When Mitchell woke, he felt surprisingly well-rested. He kept his eyes closed for a bit before he noticed a gentle weight on his chest. With a grunt, he sat up and heard what sounded like a bird flapping away. He slowly opened groggy eyes to find that he was outdoors.
Mitchell slowly looked around, perplexed. He sat in some massive courtyard that was filled with greenery—trees, grass, and flowers. Several smooth stone walkways could be seen leading up to a marble staircase. A large stone patio overlooked the courtyard, extended from a fairly large abode.
As Mitchell got to his feet, he was struck by the fact that he wasn't in agonizing pain, as one would expect. From what he remembered, he had fallen pretty far after his sudden teleportation. Curious, he walked over to the marble railing that surrounded the courtyard to witness quite a sight.
What made the scene so astounding was the fact that the courtyard was apparently suspended at an extreme elevation, overlooking a sprawling metropolis; the courtyard sat at the top of a small mountain that led down into the city's upper districts. Just beyond that, what looked like the lower districts sprawled for what seemed like two miles. The city was massive for a medieval setting. A large cathedral sat among the lower districts, looming over it ominously. Mitchell noticed a smaller but more elaborate cathedral within the upper districts as well.
Mitchell peered straight down over the railing to see a titanic vertical drop into the upper district. The courtyard wasn't on the top of a mountain—it was resting on the edge of a cliff! The hunter looked around again, wondering where the hell he even was. Even more so, he wondered if his friends were all okay. Parallel to when he'd arrived in this world, he was alone once again.
'Back to square one, I guess,' Mitchell sighed to himself. He stepped away from the railing, suddenly remembering his weapons. He recalled having them with him when he got teleported, so where were they? Remembering the tree he'd fallen through, Mitchell looked around to see it nearby. Lo and behold, there they were, both the rifle and crossbow lodged in between tree branches.
After climbing up to retrieve his weapons and setting them down in a nearby copse, Mitchell looked for a means to exit the property. There were none. Apparently, the courtyard extended all the way around the large abode. Every edge he checked was a straight, vertical drop.
The hunter realized that his only chance of leaving would be dependent on whoever lived here. He stepped back over to the breathtaking view and pondered this situation. Surely, someone must live here—he recalled the young girl he'd heard before passing out. He would need to explain how he got here. The hunter stood there, and before long, he began to pace, thinking and rehearsing an explanation for his circumstances.
Half an hour passed as Mitchell brainstormed. It wasn't too long after that before he heard the soft footfalls of someone approaching. The hunter took a deep breath and turned to a surprising sight.
A somewhat petite girl approached him tentatively. She had soft, warm golden eyes and an adorably cute face that couldn't be soured by any expression—only made cute further. She wore an elaborate pink, white, and red ceremonial dress with gold emblems at the hem. It showed off lovely, slim, unblemished legs. She wore a ceremonial headband and had shining silver hair. Her dainty feet were protected by ceremonial sandals.
"Hello there," the girl waved. She approached slowly, stopping a couple of feet away, studying Mitchell curiously. "You're finally awake, sleepyhead."
"Hello to ya too, miss," Mitchell drawled with a nod. Trying not to be too awkward, he gave her a small shrug. "I woke up not too long ago. I'm kinda surprised I'm not in pain after that fall though. Sorry for scarin' ya like that."
The girl waved her hands in reassurance. "Oh, no, it's fine. While your sudden appearance was quite a shock, I'm just glad you're alright." She raised a hand to her heart in an inherently adorable manner. "I managed to heal you, thankfully."
"Wait, ya did?" Mitchell blinked in surprise. "Oh. Well, uh, thank you very much for that, then. You really saved my ass, miss."
"It's no problem at all," the girl said, smiling softly. She looked cute when she smiled, but the hunter kept that to himself.
Mitchell suddenly realized that he had yet to introduce himself. He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Ah, I'm sorry, miss, I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Mitchell Marlowe. What's your name?"
For some reason, the girl blinked, as if she wasn't expecting that question. "You... don't know who I am?" Mitchell just shook his head. The girl blinked again, then smiled beautifully. "My name is Micaiah. Micaiah Calzedonia. I'm pleased to meet you, Mitchell."
Despite Mitchell's perplexity, the girl's smile was infectious, and he smiled back. "Yeah. Pleased to meetcha too, Miss Micaiah."
After a moment, Mitchell looked at the city then back at Micaiah. "So, uh, this may sound strange, but where am I exactly?"
If Micaiah was surprised, she didn't show it. "Oh! This is the Holy City of Calaneth, the capital of the Order Kingdom of Radabon." She gave Mitchell a curious look. "You don't recognize this place?"
Mitchell shook his head. "Nah, I don't." He recalled how the folks in Toulouse seemed to believe he was from across the ocean. "I'm not really from this continent." Technically, it was true.
The girl blinked. "Are you from Zipangu then?"
"Nope."
Micaiah tilted her head. "The Mist Continent?"
"Nah."
"...The islands of Court Alf?"
"Trust me, Micaiah, you're not gonna guess it." Mitchell couldn't help but grin, amused by her adorably confused visage.
Micaiah's face scrunched in thought before her eyes widened. Her gaze snapped up to meet his. "Wait, a-are you saying you're from across the Great Sea? That's uncharted territory!"
Mitchell merely shrugged, smiling. He'd let her form her own conclusions. He didn't want to lie to her face. To his surprise, she all but hopped forward in excitement, looking up at him with the most adorably curious eyes he had ever seen. This girl was dangerously cute. "Can you tell me about it? Please? My studies never covered this!"
"I don't see why not. You did heal me, after all," Mitchell conceded. He held up a finger. "But before that, I got somethin' to ask."
At her curious look, Mitchell continued. "Due to the… abrupt nature of my arrival, I need to find a couple a' friends of mine. Do you know any way I could leave? I can't stay here forever."
The light in the girl's eyes dulled a bit. She fidgeted with her hands, looking at him with hesitation. "Um, well, that's a bit of an issue. This is my home. Aside from my tutor, it is strictly forbidden for anyone to enter. I'm…" Micaiah sighed with a somber look on her face. She looked back at Mitchell, who watched her with concern. "I'm the Maiden of Miracles, Micaiah Calzedonia. The Sun Priestess. I'm something of an important person here in the capital." She finished that with a surprisingly bitter look.
