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Sᴏʀᴀ

"Okay, so you're telling me, that your parents were florists in the capital before your home burned down, and you were initially taken by the Von Faecero family as foster children?"

"Yep," said Kotone, and Daichi nodded.

"But you were forced to serve, and it was too late to leave?"

Daichi nodded again. "We decided that since we'd be stuck there most of our lives, might as well learn something. I'm a pretty good artist, if I do say so myself. I've stolen some books to teach myself."

"I'm better with menial tasks, so I cover for Daichi whenever he's drawing," Kotone added. "I rather one of us has a hobby than neither of us."

It was really nice having Daichi and Kotone around to talk to, it the past few hours. Hibiki had proved to be too puzzling, and judgmental, Tomoe and I had nothing to say, and Haruka wasn't a conversationist whatsoever. It was fun hearing them talk about friendly things like food, music, or even books. I hadn't had a friend to chatter with over simple things in ages.

Hibiki spun around, walking backwards now. "That's lovely, but can you hold a weapon at all? Flowers are nothing in the face of an opponent."

"Well, Sora probably can't, so why do you keep her around?" Kotone mumbled.

"She'd be dead where she stood otherwise. Besides, I'm pretty sure that she's got experience with a k--"

Haruka held her arm out in front of Hibiki, who bumped into her with a grumble. "There is a wall."

And indeed there was, built up using cement and stone, ivy growing between every individual brick. Too weak to climb, a likely deliberate decor. It was your average wall, easily imaginable, with people positioned up above as well. I guessed that guard towers lined the corners. Two guards in specific were, as their job dictated, guarding a grand archway, standing on the threshold a bit to our right. Well, not entirely. They were playing cards. They hadn't noticed us yet, since we were walking through the vegetation, not the gravel path of the main road. It smelled like fresh paint, and a hint of soil.

"I thought that this city would be better protected," Daichi hummed, shielding his eyes from the sun.

It was morning, that I knew for sure, and only a day and less than a dozen hours has passed since the wedding. The Von Faecero's were no more, and we had two new additions to the team, at least, until they found a place to settle in the capital.

That's where we were headed now. Trekking through the greenery of the Tekonn forests, once again. It was much more lively then our previous hike, with bees bumbling by and the very occasional chirp of a sparrow. The world had that fresh soil smell, and it was intoxicating in a natural way.

Yes, it felt like spring time.

Now, I must inform, that I've only been to the capital once before. 'Anzen Rozu' was the name, with no exact pronunciation, but I usually said 'An-zen Rose-oo'. A city of fugitives, ne'er-do-wells, hybrids, fascists, democrats, bourgeoisie; people from all walks of life. I'd say color, but in this day and age, people don't care about that anymore. It's your bloodline that matters. Anzen Rozu was the only place in Aithe, our continent, that gave everyone freedoms that other places scorned. Free speech, marriage, emancipation, you name it. Some things still existed, since people couldn't be pardoned. Maybe a handful every decade. Some convicts were just too dangerous to indulge in such freedoms granted here.

It was ruled by a delegate from each individual country. It was a safe haven for all the misfits who couldn't fit it anywhere else.

The Evarthil Factories, where Haruka's probably from, the Shadou Empire, led by Hibiki, and the Tekonn Kingdom, where Tomoe rules and where I had lived, all had representatives in Anzen Rozu. It was made up of a few other countries, but those were the only ones that you'll need to know.

I thought that Tomoe and Hibiki probably did it all themselves, which likely put more stress on both of their disappearances. And I was right, too.

There was no avoiding it, though. Hibiki was sure Kaosu had escaped there. So, as soon as dawn had come, we started our journey. I slept pretty well. Tomoe puked when we were halfway there, and I wasted about ten minutes scolding him for drinking.

I think that summarizes the timeline so far.

Hibiki scratched his chin, and took a moment to assess the situation.

I spoke for him. "We're going to get recognized,"

He looked up at me, feigning shock. "No duh, lilac head." His cloak could have had him mistaken for a shadow, if he stayed still for long enough. "You and Tomoe are hostages, I could likely sneak past, but..."

Daichi stuck his hands in his pockets, packed with pencils and whatever else he hadn't shown us. "Nobody knows who we are."

"Which is one problem solved."

Kotone groaned, vexation colored her like a glass of red wine spilled on a white tablecloth - staining across her tan skin until it blotted with the ugliness, visible long after the immediate shards were swept away. "I'm so done with plotting and planning and scheming, why don't we just walk in there?"

I had to hold back a keen smile. "B-but it's only been four minutes."

Hibiki frowned, visibly considering her point nonetheless. "She's right. Last time we may have hidden for too long, before confronting the manor."

And with that, in a swift instance, he whisked off cloak, and threw it over me like I was a coat rack. Which, I wasn't, I assure you.

I peered from under the cloth, and took in a rare sight, before finding a clip on the inside of the cloak, tying both sides together, and tossing the hood over my head.

