In the Slavic Realm
(Dong)
(Dong)
(Snow falling)
A flying castle
(Dong)
With a huge clock
(Dong)
(Weimarer)
Meliodas: Fiona, you are going to the Slavic Realm. A flying castle was discovered.
Fiona: Huh
Chloe: Whaaat
Fiona: Am I going there without the group
Meliodas: For now
Fiona: I understand
Meliodas: You will fly in an airship, more like a small one that only fits eight people. We will cover the costs.
Fiona: Okay
(A few minutes later)
Cossette: How about I come with you
Meliodas: Sure
Fiona: What
Meliodas: Sure, she can. What is the problem
Fiona: The problem is that it is dangerous
Cossette: Hmmm
Meliodas: Hmmmm
Fiona: Cossette, please stay here
Cossette: That means I cannot see you for a while. Why do you want me to stay
Fiona: Ugh
Cossette: Like back then when you just left. Am I in your way
Fiona: You mean I am in the way
Cossette: I do not care. Why do you not want me to come with you. What am I supposed to do here. Just wait until you come back. We were in Weimarer for five months. What is that supposed to mean. Am I supposed to wait for you for five months now or longer
Fiona: You are still a child
Cossette: Ugh
Fiona: Understand it. You stay here
Cossette: Mmmmm
Fiona: Huh
Cossette: You know what, I do not care
She threw the teddy bear away.
Cossette: You keep telling me to act my age, but you treat me like I am five
Fiona: Hmm
Cossette: Then go. But I never want to hear again that I should trust others or believe in people
Fiona: Hmmm
Cossette: Hmph. No wonder Zantanel became evil. She was left behind too
Fiona: Ugh
Meliodas: Listen to me, Fiona. I do not think it is bad if she comes with you. Do not forget that Cossette has been abandoned by her caretakers three times already. First her biological parents, then her foster parents, then Jean Valjean who died. Do you really want her to think nobody cares about her. If there is someone who knows what it feels like to be abandoned, it is you. You were ripped away from your family. Your foster parents did not take good care of you and wanted to kill you for a ritual. Your aunt who always acted nice and loving wanted to do it too. But with your aunt you were an adult. When your parents died you were still a child, a baby. That is not as horrible as when a mother curses her own daughter, or when foster parents hate you, or when the only person who cares about you dies. Think about it. Cossette may be eleven, but the reason she still acts like an eight year old is because she is, well, how do I say it, actually eight
Fiona: What
Cossette: Hmm
Meliodas sighed.
Meliodas: I did a few examinations. When Cossette came to the Dark Umbrella, her age was unknown. To register her, they made her older. In the foster family papers she is listed as ten, so they also made her older there. But when we checked the real mother, we found out Cossette was born in the year 1470, more precisely December 29
Fiona: Ugh. Does she know
Meliodas: I do not think so. Because of the false age, she thought she really was eleven. But if you think about it and look at her mother, Fantine, her mother Ms Fantine Lennetta, Cossette is actually only eight years old, Fiona. Not eleven, not ten. Actually even seven. Since she was born in December, she is still seven
Fiona: Ugh
Meliodas: Do you understand now. Cossette herself does not truly know, or she hid it because she is afraid you would not want her anymore
Fiona: Why would she think that
Meliodas: Maybe because she thought if you knew she was seven and not eleven, she would be too young and too exhausting for you
Fiona: Ugh
Meliodas: Maybe she does not even fully know. Talk to her about it. And Fiona, remember, to be abandoned four times at seven could push Cossette onto the wrong path, the criminal path. Believe me, that can happen
Fiona: Okay. Thank you, Master Meliodas. I will talk to Cossette
Meliodas: Do that
Fiona took a deep breath and went back to Cossette.
Cossette: Hmm, what is it
Fiona: Your teddy bear
Cossette: I do not want it
Fiona: Hahhh. Cossette, we found something out about you. In truth you are not eleven, but almost eight. You are seven and a half years old
Cossette: I already know
Fiona: Ugh, really
Cossette: I did not know my age, but I thought I would just take the Dark Umbrella one. I did not want to be abandoned. And about you, I did not know if I should tell you. I did not even know myself. I only found out when I talked to the Flying Dutchman about a month ago
(One month ago)
Cossette: Why does my mother hate me. Can you answer that, Flying Dutchman
Flying Dutchman: Simple. You come from a marriage that broke because of you. Your father never intended to have a daughter. When he found out, you were already four months in your mother's belly
Cossette: I understand. So I am just a burden to everyone
Flying Dutchman: For seven years I have been your curse
Cossette: Wait, but you said you have been here since my birth
Flying Dutchman: That is true. Did you think you were eleven. No. Your age was falsified
Cossette: Huh. So I was right. I am not eleven. But seven. I thought I was only a bit younger, ten or nine
Flying Dutchman: Will you tell your Fiona
Cossette: Never. It is a miracle she takes care of me. But for her, taking care of such a child would be hard. I do not want her to leave me
Flying Dutchman: Then keep it to yourself
Cossette: I actually do not like lying to Fiona, but I have no choice
(End of memory)
Cossette: I learned it through the Flying Dutchman. I am sorry I did not tell you
She stood up.
