Arc 2, Chapter 4: The Thundering Blade

Jotou began scratching the back of her collar, only to be slapped away by a hand, "What?" Jotou whined. In the mirror's reflection she could see behind her, Hotaru zipping up the back of the frilly white and black dress.

"Don't stretch the cloth," Hotaru asked of; it was her dress after all. "You're lucky we share the same size," Hotaru's bag was neatly open on her old bed.

"We don't have to. I can just wear all the sundresses the guild gave me," Jotou remarked as Hotaru shoved a hairpin to keep her blonde bangs back.

"Hey, it's not like we're all enjoying this- Ngh! Don't pull so hard!" Fumeko shouted to the back of her while Asobi was braiding her hair.

Two strands of brown hair were tangled in Asobi fingers—plucked out, "Sorry!" she went back to tying it together.

"Listen, we can go all half-dressed to the guild, sword by our side into battle or whatever else. For this occasion however, it's the Mayor of Kria; as in the ruler of this country.

I know he's not the most formal mayor in Kria's history, but he's been elected so far for two decades and he's formally invited us to his office. I'll be damned if we go looking like street rats," Hotaru moved Jotou out of the way.

Jotou took a glance at herself from behind Hotaru. Her eyes glimmered, admiring how pretty she was even with the light amount of makeup.

"You've never worn makeup, have you?" Fumeko guessed from the expression.

"Only once, when I went to an anime convention. Though, the makeup wasn't traditional."

"A what convention?" Fumeko's eyes narrowed.

Jotou moved back from the mirror. The small bedroom was able to fit the four of them well enough. The window had floral curtains to its edges while Sun beamed through the probably moth infested cloth.

"Never mind," Jotou spoke, "I thought Kria was the 'city' of new beginnings?"

Hotaru plucked out an eyelash, "It's also a country obviously. The borders extend to the waters of Kria till it reaches the bottleneck up north and slightly past that till it becomes Cravolta territory," she explained.

"If I wanted to learn geography, I wouldn't have become a detective," Fumeko rolled her eyes, reading through the received letter more thoroughly.

"First, I think detectives would still need some form of geographical sense and second, you're still not a detective," Jotou mocked.

"You will one day learn to respect the name of Detective Namora."

"That day won't be today~"

"I can very well make it," Fumeko reached for the dagger to her side, "AH! SOBI!!!"

"How often do you comb your hair, there's so many tangles!" Asobi sobbed, using her wand to unbind the tangled messes.

Hotaru stood straight, a blue coat over a white shirt and skirt-leggings, "Honestly, how is she the only one that knows anything about looking your best- Wait."

"I always have to look my best! You never know who my next audience might be!" Asobi answered.

"-You worked in a circus… I almost forgot; I almost forgot…?" Hotaru stared to the ground and took a moment to steady herself. How could she forget that part? She wore her magician's attire everywhere!

Fumeko stood up, hair braided down her back along her purple pinafore. Asobi went to take off her purple headband to steady the hair that framed her face, but Fumeko ducked out of her grasp.

"Not the headband, that stays," Fumeko glared to Asobi.

"I, I wasn't going to take it away, just brush your hair," Asobi recoiled back. "Jotou! Everyone's getting scarier!"

"I'm sorry, just, don't touch it, okay?" Fumeko grumbled an apology.

"I don't think scary's the word. I think we're all a bit stressed and I think the mayor will understand if we can't make it given recent events," Jotou reasoned.

'I have no clue how this mayor is… If he's understanding, great but we're all not in the best of moods… Even Asobi's shaking a little.'

"Nonsense, I'll be on my best behaviour, I'm used to stressful situations. Besides, the mayor's a busy person and given recent events he's probably going to be busy for weeks.

That's probably why he wants to meet us now before anything too hectic happens," Hotaru started closing her bag and prepared to leave.

'Fine, we'll go… Maybe the mayor has something; maybe he can help me get back home?'

"Jotou Howllett and party; that's how he invites us. He can't even put all of our names?" Fumeko argued.

"That just gives away the matter of the discussion. Jotou's name would only be used if her name was given to the question: who defeated the velatos last night?" Hotaru exhaled, ready to go.

"Yeah, yeah," Fumeko conceded, "There's also a carriage waiting for us at the adventurers guild," she waved the letter.

They departed from the dusty apartment, Jotou closed the door behind her. She watched the snoring mound on the sofa, giving a scoff as she left.

_

"Hi there!" Asobi petted the side of the horsaroach—its pincers clicked in amusement, its beady eyes half-closed, the back pair of legs lifted off and thumped the ground.

