Back to River,
I still remember very basic history of the land... I remember the lush forests of Evanoscia, the deserts surrounding the capital and the plains of Rulau. All serving under one nation, the Sendean Empire, a nation with a history long as humanity itself.
I walked downstairs to greet Gustang--No, my father. But alas, he was not there. His dark desk was covered with various paper, but a note stood out on the top.
It read, River, I have gone to meet with the duke, I will be gone for at least two weeks. Take care of the estate for me.
I sighed, I barely remembered how to brush my teeth and he expected me to run this place? I took it in again, it was a three story house with a basement. My room and I believe the rooms of now deceased family are on the second.
The third is Gustang's floor, where his workshop is and his bedroom. I didn't go up there much, unless I needed something before a battle.
Though the first floor held various artifacts in the living room, the real treasures were on the third.
The basement was an old part of the house, none of us really went down there. Just for storage.
The wallpaper was a rich white, with various green stripes and markings across it. The house Ouroboros really loves the color green.
Hell, my outfit was made of black, brown, and green. My overcoat was a fine brown material, akin to leather. My undershirt was a green silk, and my pants were black. I kept a dagger under my coat tied to my snakeskin belt.
Ding... ding-ding. The pattern of the dinging felt familiar, like a code members of the house used. I walked out of the living room and to the door attached to the hall. The rug in the hall was the same as the one upstairs, green with various snakes illustrated on it. The hall was lit by lamps, a few flickering.
I grabbed the doorknob, twisting slowly. I pulled the door open just halfway to see who was standing in front of it. Outside was a small walkway, and a garden--though most of the plants were dead or dying. There were iron gates surrounding the front of the estate with vines grown all over them.
And in front of me, standing on the stone pathway was a girl. No older than twenty, her hair was a fair brown, glowing a little in the sun. Her eyes just as brown, she was much shorter than me--maybe a foot. She had a smile on her face, one of anxiety. Like she was nervous around me.
She put her arms out and lifted her head up staring into my eyes, "Sir River, I was sent to take you through the town today, and go searching for information on a new ark." her voice was soft, just loud enough for me to hear.
An ark she said, I remember arks are the source of an arkon's power in this world, born from places of high emotions. When a gathering of people feels an overwhelming sense of emotion an unshaped ark will be born. What they were was more akin to a gem. Most the size of a palm. Though some had less conventional shapes.
Though they required a person to shape them, and implant it into their skin. The ark required air, it was like an extension of yourself so it has to be visible. They would then turn into various colors depending on the user, and grant fantastical abilities and strength.
"River.."--Her voice cut through my mind, I had gotten lost in thought it seemed. The girl just stared at me blankly, like I was a statue.
"Sorry, yes all that is right. We can set off now if you'd like." I said.
She gave that same anxious smile and nodded her head, "Perfect!" and then she turned around, and began to walk down the path.
She had on a gray coat and gray pants far too baggy for a girl of her size. They ruffled with each step, the gates to the estate were open wide.
As we reached them and stepped outside of my manor, I turned around to close them and motioned to the girl for the keys.
"Oh--right!" She blurted, her voice surprised. She reached around in her coat for a few seconds then her eyes lit up.
"Found it!" She blurted once again. Her voice had a sense of happiness to it, it was sweet.
I smiled at her as she handed them to me, her fingers grazing my palm.
I put them in the lock and twisted. Then handed them back to her.
"So, where first?" She looked to me, standing to her left, and asked.
In all honesty I couldn't remember where much was, but surely there's a central market here.
"The market." I said, honestly unsure if there was even one.
She tilted her head slightly and turned to me, "The... general market?" She asked, her voice had a tone of confusion.
"Is.. that a problem?" I asked, my voice came out slow and just as confused as hers.
"No.. Just, most nobles--especially of your status don't shop there." She said, her head still tilted.
"Oh, well... that's no problem, I think it's good to be among the people." I declared, acting as if I knew this all along.
She tilted her head even more, as if I just blurted a blasphemy. She smiled again, this one much more authentic. She laughed a little, it was human. Something I'd forgotten to be. Oh how I wish to be that carefree and unburdened.
I smiled at her too, a real one. I even let a small breath out of my nose, not quite a laugh but close enough.
She turned toward the road and began to walk, I followed by her side, we had small talk as we walked.
She asked how I'd been, as if I remembered the last time we met, I said good. She asked how Gustang had been, and whether he was attending the mayor's funeral.
Shit. For just a moment I forgot the catastrophe I was in. Me--the mayor's assassin, and hawked by the countess. I quickly remembered just how utterly fucked I was.
The girl stopped walking, staring at me--shit I forgot to reply again. She ran her fingers through her black hair, it was wavy and puffy. Still glowing in the sun, the wind made it sway a little. She was beautiful, not because of how she looked but because of how... human she was.
I cleared my throat, "Oh w-well, I guess I don't know." I laughed awkwardly at the end. Gods I forgot I have the charisma of a ten year old now.
She laughed a little, not mocking me just finding my stutter silly. She turned back and began continuing down the road.
The streets were fairly empty today, here and there a family would pass--or a couple. And both our eyes would look to them.
Maybe most people are mourning the mayor's death, I thought to myself. Then we stopped, it seemed we were at the town square.
It was a small field between houses, the general quadrant of the town. The houses were simple, the people had on basic clothes. But they smiled and laughed far more than I ever saw any noble.
There was at least twenty booths lined around the park, the grass swayed in the wind. There were a lot more people here, maybe a hundred.
The booths had various items and gadgets, one with intricate silverware and another with bags.
I remembered my childhood, my biological family--before Gustang ever adopted me--was simple, not nobility or involved in any petty politics. Just four people trying to survive, I remember walking around the stalls with my brother Viper, and playing tag with him.
I saw children doing the same here and now, it almost made my eyes swell up. I missed him, I knew I would find him again. I didn't know how long, but it felt like I made a promise to myself.
She tapped my shoulder lightly, her head was tilted again and she smiled at me. Her eyes were so.. real.
"Lost in thought today, eh?" She asked me, her eyes fluttered--almost enchanting me. I just smiled at her and nodded, I didn't know what to say in all honesty.
I noticed a few families staring at me, a noble of house Ouroboros at the common stalls? It was not a normal sighting, but they all smiled at me. They had such affection, and empathy for me--not knowing I was the reason this city would be under mutiny soon.
My eyes swelled up this time, tears began to build up. The streamed down my eyes slowly, one by one. I tried to turn my head to the side so--god, I don't remember her name. Well so that the girl who's been with me didn't see.
But she saw, for someone so versed in stealth I had a hard time hiding my emotions. She let out a confused noise, something between a laugh and a scream.
She placed her hand on my coat, just above my waist. Her eyes were big, and she stared into mine. Her hair was swaying even faster now, it was all over her face but god I couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked.
My tears kept flowing down, I think some of the people around had noticed. Most likely thinking I was grieving the mayor--but I was grieving for them. For what I was about to bring to them.
"River, d-do you need to go back to the estate?" Her voice was nervous, like she was trying to calm down a child. She put that same nervous smile back on, to try and cheer me up.
I wiped some of the tears off my face with the edge of my coat, smiling at her. I even laughed a little, I couldn't believe it. I remembered something--I remembered her name.
Sable.