The students scattered like wild animals set free after enduring a tedious school day. They raced through sprawling gardens adorned with vibrant flowers and lush green trees.

Alice, a twelve-year-old girl with hazel eyes and brown hair, gazed at the dull blue sky with a sense of longing. A wistful sigh escaped her lips as she observed her classmates head home. Clad in a white middy-style blouse and a black pleated skirt, her school uniform, she seemed lost in her thoughts. A shy smirk played on her lips, and her eyes half-closed, as she fought back tears and attempted a giggle. She strolled with a quiet pace, taking in the beauty of her surroundings, occasionally pausing to inhale the sweet fragrance of the flowers and drift into daydreams.

A tall blue-eyed boy, dressed in a white shirt, black pants, and red tie, approached Alice. Sweat glistened on his forehead as he nervously mumbled, "Alice... Are you free on Saturday?"

Alice stared at him, thoughtful and uncertain, searching for the right words. She didn't want to be rude and hurt his feelings. Though usually self-confident, she now felt a weight pressing on her, as if her bones were burdened with hundreds of pounds. Her eyes watered, and she struggled to form a response. But before she could speak, voices erupted in the distance.

A commotion unfolded at the school entrance. Alice sprinted after a familiar voice reached her ears. She saw in the distance a man arguing with the gatekeepers who blocked his way.

"I'm looking for my daughter! Understand?" She heard the man pleading; she recognized who he was.

Alice dashed towards the school entrance, then she pushed the guards aside. A radiant smile lit her face up as she leaped into the man’s arms, embracing him tightly. The man cuddled her with affection, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead, he was radiating warmth and love. Tears welled up in Alice's eyes, and a comforting sensation spread through her chest. She was overjoyed to see him, promising herself that she would not let him slip away again.

Then, without warning, she punched him in the stomach.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She thundered, and she frowned. Just moments ago, she had hugged him tenderly, but now her expression resembled that of a furious gargoyle. She was furious.

Alice’s father trying to catch his breath, elucidated with an exhausted voice as if he had just completed a marathon. "I came… looking for you... Or are you ashamed… of your father?"

After she breathed in and out for a couple of seconds, Alice's rage subsided, replacing it with a mixture of guilt and frustration, her chest tightened and she half-closed her eyes and diverted her gaze to her classmate. "Will... I'm so sorry, but I really can’t go out with you, I’ll be busy," she sighed.

"You should invite Mary instead. You know, she likes you, and she's the prettiest girl in school!" She faked a smile.

Will's heart sank, disappointment etching itself on his face. He clenched his fist over his chest, closed his eyes, and let out a heavy sigh, silently accepting her rejection.

“It’s alright… maybe some other time,” He smiled back at her.

Alice and her father left the school premises. She followed after him as they made their way to their apartment, taking in the sights of their hometown.

The city boasted numerous Renaissance-style buildings, an attempt to replicate the French city of Lyon after which it was named, New Lyon—the capital of New France. Gardens adorned every corner, filling the air with the sweet scent of flowers. Alice and Steve found solace in this fragrant paradise, a stark contrast to the desert her father had left behind.

"Listen up!" she heard a town crier calling the townspeople's attention. She noticed an elderly man standing on a podium in a bustling square. The man wore a comical medieval outfit, “What a buffoon!” her father said, and she giggled.

"Today marks the implementation of a new decree, changing the city's name. Henceforth, New Lyon shall be known as Ville de Fleurs!"

"Ville de Fleurs? What the…? I hate it!" her father grumbled.

"One of my teachers mentioned it's part of an anti-gallicization process," Alice chuckled.

"Anti-France names with French influence, yet the country itself is still called New France, that's what they should change!" her father mockingly remarked, patting her head. "I'm a member of parliament, doing smart and cool things!" he joked.

"In other news, tensions between the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Florida have reached new heights!" the crier announced.

"The Mexican Crown Prince has taken on the role of mediator between the two factions, attempting to end the American-imposed embargo on Florida. The President of Great Colombia has pledged full support to the Floridians, while embassies from Oregon and our own delegation strive to prevent military intervention."

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"Holy cow!" Steve exclaimed in awe. "As far as I remember, this is the third American intervention in Florida in two years."

"This is the fourth American intrusion in Florida's Territory, only this year!" the town crier passionately communicated, delivering the news like a seasoned theater actor.

"You need to catch up. I have a mountain of newspapers at home," Alice teased, giggling at her father's remark. Steve smiled warmly at his daughter's playful banter.

"The President of Great Colombia declared that the United States wanted to ravish Florida's natural resources and eclipse its progress. She's decided to send soldiers to Florida, now stationed in Fort San Agustin. She hopes that the mediation of the Mexican Prince can convince the United States to stop this unnecessary and unwanted war."

"I don't get it. Some of my teachers at school have been talking about imminent war," Alice tilted her head, her curiosity piqued.

