"Author's note: to clarify, not all chapters will have hard language or violence, but I'm marking them all that way because moments like this are scattered throughout the whole book. That being said, please enjoy Chapter 2!"

   

Chapter 2 - Lion's Bridge

As the wall clock began to chime, Kita flinched and looked around.

It was already eight o'clock in the morning. The fireplace only contained a few embers. Stud was still asleep in the chair, and had been that way throughout the whole night. Kita, on the other hand, had been sitting motionless and wide awake, staring at a slowly extinguishing fire. She was hardly conscious enough to be aware that time passed.

Still groggy, Kita gave up on relaxing. She sulked over to the kitchen and tried to turn on her stove. She opened the small fire pit within the iron appliance, then picked up the nearby box of matches.

However, after lighting the match, she only saw a burst of light extending well beyond the stick. It almost looked like sickly blue fingers reaching for her. She quickly held it further away from her body, but as soon as she moved, it all disappeared. A small, normal flame just extinguished from the match.

Struggling not to tear up, Kita violently hit the sides of her head. "Stop it. You aren't seeing-"

"KITAAAAAAA!"

Kita felt all the air leave her lungs as someone rushed into the room at an alarming pace. Another sylph tackled her in a suffocatingly tight hug.

Kita warily spoke, "Y-You know you can just knock, Mao."

"Oh, you know it's me!" The intruder chimed.

Kita waited until Mao backed away. As if it lingered in her aura, just the sight of this girl could shift a gloomy mood to a good one. Her turquoise hair, vibrant green eyes, and porcelain skin practically glowed. She was wearing a frilly dress with a white and purple striped top, pink sleeves and ruffles along the waist, and a flowing purple skirt. Her white leather boots rose to her knees. Her hair had dramatic waves, the sidelocks braided, and her bangs were pinned up by a yellow barrette with a pink star.

Unlike Kita, who felt a little better, Mao began to look anxious.

Mao prodded her. "You don't look so good, sis. Is something wrong?"

"Not really, no," Kita replied.

Mao shot her a questioning look, crossing her arms. Kita finally sighed.

"How many hours?" Asked Mao.

Reading her situation, Kita lied, "Three."

Mao cringed. "That's horrible!"

"I know," Kita replied. "It could be worse, though. Right?"

Though Kita almost asked that as a genuine question, Mao clearly wasn't interested in indulging the grim subject.

The sunny girl flashed a smile. "I know what will cheer you up! Why don't we go for a walk around town? You could use some fresh air and sunlight, and we'll pick up a few things before the shops get too crowded."

As was now typical, Kita despised the mere thought of going outside. Frolicking along crowded roads with other sylphs was a nauseating thought, almost scary, and the hook of 'fresh air and sunlight' held little value to her.

"I don't think so," said Kita. "I'm tired and sore, and I don't need anything."

"That's a lie!" Mao argued. "The second part, anyway. You've been wearing the same dresses for years, and they weren't flattering in the first place. Maybe if we do something to the outside, it'll make you feel better inside. It's worth trying. Aw, and we could even buy a few things for Stud! I've always wanted to get him some of those little dog accessories."

Stud backed deeper under the chair.

Kita yawned. "No, I don't-"

Mao clapped giddily. "Yes, it's so exciting! Best of all, what could be better than a fun outing with friends? That's the important thing."

Before Kita could argue, Mao began dragging her toward the door.

"Let's go, let's go!"

Despite her lingering reservations, Kita couldn't help focusing on how excited her friend seemed to be, and recalling how she had been putting her off for a long time. She tried to brace for the worst as she readied her response.

"Alright, I'll go," said Kita. "Just let me get a few things."

"Yay!" Mao chimed. "I'll wait here."

Kita headed upstairs, swapping her black night dress for a gray knee-length dress, with a black dress belt, medium-blue undershirt, and darker blue leggings. She then slipped on a pair of dirty brown boots, and trudged her way back downstairs. By the time she returned to gather Stud, Mao was eagerly lingering behind her.

"Are you ready?" Asked Mao.

"Yes," Kita replied.

