SAPPHIRE

02: Living Within the Walls

Was it a dream or did it all happen? It was a dream, was it not? Reito and the escort leader had helped her cross the wide open desert to the walls of Windbloom. The trip had taken three days, did it not? Was it all just a dream? Yes, it had to be a dream. She would wake up and find herself lying in her uncomfortable bed in that small chamber in the Black Valley. The daily chores would settle in shortly after she prepared her breakfast for the young children. The mattress of her bed, as she remembered it, was thin and made of straw. Normally when she awoke her back would ache. Did it ache now? Rena looked for an answer subconsciously. No, it did not hurt. The bed was soft – it was comfortable. Her head rested on plushy pillows; the blankets were thick and kept her warm. The smell of soup wafted into her nose. That delicious soup – she did not know what it was. Did someone make it? Could it have been that old lady who lived across from her? Or maybe it was Yohko? Yohko, that young girl, after all, was quite proficient in preparing meals. A new soup by her? Rena's stomach rumbled; a signal to eat had been sent. The three days had all been imagined after all. No trip had ever taken place. Rena slowly opened her eyes and expected to see the dimly lit chamber that was her room. The chamber had a distinct smell of its own, but this new smell – a wonderful fragrance of some kind – was foreign to her.

Her eyes adjusted to the light in the room – it was bright – and the environment around her, also equally foreign to her. The ceiling and the walls were painted in a warm, light brown colour; a wooden desk to her right, a closet to her left, and an empty bookcase before her. An open window just above the desk allowed the beautiful weather to enter her room. It was nearing the end of summer and Rena knew back in the Black Valley the seasons never changed. Did it change here in Windbloom? She did not know but she hoped it remained summer for the rest of the year; the weather was simply too beautiful. She smiled and it soon dawned on her that it was indeed not a dream. I'm in Windbloom! Rena slowly sat up and looked around. She looked down at herself and realised someone had changed her clothes. Replacing the ragged cloak and the clothes she wore from the Black Valley – caked in sand and dirt, as well as ripped and torn in many places – was a soft, light blue nightgown. Movement and a discussion somewhere in the house caught her attention. Throwing the blankets off, Rena got out of bed and went in search for this new noise.

The house, she soon noticed, had two floors; the noise came from the bottom floor. Walking barefoot across the shiny hardwood floor, Rena did her best to keep quiet. In contrast to the life she lived in the Valley, here everything was clean and kept tidy. The paint on the walls seemed new, the flowers in the vase healthy, and portraits hung perfectly. Rena stopped by a photo of the couple on the wall – she noticed that they did not have a child of their own. Well the couple did seem young, Rena thought after a while. She slowly went down the stairs and reached the ground floor. The voice of the man and woman carried to the stairs – the topic of the discussion was food. It seemed as though they did not know what to make. Was it for her? Rena hoped not. She did not want to be a burden to these kind people. From the base of the stairs Rena could see the man and the woman in the spacious kitchen. The man, which she guessed to be in his twenties, had light brown hair and equally light brown eyes behind thin-framed glasses. His wife was quite pretty, Rena saw. She had a mane of red hair and soft green eyes. Rena took a deep breath and slowly walked towards the kitchen.

'I think the soup is good, hon, don't get me wrong, but – Oh, hey there,' said the man as he took notice of Rena.

Rena froze on the spot. She had been addressed and words to respond escaped from her mind. 'H-hi… Good morning,' said Rena after a slight hesitation.

The woman smiled at the girl and said, 'Please have a seat.' She was gesturing at the island where the man was sitting. A bowl of soup sat at the empty spot, which she assumed was hers. Rena nodded and took a seat next to the man. 'We'll have breakfast ready in no time. Don't worry, you won't have to wait too long. In the meantime you can have that soup I prepared.'

'I'm John Waltemeyer,' introduced the man, 'and this is my wife, Cara.'

'I'm Rena Sayers,' said Rena, though these people probably already knew who she was. 'Thank you for taking me in and giving me these clothes –'

'Oh it's nothing,' said John Waltemeyer, waving the issue aside. 'A lot of people these days have too narrow a mind to see the big picture. Personally, Cara and I try to keep an open mind towards everything. We help people who need help; it doesn't matter who you are or where you came from. We do our best to help.' He folded the newspaper in front of him and offered it to Rena – she politely declined the offer. 'When we were asked if we wanted to help someone get into Garderobe, Cara and I were a bit hesitant. You see, Cara's cousin was an Otome and they haven't been on the best of terms. Also, we thought we had to pay for tuition and seeing as we're not that rich, we didn't know if we could help.'

