Chapter 18: Altissia the City of Waters
Reza: I'm hungry, I'm cold, I'm soaked!
Waldo: I'm frozen too
Erik: Stop complaining, we'll find a hotel and dry off.
Reza: You should already know where is going
Erik: Uh... on this side, follow me
Reza: I feel it's going to be a long time
Waldo: You said it
Erik: Shall we go?
Reza: Yeah.
Erik: Don't forget your hood and your glasses.
Reza: Yes!
and that's when the journey of our friends in the city of Altissia began for an hour walking and circling around the city
Reza: We're going in circles, I'm fed up!
Erik: What do you want to do there, Goliath warned us this city is a labyrinth
Reza: All right, I'm calling Noct, Sneeze!
Waldo: Bless you
Erik: And blessed be you
Reza: Shut up, you two.
Noct : Yeah?
Reza: Noct, it's me
Noct : Reza? Everything's fine, where are you?
Reza: In Altissia precisely and we are lost
Noct : What the fuck!
Ignis: What's going on Noct?
Noct : It's Reza, they're lost somewhere in Altissia
Gladio: Are they a city?
Reza: What do we do?
Noct : Well, uh, don't move, we'll try to find you.
Reza: We'll try too, we'll end up crossing each other
Noct : Okay, don't worry, we'll find you, I'm your twin.
Reza: And a twin can always find his twin or whatever it is
Noct : That's right, see you later, sis.
Reza: Yes to all the time *hang up *Good we will walk we will end up crossing them sooner or later
Erik: At least they know we're here.
The trio started walking again in the city looking for the group of Noctis somewhere in the city also looking for them on their side
Passant : Hey, you heard Lunafreya's wedding dress is still on display.
Passant : Oh, we have to go see her. She must be beautiful.
Waldo: You heard that.
Erik: Yes, it's one thing to see
Waldo: And if you could take a picture of her, Lunafreya's famous wedding dress designed especially for her by great fashion designer.
Erik: Well, you've been well informed
Waldo: That what you think, a good reporter should always know everything and be up to date
Reza: Do you want us to go see her?
Waldo: Doesn't that bother you?
Reza: No, do as you please
Waldo: Oh, thank you, thank you, Reza.
Later they were in front of the window looking at the wedding dress
Waldo: That's great.
Erik: She is splendid
Reza: Yeah.
Waldo: Well, Reza, you don't like her.
Reza: It's just... it's not my style
Waldo: There is some truth in it
Reza: Let's go, we still have to find the others.
Waldo: Okay.
*Later*
As Reza walked she heard running after her and someone hugged her.
Noct : I found you
Reza: Noct
Noct : I missed you
Reza: We were only separated for a few hours
Noct : Whatever it's been an eternity for me
Prompto: Waldo
Waldo: Prompto
Prompto: I'm glad to see you
Waldo: And I, including my great photo colleague
Ignis: Hopefully we managed to find you
Gladio: Noct hasn't stopped looking for you, he's been busting our balls and I'm not saying that in the air
Noct : Shut up Gladio
Reza: *smile*Atchoom!
Noct : Reza, what's wrong with you?
Ignis: Are you sick, do you need medicine?
Reza: No, no, no, just a cold from splashing in the water.
Noct : Huh what! Wait a second you're soaked!, and why are you wearing a hood and sunglasses?
Reza: Yeah, long story.
Erik: We jumped out of a plane
Waldo: And parachuted
Prompto: What! Parachute!
Ignis: Okay, let's go to the hotel first to dry you out
Waldo: We're waiting for it
* At the hotel*
Noct was towel drying Reza's hair after a long discussion about what happened in the last few hours.
Noct : Honestly, it's completely crazy about parachuting, I'm going to kill that old man to get you something that dangerous
Reza: Noct
Noct : I'm serious Reza and if your parachute had a problem and didn't open, I told you to look after it.
Reza: *Breathe and shake your head*
Ignis: Noct the Prime Minister and ready to receive you
Reza: The Prime Minister?