Cossette: I am already packing my things
Fiona: Huh
Cossette: You are only twenty years old. I can understand it
Fiona held Cossette's hand.
Cossette: Huh
Fiona: What are you talking about. I am not leaving you. I will not abandon you
Cossette: I lied. I am not eleven
Fiona: So what. You are still Cossette
Cossette: Huh. You are not angry
Fiona: You only found out recently that you are seven, not eleven. I should have noticed
Cossette: Hmmmm
Fiona held her hand and then held both.
Cossette: Hmm
Fiona: You are coming with me
Cossette: Huh
Fiona: Hehehe. I cannot just abandon a seven year old, can I
Cossette: Ughh
Fiona had to kneel to hold her hands tighter, then she laid her head on Cossette's shoulder and hugged her.
Cossette: Huh
Fiona: I am sorry I made you sad again. Please forgive me
Cossette: Fiona
Fiona: You know I care about you. And sometimes I am just afraid for you, not because I do not want you with me, but because without you I cannot keep going
Cossette: Huh. Fiona
Fiona: The only reason I did not take my own life back then is because I was looking for you
Cossette: You wanted to kill yourself
Fiona: Mhm. That was shortly after I killed Lady Natasha
(A few months ago)
(Bang)
Lady Natasha: Urk
She fell dead to the floor.
Fiona: Good. Do not worry, you will not die alone
She took a poison.
Fiona: I will die too
Frau Holle: No, Fiona
Fiona: Hm
She swallowed the poison, but then she remembered Cossette.
Fiona: Urk. Cruella
She punched herself in the stomach, then shoved her fingers into her mouth and spit the poison out.
Fiona: No. She is still alive. I cannot just leave her to Edwardson. She needs me
(End of memory)
Cossette: Ugh
Fiona: You see. Without you I would be dead now, Cossette
Fiona held her cheeks.
Cossette: Am I important to you
Fiona: You are the most important. Without you I cannot keep going. You think I have to put up with you. No. You are a brave girl. Actually you have to put up with me
Cossette: Fiona
Fiona gently rubbed Cossette's hands with her fingers.
Cossette: Mm
Fiona: You are the only thing I have. Of course Crane, Mr Herold, Finrow too, but you, you are important to me
Cossette: Hhhh
Cossette hugged Fiona.
Cossette: Okay, okay, that is enough. I am not mad at you
Fiona: Hmmm
Cossette: Hmmm
Fiona: Then pack your things, my sweet
Cossette: Huh
Cossette turned red. It was the first time Fiona gave her a compliment. Cossette does not even think she is cute or sweet. She thinks she is not pretty because of her freckles and brown hair, because in Demari and most kingdoms, brown hair has the title hair of the disgusting. That saying came from nobles to paint a picture of peasants and the poor. It is so bad that nobles who have brown haired children often change their hair color or even throw them away. Freckles are also mostly judged as an ugly face mark. Sadly it is often like that in societies, here the same. They even call them bites of the corrupted or corrupted seed, another description nobles use for peasants and normal folk. Freckles are unfortunately seen like that even among normal people and peasants. But Fiona did not care. Fiona has no interest in others, and to her almost everyone looks the same. But Cossette looks like a little kitten or mouse to her. Cossette often hid her freckles with flour or other stuff, even from Fiona. At the beginning at the Dark Umbrella, she often kept it secret.
Fiona: Come on
Cossette: Okay
Cossette hopped away to pack her things.
Cossette: Hehehe
Chloe: Hey, I have to say, you take good care of the kid
Fiona: Hmm. Why are you so surprised
Chloe: At first I even thought she was yours
Fiona: Hmmm. No interest. For that you would have to have sex
Chloe: Oh. You do not
Fiona: No. No interest
Chloe: But do you not love someone
Fiona: Love does not exist. There is only lust. As soon as a couple marries, they are already naked in bed
Chloe: So you think it is lust
Fiona: Yes
Chloe: Hmmm. Do you really think that. I like you, Fiona. You saved my life, but sometimes I do not understand why you act like everyone else does not matter
Fiona: Hmmm. If you help people, they want more, and one day too much, and then you get abandoned. Better if people do not trust me from the start so they do not expect much
Chloe: Hmmm
Fiona: One day you will understand
Fiona walked on.
Fiona: I will prepare my things. I am going to the Slavic Realm
Chloe: Hmmm. Sad we do not have a mission
Fiona: I think you should just wait
Chloe: But Cossette, you really like her, I can see it
Fiona: Hmm
Chloe: Hehehe. I can understand why you are like this. Meliodas said you were treated really badly. If they had experimented on me and I had suffered that much, I would act like you too. But I see you are trying to improve. Hahh, hahhh. You need music, my love
Fiona: Hmm, we will see
(A few minutes later)
Cossette and Fiona set off.