"Oh. Well, if it makes ya feel any better, those titles mean nothin' to me," Mitchell replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "You're just Micaiah to me. The girl who saved my ass and is nice to talk to."
Micaiah smiled and her eyes softened, full of gratitude. "Thank you. It gets so unbearable when everyone treats you like a porcelain doll. It's been so long since I've talked to someone like this."
"I'll bet. You're makin' your life here sound suffocatin'," Mitchell retorted. A concerning thought came to him. "But since it's, y'know, forbidden for anyone to be up here, does that mean I'll be in big trouble if I'm caught...?"
The way the girl winced did nothing to ease Mitchell's worry. She gave Mitchell a concerned look. "I'm considered almost as important to the Order as the Pontiff himself. They take my protection very seriously. They would execute you, Mitchell."
The blood drained from Mitchell's face. "Oh. Well…shit. How do I leave, then? Is there a way to leave? Please don't tell me you're kept up here your whole life." He looked at the priestess with pleading eyes.
"There is a way, but it's only really activated when they come to restock my food and retrieve me for festivals, sermons, or ceremonies," Micaiah said somberly. She made a face. "And yes. I've lived here ever since I was four years old." She gestured to the courtyard and its abode. "Welcome to the Maiden's Loft, Mitchell. My beloved home." She finished with a distinctly bitter edge in her sweet voice.
'Holy shit, she's this world's Rapunzel,' Mitchell thought incredulously. His heart went out to the poor girl.
The hunter sighed deeply as he stared out over the sprawling cityscape. He looked back at Micaiah, who sympathized with him. "Well, it looks like I'm stuck here with ya for the time bein'. Can we...go sit down for a second? I need some time to think."
Micaiah stepped up beside him and rested a gentle hand on his arm. "I'm sorry this happened to you, Mitchell. Truly, I am. I'll help you how I can, okay?"
"Thanks, Micaiah."
The two walked over to a tree to sit in the shade. Mitchell was seriously disheartened by his new situation, but he refused to let it get him down. He decided some good ol' procrastination was in order.
Mitchell shared everything he could remember about his home to Micaiah, from history to culture. He even shared his memories of his family and friends. Both the stupid stories and the heartwarming stories. He found that it didn't hurt as much this time. Micaiah was enraptured by all of it, especially his stories of family and friends.
"I see. And you and your friends blew up your grandfather's shed in one shot? I-Isn't that really dangerous?" She asked, a tinge concerned.
Mitchell barked a laugh. "My friends and I were fucking imbeciles, Micaiah, ya don't understand. We did stupid, dangerous shit all the time. That's what boredom does to ya."
Micaiah giggled, her golden eyes shining with enjoyment. "Oh, I know that feeling quite well. Why, I remember the time I wanted to climb the tallest tree here on a whim." She gestured to a fairly tall tree some distance away. "I had almost made it to the top when my tutor noticed me."
The priestess smiled as she reminisced. "She threw a fit, demanding I come down and 'act like a girl befitting my station.'" She smirked. "So I stuck my tongue at her and watched her fume. Once I had my fill of being a bad girl, I climbed down." She looked over at Mitchell to find him smirking with her. Her smile grew.
"On the way down, a branch snapped and I fell quite a ways, badly twisting my ankle on impact." Micaiah snorted. "My tutor really let me have it that day. 'That's what you get for not following orders like a good girl', she said. I remember the ceremony the day after being an absolute trial to get through. Just because of that incident, my tutor had me learn the spell, Fall Control, in case it ever happened again."
"You sound like a little rebel," Mitchell teased with a grin. "You'd get along real well with my sisters."
The priestess smiled, a light blush on her cheeks. "Thanks. It's just as you said, that's what boredom does to you."
"Damn right," Mitchell agreed, nodding.
Before anymore could be said, the duo hear the sound of tolling bells far in the distance. The sun was dipping towards the horizon, making a breathtaking view of the sunset. Micaiah sighed reluctantly at the sound.
"It seems it's time for me to retire for the night. Uh, do you want to take one of my couches? I don't mind," Micaiah offered.
Mitchell opened his mouth before pausing. "Uh, hol' up a second. When does your tutor visit you?"
"Sometime in the morning before midday," Micaiah answered. She tilted her head. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I was just makin' sure I knew when to clear out before your tutor shows up," Mitchell replied. He scratched his cheek. "It'd be really bad if she came in and found me sleepin' on your couch an' all. Not to mention awkward."
Micaiah blinked before blushing lightly. "Oh. Yeah, that's true. She'd definitely freak out if she saw you."
Mitchell just shrugged. "I guess it's a good thing I wake up really early then." He gave the priestess a small smile. "I'll take ya up on your kind offer, little miss. If you'll have me."
Micaiah matched his smile. "I don't mind at all. It wouldn't feel right for you to stay out here in the elements." She gave a slight eye roll as she began walking towards her abode. "Especially knowing how many couches I rarely use sitting around."
Following a step behind her, Mitchell chuckled. "Thanks. I'll be sure to be outta there by mornin'."
Micaiah hummed affirmatively as she led him into her home. The first thing Mitchell noticed was that it was the definition of lavish. The living room was a large, spacious room with a sizable fireplace. Numerous cushions and pillows were set in a half-circle around the fireplace. Multiple well-made and very comfortable looking couches sat around a large coffee table. Bookshelves filled with books of all kinds lined the walls on either side of the fireplace. A large kitchen opened up into the living room, complete with a kitchen island. Beside the kitchen, a hallway could be seen leading off further into the home, where Mitchell could only assume where Micaiah's bedroom and bathroom was. All in all, it was a cozy, yet very lavish setting.
Mitchell would've whistled at the sight, but he remembered that Micaiah was kept here all her life. He didn't want to feel like an ass, so he kept his admiration to himself.
Unbeknownst to Mitchell, Micaiah had seen his reaction. She couldn't help but smirk in amusement at the sight. "It is quite a place, isn't it?"
Caught red-handed, Mitchell looked quite sheepish. "Ah, sorry. I didn't wanna presume anythin'. And yeah, ya got a killer pad, I gotta say."
