Red Sea

[Farrelei]

((Basically, I wrote heaps about this and I can't be bothered writing it again. So yeah.
They're all becoming soldiers. Also, the guy at the front was like "LOL WHERE IS VERITH"
And then some other kid stepped up but then Verith said he was Verith as well and then a diplomat was lime " that one is Verith" and the faker Verith was shot in the arm and some other kids grew scared when this happened and tried to run so they were shot as well, and one died. Also then Verith was taken away to an airship thing to see the Queen. So yeah in your next post you should make Emilia leave the Palace to get to her airship back to Gardaine and she'll meet Verith sometime there and they'll stay together (or close) until she shows him to Shelly (y) ))

[Frost]

Emilia walked down the hallways of the Great Palace of Gardaine, as she walked, a few maidservants who were walking in the opposite direction turned around and hurried off around the corner, just to avoid her presence.
She walked out of the Palace Doors and down the ridiculously shiny an marble staircase, then proceeded to the front gates.
"Good morning, your Majesty," a Palace Guard spoke, bowing toward her.
She ignored him, and continued on her way to her private airship.


"Where have you been!?" Shouted Savannah who was previously sitting on her loungechair, almost asleep.
"The ship. It crashed into the side of the cliff, and we were stuck on a ledge, until Agnus finally arrived and helped us," Siberius explained to his worried wife.
Savannah's angry face turned loose and relaxed, then turned to Hope and embraced her.
"You're okay? You're not hurt?" She fussed, her hands on her daughter's soft cheeks.
Hope removed them slowly, "Yes Mum, I'm fine, really, in fact I'm better than fine."
Savannah smiled, then sat back down in her chair, taking deep breaths.
"If it happens again, Hope is never going out there again, if I lost either of you...I don't know what I would do..." Savannah told them, teary-eyed.
Siberius sat down beside her and the two held each other, whilst Hope went and washed.

[Farrelei]

There was a sudden burst of noise and Verith grimaced as it pierced through the monotonous drone of the engine surrounding him. He looked up when it was over. The kids in front of the transport darted from the road as it continued its' relentless roll, and the world outside the windows turned back into a blur as Verith tried to look out them. The rope tied around his wrists was loose. He could probably wrestle them free if he wanted, but the guard next to him and the guns attached to both he and the official transporting him would defeat the purpose.
His mind kept flashing back to the moment that 'other Verith' was shot. The shock on their faces, and the blood spilled in his name vexed him. True, though... He was worthy of discipline.
Regaining his sense of reality, he realised the car was stopped. A man outside motioned them forward, and the car slowly rolled in through a large, automated door that led them into a large building. Crates and people made their way in and out, and Verith braced himself. It reminded him of a harbour he once visited, except they were nowhere near the water.

The guard took luggage from the back of the car and gave it to a young man, dirty-looking and obedient. Verith looked around him, trying to make sense of the place. "Prince Verith," called the official, beckoning him forward. He slipped out a knife and sliced through the rope. "Keep your hands by your side and follow me."
The walk led them up several flights of stairs, and finally onto a large platform. The doors and ceiling were all made of glass, with the supporting frame hanging candle-lit chandeliers from the top. They were all out now, though; the sun shone brilliantly through the entire building. As he shielded his eyes from the sun, though, they caught sight of something. And that something caught hold of his heart.
"That's... An-"
"Airship. Seen one before, Princey?"
Verith shook his head, and tried desperately to see through the relentless shine of the morning sun in his eyes. They didn't have airships in Asfare. He'd heard of them, of course, as his parents were terrified of the implications of aircraft in a war with the Empire. It's bigger than I'd have thought...
"Ah, there you are, Angel."
Verith turned as the official called to a girl. She stepped up to him and stared as if to ask why he'd bother bothering to bother her.
"Here's the boy she asked for."
"She?" Spat the girl, raising an eyebrow, "You're asking for a cooking, old man."
He frowned at her, then motioned Verith forward, "Put on your manners. And remember to call her Your Majesty."

[Frost]

Emilia slowly walked up the staircase, and onto the same landing platform the others were on. Her frilled black hat on it's usual slant, just covering her eyes.
She approached the trio of people looking directly toward her, one of which a small boy.
She smiled.


