So Close, Yet So Far

If there was something Svector was amazed by, was how Serena could carry that massive hammer casually over her shoulder without breaking a sweat. He didn’t think he was unfit or anything, but if he had to carry Rumia and Adelyn on his back for as long as they’ve walked, he would definitely be tired by this point.

“Is there any reason we’re not using a proper torch? The glowing water doesn’t seem to let us see as far,” Svector asked.

“We could do that if you want,” Serena said. “You just need to be prepared to fight some monsters along the way.”

“Ah, I’m good then,” Svector responded, putting his hands into his pockets. “Does the flame attract monsters?”

“Yeah. Blue light comes from water and plants, so it doesn’t give off much of a reaction to them. Yellow light is inherently suspicious, ‘cause nothing in nature gives off that glow, so a monster would obviously check it out,” Serena nodded.

“That makes sense.”

Svector was not used to the quiet darkness. He wondered how Adelyn or Rumia would’ve gotten around this place at all, especially. Though, with what Serena said, Svector became concerned.

Svector realized one thing: Rumia glows. She glows with a golden light around her body. That might mean she was a target to be attacked by monsters.

He shook his head. His girls were strong, he had to remind himself of that.

“So,” Serena said as they trekked forwards. “I’m still curious, tell me a bit more about your girls. You said they weren’t yours? Who are the parents?”

“The true father, I’m not certain,” Svector answered. “Their mother, she left a long time ago. I’ve been taking care of them since they were babies.”

“Really? How did they come into your protection, then?”

“I saw that the two girls were left home alone. I used to be quite good friends with their mother, it’s just… she hasn’t been found.”

“She disappeared? And did nobody find out what happened?” Serena seemed surprised.

“No, so I decided to take care of them until then.”

Svector remembered the day he found the two alone in that mansion. The two girls were completely lost, and didn’t know what to do. It was far too dangerous to leave them alone in that mansion in the woods, so he figured that there was one thing he could do for them.

“What are they like? I get that one likes magic, but what else?” Serena asked.

“Despite all appearances, Adelyn’s actually the older one, though not by much, ahah,” Svector said. “Still, she’s constantly looking for a way to impress Rumia. She’s quite extravagant and creative as a result, she wanted to show me something too.”

“Oh, kind of a reverse,” Serena thought aloud. “What about Rumia, then?”

“Rumia’s sweet. She’s a girl who was happy if someone else was happy, and that someone else was usually Adelyn. She could get a bit moody at times, but she always tried her best to be happy regardless. I… I don’t think I mentioned it before, actually, but she actually glows.”

“Like, actually glows? Or is that just a metaphor.”

“Actually glows.”

Svector also did not know why Rumia did that. She always glowed ever since she met her at the mansion. He never tried to figure that out either, because he didn’t think it was that important. He got used to it eventually.

“That’s so weird, I’ve never heard of a person that literally glows,” Serena said. “She was just born like that?”

“Presumably,” Svector said. “The two of them got along well, very few spats at all. Self-sufficient too, I was able to work with them at home very soon after they began to walk and talk.”

“So is that why you haven’t been as panicked as I expected?”

“No, I assure you I am very much panicking. It just wouldn’t be proper to express it.”

Serena and Svector laughed a little bit, as they walked along the path. Finally, from the light of the glowing water lantern, they saw a massive structure towering over them. A large wall that forms around in a circle stands tall looking down at the two travellers.

Glowing blue vines stretch across the walls, providing the faintest sense of illumination to the settlement. They could not see how high they stretched, because the tops of them faded into the darkness of the world.

“Seems like we’re here,” Serena said. “Welcome to the Capital.”

***

“The gate is locked,” Svector noted.

They stood upon a large door in the wall, blocked off and locked entirely.

“That’s odd. The capital isn’t normally closed off, though I suppose that would make sense with the fact that this entire road is empty,” Serena said. “Is it something to do with the light incident?”

“Well, if either of my girls are still here then we need to find a way to get in,” Svector said, tapping on the gate in frustration. “How are we going to do that?”