Jotou twisted her lips—two feelers on its head, yet a shiny coat of horse-like brown hair. The other horsaroach pulling the carriage was more of a milky white whilst Jotou got into the back.

With the crack of reins, the snow melted or pushed aside, the roads were clear to travel. They wobbled in their seats as it went over the brick roads.

Many of the adventurers were helping out with the snow or loitering around the guild, but the moment Jotou was in view all their eyes would go to her.

She was happy to have a cushy red seat and windowed doors to protect her now—sat next to Asobi, while Hotaru sat opposite with her tail neatly kept in her lap.

Jotou watched outside, street by street, the roads becoming smoother along their travel, the buildings getting slightly higher—the people busier.

Having only been on the eastern side for the most part and skirting around the city centre, Jotou took in the better view as did the other two foreigners of Kria.

There were no fruit stands or open-aired blacksmiths, no, there were taverns that scaled a few stories, housing areas with land to spare in between.

"-And the end of December this year will mark the end of his mayorship. Mayor Varon Gestryle will have to run his campaign again.

He's already won twice in the once a decade elections, making him run for nineteen and a half years. This is because there was no bigger competitor than him in his second campaign.

Despite his long time in office, he has not done anything to make his name uttered in every household as a common name. He is stated to be known as the most forgettable mayor in Kria's history.

He has the worst approval ratings of any mayor of Kria, speculated to be so because of his longer than normal time in office.

However, if he doesn't do anything worthwhile by the end of this year, he will be out of office due to the many new campaigns being championed for next year, making him lose the next election...…"

Jotou watched out the window, chin on her hand whilst Hotaru rambled on. She was starting to tune out the redhead's history lesson, instead enjoying the fountain they were going past made of beautiful marble.

Guards roamed the gardens of the entrance, the large metal gates opening into Kria's governmental estate. The Krialin positioned, guarded around the area of the massive marble building in the centre.

The noon Sun shone off of the top of the roof into Jotou's eye, making her wince, but she did not recoil. The air seemed fresher, trees and topiaries kept well-groomed and yellow flowers blossomed across the grass—the other governmental office buildings were in the near vicinity.

The road was as smooth as untouched water till the doors of the main building. Many carriages were able to move in and out as Asobi waved out the window to the oncoming and outgoing traffic.

Jotou smiled, only to be jolted by a sudden disturbance the next second; a cold breeze went behind her back. Jotou sat up and felt her way across the back of the dress, "Is there a hole in this dress?" she asked, halting Hotaru in her talk.

"Hm? I keep my clothes in near-perfect condition, there shouldn't be any."

Jotou felt the gap near the back end of the dress, "Uhm, there is?"

"Oh," Hotaru realized as she brought her tail up in her grasp to show Jotou. Jotou gave a nod in realization; her blonde hair had covered the drift of breeze that would pass there.

"Anyway, this building-"

Fumeko groaned, "Thanks for the lesson in politics tour guide Hotaru, but we're here; enough of this," she kept her eyes open with her fingers.

"Sit straight," Hotaru pushed Fumeko back from slouching, "And it's not only you I'm explaining all of this to," Hotaru stated.

"Oh? Who're you explaining it to? Her!?" Fumeko pointed her hand to Asobi, who was half way out the window.

"Woah!" Asobi began to tumble out.

"Oh hell!" Jotou grabbed her waist just in time and pulled Asobi back into her seat. Asobi held onto her hat.

Hotaru pointed to Jotou, with her eyes glazed over to Fumeko, "Her, actually."

Jotou took a breath and sat back properly, "Actually… I was getting bored and tuned you out for half of it."

Hotaru turned, ears pricking up, "What?" her brows furrowed a little, lips thinning.

Jotou stared back… She blinked a few times, "What? You expected me to flinch or something? You heard exactly what I said," Jotou shrugged.

The redhead slouched down, ears folding over her head as she pouted and gave off a saddened moan…

They got off and the carriage departed as they did. The Krialin at the door raised their right foot and planted it down in a stomp, halberds to each of their sides.

They saluted whilst the door opened. A tall man, suit and tie and short brown hair. "Thundering Blade. Welcome to Kria Estate. Mayor Gestryle is expecting you in his office," he greeted.

The party glanced at him and then each other… "I'm sorry, who?" Jotou queried.

"Yes, we assumed there would be confusion. Everything will be explained shortly Ms Howllett. If you and your party would please accompany me into the premises, I can guide you to his office and we will be able to do this with haste.

I assume you must be busy with other matters and thank you for giving some of your time to meet us. Right this way," he went ahead in, prompting them to simply follow without question.