CHAPTER 5.1

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Day passed, and a void of smiles greeted my eyes. Silent anguish and sorrow instead danced around our minds, all thanks to a hapless yesterday. Ana, naked as usual, slumped by the window. The weight of Leanne's loss hung heavy on her, her body betraying the silent battle raging inside. Only a warm cup of tea on her hand offered a flicker of hope, slowly battling herself against the grief. Though how brazen she seemed, her sloth from wearing a mourning look was proven quite reasonable.

Once a yawn escaped my lips, Ana glanced behind and asked me, "Finally waking up?"

I stretched, letting my arms rise high in the air, as though reaching for the heavens. Gone was the stiff pain across my joints, such relief. Yet, only in my mind still abided, an unshakeable memory.

Approaching the window, I spoke to her, my gaze drifting outwards. Below, the bustling street teemed with life—cars and people, an incessant ebb and flow. Their faces, whilst unfamiliar to the trading throng I once knew, still bore the tell-tale marks of Silish blood, perhaps now brewed with the strains of those from beyond our motherland.

And looking at Ana, I almost thought I was talking to Lady Drea, albeit her naked body wronged my sight.

"I frankly wish it could be just a dream,' I said. "I was just rather too late."

"Don't be," replied Ana, sipping her warm tea. "... Everything's done. Your revenge's enough for me to tell."

Her head leaned against the glass of the window, following my gaze downwards. She paused, heaving a heavy sigh, then shook her head, "We're supposed to have a plan together… a vacation plan."

"Vacation plan?"

"Travelling around the world, should I say…. From Sone… Fantasia… Anda… Yamato… New Walland… and lastly to our home city, Fosse," she sipped another, "But unfortunately, she's gone… never going to experience what life truly makes wonders."

"I see."

"... How about you, gal? Have you travelled around the world?"

Her question sparked a memory of my bygone adventure. We traversed plains, crossed bridges, pushed through woods, descended into valleys, forded rivers, and passed bustling towns, all the while tackling a myriad of quests. Indeed, these were arduous days, but the reward of a hearty feast made them worthwhile. The world, I knew so much. However, whatever the lands beyond the seas kindled a new curiosity within me. The places Ana told were uncharted lands, names that had never graced my ears before.

"Not the world," I said. "But only around the land."

"As expected of someone who was loyal to the land… and of times where suspicions and wars were prevalent, too."

"Right, I can see that."

"And right now, the world is… quite at peace, supposedly."

"Supposedly?"

"Suspicions over some bombs… clearing operations in the Mideast… and many more complicated stuff," she sipped another.

"Clearing operations? That does not sound… peace to me."

"Well, that's only between Libertia and Arenia doing their business, mostly with oil and Sils mustering them since Mideast is the richest of them… and those Libertian fat cats totally want to get their hands dirty on them."

"Who are those… so-called 'Libertians' anyway?"

"Basically, they're like 'the main characters' in global politics. They've got everything. Films, games, consoles, cosmetics, guns, trucks, music, phones, drugs… and even blatant idiocracy. Well, there are some idiots playing around in politics here, but when you get to Libertia, you're gonna feel like… 'Cool, that exists, too'. For instance, politicians will yell on the TV advertisements like 'We can make Libertia great again!' or… 'Let's go Libertia, we can do this!'," then she laughed, sipping another until her cup was empty. "But when they get their seats into the Senate and stand in front of the courtroom, they'll do like… 'I have a dream blah blah blah blah', 'In grave circumstances of our efforts blah blah blah blah'. You know what I mean?"

"That sounds quite… gaudy."

"They really are, and believe it or not… they do love making trouble anytime, anywhere, all for the sake of freedom and democracy'," she paused, studying my wide eyes and agape mouth, then continued. "Maybe it really sounds rather incomprehensible to your taste, but trust me, gal, you're not alone for that."

Freedom, again, sparked into my ears, such a vile word that opened the gates for tramps and outlaws to smirch the sanctity of our motherland. True, men craved this freedom, but in their hands it became a tool for chaos. Yet, unlike our time knew their aim to be naught, their troubles were deemed to have purpose—a purpose only feeding their reign of self-serving greed and insatiable gluttony. Hence, freedom for them would not usher in justice, but rather a new reign of disorder, void of Gidden's shield from the foetid swamp of sin.

"You are quite an enlightened one for a filthy wench like you," I said.