Micaiah was only further amused by his awkwardness. "You're not presuming anything. I think it's sweet you're so considerate."
Mitchell's face flushed in rising embarrassment and Micaiah fought the urge to coo at the sight. Deciding to throw him a bone, the priestess turned and gestured to the couches and cushions nearby. "You're free to choose, okay? I have to go get ready for bed."
"Aight then," Mitchell responded, nodding slightly. He patted the girl on the arm. "You go have a good night's sleep, Micaiah. And thank ya for your hospitality."
"Mhm! You're welcome," Micaiah replied. She gave him a small, adorable wave. "Rest well, Mitchell. I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
Mitchell shrugged in a 'what can you do' gesture. "Yeah, looks like it. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
With that, Micaiah turned and made her way down the hallway. Mitchell watched her go before taking a breath, rubbing a hand over his head. Walking over to a couch, he laid down on the comfortable couch, thinking of how he could possibly get back to his friends. Any solutions evaded him as he soon drifted off to sleep.
It was still dark when Mitchell woke, feeling refreshed and ready to tackle his newest and greatest problem. He must've gotten a very good rest, otherwise he'd probably be depressed. Recalling the situation with the tutor, Mitchell slid off the couch and got to his feet. Walking outside towards the copse of trees that held his weapons, Mitchell's mind spun for a solution to his predicament.
As he paced the copse of trees and bushes he'd made himself home in, he wondered about what happened after that crystal shattered. How did it even shatter? He theorized that it must've been Mari's doing, especially after he remembered that bolt of purple she'd shot. On top of that, did everyone else escape Toulouse? He had no clue.
Hours of hard brainstorming passed to no avail, as no feasible escape plan came to him. After the sun had risen, at some point in the morning Mitchell heard voices coming from inside Micaiah's home. He figured that her tutor had come, so he kept a low profile outside. After a while, the voices stopped, and he couldn't hear anything from inside for the next few hours.
Mitchell wondered where Micaiah was, but he theorized that she might be doing some kind of morning ritual or something for the public.
It was nearing midday before Micaiah returned, appearing rather tired. Mitchell had sat under the tree from the day before, waiting for her as she approached. He didn't want to risk being inside the house when they returned.
"Hello there," Mitchell greeted kindly. He evaluated the girl. "Anythin' interesting happen?"
Micaiah's lips dipped into a slight frown and looked to debate something internally for a second. "...No, not really. Just the usual morning routine."
Deciding not to press the matter, Mitchell got to his feet. "Ah, I see. Well, ya look kinda down, so whaddya say we find somethin' to take our minds off of all this?" He placed his hands on his hips.
"Okay, sure, but what do you have in mind?" Micaiah inquired curiously. She tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear.
The hunter hummed. "Since ya mentioned you had studies, I was thinkin' you could educate me about the world." His lips tugged up into a playful smirk. "If ya don't mind, of course."
Micaiah's smile brightened and brought her hand up to her chest in that inherently adorable way of hers. "Sure! I don't mind at all!"
Mitchell found himself matching her infectious smile, and instilled within him was an undeniable urge to protect. "Heh, aight then! It's a deal! Lead the way, little miss."
"Mhm! Follow me… big guy," Micaiah retorted, smirking playfully. She turned away, leading Mitchell into the comfort of her abode.
Mitchell snorted, following after the girl with a leisurely stride. "So, do we need to worry about any visitors for a while? Or nah?"
Micaiah shook her head, her silver hair gleaming like a polished blade in the midday sun as it swayed. "No, we should be safe for a few hours. Not until the afternoon sermon at least."
Mitchell merely nodded as they both entered the house's living area. Micaiah quickened her pace a bit as she led him over to the couches. She turned to him when they grew near. "Just find a place to sit down if you want. I'll get my notes and whatever else I can gather to show you." She fidgeted with her hands, visibly excited. "I really want to do this right."
Mitchell sat down with an amused expression. "By all means, do whatcha need to. I've been wantin' to get an in-depth lesson on this land for a while now."
"Okay! Just sit tight!"
With that, Micaiah hurried to and fro across the living area, gathering varied books and sheets of parchment every so often. Mitchell watched the girl's hustle and bustle with amused eyes, equally as excited as her. He was finally going to learn more about this land.
And boy was he surprised. It wasn't long after Micaiah eagerly launched into her lesson that Mitchell lost track of time. He learned of the Elven Kingdom of Sylvaria, deep in the wilderness to the far northeast and the Dwarven Kingdom of Hammerdeep in the mountains to the far southeast. The Alaerron Desert bordered the dwarven kingdom to its direct west, and from what Mitchell had come to learn, it was mostly under mamono control.
Micaiah educated him about the island nation of Zipangu to the far east, which sounded eerily Japanese, and the mysterious Mist Continent to the far northeast, which from what he'd learned about their culture, sounded vaguely Chinese with a hint of Korean. Mitchell noted the similarities.
But it didn't stop there, no sir. He learned about the bizarre realm of Wonderland, where the Third Born daughter of the Demon Lord, or "Red Queen" lives. From the description Micaiah had given him, Wonderland sounded like a bad hentai parody of Alice in Wonderland. Unfortunately, Mitchell couldn't learn much about the kingdom of Dragonia aside from the fact that it was a nation of dragonkin. Micaiah had mentioned something she'd heard about it being a tourist hotspot, but she and Mitchell were both quite doubtful of that.
Court Alf, in the Sea of Asuramis to the south, was a nation of seven island cities that had a bloody past. These island cities were governed by certain Songstresses that led each city-state with a benevolent hand. And last but certainly not least, Mitchell learned about an undead kingdom in the snow to the north, much to his shock. Apparently, there had been an old kingdom there once upon a time before falling due to mysterious circumstances. All anyone knew about it was that the undead had claimed the land for themselves, and no one had dared to approach.
At this point, Mitchell was expecting an underwater kingdom like Fishman Island from One Piece or a sky kingdom like Laputa from Castle in the Sky.
"All of what I've just shared with you is only what's been discovered," Micaiah finished. She turned to look out towards the courtyard with a wistful gaze. "There's more out there though. I'm sure of it."
