2406 Xavem 15, Jyda

The Ventora estate loomed above her like an impending doom she couldn't shake. Kymalin glanced at the spirit shimmering in the early morning light beside her. "Is this for real?" she demanded.

Derke was unperturbed. In fact, he didn't look like anything. Just a blank wall of emotions. "This is for real, my lady," he said. "Have I fulfilled my duty?"

Kymalin hissed and flicked her hand at the spirit. "Yeah, fine. Go," she blew a breath and drove her hair off her face. "Whatever."

She didn't see the spirit vanish in a puff of green smoke when she turned her attention to the giant property in front of her. She felt out of place in front of the rails of a huge gate painted black. When she asked around in the nearby shops and taverns, the people there told her she was in a place called Carcalet.

She felt like cursing then. She should have known the spirit was bringing her to Lanteglos, the Junction City and the seat of the imperial Power. A smirk tore through Kymalin's lips at the present. Some gall this Felson Ventora had for stationing his recruitment estate in the middle of one of the most lawful cities. She had to give it to him.

The wind shuffled against the cobbled roads behind her. Like the day she first stepped foot in the borders of the city, there was nothing but the lingering quiet. There was no chatter or bustle in the streets. Even the occasional passing carriage made little to no sound. Just the soft patter of hooves and the light flicking of the reins. That's it.

Strange. It's like a noisier version of Asopus.

Well, she would like a little bit more of Asopus in this place. She could do well without the heat knocking at the back of her neck and soaking her limbs with sweat. She had to get out of here and fast.

How would she get Ventora's attention like the spirit had advised?

Kymalin studied the vast expanse in front of the stately, three-story buiilding in the middle of the land. Green carpeted the whole compound, only being broken by a cobbled path made from what looked to be marble. Flowers of different hues and sizes decorated the shrubs lining the sides of the path leading to a large door in the middle of the building's facade. Somewhere to Kymalin's left, a fountain gurgled water with small, tinkling sounds. She sniffed. As expected, the faint smell of exotic flowers and something else she couldn't place filled her nose.

What an asscheek this man was.

In fact, Kymalin couldn't wrap her head around the splendor she had seen walking around in the city. The spirit had remarked that this was where the influential people in the Imperial palace's Seelie Court lived. She didn't expect to have walked into a ridiculous show of gardens and menageries, each one trying to outdo the other.

True enough, it's almost as if the designs, landscape, and even the colors of the houses turned more and more extravagant as Kymalin went down the line of estates. Why would one devote their lives trying to compete with people in a race which wouldn't even matter when they pass on to the Land of Wonders? Pidmena wasn't looking at riches and how fashionably one dressed when they were alive. It's the deeds and the kindness of the heart that would get a soul an eternal paradise on the other side. Not...this.

Still, Kymalin came here with a purpose opposite of admiring the flowers. She gritted her teeth and cupped the side of her mouth with her hands. Then, she took a deep breath and shouted at the top of her voice, "FELSON VENTORA. COME OUT!"

Nothing happened for the next few seconds. Kymalin eyed the empty streets and grinned. This would get his attention, surely. She put her hands to the side of her face once more and shouted. "I'M OUTSIDE YOUR GATES. LET ME IN!"

To her delight, the door in the facade flung open. Out came a haggard maid whose hair stuck out in all directions. Her collar was rumpled like she was grabbed there. The maid took her sweet time jogging through the huge distance between the gates and the mansion. Served them right for insisting on living in this place.

The maid stopped at the other side of the gate and braced her knees to catch her breath. "The master," she huffed. "Wishes you to piss off. He is not in the mood to entertain troublemakers today."

"You have to let me in," Kymalin said. Her tone was closer to pleading more than anything. "Tell him I've come all the way to join his...uh, organization."

The maid ducked her head. "I shall relay that to him. Hold on."

Then, she scampered off into the mansion once more, leaving Kymalin standing in the sun in an empty street. She tapped her boots against the cobblestones, shifting her weight from foot to foot and crossing her arms in front of her chest to pass the time. At some point, she began humming a folk song under her breath.

The doors to the mansion swung open again and the maid scurried out once more. Behind her, a tall man with dark hair and pale skin edged into view. Even with the distance as great as this between him and Kymalin, she swore he saw how deep his frown was. It almost made him age further than four-hundred. The maid paused in front of the gate again. This time, she curled her fingers around one of the rails. "The master does not take in guests," she said. "I'm sorry. Come back next time."

