"Thank you for sailing with us today. May you all enjoy the great city of Noatun!" The announcement on the ferry rung across the cerulean sky before the next round of passengers load on the ferry to depart the city. This city is amazing. The warm breeze sprouting from the sea felt like it was hugging all of us as a welcoming party. Merchants with their stands near the docks were hustling to get our attention, hoping to make some sales. It won't hurt to support the locals.

"Welcome, welcome to Noatun!" One of the merchants greets me with a smile missing a few visible teeth.

"I'll take two of those apples. And a banana," I add.

The merchant makes a surprise look as she packs the fruit in one of the shop's small bag. "Oh wow, I never thought I would get a sale today!"

A smile emerges. I put my hand up to stop her, "Actually, add another banana and three of those peaches please." Her eyes almost popped out of her head at hearing more fruit getting bought.

"Yo-Yo-You got it!" She collects the fruit to put inside the bag. "By the way, where do you come from traveler?"

"Vigrid."

Her eyes widen. "Vigrid, how lovely! Now that you mention it, I saw someone earlier who looked to be from Vigrid as well."

"Oh, really?"

"She resembled an Umbra Witch. My mother told me stories about Lumen Sages and Umbra Witches as Naotun is deeply connected to the Trinity of Realities, but they existed so long ago. I didn't know they were still around. Or perhaps she's just an admirer and likes to cosplay."

"An Umbra Witch?" I am curious as to how one of them could have possibly survived all this time. "Where did you last see this woman?"

"She was walking towards the center of the town."

"Thank you," I hand her the cash for the fruit before walking away. "Please keep the change."

"No thank you! Please come back anytime!" She waves at my departure.

I stroll through the square eating an apple while admiring the architecture of this place. It reminds me of home except much peaceful. No clans going for each other's throats to claim superiority. Everyone was going about their days, greeting one another, walking around with baskets of beautiful flowers, children playing tag. It makes me a bit jealous enough to desire to see the citizens of present day Vigrid be as courteous, but that would probably happen when pigs become angels. When I took another step, something suddenly hissed ferociously from below, making me hold my foot in the air. As it ran off, I noticed it was a panther with what looked like a pendant around its neck. I watched it scurry off into the distance, looking as if it was frantically searching for a place. As I looked up towards where it was heading, it turned into an alleyway that connected to the other side of the city where the main canal runs through. Lead the way. As I change my destination to traveling through the same alleyway, I spotted a black-haired woman donning black glasses along with a black catsuit with accents of blue walking inside a cafe. As I scanned her up and down before she entered inside, her shoes had pistols attached to them. Bullet arts.

I entered into the cafe. It was meek with soft jazz music floating in the air from the jukebox in the corner. There were no more than three customers inside and the employee behind the counter bore pleasant looks on their face, which either meant I arrived before their usual hours of traffic or this place doesn't get enough business.

"A cup of tea," the woman from earlier ordered, getting a nod from the cashier before she gave the order to one of the baristas. She leaned over the counter, quietly watching the barristers do their job before scanning the room to find a place to sit. As she walked past me, her eyes briefly land on me before speaking, "Isn't this a surprise? The man who almost stepped on one of my paws earlier is here. Come to finish the job?"

I did not have a response as her voice enticed me. I walked over to her booth, the one in the corner near the entrance. "My apologies," I sit across from her, her expression changing to one that wasn't inviting, "However, I don't recall women such as yourself morphing into jungle cats on a daily basis." My eyebrow raised. "Umbra witch?"

She lightly chuckled. "My, my. Seems the cat is out of the bag." The waiter approached our table, handing the witch her order. She grabbed the handle of the cup, white with gold floral trimmings, and took a sip before peeking over her cup at me in slight annoyance. "I'm not one for having fans. Do you need something?"

"I was wondering would you like to take a picture?" I showed her my camera.

"Depends on what my picture is going to be used for," she takes another sip. "I've only known you for less than 10 minutes, yet you want me to do a magazine spread."

