Enishte, Black’s maternal uncle, explains that Black and his mother used to stay at his home frequently as Black’s father was an abusive and misused alcohol. Once a sensitive child, Black has grown into a respectful adult and Enishte expresses pride in Black’s maturity. In Black’s childhood, he and Enishte bonded over books, and the younger man was trained in the miniaturist arts. Enishte believes that Black now views art as a calling and not something that should be used to gain wealth.

Black also harbored a love for Shekure, Enishte’s beautiful daughter, but when he openly expressed his feelings, Enishte refused to let Black continue visiting their home. Instead, Shekure married a soldier a few years later and had two sons. This soldier never returned from a battle campaign and has been missing for four years. Shekure and her sons now live with Enishte in his new house.

When Black visits, Enishte reveals that the Sultan has commissioned a book and that has engaged a group of talented miniaturists to illustrate it. The four men, nicknamed Stork, Olive, Elegant, and Butterfly, are to illustrate the whole world of the Sultan in the

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