"The excavation itself may take days, even weeks," A young man dressed in a formal suit began, "We're dealing with solid rock here. How they managed to open and close it at their leisure still baffles the scientific world today."
Shelrair nodded. Dressed in a ridiculous gown that was made entirely of velvet silk.
Jezebel sat beside her, furiously writing down notes and copying the graphs that the man showed them. Asmoday sat on the other side with a glass of water, barely awake, it seemed.

"And what exactly do we expect to find? I haven't received any information on what's inside," Shelrair asked him kindly.
The man cleared his throat before continuing.
"Inside, as the Ancient Lores have described, are an elaborate network of tunnels that, taken the right path, would lead you to the Second Altar."
Jezebel stopped writing and stared forward. Asmoday opened his eye.
The Man began to speak, but was quickly interrupted by Jezebel.
"If we controlled two, our connection to the Brethren World would be stronger, and because of that all, all Brethren's abilities would be amplified, and we could summon more at one time," She announced proudly.

"Your cryptic babble always puzzles me, Jezebel," Shelrair told her.
Asmoday sighed. "If we poked a hole into a pot of sand, slowly the sand will start to fall. But, if we had a second hole made, then the amount of sand that falls would be doubled, and the pot would empty much faster," Asmoday explained.
Shelrair smiled and nodded enthusiastically, "Excellent!" She exclaimed, "Begin excavation immediately!"

[Farrelei]

((bffffhhhh))

The girl in front of him bowed low to the ground. As she rose, she motioned to him, "Prince Verith of the Asfarian Royal Family, Your Majesty."
Emilia stepped forward, "Yes. I remember him."
Verith examined the queen silently, from top to toe. Whatever expression her eyes held was shrouded by the hat atop her head, leaving him slightly baffled.
"Bow." A voice in his ear. He did as asked,
"It's an honour to meet you once again."

---

Pei watched his breath turn to icy clouds in the cold of the morning. "Take turns, huh? Fuck. I say we should've turned around long ago."
There was no reply. Of course there was no reply, the forest was abandoned - all apart from the three of them there: three petty soldiers of the Empire, sent far into the trees to do the simplest of tasks. The other two - Frallen (the driver) and that fool, Samson, lay asleep (or at least pretending to sleep), their allotted shifts done and dusted. And the idiots ask why soldiers were sent to do a simple man's work. The fools. It should be obvious: there's threat here. Or, at least, they suspect there is. If they knew, they'd send more.
"Still brewin' that stew of angst, I see."
Pei turned. "Sweet dreams, Samson?"
"Something about the forest coming alive and swallowing us whole."
Pei smirked and turned back to the trees, "..I could really go for a hot drink right about now."
"Ha. Get me the utilities and I'll make one on the house. It's freezing out here."
Pei nodded, and Samsom settled down beside him, scanning the trees and their surroundings now that they could see it better in the sunlight.
Pei jerked upward. Samson stared at him, shocked. He was staring intently at something.
"Everything all right?"
"Shut up. Get your gun."

[Frost]

He limped around another tree. Gunfire followed suit.
His right leg was torn and destroyed. It's stitchings ripped and the bloody flesh took it's place.
A blast of light blue sparks shot through his legs as he continued to run, causing him to fall to the ground, wincing in pain.
Cruel laughter echoed in all directions, perhaps it was him hallucinating out of fatigue, or perhaps it truly was completely real. More lightning shot right towards him, but was blocked by the same energy, in a more spherical, traditional form.
She was faster than the others. Bloodthirsty.
He thought he could escape whilst the Palace and all it's inhabitants slept. But he forgot one fatal error, that those who are cursed, do not sleep.
He tried with all his might to continue holding the energy that protected him from her's, but the spirit was dwindling, and her's increasing.
Gathering all his strength, he violently jolted it forwards, before releasing it and sprinting downhill, determined to reach his destination. He could see it. A single rooftop, not an arm's throw away, embraced by dark green foliage and fog.
He quickly spun around and fired aura toward her, but she sharply dodged it, allowing it to hit a soldier standing behind her. He fired another, and another, but his weak, ruined body would not allow him to release any remotely dangerous or lengthly.
She sprinted up toward him, lightning surrounding her from her fingertips.
He fell to the ground, blood streaming down his face, his body, his legs.
His entire right leg was ripped in half, his bones the only thing holding the wreck of flesh together.

