the city was full of people
[ beep ]
My job was done
[ KA-BOOOM— ]
The building and everything around me exploded
────────────────────────────────
He laid sideways on his big, fancy chair, one leg hanging over the armrest, the other bent. His chin up, a cigarette resting on his mouth, burning slowly, as slow as the jazz music playing in the background. The smoke rose from it, soft and steady, filling the dark room like mist.
Zrrt—
Zrrt—
[ reporting, Zack has been eliminated ]
Zrrt—
The radio shut and the slow jazz begin playing again
"You look comfortable."
The voice was smooth and sharp like silk hiding a blade.
He stirred. Slowly
the man lifted his head, eyes half-lidded, he grabbed the cigarette and placed his arms on the armrest. He pushed himself upright, spin curving against the chair's backrest.
— Is this the reason you called?
then he leaned in, elbows on the armrest, chin tilted, lips curling into a smirk that wasn't a smile.
— To let me know Jia Wei killed Zack?
mocking cold
— Yep. We are the first ones to know this good news!
the woman scoffed, "You're pathetic. Just wait until Mertha hears about this. She won't spare you."
— HA..HA…HAHA! Mertha.. oh..Poor Mertha.. should..should i deliver this news to her right now?
he rolled his eyes and started laughing, "Mertha can't do shit! Nanami, I have Anny with me."
The woman's eyes were sharp—narrow and cold, with pupils like a serpent's. Thin, vertical slit that seems to cut through one's soul if you stare at them for too long. Her gaze was smooth, unblinking stillness making it feel like she wasn't just looking at you.
Her hair was parted cleanly down the middle, each side flowing toward her ears in sleek and controlled waves. Two long bangs framed her face, falling from ears to cheekbones, straight but with a slight curl at the ends.
She wore a deep red hanfu, the fabric rich and flowing, clinched at the waist with a pale sash. The robe slipped off one shoulder, revealing her pale skin.
Her mouth twisted into a half-smile,
— Foolish boy, do you seriously want me to believe he's dead? Zack? Someone who is feared ever since he was a child?
— ENOUGH!
He stood up, his legs shaking and pointed his finger at me, "Shut up. Ok? Shut your mouth.", he inhaled and lowered his head before continuing, "Jia Wei blew the building— Hell he blew the whole section, why do you believe he'd be alive?!"
I moved my body facing the door, "Nanami, seriously.."
— hah,
i gently grabbed the curtain and turned my head to say one last thing before leaving.
— Since he's dead, i resign.
— Come and stop me if you wish to die by my hands.
The man clinching his hands tightly,
"rot in hell, you goddamn woman."
──────────────────────────────────
[ ??? ]
It's cold in here
The walls are made of solid rocks, all bumpy and grey, and they smell kinda weird, like musty socks and wet clothes.
The only field of vision i have is that i can see through these thick bars in front of me.
[ i'm locked inside a fricking cell! ]
[ … ]
[ i guess i was always destined to be locked inside a dark room like a slave or something. ]
i sat there fidgeting with my thumbs then i heard two guards,
"Move it!"
"You're mistaken— i'm not going—!"
"Shut up"
i got up and patted the dust off my dress
[ that voice.. ]
i grabbed the bars, trying to shove my head between the gap to get a clearer view
"ERIS!"
"ERIS!! ERIS ARE YOU THERE?", i almost started crying
then i see the guards dragging Eris, her hands tied,
"You are needed at
"W-what?.."
"
they passed past me as i reach to her, "E-Eris..!"
Our eyes met, it took her a few minutes to process then she called my name, "Anny…"
i bite my lip trying hard to not cry in front of her, "Eris.. don't leave me..", teary eyes and snots leaking from my nose, as i clinched harder to the bars.
──────────────────────────────────
[ Mont-Fairy ]
— They're bringing Eris here in about 5-6 days?
— what about.. Anny? Where is she?
— She's with Master Sen.
— I see.
A short figure stood tall under an operating table, the white light casting directly.
— The queen caught the bait, she's at
— is that so.. Iriel?
Iriel approaching the operating table, tapping her long nails on the metallic surface, smiling cunningly
— Keep an eye on Mei.
Iriel pointed at the table
— When will this be done?
— Soon.
──────────────────────────────────
[ Dauphin, Main-Port ]
The streets were busy as always, just a normal day in Dauphin, in the crowds two pair dressed like commoners head to each store asking something while holding a piece of paper.
— Excuse me sir, have you seen this girl anywhere?
The shopkeeper replied, "hm.. oh her! It-it was a long time", he scratched his bear, "I've seen her with one of my favourite client, Her name is Eris, Eris Carey, she's a regular customer, but it's been a few days since i didn't see them, they usually shop on Wednesday"
— Do you know where Eris lives?
