1 1 - °Summer Heat and Silk Clothing°

The sun was high up in the sky indicating the beginning of noon. The traveler's passage towards Janln City's main road from the little town of Enwa was devoid of carriages and carts as the Ena family descended a sloppy hill. Janln City was the biggest of the two Cities that the small town the family had departed from was snagged in. Other than Enwa in between Janln and Krisna—some of the most highly regarded farming regions—there situated various little towns and villages with no other uniting factor or name beside the swarming numbers of farmers.

The Ena family have been on the road from their town for three hours. Creaks from the swaying of the cart—which was filled to the brim with items—became far more intense as they descended. The particular area was grassy and hilly, but had vast fields most fertile for cereal farming in the Principality of Yerek; or as it was famously known, the Nation of Jade. The name had stuck due to the Nation having what seemed to be an abundant supply of rich green jadeite up north and further up to one of its dominion kingdoms, the Principality of Dotnia. The supply of the material had boosted the Nation's economy to be one of the top 3 powerhouses in the current Sado Era.

However, in this same Era, Gin Ena of the Ena family couldn't help but be severely annoyed by the sounds the cart made while trying to take a nap. They had awoken far too early, and even when he knew that they were to leave before dawn for them to reach their destinations in a timely fashion, it still didn't do anything to temper his mood. Also, the summer heat caused him to perspire to the point of his clothes sticking to him. His parents had wanted him to dress his best so when they got to his new temporary home, he would be well presented and not looking like 'a poor farmer's son', as his father had duly put it, and his father being the said farmer.

Another factor of his annoyance would most definitely be his parents. They were currently bickering like hens—

"In any case, dear husband! We will not live in such an obnoxious setting! The Royal Capital! That is where we will be living, and you expect us to stay in the Peasant District? For shame!" Sari, Gin's mother, peaked up right beside Gin. The more excited she got, the louder her voice and more vigorous she became.

Her frustration, if looked away from Sato's, Gin's father, perspective, was sound. Hanhal, the Royal Capital of the Jade Nation was where all the fun activities occurred. This was very true of the Imperial District where the music, the scandals, the fashion, the foolery of those with a lot of time and money flourished. The capital was central of Yerek and had three main areas. The Peasant District took the south of the region, where the bulk of business trades occurred with the largest markets that came as a result of said trades, and to complement this, companies that handled various processing of goods were situated there as well.

The Imperial District, where the wealthy were located but overshadowed by the famous Noble Ward at the center. In-as-much as the term 'Imperial' was used for the District, it meant little as the Noble Ward housed the most influential people of the Nation. Lastly, the Royal Palace, which took up most of the northern area of the region. Other than these, the guarded border walls were surrounding the capital far more securely and domineering than other cities.

The Peasant District was known to be a dowsed version of the Imperial District. The fun was indeed an attraction, but not like that of the actual place. Of course, it wasn't that the Ena family couldn't afford a place in the Imperial District, even a place in the outskirts of it would be a downgrade for them, it was just that Sato wasn't for it. Ever. Which was the constant case of extra bickering between Gin's parents for the past six months while preparing for the move.

The reason for the huge shift was because Sato wanted to open a wholesale cereal shop in the Peasant District, while occasionally transporting the goods to the Imperial District, for more earnings. He believed to have already stabilized his farming process and could earn coins and pay them as tax, which had a 2% reduction, instead of the full 10% farmers got taxed per annum with each year's harvest. Sadly, however, the additional occupation of a merchant didn't mean the Ena family lacked funds for a comfortable life either.

"We will save the money we have and that is that, dear wife! No unnecessary lavish living! For once, in your greedy little life, listen to me!" Sato admonished, gripping the reins of the horses he steadily controlled to leave behind the steep hill and onto a more flat, crowded road.

