{ Chapter Three }
Have you ever felt sAd? Yea, me too.
"And I would catch a grenade for ya"
(❍ᴥ❍ʋ)
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It has been exactly twenty one days since I last saw Jasper, or something like that. I'm not one to obsess or anything.
I've officially decided to leave Medeis, and continue my journey elsewhere. Partly due to the fact that there has to be a hunter already here by now. No doubt combing the streets with the damn royal seal of employment tagged onto their clothes.
You'd think if you were searching for someone who didn't want to be found, one would have a little more discretion.
I'm gonna try out the Proluvies province for a little while. I've heard that they live underwater and have sophisticated water ability tech.
I'm definitely going to miss this city, but who knows maybe I'll be back. Or better yet maybe I'll just leave Ecrea all together and go somewhere without all my baggage.
In any case I have a lot to do today, and probably not enough time to do all of it. First up on my list, is securing some transportation. Finding a way to get myself all the way to Proluvies should be easy enough. The coins to pay with, now that's where my problem always lies.
The best way to travel, in my humble opinion, is horseback. The hover mods have tracking and an id scanner built into the system, and I can't risk being found in one of those. I would never let myself live it down. The dumbest of criminals have all been caught by hover mods, thinking they could rewrite them or pull out the system all at once. It never worked, but on the bright side they managed to make a name for themselves on the worst criminals list of the year MMMV.
I look through my brown shoulder bag, that I've had since I was old enough to know what a bag was, and see that i have around 1500 coins. Just enough to get me a horse and a weeks worth of food and supplies. That's if everything goes right, and the universe doesn't decide to completely shit on everything.
Although the odds of that not happening, is pretty low.
Outside the double doors of the Inn, there's a shop on the left labeled: Can do Camping. A bell rings as I swiftly swing the door open, the sound reverberating through the dusty shop.
It's so quiet, that if a pin needle were dropped it could be heard from the front where I am.
Although camping and horseback are not very common methods of transportation anymore, there is still a small market for it. Mainly for individuals who like to keep antiques and vintage, and like to keep things under the radar.
"Anyone here?" I shout, passing by warm heavy blankets and picking them up on my to the counter. "Just looking for a tent, and some rations." After waiting a few minutes, I get restless and hop over the desk. Heading to the back to investigate.
Hundreds of posters littered the walls of the hallway. All of them seems as if they date back to the old times. I'd say by the look of it twenty first, or twentieth century.
My tutors were very insistent that I know my history.
The small room led to an opening, with colorful beads acting as a doorway, suspended in the air by magic.
It was rare to see air magic this far south. Usually those with air magic stay in the district north of the capital, the temples. Air magic and it's people have a long history with Ecrea and it's rulers. Some say before Ecrea was ruled by royalty, natural elemental magic and its tribes ruled as a council. Until the aberrations were born. Those with power that were different from the elements, and unique in their own way were deemed aberrations. The council, seeing that these children had powers that defied natural order casted them out. And that was the beginning of the end for the council. The aberrations, now exiled banded together and formed what is now the noble family, the first Royal Court.
After the elemental council was destroyed the remaining tribes were each given land and their own freedom of governing it with their own representation. Of course, underneath the royalty. But only the Aberrations, named Nobles now, were allowed in the capital.
And that's how it's been for centuries supposedly.
Past the beads, a spacious room with lots of decor was revealed. Chairs and a wide altar in the center. In both corners of the room, stood two doors. One on the left, midnight blue and old, with deep scratches near the handle. The other blood garnet, polished with a silky shine.
The room's aura was enchanting, leading me farther into the center. On the right side of the room the second door felt warm and inviting, from where I was standing in the center. The first door on the other hand, had a frosty and uninviting aura.
I didn't know I was moving towards the door until the color filled my vision. The dark riveting red of the door was everywhere, my hand hovering over its handle. It felt like my hand was one magnet and the knob was it's other half.
