"Sigh..."
I pulled my sword out of its sheath as I took the last step up the stairs leading to the clock tower's top.
It was dark, not so dark that it conceals everything but it was taking a melancholy hue as the sky was dressed in a gray silhouette, and cold enough for my breath to turn into fog.
"Sigh..."
Yet, I heaved another sigh. How could I not, when the city I grew up in lay before me in the form of abandoned slums?
The lively streets.. the bustling markets where I used to hang around were no longer there. Even the houses that once painted this city in a rainbow-like spectacle had ceased to exist... They were nothing more than wreckage—crumbled walls and broken furniture...
a forgotten ruins ......................................................................................................................................................................................................
"Blah, blah, blah..."
"My lady, this is no way to read a book.. You keep repeating the same 'blah' while flipping through the pages at such a speed that you have no time to actually read the words written on them"
Taking a sip from the teacup he was holding, a man dressed in a black suit with a butterfly tie spoke to the young-looking girl sitting across from him in what resembled a train cabin.
"Urghh..."
With a growling voice, the young girl opened the window, watching the landscapes pass by as the train moved forward, then threw the book she had been reading out of it.. it ended up hitting a fisherman that was working on his boat in some lake
"My lady, that book cost more than 500 bronze coins. Throwing it out like that is nothing but an act of squandering.. and the book was also as hard as a rock, i don't about the poor fisherman.." he muttered the last words as he gazed at the window
"Who cares, Sebastian? It was already a waste the moment I bought it"
Crossing her arms over her chest, the young girl showed a hint of anger—whether it was from the book or from Sebastian's nagging, he didn't bother to find out
"Even so, my lady, that book is considered the most accurate account of the legendary hero's journey in defeating the Great Devil"
"That shitty scam of a book was anything but accurate!!"
She grew irritated at his words
"Can't you read, Sebastian!?"
"I can read, my lady"
"No, that was a rhetorical question, You didn't have to answer it... Anyway, what I was saying is that 99% of that so-called 'accurate' account is made up. The only thing they got right was the name... Lance"
"Well, at least they got the name right. Unlike you, my lady..."
He took another sip of tea
"I have known you for 15 years, yet you keep calling me Sebastian"
"But the name Sebastian suits you"
With a playful growl, she stretched out on the table that separated them. however she kept her eyes fixed on his lips
"Those novels written by nobles have had a terrible influence on you. Just because I am your butler doesn't mean my name is Sebastian"
"Well, look who's talking... The one who follows the same dress code as the 'novel' butlers.. also the peerage system has long since been abolished"
"My lady, I am dressed like this because it is the actual dress code for butlers.. It has always been this way in the Caelestia continent.. also just because the titles are no longer in use doesn't mean the mentality of the rich and the poor will change, the former is still abusing it power the latter is still being enslaved.."
"Oh, just shut up.. you say a lot yet nothing at the same time"
She interrupted him.
"Why bother calling you Crispin? You don't even have curly hair."
"Just because my hair is straight doesn't mean I have to change my name. After all, my dear mother loved the name Crispin.."
"Sigh..."
She let out a strong sigh of boredom.
"That was incredibly rude, my lady.. "
"Who cares... Anyway, it's been a long time since I actually engaged in intercourse.. Would you like to serve your little lady?"
She spoke in a sultry tone, her breath heated
"I would like to refuse such an offer, my lady, as I am 18 years old and you are still only 15, making you under the age of consent"
"Ughhh... Who is the smart-ass responsible for this bullshit!?"
She growled.
"That was you, my lady. You fought for and established the age of consent at 16 when the concept didn't even exist before"
"I know... You don't have to remind me... sigh"
"Where are you going, my lady?"
Crispin asked as the girl stood up and walked out of the cabin
"To find someone who is willing to fuck me"
"such indecency does not suit a lady of your status, my lady."
She left without responding.
- -
"Sigh..."
As she strolled through the corridor, her eyes caught sight of a drunk blond man lying on the floor.
He looked to be in his twenties. She approached him, and after checking if he was conscious, she brought her lips close to his ear and whispered in a sultry breath
"Wanna have some fun?"
He nodded, stood up, and started following her as she headed to the bathroom.
"Ughhh..."
"Your growling doesn't seem to stop, my lady."
Opening the cabin door, the girl sat on the sofa, resting her cheek on her palm with an annoyed expression.
"How did it go?"
"The same. Felt nothing."
