Part 6

"We're lost..." Serena complained.

This area was so desolate; in a radius of 50 km, there were only small villages occupied by Fahren people. The roads and bridges were newly built, but nobody was seen passing by. The sun was so high in the sky, but the world was quiet. In the background, the mountainous terrain was covered by dense forests and mist. River streams split the land, making it feel like the terrain was scattered like small islands in an ocean.

"Yeah. It feels like we're trapped and just going in circles... But... wait!" Senna gasped when he heard the roar of an engine nearby. He stopped their horse-drawn carriage. A flying vehicle unexpectedly whizzed by... How lucky! They called out to the driver excitedly, "Sir! Sir!" and the vehicle came to a stop. He jumped out of the carriage and ran, approaching. Serena followed him.

Peering out was a fair-skinned woman in a peculiar, layered dress characteristic of the people of Fahren. She looked at Senna and Serena with bewilderment.

"Pardon us," Serena said politely.

The woman glanced back and forth between Senna, Serena, and their outdated carriage. In this age of technology, how uncivilized they are, she thought. "Umm..." She hesitated slightly. "What's the matter, kids?"

"Miss, could we hitch a ride out of here?" Serena asked quickly. "We're heading to Cephiro. It's an urgent matter."

"Cephiro? Hmm... what a coincidence. I'm going there too."

"Thank you!" Serena turned to Senna. "Hurry! Bring Mother out!"

"Wait. I'm not taking you for free. Give me something valuable of yours as payment for the journey and accommodation. Cephiro is quite far, you know?"

Insisting on using this slow carriage was a waste of time, while riding magic animals wasn't a good option for them, too. They had no choice but to comply with her demands. Senna looked at Serena questioningly. "What should we give?"

"We don't have anything worthy of money... But I have this." Serena pulled out her recorder.

"Not that!" Senna snatched the recorder from Serena's hands, making her stare wide-eyed. "Do you want to lose the memories of Father and Mother?" Senna whispered in Serena's ear. He then pulled something from beneath his cloak. "Here!" He handed the Nair's pendant to the woman. Serena, about to protest, held her tongue. She watched the precious item change hands.

"Wow, this is beautiful despite the cracks. It must be very valuable. Get in."

Serena couldn't believe what Senna had done. Just when she was about to voice her objections, Senna said, "We won't be at risk of dying, so we don't need an object like that."

"That was Father's heirloom..." Serena's tears flowed freely, unable to let go. Throughout the day, she sulked, refusing to talk to Senna.

They passed through endless forests, rivers, and lakes throughout the journey. But in spring, everything was colorful. With this view, Serena forgot her anger and fell asleep while Senna seriously watched their way. He wondered how much longer it would be until they arrived.

"Who is that woman?" asked Yoona, the name the woman had introduced herself with. She pointed to their mother, who was cradled in Senna's arms.

Yoona was a hunter and trader of antiques. One of her reasons for visiting this place was to hunt for relics from abandoned cities to sell at a high price. She was headed to the new capital of Cephiro to open a shop during this auspicious time. People celebrated the opening of the new city, and the third anniversary of peace was approaching!

"Our mother," Senna replied tersely.

"Your mother?" Yoona said, driving the flying vehicle while glancing at the three of them through a mirror. "Is she alright? I don't think she is..."

"Yes. She's sick."

"If you need medicine or food, don't hesitate to take some. You know where to find it. Check in the back…"

"She doesn't need medicine. Our Father had just died. She is sick of sadness."

"My condolences." Yoona turned her attention back to the road. "May I ask how you ended up here?"

"We lived around here," Senna said.

"Really? This area had been abandoned for so long... I used to live near here, so I know what happened. Not many want to live here any longer. They moved to warmer places, to more prosperous cities in the South."

Senna realized he shouldn't talk too much with this woman, or she would dig deeper about them. But he was so curious about one thing. "What is Neo Cephiro?" he asked.

"Wow, you don't know?!" Yoona shook her head. "Where have you been?"

Senna stayed quiet.

"But it's understandable if you don't know. You're so far from civilization. Did you know that the five nations have signed a peace treaty?" Senna shook his head. "Cephiro, Chizeta, Fahren, Autozam, and Runes signed the treaty about two years ago. They built a new capital for the five nations and named it Neo Cephiro."

"I see."

"This is an exciting development that many people have been waiting for. Personally, I was skeptical at first. I thought they would start another war after the Runes' envoy bravely visited Cephiro right after the war ended. But it turns out they've decided to unite and let go of their grudge."

"Umm… what about you? Do you also let go of your grudge?"

"My grudge? Hmm… It's hard to say I don't harbor any ill feelings after losing so much. But I'm still alive, and that's a good thing. I want to keep living, so I look at the bigger picture—where this era is heading. I've started a new life, and thank God, everything has been made easier for me. Now, I want to return to the city. I've gathered so many goods," Yoona said proudly, pointing to the pile of items behind her with her thumb. "I must make a huge profit! I heard there will be a wedding for the daughter of the leader of Cephiro. The city will be lively, so I'm sure my items will sell like hotcakes!"

"What do you think of the Runes people?" Senna asked cautiously. "You know about the magic swordsmen, right?" Senna needed to ensure their safety. He hoped to hear something good from this woman.

"I'm not too sure. This is the first time people from other nations have gotten in touch with them, and so far, there haven't been any incidents. As for the magic swordsmen… everyone has bad memories of them, but I've heard they've been forgiven under certain conditions," Yoona said, taking a bottle of water and sipping from it. "Why do you ask?"

"I just want to know."

"There are too many things happening. I don't follow all the news."

"Are you happy?"

