Chapter 4 – The Bright Lights in the Sky (1/5) (Mellissa’s Version)

Radiant Age, April 5, 1127

{{{{{{{{"Nnnnggg…"

I was lying there, on the floor of my room. The place looked as though a bomb had gone off. Clothing and furniture were scattered from one end to the other. My night terrors were fierce last night, and this morning reflected it.

I stood up and looked around. I began cleaning things on instinct, just like Maxwell instructed me to do every morning. When I reached my window, the sun filtered in softly. My chest warmed up as I thought about the garden outside. How lush and fruitful it would be in a matter of time. My excitement grew thinking about how soon I'll be self-sustained with all the fruit and vegetables I'll need eventually. And it was all thanks to… her. The kindest human with a side wants to murder me and drink my blood.

"What a mess…."

The more I cleaned, the more I realized how big of a mess I made. The sight of it all made me a tad depressed. So, I sat on my bed and dangled my feet off the edge. My long hair was messy from all the tossing and turning as it fell in front of my face. As I calmly thought about yesterday's events, my mind began questioning my choices.

"What a strange place I've found myself in."

Radiant City was full of all kinds of craziness. From a cult of worshipers and a crazed barklight kid summoning a golem to kill me… to an overbearing Radiant knight accusing me of kidnapping people. Then there was Eve, who pointed a gun at me, threatening to kill me with a smile on her face. Vivian seemed to be the only sane person, but even she had her quirky side. Oh… and how could I forget that strange girl in the woods and her ghost friend? Yuuna and Janova, if I'm right.

"People are stressful to deal with."

I complained.

Out of all the wild people I've met… Mellissa Ann Cafree was by far the most caring and horrifying of them all. I couldn't grasp how one person could have such vastly different sides inside them.

One minute I was fighting for my life, and the next, I was being pelted with kisses and affection. Two completely different emotions were derived from the same person.

"Mellissa is strange."

I mumbled as I brushed my hair with my fingers. Mellissa was the pinnacle of a person I wanted to avoid. Every red flag was triggered just by being around that psychopath. I… shouldn't have accepted anything from her yesterday. It would have been best to sever any ties to her for the sake of my life.

But when she said those simple words in the shopping district yesterday, it showed her in a brand new light. She said:

"I just wanted you to like me, Feodora."

Never have I ever…

Had someone say…

Something like that to me before...

It twisted my insides uncomfortably, knowing we were both fighting for our lives against one another just a bit ago. In that same person's body, she wanted to get to know me… on a more personal level. I wasn't skilled in the art of friendships. My closest friend besides Maxwell was a body I played with when I was young…

And even then, playing with that body to learn necromancy, I was the person using my spells to interact with them. People… don't bother with me, and I don't bother with them.

"Mellissa…"

Her name curiously rolled off my tongue again. From what I've gathered, Mellissa, the human, had a bit of an attraction toward me. While the demon side of her had the same feelings but in a different way. That might be mainly because of my vessel type, leading her to want to kill me and feast on the blood flowing with the dark element.

Two very different sides to the same coin. That coin being the body of Mellissa.

"I need to keep my distance…."

I warned myself as I stood up. My room was still a bit of a mess, but I had to leave soon. I was fully rested and needed to get to Radiant City for sure. So, I cleaned up what I could within reason, put everything away, and got my katana from the wall. The guilt finally began to rush through my body when I strapped it to my hip.

"Maxwell…"

My mentor, my father figure, warned me not to get involved with people that way. It was a rule… a creed to live. Like a stream of water breaching into a cave, my mind started to flood slowly with… scary thoughts.

Things like… what if "I" wanted to get to know the human side of Mellissa? Would that be bad if I only approached her when she was normal? But then… I still had no idea what triggered the demon side to come out. I… would be risking my life to get to know Mellissa Ann Cafree just a little better.

"I can't… do that."

Even I was suffering from my demons, like my night terrors… how they torment me. I asked myself, what if Mellissa was to see that? How would the human side react to seeing me scream like a monster as I slept? Maybe the demon side of her would find joy from it… but the tender, elegant, human side wouldn't, would she? She… may even grow scared of me like the rest of the people within the orphanage did.

"Why… am I even thinking like this?"