A heavenly roar screamed over him. It was his protector, his guardian, and most importantly, his friend. He proudly roared once more as he tackled the unsuspecting woman to the ground, tearing at her flesh. She kicked him powerfully of of her, then responded with a flurry of aura-filled lightning toward the hurled tiger.
He managed to evade it, landing on it's four legs, staring her down, his fur as sharp as needles.
"Filthy."
She wiped the blood from her face, before releasing an overwhelming explosion of aura and myst, knocking her guards to the ground, flinging Siberius into a tree, and most importantly, stunned Montecore long enough for her to quickly follow with a more pinpointed strike straight toward him.
It brought him to the ground, torturing him.
She approached it, kneeling down before it, looking into his ice-blue eyes.
She took of her frilled hat, revealing a monstrous face of ridiculous proportions. Pitched black with fire-red eyes. She laughed as she placed her hand onto Montecore's eye, sending a barrage of lightning onto his face.
Siberius screamed as hard as he could, begging her to stop, tears flowing from his bloodshot eyes.
He crawled toward her, continuing to scream at the unresponsive Queen.
Suddenly, she turned around, opening her mouth and causing thousands of snakes to fall from it, speeding straight toward him.
"Stop!"
"Siberius!"
"Siberius!"


Siberius fell onto the stone ground, soaked with sweat, gasping for air.
Smooth hands picked him up and held him close.
"It was just a dream, it was just a dream..."
Her voice was soothing and beautiful, almost relaxing him immediately.
"You aren't there anymore...You are here, with me...We have two children...And I am your Wife...I am here, and I am real.

[Farrelei]

A shot rung out, echoing through the forest. For a moment, this part of the world seemed stunned. Frallen, the driver (who was sleeping), woke with a start. For a moment, he thought he was trapped in some kind of half-dream.
"...Pei?"
"Shh," he hissed. Silence lingered in the air. Samson, who held his gun ready, raised himself up and pointed his weapon in the direction of the rustling before. But there was no need. The creature lay still on the forest floor.
"...Pei. I've come to the conclusion that you are a woman."

Pei stared at his kill in silence. The tiny squirrel bled more then it looked able, pierced all the way through with an imperial bullet.
"What a waste of ammunition."
Frellen stood now, stumbling over to the pair, "What in the world?"
Samson beamed, "Morning. Pei saw a glint in that rodent's eye, he did. Thought to stop it before it took over the Empire."
Pei turned and spat at his feet, "Better safe then sorry, asshole."
They other two erupted into laughter.

Pei was given the breakfast duty. Breakfast consisted of dry, salted meat and tasteless potatoes - today spiced up by the presence of fresh squirrel parts. The trio decided to make camp here for the moment. Frallen, knowing the thing better than the other two, was left to protect the truck. Pei and Samson made their way into the forest, scouting for whatever they were to come across.

---

"I don't like this one," she pouted, "I like the orange one."
"You always wear the orange one, sweety."
"'Cause I like it!!"
"Shh, dear. Daddy bought you this one days ago and you haven't even tried it on yet. Look! It fits you perfectly!"
The little girl tugged at the fabric and cried, "It's blue! It's not orange! Tell Daddy I want an orange o-"
The woman slapped the girl lightly on the arm, "Stop that. Daddy will be upset if he hears your nonsense. It's just for today. Today's a special day."

The girl and her father walked hand in hand down the street - a pair amongst thousands crowding the city.
He bought a bouqet for the mother, still home, and led the daughter off for lunch somewhere less crowded.
"Daddy, where is the party?"
"Hmm?"
The waiter came; she ordered a glass of fresh lemonade and a small pasta dish, "Daddy, I mean where is the party? Don't they have food at the party?"
He laughed at the child, "Whose party? The Empress'?"
She nodded.
"Well, I'm sure they have plenty food at her party. Food like you'd never believe! I'm sure they'd have tablefuls of pasta, fish, salads, vegetables, the finest poultry in the land!"
She tilted her head, "What's poulty?"
The father shook his own, "Nevermind, dear. Why do you ask, anyway?"
"Well, why are we all the way here when the party is so soon!? I want a big pasta!"
"Hahaha! Well, only the finest people get invited to the Empress' party, dear. The rest of us have our own big party out in the Palace Square!"
She gasped, "But that's out of bounds!"
"Not today. But we still won't be going. It's a bit too dangerous for a young lady and a silly man such as myself."
She giggled, then sighed, "But I want to go!"

