The Market, Anzuri City. Kingdom of Azuria
9:12 AM
The city is just as busy as ever as Miritta and Alice weave through the crowd of people around the market. Sounds of housewives bartering back and forth between merchants, mages performing magic to entertain children and the warm aroma of food filled the atmosphere, giving the market a sense of busyness that Miritta hasn’t felt in months. They eventually arrived in an upscale part of the city where the mid to higher end stores dominate, catering to wealthy merchants from faraway lands and aristocrats alike.
Noticing a peculiar building on the street next to the medicinal shop, Miritta pointed towards it as she held Alice’s hand. “What’s that place?”
The building’s outer aesthetic was sleek and colorful, contrasting greatly with the medieval-esque establishments on the open street. Merchants and aristocrats enter and exit the store alike, holding paper bags containing groceries and other items newly introduced to Azurians by an Elysian company. A massive name was imprinted into the wall of the building: Atlas Retailer. Miritta figured that this must be the name of the establishment.
“It’s the new department store, belonging to an Elysian company. I’ve heard some great things about it from my friends in the city recently. Let’s go for it!” Alice excitedly grabs Miritta’s hand and pulls her towards the place. “Don’t worry, my family is fairly wealthy so I got quite the allowance!” She gave Miritta a devious smirk.
Pushing one of the glass doors aside, they were welcomed by the grand sight of a modern department store. The place was expansive, up to 4 stories tall with the centre of the ground floor occupied by a small stone statue of Duke Kalush ad Azuri on top of a fountain with benches laid out neatly around it, providing seating for weary travellers and merchants alike. Easily dwarfing any establishment she had ever been in before, Miritta can’t help but feel awe at the sight. Magical Energy gems provided lighting in the interior along with Frost gems which cools the air inside down to a comfortable level, giving sanctuary to those seeking to alleviate from the summer heat.
“It’s like an entire market inside a building!” Alice comments, barely containing her excitement.
“That’s impressive… I haven’t seen a place like this in several hundred ye-” She quickly cut, realizing she almost let herself slip out. “-ever!”
Truth is, Miritta had been in the Holy Celestial Empire to attend Empress Celestia’s crowning ceremony around 300 years back when she was only around 141 years old. There were similar stores like this in the Holy Celestial Empire, except the architecture was more elvish over there. In contrast, this store has a lot more aesthetic in common with the Florence Republic, saved for the magical gem. She never expected to see such a store emerge in Azuria, as luxury wares imported from as far as the Holy Celestial Empire were highly expensive which only the wealthy aristocrats, merchants and the army could afford.
“I see…” Alice raised an eyebrow. “But enough looking around, let’s go shopping!”
The pair walked around the department store for a short while, admiring the strange mechanical wares as they walked along the smooth stone path which were laid out neatly as to merge with the floor. Several lucky Azurian merchants were able to secure their own retail location inside the department store, boosting the local economy as the wealthy poured their investments inside this new form of market, hoping to be the first to cash in on the growing economy. The two eventually stopped at a watch store, with Alice inquiring the female employees on what kind of watch would be the best for her little brother.
Miritta examined the watch with curiosity, marveling at the accuracy of which they could keep track of time despite being small enough to fit in her palm. She could see the inner working of the object, with tiny little cogs moving the needle around with impeccable stability. The strangest part is that this is no ordinary craft, the metallic cogs are too small for even the most skilled craftsman to create even with the help of magic.
“Are you looking for a watch?” One of the female employees asked her.
Miritta thinks about the watch in her hand for a while before making up her mind. “Yes, I’d love to have one of these.”
“Okay! We have some higher end models which I think are a bit…” The employee looked at Miritta’s simple outfit. “-out of range for you. But worry not, we have some simpler models which I think would fit your style.”
The female employee went to the back of the store before returning back with a small box which contained a sleek, minimalist silver watch, with little to no decorations on the outside. “We just had them shipped in from the Federation last week, so this one is new.”
“The Federation?” Miritta asked the employee, noticing the mention of a new country.
“Oh, you must have not been around here, I assumed? The United Federation of Elysia and our kingdom have just won the war against the Yarian last month to save Azuria from certain doom!” She said to Miritta, her voice full of excitement at the news.
