chapter 2 - behind the walls

Walking down the long cobblestone road, the sounds of the jungle flanked us from both sides. Despite the wondrous beauty around me, I struggled to peel my eyes away from the backside of the man who had introduced himself to me only moments ago.

“My god he’s magnificent,” I thought to myself while staring at his shapely rear end. I should have been focused on my job, or on my own well-being, but I when I tried to focus on the big picture, I found myself staring at him, picturing his hard body against mine.

“My capital city lies just a head. It is not a massive place, but I assure you it is remarkable in ways you have never seen before. I know you desire to learn about my people and have many questions. My people have existed for thousands of years in this paradise. The lands here provide us with more than enough to live in prosperity, and because of this we rarely allow outsiders. It is my understanding that you are the first we have allowed in my lifetime.”

“But you let me in?” I asked in a puzzled tone. I was just a writer for a website, why would this secretive king bring me here?

“I have. Most of my people stay within the walls of our kingdom, shunning the ongoings of the modern world. The small town your plane landed in is the only such part of the island with any connection to your world. I had originally decided to decline the proposal, but when my friend in town, the one who brought you here, showed me pictures of your beauty, then I knew you were perfect.”

I felt even more confused. Why would my beauty have any bearing here? I was getting an uneasy feeling in my stomach as we neared the clearing, but my anxiety was forgotten when a blinding light hit my eyes, and when my vision finally adjusted, I was left staring in awe once again.

“Woah. It’s beautiful…”

The words came off my lips no louder than a whisper. The clearing had brought us to a tall cliff overlooking the island’s capital city, a town built out of tanned stone structures and twisting greens. The city spread out for miles, and off in the distance, a towering, 500-foot waterfall who’s crashing waves disappeared behind a massive structure reminiscent of a castle one would only find in fairy tales.

The king turned to me with a smile. “Come, there is much to show you, but before we move on, I must warn you that our culture will be quite different from yours. You came to learn more about our society, specifically about our vision of beauty. I can assure you that you will soon fully understand our way of life, but I would also caution you to keep an open mind. My people do not wear clothing as we see no such need to hide who we truly are. As you already know, the women in my country are known for their appetites, and it is unlikely that you will ever find a single female below 200 pounds. They live pampered lives of indulgence, and may resent you for your stick-like figure. They’ve also never encountered someone with such fair qualities, and you will likely be the focus of much staring.”

I felt the world closing in on me as his words trailed off into the background. What had I gotten myself into?

“Now, Kelsey, are you ready?”

The calling of my name pulled my attention back to reality, and despite the nervous sweat pouring down my face, I gave an affirmative nod, and the king simply smiled before turning his back towards me once again.

The city streets were pristine, far more beautiful than anything I had ever encountered while living in the United States. Smooth stone pathways consisting of bright, beautiful colors twisted through the town, weaving their way past all kinds of wondrous buildings and artistic structures. Yet while I found myself in aww of the structures around me, I couldn’t help but notice how sparse the streets were.

Walking by a group of men, I felt their eyes staring me down as we walked into a mostly vacant plaza.

“Excuse me your grace, but where are all the people? Specifically, the women?”

The king gave a hearty chuckle. “Please, you may call me Adigon. It is feasting time, and most men are accompanying their women to our great halls for lunch. Most of the men you see out here are not yet wedded, hence the glares. Would you like to see one of our feasts? They happen only three times a day.”

“Only three?” I thought to myself. I had come here to write about these people and their attraction to fat pigs, so I figured it would be inevitable.

“That would be great. I hear your feasts are a sight to behold.”

The king stopped in his tracks, laughing much louder than before. “My sweet dear, you have no idea.”