The calm, the queen, the dream

"JEAN, YOU BASTARD!"

Jayce shakes the hell out of Jean as I sit alongside Nelen and Esmeralda. There's soup on the table, and Danella's giving each person their share. There's still chaos coming from the outside, but the underground building's ambiance calms the kids, so it's good in a way. Not to mention the entrance is also heavily guarded. Strangers huddle in their respective groups, and there's no good reason to bother them. Unless I'm Jean, of course. He likes bothering people.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY DAUGHTER?!" Jayce continues on shaking him.

"How are the kids?" I ask Esmeralda, who's busy fixing Nelen's ponytail.

"A little shaken up, but they're doing fine. They're all playing on the barracks with the other children."

"How about you guys? Are you good?"

"Oh, don't worry about us. Nel protects me. I take care of her. We'll be alright."

"Look at you two getting all chummy... By the way, have you guys seen Arra? I think she went around here somewhere."

"No, sorry. We're the first ones here. I haven't seen her."

"Are you sure?"

"I think I am. Why?"

"Did something happen to her?" Nelen fidgets as Esmeralda strokes her hair.

"She was supposed to bring some elders in here, and she knows where this place is. Does she always act like this?" I said.

"N-no. She's a very punctual person. Are you going to look for her?"

Is what she says, but Nelen stands up, instructs Esmeralda to look around the premises, and drags me along with her. She also takes Jean by the hand and power-walks, leaving Jean and I to shrug on why she's anxious. It's not like Arra can't defend herself. She's a Lion, after all. Handling a bunch of Dolls shouldn't be a problem for her. A large circle of Chimerians barricades the citizens from the queen, pushing the civilians away from her. The yells of the citizens get louder as soon as we get outside, and the queen's giving a speech now. Hmm. Now that I look closer, she looks beautiful. And familiar. Like I know her from the back of my head. Well, not that I care about it. I won't be able to talk to her. Might as well focus my energy on finding Arra.

"So, I'm assuming you have a plan?" Jean starts.

"We can split around and ask the Chimerians. Lions are famous across Stassi, so asking for her won't take much time. If no one's seen her by then, then I'm going to find her." Nelen lets go of our arms.

"Sounds like a plan, but where do we meet?" I ask.

"We meet back at the headquarters before dusk. It's noon, so we'll have plenty of time... Unless anyone wants to come with me?"

"I'll go with you. Getting attacked while alone in the middle of an alley is not nice."

"All right. That works, too. Are you coming with us, Jean?"

"I'm good. You guys go and investigate. I work best when I'm alone."

He smiles and turns away, his amethyst cape gleaming as he disappears into the crowd. I follow Nelen through a different crowd. The crowd heading towards the queen. Why did she suggest on going to the crowd? Does she really think that... Oh, so that's what she's thinking. Maybe Arra's guarding the entrance, and if she isn't, then we'll get to ask where she is because Chimerians are flocking there. Good plan, Nelen.

"Good plan, Nelen." I say as I shove my way through the sea of people.

"What?"

"Oh, for going to where the Chimerians are so we can easily know where Arra is. Good plan."

"Oh, yeah. I was definitely thinking about that. We'll also get information there about Cerberus. It's like killing two birds with one stone."

"Are you always this practical?"

"Well, if you were a homeless teen, you'd do the same. I don't want to brag, but I used to be conniving, blunt, and smart. That is, until I met her. Then I became dumb, but her good qualities rubbed off into me. We used to hate each other because our personalities don't match."

"Wait. You don't mean Esmeralda, right?"

"I do."

"... Seriously? With all those touching and feeling? I don't believe you."

"I'm not kidding. The first time we met was when I broke and entered through her home because I felt like it."

"Eh-- Why did you do that?"

"No one's stopping me. Anyways, where were we? Oh, yeah. So I broke through her shop, and I was half-way through browsing her refrigerator, when she comes out half-naked from a shower."

"I don't think she'll appreciate it if you're this open about your relationship."

"You asked a question and I was just answering. Anyway, I felt a pow in my heart. She looks perfect. And that's when I realized that I'm lesbian. She screamed and called the Chimerians on me, but no one came. You should've seen the look on her face back then. So lovely. She looks like a rabbit when she pouts."

She laughs, as if she's forgetting about her quest to save her friend. Not that there's nothing bad about it, though. If it eases the tension and keeps her calm, then the process will be much easier. Damn it. It's actually very hard to keep up with her with all these people. Why don't they go inside al--

"Do you want to grab on my cape?" Nelen turns her head while gently shoving a woman aside.

"Oh, thanks. So where exactly are we heading?" I ask.

"I saw Aldwynn, Strauss, and Alistair somewhere near the queen."

"Oh. Is it true about the queen being a looker?"

"I guess you could say that. How is it relevant for our mission?"

"I just wanted to ask, is all."

"Stand back! ALL OF YOU! ORDER!"

Oh, yeah. It's definitely him. Aldwynn's deep voice resonates within the crowd, along with other officials yelling at the people to stop pushing against each other. Projections from gadgets plague the air, and the heat from the sun is starting to take effect. Why won't they take shelter in the Chimerians' main office? All this rallying and complaining about what's happening isn't going to magically make the situation any better.

"All this rallying and complaining about what's happening isn't going to magically make the situation any better." I shout so everyone hears.

"Fuck off! We're trying to ask what the hell's going on!" A guy from the crowd says. Hmm... Good point.

"Screaming about it won't make Your Highness answer!! She hates loud people!!" Alistair shouts.

"ALISTAIR!! HAVE YOU SEEN ARRA?!" I scream.

"WHO SAID THAT?!"

