Shining bright with a golden glow, a gentle breeze passes by. Murmurs drown the crowded streets while the sound of engines roar in the back, with weapons on their backs and belts the hunter walks proudly only to back away in fear, merchants of wealth from their pristine robes and accessories hide behind their trunks, nobles as few as they are with their crimson tunics disperse, all as they all see a lady towering over them leaving behind a trail of green terror.
"All right you two now listen up. As the two of you may know this city is a maze as it is built in the first place. So some people may actually be born here and die without really leaving the city, even if they want to. This became quite the problem, so much so that the guild actually hires kids for the sake of being a guide to help people out, to guide them and make signs to indicate where they are right now."
Sis Rubeca, guiding our way explains her worry but May annoyed by her words replies,
"Sis we already know about this stuff, tell us about something else."
"Oh really now? Sova, mind telling us about the structure of this city?"
A bit shocked by the sudden question, I try to remember but thanks to the whole year training, I forgot a lot of the stuff May has thought me and the only thing I could muster is,
"Um, uh well..."
"Sis let me explain instead of him-"
"NO."
May quickly tries to help but Sis Rubeca cuts her off and continue saying:
"Sova... I want you to listen closely so walk by my side, May you too. What I'm about to tell you is something not written in the books and files you read in the public archives."
Before Sis Rubeca could continue, a shadow loom over us as we separate from the crowds and the structures surrounding us widens and lessen.
Rucina, magnificent and splendid, the walls that protects it becomes greater and grander as it goes further from the center. And now here I stand close to Central, and even then the walls that erected before me stands to block even the sun, turning around multiple districts near the walls to eternal night under it's shadow.
"Oh, perfect timing, we arrived at the Night District. Like I said stay close."
Rarely have both May and I travel the so called "Night District". Even if we would we wouldn't and the only time we did was only we have an adult accompany us. The sight of a bright golden morning turn night in but a moment still amaze me as I huddle close to Sis Rubeca. They say that the Black Tiger Triads rule the night city and the moment you stray from the main path it won't be weird for you to dissapear.
Ignoring the calls of clerks and people at the side coupled with the sight of Sis Rubeca, many avoided us while we travel when she continue saying:
"This city is built upon levels, from the tallest of Heaven till the bottom of Hell, you can travel there from the place we are about to go to. The pillar that connects the three worlds together, the Central Gateway."
Sis Rubeca looks up and when I follow her gaze, a giant double gate appear as we pass by a giant building. Closely guarded by fully armed guards and separated from the district by an open space.
"And that gate ahead of you is one of the ways to get to Central. If you ask me, I don't see the point of guarding that place."
Travelling a bit more, the gate ahead of us grows bigger with each step we take and I wonder if it gets bigger for someone as tall as Sis?
"You there, halt! This area is restricted to authorized personnel only."
A voice calls to us when I heard multiple footsteps coming towards us. Sis turns to them murmuring:
"Authorized personnel huh? What bullshit."
Before the soldier arrive, Sis pulls out a red card with black lines on the sides out of her waist guard and present it to the guard as they arrive. A bit startled by Sis' quick hand movement, they stop to look and even through their covered helmets their eyes seems to pop out.
Slowly one of them reach their hands out to take the card and with a shaking grip they pull out a heart crystal split by an arrow. Seeing the crystal shine they all froze.
"Oh shit, she's the real deal", "what's a special rank doing down in The xenophobic dump like this?", "And wait, that green hair-do and height.... No way", "By the spirits, I'll let you deal with this", "hey what do you know private, a chance to delegate a special rank, be proud."
The other soldiers seemingly abandon the soldier who picks Sis' card as he looks back and forth. Even through his helm I could tell the despair on his face.
"(Keep it together!)"
The guard whisper to himself before he hands back the card saying:
"T-Thank you for you cooperation, p-please wait as we get the gate open."
(Special Rank? I did hear Sis is a special person but I suppose a special rank suits her. Plus I wonder how special is she to have those Gate Guards tremble in fear? Aren't they special rank as well? Is her special rank different than their special?)
Contrary to the grand size and magnitude when the gate slowly open by the sound of clashing steel and dragging stone, the inside of such huge door is hut an empty hall with only one thing ahead. A single cage door and nothing else...
(I can absolutely relate to this layout).
Seeing the guard make way for us, Sis pass through him while he clasp his hands for us while we follow suit. Dark, cold, and decrepit, the inside looks like a different world compared to the eternal night district outside. As we approach the cage-like door Sis places her card at the black square near the door saying:
"I will explain it to you two inside."
The door opens with the sound of clashing steel and inside is a large space of a room lighted with a dingle bright light that shows transparent glass walls and only darkness beyond.