'But when we were told that we didn't have to worry about that, it made things easier for us,' said Cara Waltemeyer at the stove. 'Of course, now we were interested in knowing who we were helping and where this person was from. The man we met told us we were going to help someone outside of the country. Naturally we asked who and where this person came from. We were quite surprised when we were told the answer. First, the person told us that we were going to help a Rena Sayers. He showed us a picture and told us a bit about you.' Cara turned to face Rena and smiled warmly. 'And then there was the matter of where you came from – that there was the real surprise. We expected you to come from Artai or Aries or maybe Cardair. When were told the truth – well, we were quite surprised. We weren't expecting you to come from the Black Valley.'

'People are told lies everyday,' said John, looking pointedly at the newspaper before him. 'Some are more severe than others. Some you can get away with and some you can't. We always knew that the Black Valley wasn't as dangerous as some make it out to be. It's only unfortunate that those in power have twisted the perception of the majority to see the Black Valley as an evil place. It may be true that there are some bad apples, but that applies to every nation. A few bad apples doesn't make the whole basket rotten, right? Well we knew that the "people from the Black Valley were evil" story wasn't true, and we wanted to find out for ourselves.' John Waltemeyer looked evenly at Rena. 'We took you in to help you achieve your goals, Rena, but we also took you in to learn more about your culture and your people.'

It was the honest truth, Rena knew, and she was grateful that they revealed their true intentions to her. Adding to the weight already on her shoulders, Rena would take it upon herself to show these people that the citizens of the Black Valley were not savages and bandits as they were made out to be. 'Thank you for taking me in,' said Rena gratefully.

John and Cara Waltemeyer looked at Rena warmly, smiling. 'Like I said before, we're always willing to help those – Cara the stove!' exclaimed John, pointing at the smoking pan.

'Oh damn!' Cara shouted, quickly turning off the heat and opening the lid of the pan – smoke billowed out and slowly filled the kitchen. Cara Waltemeyer quickly opened the window above her sink to let fresh air in. She looked at the breakfast, ruined, for some time before turning to her husband and Rena. She smiled meekly and said, 'Well I guess we can always eat out.' Her husband placed a hand to his forehead and sighed, shaking his head; Rena simply did her best not to laugh at the situation.

The Waltemeyers decided it was best to go out and eat. Not only would that be a better choice than watching Cara try and make something, but they could also take that opportunity to buy Rena some clothes and show her the city. Rena agreed with the idea and returned to her room, changing into a set of clothes the Waltemeyers had bought for her – a white blouse and khaki pants – struggling with the excitement of seeing the city. She knew it was silly for her to overreact over such a trivial situation, but she had never been outside the Black Valley for her entire life and the change of scenery was certainly most welcomed. John and Cara Waltemeyer were waiting at the door; Rena quickly hurried to their side, ready to see Windbloom in all its beauty. 'I'm ready,' she exclaimed excitedly. The Waltemeyers nodded and opened the door; a blast of sunlight blinded the girl.

She stepped outside of the house and breathed in deeply, taking in the world around her. The skies were cloudless and purest shade of blue, perhaps even more blue than seen in the Black Valley; the wind was calm, seemingly perfect, and the temperature was neither hot nor cold. It was an absolutely perfect day. Rena's focus shifted from the weather to her surroundings. The Waltemeyers' home was a small stucco-walled, red-tiled roof house that looked warm and welcoming; the grass was green and cut, the gardens watered and cared for. The houses on the empty street were similar in design to the Waltemeyers'; Rena saw groups of children enjoying their summer, playing freely without a care in the world. She smiled at their fortune and wondered if the children back at the Black Valley were the same. She knew there was a period in life where children from the Valley could live carefree lives, but after a certain age they were forced to accept the responsibilities shouldered on to them. Playing was only when one had free time, and free time usually came after supper, and after supper usually came rest for the next day's work. Rena knew it to be a vicious cycle but it kept the Black Valley functional.

