Chapter Text
November 2nd, Early Evening
The fading light of day shined in through the window as one side of the curtain was tied back haphazardly. Half of the inn’s cozy room was already filled with darkness as a result, at least until the orbal light flicked on.
Laid across a table in that small room in Leeves was a map of the Erebonian Empire. Notes were hastily scrawled over sections of it, the words beginning near Trista and reaching all the way west, to Ordis. The most important note, judging by the circles drawn around it, read: ‘Get the twins back to Ordis by November 20th at the latest. We cannot afford to be delayed past the 21st - that day is too important an opportunity to miss’.
A sharp exhale escaped her lips as Aurelia crossed off the note above Leeves, her brows deeply furrowed with impatience and frustration. “Already a day behind what I had planned.”
She brushed her bangs out of her eyes before pinching the bridge of her nose, her nerves frayed by their long day. Glancing out of the window with the hope that it would help her stay calm, she saw the remaining light of day slip away below the horizon. Just then, a busy knock came at the door that very quickly grew more insistent.
“Aurie!”
An energetic voice called out before she could reach the door. When she finally pulled it open, she was greeted with the sight of one of the twins, the effervescent Vivi.
“You told me to get you at sundown, and it’s sundown!”
“Your timing is as impeccable as ever.” She gave Vivi a tired smile, then looked her over and saw that she hadn’t changed into their more discrete traveling clothes. “Why haven’t you changed yet? The Provincial Armies will be looking for me, so I can’t have you standing out in a Thors uniform.”
“Oh, come on, Aurie - this is Leeves! There’s practically no one here, let alone the provincial army!”
Aurelia shook her head in exasperation before looking back across the room. She held up a finger and walked back to the table. With a careful hand, she rolled up the map, packing it away in her brown leather jacket that she wore over a simple black t-shirt.
Once in the hallway, Aurelia smoothed her denim jeans out and glanced around, but didn’t see Linde.
Noticing her friend’s wandering gaze, Vivi spoke up. “Don’t worry, she’s just downstairs holding a table for us.”
Aurelia nodded. “I’m fairly certain we’re still the only customers, but that’s kind of her.”
Vivi, ever the pink-haired whirlwind, grabbed Aurelia’s arm and began pulling her downstairs. “Yeah, yeah, Linde is kind, what else is new? Now come on, I’m starving!”
Barney’s Tavern and Inn was a decidedly spacious establishment, especially considering the rather modest size of the town itself. It was one of only a dozen or so buildings, the others including a chapel, the mayor’s home, a few shops and numerous other, smaller buildings that were either homes or were seemingly unoccupied. Aurelia figured the town must have fallen on hard times in the past, but didn’t have the time, let alone the desire, to inquire further.
The inn itself was well kept. The tavern area, as well as their rooms were spotless, and it was clear even at a glance that the innkeeper, Barney, cared greatly for it.
As the pair continued downstairs, Aurelia spotted Linde sitting at a booth in the corner. The comparatively timid twin waved them over when she saw them. They took their seats in the comfortable booth, relaxing into the surprisingly plush cushions.
“Thank you for sending Vivi to get me, Linde.” Aurelia said, nodding to the slightly older sister.
A small smile traced Linde’s lips. “Oh, you’re welcome.”
“Hey! I’ll have you know that I remembered on my own!” Vivi began explosively before her voice quickly shrunk. “...Mostly.”
As Vivi faux-pouted, Aurelia noticed that Linde had changed into her non-descript traveling clothes: a pair of simple brown corduroys and a long-sleeved blue sweater. Vivi, on the other hand, still wore her uniform - minus the jacket.
Linde, having followed Aurelia’s slightly disappointed gaze, spoke up. “I tried to get her to change, but you know how she gets when she’s hungry.”
Aurelia simply shrugged. “It’s fine for now. The jacket was the most identifiable piece, anyway.”
A brief moment later, Barney arrived with menus in hand and an inviting smile on his face. “Thank you for staying with us, and once again, welcome to Barney’s.”
The trio began looking over the menu, their eyes shooting from one enticing meal to another.
“Did you need a few minutes to decide?”
Aurelia shook her head. “I know what I want. What about you two?”
The twins shook their heads as well. They all passed their menus back, leaving Barney to chuckle as he pulled out his order pad. “Okay, what’ll it be?”
“I’ll have the steak and potatoes,” Aurelia said succinctly. “Rare.”
Barney looked to Linde next, who ordered a much lighter meal, a soup and salad. Last was Vivi, who ordered a burger and fries - her self-proclaimed food of choice when travelling. With their orders jotted down, Barney bowed and returned to the kitchen.