"Like I said, my lady, such things can only be enjoyable and meaningful if done with true love"
"Whatever... Anyway, there's a dead body in the bathroom. Go and get rid of it"
"There is no need, my lady. Our stop is the next one"
He said while taking a sip
"Oh really!!? Finally, this boring ride is ending!"
She brightened up, and Crispin took another sip of tea.
"By the way, Sebastian, where is my cup of tea?"
As Crispin took the last sip from his cup, he set it next to another empty one.
"I fear that I have already drunk it, my lady."
Slap!
She slapped him
"That was unnecessary, my lady. I could have easily ordered you another cup"
he said as he rubbed his swollen pink cheek
"It is immature to drink someone else's tea" she crossed her arms then said exasperatedly "I take offense to it"
- - -
"be cautious my lady, falling while disembarking from the train might tarnish your image"
disembarking from the train holding their luggage , Crispin said to the lady who was just about to disembark fearing that she might stumble and fall creating an awkward and a humiliating situation .. but that was not the case apparently
"stop with those stupid jokes of yours Sebastian, it is irritating at some point.."
seeing her reaction, he let out a small laugh
"Anyway, there is no need to call me 'My Lady', just refer to me as Laura.."
"as much as I would love to refer to you casually, I will refrain from doing so.. "
"whatever.."
"Welcome!! Visitors of the Death!! Dauntless Warriors of the Other Side!!"
"Say Sebastian, what is that fat bearded old man bragging about.. I am not able to get a single view on his lips with all that white hair.."
as both of them disembarked from the train, they were met with a lively spectacle of the enthusiastic streets of the Letum City illuminated by none than the so little gleam of the reddish hue of the sunset.. children run back and forth while their parents kept a carefree expression.. store owners hanging signs and decorating their stores with a creepy yet wholesome drawings and dolls such as skeletons and ghosts..
"my lady, it is considered incredibly rude to point with your finger at random people in the street like this let alone speaking illy of them.."
as Crispin kept talking about the importance of manners for a lady such as Laura oblivion to the fact that she wasn't looking at him at all, Laura was amazed by the extraordinary architecture that distinguished Letum from the other cities that ruled over the Caelestia
"Well to be fair, every city has its own unique style of architecture that distinguishes it from the other one. After all, the 12 cities were build on the notion of the ethnic intolerance.. well saying this is a little bit inaccurate taking the far north east city which defies it but talking objectiv..."
Snap!!
"ouch.."
"My lady, I understand your passion about everything , but you need are a musician not an architecture.. also it is time already, we need to find a hotel that is suitable to your statue.."
"didn't you already book ?"
Laura asked confused. After all, Crispin previously informed her that he already took care of everything .. seeing her confused, Crispin couldn't help but let out a small elegant laugh
"I thought I did but apparently the fax I sent to the hotel didn't reach them because the person who is suppose to pay the line bills didn't "
"I see.. fire him then"
"my lady, you already fired all of the caretakers of the mansion right when your parent died .. i am the only buttler and caretaker left .. "
"than who is supposed to take care of the bills.. ?" he let out a small laugh
"my lady, I don't if you are being serious but we need to hurry to the hotel "
- -
"and after i checked , there is no room left.. "
"sigh .. I should've have guessed.."
Crispin said helplessly
"haha.. well our great city Letum is famous by the Death festival she holds every year and it happens to be tomorrow's night " the front desk clerk let out a professional laugh as he explained
"well what can we do ? it is our fault after all .."
"haha.. maybe next year you should book early .."
"yeah, maybe next time.." with a gentle smile Crispin turned his back and started walking away slowly then muttered in a low voice that only the clerk could hear
"it will be a shame my lady Laura de Sanguis won't be able to reside in this hotel.."
suddenly the clerk face contorted before it turned solemn and asked
"do you mean by Laura de Sanguis the piano prodigy ?"
with a small grin on his face, Crispin turned around and nodded
"I see.. could you give me a second, I will be right back"
--
"I would like to apologize to you , it seems that I made a mistake .. there are perfectly two available rooms.. also the hotel manager said that there will be a small dinner party for high statue people later , he will be glad for you two to attend"
"we will make sure to be there" with a smile, Crispin walked away and headed towards Laura who was sitting waiting at the entrance with their luggage
--
"Mademoiselle de Sanguis, it is an honor pleasure for us seeing you here .. "
the old man who seemed to be the hotel manager spoke to Laura as soon as he spotted her in the party offering her a glass of wine however she didn't answer nor reacted to him as she wasn't even looking at him, her gaze was fixed on hanging chandelier from the ceiling
"I apologize mister manager , she doesn't mean any insult towards .. she just sometimes get lost in thoughts while observing random things"
"I see, there is no need for an apology. After all, being genius makes you weird .. hoho" Crispin laughed lightly in response to the manager joke but it was more of a professional laugh than a genuine one
"by the way, is she alright?"