"The United States of America has been trying to invade and annex the territory of Florida since their independence!" The town crier declared passionately. The crowd around him engaged in lively discussions, showing support for his speech. "We are a multicultural country! We speak French, Spanish, and English. We are a melting pot of cultures, and that makes us better and stronger. Our country has helped those running away from slavery for years, while they just abolished slavery a couple of months ago!"

"The Yankees had tried to invade us too!" Alice heard someone in the crowd shouting.

"They couldn't, so they tried to buy our territory from France, after France's pyrrhic victory in the war against the Brits in Quebec. The Americans took advantage of the state of war in New France and invaded us through New Orleans, but they couldn't conquer us. Now, we are independent, and this time they will not even dare to do it again!" The town crier incited the emotions of his audience, meanwhile, Alice grabbed her father's hand tightly. "They even planned an invasion of the Mexican Empire to overthrow the monarchy. They financed the northern Texans separatists."

"I want to go home... these people are giving me the creeps," Alice pleaded, tugging at her father's sleeve while puffing her cheeks.

"Sure, let's go. This man is feeding the populist wrath," her father agreed, understanding her discomfort. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at their apartment.

Steve sank into a large leather sofa adorned with embroidered fabric. "Home sweet home!" her father sighed, taking in the familiar surroundings. The living room boasted an array of cushions in different fabrics and colors scattered throughout the space. She noticed her father looking at a sleeping brown ferret on one of the many cushions.

"Isn't he cute?" Alice asked, gently caressing the small mammal. "My friend Will gave him to me on my birthday. His name is Dante!"

"Your birthday?" Steve's eyes widened in realization.

"Yes, it was seven months ago. In May... you remember, right?" Alice's voice trembled slightly, disappointment flickering in her eyes.

"And how old are you now?" Her father furrowed his brow, scratching his chin in thought.

"I'm twelve!" Alice yelled, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and sadness. " Did you really forget?"

Steve immediately pulled her into a tight embrace. "I’m just teasing you! Of course, I remember. I'm so sorry, I wanted to be with you that day... I missed you a lot." Her father kissed her on the forehead, hoping to reassure her of his love and devotion.

"How did you escape?" Alice asked, releasing herself from his hold, sniffling as she tried to hold back her tears. "Did they realize you were innocent? Idiot! I was so scared when your secretary told me about your arrest. I cried so much!"

Steve recounted the events to her, explaining about the mysterious two women who had facilitated his escape. As he spoke, it felt like he was narrating a captivating fairy tale.

"The last time I met with Völundr was over a year ago. While delving through some books in the Room of Useless Objects, I found a wooden wand. Völundr told me it had belonged to a Jana from the D'Arc Order... He warned me about them," Alice sobbed.

"D'Arc Order?" Her father said furrowing his brow.

"Völundr warned me about their actions. He also warned you before you went missing! We need to tell him about this," Alice insisted, her determination shining through.

Alice headed towards her bedroom, a slightly disorganized space with bed blankets strewn on the floor and cushions scattered about. She tiptoed, being careful not to step on any of the cushions, and delved into her wardrobe and drawers. Shirts, skirts, dresses, and even undergarments were flung to the floor in her search. After a few minutes, she uncovered a small golden chest containing two rings.

One ring was crafted from gold, featuring an intricately detailed dragon with realistic reptilian scales and piercing pyrite eyes. The other ring showcased a crimson phoenix, its feathers meticulously depicted, with a dazzling ruby gem embedded at its center. Both rings exuded an enigmatic flame locked within the jewels. “Great, they still work!”

She dashed back to the living room, leaving a mess in her bedroom, and then she showed the rings to her father. "Here they are!" Alice slipped the dragon ring onto her father's right index finger.

Her father kissed the gem and murmured some soft words. Almost immediately, a surge of warmth enveloped his body, his heart pounding like a dynamo. His senses spun, leaving him feeling slightly intoxicated. His stomach rumbled, and his muscles momentarily ached, but the sensations subsided after a few seconds. Then he disintegrated into a fine yellowish dust, carried away by an ethereal breeze.

"Oh, I forgot something!" Alice facepalmed, realizing her oversight. She quickly hurried back to her bedroom, not bothering to tidy up the mess she had created. In her haste, she detached the drawer containing her underwear from the closet and scattered its contents across the floor. Among the scattered items, she spotted a silver pendant, resembling a coin with blank faces. When she touched it, intricate symbols appeared on each side—a lauburu and a triskelion.

The lauburu, a fan-like symbol with comma-shaped blades, began to spin like a propeller, rotating to the right. Then, abruptly, it halted, remaining motionless before shifting direction to the left. On the opposite face, the triskelion, featuring a triple spiral with mesmerizing rotational symmetry, emitted a brief, radiant blink of light. Alice had to bring the pendant close to her eyes to fully observe the intricate details.

Securing the necklace around her neck, Alice then scooped her ferret up, wore the ring, and kissed its flaming ruby. "Walhalla," she whispered.

In an instant, she disintegrated into fine dust. leaving her bedroom in disarray.