Chapter 16: New Vall

Chapter 16

New Vall

Calm. Peaceful. Suna, in a deep meditative state, seemed to blend in with the surroundings, devoid of a vicious onslaught of Geth, or a towering monster. But inside, she was anything but.

Life, infused with lethargy. A slow, heavy, lethargy, that dulled the mind, one that was so easy to become lost in. A heavy, tantalizing nectar, one that promised peace, fulfillment, the End.

Suna was spending her idle time trying to wrap her head around this feeling inside of her. This part of her, utilizing it and understanding it was not going to be a simple, straightforward feat.

Exhale.

It wasn’t about losing herself in it, it wasn’t about harnessing it. There was no power in it, merely a lack of it. So how was she supposed to utilize it? Harness it?

Suna grew frustrated at her lack of understanding, her lack of ability to delve into deeper regions of her being, to reach for true strength. She would have to simply rely on a chance encounter, or inspiration, if she wanted to mold herself so directly it seemed. Suna remembered the fugue-like state she entered when she was on death’s door. Suna’s conscious mind, on the other hand, seemed so ill-equipped to actually affect change in her, as if its purpose was more for describing and interpreting the events around her rather than actually being able to do anything. It seemed a bit superfluous to her.

Slow, heavy lethargy… It was these thoughts on Suna’s mind as she endured the uncomfortable ride in the back of a wagon which, relative to their past couple of weeks, was almost like some laughable paradise.

Suna hurt, as she snagged a part of herself on something inside her.

She was getting lost in herself, submitting, to the heavy, oppressive, lethargy…

“Hey, Suna, look!” Suna fought the lethargy, tilting up her hung head.

Yet another grand view. A view that the people of Yrma probably would have associated with heaven.

“The ocean!!” Angie giggled, bobbing side to side in excitement. Suna looked at her, and smiled.

Out in the distance, having just passed over a hill, they made out the Vast Blue. It seemed infinite, the way it stretched all the way to the horizon.

“Look, New Vall!”

Several ships could be seen, traversing the vast blue swathes of ocean, and some of those ships were entering and leaving large strips of wood, “ports”, Suna recalled.

Suna had few words. She took in the sight of the ocean. Of the city that seemed to love the ocean, the way it sprawled out along the coast, hugging the wall of blue.

This heaviness… would it interfere with her ability to enjoy the ocean and its wonders? To enjoy her time with Angie? Suna couldn’t reach a conclusion, quickly.

The two approached closer to the city, the only two in the wagon other than some goods that the merchant was peddling. The girls looked… as if they had seen better days. It was no surprise that a passing merchant was eager to transport them to the nearest city that he happened to already be heading for. He was kind-hearted, Suna noted. Seemingly unlike those armored figures, that always seemed to be after her, trying to kill her any chance they got. She kind of hated it. She remembered Ei’s promise of a peaceful world, and what wonderful things she received, instead. She didn’t hold it against him, she just held it against this world, yet another world that she felt like she needed to survive. Up until recently, she had been entirely focused on survival, and hadn’t really had the chance to reflect on such things. But her heart told her that the conclusions she reached, regarding this land and its people, about her enemies, about herself, those would be crucial. For her growth. To repay her debt to Ei. She did not allow herself to rest on her laurels at a time of peace.

They got closer. They passed by other moving carriages as they made their way down the soft incline, they passed branching paths that seemed to lead to buildings and establishments, to ranches and fields. The sense of life was overwhelming, people of all different paths in their lives, congregating in one large area, sharing with each other, interacting with each other, building their lives with and among each other. This sense of livelihood was an absolute far cry from what Suna was accustomed to. It was unfamiliar, unknown, she had misgivings and doubts, doubting that every person here was as kind-hearted as the merchant that was giving them a ride, as kind as Cyra, James, and Krax, it was an overwhelming feeling, all at once, too much at once.

“Hehe.” Angie had at some point traversed to the other side of the wagon, beside Suna, and grasped her hand. “You worry about all sorts of things, don’t you? Don’t worry,” She pulled Suna’s head to her shoulder, “I’m here, hehe.”

