I exerted some creative license for some of the names of persons, places, connections on this chapter, and future chapters in order to create a more coherent retelling of the manga chapters as told through Izana's POV.
Let me know what you think.
Also, any readers here from Austria or Germany? I am going to Berlin and Vienna in 2 month's time for a 2 week visit. I am curious on your recommendations. Drop me a PM (even if you're not from Germany or Austria)! I'd be happy to hear from you!
Title: Saturn Gate
Inspired by: Chapter 35 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Character: Izana Wistalia
Wordcount: 567
Rating: General
I was distracted by imagining every possible scenario while we traveled to the outer gates of Lyrias with Maruko and a few members of my traveling party.
Zephyr breathed heavily as we took a couple of hours of hard riding, his breath coming out in smoke, the night air biting coldly on our faces.
Snow began to fall heavily again, yet we pressed on, as if the very devil was on our heels.
Arriving at the Saturn Gate, the outermost gate to Lyrias, my bodyguards saddled the horses while I hasten towards the office tower of the Captain of Guards.
Saturn Gate and its bordering walls are made up of cyclopean boulders, cut from the very same mountain where Allulion Keep was built. However, the walls were further reinforced by a sheet of rough, rose-brown colored granite stone. The gates were lavishly decorated with carvings of master stone craftsmen: polished columns, key patterned arches and mythological gods on the lintels.
The gate is an important portal, as not only does it serves Lyrias, but is also an important route to Wilant Castle, the second most important royal residence of Clarines. Her Majesty, the Queen has lived there for the past decade. A variety of goods, diplomats, locals and messengers go through its walls either to Lyrias or to Wilant. As a main road artery, there is a village here that supports the needs of all people passing through, including a small hospital, a village school, provincial government office, military barracks, inns, bars and public baths.
The Captain of the Guards, Gaius Mana, greeted me. He used to hold a post at Sreg, but requested for a transfer at Lyrias after his wife professed to move. Sreg was more of a military village; most of the soldiers and guards serving Clarines undergoes training there.
For a few hours, Gauis Mana reviewed their existing contingency plans with me, while I posed question after question for him. The nagging feeling kept on hounding me, and I knew that these plans would be put to the test much sooner than expected.
It was already nightfall by the time we finished. I insisted on inspecting the wall which the Captain complied easily. Brazen fires were already lit up outside, as well as several torches to light up the whole area; still, the sky is very dark and visibility while snow falls is difficult. We were in the middle of inspecting the barracks when we noted the commotion at the main gate through one of the windows.
"I know those people. They are pharmacists from the Institute. Why are they outside in such a weather? And at this time? It's already a little late for travel." Gaius Manus motioned for his own guards to find out what is wrong.
I held out my hand to the Captain, my eye already trained to the woman whose red hair was uncovered despite the snow falling. Shirayuki is ever careful about exposing her hair to the public due to the stares she normally gets. But despite the weather, her hair flowed about freely.
Something must be wrong for her to come here, let alone care less about her appearance.
"Captain, let us go together. The woman is with me." I informed him in a grave tone.