Imperatrix Fallen: Alith's Cradle

XII

County of Peace (Respiciens Belli): The capital city of the county, Solar, is a legacy of ancient times and the birthplace of the first recorded civilization after the world's rupture. The other cities, though independent, identify with the county and adhere to the laws dictated by the House of Government. Aside from some border disputes with Victrix County, it maintains stable relations with the other counties. Economically prosperous, it provides the surrounding regions with unique foods, the finest coffee, and legume wine. The Metal-Mechanical House, run by the Creta family, manufactures the most advanced weapons and has supplied inquisitions and internal wars in other counties for the last fifteen royal generations.
Notes by Flora from the book "Contemporary History of the Great Counties".

"Max, hello!" Flora greeted him enthusiastically.
It had been a month since the attack on the Institute, which was just reopening its doors. Everything was as before: students filing into their classrooms, food vendors serving coffee, and the sweet smell of apple blossoms wafting from the botanical fields. The harsh winter was giving way to a temperate spring. Max sat on one of the benches in the central courtyard. Behind Flora, who was making her way to sit beside him, Roy arrived, surprising her by grabbing her shoulders. Flora let out a small shriek, and they both laughed, greeting each other as they sat down.

"How were your vacations, kids?" Flora asked playfully.
"I studied the chapters..."
"Boring!" Flora interrupted Max.
"What about Isaias?" Roy asked.
"He went to register as a volunteer," Max replied.
"What?! We need to stop him; he's too young to—" Flora began to protest.
"I did it yesterday," Roy interrupted her this time.
"You're both crazy! Max, please tell me you didn't—"
"No, I didn't..."
"Coward," Roy muttered, almost spitting out the word.
"I didn't—"
Roy stood up, his voice rising.
"The war has reached our city—our homes! The Sacros have already started building a wall by the Rhine River. Do you know what that means?"
"Roy, calm down!" Flora, now frightened, jumped to her feet, memories of the last violent confrontation flooding back.

"What the hell is going on here?" Makia said, grabbing Flora's arm to greet her.
Roy immediately sat down. Flora lit up with excitement, grabbing Makia's arm tightly and then hitting him even harder in the chest. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, before she pulled him into a tight hug. "Why didn't you let me visit you... damn you... damn you..." she muttered.

"Makia, I was just telling Max how important it is to support—what the hell is wrong with your arm?"
"Damn, Makia! That looks... painfull...!"
Isaias and Roy pointed out the obvious, something Flora hadn't noticed until now. She took a step back to see what they were talking about.
"Gross! What did they do to you? That bastard de la Rue is going to pay for this..." Flora lamented, examining Makia's newly teched-out arm.
"Relax. I did this myself... It's our friend Angel's arm; she lent it to me while I grow a new one," Makia said, waving the arm around as if it were nothing.

A commotion could be heard nearby. In the distance, a green banner was visible.
"Aeternos?" Max asked, recognizing what appeared to be the Woman Bearer on the banner.

The procession approached. Five Aeternos soldiers, four of them guards surrounding Marchit, stopped at one of the shops, briefly speaking with the vendor. He pointed them in the direction of Flora and her friends. Marchit thanked the vendor and headed toward the group.

"Makia, good morning," Marchit greeted him with a slight bow. Flora and the others instinctively took a step back.
"Hello..." Makia responded, unable to hide his distrust.
"Is there a problem?"
"You're not here to give me some truth and purity test like the last two, are you?"
"No..."
"Then I'm fine," Makia said, easing out of his tense stance.

"Anyway..." Marchit continued, "we are officially at war with the Rue. The central houses of Victrix and Sacra are hesitant to send more troops, as they fear weakening their positions in the north." Marchit paused for a second, noticing that Makia wasn't paying much attention. "Our three armies will stay to protect your city until we're resupplied and ready to march north. We need funds and the support of local warlords, so there will be a feast in honor of last month's victory. I understand they'll also be celebrating the birthday of one of the Victrix cousins... I think it's the youngest. Anyway, it's all to raise funds and gather troops."

"And?"
"Here's your invitation," Marchit said, handing an envelope to Makia.
"Flora, would you like to go?" Makia took the envelope and handed it to her.

Marchit snatched the envelope from Makia's hand, opened his jacket pocket, and shoved it inside.
"The invitation is for you, and you'll be attending as my guest, so don't be late!"
Makia swallowed hard and barely whispered, "Thank you..."
Without another word, Marchit left.

"Makia, you're so rude!" Flora scolded him while reading the invitation she pulled from his jacket. "Do you even have anything elegant to wear?"
"Of course not."
"Do you want me to go with you to—"
"Max, lend me some clothes."
"We need to buy you new clothes! Max's clothes won't fit you..." Says Frola, as Max touched his belly. "I'll go with you to shop."
"I don't have any money, remember? Dead parents."
Flora took a deep breath. It was a sensitive subject. "This must be how he's dealing with losing his parents—acting like it doesn't matter..."
"I won't let you go looking like a beggar," Flora said, glancing at his worn-out clothes. "We'll go shopping after class. I'll pay this time."

"You're so offensive Flora, you know that, right, Max?"
The school bell rang, signaling the start of class. The group headed to the same class they had left unfinished a month ago. Everything was starting again.