Taking advantage of the lull in the conversation, Aurelia pulled the map from her jacket, spreading it out over the table before pointing to Leeves.
“This is where we are now, as you two know.”
They both leaned in, seeing that the note over Leeves was scratched out, but they could still make out just enough - November 1st.
Aurelia’s tone was business-like, but she had a stern tilt to her brows. “We’re a day or so behind where I wanted us to be. It was unavoidable, but we’ll have to make up for lost time over the next few days. Take a moment to look at our route and tell me if you have any thoughts on it.”
As far as cross country travel went, it was fairly straightforward. Neither sister could find anything to add or dispute, so they simply shook their heads.
“Excellent,” she said as she began rolling the map back up. “The most important thing is that we need to be in Ordis by the 20th of November.”
Vivi and Linde shared a small, furtive glance that didn’t escape Aurelia’s attention.
“What is it?”
Vivi spoke up first, her voice quiet. “The 20th? That’s the day before…”
The day before we lost my Mother. I know.
To her side, Linde caught Vivi’s attention and shook her head.
Despite that, Vivi seemed like she might have pressed the matter a little further, but ultimately let it go. Aurelia was sure that her rather austere expression had something to do with it.
It was for the best. The tavern floor was not the place to have that conversation, and fortunately, their food was already finished and on its way to their table.
“Is there anything else you need?” Barney asked as he laid out their plates.
“There is, actually,” Aurelia said as she laid her napkin out on her lap, her expression once again stoic. “Have you heard any news from the west, specifically in the direction of Ordis?”
Barney rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment. “Well, a Bracer friend of mine told me that the fighting is really looking like it’s going to start gearing up over the next few weeks. ‘It should be relatively safe until you reach the area around Milsante, heading west’ is what he told me.”
It wasn’t the worst news, but it was far from ideal.
“Thank you, and I do have one more question.” Aurelia prepared to ask what was sure to be a somewhat strange question. “You’ve surely heard about the mechanical humanoids on the radio,” she began, hoping to make the question that much less odd. “Have you seen or heard of one… flying nearby in the last few days?”
The innkeeper raised his eyebrows, but took the question in stride; it probably wasn’t the strangest thing he’d heard in this profession. “Well, I did hear about one, but I hadn’t believed it until the stories about Heimdallr played on the radio.”
Aurelia’s eyes lit up, her words coming fast. “Really? Do you know what it looked like? And where it went?”
He merely shook his head. “Sorry, miss. I don’t know any details, just that someone saw one flying.”
The booth went quiet for a moment as the twins exchanged a glance, knowing she was asking about Rean. They had only heard a few details from the others in Class VII, but even knowing as little as they did, they had at least learned he had escaped in a massive, flying humanoid machine.
Aurelia looked at her steak a moment later with a small, subdued nod, not letting her disappointment show. “...Thank you. That’s all I wanted to ask.”
Barney gave a small smile as he bowed. “All right, enjoy your meals, and let me know if you need anything else.”
-
After dinner, the trio made their way out of the tavern and toward the little boutique. They hadn’t gotten a good look at it when they first arrived, since they had been preoccupied looking out for any soldiers. Now that they did, they saw it was actually a Boutique Le Sage.
“It’s pretty small, even compared to the one in Trista,” Vivi said, her eyes lingering on the sign before they stepped inside.
“I’m surprised it’s a Le Sage at all,” Linde began, “since Leeves is so tiny.”
Meanwhile, Aurelia idly thumbed through a few shirts hanging on a rack. She didn’t care to shop for herself, so she simply browsed to keep herself busy. “Remember, nothing flashy, Vivi.”
“Don’t worry, Aurie, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
The twins made their way around another rack of clothes, leaving Aurelia alone with her thoughts. She realized it was the first time she’d had a moment to herself in days, since there was no need to escort the twins, look out for soldiers, or make plans.
It was a quiet moment like this that she had been dreading.
Her mind drifted back to Rean. The way his voice cracked as he asked, no, begged to be allowed to stay, and the anguish-
No, no!
She shook her head, almost violently so, not giving the thoughts time to settle. Just across the rack, she heard the twins chatting about what clothes to pick for Vivi’s travel attire, their presence a solace in that moment.
I’ll help who I can - it’s what he would do.
-
A few minutes later, Vivi stepped out of the dressing room. With a little twirl, she showed off the clothes that she and Linde had chosen before giving a playful thumbs up. She wore a pair of jeans similar to Aurelia’s, as well as a plaid green button-up and a simple red zipper hoodie.
Aurelia nodded in approval. “It suits you - and more importantly, it won’t draw any unnecessary attention.”
“I agree, you look so cute in that outfit,” Linde smiled affectionately.
