Kingdom of Hallos, The Gold Feline Cortigiana, Present day.
The day was bright as warm winds blew by.
Rebecca arrived at the entryway of the well-spoken inn. Even if the large sign that read: The Gold Feline Cortigiana, Best Girls and Wine on Elsire wasn't enough to confirm it, the troupe of Hallos and Zuland soldiers gathered beneath it was. The smell of incense surrounded the building, a heavy fragrance that resembled the smell of spring flowers. There was another scent that burned the inside of her nostrils. A pungent one she knew from her time as a city guard in Loradel. Grimwater.
She made her way passed the group of men that were discussing to one another and made her way into the establishment. She was caught in awe by the sheer elegance.
The foyer was immense with a large circular walkway near the end to the upper floors. Golden chandeliers with colored stones hanging from them, potted plants with multicolored flowers on almost every end table. At the center was a large desk with a burly woman in a corset that struggled to contain her. She wore a jester's amount of maquillage which combined with her height made her look like the subject of a nightmare.
Rebecca waved at her, catching her attention.
"Great, another useless watchman," she said as she rolled her eyes.
Rebecca pushed the remark aside. "Are you the head mistress of the brothel?"
"Goodness no," she answered sardonically. She put her hand on her chest as she batted her eyelashes. "I only wear these lovely clothes and premier paint because I'm a common courtesan." She glared down to her. "Of course I'm the head mistress! What you think?"
That that corset is begging to be put out of its misery. Rebecca crossed her arms. "My mistake, madam. How could I have not seen it?" she answered, indulging her. "I'm only a simple-minded guardess, I know nothing of beauty."
"Das right, slattern. Admire me in awe."
Rebecca bit her lip to help contain her laughter.
The mistress trudged passed her and towards a group of three girls at the base of the stairs.
Two were lovely courtesans that were shoulder to shoulder, the third girl hidden behind them.
"Aye, Diala, Kis, I've got another guardess here and my time is too valuable to spend on her. Tell her what you know, eh?" barked the mistress.
"Yes, Madam Seiwa," they answered in unison.
Rebecca shrugged as the mistress stomped away.
The brown-hair girl turned to her hidden companion. "Alright then, she's gone now, Anaria."
Rebecca's breath caught in her throat. "Anaria?" She drew closer to the girls, her chest filled with unbridled warmth as she met eyes with the familiar elven, though she was now wearing a soft pink dress. "Anaria! Its you!"
Anaria shared in her surprise. "Rebec—"
Rebecca quickly embraced her. "Its good to see you unharmed."
"Oh, you know one another?" said the black-haired courtesan.
Rebecca released her as questions began to form a line in her mind. "Wait. Why are you here? Is the commander with you?"
Anaria gifted her a smile. "I'm glad to see you're well too."
"The commander?" asked the black-haired girl.
Anaria nodded. "He is." She extended her arm to the two girls. "This is Diala and Kis, they helped me, Xeto and Roy hide out here."
So, the commander is here. She met with Anaria's amethyst eyes once more. "Where is he? I heard a general was murdered in here."
"Brave lad, that one," said Kis. "He and his friend, the sharp-ear chased after the murderer."
Diala smiled. "I know we mustn't be excited with the death and all—but this is the most stirring thing to happen all moon."
Rebecca crossed her arms. "Where did they go?"
Diala shared a glance with Kis before putting her palms up. "Can't say. They chased after the culprit through the rooftops."
Kis poked Rebecca's shoulder. "Though I did hear one of the guards say they last saw the assassin near the garden district."
"Where about is that?" asked Rebecca.
"On the other side of the district wall, east side of the city."
"Good, then that's where I'll start my search."
Anaria took ahold of her shoulder. "I'll come with you."
Rebecca's lips parted. "Are you sure. It could be dangerous."
"Yes, I want to do more to help, and I can help if Xeto or Roy are hurt."
"Alright then." Rebecca gave a nod to Kis and Diala.
"Thank you for everything," said Anaria as she exchanged hugs with both of the ladies. "I promise I'll make it up to you."
"No need, darling." Kis winked. "Letting me toil with your hair was payment in full."