They, his parents, were definitely a factor of his annoyance. Gin firmly closed his eyes and tried his best to rearrange himself to rest comfortably. However, since their traveling cart was a small one because they couldn't 'afford' to rent another one or a bigger one—all according to his father—they had to be cramped in the front. Even when factoring in the heat, the most obvious source of him bathing in his own sweat was due to him being squashed between the two adults.

"How could you!" Sari went on with an accusatory tone. She didn't say anything further as she busied herself with lighting her cigarette—stuck into her latest favourite cigarette holder. She puffed a few times, sighed in bliss, then regained an irritated look. "How could—"

"That's it!" Gin exploded interrupting his mother. The lighting of the cigarette was the last straw and he couldn't take it anymore. His shout, of course, attracted many travelers' attention—whom they had currently joined—more than the bickering between his parents.

"You are both adults!" Gin turned and shook his finger to each of his parents, both at the receiving end of his glare. "Do act like it! And father! When will you stop being so stingy?!"

"Yes, yes! When will you?!" Gin's mother cheered on beside him.

"Mother! This carriage is filled with only your things! How is father supposed to start his work without any of his materials at hand?!" Gin quickly turned to his mother giving her a scolding of her own.

"That's my boy! I will ignore your disgusting behavior since you stated such good facts," his father nodded contentedly, his eyes on the road.

"What materials? He's a farmer, all he needs are his hands and hoe," Sari rolled her eyes while ignoring her son's and husband's identical glares.

"If you had gotten an extra cart, this would have been sorted out, father!" Gin ignored his mother and turned to his father again. The man's shrew, pocket pinching, silver coffer burier attitude was a sore to witness and, most importantly, deal with!

Sato snorted, "What's this? Could you guarantee that it wouldn't be filled with your mother's things as well?"

Gin paused. He spared a glance at his mother, only to see her reclining with her cigarette in hand, looking off into the distance as if the conversation had nothing to do with her. Indeed, what his father said was true. They hadn't gotten even half of her things from their home. A spendthrift, that's what she was! A spendthrift! Gin sighed lightly and decided to change the subject.

"That aside! Why am I wearing silk?! It's hot, and I, being squeezed in between the two of you, is like being baked alive!" Gin clutched the silk robe he wore and for the umpteenth time considered tearing it apart and living free!

At this point, his mother leaned on him and said, "You look cute! You are going to Il San's home, you must be well presented! Also... don't think I'm like your father who is willing to let you go by behaving as if we didn't raise you any better. Now, stop complaining before I throw you off of this moving cart."

Gin involuntarily shivered as his mother patted his wrapped head with the most motherly threatening air that she could flip on and off far too quickly for him to catch a minute.

In-as-much as his father wanted him to look presentable, it was his mother that had been in charge of choosing which silky article he was to wear. Of course, if it was his father, the most presentable he would be was looking like a log bound in silk, minus anything extra. Although the item of clothing they wore came from the cheapest market in their town, his mother had to bicker with his father, again, to get something semi-decent—meaning twice as expensive than what his father had suggested. Ergo, the 'looking cute' and threat from the designer, his mother, who believed to have won a war of attrition to get him where he was. And, in its own sense, it was indeed a war won. But...

'What raising?! Does threatening your own child seem like good conduct to you?!' Gin could only curse out inwardly, too cautious of his mother's tongue lashing than the throwing off the moving cart bit to speak his thoughts out loud. For now.

"Speaking of..." Gin began looking at his mother. Her wear leisurely started below her shoulders and flowed to her ankles making it into a dress instead of a skirt and short-sleeved coat that it was. Her headwrap was winding but looked simple at first glance. However, Gin's attention was on her cleavage that was out in abundance. "What are you wearing?!"

His mother chuckled. "Only the best products, son, believe me."

'Please, as if that would explain all these leering men! No wonder it felt like more eyes were on us than normal!' "Look at all these shameless men," Gin sneered.

The said men were from other carts and carriages moving alongside them. They all quickly turned away from them, some clearing their throats or starting up conversations with one another.

