While they were walking towards the shop districts, Maria explained to Lorelei how the capital was divided.
''First, the capital is organized in three different areas, well, four if you count the castle. There's the lower sector, the middle sector, which we are in right now, and the high area right over there.''
She pointed at a staircase leading towards a big door.
''You remember that door we passed by to enter?''
Lorelei nodded.
''Well, there are three of them at every intersection in the capital. It's to separate the rich from the poor. Mother told me it was a system put in place by the 14th king during his reign over the kingdom. He's also the one who created the four fountains across the capital and made the four artifical river that run through each sector. Although people despised him, Mom never told me why they hated him so much. She only told me that he did something in the past, and he was assassinated by one of his sons, who took over the throne after him. His son only stayed on the throne for about two years before mysteriously disappearing.''
Maria seemed to be in deep thought while talking to Lorelei about the kingdom.
''You should ask my Mother about it, she will explain everything there is to know about the history of the kingdom and the capital. She used to live in it after all. For now, let's go check out the shops!''
Before Lorelei even realized it, they had already reached the shopping district. The shops here were really different from the ones behind the stands in the market. Those shops seemed more refined and decorated. The shop's names were written in different styles and characters. Some even had drawings or big characters on the side of their names. The shops weren't the only thing that changed; the appearance of people also did. Here, people were dressed elegantly and more modestly; even though it did not change much from the people back there, they seemed to be emitting a more sophisticated and serious impression. While they were walking across the districts, Lorelei could feel their staggering eyes piercing her back, so she asked Maria.
''WhY aRe they Looking At uS?''
''Oh, don't mind them. In the high area, there aren't really many shops, so some nobles have to come down to the middle sector to buy what they need, or they just send out servants, but for some reason, even if the people here aren't much diffrent they despise them. Mom told me not to mind what they do or say, and we'll be fine.''
They walked across the districts observing the different types of shops there were. Here, the quality of the products was way higher and way more expensive than the stuff back in the market. Maria even explained that apart from the shop district, there was a gigantic shopping mall, but it was only reserved for the nobles, the academy students, and the high-placed people in the hierarchy. They approached a workshop after hearing loud thuds from outside. Maria went in, and Lorelei followed after her. Inside the workshop, they saw a big-looking bald man who was near a forge with a molten rod near him that he was repeatedly striking with a heavy hammer. At the sound of the bell, he didn't even bother turning around and told them.
''This is no place for kids to be, leave.''
The man didn't seem too friendly; both Lorelei and Maria were scared by his appearance and voice. Maria spoke in a low voice.
''We just came to observe...''
The man didn't speak and kept striking down the molten rod with his hammer. The two girls thought it was fine for them to look around for now. The shop's walls were ornamented with swords, shields, spears, and all types of weapons one could think of. There were even glowing items with a crystal inside, just like the one Lorelei had seen back at the other shop in the market. In front of the forge, there was a line of prosthetic arms and other parts hung around the forge that immediately captivated Lorelei's attention. For the little span of time that Lorelei wasn't looking at Maria, she sneaked next to a barrel full of swords and picked one out that she started swinging around to try out, but lost her balance and fell, making a loud thud as the sword dropped. What followed was a long silence.
''I will not repeat myself, leave at once.''
Both girls, terrified by his serious tone, left the moment he spoke such words, apologizing to him before taking off as quickly as they had come in. Maria walked while talking to Lorelei and not looking at where she was walking. Soon enough, she bumped into someone and fell on the ground, making the basket fall with her.
''I apologize, sir.''
She looked up to see a young man with blond hair being guarded by two guards who were pointing their spears towards her. The young man was staring her down with disgust.
''Have the lower beings even lost their eyesight now? Can't you see where you're going?''
''I already apologized, sir. I'm sorry.''
''An apology won't cut it. You dare sully my suit with that filthy body.''
''Well, I don't know what you want, then step aside if you have nothing else to say.''
''You're talking back?''
The man approached her and raised his hand, and just at that moment, Lorelei stepped forward. Through her hood, she looked up at the man in disgust, and he too looked back at her.
''You filth really have no limit to your disrespect, do you?''