Ignis: Camelia Claustra Prime Minister of Accordo
Reza: Ah, why?
Noct : To talk about some things for the rite, don't worry, I'll come back later
Reza: See you later
Noct : Gladio stays with her
Reza: What's serious?
Noct : Reza please
Reza: All right, to all
Night left the room leaving Reza in Gladio's hands
Prompto: Uh Waldo
Waldo: Yes
Prompto: Since Noct is gone and Gladio is looking after Reza, would you like to go out for a bite to eat?
Waldo: You mean just the two of us.
Prompto: Yes, well... uh
Waldo: Is this by any chance a proposal to go out
Prompto: Uh, if you don't want
Waldo: I'm up for it.
Prompto: Really
Waldo: Of course I'd be happy to have dinner with you.
Prompto: In that case, let's go there
Reza: Where are you two going?
Waldo: We...
Prompto: We're going for a walk, taking pictures
Waldo: Yeah, we're in Altissia.
Reza: But it's dark, what do you want to take in the dark
Waldo: We have the flash, don't worry* go out in a hurry with Prompto*
Reza: Good
And it was later that Noct returned to the hotel after his appointment, but as he was about to walk through the door he heard screams from the room and rushed in and saw Gladio and Reza fighting.
Gladio: You can't do anything with your ten fingers
Reza: I'd do better if you'd stop mugging me
Ignis: That's enough, you two.
Noct : What's going on here?!
Reza: Ask Gladio
Gladio: No, ask her instead
Erik: I tried to stop them but there's nothing I could do
Ignis: It's not your fault
Gladio: Honestly, you can't put something in your sister's head
Reza: I should be the one to question myself, haven't you seen the latest ads, join the army or risk being dredged by Gladiolus Amiticia, walk quietly in the street or risk being dredged by Gladiolus Amiticia, we are looking for people who have not been dredged by Gladiolus Amiticia!
Gladio: Oh you spoiled rotten child
Reza: *punch your fists*You won, I'm angry, I wouldn't accept to be called a spoiled child!
Reza then hit Gladio with a single punch with the others who were watching the scene with their mouth wide open, the punch was so strong that he knocked Gladio out leaving the others completely shocked Reza angry then walked towards the door
Reza: IDIOT!
And she slammed the door so hard that she made the walls tremble
Ignis: Let's leave her alone, she'll come back when she's calm.
Reza was in the street walking and sitting on a bench to calm down.
Reza: *breathes*
Guard: Excuse me.
Reza: Yeah.
Guard: Are you lady Cereza, the Prime Minister would like to see you
Reza: Why would she want to see me
Guard: I would ask you to come with me.
Reza: Very good
She followed the guard who took her to a building and left her in front of the minister's office
Reza: An appointment with an important person, father what to do
Reza felt as if she heard her father's voice in her head and gave her courage and with determination she knocked on the door
Camelia: Entry
Reza: *enter* Uh hello
Camelia: Nice to finally meet Lady Cereza.
Reza: Uh, me too.
Camelia: Asseyais you dearest
Reza: *Sit down* Madam Minister, why did you ask to see me
Camelia: At least I wanted to finally meet the Princess of Insmonia, and it's true you and your brother looked like you like two drops of water
Reza: Yes, we are often told that
Camelia: You could almost be confused
Reza: Thank you Madam Minister, but I suppose it was not only to talk about my brother that you asked to see me
Camelia: Indeed, I'm going to get to the point, first of all I know almost nothing about you much more than your brother, so I'd like to learn more about you and your intentions
Reza: I know you have every reason to be suspicious of me, but know that I don't have any bad intentions
Camelia: An answer I was waiting for, so you know about the oracle ritual that will take place in our city
Reza: Yes, ma'am.
