Three days later…

The servant Lilah entered Kenshi’s room with a tray full of pancakes covered in maple syrup and a piece of butter right on top of each pancake. A cup of orange juice also stood on the tray. Kenshi was able to smell the food from down the hall. Lilah stop just a foot from his bed.

“Good morning Kenshi,” she said. “I fixed you breakfast this morning.”

“That’s kind of you,” Kenshi replied.

Lilah smiled, even though she knew he couldn’t see that. Kenshi sat up a little. Then, Lilah placed the tray in front of him. “I hope you enjoy it.”

“I’m sure I will,” Kenshi answering with a small smile. Lilah nodded and made her way out the door.

Kenshi took the utensils on the tray, cut up a few pieces of a pancakes, then took a bite, filling his mouth with a warm, sweet taste. He didn’t remember the last time he had food this good, and he planned on taking his time.

When he was almost done, he heard a knock on the door. Since becoming blind, Kenshi’s other senses have sharpened and he was able to sense the littlest things better than the average human. Each individual had their own type of smell, one that was hardly known to many of course. Kenshi smelled the sweet aroma on the person who had just knocked on his door. It also had a hint of a flowery type scent, which he guessed was perfume. A female had knocked, and he knew which female it was.

“Princess Kitana.”

Kitana’s eyes widened a bit in shock. ‘How did he know it was me?’ she thought a bit nervously.

“Um, yes it’s me,” she said. “How did…”

“I know?” Kenshi finished for her. “My other keen senses heightened since the day I became blind.”

“Ah,” Kitana replied. She walked closer to her and sat in the armchair that was still there at his bedside. “How is breakfast?”

“Very good. I don’t remember the last time I had something this good.”

Kitana chuckled a bit. “It’s all right to me. Guess I’m getting bored of the same type of cooking after many years here.”

“Back when I was traveling,” Kenshi said. “I hunted for food. It was either meat or fruit from trees, depending on where I was. Sometimes, I would wish I just had a regular meal, but that didn’t really cross my mind that much. You’re lucky to get meals like these everyday.”

“Yeah,” Kitana replied.

Silence fell between the two before Kenshi spoke again. “How was your morning?”

“It was all right,” the Princess answered. “I had some breakfast after getting ready and then I went for a little stroll around the garden.”

“A garden huh? Must be a very nice one.”

“It is. My mother has been tending it for years. She doesn’t let anyone else do it, not even me.” Kitana let out another small chuckle.

“Your mother must be a very dedicated Queen,” Kenshi commented.

“She is. After my father died…and other things happened…my Mother became very independent. Sometimes, she does a little more than the servants do during the day. Edenia has been doing very well without a king. Sometimes, I do wish Mother found herself happiness, you know?”

“Yeah,” Kenshi sighed a little. He took a sip of his orange juice, then spoke. “Was it like?”

“What is what like?”

“Edenia.”

Kitana smirked as she tried to find a very good way to describe her home world. A handful of times has she been to Earth, and there was a part of it that reminded her of home. She looked at Kenshi. She knew that he became blind while he traveled, so she knew describing it to him wouldn’t be too difficult.

“Have you ever been on a large field full of countless flowers, the grass is greener than you could imagine? The sky was so blue without a single cloud there? The mountains were high, but without that snow tip? In the sunset, the sky had that purple tint to it, only here it was even during the afternoon? And the water was so clear you could see everything?”

Kenshi stayed quiet for a moment, collecting thoughts of things he was once able to see. After a while… “Yes, I have.”

Kitana smiled. “That is what Edenia is like.”

-

Later that night…

The butler of the house answered the door after it was knocked several times. Standing by the door was a messenger dressed in his red and black attire.

“Good evening,” the messenger said. “I have a message for Queen Sindel from the Ambassador.”

The butler put his hand out. The messenger handed the message to him.

“I will hand this over to the Queen immediately,” the butler insured.

They bid farewell. The butler shut the door and made his way to the dining quarters. Queen Sindel, Kitana, Jade, Rain, and some other off-duty guards sat around for dinner.

“My Queen,” the butler said. Everyone became quiet to let the two of them talk. “I have a message for you sent from the Ambassador.”

Sindel stood up and walked over to the butler. She took the note from him, opened it up, and read it. After reading through, an excited grin spread across her face.

“What is it mother?” Kitana asked with curiosity.

“You won’t believe this!” Sindel cried. She then read the letter to everyone outloud;

Dear Queen Sindel:

I have received word from one of my spies in Outworld of a surprising turn of event in their world. An assassin apparently made their way into the Emperor’s castle undetected and did not leave any traces whatsoever. I am happily to inform you that Outworld’s Emperor, Shao Kahn, is dead. This too has taken me by surprise.

This means that our world of Edenia is safe. We no longer have to worry about the rumors that have been spreading around. Even if they were true, I highly believe we no longer have anything to worry about. I will be pulling my spies out of that dreaded world tomorrow. Also for tomorrow, I would like to discuss new positions for our guards. I will talk to you soon my Queen.

Sincerely,

Ladislas Zietek,

Ambassador.

Once Sindel was finished with reading the letter out loud, everyone in the room rejoiced with happiness. News like this did not come everyday.

“I believe this calls for a celebration,” said Jade. “We don’t need any more worry on our shoulder.”

“Indeed,” said Rain smiling at Kitana. Kitana saw this and smirked back.

“I will have invitations made,” mentioned Sindel. “We will have a masquerade party in two days.”

“A masquerade!” cried Jade. “That sounds lovely. We get to wear dainty masks!”

“I look for it,” said Rain, though not too excited about dressing up.

Everyone in the room discussed more plans for the masquerade.