As the moonlit sky fully took over, the townsfolk's cheers grew louder as the tavern rooms rumbled. Just before Ansel and Ashley made it back to the tavern and just after the town's dinner, a young man sat idly staring out the window. He sat next to a girl resting peacefully, her crimson hair emitting a faint glow.
Ash thought back to the town's dinner, a joyful occasion, or it should have been. While everyone was enjoying their meals made by Cypress, Ash could not help but notice two empty seats. One beside him, his sister's, and another next to the strange woman who stared daggers at him the entire time. The woman he could deal with, but the indifferent attitudes of both Cypress and Alder made the dinner table suffocating for Ash. They seemed like they had just gotten into a fight and refused to talk to one another the entire time. While the other folks were too drunk to notice, Ash felt that something was happening in the background. And with Ashley being missing, doubts swarmed inside his mind.
As he looked out the window, he noticed that there was a line of drunken men leaving the tavern and heading towards the makeshift stage that sat under the ancient tree. On that stage was the woman from earlier, surrounded by stage lights. The crowd that surrounded the stage broke into a roar as music began to play. Each of them was enticed by the foreign singer that stood before them. Ash could not blame them as he opened the window to hear the music. It was energetic yet calming. Ash felt as if his worries were being tossed away. It was like how he felt whenever Cherry spoke to him, but this felt more relaxing, as he could still control himself.
"What a day…"
Ash muttered as he watched the woman dance. Her movements were a mix of grace and freestyle that captivated the crowd. Under her enchantment, they cheered with excitement, showing energy that Ash had not seen in the town in years. As Ash observed, the energy radiating from her was almost tangible; each flawless leap, spin, and twirl sent shivers down his spine, electrifying the atmosphere and leaving him breathless with awe.
"I wish they were here to see this. The town they once loved, cheering for the future yet to come." Ash spoke to himself as he felt his heart melt. "Ma, Pa, I know you loved the stories from the city, and look here, a person from the very city your guys spoke of—performing for us." Ash weakly smiled. "But it's lonely without you guys. Ever since that day, Ashley has never really opened up."
"Hey, Ash?"
"Whoa!!"
Startled by the sudden voice, Ash turned around to the only other person in the room. Cherry sat up in the bed and looked at him with a lonely look. Her sad expression was shown within the poorly lit room thanks to her hair glowing a faint crimson hue. Ash looked down at her hands; unlike him, who felt at ease thanks to the woman's singing, her hands trembled.
"Do you love your parents?" Cherry asked with a despairing voice. Ash could see the pain in her eyes as she asked.
"Yeah? That is a random thing to ask after suddenly passing out from nowhere." He replied jokingly, but there was no change in her expression.
"I heard you mention something about your parents…and I wanted to hear the words from your mouth."
"My mouth?"
"…nevermind that, just answer the question."
Ash looked at her with a puzzled look as she stared at him. It was expecting his body to act on its own and answer the question without his consent, but that happened. As they looked at each other in silence, Cherry looked away with a guilty look and started playing with the ends of her hair.
"Yeah," Ash broke the silence, grabbing Cherry's attention. "I love and respect them. While it has been a long time since I've seen them, the memories I have of them are still vivid and fresh. From how they lived…and how they died. It might just be rose-tinted glasses for me, but I saw everything they did as something I wanted to cherish, even if they spouted nonsense about 'strange stories' about the story that Ashley loves…" Ash's words hung in the air, carrying nostalgia and longing. He spoke with his voice quivering with both joy and sorrow. The ambiance provided by the performance outside felt out of place, but it helped him speak his mind with ease. Once he was finished, he looked at Cherry, who stared at him with a sad look. Something was on her mind. "How about your parents?"
"Mine?" Cherry's voice quivered with fear. "My mother…she is the only parent I know. A woman who only knows how to take and use others." Cherry's voice trembled. She noticed that and took a deep breath to recollect herself. "She only knows how to use us to get her way. Parental love means nothing to her. That's why I wanted to know what you thought about parents."
"Is that why you are here?" Ash spoke calmly as he grabbed her trembling hands. They were cold and sweaty, but Ash did not mind that in the slightest. He wanted to assure her. Ash had dealt with his sister for his entire life after their parents' murder. He had experience with handling those whose past hunted them. "Did you run away? Did you leave to escape?"
"Huh?" Cherry, for some reason, looked genuinely surprised by his statement. She backed away and hid her mouth behind her hair. "Right…I escaped from the city and looked for a new place to live." She spoke in a fast, muffled tone.
Nonethewiser, Ash nodded as if he understood her predicament. He took a moment to look into her eyes. Hearing her open up about her past to a complete stranger such as himself was a major step in his book. A confident voice in the back of his mind applauded him for his hard work, and Ash gave Cherry an endearing smile. Even if the girl before was two-faced, he wanted to help her.
"Two-faced, huh?" Cherry spoke the words that played in Ash's mind hushedly. She put down her hair, and a gentle sigh left her lips. "You see her in me, don't you?" Cherry said while grabbing Ash's arm. As she squeezed his arm between her breasts, Ash felt his heart beat faster. He tried to pull away, but her strength was too much for him to overcome. "Seeing your sister in someone you want to get close to is weird and outright creepy, you know."