I've actually never seen him without his cloak before. I expected the black pants and shoes, but he wore an untucked grey dress shirt, unbuttoned taupe waist coat which was the only light colored item he wore even if it was just a shade of grey. The same symbol plastered on my neck was on his. I don't know why, but this seemed to lift a burden off my chest.

No one commented but shameless Kotone. "You look so snazzy! Are those cufflinks?!"

A nervous look danced across his face, and he smoothed down his sleeves. "I feel naked without that cloak."

I had to admit, as terribly messy his hair was, with curled ram horns and all, that rebellious theme in dapper clothes was pretty expectable.

"Tuck your shirt in, you look like a mess." Tomoe jeered.

Hibiki shoved his hands in his pockets. "At least I have to make an effort to look disastrous, unlike you." Daichi snickered, before he continued. "Besides, I'm still very prepared for your funeral, Prince Charming."

"You're an absolute piece of sh--" I pinched Tomoe forearm before he could pull out his swords. He wrinkled his nose.

Haruka stepped forward, clasping her hands behind her. "I must inform, Kotone has already made her way to the gates..."

And so she did. She was speaking to one of the guards, who was ever so clearly infatuated with her on first sight.

Alarmed, Hibiki placed both hands on Daichi's shoulders, and squeezed. Daichi was visibly terrified. "We need some sort of paint, something to disguise Tomoe."

"I'm on it!"

I reached out from inside the cloak, alarmed to find myself reaching into empty space rather then seeing a bulge where my hand was through the fabric. Weird. I pulled the hood over my eyes, and saw small, red specks among darkness like blood-stained stars. It loomed over me, and I suddenly felt an overwhelming loneliness. I flicked the hood off, and Daichi was coloring a very poor mustache under Tomoe's nose. Hibiki held his arms in place behind his back.

"What the are you doing to my face?!"

Hibiki laughed, the fun sort that you'd hear among a group friends. "You'll be fine. Our friend Daichi here is an expert at curled mustaches."

"Sure." Daichi shrugged with a cheeky smile.

Tomoe continued. "Why is this even necessary?"

"If they don't do an intense screening to get into the city, crappy facial hair could fool someone."

And Hibiki nodded, "Precisely." I bet he was content with having someone sharper apart of the group. I definitely wouldn't have come to that conclusion.

Haruka was intently locked on me, of all people, with a blank, monochromatic stare. You could argue that stares had no color, but hers was blank and as simple as a porcelain doll's.
"You disappeared for a moment, a minute ago."

My chest tightened. "Did I really?"

"Are you alright in that garment?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing would come out. Daichi was finished with Tomoe's stupid mustache, and Kotone was just about walking past our line of sight.

Hibiki held a sharp-toothed grin, beckoning me over, while muttering to Tomoe, "Guess who's the biggest disaster now?"

I swear that Tomoe would have snarled if he could.

"Sora, listen, whatever happens," Hibiki started, inhaling before he continued. I was hoping for something cute, but instead I got: "ruin my garment and you're absolutely dead to me."

Great. Both Tomoe and Hibiki value inanimate objects over me. I might as well have been a log.

He must have sensed my uneasiness. "Don't die again, too."

Daichi was already sauntering past, leaving the safety of the forest to meet the guards. I heard him exclaim a loud greeting, before turning to us. Waiting.

Tomoe's hands were clasped over his face, hiding his very ugly excuse for a mustache. "You've ruined my glamour."

Despite the complaints, I slipped my hand into his, and pulled him out as well. Haruka and Hibiki followed, and we were all just a group entering into Anzen Rozu. A suspicious looking group, looking for refuge, I'm sure. I pulled the hood over my head, and prayed for the best.

The guard who had been speaking ever so passionately to Kotone had a genuine mustache, and a carefree expression. "You're all free to go in. The screening doesn't begin past the sign."

When I looked around, I could see an inner wall, with a sign plastered on the side of it with "Welcome to Anzen Rozu" written in cursive.  A tunnel sat beside it, a scanner stuck to the top as well as a holographic screen across the side. Then, there was a small gate stylized like you'd need to get a ticket to swipe and pass. Before that, more directly near us, was two yards of flowers, separated from the main path with a homy wooden fence.

Hibiki elbowed me, and whispered, "Interesting, huh? The sign alters itself to your designated language. You see it in English, I assume."

I didn't know what to say to that. I was watching Kotone, who was already in the tunnel staring at the screen with a serious expression, grated blue and orange lights lowering and rising over her structure. A clear blockade had been placed in front of us, ensuring she wouldn't go back, and we wouldn't interfere. It really enforced a one-at-a-time policy.

I glanced at the others, who displayed the same weary expression as myself.

The sound of gears ticking rang through the air, and she continued on, after the gate rose, large enough to be used for automobiles as well as people.