Cossette: Is the Slavic Realm cool
Fiona: I have to say, I have never been there. Most of my assignments were in Dehl, and back then I had to stay in Weimarer for several years at the Elizabeth Herbert school
Cossette: Mhmm
They got into the wagon.
Cossette: Hehehe. I hope it is not so cold there. I heard it is cold
Fiona: Not in every region, but yes, most of it is covered with snow
Cossette: Thank you that I can come with you after all, Fiona
Fiona: Hmm
Cossette put her head on Fiona's lap.
Cossette: Hmmm
Fiona: Hey. Are you tired
Cossette: Hmmm, not really. But I want to be on your lap
Fiona: Okay
Cossette: Hmmm
Fiona stroked her hair.
Cossette: Fiona
Fiona: Hmm
Cossette: Do you really think I am cute
Fiona: Yes
Cossette: Weird. People always called me an ugly child because of my brown hair and freckles
Fiona: Hmmm
Cossette: Are freckles really so not good
Fiona: Nobody has the right to call someone ugly because of that. And you are cute
Cossette: Easy for you to say. You have really beautiful skin and eyes, and you always smell so good
Fiona: Hmm
Cossette: With you it is possible that someone could even love you. I mean maybe you could have children
Fiona: No interest
Cossette: Why. You look good. Why if you are such a beautiful great woman, why not
Fiona: Cossette, listen. Looks matter, yes, but who a person is also matters
Cossette: I think you are a nice person
Fiona: Hmm. Why do you think that
Cossette: You help others
Fiona: Because it is my job
Cossette: You saved me. You stroke my hair
Fiona: Hmmm
Cossette: Hehe
Cossette moved closer and hugged Fiona while lying on her lap.
Fiona: Hmm
Cossette: Hmmm. You smell so good. Strawberry
Fiona: Why does everyone say I smell like that, I smell like sweat
Cossette: Hehehe. Then it is the clothes
Fiona: Could be. I sweat a lot. That is why I often put my sweat in a bottle
Cossette: Oh. Huh. Then the bottle I drank from back then that tasted weird was your sweat
Fiona: Depends what it looked like
Cossette: Um. It looked round and had a green holder
Fiona: Well congratulations, it really was mine
Cossette: Ugh
Fiona: No, that is a joke. I do not keep it in a bottle
Cossette: Hmmm. That reminds me, Remy once drank a bottle and it tasted weird, and then he said sweat smell, hopefully it is that one woman
Fiona: Nughh. What did it look like
Cossette: Huh. I thought you were joking. Well it looked small and it had a yellow color
Fiona: Turns red. Oh no
Fiona turned red like blood.
Cossette: Um, Fiona
Fiona: Mmmmmm
(A few hours later)
(Tshhh)
Cossette: Oh, it is tight
Fiona: Hmmm
They got in and the balloon ship rose higher.
Cossette: Is this really safe
Fiona: It should be
The Dark Umbrella reserved the balloon ship only for the two of them. Other balloon ships also flew there with people inside.
Cossette: But it is cool
Fiona: Hmmm
Cossette: But how do we get to the Slavic Realm
Fiona: Do you see that up there
Cossette: Ugh
Fiona: There is a kind of air balloon dock. That is where we have to land. A plane that will bring us to the Slavic Realm
Cossette: Oooh. Is that also an airship
Fiona: Not really. More like a normal airplane, only it looks more like a ship
Cossette: Oh wow
Fiona: Mhm
Fiona put her hands on Cossette's shoulders and Cossette looked with excitement.
Cossette: Wow, how high we are
Fiona: Mhm. Look, there is the airplane
Cossette: Ohhh
It was a huge plane.
Fiona: That is the Moby Dick. This looks like a ship, but in truth it is a whale
Cossette: What
Fiona: A whale that is suited for this. Look closely. First there is the airplane, and above the airplane the whale
Cossette: Wooowww
It was time, they were almost there.
Cossette: Hehehe
Fiona: You first
Fiona carried Cossette and placed her onto the airplane, but when Fiona was next, the balloon device exploded.
Cossette: Ugh
Fiona: Cossette
Fiona shoved her away quickly, and at that moment the balloon lost control. Fiona was still there and it went out of control.
Fiona: Aaaaarghhh
She grabbed the rope that hung from the airplane and held on tight, and then the balloon fell.
Fiona: Hahhhh, hahhhh, ugh
She saw the clouds, but they were not purple, they were white, and right ahead she saw it.
Fiona: Hahhhhh
The statue of the Sentinels, six statues. Three faced forward in a crying pose, and three others were turned around and upside down. This is the famous Sky Berg, where the three statues stand fixed on the clouds and the other three, turned upside down, are above the sea.
Fiona: Ughhh, ghhh
She held on tight. Water poured from the Sentinels' eyes, and with their hands they held the water, almost like a fist shape. The statues were stone. Their skin was made from grey stone and their clothes from white stone. The Sentinels were the former powerful ones of the Grimmhoth world. Death and the Sentinels were never friends, but one day they surrendered, and so the Death family became the only powerful family in Grimmhoth.
Fiona: Ugh
And finally it could be seen. The Slavic Realm.