Vivi preened at the praise. “Thanks! But I do have to apologize for stealing your thunder, Aurie; I rock these jeans so much better than you do, after all.”
Aurelia couldn’t help but crack a smirk at that as she bit back playfully. “Maybe you do, but you’re one day of meals like tonight’s away from needing a larger pair.”
Vivi gasped theatrically. “Aurie! You’re so mean!” She broke into a hearty laugh a moment later, her sister giggling with her.
The little shop hadn’t seen such a lively atmosphere in a while, especially if the genial smile on the cashier’s face was anything to go by. The good-natured exchange proved to be enough for her to escape her previously spiraling thoughts.
November 3rd, Just Before Dusk
If one were to look at a map of Erebonia before the Orbal Revolution, they would see many more small towns dotting the landscape. After the revolution, precious few towns survived away from the railroads as the inhabitants moved closer to the new lifelines that stretched across the country. Some survived to the current day, of course, but they were few and far between.
Grenville’s survival was due a great deal to its location, given it did not have a Noble origin like Leeves, nor an academy founded by an Emperor like Trista. It was a sparse little town with a population to match - Aurelia assumed it was around half of Trista’s.
Walking down the main street, she was surprised it was taking her this long to find the town’s sole inn. There had been no Provincial or Imperial Army patrols on the road, nor were there any in the town itself. Aurelia spotted one of the two buildings they had heard about from a local: the Imperial Army Recruitment Center. It had long since closed and barred its doors, which would probably explain why neither side placed any importance in the small town.
Aurelia had never been to Grenville before. She’d passed through it a number of times on a train, but even then, she had rarely spared even so much as a glance out of the window. Speaking to a local gave her the impression that it was still business as usual on the surface, but she could tell that the residents were just as nervous as anywhere else.
That was something Aurelia felt she could understand all too well lately.
Vivi let out a tired sigh from behind her, a vocal reminder of the long day they’d had. Exhaustion was beginning to set in for Aurelia as well, but it left her satisfied. They were back on schedule for where she wanted them to be.
“We’re almost there, Viv,” Linde said reassuringly, rubbing her sister’s back. “That woman we asked said the inn should be just around this corner.”
As the trio turned down the next road, there it was, just like they had been told. The inn sat at the end of the short throughway, right beside the chapel. It was a humble little establishment, nothing like the surprisingly grand-in-scale Barney’s Tavern and Inn back in Leeves. Grenville was comparatively sized to Leeves, so Aurelia couldn’t help but wonder why the inns were so much different size wise.
“All right, we’ll book our room, then come back downstairs for dinner.” Aurelia told the twins. She knew Vivi was the most tired of them all, so she met her gaze. “Vivi, you can wait down here while Linde and I take our things up.”
The normally excitable girl nodded languidly, practically falling into a booth. “Okay, just don’t take too long.”
Aurelia and Linde nodded, heading up to their room. They took a few minutes to organize the basics. They left their packs, as well as Braver, in the room on the single dresser. Once everything that needed to be put away was just so, they returned downstairs and took their seats by Vivi. A brief moment later, a server came by and just like clockwork, Aurelia asked him what the situation was looking like in the west.
“West? It’s starting to look more dangerous by the day,” the somewhat older man nodded, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. “With Sutherland staying neutral in the conflict, the area around here is pretty safe, but the closer you get to Milsante - and especially past it - the more risky it is to travel. Both sides are vying for control of the railroads around there, you see.”
Aurelia nodded, her expression practiced and stoic once again. “Thank you. As for our orders, we’ll each have a bowl of beef stew, or anything similar that you have made up already.”
The older man returned her nod, then headed back toward the kitchen.
I knew it would be worse the further west we went, but I had hoped we would at least reach Milsante without issue. Aurelia massaged her brow. Wishful thinking, I suppose.
The last few days had worn her down well past the physical level. A little bit of good news was all she had hoped for, but it wasn’t to be.
“Don’t worry so much, Aurie!” Vivi said with a surprising amount of energy, considering how tired she was. “We’ve made it this far safely, so I know we’ll get to Ordis safely, too.”
“She’s right,” Linde smiled with a reassuring tone to match. “We know that once you set your mind to something, nothing can stop you - and this is no different.”
I couldn’t keep Rean safe- Aurelia tried to shake the intrusive thoughts away, looking at the twins with a smile that belied her darkening outlook. “Thank you both. It means a great deal to hear that.”
A moment later, their dinner arrived - and not a moment too soon. A warm meal was just what Aurelia needed to lose herself in, even if just for a short while.
November 4th, Early Evening
The crystalline surface of Lake Gala rippled like a bed of sparkling gems in the setting sun. It was a sight that Aurelia might have otherwise enjoyed, if it weren’t for the immediate obstacle that stood in her way.