Mao grabbed her free wrist and dragged her out of the house.

Upon entering the bright sunlight, Kita couldn't help but wince, her eyes wracked with sensitivity. It took almost a full minute before the peaceful little village around her came into full focus. An old cobblestone trail spanned right and left from her door, respectively leading toward the main village or across an elaborate stone bridge. There were a few buggies in the area, as well as saddled armequus; the six-legged equines with talon-like feet, armor-like scales, and flame-like spines down the back of their necks. They were a very typical mount to find in Sybilius.

"Come on," Mao urged, still dragging Kita along.

Despite her cooperation, Kita was already nervous. She could feel her heart beating faster and harder as she walked further from her dark house. It was even making her dizzy, like looking down the side of a tall mountain

Kita tugged on her wrist. "Mao, can you let go of me? Also, please slow down."

"Oh, sorry!" Mao replied.

They eventually reached the town square of Lion's Bridge. A bed of vibrant orange and yellow flowers stood at the center of a stone court, surrounded by neat buildings. A sweet floral scent collided with the aroma of fresh bread from the local bakery. Though it was a small town, it seemed like there were many sylphs around, chatting amongst themselves.

Mao looked happy, but Kita was still regretting her choice. She barely refrained from squeezing Stud like a teddy bear.

"I never know where to go first," Mao remarked. "Maybe the bakery, to get some breakfast?"

Kita restrained a gag. "N-Not for me, I don't want to eat."

"And we wonder why you're so small," Mao muttered.

“Hey, I’ve been-”

Mao suddenly gasped, “Look!”

Before Kita could ‘look’ for herself, Mao grabbed her hand again and charged over to one of the shops. The delicate smell of fresh cotton emanated from the open door, and through the clear window, there were neat displays of clothes.

Mao pointed to one of the wooden mannequins, which lacked a head. Its feminine frame was clothed by a pale bluish-lavender dress, with frilly trim and white dress belt.

“That would look great on you!” Mao remarked. “It’s the perfect color.”

Rather than excitement, Kita felt revolted. The dress was not only intimidating, with its vibrant hue and frilly trim, but it reminded her of a time when she was little.

She felt forced to revisit the memory.

On that day, when Kita was no older than six or seven years, she had finally collected and hid enough change. With Mao's help, she was able to buy a lavender dress. It fit perfectly, and it made her happier than ever. It was quite the difference when compared to her tiny gray room, with only a beat-up trunk and an old mattress in it.

"I love it," Young Kita whispered to herself.

Suddenly, the door creaked and opened. Her father walked into the room, with his rifle still strapped to his back. He was going to say something, but stopped when he saw her. His glare turned harsh -worse than usual.

"Look!" Kita giggled. "I got a new dress! I did it myself, so you wouldn’t have to-"

He grunted angrily. "Put on an old one, then throw that away. Now."

Young Kita looked heartbroken. "B-But I worked so hard..."

"You don't know what work is, you little parasite," her father spat. "These stupid little trinkets aren't good for you to have, remember? Now do as I say, then go outside. You have work to do."

While he left, Kita held back her tears as she retrieved one of her old grayish dresses. She hated the lifeless environment she was forced to live in, but there was nothing to do about it. Everything, even herself, was just her father's property.

"Kita, what's wrong?"

Kita gasped, anxious after she broke from her memory. The confused glances from the crowd around them, knowing so many already harbored bitter feelings, made her stomach churn. It almost drove her to panic.

"N-Nothing, Mao, I..." Kita hugged Stud closer. "Look, we should just leave, I don't need anything."

Mao sighed, "Kita, you can't expect to stay in that house forever. It's not practical or healthy, and it'll only make things worse. Can you stay with me for just a bit longer? I want to see a real smile from you before we head back."

Kita sighed, keeping her head down. She hesitantly squeaked, “Okay…”

“You tell me, then,” Mao remarked. “What sounds fun? The bookstore?"

"Just surprise me,” Kita mumbled.

"No!" Mao argued playfully. "Come on, help me out.”