"Wait—you got it wrong." Ash felt his cheeks fluster up as the warmth of her body made him think of less appropriate things, given the previous conversations in the dim room. A devious look formed on Cherry's face, and she licked her lips seductively.
Ash looked away from her face and out the window. He watched as the singer outside sing and dance. Her music overpowered the drunken cheers and entered his heart. He felt his nerves calm, and his heartbeat slow down. He looked calmly back at Cherry, who pouted and released his arm.
"How Unromatic of you." Cherry danced around Ash and gave him a playful punch to the back. She then leaned her back against his and looked out the window. "That was your cue to do anything with me just now, but you just had to ruin it by looking at another woman. How typical."
"Huh?"
Ash stood dumbfounded as he tried to understand what she had just said. Once he did, he blushed and tried to turn around, but Cherry locked his arms in place, keeping their backs connected. He felt a strange warmth from her hair, like a fire that kept its warmth even after the flames had died.
Even with her acting the way she was, her body still trembled. There was something that she feared that was bothering her. She was the one that gave him the boost he needed earlier that morning. Now, he wanted to be the one to help.
"Hey, Cherry, do you want to go enjoy the town's celebration?" Ash asked while looking at the singer on stage. She seemed lost in thought as she looked towards the forest with a cold glare. Ash then felt a pinch to his side.
"How are you gonna ask me to go out yet still look at another girl?" Cherry said with an envious look in her eyes. "Damn cursed…" she muttered quietly while looking out the window. "Oh well, I'll just cross that bridge when it comes to it."
"What are you talking abo-"
"Let's go!!"
Cherry interrupted Ash by grabbing his hand and leading him out of the room. As they walked into the hallway, the faint glowing of her hair disappeared. She leads him towards the stairs, practically dragging Ash along. Ash could still not get used to how strong Cherry was. While he was used to his sister's strength, Cherry was in a league of her own. Without a care in the world, she blissfully hummed to herself until-
"Hey, wait—" Ash tried to voice his concern about an incoming hazard, but Cherry pulled him a little too hard, and they both came tumbling down the stairs. After they fell, Ash regained his bearings and noticed that Cherry landed on her feet, still holding his hand. "How the heck?"
"Magic." Cherry stuck her tongue out before twitching at the sound of sudden footsteps. She then quickly dashed behind Ash to hide.
The person she hid from was none other than the owner of the tavern in his drunken glory. He approached the two with a playful grin while holding a half-empty glass of beer. Ash could smell a heavy stench of alcohol from him. For a tavern owner, he was drinking a little too much. Maybe it had to do something with the fight he had with Alder. Ash would usually lecture him about it, but tonight did not seem like the time to ruin a man's fun.
"Heh heh…that my by….enjoy your youth."
"Shut it, old man, and do your job."
"I ammmmm." Cypress took a sip from his glass. That sip turned into a gulp, and the entire glass was empty.
"How when you are this drunk?" Ash looked at the empty glass, then the table Cypress had come from. There was a mountain of empty glasses. This surpassed the night of party drinking by a lot. Cypress wobbled back and forth while keeping his eyes glued to Ash.
"Let me beeee." He walked over to a random table, grabbed a mug, and downed it in one gulp. Beer foam was left on his face. "Seeee, it's just beer. I'll beee finee." Cypress approached the two and grabbed Ash by the shoulder. The smell of his breath was revolting, and Ash had to resist the urge to gag in front of his face. "You see that lad…" Cypress pointed to the counter. "Heeeee's goot itt."
The lad he was pointed to was a young boy about the age of 13 behind the counter, serving drinks to the drunken patrons who did not leave the tavern to watch the concert outside. About a dozen guys were trying to get drinks that quickly overwhelmed the small boy. Trying his best, he noticed Ash's gaze and turned to face him. There was an apparent panic in his eyes as he silently asked for salvation from someone he knew. Ash gave the boy an honorary salute to help motivate him. The boy's eyes began to tear up from the betrayal as Ash turned his attention back to Cypress.
Now that he had a better look at his face, Ash could see a faint sadness in his eyes. A sadness that Ash had only seen rarely from the man.
"The face of a man whose secret was exposed," Cherry muttered from behind. "Let's gooo, Ash!!!" She then followed up with a tug on his arm.
Cypress then removed his hand from Ash and gave them a warm smile. How many smiles had Ash seen similar to that—a forced smile devoid of emotion, only to appease the other party? Cypress then made his way towards the kitchen.
Ash followed Cherry Cherry outside, where they were met with towering bonfires lit up around the town. Further down the road, Ash could see a large crowd standing near the stage of the woman who was singing. She was standing beside Alder, who was hyping up the crowd. Ash felt Cherry's grip tighten as she once again hid behind him.