"what do you mean by that ?" suddenly the manager walked closer and started whispering fearing she could hear him
"well , I heard she secluded herself from the world after her parents sudden death tree years ago.. we haven't heard anything from her since then.."
"do not worry, although times were hard ,she was able to overcome them and stand up stronger than what she was" taking a step back creating a proper distance between them, Crispin answered with a faint smile
"I see, I see.. well, hope I didn't bother you much and could you please tell mademoiselle de Sanguis that we would be happy if she played some of her compositions in the piano displayed over there"
"I will ask right now"
and with that the manager walked away after handing the wine glass he wanted to give to Laura to Crispin.. right after that, Crisping walked to Laura whose head didn't move an inch and poked her cheeks gently with his finger which prompts her to avert her gaze towards him
"what is this? some new way of intimacy ? sorry to tell you this but you already late and I am no longer interested in intercou.. ouch! don't snap my forehead!!"
letting out a small laugh, Crispin spoke
"hh.. My lady , a drink for you"
"oh, thanks"
"anyway, My lady, the manager has asked me to ask you if you could some of you music on the piano over there"
"No" she refused immediately
"why is that my lady? you are a known pianist and music composer in the whole continent of Caelestia ? "
"stop playing dumb Crispin? you know damn right why I am refusing " suddenly Laura mood changed, her attitude grew hostile and her carefree gaze sharpened, nevertheless , Crispin remained calm
"my lady, I don't what I don't know unless you tell me"
"so you are trying to force t out of my mouth ?"
"if this is how you interpret it my lady, then yes, I am"
"I don't like it " seeing how calm Crispin was, Laura herself took a heavy breath and controlled her anger
"even though it is where your talent reside "
"I can be considered a prodigy in many fields"
"nevertheless, you are the prodigy in this field in this life"
"so what?"
"isn't a waste for such dexterous to not be in use .. isn't a waste depriving people from your mesmerizing melodies"
"you know damn well what is stopping me from going there and playing on that damn piano"
"so you rather succumb to those fears"
"no, I am avoiding them"
"even so, wouldn't the dauntless hero stand and face them.. how else could he take a step forward if the past is still chained to him ?" with a faint smile and a strong posture, Crisping conveyed his words gently to Laura
".."
"my lady, didn't write one last song over the course of the previous three years.."
"what is about it ?"
"wouldn't be waste to bid farewell without performing it even once? "
"we left the sheets at the mansion and I didn't even name it"
"we don't need sheets where the writer is right here.. and for the name let that be its name.."
"..."
Splash!! she splashed all of the wine in her glass on him
"that was extremely unnecessary my lady.."
without responding she headed towards the piano sat and took a heavy breath before she started performing he last piece of music.. as she proceeded with each note she started to reminisce, how everything started
she was born with a golden spoon to her a mouth, the second child of the Sanguis family, the founder of the Sanguis City, one of the 12 Great Cities of Caelestia
she was the younger sister of her big brother, the next heir of the Sanguis family, she was loved and cherished by him more than anyone in the family and when her talent for music appeared she was treated as a gem by her parents
although she was only 5 yet she was able to master the instrument and by the age of 6 she was able to write her first melody. However, it didn't take long before it started to crumble
it was on her 7th birthday as she was enjoying the garden of their mansion with her mother she started hearing a buzzing sound from inside her ears.. even though she didn't think much about at first, the contorted expression her mother showed told another story
the doctor said that she will start losing her hearing gradually and by the age of 9 she went totally deaf
what was once a happy family turned into a terrible sight. her parents' love became hatred, and their pride in her turned into shame and disgust. she was abused and neglected, even by her older brother, who left to pursue his studies, abandoning her with no one by her side
"..!!" "::!!" "::!!" ..
suddenly she started hitting the keys aggressively as tears rolled down her cheeks and before she knew it ..
"aarrgh!!" she started screaming, a scream filled with despair and pain, with sadness and agony
even though his lady was in pain, Crispin sat there and watched with his usual faint smile as if he had already anticipated this, as if this is what he wanted to happen
"argh!! arg!! ahe.. hehehe" the screams turned to a laughter and the aggressive key playing turned gentle as she continued her melody that turned from a grieving melancholic breath into an aspiring hopeful one.
then it ended and the crowed was in total silence , amazed by the music but confused by the sudden change in attitude , nonetheless the one to break the silence was Crispin as he started applauding prompting the other guests to do the same
- - -
After the party, both of them spend the night in their separate rooms, the next day went slowly as they stayed idle inside their until the sunset where they got themselves ready and headed outside to the plaza where the festival had taken place
"Don't you think you have eaten too much my lady?"
