Chapter 64: Neo Rem Day (Part 2!)

Turns out Sorbet followed Skaldi as he was planning to head out. Not only him, but Amir too.

At least Skaldi won’t have to walk alone. Hell, the other two might be nice to have. Nothing like a huge Tripolian and an ice cream lady as company when you’re doing a stealth mission!

“Wait, what?” Skaldi turned his head only, seeing Amir and Sorbet behind him. What was surprising is that Sorbet had swapped her clothing and was now wearing an oversized armor set that looked like it would fit Bolato better. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

“Uhh… armor?”

“Yeah, I can see that. But you’re wearing-look, I’ll just buy something your size.”

“Oh, cool!” Sorbet, surprisingly with little effort, tossed the chest plate over her head and towards Florato, who barely caught it.

“Geez, what are you guys doing? You going to head out?” Florato asked, gently setting the chest plate down. Bolato didn’t turn to listen, and continued work on the map, which made Skaldi slightly uneasy.

“I’m gonna finish checking out the Cloud District and see if we can get anything on the Lai family. If we’re going to wait for Vega, we might as well get shit done.”

“Alright, you guys be careful. Also, take this!” Florato grabbed a ball from the table and tossed it to Skaldi. He reached out to grab it, but it was Amir that snatched it just before his face.

“What’s this? Please tell me it's black powder!” Sorbet excitedly stared at the ball, which also made Skaldi a bit more nervous.

“No, but it’s sort of similar. I saw Skaldi had that book, was it alchemy or something? Whatever it was, I think you could probably learn how to make one of those. It’s a smoke bomb.”

“Smoke bomb huh? It’s not make up or face oil, but it will have to do. Bolato stole this, right?” Skaldi looked at its thin metal surface and the tiny button on it, before looking at Bolato for confirmation.

“You know it sweetie.” Bolato replied with a thumbs up.

“Cool! Thanks Florato.” Sorbet gave a sweet smile which made Florato feel all the more warm. Skaldi rolled his eye but found that Amir was staring at him. He wasn’t sure if it was his eye or his eyepatch.

“...what is it Amir?” Skaldi turned slightly and tilted his head at them both. Amir responded by holding a piece of paper out towards Skaldi’s face. It read…

I’m really bored and tired and we aren’t doing anything. Time waits for no one. Also the green haired one wants to help and repay Vega.

Translated by Valiato. Have fun Ska!

“Huh. Alright, fine. Nothing says ‘we are trustworthy’ to watchmen like having a Tripolian next to you. Fuck it! Why not?” The redhead threw his hands in the air and kicked open the door. Sorbet joined in raising her hands and smiled, happy to finally be helping out. Amir… well… he just didn’t say anything and followed them out.

What they saw outside was less than what they expected and perhaps more than what they needed.

Troops marched in lockstep, their spears and helmets decorated with garlands and flowers, as the people stood around from the streets, their windows, and even the rooftops. The people threw down ripped sheets of multi-colored paper, also with similar flowers. Cheering was to be heard and alongside the soldiers were bands of musicians, playing loud and bombastic tunes.

“Holy shit!” Skaldi had to cover his ears, with Amir doing the same. Sorbet stepped out in front of them and held her mouth open with awe. “I didn’t even hear the band while we were inside!”

“It's a celebration! Or a festival! Or both?” Sorbet announced, hardly able to keep her eyes on one thing. Amir shook his head as he shut the door behind them. As the soldiers and musicians continued to march by, the music died down enough so that they didn’t have to yell to hear each other.

“Yeah. Whatever it is, it just might be the perfect cover for checking out the Lai family. Hell, we could maybe get a lot more done today. Let’s go.” Skaldi waved them forward as he began wading through crowds. Sorbet, making the decision for both of them, held onto Amir’s back as he walked, in order to not get lost.

“Let’s do this big guy.”

“~Whatever you’re saying, it sounds nice.~” The three started passing through the crowds, moving in the direction of Silker City. Although their movement was slowed by the many people inhabiting the streets, Amir’s intimidating appearance made those people step aside easily and with no question.

Jarring, the amount of joy that was in front of them. Smiles, people feasting and drinking cider together, and this collective cheer that inhabited their path. And yet, Skaldi sensed, there was something wrong.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

A wave of anxiety that was just as present, likely due to the recent bombings yesterday. This frantic movement in the eyes, how people ate and drank so much and yet still seemed so thin and hungry. That this celebration was a feigned effort to conceal the very real dangers that were approaching. That they might all be dead soon.

But who fucking cares about that? The partying seemed to drown this notion. Regardless, it was a little funny to Skaldi. The streets once so quiet and bare and empty were now so packed with noise till bursting. If anything, he was a little grateful.

“Sorbet, you got the map?”

“Yep, we’re only a couple more miles from the location.” She checked out the tiny sheet of paper, looking up and down from it to check if they were passing the right landmarks, which they were.

“Cool, because I got a shitty idea. Well, it will be shitty if someone decides to fuck with us, but its a pretty good idea.” Skaldi motioned with his hand like it was so-so.

