Part 3. To The Road Ahead

(Mordio Estate, Noble Quarter, mid morning)

(Estellise's point of view)

I'll have to admit, even though I've been outside of the castle before, either attending the gods reaping ceremony in Nordopolica.

Or, more recently being a pawn of both Ragou and some person named Charu of Valssu.

But for some reason, being out here with both Yuri and Julia standing next to that opening we emerged from on the main grounds of this mansion just up the street from the castle.

It felt like the first time. Odd as it sounds.

Anyway, me and Julia followed Yuri back up the street to the gate that connected the Noble quarter and the Royal Quarter. We passed by my home as we made our way to the stairway leading down the hill.

I must admit it felt strange looking up at the castle from the outside in broad daylight. I'm more used to looking out at Zaphias through the window of my room. And now, I'm looking up at that very window from the very streets I used to look down on. Fascinating.

Anyway were were we? Oh yes, we headed down the stairway and we came to the shopping plaza of the Public Quarter. The sounds, the smells, The people talking. Wow! This is quite a lot for me to take in.

"So, lady Estellise." Julia interrupted. "How does it feel to outside in the daytime?"

"It's just so..." I tried to find the right words to describe it all. "How do I describe it all, Julia. All these sounds. All these fascinating smells. All these people. This is just a lot for me to take in."

"Well this plaza is rather lively during the day." Julia replied.

"Definitely a lot different than it would be at night, that's for sure." I said. "At night this place feels so quiet and empty and cold. But now this plaza feels, how do I put this, alive. So full of sound and smells."

"Yeah, that could be one way to describe it." Yuri said.

"I wonder if we should get supplies?" I suggested. "Since we have no idea how far we have to travel."

"You got a good point there, Estellise." Yuri replied. "We're definitely gonna need food, water, gels, and camping gear at least, And maybe a pack animal or two. Hope you two brought along some money."

"Don't worry, I've made sure of that." I said, Showing Yuri a sack of Gald coins that I took from my room earlier. "I hope it's enough."

But before we could start shopping for the necessary supplies.

"You there, fugitive!" We heard a knight call out. "Halt I say!"

"The jig is up!" followed by another knight. We turn to see that it was lieutenant Leblanc, along with Adecor and Boccos. They must have been looking for Yuri from the sound of it.

"Fools! Enough grandstanding, arrest him!" Leblanc shouted.

"Oh good grief, they followed us." Julia said. "So much for shopping."

Something tells me our plan to get supplies will have to wait. "W-What should we do?" I asked.

"First you pick up one of these." Yuri picked up a rock the size of my palm. "Then go like this!" He threw the rock at Adecor, knocking him on his butt. Then he grabbed another rock and knocked down Boccos with it.

"OW!"

"OOF!"

They both yelped when Yuri hit them.

"Let's get to the Lower Quarter." Yuri suggested. And we followed him down the pathway.

"You better not be leading us to the Red Light District, Yuri!" Julia warned. "Both me and lady Estellise have been there Zaude knows how many times and I simply do not care to go back there again."

"Me neither." I added.

"Why would I do that?" Yuri replied. "Besides that district's closed during the day. Not to mention I think it sucks too. Besides, we're going to a place with better taste."

Better taste?

(The Fountain Plaza)

Oh! We were just headed down to one of the fountain plazas. This plaza feels familiar. Oh now I remember. I used to pass through here back when I was doing Ragou's, ugh, sympathy calls, ugh. Still feel like an idiot for doing those as well as signing that awful contract.

I'll have to admit, this place certainly feels a lot more different in the daytime.

Just then, someone called out to us. "Yuri! Where've you been?"

Along with a few other people. "Yuri! You're back!"

"You're okay!"

"Hey who are those two?" And they just noticed me and Julia.

"I got an invitation to the castle and had the most marvelous time." Yuri replied to the old gentleman that was standing next to the fountain.

"If you could call breaking out of jail, and getting attacked by a crazy assassin over a case of mistaken identity a 'marvelous time', Hanks Sr." Julia added.

"Of all the..." Hanks Sr. shook his head. Then he noticed me and Julia standing next to Yuri. "Guess that might explain why Julia's with you. And who's this young lady?"

"That would be my mistress." Julia answered. "Lady Estellise, this is Hanks Sr., the local mayor of this rather quaint little district."

I walked towards him and politely bowed. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Estellise." I greeted.

"The pleasure is all mine, miss." Hanks Sr. bowed back. Then he approached Yuri. "Er, more importantly, about those Imperial Knights. They've been so busy looking for you, they haven't paid any attention to our fiasco down here. So you've really managed to tick them off, huh?"

"It looks that way." Yuri replied. "Has Repede come back yet?" Who's Repede?

