ESKARINA

Mikael was dead. Mikael was a revenant. He was...undead.

My memories that I had built with him over the years of me knowing him had all but faded into nothing. Now...I felt like my only memory of Mikael was his hideous mouth when it merged and shifted into something monstrous...his corpse, blood spraying from his neck like water from  a broken faucet,head rolling across the floor,my feet soaked in his blood.

Nova had told Elena of the events and she proceeded to double the guards,setting some of the new recruits on guard duty. Amaani and the others had all heard of what happened. A few days had now passed since Nova had killed Mikael. I felt strange. I was happy Mikael was dead...but I wasn't. I felt horrible...at least a part of me did.

I'd known him my entire life and through all the memories and fun times we shared,he was just biding his time to have me for supper.

I stood with Elena in the hallway while we waited for our gold. The emperor's banker was inside the vault,doing gods knows what.

I was on edge as I sat next to Elena. I felt a presence other than hers somewhere around us. I assumed it was the banker but a gut feeling told me it was something else.

I did a quick scan of my surroundings,which Elena quickly caught onto.

"You alright Eskarina?" She asked.

Her voice was soothing in a way,but caught me off guard nonetheless.

"I'm...I'm alright."

Elena was quiet for a few brief moments before she spoke. "I know...you're probably a bit traumatised after the revenant attacked you."

She twiddled her thumbs,shifting uncomfortably in her chair to find a better position. "The last few times you fought a revenant,you were with us. With a group or Nova. When you were attacked this time you were isolated,alone for awhile. I know what that fear feels like."

"You do?"

She nodded slowly then took a deep breath in and let it out in a steady and calm manner. "When I was younger...eight winters old,I was outside,running around in the cold,away from my home in the dead of night. Something my parents would tell me never to do. I was a mischievious little devil, and I would always crawl out of my room window to go out at night to play. I didn't know the dangers of the city at night as a child,so I assumed it would be the same as daytime. Bustling streets filled with merchants who told people to buy their wares,beggars,the usual. I was instead met by darkness,no lights lit the streets,and I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.

In the distance as I walked,I could hear chatter..."

Elena went pale,not saying another word for awhile. She shook her head,her fists clenching tightly in her lap.

"Long story short...I was attacked by a Revenant as a child too. I was younger but I know the feeling of hopelessness when it happens. So if you need anyone to talk to about it...I'm here."

A quick smile appeared on her face,then faded as quickly as it appeared. The door to the office opened with a man wearing colourful clothing stepping out. In his hand he held a sack,which made a clink sound with every movement he made.

He wore a pair of spectacles,with a strange moustache which reached all round his lips to his chin. I'd never seen that before.

"Here. Twenty gold pieces. Split it as ten between each of you." He said.

My eye's may have well turned into coins itself.

Twenty gold coins?

Elena took the sack and placed it in her bag. "Thank you Maurice."

"But a pleasure your ma-"

"All of the gold accounted for?"

"Mistress,I would never cheat you. All the gold is there I assure you."

Maruice eyed Elena,raising his eyebrow. "Are you certain all is well mistress? You seem pale."

"I'm fine Maurice. Thank you for the gold. We'll take our leave now." Elena said.

She grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with her. I gave a quick yelp of suprise while Elena dragged me with her. 

We walked through the barracks,with Elena's hand still holding my wrist in a tight vise.

"Elena...could we talk about something?"

"Not now Eskarina."

"It's about Nova..."

Elena stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face me.

I had to tell someone...and better Elena than anyone else.

"What is it? Did something happen when that Revenant attacked?"

"No it's-"

"You going to send the gold to your family?"

Both of our heads turned to see Nova who stood casually against the wall,looking directly at me.

A smile lit slowly formed on Elena's face,revealing her stunning white teeth. Nova glanced at Elena and she pranced over to him,hugging his arm against her chest.

"Elena what are you doing?"

"You're better! I was just checking if you were okay."

"I'm fine"

"Mhmmm"

"You can let go of me now..."

I was having far too many mixed emotions. I was scared,because Nova was now staring dead into my eye's, and also a bit dumbfounded because I had never seen Elena act so...girly before.

Elena immediatley detached herself from Nova's arm, a wave of red flooded her face.

"I'm sorry Nova."

Nova let out a sigh. "Well? Are you going to send the gold to your family farm girl?"

Nova hadn't taken his eye's off of me the entire time. I felt as though he was staring into my soul. Those piercing hazel eye's,his luscious eyelashes...

