As the wall shrinks, it feels unnoticeable as the days shift ever onward. I remember the first time we had to replant the flower fields. Painstakingly uprooting each flower and transporting it to the new destination for the estate, and convincing ourselves that this would be the only time this labourous task would need to be committed.
Then, over a thousand years later, with no solution in sight, we had to uproot the garden a second time.
Now we are the closest we have ever been to the dividing river. All of our territory has been reduced to a mere fraction of what it was. I will not live to see the fourth transportation, nor do I hope it will come to pass. I remember when Lord Talos insisted on bringing the original flowers each time, despite the fields always being as far as the eye could see. He addressed my concerns, telling me that one day, we may not have any memories of the past. We will look around us and notice all the things the Red Death has stolen from us. But when we look out at the flower field, it will be a sign that the Kosmairians will endure.
That the Red Death can't wash us away.
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Capital City was very walkable—clean streets, paved sidewalks, and shade to protect from the sun. Carriages weren't very common in the upper part of town, where buildings like the Gilded Towers, the Glass Throne, and the Crystal Summit all resided.
The Bloody Princess passed by the café that had been attacked. Elves were already hard at work repairing the establishment. A couple holding hands made her think of Artero. Then she thought of the argument they had outside this café. It was odd to her that the thought of arguing with her ex-boyfriend caused her more discomfort than the city being attacked, but that was just the situation she found herself in.
As long as the King of Terror himself couldn't breach the protective barrier, there was no cause for concern in terms of relative safety within Capital City.
The door was drowning in hundreds of items that one might hang from a little keychain. As usual, it was challenging to find the doorknob. Today, it was near the bottom of the door, under an impression of a small animal, whose caricature of itself was so offensive that Elise couldn't tell what it was initially.
Was having the doorknob in a different place every day terrible for business? Yes, exceptionally so. Sometimes Elise would arrive at this place, only to find someone standing outside, trying to decipher what they were looking at. Awkwardly, she opened the door, a short melody played, followed by a familiar call.
"Hello Eeeee-lise."
The petrovid squawked. The small bird sat bobbing excitedly, confined to a cage that was more decorative than practical.
"Hello, Travis."
Elise stuck her hand through the cage's bars, as if they weren't even there. She stroked his black-and-gold feathers, beneath his down—a kaleidoscope of colors. He pushed his face into her hand to acknowledge the touch.
She walked around inspecting different magical items, not knowing what most of them did. Even though she frequented the establishment about thirty times per season, there always seemed to be new items whenever she was within. But that was the fun of it. The "finding out" part and discovering something new and exciting. Sometimes, it was something fantastical. Sometimes it was nothing more than a children's gag. But the store's owner was the reason she kept coming back.
"Hello, Princess Elise."
The old woman appeared to be fixated on something on the counter.
Elise wasn't sure, but the owner looked as though she were 3,300 years old.
Elise let out a weak laugh.
"You don't have to call me that, Opal."
Opal was the only person, when she uttered Elise's actual title, for whom it didn't feel like an insult.
"But that's what you are! A beautiful princess at that, did you do something with your hair?"
Elise held the end of her hair.
"Ah, yes. This. It was supposed to be red, like Firedeath, but the spell rebounded and now it's this pink color."
"Well, I think it suits you well. The blonde is nice, but this is better."
Opal held up a magnifying glass with several lenses that extended outward from one another.
Elise took a step away and laughed.
"You'll poke your eye out with that thing."
"I can barely see as it is. It'd probably do me a favor."
Opal let out a cooky old cackle, and it made Elise smile. Opal never failed to make her smile.
"Ah, so. You heard about the attack?"
Elise tried to change the subject.
Opal wore a concerned expression hidden behind many wrinkles.
"I did, it wasn't too far from here. Were you there?"
"I wasn't present during the attack, but I helped one of the injured."
"Stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Is that what I think it is around your neck?" The magnifying glass honed in on the little silver vial. "Why haven't you told me you used the Bonding Vial?"
She hopped over the counter as if she were a professional gymnast. Elise stumbled backwards to create space, but she bumped into a shelf behind her. Several items fell from the cluttered, disorganized shelf, banging to the floor.
"Great. Now you're making a mess."
"I didn't mean to, I'm—"
Opal cut her off.
"Who did you use it on?"
Opal's extended magnifying glass was now touching the vial.
"Someone."
"Obviously, someone, stop beating around the bush. Tell me who you used it on!" Opal raised her voice in eager anticipation. "Spill the tea! All over me! Give me scalding burns! I have to know!"
Opal flailed her arms while somehow keeping her eye affixed to the vial.
"I can't…"
It was hard to keep things from Opal.
Opal then shot up, hitting Elise in the face with her magnifying glass.
"Did you use it on that boy?"
Elise rubbed her nose.
"Artero? No… we…"
"You broke up with him?! Why?! He is sooooo hot. What I wouldn't do to be a few thousand years younger and have a single night with him."
A mix of concern and laughter on Elise's face.
"Opal!"
"Super-hot! Super-hot!"
Travis now flew in a circle around the shop.
"What Travis said. Arty is a fine piece of ass. Flowing hair, magical talent, ripped body. What more do you want?" Opal bombarded Elise with questions. "Is that why you dyed your hair? Are you eating right? Wait a moment," Opal leaped behind the counter again, rummaging for a specific item. "Here! Let me see if you have a brain parasite."
Elise laughed and pushed away a long stick with a wiggling worm on the end that Opal was trying to shove in her ear.
"Stop, no. No." The laughter died down. "Our goals are different. We wouldn't have worked out. May as well end it now and save myself future heartbreak."
Opal narrowed her eyes, not believing Elise for a second.
"Then, who did you give that vial to?"
Opal was piecing together the mystery of Elise's failing love life, and she would get her answers.
"A new person I met."
"And who is that?" Opal said, nearly foaming at the mouth, waiting for an answer.
"Who is it? Who is it?"
Travis was perched above both of the women.
"A… very important person."
"Well, obviously! You gave them the Bonding Vial!" Opal grabbed Elise by the shoulders and shook her. "Tell me who you gave it to!"
Elise was disoriented by the woman's insatiable desire for drama.
"The new Chosen One," Elise finally admitted, almost embarrassed.
"Wait…" Opal backed away, hand stroking her wrinkled chin. "The Chosen One that was summoned." She starts counting on her fingers. "Three days ago?!"
"Yeah…" Elise said in a small voice.
"Are they hot?!" Opal shouted in despair.
Elise pictured Gwyn. Although Elise found her attractive, it was her resolve that was intoxicating. She wanted some of it herself, and by being around her, maybe it would rub off on her.
"Yes, very much so," Elise said with confidence. "But that's not why I gave it to them."
"You know the Bonding Vial is an act of true love? That means you wish to spend the rest of eternity with that person, even after death!"
"I know. What did you tell me all that time ago? When you know, you know?"
Opal rolled her eyes, but Elise couldn't tell due to them being buried so far into her skull.
"Kids these days." Opal cast a spell and pulled a chair from across the room to sit under her, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Well." Opal looked defeated. "When do I get to meet them?"