Coming to a slow halt, the wooden carriage, its wheels covered in mud, stopped just in front of the city gates that stood in their way. It was a small yet humble city that was smaller than Kala, but often experienced far more foot traffic due to its “checkpoint” nature.
Serving as a resting place for travellers and merchants alike, it was a place that often bustled with cultural exchanges and stores. People, especially those from Aimafina, would often bring over their spices, while those from Fridan would provide in-season fruits and vegetables.
Saya jumped off the carriage, stretching her body as long as possible. Her muscles relaxed instantly as a faint, dull drowsiness clouded her mind. Perhaps it was her body’s way of begging for relaxation, but she had been sleeping quite decently during her trip.
“Oh, I’m going to see some acquaintances,” the elderly merchant she had been accompanying exclaimed. “I’ll meet you back here first thing in the morning!”
With that, his short stature vanished into the sea of people. Due to the relatively lax nature of the city, security was nowhere near as tight as in Atrila. When at the capital, even frequenting vendors and travellers would have to show documentation and undergo goods inspection.
But with the old man seemingly being a regular passerby, they let him and his guest, Saya, in without any further fuss.
Immediately upon stepping foot into the city named Codit, Saya was hit with a strong sense of nostalgia. The city’s layout and even some building structures were extremely similar to Kala. Though she wasn’t aware, every city was built nearly the same way, simply varying in size.
The founder of Fridan wanted to have a consistent defense system against invaders, following the philosophy that knights and soldiers need only train one specific set of strategies to be used at any of Fridan’s cities.
Supposedly, it was a way to drive up early recruitment. After all, who would want to die for a freshly established country with no name?
Saya was sure she had heard or even learned something like that in the past during her childhood, but couldn’t fully recall it. Her village, being relatively small with less than a hundred inhabitants, did not have an education level that was exactly up to date.
Her legs naturally gravitated toward the food district. She kept drumming into her head that she should book an inn first, but with her current starved state, she couldn’t afford to delay her basic human urges any longer.
Though sleep wasn’t an issue, due to the grassy plains proving to be an adequate landscape for rest, food was a touchy subject for both her and the older gentleman. She didn’t care much for the taste of food, but having to eat nearly rotten meals that the merchant couldn’t sell was a bit rough on her, to say the least.
She wasn’t ungrateful, but definitely missed the hot, made-to-order meals that she received back at the castle or on the street by vendors. At some point during her travels, she even missed the below-satisfactory school lunches she would often eat at Kala.
“I wonder how Albo would have reacted.”
Her mind naturally veered toward her best friend. She thought about perhaps eating something he liked, but the more she scanned the signs posted on top of the stalls, the more indecisive she got.
With a troubled look, Saya was stuck between two stalls, which were conveniently facing one another. On her right was a bright green paint on a long wooden plank, with letters etched into its surface. The text read, “Bo’s Skewer King.”
On her left was a sign painted in red in the same fashion, reading, “Fish n Dip.” The two stores read, felt, and smelled completely different. One resembled the scent of the ocean, practically being able to taste the sandy winds and salty sea, while the other oozed grease and oil.
Normally, her choice would obviously be the fish. Being raised in the countryside, she never had many chances to taste the delicacies of sea life, so whenever she could, she treasured the opportunities extremely highly.
However, at the current moment, she was in the mood for something extremely greasy and unhealthy.
Between the unstoppable force of greasy meat and the immovable object of fish stood an indecisive mage, who had spent far longer than necessary making her decision for lunch. Normally, she would ask a middleman for their opinion, but asking a random stranger certainly felt like overkill.
She took a step to the right, before immediately retracting it and taking a step to the left. This process repeated itself various times, keeping her stuck in the same place as innocent passersby were constantly blocked by her.
It wasn’t on purpose, of course, but with how torn apart she was mentally, she remained completely oblivious to the nuisance she was being to the public.
Her mind raced with possibilities and predictions. If she ate seafood now, then she would be able to sate her desire for fish once and for all, reserving the craving for greasy, ground meat for a different time, most likely when she arrived at her destination.
But she wanted grease now.
If I eat fish now, then the time between me not having fish and having eaten fish is much smaller. The last time I ate fish, it was a month ago… So assuming I don’t eat fish today, and the next time I eat fish is in another month, that means it would be two whole months I’ve gone without fish!
She quite loved fish.
But I want something so greasy it’ll make my heart and organs feel like they’re slipping around internally.
Sharply inhaling, she twisted her ankle to the left, fully determined to eat fish for lunch. Not letting her mind linger any longer, she rushed over to the stall as quickly as she could. In her logic, if she started talking to the storeowner, then she would feel bad simply walking away without purchasing anything.
So by approaching an employee, she would effectively seal her fate.
