The Capital

After passing through the mountainsーaccompanied by our temporary member, Astrid Brigitte.

We’ve officially crossed the barrier that separated the outside world from monsters. Ahead of the horizon lay the capital, tall wallsーLarge buildings towered the massive gate, and the area in which the capital is located had fewer trees than that outside of the barrier.

To be expected, we took a month and a half to get here.

As we continue the grass path leading to the massive gate, it turns out I might’ve unlocked Pandora's box.

Astrid bounced around and leaned closer to my face, her eyes wide open. “MISTRESS EILISE COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME MORE!”

“Astrid… It’s been a week, I can’t take this anymore… You have the same energy as Marieka here.” I turned to her.

Marieka sulked. “....Dont look at me like that!! We might have a resemblance, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE’RE THE SAME!!!”

“Exactly what I meant…”

Astrid’s tail was swaying from left and right. I feel she’s just as eager as Annaliese who wanted to meet me.

“You two really are buddies… I can see the resemblance.” I said while sighing.

Astrid’s ears perked up.

“Hmm? Ya said something? Mistress Eilise?” She turned her head towards me.

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.” I slouched.

⇔ ⇔ ⇔ ⇔

Stepping foot in the streets of Imperial Vascht, around us, the buildings were far more refined, much more glamorous than on Ryven, everything was shining reflecting off the sun’s glare.

The three people beside me couldn’t stop gawking, frozen in place.

“T… This is, leagues above our kingdom… The difference is incomparable…” Marieka was left speechless.

“I daresay, Marieka… I no longer have doubts of the kingdom being the second in rank…” Annaliese replied.

I facepalmed… To my left Astrid leaned down, her eyes locked in the bakery over the distance as her tail wagged.

“Astrid… If you’re hungry… We don’t mind waiting, we have all the time in the world.” I assured her.

She pulled back, reluctant, then turned to me.

“A… Are you sure? Mistress Varieka…? It would be quite rude of me to separate from the party.”

I repeated. “You’ve heard me, yes? I don’t mind at all, I can relate to it.”

Astrid nodded and separated from the three of us, heading straight to the bakery.

With that out of the way, I cleared my throat.

“Ahem… Where do we head first? Any suggestions…?” tilting my head.

Marieka turned to me with a mischievous expression.

“Hehe… We’ll explore every corner of this city. Annaliese you come with me! Who knows! You might find something!”

Annaliese, reluctant, looked to where Astrid was till she found her at a bakery. “....Since she’s over there enjoying her food. I guess I wouldn’t mind enjoying myself.”

“Just make sure you two don’t wander off too far.” I asked.

They both nodded and went off to the crowds, leaving me to myself.

That just leaves me. Might as well buy something… But I’m so sleepy that I can barely be energetic.

I yawned, and stretched my arms, narrowing my eyes and turned my head towards my right, staring at an empty back alley, exhaling before turning away.

“Nixie. You’ve been stalking us ever since we entered the city.”

Silence, then a girl appeared out of thin air, fluctuating as she turned visible. Her long blonde hair swayed as the wind blew from our direction, her ruffle skirt recoiling, along her hat that was bigger than mine.

She smirked before fixing her bangs. “Sorry Eilise. I thought of testing out my stealth spell, it’s been a year after all.”

“ーUnpolished and still not enough to avoid my detection. Let’s cut to the chase, why are you here?” I said without turning.

Nixie averted her gaze and crossed her arms.

“As the pointed hat of the Kingdom of RyvenーWhy did Eilise Frediereke disappear? They’ve yet to know about this publicly, so what would happen if everyone discoveredー”

“ーThat’s none of your business.” My brows furrowed, clenching my fist.

“...Eilise, why would someone important, vanish and not say a word, when they’re tasked with the highest responsibility?”

“I don’t want to elaborate any further. But, I’ll say one thing. I just can’t bear the weight of this position anymore.” I stepped forward, trying to ignore her.

Nixie moved and grabbed my shoulder, stopping me in place.

“Eilise, you’ve… Changed…? You’re no longer the one I used to know three years back.”

I exhaled, shrugging her hand off my shoulder. “I’m only fulfilling a request from a close friend on a whim. I came here to visit, no less… I’m no longer going back to my position.”

She clenched her teeth before narrowing her eyes, biting her lip.

“....I’m just glad to see you again, Eilise… I won’t pry anymore… I’m just hoping you’ll one day come back. Just like the good days… That's all.” She paused. “You can go and enjoy your… trip. To my country…”

My eyes widened, before taking a deep breath.

“Yeah, thanks Nixie. I’m sorry.” I continued my way, leaving Nixie from the back alley before rendezvousing through the crowds, staring at the cobbled pathway as I walked.

My mind raced, contemplating my decision… Questioning what is right or wrong.

…….Was isolating myself really the right way to resolve my problem? Was it only a selfish decision by me…? What other options could I have even done to fight this stupid little….

Pausing as I held my chest, aching as it thumped. This fragile me…..

Moments later.

Thud….

I felt my head hit somethingーbumping into someone. Halting, I looked up to see the person only to find Annaliese. “Oh? Mistress Varieka? What’s wrong? Did something happen?” 

“ーAh… No no… I’m good.” Turning away to wipe my face. “So, where will you guys head? I can join in.”

Marieka’s expression shifts. “Varieka… Nevermind, let’s head towards the fountain plaza? We can find plenty of shops to visit.”

“What about Astrid? I’m concerned if that trinket were to leave the city thinking we already left.” Annaliese tilted her head.

I exhaled. “Nothing to be of a concern, Annaliese, her senses are sharp, she’ll know where we are.”

“....Truthfully speaking, mistress Varieka. There’s been plenty of instances already… Hence why I’m worried about that goober.”

“Not to worry, I’ll teleport her to us, understood?” I assured her.

Annaliese lowered her head, instinctively bowing instead of nodding.

I turned to Marieka and to my surprise, she stared at me the entire time, her face looked irritated.

“M… Marieka…? Is there something on my face?” I tilted my head.

“....We’ll talk later, just the two of us. Okay?”

H… Huh? She figured it out…? That’s not good… I can’t say to her that Nixie was stalking us the entire time and confronted me face to face.

Marieka turned around and walked away, crossing her arms and pouting as she left.

I held my head, scratching it as I tried to calm myself down.