'I know a good place we can grab breakfast, its close by, but we'll grab the car since –' began John but Rena interrupted him.

'Oh no, that's okay,' she said, 'I can walk. I don't mind, really. I can also take in the sight.'

John looked at her with a worried expression; Cara asked, 'Are you sure? You haven't eaten anything for god knows how long and you must be tired after that journey.'

Rena smiled broadly. 'No, that's okay, I'm fine! I actually get better really quick. All I need is a bit of rest and I already got that. I can walk. It's not a problem for me,' she said, practically bouncing with restored energy.

John Waltemeyer weighed the decisions but finally ceded to Rena. 'Alright, well if you're okay with it then I guess we can walk,' he said.

Rena remembered the look of disgust on Reito's face yesterday as they sat on that plateau looking down on Windbloom. He was never one to be too sentimental and his attitude towards Midori and Yohko could be no finer example. He was not the most tactful person on the planet. He was direct and straight to the point which was probably a good trait for anyone wishing to be part of the Aswalds. Reito was never the one to let his emotions show, which was why his statement last night piqued her interest. Perhaps it was jealousy that he was feeling. Against Windbloom or against her? Did he dislike the citizens of Windbloom for having luxuries and good fortunes that he did not have? Or did he feel a sense of loss and envy knowing that she was going to live in Windbloom for a long time? If that was the case then it would be quite odd for Reito to feel such things as he only cared about protecting the Black Valley and nothing else. Rena did not know what Reito was thinking last night and she had no intentions on finding out. Whatever feelings he had she knew he would overcome them…. Hopefully.

Her mind began to wander and she started to wonder what her friends were now doing back in the Black Valley. Well her escorts still had three days of walking across the desert to do before they reached their home and deliver the news. Right now the citizens of the Valley did not know what happened to the party of six and whether they were successful at delivering her to Windbloom. It was the waiting, the uncertainty, which fuelled people's wildest imaginations. Smiling inwardly, she imagined Yohko, wide-eyed, listening to morbid theories spouted from Midori, assuming they were still on speaking terms. Or maybe Gal was spreading the word that the group had gotten lost in the desert and were now wandering aimlessly to their deaths. Such theories were rampant for there was nothing else to entertain them. Rena knew she once listened attentively to these tales when the hunters would disappear for several days at a time to bring back food for the people. That was before she had been shouldered with the weight of saving the Black Valley and its people, when she had still retained the innocence of a young child.

The quiet neighbourhood slowly changed to the lively central district of the city. Windbloom, she noticed, was a sight lot better than her home. Not only was it much cleaner, but there was also a stronger sense of organisation and freedom. Cars bustled on the main roads; individuals, couples, and families took to the sidewalks as they went about their business on this summer day; and, Rena noticed, there seemed to be an infinite source of energy that channelled into this busy city. The steel and stone buildings were tall, towering over the people. Boutiques and stores lined the roads; large advertisements were plastered against windows and walls where possible to show off the company's products. She saw little children, boys and girls, tugging on the sleeves of their parent's shirt, wanting to go somewhere else or go to some store. Couples, holding hands, stopped before certain stores and decided to enter or move on. Among them were also businessmen and women who did not seem to have any concept of a weekend and continued on with work as though it was any other day.

'Alright, here we are,' said John as they turned a corner.

Perhaps the word "restaurant" was a bit too grand for the small, corner placed food store. It was an ice cream parlour, Rena saw. "MADDY'S ICE CREAM PARLOUR" was its name. A dozen or so circular tables were set up on the large, open corner; a long, wide street inaccessible to vehicles ran down from the edge of the corner to another intersection some distance away. More boutiques and small stores, many of them looking quite fancy and perhaps very expensive, lined the sides of the street. She turned to John's wife and saw her eyes roll in exasperation. Clearly she believed her husband was actually taking them to a restaurant and not a place like this. Rena stifled a giggle and looked at the menu hanging at the front of the parlour with hungry blue eyes. Ice cream was not common in the Black Valley and rarely did she ever get to eat it. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were usually the same in terms of meals served. Unfortunate animals caught by hunters would become food for the citizens; it wasn't the best but they ate what they could get. Selection was not something one worried about when one lived on a day-to-day basis.

