Fwesh!

A calm cool breeze blows through the leaves of a grandiose tree,

Atop it, a figure sits, their kind green eyes staring off into the distance—

……..

“What are you doing here Tori?

And how do you know her, Claude?”

Karina along with the rest of us, utterly confused.

“It was a job from...

It was from the job, Amelia and I just did, we met her” Claude stutters,

“You mean the person you were to wait on, was her?” Lyra questions,

“What business could Tori possibly have in Sweepstake?”

“I am here on behalf of Queen Zinnia” Tori explains

“Queen Zinnia?” Lyra looks at Apollo who shrugs,

(She really was able to make herself be accepted as queen)

“Mhm,” Tori nods,

“Since Apollo left abruptly, Zinnia was the last person of your group who ‘ended’ Murdoc, no one else would challenge for the position of leader, but acknowledged the fact that Soterra wouldn’t be a kingdom without a king or queen,

When Zinnia proposed herself to take charge, no one was for it but not against either, so she became queen though it isn’t official or anything we just call her queen.

By the way, the people have dubbed you the ‘runaway king’, Apollo”

“Runaway king?

I didn’t even run away, nor was I king,”

“You are the last living member of the direct royal family, the title was passed to you upon everyone else’s passing,

Yet you ran away to play adventurer, is it?” she frowns disdainfully at the sound of Saito getting into an argument with someone upstairs,

“Well, I am glad that Zinnia is accepted at least,” Apollo sighs thankfully

“She also spread a rumor that you two are married but separated because she had a secret love child with Darius, and you found out,” Tori adds

“She what!?

I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that she spread that rumor or the fact that I am not surprised she would do something like that,” Apollo groans

“That does sound exactly like something she would say,” Karin agrees,

“Glad she hasn’t changed much since losing Darius,”

“This still doesn’t explain why you are here” Lyra presses Tori,

“If you must know,

The ‘queen sent me to help establish trade relations as well as travel relations between Soterra and Furlheim, or whatever it is this city is now called,

A messenger was sent ten days ago to speak with this mayor,

However due to unforeseen circumstances, and by that, I mean this weird ‘battle culture’ Furlheim has adopted,

He was robbed of everything.”

“And that’s why she sent you this time,” Karina finishes,

I agree you are a capable fighter for this task,

But you serving Zinnia is quite surprising to me,

I thought you would not show your face again after betraying me for Murdoc,”

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“I chose the winning side boss, I thought with my best desires in mind,

What you taught us,”

“Well, where is Murdoc now?

Furthermore, why still call me boss?”

“Because my respect for you still stands,

I am glad to see you that care at least,”

“Do not flatter yourself Tori,

I am neither upset nor saddened by your sudden arrival,

Merely intrigued.”

…..

“So, from what I gather, you are here to establish relations, between Soterra and Sweepstake,

But Claude and Amelia were sent on a job to meet you,

How would the mayor, or anyone even know when you would arrive?” Pinoki thinking over the situation,

“I don’t know, they were there waiting for me when I crossed the south plains, to guide me through the city, then that boy who tries to act mysterious, started blabbing about how he knew other people from Soterra.”

“I didn’t blab,

I casually mentioned it,” Claude replies indignantly

“And the mayor probably knew you were coming,”

“How?

We didn’t make contact with him yet.”

“He has good ‘eye’ for things that go on within the Sweep,”

(That also reminds me of how he knew of our existence without us ever meeting,

This mysterious mayor interests me more by each passing day)

“And besides I didn’t know Apollo was a king,” Claude changing the topic,

“I wouldn’t go around saying that” Apollo scratching his head modestly,

“I’m more like a second runner up for the position,

If not for Kage convincing me to join him,

I would have probably assumed the responsibilities,”

“That makes you kind of like, Takeroumu then?” Claude comments

“Who is that again?”

“The founder of this guild,

He left his responsibilities as a warrior behind, to be an adventurer too,”

“Erm…

I’m not really that interested in being an adventurer,

Like I said before , I’m only following Kage, well for now at least,”

“What do you want to be then?”

“I don’t know if I want to say,”

“I know what it is,” Karina smiles

“You better not,” Apollo’s face slightly flustered,

“I won’t~”

……..

“Claude, since Apollo is technically a king doesn’t that give him a right to meet with the mayor?” I ask

“What are you thinking Kage?” Pinoki interjects

(I have to meet this mayor)

“We’ve been hearing about this infamous mayor who doesn’t rule, but instead welcomes anyone to challenge for his place on top, I want to meet him,

And I also want to know what Amelia and Claude’s relation to him is, that would make him personally give out jobs to them,” I eye the twins suspiciously,

“It isn’t as secretive as you would think,” Amelia speaks up,

“Claude just feels uncomfortable bringing it up,

Ozy, the mayor, feels indebted to us in a way,

He tries to help us out at times, but Claude usually adamantly refuses,

The mayor is the one that got us into this guild in the first place.”

“Why is he indebted to you?”

“….”

Amelia looks at her brother who nods giving his permission,

“There are two reasons,

One is that our parents, before they died, were members of his faction, the Mayoral Mafia,

The other being that the cr— person with evolved magic who wreaked havoc within the city ten years ago, that got them killed in the first place, was his son.”

(The mayor has a son one with evolved magic at that?)

“Where is this ‘son’ now?” Pinoki inquires,

Amelia simply shrugs,

“Are you happy with that information Kage,” Claude drawls,

“You’ve been prying to know for so long now,”

“I wouldn’t say I’m particularly happy,

Just more intrigued than before,”

……

Tori impatiently steps her feet waiting for us to finish speaking,

“Are you all done with the greetings?

I am here on business after all,

When can I go visit this mayor of yours?” she asserts to Claude

“You’ve only just arrived, rest here first and we shall head a little later,

Even you Kage, Lyra and Apollo look quite battered,

I think you may want some rest before meeting Ozy”

“Why?”

“He’s, er, a very ‘engaging’ person……”

…….

****

Fwishh!

A cool evening breeze rushes through the leaves of the massive tree overlooking the city,

“Darius, I wish you could see this,” a woman sat atop the tall tree mumbles to herself,

She gazes up entrancedly, in the bursts of colors made by the setting sun, birds land near her, settling down in their nests preparing for the upcoming night, they don’t feel threatened nor frightened by this woman…

…..

Fwoosh!

She combs her hand though her dark brown hair as the breeze had blown it amess,

“Queen!

Queen Zinnia!” a voice shouts up from below,

“What is it!?” she looks down,

“We just got word back, via message-diamond, that Tori has arrived safely, she said that the mayor has declined to form relations with us, unless you agree to his one request”

“What, declined?

What does he want, then?”

“He has requested for your personal attendance,”

“Me?

Ok, do we have any available carriages?”

“I believe so, yes,”

“Then get some supplies packed,

I shall be on my way.”