Rebecca made her way out of the luxurious establishment with Anaria following close behind. Together left the rich roads and the smell of incense behind.
~0~
Rebecca rested her hand on her revolver as she walked across the large bridge that connected two districts. She looked down the large paved road that led to an elegant entrance.
A group of Zuland guards huddled by the walls. "Make ready men, Princess Sara will be arriving shortly and I want the head of the one responsible for General Chonsey's murder. We'll make an example out of the lot and remind them that Zuland is not to be toiled with."
"It's sad to see things like this," Anaria broke the silence between them.
"It is, but stalling about it won't change anything. Only through actions can we truly make a difference. Death isn't pretty but it's the way of life. Let's keep moving, best to find Xeto's tracks before it gets dark." The duo continued through the city streets. Rebecca wished that she could stop and admire the architecture of the city, or maybe stop to eat a foreign dish. It seemed anytime she was out of Loradel she never got many chances to experience other cultures.
"Rebecca," called Anaria who kept a slow pace behind her. "Why did you join the Demon-Hunt?"
Rebecca wet her lips to repeat what she had told Taloz. "To protect people from the beasts of the world."
"That's your duty, but what drove you to do it?" Her voice lowered as it carried somberness. "For Xeto it what was the death of Roxas. Did you also—I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—"
"Liophus."
"Liophus?" whispered Anaria.
"My older brother, Liophus." She loosened her grip on her revolver. "He and I were inseparable. Rather, I never wanted to leave his side. There was a time when he went hunting alongside my other two brothers; Axel and Luka. I wanted to go with them but I was too young and my mother wouldn't have it. But that wasn't enough to sway me. When they readied their ship, I managed to stow away." She chuckled as she recalled the following events. "It didn't take long for them to find me. They tossed me into in water to teach me a lesson. The laughed and laughed as I cried and yelled. My fingers were shriveled like prunes by the time they pulled me back in. Liophus then told me that everything happens for a reason." She moved into a cramped alleyway. "He died five years ago, it was hard at first, but like any wound, it healed. It was something that was meant to happen, like he told me, if not then I wouldn't have been here today. I just do as he did, move forward."
"That's a beautiful memory. Thank you for telling me." Anaria smiled as she matched her pace.
"Now you have to share something with me."
"I've lived in Hansel all of my life. I'm afraid that my stories would be dull compared to your adventures. I've never even been on a ship before either."
"I'm sure there's something you could share. Like perhaps why you blush anytime I mention the commander." She turned back to find Anaria's cheeks flustered.
"I…he's a childhood friend and I…care about him." She fiddled with her fingers as she kept her gaze low. The duo entered a well-kept garden that was surrounded by buildings on all sides.
"Care?" Rebecca chuckled. "That's one word I'd use." She put a finger to her chin. "Another would be…love?"
"Love?" Anaria stammered. "No, we could never—"
"Never what? Be together? It's amusing to see that you react just like him." Rebecca eyed the rooftops slowly, looking for any sign of the commander's whereabouts.
Anaria clutched at one shoulder. "Xeto has always been a kind person. Unlike my brother, he hides his emotions. He's not like you either. He still holds sorrow from Roxas. I thought that if he got away from Hansel that it would help ease his pain. But being away from home may have only made matters worse."
Rebecca knelt down and noticed a bit of shattered clay that resembled the rooftop's tiles. She kept her voice stern. "Don't hold to much against him. A part of that is what makes him a good soldier and a good commander. Supposing you think less of him because of the people he's killed, don't. Like I said, death isn't pretty but it sometimes becomes the only answer."
"I don't think less of him, I only wish I could help more. That's hard to do when he doesn't accept it easily. If a war broke out now it would only stir more chaos. I don't know how you both do it."
Rebecca heard a small rustle on the opposite side of the garden. She stood slowly. "I joined the Demon-Hunt to protect others from beasts, sometimes those beasts look like us, but they're no different than demons. I made my trade killing monsters. Did you really think you could remain hidden?" She clutched her revolver, finger on the trigger. She quickly spun around and aimed it towards Anaria.