'So I suppose this is what you meant when you said "restaurant"? An ice cream parlour?' asked Cara with disdain.

John grinned and shrugged. 'I'm pretty sure Rena won't mind, right?' he asked, looking down at her.

'Not at all,' answered Rena without hesitation.

As the only good restaurant Cara knew was at least another twenty minutes' walk, she agreed, just this time, to eat at the parlour for breakfast. Under the bright skies and cool weather, the three took their seats at a round table. After getting everyone's order, John stood up and went to get their ice cream. There was a line so John had to wait his turn, which Rena hoped would be soon. She sat at a table nearby with Cara; Rena's stomach yearned for that cold strawberry flavoured ice cream. Deciding to make conversation, Cara Waltemeyer asked, 'So how long did it take you to get to Windbloom? You looked pretty beat up when we found you. We don't exactly know where the Black Valley is so… You didn't travel alone, did you?'

Rena shook her head. 'No, I had five escorts that helped me,' she answered. 'It took us about three days to get from where we were to Windbloom.'

'Three days?' asked Cara, flabbergasted. 'Really? Three days?'

'Yes, three days, but it's not so much the distance that gets to you, but the heat,' said Rena, recalling her arduous experience in the scorching desert. 'In the day the temperature can burn your skin if it's exposed for too long and it makes you see things. Mirages and the like – it plays with your mind. But that's only half the battle because you also have to deal with the night. When the sun goes down then so does the temperature. That's not an entirely good thing, mind you.'

Cara frowned. 'Oh? It's not?' she asked, looking at the girl quizzically.

Rena brought her lips to a line. 'You see, the desert gets really hot in the day, but it also gets really cold during the nights, sometimes freezing temperature. During the day we took off the excess clothing we can spare, but during the night we put everything on and try to stay warm.' Simply thinking about the cold nights sent a chill down her spine. Even the cloak and three layers of shirts failed to keep the cold out. 'Well, the smart thing to do is to find a big rock and lie on it.'

'Why is that?'

'Because rocks keep most of the heat it absorbs during the day so it warms you up at night,' explained Rena. 'It might not be the most comfortable thing to sleep on, but it keeps you warm so you don't freeze.' Rena did not want to sound as though she was looking for sympathy, but she was simply telling the truth as she experienced it. 'But we've – that is, me and the citizens of the Black Valley – know how to deal with it so it's nothing new.' She tried to brush the matter off as something trivial and not worth discussing, but Cara wanted to know more.

Cara Waltemeyer leaned over the table, her soft green eyes piercing into Rena's deep blues. 'It must have been quite a challenge to travel across the desert,' said Cara in awe.

'It was a long journey, but I think it was well worth it to be able to come here and be with you people,' replied Rena diplomatically, trying to pick her words carefully.

'How does your family feel about this?' asked Cara.

Family? Her parents were both dead. Rena's mother had died giving birth to her, and her father had died due to the disease that had struck everyone in the Valley. Could she tell that to these people? Did they already know? Probably not if Cara is asking, thought Rena. She had no memories of her mother, only photographs and stories told by the elders. It was amazing how much Rena looked like her mother. Sifting through the photographs, her mother seemed like an older version of her daughter, except she had deep brown eyes instead of blue. Rena was told that her mother was a soft, gentle woman who, much like her daughter, did her best to help others. Though she was not shouldered with the responsibility of finding a cure for the disease that was in everyone, Rena's mother was always finding ways to prevent the disease from spreading, by finding means of inhibiting its growth process. Growing up Rena felt guilty of her mother's death as she likely would not have died if there had been no baby. 'Your mother was already sick,' said Rena's father one night. 'She already knew what was going to happen to her. I think – no, I know – she wanted her last act before death to be your birth into this world.'

Rena's father was the only family she ever knew. Her relatives had all died or disappeared in one way or another. She had no cousins, had no uncles or aunts, or any grandparents for that matter. If she did then she was never told and it would be unlikely that she would ever find out. Rena grew up without a mother, which should have been a painful experience some said, but Rena would never know as she did not know what motherly love meant. She assumed it was the same as fatherly love, but perhaps the principles and values instilled by her mother may have been different. Regardless, her father was her family and that was all there was to it. He woke up early in the morning and dedicated himself in serving the Black Valley proud. He retreated at night when his job was done to tuck Rena into bed and read her a story should time permit. He did everything he possibly could to ensure his precious daughter would enjoy a "normal" childhood. When he died Rena never felt more alone in her life. She remembered the weeks that passed where life was a complete hell for her. Thankfully the people of the Valley came together and helped her move on as everyone did when someone died.