(This room is probably related to ancient magic... Is it those rare teleportation magic? That would explain how they travel up the walls so fast).
Sis enters first and prompt us to follow. A bit hesitant from the darkness surrounding us, Sis stands at the edge while we wait at the centre when she presses a small bulge at the few non glass walls which shuts the door.
Curious, I touch the wall which enforce my fear.
(I don't like how everything is made of glass, it's similar to that one room leading to the back garden).
Wondering when Sis will continue explaining, the room start to shake as my hearing pick up the sound of chains and some weird noises I never heard of. Before long the darkness that surround us starts to disperse from above and colour takes place. The golden skies, the white cloud that contrasts, the magnificent view of the colourful city of purple, red, and jade is now before me.
I should've felt awed, inspired, and amazed by such view and wonderous questions of how this is possible? Like my first time arriving at the purple forest and seeing nature's beauty but all I feel is my hand going numb and my feet trembling as my chest tightens. As if I had been nailed to the ground, the greater height we went my view begins to flicker and fade. I try to avert my eyes and close them, I look at Sis who remains calm as ever... Except for,
"Sis!"
In a moment, May who was beside me rushes to her with such agility and starts to grab her by the collar of her armour.
"Sis, what is this! Is this technology!? There's no way this is magic, is it?! Where are we going!? Are we still heading to the guild!? Explain now!"
May the ever so curious person always has the tendency to grab someone and shake them for answers, a habit of her past self she picked up from I know not who.
"Aren't I suppose to explain the structure of this city first-"
"That can wait!"
Sis Rubeca replies softly only to be cut off by another loud answer. Sis doesn't seem to be bothered by her actions, maybe because we're used to it and continue saying:
"Besides why are you two so surprised? Especially you, May. I mean, you two already saw that the bridge transport people through the small boxes or carts a few years ago right? Well, this contraption is similar to that."
"No, no, no, Explain to us how everything works! I mean when you take me and Sova to see that contraption from afar, I thought that was magic from the previous Emperor's time. Or maybe if you say this contraption is similar, I can't sense anything magic on the room. Yet it's still moving! So you're saying the box on the bridge doesn't move with magic too?"
(Sensing magic... It's not like she's sensing it like Zerians it's more of her sixth sense or intuition which makes her mistaken for a Zerian multiple times when in action).
I ponder and try to get my head away from what's happening around me but that doesn't seem to help.
"I could but it will take a lot while, and can't you calm down first? Look how Sova is still so calm, besides look at the view it's great this is not something citizens of this Confederation normally see you know..."
Still being shaken, Sis holds may down by her shoulder with one hand before saying:
"Can you please stop shaking me May it's annoying."
Going further and beyond, the sight of the coloyrful sprawl expands and so is the skies, as if reaching my tipping point my vision blurs, a scene flickers. Two familiar faces smiles on between...
(Mom... Dad...)
"Sis... Sis! He's fainting!"
"Oh..."
*************************************
Cold, dark, yet...
"Hahahaha!"
A familiar voice echoes loudly and when I turn to look, a young boy with blonde hair run past me by. Following his trail, warmth embrace me as light returns with a clear blue sky and a garden of beauty greets me.
"Hahaha! Daddy! Mommy!"
He runs to embrace his parents who's sitting down on a blanket as they seem to be on a picnic. A man in his late thirties and his distinguishing feature being his blonde hair and sharp jawline while wearing a particular uniform.
"Oh! Look who's here! Did you had fun?"
The father picks him up when the mother concern for his safety says,
"Dear, be careful, he's fragile."
"Naw! He's my son! He's strong! Ain't that wite! Awen't you!"
The mother in her early twenties with long dark brown hair still worried pulls his arms down...
"Pweee!"
With a cry of a winged beast soaring through the clouds, I remembered...
"Ha ha, yay. Mommy Daddy Look at the sky, I want to go to the sky."
The mother smiles and pat him replying:
"Sure sweetie. We promise you that next year, during your birthday Mommy and Daddy will take you to the sky, that way you'll be able to see the Aolia Wings up close."
"Really? Really!? Yipee!"
"Man, a genuine yipee... I feel like we took many things for granted. And Honey how are we gonna do that? We- oof!"
Before he could finish the mother elbowed him and take the boy to hug him close shouting:
"Are you saying you that you want to crush this sweet little angel's dreams, Darling?"
"No, what would I ever do that Honey. What I'm trying to say is don't just make promises like that out of whim, don't you think it will be worse if we can't fulfill it by then?"
Trying to break the fight, the boy hug them both saying:
"Mommy Daddy, please don't fight."
