Wish Upon a Sin

Arc 2 - Chapter 4

"What do we do? They're everywhere, there's nowhere we can run to! There's a fire between the east gate and here, and the rest of the city is—"

"Focus, Otto!" Subaru put a hand on the merchant's shoulder, pulling him back to his senses.

"If we lose our heads, we'll end up regretting it." He said, trying to force down his own fear. He needed to be calm, or else he might make a mistake. And he'd be...

Lying on the ground, blood staining his tracksuit, his insides pouring out from his stomach— No! I'm not going to die!

Otto nodded slowly, his face pale. "Yeah, you're right."

Subaru looked around at the surroundings. The park was still filled with families, most of whom had seen the smoke as well. Panic had started to spread, and most were leaving quickly.

"I think they're all coming from the civilian sections of the city." Otto said, examining the plumes more closely. "We can't see any out west, but the palace hill blocks our sight. If there are any on that side of the city, we'll know in a few minutes, as the smoke rises."

He took a deep, shuddering breath.

"I'm not sure what we should do. The capital hasn't been besieged in centuries. We don't even know what's going on."

He scanned the surroundings carefully.

"Watch out for me for a minute. I'll try and ask the wildlife to look around."

He looked up into the sky, and began mimicking birdsong.

Concern. Fear?

Luna circled around them protectively, looking around for the danger. She didn't seem to even register the smoke plumes. She didn't have the experience to see them as anything other than strange clouds.

"It'll be fine. Tell me if anyone approaches us from that side, okay?"

Subaru looked around himself. The park was slowly emptying, as people chose to seek the apparent safety of their homes.

"Well, it isn't just our side." Otto said. "The birds I've spoken haven't seen the entire city, but they said there's more plumes on the west. I would suggest we gather evacuees toward the noble district, but..." he trailed off.

"They won't let commoners in?" Subaru asked angrily. Damn nobles! Are they seriously going to just close the gates on people?

"It's not that." Otto denied. "There are provisions in the city's laws to allow everyone into the upper stratas in the case of an attack. But... it feels off."

He caught Subaru's questioning gaze. "It's just a feeling! But I can't see why anyone would attack! We have a temporary peace treaty with Vollachia, and Gusteko forces would have to pass through several checkpoints, there's no way either of them could be responsible. It could be mercenaries, but few of them are this suicidal."

He gestured to the smoke trails around them. "This is going to rouse the entire guard, and every uncontracted mercenary in the city is going to try and capture some of the attackers for reward money."

"A temporary peace treaty?" Subaru asked. "This 'Vollachia'... they wouldn't break it to seize the chance to strike a decisive blow?"

"They might." Otto admitted. "It does seem like something they would do. But the border is closed, and heavily guarded. We'd know if an army passed through there."

"Shit, so we don't know anything." Subaru racked his mind, searching for something that they could use, but the fear still building inside him wouldn't let up, torturing him with visions of his previous deaths.