"You can see the city from here," affirms Benny, pointing down-road.
Squinting my eyes, I indeed confirm myself that there is indeed a city far out there— one which I'd originally mistaken for another mountain. For miles on end in either direction is forestland, intersected every once in a while with large groves of astoundingly-thick bamboo. Each stalk has to be four times the diameter of the ones I had growing in my backyard. But further beyond is a long span of pure white mountains and long, rolling green fields. Among them, nearly as tall as the mountains themselves is a giant spire-like conglomeration of stone buildings just as white as the mountains surrounding it. The city is layered, like a wedding cake. The top rung itself seems to be a palace of some sort, maybe a mile wide and long. But the very bottom layer is what really astounds me. It's colossal, possibly rivaling even the mega cities of my time. It's easily wider than the base of the largest mountain. There can be no doubt that it houses multiple millions of people.
"You get used to the view eventually. Don't mean it's not still pretty, though," Benny continues. "Home ain't far. Should be there in a few."
I nod.
I'm sitting beside Nora on the inside of a small cart being pulled by what I can only describe as an incredibly-obese horse with stubby little ears. Nora has curled herself up in a pile of empty burlap sacks, and Vivian has loaned her a small quilt which Nora now has draped over herself. Nora has asked that I pat her head like I did on that first day. Per her request, I've been idly doing it since we first left Hilgroff, stroking the top of her head in between her fuzzy ears. She has four ears, by the way. It hadn't really dawned on me until just a bit ago. Two similar to a human's, and two which look to be that of some kind of feline. She doesn't have a tail, unlike Vivian. Also Vivian's ears can't seem to be tucked away like Nora's, and Vivian's are much more elongated, like a fox's. They even have the black tips like a red fox. Though I only know this because she lowered her shawl once we seemed far enough away from Hilgroff. It makes me wonder why she wanted to keep her true nature hidden.
"Our home is ahead, roadblock," says Vivian, who sits up front beside her father.
Looking forward, I see an opening in the trees that eventually levels out to a quaint farmland with a plain white farmhouse not far from the side of the road. Not much further past that is a large barn of stripped red paint. The well-kept road splits off at this to a yellowish gravel pathway. Benny signals for the beast to turn by tapping the reins twice against the wooden footboard of the front of the cart. The beast acknowledges, and the cart slowly begins to turn into the pathway.
"Didn't take you for a farmer, Benny," I say.
"It's a family business," he replies, chuckling. "I run the place with my brother and my son-in-law."
"S-Son-in-law—?!" I sputter.
"Not mine, useless roadblock," Vivian snaps. "I happen to have a sister, as well."
"Loraine. Guess I didn't mention her before," says Benny. "Goblins are nasty critters. Her family ran all the way here from the next town over after it got raided by a horde of 'em."
"Goblins...?" I ask.
"Never heard of 'em? How'd you even make it out this far?"
"Luck, I guess. Or misfortune," I reply. "It's hard to explain."
The cart comes to a stop at the closed doors of the barn, the blubbery mammal giving a low moan and seating itself on the ground with an audible crash.
"Better dismount quick, kids," says Benny. "Or else the real trouble's gonna get to 'ye."
"H-Huh? What trouble?" I ask.
"The Banthuan is about to defecate," replies Vivian, swiftly leaping from the cart. She begins to walk towards the house.
I chuckle and look down at Nora, who's sound asleep with her head on my lap. The scar over her eye is serious, but with the doctor's treatment, I can rest easy. The eye itself was sealed shut to prevent contamination. It'll probably need to be removed eventually, but for now I can only let it be. So not exactly resting easy, but easy enough that I don't have to worry about her dying on me. I guess that's all I can really ask for.
"We're here, Nora," I say, brushing aside a lock of hair that's fallen over her face.
Slowly, she opens her eye. The sparkle I had once seen in it is nowhere to be found. She says nothing, and slowly raises her hands to me. I pick her up and carry her in my arms. I step down from the shallowest part of the cart. Benny is already there to greet me.
"Take care, kid," he says, clapping me twice on the shoulder. "Ain't many like you out there. Stay strong."
"Thanks," I nod. "I'll... come back for a visit sometime. Once I'm an adventurer."
"Not until you're a famous one," he guffaws. "Hey, I put up requests every once'n a while for them. Keep an eye out, will 'ye?"
"I will. Again, thank you."
I begin to walk off towards the road.
"O-Oy, kid!" says Benny. "You even got a weapon? Can't be an adventurer without one."
