The sun broke the horizon over the bleak gray sky as Robin turned left down Schalbacher strasse and explored the town of Rummingen, a small easy going town located in north east of Lorrach and completely endecked in the district of Baden-Wurttemberg. It reminded him alot of the real Ylisse. Children tagging each other on bikes, yelling happily around grownups taking a lovely walk while ending their shopping spree at local stores, restaurants, and morning pubs. He just wished he moved here and live the old life of Ylisse again.
Turning right down Lorracher strasse, the back of his mind told him that the car he was driving wasn't picking up a faster speed at all. The Touran kept on grunting, rolling at a slow pace down the empty narrow street.
He wondered if it lost it's fuel- a quick look at the needle and it was slowly an inch away from the letter F.
Stumped, Robin signaled and parked beside a small two story house, the driveway occupied with an Opel Agila.
Blowing out a nervous sigh, he left the engine running and stepped outside to see what was all the heavy load behind it.
A full sized trailer gleaming under the sun was his mistake of notice in the first place. The whole perimeter was occupied with perfectly cut wood wrapped in a green blanket, the material used for camping tents too.
Perplexed, Robin thought hard on what to do with it. It was a do or forget choice, very well unhook the thing and leave it somewhere. That could have been a good idea. Just incase he's chased by car, the trailer will have to go.
Blinking at the windows of the house just to ensure no one was watching him like a hawk and think that thief has returned, he quickly dashed to the car and resumed his path. Mostly AJRAnians were like that. They liked to watch other people as entertainment. The elders LOVED this type of habit.
Entering the K6354 pathway, fields were the only viewable thing on the road. Green everywhere.
Probably here's a good idea to leave this heavy thing.Robin thought cautiously as he pulled over, tires scraping the muddy earth to a stop.
Getting out again while leaving the engine running, he made his way to the back of the Touran where the trailer was braced tightly on it's round hook attached to the lower side of the bumper. Finding a screwdriver in a box of tools placed just underneath the folded seats, Robin found his lucky prize and began unscrewing the bolts off of the hook. It came out with ease, his hands wrapping around the screws and lobbing them back into the tool box for safekeeping.
Bye-Bye trailer.
May someone in need of firewood find you one day sitting on the shoulder of a stranded road in Bionis.
Clicking his tongue in satisfaction, Robin returned to the open driver's door, climbing in with a shut and clipping on his seatbelt.
Time to resume... and be aware of any police.
Crossing over the bridge with a highway underneath it, he turned right on Freiburgerstrasse, admiring more typical orange-roofed houses with classic window panes and tiny driveways.
Once he hit state road 317, his eyes widened in shock towards the only park that sat near the exit runways of the highway from Lorrach south to Ylisse.
Grutt Park!
Conjuring up some sweet memories of how he and the rest of the AweSomE cast took frequent walks throughout the lush scenic greenery and even shopping like a boss at their faviourite grocery store Lidl in Tumringerstrasse, he sighed towards those painful memories of Earth AU as one turn into the entrance ramp to the highway got him speeding at 125 KM/h over the high towering bridge near the hills of Bionis.
Even more convenient than a horse.
Very funny, Robin. Very funny.
The tunnel he entered through brought him yawning to a sleepy point, but forced himself awake by focusing on the road.
A shaky swallow brought his heart beating to a stop as he eyed the Zoll (Border) sign a few meters ahead.
Sweating, Robin's mind began to swim with worrying thoughts.
What will he say to them about the red duffel bag?
The Lorrach number plates on the 'stolen' Touran?
His ID purposely revealed to Future Europe?
No. Gripping the wheel, he glanced ahead, halting infront of a cocca colored Renault Megane.
Stay calm. Everything will be fine. Just look upon Naga and she'll make everything go right.
Smiling, Robin took this situation as if everything was okay and slowly rolled forward, halting beside a tall young guy in a border uniform.
"Greuzi" he smiled tipping his hat as a greeting.
"Um, hello." exhaling to keep himself calm, the guard walked around the Touran, inspecting the plates. Coming back with a stern look, he smiled, "So, what brings you to AJRA today?"