A chuckle escapes my mouth. "Easy there. You just hopped 20 imaginary steps over my head. I'm here on a vacation. I figured a nice break to snap some beautiful photos wouldn't hurt before returning to New Hvelghemir."

"New Hvelghemir? That's a pretty expensive place to live."

"My wallet has felt its wrath," I switch the film out of the camera. Both our heads turned towards the waitress who came over to our table to check if the witch was satisfied with her order. I ordered a cup of espresso, and when it arrived to my table, I took a deep whiff to appreciate the aroma before taking a sip.

"Shouldn't be much of a loss for a rich photographer such as yourself?" the Witch questioned.

"Actually, I'm a lawyer."

"Lawyer?" Her eyebrows jumped in curiosity. "Usually lawyers are well-dressed and kempt. You look more like a camp counselor."

I take another sip. "The vacation also includes taking a break from making daily fashion statements."

As we both enjoyed our order, the look on her face turned more and more sour. I was getting signals that I was overstaying my welcome at her table. She broke the awkward silence at the table, "Don't you have to depart soon to enjoy the rest of your vacation?"

"Yes, but I can't resist the nice smell of coffee," I smirked, sipping in amusement. "Besides, I'm in the presence of an Umbra Witch. A beautiful one at that. I've heard stories from my father of such mystical beings, but last I heard, they died centuries upon centuries ago." I lean over the table towards her. "You see why my curiosity has been sparked."

"You're making me feel like a celebrity. Let me guess," she also leaned in, her face inches from mine. "Your father happened to die from who you ignorantly presumed to be by me as well?"

I had thought my feelings about...Cardinal Freyr had long been gone, but her statement makes a sharp pain shoot across my stomach. It was time to cut this meeting short. I stood up and scooted from the booth and towards the entrance. Adjusting my shirt, I stated, "It's an honor to meet one of you, is all. Your clan didn't deserve such a tragic fate. Neither clan didn't." I leaned over to place my money on the table to pay for the both of our orders before leaving.

As evening began to settle, the rustling town was quieting down and people were traveling from the stores to nearby neighborhoods or bars to continue their night. I continue sightseeing the town, fascinated by more of the town's architecture and its well-kept maintenance after all these years. As the sun peeks across the horizon, it made quite a pleasing aesthetic for the pictures. I pass through an alley to see apartment complexes facing across from each other, the hanging plants from the upper patios of the apartments staring down at me. I snap about twelve, thirteen photos as I fumble around with trying out different apertures to adjust to the sunset lighting. My arms raise the camera again, my eye steadying on the content through the viewfinder until I see a group of angels flying at me. I've got not a fucking clue as to what they were doing or whether they were after me, but my arms lower and tuck the camera towards my chest in retreat. Before I can make a run for it, a gush of wind trips me over, making me fall to the floor. Adjusting myself, I look to see the Umbra Witch from earlier fighting the angels, doing wicked weave attacks, and posing like it was a fashion shoot. I could have sworn she flashed her ass to one of the angels before jumping to avoid its attack, gracefully flipping into the air, and landing onto its back, using it as a skateboard to slide into the remaining angels and performing a bullet enriched pirouette and ending her victory with a pose.

"I didn't even break a sweat. If only you angels knew how to fight better than you run your mouths," the shiny blue guns in her hands disappear behind her head. Quite entertaining after all these years to once again see an Umbra Witch in action. She turns to walk towards me before stopping in front of me.

"That was pretty impressive," Her eyes jump in surprise at my sudden compliment. She walks from the left side to the other, observing me see her move. "I didn't know you were quite the ballerina," I stated before looking down at my camera and testing the on button. Thankfully, it still works.

"Looks like you're quite the stalker. You remind me of someone I know, albeit less perverted." She folds her arm before strolling towards me.

I scoff. "I recall being the first to enter this empty alley. Who came charging in here like an American football player?"

"Does it look like I wear such hideous shoulder pads?" My eyes drift towards her attire, particularly the two spikes resting on her shoulders before a smirk sneaks onto my face. She notices before rolling her eyes, "These don't count. For one, they're actually fashionable. Much unlike those dreadful flamingo shorts you're wearing."