Mitchell caught her somber expression and his lips twisted as he wondered what to say. "Yeah…"
Micaiah intertwined her fingers and stretched her arms over her head, groaning cutely as her back arched slightly. She looked out at the sun, which had dipped low in the sky. "Ah, it should almost be time for afternoon service. You might want to hide, Mitchell. They should be arriving to retrieve me soon."
Mitchell sighed and got to his feet, slapping his legs as he did. "Well, damn. And here I was havin' a good time."
Micaiah smiled good-naturedly, her eyes shining with mirth. "Thanks, I was too. And don't worry, it shouldn't take long." A devious smirk developed on her lips. "You won't have to miss me for long, I promise to be back soon. Be good while I'm gone and I'll cook something good for us tonight."
Mitchell barked a laugh as he made his way outside. He matched her smirk, throwing a two finger salute over his shoulder. "Oh hell yeah. Yes, ma'am! Lookin' forward to it!"
Mitchell heard Micaiah giggle when he stepped outside. The sound subconsciously made him smile as he made his way over to his little copse of trees. He sat down behind the bushes out of view from the house.
As he sat ruminating over what he'd learned over the last couple of hours, Mitchell's mind wandered back to how he could possibly see his friends again. He wondered what they were doing right now.
Mitchell laid back, staring up at the darkening sky as thoughts of his friends plagued his mind.
Mitchell counted the hours as he awaited Micaiah's return. To pass the time, he decided to read from his Bible. It had been squared away in his backpack in case he got bored and wanted another dose of spiritual enlightenment while out hunting. He had just finished reading the book of Ezekiel when he heard Micaiah returning.
Mitchell looked up to see Micaiah waving him over from the courtyard patio. Closing his book and putting it away in his pack, he got to his feet and headed over, eager to see what Micaiah had in store for dinner. When he entered the living room, he saw Micaiah already in the kitchen, getting various utensils ready.
"So," Mitchell began. He stepped up beside the girl, looking around the kitchen. "Whatcha got in mind, head chef?"
Micaiah's lips twitched as she snorted. "Well, this is a bit of a special occasion for me, so I'm going to use the best meat I have. With a side of vegetable stew as well."
"Ooh, yes. I like the sound a' that," Mitchell drawled in approval. He jerked a thumb at the pantry. "Ya want any help with anythin', little miss? Many hands make for light work, after all."
"Sure. You can get the vegetables ready, if you want," Micaiah answered. She set a large portion of quality meat on the cutting board in front of her. "I can handle the main course, my big helper."
Mitchell grinned as he rolled up his sleeves. "Yes, ma'am. Sounds like a plan."
With that, the duo got to work. Mitchell set to preparing his own special brand of vegetable stew complete with pepper. He was determined to revisit a bit of home, so why not share that with someone?
Next to Mitchell, Micaiah meticulously prepared the meat with surprising proficiency. He watched as the priestess added seasoning to the meat before beginning the cooking process. He could feel his stomach rumble with hunger at the delectable salty smell.
As the minutes ticked by in a pleasant silence, the duo finally finished their self-appointed tasks. Letting the dinner cook, they each pulled up a chair next to the kitchen counter to wait.
As the food cooked, Micaiah broke the silence. "So. I was wondering if you could tell me about your friends? Can I ask what they're like?" She brought a knee up to her chest, wrapping her arms around it as she looked at him curiously.
Mitchell leaned back in his chair. "Hmm. Where should I start…? I think I'll start with Melissa." He turned to the priestess. "She is, well, was a librarian in Toulouse, the town I got… teleported from, I guess. She's tryin' to be a baker, and honestly? I hope she takes off. She's got some Grade-A, down-home bakin' skills, lemme tell ya."
Micaiah seemed faintly amused at first before realizing something. "Wait, was? Did something happen to her?" She asked, developing a worried look.
Mitchell shook his head reassuringly. "Oh, nah. It's just that Toulouse was attacked very recently and we had to leave everythin' behind, that's all. It sucks, 'cause I was actually startin' to like it there."
Micaiah's eyes widened and her mouth fell slightly. "A-Attacked? By who? The mamono?"
Mitchell nodded, tapping his fingers on the counter beside him. "Yeah, an army of 'em. They were sent by that Number Four chick, Druella, I think her name was."
Micaiah grew concerned at the name. "Druella the Conqueror? She's claimed another town, then?" She sounded like she didn't want to believe it.
Mitchell hated to disappoint her. He sighed. "Unfortunately. We barely made it outta there. But thanks to the Spirit Rock freakin' out and fuckin' explodin', we got separated." He looked over to check the food before returning his gaze to Micaiah, shrugging helplessly. "My other friend, Arriet, had said that they all were headin' to Salva–… Salva–something in Lescatie, so they're probably there, waitin' on me."
"I see. It sounds like you all went through a lot. I'm sorry that happened to you," Micaiah said, giving him a look of sympathy. She suddenly paused, her eyes widening a bit. "Wait, did you say your friend's name was Arriet?"
"I sure did," Mitchell retorted. He gestured with his hand. "If it weren't for her, and my other-other friend a' mine, Zullie, we probably wouldn't have made it outta there at all."
Micaiah leaned forward in her seat, her eyes oddly intrigued. "Is her name Arriet Archaletta, by any chance? The Dark Silver Tracer?"
Mitchell paused, remembering Arriet's words about how she's seen by the Order. "Yeah, that's her. She told me her… reputation in the Order." He gave Micaiah the slightest of frowns. "It's… it's not gonna be a problem, is it?"
The priestess's eyes widened and she waved her hands frantically. "N-No! Not at all! From what I heard had happened, I honestly felt bad for her. She was such a well known and respected Hero in the Order, so it was a blow to many when she was shamed and excommunicated." She frowned, looking down at the floor. "Due to my own experiences with the Order, and what I know about them, I suspected foul play was involved."
Mitchell raised a brow at the girl's last comment. She sounded rather solemn, a bit bitter even. Seeing the melancholic expression on the girl's face, he decided not to press the matter.
"Well, you'd be right in your suspicion," he drawled with narrowed eyes, remembering Arriet's sad visage as she recounted her past. "She was nothin' more than their glorified hitman doin' their dirty work and they lied to her face about it the whole time." Despite his best efforts, he scowled. "She told me all about it. When she found out and called them out on their bullshit, they fucked up her life and exiled her to cover their asses. Jesus Christ, it pisses me off just thinkin' about it."
