CH14

Furi stepped out of the restaurant, the sun spilling warmth across the streets of Aquaria. This city, so vibrant, so untouched, almost didn’t feel real. As if the swarm has never existed.

As she wandered the streets, something caught her eye.

‘Vate-Coat Bathhouse’

A grand building, made from fine stones and decorated with the best of banners and flowers.

“Interesting!” She thought “A bath would do me well right now”

Furi steps inside the building. The inside is even better, an indoor carved stone fountain, actual green plants and flowers and packed with people.

Furi looked around the place, noticing the reception, who she approached.

“Hello Miss! May you face the calm sea. I’m Claudia, how can I help you today!” The receptionist said.

“I want to go in and freshen up!” She shouts in excitement.

“That’ll be 1 coin, miss!”

Furi fumbles for her baggie, grabbing a coin and sliding it on the reception desk.

The receptionist stops for a moment, startled for a second then she grabs the coin and slid it under the desk.

“All done! The female bath is to the right. Also, once you finished you can come and grab a candy for free!”

“Thank you!” Furi said, not noticing the receptionist’s actions.

She walks into the bath, grinning ear to ear.

The bath is massive, made from carved stone and beautifully decorated. Statues pouring water from their mouth, the whole nine yards, People in the water relaxing, socializing, and enjoying themselves.

Furi now in a towel covering her body. Her eyes wandering upon the bath’s beauty. She dips her toes in the water, perfect temperature. Thus, she submerges herself into the water.

Gossip spread throughout the bathing area, people whispering. They make a stern look. Their sight hostile towards her.

Furi emerged from the water and looked around. But the gazes divert and return to their place. She sat down at the edge, laying her head on the bath’s edge.

‘What was that?’ She thought, ‘It felt like they were staring at me’

Furi closes her eyes and though ‘Maybe I’m too paranoid’

Sometime later

Furi emerges from the bath, looking refreshed, her hair not messy, happy and back into her clothes

‘That felt great!’ She thought ‘Oh wait, I can get a free snack at the reception’

Thus, she approaches the reception desk “Hi! Can I get the candy please?”

The reception put the candy on the table and smiled “Thank you for using our bath! See you again!”

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“I sure will!” Furi replied and left the bathhouse.

“That’s a new one” One of the receptionists whispered, “Should we tell her?”

“No, it’ll be too suspicious. If she suddenly disappeared”

“But if she really came from Caprico, her skill must be good. So, what do we do? Miss Claudia”

Claudia glances at the coin, it was secretly marked with a blade. ‘Caprico’

“Let’s wait for her to contact us, won’t be too long in this place”

Furi stood in front of the bathhouse. She still couldn’t believe how this city felt, it’s opposite of Caprico, there, the air reeks of smoke, orders and sweat. But here there is the smell of fresh bread, flowers and warmth.

There is also this weird scent, the scent of odd.

‘Let’s taste this candy!’ She thought brushing off previous thoughts for now.

She opened the wrapper and a blue candy appeared, which she quickly put in her mouth.

Coldness flooded her mouth. Like glaciers were forming on her teeth. But oddly, the cold was pleasant, with a sweet aroma.

Furi looked at the wrapper. ‘Maybe I can buy more in the city’ She thought, but what she found wasn’t a brand or logo.

‘If in need, contact me here. Justice among men, may the sea bless your battles’

Furi blinked “What?”

“Hey!” A female voice called out to her

Furi fumbled to put the wrapper into her pocket and looked for the caller. Seeing a red-haired girl waving at her.

“Over here!” She called, Furi approaches her “Are you new here? I’ll be your guide”

Furi is taken back. Who wouldn’t? A sudden stranger offers to take you around an unknown area. Doesn’t seem suspicious at all

“No thanks” Furi said, walking away.

“Wait!” The girl ran towards her “Free or charge!” Grabbing Furi by the shoulder.

“No” Furi replied, breaking from her grip and walking away

“I’ll show you around landmarks!”

“No”

“How about a good market?”

“No”

“Good food?”

“Let’s go” Furi said turning her head, startling the girl “Lead the way”

“Uh…I’m Alice Gabrielson, nice to meet you” Alice replied, “What’s your name?”

Giving out your full name to a stranger isn’t exactly a good idea.

“Call me Furi, I’ll be in your care”

“Alright! Let’s go!” Alice shouted, “Let’s go to the town center first!”

The town center, a place with many shops, stalls, and the renowned ‘Fountain of peace’ made by the Erronea Company.

Big, carved from white stones, water shooting out in a grand spectacle.

“What’s the Erronea company?” Furi asked, eating grilled meat on a stick, both sitting on the fountain’s edge.

“They’re the main company running Aquaria, they own around 70% of the shops” Alice answered

“Then what does the High Command do?”

“They smile and hand out houses,” Alice whispered, leaning closer, “but in the end? They just want more soldiers to throw at imaginary wars.”

“There’s nothing but peace. We just see them as a bunch of lunatics, sending our resources away when they could be used here instead”

“Oh” Furi is puzzled

Peace? What does she mean peace? There’s no peace outside these clean walls? Only endless struggles and death

But Furi brushes it off, maybe she grew up here and never saw the outside, that mana shield probably limited her view.

“So where are we going next?” Furi asked

“Yeah, enough with the stress talk. Let’s go to the Serini Heights!”

The two girls walked off to the hill that loomed in front.

Unlike the bustling city, this place is quiet and peaceful

The two girls lay down on the green grass. Looking at the evening sunset. It’s rays giving the white buildings a golden hue.

“This is quite nice!” Furi said, the gentle breeze flew past her.

“I know! I’ve been here for too many times”

This moment of peace, A break from the busy city street, A break from the grey world.

Furi observed peace, which she didn’t know existed. “So, this is what the world was like”

Alice stared at Furi but quickly turned her head to the sunset when Furi turned.

Sometime later

“Thanks for showing me around” Furi said grabbing her home’s door handle.

“No problem, we always help new people here” Alice smiled back.

“Bye! I hope I see you later” Furi said stepping into her house.

“Bye!” Alice waved her goodbye

Suddenly, her smile dropped, and she ran into the streets

At the restaurant, In the back

“It’s a warmonger” A man holding the silver coin said “From Caprico too, damn”

‘Caprico’ can be seen faintly under the heat of the stove.

“You mean Grinda?” Another man said

“Well duh, Caprico don’t exist. There are no bugs as big as houses flying around”

“We’re going to make this warmonger sees the truth”

“I know where she is!” A female voice rang out from outside the restaurant. She pants in exhaustion

“Alice!” One of the men shouted, and went to restaurant’s lobby “Where?”

“34th street, It’s that house again” Alice replied