Angie seemed to purify the heaviness, it dissipated in her wake, it crumbled and evaporated before the feelings that Angie would evoke in Suna. Suna let herself enjoy the soft, delicate touch of hers that ran, slowly and rhythmically, down her head. That felt her hair and its softness, that danced and played when Angie had the slightest of whim boil up from her heart. Suna was becoming absorbed by Angie, who seemed to pull on her thoughts, pull on her heart, pull on her physically, and Suna never had the urge to stop her indulgence. She simply rested. After a life of pain and suffering and fear, she rested under the cool tree, by the warm fire, under the gaze of the stars. When did she become so emotional? So attached? Was it safe? These questions would inevitably be pulled under the surface of Suna’s heart, dragged under by the growing sea creature that occupied its waters, that feasted on Angie, Angie, Angie.

She was self-aware, but it had absolutely zero effect on her proclivity to indulge, whenever given the opportunity.

Suna was annoyed when the blissful carriage ride started to near its end, the bumpy undulations of the carriage steadily lowering its frequency. One of the main gates of the city had a few guardsmen stationed, but they did not thoroughly inspect the wagon or its passengers. They were cleared to enter, and so they did.

“Thank you, it would have taken us a long while to walk to New Vall.”

“No, no, I don’t think there’s a man out there that would just leave two poor girls, all alone, on the side of the road.” The man, who wore a refined and humble moustache, leaned in closer. “My usual route takes me close to Blackhearth, but…” He looked in the distance, as if through the city walls, at a place that lay beyond them. “Some things just aren’t worth the risk. Sorry for doubting you, before. I’ll pray for the people of Blackhearth.” He gave a deep, solemn nod. “Are you sure there’s nothing else I can do for you?”

“No thank you, we’re good, right Suna?” Suna gave a suppressed nod, her head already downturned. “Thank you, mister, may you have safe travels!”

The two waved their hands at each other, and the wagon set off for its destination within the city.

“Suna, you can’t just keep looking down all the time, that’s not good manners!”

“B, B-but…”

Angie gave a cute pout. “No buts!” She took Suna’s hand, and the two began walking.

“Okay, so first, we’re kind of broke, haha… Hopefully these horns can sell well…” Angie looked at her pack, heavier than it had been when they entered the mountains. “And then next, we have to warn these people about the Geth!” Seriousness melded with her previous light-hearted expression. She’s cuter when she smiles… “Oh, and…” Angie’s bright expression darkened, her jubilant spirit shaken.

Suna grasped her hand, and gave her a look.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Angie mustered a somber smile.

“Alright. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry!” Almost as if to fight the dark atmosphere, she rebounded. “Let’s go sell these things and get some food, I’m starving.” Angie, who knew the meaning of that inconspicuous word now, still elected to use it out of habit, a startling lack of negativity and regret residing within that word.

A few brief inquiries later, the two had managed to find their way to a large, white building that housed the city’s branch of the Hunter’s Guild.

Angie walked through the doors with the confidence of someone who had evidently walked through such doors many times. Suna fidgeted, her eyes darting around and her head downturned. Even though it may not seem like it, she was most definitely constantly scanning her surroundings for threats, especially when entering unknown areas for the first time. It was a habit that, let’s be honest, would probably never be broken during her lifetime.

They were greeted by an open area, at the back of which was a receptionist desk, or row of them, actually. There were not particularly many people, only a scattered group here and there discussing things and inspecting equipment, or huddled around a message board of some kind. People took notice of their entrance, but their gazes didn’t linger for a particularly long while. The girls’ clothes were riddled with cuts, yet they still walked with confidence. That was probably enough for most people to reason that they weren’t simply lost kids.

The two walked up to a counter, the only one with a receptionist attending it. There was a small, short line, a couple parties long. The two joined it at the end.

“Hmm, Suna, do you think we should find a pawn shop instead to sell these things? I know we’re already here, but I dunno, I’ve never sold anything like these before…”

“...Hey, you think I could take a look at those, for a quick sec?”