She jogged a little further down the lakeside, spotting a boulder that would serve as the perfect vantage point. Climbing up from the smaller boulder off to its side, Aurelia climbed atop, pulling out the binoculars she had brought along.
I was hoping I was just imagining it…
Further down the train tracks sat a makeshift blockade. It had clearly been built up hastily, but it would be enough to stop any train with a conductor worth his salt - they would never risk ramming through it, lest they run the chance of derailing and careening straight into the lake.
One more thing after another. Father, what are you doing…?
With a low, frustrated growl, she leapt down off of the boulder and headed back for the treeline.
It’s fine, just a small detour, she thought, trying to remain positive. Maybe another half day at most.
Once she reached the treeline, the twins popped their heads out from behind some nearby foliage.
“Is everything okay?” Linde asked first.
Aurelia shook her head, keeping her inner turmoil from showing outwardly. “Unfortunately not. It’s a good thing we bought that tent and sleeping bags when we did, we’re going to need them tonight.”
Vivi looked less than thrilled by the idea as she glanced out at the lake. “So we can’t walk the tracks? What’s the problem?”
“The Lamare Provincial Army blocked them completely.” Aurelia knelt down, pulling out her map and pointing out the road leading south. “We’ll loop around the lake. We won’t make it to Milsante before nightfall like I’d hoped thanks to that, so we’ll be spending the night in the woods somewhere off the road.”
Both twins studied the map, their eyes wandering to the notes she’d made: dates, times, and little comments here and there. Aurelia saw their eyes stop on a particular note: the direction she saw Rean and Valimar make their escape in.
“Everything I wrote are just approximations, you don’t need to worry about them.”
Aurelia rolled the map back up, sliding it back into her jacket. When she looked back at the twins, they were having one of their silent conversations. Despite knowing them for so long, Aurelia could never tell what they were thinking about when they communicated like this.
“What is it?”
Linde spoke up, a warm, caring smile tracing her lips. “Nothing. We’re just… sorry that we’re behind schedule, Aurie.”
“Didn’t I just say not to worry about that?” Aurelia asked in the most reassuring tone she could muster, given her current confusion and uncertainty, placing a hand on either twin’s shoulders. “The only thing that matters right now is getting you both home, and it doesn’t matter if it takes longer than I hope.”
They exchanged another look, but Aurelia stood up, not giving them a chance to say anything.
“Come on. We should get moving before it gets any later.”
November 5th, Early Evening
Just ahead, after their long night of camping, was the town of Milsante. It was something she was grateful to see, but she also spotted something much more urgent.
“What is it, Aurie?” Vivi asked as she followed her gaze.
“There’s a Provincial Army soldier standing guard at the gate.” Aurelia’s reply was flat as she lowered her binoculars.
“What are we going to do?” Vivi looked at Aurelia, not knowing what to make of her friend’s seeming lack of reaction.
“It… shouldn’t be a problem. It’s likely that he’s nothing more than a sentry to look out for Imperial Army units.”
Vivi’s face brightened up immediately. “Well, the three of us definitely aren’t one of those, so we can walk right in!” With her declaration made, the excitable young woman marched forward, leaving her friend and sister behind.
Linde stepped closer to Aurelia, still clearly feeling concerned. “Do you recognize the soldier, Aurie?”
“No, thankfully. My years away training with the Vanders, then immediately attending Thors means that fewer soldiers might recognize me as well.” Aurelia ran her hand through her hair as it flowed down her back. She had figured that her twintail look would be another thing the soldiers would be on the lookout for, so she had simply been letting it flow freely.
Just ahead, Vivi turned back and waved impatiently. “What are you two waiting for? I can’t wait to sleep in a real bed again!”
“But you- we stayed at an inn the night before last…” Linde said, almost in disbelief as she and Aurelia caught up with her.
Vivi let out a groan as her shoulders slumped. “I knooow…” she dragged the word out. Anyone else might think she was being overdramatic, but they knew it was just Vivi being Vivi. “I miss beds already. I’m really not cut out for the camping life.”
That drew a chuckle from Aurelia - the first one in nearly a week. “All right, all right, we wouldn’t want to disappoint you, then.”
—
“Phew, see? No problem at all. He let us through without even a second glance!” Vivi strolled happily into town with her hands linked behind her head.
Aurelia rolled her eyes with a small, playful smirk at her friend’s antics. “I’m glad, but it’s not something we should take for granted - especially if a guard or I recognize each other.”