Make something up!"Visiting a friend...hehe."
"Alright." the guard scribbled some notes then directed him to park near the office where you get your grocery bills stamped for a reward. "May I see your ID, please?"
ID.
ID (Purpose)= Bionis
"You're born Ylissean but living in Bionis?"
"Yes! Yes!" It was a lie.
The guard looked skeptical but accepted the pleading answer to his question "Did any shopping this morning?"
Shopping. The only shopping he did was high jack all of the cash registers in Migros and flee away in succession. But thank Naga it only happened in AJRA and not in Bionis.
Straightening in his seat, Robin wondered if the guard was going to ultimately check the trunk too.
For a toolbox was the only thing that was present in the Touran (apart from the hidden duffel bag of course.)
The guard exhaled with a smile, "Well, your good to go!"
"Really?"
What a stupid reply.
"Sure! Dismissed under my permission."
"Thanks so much!" exclaiming in awe, Robin waved in farewell and drove ahead, sighing in heavy relief towards the successful get away as he drove down the A7 highway to Ylisstol.
After leaving Kanton Kouga, Robin enters Ylisse Land, the Kanton his female counterpart, Reflet used to inhabit in Pratteln. Humming in thought while passing by Ylisse FC stadium, the huge soccer stadium sporting the words " " in red, he overtook a Trans AJRAMercedes-Benz Arctos 18 wheeler and took the exit to St. Jakob, willing to see the streets filled up with soccer fans from around AJRA to watch their beloved team win against ACS Crimea in the AJRA Super Liga semifinals before stepping up to their nemesis, Altea.
It was the usual day. People stepped off and on the green BVB trams as their habitual mode of transportation. Bratty young boys bouncing soccerballs and browsing through their phones. Cars and YLT city buses crossed the intersection off of Gellertstrasse.
He started to think about the Bionisan plates he was driving with. Of course it was allowed under the law of the MFK in AJRA, nevertheless he had to switch it quick.
Tapping the wheel, Robin found his moment to go straight ahead and cross the tunnel to turn right into Zueghausstrasse, where he braked abruptly infront of a green BVB tram were unloading and switching it's passengers.
Don't stare at people.Unfortunately he couldn't help it but look directly into the eyes of an elderly lady in her 80's, returning a hauntingly death stare as if she wanted to spit out a crazy argument with rage.
But old people in AJRA were like that.
Please don't recognize me.he prayed in thought, glancing down to avoid any attention.
The lady was gone.
Panic drowned away with the help of a sigh as Robin was relived to see the tram beginning to ring and rumble ahead, the people already waiting for the next tram giving him odd looks of enmity.
Crossing under the highway bridge and over the multi laned train tracks, more apartment buildings and cars parallel parked on both sides of the street seemed to be the usual view to him whenever he drove to school or payed a visit by Lucina on St. Alban-Ring.
Approaching the fork which parted into two narrow streets (one that led to the owl lover's apartment) and the other that led directly to the school, he made a quick decision to turn right and enter directly into the pathway that made him slowly roll to a halt infront of the picnic tables and the open gap to the huge soccer fields dotted with green netted goals, the metallic frame catching the sun's rays west to where he stood.
Racking his brain, this was the usual spot after school where Robin would meet up with Shulk, Lucina, and Reflet and watch his friends play a little pick-up soccer against a group of random kids alike their age. He was more into the quiet stuff. Not athletic like Shulk or Lucina but more like Reflet with tidy gardening.
The cold heartless wind blew west, ruffling his filthy snow white hair along with the current. Uncomfortable towards planet Mira's random weather, he sighed, ignoring the wind and tried to think hard on why he came here in the first place.
A crow's caw interrupted his thoughts, brown eyes striking the flying black bird past the window to the second floor where he and Shulk used to meet up for a little quiet study time afterschool before heading home.
Through the window, a lady dressed in a janitor uniform, mopped the classroom floor as every janitor does, every now and then pausing to re-dunk the mop into the bucket and give it a tight squeeze as if chocking the lifeless cleaning tool.
