Spring, 4701

Kali scampered down Main Street, taking care to avoid running into a pair of guards leaving the garrison as she slipped between it and the town hall. She didn’t want to miss too much of the sunset over the water, but colliding with someone on the busy streets would guarantee that she’d not get to see anything at all. She rounded the corner with equal care, a right turn that took her to the cliffs overlooking the gulf. She could see the enormous glassworks a couple of buildings down on her left as she trotted out to the edge.

The sun was just above the horizon, still bright but turning a fiery orange as it sank slowly to the water. She sat down on a comfortable grassy spot just a few feet from the edge that had become her favorite viewpoint, so caught up in her routine that she did not realize at first that she was not alone.

She recognized Nualia, of course; Kali knew who Nualia was within days of moving to Sandpoint. Everyone knew Nualia. At barely eleven years old she’d been fortunate to see more of the world than most people would in their entire lives. She’d seen humans from nearly every continent and humanoids of all types, but Nualia with her silver hair and purple eyes stood out among all of them. Not that she hadn’t come across others with a distinct or unique appearance, but those were all cross-breeds of some sort. Nualia looked both human and otherworldly at the same time.

What did mom say she was? Aas-something?

“It’s not polite to stare.”

Kali turned her head away quickly, feeling embarrassed. She could tell her cheeks were flushing as she said, meekly, “I’m sorry.”

Nualia was laying on her side in the grass just off to her right, one hand resting on her abdomen. Quite a few people in Sandpoint came out this way to watch the sunset every now and then, but this was the first time Kali had run into her here. For some reason it made her uncomfortable.

Nualia turned to face her.

“You’re Kali.”

It wasn’t a question, but Kali answered as if it was.

“Yes, miss.”

For just a fleeting moment Nualia looked annoyed and Kali was embarrassed again.

Dummy! Just talk to her like she’s normal.

People did weird things around Nualia. Not so much the ones living in Sandpoint, but those in the farmlands out to the east. They would ask to stroke her hair, or to have a lock of it, and to touch her face or hand. Some even asked her to kiss their children. Once while she was out with her parents Kali saw someone kneel at Nualia’s feet in supplication, and beg or pray for something. She wasn’t sure what because she couldn’t hear the words, but her mom was very annoyed and remarked harshly about the farmers being superstitious. Her dad was more reserved, but she could tell he found it terribly rude and he was shaking his head as they walked away.

“Other kids pick on you.”

Also not a question. This time Kali didn’t say anything. Yes, some of them did; she was getting used to it, and was learning who to avoid and who to ignore. That didn’t mean that she wanted it pointed out to her. Uncomfortable under Nualia’s gaze, Kali looked down. Her eyes found a path of dirt on the ground.

Nualia turned away, staring out over the gulf where the sun was dipping into the water, slowly turning from orange to a deep red.

After a couple of minutes she said, matter-of-factly, “It gets worse.”

The sun set in awkward silence.

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