Camelia: But what I would like to have is why you who don't have a role in this ritual came anyway
Reza: I just want to be able to be useful, and as Princess of Insmonia it wouldn't have been very respectful
Camelia: Very interesting coming from you, and tell me what do you think of the ritual
Reza: Very sincerely I don't have much to say, just that if it has to be done for my brother to get the blessing of the divinity in question
Camelia: Hum indeed and a ritual that could cause great harm to this city
Reza: With all due respect, you think my brother is not capable of managing the protection of this city and the population
Camelia: I don't say anything at all, princess, but I can't help but worry about the inhabitants, your brother and yet another inexperienced young king
Reza: I understand your concerns, it is natural to be concerned when you give the protection of a city to someone else you don't really know but* rises* I ask you nothing more than to believe in him, he may be inexperienced but he is loyal and has only one word so I ask you
Believed in him!
Camelia: And many words worthy of a lady of your rank, it sounded like your father, well I'm going to trust your brother that he doesn't disappoint me and neither do you.
Reza: As you wish, ma'am, if you'll excuse me.
Reza came out of the office and just after closing the door he took a deep breath
Reza: Damn it, I thought I wasn't going to make it, I think at least I convinced her
*In the office*
Camelia: Well, I didn't expect that, it's still something about this princess.
Reza resumed his stroll in the city to get lost and ended up in Weskam's bar, sat at a table and ordered a drink, that's when three rather suspicious men entered the bar in turn
Man: Eh bartender three beer
Weskam: I told you though that I want more of you here
Man: Oh yeah, sorry old man, but I'm going or wanting
Weskam: For your interest, go away from my bar.
Man: Did you say something silly
Reza threw a can right at the head of one of the guys who turned to her.
Reza: You didn't understand what he said, go away.
Man: Que's s que's you say my beautiful * laugh*
Man: May she courage from such a pretty girl
Man: If I were I'd better get out of here fast.
After his words Weskam made a face that said Aille, when a Reza turned her head towards him and smiled at him before taking his arm and hitting him and a few seconds later a bar fight broke out that ended with the three men on the ground defeated by Reza
Man: We'll see each other *leave at full speed with the other two*
Weskam: Great show of strength from your part Princess Cereza
Reza: Thank you Weskam, and then I needed to let off steam
Weskam: What are you doing alone at this time of night not being with your brother and others
Reza: I kind of had a fight.
Weskam: Oh, I see.
Reza: To tell you the truth, I don't really want to go back to the hotel
Weskam: Well, what would you say to spend the night at my place
Reza: I really don't bother you.
Weskam: Not at all and then I'd like to hear about your adventures
Reza: With pleasure Weskam
* At the hotel*
Noct : Damn it, she should have been back by now.
Ignis: *enter the room*I looked for it everywhere I couldn't find it
Erik: It's not like him to stay out so long
Noct : Well done Gladio
Gladio: What's my fault
Noct : If you hadn't crossed the line, she's now out there alone.
Ignis: And this city is big who it is or can be
Noct : I'm going out to get it, I can't just sit around and do nothing
Ignis: I'm going with you
Erik: Me too
*On the side of Reza*
Weskam: Welcome to my home, it's not a palace but it's comfortable
Reza: Thank you very much Weskam.
Weskam: Would you like some tea?
Reza: Yes, please
Weskam: So tell me what's bothering you, princess.
Reza: How can I say, it's just that I can give it my all, it seems that it's never enough for anyone, after all I'm only a shadow of my brother who will be king over him
Weskam: Did you think you were unworthy of him?
Reza: Somehow yes, I come to tell myself why I was born, father would be disappointed if he saw me
Weskam: I don't think Régis would be disappointed in you
Reza:...
Weskam: "look at my beloved daughter, a real little lady, as I am proud" he often repeated it to me, as he smiled when he said his words
Reza: Father said that
Weskam: *nod your head* He knew you would be worthy, you keep your head up and ready to take on your role, believed me he would have been proud, I was proud for him
Reza: I couldn't save him Weskam, I feel so weak
Weskam: No one could have saved him, it was too late for him, but not for you
Reza: Tell me more about him, please.
Weskam: With pleasure
That's it for chapter 18 and next time the Hydrean ritual attention it's going to be tense.