"HEEEEEEEY!!" I wave my hand as fast as wings, and Alistair shoves through the crowd as soon as he sees us. He's whispering something, and the people near him are backing away.

"Get ready." Nelen hugs me from behind... This feels nice.

"Arra's mi-- Wha--"

He grabs my hand and literally throws me inside the circle, while Nelen grabs onto me while chuckling... Oh, well. Good thing I'm immortal, I guess? I crash with my face against the ground, but my demon friend almost instantly lifts me up. Like a stuffed toy. Ow. It's a good thing I have this body. A couple of Chimerians glare at me, but by now, shame isn't something I should worry about. Business beckons.

"You look just like him..."

A soft voice of a woman. Bright, yellow eyes. Almost as same as mine. That funny cabbage crown makes her look youthful. Royal clothes that almost match her hair color. The queen stares for a few more seconds, and Nelen, who's getting a bit uncomfortable, decides to put me down and talk to Alistair.

"What?" I say as I try to walk towards Nelen.

"Speak when you're spoken to!" A Chimerian blocks me with a spear. "You're very unfamiliar with etiquette, aren't you?"

"Lower your weapon. Let him do as he please. He's a visitor." The queen puts her fan down, revealing her face... Hmm. She really looks familiar. I just can't point my finger on it.

"You're beautiful. I think I recognize you somewhere. I'm not sure, though. Oh, yeah. Questions. Do you know where Alistair's daughter is? If not, then what's the plan for whatever the hell's going on right now?"

Silence. Some Chimerians and civilians gasp. Aldwynn and Strauss are trying to hold their laughs in, while Nelen and Alistair are looking at me like I just murdered a family. Visar arrives and looks at everyone, wondering why it's so quiet. He then proceeds to go near the queen and whispers. Two roars rock the skies, but the two kings are nowhere to be seen.

"What is your name?" The queen's eyes sparkle.

"Sol. You?... And please answer my previous questions. Thank you, queen."

"I am Stressa. Give me a reason to aid you."

"We both work with the Black Scourge. We're also working on finding the people responsible for this." Nelen's voice stands out despite the chaos from the crowd.

"The Black Scourge... Visar. Tell him." The queen brushes her mint green hair and covers her face with her fan. Like she remembered something. What exactly did Jean do?

Visar sighs and does what he's told. Apparently, he's been told that the prime suspects of the attacks are multiple. Chimerian reports state that Sierra and Sammis have gone missing along with Hamir ever since the suppression back at the South Gate. There's also a case with a missing Lion by the name of Iris. Visar shows me the picture of her. Blue eyes and a bob cut. Nothing special about her.

"How is this missing Lion relevant?" I glance at the queen. She's also looking at me.

"She's the only one who specializes in chanting 'Ilyacus Ynterio te Forra'."

"Erm... Okay. I'll look into the spell later.What does it do?"

"It basically transports someone and returns them to the original position after a large delay. With practice, you can increase the number of targets and its duration."

"Oh, okay. I get it now. It's the same spell that the Dolls use to magically appear out of nowhere."

"Precisely. She went missing a few days before the first Doll attack happened. The latter occurred at a perfume shop known for ordering large amounts of Stassiaflora; exactly the day before the attack at the local theatre. Not a Cing was taken."

"Wait, let me get this straight. So Dolls were already attacking even before I got here?"

"... When did you come here?"

"A few days before the attack at the theatre. I was a victim when it happened. Unfortunately, I can't give you a date because I forgot."

"Interesting..."

"Anyways, you still haven't answered me. So Dolls were al--"

"No. It happened days ago, exactly when you showed up."

"Well, that's weird. Imagine if I was the one actually causing the attacks. That'd be hilarious."

"This is no laughing matter."

"Right. So the main suspects are the following: Sammis, Sierra, Hamir and Irish?"

"Iris."

"Got it. Do you mind if I ask another question?"

"Go ahead."

"What's the plan on handling these attacks? From the looks of it, the Chimerians aren't doing anything."

"I can't suggest anything. I'm not risking my soldiers unless we find where they're coming from. Until then, feel free to tell new information. I may be of help in the future."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

I nod as Nelen tugs on my clothes, telling me to follow Alistair. Estressa is talking to Visar now, and Alistair calls Aldwynn and Strauss to come with him. Strauss scatters teleportation scrolls on the ground and chants, transporting us back to the entrance of the headquarters... Damn. That teleporting shit's really nauseating. I think I'm gonna vomit.

"I think I'm gonna vomit."

"Do you want to stay and guard Esmeralda?" Nelen asks.

"Change of plans. Yep. I'll stay h-here. I still have a long life to live. Might as well get as comfy as possible."

"Be sure to protect her, okay?"

"Gods. Chill out, Nelen. It's not like we'll lose if that happens. I'll just give her alcohol and she'll be fine."

"We're going to head out now!"

Is what she said, but she's shouting from across half a mile. The headquarters' entrance, which was located literally below the hill, was guarded by a steel door and reinforced with Spell-breakers. The guard stops me and pats me down before chanting a spell. Sigillu Marca. I wonder what that means?... Yep. Pretty sure I don't wanna know for now. Makes my headache worse.

"Hello, Esmeralda." I say as I drink a metal cup of water.

"Sol? You're early. Where's Nel and Jean?" She replies and offers me the bread she's eating.

"Are you free right now?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Can you show me where the bedroom is? I wanna take a nap."

"Oh, you poor thing. Just sit tight, okay? I'll go and ask where it is."

She turns and heads for the gate, and my eyes start to cloud... Hm. Maybe I should take a nap here instead. It feels comfy... Yes... Nappies.....

Oh, no.