Hello again. Today I met lots of new people.
Francis was right. We had been very close to the staging area. I didn't even get the chance to kill breakfast before we reached it.
The staging point was a platform of worn and splintery boards forming a dock of some sort leading out into a lake and terminating into a weird squiggle. This hazy air squiggles is apperently one of the few entrances and exits in the barrier.
I didn't see anyone guarding it but when we set foot on the dock three figures rose from the water.
I say figures because they were person shaped things made of water with some nifty and sharp looking ice spikes where their hands should be.
They were super intimidating and really cool. Julius and I tried killing them but they seem to have more water inside then they should. No matter how we burned them, no matter how much steam came from them. They didn't diminish at all.
How cool is that!
They stabbed me a little before Francis managed to pull a doodad out from under his shirt, and blue light came from it calming them down. I can heal fine from just a little stabbing, so I forgive them.
We passed through the haze and emerged into the most terrible place you can possibly imagine.
People were everywhere. The amount of dust filling the air was matched only by sheer cacophony. I was bombarded with colors, sounds, smells, and even tastes I had never known before.
Dioriented from this sudden shift I clutched Julius to my chest and crouched down before erupting up into the sky to get some space. Screams rang out behind me and I could hear Francis shouting something but I had to get away from all the noise, the smells, the crowd.
Well, I tried anyway. I got stopped pretty quickly by a nice person with wings who took me to a poleese station and asked me some questons I forgot before offering me something amazing.
Bread they call it. White, fluffy, tasty bread. You can put stuff in it, on it, or just around it. But its delicious all on its own too!
I had filled my cheeks and satchel with bread by the time Francis came to get me. I guess I had told the Poleese about him?
He had showered and his frizzy fun bush hair had been trimmed into a severe and cool looking close cut. Sad, I miss the frizz bush. At least he is still red faced and eyebrowless.
He was accompanied by someone even louder and paler than he had been, with even longer pale hair. He said it was Sister.
Sister tried to take Julius from me. A Poleese had tried that earlier too. Julius had protested when the beardy Poleese tried to grab him so I had punted the little beardy away. But Julius seemed much happier about being carried by Sister.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
He just sat in his arms and purred as he was petted and cuddled. I didn't even know he could purr!
After I stopped sulking jealously I finally noticed we had been walking for some time.
Francis and Sister led us to a big blue building. Along the way we had to pass through a crowd or two, but I just stuffed bread in my ears and ignored the people who were staring.
Quiet is worth some odd looks.
Inside the blue building I took back Julius to mutual complaints from the new cuddle buddies. Bah, he's my Julius you know?
I was led to a place with slippery white floors. A bath I guess. I stripped down and soaked in the amazingness that is hot soapy water. Julius lazily bobbed next to my bath in his own little basin of hot soapy water.
Once I got out I found my clothes gone. I had to threaten some people to get my satchel back. A quick look inside found it seemingly unmolested. All my bread and glowfruits were accounted for, and the journal obviously. My clothes had already been disposed of. That made me kind of sad. It had taken so much effort to make those. Even if they were ugly, itchy, poor-fitting, and filthy, they were mine. And now they were gone.
Once the people inside the blue building gave me back the satchel they wouldn't stop screaming at me to put on some clothes.
If they don't want to see it why aren't they looking away? And they had already destroyed all my clothes.
Weirdos.
I found some new clothes had been laid out for me in the room next to the bath room. I had thought they were decorations with how so many sparkly things were on them.
They were a long sleeved shirt, vest, pants, sash, and boots. The shirts was a bright crimson shade and had sparkles sprayed across the front and down the sleeves. The vest was a much darker almost blood red. With golden detailing of spirals and flames all over it. I really did like the vest. The pants were loose and unrestraining. With no flourishes and in a simple rusty red. The sash was yellow with black thread outlining flames along it. The boots were sturdy and supple black leather. Very nice.
I tore off most of the sparkles on the shirt before wearing it. A sparkly person draws attention yeah? And things that draw attention get eaten. I should know. It's how I decide on my breakfast.
After I dresed I walked around looking for something to eat. I left Julius in my room though. He can protect himself and I didn't want him getting lost in here like me. I followed my nose into a wonderful place. It was crowded, but I forgave it since it smelled so good. Inside there were droves of sweaty people running around stirring shiny cylinders and screaming at each other. I saw a roaring fire with a lovely looking dead thing spitted over it.
I crept over to it as quietly as possibly. Then I grabbed it and a nearby bowl of frut for Julius and snuck back to where I had changed clothes. I had gotten pretty lost so it took me longer than I would have like. No matter, I can always heat up my meal yeah?
Inside I saw Sister playing with Julius again. He seemed super happy so I guess I'll let it go? I plopped the fruit down next to them and Sister started to feed him them without so much as glancing at me.
I munched on the delicious meat and watched them play for a bit. Someone knocked on the door and asked if I would wish to join the young master for supper. I don't know who that is, but I already have food so I turned them down.
Sister left to eat and I scooped up the very satisfied and pampered looking Julius. Finding a comfortable corner to rest in I sat down and here we are.
I think I will leave tomorrow. This place is noisy, and they throw away your things without asking.
Though, the bath is nice, and the food place too...
Hm. Well I'll worry about that tomorrow I suppose.
Goodnight.