Evening had already begun to settle when we had crossed the fences.
The border was ungaurded, maybe because of positive relationship between britannia and zeryn.
The sky turned in shades of orange and light fading gold, the last light of the sun stretched across the land.
But for me… it didn't feel like evening, as if the long afternoon is still hanging.
It felt like everything had ended or if everything is on the way waiting for a new beginning.
The forest behind us had grown quiet. And was only getting smaller as we walked on the opposite direction. The environment felt silent a kind of silence that follows after something terrible has happened.
I walked beside Ciel, not in the same side where william was. I was scared.
I held ciel's arm, tightly, so that i could feel safe.
My grip refused to loosen, no matter how long it had been, time passed. Maybe few hours—that felt endless.
My hand never let go her arm. It just… stayed that way. Like if I let go, she would disappear.
"…Alex," she whispered softly, glancing down at me. Her red eyes that once held excitement were now empty, scared and loosing. "...are you okay...?" She finnally said.
I didn't answer, I couldn't. Just how could i have said that i want to go back home i want play with mother and vennesa.
My words felt locked, somewhere deep inside my chest, stuck beneath everything that had happened.
So I just walked.
"We're in Britannia now."
William's voice broke through the silence. ahead of us, he didn't turn around when he said, his steps were steady as he followed the narrow path.
That felt safe, and peaceful.
The same as what he had said before.
But that words couldn't mean anything, not anymore.
The ground beneath us had changed. The rough forest terrain had given way to a narrow, worn-down path—one that was possibly used by villagers or travelers, not soldiers or nobles.
It wasn't clean or maintained, rather it was just used by many.
Signs of people began to appear the further we walked—small houses of a rural village.
A small village that held laughter of small children around my age. The more I looked that more envious i felt.
William took another path that led somewhere else, not into a village but a city. And we followed him.
I looked up at the evening sky and saw a faint smoke rising from somewhere far ahead.
Distant shapes of rooftops barely visible between the trees.
"…We're close to the city," William broke the long silence.
Ciel looked up slightly at william, her eyes catching the man in front of us. "…What's it... called?"
"Riverweave, my home." William answered while he turned his head and looked as us.
Ciel nodded quietly.
Then, after a moment, William spoked again with a gentle smile on his face.
"So… what are your names? And who are you kids?" william asked with the same smile.
Ciel hesitated before saying anything and tooked a breath.
"i'm... Ciel."
Her voice wasn't calm, rather confused as if she didn't knew whether she should tell our names or not.
"…And he's... Alexious. My younger brother."
His gaze shifted slightly toward me.
I shifted my gaze to the ground and pulled myself behind my sister.
"…Alex, huh," he muttered.
I kept my mouth shut.
Ciel spoke and broke the silence.
"He's just... tired," she said.
William didn't asked questions anymore.
"Fair enough." He ended the conversation or rather investigation.
The path opened as we moved forward, eventually opening up a clearer view.
And then, long path ended.
The city appeared, we finally reached riverweave.
We stopped walking.
Massive walls surrounded it, built—high and thick like a fortress or a castle. Not decorative or elegant. But it was strong.
At the center stood a giant double door, reinforced with metal and wood, closed tightly.
Guards stood outside, armed, alert and some of them were even chilling, while two cabins rested off to the left side of the entrance path, with more watchmen stationed nearby. Maybe that would be the place were gaurds could rest.
"…It's huge," Ciel whispered to me.
I didn't respond, like a coward but still i was just a kid who had lost his home and parents.
But I didn't looked away.
This place wasn't like zeryn.
It didn't feel like home, it wasn't my home.
I tightened my grip on ciel's hand and was going to say something but couldn't.
We continued walking.
As we reached the gates, the stationed guards taked a look at us and noticed william almost instantly, as if they knew him personally.
They straightened their posture.
"Captain Smith!"
"Welcome back, Captain!"
They saluted, without hesitation or discomfort.
The doors began to open slowly.
Ciel blinked.
"...Captain?..."
William scratched his cheek lightly while carrying a harmless smile, as if it wasn't worth mentioning. "At ease... It's not a big deal anyway."
As we stepped in the riverweave, he glanced back slightly.
"As you can see," he said casually, "I'm one of the captains of the magic force."
Ciel tilted her head just a little. "Magic force? What is that?"
"Something like knights," he replied. "We protect Britannia—from bandits, monsters, other nations. You can think of us as advance police."
Knights.
My grip on Ciel tightened again.
We stepped inside Riverweave.
The city looked alive.
People moved through the streets, merchants called out from their shops, children ran between alleys calling eachother, and lanterns were already being lit as the evening came to an end.
The air carried warmth of food, chattering, voices mixing together into something...normal like home.
"…It's beautiful," Ciel whispered, looking at a flower shop nearby.
I couldn't answer again.
Because it didn't feel beautiful to me, but all I felt was wanting the warmth of our palace.
Mom must be okay, she must be waiting for us.
I want to go home, i don't want to be here.
And before i knew it.
William led us pass the streets without stopping, eventually bringing us to a well-maintained restaurant.
The building stood out—clean, polished, and shining. Clearly meant for nobles, royals and wealthy citizens.