And true to the fact that Robin was not only a cashier at the grocery store but also a part-time janitor at the school after his downgraded achievements as a student to completely finish Matura school. Everybody at school had a bitter distaste against him not only because he was a genius at every subject mostly at math, but he saw jealousy growing in his teachers, classmates, and even the principal. Shulk was pretty much at the same level as him and even fought back to defend his friend to keep going but they refused to accept his pleads and even gave out a warning to refrain from this talk or completely drop out.
The leader of the MMMB (MemeMemeMemeBrigade) still had those painful memories as a tech student at the IBZ Wirschaft, discussing about his worst moments to the rest of the AweSomE cast about his school life.
But to Robin, it was almost like some traumatic lesson, a moment of truth, a survival of keeping himself alive throughout this day.
Turning to face the back of the school- trees lined the grassy side, a hedge separating the school grounds from the apartments way to the left. Street lamps illuminated the stony pathway, cascading the orange to make the small metallic recycling bins glow and the stone slabs dividing each door to a specific department.
Clutching his forehead, a rush of pain struck his head as a horrible flashback played in his mind like a movie.
It was a warm September day.
After waving farewell to Shulk and the rest of his friends, excitement built up in his heart as he decided to walk home, catching a tram on the way.
Crossing over to the back of the school before reaching the concrete ramp that led up towards St. Alban-Ring, a voice called over to him, "Psst! It's not safe walking alone!"
That was his mistake of noticing three gang members- boys older than him- ready to nick up at him with a nasty attitude and poke at him for fun stuff.
Eyes widened while slowly backing away in fear, Robin hands slowly reached for his Levin sword and Elwind tome. Stuttering, he slowly choked the words out, "W-what do you want from me?"
One of the boys, the eldest of the group, broke out forward with a wicked grin. He then glanced at his members in german, "Schauen Sie, es ist der Mathe-Nerd. Und er trägt ein Buch, um mit zwei! Lesungen für alte Menschen wie Sie. (Look, it's the math nerd. And he carries a book around with too! Reading's for old people like you.)"
Anger building up, Robin couldn't take it but dangerously point his Levin Sword at the bullies as an advanced warning, "Elwind!"
Letters of the Ancient Tongue burned to life as pages in the open tome began rippling left in speed, the effect of the wind strongly harnessing their feet to be blown away.
But in return, it made them have a nice sloppy hair-do as they stood there speechless.
He began to wonder about their strange reaction.
Then they mockingly laughed at his lame wind move.
"Meine Oma kann besser Wind als das produzieren! (
My grandma can produce better wind than that!)" Laughing harder, the boys couldn't take it.
Gritting his teeth, Robin was about to switch tomes to unleash Thoron when one of the boys slammed him against the metallic dumpster and barked, "Haben Sie das Geld? Wo ist es? (Got the money? Where is it?)"
Feeling tears dabbing at the corner of his eyes, Robin gripped his Levin sword tightly and tried to attack without causing them to bleed but the only pushed him further as an advanced warning.
Reaching into his satchel, he pulled out a 50 frank bill while looking away, "Hier! Nimm es! (Here! Take it!)"
"Danke, alte junge! (Thanks, old boy!)" with one last kick to the stomach, the boys waved their treasured prize and ran away, laughing in the distance.
Sinking to the ground while clutching his stomach, Robin painstakingly stood up, gripping the edge of the dumpster for support and found his comforter.
"Robbie! Are you okay? What happened?"
And that's how he met Douche Canatore.
3 years later and it still stuck him as a nightmare.
With tears and a hiss, Robin was about to turn away when he spotted some abandoned cleaning tools near one of the trash bins. Why on planet Mira would the school get rid of the cleaning supplies?
Upon closer inspection, he spotted a blue Electrolux vacuum, Rubbermaid bucket, and an old broom stick dated back 1775 (1) the first broom he found and played with while being alone. The mop head was limped over a garbage bag and covered in leaves and sand.
It was his janitorial stuff!
Perhaps the school still had a sense of throwing him out after their realization of a bright student with no problems of failing at all. Or just pure templar hate on the smart ones including him.