"Evenin Lad!" Beside him was a ginger-haired woman holding two caramel apples topped with some seeds that Ash recognized. "Two apples with samara seeds for Ash and the lovely doll that's hiding from me." She handed one to Ash, who happily accepted the treat, and Cherry, who was hesitant but took it anyway. "Didn't know you were spending the night with a special one. I'm sure sister is jealous." She winked and chuckled.
"Jealous is something I'd doubt she'll ever be of me." Ash took a bite. As the comforting taste of the special caramel apples made with seeds that compliment a townfolk's name filled his mouth, he looked at the woman with a curious look. "Hey, Aloe, have you seen Ashley today?"
"Oh?" There was a strange tone behind her voice. "You have not seen her all day?" Ash nodded, which brought a small to the woman's face. "Fuufuu, that I have, mister. The miss on the stage over there was staring pretty harshly towards the outskirts of the town. It bothers me, so I trace what she was looking at, and there she was, riding on the back of a man I've never seen before."
"Wait…WHAT!!!"
"Whoa there, lad, calm your jets. She's safe. The man was sneaking around towards the back of the tavern. Though I am surprised that our prideful little princess would allow a random person to get that close to her, she was calm and even seemed to be enjoying it."
Ash was skeptical at first, but what she says is most likely the truth. Aloe has known the newer generation of the town since their births. She's basically the town's teacher. She knew everyone better than they knew themselves, which is why her saying that Ashley enjoyed whatever it was she was doing was the truth. While Ashley was too trusting by nature, she would never let someone get close enough to touch her without reason. The men of the town are to thank for that.
"Maybe he's from the city!" Aloe chirped, pulling Ash back from his thoughts. Ash felt a tug on his arm. "He had some nice-looking clothing, too. Ashley was wearing his jacket, too. Oooh, maybe she and the guy… Ohhhhhh!!!!" Aloe blushed as she squirmed. She then stopped as soon as she saw Ash's face. "Ehh…just kidding. I'm sure that Ashley isn't some easy gal, so have some faith in her."
Ash turned and looked at the tavern. The place they had just left was the place that his sister had just entered with an unknown man. He felt a rage within him that told him to go back and look for her and show that man what he was messing with. However, as he took a step, he felt a chilling gaze pierce through him. The bewitching melody that came from none other than the woman on stage followed it. His rage disappeared as the singer sang a short song. As she sang, her eyes were locked on Ash and Cherry.
Once she was finished, she passed the microphone to Alder. Thanks to Alder, there was a brief moment of applause that was brought to a halt.
"It is now time for a proper introduction to our special guest who came here from the city. She's young, she's brave, she's beautiful—but taken—this is the Silver Mantra. She is an upcoming idol from the city."
Cherry's hand trembled inside of Ash's, and she hid entirely out of sight from the woman on stage behind Ash. The audience roared as the microphone was passed to Silver Mantra.
"Good evening, everyone!!!" As she spoke, Ash felt a strange happiness within him that matched her attitude. "As Mister Alder said, I am Silver Mantra. I have come to this lovely town to shine as bright as the glistening silver moon mood above as a welcome to our newly found partnership." Her eyes were locked on Ash, but there was some friendliness to them this time.
"You'll just fall for any girl at first sight, huh?" Cherry said from behind Ash. "And here I thought I was special." Cherry gave a little pout that caused his heart to race.
Her words, along with the voice of the woman on stage, felt like they were clashing against one another for control over his emotions. It felt unnatural as if he was behaving like some simple guy who fell for anyone being nice to him. The thought turned his stomach.
"Relax, that's not the case." As if reading his mind once again, Cherry spoke. Her voice was low and serious.
Strange emotions swirled in his mind. Once again, Cherry had read him so clearly. Was he just that easy to read?
"I guess I should come clean about something, otherwise you'll keep having these weird thoughts." Cherry to a deep breath as she whispered into Ash's ear. "I can read your mind. As proof of that, you have been thinking that you were an open book, and earlier, you were doubting me because of my 'two-faced' personality."
"Wait…how is that possible?"
"The city of Pandora is a strange place that disobeys the basic law of the world. Gifteds, Curseds, and other things and be given special traits that allow them to do things that no normal human can do." Cherry then pointed at the woman on stage, who was starting another song. "For example, hers is Melotonic Symphony; basically, it's a simple way of saying her voice can influence how others feel. Nasty ability, huh? Controlling others to get what you want."
Ash turned around to look at Cherry. She looked away with an embarrassed look on her face. "I don't think it's a nasty ability. She's not forcing us to stay here. She's just keeping the mood of the town lively." Ash thought back to when he felt like storming the tavern a few moments ago. He felt her powerful gaze, followed by her song. She stopped him from behaving rashly. He had no reason to hate her for that.
Cherry let out a sigh as she turned towards the idol on the stage. Ash felt the grip on his hand tighten. "You just might be another fool, after all."
As the night went on, the celebration grew stronger and louder as the other drunken men from the tavern stumbled out to listen to the Silver Mantra sing. While her voice eased the emotions that had bothered him all day, he could not help but think that there was a reason that was here—one other than just singing. While on the planning committee to help with the talks with the city representatives, there were talks of a strange man calling himself a detective arriving to investigate something, but never an idol.