Looking around, Aurelia wasn’t sure how helpful the residents of Milsante would be. They had been quite helpful in Leeves and Grenville, but assistance seemed less likely here. It had been a number of years since she had been here, but she could tell the atmosphere was far from that of the jovial little town she remembered. The last time she had visited, some years ago by then, everyone she saw or met was happy. The picturesque little town was perhaps the most joyous place she’d ever been to, but she saw nothing of that Milsante there that afternoon. It was not a comforting feeling, knowing that even this town was gripped by the same uncertainty. Even so, Aureila knew there was one person she could count on, one person she hoped could offer some real, tangible answers.
…She has to know something.
Before they entered the inn, Aurelia handed some mira to Linde. “Here, I want you and Vivi to book a room. Same as before, a single room with two beds.”
“Okay, but where are you going, Aurie?” Linde asked curiously, clearly feeling a little apprehensive.
“I’m going to visit a relative in town. I’ll meet you at the inn once I’ve spoken to them.”
With that, Aurelia turned toward one of the nearby buildings. The sign above it read ‘General Store - Diana’. She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen her father’s cousin, but the store was still just as she remembered it. That in itself brought her a small comfort.
A rather clamorous provincial army patrol caught her attention as they marched nearby, so she knew the time for reminiscing was over.
Stepping inside, Aurelia looked around, but didn’t see Diana. A young man stood at the leftmost counter, who looked to be only a few years older than her. She actually recognized him when she looked closer, since Meyer had been working for Diana for years by that point.The shop hadn’t changed much inside either, some of the shelves even carrying the same goods. As she approached, Meyer called out.
“Good afternoon, how can I help you?”
He didn’t seem to recognize her at a glance, a fact she was grateful for. “I was hoping to speak to Diana. Is she in?”
“She is,” he pointed toward the stairs. “Head up that flight and you’ll find her on the second floor. First door on your right.”
Aurelia nodded her thanks. She appreciated the directions, but she didn’t need them. Heading up the stairs, she already knew which room was Diana’s, and so she knocked on the door in question.
“Meyer? Did you need something?” A voice that Aurelia knew called from inside. A middle-aged woman with green eyes and shoulder-length white hair, which was pulled into a neat ponytail, answered the door. Her eyes widened the moment she saw who had really knocked. “...Aurelia? Is that you?”
Aurelia smiled warmly, filled with a sense of relief she hadn’t felt in a while. “It’s me, Diana. It’s good to see you.”
The older woman immediately wrapped her in an affectionate embrace, her lips pulling into a wide, joyous smile. “I’m glad to see you as well! I’m overjoyed to see that you’re safe.”
She pulled her into the room, closing the door behind them. Once inside, Diana turned back to Aurelia, taking in her appearance.
“It’s been years since you last visited - you’re quite the beautiful young woman now!” Diana beamed, offering the younger woman a seat.
“You haven’t aged a day,” Aurelia said, attempting to deflect her gentle embarrassment. “And… I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve visited you.”
She averted her gaze as she took her seat, taking note of the map and ledger sprawled across the table. If her memory served her, then this was Diana's study, as well as where the more pricy goods were kept under lock and key. Being a rather small general store in an equally small town, it wasn’t as if theft was a common problem, but Diana always said that one could never be too careful.
Diana sat across the table, her tone filled with reassurance. “Oh, you don’t need to apologize. I know how busy you’ve been with your Vander training, and your enrollment at Thors on top of that.”
“You know about my enrollment at Thors?” Aurelia asked, a little surprised by that fact.
“I do. Your father kept me in the loop about what you were up to. Oh. and he also told me you’ve become a Master of the Vander style! You should have seen the look on his face… I don’t think he’s ever been prouder,” Diana said. Her smile widened, and although she was clearly proud as well, Aurelia could see a faint sadness in her eyes. “I wanted to congratulate you on both, Aurelia.”
“Thank you, that… means a lot to me.”
Aurelia anticipated an awkward silence, but Diana spoke up again immediately.
“Of course, sweetie, but I have to ask - are you okay? What are you doing here?”
“...I’m making sure two of my oldest friends make it to Ordis and back safely to their parents. That- that isn’t the only reason, though.” Aurelia took a deep breath, only remembering then that Diana had a way with people that made them feel safe to open up. “If Father kept you in the loop about me, then… Did he give you any indication on why he is so directly involved in all this madness?”
The older woman’s expression faltered just a little for the first time, looking toward a framed picture on a nearby wall - one of her standing with a young Aurelia and her parents so many years prior.
“...No, he didn’t. My cousin, your father, was never the best at explaining his reasonings or talking about his feelings. That hasn’t changed, even all these years later.” She sighed deeply, the concern growing on her face as she continued to gaze at the picture. “I don’t have any real idea why he would do something like this.”