Her steps hurried. There was no line at the moment. With the lunch rush nearly over, most of the patrons who wandered the food district would have already retired back to their carriages or to their workplaces.
But just before she could claim to be the only customer, someone else stepped in from the side, taking her position in just a fraction of a second. The person in front of her practically hopped, lurching forward at the vendor.
It was the same reaction that Hana would give the skewers back at Atrila.
I wonder if she’s a regular.
A heavy thud clashed against her right shoulder, throwing her off balance. Her body tumbled forward, slowly making its way to the ground. Without another arm to catch herself, her fate of being embarrassed in front of the city was inevitable.
“-Woah!”
Her heart raced, bracing itself for the inevitable. As the stone floor inched closer to her face, she felt a slender arm pull her up. She wasn’t swept away like a princess, but she wasn’t left to linger in her awkward state for much longer.
As her body came upright, she saw the same girl who had been talking to the storeowner just seconds earlier.
Through her barely opened eyes, she was met with a beauty that did not belong in the crowd of dirty merchants and clumsy women.
Her silver hair, with a decently long wolfcut, shone brightly as sunlight reflected off the top, adding a layer of sparkle that otherwise would not have existed. The vibrant bright blue eyes that she carried reminded Saya of her own, but far more beautiful and sea-like.
Polished silver hoops ran through her earlobes, three small ones lodged in her left ear. Reaching into her bag, she took out a piece of cloth, handing it to Saya. But what the young mage’s eyes focused on was not the handkerchief, but her painted black nails.
Dark eyeliner contrasted her pale skin, enhancing her beauty tenfold. Though not applying anything to her lips, they were captivating enough in their naked state to command respect. The clothes she wore added another layer of uniqueness to an otherwise dull day dealing with crusty and dirty old men.
To combat the winter gale, she wore a short black jacket, just enough to cover her sleeves and half of her upper body. The anti-cold outerwear heavily contrasted with the decently short skirt that she unintentionally flaunted.
Underneath her jacket, she wore a white button-up shirt, no doubt wearing another layer underneath that as well. Around her neck, she wore a loose tie, often worn by business officials who travelled from a distant nation.
Yes, her fashion sense was an extremely common one in the Floating Islands of Keptas, but with very few tourists visiting from that nation, Saya had little to no real interaction with someone from there.
She had only heard stories and rumors about their outlandish and drastically different lifestyle, but didn’t expect it to be this level.
If someone were to put both the stranger and Saya side by side, they would seem like they belonged to completely different worlds.
The man who had bumped into her jogged back, giving a haphazard and lazy apology. His appearance was much less than desirable, with a round body composition. Waving his hand dismissively, he gave a lame excuse about how he was in a hurry before trying to scurry away.
But the final nail in the coffin to confirm her unique origins was the way in which she spoke.
With an annoyed glare, the stranger called out the man at the top of her lungs, catching the attention of every passerby, their heads naturally turning to inspect the outrage occurring before them. Her voice was coarse, deep enough to intimidate.
“Watch it, will ya? Ya fat, ugly bastard.”
With a simple string of words, the cowardly man walked away, clicking his tongue at the disrespect he had just faced.
Her eyes met with Saya’s, both maidens sinking into each other’s gaze upon contact.
Time stopped. Saya’s breathing had come to an abrupt halt.
The world around her sank, even though she hadn’t activated her Soul Sight. Her hearing drowned out, leaving only the sound of her breath and drumming heartbeat vibrating across her entire body.
Letting go, her hands slowly slid away from Saya, tracing her arms in the process. The tips of her nails scratched an itch she didn’t know she craved, the hairs on her body rising, trailing behind her touch.
Saya couldn’t get her eyes off her. She felt like a sculpture that had come to life, refusing to bow down to the world’s beauty standards.
“T-Thank you,” she mumbled as her hand nervously formed into a fist.
The person across from her stayed silent, continuing her stare at Saya. With each passing moment, she felt the weight of the atmosphere. Although the crowd had returned to their routines, it felt as if she were alone in the world with her savior.
“Saya…?”
Her name was muttered by the stranger as she took a single step forward. Raising her head, Saya’s eyes widened as the lady lunged toward her. Unable to react to her sudden advance, the white-haired angel wrapped her arms around Saya’s neck in a warm embrace.
“Saya!”
Startled, Saya drew her head back. The girl was a tad bit taller than she was, perhaps just by a few inches, and yet she was forced to tilt her head slightly up to meet her gaze up close. With an unrelenting smile, she backed off, pointing a finger at herself.
“It’s me! Kanami!”
A light switch in the mage’s head flipped as a nostalgic name rushed forth from her memories. Recoiling back a step, Saya pointed at Kanami, letting out a sharp gasp. Her body trembled, not from fear, but from disbelief.
“K-Kanami?!”
“How are you! It’s been so long!”