In all honesty, Gin's reaction was too exaggerated. If it were areas down south—only during the summer, of course, since all the other seasons were bitterly cold—or east of Jade, his mother's dressing wouldn't be out of place, no blinking of eyelids as everyone went about living their lives. Unfortunately, the farming areas were overly old fashioned for their own good. It made for a terrible adaptation to city life when they did decide to change their settlement.

"Oh my, see, dear? Wearing only high-quality goods would get this type of reaction," Sari grinned with evident mischief.

Gin had a grimace on his face and Sato could only grunt in response.

"Should you really be enjoying yourself this much?" Gin asked with a quizzical look.

"Now, now, Gin. How I dress is up to me and those that disapprove mean nothing, and I don't have a problem putting you on this list. If I, dressing in such a way is supposedly the cause of evil, then I don't understand how these lowly men are even allowed to be alive. They are weak, immature, and most certainly, foolish." Sari took a drag from her cigarette while looking coolly at Gin.

Wincing, Gin supplied with a pout, "I know that."

Sari and Sato smiled at his response. It wasn't entirely the first time that this topic had been discussed. When he was 5, Gin had unhesitatingly thrown rocks at two men who were staring pervertedly at his mother. Since then, he had taken note to accompany her when she went out. At first, Sari had found it adorable, but soon she just wanted to tie him up in a deep forest somewhere so she could be at peace. Sato had no qualms with his wife. He wasn't going to pretend he hadn't fallen for her unreserved manners.

The person that made Gin have such rush words and actions was Grandma Juji. She was a hidden wealthy person in the two cities of Janln and Krisna. She was masked very well that only too few knew of her owning a big batch of fields many rented for farming. All that was known of her, even to Gin, was her knee clicking figure as she walked, and her little wooden house.

She and Gin got along surprisingly well when he was younger, but unfortunately, the old woman would take the time Gin accompanied her for her short walks too and from her home to teach and ingrain in him all the ancient etiquettes that Sari would have waged good, and victorious, battles against. The effort it took Sari to reverse the damage done to Gin had been long and arduous. Gin, ten and a half years later, still believed that the old one had imparted some wisdom in him.

"There is no need to worry, I'll be there for your mother, son," Sato smiled confidently.

Gin ignored him completely and said instead, "At least carry a dagger with you. Stab anyone that so much as breathes the wrong your way, mother."

"What's this?! Do you think me incapable?" Sato furrowed his brows as he complained about being dismissed in such a way.

"Can I change into another robe? I've already soaked this one through," Gin used his thumb and forefinger to detach the silk from his chest while throwing his father's complaints off of the moving cart. "This is why I say hemp is far superior..."

"No, we are almost there, and you will behave!" Sari couldn't help but giggle.

Sato tutted and focused on the road ahead. The other carts and carriages were headed straight towards Janln City, while they covered more ground and veered to the left, the only different path available while traveling to the city. They entered a deserted road, and before them, a vast field stretched out towards a wall standing from its right and left. The brown pathway and the green colored fields contrasted greatly.

The Distant Jade, it's size was indeed great and superior to the other buildings Gin had seen in the city, and this was only outside. How vast your land was determined your status. Il San could be said to be the most well known prosperous person along Janln. Not because of his vast lands, or because he had said lands without holding a grand title to his name, but because of his students. They were considered to be the greatest. Legends among legends. With strength second to none. Thus, he didn't need a title or have to be recognized by the size of his lands.

Gin had been here before with his father. The first time he couldn't bring himself to understand how someone could own so much. His father had then asked him, what of the King? He could only shrug and say: the King is the King. What was there to be surprised about? Il San was a commoner, like them, but had such riches. He raised prodigies renowned in the kingdoms of the world. Also, he was raised while hearing about the King's accomplishments and possessions, so he was numbed to such things.

"How could you compare silk to hemp, ungrateful child!" Sato chided, shaking his head.

"It's extremely inconvenient and uncomfortable," Gin stuck to his convictions as they steadily made their way towards the Distant Jade.