"All thanks to the internet," Ana shrugged, her smile broadened. "A filthy wench like me can know two or more."

"Internet, eh? If I am not mistaken, it is the secret behind the workcraft of the smartphone, yes?"

"Indeed, it's also the secret behind our everyday entertainment. Not just on smartphones, but also on every technology you can see."

I looked behind, staring at my smartphone glued on the table in front of the divan.

"So… internet. Have I explored that before?"

"You already have. Aya told me before that you had sent her a message online, correct?"

"Yes," I nodded. "Through Envoy."

"Right, and you wonder how it was sent, eh?"

"Yes, and it is all thanks to the internet."

"Correct. Truly, you know today's world so easily."

"Curiosity never ceases my mirth."

Suddenly, Ana gasped, her eyes looking slantly upward and her finger rubbing across the side of her head, "Oh—ho ho ho…"

"What?"

Her smile then crimped, and her eyes squinted. One hand waved against me, and so did her head. Still, her giggle never ceased, but kindled a stuttering voice, "N-Nevermind. Just a spark of… funny thoughts."

"I see."

Ana turned her side and walked towards the lustrous scullery, all crafted in gleaming steel and burnished wood. She then set the cup and plate down and washed them in the sink. Our talk paused, but my eyes locked on her, waiting for her hope to grace her lips. Finished, her head raised, showing true to my eyes.

She said, "Thanks for lightening up my mood. Even though she may not be trusting me, it's all thanks to my help that she feels so welcomed around this place. I'm sure she'll be happy to see me like this as always."

"Bless her soul for that," I replied. "May she watch over you all the time."

She paused whilst keeping the cup and plate in store, then snapped a finger, "By the way gal… uhh… Aya told me that you have to go to the FSO today."

"FSO?"

"Federal Statistical Office. In other words, they're the ones handling the citizenship and population process."

"Oh, some kind of… Sitheship Writ?"

"Whatever you say," she shrugged. "But something like that."

"Right, and can you give me a back for it?"

"I could have, but I've got something important to do at the same time."

I sighed, "So who is going to help me then?"

She pointed her finger at the table, "Your gal, smartphone."

"This?" So I picked up and flicked the screen open, "I mean… how? Which app is it?"

"Have you seen the… compass-like icon there?"

There, upon the infernal device, an utter tapestry of squares unfurled before my very eyes Each, a canvas for a medley of cryptic tokens, as bewildering as a hieroglyph to an unlearned soul. Yet, following Ana's advice, I glossed over the rest, my eyes snagged by the most curious one. Within the confines of a vitreous sphere, two blades, sharp and pointed, lay crossed, forming a most peculiar image of a compass.

Intrigued beyond measure, I warily protruded a finger and tapped upon this peculiar icon. Heaven wonders! Lo and behold, a map, meticulously rendered, appeared upon the infernal screen. A large blue dot in the centre sought explanation. What arcane knowledge can this crimson mark convey? What secrets could it hold? Thus, my bewilderment waxed with each passing braid.

"So this is a map, eh?" I said.

"See a blue dot?" she asked, then I nodded, to which she continued. "That's your current location—or rather, a specific mark on your device. Lots of named places there, but right now, ignore them. Instead, scroll southwest, and you'll see FSO there."

So I scrolled, southwest from the current mark. Twice a flick, the Federal Statistical Office finally appeared before my eyes—a mark to my journey's end.

"Found it."

"Good, and press that," then I did as per her advice, then a yellow line faded in from blue dot to now-crimson dot bouncing in. "You'll be given a path, more specifically, a shortcut towards your destination. It'll take quite a few blocks to reach there. Walk through it, and you'll be there even without our need of guidance."

"Right…," I gulped.

"Why so scared?" she giggled. "You were once a knight. Going on an adventure is truly exciting."

More like it was taxing to me, I thought, then sighed. "Well, guess the adventure awaits then."

I headed to my chambers, prepared to dress for the outdoors. But then, my foot hovered on the threshold, a fleeting thought catching my keen eye like a burr on a woollen coat. A disquietude settled upon me. The notion that our talk had not brought her the solace it deserved gnawed at my conscience. It seemed a grave injustice, not to see a flicker of true joy reflected in her eyes. Last words of advice, I must speak.

Thus, I said, "By the way, Ana…"

"What's it?"

"Her death may be resolved with my revenge, but I believe the truth still lies shrouded. I—we will see the bottom of it someday."