I was entertaining the idea of getting closer to the woman who wanted me dead… I was straying from my teachings.

Stay alone, stay in the shadows. I am not a part of this world. I just exist within it. Maxwell gave me the outline to live. Because I didn't heed those words, I'm trapped doing jobs for the Radiant, Jade Opal. I wouldn't have been caught in this mess if I had just stayed… in the shadows.

I needed to follow what my father Maxwell taught me.

"I need to remember what I am, don't I, Maxwell? I must remember… that I don't belong in this world."

Gradually, the fears of what could happen creeped in. I could end up destroying my simple and solitude life. I began correcting myself like a teacher telling me everything I've done wrong on a test. Mellissa's human side maybe someone fascinating to me… But the fact is, if she knew the deeper truths about me, she would treat me like everyone else. Like a monster…

So, it's easier to cut ties with her. Thank her for her generosity. Agree to pay her back for all the money she spent on me… and never see her again after I finish my job.

"It's safer that way… if I keep my distance from her."

Even though that was the right choice, it made my chest feel a bit uncomfortable. An uneasy feeling I've rarely felt. It reminded me of when I was in the orphanage, and nobody would play with me… despite one of the dorm mothers giving me a new toy to play with too.

As I walked in the field toward Radiant City, I closed my eyes and reminisced about a time full of hurt.

I sat there, watching the boys and girls have fun with each other. I stood there with this uncomfortable feeling gnawing at me. The shame and embarrassment of… wanting someone to be beside me.

"Do you want to play?"

The child asked a girl playing alone.

We both had a doll in our hands. It was only fitting for both these dolls to be together. The childish me believed there… was always someone else for another person. That life was made in pairs.

"G-Get away from me!"

She screamed. Those eyes, full of worry and fear, showed me that my ignorant idea of there always being at least one person in this world for me had been shattered.

Life didn't guarantee I'd find a friend or a partner to be with. Nobody promised me I would have companionship; my past should have pushed that into my mind. Maxwell confirmed this to be true too.

But I wasn't a kid anymore. I knew why I needed to be alone. Why our kind… shouldn't be with others. Our curses inconvenience those around us. So, it's best to not associate with them.

"I'll do better next time, Maxwell…."

I said to nobody but the wind as I made my way to Radiant City. The air was refreshing. It was peaceful, and I enjoyed the solitude of the walk. In the distance, I could see the city.}}}}}}}}

"Huh?!"

To my surprise, the ground shook like mad as the sky lit up. It was a pure bright white before the shockwave of an explosion caused me to lunge back. This didn't just happen once. Two more came in rapid succession. The explosions were all from within Radiant City.

"What the hell was that?"

Black smoke rose from the city.

"Another bombing?!"

Confused and alarmed, I started jogging to the capital. When I reached the west gates, less than half of the number of knights stood to watch for beasts. The scene looked as though the knights were in disarray. They were pacing about, nothing like how they always are. They felt as though they were panicking. As I approached, I could see black smoke rise from within the city.

"That was a big one… There were three explosions this time!"

A female knight said warily, speaking to one of her own.

"I can't believe they're making the rest of us stay here. A psycho is going around bombing places, and we're stuck at the gates?"

Another angered knight kicked the wall in frustration. That answered my question… It seemed that another bombing had happened while I was on my way here. That must have been the flash I saw. That would mean Jade would likely be at the scene of the crime. I began running past them, through the gates when...

"Hold it!"

A knight stopped me.

"Oh… wait, you're that woman working with Jade Opal, right?"

"Eh… yeah."

Coyly, I nodded.

"If you're looking for her, Jade's heading the investigation on the bombings that happened minutes ago. You can find her near the north of the gates."

"Thank you…"

I rushed past the knights and ran into the city. People were being evacuated to the east from the north. So, I went down the street for a while in their direction. As I got closer, the black smoke became heavier as I approached a section of the city.

"What the…?"

The buildings around were burning, and a few of them crumbled from the shockwave. People were lying about on the ground, and I could hear crying and groaning in pain.

"This is… horrible."

"Feodora!"

The pushy voice of the knight caught me. She ran at me and came to a stop at my feet.

"Change of plans. You're not investigating the missing people case today. We have priority to look into these bombings now."