Tomoe walked past me, head held high. Haruka was about to intervene, but he made if out of her reach before she could step forward.
It was reassuring to see his usual composure return, until he stepped into the tunnel, and the screen and the grated lights trailed over him. The colors faded to a hazardous red, flashing with a bright warning, and I awaited the sound of sirens. Tomoe panicked. It never came.

The gate lifted, and six guards emerged from behind the gate, donning rather enormous suits of silver armor. I couldn't see what was going on after that, but I felt my heart beating out of my chest. We were done for, I was sure of it.

"What is the meaning of this?" He shouted, "Unhand me this instant!"

"You are to be escorted to the main council for questioning and proper aid. We offer our deepest regrets for the events which had occurred at the ceremony," boomed an automated voice.

"Go to hell!"

They did as they said, marching in unison with Tomoe within grasp.

No one came for the rest of us.

My fingers are curled into a fist, nails digging into my palm. "We have to get him back," I urged, about to step forward, before Hibiki tugged on my, or rather, his cloak.

"Don't be an idiot. If you were to go immediately after, they could recognize you too."

Daichi tried to reason with me too. "I bet he'll just be taken to a royal suite or something. We'll join him after we get past here."

I faced Hibiki, frustration woven into my face. "You would run after me, wouldn't you?"

I could swear I saw sweat on his brow. "You need to understand how delicate the situation is. Please, just calm down."

My lip quivered, but I held back any further protests. They were right, after all. Tomoe could wait. He would be anxious about joining us again. Everything would be okay.

If only I was stupid enough to believe those lies, I thought.

An urging courage rushed through my lungs, and I sped through, shoving against the gate, which didn't budge an inch. I couldn't see anything except a distant statue, and I heard the distant chatter of the public. The air smelled of fresh bread, but nothing reassured me.

I finally faced the screen, and gritted my teeth. Holographic, just as I had said. I've only seen few before in the Castle back at Tekonn. It quickly previewed my name, age, race, and the door opened.

"Sora! Don't go any further, wait for us!" Daichi shouted.

Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't too late to go after Tomoe. He would do the same for me, I was sure of it.
Especially since the silver gleam of his captor's armor was still visible, fading into a crowd.

That thought accelerated my determination, and darted I forward, turned a corner, and kept running. I didn't look back, or to either side of me. My eyes were locked ok that silver gleam, until a figure moved in my way, and we collided.

Books soon scattered along the ground, and my shoe wedged into the stone embedded path. The world swirled by in a blur and I could anticipate the pain coming. My head met the ground, scraping my face in a rush.

With absolute perseverance, and embarrassment from interrupting one of the city's residents, I lifted myself from the ground, sitting up for a moment, finally taking in my surroundings.

A mismatched city, made of skyscrapers on one corner, cottages on the next, a slice of suburbanites, and your average two-story parlors and boutiques across.
I could see people with horns, an extra eye, a tail, and an assortment of oddities walking by. In the center of the road, carts and carriages and even scooters passed in both directions on a gravel path. The sidewalk, which was simply smoothed stones pressed into the ground, with some sort of electrical light source coming from the cracks in between.

Not only that, but everything was built on a slightly rising hill, so every piece of infrastructure curved around well tended roads. There was even a lake on the other side, but I hadn't known that at the time.

In the center of if all was a tall, gleaming tower, covered completely in glass. I shifted my gaze and could even see floating islands, lifted by giant copper colored propellers, levitating in place. Ships, ships of all things were docked at a few. Finally, I met my reflection in a shop beside me, but I saw nothing but an enigma cloaked in black.

An azure sky reflected down at me. Like a patchwork quilt, Anzen Rozu was nothing but unique, with individual parts from all over the continent woven together intricately to form a small city. Harmony, it seemed, but at what cost?

I treaded a hand through my hair, surprised to see blood on my palm. I would have wiped it on my dress, but I didn't want to stain Hibiki's cloak. The smell of iron and the red of my palms dissuaded tears, and I cursed at myself for being so sensitive. There were bandages in my satchel. I would be fine, I convinced myself.

A dainty, rose haired individual hurriedly gathered the collection of books scattered along the sidewalk. Hair that barely fell beneath their ears, and startled steely eyes, which faded to a matte brown behind a frame of circular lenses. Long red scarf, wrapped around the neck a dozen times, and a loose fitting orange sweater, slacks, and flat shoes. I later learned that sweater was called a hoodie, which I had never seen before, so excuse me. And lastly, skin as perfect as a doll. I was pale, but I had a couple dozen blemishes littering my skin, and a growing tan from all the hiking.

I couldn't distinguish their gender very well, but as soon as they had sorted the books and place them close by, they offered a beige handkerchief to me.

"Miss? Are y-you alright? I'm terribly sorry I hadn't offered help sooner. My research materials could have been damaged if I didn't gather them quickly." They had a soft-spoken voice, but it still came across as somewhat male, though not at all masculine. Then, a tinge of familiarity struck me.

"Are you related to Haruka?"