Tall thick walls. The outside layer was made of stone while the layer on the inside was mostly earth and rubble banded together to form a thick barrier, rendering most forms of cannons useless.
"Must have taken a while to build this place," Lenora remarked, casually walking ahead, stopping just before the metal door.
Her partner, the elf followed close behind. Both appeared out of place. So much so that they were surrounded by soldiers on all sides. Yet they moved so nonchalantly, the soldiers were beginning to question themselves whether they'd turned invisible. Or perhaps the couple had gone insane?
"What is the meaning of this!" The doors opened, promptly followed by the arrival of a rugged soldier. He wore a thick leather breastplate and long khaki pants. "Who are you?" Booming voice.
"We're deserters," Lenora said. "Me and my lover left the army, and are here to seek refuge."
"Deserters? Of what?"
"You-you don't know?" Lenora said.
Whispers floated about. An uneasy atmosphere, followed by the inherent mystery of the duo.
"Neither of you belong to Zabruza, yet you come from that place and claim-"
"We disguised ourselves with these clothes… I'm from Zabruza, the daughter of a Baron. He's a warrior mage of Elfrieda. We fell in love and when they… they spoke of a war… we ran away."
"War? Elfrieda?" the man, clearly disgruntled, stomped his feet around. "Ridiculous!"
"Sergeant, they must be spies. We should arrest them!"
"Yes, arrest us!" Lenora said. "But please, help us escape. We only wish to seek a safe passage and escape. They're after us, and soon their armies will come here and-"
"What army?"
"You truly don't know…" Lenora covered her mouth. Her eyes moistened but she let out an exhaust. "Zabruza has joined Elfrieda and as we speak, they're marching for this country."
"That's ridiculous, they're our allies!"
"It its true, I'm Marx, the son of Helmis, the throat slasher, we have indeed joined forces with Zabruza to defeat you."
"Helmis."
"Throat slasher…"
Lots of whispers.
The names held sway, even in these parts of the continent.
"Then why have you come here? You could have-"
"Even now…" Lenora held the elf's hand, red plastered on her face along with the tears. "Even now 'tis forbidden…"
The soldier grunted, sighed, even groaned but- "Let them in. You two, follow me. We're going to meet the viscount right now!"
It worked! Let's go wand of San!
"Sir!"
Wooden houses.
People had magic. But magic could only be used in times of extreme stress. Magic was not an everyday remedy for small things.
One couldn't just produce a glass of water because they were thirsty. One couldn't just produce a spark just to light a candle. And one couldn't just produce divine blessing just to heal their minor wounds.
Although Fabio was a world of magic, magic hardly ever played a part in an ordinary man's daily life. Hence most people lived in wooden houses, and lived ordinary lives. They were not destined for greatness like the ones who could throw away their lives for honor and fame. They had something else to cherish: family and friends. Some called them cowards, others- the fortunate.
"It's so lively here," Lenora said.
Men drank, laughed, fought, and danced. Women danced alongside them, some dragged their husbands or fathers back home, while others were screaming at their men for wasting the whole day's income on booze.
Not many children, but they were probably indoors, fast asleep by this point. A lively city with a lively population. The colors were a tad muted and mostly brown but it was a refreshing sight from what Lenora remembered about this place: Blood, rubble, and death.
She didn't want that to repeat here again. She didn't want to experience that again.
She-
"Lady you're in the way!" A kid in rags bumped into Lenora. He was short enough that his face pressed against the back of her thighs. He quickly ran to leave.
But Lenora grabbed his shoulder and forced him to stay put. "Pretty sure there was space on the other side. What did you take?"
He let out a half smile before showing Lenora her ring.
Smooth. "What's your name, kid?"
She put the ring back on. Maybe I should attach this to a bracelet?
"Jacob…"
No shoes. Bruises all over. Half torn pants. Dirty shirt, with holes. Flakey lips, and a defiant look in his eyes. A child forced to become an adult.
Jacob. Jacob… Jay…hmm…. "Are you hungry Jacob?"
"You understand what we're doing here yes?" The soldier said. They had a whole bunch of other soldiers around them. The elf was also there. "He's a pickpocket. What are you lots doing, arrest the kid!"
They kept getting silent glances from the passersby.
"I've been starved a couple of times in my life. I can hardly imagine what he must be going through. Let me at least buy him a bread," Lenora said. "If he had food, he wouldn't steal."
"That's what you think," The soldier mumbled and sighed; he went over to a vendor and just picked up a bread. "Here, now scram!"
The vendor begrudgingly kept up a smile but he wasn't fooling anyone.
The kid stumbled back, waved at Lenora and disappeared into the crowd. "Thank you!"
Meanwhile, "Lenora, we really shouldn't dilly dally. There's not enough time," Drifus whispered.
"I know," she whispered back.
They still had a while to go before they crossed into the merchant district, followed by the noble district, and then the viscount's mansion. Lenora was tired yet the smile on her face never left. Ah, it was truly good to be back here.
Before it all crumbled.