Suna didn’t notice his presence. She didn’t know when he entered the room. It seemed most of the people there didn’t, either, only now reacting to his presence. They were startled, as if seeing somebody that didn’t belong, they treated his presence like some sort of abnormality, a rarity.

She resisted the urge to put her hand on her knife. She knew better than to escalate for no reason, in such a public place. She didn’t know the rules and customs, but this was just common sense. Despite it all, though, it was hard for her to hide how startled she was.

“Hm? Oh, I didn’t see you there, Mr. Knight. These things?”

The other hunters in the line ahead of them found the opportunity to distance themselves from the tall, armored man in the middle of the room. It was not the full, body covering armor of the enemies she remembered, they had a more unnatural curvature to their shapes, as if their body was the armor instead of a shell that housed a person inside of it. No, his armor was bombastic, elegant, adorned by a red cape and an eye-catching red symbol engraved on its chest, that of crossed swords. “A Red Knight…” It was hard not to hear the words, muttered by more than one person in that room.

He gave a nod. The knight – who wore no helmet, exposing his short, slicked-back black hair, bearing a youthful appearance yet also enough features for Suna to place him around his late 20’s – leaned closer to inspect the object that Angie had innocently pulled out of her pack. “Oh, miss, while you’re waiting, d’you think you could fetch me the biggest Mark? I’ve been dying to stretch my legs ever since they posted me here…”

That tone. She didn’t like it.

The Knight looked at Suna.

… Shit. She had gotten complacent again.

Thankfully, the short moment, which seemed like forever to Suna, quickly passed. The Knight redirected his attention at a broken off horn.

“Where’d you guys get this?” He raised his eyebrow, looking at Angie.

“Off a corpse, of course!”

Their small audience couldn’t help but smirk and laugh; they weren’t so rude as to do so boisterously, but to them, the image of two small girls taking down a towering minotaur was just comical.

The Knight didn’t show such a reaction, his inquisitive expression only deepening. “Hooh? Far from here?”

“In the mountains… That’s right!! There’s Geth in that mountain!” As soon as the word was uttered, the air intensified, not a single hint of the earlier humorous atmosphere could be found. “They’ve taken Blackhearth! You have to do something about it! The people…” As she said that word, Angie, who suddenly recollected what she saw, couldn’t help it as her voice trailed off. Suna stepped in front of Angie, dominating her field of vision, and grasping her shoulders. She did not like the idea of her cheerful friend being completely taken over by such a demon.

“Haha, I’m okay, Suna…” Angie gave a hurt, grasp of Suna’s hands, before turning her body back towards the Knight. The Knight, who looked just as serious as the onlookers.

The Knight wasn’t quick to speak, simply observing the two in silence.

“Those damn Geth…” His fist clenched. “...Girls. I’m sorry.” His stalwart disposition and confident demeanor couldn’t stop the pain and sympathy, and other emotions, from leaking out in small ways. He gave an almost helpless sigh. “I… I’m not strong enough to cleanse that city.” He looked at Angie, a weakness showing in his eyes. “I’m just here. The city’s last line of defense against the threat.” He placed a hand on Angie’s shoulder. She wore an expression of pain and sadness that just pained Suna to look at. She couldn’t even look at her, she had to look away. “I’m sorry. It looks like you guys have gone through some rough things. You should be proud of yourselves. Most people don’t just get to walk away from the Geth like that.” He looked at Suna, raising his arm, “Makes sense why you’d be so rude now, haha,” and he flicked her, on the forehead. He flicked Suna, who couldn’t evade it.

“Tell you what, I’ll buy those horns off of you. Twice their price.” He pulled out some sort of pouch, which jingled with the sound of metal, a sound Suna could not immediately decipher, but she eventually remembered. Coins lose their value really quick when everyone is out for themselves.

The Knight pulled out a few coins, which gave off an alluring gold shimmer. “It’s the least I can do.”