“I don’t like shit, but I’ll listen.” Sorbet replied. Skaldi looked for a few seconds before finding a tall enough building. He opened the door and found a few folks hanging out, likely too interested in partying to give them any trouble. Guiding them upwards, Skaldi brought them to the rooftop.

“~Oh, I see. The boy wants us to jump, saving time. If I die from falling, I’ll kill him.~”

“Whatever you’re saying, it sounds funny.” Sorbet said, approaching the edge of the roof. Even though they were just thirty feet above, the view was awful.

I mean, it was full of awe-nevermind.

It appeared that it wasn’t only Gambler City but the entirety of Uvi Jantok was in celebration. Everywhere there were columns of soldiers and people following them. To Skaldi, there was a clear destination for them all. That extension from the black wall that stood far above and seemed to be the only connection from Jantok Sky and Rock. For the elf, all of it felt too much, like a flood of festivities.

“~Bah! Iozians. Celebrate when they should be reflecting on themselves.~” Amir threw his hand out, annoyed that this is the city he got stuck in. Skaldi could see this and shook his head.

“Nothing we can do about it. All we can do is get to Silker City. Come on.”

Two hours had passed, and for the three it felt like days. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop wasn’t an easy feat, much less sustainable. Skaldi could keep up the pace, but Sorbet and Amir took longer than he did. Through a combination of not wanting to fall to your death, being asthmatic, and getting really fucking tired, they were far more cautious.

Regardless, the three managed to reach the paper mill, or what was left of it.

“You said that this part of the district was bombed, right?” Sorbet asked, as the three walked up to the steps of it. Head sized debris littered the stairs and the doors were in splitters. If there was one similarity before it got destroyed, water kept rushing in streams, falling out of the pipes and making puddles on the ground.

“Yep. Didn’t get a good look while we were running away. Not that we could.” They entered, seeing most of the assembly lines turned to rubble, either blackened or ashened. Faint clouds of dust lingered, which made all three sneeze as they looked around. Surprisingly, the old tiles still remained and Sorbet decided to take a seat.

“Shoot. All this destruction and for what? Do you think the Assassin was trying to kill you?” The ice cream lady brushed her thumb along some of the ruins, picking off a streak of ash.

“Probably, but that couldn’t have been it. Sure, she threw a bomb at us, but she didn’t finish the job. I think she wants us to be scared… for some reason.”

“So it’s either she wanted you dead or wanted you scared? People are very confusing.”

“Tell me about it.” Skaldi shrugged, checking out the staircase that led to the balcony. Most of it was intact but not enough for all three to go on before it broke. And Skaldi didn’t not want to pull someone up or be pulled up.

As he thought about the rest of the trip to the Cloud District, Amir stepped in front of him. He could only see that sliver of face between his nose and forehead, coated in that green makeup. Amir’s eyes were strong and wanted to tell himself, but Skaldi wondered what it was.

“~...Thank you…~” The Tripolian spoke, putting a hand on the elf’s shoulder before turning away. He didn’t know the words, but he understood the feeling. Skaldi had protected Valiato, had defended her and she defended him.

He knew that it was Valiato that told a probably highly embellished story about Skaldi’s heroic deeds, how he was so cool, yadda yadda. But the small gesture Amir gave was strangely calming. Even if he had faced death yesterday, someone had appreciated his effort.

If anything, Amir displayed a glimmer of vulnerability, one that Skaldi was rarely shown. That made it all worth it. Not gold, not titles, not anything material. A simple thank you helped remind him to believe. That they can make a path forward. Be it alone or together.

That there is a future to behold.

“Amir, do you like ice cream?” Sorbet suddenly asked, making the elf and Tripolian slowly turn their heads towards her.

“What?” Skaldi squinted at her, dumbfounded that she interrupted an intimate moment.

“Because Vega said ice cream tastes good, and I kinda want to go get some. You guys wouldn’t mind if we do that?”

“...”

With very heavy stomps, Amir began walking towards Sorbet. Skaldi, feeling properly spooked, got in front of and started to push him back. Which only lasted a second before Amir kept moving to Sorbet.

“Hold on! Do not do anything violent! She’s just dumb!”

“~Move aside.~” Amir, lifting him like a cat, placed Skaldi behind him before standing two feet away from Sorbet.

“...bleh!” She stuck out her tongue, hoping that Amir would laugh at the gesture. He didn’t.

And what happened next, shocked Skaldi so much, he thought he hallucinated.

“Gay.” Amir spoke his first word of Iozian and pointed at Sorbet.

“...no, gay is kinda of a different thing. But close! Gay is that guy!” Sorbet pointed at Skaldi, who would had his jaw on the floor.

“...haha… Haha. Haha!” Amir bent backward, putting both hands on his mouth. Sorbet joined in with laughing, while Amir put his arm around her shoulder. “Haha! HAHAH! GAY!”

Skaldi crossed his arms and snickered. Sure, they might be different and fools in all types of ways, but he wouldn’t trade them for anything. The elf joined in with the laughter, with each person pointing at each other and calling the other gay.

If Amir trusted him, he could trust himself to act. And he could believe, nay, know that Vega would find her way.

He knows he can walk the path alone, but he knows that walking it with others makes it far more bearable.