"Hm—? O-Oh, I... N-No, I guess I don't," I mutter. "I'll pick one up in the Capital."
"Try Han's Smithy, o'er on the second rung. Pretty pricey, but with that fat wad of cash at your side, that ain't a problem."
"He another one of your 'friends?'" I say.
"One of my worst enemies," he grumbles. "Doesn't dismiss the fact that they're one of the best. Just... don't tell 'em I sent you."
"I'd hate to put myself in any unnecessarily-tense situations, so I'll try my best not to," I reply.
He nods.
The door of the nearby farmhouse swings open. Suddenly, three children come running out into the gravel pathway.
"Grandpa!" they exclaim, rushing forward with arms outstretched. Two of the three have fox-ears, while the third doesn't. It's two girls and one boy, the boy and one girl being the ones with the ears and the other without, who all appear to be no older than three or four.
"Well if it isn't the trio of trouble," Benny laughs heartily. "Ah, Cyr— these are my grandchildren. Care to meet them?"
"U-Um, no, thanks, I'm—"
Nora leaps from my arms and goes to kneel curiously beside the three. Her ears perk up as she examines the children. The three quickly become keen to her presence, and they abruptly turn to stare back at her with an equal curiosity.
"Eye gone?" questions the boy with the fox ears.
"Eye gone," affirms the girl, also with the fox ears.
"Tiny ears," says the fox-eared boy.
"Tiny ears?" the fox-eared girl ponders.
The second girl, the fully human-looking one, steps forward and begins to lightly rub Nora's feline ears between her tiny fingers.
"They've never seen a Nexis," says Benny. "They're fox-kin, if that's what you're wondering. Kitsune, like their mother. And grandmother, for that matter."
Kitsune? Like... the fox spirits...?
"—Save for little Ginger, here," he continues. "Axel and Mimi are twins, but the chance of being born human and Kitsune is about fifty-fifty. At least, when their parents ain't both the same."
"That's interesting," I say.
So humans and demi-humans can interbreed then, huh? A little TMI for the moment, but... good to know if I ever decide to settle down with one. (Honestly, this's the first time I've ever even considered it a possibility that I'd ever settle down with a girl.)
"Ah, but here I am spoutin' off numbers. How unmanly of me."
And now I know how they feel towards the educated. Or... at least, how he feels. I'll keep my three years of calculus to myself, then.
"Well, we should get going," I say. "Thanks for the ride, Benny."
"'Course. Stop by anytime," he nods.
Nora motions for me, again raising her arms for me to pick her up. I do, and give a quick wave before setting off once more towards the road. The three children wave back. They continue to wave until I finally pass beyond their view, back into the thick of the forest where nothing more sits between us and our final destination.
The city walls tower higher and higher over us the closer we get. All around us is flat grassy meadow, which seems only to accentuate the sheer massiveness of the colossal brick structure. Several other roads converge on the one we tread, which brings clusters of many others wishing entrance to the city. Several caravans, some drawn by true horses, but most drawn by peculiar beasts, all line up at the entrance gate. I then see a smaller gateway, which has only people— and I use the term 'people' loosely— lined up before it. As we approach the line, I see the forward-most caravan driver handing the reins over to a guard in silvery armor. The driver then steps off the cart and makes his way into the line for people, where the guard taps the reins and drives the cart into the city. I end up standing in line behind the driver, anxiously bouncing on the balls of my feet.
Nora is asleep. I'm not sure how long she's been that way, but probably since we set off. I should probably wake her up soon. I've been holding onto something I'd wanted to give her since last night, but I couldn't really find the right time to do so. Cautiously, I set an open hand on Nora's head. Her ears perk up on alert, but it takes a moment for her eyes to slowly flutter open.
"How are you doing?" I ask softly.
"...Tired," she replies, yawning.
"Do you want to stand for a little bit?" I ask. She nods. I carefully set her down. She begins to shuffle her feet around in the grassy rocks. "Nora, I have something I want to give you, before we get in."
She looks up and tilts her head at me.
I slowly reach behind me and pull out a short thin item wrapped in cloth. As I hand it to her she stops and stands still, holding out her hands close to her body.
"I wanted you to have this," I say. "You might not get it now. But eventually... you'll understand."
She unfurls the cloth to see Lyle's old dagger in the palms of her hand.
Lyle gave it to me in secret, before I left. I'd all but forgotten about it until only a few hours ago. He wanted me to return it the next time we saw each other. Unfortunately, I never got the chance.