---

I don't want to go.
She stared at herself in the mirror. There she was, prettier than ever: A walking vase.
"If I asked you, mirror, who was better off, what would you say?" She added a little more powder to her right cheek, "Would you say it were I? Because my legs move? Or because he spends more time with me than I with you?" She smiled sadly to herself, then put her pencils into their respective drawer, "Well, I'd say you were better. How smart you must be! How observant! And how sad I am; a doll, slave. But then again, I do get the best food, wine and slaves of my own to handle. You, dear mirror, might just be one of them yet!" She laughed.
"Mrs. Fable?"
She sighed. I don't want to go. I haven't seen the Empress since the wedding. Will we even talk? Is our friendship nothing now that I'm an object? I always was her object, though - in a sense - but I never once cared. I never once cried. I wonder why.
"Mrs. Fable?"
"Yes, dear. Coming." Perhaps it's because I always thought she'd come back someday. Perhaps - even when I realised she weren't - it's because we always feigned a friendship. A friendship. Now I don't have that pleasure. I'm a wife, and a mistress. And that's all I am. There's no in-between for me. Just the rest of the furtniture, and the piano in the hall.

((BFFFFHHHH.))

[Frost]

Ursula and Creuw turned to the sound of gunfire in the distance. Their hearts began racing.
Guns loaded and senses alerted, the duo left the destroyed ruins left abandoned in the Forest, and out into the trees...

Siberius awoke, his head buried into his Wife's warm chest. His eyes were damp from tears.
Savannah's thin, soft hands stroked his head hypnotically.
He stirred, awaking her as well.
"I'm sorry..."
"I know," She replied peacefully.
"This isn't fair...On you...On the children..."
"Oh Sibe, there are so many other worries on my mind than having to sing lullabies to you, if anything, I find it nice. Think of it as a way of me thanking you for being so supportive of us."
Siberius sat up and allowed Savannah to rest on him this time.
"In this house, not one parent is superior to the other," Savannah began, "We both have strengths and weaknesses, and together, we can combat each other's faults."
"I love you," Siberius told her in response.
"I love you too."
The couple shared a kiss, before the sound of light but rushing footsteps approached them.
Nero ran into their room, panting.

"Hope is gone."

[Farrelei]

"About time we got off our feet," Samson yawned.
"I dunno... I rather liked not having to do any of the work for a change," Pei taunted in response.
"Would you two shut up and go already?" Frallen snapped, washing out the utilities.
"Yeah yeah... Have fun sleeping, lazyass."

((I have such a fucking writer's block it's not funny. This conversation is a perfect example of that <3))

((Some time later...))

The heavy scent of bark hung in the air. The forest was wet and tall. The two were only sure they were onto something when they had to stop cutting themselves a path. Thankfully, the walk had only taken them a little over 3 hours. The gradual smell of smoke drifted their way. They carefully headed into the village...

Frallen couldn't sleep. He didn't want to stay up doing nothing all morning, though. He heard continuously the rustlings of forest creatures and birds.
Only, for some reason, these new encroaching rustlings were much louder than the others...

((Sorry. I suck. Sorry. Alec could write better than this ._.))

[Frost]

Ursula and Creuw ran through the forest, following the group, trying to stay close but also trying to not be seen. It was a practiced art that required all their senses' involvement.

