She frowned, the place was so familiar, very familiar, "this is Echmen city" she muttered "have you been here before?" he asked, astonished about how she could tell and she laughed sadly, "I spent eleven years of my miserable life in this city, on the street since age seven, struggling and fighting to survive" she muttered her voice filled with sadness, suddenly she laughed slightly and sadly "forget it, it's a thing of the past" she muttered and he pulled her into his arms, burying her face into his chest, "I am here to wipe those memories, I might have started this relationship on a bad note but I want to continue it with your full involvement" he said "do you agree little thief?" he asked "you already claimed me, would you unclaimed me if I refuse?" she questioned with improved expression "no, I won't" he said firmly and she sighed "why ask me then" she muttered "to hear your affirmation" he said and she straightened his collar then suddenly pulled him closer, his lips curved at her movement "sir Ezra, I am very very possessive about my things and I would do anything to kill you if you ever break my fragile heart" she muttered trying to threatening and his hand slid around her waist "I won't dare, I would take care of your little heart" he muttered back "fine then, let's make this relationship a thing" she muttered and pecked his lips and he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss but he had to stop immediately, they were still outside, "let's go" he said leading her into the busy street. Echmen city was way larger and busier than Luther city but the both of them still gathered attentions, "sir Ezra is with a girl!!" they muttered to one another in shock, "it seems it's only Guttric city you have a bad reputation" Hazel muttered "no" he muttered back "we would talk about it later" he said his grip on her hand tightening, she noticed it but she said nothing, she wondered what was making him so nervous and angry.
Time walked by and they got to the centre district of the city, the dead silence and how deserted the place was didn't match with the wild bustle of Echmen city at all, it looked very strange and out of place and the place was sealed just like Luther city, "Wow!, wow!!, wow!!!, look who we have here" a gruff voice chanted and a round man came in sight, he was heavily dressed for the winter and he had a fire lamp hung on his arm, his dissatisfied face morphed into a surprised one on sighting Hazel and he moved closer to Ezra "don't you detest ladies?, how come you holding the hand of one" he whispered to Ezra, "she is my fiancee, we came to check the houses" Ezra said and the man turned more surprised "wow!!!" he exclaimed as he turned to Hazel, "hi miss, my name is Williams the Mayor's cousin and I am in charge of monitoring this part of Echmen city" the man said with a polite smile "quit the introduction and let's get to business" Ezra said impatiently without letting Hazel speak and William's dissatisfied look returned but then he said nothing, he led them to the houses and it was just the same as Luther city, the more house they entered the more her frown deepened, "do you want to stop?" Ezra whispered "no, I am fine" she muttered and he said nothing more, instead he silently accompanied her rubbing her hand soothingly not until they got to one of the largest mansions in that district, her heart turned heavy as she stepped into the mansion, that mansion she lived till age seven, her eyes wandered through the corpse filled rooms, her footsteps echoing off the walls as her heart grew heavier, she had thought herself numb to the horror, but the sight of bloodstained floors and shattered lives wore her down, the memories of her own past, her own pain, began to resurface, Ezra felt her distress and his hand brushed against hers, a gentle reminder of his presence but even his comforting touch couldn't dispel the darkness that closed in around her, with each step, the weight of her emotions grew, the sadness, the anger, the helplessness - it all threatened to consume her, she felt like she was drowning in the sea of tragedy, unable to find a lifeline, just then, she saw a small faded photograph on the floor, a family smile, frozen in time the happiness in their eyes was a stark contrast to the horror that surrounded her, Hazel's knees buckled, and Ezra caught her, holding her close as the tears finally broke free, the dam had burst, and her grief poured out like a river, she looked at the photograph again holding it with shaky hand, this family didn't treat her any well but they were one of those she thought as a family, she rubbed the picture and the image of her little expressionless five years old self came in sight, just below the photograph guided by Mrs Elizabeth, her tears spilled out more and Ezra silently took away the photograh, he took her into his arms silently comforting her with his hand rubbing soothingly on her back, luckily Williams was outside, "those scaly ugly things I want to kill all of them, all" she muttered coldly as her tears seized "they caused me never to meet my parent and the other lythrix and now they have killed that family that raised me, I still hoped to prove my worth to this family" she cried "any decision you make I would always support you, all is not lost, I am here for you" Ezra muttered and she nodded slightly, her emotions soon settled and she moved back slightly away from his embrace, "I ruined your new cloth" she said as she rubbed the tear stain on the cloth and he held her hand, "it doesn't matter, let's go" he said and suddenly picked her up carrying her out of the mansion, Williams looked at them in confusion but soon sighed, "lovers" he muttered and went on with his walk.