Crispin asked with a worried tone however Laura didn't give any answer, although it seems that she was ignoring , she was actually just indulged in the weird shaped chocolate lollipop
"...cam vou lepead ?(can you repeat ?)" with the lollipop stuck in her mouth, Laura asked
"I said , don't you think that you have eaten too much ?"
"..." realizing what had Crispin said, Laura wore a cold expression and struck him in the leg with her heel
"it hurts, my lady" with a contorted look, Crispin was holding the pain.
"it is very rude saying I am getting fat.. don't you know the manners of having a conversation with a fine lady such as I ?" with a scornful tone, she replied after taking out the lollipop of her mouth
"my lady , I am very sorry for making you this way.. but we have spent two hours past the designated time just wandering around the kiosks and buying sweets.. I fear you might get a stomach ache"
"don't you already know that I am infatuated with anything that is sweet ?"
"I do know such a trivial thing. After all, I served you from when I was only a three years old boy, but the time is ticking my lady"
"alright, we will separate here, the Letum's Cathedral isn't that far away"
"I see, so this is where we part ways" with a gloomy gaze, Crisping said
"come on, don't ,make it emotional .. we will meet again, is not like I am going to die or something"
"I understand that my lady but I have never left your side before.. it feels like I am being separated from my own little sister"
"you making it disgusting" with a loathsome look, she replied
"I apologize for making you uncomfortable.. may I ask one more question ?"
"go on"
"...."
"ah yeah, it seems that I forgot about this part.."
Laura grabbed her chin and closer her eyes as she started pondering something.. while Crispin was trying to take control of his inner thoughts
how could Crispin find Laura after their separation? how would he know that she is actually Laura not just a fraud ? what would happen to her after they separate ? what is she thinking of right now?
a lot of questions popped up in his mind, but he decided to throw most of them as he deemed inappropriate for his status, about what little questions were left, he could summarized them in one single question 'How and when would we meet next time , my lady ?'.
he couldn't bring himself to ask such a question from his lady, as he wondered whether she intentionally avoided speaking about it
nonetheless, it didn't take long for her to find a solution
"show me your bare right hand"
she asked Crispin who didn't hesitate to remove the white glove he wore on his right hand stretch it towards her. she then grabbed it with her left then with her right index finger, she drew a line on his palm
"..."
the line she drew turned into a wound that started bleeding. However , in mere second the wound ignited in a small flame that disappeared leaving only a scar
"if you ever passed by me, this scar would hurt as if it were set ablaze.." saying so, she let go of his hand
with his widened a little bit , so little that it couldn't be notice, he cogitated over something that he himself thought to be frivolous, whether his lady read through his thoughts or she just plainly forgot to tell him that, because however it was, he felt relieved that she left him with a way to find her
"I understand my lady.. and how would you recognize me ?" putting back his glove, he inquired
"pass that scar on my neck"
"I see.. so, it high time for us to separate"
"yes.. don't you forget to find that boy, he is supposed to be at a nearby orphanage"
"no need to worry my lady"
"I see.. so, Hereby, I, Laura de Sanguis, bid farewell to her loyal and only servant" holding the hem of her dress, Laura bowed a little
"and Hereby, I, Crispin, bid farewell to his wonderful and extraordinary master" in respond to her, Crisping putting is right hand over his heart and bowed a little
- - -
"Damn it Jack!!!"
"hmm.. why the sudden outburst?"
"I just can't take it anymore"
"hmm .."
"why leave us just the five of us here while the others enjoy the festival.."
"hmm.."
"it is not like we are the only guards the Cathedral has, heck.. there is approximately 250, yet from the whole herd of birds only us 5 were chosen,, that lottery is totally rigged!!"
"yay we can fly.. woo"
"don't go fucking sleeping on me!!"