Thinking about her parents always tugged at her heart. It was painful but also pleasant to remember her mother and father. Her thoughts had taken her away and it was Cara who was trying to bring her back to the discussion at hand. 'Rena?' asked Cara after several attempts to snap Rena out of her reverie.

'What? Oh, sorry, I must have been…,' began Rena but she simply mumbled the end.

Cara looked at the girl apprehensively but did not pursue the matter further. 'Well here comes John with the ice cream,' she said, looking up and seeing her husband.

'Vanilla for my good wife –' John placed the vanilla flavoured ice cream bowl, which was a rather big one, before his wife '– and here's strawberry for Rena,' he said, placing it before her. Rena looked at the glass bowl with apprehension of her own; she loved ice cream but she wasn't sure if she was capable of finishing the eight scoops given to her. 'Sorry, apparently they only come in one size,' said John apologetically after noticing Rena's look.

Rena smiled feebly at the bowl of ice cream and said, 'That's okay, I'll manage.'

The spoon lying on the table gleamed in the sunlight. Rena picked it up and scooped a spoonful of strawberry ice cream, looking down at it with hungry blue eyes. The first bite nearly froze her over as she was not used to eating something so cold. Her eyes closed instinctively after biting into the ice cream, a chill immediately shot down her back, a brain freeze, and then it was all over. She tasted the strawberry in her mouth, savouring the good, fruity taste and smiled at the Waltemeyers. They showed their amusement at the matter and did their best not to laugh.

'You okay there, Rena?' asked John, smiling humorously.

Rena nodded, smiling, and replied, 'Its a little cold.'

'Just a bit,' agreed Cara with a grin.

Breakfast passed without further complications. Rena knew better to take such a big bite out the ice cream and continued with little spoonfuls at a time. The weather was cool enough so that her strawberry ice cream wasn't a puddle when she reached the base of the bowl. While they ate, John Waltemeyer was throwing around ideas as to what they could do after. Cara purposed that they go shopping and get Rena some new clothes. Although at Garderobe she would have to wear a uniform, Rena would also need casual clothes for general purposes. Rena finished up her ice cream and fetched her pockets for money for her meal, but John interrupted and said, 'You don't have to worry about that. Like we agreed to, Cara and I will pay for your clothes and food so you don't have to worry about it.' Rena nodded but she felt a pang of guilt for not being able to pay for her ice cream.

They stood up from their table and left the ice cream parlour behind, walking down the wide street inaccessible to vehicles. The street was busy like one would expect on a weekend. It was also beautifully designed and Rena was certain it was even better at night. Wooden benches were placed back to back down the middle of the street every good distance, with tall, elegant light posts taking the distance between each set of benches. While John had led the group for breakfast, shopping was in Cara's domain. Despite the length of the street, which wasn't that long to begin with, there was an extraordinarily large number of clothing stores present. An unmistakable groan from John was a clear indication that he had no energy for shopping for clothes. Cara seemed to have been in her element as she was practically jumping from one store to another, expertly advising Rena as to what clothes she should wear. Cara would stand at a distance and observe Rena, who was holding up a shirt or pants, and spend some few seconds in deep thought. 'Yes, that looks brilliant!' or 'No, that just won't do' were some of the remarks Cara made as she fulfilled her duty as clothes shopping expert. She guided Rena through each store and offered her professional suggestions.

'I think you look absolutely amazing in that!' Cara gushed, looking at her with watery eyes.

'They're just clothes, hon,' John pointed out, earning him a venomous glare from his wife. 'Alright, alright, I won't say another word…'

They had visited three stores before coming to this one. It was the largest of them all and Cara promised her husband that it would be the last store they visit as they pretty much acquired everything possible. Rena had only asked for some clothes to last her for the week, but Cara seemed to find that anything less than sixteen different sets of clothes (not to mention underwear) was blasphemy. So here John stood at their fourth destination, his arms filled with bags containing Rena's new clothes, knowing another bag or two would be added to his load soon enough. Cara was practically beaming as she watched Rena, seemingly changed by the clothes she wore, stand before her outside of the changing room, smiling nervously. Rena had exchanged her white blouse and khaki pants ('They weren't matching to begin with,' said Cara, to which her husband promptly replied, 'Cara, you picked those out for her.') for another white blouse with a small golden dragon embroidered over the left breast pocket, and a very dark blue, almost black, skirt that stopped just below her knees.

