The sun towered over the lost city, the flora basking in its light, the ground giving way to all sorts of sprouting plants. Footsteps echoed across the streets; a new day had begun.
Shops slowly opened, and people walked the roads, heading to their various destinations. The city had definitely seen brighter days, but to an outsider, this scene seemed far from bad.
The hustle and bustle of the morning started in earnest–bars opening, customers flocking to various shops, buying, dining. They lived normal lives, as if, just three years ago, they hadn't had everything they knew and loved torn away.
Victor wandered the streets, his eyes wide with disbelief. People drank happily, smiled genuinely, and in the distance, the grand structures of churches and monuments dedicated to the Monarchs stood tall. It was a sight he hadn't expected—life continuing, unshaken, even under the shadow of their rule.
Victor had hoped Zahir was lying, prayed he was mistaken. But standing in the heart of Vielat, he couldn't help but bite his lip in frustration. Had the people forgotten, or had they been forced to forget? He understood their circumstances, the fear they lived under, but he couldn't forgive.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Katherine waving. She stood beside Zahir near a textile shop. Reluctantly, he walked over.
"Thank goodness you made it out," Zahir said, "That was quite the number of beasts." When Victor didn't reply, Zahir followed his gaze. "I told you the city was unrecognizable."
"Unfortunately so," Victor muttered, still scanning his surroundings.
"They're controlled by fear," Zahir continued. "I can't blame them. With the Great Forest looming, they're trapped. And with the other cities also under control, there's nowhere to escape to. The city has turned into a pig pen, we're all just holed up, not knowing what comes next."
Katherine, oblivious to the tension, smiled. "It's pretty though," She said, glancing at the bustling streets. "This place is so much bigger than the haven."
"Well, yes," Zahir responded, "This is the imperial city, the center of Victoria. Before the Lament, it used to be much larger, and far more beautiful."
"Really?" Katherine said, still looking around.
"Yep." Zahir nodded at her.
"What's that place?" Victor asked, pointing at a large building to the east of the shopping district.
"That's the Church of Monarchy," Zahir explained. "It was created by a bunch of delusional idiots who believe the Monarchs saved them. That the Monarchs are 'protecting' them."
"Hm."
"They aren't just a bunch of idiots, though—they're a cult," Zahir continued. "Before I left, I heard they were responsible for several deaths. 'Snipping the unbelievers,' they called it. What a load of nonsense."
"Do you think they're driven by fear as well?" Victor asked.
"I doubt it. I genuinely think they believe the Monarchs saved them, either that or something else."
"Saved them from what?" Katherine asked.
Zahir shook his head. "That's something only they know."
As they continued their conversation in the shopping district, Victor and Zahir both turned their heads simultaneously, noticing a sudden shift in the atmosphere. The chatter around them had grown louder, and people were beginning to crowd around a specific location.
They walked toward the crowd, curious about the commotion. In the middle of the gathering lay a corpse, with the word "Unbeliever" scrawled across its chest in blood.
"Those goddamn bastards, they're sick—all of them," Zahir muttered, covering his nose against the stench.
Victor looked down at the lifeless body, then turned his gaze toward the church. This wasn't his fight and taking down the Monarchs would bring this entire place to ruin anyway. He forced himself to push the thought aside.
He turned his gaze to Katherine, they had walked a long way, she had to be tired. "Are you okay?" He asked.
She looked up at him, visibly surprised that he had addressed her. She quickly nodded. "I'm fine."
Victor offered a small smile. "Do you want to find somewhere to rest, maybe take a shower?" The mere mention of a shower made her eyes light up, and he couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. He then turned to Zahir.
"It seems this is where we part ways," Zahir said.
"Indeed," Victor replied, extending his hand.
Zahir grasped Victor's hand firmly. "You've been incredible, Victor. You saved me from certain death, and for that, I'll always be grateful."
Turning to Katherine, he added, "And you, Katherine. Do you remember what I taught you?"
"Extravagant dreams, like blossoms in spring, Fade with the dusk, as night starts to sing. Gold-laden branches bend with their weight, but simple roots endure, though seasons abate."
"Wow, you're officially on the same level as me now," Zahir said, playfully ruffling Katherine's hair. "May the gods be with you." He bowed as they walked away.
Victor turned and headed off in search of an inn. As he walked away, Katherine waved to Zahir with a smile, and he waved back before returning to the textile shop to continue shopping.
Dusk settled over the city as Victor pulled two gold coins from his pocket, sliding them across the table to the innkeeper. The man nodded, pocketing the coins before gesturing to a room upstairs, handing Victor a key.
