Outside Comfort 1

Eliza sat paced in circles looking up at the gray wall that encircles the entirety of the capital keeping a watch for guards. Usually, the armor-clad men patrolled near the gate, but on occasion, they would be walking the entirety of the wall to check for any intruders. Eliza hoped today wasn't one of those days. She stomped her foot and crossed her arms looking at the hole she and Alerian dug.

She mumbled to herself, "Where is he…we're supposed to do this today…"

Next to her a small satchel of food and water that would last at least a few days, started to get warm. They both agreed on spending a few days out on the wilderness, more for them both to get a break from their parents, and not caring about the punishment right after they come back. Alerian was going to bring a bigger satchel filled with more food and supplies they might need. But that was a while ago.

"Where are you Alerian!", Eliza shouted at the sky. "You better come here soon…"

Lucy tapped her shoulder, "Hey what are you doing here?"

"Eek!"

Eliza spun around and stood face to face with Lucy with a big smile on her face looking right at her.

"What are you doing here Lucy!"

"I came to see what you're doing! I saw you standing here when I went running from my teacher again."

'She has a teacher? I would love a teacher…'

"Well you don't need to be here do you…go run somewhere else! Like, go get some sweets!"

Lucy walked towards the hole under the wall, "Oh this is what you used the shovel for, and the bag has food and stuff right?"

"Hey, get away from there! No one is supposed to know. Especially not the guards, if they find this, we're so screwed"

"Why did you dig under the wall then?", Lucy crossed her arms, "If you knew the risks then why do it"

"Cause me and Alerian are doing something fun okay!"

"Ooo I want to come with too!"

"No!" Eliza lashed out.

"Well, why not?"

Eliza quickly regained her composure ashamed of herself for yelling so harshly at Lucy. She took a deep breath and furrowed her brow.

"You can't come because you don't have food and stuff."

"Oh, I can get that! I'll even bring Hailey, I will be right back.", and with a kick in her step, she ran towards to left district to pick up Hailey.

"Wait no- ", she sighed and hugged herself, "Come back please Alerian, and hurry…I made a mistake."

"Why did you have to come with me…"

Alerian was annoyed. Today was the day he was supposed to go outside the capital with Eliza. And then Olivia happened. The night before, it was arranged for them to be married and just as they left, somehow his father talked the family into letting Olivia stay with the family for a while, for relationship reasons.

Whatever that meant.

As he was about to leave to meet Eliza after getting his bag of supplies and go see the outside, his father forced him to bring Olivia and show her the town, much to Alerians displeasure. Olivia just came as she couldn't deny her father's wishes to listen to the family.

They walked past the priest preaching again that day.

"The land of Maynir, changes the lives of those who wander its great lands, but it is a harsh land, demanding its respect from all who wander it. Maynir has the power to change the lives of many for better or for worse. For those who do not respect the land, has one future, and that is death."

People clapped and bowed their heads lightly in respect to the priest.

Olivia looked at them, "I thought there was no religion in Lafores", she scoffed.

Alerian just sighed "That one sprung up recently…I don't even know what it's about…can we just go to where I need to go"

"Fine then…this groveling hole couldn't get any worse.", she moved her hair behind her ear.

"Where in the capital do you even live in that you call this a groveling hole?" Alerian sneered.

"I live in upper districts; my family owns several houses up there and cottages outside of the capital"

Alerian mumbled under his breath, "Rich folks…so prestigious". Then he had a thought, and if worked, he could ditch her.

Alerian then smiled to himself. "Hey, try to keep up!".

He then started running full speed ahead through people doing their business.

"H-hey! You can't just leave me here! Come back here"

"You better catch up!"

"You imbecile!", Olivia started to run after him, but not at a rate that compares to his speed.

He ducked and weaved between carts, stands, people, and animals as Olivia desperately tried to keep up in fear of getting lost after losing him. With each instance of him getting out of her sight she felt her heart drop. She wasn't used to being alone.

Olivia still had him in sight, but he was far. One turn and she would lose him. Fear ran right next to her. Then he stopped once they reached the wall. Well, he reached it; Olivia was still far behind.

Eliza beamed once seeing him. "There you are I was starting to wonder If you ditched me!"

"Sorry about that I have some…unforeseen problems."

"Eh? What are you talking about?"

"You moron born from peasantry!", Olivia yelled at Alerian as she caught up.

"Uh, who are you…" Eliza asked.

"Just ignore her…please…"

'Damnit, she followed me all the way here…'

"Don't listen to that bumbling fool!", Olivia regained her composure, taking a deep breath, "I'm Olivia Whitewater and he was supposed to accompany me, instead he runs away from me."

"Oh, shut It already…Eliza let's go I need a break from her already", Alerian checked his bag for anything missing.

"U-uh yeah about that", she swayed nervously.

"Alerian where are you going? You bring me out here to the wall and to just do something you don't have permission to do?" Olivia smirked.

"It doesn't concern you and what Eliza?"

"Lucy may have seen and now may be coming with a friend…"

"I don't mind that but how are you ok with it?"

"I'm not! This was supposed to be our thing!"

***

Lucy knocked on the little yellow house with the dying garden out front.

"Hailey are you home! Hellooo?", she knocked again gently.

Hailey gently cracked opened the door, "L-Lucy…?

"Hailey are you okay in there?"

"Y-yeah…"

"Then open the door entirely…"

Hailey slowly pushed the door slowly open. She was clearly hurt, in pain from the way she limped out from behind the door. Her hair was a mess, and it looks like some of it was pulled off. Lucy immediately hugged her tightly. Hailey let out a little whimper causing Lucy to loosen her grip.

"Sorry…"

"I-it's okay…what were you here for…?"

"Did your dad hurt you this much…?"

"Y-yeah…it's not a big deal…I messed up a bit at work so…"

"…Come on I'm going to take you out of the capital. You need to leave for a bit Hailey…"

"N-no I can't go he'll be mad!" Hailey moved away from Lucy, grasping her own arm tightly, "I-I can't go he'll hit me and mommy again…"

"It won't take long." Lucy put her hand on her friends' shoulder, "It'll help you to get away from them for a bit. Please trust me on this…ill bring you to my home right after."

Hailey looked up at Lucy.

"B-but…"

"No buts. Let's go together"

With a small little nod from Hailey, Lucy grabbed her hand and led her back to where the hole was.

Lucy helped Hailey pack up rations of food and water as well as her own in the guild's armory before she headed towards the wall. Hailey never saw so much in a bag before in a life that was hers alone. It was filled with all sorts of fresh fruit and food that she never had the luxury to have.

Olivia was in shock, "Your plan is to go into the wilderness for a few days just so you can avoid your families?"

"Well we're not really doing it to avoid our families…I just want a taste of the outside world and to see the incident zone!" Eliza said.

"You do realize that the incident zone is days away! You'll be gone for almost a whole week! Maybe more!", Olivia said, dumbfounded and shocked about the stupidity of Eliza's plan.

"Well, you're not coming to begin with so keep your mouth shut." Alerian sneered.

"Tch…"

"Alright calm down you two", Eliza grabbed both of their hands and held them. "Olivia can come we just have to share some rations that's all. And it'll be easier since Lucy's bringing her own supplies to."

Olivia scoffed, "Fine…if only to watch over him so he doesn't get into any problems".

Eliza smiled a bit "Okay good, now don't fight"

"If she just stays silent then we'll be fine."

"Oh, quiet you…"

Eliza laughed nervously, 'Oh Maynir this is going to go horribly'.