Kita hesitantly walked around the courtyard, looking around with silent resentment. She couldn't help feeling as if everything here was against her. That quickly became her metric in finding a place to go; wherever was the quietest and least obnoxious.

From that, she spotted one peculiar little hovel. It was barely visible, just down one of the roads leading away from the town square. It seemed dim, dull, and empty.

"There,” Kita blurted. “I pick the pawnshop.”

“Eh…” Mao arched one brow, pointing the other way. "If you're looking for trinkets, wouldn't you prefer the china shop?"

Kita shook her head. "No, that's all shiny dollhouse stuff. I like things that have a history behind them. Besides, you know the snob who runs it has it out for me."

Mao sighed, "I guess. Okay, let's go."

Though less than excited, Mao led the way to the pawnshop. As they got closer, it became clearer that the wood was dry and chipped, and the display window was frosted from age and weather.

Upon opening the creaky door, the two girls were hit by a draft of stale, musty air. Inside, several old treasures and mechanisms covered the shelves, with some even hanging from the ceiling. There was an unremarkable male sylph behind the counter, wiping down a rusty tool. In the back corner, almost impossible to spot through the clutter, there was a very old sylph. His long ears were drooping, his simple clothes were stained, and his face was obscured by a rugged gray beard.

The shopkeeper looked surprised. "Oh, w-welcome! Wow -I mean, I'm sorry, I never thought you'd be in my store, Ms. Atsuya. It's very nice to see you!"

Mao looked away, with an expression that screamed 'not interested.' Kita knew this was like her; she was the most beautiful girl in this village by a longshot, but had no interest in anyone's pursuits.

Then, the young shopkeeper spotted Kita and gained a look of borderline disgust. "Oh. You."

Kita bitterly thought, How am I supposed to respond to that?

Before she could say anything, Mao grinned widely and threw one arm over Kita's shoulders. "Oh, have you met her before?"

The shopkeeper sneered, "No. I just heard-"

"Then you surely have no place to be making assumptions!" Mao remarked, shooting him an unsubtle glare. "This is Kita, and she's my best friend and practical little sister."

"Practical witch," the shopkeeper grumbled under his breath. "Honestly, how could you associate with the two most boring-"

"You better shut your mouth!" Mao snapped. "One more word about me or anyone I 'associate' with, and I shall SMITE thee, you judgemental junk-peddler!"

"O-Okay, Mao, that's enough," Kita stammered, already feeling embarrassed.

The shopkeeper quickly responded, "Sorry, don't leave! I'm actually excited! After all, from what I've gathered, you wish to buy something from my shop. That's brilliant, you must share my passion!"

Mao sneered, "'Passion'?"

The shopkeeper gestured about. "Just think about the significance of these relics, most from the outer lands. Sure, they're not new or shiny, but it's the history that matters. So much rich, tragic, and inspiring history!"

"Why do 'relics' never come in pretty colors?" Mao muttered, pouting.

Blinking in realization, Kita murmured, “I think it’s interesting.”

“Yeah…” The shopkeeper looked away, grumbling, “Just make it quick, please.”

Though she was still tempted to go back home, Kita set Stud down and started looking around. Ancient weapons, most of them dull and chipped, hung between shelves. Worn paintings, sculptures, and trinkets stood for the more artistic shoppers. There were several buckets, containing a variety of smaller trophies. Even Mao finally showed a little bit of interest in some old jewelry and a pane of stained glass art.

As Kita reached into one small basket, she pulled out a glass eye, with a slitted pupil and a strange fuchsia-colored iris. It was cracked and clouded from age.

Mao gagged. "Is that a real eyeball? Ew!"

"Careful," the shopkeeper taunted. "That's supposedly a demon's eye."

Kita gasped, quickly setting it back.

"Don't worry, Kita," Mao insisted. "Demons don't exist."

"Don't believe the tales, Ms. Atusya?" Asked the shopkeeper. "Well, whether they exist or not, you'd have to be one unlucky soul to find one. The only real nuisance now is orcs, but for the most part, they know better than to attack Sybilius."

Kita hesitantly replied, "You sure know a lot about other tribes."

