Conversation Behind The Wall

The wind picked up, and the atmosphere is getting cold. Marie had kept her hands inside the pocket for a while now. Looking at her, I also felt like I should too. Ahh, I should've bought the gloves from the flee market in the carnival earlier.

It appears as though the door of the warehouse cannot be locked. They pushed it ahead, leaving a slim gap open. I leaned behind the door and peeked behind them. They were clearly visible, but I guess it'll be risky standing behind the main door. Who knows, more people might be coming, and they'll keep an extra eye here because it's the only entrance.

" Elea..."

Marie whispered, peeking from the side of the warehouse and making the gesture of calling me to her side. It seems like she has found a better spot on that side.

The entire warehouse is made up of steel, and it's transparently broken on the rooftops and towards the side frames. We sat behind the wall panel, just below the windows, so that we could see and hear them clearly. I couldn't help but ponder over what they must be planning on doing here.

"—For neither the Elites nor the Liminals have understood it yet."

"I am surprised by that fact too."

"Maybe because they think that they are sure of everything they do and know about."

"Yeah.."

We can hear them at a distance. Little at low voice, but it's distinct enough. They are discussing something about the elites of our kingdom? And what's Liminal they just spoke of?

I raise my head and peek with proper caution to see

"Aera, did you notify them properly.?" asked Bruno.

"Yes, I did." 

"Last time you didn't relay it properly, and we had to wait for 2 more days."

"I said I did. So can you stop pestering already?"

Aera replied quite unspiritedly while dusting a space over a table.

She sat with her legs crossed and arms stretched behind her as if the queen owned the place.

Her attitude seems different than before, when she seemed a little polite and kind.

"Well, well, let's not turn it into an argument now." said Ethan, calming them down.

"Elyana, you look tired. Get some rest."

"What's their place to rest now? I have to go home in a few hours anyway."

"Yeah right."

"It took a long time for this.." said Elyana.

"Yep, a lot more than imagined, but it's going to be okay." said Ethan as he patted Elyana's shoulders.

"Yeah, thank you so much, Ethan." said Elyana as he matched her eyes.

Long time.? For what.? I have no idea what they are talking about, but at least Elyana will be coming home tonight.

Marie pokes at my shoulders, cross-grabs both of her index fingers, and starts gesturing about how she knows that they are in love with each other.

*Sigh** I thumbs up to her to brush her off. I don't even care about that topic at this moment.

"By the way, Ely," said Aera.

"Yea.?"

"Everything's okay, right.?"

"It is. Why do you ask.?"

"You didn't go home yesterday at all. I mean, what if your parents might've raised the concern with local officers or knights to look after you?"

"Na Dad is never home. And mom doesn't care for me at all. So it's okay; it won't affect much except for the fact that she will throw a tantrum when I return." said Elyana blatantly.

"Haha, I see." Says Aera with an obnoxious laugh.

What do you mean by Mom doesn't care for you? As if you listen to anything she says. She is embarrassing her own family in front of everyone. Arghhh* but if Aera knows that Elyana wasn't at home, it means she was with them only.

"And what about your sister? What was her name again?" asked Aera in a tiresome way.

"Eleanor." replied Ethan.

"Ah, yes, yes. I heard that she'll be becoming an excellent knight."

Oh, so they know me too, and she heard.? Who told her about me.?

"She is stubborn and childish as hell. Sometimes she lectures like mom, and sometimes she talks politely as if she understands me. I avoid interacting with her for the most part. She's also one headache." she said, sighing her life out.

I am childish..?????? How dare you? and I talk politely so that you know that I care and can always count on me. She can't be anymore wrong about everything around her.

My eyes were burning in anger until I felt a gentle rub on my head. I glanced over my right shoulder. It was Marie trying to console me. I moved her hand back into her pockets. **Sigh* I want to confront them and take Elyana away from them. They are seriously not a virtuous company to be in.

I just saw that nerdy-looking guy standing a bit further away from them the whole time, and he's still flailing his hands in a strange gesture, pointing to the sky. He did something similar at the carnival before they decided to exit.

"Ben." called Ethan

"Just a sec. It's almost done."

Dim tone, but his voice is heavy enough. He doesn't like talking much; even at Carnival, he wasn't cheering or even clapping for them.

"It's completed from both sides in the same way, as they asked." Said, Ben.

"Oh, great." Ethan said as he removed some kind of pocket watch from his back. The pocket watch looks like it's made of glass. Completely transparent, there's a blue-magenta-type liquid colour flowing in reverse. Green emerald on the top. It's all sparkling. I've never seen something like that before.

He presses the button on the top to open it. Soon a dim silver sparks inside, following the key, multiple wheels and gauges working together. There's multiple small clocks fitted into the bigger clock. It's all transparent, yet the numericals on the side are visible in black. It was mesmerizing. I was so captured that I forgot to blink for some time.

Even Marie is looking at it with her eyes wide open.

"Him..." Marie slowly mutters.

"What?" I asked.

I bet she must be thinking he is super rich to possess something like that.

"It's descending in the Murk." said Ethan.

"Already here?" said Aera.

I was stunned after hearing the word Murk. Murk.? Did he say Murk.? What's Descending there.? What are these guys up to? As I sat by the broken window behind the wall panel, listening to their group chat away, I couldn't help but feel like a stupid person stalking because of her sister. Their conversation is filled with jargon and references that are completely foreign to me. With each passing moment, my frustration grew until it was all-consuming. They made fun of our knights and Elyana, of our family. I knew I had to speak up, confront them about their exclusionary behaviour, and take Elyana away from them. a deep breath, and finally I made my decision.

"Marie..."

"Yea?"

"Come."

"Where to?"

I stood up and started walking.

"Wait, for real.?" said Marie as she followed me.

I rush towards the door and push it open. It made a rattling sound like opening a chamber after many years. Their laughter and conversation completely drowned in silence, and they were full of alertness as they saw me coming inside. I stood in front of the entrance with my eyes on Ethan, then slowly shifting to everyone one by one in the warehouse, only to finally land on Elyana.

"Sis..." Elyana said.