Katherine wasted no time, bolting up the stairs. The innkeeper had mentioned a bath, and she could hardly contain herself, she hadn't had a real shower since the day Angelo left. The thought of finally washing away the dirt and grime seemed like a luxury she'd long been denied.
"You really want to shower that badly?" Victor asked, watching her fumble with the room key. "You could've said something."
"Angelo told me that only royalty took showers every day."
"Wild of you to assume I'm not royalty."
"Are you?" She asked, and Victor quickly shifted his gaze. Well no...
The door creaked open, breaking the silence. Katherine dashed into the room, tossing her bag on the floor and kicking off her shoes. Victor entered at a more leisurely pace, picking up her shoes and setting them neatly to the side. "Calm down," He said with a soft chuckle. "The bath isn't going anywhere."
"I know," She replied, already halfway out of her shirt. "What about you?"
"Hm?"
"Are you going to the bath too?"
Victor hesitated for a moment, then tossed a towel over her head. "Probably not. I'll just stand outside."
Katherine didn't seem to hear him as she darted toward the hallway. With a resigned sigh, Victor followed, the door closing behind them as they made their way toward the bath.
They soon approached the large double doors marked with signs indicating it was a communal bath, meaning Victor could technically join her if he wanted. He paused at the entrance, unsure. "Alright, Katherine, we're here."
"You should come too," Katherine said, pointing at the door. "It's not just for girls."
Victor blinked, his eyebrows raised. 'I thought she couldn't read,' He thought, quickly trying to come up with an excuse. "Well..."
"You should listen to her," Came a voice from behind them.
They both turned to see a woman with brown hair, wrapped in a bath towel, holding a bucket of bath supplies. "No one would mind her dad coming in with her," She said with a friendly smile.
Victor opened his mouth to correct her, then sighed, rubbing his temples. "Oh, I'm not her..." He trailed off, realizing it was a losing battle. "Fine."
Katherine grinned, tugging Victor's hand and eagerly pushing the doors open, dragging him along.
The bathhouse was spacious with a large pool dominating the center of the room. The ceiling above was open, revealing a sky filled with stars, casting a multicolored gleam over the water below.
Victor scanned the area, noticing several people already seated around the pool, quietly washing themselves with buckets and towels. The heat of the room, combined with the sight of the water, instantly made the tension in his shoulders begin to ease.
As they walked toward the bath, a woman approached them, gesturing to the area where they would place their clothes and take a quick shower before entering the pool. Victor sighed deeply, once again questioning why he'd agreed to this. 'This wasn't how I pictured ending my day' He thought, rubbing the back of his neck.
He slowly began undressing, stripping down completely. A flood of embarrassment surged through him, feeling more exposed than he'd like. His eyes drifted over to Katherine, who was already standing with the woman they'd met earlier.
The woman gently poured water over Katherine's head, rinsing her body and hair, preparing her for the bath. Katherine stood there, smiling ear to ear.
"Come with me, she says," Victor muttered under his breath as he poured a bucket of water over his head. The initial warmth quickly turned cold as steam began to form. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all...
He stepped into the bath, sinking beneath the water until only his nose and eyes were visible. He remembered the last time he took a bath like this—it had been with Anissa. She had insisted, forcing him to take one, and just like back then, it felt just as nice now.
"You seem to be enjoying this?"
Victor glanced to his side, it was the same woman from before. "It's good," He muttered, before turning his gaze to Katherine, who was playing with a bath toy nearby. "She likes you."
"She likes you more," The woman replied, a soft smile on her face. "I'm Doris."
"Victor,"
"You know, there's an old wives tale about this bath," Doris began, "Though it's more of a myth, really, wanna hear it?"
"Shoot."
"In the late sixties, an innkeeper obsessed with the supernatural had gone through with an experiment, creating a hybrid." Doris continued. "They say the hybrid, a half-blooded demon slaughtered thousands of people right here. Their blood filling this very bath, and the demon bathed in it."
Victor raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "With the way the world is now, that doesn't sound like much of a myth anymore."
Doris laughed, a short, knowing chuckle. "Right?"
A quiet, peaceful silence settled between them as Victor exhaled, letting his worries finally melt away. Doris glanced over at Katherine, who sat by the edge of the pool, dipping her toes in the water.
"She truly adores you," Doris continued. "You're not her father, right?"
Victor hesitated, wondering if he had said so earlier. "No, I'm her guardian."
"You came from the Great Forest today, didn't you?" She asked, her eyes fixed on Katherine.
