Running, chasing, seeking and trying to reach.
Doing this until your breathing becomes frantic and your pulse quickens with adrenaline. Even though the sweat was breaking out on her face, even though her legs were being pushed to the limit and all her energy was draining away, she still had to regain what was lost to her.
You need to do this. The last effort needed to just…
Fail miserably.
Why?
Even when an opportunity presented itself...
Why?
Even if this was her only chance…
Why?
That it meant her last comfort…
Why?
The decisive path to recover something even more precious…
Why?
To just be accepted and have a normal life...
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Had she lost before it even started?
"Lia, you need to run faster! The trail is fading…"
A gender-neutral voice whispered inside her head. She knew the identity of the origin of that voice. After all, he was a dear individual, like a family, like a father.
Although, because he was hidden inside her hairstyle, it made him invisible to others.
"I know Puck! I'm running as hard as I can but I'm not sure where she went."
For some time now, Emilia, a silver-haired half-elf, roamed the streets and alleys of the royal capital of Lugnica, all with the aim of catching the thief who stole her badge.
"I need to find her, if not I…"
Without stopping running for even a second, the so-called real candidate urgently needed to retrieve the stolen item.
The insignia that gave him the right to dispute the throne, to rule the country of Lugnica and use the Dragon's blood to bring back those trapped in the ice in Ellior Forest.
She worked hard for 6 months to become a candidate, at least reasonable, but as someone who lived in an isolated, ice-covered forest, her first opportunity to enjoy a big city like the Royal capital ended up separating from his company and lost the one thing he couldn't lose.
"I can't be sure where she went anymore. What do you think, Puck?"
"I think it would be good for you to rest for a while, Lia. This way, running non-stop, you'll be exhausted soon."
"But if we lost her--"
"We've already lost her… Her trail just disappeared. The best we can do is take a break and use our head to think of a plan."
At Puck's words, Emilia quickly slowed her pace and began to suck in air.
Although she prided herself on her stamina and agility, even she couldn't keep up a steady pace and even more for a very long period of time. A break was needed.
"Oh my gosh, Ram will be so mad at me when he finds out."
"That's the least of our worries, the most important thing is to know where that thief has gone." Puck said at his daughter's worried words.
"Yes, but where do we start? Contacting the lesser spirits?"
"Nya. Among all these people, even they couldn't give us the best directions. I think a viable solution would be to ask for directions."
Asking for information, this was Puck's idea that might actually work, the only problem was…
"I'm a half-elf and on top of that I don't have my cloak that hides my identity."
Emilia could only grind her teeth in her misery.
Her demi human offspring was not only discriminatory, but the fact that she resembled her own calamity made many treat her with disdain even among semi-humans.
For someone with such a hideous appearance, it would be hard to find someone willing to help her.
"Lia won't know until she tries. You don't have any other choice either." The spirit cat said so trying to console her.
"You're right, I need to try first…"
Gathering some courage, the half-elf headed for a nearby appas stand.
"Excuse me, could you help me?"
"Ah! Hello Miss, welcome! I'm Kadomon, the best fruit seller in the capital, would you like something?"
The merchant named Kadomon, was a bearded man who carried a huge scar on his face.
Putting together his old smile and his twisted expression, he was, at first glance, a scary or suspicious individual, but Emilia, as someone who suffered from the same evil for her image, could not make such a judgment and so she smiled.
"Well I was wondering if you could help me find someone."
"Hm… I can, but this information doesn't come for free. How about buying some apps first?" Kadomon asked, extending a juicy red fruit to the half-elf.
"Well… You know what it is… In my hurry to get away from my date, I ended up leaving the money too. So I don't have any change here with me." Emilia replied with a nervous smile.
"So you mean you're going broke…"
"Kind of… yeah?"
"Some problem?"
"Yes… GET OUT OF HERE AND DON'T MAKE IT DOWN MY BUSINESS, YOU BROKEN!"
"Well, it could be worse, you know."
After the fiasco with the appa seller, Puck, who was floating zigzagging around his daughter, was trying to cheer her up as much as he could.
"That was terrible…"
The poor half-elf could only lament as she found herself in a square near a fountain where a chariot drawn by an earth Dragon passed.
She looked around, watching people go about their own lives as well as animals and time itself. It was as if the world said she was of no value to him.
Just existing to face one more day.
"At this rate I'm not getting anywhere."
"And look how we've barely started."
Puck, in comfort mode, licked his paw like a real kitten would while tensing. It was clear as day that his daughter was not in the best mood.
"So, any other ideas, Puck?"
"Ah! Well… We'd better continue our search, right? It's not like staying here would solve anything…" Said the kitten with a nervous tone when he saw Emilia's cold manner.
"Sigh… You're right, it's no use complaining, we'd better continue our search."
"Yes, that's the spirit. Well, as I've proved I'm not going to be much use in your quest, I'll be away for the time being."
"You really are a lazy dad, you know?"
"What can I do? Keeping that skin soft and beautiful takes dedication."
With the final exchange, Puck dematerialized and returned to his home crystal. As for Emilia, she just took another breath and started walking to continue her search.
Looking around and taking care not to bump into anyone, the half-elf was faced with a huge beam of light…
Wait! Light beam?
"That is?"
Her vision blurring from the glare, Emilia closed her eyes in irritation.
She didn't know why, but a small dizzy sensation, as if something was out of place, hit her.
"I think running around all day would make anyone tired... And this place..."
Opening her eyes slowly to return to her search for the stolen badge, what the half-elf ended up finding was...
Huge buildings, strange noises, light beams with moving images and strange carriages that had no Dragons pulling them.
The amethyst eyes saw a completely different world, as if the very cogs of reality were moving to show something new, unimaginable.
That said, Emilia, the silver-haired half elf, the one who resembled the witch of envy herself and was a candidate for the throne of Lugnica, was now in a situation that could only be described as...
"What place is this?"
Completely unknown.
