Satis' Fire

Chapter 5: Instilling

Satis went out of her bedroom, following the six-meter-wide hallway that led to the dining room. She barely noticed the vibrant yellow color of the walls, which had gold, ruby and diamond arts that her mother embedded in. Her Inu said it was to, of course, enhance the beauty of the walls. There were glamorous sunburst designs, mirrors and Kinnacian flowers like the lyābhēnala and rhovezze flowers.

Their abode was one of the largest ones in Kinnacia, considering their wealth and status, as an extended family of the Rājjāki Royal House. The little squares of cool white lights lining up on the floor as well as the ones floating mid-air or near the high ceilings were from her father’s magic, something that she hadn’t mastered yet. She just hated to train and was too lazy to do much effort, especially on things she didn’t really like to do.

There were only a few things that she loved to do, and playing an instrument, especially the xirhuna, was one of them. What she hated the most? It was to train how to fight. Her father always urged her to do it, but she always found an excuse to not go to the training ground to practice with other Kinnaris her age.

“I’m not going to be in the army anyway,” her reason every time. But the real reason was that she was not in the mood to socialize with other Kinnaris. Not that she also had to mingle with the Kinnaras since they trained separately, but she just didn’t like to have any conversation with other Kinnaris—the reason why she had no friends and was reputed to be unpleasant and unfriendly in the entire Kinnacia.

The steps she took were quiet as she walked on the thick glass floor. She met a servant, who slightly bowed at her before moving past her in the opposite direction. Satis took note of her more decent and modest clothing with thicker fabric than the one used by the Kinnaris-in-waiting in the palace.

They only had a handful of servants, four Kinnaris and five Kinnaras. However, they had a dozen of guards that took turns day and night. She hadn’t seen these guards anywhere, though. As per her father, they used their magic to create a shroud.

“How do we know they’re doing their duties if we don’t see them, Ifu?” her question once while they had dinner.

Her father smiled at her. “They use magic, so we also use magic for that.”

“But they’re supposed to be hidden,” she pointed out.

“Yes, but there’s a way to find out through magic. If you only know how to use it, which you don’t.” He gave her a scolding stare.

“But why do I need to use magic? My telekinetic powers are enough, and I can fly,” she reasoned out.

“Barely,” her mother gently put in.

Her parents laughed at her, and she frowned.

“I can just walk,” her rejoinder, making a face and gesturing a hand in the air. Then, she rolled her eyes.

Her mother touched her hand gently. “You have to be versatile, Satis. Every Kinnari and Kinnara does their best to be one. It is so that our kind will survive. You know that we have specific weaknesses just like our eventual expiration if we’re out of Kinnacia. That’s why we only stay in our realm forever. Besides, if you know everything there is you need to know, you can please your future mate. Don’t you want that?”

Her eyes were on her like a mirror. “Well, if we’re fated, then he can do nothing but to accept what I am, Inu,” her gentle reply.

Her ifuun looked at each other helplessly, almost sighing simultaneously.

Satis smiled as she recalled this scene and entered their dining room. It was designed for a more intimate purpose, so it was not really huge. It was enough to move around freely, with a couple of closed square glass windows on her right. During the day, these were open, and light could naturally stream in. But now, they could see the beauty of the nightscape of Kinnacia, where glowing flying beings gave life to the supposedly dark time of the realm.

She found her parents were already seated in their respective seats at the triangular dining table that had curved edges. It was made of the glowing golden wood of a rare tree. It was believed to be a lucky item to be owned in one’s abode. She wondered how much it cost to have it here. It had been here since forever. And she wondered what luck it brought to them ‘til now.

A huge crystal pitcher was in the middle of the table with three empty glasses. With a wave of her mother’s hand, the glasses were almost filled to the brim.

Satis took her wooden seat that had the Tacaritra House’s crest carved in its high back. The seat slightly made a scratching sound when she moved it. Her butt settled on the cushioned high-backed chair, with her tail and wings being comfortable.

“Where were you the entire afternoon?” her mother inquired, as they started to eat.

Kinnaris and Kinnaras used cutlery despite the fact that they only eat fruits and vegetables. Satis was told that dining was supposed to be classy, though she had other thoughts about it—like food was supposed to be just enjoyed and to give nourishment to the body no matter how it was eaten.

She lowered her eyes, answering to her mother, “Kolāpi Falls, where I get the lyābhēnala flowers for Princess Nerindra.”

“I told you to start training how to fight, Satis!” her father almost roared, slapping the surface of the table.

She almost jumped because of it, sending the cutlery to clink while glancing at his angry face. His light green eyes blazed as he regarded her, nostrils flaring and lips a thinning line.

“And you’re supposed to practice doing magic with me before noon,” her mother added.

“But I was in the palace the whole morning,” she told her mother, as though blaming the princess for her staying there for a long while.

Her mother also gave her a disapproving look. “You can’t do this forever, Satis. You have to learn what you need to learn as a proper Kinnari. You’re of age now! It’s high time for you to improve yourself even though you’re supposed to learn these years ago. You’re way behind the Kinnaris your age because of your laziness!”

“We can’t simply just tolerate this anymore, Satis. You have to see how important this is not only to us but to yourself,” her father supplied with an admonishing tone. “Remember that you can’t have servants with you at all times to do as you wish. Sometimes, you have to do something on your own. Besides, there are things that you don’t like to do but you have to. You need to realize this, Satis. You have to be responsible for yourself and for your future family. Do you understand me and your Inu? Huh?”

Satis swallowed slowly and lowered her gaze. The God of Fire’s words came back to her:

“They only want you to do the right thing, follow the right path where you’re meant to go and become a good Kinnari when you grow up. It is important that you know things the way they are.”

She sighed and squeezed her eyes close.