'You look marvellous, Rena!' Cara enthused.

'O-oh, thank you,' said Rena, unsure of what else to say.

Rena left the store wearing her new set of clothes; John was weighed down with more bags to carry. Deciding that proceeding any longer would be impossible as his hands were full, the three returned back to their home and dropped off Rena's newly bought clothes. The closet in her room was easily filled with all the new items the Waltemeyers had bought her. Rena wanted to repay them but she did not know how. I wonder how I'm going to take all these when I go back to the Black Valley, thought Rena as she slid the door of her closet close. She went downstairs to the kitchen to meet the Waltemeyers; they wanted to take her to one last place before calling it a day.

'Well I have one last place in mind we can go to,' said John as Rena entered the kitchen, 'though I'm not sure if you're up to it after Cara's little expedition.'

'That was for her benefit, John,' reminded his wife.

John grinned. 'Don't tell me that also wasn't for you,' he said; his wife simply looked the other way. 'Anyway,' began John, turning back to Rena, 'I was wondering if you wanted to visit Windbloom Castle? They usually have tours scheduled throughout the weekend. We got about four hours until they stop so that's plenty of time to look around. What do you say?'

A tour of Windbloom Castle? Rena did not hesitate to answer the proposal. 'Sure, I'll go!' she replied immediately.

They had all agreed to drive to the castle as oppose to walking since the distance was further. Rena sat in the back of the black sedan as John, behind the wheel, drove her and his wife through the central district of Windbloom towards the castle. Rena was captivated by the city, watching as it passed by from inside the sedan. Her face was not pressed against the window but she was sufficiently close enough to draw stares from some pedestrians. It was literally an entirely new world to her. Windbloom Castle, home to the young King and Queen of the nation, towered over the buildings beneath it as they approached it. Rena's eyes were rounds as saucers, looking at the enormous castle, wondering what it must be like to live inside it. The castle seemed to be able to reach into the sky, almost as though it was acting as a doorstep to heaven. Rena imagined standing in the tallest tower of the castle, looking out, and being able to see the entire city and beyond.

As only vehicles belonging to the royal family or government was allowed inside the castle grounds, John had to find a parking space somewhere on the busy streets. It was past midday but the traffic didn't seem to lessen one bit. John squeezed the car between another and found an empty spot that was only a five minutes' walk from the main gates of Windbloom Castle. Getting out of the vehicle, Rena saw that the castle was directly in front of her, separated only by a few intersections. It was as though she had stepped into a surreal fairytale. Much of the architecture of the city was modern by design with a hint of the past, but right here in the middle of the central district was a castle ages old that contrasted sharply with the newly constructed buildings. The Royal Guards were dressed in their traditional, colourful uniforms, but the police officers and military personnel outside were wearing more modern, casual uniforms. Wow… That's weird, thought Rena with awe as she approached the Royal Guards. Two of them stood before the open gates of Windbloom Castle, a lance in hand.

'Can we help you?' asked one of the guards.

'We'd like to register for the tour if that's not too much of a problem,' answered John to the guard.

The guard pointed towards a white tent not too far from where they stood. 'You can sign up there. I believe the next tour will begin in about ten minutes,' informed the Royal Guard.

John nodded, saying, 'Thank you.' The Waltemeyers and Rena registered for the tour and bought their tickets, joining the moderate size tour group. Rena guessed that many of these people were tourists from other nations as they were looking equally stunned and awed as she was. The wait was not as long as they believed as their tour guide, a small woman who was probably the same age as the Waltemeyers, came out of the gates minutes after with the previous tour group. She seemed like an energetic woman, smiling broadly and speaking dramatically towards the original group. She concluded the previous tour with a quick speech and took to her new group. They waited to see if anyone else would be joining them but when none did she began, 'Welcome to Windbloom! My name is Annette Robins and I will be your tour guide for this afternoon. I've been doing this job part-time for quite a while now so I'm pretty knowledgeable about the history of this castle and the history of this nation. If you have any questions along the way then feel free to ask.' Robins turned to look up at the castle and said, 'Well, let's get this show on the road people!'

