Chapter 6

Finding a new place to go became my top priority. I spread the map out on the table, its faded parchment filled with cryptic symbols and unfamiliar names. The ancient world it showed was both scary and exciting.

My finger traced the lines on the map, looking for a safe place. Fence Republic, where I was now, had been a refuge, but my mission lay beyond its borders.

My eyes landed on a name filled with hope: Elysium. It was a place of legends, known for peace and prosperity. If it existed, maybe it could be our new home.

With Elysium as my goal, I started planning my journey. I studied the map's terrain, noting rivers, mountains, and forests. I knew I had to be ready for a tough journey.

My training got even more intense. I focused on getting strong and learning to fight. I practiced survival skills, mastering camouflage and evasion.

As weeks passed, my determination grew. I gathered supplies from the mansion: food, water, and tools. The ring from the safe, with its strange pattern, became a symbol of hope, something I wore around my neck.

Each night, before sleeping in my hidden room, I looked at the ring and thought of my family. My parents' words echoed in my mind, pushing me to find the truth and seek justice.

Finally, the day came to leave. I had planned my route to Elysium, memorizing the landmarks. The journey wouldn't be easy, but the thought of reuniting with my family pushed me forward.

With the map in my bag, the ring around my neck, and my parents' letter tucked safely in my pocket, I stepped out of the mansion. The world outside was vast, unfamiliar, and full of uncertainties. But I faced it with unwavering determination.

Rima Crown, the daughter of the Ambassador, was ready to start her journey. She needed to traverse strange lands and face many challenges to rescue her family and uncover the dark secrets that had torn apart her homeland, the Fence Republic.

The night was dark as I prepared for the first part of my journey. I had watched the soldiers stationed nearby, learning their routines and shift changes. Midnight was my best chance to escape.

Silently, I crept through the shadowy corridors of the mansion, my heart pounding. The weight of my mission pressed on me as I neared the entrance. I needed to smuggle myself out in one of the soldiers' cars during the shift change.

As the clock struck midnight, I hid behind the bushes near the gate, my eyes fixed on the soldiers. The shift change began, and I watched for the right moment.

Amidst the chaos of soldiers switching duties, I saw my chance. One of the cars was left alone as the driver went inside for his briefing. This was my moment.

With quick, quiet steps, I moved from my hiding spot and sneaked to the unattended car. My heart raced as I crouched low and slipped into the backseat, hoping I wouldn't be noticed.

The moments that followed were tense. The soldiers' voices grew louder as they finished their shift change, and the driver returned to the vehicle. I hid in the shadows, my heart pounding.

The engine roared to life, and the car started moving. I lay low, hidden from view. I knew this was just the beginning of my escape, and the road ahead was full of danger.

As the car drove through the winding roads of Fence Republic, my mind raced. I needed a plan to escape the car and continue my journey to Toleito, the capital city. I spotted the train station in the distance—a potential refuge.

Carefully, I waited for the perfect moment. The city lights grew closer, and the train station loomed larger. It was now or never.

When the car slowed at a traffic light near the train station, I took my chance. I unlatched the door and slipped out, rolling to the ground. I quickly got up and disappeared into the shadows of the train station.

As I stepped onto the platform of the train station, I felt a surge of both relief and anxiety. The bustling crowd of travelers moved around me, oblivious to the young woman who had just made a daring escape. I blended into the diverse tapestry of passengers, my face concealed beneath a hooded jacket.

My first priority was to secure a ticket for the train to Toleito, the capital city of Fence Republic. However, I knew I couldn't go directly there. It would be too risky. I decided to head to a smaller, nearby city first—Baxterville—where I could lay low and plan my next move.

I approached the ticket counter with caution. "Un billet pour Baxterville, s'il vous plaît," I requested in French, using one of the languages I had practiced during my year of solitude. My accent was far from perfect, but it was enough to convey my intent.

The ticket clerk, a middle-aged woman with tired eyes, nodded and began processing the transaction. My heart pounded as I received the ticket, a tangible symbol of progress on my journey.

With ticket in hand, I navigated through the crowded platform, my senses on high alert. I knew that I had to remain vigilant, as the dangers lurking in the midst of travelers were numerous. My family's safety depended on my ability to reach Toleito and uncover the truth, but for now, I had to make it to Baxterville.

As the train pulled into the station, I boarded, choosing a seat near the middle of the car. I kept my hood up, attempting to conceal my identity as best I could. The passengers around me chatted, engrossed in their own worlds, unaware of the young woman with a mission hidden among them.

The train ride to Baxterville was long, providing me with ample time to reflect on my journey. I knew that I was just beginning to scratch the surface of the mysteries that had engulfed my family, Fence Republic, and the enigmatic organization known as the High Council.

When the train finally arrived in Baxterville, I disembarked and found myself amidst a quieter, smaller crowd of commuters. The city's modest skyline stretched before me, a mix of old buildings and new developments.

With determination in my heart and a ticket to the truth in my pocket, I began my quest to uncover the secrets that had torn my family apart and, in doing so, reshape the destiny of the Fence Republic. Baxterville would be my first stop, a place to gather my thoughts, find temporary refuge, and prepare for the next leg of my journey to Toleito.

My journey had only just begun, and the challenges that lay ahead were vast and unknown. But I was no longer the sheltered daughter of the Ambassador; I had become a force to be reckoned with, a young woman driven by love, courage, and an unquenchable thirst for justice.