Before I could open my mouth, she pushed a device into my hand. It was rectangular, and I instantly knew what it was.

"Is this a… phone?"

I asked, knowing the answer to my own question.

"I'll need to contact you on the regular now. It already has my number on it. Now, your orders, look around the area and try to help survivors."

As quickly as she came, she raced off into the black smoke. There I stood with a… new phone in hand. But at the time, I couldn't let that distract me. People were hurting… So, I put it in my pocket and looked about the area.

"Help… someone."

There was a meek voice calling out. I looked around to see where the person was. With haste, I rushed over to see a fallen establishment. The canopy reminded me of the bakery from the other day, so I assumed it must have been. The building slanted pitifully, and the baked goods sign was lying on its side. The establishment crumbled as the roof was on the ground now. The sight was... depressing.

"What's going on?"

I asked an older white-haired man who was on one knee.

"My daughter is trapped in the rubble. Even with all the knights around, they are having trouble getting her out."

A knight turned to me.

"She'll be out soon. A few earth vessels are on their way to help move the pile of debris."

I looked at the destruction and thought about it. Enough objects were blocking out the sunlight underneath. That alone gave me a unique chance to help out whoever was down there.

"No need, I'll get her from under there..."

I said before touching the shadow and melting into the bakery. The entire place was dark when I appeared, and the woman was huddling under a table. She likely couldn't see because it was pitch black, but I had no problems.

"Ma'am…"

I reached out my hand, touching her shoulder. Before she answered, we appeared in the shade of a burnt tree. Just as we did, a few knights, likely earth vessels, rushed over and attempted to use their spectrum to push the debris around to get her out.

"Ah… "

"Thank you!"

The woman wept and held me. The knights turned to me, seeing the frustration on their faces. But the woman ran to her father and cried in his arms despite that. Luckily, they both were safe.

"And who are you, lady?"

A knight came up to me and put his hand on his hips. I was apprehensive he'd arrest me for some unwarranted reason.

"Ah… I'm Feodora Cicer, an assistant of Jade Opal."

I could see their shoulders relax as relief came to their faces.

"Ah, if you're working for Jade, that's all that matters. Go on with your assignment, then."

The knights went over to the woman and her father and started making statements. As I looked around, many knights were doing the same. There had to be hundreds here, and that was reasonable, seeing the damage here.

"Who did this?"

This was the 2nd bombing event that I witnessed here. Even though this probably wasn't part of the missing people investigation, the fact is that someone dangerous was going around doing this, and I was a consultant of Jade. As long as she needed me, I was stuck with whatever job she had for me.

This bombing event… had slowly made itself my problem too, as callous as I made that sound.

"Feodora Cicer…"

A knight approached me.

"Oh… Y-yeah?"

The sudden attention caused me to back up a little as a group of knights formed around me.

"We have this section covered. In the lower quarters of the city nearby, there are many more people trapped under rubble that will take time to get to. Would you please go aid the knights there instead?"

"The lower quarters?"

I was unsure where that was, and he pointed down a pathway to my appreciation. It was partially destroyed, likely from the blast.

"The housing is tighter because it's more poverty-stricken. Because the houses and businesses were closed, the bombings had a greater impact, and more people were trapped. With your… unique skills, we figured you'd be a bigger help there."

"Oh… sure, I guess. Lower quarters, huh?"

At their order, I rushed over and down the steps. As I traveled in the direction they instructed, I began seeing a significant change in the streets. The sun didn't reach the pathway due to the tall buildings. As I made my way down to the city's south side, I entered a tunnel, and when I came out of the cave-like exit, I appeared in another portion of Radiant City. The streets were broken up, and dirty patches were all around. Houses weren't as lovely as the other parts of Radiant City. These were the poorer portions of the city, as the knight explained.

"Ohh! Feodora!"

To my surprise, a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Vivian Heart caught me as she ran up to me. She hopped around me momentarily before coming to a stop and straightening her back.

"Are you here to help with the rescue too, Feodora?!"

She was dirty, likely from digging around and helping the people here. I nodded to her as I looked about.

"Yeah, Jade and the knights asked me to help. I heard more people were trapped down here."