Nero watched as his Father paced around the room, massaging his temples, snapping at his wife who followed his footsteps. He wasn't sure what his Father had planned, but when he saw him packing a large bag full of food and other supplies, he knew what he was going to do.
"I have to go find her, Sav, I'll be back in a few hours. I know the land, I can find her," Siberius told her, trying to relax Savannah.
Savannah pulled him back toward her, "It's happening, Siberius, she's going to find out everything. Everything we kept hidden. Everything we did to protect her is falling apart. Why is this happening, Siberius? Why is she leaving now?" Savannah yelled, relaying her thoughts that come to mind.
Siberius looked at her. She looked back.
"...You told her. You told her about what we did," She said, shocked.
Siberius continued to look at her.
"You told her, without even consulting me, without even..."
"She had every right to know, Savannah," Siberius told her warmly, leaning in closely to her.
"Get away from me," Savannah snapped, nudging him away sharply. "Find Hope!"
She gestured towards the door. Teary-eyed.
"Savannah, I ca-"
"Go!" She shouted, cutting him off. Nero climbed upstairs and stood behind his Mother, Aol resting comfortably on his massive heap of hair. Silence replaced the havoc. For several moments, the three of them stood there, motionless, until Montecore sat up and sat beside Siberius.
"...I'll be back by nightfall, if I'm not, I'll send Montecore back, with information."
With that Siberius turned, followed by Montecore, before closing the front door behind him with a loud thud.

"Can you pick up Kindle's scent, Montecore?" Siberius asked him.
Montecore sniffed at the ground, at first in random movements from one place to another, until Montecore's ears perked up and he lurched forward in a single direction.
"Good, Montecore, good!" Siberius shouted, following closely behind his old friend, thanking him.

[Farrelei]

((Emilia called him over. She's letting him travel with her on the airship, then he's gonna get a private room in the Palace for one night, then Emilia will show Shelrair Verith as proof of their victory, then he'll be sent with the orphans to train and from then on probably have little or no contact with Shelly or the Queens. But Emilia won't tell him anything))

Pei slid into the open, waited a moment, then motioned for Samson to join him. Someone was singing.
They slowly encorached on the village, keeping their senses on the lookout for other signs of life.
"Stay."
The two of them flung around, their firearms raised and pointed directly at the head of the speaker behind them. She remained still, her bow raised and two arrows positioned delicately at the foreigners. If need be, they would serve as their reapers. She tilted her head and stared them both through with her darkish eyes.
"We're not here to fight. Put down your weapon," Samson ordered, his voice calm and as diplomatic as he could make it seem.
The woman stared long and hard, unmoving. She eventually arched her eyebrows, lowered her weapon and flicked her crimson hair in frustration, but held her ground.
"We've been sent by the Empire to investigate the disappearance of two of our units on exploration duty throughout this area," Pei began,
She pointed to him and then to the ground. They looked at each other, then lowered their weapons slowly.

---

April opened her eyes and immediately tore herself from the bed of empty bottles around her. Three hundred palaces just emptied chandeliers into her head . Some of them caught alight, and the others just smashed. It hurt. Fuck. She steadied herself. Well, she tried to steady herself as well as you could on a rocky boat with a hangover. She collapsed and one of the bottles broke and she thought she cut her knee. Shit. Fuck. Okay. You've done this before. Okay. She clawed her way up a wooden pole 'til she could stand again.
"Yer up?"
She ignored the groggy voice of the man beside her and stepped on him on her way out. She opened the door and felt her eyes burn in the sunlight.
"LOVELY MORNING!" She screamed, dancing out onto the deck, slipping and falling into a heap.
Someone stared at her and then went back to tying the boat to the port.
She raised her head, "...Hangyakuninnnnnn."

[Frost]

Diabora and Jezebel walked side-by-side down the hallway. They had both been ordered to assist the Gardainian Miners that will open the doors of Vuerria.
"...Jezebel."
"Yes?" She answered back.
There was no response for several moments.
"I need..." Diabora began, but never finished.
"Need what?" Jezebel asked, the pair of them still walking through the Palace.
"I noticed...A sword...In your possession back in the Thurgual fortress."
"Yes. That would be my sword," Jezebel told him clearly, emphasising on the 'my'.
"It isn't yours," Diabora replied.
"It's in my possession. You said so yourself. Therefore-"
"That sword is mine and you know it!" Diabora yelled, growing impatient.
Jezebel stopped walking, this time gazing directly at the Hate.
"Diabora. As I recall, the Hel, also known as the Brethren Saber, chooses it's wielder. I know that it once chose you and it increased your powers throughout the Second Demon War, and I know that you had grown quite fond of it. But I also know that you were destroyed during the Second Demon War. When a Brethren returns to the depths, the Hel chooses a new wielder, a Brethren that exists on the Earth. Me. Shall I continue or has your mind had enough Knowledge for the day?" Jezebel lectured.
"You know nothing of what that Sword means to me. You can easily return it to me!" Diabora roared, raising a clenched fist.
"I don't know what it means to you? May I find out?" Jezebel asked, taking off one of her frilled gloves and raising her hand, preparing to touch Diabora's fist.
Diabora retracted his arm sharply, scowling.

