Main Story - Book 1, Chapter 4: Spice

    Greeting the two as they walked past the Borough’s ivy-caked gates was the quaint little town of Bushwell. Leafy canopies were grown and tended to within little unevenly-fenced lawns, and dozens of tulids, frulids, and other plant-folk chatted outside. The town itself was something of a walled garden, and its buildings displayed all the hallmarks of Zelan architecture, evidenced most by their use of natural plant-matter in their construction.
    Bushwell Borough was something of an unofficial “region” within Looma, not recognized by its government but a popular place for plant-folk to live away from the more… judgemental uptown areas. Directly bordering Ziritaii, it also has a few Zela who have chosen to live separate from their traditional ways and homeland, but they are far outnumbered by other species native to this region in particular.
    It was one of those Zela that welcomed the two. A sweet little old lady, once a Makulei herself before settling down in Bushwell, trotted up to Ghasquerade and Florella. This lady, named Marigold by her peers after having shed her original name during her time as a Makulei, was one of the newer residents of Bushwell, only immigrating cross-region in the past year. In her old age, she leaned onto her staff for stability, her joints creaking and shuddering with every step while unkept leaves rustled alongside them. Having learned the language late in age, her Looman was a little stilted, but she spoke it with a sense of pride regardless.
    “Hello-hello! Long time it-has been, yes…? ” she brought the two in for a splintery hug, “What is it you-are here for?”
    “Oh, nothing much, I’m jus-” Ghasquerade was pushed aside by Florella.
    “I’m going to Kiki’s house!!” She exclaimed in a sing-songy tone.
    “Ahh, ha ha… she likes you a lot, she does. Talks about you all-of the times.” Marigold creaked, gesturing with her staff.
    Florella gasped and her eyes widened, “Reeeaallyy??”
    Marigold let out a weary chuckle and patted florella on the head, “Yes, yes… she should be at her house right now, you both have fun…” she gestured towards a solitary home to the far end of the precinct, its brick-built complexion in stark contrast to the other, more natural-looking buildings.
    “Ah, right, thank you so much, Mary! We’ll be able to catch up once I drop her off, ok?” Ghasquerade said reassuringly
Marigold simply smiled, “I trust we will… I will see you soon, then.” she said as Florella dragged her brother off to Scovolokia’s.

    “So what, you just need someone to keep her low for a while?” Scovolokia asked Ghasquerade, glancing down at Florella’s massive grin.
    Shelly Scovilla (Scovolokia) was always a good family friend to the Mascheras. She would often babysit Florella on the days in which the king couldn’t care for her, despite what her ironically-cold exterior may suggest. Ghasquerade… never quite got along with her. It’s felt like, no matter what, the two would always find a way to butt heads, leading to interactions between them being kept lukewarm at best. She seems to get along great with Florella, though, making her residence the only real choice for Florella to stay with a low profile.

Artist: MetrioBarynx

     “Yeah… with Dad not there to look out for us, I’d rather she not be at the capital. She’s safer with someone else, really.” Ghasquerade shifted in place nervously, Scovolokia’s gaze feeling like red-hot spotlights directed right towards him.
    Scovolokia raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure you’ll be alright all on your own?”
    “Oh, absolutely! I’m good at keeping things neat and tidy, haha!” he chuckled nervously, his worries were eating at him way more than he let on… but he didn’t want to add anything else to Scovolokia’s agenda.
    “If you say so. Good luck with… all that.” Scovolokia ushered Florella inside and closed the door behind her, leaving Ghasquerade in the quiet hush outside. Looking towards the main entrance to Bushwell Borough, Ghasquerade decided he’d take a backroad home, instead.