"I see… So she's like me then," Micaiah muttered quietly. She sighed. "Now I really want to meet her."
Choosing to lighten the mood, Mitchell pointed playfully at the girl. "Well, hey, I know her pretty well so I'm sure y'all would be good friends."
Micaiah smiled, her previous melancholy falling away, much to Mitchell's relief. It hurt to see a sweet girl like this so sad. "I'll take your word for it."
There was a slight pause in conversation as they both collected their thoughts. Micaiah moved her legs into a cross-legged position before leaning forward. "You mentioned your other friend, Zullie. What's she like?"
"Zullie's a bit of a special case, if I'm bein' honest," Mitchell mused thoughtfully. He looked at Micaiah hesitantly. "Just hear me out on this, okay?"
Micaiah blinked at his shift in demeanor, but nodded.
Mitchell sighed. "Zullie's a Dark Mage. A mamono. She's the reason I'm here in this… continent."
"She's a mamono?" Micaiah's eyes widened yet again as she straightened in her seat. "What do you mean she's the reason you're here?"
"She's the one who summoned me here from my home," Mitchell answered with a shrug. Micaiah stared in bafflement as he continued. "She's doin' her best to make amends for her mistakes. It's highly likely I'm never gonna make it back home, but it is what it is, I guess."
Mitchell ran a hand over his head before giving Micaiah a small smile. "Zullie's a bonafide sweetheart though, so I can't stay mad at 'er. I probably should, but how's holdin' a grudge gonna help either of us any?" He gave a 'what can you do' shrug. "What's done is done, there's no changin' that. I'll just have to make do with this new life I've been given."
"I see… So that's how you got here? Torn away from your home?" Micaiah's eyes were soft with sympathy as her hands fidgeted with her dress. "You're going about it much more maturely than I would, though. I'm not sure I'm strong enough to do that."
Mitchell batted the girl's leg. "Oh, don't sell yourself so short." He raised a hand, index finger pointing up. "By the way, Melissa was the one who took me in when I had nowhere to go. On top a' that, I do mean it when I said that Zullie helped a lot with defending the town. Ya shoulda seen her, Micaiah. Magic is somethin' else, seriously."
Micaiah hummed with a small smirk, nodding in agreement. "Absolutely." Her smirk shifted into a smile. "I'm glad things worked out for you, though. It sounds like Miss Zullie is one of those rare few mamono that isn't out to get us." She shifted in her seat, adjusting her rear. "Is it strange if I say I want to meet her?"
Mitchell shook his head, frowning slightly. "Nah, not at all. Honestly? I think you two would get along well if ya met."
Micaiah's smile turned slightly somber, and Mitchell quickly realized why. Her imprisonment. Mentally kicking himself, he turned to the food, eager to change the subject. He found it ready to eat. "Welp. Food's ready."
"Oh! Great! Uh, could you get something to cut it with?" Micaiah asked, carefully setting the food on the table. Mitchell nodded as he got up and went to collect what they needed.
The hunter shifted through drawers until he found a couple of… meticulously clean knives. He glanced curiously at Micaiah as he handed her the knife. Without further ado, they cut sizable pieces for themselves and dug in.
The meal was fantastic. Whatever Micaiah had seasoned it with was such a good choice as far as Mitchell was concerned. This girl knew how to cook.
"Damn, Micaiah, this is great. You got some serious culinary skills for sure," Mitchell praised. He eagerly cut himself another piece of prime goodness.
Micaiah smiled. "Thanks. I used my tutor as my taste tester until I got really good at it. This is the best meat I have so I certainly hope it's good."
"How bad was it at first?" Mitchell asked, brow raised teasingly. His lips formed a half smirk.
Micaiah's smile turned sheepish. "It was… pretty bad. I made my tutor ill the first time she tried it. The tutor they sent to stand in for her was worse in every way." She grimaced somewhat. "I'm pretty sure he was sweet on me, too."
"Oh. Ew."
"I know, right? Needless to say, that was all the incentive I needed to get better," Micaiah said, rolling her lovely golden eyes.
They chatted about whatever came to mind as they ate, and before they knew it, the food was gone.
"Aww." Mitchell actually whined at the fact that such blessed food was gone. Micaiah giggled.
Mitchell sighed before getting up from his seat. "I think it's time we turned in. I gotta get some sleep in order to wake up early."
Micaiah turned to look out the kitchen window, seeing that it was dark. She exhaled through her nose. "Yeah, we probably should. I've got another sermon to attend in the morning, so that's going to be great."
Mitchell snorted at her sarcastic tone. "I'll bet." He nudged her gently. "Ya have a good night, Micaiah."
"Mhm. Same to you, Mitchell," Micaiah replied, smiling sweetly.
With that, she made her way down the hallway to her room, leaving Mitchell to himself. Inwardly sighing to himself, he headed over to the couch. Talking about his friends reminded him that he needed to find a way back. He hoped an answer would come to him tomorrow.
Mitchell's eyelids opened slowly as he awoke. He had dreamt of his friends from back home. He missed them already, but he knew there was no point in dwelling on it. He sat up from the comfortable couch with a huff, looking out the window to see that it was still dark. The hunter could see the dawn approaching though, so he got to his feet with a sigh.
Just like the morning before, Mitchell made his way outside to the massive patio, running a hand over his head as he looked out over the city. His dream had, surprisingly, given him the determination to find an answer to his current predicament. Today, he would brainstorm. With that in mind, he made his way over to the copse.
As the hunter settled down beside his gear, he resolved himself, his problem-solving mind already whirling with activity.
Dawn came and went as Mitchell sat silently musing to himself, the morning passing by him in a blur. Before he knew it, Mitchell heard someone approaching. He looked up to see Micaiah with an exasperated, tired expression.
"Hey there. You look like ya had a rough time today. What happened?" Mitchell asked, a concerned sheen in his eyes.
Micaiah sighed as she sat down beside him. "After the morning service, two nobles requested a healing ceremony for their sons. They had injured each other in a mock spar." She frowned, looking out at the courtyard with narrowed eyes. "I had to heal them both. Rather than just getting it over with, they turned it into a public display of my abilities. Again."