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of people marching closer and closer. All of them looked towards the sound of the march and saw multiple knights. The three of them at the head were on white horses while the other were marching at a synchronous rhythm. They were all wearing white armor with golden strips towards the end, covering every inch of their body. On the right side of their waist, a long white sword could be seen bumping on the ground at every step they took.
''Oh, the royal guards came back from their expedition.'' , the young man said.
The three guards at the head weren't wearing any helmets, but the rest were. Their faces were still hard to see, but as they got closer, Lorelei recognized them. It was the same knights who had forced her to kill the man. She lowered her hood over her face with her hand and turned sideways. Her feet were clutching hard within her shoes, and her hand was grasping the hood so hard it felt like it was going to rip. The vision of the bloody grass and the man's eyes flooded her mind. He's word repeating over and over again, asking her to kill him. She wanted to kill the guards right here. She wanted to give them the most atrocious death she could think of. She wanted to cut their limbs apart just like they had done to the man, but she resisted again and again, holding in the temptation of doing so.
''Kill them, all.'' , she heard.
''Kill them.''
''Kill them.''
''Kill them.''
The same voice she had heard in the storage room repeated over and over in her head. She was clenching her theet in rage until blood came out. She wanted to give in to the voice, but she mustn't. She was going to wait until she got stronger, until she had enough strength to make sure their lives were only mere toys within the grasp of her hand. The main guard in the middle looked over in their direction, and she lowered the hood even more until they passed. While the knights were facing back at her, she whispered.
''I'll kill all of you.''
Soon enough, the marching slowly passed, leaving them silent. The guards raised their spears and whispered something in the young man's ear.
''Very well, so be it. I will leave you two for now, but don't think I won't remember your face.''
He walked away, leaving only Maria and Lorelei together. Maria leaned in to see if Lorelei was fine since she hadn't been moving for a while. She saw blood rolling down her cheek and decided to wipe it for her.
''It's fine, Lorelei, we won't see that jerk anymore anyway. Thank you for standing up for me.''
She patted Lorelei through her hood and grabbed her hand. Come, we still need to buy the energy stone; the one we have right now is about to run out. She dragged Lorelei to a nearby glowing shop, where they bought the stone for 15 lyrr. The shop owner told them that it had enough energy to last them for 2 months. Maria thanked him and left.
''Lorelei, we need to hurry back to the carriage, it's almost sunset.''
Lorelei nodded and let herself be dragged across the capital once again by Maria. She wasn't even able to focus on looking around like she did while they were exploring. Her mind was replaying scenes of the time she had spent with the man over and over again. It was painful, it was like she was drifting ashore with Maria being the waves that carried her though. The blood splattering against her face and the knight's sword being raised at every slash was scary; it was all too scary. Tears were piling in her eyes, but couldn't seem to find a way through. She held them in; she had to be strong, she had to avenge him, until then, not a single tear must be shed, for the bloody path she was trailing on there was no space for the weak. Her facial expression hardened, and she swallowed back the tears that were piling within her eyes. Before she even realized it, they had already arrived at the carriage and were waiting for the carriage man to attach the horses before embarking. Once they did, the carriage took off, leaving behind the capital. The ride home this time was quiet and still; none of them dared to move or even talk. Each staring through the window, waiting for time to pass. From a distance, Lorelei saw a long pillar of light. At its peak, there was a star-like symbol with an arc going around it. The column itself was imposing; it seemed to stretch out miles below the ground and above the skies. She didn't know what it was, but she wasn't feeling in the mood to ask Maria now, so she stayed quiet. When they arrived, Silvia was there waiting for them. As soon as the carriage man opened the door, Maria jumped out to hug her mother, while Lorelei slowly got off, taking her time.
''How was it?'' , she asked the girls.
''It was so fun! We did so many things there, and here are the groceries.''
Maria handed the basket as well as the rest of the money to her mother.
''Thank you, Maria. How about you, Lorelei, did you like it?''
''YeaH, I dId.'' , she softly answered.
''Well that's good. Next time let's go all together.''
Silvia walked over to the carriage man who was waiting beside the horses. She thanked him and handed him some money before he took off again.
''Shall we go now? I made dinner for you girls. You must be tired, right? ''
Maria shook her head, but Lorelei stayed motionless. She placed the basket over her shoulder, and took the girls by the hand, slowly walking towards the house.