"If you stop making fun of my shorts, I won't laugh at your your football pads." She loudly scoffs before walking past me. I let out a hearty chuckle before busting a light jog towards her. "I'm only kidding. Your pads are very trendy."

"I would say the same about your shorts, but my mother raised me not to be liar," she sticks a lollipop in her mouth before turning on her heels once more.

I smile, teeth proudly admitting that joke is amusing. "Sigurd's the name," I stretch my hand out.

She looks down upon my hand before accepting it with a shake, "Bayonetta. Or Cereza. Whichever you like."

"I like both. I'll call you Bayoreza."

"Bayoreza? My, that's quite the spin, and to think, you weren't inebriated to create a name like that," she smiles.

"No, it's just one stale joke after another," I gracefully bow before focusing back on her. "By the way, I've told you my reason for being in Noatun. Why would an Umbra Witch of all places be here?"

"Fimbulventr. Had to go to Inferno to rescue a friend and some other things," she walks past me, not shooting a look towards me until she stops, "though for someone who knows I'm an Umbra Witch, that shouldn't be surprising to hear."

"Not at all," I scratch the back of my head, "but you're still a stranger to me. For all I know, you could have been in Noatun to buy fruit from overpriced market stands. Besides, this isn't my homeplace. I only know of Noatun from the books I've read as a child."

"Books?" She looks towards the ground, thinking. "Where is your hometown?"

"Vigrid."

Her lips slightly part, caught off guard by my answer. "So am I."

Of course you are, where else would an Umbra Witch be from? I walk to her, right arm extended for her to latch onto, "Well then, since we're two Vigridians in the middle of Noatun, why not take a little tour around the city together?"

She stares at my arm, lost in thought, before wrapping her arms around mine, "Don't try anything funny."

I stiffly raise my free arm, "Scout's honor." As we walk back along the main trail in the city, we made small talk about the scenary until the city canal greeted our view. We were back where we were earlier. Before we begin heading down to its end, I stopped and unravel my arm out of her grasp.

"Is something the matter?" She asks.

"Switch places," I gently grabbed her arm and guided her to the opposite direction, "I'll take the outside. As funny as it would be to see a witch fall in the water, I rather for that to not happen. After all, I am the one wearing flamingo shorts. I can just-," I hop into the air, "-land on one foot in the water."

"If you do, I'll be certain that you are indeed looney in the head." She wraps her arms around my left arm, actually catching me off guard this time. "I hope you can swim because dead flamingos are not in season, I'm afraid." As we walk together, my eyes got enthralled with the scenery since we hadn't gone south of the canal yet. "Someone's awfully fawning," Cereza's comment breaks my borderline hypnotic state.

"Sorry. It's just that it reminds me of Vigrid. Except more preserved. No ridiculous construction projects built everywhere. No gardens being removed to make space for a train station. All because some madman who claims to be a Lumen Sage wanted to sniff his own arse with the money and power to do so." My left arm got tighter. I looked at Cereza, who continued to walk along, not saying a word. No snarky comment. Is she upset? "However, I guess I have no right to talk, considering my family was somewhat well-off."

"Mummy feed you with a silver spoon?" She returns to normal.

"Not always. Not until my Father ended up getting a higher rank."

"Military?"

I barely manage to not cover my blow, "Correct."

"My father was that Lumen Sage changing Vigrid into his own little playground. And I was the one who stopped him."

I stop right in my tracks, "So you're half-Umbra, half-Lumen?"

"Yes, I'm the winner," she quips.

So Balder was the one who was in charge of the Ithavoll Group, and she's the child he bore with that Umbra witch in the cell. Did not think she would survive the war like the other witches, let alone grant me the opportunity to meet her. I cleared my throat. "I'm sure you have your reasons for killing him. It's not like my relationship with my father is perfect."

"Did you kill yours too? Sounds like killing fathers is in style this season."

I ignore that last part while my eyes land on a music shop. I point at the store, notifying Cereza who turns her head in that direction. As we walk towards the store, the owner came out to grab the sign before he notices us approaching. "How are you two doing tonight?"