Laughing, she replied, “Wowza… How long has it been? I’d say ’bout fifteen years at least!”
Her unique hair color and their matching eyes should have all been dead giveaways for Saya. However, the Kanami that she remembered possessed none of the fancy metallic piercings or makeup highlighting her physical features so prominently.
Having met at such a young age, they only knew each other in their pure, innocent forms.
“Order’s up!” the storekeeper shouted from behind as he placed two plates of freshly cut raw fish. There were also two plates of sides, filled with sufficient carbohydrates and nutrients from both rice and vegetables.
Grabbing the two plates, Kanami turned back around, gesturing with her head and asking Saya to follow along. Saya reluctantly followed, not wanting to lose such an important reconnection. With the amount of people bustling around, it would be a miracle not to lose each other.
They found a small table with two chairs. The table had barely just been cleaned, its water streak marks still visible even from a distance. Setting the plates down, Kanami pulled in her chair, spreading the food evenly for both herself and Saya.
“Eh, I’ll share it with ya. I ordered way too much for myself anyway.”
It was a sight to behold.
Not the fish. She was already extremely familiar with the dish.
But having grown used to Hana’s extreme portion sizes, seeing someone eat a moderate amount and even admit that two plates were too much for them was a breath of fresh air.
“Thank you.” She wasted no time, grabbing a utensil and shoving a slice of fish, along with some vegetables, into her mouth. Kanami, on the other hand, didn’t even start eating. Her attention was more focused on the elephant in the room.
“Say… what the hell happened to yer arm?” She pointed out the obvious, and although Saya hadn’t fully grown used to operating with just her non-dominant arm, she was so used to having her right companion that she often forgot she didn’t have it anymore.
Lightly touching her shoulder, she explained, “I lost it during a fight. I used too much magical energy and it blew up on me.” She said it so nonchalantly, as if she were talking about a lost writing utensil. It came so casually that it shocked Kanami.
“No way! Since when could ya cast magic? I thought ya didn’t have a Birthmark!”
“I don’t. I started learning to use arcane magic.”
Kanami nodded in acceptance. It was to Saya’s surprise, as she had expected her childhood friend to be more worrisome. Even back when they were kids, she was someone who had Albo’s outgoing personality, but still with a gentle, kind side to her.
“So what’re ya doin’ here now, huh? Don’t tell me ya became a merchant and lost yer arm fightin’ bandits.”
Saya waved her hand rapidly in dismissal. “Nope. I lost it in Atrila. I had to fight for my life during the whole curse situation.”
“Ahh, yeah… I heard ’bout that. Heard a ton of people died.”
Saya nodded. “Yeah, I think even now, the Queen’s arranging funerals. It’s kinda sad.”
“Honestly, I’m kinda surprised yer even okay. Figured someone who went through that’d be way more outta commission.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t feel the aftereffects too much, and besides, I have stuff to do anyways,” Saya replied.
“I see… Guess we would’ve run into each other in Atrila sooner or later anyway. Still, I’m kinda glad I bumped into ya.”
Saya lightly tapped the table, raising her finger slightly and pointing at Kanami. With a half-stuffed mouth, she asked, “What about you? Why’d you leave the village anyways? And that accent, it’s from Keptas, isn’t it?”
Chuckling nervously, Kanami replied while scratching the back of her head, “Yeeaah, had to move to Keptas for a while. Was pretty rough back then, but hey, I’m back in action now.”
“Mhm.” Saya took a moment to swallow her food. “And you said you were headed to Atrila? What for?”
“Got some business over there. Believe it or not, I actually work for the Church of Eudoxia now.”
Saya replied, “I can see that! You’ve always been the gentle type back when we were kids too. I bet you’re super popular.”
“Popular? Yeah, right. Not with the way I look now. If anything, kids get freaked out the second they see me.” She glanced away, her words coming out a little awkwardly.
“Ooh, you still get embarrassed like that? I thought you seemed much more confident with that new look you’ve got going on.”
“Pretty… what’s the word, hardcore?”
Sighing, Kanami replied, “I just like this kinda style, alright? And if you’re livin’ in Keptas, ya gotta know how to speak up for yourself. I was super timid at first, but after a few years there… yeah, I didn’t really have a choice but to toughen up.”
“But when I’m hangin’ out with friends like this… I kinda end up slipping back into my old self.” The smile she emitted was bright and sincere, showing a true sense of honesty behind her words.
“I see…”
“Oh!” Kanami clapped as a topic resurfaced in her mind. “Hol’ up, what were ya even doin’ in Atrila? That place’s pretty damn far from the village, right?”
The question locked them into conversation for nearly an hour, long enough for the tea to go cold and the shadows of the market stalls to stretch across the cobblestones. Saya recapped her life, starting from when she first left the village to how she started attending the Kala Magic Academy.
