customers all on her back.

No matter, she had real business to attend to. This attention will help, anyway.

The colorful aisles of the store immediately blinded her, the rows of people waiting to check out. She walked across the shiny white floor, letting her boots make noise against the slippery tiles. She finally found the customer support section, where the teenage girl who worked there looked completely terrified at the sight of her.

“Hi,” Kalliyan tried - really tried - to make her voice sound friendly. “Where is your manager?” The teenage girl only reacted with terror, though.

“That’s me.” Kalliyan turned around to the sound of the forty-ish year old man. “W-wait, D-Deputy Kalliyan?” His voice went from somewhat annoyed to scared in a very quick transition.

“The cyan hair wasn’t obvious enough?” Kalliyan offered, but that only seemed to terrify the man even more. 

“S-sorry, d-dear deputy.” The man looked genuinely apologetic.

Aware that she was making a scene, and not wanting to make the man any more uncomfortable than how uncomfortable he looks now, Kalliyan decided to get this over with fast. “I’m going to take some - well, a large batch of food - to the town of Mangosteen. Tamarind will pay you back.”

“Oh, o-of course…”

Kalliyan had no time to waste. She rode on her broomstick and zoomed to the ceiling, where she quickly scanned the aisles for fruits and vegetables, any sort of canned food, meat, and everything else that she thought was necessary. She was a big fan of peach juice personally, so she took some anyways, even though it might not have been healthy.

She was really glad that she had perfected the spell of levitation back as a student at Wynn. She had to use it to help her mother at the time.

With a giant trail of food after her, Kalliyan flew out of the supermarket. Feeling the gaze of the others on her back, she wondered if they thought she was cool. It’s true that pretty much nobody in Eastpearl could perform magic like that…

No no, adults no longer wonder that sort of thing anymore, don’t they.

~

Kalliyan departed immediately on the journey to Mangosteen, which is on the mainland of Eastpearl. 

She had to cross a short stretch of ocean, but it was very quick on a broomstick. Soon enough, the land of Eastpearl’s mainland came into sight.

The towns here were completely different from the grandness of Maharlika. They all looked so broken… how was this never, ever addressed in the meetings?

Why did Mliss lie about Mangosteen? Wasn’t she, too, working so that Eastpearl, as a district, improves?

Kalliyan slowed down her speed, half-searching for signs of Mangosteen, half deep in thought.

The first possibility could be that Mliss has an nemesis in Mangosteen, but that seems unlikely given that Mliss had never left Maharlika in her life. 

Lan and Vui were clearly in on it too… with all their talks of “everything is fine” and whatnot… which were all false. The only place that is fine is Maharlika.

Kalliyan was pulled out of her thoughts when she finally saw a broken sign of a mango beneath her. She slowed to a halt in front of the town gate. This must be the right place.

Mangosteen was… barely a town. The wooden houses seemed broken, teared apart by the years. The town as a whole was also really little, it was more like a village.

Kalliyan stepped off into the ground. It felt dirty, a night and day difference to grand Maharlika’s great white roads. Her boots dragged along in the mud, and she wondered if anyone was still alive.

The first, actually alive face finally came into sight when she was already a while deep into the town. It’s the one of an old lady, who looked up at her, her expression slowly changing to some sort of shock.

“Hello…” Kalliyan asked, setting down some of the foods that were held in containers. She had held them for a while… it was a little tiring. “I’m Deputy Kalliyan, from Maharlika. Where are the other people from this town…?”

“...Kalliyan?” She looked up, the name raspy on her lips.

“Yes, ma’am.” Kalliyan said. 

“Deputy Kalliyan?” Finally her eyes opened up. Unlike the rest of her, they shined full of life.

“That’s me.” 

“The scariest one!” A little voice from behind her said. Kalliyan hadn’t noticed the little girl behind her, she seemed so tiny.

“Don’t be rude.” The old lady said, kindly. She flicked an apologetic smile at Kalliyan. “This is my granddaughter, Seresa.”

Kalliyan stared at the tiny girl, who was probably six or five. Her blonde hair was sharp and her face was pale, but she looked alive. So alive, and so strong… it was opposite to the old lady. “She’s growing so well.”