"Awww, all right my sweet angel, besides if it's Mommy and Daddy together we can do it no?"
Smiling confidently as she says so, the husband looks a bit tired when,
*Crackle* *Crackle*
Fire rises from beneath, engulfing the garden and replacing it with a vision of horror.
*Weeeee*
"Arrrgh!", "AAAAH!", "Help! We need a medic!"
The calming scene became a mess of chaod and destruction. Despair and terror all around. Among them, the father and mother shielded their son.
"Darling what's going on!?"
The mother asked only to be replied with,
"I do not know honey, were probably being attack fr-"
*Boom*
"Aaargh!"
Interrupted with the sound of an explosion nearby. The father guides them somewhere else before shielding them both shouting:
"Dammit, everyone brace your selves!"
*BOOM*
I can't tell what I'm seeing, it was barren and I could see licks of flame from the corner, pillars of steel plunge to the ground and many more fell sprayed everywhere.
Cold, os what I felt when I realize the downpour that blur my vision and shielding me is both Mom and Dad hugging tightly side by side. Even then, mom who lost her warmth smiles at me saying:
"Sova, everything is gonna be okay now so don't you worry, now Mommy's going to rest a bit okay?"
She closes her eyes and I don't know what I felt that day but...
"No..."
Someone's voice entered my ear, not even having the strength to see her green silhouette looms over us as I see what seems to be a giant lift the pillars of steel around us like nothing. I felt her giant arms pulling me away from them shouting:
"Get a stretcher, there's a survivor here!"
My vision darkens when I hear her mutter,
"Looks like I never get to repay anything to you, but don't worry I'll take care of him. He will be safe now, I can promise you that. This is at least what I can do to repay you."
*************************************
"Aaargh!"
I jolt awake as I felt pain over my body, reaching my arms out hazy and full of sweat, my vision still blurry I try to calm down and wipe my eyes.
"So you're awake. You look sick, whatever happens to you?"
Turning my head to the side yet not being able to see while cleaning my eyes, I quickly asks to the unknown voice,
"What, huh?! Who are you?"
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first before asking?"
Taking my hand away, I look at the source of the voice. A lady in her late twenties, with short brown hair and her distinguishing features being her sharp green emerald eyes, brown long military coat with blue pattern, and embellished by a myriad of medallions hanging across her chest to her stomach.
(That brown coat and pattern... The Aologi Empire, but it looks different than what he wears).
"Hmm? Are you perhaps curious where I got these medals? Or is there something on my face?"
"S-Sorry, my name is Sova Anmao, I'm just someone who wants to be a Hunter."
Looking at me with her cold and emotionless emerald green eyes, she then replies with,
"Oh, a hunter huh?"
The women stand, clicking her shoes as she salutes me by bringing her hand above her eyes saying:
"I am Coraline Coryn... Now a Lieutenant General of the Eastern Aologi... Empire."
Said in a strict and disciplined manner, but lagging one skme sentence yet still befitting of a true soldier and someone I remembered.
So I ask her what's in my mind:
"So why are you here, if I may ask? I mean the way you introduce yourself, seems like you are a very important person from the Empire?"
"Let's just say that, I am on a mission here as I was returning, I met with an old friend name Rubeca. I'm sure you know who she is?"
"Sis? Wait, where is Sis Rubeca?"
She sharpen her glare before replying:
"She said that she will prepare the exams for you and that friend who is taking care of you with me. So she asked me to look after you until you wake up since I owe her, I accepted it. And since you're awake, I will take my leave now, please excuse me."
As she stood up and walk out of the room. And before she open the door, she turns her head saying:
"Sova I already said this to your friend but... Be careful."
(Friend? Wait, May! Where is she?!)
The door closes a large sound of bang in the door can be heard as if someone hits the door. Then it hit me where am I,
(Where is the girl that she told me about? And where is my equipment?)
"No, calm down..."
Taking a breath and calming my self down. I Begin to look around the room, not only spacious but it could easily fit a whole party if let be. Yet among the huge space it's only filled by 4 beds simple yet I can tell it's expensive by the texture and material when I touch along with hoe bouncy it is...
(Wow, when was the last time I sleep on a bouncy bed).
With multiple sticks hanging above, the only light source comes from the window covered by a curtain. And at the centre of the room hangs a cube with a circle filled by numbers and a moving needle.
*Tick* *Tock* Tick* *Tock*
With no one around, the tranquility returns as I hear my own breathing and ruffling of my bed. Like the night time of my district, the sound of steel nor anything echo. True peace and quiet...
As I lay down once more, every time I tried to close my eyes, only to be reminded by the horrors of my nightmare.
How can I enjoy this rare chance of silence? Maybe I should get up.