— Yeah, don't ask why.. but she lives up in the mountain, Ouest from here.
— Thank you so much.
i tipped him a few Vekos and head off to the location with Cody.
We walked along side the road that lead to the mountains.
We walked in a slow rythme trying to wear off our fatigue from searching the whole Main-Port, it was around 2pm, the sun was bright, sweats coming from my forehead
— You know Cody.. it's been so long since i've been out in public like this.. especially this side of the wall.
Cody followed me staying by my side, carrying a back-bag that held all our stuff, "How do you feel, your majesty?"
i hesitated, i moved my lips and said, "I..I miss it"
nervously i held my hands, "You do know i'm not originally from Victoria, i was born in
I tried avoiding looking at Cody out of embarrassment, "Maybe i took this opportunity to visit the other side of The Wall.."
"Hah.."
— I understand your majesty.
Cody's voice was warm, "We can think of as an adventure! A rescue mission! With lots of Adventure on the side!"
despite Cody's formality in the Royal Palace and a Former member of the Royal Guards, he was still a student, he may look a bit intimidating and strict but when you're around him, he can lift your energy with just words, he's gentle, very optimistic, bright and always available.
— I guess..
we climbed the mountain, "This is it, this is this Eris woman's house.
"Let's go inside, i'll knock and see, you wait here, your majesty", Cody step towards the door and as he approached the house, the door was already wide open.
— Strange
i followed him and Cody carefully inspected the surroundings for any kinda traps or danger, once it was clear, we head inside.
— This place doesn't look like she lives here anymore, it's a mess. And it's dusty, clear signs of someone breaking in.
i looked around, my heart pounding
i tried calming myself
— Your majesty, someone left a note on the table
i went over to Cody
[ " Your Majesty, I knew you'll be coming to look for Anny, she's at Mont-Fairy. sincerely, Victor " ]
A bright smile appeared on Cody's face,
— Victor is alive! And he gave us the location of Anny, she's in
Cody turned to me,
Victor is Cody's teacher.
There was hope, i'll meet my daughter soon.. very soon, "I know a short-cut, Cody, to reach
──────────────────────────────────
[ Nanaimo, Master Sen's basement ]
It was time for check ups.
The man lifted my arm and took some blood samples,
— Don't worry Child, it won't hurt. It's just a blood test.
he injected a needle into my vein, "Just some simple blood tests"
— I wanna go home..
i looked at the man full of pity hoping he'd let me go if i begged him
— You ran away.
— There's no place you can call home.
He wasn't wrong, i had nowhere..i wiped my tears and he placed a bandage on my arm
— I saw you guys taking Eris.. Is she gonna die?
— Yes, she will die
— And you will die also.
My heart dropped, my eyes started shaking, a twitching feeling
"Lie…"
All those tears i held back burst as my voice began shaking, "Z-..Zack..He told me that i won't! He said to trust him! He said…He said..you guys.."
sob
sob
"He.."
"He'll save me!"
"HE'LL SAVE ME!"
Sob..sob, i stood up from my chair and stood against him, "He promised it! He promise he'll protect me! And i'll be waiting for ZACK!"
He held the samples and placed them in his weird medical machine, he looked down at me and bent down
facing me he said, "Zack? He's not coming anymore time soon."
He pinched my nose as he said, "Zack is dead."
"I killed him this morning."
A high-pitched ringing in my ears, shrill, constant, like the world has been muted except for this one sound. I could no longer feel my body, my legs going numb, my face throbbing. I could feel my eyes—wide, too wide straining to make sense of what i just heard. I couldn't blink—i wasn't allow to. Everything was loud and then got too quiet.. all at once.
— return to your cell, the guards are outside.
I was left speechless, was it my fault?
Standing there, my head was heavy then a faint sound breaks the silence in the room, the door slides open,
tap…tap…tap..
the sharp, deliberate rhythm of polished shoes on the marble floor. The steps weren't rushed. No it was just enough to echo through the hallway and reach this room.
I flinched and looked back,
will i be thrown back to that dirty place again?
There was a pounding in my heart, a strange feeling, i had a slight thought—just a thought..could it be..
Did he really came…
Was it all a lie..?
Then a figure showed up, standing at the wide open door with the dead bodys of the guards under his feet,
Pupil dilating as if trying to focus to see the person's face but the light from the outside made it difficult.
Finally,
"you..came.."
He slowly approached, he stayed composed. He wore that same damn uniform that i hated, it wasn't a suit, but something much old. A high-collared waistcoat, his white gloves were soaked in blood, a long, dark coat. The uniform of my butler. I recognize it.