7 Chapter 7 - Two Mountain (1)
Alin examined the sun above her head.
Late. She thought.
Just like usual, that person is late today. She had received a letter two days ago, informing her to clean up the cottage and prepare a carriage by the road near Grea's Bakery.
It was quite sudden, that woman always came without even bothering to inform her before, she is usually the one cleaning the room and fetched herself a carriage without requesting it like this.
Alin crossed her hand, her deep electric blue eyes scanning creatures that pass right in front of her.
It's been almost a month since Alin last came to the city, as per usual, creatures of different kinds bustling the road, busying themselves. Fairies scattered around offering herbs, witches on the other side of the road shouting lists of spells, others trying to win over the customers by yelling their goods at a special price.
Feeling ache slowly reaching her head, Alin chose to close her eyes, listening with absolute and sharp attention to her surroundings.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed Alin's shoulder, her tightly closed eyes turned wide in seconds, with quick motion, she turned around and twisted the hand that touched her. Alin's ear catches a familiar voice that hissed in complaint, eyes slowly taking in the creature that stood in front of her, scowling with furrowed eyebrows.
"Lin!" Ruby yelled, while hissing in pain.
The girl in black attire quickly let Ruby's hand go, still not uttering a single apology. Alin's facial expression was as cold as usual, filled with stern and sharpness. Ruby starts to study the girl before her, shaking her head in disappointment.
"Black? Again?" Her red crystal-like orbs filled with accusation keep examining the girl from head to toe, she starts to nag, "I told you to buy yourself some colourful clothes didn't I?" shaking her head in disbelief.
Ruby purchased Alin by accident years ago, witnessing a girl not yet ten years old being tortured caused her blood to boil, she ended up redeeming the girl in a rush. Since then, Ruby slowly helps the girl by providing her both warm food and shelter, also giving her few options of surviving within this strange and harsh world. Although the girl never expressed her feelings, Ruby is aware the girl felt thankful deep inside.
Why else didn't she leave the moment Ruby declared her freedom?
Ruby decided to let her work and take care of a cottage that she owns, so then the girl could save some money on herself. Alin also managed to earn some by hunting down animals in the forest. Despite never asking for the money, the girl would constantly leave Ruby some silvers inside one of the drawers of Ruby's herb shelves.
Sometimes, Ruby even doubts her own memories and questions herself, whether or not she left behind her money, only after repeated similar occurrences that she ends up confronting Alin about it. Despite continuous rejection by Ruby, Alin continues to leave behind silvers and Ruby ends up having to leave it at that.
There's nothing much to their relationship. Ruby thinks Alin is like a good companion she encountered, there were even times when they didn't even speak to each other but Ruby never found it strange at all. Alin existence has become a part of Ruby life just like Raiene.
Like usual, Alin shows nothing through her face. Frustrated, Ruby just shakes her head and moves sideways, revealing a girl around Alin's age standing with a gaze filled with curiosity.
Alin eyebrows pulled up.
Who is this skinny dwarf girl?
Inside Arrenquile, Raiene could be considered lean and quite tall. However, outside of Arrenquile, she had realised that there's taller and plump girls strolling around in the road, to her amazement she found some with curve horn, a few with colourful blue ink pattern around their neck and hands, others with gold dazzling orbs walking with head held high filled with confident and intelligent gaze.
This scene caused a smile to emit on her face.
Raiene had always been reprimanded for her body size and the way she dressed or about the piercing stare that she always equipped on her face. Girls inside Arrenquile are told to keep their body size controlled, dress accordingly and not stare directly into other people's eyes.
Over here though, interaction maintained through eye contact and words occurred without any problem, both shock and amusement traced her face.
Furthermore, the girl that talks with Ruby just now dressed entirely in black, the colour that is considered inappropriate for girls inside Arrenquile.
However, instead of the word improper looming around the girl, she exudes both elegance and capability. Respect and admiration flowing through Raiene's obsidian orbs, her mouth dangling open as her eyes refused to blink.
The girl's blue piercing gaze and thin tight-lipped easily show her cold detached personality. Despite the straight line of a vicious old scar on her left eye, Raiene still stares without backing down, intending on following her around.
Ruby had told Raiene along the way, about a girl she purchased in a rush without much thinking, after that Ruby provided her with clothes and food. Ruby had told the girl to go wherever she wanted, because Ruby had given her freedom. The girl refused and since then lived inside the cottage Ruby owned, cleaning and providing the necessity whenever Ruby visited Qye.
"Lin, this is Raiene. Raiene, this girl called Alin. Hope you two can get along from now on."
Ruby smacks Alin and Raiene's shoulder, smiling wide with full expectation. However, upon assessing Raiene, Alin turns to face Ruby, nods to her and walks away afterwards, leaving the two standing beside a four wheeled carriage.
Ruby shrugged, already expected Alin reaction beforehand, she turn towards Raiene and rub the girl head, "You'll to get used to her," before she gets inside the carriage.
Flustered, Raiene follows Ruby and abruptly gets inside the carriage after leaving her eyes from the girl that slowly disappears in minutes within crowds of creatures.
The wooden carriage slowly moves, leaving the crowded streets of the city that are full of different kinds of creatures. The street is one of the main intersections inside Qye, as two lanes of road are dedicated to carriages and soft pavement on each side are for creatures to walk by.
Through the small window beside her seat, Raiene observed the crowd keenly, taking in the way everyone interacts with one another and different personalities mingled with others, this view constantly filling her vision, consciously lighting up her eyes with wonders.
It was such an interesting sight for her. Everything feels different, there's a sense of visible respect and equality seeping out from every creature Raiene lays her eyes on, it was such a fascinating experience for her.
However, inside Arrenquile, there is a different kind of occupation that requires respect and is considered high among others, though you can surely interact with those higher above you in status, the clear line of inequality in class and worth was visibly shown without hesitation.
Generals and Merchants are one of them because these two are the only people that are allowed and receive official permission to pass the border.
Merchants were required to trade goods from inside Arrenquile with people from outside the Kingdom, while Generals tasked were to protect the merchants along the road and when transactions with other creatures occurred.
Raiene turned her head from the street, questioning Ruby after examining the street for a while.
"Where are we going?"
Ruby smiled at her, "Black Hill, Two Mountain."
The Land of Qye had a peculiar area situated not far from the Palace. It was a secluded place called Two Mountain, where two mountains with opposite appearance stood side by side.
One had the black soil like the night sky, while the other had white soil identical to snow. One thing that makes it more strange, the little village situated at each Mountain.
Black Hill is situated at the foot of White Mountain, while the White Hill is situated within the foot of Black Mountain territory. Not to confuse others, the officials simply named the mountains, Two Mountain.
The carriage stops in front of a wooden cottage, the horse neighing for a while before calming down.
Raiene takes a step outside the carriage, eyes still bright with amazement. Staring at the majestic wooden cottage that stands right before her eyes, the small courtyard filled with green grass as a stone path leads the way toward the front door. Also the wooden sign with an embedded ruby coloured stone and engravement full letters of Ruby's name, adds awe towards the place.
Cursive and magical. Ruby Noth.
Raiene suddenly remembers Ruby's small comfortable hut back there inside Tirren Forest. The small space that equipped three shelves filled with tattered books, one round table with scattered bottles and tools and a furnace by the corner of the gloomy peeled wall, long dark brown couch Ruby claims as her bedroom and a small kitchen that Raiene never saw Ruby used before.
Now that she had stood in front of this cottage, it suddenly became hard for her to believe that the owner of this grand looking cottage is none other than Ruby.
Ruby shoved a book towards Raiene's chest. Surprised, she accepted it.