There were a lot of details that she omitted purely for the sake of time, such as the menial conversations in regards to her Soul Sight and relationship with Hana and Viera. However, when she arrived at the topic of the cult she was faced against, Saya felt it necessary to ask Kanami for any detail she could spare, since she was now a member of the opposing religion.
“Hm… wouldn’t say I know much about either of those guys.”
“That Lucia chick sounds kinda familiar… but I don’t really do much fightin’, y’know.”
“I figured,” Saya replied, a disappointed smile tugging at her face, “I figured I’d give it a shot, but I appreciate you nonetheless."
“But, yeah, that’s pretty much it.” She concluded, taking a sip of tea from the wooden cup. The plates were all devoid of food, having consumed everything mere minutes after they started talking. The rest of the conversation was carried by an infinite amount of drink refills.
Despite all the events, a single name kept ringing in Kanami’s ears to the point where it was nearly an earsore. It had been the only thing making a consistent appearance from beginning to end.
“But I do hope to bring him back soon,” she mumbled, but her words didn’t fall on deaf ears. With the absence of most people in the food district, even the faintest of whispers were audible, especially if they were directly in front of you and only a short distance away.
“It’s a bit of an ambitious goal, but I want to search for medicine in Aimafina first, and then hopefully, maybe come across some of the cultists.”
Kanami leaned forward, exhausted, placing her elbow on the table and resting her chin in her palm.
“Wait, Albo’s in Atrila? Huh… that’s kinda news to me.”
Shocked, Saya’s chest and shoulders reinflated. “Wait, you know who Albo is? I thought you left shortly before he moved to the village.”
Rather than immediately answering her question, Kanami swirled her cup, staring at the ripples forming within. Her expression had all but soured as she sank into her own memories. Her breathing slowed before she slowly lifted her head with a smile.
Saya couldn’t quite explain it, but it was a look she knew all too well. It was the same one she often carried within herself. No matter how much her friend smiled, Saya knew the mask too well to be fooled.
The air between them had gone tense, the space growing more distant with every passing second. It seemed like they were being stretched away by reality little by little, until it would eventually result in infinity.
“I wouldn’t say I know her. It’s kinda hard to explain, but… yeah.”
Maybe she had a friend under the same name? But I think she’s talking about my Albo.
“Wait, did you say ‘her’?”
Kanami’s attention perked. “Yeah, Albo Flore… she’s that blonde girl, right?”
Shaking her head, Saya replied, “No, Albo’s a guy.”
“Wait, what? The Albo you’re talkin’ about isn’t obsessed with swordsmanship and all that?” Curiosity was plastered all over Kanami’s face, as she leaned in closer with each detail being drip fed by Saya.
“No, he’s very much so obsessed with magic.”
Relief immediately settled within her mind. If they were of different sexes, then surely it was impossible they were talking about the same person. It wasn’t like it would have been a bad thing if they did know each other, but for some reason, it still unnerved Saya all the same.
She couldn’t quite pinpoint it, perhaps it was her beauty, or maybe her style. Regardless, she still found it rather strange that there were two people with the exact same name and the exact same appearance.
“I see,” Kanami whispered, “so you’re a boy this time.” Her eyelids lowered, closing by half.
“Huh? What’d you say?”
Before she could pester her further, Kanami rapidly stood up, grabbing her bag with quick ferocity. “Nothin’.” Her eyes flicked to the sky, watching as the sun dipped toward sundown, streaking the horizon in fading orange.
“Hey, are ya free?” She adjusted the strap over her shoulder. The question came out of nowhere, startling Saya.
“Uh, I have to find an inn for the night, but that’s pretty much it.”
Flipping her hair, a light, gentle grin tugged at Kanami’s face. “Great. I’ll meet you again here in two hours or so. I want to spend the rest of the day with you before I have to head out.”
She had given Saya not even a split second to think, making the decision for her. There was little wiggle room to even discuss it. In truth, exhausted as she was, there was not a single inch of motivation in her veins for a nighttime outing.
Pulling away, Kanami started her light jog toward the city exit. With an enthusiastic wave, she yelled out, “See ya!”
Left speechless and confused, Saya stared at her as she grew smaller in the distance. Eventually, after taking a turn, her figure vanished completely from sight.
“What was that about?”
Kanami’s back pressed against the cold stone wall of a dark alley, the chill seeping through her clothes. She covered her face with both hands as a shaky gasp tore from her throat.
Heavy breaths dragged in and out of her lungs, uneven and loud in the narrow space, her chest rising and falling frantically as she tried to gather her thoughts.
A single tear slipped through her fingers and trailed down her cheek. Lowering her hands just enough to speak, she muttered in a hushed tone, her voice cracking every few words as if each one hurt to force out.
“...I’m sorry it had to be you.”
“Saya… no… Oktavia.”