I wanted to leave, but something told me that I couldn't.
A feeling similar to the one I had been living with.
I turned around to face her, seeing her blackened lips, my gaze moving up to her eyes.
But before I could meet them, she turned away, muttering,
"It's not time yet..." She walked on to where Mim and I came from.
"What is wrong, brother?" A voice called out from above my head.
"It's nothing—let's continue..."
I continued onwards, where nothing happened anymore as we finally reached the center—where the sunrays reached us wholly.
I lifted my hand, covering the blinding sun.
It's even hotter out in the sun...
I looked down at Mim whom I had lowered, not even a speck of sweat had settled on her, while I could feel the clothes itching to get off me.
I looked at her wrist that was hidden underneath the vest she was wearing,
That bracelet is the real deal...
I looked around and saw most people wearing long sleeves, like we did—even when it was that hot.
I had even heard from Edward that there were hotter places down south and that this was close to average.
I will die if I go down south...
"So Mim where should we go first—which street?" I asked her, having decided to forget hypothetical problems.
"Uhmm.... there!" She pointed right down the street we were already facing. It was the road towards the palace.
"Okay let's go!" I said, softly pulling her hand along.
I hadn't realized it in the carriage... but it's really colorful here. Flowers unknown to me were all around us—from red to blue ones—all types of colors could be seen as we walked.
Even Mim had noticed it, almost drooling as she looked around.
"It's really beautiful here, really different from the north right?" I remembered the gray coloring in the north, with only a few colors differentiating between the dying grassy plains.
"..."
She didn't even hear me...
Her eyes were still going all around with her head turning at every given moment, just to look at the flowers she had already seen.
I didn't expect her to like flowers this much... but it's understandable... they are beautiful.
There was one flower that had caught my attention, shining from in between the balcony on one of the houses.
One reminding me of the cold, icy winds from the north.
A beautiful light blue, one bordering silver.
I wonder what they are called...
I wished to see the palace up close, making sure to enjoy all around us as we approached it.
Mim and I continued to walk down the street, walking past multiple merchant stands, all filled with strange products that I've never seen before—from fruits to accessories.
It was all different from the ones in Antoria and Arbis.
As we reached the end of the growing shadow of the palace, held back by the fences separating us, we said,
"It's too big..." Both in unison, staring at the top of the palace, hurting our necks while still unable to even see the entirety of it.
Unable to see more than the gates covering the trees with just the rooftop and towers of the palace sticking over them.
She has to see even less than me...
"...I don't think we are going to see more than this..." I said, keeping my head up as I turned to her.
She responded with groans, trembling while trying to extend her toes—her lips curling down with each passing moment.
"Let's go eat something!" I smiled, knowing what she wants to hear.
"Yes~!" She dropped back to her soles, her lips curving back up.
"Let's find something close by then!" I said, turning away from the palace, facing a direction we hadn't passed yet.
Not knowing the way around here, I chose to stay on the main streets to be safe.
The streets were filled with places to eat, so I just entered the first one that caught my attention.
A man came towards me wearing an outfit similar to the others working there.
"Welcome kids, did you come here from the north?" He welcomed us in the northern language, it was obvious that he wasn't from there—clear from his accent and appearance.
"Yes, we're from the north."
"Really! I have been there once, I would love to go there again!" He said swinging his arms around violently as he spoke.
"So tell me do you want to eat something?"
I nodded unable to keep up with all the movements he made.
"In that case follow me—I'll lead you to your table! And let me recommend you something as well..." He said, putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you..." I took a deep breath, suppressing the trembling that followed the shivers his touch gave me.
He sat us down at a table, and started talking about the different meals they have—specifying those from Kardiotza.
"Most of the meals here are actually from other countries, but we have combined it into our own!"
"This one especially is my favorite, the quiche! It's like a cake, but savory! So I recommend you that one!"
"...Sorry... but what is cake?" I asked him, unable to picture anything with it.
"...Really? Surprising that you don't know—I thought they sold it in the north as well... oh well."
"It's a softer type of bread... uh... it's really sweet! I'm sure you would love it, don't you think little girl!?"
She just nodded as he asked her, holding tightly onto my hand with all her strength—unable to hurt me.
"Can we have two quiche then... I don't have the money for cake..."
"...Oh really... that's a pity..." His arms lowered to his side as he said it.
He looked over us in silence.
"For you guys I'll give it on the house..." His thumbs had lifted up, showing us a big smile.
Free... can I trust that...?
"Why would you do that?" I made sure his gaze couldn't escape mine.
"Hahaha, it's just what we do here in Kardiotza! Welcome once again!" His arms thrown wide.
"So tell me what is your name?"
"Uhm... I'm Tjer and this is my little sister Mim."
"Nice to meet you, my name is Andi."
"Thank you for your help..."
"I wonder what it tastes like..."
"Believe it's going to be great, I'll tell the chefs to do their best for you guys." he said, after which he walked away—still holding a smile on his face.
After a while a doughy smell came from the kitchen, along with a fruity and cheesy smell combined, but separate.
I could feel drool forming and my swallows increasing.
"Here is it Tjer, Mim!" Andi came out holding the two plates in his hand, but one thing had truly caught my attention, the way he said my name.
Is Arih from this place?!