Arcana Academy: Sin's Pressure.

Chapter 18-Lets Chat

 After a couple hours of traveling, they had finally made it to a shipping dock that seemed almost abandoned until a few people had come out of a cottage. Istar watched as they helped round up the ship, tying it down to metal poles to make sure it didn't move away. Right as they were finished, workers from the ship helped put down a platform as Merry and Lamy walked down, telling Istar to follow the two of them, along with Ame right behind him.

After a minute or so, multiple people dressed in rich attire, ranging from dresses and suits—all in the same green and brown scheme—started to come down. In the middle of these nobels was the small blonde haired girl from earlier that apparently had hired them. Although she, unlike the rest, didn't step out into the grass. She waited until an oak brown carriage came, and only until then did she make any movements away from the ship.

Istar sighed but he knew it wasn't his place to think much about it.

He was too busy with the thought of coming back to the forest so early on his journey in school. The sweet yet humid breeze, the smell of fresh wet grass, the trees that looked like they had no end; it was all too vaguely similar. Living in the swamps most of his life had forgotten how green something could be, about how sweet the air could taste instead of always feeling like he was breathing in smoke.

Merry yelled at Istar, telling him to help and so he did. Istar grabbed multiple different bags, all carrying a different scent with it. They placed it within the multiple different carriages, making sure each was neatly and nicely stacked; mostly due to Merry yelling at Istar who was throwing them like worn over pillows.

As soon as they were finished packing, the group headed out into the towering forest. Amelia was at the side of the carriage, Istar right behind, as Lamy was on the other side and Marry in front. Istar tried to peek at who was at the front, only getting a glimpse of a person on a horse, with a large hat, while holding out a map.

"You hearing what they are saying?" Amelia slowed down, keeping pace with Istar but still being close to the carriage's door.

"Nope." He replied.

"They are saying it should take a couple days to get to Tallo." Amelia explained, pointing a finger in the air as if her role was important, "But apparently we are stopping by a small village just up ahead, possibly the next morning."

"Tallo?"

"It's the capital of Hukao; I've never been there but I hear that the people don't live on the ground but in the trees! Also, I hear that the people and the animals here coexist! Something about Fauna and respecting life...I don't really get it myself but I would love to see a Valley Giant help in a city!"

A small chuckle came from the carriage, "Well, you're only half correct."

The two turned towards the carriage, a silhouette of the girl they were escorting was there, along with a fan covering parts of her face, " Yes, the people of Tallo do live in the trees, hanging off the man built edges, almost all trees are connected to one another, like a labyrinth. However, no. The people and the creatures of Hukao do not live with each other as if they are simply neighbors."

"Damn...would've loved to see that Valley Giant..." Amelia clicked under her breath.

"Girl, come here," She commanded and Amelia went back to the side of the carriage, "What is your name?"

Amelia put her hands on her hips, smiling as she said, "Amelia Watson! A detective!"

"But you're still in school, I doubt you would have a detective license."

"It's my goal to be a detective, and when I set a goal, it will be completed." She swayed her head to the curtain window, trying to get a look at the girl's face, "So, I might as well declare it already!