My throat was dry. For a few moments I forgot how to breathe.

"Yes...I'm sending it to my family. I was actually on my way to the post office now."

Nova looked away for a second before his eye's darted right back to mine. "Really? Just so happens I was heading into the city as well."

Nova took a few steps forward,approaching me in his usual lazy manner,but this time,he had a strange look in his eye's. "We should head into the city together."

"I...I think I'll be okay."

"You've never been outside the barrack walls. You won't know your way around the city."

"I could show her?" Elena suggested.

Thank you Elena!

"Yeah! Elena could show me around the city. We'll be fine without you Nova."

"Nonsense. We'll all go together." Nova said.

Oh gods no...

"Yes! That's great! All three of us could go!"

"Actually...why don't we bring the entire group? Amaani and Tyrese,Pauline and Sven as well."

As he spoke,not once did Nova's eye's waver from my own.

"That's a great idea!" Elena said. "We have coin to spend too! I'll take Eskarina to the post office, you can get the rest."

Nova quickly scanned the area before he slipped away,speed walking around the corner. Elena seemed confused,raising her eyebrow.

"That was...weird. Nova is almost never so eager to go to the city...he hates large groups of people..."

"Elena-"

"The others will join us." Came Nova's voice again.

He appeared almost as quickly as he left once more around the corner.

"I asked one of the grunts to notify the other recruits to meet us at the post office. Pauline and Sven know the city,so they can take Amaani and Tyrese right to us."

Elena looked at me then back at Nova. She shrugged. "Sounds like a plan to me. Let's get going then?"

Following Elena,she led us to the large front gate of the barracks. Nova walked directly beside me,and although he was focused on where he was walking,I couldn't help but feel like he was watching me.
Strangely,Elena wore a hooded cloak which almost covered her entire face when she donned the hood,but I had no idea why she would do such a thing.

While we waited,Elena and Nova engaged in conversation. Nova spoke in a different tone with Elena than he did with everyone else. His usual monotonous tone was still there,but he seemed more open, less conservative around her.

The others met us not long after, and we made our way down toward the city.

The city was...nothing like I imagined it. The streets were lined with marble so clean you could see your own reflection in it. Merchant stalls lined the market,with rich folk in colourful clothing browsing wares. Haggling and chatter filled my ears. The houses were extravagant, high buildings with multiple floors and beautiful architecture,street lamps were neatly arranged a few feet apart from one another and perfectly symmetrical on either side of the road.

"The city is...incredible." Amaani said.

"I thought you two knew the city?"

"We grew up in the slums,this is...a lot different than where we grew up." Amaani said.

"The roofs are much easier to climb in the slums than these,I can tell. Most houses in the slums have flat roofs not these triangular prism shaped rooftops."

"A lot cleaner too." Amaani said,her eye's filled with wonder and awe at the architecture which surrounded her.

"I've never seen streets so clean before in my life...I can see my reflection in the marble!" Tyrese said.

We made our way passed the market,approaching the other business establishments, which were much more refined than the simple merchants stalls a few roads back. They were large buildings,each having their own sign which showed the name of the business with their unique logo.

There was everything I could think of. A blacksmith,Tailor,jeweller,locksmith,general store,butcher,bakery,and plenty more.

We stopped at the post office,where everyone waited outside whilst I wrote my letter addressed to my parents.

To my loving Mother and Father

I hope things are going well. I hope Lukas and Bilquise are still doing great and that they're feeling alright. I don't really know what to say,honestly I have quite a lot on my mind at the moment and life in the army is a lot harder than it seems. Here is the money I earned from my many assignments. I know it's a few months late but I've finally managed to get my coin to you. This is more than enough to get you out of Firekeep,maybe get a new farm or even a new house here in the city where it's safer.
I wish I had more time to write more,I have so much I want to tell you,but that will have to wait for another day. Don't spend all of this gold immidiatley , and tell no one that you've acquired it.

Your loving daughter,
Eskarina.

I set the pen down and handed the note to a man who sat in a small booth. He set the gold and the letter in an envelope before handing it to a young boy. He appeared to be about fourteen,rather young to be a courier,but nonetheless he grabbed the parcel,hopped onto his horse, and rode off to make his delivery.

When I turned round to see the others,I only saw Elena.

"Where did everyone go?"

