MISTRESS OF FLAME

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

THE LITTLE town of Ashmire was just as lively as Sollel remembered, though the houses and establishments had changed. It even became grander. It was the farthest town under the Infernal Empire, and it was also the boundary town between the empire and the Kingdom of Treterra. Usually, towns like these that were far away from the main city were undeveloped, underprivileged, and unprosperous, but not Ashmire. And it's because of the ashes from the ash terrain. Citizens of Ashmire used the ashes to build concrete houses and buildings, and their main livelihood was creating ceramics from volcanic ash.

These beautiful and artistic ceramics would be transported to big cities and were very famous with the royalties and nobilities. With the ceramics and concrete materials they could make from their endless supply—the ashes from the ash terrain—the citizens of Ashmire were mostly wealthy merchants and hardworking laborers. This was one of the reasons there's a guild of hunters in this small town. Their services were needed when transporting goods to other cities to repel bandits and beasts.

As one would enter the town, stores and stalls selling ceramics could easily be seen. Some ceramic designs caught Sollel's eyes, but she continued walking with Cira to find an inn. Both exhausted from crossing the ash terrain, they were both eager to find a comfortable place to sleep and rest.

Seeing Cira taking the lead, Sollel took back her words. Maybe Cira was reliable after all, except for directions.

It's been more than a century since Sollel visited a human town, so she let Cira take the lead and just followed.

Cira found an inn and rented one room with two beds. And since Cira already had a good sleep on the tree yesterday, she roamed around town to buy the things they needed while Sollel took a rest. When Sollel woke up, the sun was already down, and there was already a garment on the foot of her bed.

Must be Cira.

Leaving her bed, Sollel took a bath in the bathroom inside their room. The wooden bathing tub was already filled with water, and Sollel immediately started washing herself. It had been so long since she took a bath and cleaned herself, so long since a soap lathered her skin.

While cleaning herself, Sollel realized that some of her scabs had disappeared. It's a sign that her blood was slowly replenishing her body and healing her old wounds.

After Sollel finished bathing, she wore the garment Cira provided for her. It was an all-leather tube dress with a tiered skirt reaching her middle thighs; it came with leather underpants and a leather shoulder guard. There were also a light breast and back plate, an armband, and a gauntlet wristband.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, she was all clean and fresh. Sollel was surprised to see Cira in the room, clapping at her. Cira was like a happy mother after seeing her child wearing the new clothes she bought.

"I knew it! It looks good on you, Queen Sollel." Cira beamed with happiness because the clothes she bought fit the queen well.

"Just call me Sollel." She sat on the edge of her bed and put on her leather boots. "Thank you for the dress, Cira."

Cira smiled from ear to ear. "Do you like it? Have you tried the cloak? I made sure that it could cover your whole body."

Sollel finished putting on his leather boots and glanced at her dirty and ash-covered cloak that was hanging on the back of the wooden chair near her bed. "I would rather use my old cloak." It was the only connection she had with her savior. She wanted to keep it.

Cira immediately sprang from her bed and grabbed Sollel's old cloak. "Then I'll wash it for you."

Sollel shook her head. "No. I'll do it."