Something about the question seemed off. "No, we've been living here for a while," He lied, keeping his expression neutral.
Doris gave him a knowing look, then turned away, eventually leaving the bath. A moment later, Katherine approached Victor, holding up her small, wrinkled hands. "My hands are starting to wrinkle."
Victor smiled gently. "That means it's time to get out... By the way Katherine, did that lady tell you anything?"
"Hm? Doris? She just told me to hang out over there for a bit while she talked to you," Katherine said with a smug grin. "I think she likes you." She nudged Victor with her elbow.
"If only that were the case," Victor muttered, his eyes drifting toward the entrance as he noticed a few people leaving. "You ready to go?"
Katherine nodded, and soon they both stepped out of the bath and made their way back to their room. Katherine skipped down the hall, inhaling deeply and grinning to herself. She had used Doris's soap, and now she smelled like rosemary. She loved how good it made her feel.
Once inside their room, they finished the last of the food Helga had packed for them and now it was time to sleep. Victor took a spot by the door, shotgun at his side, while Katherine curled up on the bed.
Ever since the lament, Victor had lived on the move, completing jobs for money and finding rest wherever he could. He'd slept in abandoned houses, anything with a roof overhead, always on edge.
Monsters roamed the land, and letting his guard down, even for a moment, could get him killed. Over time, he'd adopted this way of sleeping—always ready, always on alert.
"You're going to sleep there?" Katherine mumbled, "It's a big bed. I can scoot over."
"Don't worry, it's fine," Victor replied softly, adjusting his position by the door. "I'll stay here for the night, okay? Maybe tomorrow."
"Oh, okay." Katherine sighed, turning over and settling into the blankets.
The room was filled with the faint sounds of the night—the hoot of owls, the flickering of the dying candlelight. Outside, crickets buzzed and frogs croaked, the noises of a world still alive in spite of everything. Victor sat with his back against the wall, his shotgun close by, ears tuned to any sign of danger.
He wouldn't sleep much, but that was nothing new. At least they were safe for now. Staring out the small window, his thoughts began to wander back to the path, to that night. The memories tugged at him, but he shook his head, forcing them away. Now wasn't the time for that. He had to stay focused.
"Hey, Victor?" Katherine's voice pulled him out of his thoughts, grounding him back in the present.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"When we were on the path, and Zahir and I walked ahead... I looked back at you." She said. "You looked scared."
Victor sat in the quiet, the flickering flame dancing across the room. He watched it rise and fall with the draft under the door. "Is that so?" He said, forcing a chuckle. "Probably saw a bug or something."
Katherine sighed, shifting to sit at the edge of the bed. "You can tell me, you know."
Victor shook his head, "You're just a kid. Go to bed."
"My parents are dead," Katherine said. "I don't remember them, but I know they're gone. The lady at the orphanage said it was a fire. I wasn't there... they made sure I wasn't. I'm tired of feeling like some useless kid that everyone has to protect."
Victor glanced at her, seeing the seriousness in her eyes. She wasn't just venting. "I don't want to weigh you down with more than you can carry."
Katherine stared back at him. "Maybe, for once, let me carry what I want to."
Victor glanced at her, realizing that subtly, subconsciously, he had been protecting her to the point of murdering her opinions and wants. He sighed once more. "I'm sorry, I... It's just..."
"It's no problem," Katherine said. "I know you mean well. You want to keep me safe, but I want to know more about you... maybe not everything, but the things that make you smile, and cry. You take care of me, so isn't it only fair I do the same?"
Victor sighed, glancing away. He felt like he was '0 for two' in arguments over the past week and maybe, that was fine. "My son, Nathan. I don't know if I mentioned him before."
"..." She shook her head,
"He died on that path, that night," Victor said, clenching his fist. "I relived that day every day for a year, until the dreams finally stopped. I was relieved when they did... I didn't have to be reminded of my failure again and again. But when I saw the path... it all came flooding back."
"I'm so sorry," She muttered. "I didn't know."
"I never told you," Victor said, forcing a small smile. "I traveled alone for so long that I forgot what it was like to have someone to confide in. Forgive me."
"It's alright," She replied, returning his smile.
As Katherine turned over on the bed, she felt like this moment was a small step toward understanding Victor better, a tiny but important step in strengthening their bond.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, a deafening bang shattered the quiet. The walls of their room exploded inward, debris flying everywhere as the ceiling groaned and began to collapse. The last thing she saw before everything went black was a giant sword, cutting through the dust and bringing with it unimaginable chaos.