"Nova went to the library just there," she said,pointing north. I could see Nova through the window,gazing at a shelf filled with books and tomes. I never took him for the reading type. "And everyone else split to go to each of their own stores. Amaani and Sven went over to the jeweller and Pauline and Tyrese are over at the blacksmith trying to have Tyrese' swords repaired."

"Why haven't you gone to buy anything Elena?"

Elena's eye's met mine as she watched me from beneath her hood. "I'm not really one for shopping. Believe me I already  have too much of everything,I don't need anything else. Unless I'm in the mood to spoil myself."

I felt a sudden shiver trail up my spine. I shook my body to try and rid myself of the uncomfortable feeling. Elena watched me, and I could tell she was confused.

My eye's automatically went straight to the library window again,where instead of looking at the bookshelf,Nova was holding a book open in one hand. He appeared to be reading the book at first, but almost as if he sensed my gaze,he looked right back at me. In an instant I looked away, and it was at this point that Elena became a bit concerned.

"Hey...you sure you're alright Eskarina? You've been a bit on edge ever since we got the coin..."

"I'm...I'm fine."

Elena raised her eyebrow then clapped her hands together. "I think I might know what'll cheer you up. A good bar of chocolate."

"A bar of...what?"

Elena's jaw dropped to the floor. "Chocolate. You know...chocolate? Candy deliciousness? The holy light in a physical form? Heaven on earth? Heaven in your mouth?"

"I'm sure Nova's cock would be heaven in your mouth too wouldn't it Elena?" Pauline jested with a smirk as she and Tyrese appeared.

Elena's face went red and she clenched her fists. "Shut up! Listen! We're taking Eskarina for chocolate because the poor girl hasn't even heard of it!"

"You don't know what chocolate is?" Pauline asked.

I slowly shook my head.

"Then you should take her to get a bar or two."

Nova's voice startled me. He held a bouquet of black flowers in his right hand.

"What's wrong Eskarina...you look like you've just seen a corpse."

"N-nothing."

"She needs that bar of chocolate to take her off the edge,poor thing." Amaani said as she hooked her arm around my neck in a friendly manner. "She was attacked by a revenant. Girl needs some comfort,and what better comfort than comfort eating right?"

"You can all take her...I have somewhere else to be."

"Who are those flowers for Nova? Got a special girl you wanna see?"

Nova was silent, not saying anything for a few seconds. "Something like that...she's certainly special that's for sure,but she's not a girl."

"So Nova's into older women?"

Nova rolled his eye's. "It's nothing romantic you fucking dolts. Take Eskarina to have her chocolate. I'm going to be late."

"So it is a date?!" Pauline asked.

Nova didn't reply and instead kept walking away. He turned round the corner and vanished amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

No one found except for Amaani,Elena and I found Nova's behaviour strange. Amaani especially seemed intrigued by it,whilst Elena appeared envious. I could only imagine what was going through her mind.

"Let's just take Eskarina to have her chocolate alright?"

We all agreed, and I was a tad excited about trying out the chocolate. We followed Elena to the chocolatier, which was oddly situated far away from the other food stalls and businesses. The building was a large factory with steam rising out from massive chimneys. The bricks were a dark brown and the name of Charles Chocolatiers Inc. was resting on the signpost just outside the door of the establishment.

"Charles is the best Chocolate maker in the north. He makes the best bars I've ever tasted. He's a living legend."

"Sixty five gold for a single bar?!" I exclaimed as I peered through the window,staring at one of the strange items inside. It was rectangular and wrapped in strange wrapping. I assumed it was the chocolate bar everyone spoke of. But the price was absurd. "I could literally buy a house with that amount of coin."

"Chocolate bars are a luxury food Eskarina,and this is Charles Cocoabiel,considered the godfather of Chocolate. He's a master of the craft and his brand is the best chocolate you'll ever taste." Sven said.

I stepped inside of the chocolate factory and was instantly hit with a wave of delectable aroma's, scents filled my nostrils which made my mouth water,smells so delicious and mouth watering I had never felt such a craving in all of my time existing.

Sven paid for a bar.

"On me. Your first time so you should have it without spending a copper."

He handed me the bar and I slowly unwrapped it. I felt like a child unwrapping a present. The chocolate bar was strangely light in my hand,yet I held it as if it were a gold bar. Precious and invaluable. I slowly took a bite of the bar,with the satisfying click of the chocolate snapping apart and falling into my mouth echoing in my ears.

My taste buds were set aflame. Never before had I tasted something so heavenly! Such an incredible taste which satiated my taste buds! The bar melted against my tongue and I craved another bite, and another, and another. Every bite made me crave more. I felt as if I were some addict hooked on a new drug.

