The land of Ingary was a place where invisibility cloaks and seven- league boots existed.
There, it was also considered bad luck to be the oldest child of three: the first child would fail, and fail spectacularly.
Geto Suguru wasn't just the eldest of three; his parents were also well- off. (Poor eldest kids have a better chance of success) and owned a hat shop in Market Shipping.
Geto was sat at the work table of that hat shop, sowing the final details of a pink coloured hat. He had been working on it for hours, yet didn't feel tired, the piercing of the needle into the fabric putting him in a state of relaxation.
He heard a knock at the door, and turned to see his stepmother standing expectantly, a pleasant smile on her face.
"Geto, we just closed the shop you've done enough work, why don't you come out with us this time?"
"No I better finish this, you go and have fun," he smiled, lifting the hat to show her. He didn't enjoy going out with his sister's that much, they were much too excitable.
"Alright, suit yourself, come on girls!"
As they were about to exit, he heard one of them shriek out, "Look it's Gojo's castle!" Followed by a few squeals and gasps of wonder as they rushed to the window.
Geto looked out of the window himself, to where the town ended and the fields began, his head tilting in wonder as he caught sight of Gojo's castle stuttering up and over the hill into view, it's huge mechanical legs whirring and jittering.
It only lasted a few seconds, as the castle disappeared again into the fog shrouding it as a few planes flew by.
Geto went back to working on the hat, not that interested by the appearance of the castle as his sisters had been, who were still chattering in excitement as they left the shop. To be honest, he didn't care for the tales of Gojo and how he stole he hearts of young girls. He was a boy, after all.
Finally, he finished the hat, setting it on a model head and sighing out in relief. It has been a long day of work, any he was ready to leave.
He stepped off the stool, wiping down his apron and dumping it beside his own hat, a simple beige, which he collected.
He stepped into the main shop for a moment, trying it on and smiling at his reflection in a mirror. His black long hair was thrown up in a bun, and a long strand had escaped and curled by the side of his face. Geto's smile faded a little at the sight of his face, he was so basic. Brushing the thoughts off, he left through the main door.
The door clicked shut behind him as he made his way into the busy streets where buses and trams rushed by. The sun shone bright in the sky and he tilted his head up to the sun for a second, enjoying the rays warming his skin.
Hopping onto the back of a bus, he stared up at the fighter jets whirring in the pale blue sky, hosting the flag of the queen. The flag was everywhere those days, and you couldn't walk down a street without seeing one hanging from a window or door.
As they crossed a bridge, Geto noticed what appeared to be a parade occuring below, big army trucks and marching soldiers passing by as pedestrians clapped and cheered.
Finally, the bus came to a holt and Geto got off, walking briskly across the cobbled road down an alleyway, away from the loud crowds and celebration.
As he turned a corner, he noticed a guard standing by some equipment, and hurried along, not wanting any trouble. The last thing he wanted to happen was to be stopped by a guard.
Hurrying down some steps, he could still hear the loud cheers from the main street, and stopped for a moment to check where he was going.
He turned a corner, leading further away from the main road, when he almost walked into a soldier, leaning against the wall and smirking.