"It's..." she mutters.
"To protect yourself," I say. "I know I promised I'd always protect you, but even I don't know what's in store for us in the future. Knowing you have this would really put me at ease. And... If anyone should have it now, it should be you."
She understands. I can tell by the look in her eye. She's smart— or perhaps it's because she knows death better than I do, despite her young age. She nods, and folds the dagger back into the cloth. She continues to hold onto the bundle tightly with both hands around it, holding it nearly at eye-level for the many minutes we stand here.
"—but of course, my precious cargo will not go unaccounted, yes?"
We're towards the front of the line now, and the driver in front of us seems to be exchanging nervous words with a silver-armored soldier.
"Ease your fleshings, you old lon' sop," the soldier replies.
The driver, a rather rotund middle-aged man in furled nobles' clothing, crosses his arms. "I beg your pardon? Those shipments are of the most pertinent matter, not means of clownish buffoonery the likes of which schoolchildren indulge, thank thee."
"Tablespoons and tambourines too lay pertinent to the right cause," the soldier replies. "Means not the grass is greener, the water is wetter, nor the line for entry is any shorter." The soldier walks off.
"The n—" The driver turns to me suddenly. "The nerve of the bloke. Mean I the truth?"
"The, uh— what?" I ask.
"Oh joy, a commoner," says the driver with a sort of exasperation in his voice. "Ah, it matters not. Good'dy, young one. What brings thee to the gates of prosperity and overarching ineptitude?"
"Life, I suppose," I reply.
"Ah— life. The paramount of that which we call home... yet which all too oft brings about ill presence, a phantasm of noble truth or derivative pleasure which—"
"If you're going to talk to me, I suggest you cut it short," I say.
"Fair enough. William Breadkneader, I am— an ironic name as I drive the bread, not knead it. But nevertheless, I present it to thee." He bows, planting an arm to his waist.
"Cyr," I say.
"A quaint name, yet not without its elegance. A pleasure, Cyr." William extends a hand.
"Same to you," I reply, reluctantly shaking hands with him.
"Er... I could not but notice the absence of vitality to thine satchel— or to think of it, to a satchel at all," he says.
"What do you mean by vitality?" I ask.
"Potions, elixirs— of the sort, by my trade."
"You're basically asking me to buy your shit, then?"
"Nay, a horse lays shit, as does the dog and the cat and the pig. But what I lay are aides which save the lives of thousands. Not that they come of mine arse, of course."
"Well, thank you for clarifying," I mutter.
"Seems of no little coin, does thee. Potions galore, if need be."
"You're rhyming now, are you...?"
"Coincidence," he wavers. He reaches into a pouch at his side and pulls out little red vials between each digit of his right hand. "Three to the ten, all four for a Jeul more. Heal thine wounds, clear thine cavities, all for half the price of full. Buy now sir, I tease not."
"I'll pass, thanks," I say. "Looks like you're up, anyways. Get back to that 'pertinent matter' of yours quicker."
"Eh? Ah— Yes, indeed. Fare thee well, young gent. Upon change of mind, do not hesitate!"
"I'll keep it at the back of my mind," I reply.
He is led into the dark room ahead, where the door closes behind him. I look down to Nora, who seems to have been oblivious of the conversation that had just happened.
"It's almost our turn," I say.
She nods.
"Do you need me to hold you again?"
She nods again. I reach down and take her into my arms.
"Let's, uh... get something to eat once we get through, alright?" I say. "I'm sure you're pretty hungry by now."
Again, she nods. I'm beginning to see a trend here. I figure the only way I'll get anything out of her is if I ask an open-ended question."
"Hey, Nora," I mutter. "What do you usually eat, anyways?"
"Bread," she replies.
"Just bread...?"
She nods.
"...W-Well, from now on, we'll be eating like kings, a-alright? So don't w—"
"It's ok," she mutters. "I don't want anything right now."
"What do you mean, you don't want anything?"
"I'm used to it," she replies. "I'm not hungry."
"We have the money, therefore we'll eat. You can't afford to get any skinnier, kid."
She doesn't reply. I can tell that I won't be getting any more words from her any time soon, so I decide to leave her be. I shouldn't be asking too much of her, anyways. The trauma has to be getting to her. I hate to think it, but she may never again be the same timid little girl I'd met on the bridge that fateful day. Nor do I think I will ever again be the same shut-in loser of an illustrator, either.
The large wooden door swings open suddenly, and another silver-armored soldier gives me a cold nod.
