Guest of Honor

Alejandro absorbed the city’s beautiful backdrop from the path’s entrance and the parting clouds that revealed the western sunset. By the time they arrived, guardsmen were already on the scene. The wanderer had grown wary by everyone’s presence, seeing Kenneth and Billy also come. The old guard glimpsed the cradled woman in the wanderer’s arms, walking ahead of his son to ask what happened. Billy fixated on his peculiar amber eyes, looking on with the rest.

“Ah,” Kenneth muttered. “She did it again? How bad was it?”

“A bear—with necro-bytes,” Jeb answered. He redirected his acknowledgment of Alejandro. “If it weren’t for him, we’d all be dead.”

“Christ. I guess it could’ve been worse.”

“You’d be surprised by how much it can alter genetic makeup,” Alejandro spoke. “It all comes down to the host.”

“Eh—Right,” Kenneth winced, mainly because he didn’t know what the wanderer was talking about.

Alejandro glanced away after receiving a lukewarm response. It was like this everywhere he went. Kenneth saw the dark smoke rise into the clearing clouds, imagining how the fight ended, turning to see Jeb’s concern, as he was ready to leave with the wanderer.

“All’s well, ends well, I guess,” he continued. “We can take them from here, Jeb. Your brother should be at the hospital by now.”

A hospital? The wanderer’s interest piqued.

“We’ll be on our way,” Kenneth said as his son took Enne’s mare. “Good thing she doesn’t live too far.”

The father-son duo escorted the wanderer to her residence. It continued on a path toward the forest. Billy. The wanderer absorbed nature’s beauty, seeing the simmering steam from where they fought. They began treading up the slight incline.

“Where you from?” Kenneth cleared his throat.

“The shores,” the wanderer responded.

“I’ve heard it’s quite a sight,” his son chimed with enthusiasm. “That’s what the traveling merchants say.”

“Eh, it’s okay,” he shrugged. “Nothing but pirates and dangerous sea creatures. Trust me, you aren’t missing much.”

“But so much happens out there. It’s really quiet around here.”

“Oh, you’ll appreciate the quiet once you know what’s out there.”

“Most of the refugees we get come from the outliers,” Kenneth added.

“And how do you handle that?”

“We try to accommodate them the best we can. Lately… Well, we’ve been having issues. We might be better equipped than most, but hell—We don’t have unlimited resources. But, that’s a different matter altogether.”

“What brings you to Gardenia?” Billy asked, attempting to lighten the mood.

“I’m just passing through,” The wanderer responded.

The sea of rye waved against the calm wind. Earthly yet majestic as embers lingered in the distance, Alejandro wondered if a place like this could exist beyond the region. Every town or settlement he visited was an absolute hellhole. Battlefields, trafficking, and oppression were all part of the dystopian world.

“She lives this far from the city,” the wanderer noted.

“That’s where their father established themselves a few hundred years ago,” Kenneth said.

“Hundreds of years? How long has the city been around?”

“300 years, give or take.”

“That’s—incredible! Few outliers have stood for more than a decade. And it shows! You actually have a sprawling society.”

“I thought you wanderer were a quiet bunch,” Billy said, silencing Alejandro.

They arrived at an old southern-style manor at the edge of the forest. In front of it was the sporadic treeline that transitioned to the large wooded area by the mountainside. Kenneth guided the wanderer toward the gated entrance, passing the well-trimmed bushes bordering the perimeter. The green lawn remained miraculously trimmed and free of overgrowth. It was more extensive than it looked from a distance. A pair of armed guards greeted them with antiquated assault rifles and well-constructed makeshift armor.

“Lieutenant Striker,” the guards saluted.

“How are you, fellas doing?” Kenneth asked.

“All’s well,” the guard responded, looking at Enne. “Eh, was that explosion—”

“That was her,” the old guard interrupted. “I’m sure her brother will have questions. I swear she needs to be more careful. If you hadn’t come by, well—”

The guards allowed them in. At that moment, Alejandro could peel away the layer beneath the old guard’s mask, finding his worry for her. An elf that was genuinely beloved by her people was interesting considering how they were viewed outside. The wanderer marveled at the polished details as the pathway guided them to the old double doors. A young Elven maid greeted them as they entered. Her Elven ears poked through her jet black hair, which was tied into a low ponytail. The dated maid uniform fit snuggly against her slim body type.

Her baby blue eyes enveloped her irises, widening when she saw the unconscious woman. She rushed toward Alejandro, gently taking Enne off his arms.

“What happened?” she gasped.

“A fight with a necro-bear,” he answered. His answer was met by a slight nod.

“I’ll take her from here.”

