Aboard the carriage, Lorelei and Maria were both observing their surroundings from their respective windows. Maria, excited, had almost half of her upper body outside, leaning forward whenever there was a tree on the way that she thought she could reach and grab a leaf from, which she would present to Lorelei. While Lorelei was observing what she could see from being seated. From the window, she was able to see the deep blue sea stretching out miles across the horizon, as well as the seagull that had returned from their migration yelping their way through the skies, resonating through the calm stillness of the day. Suddenly, Maria lowered her body back in the carriage with her hair covered in leaves from the trees she had passed in.
''Lorelei, could you help me take those leaves off?''
Lorelei nodded and leaned in closer to her. She reached out her hand over her head and picked out the leaves and little branches that had gotten stuck in it.
''Thank you! Do you want to see what I've picked?''
''YEs.''
Maria turned around to the window and grabbed the stack of leaves she had kept there. She then dispersed it on the seat and asked Lorelei.
''Which one looks more appealing to you?''
Lorelei raised her hand over the tens of leaves on the seat. There were so many of them to choose from, but she opted for a multifoliate-looking one that she reached her hand over to point at.
''Thats a nice looking one, good choice!''
Maria picked the leaf she chose and handed it to her.
''Lower your head for me, please.''
Lorelei obeyed and lowered her head to Maria's chest.
Maria seemed to be fidgeting inside Lorelei's hair. It lasted for a while before she said.
''It's done!''
Lorelei couldn't see from this angle what Maria had done, but she touched her hair. She felt the leaf hanging on it.
''ThanK yOu, MaRia.''
''You're welcome!'', she said in a proud expression.
''As for me i'll pick this one!''
She took a simpler-looking leaf. It was something you would see every day while taking a walk outside, casually brushing it off and stepping on it, yet this one had some kind of charm to it; it was beautiful.
She reached out into her own hair and started fidgeting inside just like she had done on Lorelei's. A little while later, the leaf was placed just like the one on Lorelei.
''Say, how does it look?''
''It lOoks beauTiful.''
''Thank you!''
The two girls stayed there smiling at each other, admiring their little leaf ornating their hair.
''I know, let's play rock, paper, scissors!''
''WhAt IS ThaT?''
''It's a game I used to play with mother to pass time. At the count of three, you throw out a rock, a paper, or a scissor. The rock beats the scissors, the paper beats the rock, and the scissors beats paper.''
Maria showed Lorelei the movement she had to do for each objects. Lorelei easily understood and practiced a bit before they started.
''Are you ready? Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!''
Maria threw a rock while Lorelei threw scissors.
''Guess I win this round! Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!''
This time, Lorelei showed a paper, and Maria threw a rock.
''Well, I lost this time. Last round! Rock, paper, scissors, sho-''
''We're almost there, girls, take a look outside.''
It was the carriage man who spoke to them. After hearing that, Maria leaned over the window.
''Wowww!'' , she screamed.
Hearing that, Lorelei did the same as her, and she was just as amazed by seeing the sight. The capital was huge and seemed to be divided into sections with a river going through them, each section going higher and higher up until the gray castle in the middle. It seemed so tall that it was scraping the skies with its pointy end. The capital seemed to be merging with the sea by a big rectangular structure that connected both of them.
''Amazing, isn't it? It never ceases to surprise me, no matter how many times I go there, that's why I love taking this route. From the upper hills here, it's like looking at a whole different world than what's inside.''
A few minutes later, they arrived at the entrance. The coachman stopped the carriage in front of the gate and got off to talk to the guards while Lorelei and Maria were still talking with each other. Soon, the carriage began moving again; this time, they were inside the capital. He stopped near a place next to horses, and once again the carriage stopped. The door opened, and he said.
''Well then, m'ladies, here we are!''
Maria excitedly jumped out of the carriage and looked everywhere around her.
''Lorelei, do you see this?'' , she said enthusiastically
Nobody answered.
''Lorelei?''
She turned around and took a step in the carriage. Lorelei was still in it, holding on to the cloak Silvia had given her.
''Lorelei? Aren't you coming?''
''I... i'M sCaRed...''
''Don't be! I will be here with you, I promise!''
Maria reached out her hand to Lorelei.
''Come, let's go!''
Lorelei stared at it for a while. She wasn't sure if she should trust Maria or not, but something inside her told her that it was the right thing to do. She put on the cloak and reluctantly took Maria's hand, who pulled her into the light. She had finally taken a step inside the capital. The light shone upon her face that had been cowering in the carriage. Under the cloak's hood, her eyes had widened at the sight of the capital. They were on the side of the long pavement road. Beneath them was a firm, solid brick ground, not even a step above the paved road. Before Lorelei could even continue looking around, the man who carried them said.
''Make sure you come back before sunset! I will be here.''
Lorelei and Maria nodded, took a basket from the back of the carriage, and ran off on their little adventure. For the first time, Lorelei had seen lamps, even though they weren't lit; it was impressive just by how tall they were. And the houses too, their roofs were colorful, not like the ones back in town. Those roofs were either of a fiery bright red or a light maroon tiled in a half circle stacking on top of each other. The houses had windows, balconies, bell-shaped doors, and their outside walls were tiled in bricks of different shapes. Some were of a symmetrical pattern, others were of different sizes, yet all together created a perfect harmony between every house; it amazed Lorelei. Everything back in town was colorless and monotone, but here people laughed, talked, and smiled. Everyone was dressed neatly and properly, and they all looked joyful. There were some people who stood out more than others to Lorelei, especially the ones who were wearing what seemed to be a school uniform and those with a little insignia on the right side of their chest. Lorelei observed all of it while following Maria, who was excitedly leading the way, making comments about everything she saw.
Soon enough, they reached a staircase that led downwards.
''We need to go by here to reach the market!''
She ran down the stairs, jumping at every step, letting a little ''yipee.'' at every jump.
Every step Lorelei took, it seemed like the loud voices she had heard from back there intensified even more until they reached the bottom of the staircase.
''Here we are! I present to you... THE GRAND MARKET!!!''
Lorelei looked up and saw what seemed to be hundreds, no, thousands of people walking around shops and different stands located on the road. In here, there was no paved road like there was previously; it was a flat tiled ground. Once again, Maria took Lorelei's hand and dragged her through the busy market.
There were so many different stands and shops everywhere around them. Some were selling fruits, others were selling vegetables, or even solid objects like necklaces, pearls, and even minerals. Amidst all that, Lorelei saw inside a shop, from the window, weird, shining-looking objects she had never seen before. It immediately captivated her attention, so she asked Maria.
''WhAT is ThaT?''
''Oh, those?''
Maria pointed towards where Lorelei was looking.
''Those are energy tools you can cast energy required spells without needing to use your own energy.''
''EnergY? SpeLLs?''
''YOU DON't KNOW WHAT'S ENERGY???'' , she said, surprised.
Lorelei shook her head.
''It's the base of all things. I'm going to explain everything once we get back. I have a book talking about it. And those shops even sell energy potions to refill your energy. For now, let's get the stuff Mom asked to buy. Hmmm, let's see.''
She pulled from her pocket a folded paper that she unfolded and read through. She read for a while, and the lower her eyes went, the more her excited expression faded, until the end, where she suddenly retrieved her enthusiastic face.
''Now, Lorelei, onwards we go!''
A//N: I had lots of fun writing this chapter:)