Chapter 3
Tenth of July, year 1461 according to the international Chaos Calendar. Roughly six days remain until Lucy's fifteenth birthday. That detail aside, this story is not about Eden or his family. The events that were about to unfold took place in the segregated landmass that is the Tribal Territory.
Reiya's birthplace, that was dominated by the race known as the Cannibal race. The territory boasted the second largest city in all of Ester. Though it lacked in size when compared to Erith, it was far superior when it came to it's scientific acumen. This was because of the landmass' ruler, Scott Watterson.
A twenty five year old with a mind that boggled even the brightest in Terria Academy. But despite his brilliance there were times when he acted like an absolute fool. For example:
"Pfft!!!" he spat the wine that was settled in his mouth.
He sprayed the liquid all over the man that was standing right in front of him as well as the table that was provided a resting place for his elbows. Inside the single room office that was lined with shelves filled to the brim with all manner of books was two people, both men. The man that was seated was Scott, who had his brown hair slicked back and tied into a bun. In front of him stood a blonde man with an undercut. His expression boiled with frustration.
"Sorry, Alan." Scott apologized.
"Save it." Alan snapped as he wiped off the wine from his face. "What are you gonna do?"
Scott thought to himself for a moment. "Run that by me again. I just wanna make sure I heard you right."
"Luck Valentine launched an attack on the capital of Ester. Though he was defeated, he still caused a substantial amount of damage on the capital."
Scott swallowed hard. "And they expect us to pay reparations?"
"That'll depend on how your negotiations with the king go."
"Damn. What about Reiya? Is she alright?"
Alan browsed over the papers he had in hand. He pulled a single envelope from the pile and tossed it to Scott.
"I haven't opened it yet. It came in yesterday so we can assume it was mailed about two or three days ago."
Relief washed over Scott like a title wave. "That's good to hear. So ...is Luck dead?"
"He is ..."
"I see."
Alan's eyes narrowed at Scott. His expression turned sceptical. "You're still holding yourself accountable for what happened to him and his family, aren't you?"
"It was my fault."
"Trust me pal there was nothing you could've done differently. The guy said so himself."
"Then why'd he attack Erith, where my niece is staying?"
"I don't know. But there's the possibility that she might be involved."
Whatever relaxation Scott felt evaporated from his body. The events that took place six years prior in the Tribal Territory flashed through his mind. To Scott Watterson, the Year 1455 was by far the most taxing year of his entire life.
Though he overcame those trials and built a better life for himself and his loved ones, the experience still weighed heavily on his mind.
The bloody battles, the harsh choices, the torn bodies riddled with scorn. The sight of his father's mutilated body. All of it came flashing back. A lump caught on Scott's throat. Alan sensed the displeasure in Scott's mind.
"Another flashback?"
"It happens every so often. Don't worry, I'm fine. About Luck, I'll head to Ester as soon as I can."
"You're going alone?" Alan raised an eyebrow.
"It'll be faster that way."
"You're gonna leave 'You know who' all by herself?"
He stood dead in his tracks as he was heading for the door. Alan was right. If Scott left for Erith by himself he'd be leaving a certain young woman by herself. A woman who lived through the same difficulties as Scott. A woman who walked the bloody path right with him.
"She's in no condition to travel anyway." Scott concluded.
Alan scoffed at Scott's conclusion. "This isn't your way of trying to avoid the inevitable is it?"
"N-no…." he said, sweat dripping from his face.
"You should at least tell her you're leaving. She'll flip out on me if you just leave without telling her."
"Sounds like a you problem."
"Dude!" Alan roared.
"Fine. But you're coming with me."
As Alan watched Scott walk out the door he felt a slight ache in the back of his head. He was familiar with this feeling, it was a feeling he'd grown used to over the past six years. He followed Scott into the long corridor. As they left the office they walked into a hallway that was lined with doors on both sides. Each door led to a room with a unique set up.
Others took the form of a medical office, others looked like a rehabilitation centre. They continued walking down the corridor until they eventually reached the exit. They were met by a few guards at the door, all of which bowed deeply when Scott appeared. He waved them away with his best attempt at a graceful wave. It was a poor imitation and he'd been admonished for it countless times by Alan.
The two of them strolled along the city streets. A city that was named Cape City, courtesy of Scott. As they walked, the moist air filled their nostrils. It was accompanied by the hustle and bustle of the citizens going on with their everyday lives. Wherever Scott walked he was always met with a bow from the locals.
With the constant waving and the awkward sensation that filled his consciousness whenever a local bowed, Scott quickened his pace. When they reached their destination, a massive mansion that had two floors and stretched long enough to be considered a castle, Alan's face darkened at the thought of entering.
"Still think she needs to know?" asked Scott, his face equally dark as Alan's.
"She wouldn't need to know if you were gonna take me with you."
"I can't very well leave this place unprotected now can I?"