The maid quickly ascended the stairs as everyone watched. Alejandro averted his attention to his surroundings while they waited for her brother. The entrance had two stairs running along the walls, spiraling toward the third floor. The pristine furnishing was as he expected of an elf to live. Footsteps drew closer as they looked up toward the second floor.

Standing at 6-feet, he had a slender build with a face equally so. Silver bangs hung over his eyebrows, his hairstyle cropped overall. The antiquated navy blue uniform contrasted his pale skin complexion. His frigid gaze met the wanderers’ as he descended the stairs. The scowl reminded him much of Enne since they looked similar.

“You must be the wanderer she keeps gushing over,” he spoke without a smidgen of a southern accent. “I’m her brother, Mathias Bouvire. And you are—Alejandro….”

“Alejandro Gaitan,” the wanderer replied politely. He found amusement that she would speak highly of him, especially knowing so little.

“Alejandro Gaitan?” he repeated before directing his attention toward the guardsmen. “Lieutenant Striker, you are dismissed.”

“Be seeing you,” Billy said with a lax salute.

Mathias and Alejandro watched the doors close behind them.

“So, she spoke of me?” the wanderer asked, his side glance confronted by her brother’s frown.

“She wouldn’t shut up about it!” he muttered. “On and on, about you possessing knowledge of the real world! I swear she gets excited over the smallest things!”

“Seems about right.”

“Yes, yes. But, what has my foolish sister done this time?”

“Necro-bear.”

“A necro—she just couldn’t hold her excitement in for a battle? Nonetheless, thank you for bringing her back in one piece. We spoke to great lengths last night, and she insisted I make you a guest of honor. So, you can stay for as long as you need.”

“Guest of honor? Why?”

The wanderer stroked his beard curiously after receiving her brother’s dismissive shrug.

“What?” Mathias furrowed his brows.

“You two speak differently,” he noted.

“She wants to blend in with the rest. I’m just her retainer, but as long as she plays by the rules, I don’t care.”

“But you’re not Ethoxians. I would think you’d speak similarly. Eh, I have so many questions.”

“As I’m sure you do. But let’s talk more outside, shall we?”

Mathias guided his guest through the door on his right. It led into a hall that extended along the mansion. Old paintings adorned segments of the right side, with the left overlooking a beautiful skyline. The dining room evoked its French roots through its antiquated furnishing. Alejandro wondered what the unknown power source was that kept the city functioning. Electricity was a rarity in the post-Collapse era. It was an incredible feat in of itself for the mid-sized city.

The next area over greeted him with a flourishing fountain centered in an indoor garden. The sliding doors opened as they approached; Alejandro saw the stretch of the concrete patio before glancing at the beautiful vista. They walked over to the intricate stone railing to absorb the sight.

“It’s beautiful, don’t you agree?” Mathias asked.

“It sure is,” he agreed, though quickly switching the topic to something more pressing. “I’ve gotta ask, what generates the power to the town?”

“That’s a secret.”

“A secret?”

“To be honest, we don’t know. Our father kept many secrets. He was once a refugee when the necrobyte infection spread in the Ethoxian Republic. Our father took everything he knew to the grave. Ever since, Enne and I have been uncertain about where to guide the future of Gardenia. There’s still much we don’t know about what he expected us to do. According to Ethoxian customs—”

“The eldest female offspring inherited the family legacy, and they were left to decide the family’s future.”

“As expected from someone astute as yourself. Ah yes, the Ethoxians look down on our existence. Enne is incredibly—open-minded; she wanted to do away with the customs since she felt it didn’t apply to us. We both wanted something different.”

Ethoxian customs were elusive, even after centuries of dominance over this realm. They actively segregated themselves from their human counterparts, creating disparities for the lesser race. Alejandro witnessed this in many of the occupied settlements the Ethoxian Republic ruled. Mathias sighed, picking up where he left off.

“I’m proud to say Gardenia has a unique position others could only dream of.” He admitted.

“The outliers exist free from Ethoxian control,” Alejandro affirmed. “You already seem to have more than what they have.”

“Well, our father was a strong-minded, logical leader, but our mother, a human, was a piece of the puzzle to the city’s salvation. As such, humans cling to their emotions when making tough decisions. Yes, she was undoubtedly the catalyst. She died a ripe old age—It wasn’t long before our father followed. Then it was just us and Iscah, his loyal maid.

“I can’t imagine,” Alejandro uttered; Mathias appreciated his sentiment.

“It was especially hard on Enne. She inherited our mother’s heart, but carries the unmistakable strength of our father. I think she tries to hide that weight behind her obnoxious smile.”

The wanderer listened to him, feeling mixed emotions projected in his leveled voice. Even Enne’s cold brother could project a particular warmth she evoked.

“My sister and I have our disagreements,” he continued. “She believes in peace through contract. Peace can only last for so long! If humans truly desired peace, they’d set aside their nonsensical bickering. Sometimes strong borders and a heavy hand are necessary.”