I wolfed down the chocolate,taking a deep breath in and letting it out for a lot longer than I should have. I could have died happily in that moment.

"See? It was good right?"

"It was...amazing."

Elena and the rest of the group had chocolate bars as well, and each of them ate theirs a lot slower than I did mine.

When all of them had eaten we all sat down on the sidewalk and gazed at the other establishments around us. There was a hospital directly down the street, as well as an alchemist, a herbalist,surgeon,doctor, healer, and plenty of buildings which dealt with medical care.

"Why are there other buildings each with different professions? Why can't they all just work in the hospital?" Amaani asked.

"More profitable to work individually. Also the hospital already has all of the other medical professors working there. These others are here in case those in the hospital are on leave and can't assist those who are in need of assistance. Unlike the hospital there's no need for scheduled appointments and if the doctor in the hospital is missing his replacement can be called right down the street. More convenient and saves everyone more tine and coin." Pauline said.

"That rarely happens. Diana runs her establishment really well. Her staff are punctual and are exceptionally skilled at what they do." Sven said.

We sat there for a few more minutes,doing nothing but chat about professions and the skills required to do certain jobs. Our conversation was going smoothly.

"But Mages who are healers would put all other medical fields to shame wouldn't they? They can heal a broken bone in seconds with a spell?"

"Yeah but at the cost of their own mana. It's literally their life for the life of someone else. No mage would want to do that that's why there are herbalists."

Elena suddenly stood up with a jolt,her eye's wide. We all watched her,each of us startled by her sudden leap to her feet.

"Elena...what's wrong?"

Elena was staring at something with the widest eye's I'd ever seen on her.

"Is that Nova?" She asked,pointing toward the hospital.

All our heads turned to where she pointed,but none of us caught a glimpse of Nova.

"I can't-"

"Second floor,third room to the right." She said.

Each of us scanned the second floor to where the third room was located. His back was surely turned to us,but I could tell from his silhouette and the way he sat that it was Nova. His back slightly hunched as he sat forward,his black hair and coat.

"Why is he in the hospital?" Amaani asked.

"Maybe he's hurt?" Pauline said.

"Why would he be at the city hospital when he could simply be at the infirmary?"

Before anyone had time to stop her,Elena was walking towards the hospital, and it wasn't long before she broke into a sprint.

We all followed her into the hospital reception. The walls were snow white, as were the floors. Doctors and nurses alike wearing white robes all walked around,carrying clipboards and conversing about patients.

A woman sat behind a desk smiling at Elena as she approached.

"General."

"Hi. I'm-"

"If you're here looking for Commander Vi Britannia he's visiting someone at the moment."

"Who?"

"I'm sorry ma'am that's confidential information, I can't share that with any third parties without his consent."

Elena took a step back,clearly a bit taken aback by this. I had a hunch she was wondering the same thing we all were.

Who was Nova visiting?

"Hey." Pauline said,setting her hand gently on Elena's shoulder. "At least we know he's okay? And that he isn't here for anything major like an operation or a check up. He's just visiting someone."

"Who?" Elena asked.

"Maybe thats none of our business. He'll probably tell you."

Elena appeared to have her doubts, seeming concerned for Nova but also doubtful of his intentions at the same time.

"Is the person he's visiting female?"

"That's confidential information ma'am. The Commander insisted I tell no one about his visits."

"I just want to know if he's visiting a male or a female."

"He's visiting a female Ma'am. I'm sorry but that's all the information I'm willing to give out. The rest is confidential."

Elena's face began to redden,her eye's watering slightly and she bit her lip,which trembled heavily.

"Maybe...we should head back to the barracks. We can speak to Nova when he returns." Sven said,turning her away from the receptionist.

Amaani and Tyrese walked beside me as we followed them back to the barracks.

"Nova seeing someone else seemed to hit her pretty hard."

"Why though? It's not like she's in a relationship with the guy."

Amaani gave Tyrese a tap on the shoulder,smiling at him.

"You have a lot to learn about love Tyrese."

A/N I'm so sorry for the delay in this chapter,I've been struggling with depression for this entire week and I haven't really been in the mood to write. I haven't self harmed(thankfully) and it took me the entire week to write this so I'm so sorry for the delay. I hope you enjoyed. Leave a comment and a vote if you liked the chapter. Thanks a lot. I love you all. Peace out!