"Good. Just sightseeing the area since we're tourists."

"Ah," the owner moves the shop sign over to the left of the door, "If you would like to come in, please feel free. You and your beautiful friend, might I add?"

"Why thank you," Cereza shoots the owner a wink.

She struts inside the store while I bow my head in thanks towards the owner who reciprocates the action. Inside the store were instruments of various sections on display on the wall. Trumpets, saxophones, flutes, violins, and the likes. All of an assortment of colors which I assume is based on the metal it took to sculpt them. Regardless, every metallic piece shined like the sun inside, giving its instrument an aura. However, I couldn't help but jump for joy seeing a piano section in the area next to this one. Black grand pianos, white grand pianos, glass grand pianos, and even a red one. They all gleamed underneath the store lights and well, I couldn't not try one of the pianos out. My feet paced towards the black grand piano. Classic as ever. I pinged a few of the keys only to be greeted by perfectly pitched notes. After stretching my fingers, I did a light freestyle on the piano, trying to remember chord progressions that I hadn't played in about 80 years. The more I played, the more I engulfed myself into the music until my concentration was disrupted by a familiar voice.

"My, the flamingo has talent," Cereza strutted over, smirking, before sitting down at the piano next to me. "How long have you been playing?"

"Here and there for about 15 years." It was more like 150 years. You pick up many zany hobbies living for half a millennium.

"O? How good are you at following along?"

Did she mean by ear? "Well enough to find the chord. Would you like to hear something from the Flamingo Jukebox?" A smile crept upon my face.

"Why sure."

She began singing a song I hadn't heard before.

Fly me to the moon

And let me play among the stars

Let me see what Spring is like

On Jupiter and Mars

In other words, hold my hand

In other words, baby, kiss me

When she began singing the next verse, I got an inkling of how the melody flowed and accompanied her on the piano while humming along to keep myself on track.

Fill my heart with song

And let me sing forevermore

You are all I long for

All I worship and adore

In other words, please be true

In other words, I love you

When she finished, I continue looping the chords I had connected together and the air was filled with a number of emotions. The store was full of saudade. Catching me by surprise, I looked to my shoulder to see Cereza resting her head on it. I continue playing the song we had finished crafting together on the piano.

"That song," I stated in a low voice, "did you make it yourself?"

"My mother used to sing it to me every night when I was a child."

"Ah. What a marvelous song. Makes me jealous. Its much more optimistic than the song my father would sing to me," I halted to begin a new song.

Loneliness is the cloak you wear

A deep shade of blue is always there

The sun ain't gonna shine anymore

The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky

The tears are always clouding your eyes

When you're without love

Emptiness is the place you're in

There's nothing to lose but no more to win

The sun ain't gonna shine anymore

The moon ain't gonna rise in the sky

The tears are always clouding your eyes

When you're without love

I paused the piano playing to take a deep breath. It was the first time I had sung that song in over 500 years. I broke the air, "It went something like that. Like I said, not on the cheerful side."

"You weren't joking. Perhaps," she placed her hand on my knee, caressing it with her thumb, "we should create our own song to replace such a dreadful bore."

A chuckle escaped me. "That would be lovely. One day."

"How long are you staying in Noatun?" She asked unexpectedly, standing from the piano bench.

"Three more days."

"Three days..." She turns to look at me, "You did say you live in New Hvelghemir?" I nod my head in agreement. She smiles, "if my line of work ever sends me that way, it would be quite nice to touch bases again."

I return the smile, "That would be nice. Of course, you'll get the 'Flamingo Tour' special. Dinner will also be my treat."

"Oh? Fine dining, are we? In my ears, that sounds like a date."

"Not really, but if a date is what you're looking for, I can make that happen. Tonight was fun spending it with someone, especially a kind stranger."

"I wouldn't call us strangers," her eyes met the ground for a brief moment before landing back on me, "we're more like acquaintances now." She walks off towards the entrance before stopping, turning her head to the side, "When I visit New Hvelghemir, we'll just have to work on the friendship some more. Got it, Dodo?"

I shot a thumbs up her way, "Roger that, Alice."