“Not a surprise you’d take over if we fought amongst ourselves.”

“Necrobytes depleted resources from our father’s homeworld, and those portals tampered with the laws of nature. It even threw your world into irreversible disarray where the Ethoxian Republic managed. It was only natural we’d come across your world. You wanderer were just an afterthought or, as she called it, an olive branch between the Ethoxian’s knowledge to their human counterparts.”

“Those with the title of wanderer carry the sins of those that dared to dream,” Alejandro muttered. Mathias saw a glimmer of regret in his amber eyes.

“What do you plan to do now, since you have her approval?”

“I don’t make plans.”

“No need to be so forthcoming. Someone with your vast knowledge can help guide Gardenia, and that’s what she believes, at least.”

“This feels like something she’d tell you to say.”

The lord withheld his anger, choosing to remain hospitable. Though he was her retainer, she wasn’t his boss. They acted according to what they agreed on regarding the city’s affairs.

“I’ve watched failed revolutions, witch hunts, and the like,” Alejandro continued. “I’ve seen the worst aspects of humanity, with sprinkles of kindness. And somehow, a half-elf is offering a place?”

“You see that as a problem?” Mathias questioned.

“Not at all. I just still find it hard to believe that a wanderer could be more hated than elves. Yet, you offer me an extension of acceptance… It matters much to me.”

“Oh?”

“Us wanderers are a stigmatized bunch. Knowledge over emotion is the way we live and die.”

“Such a dreary path. Why pick it at all?”

“Well—The path to ascension is difficult.”

Mathias nodded to the wanderer’s response, feigning confusion by his choice. He involuntarily contorted after catching a waft from his guest when a breeze passed.

“You stink,” he commented. “Feel free to use our washroom. Please. Supper will be in a few hours.”

“Hold on!” the wanderer responded.

Iscah walked through the sliding doors, standing by for further orders. Alejandro searched along the expanse, breathing in the fresh autumn air. Mathias thought the answer to be obvious, but the wanderer’s eyes softened before looking into his eyes.

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll have to respectfully decline your offer, although it is much obliged.””

“W—What?”

“But as per order from Enne--” Iscah’s response was muted by her master’s subtle gesture.

“He’s made his choice, Iscah,” Mathias said. “He will always have a place here, so as long as my sister says so.”

“I can’t let luxuries blind the way I see the world,” the wanderer added.

“Mathias!” A middle-aged woman emerged from the entrance, looking at everyone with deep brown eyes filled with fury. Her darker skin tone was like Alejandro’s, and her curly black hair was tied into a bun. Her white blouse was tucked into her black trousers with a casual jacket bearing an insignia similar to the one on Enne’s dress.

“What happened out there today?” she continued. “Who the hell destroyed one of our most important attractions?”

“You should ask my sister,” Mathias answered. “Or the wanderer can better explain.”

She redirected her ire toward Alejandro. The look reminded him of so many leaders he dealt with in several settlements.

“Wanderer?” She tilted her head.

“Necro-bear,” he answered.

“Uh-huh?”

“Necro-bear, go boom.”

“Oh, he’s a smartass, too! You and him look like you’ll get along well, Mathias. Whenever sleeping beauty wakes up to her, I need to talk to her. This neanderthal won’t do.”

Before Mathias could respond, she stormed back inside. He turned to the wanderer with a grin; Alejandro was still processing what had happened. She came in like she owned the manor, but he suspected she played an essential role in the city.

“Well,” Mathias sighed. “That’s Gardenia’s mayor, Rita Salazar.”

“Wow,” Alejandro nodded. “You have elected officials?”

“Yes, we do. Eh… But don’t mind her; she’s a good leader, just a pain to work with. I advise you to stay out of her sight. She doesn’t take kindly to wanderers.”

“Much like most of the city.”

“Not my fault your kind acts belligerent.”

“I suppose. I’ll be taking my leave.”

“I implore you to consider my sister’s offer,” he insisted.

Alejandro didn’t answer when he looked over; He took the exit without second thoughts. The wanderer was unlike many Mathias encountered as he bared a sense of responsibility. Enne’s judge of character was exceptional. He understood why she wanted him to join. As the wanderer traveled down the path, his eyes trailed the static fields. A strange feeling overwhelmed him as he thought about her. He hoped for her speedy recovery, even if he had no plans to see her.

It’s all—For the best.

This was part of the start toward the major changes in the story, which also spawned one of the first added chapters post draftings.
In this chapter, I introduced the feisty mayor, Rita Salazar.
She's what you'd expect: a total hardass! But she is an important piece to the puzzle in the themes to the GoH.
Alas, let me know what you think! Leave a like!
And thanks for reading!