Gaelsworth is just like every other small town in the countryside. It was divided into the residential and commercial areas, but as it was caught in between the sea and the mountain ranges, allowing it to become a trading center for the larger cities inland, Gaelsworth had become a favorite spot for both the foreign merchants and traders.
Relatively peaceful, relatively prosperous, and of course, relatively safe in comparison to the center of the continent, those nearer the capital, where it was said that everyday was a matter of life and death.
However, for those who knew more, Gaelsworth was nothing but a speck of dust in the desert. It was but a little town for mortal humans near the borders of the Greater Mountains, just outside the territory of the demon-infested Desolate Lands. Little being relative, and 'town for mortal humans' being the key phrase.
Cass, as the eldest daughter of the noble Vega Family, was among those who knew more. The thing was, knowing does not equate to being capable of changing things. After all, she was merely a mortal of sixteen years of age.
She had long known that she was afflicted with some sort of curse from a relic that was unearthed from the Greater Mountains. The same one that killed a childhood friend of hers three years ago. Gaelsworth might be a big town, but no one in here was well-versed with curses, or had anything to do with the mystics, or had even heard of immortality beyond the legends.
As for the solution? She's still in search of it, and it appeared that no one in town had the answer.
Cass did the next best thing she could. She wallowed her sorrows inside a pub. Maybe she could only blame the alcohol. Or the cold. Or the shock of her being suddenly homeless, Perhaps it was a combination of them all. Still, they were not valid excuses for her to forget something so glaringly obvious.
What now? She had no idea where to start. She just wanted to drink and drink and drink some more.
An hour past midnight, along with the other drunkards, she was kicked off onto the streets.
This was where the real problem began.
Without an official identity and no place to hide, she had to leave the inner circle of Gaelsworth or risk being hunted and killed as an enemy spy. As fast as she could, or rather, as fast as a panicking drunk could, she gathered her wits and went back to her car, where she stashed whatever she could bring and quickly left before she was noticed by the patrols.
Her next reality check came in the form of the middle-aged guard posted outside the gated community. As her father worked as a mid-level official in the Bureau of Finances, her family was housed in the wealthiest part of Gaelsworth. The gates separated it from the rest of the residential, making it inaccessible to the common people. This also proved to become her first hurdle in leaving.
"Identification, please," the guard said in a deep, gruff voice as he eyed her from the other side of the window. Another guard circled her car, checking the vehicle for who-knows-what, explosives maybe.
She had been in too much hurry to the outer city that she forgot who she was now – a nobody. Why would they let a nobody leave here in a car? They might be suspecting that she's a thief!
The guard narrowed his eyes. "Are you a registered resident?"
"No."
Bloody hell! His eyes were starting to shoot lasers.
"I...I was here for Mavromichalis' funeral," she lied, remembering that an elderly in their neighborhood, Old Woman Eleni, just had her remains buried yesterday.
Cass casually handed the guard her identification papers, knowing they would not recognize her name. Being a foreign guest seemed to be a viable excuse.
The guard gave it back after a brief check. "Your name is not on the guest list, miss."
She offered him a sweet smile. "How could that be? I was able to enter. My identity was confirmed yesterday."
"The madam gave me a list of who could attend the private funeral. Your name is not in it."
Cold sweat dotted her brows. "You can ring Madam Stephania and – "
From behind her, a car honked at the guards. The guard saluted at the driver of the white car who had his windows rolled down. From what Cass could see, the male driver was young, probably one yet to have his coming-of-age ceremony. He was slightly familiar. She could not remember, but she must have seen him before.
"Sir Aren!" the guard greeted enthusiastically.
Aren. What an unusual name for this day and age. The only Aren she knew... hmm... she does not know any Aren.
"Fabulous," the driver drawled with an uppity accent. His dark eyes met hers, and then he winked – winked! – before pulling his attention back to the guard. "What's the hold up about?"
"Well, sir, nothing really – "
However, the young man focused his gaze back to her. To be more precise, he stared at her body.
She burped. He smiled wider.
Can she smack this pervert in the head?
Instead, Cass reigned in her violent side and flashed her brightest smile to the driver. She just found her savior.
"Finally, you're here! I was waiting for you!"
She let out a dramatic sigh and tugged her bag to approach his white car. She realized she had to abandon her own car; it would only make her stand out once she leaves the inner part of the town. Plus, cars tend to be stopped by patrolling guards. It would only make her more eye-catching.
"This guard wouldn't let me out because of a mix-up." She put on a wronged face. "Totally his fault, but he's blaming me."
The guard turned red. "What – "
Thankfully, the driver was one dumb kid. Or maybe, he had motives, but it's easier for her to get away from him than get out without a criminal record.
The young man fluidly climbed out of the car, walking to my side to pull the passenger door open.
"In you go, my love." His smile was warm. "I apologize our arrangement did not seem to make it on time."