Alan knew Scott was right. As the Cannibal King, Scott was the strongest creature in the entire Tribal Territory, that included monsters. Second only to Scott, was Alan Walker. His title; Corpse King, was intimidating all by itself. If both the Cannibal King and the Corpse King were to leave the Tribal Territory at the same time, external forces would more than jump at the opportunity to attack. That was Alan's reasoning. Even knowing all that, Alan refused to enter Scott's mansion.
"Don't make me do this. I'm begging you, Scott."
"Heh!" Scott snickered. Under normal circumstances he'd have laughed his head off at Alan's dismay. Now however, he was in the same situation as Alan. He struggled to find any humour in that.
In the end Scott gathered his courage to face the challenge that lay ahead of him. He burst through the gate then through the doors with great vigour. His entrance shocked the house keepers that were in the mansion. One of said keepers pointed him in the direction of the living room. The keeper was familiar with the way Scott entered. He defaulted to using such an entrance whenever he was overwhelmed or afraid.
Alan entered after Scott, his face pale. The sight of Alan confirmed the keeper's hunch.
May Terra be with you, Master Scott.
In the mansion's living room there were three couches. On one of those couches sat two women. One had light brown hair, cut so short it barely reached her nape. She wore a blue tank top accompanied by knee short pants. Next to her was a woman with jet black hair. A red sweater hung over her shoulder. Her eyes were fixed on her sizeable stomach.
One look was all it took to understand, she was pregnant. She noticed Scott entering the living room and waved at him with a smile.
"Hello dear. Welcome back."
"Hi Saeko. I'm back." Scott said nervously.
Roxy, who was fixated on Saeko's stomach, waved her hand at Scott almost like she was dismissing him. "Shoo. Away with you."
"You realize this is my house right?"
"I don't care. Oh, hey Hun." Roxy greeted Alan, who was silent the entire time.
"Hey..."
This time it was Saeko who was dismissing Alan. "What are you doing here, undercut?"
"Seeing as my wife spends most of her time here it's only natural that I'd be here."
"I'm pretty sure I banished you from ever coming here."
Sparks began flying between Alan and Saeko while the atmosphere between Scott and Roxy grew ever more toxic. It was a dynamic that started six years prior. As Scott and Roxy's hatred for each other grew so did Alan's hatred for Saeko and vise versa. Nobody knew why or when their feuds started but they have remained the same over the past six years.
Choosing to shift his attention away from Roxy, Scott cleared his throat as he sat next to Saeko. "I have something I want to talk to you about."
"Have you finally decided on a name?"
"Guh!"
Saeko's question felt like a knee to the gut. Broaching the topic of his departure to his pregnant wife became exponentially difficult, especially considering how he still hadn't come up with a name for his unborn child.
Nevertheless he had to press forward. "I haven't actually come up with a name as of yet....."
Saeko scowled before Scott could finish his sentence.
"What I mean is," he continued "I haven't come up with a name because we still don't know if it's a boy or a girl! You know?"
"Uh huh..." her expression remained sceptical.
"You're not buying this are you?"
"You tell me."
"Fine I admit it," Scott sighed. "I still haven't come up with a name yet. But I will soon, I promise!"
"Saeko's due in three months time, you know that right?" Roxy interjected.
"Ninety days? That's plenty of time to come up with something!"
Alan slapped his hand against his forehead. He realized that at that point, saving Scott became a tall order. Yet to everyone's surprise, Saeko refrained herself from letting loose on her husband.
"Saeko?"
"I understand," Saeko said in exasperation. "You've been busy, so busy in fact that you couldn't spare a moment to think about your child."
That hurts. Scott thought to himself.
"As long as you come up with a name before they're due, then it's fine. In fact I think it's better you start working from home. That way we can come up with something together."
Suddenly it became ever so difficult to bring up the fact that Scott planned on leaving the Tribal Territory. He turned his teary gaze to Alan, who averted his eyes from Scott's desperate face. Aware of Alan's refusal to help Scott decided to breach the matter himself.
"Actually…. About that-" he began.
"He wanted to let you know that I'll be leaving for Erith pretty soon." Alan said, cutting off Scott midsentence.
Scott glanced at Alan. With a single nod from his advisor and best friend, Scott understood.
"Oh, when?" Saeko enquired.
"Probably tomorrow. There's been an attack on Erith and they've asked us for a representative to help mediate the situation."
"That's awful. Is Reiya okay?"
"She's fine. I'll be sure to swing by her house when I get there."
"Alright then. Don't die."
I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to die on a trip to Erith and back but at least she means well. I hope. Those were the only thoughts Alan could use to comfort himself after jumping in head first into a precarious situation.
Even though he felt conflicted about the idea of acting as Scott's representative, the expression he saw on Scott's face made his worries evaporate somewhat. He managed to save his friend from certain death. However, Roxy's left him in a mildly concerned state.
"W-what is it?" Alan asked in a shaky voice.
"You're going to Erith alone?" she growled.
"That is the plan."
"Fine. Then I'm coming with you."