Aurelia felt her heart sink a little. “...I don’t either.”
“Audric was always the kind of person who would take everything on himself, even when we were younger.” Diana began, her eyes looking into the middle distance as she recalled the memories with a difficult yet nostalgic smile. “He was at the forefront of every club match he had at Thors, the squad leader when it came to his provincial army drills, and so on. He has been like that since he was a child, and only really learned to take less active roles once he met your mother.”
Even now, after so many years, her mother was still a somewhat touchy subject. But there was something about hearing it from family that made it easier for her to take. Aurelia had heard stories like that about her father before, how he felt like he had the weight of everything he was doing on his shoulders.
“After he became serious about her, Soleil had such a profound effect on your father. I had never seen him take the back seat on anything in his life until they began dating. It was like she found a switch inside of him that no one, not even he himself, knew existed. But once she was taken from us, he… withdrew into himself, at least to a degree.” Diana laid her arms on the table, clasping her hands together as her expression shifted to one of uncertainty and past pain. “In recent years, it feels almost as if he’s back to his old self before he met your mother, except colder. More forced.”
The silence that Aurelia had been expecting finally came as her brows knit closer in regret. She knew that he’d felt different in recent years as well, but she could never put her finger on how. But after hearing Diana’s story, as well as recalling that he’d been given much more work by Duke Cayenne even before the civil war, it all started to make sense. It didn’t tell her why he would do this, but it at least explained why he didn’t seem like the father she knew.
Thinking about her parent’s relationship brought her own relationship to mind. Her face lit up with a somewhat tempered hope as she met Diana’s eyes again. It was the question she had asked every innkeeper since Leeves, but not once had she heard any concrete information - if any at all.
“You’re quite connected, Diana; have you heard of any… large, flying humanoids being seen in the last week? Specifically one that’s ashen white, with an intricate black and gold trim?”
The older woman was surprised by the question. She clearly thought it odd, but considered it seriously regardless. “Well… my contacts did hear of one that flew, but it didn’t match that description. This one was blue.”
Aurelia’s shoulders visibly sank at the answer, and Diana immediately reached out, gently squeezing Aurelia’s hand.
“I know I didn’t have the answers you were hoping for, Aurelia, and I’m sorry for that.” Diana’s face lit up with another reassuring smile, her eyes shining with enough hope for the both of them. “But that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there waiting for you to find them, so keep your chin up, okay?”
She stood up and walked around the table, wrapping Aurelia in a comforting hug. The younger woman nodded a few times, sniffling a little as her emotions threatened to escape.
“Was there anything else you needed, sweetie?” Diana asked softly as Aurelia pulled back.
“There is, I… I need to stock up on preserved foods, and maybe a better firestarter.”
Diana smiled, motioning toward the door. “Then let’s head downstairs and I’ll help you with that.”
Aurelia followed her downstairs. In truth, she had been more than a little disappointed to have received no answers. But Diana was right. She would just have to keep searching. As she watched the older woman begin to gather what she needed, a small, hopeful smile pulled at her lips.
At least it was nice to see her again.
The now filled drawstring sack was placed on the counter as Diana beckoned Aurelia over. “Here you go, some preserved meat and fruit, as well as the best firestarter we have,” she smiled her usual shopkeeper smile, but with a warmth that was reserved for family and loved ones.
When Aurelia reached for her wallet, Diana quickly waved her off.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary, Aurelia. Consider this my gift to you for everything you’ve accomplished.”
“I appreciate that, but I can’t just accept this for nothing,” she firmly held her gaze.
Diana thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. “Okay, then why don’t we consider this an investment? This will help you find your answers, and in exchange, you can try to talk some sense into your father for both of us.”
Feeling a surge of gratitude, Aurelia nodded before hugging her first this time. “Thank you, I will,” she said, pulling back after a moment. “And I promise, I’ll try harder to keep in touch.”
A warm smile crossed Diana’s lips, illuminated by the setting sun’s rays through the windows.
“I’d like that, sweetie.”
November 6th, Early Morning
Over the last week, Aurelia had the twins up and ready to go at first light. As a result, the breakfasts they’d had were either small to-go offerings from the inns or preserved foods to save time on the road.
This time, though, she knew that they likely had a week of camping ahead of them. And so it was that she decided they could have a proper morning meal for a change.
While Aurelia was admittedly excited about the idea, her joy paled in comparison to Vivi’s. The eager young woman’s face was practically glowing as a tall stack of fluffy pancakes was placed in front of her. She wasted no time in pouring a hearty stream of syrup over them.
“It’s good to see you in such high spirits, Vivi. Enjoy it as much as you can, it’s the last proper breakfast we’ll have for a while.”
