The two entered the town, filled to the brim with life and innocent chatter. Merchants engulfed the streets with stands, each selling products ranging from fruits to Sigil Stones. Viole skipped with excitement, tugging Lucien's hand as she pulled him along.
Amongst all of the unfamiliar people and scenes, he felt uncomfortable. He saw people smiling, having fun, and accompanied by their families—all things that were foreign to him.
Viole pointed to a food stall, looking back at Lucien.
"Let's go there! You didn't eat anything today, right?"
Before he could nod in response, Viole was already dragging him towards the line.
They stood behind a woman carrying a small child; many more people in front of them.
"Can't we just skip the line? It's not like anyone will care anyway."
Viole had let go of his hand, a look of confusion forming on her face.
"No, we have to wait our turn... why do you say that?"
Lucien didn't reply when he saw the joy gradually drain out of her face. Accustomed to getting everything he wanted, Lucien wasn't used to activities such as waiting his turn—something that was commonly associated with the low-class people. His shoulders slumped in defeat, mad at himself for upsetting Viole.
A few minutes passed before anyone spoke again. The line moved slowly, and Lucien started to lose his patience. Gradually, the two ended up at the front of the line, the merchandise on display.
"Hi there. Anything catch your eye?" The merchant asked.
Viole began to look through the numerous options, grilled meats and vegetables entrancing her nostrils.
"Whaddya want, Lucien?"
Humming with thought, he shrugged his shoulders. "I'll just get whatever you do, I guess."
Viole grunted with thought, ordering an assortment of meat and vegetables on a stick. The merchant handed Viole her food, and Lucien reached for his. As he did so, he noticed a small eye drawn onto the man's wrist.
It was colored red and barely visible—though it was the first thing Lucien distinguished.
"What, something wrong?" The merchant asked.
Lucien shook his head and received his meal, nodding in thanks. The two continued to stroll through the streets, squeezing through dozens of people on their way.
Lucien observed her carefree demeanor, how she walked with him without a single thought in her mind.
"Hey, didn't you have to pay for these?"
Viole chuckles, her finger waving. "He said it was on him. Kind of weird, right? I don't think he should've been able to tell that you were a prince or anything."
"Quit calling me that… what if someone hears us? I'm not supposed to be out here, so I don't want unnecessary attention." Lucien took a bite of his food, his face souring in reaction. Compared to the lavish meals he had every day, it fell short in comparison.
"Sorry, sorry." Viole apologized playfully.
The sudden commotion and rampant voices grabbed their attention as they looked for the source. There were dozens grouped together, as a small clan of people stood on a pedestal: preaching.
Their words weren't audible until the two got closer. Three men cloaked in black and red—wearing masks mirroring a crow.
"Join our cause and you shall receive eternal salvation bestowed upon you by the Supreme God, Heracles!" Shouted one of the men.
Citizens passed by, sheltering their children from the propaganda.
"Why don't we go somewhere else? This is kind of… suffocating." Viole suggested. Although, Lucien didn't hear her. He was much too focused on the situation in front of him. Their messages of supposed truth were relentless.
"This Kingdom has you all in a chokehold, can't you see!? They don't care about any of you!"
"Heracles will free you from your sins!"
The voices grew louder and louder, eventually attracting the attention of the guards nearby. Marching, they slammed the butt of their spears onto the cobblestone ground.
"Just what do you think you're saying? Damned heretics!"
"Get down at once."
The two guards pushed through the crowd, stepping onto the stage. Feeling threatened, the unidentified men steadily backed up.
"See! Do you see this, brothers and sisters? They're trying to silence us, but our voice will never be felled!"
Viole squeezed Lucien's wrist. "Please. Let's go, Lucien." Torn amongst his curiosity and Viole's feelings, he sighed, finally relenting.
"Yeah, you're right. Sorry for making you stand through this with me." As the two were about to make their leave, Lucien caught a glimpse of something from the corner of his eye. The very same tattoo that he saw on the merchant's wrist was branded on the radical's neck. He stopped in his tracks, which jolted Viole who was pulling him.