Roofs were caved in, and people lay on the side of walls as black smoke protruded into the sky. The ground was almost black. This had to be one of the blast zones or ground zero in this case.

"Hm?"

She looked at my back pocket, and her eyes lit up.

"Whaaa?! You got a phone without me?!"

I tapped my pocket as she reached out, trying to take it from me.

"Eh, no… Jade gave this to me…."

Vivian puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms.

"That's super mean, Feodora! I was going to pick you out the coolest because you are the coolest!"

Aggravated, the white bunny kicked a pebble.

"Arrrgg… well, I can't worry about that right now. We need to save these people! I need help over here, Feodora; come with me."

She pulled me along and made our way to a pile of broken-down houses. Knights were removing people from within as others were spraying water at the fires that were still roaring.

"When the explosion happened, a few places built on bad foundations caved in, Feodora. Knights are having trouble getting that low in the ground, and people are stuck down there."

I nodded.

"I did it before. I can shadow walk down there and see if I can pull some people back to the surface."

"Ohhh! That's super smart!"

The bunny jumped.

"I should think about ways to use my holy spectrum right now too. C'mon, a superhero wouldn't falter! Think, think!"

I tapped her on the head.

"Don't think too hard about it, Vivian. Ah…"

I looked at the wounded who were being taken out by the knights. Their wounds weren't being tended to immediately.

"How versed in the water spectrum are you, Vivian?"

I asked, causing the white bunny to hop up in excitement.

"I can treat wounds if that's what you want, Feodora!"

She exploded with vigor, already ready to spring into action.

"How about you use water spectrum and treat their wounds for now, Vivian?"

I suggested.

"Yes! Will do, Feodora!"

Instantly, Vivian jumped around like a rabbit with too much energy. She raced over and did just as I instructed.

"Now then…"

I walked over to the dark spot of a fallen building. I calmed my mind and closed my eyes...

As I did at the bakery, I looked about the dark spots to see a good place to shadow-walk to. The shadows were tight, but I could see 4 or more people stuck under the dirt. There was a space underneath, just enough to fit me in, so I appeared inside.

"Oh? Who's there?"

A weak masculine voice asked as I touched their shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'll get you all out of here one at a time."

I did just that. I brought each of the people to the surface one at a time. When I appeared with them, the white rabbit would run over, take them by the hand, and begin healing their wounds using the water spectrum as instructed. This went on for a bit until I finally got everyone out.

"Thank you, ma'am, thank you."

Gratefully, she sobbed as she raced over and held their loved ones.

"What a mess."

When I turned around, the psycho named Eve walked into the scene. She held her head and crushed a pot under her feet as she made her way to me.

"Any ideas on who did this, Eve?"

I questioned, earning a shrug from her.

"No idea… I'm on medical duty, Jade told me. I guess I'm just as lost as you are, Feodora."

"Where were you when the explosion happened, Eve?"

She bit her lip and gazed away from me.

"Dangerously close… Let's just say that. I was following a lead on something... While I was down here in the lower quarters, this bombing happened."

Midway through her explanation, she walked to the group that Vivian was healing.

"Oh, Eve! Good to have you! Did I do well?!"

Vivian asked.

"You did as good as you could, Vivian… not being a water vessel, that is, kid. But I'll take it from here."

She did just that as she poured her healing spectrum on the group. I heard sighs of relief as their pain started to go away. With a bit of downtime, I decided it would be best to begin investigating too. Jade mentioned she was… suspicious of both Eve and Vivian for a reason, so I figured they might be the best place to start.

"Vivian, where were you during this explosion?"

I asked. The bunny hopped up and saluted me.

"I was on a mission, so I didn't get here until much later."

"A mission?"

I probed.

"Yes, it's confidential, but I had to gather some important intel. I felt the three shockwaves, however. But I couldn't abandon my job. A few moments later, though, around 15 minutes later, Eve called me to get here."

"So, Vivian, you weren't one of the first responders?"

"Sadly, no."

Dejected, she put her shoulders down.

Eve was in the vicinity of the explosion, but she wasn't harmed during the blast. Surprisingly, Vivian didn't come racing to the bombing sites because she was in the middle of a "mission." But as she was still doing her job, she was forced to come over and help because Eve called her…

I closed my eyes and thought about it… something felt off about Vivian's testimony.