Vivi glanced up at Aurelia, some syrup slipping from the corner of her mouth after her first bite. “Listen, that’s a problem for future me,” she grinned widely before grabbing a piece of bacon.
-
The morning sun warmed their skin, like it was greeting them just as it did the new day. Milsante was as quiet as it had been the previous afternoon. The only people out and about were some of the residents heading to work, while one or two headed out toward the lake with fishing gear in hand.
When Aurelia looked toward the road leading west, however, she felt her stomach sink. There was a squad of provincial army soldiers standing between them and it. That in itself didn’t bother her, no - it was the officer giving their orders. The middle-aged man was a career soldier, and while she didn’t recall his name, she knew he would likely recognize her.
“Is something wrong, Aurie?” Linde peered at her face with a concerned knit to her brows, having picked up on Aurelia’s apprehension.
“...No. Not yet at least.”
Aurelia led the twins around and behind the officer as he continued to address the troops.
If we can just get around him and out of town before he notices us, then it shouldn’t be-
Her thoughts were cut short when the squad turned to begin their patrol. Because she hadn’t been expecting it so soon, Aurelia made eye contact with the officer and saw the one thing she dreaded most - a spark of recognition.
The trio continued walking as she averted her gaze as naturally as she could manage. Aurelia could still see the officer’s eyes following them in her peripheral vision, and she felt her stomach churn when it looked like he was going to stop them.
“Excuse me, Officer?” An unexpected voice called out from behind them, drawing the man’s attention. Aurelia glanced back to see Diana placing a sign outside of her store, waving to the officer. “Your order is ready, I just need you to sign for it.”
“Ah, of course. Much appreciated, ma’am.” The officer made his way over, taking a look at the clipboard that Diana handed him.
Aurelia caught Diana’s eyes, and the older woman gave her a sly wink before turning her attention back to the officer.
“Okay, now, go, go,” Aurelia quietly urged the twins to pick up their pace.
She didn’t look back, not wanting to waste the opportunity that Diana gave her. Once they were out of sight of the town, and she was sure they weren’t being followed, Aurelia finally let go of the breath she was holding.
“What was that all about, Aurie?” Vivi asked with a curious tilt to her head.
“We were just saved a great deal of trouble. I’ll explain more later, but we should keep moving for now.” Despite the caution in her tone, she looked at the twins with a playfully teasing glint in her eye. “We have some time to make up for now, thanks to our indulgent breakfast.”
That drew an animated sigh from Vivi, her shoulders drooping a little. “I know I said it was ‘future me’s’ problem, I just didn’t think it would come up so quickly…”
Aurelia couldn’t help but smirk a little. “Come on, less complaining, more walking.”
The younger of the two walked up to her sister, whispering just loud enough for Aurelia to hear. “I can’t believe we’ve been attending a military academy, and somehow our childhood friend is the most commanding person we’ve dealt with all year.”
That drew a faint chuckle from Linde, who offered her some silent encouragement by patting her shoulder as they continued down the long road ahead.
November 15th, Midday
Finally, after a strenuous week of travelling on foot and camping in the wilderness, the city of Raquel stretched out before them. Not one of the trio was more relieved than Vivi, who let out a deep, if somewhat exaggerated sigh.
“Oh, I don’t even care that there’s a civil war going on, I’m just glad to be out of the woods!”
By contrast, Aurelia was silent as she led the way. She continued walking, not offering even so much as a glance back at Vivi’s antics. Keeping to herself was not abnormal for her, but the fact it had been going on for the better part of the week certainly was.
As they finally entered the city, Aurelia looked around, taking in the atmosphere of the amusement town. It was always different during the day, but it was even more subdued than usual. A moment later, Aurelia pulled the twins off to the side of the road.
“Ordis is still a few days walk from here, so we’ll stay here for the night.”
Her tone was flat and matter-of-fact, but Vivi was too happy from the news to notice. “Oh, thank Aidios! We get to stay the night in civilization! Warm bed and bath, here I come!”
Aurelia looked at Vivi after another cursory glance at their surroundings. “That being said, we won’t be leaving our room after dusk, understood?”
Vivi deflated a little, but mostly kept her disappointment to herself apart from a small ‘aw’. They continued down the road, still led by Aurelia, who knew her way around the city better than the twins might have expected.
“Have you been here before, Aurie?” Linde asked quietly, her eyes darting from one businessfront to another, then back to her friend.
Aurelia gave a faint nod as they passed the gently babbling fountain on the main street.
“A handful of times. Father brought me to the opera house here,” she pointed to the theatre at the end of the street. “It was much closer than the one all the way in Heimdallr, after all.”
