Midori sat at the dining table in her family's manor house for breakfast, along with most of her family. Haiiro, Mizuiro, Kuro, and Shiro, of course, had moved out to live in their military quarters in central Kasai. The other nine family members ate a flavorful breakfast of grilled fish in a delectable, citrus-flavored glaze alongside white rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and a delicately flavored green tea.
Akane dominated the conversation, as she was wont to do, discussing various current events about which she had read in today's newspaper. Apparently, a circus troupe had recently solved a crisis that had threatened all life on the Starstone Isles. Akane pointed out that the aeon orbs the god Aroden himself had placed around the islands centuries ago had all been restored to working order.
Once everyone had finished eating and the servants had cleared the table, the family scattered to go about the day's business. The parents, Tetsu and Sakura, departed for their jobs in the government offices downtown. The youngest siblings, Akane, Orenji, Chairo, and Pinku, made their way to the library to continue their secondary education with their tutors. Murasaki, the eldest sister, left for the city library to continue her own research. Kiiro went to the gymnasium to meet with her fencing trainer. Midori meandered toward one of the offices to meet with her advanced studies professor.
On her way to the office, an elven footman approached Midori with a letter and a small box. "Midori-sama, a delivery came for you." He held both out to her with a slight bow.
"Thank you, Adriel." She took the items and looked over the envelope, which looked it had been addressed by an eight-year-old based on the sloppy hand-written characters. Also, somehow, she had been indicated as both the originator and the recipient. Lifting the small package, which was about the size of a ring box, she asked herself out loud, "What could THIS be?"
