The Will Of A Life: Astras

Red Gradual City

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CHAPTER 11
Red Gradual City
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   The group finally made their way towards the city as the sun reached the top of the sky. Once they finally landed just outside the gates Sylphin shrank down and nested on Rodrik’s shoulder. Everyone ensured their masks and hoods that had become sudden capes were situated before moving to enter the city.
   As they approached the giant gates Comera found herself fixated on not tripping over the road she could not see. While the masks of the group allowed the wearer to be able to see through them Comera still felt it was too dangerous and had stuffed her blindfold under it. Aldrador seemed to notice how cautious Comera had taken this whole thing. Without drawing too much attention to herself she swished her sturdy tail into Comera’s gloved hand and wrapped it around her wrist. Comera felt the tug as Aldrador pulled her along the road, carefully watching over her movements.
   Aldrador looked up at the grand sign displaying the name of the city in white against the red wall. This was the grand capital of the Rouge Kingdom, Red Gradual City. Its name was deprived from its structure with the towering Château de Rouge in the center and the homes and estates that faded from red to white away from the castle.
   A line of strong guards stood in front of the gate Checking over the identification of the line of people waiting to enter. The crew approached and some people took notice giving a short bow. As others caught on, the guards took notice and called them forward.
   “State your name and reason for arrival.” He commanded.
   “Copper hood of Dorana, here to shop” Tick claimed.
   “The city has had an increase of people pretending to be hoods. Do you have proof of your identity?” Another guard asked.
   Aldrador stepped up holding Nora and brought Comera with her. Nora reached out her hands and her hair suddenly became a light pink as a potion began to materialize. It found its way into an empty bottle in Nora’s hands and her hair returned to black. The guards didn’t say anything else and parted for them.
   Comera’s nerves grew tense as they crossed through the wall and into the city. She calmed herself and continued to let Aldador lead her. A while later they entered a shop as a little bell rang with the opening of the door.
   “You can relax here ‘mera,” Aldrador said, unwinding her tail from Comera’s hand, “nobody uses this store but nobles and us, so there is rarely anybody here.”
   Comera Slowly removed her blindfold, being careful not to lose her mask, and was surprised at the elegance and grandeur of the store. It looked like one of the malls of her world but covered in marble and gold. She saw a few well dressed people scattered around the mall, all humans or humanoids.
   Humanoids
People of races which maintain a human body. Demons, elves, and beastkin all fall under this category. Kiyo like Yumida are seen as beta humans as they have a natural struggle against humanoid abilities like speech.
   Aldrador motioned her forward and she began to search around the stores. Everything was beautiful and as she was reminded of the money Vera had given her, she bought some clothes and separated herself from the others. She had recalled the holiday tomorrow and searched for gifts for everybody. A fluffy rabbit plush for Nora, a bouquet of rainbow roses for Vera, and a large cookbook for Far. She found that Fir and Rodrik seemed to like necklaces as they had worn them whenever she saw them, so she bought some. She remembered Leon had extremely long hair and it seemed to get in his face often so she got him a nice hair pin to keep it in place.
   She bought a dull rainbow leather coat for Arthur, and a large notebook for Elaina. She obtained some matching bracelets for Yan and Yori. Comera carefully picked out gifts for everyone else she had met and rejoined the group after buying some clothes.
   “Oh there you are! Did you find anything good?” Rodrik questioned.
   “Some nice clothes, did you guys get anything?”
   “Not really just some groceries,” Rodrik stated.
   Comera nodded and they left the store weaving through some allies on their way to the gate. Comera hadn’t worn her blindfold, but she didn’t realize it as she felt so comfortable around the team.
   The group suddenly stopped and looked around as they heard a commotion. Nora followed the sound and found some people surrounding something and laughing at it. They shouted many mocks and split just long enough to see a kiyo sitting against the wall, its watery body had become slightly pink as some drink had been spilled on them. He didn’t quite seem to care as he just cleared his hair from his face. Aldrador realized it was Yumida and was already moving to help when Rodrik stopped her. She shot him a glare through her mask.
   “Don’t. This is his problem and we have no right to intervene, he has told us this before.” Rodrik whispered sharply. Aldrador begrudgingly stood down. Nora and Comera watched worriedly as Yumida sat there. The pink colored liquid swished around in his watery body as he moved. The people standing around him focused their attention on the case on his back.
   One of them reached out and attempted to wrestle it off of him. Yumida suddenly threw a heavy punch into the man, sending him back into the adjacent wall. The others suddenly pounced at him as he swiftly and gracefully dodged to the side. He sent a swift kick to one of the men's sides. The blow sent him crashing into the last man and the two were sent into the back of the allay in front of Nora. Yumida noticed them and after ensuring nobody was around he summoned his hood and mask. His violin removed itself from the case and floated in the air as if it were waiting to be played. He obliged this nonexistent want as he held the violin and played it in an almost sad tune yet still full of relief and sincerity.
   They all seemed to feel moved by the song as Yumida joined them.
   “That was one hell of a powerful kick, Yumida, good job.” Rodrik said.
   “Thank you friend” He responded his words were almost perfect which made Aldrador smile a little. Nora looked at his soiled clothes and the slightly pink tint of his form, and she reached into her bag for a purify potion. She couldn’t find one so she took an empty bottle instead.
   Nora wrapped her cloak over her and began to create the potion. Her hair again became a light purplish pink as she made it. After completion her hair returned to black and she turned her cape back into a shawl.
   She waddled over to Yumida and attempted to give it to him but he was preoccupied sitting on the floor with his legs crossed making sure his violin wasn’t broken. Nora waddled behind him and reached up, pouring it on his head. The potion seeped in as the pink left his body and clothes.
   He adjusted his belled sleeves and rolled them up to his elbows. The violin returned to its case and closed the top behind itself. He fixed his hair and adjusted his bangs so they seemed reminiscent of crashing waves. Rodrik suggested they all return together and Nora’s pleading eyes forced him to agree. Aldrador loomed over the unconscious men before kicking one in the face. She then returned to the group.
   Comera officially realized that her blindfold wasn’t on and she immediately placed one under her mask. As the group began to walk into the city again Aldrador grabbed Comera’s hand.