There was no passion in her voice, no sense of nostalgia or happiness in her mentioning the fine arts like there almost always would be. Between that and how stoic she had been over the previous week, the twins could tell something was bothering her more and more the closer they got to Ordis.
Now that they were further into the city, Aurelia could see that even Raquel was directly affected by the civil war. The main gate to the city was guarded by a Provincial Army squad, and she was surprised to see that an armored car was stationed there, the cannon trained on the road to Languedoc Canyon. There were very few people on the street. None seemed to want to stay any longer than necessary, as every resident she saw kept their heads down as they took hurried steps. Seeing the usually carefree, even debaucherous city acting so reserved only drove home how precarious the situation was - and made Aurelia’s stomach sink, thinking that her father was directly responsible for everything.
Continuing on, they finally spotted where they’d be staying for the night: the Bar and Inn - Hermit. Aurelia had never actually stayed there despite the theatre only doing shows at night - she and her father had always simply returned home after a show. It was a rather small establishment, and one of the few that were open during the day.
Stepping inside, there didn’t seem to be any patrons. The only other person inside was the woman behind the bar.
“Afternoon, you three. I take it you’re here for a room since you seem a bit too young to drink,” she said with a playful wink.
Aurelia nodded as she stepped up to the bar. “We are. A single room with two beds and its own bathing room if you have it.” Now that she was closer, Aurelia could see her nametag that read ‘Julia’.
Julia checked the available keys, then turned back to Aurelia with a much more professional smile. “One room, two beds, and a bath,” she repeated as she slid the key over. “That’ll be three hundred mira.”
With the room paid for, the three young women made their way upstairs.
“Ooh, a bathroom! I can hardly wait to have a nice, long bath with plenty of soap.” Vivi rubbed her hands together, the excitement practically oozing out of her.
Their room was quite simple, which was something Aurelia had been expecting. It made sense to her that the fanciest rooms in town would be in the casinos or other such establishments, and would no doubt be far more lavish - and expensive - in comparison.
Aurelia set about unpacking only the essentials. She noticed that Linde and Vivi were doing the same, which surprised her somewhat; Vivi in particular had a habit of unpacking everything when they stayed at an inn. It seemed that something Aurelia and Linde told her had stuck after all.
Laying Braver on the dresser, Aurelia checked the scabbard for any wear or damage and was delighted to see nothing amiss. She turned back to the twins, but they weren’t getting their things ready to bathe as she had expected. Instead, Linde sat on the edge of their bed while Vivi stood beside her, both looking at her with concern written on their faces.
“What is it? You two can go first, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
The twins both shook their heads in unison. That in itself was enough to tell her that this was serious, since it was rare that they synced up that perfectly.
Linde spoke up first, her voice gentle. “We’re worried about you, Aurie. We know it can’t be easy for you, especially after… after everything that’s happened.”
“Yeah. We appreciate everything you’re doing for us, but you haven’t said a word about anything besides getting back to Ordis,” Vivi continued, her voice much more stern and far more to the point. “Not a thing about your dad, or about Rean.”
Aurelia felt herself recoil at their mentions. Her carefully measured expression faltered, but only for a moment. “I’m fine, you two. You don’t have to-”
“Come on, Aurie,” Vivi stepped forward, speaking her mind directly. “You can fool most people, but not us. We know you too well to buy the ‘I’m fine’ bologne.”
While Linde would normally chide her sister for her lack of tact, she didn’t bat an eye this time. “She’s right, and it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. We can’t force you to, and we wouldn’t try to, but.. We want you to know that we’re here for you just like you’ve been here for us.”
“I-” Aurelia’s expression softened considerably as her words failed. Her lips pulled into a grateful smile, not realizing she had been scowling. “...Thank you, both of you. I- I can’t talk about it, not now, not yet, but…”
She wrapped an arm around their shoulders, pulling both of them into a warm, grateful embrace. Linde and Vivi returned it in their own way, smiling joyfully. They stayed that way for a moment longer before Aurelia pulled back.
“I’ll speak to you both about it - all of it, I promise. But for now,” she took a deep breath, calming her swirling emotions. “Why don’t we each have a bath before we head back out to that Pub and Dinner place we saw on the way here? We wouldn’t want to have dinner smelling like woodsmoke and sweat, would we?”
Vivi looked down at herself, her smile shifting wryly. “Yeah, and some fresh clothes, too. I might burn these,” she said half jokingly as she walked over to her dresser
Aurelia did the same, preparing a clean set of clothes for when it was time for her own bath.
It would be a few days yet before they finally reached Ordis, and she was content to simply let the world go by for the evening. Aurelia’s thoughts echoed Vivi’s sentiment from the prior week: Ordis and everything after tonight was ‘future-her’s’ problem.