Crystal Shade Episodes 01

together. From the great height they clearly saw how the city was weaved through with beautiful, long, wriggling aqueduct systems. Like arteries, they carried the clear water from the nearby lakes and rivers into the dozens of baths, small pools, underground cisterns, fountains, enchanting imitation fishing lakes, and small oases throughout the capital. It also supplied water to the farms that surrounded the whole town.
    Her father mastered the Anshara with due foresight as the craft majestically began to descend. They passed above the thick soaring segmented exterior walls that buffered the city from the worst sand storms and also protected lives and their achievements within. Mansions, libraries, schools, parks, lakes, and various other buildings curiously watched the Anshara from the ground as it passed above the widest middle segment of the town. In the distance, the smallest center district was visible. Only a few large buildings stood there, the palace of the rulers and the citadel of the Aserians.
    A large eagle shadow looked back at Grace from the ground, it slowly flapped its large wings. The Anshara passed above the walls to the internal districts of Odess’iana, which housed the markets, other trade areas, tasunke stables, and the port for the flying craft; that’s where they were headed.
    The port where they landed with their Anshara and where Chosovi fell asleep was already full of these beautiful craft and their sisters. The graceful saker falcon shaped Kerecsens that were used by the people of the central provinces, - including the capital of Eecrys Aredia, Andrenia -, were nestled at the port. With them were the colourful and majestic firebirds, Sanayras, usually used by the citizens of the large eastern provinces of Hijaz and Yaana.
    “Sleep well, Chosovi,” Aurora waved farewell to the sleeping bird from the arms of her mother. Grace smiled at the row of nestling craft with their wings folded like obedient chickens waiting for their supper.
    After a short walk, Grace and her family entered the bustling outskirt marketplace full of traders. This was the very first day of the long awaited feast, and the city was already brimming with bustling humans and Aserians alike. Farmers, traders, fishermen, explorers, historians, musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and simple wanderers crowded the squares and the streets. From neighbouring lands and distant continents they came to celebrate with friends and family, to trade, learn, or simply enjoy the feast and the performances.
    The Great Deciduous Feast of Odess’iana was only one of the extraordinary events on Eecrys Aredia and the grandest in the eleventh province. The rulers of Odess’iana, noble and wise Thobadzistshin, and his beautiful wife, Hastseolti believed, like their citizens, that their work was the lifeblood of their prosperous community, their culture.
    The family walked deeper and deeper through the thronged market. As Grace looked around, she knew the rulers had done everything they could to make the feast greater and more luxurious than the previous cycle. Their touch was visible. The whole city was dressed for the festivities. Beautiful flags of the twelve provinces waved proudly from the smallest house to the largest temple. Flowers covered arches, columns, and pillars. A pallet of colourful flora stretched from one to another and gave more life to the already beautiful city of Odess’iana. Large arabesque awnings stretched between many of the rooftops to give shelter from possible rain, as well as the midday sun.
    Twelve great capitals, twelve great feasts. Each cycle’s fest was as different as the twelve cities that hosted them and each of these festivals ran for thirty days. The previous fest was held in Odess’iana’s sister city of Seriana, the capital of the seventh province. It was only dozens of leagues away from Odess’iana, far across the great White Sands desert.
    The Long Town, as Grace and many others called Odess’iana, unlike Seriana that was built symmetrically, was longer than it was wide. And today, all eyes were focused on Odess’iana. On these festival days, it was the town of endless celebration and happiness that reminded people of the approaching cold season, when everyone took a well-deserved rest and prepared for the work of the next cycle.
    As always, the opening ceremony and the real parades started just after the clear blazing white dawn of the first day. The daily closing performance was always