He pushed the door open.
"Come on." William forwarded his hand. "You must be hungry, let's eat first."
The moment we stepped inside—atmosphere shifted. It wasn't loudly, But noticeable.
Whispers, glances and eyes. All fixed on us, I felt it immediately.
Our ragged clothes. Our dirty attire that wasn't looking clean or nobel, ciel and i were looking akin to a beggar.
For them we shouldn't be here, different and nasty. That's all we were to them.
At last unwelcomed.
"…Why are they staring?" Ciel murmured, while tightening her fist.
I didn't respond.
I didn't knew, how should I respond.
William ignored it, completely. He pointed and led us to a quiet corner table.
"Sit." He commanded.
We obeyed what he said.
He ordered few dishes without asking, then leaned back slightly and let out a sigh.
"So," he said, looking at ciel. "Let's try this again, properly this time."
Ciel straightened a little.
"I'm Ciel," she said again.
This time, her voice wasn't as hesitant as before.
"And we came from… another kingdom."
William watched her carefully.
"And your parents or family ?"
Her fists tightened slightly on her lap.
"…They're not with us."
She gave a simple answer but it was heavy, too heavy from children like us.
The food arrived, quickly. Maybe because the sign outside said "served under two minutes."
The food was warm, looked delicious.
I stared at it for a long time.
"Alex... eat." Ciel commanded.
I moved, slowly. Because she told me eat.
William remained silent for a while, he was observing us.
Then—
"…You're not from around here, huh?" he said.
Ciel hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Yes"
"…And your name," he continued. "Ciel… what?" His voice didn't felt dangerous but rather worried.
Ciel stayed silent this time.
This time, it lasted longer.
Long enough that even I looked up just slightly.
Ciel took a small breath, the terrified look from her face faded.
Then—
"…Zeryn."
The word landed quietly and yet it sounded loud.
William's expression changed—just slightly.
"…Zeryn," he repeated.
Now he understood.
"…You're from the Zeryn Kingdom."
Ciel nodded, slowly.
"…Yes."
She paused.
Then—
"…We're… the royal family. The princess and Prince."
Her voice came out hesitant, slight.
The noise of the customers of restaurant seemed distant and could bearly reached us, after that.
William leaned back, while exhaling slowly.
"…That explains a lot."
He didn't ask for any kind of proof.
He didn't doubt it, he couldn't.
"… Are you planning to go somewhere by any chance?" he asked.
Ciel shook her head. She was confused.
"…We don't know. Mom said that we have to be safe and begin a new life "
That was the whole truth.
We didn't had anywhere to go.
By the time we left the restaurant, the sky had darkened completely.
Night had taken over, and it shined with bright stars hanging above the sky.
Lanterns lit the streets, casting soft light all across the city as people slowly get into their homes. And noise of small kids stoped almost completely.
We followed William again.
Until we reached a house, his house.
It wasn't small, but it wasn't overly grand and big either.
A solid, well-built house with multiple rooms, large enough for a family—and maybe more. The structure was neat, carefully maintained by the people living there, with warm light glowing from inside.
William opened the door, without any hesitation.
He stepped in first and then looked back at us
"Come in."
It felt warm inside.
A lived in place where people stayed in.
"Welcome back."
A woman's voice, it was soft and gentle.
We looked up, at her who was standing in front of william.
She stood there, near the center of the entrance.
Blonde hair.
Blue eyes.
She looked kind and somewhat worried.
"…Who are they?" she asked with a gentle look.
"Guests," William replied casually.
She didn't question it.
But observed first.
Then, her gaze softened slightly as she looked at us.
"…You must be tired."
Ciel nodded faintly.
"…Yes."
A small boy came running from inside and stopped behind her.
He peeked from behind her.
He looked younger and smaller than me.
He was curious about us.
"…Dad?" he asked, looking at william.
William glanced at him. "Go on. Get ready for bed. It's already too late."
The boy hesitated, he look at us again, then nodded and ran off, inside.
The woman stepped closer, walked passed William and leaned toward us.
"…You can stay here, as long as you wish." she said gently.
Her voice and glare didn't carry any suspicion, but a quiet understanding.
She felt familiar.
Ciel looked at her… then at William.
"…Can we really?"
William nodded.
"I've got plenty of space."
He glanced around briefly.
"…Plenty of rooms."
His statement was true.
Even from where I stood, I could see multiple doors leading deeper into the house and a stair that leads on the upper floor.
It wasn't a palace.
But it was enough, more than enough.
Silence linger for a moment.
Then—
"You can stay here," William said again. "For as long as you want."
Ciel's shoulders lowered slightly, she was finally relieved and took a long breath.
"…Thank you," she said quietly, her eyes almost teared up.
I looked around the house.
At the walls and lights.
Everything felt… unfimiliar, except willam's wife.
And then—
For the first time since everything happened—
I spoke in front of william.
"…Thank you..."
My voice came out quietly and roughly, but it was clear.
The hall went still.
William looked at me, really looked this time.
Then—
He smiled, widely, it was natural and simple.
"…You don't have to kid, i couldn't help my self from helping children-in-need."
I didn't understand him.
But…
For now—
That was enough.
To be continued...