Suna saw. The onlookers, their expression. He was giving them much more than twice their price.

Angie, still shaken from before, was able to put herself together well enough to respond. “I, wow, th-thank you, Mr. Knight.” She trembled slightly as she received the coins, handing him the two heavy and fierce-looking horns.

“It’s no big deal. It’s Ferrix.” He pointed his thumb to his chest. “Ferrix the Slayer.”

He gave the girls a nod and a reassuring smile, and walked by them, over to the counter. The lady behind it gave a deep bow, her arms outstretched and holding a wax-sealed scroll of parchment. He took it, and walked out, leaving the girls with a slight gesture.

Suna stood dead still. She couldn’t even pay attention to Angie’s words, who was asking her if she was okay. Later. I’ll investigate this later. As much as she wanted to do so right now, she didn’t want to concern Angie and abruptly stop what they were doing.

She looked back up at Angie, who was starting to express worry for her. “I’m good.”

Angie, a confused look on her face, spoke up. “Well, I guess we don’t need to worry about that anymore…” She looked down at the gold coins in her hand, and hurriedly placed them inside her own pouch. “A-Anyways! Um, I guess while we’re here, we should register you, Suna.” She took her hand, Suna allowing herself to be guided to the open receptionist desk.

Suna briefly recalled Angie’s words. How she and her companions were Hunters, who’d take commissions to deal with certain troublesome monsters, or sometimes just do odd jobs or investigate certain areas and phenomena. That now that they were alone, they’d be able to sustain themselves with commissions and quests if it was really necessary. Suna didn’t really mind or care what Angie pulled her along to do. She just… wanted to be with her.

“Come on, Suna, write your name there.” She directed her attention to an official looking paper and a pen that lay against it. She picked up the pen, but didn’t really know what to do with it.

“Oh, come on, Suna, no one’s ever taught you how to write your name?” Angie could hardly believe it. Faced with the threat of the shame of ignorance, Suna resolved herself, and put pen to paper. She tried, with great difficulty, to replicate the symbols she recollected, that spelled her name back on Yrma.

She put the pen down, looking at Angie, who just bore a look of confusion, of doubt, and a raised eyebrow. “...Huh. Look, can I just write for her?” Suna was unable to avoid the shame of ignorance.

The pair walked out of the building.

“So, our evaluations are this coming Ir. I should be able to bump up a good amount, I’ve been learning a lot of spells.” Angie looked down at two paper slips in her hands, before tucking them away in her pack.

“What do you think? Should we eat first, or maybe find some better clothes to wear?” She looked down at Suna’s robe, riddled with cuts and dark stains. She felt bad. It was the first gift that her family ever got for her.

Suna tilted her head at Angie cutely, in confusion, “I could go without food for the next week, Angie.” She booped Angie on the nose.

“Hey, that doesn’t mean you should, though!” She let out a short sigh, “Alright, let’s go find a clothing store.

–

It took a while, but the pair finally found their way to what looked like a tavern, an image of food drawn on its signboard.

Angie was… picky, to say the least. It didn’t take long for Suna to pick out a robe that she thought was comfortable and effective, a black robe, but not marred in pitch black. She considered grey, or other colors, but, well. Black was more her color.

Angie, on the other hand, was absorbed in testing out the effects of every enchantment, and how they felt. She couldn’t help it, she was going to splurge. But Suna didn’t mind, these robes seemed to be a quality product meant to last for years, that provided all sorts of interesting Magical effects and many different designs to choose from. Suna didn’t mind waiting for as long as Angie took. She didn’t mind, at all, watching her face make different shapes and expressions as she pored over every single design and tried every enchantment, never losing its glee and excitement. She could watch it all day.

The two stepped through the doors, wearing their new outfits. “I’m soooo hungry, I’m starving!” Angie rubbed her stomach, a new-looking red robe covering it.

The establishment was not busy, but it had its patrons, who didn’t even notice the girls walk in. The place had tables, and a bar. And at that bar’s end, slumped and barely recognizable, was…

Angie let out a gasp.