This fact shocked Miritta the most, she had heard about the barbarity of the Yarian years ago and had decided to make a plan to intervene should the need call for it. Since Duke Kalush directly controls the flow of information to maintain stability, any news of the incoming Yarian invasion was held off away from Anzuri City except for the army. She hasn’t been in Anzuri City for almost 6 months and wars often last much longer than that.
“There will be a parade at the square today to celebrate victory over the Yarians at around 5 pm.” The female employee said to Miritta as she unpacks the box, showing her the watch and how to check the time. “Here you go, miss. That’d be eight silver coins.”
Miritta pulls out her coin bag, paying the female employee the amount before bidding farewell to her as she walks out of the watch store. Alice is already waiting for her on the bench under the Duke’s statue.
“Hi, Alice. Which one did you buy?”
She gave Miritta a smile, showing off the gift she bought for her brother. It’s a watch finely decorated with intricate pattern and bold shape, exuding wealth and masculinity. “I got this one! It’s a bit pricey, up to three gold coins, but I thought it would be fitting since he’s getting on in age to take over the business.”
“Your family have a business?”
“Yes, my family owns a large winery on the outskirts. Business has been very good lately, thanks to the export to the Federation. Those people bought everything!”
“Wait…” Alice paused. “Why are you named after the Goddess of Nature anyway?”
“I think my mother wants me to be like her or something…” Miritta said nervously, taken surprised by Alice’s question. “Y-you know? Be kind and blessed? Haha…”
“Hmmm, I see then.”
The two share stories to pass the time, though Miritta has to lie or twist her versions so as to not reveal herself to be the Goddess of Nature. While having a conversation with Alice, she noticed several of those Elysian soldiers walking around with Azurian soldiers on patrols, unlike the others she had seen, they wore a black armband with two letters on it: MP.
Still confused, she finally asks Alice. “By the way, who are these ‘Elysians’?”
“They claimed that their country had been transferred to this world about two to three months ago, I found it hard to believe until I saw their ‘vehicles’ when they passed by and their goods. A lot of merchants here and even in their homeland want to be the first to sell products so this place got built in record time. In fact, I think this department store only opened a week ago. A lot of people here were weary of them at first but they definitely earned our trust by defeating the Yarians.” Alice explained.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
She pointed towards the MP. “Those men act as police around here since it’s near their fort, good and bad people exist across all worlds it seems. The Elysians want to make sure that their soldiers don’t get into trouble or something like that.”
After the MPs were gone, Alice noticed a familiar figure in a casual Marine uniform rose out behind one of the stone pillars. She waves for him to come over which he quickly oblige.
The Marine Specialist lets out a breath of relief after making sure that the MPs are gone. “Phew, those guys are like wolves. They chased Joker for two blocks straight.”
Taking off his cap, he introduces himself. “Specialist Lewis, Elysian Marine Corp. You must be… Alice’s friend, right?”
“Um, we actually just met.” Miritta responded, eyeing Lewis’s outfit up and down which was different from the MPs she had seen before.
“You got promoted?” Alice asked him.
“Yeah, I got through technical training. Pay’s a bit better too. We got two weeks off duty from the Colonel for our work in the war.”
Alice smiles and hugs him tightly. “That’s great! We can have time for each other!”
“You two need a moment?” Miritta asked the pair nonchalantly, staring at them.
“It’s nothing!” Alice let him go, barely hiding her blushes. “We only knew each other a short while ago when he was transferred to Fort Anzuri nearby. He’s a really good guy though.”
Miritta checks her wrist, looking at the time on her new watch. “Congratulations to you two, but I have to go browse other stuff now. It’s nice meeting you, Alice.”
Alice waved her goodbye before walking off with Lewis, holding his hand as they continued outside the department store.
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On the main street leading to the Royal Citadel.
4:56 PM
Miritta stood inside a rapidly expanding crowd, patiently waiting for the upcoming parade as she held her straw hat tightly. Frustrated at barely being able to see the main street through the dense crowd of people, she weaved a way out and made her way to a small alley where there is little to no people passing through.
Noticing the vine-covered wall inside the alley, she touches it as she channels her power through the plant. The vines started moving, lifting her gently onto the clay roof before returning back to normal. “Thank you.” She said to it.
Now with excellent views of the street below. She settled down her straw bag and pulled out a pre-made sandwich, munching on it and admiring the soft texture as she patiently waited for the event to start.
Duke Kalush ad Azuri stepped on top of the main gate as the people cheered at his presence, beside him stood Colonel Stanford in his ceremonial outfit and Ambassador Anderson in the same sharp suit as well as First Lady Nadine ad Azuri.
