1222-12-01
Ino "Shin" Utsuho:
Seasick.
The whole trip, I feel it.
The water shifts. The boat rocks. My body can't adjust. Every step feels off. I hate it. I hate not moving the way I should. I hate not having control.
I grip the side and stare at the horizon as land comes into view.
It's massive.
Grass stretches for miles. Open plains. I've never seen anything like it. The air feels warmer than what I'm used to. My body reacts. A strange feeling runs through me. I can't tell if it's excitement or the heat.
I wonder how people survive moving between climates like this.
Rose stays close the whole time. I don't grow close to her crew, but they're kind. They think I'm quiet because I'm scared.
I let them believe that.
"How did we get here so fast?" I ask.
"The Atalante is the fastest ship in the world," Rose says, proud.
A city rises ahead.
Huge walls surround it. Inside, buildings spread out in every direction. Clay colors. Tall spires. At the center stands a massive castle with blue roofs, looking over the land and the sea.
Below it, a harbor holds large ships. Trees and cacti line the edges of the city.
The sky is clear. The heat doesn't let up. The place feels alive.
"Impressive, right?" Rose says. "Pallas helped Tafari rebuild Miso after an ice dragon destroyed it. That's what people say."
She shrugs. "You won't find anything like this near the center of the country."
The ship docks.
Other boats sit nearby.
"It's normal for ships to stop here," Rose says. "You can slip away and head toward Pallas."
The anchor drops with a loud splash.
I jump off the boat. Wood turns to stone under my feet.
I turn back.
"Thank you," I say.
She blushes, then smiles. "Take care, Ino."
The ship pulls away.
I look into the water. My reflection stares back. Black hair, messy from the wind. Gray eyes. For a moment, they glow.
I flex my hand. Then I let it go.
I face the city.
A sharp pain hits my chest. I don't know why.
I walk forward.
The roads aren't stone. They look worn, but not broken. Someone maintains them. This place matters.
It feels cold.
Not the air.
Something deeper.
Like a curse sitting under everything.
I move through the streets. Buildings, statues, flowers. Everything feels old, but strong.
People pass by me like I don't exist.
No one questions me. No one stops me.
Most have dark skin like Rose. Others stand out. Merchants with pale skin. Different flags stitched into their clothes.
The city is loud. Busy. Unpredictable.
I don't understand why Loret has such a bad reputation.
As night falls, I walk along the wall. I look out over everything.
No one asks me anything.
No one watches me.
It feels free.
I take a small knife from a stand.
No one notices.
I look up.
The moon lights the sky. Stars stretch across it. Clear. Nothing like Negu.
At night, the city quiets.
Almost empty.
People avoid Loret. They call it dangerous.
That fear keeps it open.
I walk with no plan.
I don't know how to find Tafari.
I don't know how to find the boy.
But I keep moving.
{
"You should head to the castle," the shadow says.
"And why?" I ask. "What do you know that I don't?"
The shadow doesn't answer. It shifts in place, its form unstable, like it's trying to stay together.
"You're annoying," I sigh.
}
I walk the main road, following signs that lead me in the right direction. I ask a few people when I need to. They point me forward without much thought.
I reach the steps of a castle. A sign stands in front of it.
"Built on top of the old council building."
The place is locked. Lanterns burn outside. I don't sense anyone inside.
I pull my cloak over my head and slip through the door.
Inside, it feels just as grand. High stone ceilings stretch above me. Long halls sit quiet, lit by flickering lights on the walls. The marble floor reflects everything. Blue banners hang between iron chandeliers.
I hear a sound above me.
I move slow. Quiet. I stay near the edge of the stairs and listen.
A boy and a girl talk.
I don't see the boy well. His back faces me. I see the girl.
Her brown hair falls in loose waves. Dark ribbons hold it back. A jeweled band rests on her head. Her eyes glow amber. A silver dress with blue gems
The boy has braided curly black hair. That's common here.
"I haven't seen you in these clothes," the boy says.
"Of course you haven't. This is what I'm wearing to my birthday," she says.
"I still think it's stupid," he says. "Why do they want another one?"
"I think my parents want to celebrate," she says. "I've been here for two years."
"I guess," he says, then pauses. 'I …"
"You what?" she asks. "Are you going to miss me?"
"No," he says, then sighs. "Don't forget our promise."
