The sky looked peaceful for once. The daunting outlines of the demonic clouds were nowhere to be seen and the sun shone not brightly, but in a mellow fashion behind their backs.

The wagon gradually came to a halt before the hidden metropolis, Sepiden. It stood before them like a hulking monster curled up in hibernation. The city was sitting on the deserted soil with no opening for windows whatsoever. It looked like a huge piece of black rock, flatly stuck in sand.

It was always this way here. These people had shielded themselves off from the sky.

The wind passing the wagon by was sweet and carried a welcoming aura. It seemed to put both Jonathan and Orlando at ease.

The gate before them stood high. It was huge. The knockers were conveniently placed at their height however. It was a mystery why the doors had to be so large, the folk living inside were just like them, yet the city was so tall. It always hit Jonathan's mind whenever he came here for delivery. The walls of the enclosed habitation were almost featureless. A few panels stuck out here and there and a few indented grooves and other components could be seen occasionally on the black surface.

Orlando hopped off from the wagon and walked up to the door, knocked three times and said, "We have come to deliver your supplies, please let us in," then he backed a few steps. But after only a moment, he took a sharp intake of air. He added, "Oh, I almost forgot, The day shall pass into night, but we will remain out of sight."

"Enter," said a powerful voice, and the doors opened inwards, dust escaping from their surface and a gust carrying the scent of the hidden city met them with greetings.

Jonathan looked at Orlando and said, "Do you have something you'd like to get in exchange? Something other than our usual?"

"Oh, no. Not anything that I can think of right now." Orlando was quick to reply.

Jonathan nodded and they boarded the wagon again, and made inwards.

The owner of the heavy voice stood before them. He was a burly man, with hairy arms and a huge beard opposed to a bald head. "We've been expecting you. Come on in." He turned around and began walking briskly.

Jonathan pondered if he should ask the questions right away. But it would be a bit too soon, too out of place and sudden. He must wait a while longer. Let me empty the wagon first. Then I can ask them.

The rattling of the wooden wagon became audible inside the great space. Huge lanterns hung from above, emanating a bright yellow light. Jonathan felt small. He wondered how these people maintained those lanterns. Such large sized objects could not be easy to handle.

"How is it for you children over there?" The man said reluctantly, trying to loosen the heaviness between them.

"We lost Elbrus recently. It's been tough." Orlando was the one to say it first.

"Hmph, I wish we could help you." He didn't look at Orlando directly and it seemed like a strange comment to not them, but himself.

Something broke inside Jonathan. "But why can't you? Why do we children have to fend for ourselves alone? That place outside is dangerous! You have turned a blind eye to it living inside this place. Why can't you end our suffering by bringing us here? I'm sure you won't have too much trouble with a few more of us," Jonathan said all in a rush. But then he swallowed. He didn't realise it before speaking all in a go. But was this what he should have done? The man. He looked at him. He was glaring. He probably should not have said this. Not to him.

"You know boy, you have a mouth. Don't let it run wild or you will get into trouble. How do you expect us to treat you peasants the same way as us?" he said angrily, yet his eyes showed hurt. He probably didn't wish to say this, but he was forced to. This was the way.

"I-I'm sorry for my friend here. He is a bit traumatised after our loss," Orlando quickly covered up for Jonathan.

Jonathan looked at Orlando with hurtful eyes but knew better than to say anything back.

The man didn't say anything else, just looked forward in disdain. They continued to move deeper into the heart of the city, the tension and heaviness amidst them growing tenfold.

The cavernous space of Sepiden seemed to fill in as they neared the cargo area. Shipments were stocked and stacked and Jonathan found himself staring at the wooden containers which ranged from massive ones to the regular sizes.

Jonathan unpacked the items stored in the backside of the wagon- crates with crops like cabbage, potatoes, wheat et cetera- and slowly placed them accordingly in the boxes.

Shortly after he was done, the burly man brought an inspecting officer alongwith him. The man, clothed in something Jonathan could denote as some type of uniform, looked at them with a sidewise glance and proceeded to check the items placed in the now filled larder- prodding and sniffing to gauge their freshness. After he was done, he paid them in tokens and left with the other.

Jonathan felt them in his hand, the clinking sound was satisfying. Then he turned around to see Orlando. He was lost in his thoughts. "So, are you coming?"

Orlando looked at Jonathan, stood silently for a moment, then said, "As I said before, I don't think I need anything right now, I would take the wagon and wait outside." He was a bit stiff.

But his eyes suddenly flitted to the side, and he paused for a moment to reconsider. "Actually...I think I do need to come. My attire is not in the best shape and I think I can do with some new ones." He grinned. But Jonathan's knew what was the reason behind that.