“Do you have permission from the nine governors?” A female voice spoke from the door, which caused Svector to step back in surprise.

“Who?” He looked around, Serena did too. The two of them eventually noticed a small light coming out of the door, before it began to rise and build a person. A very small girl clad in white, slightly transparent, and orange eyes looking at them.

“You cannot enter the capital until you have the approval of the nine governors, it is an emergency precaution due to the lockdown in place,” the girl explained in a slightly artificial tone.

“Who are you?” Svector asked, still surprised.

“My name is PASCAL. I am the artificial assistant to Governor Rebecca, and I enact surveillance upon these walls. How may I help you?” The girl responded with a curtsy.

“Right,” Serena said. “As he said before, how can we get in?”

“I just explained it to you,” PASCAL responded. “You may not enter without the approval of all of the governors. This is so certain supply trading branches can still function at this time.”

“But why?” Serena asked. “What do you mean, lockdown anyways?”

“That information is classified,” she responded, shaking her head in rejection.

“What about that beam of light? Is that the reason?” Svector interjected.

“That scenario has been dealt with,” PASCAL explained.

Svector gritted his teeth. This girl clearly wasn’t interested in giving detailed responses. He might have to force information out of her, because she clearly knew something.

“Do you know of two girls? Rumia and Adelyn are their names,” Svector said. “I’m their guardian, I would like to see them.”

PASCAL turned to Svector, and seemed to perform a thinking pose.

“Request denied. Your authority as guardian does not override the orders of the Governor, assuming that you are being truthful.”

“What?”

Svector got even more frustrated at the situation, but he took a deep breath and thought for a second. That response was annoying, but it confirmed something. That this girl knew about those two.

“So, you know of Adelyn and Rumia?” Serena followed up on the question. “Where are they now?”

“Rumia is currently in custody within the castle. She is safe and protected. Adelyn has claimed to go on a journey to collect approval from the governors, with her friends,” PASCAL explained simply.

“Wait, so you’re keeping Rumia?” Svector asked.

“Yes,” PASCAL turned to Svector. “She is in good hands.”

“And I can’t see her?”

“Yes. That is an order of the Governor. No person shall be allowed in or out of the capital without approval.”

“Why?”

“That is classified-”

SLAM. That response annoyed Svector too much he punched the door. He was keeping in too much to try and look professional right now.

“Please do not disturb the property,” PASCAL said. “This is your first warning. Any further actions will be punished accordingly.”

“Svector, relax for a sec,” Serena said. She raised her hands and a black substance began to flow out of Svector’s mind, and he felt all of the negative thoughts in his head calming down once more.

His thoughts became clear once again, as his grief and frustrations became muted. Serena stored the substance in another vial.

“You said Adelyn went out?” Serena asked PASCAL.

“Yes. She claimed she was going to come to Rumia herself, according to Grimace,” PASCAL responded.

“Where did she go?” Svector said, still reconfirming his lucidity. Serena’s magic was surprisingly good for that.

“She went to the City of Nature, Verdant. If you wish to find her, it is to the east The closest major city in proximity.”

“Oh, I’ve been there a few times,” Serena said. “It’s a pretty nice place, actually.”

Svector looked at the path towards the city. If he couldn’t get into the capital to find Rumia, maybe he could find Adelyn at the very least. Then they could get Rumia together.

He still felt awful about leaving Rumia behind, especially when he knew she was so close. However, this was most likely the best he could do. At least Rumia was safe, if this girl was to be trusted.

Hopefully, she was safe.

“You said she’s safe, right?” Svector’s uncertainty took over.

“She is very safe and protected,” PASCAL said. “It is one of our top priorities. You do not need to be concerned.”

Somehow, that response made Svector even more concerned. However, he didn’t think he could deal with the consequences of trying to break in.

He made up his mind. The best thing to do was to go after Adelyn, and maybe Rumia can hold out for long enough for him to come back.

“Serena, let's go,” Svector said, walking off. “We need to find Adelyn.”

Serena followed behind her, leaving the gate guardian watching them from behind.

“Good luck on your journey, traveller,” PASCAL called out, as she faded into the distance.