"My sword is one inch away from slicing your neck. My victory is one inch away, yet why can't I do it, Althea? What kind of spell have you cast on me to have me thinking about you all day?!"
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Byeol meets a tragic death at age nineteen...
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If you told me two weeks ago that I'd be currently in the streets of a foreign empire with my worst enemy, I'd have laughed in your face. Well it seems fate is a funny thing, because that's exactly where I am right now. My cloak is almost dragging on the ground, the hood low on my back, as my silver hair cascades down my back and my shoulders, creating a contrast against the brown of the cloak.
Aias is beside me, wearing a similar cloak, but he pulled up the hood, now hiding the side of his face. He's wearing less showy and darker clothes than he usually does, but he still walks as if he owns the place. Though even in his usual attire, he prefers to wear black. I swear, the only color on this man's face is his blue eyes.
We had finally made it Knostasia, after a two day trip, and we were currently in the capital.
I looked around the streets, taking note of the stands selling skewers - something I haven't eaten in days - the mothers and their children who are playing in the street square, as the grown-ups talk to eachother. All benches are occupied by them. Another man is feeding pigeons with his son, and a woman is braiding her daughter's hair.
Everybody seems to be in a happy mood, and everyone seems to be social - something I didn't quite see in my past life. It's a nice sight to see, but the intimidating and rather cold presense beside me is making anyone who looks at us turn their heads quickly in nervousness. Goodness.
The scenery changed from happy families to angry-looking people and dark lightning as we progressed further inside. I'm guessing this is the 'dark side' Aias' private investigator mentioned yesterday. Everyone was looking at us as we passed. Granted, even though we tried, we don't look like commoners. We look like... maybe merchants - or travelers. I'm assuming people like that don't pass through these kind of alleys.
I decided against smiling kindly at them, feeling the dagger strapped to my thigh very vividly at the sight.
We eventually came to a stop. Aias' cold and unbothered expression hadn't changed since the moment we exited the inn - something that, ironically, bothered me. How could he be so calm about this?
He knocked on the door a couple times, and it took me a moment to realize he was tapping rhythmically, as if in secret code. Well if I wasn't scared before, I certainly am now. I could feel the people's gazes all on us - on Aias, more specifically. One of them was making it very clear that he was sharpening a knife, another one was sharpening an axe - honestly, what has this man gotten me into?
The door opened, creeking and I could feel the shadows lurking in the dark hallways waiting to pounce, as if the house was haunted. Aias gently pushed me inside with his hand on the small of my back.