"The Hel chooses a deserving Brethren. You are no longer deserving. You once were, but no longer. I enjoy you, Diabora, but more outbursts such as this, and I may develop a distaste towards you. Do you understand?"
Diabora nodded. Eventually. His sense of pride was diminishing.
"Let's continue, then," Jezebel decided, walking with Diabora once more.

---

Siberius rode on Montecore, who sprinted across farmlands and rivers at a swift pace.
I talked about the Mountains with her for hours. She seemed so interested. It's certain that's where she's headed, Siberius thought to himself as Montecore raced across more of the burnt country landscapes.

[Farrelei]

((It begins
Remember to continue Emilia and Verith's convo ;o))

The woman raised to fingers to her lips and whistled. Five seconds of silence passed before a screech stole it away again, and a bird with feathers blood red and brown dropped from the foliage above and swooped at the weapons on the ground, clasping one with its' talons and flying it away. The soldiers exchanged glances in an instant, then lunged for the weapon on the ground. A sharp stinging sensation immediately burned up Pei's hand and he cried out in agony. Samson leapt back and stared in horror. An arrowwas wedged firmly through the center of his hand. Before he could act, he was on the ground. A metallic taste filled his mouth and a muddied foot pressed itself into his face. When it was moved, he was staring into the barrel of his own rifle. The attacker slung her bow over her shoulder, and motioned for the two men to stand before remembering the arrow in the hand and jerking it out mercilessly, provoking another yelp from the soldier.

---

Chapter II[/u]

Now, one of the people (whose name has been forever lost) decided to benefit from the profit of others. He developed a cunning and a sly way about him, and he took the riches from the rich to sell to the poor for himself. Soon enough, he bought out the rich, stole their whole homes and owned more than any other in L'gaea. The rightful owners were lost in the sea of others, their children orphaned and sent far away. For the first time, there was depression. The Writers saw this, and they sought to bring justice to their creation. They invented Laws, and developed a Court, and these Laws were to be supreme and everlasting. The man (whose name was forgotten) was judged unfair, and when it was found that none of the people could be found, the Writers developed Pain to inflict unto those worthy of punishment.

The people rejoiced in a morbid celebration of sadness and hurt. The main was tortured and he was publically humuliated by people whose faces he'd never known before. He felt more sorrow than anyone in history, but his legacy unfolded a distinct revenge upon all the gods and their minions.

---

Kyou looked up form the book as a rap on the door startled him. Curiously, he opened it.
"Rewan?"
Two bloodied men were hurled at his feet.
He looked up, she stepped back and saluted.

[Farrelei]

The sound of city life was in the distance and the smell of the sea was abundant in the air. This would normally have been a nice sensation, except that April couldn't cope with the variety and severity of it all in her current state. She spent the first fifteen or so minutes emptying the contents of her stomach into the Hangyakunin Port.
The wall still read "Filsen Port", as it were before the Governor merged the two cities in order to expand and meet the demands of the ever-growing population. Thankfully, they were at the merchant dock, eliminating all possibility of annoying child workers or very poor old ladies demanding you buy their potatoes. April would have just thrown up on them, anyway. These visits were always done under the guise of "Roy n' Co. Seatrades". Bulky tradesmen were already at work hauling the sacks onto carts to bbe delivered to various places of trade. The revenue was split between those who thought "Roy n' Co. Seatrades" was an actual corporation, and the rest donated by volunteers (such as April and Cave) to the Effort.
Effort, indeed, she thought to herself as she pulled herself away from the edge and onto one of the carts. She didn't think she had anything left to toss up (now). She collapsed and loss consciousness for a while.