Kymalin raised an eyebrow. "Fine, then," she said. "I'll just scream that I'LL JOIN CARD—"

"Stop!" a deep voice roared from the mansion and carried all the way to the gate. Was he ever in the army or something? That's a powerful voice. She leaned to the side, past the panting maid, and saw Felson Ventora in the flesh half-running and half-stomping down the marble paths and towards the gate. They have to wait a few more seconds before the noble reached them.

The man wasted no time in grabbing the gate with his hand and lowering his face to match Kymalin's height. He didn't sound out of breath from walking all the way. "Go home from whatever hole you came from," he hissed. "If you speak of the organization's name aloud in this place, I will have you executed in the worst way possible. Got it? Go home to your mother and cry about spoiled pastries. I've no time to deal with you today."

"And when will you have time, Magistrate?" a female voice interjected. Kymalin's head whipped from the narrow-eyed noble in front of her to one of the most beautiful woman she has ever seen. Her brown hair was pulled up in a tight bun, accenting her sharp jawline. Her tan skin accented the dark coat she wore. Medals and other symbols glinted from her chest. Her tight, beige riding breeches showed off her long, slender legs. They were tucked snugly into black, knee-high leather boots.

Felson Ventora moved away from the gate, clasped his hands together in front of him, and ducked his head—all in one smooth motion. The maid stared in utter shock. "S-she appeared—"

"Shut up now," the noble's hand whizzed so quick Kymalin didn't even see it. Within seconds, the maid's unconscious form plopped to the ground with a light thud. Felson cleared his throat and leveled his gaze at the newcomer like he hadn't stricken a person dead. "I didn't know you would come, Peredeira."

Kymalin knitted her eyebrows. Peredeira? Was that her name?

The woman hummed, taking one long look at Kymalin before turning back to Felson. "Is this how you treat someone who willingly joins our cause?" she asked in a gentle but firm tone.

Blood drained from the noble's face. He knew it was a trick question. "B-but she was t-too young. I thought—"

"No one is too young if I decide they are not," the woman waved a hand in Felson's direction. "You are excused, Magistrate. I'll take it from here."

The noble looked like he wanted to argue but couldn't. After a while, he just pinched his lips shut and bowed at the woman. Then, he stalked off, back to his huge mansion. Silence coated the air. The maid remained out

"Now," the woman clasped her hands together and strode out of the property. Kymalin opened her mouth to warn the woman of ramming into the gate but the woman simply sailed through. Her eyes widened. What—

"Why would you want to join us?" the woman continued without batting an eyelid.

Kymalin blinked a few times, trying to process what she had seen. "Oh, um," she said. "I was told you can make wishes come true?"

The woman chuckled. "Depends on the wish and the price you're willing to pay," she said. "What would those be for you?"

"I can pay whatever you require!" Kymalin bowed the same way as Felson did, by tucking her hands together and folding her form at the waist. Her hair slid past her shoulder, forming a wall at the side of her head. "My wish is for my brother to be healed. That's all."

She raised her head when there was no answer or movement from the other party. Had the woman walked away and left her? Her gaze landed on the woman to find her still there. She was smiling. Kymalin couldn't tell if that smile was good news or bad.

"How about serving in my army?" the woman leaned in to whisper. "I could use someone as spirited as you in our ranks."

Kymalin blinked. "You have an army? Whoa," she said. "How many years would I have to serve before I get my wish fulfilled?"

The woman hummed. "Right into business, are we? I like that," she said. "You would only need to serve for a few missions and then you can get your wish. Swear?"

Kymalin nodded, a little too vigorously. "Swear," she said.

"Then, by Daexis's name, I swear that you will get your wish once I declare your service to Cardovia fulfilled," the woman declared. Nothing happened. Not even a stray breeze to signify the oath being made. "Now, your turn."

Kymalin nodded and put her hand to her chest. "I swear by Daexis's name to serve Cardovia with whatever they require of me," she said. "That's a deal, right?"

The woman waved her hand in the air. Foreign energy crackled in crisp noises, making the air notches hotter. "I never go back on my promises," she said, offering Kymalin a hand. Her palms were so smooth. "Shall we?"

Hope blossomed in Kymalin's chest. She did it. She secured a surer way in healing her brother. Just a few missions. A few years of service to Cardovia. She raised her head to the woman, noting how her dark eyes turned darker with every second that passed by between them. That's just the light, perhaps?

She accepted the woman's hand with a grateful smile.