"Sure did, And he was carrying some bag." Hanks Sr. answered.

"What happened to it?" Yuri asked.

"It should be up in your room." Hanks Sr. answered.

"Go pick it up later." Yuri suggested. "Give it a shake. It has a nice jingle to it. Mordio Liked it too."

"You met Mr. Mordio?" Hanks Sr. asked.

"Yeah, But the rat left town." Yuri answered. "Apparently he's someone important from a city called Aspio."

"Mr. Mordio you say?" Julia asked and Hanks Sr. nodded. "That can't be right. The only Mordio from Aspio I know of is a young girl named Rita. Definitely being framed."

"'Left town?' And He not the real Mordio? Then that means, we've been hoodwinked."

"I'm afraid so, Hanks Sr." Julia replied.

"Not to mention his house was empty, and I doubt he's even a real noble." Yuri added.

"Neither is Rita, but that's besides the point." Julia said.

"I see." Hanks Sr. sighed.

While they were talking, I was studying the plaza. It just looks so different in the daytime. The aque blastia I was studying was exactly as I remembered all those months ago. Only this time It clearly wasn't working.

"Looks like the aque blastia's finally stopped leaking water." Yuri commented on the now still fountain that I was looking at. Why is it not working?

"Well, without a core it won't budge." Hanks Sr. said. Oh, so that's why it isn't working. I walked around to the front of the fountain and I saw that the blue core was missing.

"Is there enough water for the time being?" Yuri asked.

"Yeah, but it won't last long." Hanks Sr. answered. "After that, We'll just get it from the river. Get the runs though."

"Couldn't you just get water delivered from the other fountain plazas?" Julia asked.

"Fraid not, Julia." Hanks Sr. shook his head. "Seems that they had their own cores swiped too. Ours was the last working fountain tn the lower Quarter. And the upper two quarters ain't the sharing type."

"My word." Julia replied. "This is worse than I thought." I'll have to agree with you on that.

"No kidding, Julia. And the Knights aren't going to help." Yuri said. "Guess we'll go get them back from that thief ourselves."

"I agree, Yuri." Julia nodded. "Last thing this city needs right now is a cholera outbreak."

"What? You aren't thinking of following that thief beyond the barrier, are ya?" Hanks Sr. asked.

"Don't worry. We'll be back before you know it." Yuri replied.

Hanks Sr. chuckled. "Heh heh heh. Who's worried? It's a good opportunity for ya. No need for ya to hurry back here."

"Huh?" What do you mean by that?" Yuri asked.

Hanks Sr. crossed his arms and replied. "What I mean is, we can get along just fine without you. Even Flynn used to say, 'I wonder how long Yuri plans on living this life.'."

Yuri sighed and his head sagged. "Flynn need to learn to mind his own business."

Me and Julia giggled.

Just then, we heard Leblanc running down the pathway to the plaza. "Yuri Lowell!" He shouted at Yuri. "You've given my two lackeys a headache. Now be a good boy and turn yourself in!"

"Well, that's our cue." Yuri said, looking at the wheezing Leblanc. "Looks like I won't be coming back here for a while."

"Never a dull moment with Yuri around." Hanks Sr. replied to us.

"On that I most certainly agree, Hanks Sr." Julia agreed.

The people started gathering in the plaza.

"After this, I'll be even with you for getting that money back." Hanks Sr. said as more people showed up.

"Just make sure you don't kick the bucket blowing it all on some crazy party." Yuri replied as I saw even more people arrive.

"We do hope to see you again once we sort out this matter." Julia added.

"Heh heh heh… Same to you two." Hanks Sr. chuckled as Yuri started off down the hill. "See that you two don't go dying in any ditches."

"Wait for us!" I called out. "It was nice to meet you sir."

"He'll probably be quite a pain in the neck." Hanks Sr. said.

"Tell me about it." Julia replied.

Hanks Sr. continued. "You three make sure and take care of yourselves now."

"We will. Thank you." Me and Julia bowed and ran off after Yuri.

Just as me and Julia exited the plaza and caught up with Yuri, the crowd of people gathered at the exit we went through, closing off the pathway and blocking Leblanc's pursuit.

"When are you gonna fix the fountain, sir knight?"

"Hey cool, A knight!"

"Hooray! Hooray!"

"Won't you help this old man find his dentures?"

"FOOLS!" Leblanc shouted at the crowd. "You're in my way! Do not interfere in the affairs of the empire!"

Me, Yuri and Julia found it all quite amusing. Hee hee hee. But just as we started off, We got swept up by another crowd of people coming up the street! WOAH!

"Don't you make her cry!"

"What are you talking about?" Yuri replied as we struggled through the crowd. "Hey, quit pushing! Hey, who just hit me? I'm gonna remember that!"

