Fragments of Ash Vol. 2 (Urban Fantasy)

Chapter Three: A Festival at Melchiezedek

North Melchiezedek, a more affluent, middle-class part of town. Not saying much. The houses were still quite small, there was still the smell of oil lingering in the air; the main difference was that more people could afford clean clothes and hygiene. The streets were far wider and usually more bustling, trams and cars took up space and kept the whole city alive in this part of town.

Thankfully, today, the smell of hot exotic food overwhelmed the fumes that usually stained the air, the large streets were cleared out in favour of large food stalls and parties in restaurant openings. It was the annual food festival, an event where chefs from around the world showcased their cooking. It was Ada's choice to dress up in traditional Abramic clothing. She and Ciel looked fantastically exotic in their home-made, finely patterned garbs. The traditional outfit for the people of Abram was modest wrapping that covered the whole body, as per the conservative nature of the country. The women finished the wrapping with a large bow, while the men did with two sticks.

Ada had spent weeks weaving the patterns on the outfits and making sure the shapes and forms were correct. They were her pride and joy. She loved them. So did Ciel, or at least he pretended he did. He didn't have a choice. She was annoyed about the stupid ugly stamps they had to have printed on their hands to attend the festival, but never mind, it didn't ruin the look too much. At second glance, the stamp looked suspiciously like a rune...

The two walked through the bustling streets of Melchiezedek where all the food stalls were out, families and couples enjoying the night.

"These fish balls are lovely Ciel, try them out!" Ada had a pike with four balls of fish stuck on them,

"Tch, you think I've never had fish balls?" Ciel picked one and popped it into his mouth, "OW OW OW HOT HOT!"

"Pffftt-hahaha!" Ada started laughing. She was loving it, so much variety in food, she adored international cuisine, the rich flavour, the varied textures, it all made food from Melchiezedek seem bland.

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," Ciel was waving air into his mouth, "I was hoping it'd make you feel more at home. I mean they're selling food similar to Seiruun cuisine here somewhere."

Ada didn't reply for a while, they continued to walk through the hustle bustle of the food market, "I haven't been to Seiruun in ages. There's not much I miss about it," she said, and indeed, she didn't remember much about the food, about the people, or the culture. She remembered it being religious, very holy. But with the death of religion following the war, there wasn't much to remind her of the past. Over a decade of being a nomad had stolen her identity.

"Oh, I see," Ciel sounded like he thought he said something wrong,

"No, don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to trying some of their food. I just, I don't even know if I remember what it tastes like."

"I see, well I'm totally curious, so we should find that stall."

More of a wander around, Ada realised something,

"This does remind me of one thing about Seiruun," she said, "maybe the only thing I really remember clearly," she smiled,

"What's that?" Ciel's mouth was full of cotton candy,

"The Glowing Butterfly Festivals," she beamed, "I still think about those to this day."

"Oh yeah, you mentioned before. I read that they actually used to be indigenous to Melchiezedek, the butterflies. But the air started getting dirty. They've been gone for a long time due to the change in atmosphere."

"What a shame, my favourite memories are of going to the Butterfly Festivals with my Mother. It was like, our 'thing'. Did you know my surname actually means butterfly?"

"Papillon?"

"Yes; it was our house animal, that's why it's so important to me," but perhaps the fact that the first time she ever killed someone with no remorse was the last time she had seen a glowing butterfly is what really lingered in her mind. She couldn't tell that to Ciel. No need to be grim.

It started to snow. Small specks of white in the air at first, but slowly a nice, calm flutter of white started to dance down to the ground, and settled.

"Hey, you're lucky, look how big those snowflakes are," Ciel said, "they're almost like butterflies in and of themselves!"

"Haha, I guess so!" Ada was enjoying her time with Ciel, but she couldn't help but wish Eleanor was having fun at the festival too. Ever the workaholic.

***

Francoise stood outside the city walls, waiting. The gates of the city led to a massive open concourse that led to nothing but a vast wasteland in front of him, the next city was several hours drive away, whoever had written him that letter of invitation, wasn't going to turn up.

He heard the gate from the city wall open up. A figure approached. She walked towards Francoise, steely, confident, not giving a damn about how the snowstorm was picking up.

"Francoise?" it was Eleanor,

"I'm guessing you go the same letter I did then?" Francoise replied,

"Lady Amelia, the greatest soldier in all of Abram," Eleanor frowned, "she invited me out here."

"Oh, my letter was from..." Francoise didn't finish his sentence. He decided not to tell Eleanor that the letter was a faked one from her. "I think we've been had," he said.

"I was expecting an ambush or something, not this," said Eleanor. She grit her teeth, "unless this was a distraction?" she grit her teeth, "shit, this doesn't feel right."

"What's the problem?"

"I'm going to travel to the festival, you should check out the Royal Palace! C'mon let's go!"

"Right!"