Chapter II:
In the Edge of Night.
The smell of fresh fruits and breads fill the air, as Rika and Luna venture closer to the market. "All right Rika I'm here." Luna said as she stood at the doorstep to Mrs. Antebelle's house. "Rika.. I'm scared" Luna said while she turned to Rika crying. Wiping the tears off Luna's face Rika replied, "Luna your going to do great. It is a great honor to be taken in by Mrs. Antebelle. Your parents are so very proud." Rika thought to herself of Luna's parents, hard workers always giving even when it would leave them with nothing themselves. "Thank you Rika." Luna said while hugging her. "Now go, go become the lady you are destined to be Luna." Rika said, then kissed her head. Luna smiled and turned away, walked up to the steps and stopped. She looked back to Rika and smiled one last time before knocking on the door. Rika smiled as Luna was lead into the house.
"Now then to get some supplies." Rika said to herself as she looked around the Bazaar. As she began to walk past the different stands she could smell all the delicious foods. Then something peaked her interest. Rika noticed a locket at one stand. She walked over to the stand the woman behind the table smiled and welcomed Rika. Rika went straight to the locket which was behind other jewelery. The old woman looked at Rika with interest and said, " Oh how peculiar. How is it the locket brought you here and not the gold and rings?" Rika looked at her confuesed. "Well Rika it seems it has been looking for you." The old woman picked up the locket and handed it to Rika, "try it on" she said. Rika nodded her head and tried the locket on. "A perfect fit, how strange. You see dear that locket and I have traveled very far and wide together. And no one has caught on to it like you have," the old woman said. "What do you mean?" Rika said while examining the locket. "I mean it is fate my dear. You and the locket are meant to be together." As Rika looked at it she noticed a Phoenix on it. "Oh but I cannot afford such a wonderful piece of art." Rika said while taking off the locket. "Don't be silly my dear there is no charge on fate. It is yours to keep." The woman said smiling. "HEY Rika!" A man said calling to Rika. Rika turned around to see who it was. "But I can't accept this..." Rika said while turning towards the Old woman, but she wasn't there. Rika looked around but could not find the old women. "Rika!" Again someone beckoned for her.
Rika turned around and looked to see who was calling to her. "Rika so nice to see you here today." A man said to her. "Oh Captain Rios its you." Rika turned to look at him. Rika thought to herself, Captain Rios the captain of the Knights Edge guard, and self proclaimed hero. "So Rika what brings such a lovely woman out to the market?" Captain Rios asked. "You know Captain." Captain Rios cuts her off, "whatever it was I thank it. For you are graced by my pressence the hero of Gridoria." As he said this he slams his fist into his chest to appear strong. Rika giggles at his ego. "So you laugh at me? I'll take that as a sign of attraction." "Take it as you please Captain, but excuse me I need to finish getting supplies before it starts to rain." She says this as she walks away. "Captain Rios reaches out to her but stops, "I will have her" he says to himself as he watches her walk away.
Once Rika got out of sight of Captain Rios, she started to look around for supplies. After an hour or so she starts to head home, the clouds in the sky are turning black. Rika begins to think to herself, Captain Rios, so egotistical, so big headed. Him and his knights can all burn. She remembers the night her parents died. She ran to the knights asking for help, begging, pleading to help them to help and stop the bandits. But they didn't they let her parents die. The bandits raided every home around her house leaving behind broken homes, and shattered families. The knights just stood there watching from a distance. Sacrifice a few, save many they said. They could have saved them all. They were frightened, afraid of the night itself, to call themselves knights is disrespectful. Rika hated them all ever since. Rika looked towards the horizon, she can see the clouds darken every second. As she got to her house she smiled, she looked up and saw the moon coming out. She loved the night, when the moon came out she was happy, it was like her hiding away out of sight, then appearing bright just when people needed it most. It was this at the edge of night where she felt at peace with the world. Smiling Rika went inside to end her eventful day.