A ringing sound cuts through the air.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++1
"Do you sense them too?" the boy says.
"Of course," the girl replies.
The boy darts toward me at terrifying speed. I jump back, running down the steps. He catches me anyway, slamming my head down the stairs.
He smiles. A creepy, unsettling smile I didn't expect. I look into his eyes. Deep purple, like gems.
"Who are you?" the boy yells, pinning me down.
I laugh. "Ha ha."
I untangle myself, and he falls right through me.
"Intangibility, huh?" the girl says from the top of the steps, smiling.
"Are you an assassin?" the boy asks.
"I don't have to answer to you," I say.
"EDICT!" I clasp my hands together. "Truth Stray!"
The boy laughs as the red barrier expands.
"Edict," the boy sighs. "Reflected Pride."
Our wills clash. Grey and purple light fills the room. He has no barrier, no circle, no board. My eyes widen in shock. He has nothing, and yet his energy contests mine? That… that shouldn't be possible.
The clash ends. Both edicts cancel.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++1
"Do you him too?" the boy says.
"Of course," the girl replies.
I step forward out of the shadows.
"My name is Ino… Ino Utsuho," I say to the two.
"Why are you here, Ino?" the boy asks.
"Actually, he seems Tobean, so his first name is actually his last." The girl explains.
"What? That's so confusing," the boy sighs.
"Utsuho," the boy begins. "Are you here to kill me?"
He glares at me, i see his eyes a pure purple almost like gems.
"I am not," I say. "I'm here to kill Tafari."
The boy pauses. A chilling energy fills the room.
"I… am Tafari!"
Tafari? He's just a child.
"Then… I need you to die. For the sake of my friends."
"Well," Tafari sighs. "I don't intend to fight you."
"And why's that?" I say, pulling out a dagger.
"You're too weak," he mocks. "However, if you can beat Ana, then I'll consider fighting you."
"What??" Ana complains. "I hate to break it to you, but I'm not fighting in this dress."
"Well, why not?" Tafari counters.
"Well," Ana says, "I just bought it and I need to look for…"
"Just have Bridget get you another one," Tafari complains.
"Is this bum even worth fighting?" Ana sighs. "I mean, he looks weak."
"If all you're going to do is criticize, then you might as well try," I say.
"Ok," Ana sighs. "I'll fight you. In fact, I won't even use a sword."
"Don't underestimate me," I warn.
"I think you should handicap yourself more," Tafari gloats. "Why don't you use one hand?"
Ana dashes toward me. In a flash, she appears next to me. I widen my eyes.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++2
She pushes at me with one hand. A small grin curling on her face. I barely have time to react before she follows with a swift kick to my side. She sent me crashing into a nearby wall.
The impact knocks the breath out of me, and I feel the sting spreading along my ribs.
I grit my teeth and struggle to push myself up. My body aching from the blow. My vision blurs slightly.
I force myself to focus I can't let her get the upper hand.
The wall scratches my back as I rise.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++2
She pushes at me with one hand. A small grin curling on her face. She kicks at my side, but I counter by sweeping her other foot.
She hadn't expected the move. She grabs me. Preparing to pin me down.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++3
I use my intangibility, letting her phase right through me, bypassing her grab.
"Intangibility, huh," she whispers.
She steps back, holding her hand where I would reappear.
"Pulse!"
A wave of energy hits me. It knocks me backward and sends my knife flying upward. She grabs it midair, pressing the blade against my skin.
I try to turn intangible again, but something blocks me. My eyes widen in shock.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++3
I push her as hard as I can. She jumps back, still gripping the dagger.
"What the hell are you?" I say, staring at her.
"My name is Ana Silvercrest Aquavelle," she says.
None of that makes sense to me. I don't know what she is.
"And I am," she continues, "Tafari's lover."
"STO … stop, stop!" Tafari interjects. "She is NOT my lover."
"Let's end this fight. I'm bored," Ana says.
"I agree," Tafari replies, "You need to prepare to leave for Pallas, then Khiz."
"Fine," I sigh. "But I will kill you, Tafari."
"We'll see," Tafari smiles. "Get some rest. I promise I'll train you as I did Ana."
"Who? You didn't train me ?? Zara did," Ana snaps.
"ZARA?"
Ana laughs, shallow at first, then louder. Tafari joins in, and soon both of them wear smiles that I don't understand.