"Turn out your pockets at the table," they grumble. "Ready the five Jeul entrance fee now."
I do as I'm told, as does Nora. We're led into a small circular room with a wooden table in the middle and a bored-looking officer on one side. I set Nora down beside me before setting my belongings, my money pouch and my phone, on the table. Nora sets the wrapped dagger beside my things, and also a single coin which I recognize as a ten-Jeul. It must've been the one I gave her the other day.
"Alright. fi... Twenty Jeul up-front," says the officer.
"Twenty? The guy over there said five," I reply.
"That's five each," he says.
"That still only makes ten."
"Dunno what you heard, but the fee's twenty. Pay it or buzz off."
A fib suddenly begins to formulate in my mind. I stifle an mischievous grin.
"You see... That's a real pity," I say, shaking my head. "His Highness surely wouldn't be very pleased to see petty snatchers existing among their own barracks. If word were to get out that—"
"And how could word get out if you're stuck behind the wall?" the officer jeers.
Damn, he's got me there.
"Are you a betting man?" I then ask.
"Not with the likes of you," he replies.
"Of course you are, I see it on your face. With seeing bland face after bland face pass one by, one must grow awfully weary of life. Wouldn't the excitement of a proper wager help break the doldrums?"
"Coin toss," says the man. "Win, you only pay five. Lose, you pay double. That means forty."
"I can do simple maths, thank you," I scoff. "Well, I accept. As you can see, I'm not all too hurting on funds, so this can't hurt me much either way." I reach into my pocket and pull out a loose coin. It's the strange coin again, the exact one I'd discovered from inside the tavern. I place it on the nail of my thumb as I ready the toss. "Call it."
"Heads," he says as I flick the coin. It spins in the air for one, two, three or so rotations before landing back in my hand. I flip it upside-down on the back of my other hand and hold it forward.
"Tails it is," I say. I reach into the bag and take out a five-Jeul.
"That's five each, son," the officer mumbles.
"Sure, sure." I take out another five and hand them both to him. "Are we free to go? Or are you going to try to pull something else on me?"
"Keep your nose clean, is all I'll say," he replies.
"Fair enough. I don't intend to start anything, if that's what you're wondering."
As I begin to reach for my phone, the officer suddenly snaps it up and holds it to his eyes.
"And what be this?" he asks with skepticism in his voice.
"Personal property," I reply. "A magic device. I'd suggest you hand it back."
"Be it dangerous?" he asks.
"About as dangerous as throwing a stone at someone," I say.
"Suspicious item... A prime candidate for confiscation, that."
"I'd rather you didn't. It would save a lot of time for both of us if you just handed it over now."
The officer looks to me. After a moment, he drops the phone back onto the table. I pick it up and slide it into my pocket.
"That'll be all. Move along," he waves.
I nod and reach down for Nora's hand. She accepts it, and we both head out towards the door that begins to lurch open before us.
The first thing we're struck with as our eyes adjust to the sudden brightness is the sheer openness the Capital City grants. We stand at the far end of a massive city square, among the masses of civilians. All around us span large buildings of wood and stone, ranging from small structures of a single floor, to giant complexes of five stories. The buildings themselves aren't much bigger than those of Hilgroff, but instead it's the view of the towering levels rising high above that really puts it all into perspective. The white walls leading to greater and greater heights shine with a certain grand hue in the afternoon sun. This sheen heralds warm light to the city below.
"Isn't this amazing, Nora?" I say. I begin to weave through the crowd with her in tow.
"I can't see," she mutters, looking around.
Well... she is pretty short. Not to mention that she's hindered further with a lack of depth perception.
"Here," I huff.
She doesn't protest when I pick her up under her arms and place her on my shoulders. I hold her legs to keep her steady.
"Now what do you think?" I ask.
I hear a breath escape her mouth, and I can't quite tell if it's a sigh or gasp.
"Do you... want me to let you back down...?" I then ask.
"No," she replies. I can feel her settle just a bit on my shoulders.
"See anything worth visiting up there?" I ask. "A clothes store, maybe? Hate to break it to you, but Vivian's hand-me-downs are just a little big on you. Of course, there's food too. What do you say?"
"I want to sleep," she replies.
"It's only mid afternoon. We'll find an inn later," I say.
"I want to sleep," she repeats. She intentionally goes limp so half of her body lands on top of my head.
"Alright, alright, I hear you," I mutter. "Keep an eye out for a place, alright? A nicer one, preferably."
"There," she says, pointing.