Duke Kalush allowed the crowd to cheer for a short while before raising his hand up into the sky, causing the crowd to go silent in anticipation.
“Today,” the Duke spoke through the microphone, his voice can be heard clearly even from a long distance away thanks to the speakers. “-we celebrate our shared victory over the Yarian Empire with the United Federation of Elysia! Without the aid of the Federation, Azuria may have been lost forever to history and joining the many kingdoms that had fallen to the barbarians. Last month, a swift and lightning combined offensive by our valiant troops as well as masterful support from the Federation has not only pushed back the enemy, but forced them to surrender! Unfortunately, we have only been able to save a few thousands left of the former Elvish Kingdom due to the barbarity of the Yarians.”
The Duke paused, letting the crowd stay in silence to pay their respect to the dead before continuing. “However, my loyal citizens, our future ahead is bright. We may remember those who were lost, but we can never let the past consume us. The United Federation of Elysia has offered us a once in a lifetime opportunity, their benevolence has not only liberated and reformed the Elvish Kingdom of the East, but to expand our own territories and let our people find new opportunities. Of course, this is not without a price, as the United Federation will take over the land belonging to previous kingdoms that were unable to reestablish themselves.”
The speech left some divisions within the crowd, some thinking what the Federation and their own kingdom is doing is no better than what the Yarians did while others objected, seeing the benefits of the treaty which could elevate the greatness of Azuria as well as the Eastern continent.
Duke Kalush continued, breaking up the heated debates which were beginning to form in the massive crowd. “The Goddess of Nature, Miritta, has blessed this land ever since my forefathers had settled this kingdom. She wishes nothing more than to see the people of this kingdom and others prosper with her blessing, let us adhere to her wishes and to spread our way of life and her blessings to all these lands!”
“I did say that to his ancestor.” Miritta chuckles, amused at the memory.
The crowd began cheering, showing good signs of positive thinking. Taking on the opportunity, Kalush announced once again over the microphone. “With trade and business booming between ourselves and the Federation like we have never seen before and peace has finally settled on this continent, I see little need to keep our emergency funds in the treasury.” He threw away the speech paper, raising his hand up to the sky and yelled at the microphone. “Tonight’s festivities will all be paid for by the treasury! Let us welcome this new era of peace with songs and drinks!”
The massive crowd erupted into cheers as sounds of celebration can be heard all over the city.
“Let the parade begin!”
Rows of armored vehicles began to roll on the wide open street of Anzuri as the 1st Marine Armored Infantry Battalion was the first to go, each vehicle packed with soldiers in Elysian Marine’s combat equipment giving salutes. The crowds cheered, some throwing flowers at the men on the vehicle while others clapped. Azurians guardsmen also began marching side by side with the dismounted men in unison, holding new rifles purchased from the Federation in their arms.
Next up is the MT105 medium tank battalion, their relatively long 105mm guns attracting the attention of everyone who knows how destructive firearms can be.
However the reaction pales in comparison to when the medium howitzer battalion finally showed up, inspiring awe from the crowd as their long 127mm gun dwarfed every other in the parade, causing discussions to rumble among the blacksmiths as they contemplated how to forge such massive weaponry and even vehicles that moved on their own.
Finally, wyverns of the Azurian Royal Wyvern Corp flew past the crowd majestically, flapping their wings as they released bags of flower from above, showering the crowds in many types of lilies and other native flowers that flourish in the Eastern Continent. AH-24 Orcas also fly past the crowd, surrounding a massive UH-48 Beluga acting as escorts and discharging flares in a stunning show of light and fire.
Miritta leaned back on the roof tiles as the parade wrapped up, finding the stunning event beyond comprehension and covered her face. “I think I need some rest…”
Taking the transferred country seriously, she attempted to recall anything that had happened like this before. Tales of transferred countries, kingdoms and empires alike had been prevalent in this world for thousands of years yet little to none of them exists today, either lost through time or fabricated as children's stories. She has to observe these newcomers for the foreseeable future.
Miritta checked her heavy bags of coins, counting her budget. “This should last me a month in a decent inn…”
She has little need to spend money on food, as she could use her power to grow her own food in record time in order to save on groceries. Making up her mind, she used the vines to step down back to the alley and make her way to the Royal Citadel which had been opened for festivities for the people.