They followed Robins into the castle grounds – many of them stopped and began taking pictures, being sure not to miss a good shot. Rena did not have a camera but her memory was good enough to hold what she saw. The castle was large, that went without saying, but the castle grounds were the largest open, green fields she ever saw. The gardens were simply stunning, the trees were fully grown and healthy, and the open fields appeared as though someone routinely cut it. It was perfect. Robins, who was leading the group from the front, stopped and allowed them some time to take their photographs. 'The royal family has more than a hundred employees responsible for maintaining the gardens and the interior of the castle. Oh there are the maids, of course, but they deal with tasks directly relating to the family,' explained Robins.

'Do you think we'll get to see any Otomes?' Rena asked Cara.

'I assume so,' she said after a thought. 'They're usually around the royal family and important government officials so I think we might just see some.'

It was perhaps the only reason she wanted to come to Windbloom Castle. Oh sure the castle was spectacular and all, but she wanted to see an Otome more than anything else. Although, having stepped into the castle grounds, Rena wanted to see what the castle was like inside. Her mind began to get lost in a myriad of thoughts. How large was it inside? Was it possible for one to get lost? Looking up at the castle made of stone, Rena assumed it would only be too easy for someone like her to get stranded in that place. After the tour group finished taking their photographs, Robins continued the tour and led them down the long stone path towards the main doors of Windbloom Castle. Along the way Robins pointed at a large tree, likely the largest on the castle grounds, indicating that it was planted by the very first royal family of Windbloom. Rena could only imagine how long ago that could have been.

The heavy steel double doors slowly creaked open for the tour group. The interior of the castle, Rena saw, was exactly what she imagined: anything and everything possible. The stone steps turned to marble flooring, which were waxed to the point where she could see her reflection, and red carpet covered the long halls. The ceiling might as well have been the sky as it seemed to go on forever; the walls were bare for the most part except for some portraits and decorations such as a coat of arms. Once again the tour group stopped so pictures could be taken; Robins was busy telling them about the history of the castle but Rena did not listen. There by the hall directly in front of her, standing at the side of her Master as the Master was busy talking to another man, was a beautiful woman wearing an equally beautiful dress. The woman's flowing brown hair fell past her shoulders; her cool green eyes observed the man passively. Rena knew this woman was an Otome. Though she had never seen an Otome in her life, having only been told stories about them, she knew one when she saw one. That was an Otome.

'Rena,' said John, nudging her on the shoulders, 'that's an Otome.'

Rena nodded but she didn't need him to tell her that. The Otome was beautiful. She was so graceful, so elegant, so pure and Rena didn't even know her personally. The Master finished his discussion and proceeded walking down the hall, his Otome always at his side, following him purposefully. Despite being told of her future at a young age, Rena never imagined what it must be like to be an Otome. To her, becoming an Otome was simply a goal she had to achieve for the people of the Black Valley. She had never given it much thought, had never dreamed of becoming an Otome, but now she did. Now, after seeing that woman whose nature was so elegant, Rena knew she had to become one. Failure was not an option. This was no longer something she did for her country, but also something she did for herself. I want this, Rena thought. I want to become an Otome. The words continued to repeat itself in her head. I want that to be me. She wanted the duties of an Otome. She wanted to be respectable like an Otome. Seeing that woman disappear down another corridor with her Master, Rena knew from that moment on that there was no doubt in her mind. I am going to become an Otome.

Δ

Author's Note: As a heads-up for the next chapter, "Becoming a Meister", it will contain Rena's two years at Garderobe – Coral and Pearl – as well as her graduation ceremony. The chapter will be as long as necessary for me to get the important points across, but I will not dwell too long with her time at Garderobe. The overall plot of this story is not her time at Garderobe and I have no intention on turning this story into a school-based/academic story. I will only write and tell what is necessary and relevant to the plot at hand. Sorry if this move will upset a few of you, but I believe that focusing on Garderobe will only draw you, the readers, away from the actual story.