PROJECT FUEGO

04: Definitely a castle

CAUSES OF DEATH ARE MANY AND VARIED

OLD AGE, ILLNESS, SUICIDE

BUT OUT OF THAT LONG MORBID LIST, THERE'S ONE END THAT PEOPLE FEAR ABOVE ALL OTHERS
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DEATH BY FIRE

♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢

Laying his back on the soft fabric that was the sheets for the bed, Shinra couldn't help but recall a moment with a certain blonde nun.

The gentle and kind smile that was used to cover up the rest of herself. It bothered him not knowing how to help the poor sister. How could it not? After all, Shinra was a person with the aspiring dream of becoming a hero in these confusing times.

It's the duty of a fire brigadier to be of service... but a hero also must meddle in the business of others, even when they are told otherwise.

Looking up at the roof, he couldn't help but dwell in the soft noises from outside the room, past the wall that separated him from nature itself.

I've made more than my fair share of weird smiles. That is why I can tell... her smile was forced. Did something happen with her and those goons from the fifth squad...?

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Shinra hangs his head from the side of his bed and peers down to the bottom bunk below that held the figure of a blonde young man seeming to silently stare into the bottom of the top bunk in which, Shinra resided.

"Hey, Arthur," he began, "Do you know if something happened to the sister recently? Have you heard any news?"

The boy, Arthur, turns his gaze to meet Shinra's, revealing his dashing blue eyes that helped structure his face.

"What? The princess had just appointed me the leader of her band of knights..."

"Just so you know, you're not much of a knight in pajamas..."

Arthur remains momentarily silent at Shinra's words with a blank stare. "Hmph, why the sudden interest? Did something happen to the princess of the castle?"

"Stop calling the sister a princess. What would that make Maki?"

"Maki is..."

Just before he finished his sentence, a figure walks inside the room and calls out to them both.

"An ogress."

Suddenly, both Arthur and Shinra are slammed on the ground with great force as a feminine voice rings throughout the room.

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING A GORILLA CYCLOPS!?"

"HOW'D I GET MIXED UP IN THIS?!" At the sudden pain, Shinra couldn't help but exclaim, "What was that all about, all of a sudden?! Was the beating you gave us during training not enough for you?!"

"See? I was spot on," painfully muttered, Arthur.

"That's not it, I swear!" exclaimed the woman now known as Maki, "Have either of you seen the sister? We think she's run off somewhere!"

"Wha...?"

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"Excuse me."

In the night, a young woman stands before a guard as she respectfully holds a firm voice and expression.

"huh? What business would a sister like you have here at this hour?"