Not to mention. "EEEK! Oh no, my butt! AAH! Oh my goodness! EEEK! Oh! Oh!" Someone's groping my butt! EEEK! And Oh! OH!

"WAAH! Your Butt, lady Estellise? Oh! Oh! What about mine? EEK! You perverts! EEEK! I certainly won't AAH! Forget this! Oh! Ah!" Julia yelped and squirmed.

It wasn't long before we squirmed out of that crowd.

"Oh finally. Are you okay, lady Estellise?" Julia asked as we all caught our breaths.

"I think so..." I replied. "That was pretty uncomfortable. I felt my face turn red as I rubbed my posterior. "All that *shudder* touching."

"Honestly..." Julia shook her head, rubbing her posterior and blushing as well. "Just what is it with you Lower Quarter peasants being so *shudder* handsy?"

"Sorry' bout that." Yuri shrugged. "Some people just can't help themselves."

"Wait a minute, Lady Estellise, do you still have your money pouch?" Julia asked.

"Oh no! Don't tell me…" I immediately checked my sword belt. Fortunately my money pouch was still there and still full of coins. "Oh thank goodness, I thought they stole it when they were * shudder* groping us."

"Yes that's rather odd. I thought they would've taken the opportunity to swipe it." Julia replied. "Guess I can't complain, but still *shudder*."

Just then this boy, about my age, came up the street carrying a backpack. "Yuri, Julia, there you are."

"Ned." Yuri replied.

"This might come in handy if you're going to Halure." Ned said as he gave us a map.

"Huh? A map?" Yuri examined the map. "Wait a sec, this only has the road leading to Deidon Hold written on it."

"Not much of a map." Julia added.

"What did you expect, you two?" Ned replied. "It's better than nothing considering that people don't normally leave the city. We'll have to fill in the empty spaces on our own."

"So you're coming with?" Yuri asked.

"Well, duh." Ned answered, showing us his pack. "I talked it over with Mom and Dad. They're okay with it. Anyway, first off we should head to Deidon Hold to the north."

"Well, looks like our party just got a little bit bigger." I said. "Nice to meet you." I offered my hand. "I'm Estellise."

"Ned. Ned Mallory." Ned shook my hand. "And I already know Yuri and Julia here." He opened up his backpack. "We all pitched in and packed these supplies for you."

His pack contained some orange gels, melange gels, a few canteens full of water, and bread, eggs, bacon, onions, peppers, salt and pepper,

"Looks like we'll be having Tolbyiccian sandwiches on the trail, Yuri." Julia commented.

"Wow, all these supplies, Yuri." I said as I examined the contents. "They're all gonna miss you so much."

"Honestly, they're probably thrilled to finally get rid of me." Yuri replied. Then he noticed something else in Ned's backpack. "Hey hold it!" He pulled out a bag full of gald coins. It was almost the same size as my own. "Who put money in here?!"

"Mom and Dad did, Yuri." Ned answered. "You're gonna need this."

"But I can't take this." Yuri objected. "I'm taking this..." He started to head back but…

"HALT!" Leblanc shouted. He must have managed to push through the crowd back at the plaza.
"Get out of my way!"

"Nevermind, I guess I'll have to keep it for now." Yuri tossed the money bag back to Ned who stuffed it back into his pack.

We took off just as we saw Leblanc come running down after us. Suddenly something large and blue shot out of nowhere and tripped him.

"What!?" Leblanc yelped as he looked up to see this one-eyed blue dog with a dagger strapped to his right shoulder, a bodhi blastia on his tail, and a pipe in his mouth walk up to us.

"Nice one, Repede." Yuri patted the dog on his head. Oh, so that's Repede.

"A dog?" I asked. Well I kind of expected Repede to be a person.

"Well, for now it's north to Deidon hold." Yuri stated.

"What?" I asked. "Oh right!"

"I'm not sure how long we'll be together." Yuri said. "But here's to the road ahead, Estelle."

"Yes, I?" I started to reply but…

"Huh? Es...telle? Estelle. Estelle." Well this is unusual. That he would call me Estelle. "To the road ahead, Yuri!" I declared. I'm so looking forward to this new adventure!

Yuri looked back up the hill. "Well, so long for now."

"We hope to be back soon." I waved. And Me, Yuri, Repede, Julia and Ned ran off down the hill towards the outer barrier.

(End Part 3)

Author's notes:

I thought I'd let Estellise narrate the next few chapters.

I mentioned in the previous chapter that I was going to add one more OC to the party before the left Zaphias. Said OC being Ned. His role in the party will be the managing of items and supplies instead of fighting.

Next chapter, our heroes head north to Deidon hold, but, soon after, run into giganto problems.