Early Life

Uma wasn’t born anywhere near the palace, but he found his way there through his parents. His father, a cyclops archeologist, managed to get a position working within the original palace, bordering along a volcano. The family got moved up to the volcanic city, leaving the small town both parents were raised in behind for good. Uma was allowed to wander around the ruins from time to time, and it absolutely enthralled him. He went around getting to know the other families as much as he could, even going to far as to start learning the other’s most comfortable language so he could talk with them easier. He took after his mother a lot like that.

He often played with the other kids of the archeologists, and told the ones that couldn’t go about the ruins inside. One of the visiting kids he excitedly got to know took a liking to him, and they started to get to know each other better. The other boy, Leo, wasn’t always around, but started a habit of asking to see Uma every time he went to visit. Uma didn’t realize it immediately, but Leo was in fact the prince of Umtathu.

the Ambassador Project

Leo and Uma’s connection was eventually got Uma into the Ambassador Project. Uma was smart enough to enter, and already graduated from his homeschooling, but he needed a recommendation. He got one from Leo. He moved to the capital for training, the training process being extremely rigorous. To teach the Ambassadors how to communicate, they would often get one of their primary forms of communication removed. Uma was unable to use his voice, and had his mouth sewn shut.

Uma thought he had an advantage because of all the languages he learned, but having his mouth sewn shut sent him back to square one. He started learning sign, nonverbal ways to clearly communicate, and of the such. His stitches disappear for meals, but that never feels like enough time to talk to people. His hard work began to pay off as he pulled above the rest and was named Ambassador. He doesn’t get to see his family as much as he used to, but they’re immensely proud of him, and they write each other as often as they safely can, pretending each letter isn’t thoroughly screened.

Boiling Point

Leo’s mother died when he turned eleven, and he never fully recovered. Being the standing queen, Leo was being promoted to kingship despite his two older siblings holding more qualifications for the job. Leo found himself immensely reliant on the castle informants that came before him, and one of the first things they told him was that his connection to Uma could hurt him, as Uma could be traveling to hostile territory and would be an easy hostage against the crown. The two split up a couple years ago, but both are still disappointed.