"Don't touch that!" An aged voice, jolts me out of whatever trance I was just in. I spin to see an old lady short in height, dressed in magenta robes, with a panicked expression. Her eyes matching her robes, seem to glow bright.
Fabric of all kind strung all over the floor, spread out in all directions.
She must've dropped them in her surprise.
The lady breaks eye contact and proceeds to pick up the fabric.
I dart away from the door to help her.
"You shouldn't be here. Not yet. Something's wrong." She mutters to herself.
I gather the rest of the fabric on the ground and hand it to her.
"I apologize I shouldn't have trespassed. I'll leave."I say, turning away.
"No Dearie, it's alright. Let me ring up those supplies for you, free of charge." She smiles sweetly as she hobbles with her hands full to the old register. She drops all the fabric to the side and starts imputing numbers.
"Are you sure? You don't have to, I mean I shouldn't have gone over the counter-"
"Hush now, it's alright. Have fun on your trip, and don't forget to protect yourself, okay? Always, protect yourself." She held onto my hand, her eyes glowing again, this time with worry.
It was strange to see someone I didn't know worry for me, stranger still that it felt like this lady knew me.
"Of course." I give a small smile before grabbing my things and heading out.
Once I leave the store I feel foggy, as if it was all a dream.
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After gathering all my supplies and squiring a horse. I needed some sustenance. And what was better than some sweets?
The closest bakery was giant, with cute pastel colors and big swirly letters as a design. It sold sweets of every kind, and they were supposedly really good. According to the customers that pointed me in its direction.
Stepping inside was like walking into every child's dream.
There were slides and flying gummy bears, very inch of the place screamed playful. It was packed too, with little kids and their parents all having fun.
I ordered my favorite, and picked a seat in the back so I could watch the parents as they attempt to get a hold of their kid, chasing them up and down the store.
I was in awe of how a place could bring so much happiness to people.
"A muffin? There's literally hundreds of different sweets, and you got a muffin?" A familiar voice spoke.
Standing on my right, was Jasper with a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
"And what's wrong with a muffin? It's a classic pastry."
He scoffs. "Classic, yes. Boring? Most definitely."
I roll my eyes, already moving on. "What are you doing here Jasper?"
"Obviously, just grabbing a snack, and admiring the world." He waves his arm around the rest of the shop.
"Hm, I would totally believe you if it weren't for the fact that you don't seem to be eating anything." I glance around, pretending to look for his imaginary snack.
"You know, I'm really starting to feel like you're stalking me. First you show up at my workplace, then you i find you here...it's not looking good for you buddy." Lightheartedly tsk, and grin.
"Okay, your so called 'workplace' was a highly known underground bar, and this place is a popular bakery. Seems to me like you just keep running into me. Plus, I was doing a job at The Lounge, which you interrupted." He explains, pulling up a chair right next to me. "You beat up my mark in less than five minutes, it took me four days to track him down."
I shrug, nonchalantly.
"Seems like you're boss should've hired me."
He rolls his eyes, and heads towards the counter, I can only assume to get that snack he was referring to.
While he's distracted I get up and attempt to sneak out of the shop. Sweet victory only lasts for a short period, when 'you know who' appears standing in front of me.
"The least you could do, before dining and dashing is say goodbye."
"I wasn't dining and dashing, I was simply dashing. Big difference smartass." Jasper is really starting to feel like gum on a shoe. No matter how hard I try I just can't shake him.
"Well in that case would you like to spend some time dashing with me?" He winks, and raises his eyebrows. The sly grin on his face only getting larger as I make him wait in answer.
"I told you. I don't do friends." I frown. Turning away from him again, and walking in the opposite direction. I don't get far enough, because his hand grabs my wrist. I try to swing my arm around to loose his grip but it sticks.
"It's just one afternoon, Adria. If you really say no, I'll understand, but what could possibly go wrong?"
His eyes bore into mine, growing wide and pouty.
Damn those eyes of his. It's completely unfair, what he's doing, and he knows it.
"Fine. One evening. And then I'm gone." I frown, reminding myself not to get attached.