I turn to follow her gesture. I see a building with a sign hanging over it, a multistoried building of cobble and rough lumber. There is a hanging sign above the door depicting a crescent moon with a simple-looking sword in between the moon's points. Not too shabby, but far from what I'd wanted given the tremendous leeway in my current budget.
"Why don't we find something up on the second rung?" I ask.
"I want to sleep."
"I know you do, I just think—"
"—there," she replies.
I let out an audible sigh. "Alright, fine. We'll go there for tonight. But we'll move up further tomorrow, alright?"
She doesn't say anything. We approach the door to the average-looking inn. I set her beside me after lifting her from my shoulders. As we enter, we find ourselves in a sort of lounge area with a small bar off to the side. Closer to us is a front desk with a winged woman in maid's uniform placed in charge. I can see a set of stairs leading to a second floor to my right.
"Welcome, master and— young mistress," says the woman, bowing. "My name is Aethyx. How may I be of service this day?"
(Mistress?! The hell's she pinning me for...?!)
"O-One room, t-two beds, if you've got it," I say.
"Certainly. How long will you be staying, master?" asks the woman.
"One night," I reply. "I'd like the nicest room you've got. Money isn't an issue."
"Understood, master," she bows again. "For one night, that will be... twelve Jeul."
"Sure, whatever," I say, reaching into the pouch and sifting through the coins to find the right amount. "It's ready now, yeah?"
"First door to the left at the top of the stairs," she replies. She reaches out to hand me something. "And this is your key, master. Rest assured, your belongings will not be under threat of theft here."
"Th-Thanks," I mutter.
I take Nora's hand as we begin towards the wooden flight of stairs. At the top, I turn left to find the first door, as the woman— (Athis, was it?) had affirmed. I slip the tarnished iron key into an equally tarnished iron lock and push it open.
The room is rather simple, not too different from my old room in Gin's tavern, with the only major difference being that there's now two beds instead of one. Nora slips through ahead of me and falls face-first into her bed, landing with an exhausted sigh. It takes me a moment to realize how tired I am, as well. I'm not used to walking— at all, really. To the general store down the street of my flat, or at most to the town's movie theater is how far I'd ever go. Not to mention how I didn't really get much sleep last night, either. I won't say I spent a good chunk of it checking my armor out in the mirror, but... Yeah.
I decide to check out for a while. I slip off my bracers and chest piece, then letting my leg guards fall to the floor. I'm in my basic clothes underneath; my old t-shirt and jeans. I usually sleep in just my underwear, but since I'm in the same room as Nora... I'd better not.
I put my hand on the headboard while I examine the strange lumpiness of my bed. I can't quite tell what's being used for padding, but it sure as hell isn't anything I'm used to. But, I quickly tell myself I'm being too picky, that in this world I'm basically a spoiled brat. I shouldn't really take anything for granted in regards to my old life. Hell, I don't even know if I'll ever see that place again.
"Alright, Nora," I say. "I'm gonna take a quick snooze, then I'm off to—"
She's standing next to me as soon as I turn around. It startles me, nearly causing me to trip over the bed.
"Uh— h-hey, Nora," I mutter. "Is... there something wrong?"
"Did you love Sister?" she asks suddenly. Her hands are balled up and she looks at me with tears in her eyes.
"Wh-Where's this coming from?"
Her gaze intensifies as she awaits my answer.
"...W-Well, Yeah, if you get down to it. I guess I did," I reply.
"Then... Why did you leave us?"
"I... I'm not sure." I bend down and set a hand on her head. "I never should have left. I should've stayed with you all. I'm... I'm sorry, Nora."
The reality is that I saw myself staying with Esmeralda, maybe even getting married sometime. But I was too scared to make it a reality. I've said I have to move on a hundred times over, but I'm always brought back to it by the regret I've harbored. Hopefully I'll learn to cope with this. Until then, I guess it's a reminder of where I'm coming from.
Nora slowly inches closer to me and hugs tightly my arm. I continue to groom her hair with delicate brushes of my fingers, just like I used to do with my sister.
"...Don't leave... Not— Not ever again," Nora whimpers, sniffling softly into my shoulder.
My fingers stop their rhythmic motion for just a moment. My mind ponders everything that has happened up to now. Even back to my old life, as an unfulfilled artist at twenty-two years old. Not once have I ever been begged not to leave. It's like this world is trying to show me every feeling I have yet to feel. But not that; I'm not so naive as to think this was all for me.
"...I won't," I say. "Promise."