“It’s because her mother sacrificed herself to provide a good meal for us.” The old lady smiled. 

Kalliyan’s heart lurched forward when she savored the meaning of those words.

~

The residents of Mangosteen are gathered around the huge campfire that Kalliyan had started, roasting fish and cooking meat. For the first time in a while, friendly, alive chatter rose among the people again.

More people had started to approach Kalliyan to thank her for the food after she had taken off her hat and cape. Perhaps she looked less intimidating that way.

Watching the town’s remaining residents finally starting to eat warmed Kalliyan’s heart, and yet, deeper in, it made her feel worse and more worried.

There must be other towns starving like this… how come they’ve never noticed anything? How come none of the other deputies wanted to help despite knowing that it is going on?

They all resolve the letters of complaint coming from Maharlika’s residents but… that’s just all they were, letters of complaint coming from Maharlika’s privileged residents. Eastpearl was much more than just Maharlika…

Kalliyan herself was privileged too. Incredibly lucky, and completely by accident, to have been chosen as a deputy. She’d always thought that her life was the worst, but at least she had a warm home to live in, and there was always food on the table.

If it weren’t for this cursed job, she would have been starving on the streets too. She should say thank you to Tamarind. Even though that’s completely against her image.

“You’re the least scary one out of all of them.” Seresa, who had apparently been watching her for a while, spoke up. Her little pace face was framed by the warm campfire and the clear dark blue sky of the night.

“Thank you.” Kalliyan smiled. “Have you eaten?”

“I’m not hungry.” Seresa nodded. “What is big sis Kalli thinking about?”

“Well… big sis Kalli is thinking about how she became a deputy.” Kalliyan offered.

Seresa’s eyes lit up. “Tell, tell! My mommy always tells me bedtime stories…”

Kalliyan thought for a moment, trying to put her story into understandable words. “Well… after big sis Kalli came back from a very long journey, she was homeless and lived on the streets of Maharlika. Then, one day, the old deputy disappeared, so Leader Tamarind decided to hold a competition to select a new one. Big sis Kalli was passing by, but he saw her broomstick and asked her to participate in the competition too. Kalli did not win, but Tamarind still wanted her to be deputy, so she accepted it.” There was no need to give Seresa the painful version of the events that Kalliyan actually remembered.

“Wow, big sis Kalli must be really cool and talented!” Seresa’s eyes sparkled under the dim light.

“Thank you.” Kalliyan smiled. 

“Thank you,” it’s Seresa’s grandmother who had joined in on their conversation. “We are so grateful to have you.”

I really haven’t done that much… were the words that Kalliyan couldn’t say. The tears in the old lady’s eyes made it hard to say anything.

~

Kalliyan departed the next day after staying the night. “Please come visit, big sis Kalli!” Seresa had called after her, her tiny figure waving as she was held up by another resident. 

“Thank you!” “Thank you!” The residents had collectively called. They now had food that will last them more than a whole season. Kalliyan left feeling satisfied, but soon, her heart was back to worrying.

It did have a reason to worry, though. Why did Lan, Vui, and Mliss hide the fact that literally everyone outside of Maharlika is having a terrible time? 

They are still deputies of this district… the more Kalliyan thought about that, the more dizzy she felt. It’s dangerous to keep them… that’s so dangerous… she has to tell Tamarind… they’ll only cause harm to everyone…

The grand city of Maharlika finally came into sight again, and Kalliyan was quick to spot the white-gold palace. She landed and quickly pushed the doors open, revealing a completely empty throne room.

Kalliyan flew up to Tamarind’s office, and kicked the door open. 

Tamarind sat there, his face lighting up a little once he saw her, and yet no words came out of his mouth.

Kalliyan gasped for breaths, now that she was here, she couldn’t seem to figure out what to say. “They…” she gasped, “are dangerous…”

“I’ve thought so, too.” Tamarind stood up, a sort of new understanding in his eyes. “And liars. They are no longer deputies.”

“...what?” Kalliyan looked up at him.

“From now on, Kalliyan, you will be the only deputy of Eastpearl.”