"that hurts!!"
at the Death Cathedral, the landmark of the Letum city with its magnificent and daunting structure that also happens to represents Letum, the god of death and souls. one of the twelve gods that rules over the Caelestia continent.. or so they believe
there at its giant gate stood two guards wearing what seemed to be a certain uniform specified for the Cathedral's guards.. it was full black with white lines tracking straight from the hips to their shoulders and a small red skull on the back..
that is kind of funny because like what.. they worshipping the God of death and couldn't find any better symbolism than a red skull .. for hundreds of years and the best they came out with was a red skull.. and why is it red , blood? no, no time for jokes.. i have a mission
Laura thought to herself while she walked slowly towards them
each of them seemed be carrying a sword around their waist but look at me.. a cute girl like is totally harmless and isn't capable of even protecting herself.. even my red dress is painting me as a spoiled child
"excuse me.. " faking a cute scurry voice she approached the guard that couldn't stop complaining about his lottery lost .. well, as Laura expected, seeing a cute blondie approach his complaints came to a halt .. and with a small cough he straighten himself
"what is it , little girl .."
"..."
"what did you say..?" he asked gently as he couldn't hear what did the little girl just murmured however she just kept murmuring incomprehensible words while approaching him until she came to be face to face with him
"alright little girl, can you please repeat slowly .. i am a little busy with wo--"
suddenly his came to a halt as his eyes widened in disbelief
"oy, john .. what is it?"
thinking that some weird thing was up with his friend , the other guard turned while asking
"...!?" however he was shocked as he saw the blood dripping from the in between the girl his friend
"the fuck you doing little bitc.."
with an irritated voice , the guard reached for his sword and unleashed it while launched at them however his acts stopped as a bullet cracked through his skull and penetrated his mind.. he couldn't finish his words let alone take any further step towards both Laura and his that was now bleeding from his blood, no, it would be inaccurate to say the his mouth was bleeding but rather the inner blood from his chest that was stabbed..
whether the short dagger Laura was holding with her left hand pierced his heart or his lungs was unclear as Laura herself never intended to kill the guard with that single attack
"holy shit, hahahha.. so this is how they work, I never got the chance to try them before but I think I got the gist of it"
it was Laura holding what seemed to be a small pistole emitting gray smoke from its nozzle indicating a shot was actually fired from this particular gun she was holding , she had a small enthusiastic smile when she felt the power of the shot
"cough.. you little bitc.."
coughing a considerable amount of blood, the guard gathered every little strength he had in his body and tried to grab Laura as he opened his arms wide, was he trying to hug her? Laura thought sarcastically before she quickly pulled her short dagger out of his chest and with a swift move she placed the pistole's nozzle under his chin aiming to his brain vertically
" you bitc.. " his last words came to a halt as she fired a bullet that pierced through his chin to his mouth and ended up in his brain killing him instantly the same as his other friend
"well , it took me one third of a minute.. and why all of them keep calling me a bitch, I'm cute,.." in fact, no one has ever called her a butch since none was able to finish his words
sighing, Laura wiped the blood out of her short dagger using the cloths from one of the two corpses that laid in front of her, then she straightened her back and gazed the building in front of her
"it is not that I can't take on 250 men by myself, it is just that I am not used that much to this body .. but anyway, the information brought to me by Crispin seems to be wrong.."
holding her chin while closing her eyes, Laura started wondering
"that is quit odd of him.. he never made such a mistake before.. could it be that they just made a change last minute"
she sighed
"and her I brought with me only five by bullets.. I should've brought with me six, dying with a knife is really scary and hurtful... but can I do it, I can manage it with only four bullets"
with that, Laura walked slowly towards the gate with both her hands behind her back, one holding a small pistol and the other holding a short dagger with some stains of blood in its blade
I never enjoyed doing laundry〜〜 Laura thought with a mischievous smile although her though didn't make sense since cleaning a knife should be related to dish washing not laundry
- - - - -
"oh, it started to rain .. "
looking up the sky that suddenly turned gray while feeling the rain on his hand , Crisping murmured then suddenly let out a small laugh
why am I suddenly remembering this now.. the rain has nothing to do with it .. but it really is funny, after all , my lady getting confused and thinking that laundry meant dish washing was something I always teased her about but as time gone I started to wonder if she was just putting an act or was she just plain confused .. I really wanna say the word stupid but I want since it will be a disgrace to her legacy but it is weird..
"but this rain is the sign she told me, that it started .. the fall of the 12 cities... "
as he walked in the garden, he came across the small pit of mud where a small kid was laying there.. his body carried many bruise as if he went through a fight and seeing how he is laying their hugging his knees while holding his tears, he was the loser.. was it even a fight to the word or just a one sided bullying as you can see how he is shivering and trembling
"sigh.." he let out a heavy sigh and started rubbing his forehead feeling loss
"and you are the one to carry this fall" told the little boy drenched in mud
for real, what are your plans my lady.