"Is that tattoo… is it popular? I saw it on the merchant's wrist and now that man has it."
"What? Why–why does that matter, Lucien? Isn't exactly the biggest of our priorities right now, come on."
Before they could be on their way, screams erupted among the crowd, bystanders promptly running away.
"What happened?!" Lucien shouted.
He and Viole were pushed and battered by the frantic citizens trying to escape. It was only then that he could see their reasoning—a guard had been stabbed.
One of the radicals was holding a curved dagger, pushing it further into the guard's gut. Blood soaked his clothing and dripped onto the floor.
The screams were deafening, but the pulsing in Lucien's head drowned them out. It was his first time seeing such violence up close, and his heart couldn't handle it. Breathing heavily, he grabs onto both of Viole's hands.
"W–we…look–look! A…" He stammered, unable to convey his thoughts.
"Go to hell!" Another one of the radicals yelled, clutching a red stone tightly in his hand. Crushing it, the bright fragments spilled onto the ground as he held out his palm, aiming it toward the crowd.
An ear-splitting vermillion beam emitted from his hand, annihilating stalls and houses—everything within the flare's radius burned to ashes. Instantly forcing his compliance, Viole yanked Lucien's arm, fleeing from the danger.
As Lucien was being dragged along, he could only think about the malicious expression that those men wore. He'd never seen anything like it before... who were those people? Unlike the scent of cheerfulness and virtue he once inhaled, the air now reeked of embers and smoke.
Viole stopped and ran into an alley, Lucien following behind her and losing his breath in a short amount of time. He slid his back against the wall, sitting against the floor.
"That shouldn't happen here... not in a place like this."
"Just because you've been sheltered in a palace all your life doesn't mean the world outside is all sunshine and blue skies! People suffer... more than you could ever imagine. The sooner that you realize that, the sooner you'll grow up."
She spoke with a tone of voice that suggested she was irritated, but her actions proved different. Viole quickly moved to Lucien, lifting his wrists and pulling back his sleeves to check for any injuries.
"I'm fine." He said.
"I'm checking anyway. All that adrenaline in your body, it could've prevented you from feeling any pain. Calm down, alright?"
Lucien took multiple deep breaths, trying his best to clear his mind. His body trembled with fear, something unfamiliar to him. For the first time in his life, there was no one to protect him.
He turned his head, looking through the alley's opening. People were still running and the air was crowded with screams, though softer than before. He couldn't make an assumption as of yet, but it felt like the fright had died down.
"Who were those people?" He inquired, but there was no response. None at all. Viole was simply checking his body for any potential cuts or bruises.
"Viole!" Lucien discarded her touch in annoyance, which slightly surprised her.
"What's your problem?!" Viole raised her voice. "Can't you just sit there, look pretty, and listen to me? Honestly! I let you come with me because I thought that you were going to be easy to deal with, but in reality, you're just a prince who's overcome with naivety! All I ask for is no questions, can't you even do that, Lucien?"
He lowered his head, looking into his lap. His eyes flared with anger—the fact that he was letting himself be puppeteered so easily. It wasn't usually like him... to just shut up and let someone else run the show, but he couldn't help himself.
The reason Lucien didn't say anything is because he was scared—not over losing his newfound friendship, but scared of Viole herself. There was something deep within her that made his bones chill.
"Listen," her voice was more stern than before. "A royal prince who can't defend himself is just like asking to have your life threatened. I can teach you."
"How to use Sigil Stones?" He replied.
Viole took off a pouch dangling from her hip, revealing what was in it. Inside lay various Sigil Stones, each glowing with an unnatural origin. "Exactly that." She stood up, striding farther into the alleyway. "Are you coming?"
Lucien scoffed, though his gaze lingered on her. "Who are you really?"
Her eyes widened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. While giggling, Viole smiled. "Well, I'm your friend, of course."