Micaiah opened her mouth to say more, but she stopped herself, looking at Mitchell before looking away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't complain when you have your own problems to deal with."
"Hey, now, none a' that," Mitchell replied. He nudged her with his elbow. "If ya wanna vent, Micaiah, then vent. Ya got more than enough reason to. I don't mind listenin'. It's the least I can do for ya for puttin' up with me."
Micaiah rolled her eyes. "I don't 'put up with you'. If anything, I'm thankful you're here." She turned to him hopefully. "You… really don't mind?"
Mitchell made a show of cupping his ear in a playful attempt to lighten the mood. "My ears are available. Fire at will, little miss."
The priestess smiled, gaining a bit more life to her. "Thanks. I'll take you up on that offer then." She collected her thoughts for a moment before speaking. "...When I healed a wounded bird when I was four years old, I was considered a gift to all from the Chief God. But rather than have my own life, my parents gave me to the Church. I was sequestered away from everyone and everything. These hands for helping and healing—" she raised her gentle hands for emphasis, "—have been on demand ever since. Do you know how rare healing magic is, Mitchell?"
Mitchell shook his head, listening quietly yet attentively. Micaiah continued. "I was the first to have such healing abilities since Saint Eleonora from the days of the second Demon Lord centuries ago. God's Envoy, they called me. The ground I walk on is exalted, the things I touch are sold to people for profit, and I'm looked upon with adoration and longing." She clenched her fists, speaking bitterly. "I hate it all. So very, very much. Just this morning I had to heal two fully grown men who don't know what impulse control is as those who truly need help could only watch helplessly."
Micaiah rose and started to pace, fully riled. She continued, throwing her hands up in irritated exasperation. "And this happens daily, you know. Same well-fed people who get to enjoy the ability I was born with. Same helpless, destitute people who watch on in desperation and envy. And the nobility try to hide it around me, but I'm not stupid."
She scowled in disgust, thinking of very specific faces. "I can almost smell the greed on them. I can hear the clinking of coins every time they move. Sometimes, they bring me shady people with shifty eyes and ask me to heal them. I know assassins and thugs when I see them, yet they expect me to not ask questions?"
Mitchell's fists slowly clenched. This was starting to sound familiar. How many lives do these people plan on ruining?
Micaiah turned, giving Mitchell a deeply exasperated, tired look. "It's so infuriating, Mitchell. Sometimes, I honestly wonder if I was better off not having this ability. I have the ability to help people, but at the cost of them not being the people I truly want to help!"
Mitchell frowned, clenching his teeth behind closed lips. To him, this was quickly becoming par for the course with these Order people. He would withhold any comments and let the girl vent though. He could tell she needed this.
Micaiah gave him a soft look, a stark contrast to her narrow eyed scowl from before. "Do you want to know something? You're… you're the first person to treat me like a normal girl since I was four years old, Mitchell."
A seething anger boiled under Mitchell's skin as Micaiah's eyes glistened. She continued. "Despite just meeting two days ago, you've treated me with more decency and kindness than anyone I've ever known. I hate how my situation is affecting you. You don't deserve this—nobody does." A tear coalesced in her right eye and streamed down the side of her face as she whimpered. She looked over at the railing. "Sometimes, I… I just want to—"
"Micaiah."
Micaiah looked back over to see Mitchell standing before her, arms outstretched. He waved her over. "C'mere, hon."
The priestess stared for a moment before her lips began to quiver. Without a word, she rushed over, hugging him. He held her, rubbing her back as she sobbed, years of bottled emotions breaking open.
It was a while before Mitchell found it appropriate to speak. Once he was certain she poured her emotions out, he sighed. "I'm not really one to believe in shit like destiny or fate, y'know? I'm a firm believer in creating our own futures." He held her arms and moved back to see Micaiah's face. She looked up at him curiously with red, teary eyes.
Mitchell gave her a serious look. "But maybe now I have an inklin' as to what fate's all about—corny as that sounds. You're absolutely right, Micaiah. Nobody deserves this." He gestured all around him. "You're also right that we haven't known each other long." He looked her dead in her beautiful gold eyes. "But dammit, I want to. Let's both leave this birdcage. Fuck this place."
Micaiah's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open a bit. Mitchell kept going. "We can find out more about each other as we go. You can meet my friends and we can see all this world has to offer. I'm pretty new to this place, and I wouldn't mind seein' it for the first time with ya. Come with me—no, with us."
The priestess stared open-mouthed. Mitchell smiled good-naturedly at her. "Sometimes, you just gotta take a leap of faith. Isn't that what bein' a priestess is all about? Faith? So, have a little faith that things'll work out, yeah? You'll see." He patted her arms encouragingly.
"That... honestly sounds amazing. B-But how would we even leave...?" Micaiah asked. Her voice was quiet, gentle, and hopeful.
"I've been thinkin' long and hard about this ever since you told me about it, but only realized it now," Mitchell began thoughtfully. "Y'know how ya told me you learned that Fall Control spell?"
Micaiah nodded, wiping her eyes with her free hand. Her other still held on to the hunter. "Mhm."
"Well, before we go any further, how does it work? I assume it has to do with fallin', right?" Mitchell asked, brow raised.
"When you activate the spell, it protects you from any fall for three minutes," Micaiah replied, nodding. She tilted her head curiously. "Does this involve how we escape somehow?"
Mitchell hummed. He made a so-so gesture with his hand. "Yeah, kinda. You said any fall, right? This is important."
Micaiah nodded firmly. "Yes. As long as the spell is active, it will protect you from any fall."
Mitchell looked over at the courtyard railing, Micaiah's gaze following him. She was confused until Mitchell turned back to her. "Leap of faith."
Reality of what Mitchell was implying struck Micaiah as her eyes went wide. Her jaw dropped in disbelief. Mitchell chuckled. "Yeah, you heard me right. You got anythin' ya want to take with us?"
Micaiah slowly flushed. The idea had never occurred to her. "Hold on. A-Are you wanting us to leave now?" Mitchell nodded, smirking. The priestess blushed. "U-Uh, okay. I think I've got some stuff—Wait! I do have something for just this occasion!" The girl sprinted back into her abode, her ceremonial robes flowing behind her.