"Isn't that a little strange, Vivian?"

I questioned, looking at the bright-eyed wonder.

"Oh, what's strange, Feodora?"

"That you… a heroine of justice, wasn't one of the first responders here? You're faster than anyone I know, yet you didn't race to action when these explosions happened?"

She smiled brightly and tilted her head.

"Oh, do you think I had something to do with the bombings? Is that why you're interrogating me? I swear that I'm innocent!"

She chided me, almost mockingly, as if just to play with me. She didn't seem upset that I was suspicious of her.

"No… it's not that, Vivian."

I lied as I reformulated my question.

"I'm just curious why you didn't think it was important to race to such a large explosion."

The bunny put her hands behind her back and paced for a bit.

"Because the mission I was on was a top priority from the Light Camp."

{{{{{{{{

"What is the Light Camp, Vivian?"

She perked up as her eyes shined.

"You've never heard of the Light Camp?"

Vivian asked. A wide grin came on her face, and she put one finger in the air like a professor teaching a lesson.

"We're a group who offers to do jobs for cities, and in return, we get paid for our services. Mercenaries and the like."

Vivian excitedly announced with a click of her feet and her hand to her heart.

"I was assigned to help Jade Opal and the other knights of Radiant City. That's partly why I'm part of Jade's investigation team."

"So, you work for the Light Camp, Vivian?"

The white bunny nodded. Vivian's ponytail bounced as she did.

"Yep! I've been assigned on the job to help the knights, as I just mentioned. That's why Jade is my commander!"

Excitedly, she raised her head like a proud puppy.

"My superiors from the Light Camp told me that Jade's command is the law."}}}}}}}}

Excitedly, she raised her head like a proud puppy.

"My superiors from the Light Camp told me that Jade's command is the law."

"But it was Eve who called you here, right?"

She turned back to me and shined her bright eyes my way.

"Yes, I don't have Jade's number, so any information given from someone else is by proxy, Jade to me. So effectively, Eve was Jade, meaning my orders became absolute."

I still found it odd that she, the heroine of justice, wouldn't drop all orders and come to help. But then again, if her job is that important, she might not have the freedom to do that.

Vivian sounded open and honest. I… felt a tad guilty doubting her now.

"Well, what about you, Feodora?"

The bunny grinned as she looked me up and down now.

"How do I know you aren't the one who caused this? Or maybe my heroine is working with the people who did this?"

She wasn't wrong to bring that up. All I did was shrug in response.

"You don't. For all we know, these bombs were on a timer, and that would give anyone an alibi. For now… we don't have the information to know who did this."

With a sigh, she nodded her head in agreement.

"I know you were outside the town gates when the explosion happened. So effectively, I'm your alibi too."

Alarmed, I looked back at her.

"How did you know that, Vivian?"

The white bunny put her finger to her lips and smirked.

"Because I like you, and I was watching you! I always have to watch my heroine, don't I?"

Cutely, she approached me.

"I mean, what if you did something super cool and I missed it?! I'm like your biggest fan, you know?"

I backed up slightly as she pushed her nose to mine. Her sweet breath trickled along my cheek as she whispered.

"Just kidding!"

Gently, she pushed my shoulder as she teased.

"If you have no other questions, I'll keep helping the people here. Bye, bye, Feodora!"

Before waiting for my reply, she raced off. I rubbed the back of my head and took a deep breath.

"That girl… is a lot to handle, isn't she?"

I at least know that Vivian knew my location during the explosion. Meaning whatever "mission" she was doing, it took her to the west gates of Radiant City. I was curious about what that "mission" could have been.

By order of the Light Camp, Jade's order is the law to Vivian. But that would mean Vivian only follows those laws because they came from the Light Camp. If her camp had never made those orders, Jade wouldn't have had any authority over her actions.

("So, who is directing you then, Vivian?")

I questioned internally.

That might become important later in my investigation, I concluded. As it stood, Vivian was only doing what the Light Camp ordered her to do, which was anything Jade had in mind. Despite how she made it sound, her priority and loyalty are only to the Light Camp.

("I'll keep investigating. For the time being, everyone is a suspect, and I shouldn't favor anyone, no matter what.")