“What…? You are not… going to pick… new… ones?”

Tamarind seemed to think for a moment. “No. But-”

“But we’ve always had four deputies!” 

“But,” Tamarind’s single word was strong and decisive, as he walked around his desk and stopped until his face was a centimeter away from Kalliyan’s. “I will hire other people to sort out the different tasks.”

Kalliyan stared at him, swallowing.

ten years later

The circle of people gathered around the courtyard gasped as a beam of fire blasted right through the path. There wasn’t much to worry about, since all of the plants were removed, but the bright burning flames of a fire was always fear-inducing.

Simpor had cleverly ducked out of the way, however, and was now retaliating with a shiny slash of his squiggly blade. 

Padauk seemed hopeless under the blade, and as Simpor pinned it to his neck, he shook his head frantically, desperation in his eyes.

“Let’s take a break for now.” Kalliyan said, swooping in on her broomstick. “Padauk, you need to work on your reactions. In the heat of the moment, just like what happened, there will be no time to chant the spells. You have to think quicker.”

“Sorry, Deputy Kalliyan.” The boy looked down, somewhat embarrassed.

“Good job on the bladework, Simpor.” Kalliyan nodded to the other candidate. “But you should work on making use of a range of weapons. I know the blade was what you grew up with, but the arena will often put you into situations where you will need to be skilled at multiple things.”

Simpor nodded, “I know, it’s just that none of the things I’ve tried have worked for me.”

“Fake it until you make it.” Kalliyan offered. “We haven’t much time left.”

“Give them a break.” At the sound of the familiar bright voice, Kalliyan felt something lift in her heart. “December is a whole month away!”

Kalliyan stared into Seresa’s red eyes. “A month is not a long time…”

“Relax! You two, you’re off for the rest of the day.” Seresa waved at the boys of the Selected Team.

“The day won’t be over for another seven hours.” Kalliyan countered. 

“They’ve already worked really hard.” Seresa stared at her back, her eyes determined.

“You…” Kalliyan’s angry tone of voice died down as she complied, “are always making decisions for me.” 

Seresa was right, though. Padauk and Simpor have worked really hard. It’s unlikely that Eastpearl will win, and yet they have faced each day of training with excitement and determination.

Or perhaps, they just don’t realize the fate ahead of them…

Mentioning it would just be destroying their spirits.

~

“They did well today.” Kalliyan reported, her heart thumping loudly in her chest as she stared down at Tamarind’s orange hair. He had grown it out, and now it reaches below his neck.

Tamarind glanced up at her from the stack of papers he was reading. “Good to hear! Are you staying the night at the palace again?”

“It’ll only be a few minutes to get to my house.” Kalliyan shook her head.

“Aww.” Tamarind’s disappointment faded after a few seconds. “Good work today to you too, Kalliyan.”

“Good night!” Kalliyan waved before leaving his office.

~

Kalliyan’s house sat at the calm edge of Maharlika, by a crescent-shaped lake, where signs of human life were sparse. The small, wooden house was covered in vines that she had carefully grown out over the years.

Now, she sat at her table beside the window, Seresa sitting on the opposite side of her, a calm smile on her face, framed by the setting sun’s rays that came through the window and the vines grown on top.

The blonde girl had moved to Maharlika two years after the Mangosteen incident, and she had been living with Kalliyan since, almost like the little sister that Kalliyan never had.

Kalliyan taught her all the magic she learned from Wynn, as well as riding a broomstick. They even bought Seresa’s broomstick together, when Kalliyan had invited her along on a democratic visit to Wynn.

At the same time, she’s tried to learn more magic herself. It’s been relatively peaceful at Eastpearl, with her being the only deputy. Most of the duties she had when there were four deputies, she no longer had. Tamarind hired a lot more government officials to oversee everything.

Although, she is placed in charge of the selection process… it’s always stressful every year once that time rolls around.

“You are thinking about something heavy, aren’t you?” Seresa’s clear voice brought her back to reality.

Kalliyan shook her head with a light smile, focusing her attention on the two cups of tea on the table instead. 

“If you let me carry some of that, it will weigh on you less.” Seresa offered with a shrug.