"Why wouldn't I study them?" The shopkeeper said snootily. "There are people who have magic, longer lifespans, grand territories, or impossible anatomy. Meanwhile, we can only work with our hands."

"Well, look around," Mao remarked. "It works."

"It's not just about that," the shopkeeper insisted. "Although, admittedly, there is a dark side. The forces of evolution, divinity, and magic have created some incredible things, but they also make a lot of mistakes. Dangerous mistakes. That's one reason races are split into tribes, and no one trusts anybody. We're safe from that, but you wouldn't be so confident if you spent a day in the outer lands. There are a lot of times when even the best treasure isn't worth it, you know?"

Kita turned to ask about that, but suddenly felt like a burning hot knife had plunged into her chest.

As a painful shock coursed throughout her body, she froze and took a sharp breath. It forced her to exhale heavily, keeping her lungs paralyzed for a moment, before it went away in the form of a pulsing chill.

Confused, yet still feeling a very familiar dark cloud following her, Kita rigidly turned. Next to the shelf in front of her, there was a severely twitchy figure. It wasn't made of shadows or light, but more like this spot in the store had been distorted into a person-like frame.

Kita rubbed her eyes, trying not to panic.

When she looked again, the shape was gone. She could feel Mao's confused gaze watching her. As she tried to face her friend, though, she could feel an odd pressure against her lower back. It was almost as if something was trying to push her. She tried to turn again, but the pressure increased, until her frail legs could no longer keep her in place. By now, a horrid ringing had filled her ears, drowning out the ambient noise.

Kita felt helpless as she stepped closer to a table, a few feet from the old man in the corner. Much like Mao, he seemed confused. Kita felt embarrassed, but for now, fear was numbing it.

On the table, she saw part of a folded red cloth that seemed to be bubbling, as if something was caught under it. Again, she tried to turn away, but something stopped her. An indescribable dread held her senses hostage.

Kita hesitantly approached the cloth. It was torn and tattered, with many threads fraying as they rotted away. Dust and fading made much of the red look more of a rusty brown.

She grabbed the cloth with a shaky hand. Thankfully, there was less dust in this area.

Unfolding the cloth -a flag, she could now see- revealed a black emblem.

Kita didn't know why, but she felt as if it was screaming at her. Within this symbol of four flame-like designs surrounding a four-tipped star, she saw the tips begin to spark and smolder, before crimson fluid leaked through the black ink.

Just as the shapes burst into blue flames, Kita dropped the flag and quickly stepped back. As soon as she made the first step, though, everything disappeared into a black abyss, swallowing her as well. Her eyes went wide with terror as she struggled to restrain tears.

One more time, in a burst of blue flames, the emblem formed in front of her.

"Kita?"

Kita felt a hand on her shoulder, but she could tell it was Mao.

Sure enough, when she finally managed to turn around, she saw her friend with a worried expression. As the fear receded, Kita felt deep humiliation come crashing down on her. Especially after seeing the shopkeeper's judgmental stare, and the old man fumbling to pick up the cloth.

Kita stepped back, her words almost catching in her throat. "I-I'm sorry."

Mao gently tugged her arm, and Kita took the hint to leave. Stud was still following her with worry in his eyes. As they passed the shopkeeper, she could hear him muttering angrily. One word, though so familiar, made her stomach wrench.

“That little freak...”

With a horrible feeling boiling in her stomach, Kita jerked her hand away from Mao and turned to the two men.

"Excuse me, what is that?" She asked.

"This isn't part of the store," the shopkeeper argued. "It belongs to my father. You should be leaving before you actually damage something."

Kita felt the urge to ask again, but bit her tongue. She knew it was futile, and she was still feeling dizzy and sick. Her vision was ruined; everything outside her immediate radius seemed blurry, and the colors were bleeding together.

Mao gained an anxious tone, "Kita, you don't look so good."

"I-I'm fine," Kita insisted. "Can we please go home, now?"

Mao nodded, leading her outside. However, the first part was a lie. Even though the discomfort and wicked visions were her new normal, she knew something about this situation was very wrong.