"I don't know... I find this peacefulness more meaningful than happiness. Like everyone else, I'm learning to forgive them and focus on the future. I want my business to thrive, find a good man, get married, build a home, and have children—a normal life without tragedy... Enough of what has happened."

A normal life without tragedy... What would these people do if they knew who we really are, who our father and mother truly are? Senna wondered. Fear crept into his heart. He felt they could be captured and killed at any moment. Because they were the cause of the tragedy...

"Umm… W-what do you think of… Cephiro Pillar?" He asked another question now.

"Isn't she died a long time ago?"

Their destination was farther than anticipated, taking almost a week to reach. They agreed that Neo Cephiro was an extraordinary city built in an expansive area.

"Magnificent!" Senna exclaimed. He could hardly believe civilization could develop this rapidly in just three years.

"The city center, where the great castle stands, is still 20 km away. We're still on the outskirts," Yoona explained.

Along the way, in addition to forests, agricultural lands were interspersed with villages. Upon arriving in the city, the various motorized transportation methods reminded them of Runes, constructed with the ingenuity of the Autozam people, known for their engineering and machinery skills. Some buildings were shaped like simple cubes, while others were ornately decorated, blending the styles of Fahren and Chizeta. All activities were bustling within the city, protected by a 25-meter-high stone wall.

"This wall is a layered shield, built every 5 km toward the city center. Each wall has seven towers and is guarded by a troop of soldiers. You can't do anything wrong here, or you'll surely be caught and severely punished." For some reason, Nona Yoona chuckled to herself. "My business is legal. Oh yeah! Inside, there are parks, playgrounds, wide streets, gardens... Everyone is thriving. Are you planning to stay here?"

Serena shook her head, but Senna replied, "I don't know."

He honestly didn't know. What would they do once they had completed the tasks assigned by their father? Would they part from their mother? Would they be captured because they were his son and daughter? But how would they find Magic Guru of Cephiro, Clef?

The exhausting journey came to an end. They got off on one of the streets, parting ways with Yoona. "Senna, do you have any money?" whispered Serena. "We need to find a place to stay."

Before Yoona sped off again, she overheard their conversation and paused. "Hey, kids," she said, reaching into her pocket. "The item you gave me was worth far more than the entire fare. Take this," she tossed a pouch to them. "That's money."

Senna and Serena were speechless.

"Do you think I don't have a heart?" she asked with a gentle smile. "Everyone has ever experienced similar hardships. I survived thanks to the kindness of others. Find a warm place to stay. Buy some food. Take good care of your mother. If you have the chance, stop by my shop. You know where it is, right? I gave you the address yesterday..."

"Thank you very much!"

After Yoona disappeared, the two stood in a state of confusion. There were so many people bustling about. This city was busier than their Runes, and everything seemed strange and different. Shops lined the streets, interspersed with gardens filled with various plants. In the distance, they could see many towering spires, but they couldn't tell what they were...

After searching for a long time... "An inn! It still has free room!" Senna shouted. He adjusted his mother's position on his back and, along with Serena, ran toward a five-story wooden house.

"Welcome!" greeted a five-year-old girl.

"Kid, don't stand in front of the door," called a woman. She left her work behind the tall desk and came to greet them. She appeared to be in her thirties, with brown hair and a charming smile. "Oh, welcome, Guests. You must be looking to stay."

"Please, one room," Serena said, looking around.

"It's so busy this day. My inn is full, and guests demand this and that nonstop. So, I am sorry if our service is not so perfect." She was writing something while looking for something in her drawers. "Are you new here? You all look like travelers. Maybe you want to take a stroll? There's going to be people parties. Not just for the opening of the new city, but also to commemorate three years of peace." She had finished writing. "Your room is there. Just follow my servant."

"How long can we stay with this money?" Serena asked, handing over a pouch of golden coins.

The woman counted for a moment. "More than a week..."

"Take it all."

"Um, alright," the woman was surprised by this generosity.

"Do you provide food?"

"Of course. You can do anything here. There's a lounge, a bathroom, a garden..." The woman seemed curious about the woman being carried on Senna's back. "Who is she? Is she sick?"

"Yes. She is our mother."

"I can provide soft food and medicine or healing for her. What's wrong with her?"

Senna shook her head, so Serena stopped talking to the inn owner.

"Alright. Here are your keys, and if you need anything, call me. My name is Mira."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

Senna gazed out the window at the people on the street. It was spring, yet the air still felt quite cold. "I have to go now."

"Wait. Where are you going? How will you find Magic Guru Clef? You don't even know who or where he is," Serena said, worry evident in her voice.

"Clef. If he's a Magic Guru, he must be close to the king of this land. I'll head to the main castle." Senna pointed toward the city center, where he could see the towers rising higher. He grabbed his coat and pulled up the hood to cover his hair.

Serena got up from her seat and held her brother tightly. "Senna, I'm scared."

Senna patted his sister's shoulder reassuringly. "We'll be fine. Take care of Mother. I'll be back soon. If I don't return by tomorrow, wait for my return. We have booked the room for a week, and I think that lady could help you care for our mother. We are not familiar with this city. Don't get lost if you are going outside."

"Senna…"

"It's getting dark. Close the window. Keep Mother warm. Be careful with your words; don't reveal who we are."

Serena nodded. Senna smiled at her and dashed out of the room. From their second-floor window, Serena watched as Senna ran a short distance away. She saw his coat fluttering before he disappeared into the crowd.

Turning back, Serena walked over to her mother. She took a chair and sat beside her, gazing at her mother's calm face as if nothing bad had ever happened. Yet, Serena knew that her mother's vitality was fading. She hadn't opened her eyes for days. Serena held her mother's hand tightly.

"Mother, we are in a safe place now."