"Hrnmnsn?"
"I said WE'VE ARRIVED."
"Huh? Where??"
"The fuckin' market. Get off yer lazy ass n'"
"Shit."
"Wha?"
"Shit," she repeated, looking around at the bustling people beside her and back to the face of the ugly, shirtless man beside her.
"What's a woman doin' 'ere!?" He screamed, causing her head to start pulsing again.
"Look. Shut up and look at me. Hire me a transport cart or something, will you? I'm the boss here."
The man mumbled and stumbled off somewhere. Ten minutes later, after much kicking of orphans and yelling at tradespeople, a cart bustled past. She hopped in and paid the man with a bit of coin and he started yelling at her a the cart started off. It was a slow, bustling thing.
"Can't you please go any faster?"
The man ignored her. She rolled her eyes and slumped back in the cart. This is why I go for women.

---

A rest and a bit later, she was awoken by a tanned man spreaking a funny language.
"What?"
"Ingye'n-"
"Oh, fuck this." She throw a pouch of coins at his face and lurched out of the cart. She stared up at the building in front of her. 'The South Imperial Academy.'
At least he got the place right.
Inside, she passed the front desk and managed to get up the four flights of stairs necessary and make it to the other end of the hall. Being one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the country, the South Imperial Academy was one of a branch of academies funded by Central generations ago to span the Empire and produce naive young adults full of knowledge and ambition for the government to utilise and advance its' industrial and military needs.
To April, it was just a meeting place of sorts. She nodded to the prefect at the door, spoke her name and was let in to a waiting room. Nobody else was inside.
"The meeting started half an hour ago, Miss Marriane."
She swallowed and walked to the other end of the room, pulled back the required book and pulled the bookcase aside. A heated argument seemed to dissipate as all eyes turned to her.
"Hey guys. Sorry I'm late."

[Frost]

"The honour is mine. This young boy is going to be quite the useful child, won't you?" Emilia smiled, casting her gaze towards him.

---

Siberius eventually saw rooftops over the hills in front of him. He had finally reached some form of civilisation. Though the contents of the town was horrific. The houses were decayed and some hadn't walls. Carts ran astray into the ground and no signs of human life could be seen.
Montecore whimpered and looked up to Siberius.
"I know," Siberius replied, as if being involved in an actual conversation with him.
The two of them walked through the small town. It looked like an earthquake had hit it.
"I know this town, Montecore. We've stayed here before."
Suddenly something caught Siberius' eye. An old scroll that was nailed to the town hall's door. The door was split in two and the town hall itself was completely missing. Merely the door and the frame of the building remained.

Siberius frowned as he opened the scroll, reading it's contents.
"...It's a decree. Made by the Empress herself it seems..."

To the Residents of Hoomebeak
I, Empress Shelrair Hemari, Over-Lordess of the continent of Vadaa, am thoroughly outraged.
The attitudes you have expressed toward the Gardainian Empire are in contrast to our Laws and Boundaries. Not only have the townspeople forgotten of their cultural heritage, but they have intentionally deprived themselves of their political respect. I demand loyalty. Furthermore, due to your lack of obedience to the Empress, the representative of this Nation's People, and therefore yourselves, justice must be dealt. I hereby issue a decree of execution toward all Men and Women over the birth age of 16. Further resistance toward the Empress will result in total annihilation of all life in this province.

Sincerely, Divine Empress Shelrair Hemari, Over-Lordess of Vadaa, Head Queen of the Gardainian Nation, Ambassador of Nieru, Elder of the Vuerrian Laws and Fair Lady of the Peace.


"This means..."
Siberius looked out over the abandoned town. Not a movement. A thick layer of dust slept over the grassy farmlands and ruined homes. It was a barren wasteland.
"Do you think Hope came through here? There isn't another place to stay for days. Unless she isn't sleeping...or eating." Siberius asked.

He ripped the paper into shreds, then kicked through the door that lay before him in anger.
"Be back before nightfall, I said! Everything will be fine, I told her!" Siberius furiously yelled, continuing to destroy the wooden plank of wood.
Montecore lay down and licked at his paws until Siberius was finished.

"...Let's keep going."

---

Ursula and Creuw stood just within eyesight. But not close enough to hear what they were saying.
"Let's go," Creuw told her, pointing toward them.
Ursula held him back with a firm grip.
"We have no idea what we are dealing with here. It could be an entire civilisation," Ursula responded.

"Well, we will never find out if we don't go and see."