Mitchell smiled after the excited girl. After what he just heard, there was just no way in hell he was leaving this girl. Especially not when he saw that very dark turn she was headed towards. He meant every word though. This girl was a sweetheart and great to talk to. She deserved better, and what she said had struck him hard.
Mitchell went to gather his gear, weapons and all, a little bit excited and happy to not be all alone in the world again. Fate can suck a fat one, but if it introduced him to a girl who sorely needed someone, then that's just fine with him.
Ten minutes passed, and Mitchell was pulled from his thoughts when he heard rapidly approaching footsteps. He turned to see his new companion in more travel-friendly clothing.
Micaiah wore a sleeveless burgundy-colored dress that split down the sides from her waist and ended at her thighs, a wing design on the front. Under the dress, she wore black leggings that hugged her slender hips and legs. A brown belt with a gold buckle and small pouches held the outfit together. She wore women's traveling boots that hugged her calves and were tied with criss-crossing red strings that were tied at her knees. She had black fingerless gloves that went past her elbows and two gold bracelets on her right wrist and red string on her left. A blue scarf wrapped loosely around her neck, and a blue bow tied her silver hair back. Over it all, she wore a hooded, sheepskin cloak. She looked both practical and beautiful.
"Lookin' good there," Mitchell praised. He gave her a confused look. "But didn't you say you've been up here all your life? Where'd ya get travelin' clothes from?"
Micaiah smiled sheepishly, fidgeting with her clothes. "I made them. My tutor taught me to sew and I had years of boredom to kill so...yeah." She gave Mitchell a warm, grateful look. "Traveling has always been a dream of mine, so I may have made these because of that. Thank you so much for making that dream a reality, Mitchell."
Mitchell raised his hands, flushing. "Eh, let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. We still need to escape, after all." He turned serious. "Ya got everythin' ya need? Any extra clothes?"
The priestess nodded, hefting a medium-sized bag and tapping her belt where coins jingled. "I have some extras in here. The money though…" She smirked deviously. "One of my favorite pastimes was stealing right out from under those greedy nobles' noses. This will keep us going for a while."
"Well, check you out~" Mitchell drawled teasingly. He grinned. "Go on with your bad self."
Micaiah giggled and winked at him. "Well, shall we go? I'm soooo excited for this, Mitchell, you have no idea."
"Oh, I think I do." Mitchell winked back as they strode over to the railing. The reality of what they were about to do crept up on him, anxious excitement swelling within him. As they drew close to the railing, Mitchell turned to his new companion. "Welp. Do your thing."
Micaiah nodded as she closed her eyes and concentrated. Then she clapped once. The sound reverberated, and a gold magic circle appeared beneath either of them. They looked at each other before Mitchell tentatively stepped up on the railing. He reached back and held out his arm to Micaiah, giving his devil-may-care smirk. "Leap of faith, Cai."
Micaiah grasped his hand and was pulled up to join him, and they stood side by side. Mitchell nodded. He looked down at the city far below and hesitated. The priestess's hand squeezed his. Mitchell looked over to see Micaiah smiling warmly.
"Leap of faith, Mitchell."
The hunter nodded, now resolute. He turned to ready himself—
"Oh, by the way." Mitchell looked back over at Micaiah, who smirked. "Please keep calling me Cai. It's so cute."
With that, before Mitchell could even react, she stepped off the railing, taking him with her. Mitchell's heart leapt straight into his throat as the sensation of free fall overwhelmed him. He resolved not to scream as the ground sped up to meet them. Many terrifying seconds of terminal velocity passed before they reached the ground. They both instinctively braced themselves as they slammed into the ground, a large gold magic circle appearing under them before dissipating. Somehow, they stayed on their feet as they sat there, processing the moment. They looked at each other before the dam broke.
"Holy shit, that was fuckin' badass!"
"I'm out! I'm free! I'm finally free! Take that you selfish bastards!"
After the moment of well-deserved, giddy triumph had passed, Mitchell got serious. "Okay, the easy part of our getaway is done. Now we just gotta find a Spirit Ro—Crystal. Do you know where one is, Cai?"
"Oh, that?" Micaiah replied, smiling. "There's one in the cathedral here in the upper districts. Why do you ask?"
"'Cause we're gonna use it. It'll teleport us wherever, I'm assumin'," Mitchell revealed. He looked over at Micaiah. "I wanna meet up with my friends at that Salva-city I told ya about. If somethin' happens to the crystal, screw it. They did ya dirty, Cai. Kept ya as their slave for your entire life. Fuck 'em and everything about them."
Micaiah smirked at him in approval. "Okay then, let's do it! I feel like being a very bad girl right now."
"Hell yeah," Mitchell smirked back at her. "Lookin' forward to travelin' with ya, Micaiah. Let's go."
"Yes! Let's!" Micaiah's smile shone like the sun. Mitchell thought it was fitting for her title.
Micaiah pulled Mitchell through the backstreets and side streets, avoiding everyone. They couldn't take any chances with Micaiah being so recognizable, despite the cloak she wore. They had made good progress until a bell tolled loudly in the city. Mitchell noticed that it was a different tolling from yesterday.
Micaiah sighed. "We might've been found out. That's the general alarm. It is around the usual time my tutor visits." She looked around, a bit paranoid.
Mitchell squeezed her hand encouragingly. "Hey, it's not all bad. I bet they're completely in the dark on what happened to ya. Unless they're super paranoid, they probably won't think to check the Spirit Crystal."
Micaiah hummed as they passed through a back alley behind the main street. People went about their business, none the wiser to the escapees. The cathedral loomed some distance away. The priestess's lips thinned. "Maybe. But I wouldn't put it past them. I've dealt with their stifling obsession for years, after all, so I know how far they'd go for me."
"I'm not lettin' ya go back to that, I promise," Mitchell reassured. A determined expression crossed his face. "All we have to do is get to the crystal and we're home free."
Micaiah squeezed his hand as they ran, hearts pounding as they heard shouts far in the distance. Soon enough, they reached the cathedral plaza. The alley they were in opened out to the cathedral's left and had a good fifteen meters of open ground of cover to reach the front doors. Mitchell turned to Micaiah. "Are there any other exits or entrances?"
