Rain is rare in Istania, thus the memory of rain becomes especially vivid for those who reside here.
Raindrops stir up a mist, first flowing along the gray-brown eaves, trickling gently to the ground, forming streams between the brown stones.
The dark gray stone monument stands amidst the misty rain, inscribed with words in Istania's script:
'751 — 790, Farian, may your bravery and enlightenment rest forever in the Sand Sea —'
Raindrops trace the grooves of the inscriptions, flowing slowly, one after another. Barbaltan wipes away the water with a glove, but cannot clean it away completely; soon, the glove is soaked.
Princess Consort Afeifa stands beside him, silently watching the words on the monument.
After a moment, she spoke softly, her voice like a Nightingale's song, "Barbaltan, though Farian, Charab, and Hette did not return, at least more people survived... The Empire is strong, but even last time the Osh People did not succeed."