Sighing, Robin rubbed the back of his head and lobbed the mop-head and broom stick into the bag while carrying the bucket and wheeling the vacuum over to his Touran, the car still claimed to be stolen according to Bionisan news.
The liftgate swung open as he set the bucket and bag to the side while placing the vacuum on the co-driver's seat.
There. It was much better dealing with those supplies than peeling a batch of potatoes (1) as he did in Old Ylisse.
Feeling his throat dry, Robin was in need of drinking water with thirst. Dashing for the fountain past the wall grafittied with a dark owl, his eyes glimmered at the sight of two water spouts adjacent to each other, breaking the calm surface into a repetitive bubbling as if someone was peeing loudly in the urinal.
Finally, fresh water!With his mouth breaking the calm arc of water, he began to gulp down the liquid as if he never saw water in his life.
(In truth it was dirty chemical water that flowed in from the Rhine river)
Panting from taking in the last gulp, almond eyes locked onto several young kids heading his way, one of the boys bouncing a rubber ball while the girl pulled on a silly face.
"Guck mal! Es ist ein schmutziger alter Mann! Wir mögen es nicht Leute wie Sie hier in der Gegend wandern! (Hey look! It's a filthy old man! We don't like people like you wandering around here!)" the boy started with a naughty smile.
What was wrong with these spoiled Ylissean kids, calling him an 'old man'?
He felt like pulling out his Levin sword but 7 year olds were too much to warn them away.
"Zurück zum Dumpings und hier nehmen Sie dieses! (Go back to the dump- and here take this!)" the girl dug into her lunch bag and pulled out a rasin muffin wrapped brand new. "Meine Mutter packte mich zwei, aber ich hasse Rosinen! Ew! (My mom packed me two but I hate rasin! Ew!)"
Lobbing the packaged muffin at his feet, the girl smiled but the boys were totally not in favor.
Glancing at the kids who began to leave in disgust, Robin picked up the muffin and inspected some damaged blue on it, for the snack was perfectly healthy to eat.
Not caring whether it was outdated or not, he dashed back to his Touran, closed the door, and tore the wrapping apart, revealing the most heavenly item infront of his eyes.Thank Naga for bringing those kids and providing me with food! Gods, it's been days since I didn't eat anything!
Just to prove it, his stomach rumbled quietly, a smile played on his lips as he took a large bite, glancing into the rearview mirror while chewing slowly, taking his time to study his facial features.
It was a week since he woke up mysteriously in Bionis and was starting to become like a homeless, that's for sure. His eyes had bags under them, and there was a smudge of grim across his reddened cheek. And his teeth were slowly yellowing. He was in need of a brush soon but that was not the time to think about it.
Escape Ylisstol (Ylisse-Stadt). Head to Solothurn.
With the engine sprung to life, he backed up the road that led to Engelgassestrasse, passing by a mocca metallic Dacia Logan MCV, a stalky bald-headed worker wearing a reflective yellow vest was currently asleep in the driver's seat, not noticing the tactician make his escape.
With himself relaxed on the road, he gave way to a Mercedez Benz Citaro YLT city bus as he continued his way, reaching the end of the fork when he decided to turn into St. Alban-Ring.
Robin still expected Lucina to live in her apartment, but the sound of an ICE train squealing next to the road interrupted his thoughts and moved on.
Finding a small metallic trash can beside the sidewalk, he halted and hit the parking break, gladly opening the door and reaching over to the can to throw away the wrapping when fear struck his heart again.
A few meters ahead of him, a VW Jetta police car came cruising slowly down the road, probably in search of the Migros thief.
It was a do or die time.
Escape or land in jail.
As quick as his Thoron spell move, he ducked and crawled underneath the Touran, breathing making his heart beat faster in fear.
From his view, wheels slowly passed ahead as he felt a rush of hot air hit his reddened face.
Rolling over, Robin was about to stand up when a pearl red Fiat Punto sped towards him in flashing fury.
This was it...
A death of a criminal.
Note: The (1) are references to Lendra's Scripted Fidelity.