Jonathan smiled. "Well then, come along. I also plan on getting some new seeds. I learnt about some new crops recently that the Book showed me. It's pretty interesting, these grow in high places..." he continued to have a long conversation with Orlando as they moved along side by side, treading their way through the crowded lanes with numerous little shops and stalls.

He had the list of things that he had got from all of them back in the village. He sequentially went through it and bought each item. Unlike the civilians, the storekeepers were more generous and kind to them.

He was ecstatic when he got his hands on the pearls that Mary had requested. The fact that they came from the bellies of shelled creatures fascinated him even more. They were so exotic! He just had about enough tokens to get the amount he had promised.

"Thank you." He was about to board the wagon and leave, when he stopped. He turned around. "Sir, pardon me, but can you tell me something. Is there anything worthwhile and good out there beyond the horizon? Has anyone made it back alive from any far off expedition?"

The storekeeper was not familiar with such questions. "I'm sorry, kid, but those are not things you can ask me. Besides, I have lived here my whole life. I won't know." He was an old man, and something in the way he said it, saddened Jonathan. He felt his ambition become more like a daydream.

"Could you at least say if there is any way we can protect ourselves from the natural forces? We have been having frequent losses."

The man scoffed. "Not unless you come and live here."

"Can't we?"

He looked horrified. "No. Impossible."

"Why?"

"Enough, kid. Just leave."

Jonathan was hurt. His hopes had been thrashed in the mud. No one told him anything.

"I told you. It won't be fruitful," Orlando said. "Let's go home now." He put a caring hand around Jonathan and ushered him back.

Jonathan did not like this. But what could he do?

"Let's go," he said reluctantly, and stepped along with Orlando.

But to Orlando's horror, he suddenly swung around. "Hey what are you-" He slipped past Orlando's insecure grip and sprinted in the opposite direction.

"Jonathan!"

But he was not going to stop. He had to find answers. He could not afford to see any more deaths or the blurry-eyed visages of his loved ones.

Sorry, Orlando, but I have to do this. I can't bear this anymore!

His footsteps fell like slaps on the ground as he aimlessly drifted more and more inwards, deep in a place which was largely unknown to him.

Jonathan ran as fast as he could. He couldn't return home like this. They deserved better. Why couldn't they have a place here? Why were they left on their own? It was not fair.

Then again, he hadn't questioned the system till now. Had he acted earlier, he might have been able to save at least a few. If there were any chance at all.

It was only after growing up that he truly start questioning things and stopped blindly following everything. He remembered himself being dissatisfied from years before. But he had never taken any initiative.

"I was stupid!" he said between breaths.

At last he stopped. He panted, out of breath. He had come quite deep into the city. The nobles were here. They were the actual people who represented the Upper Class Society.

"Such a charming face, but one oddly foreign. It causes me to wonder, what does he do here?" He heard a snickering voice of a lady, probably speaking to someone else.

"Stop, he'll hear us. Let us return to our errands, shall we?" The other said, giggling. They left with graceful strides.

"Please, please stop. I have things to ask. Please..." But they were gone. "Oh. I'm damned with such bad luck!" Jonathan cursed himself.

He quit panting and pushed his palms off his knees and stood straight. Why was it always so hard for them? Weren't they supposed to lead better lives?

Eyes.

His mind went blank.

Sparkling olive green eyes.

It tranced him, captivated him.

He was strangely calmed by the sudden gaze upon him. "Huh, who are you?" He saw a girl around his age, looking at him intently. She had brownish blonde hair that was waist long. No smile on her lips, yet a bold fascination made itself prevalent from her countenance.

"Oh, pardon me." She quickly averted her eyes and broke into a smile. "I didn't mean to. It's only that- this is the first time I've seen another child who is not from my village." Her voice was sweet and full of character.

"Oh, same for me! I haven't really seen anyone else other than- wait. There are more villages like mine?" Jonathan was shocked.

The girl was silent for a moment. Then a look of surprise overtook her. "Oh, so you also come from a children's village?"

"Yes, and I have never seen any child here in Sepiden."

"Me too." She grinned. She was genuinely amazed on seeing him. Her face proclaimed it. "Would you like to join me on a walk?" She absent-mindedly swayed her bag alongwith her body from left to right.

Jonathan could not stop blushing. He had finally found someone who might give him more insight on what was actually going on. He did have hope to hang on to! "Sure! I would be delighted to."

He followed her, with the anticipation of the unknown peaked, their paths now becoming synchronised, purposeful.