Kalliyan shook her head again. “I’m just thinking about Simpor and Padauk.”

“They’ll do fine,” Seresa said.

I hope so too. 

“There’s no use worrying about it, it just makes you feel worse.” Seresa took a sip of her tea. “Why don’t you do something relaxing to wind down for the night?”

Kalliyan glanced around. The house is covered in paintings she’d made over the years. She had taught Seresa to paint too, although she seemed to enjoy doing it less than watching Kalliyan do it.

“I think I’ll go take a walk instead.” Kalliyan stood up. 

“That will help too.” Seresa said, giving her a smile.

~

By the time Kalliyan made it back from the forest outside, the night was already here. Without even thinking about it, she’d been outside for two hours straight. Sweat ran down her back.

It’s just hard to be happy these days, but that has always been her life, hasn’t it?

The house was dark once she opened the door. Seresa must have slept already… by the moonlight at the table, the two cups of unfinished tea still sat there, cold.

It was good that the walk made her tired. She can fall asleep easier now.

~

Kalliyan stumbled through a somewhat disoriented world, somehow arriving at the palace’s throne room despite never having to push through a door.

Aware now that she was dreaming, she scanned the crowd of people around her, whom she can walk straight on through, like a ghost.

Tamarind sat on the throne - something he’d never do. “She was amazing,” his voice was echo-like. “She-” He’s choked up, actually crying, something he’d also never do. “She helped me with so much… she did so much for Eastpearl…”

“Kalliyan! Kalliyan! Kalliyan!” The crowd of people started chanting her name.

Wait. Only distantly aware that she was going to her own funeral, the shock of that came a little too late, but the surprise jerked her awake. The disoriented throne room faded away, and blurry reality came into sight.

Cold sweat ran down Kalliyan’s back as she stared at the ceiling, blue because of the night outside. The sleepiness snapped out of her eyes, vaguely aware of the knife on her neck.

“You…” her attacker murmured. 

It’s been ten years, but Kalliyan recognized that voice in a heartbeat. She shifted her head, sinking deeper into the mattress to avoid the sharp blade on her throat. Terror chilled her spine as Mliss’s pink hair came into sight, even longer than it had been the last time she saw her.

Behind her, she could somewhat make out the figures of Lan and Vui. They were roughly the same height still, illuminated in the night. The sharp knifes they were holding each reflected its own resplendence under the moonlight.

“Eastpearl doesn’t need a deputy like you!” Mliss’s voice rose in a crescendo as she pressed the knife closer towards Kalliyan.

“I’ve made some mistakes, but I did better than a liar like you ever could.” Kalliyan said, wondering if that will be the last thing she’ll ever say.

Her life had been mostly pointless, but at least she did good things for Eastpearl as their deputy. It’s evident by the fact that no one on the mainland is starving anymore, evident by the fact that most people seemed to like their government now…

And she raised Seresa too, from a little girl to the responsible warrior that she is now.

Now, she hoped, with more pain than she had ever felt in her life, that the three former deputies would leave Seresa alone. That they wouldn’t know how much Kalliyan loved her.

The air froze. The former colleague’s warm breaths hit each other’s faces. 

Then, in slow motion, Mliss’ face shifted from the vengeful fury she had before, to shock. And then they twisted, in pain, in the most agony-filled expression Kalliyan had ever witnessed.

The life trailed out of Mliss’ eyes as her pupils pointed upwards, and then she fell over.

Kalliyan pushed her body off of her bed, and slowly sat up. At the same time, Lan and Vui also fell to the floor, their tongues stuck out in a disturbing manner.

From the doorway, Seresa walked through, quietly kicking Lan and Vui’s bodies to the side. Moonlight framed her face, not a single sliver of shame, or terror, or shock there, nor any sort of feelings.

“Did you…” Kalliyan muttered quietly.

Seresa blinked, and tears emerged from her sparkling eyes, reflecting the white light from the night. Yet somehow, not a single emotion was on her face. “They were about to kill you.”

The two of them stared at each other as the silence went on, eventually collapsing into a deep embrace. In the midst of the three dead bodies, their own were warm against each other.