Looking down at the ground, Micaiah thought hard as the commotion from the city spurred her on. She suddenly looked up at Mitchell. "The servants' entrance! I remember having to be escorted out that way one day from an especially rowdy crowd of worshippers." She frowned at the memory. "Thankfully, it should be on this side of the building. We just need to move down these alleys a bit more."
"Aight then. Let's roll," Mitchell replied, nodding.
Micaiah hurriedly led him down the back alley for twenty meters before they saw a small, unguarded entrance to the cathedral. Checking to make sure the coast was clear, Mitchell and Micaiah sprinted across ten feet of open ground. Mitchell neared the door and tore it open, Micaiah rushing through with him following after. He followed her quickly but quietly as she led him through a long corridor until they reached a set of double doors.
Micaiah looked back at him, her breathing a bit uneven from the adrenaline. Mitchell nodded. Time for shit to hit the fan.
The priestess pushed the doors open and walked through with urgent strides. Mitchell followed her, looking as nonchalant as possible. They both quickly noticed their objective looming behind the elevated podium. Unfortunately, the twenty or so people in the cathedral noticed the urgent arrivals as well. Upon seeing Mitchell's weapons, and the Sun Priestess with him, the onlookers assumed the worst. Some got up and fled, calling for the guards, a few of which got up to apprehend the duo.
Mitchell wordlessly unslung his crossbow and brought it to bear on them, causing the approaching group to hesitate. Their nerves built as they started forward again, before freezing in place when Micaiah raised a glowing hand at them, eyes narrowed. They gawked at the sight.
The duo of escapees ascended the platform and stepped up to the Spirit Crystal before the cathedral doors burst open.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Mitchell and Micaiah turned to see a very large group of guards and a portly man in robes storm in. Mitchell frowned and turned to his companion. "Do whatcha think is best, Micaiah. I'll see if I can't get this rock workin'."
Micaiah nodded with a hum. As Mitchell turned to mess with the crystal, the priestess closed her eyes and calmly held her arms out, palms up. Her now glowing gold eyes opened and she clapped. The sound reverberated throughout the entire cathedral as a barrier of translucent gold blocked the platform, barring anyone from entering.
The portly man growled as he stepped forward, the guards surrounding the walled-in platform in a formation. "Whatever fresh adventure you're trying to pull, Lady Calzedonia, cease at once! You bring shame upon the Chief God with this childish behavior! You are her Envoy!"
Micaiah strode up to the podium, just behind the barrier. "I think not, Sir Oliver." She pushed the podium through the barrier, where it tumbled off the platform with a loud crash. "I'm through being your obedient little healer."
"What?" The man, Oliver, stared at the destroyed podium in shock. His angered gaze snapped to Micaiah. "What nonsense! What exactly do you intend to do out in the world? You would be monsterized within a day, you naive girl!"
Micaiah's hands balled into fists as she glared. "I intend to live, Sir Oliver. If it must mean I turn into a mamono, then so be it. I want to see the world. I want to experience everything I missed in life. And I have just the companion in mind for it." She looked back at Mitchell with a warm look in her eyes.
Oliver caught the look and snarled. "I see! So he's tainted you with his poisonous tongue!" He turned his attention to Mitchell. "You there! Outsider! Do you know what you have done? You have poisoned the mind of the Chief God's chosen with your honeyed lies! A wretched end awaits you, cur! I'll see to it!"
Micaiah's eyes blazed as orange-gold sparks danced across her hands and arms. "You will not touch him. He's done more for me than anyone in this damned city."
"By the way, I don't give a shit about your 'chief god.' Your god is not my God. So, fuck off with your heavy-handed zealotry. I literally couldn't care less," Mitchell added flatly. He went back to concentrating, trying to will the crystal into spiriting them both away. Their destination: Salvaricion.
"Infidel," Oliver hissed, glaring coldly at the hunter. "So you've tainted the Holy Maiden with your heathenry as well. Twice damned you are, heretic!"
The other guards gave the hunter a venomous look, causing Micaiah to tense. "Sir Oliver," she began, drawing the man's attention. "I have been selfless all my life. Giving to those who always take from others. I'm done being selfless for those who don't deserve it. I'm choosing to be selfish for those that do. I'll live my life the way I want to from now on!" She placed a hand over her heart in determination.
"WOOOOO! You tell 'em, Cai! This bird's leavin' the Loft, boys!" Mitchell whooped enthusiastically. He redoubled his efforts to match her fervor.
Despite the situation and her turbulent thoughts, Micaiah smiled at Mitchell's goofiness. Oliver and the surrounding guards scowled disdainfully. Oliver turned to one of the guards. "Enough of this! Get a mage in here to break open this barrier! This farce has gone on long enough!"
CRACK
"Ah. I guess that worked," Mitchell blinked as he stepped back from the now unstable crystal. He didn't know what he did exactly, but he decided not to question it. Praying his hail-mary plan worked, he waved Micaiah over. "C'mere, Cai. It's time to bounce."
"Yes!" Micaiah excitedly skipped over. She slipped a hand into his as she joined him.
"Lady Calzedonia! Think about what you're doing! What you're throwing away! All of it for some flight of fancy?! For him?!" Oliver roared.
CRACKCRICKCRACK
Micaiah didn't bother looking at the man as she answered. "Yes." Her eyes were warm, grateful, and joyful as she looked at her companion. Her smile was breathtaking.
At that moment, Mitchell thought she was one of the hottest girls in the world for that alone. In a burst of boldness, he hugged the priestess to him as the glow intensified. They both heard furious shouting, but they ignored it all, enjoying the moment.
"Hey, Cai."
"Yes, Mitch?"
"Well damn, ya beat me to it. I was gonna say I don't mind if ya call me that. Mitch, I mean."
"Heh. Alright then~"
They both laughed. There was a sharp crack and a loud shattering. They were both swallowed in light.
A/N: Sorry for the wait y'all. I'm currently working on three separate projects right now on top of work and all that life stuff in general.
There's my excuse for why each chapter takes a while. Well… that and I want them to actually be good and not rushed.
Anyway, please leave a review and tell me whatcha think. Feedback would be nice and I enjoy reading your reviews.
So, with all that out of the way, enjoy. Later on y'all.