Radiant Age, Spring, 1127
Dark images filtered into my mind. Horrible symbols that etched themselves into my psyche were brought before me. They were bright orange and bled from the sides. But before I could look at them closely, creatures would assault me. Hopelessly, I'd stand there unable to move as my body was slowly eaten.
"Ah?!"
I woke up with my arm strangling the pillow beside me. My wrist and ankles burned from the tussle in the night. But the best part of it nobody was around to see what I must have done in the dead of night.
"What time is it?"
I checked the clock near me. It was 7AM, earlier than our meeting time. But I didn't want to take any chances and be late.
"Alright, I better get there before I'm arrested again."
I made my bed, fixed up anything I messed up during the night, and put on my clothes. As a ritual, I would always start the day by making my room perfect.
Mentally, this helped me more than ever, seeing a nice, clean room before I leave. I grabbed my blade from the holder on the wall then turned around after opening the door.
"Goodbye, Maxwell."
I said to the shadows in my home as I shut the door and made my way to Radiant City. The day was just as bright as yesterday as I walked down my steps.
"Hm, I wonder?"
Curiously, I walked back over to the bushes. Seeing that space in the sunlight, it didn't hold the magic of the night before. No small creatures were dancing about as that coy girl played with them. It felt as though that sight, I saw was a mere dream that I was chasing.
"Well, I need to go."
A tad disappointed, I stepped away from the bushes and started on my short journey to Radiant City.
As I approached the gates, I saw large iron-like carts rolling up to the gates. They towered around ten-foot high and stretched about thirty-feet long. I've never seen a contraption like this before, so I curiously watched the sight.
"Lower it!"
There were a bunch of men in farming clothing next to knights. Together they unloaded this machine full of what appeared to be fruits, vegetables, meats, and other supplies. The knights would check the shipments and distribute them to smaller wooden carts. I guessed that they could easily supply goods to the local markets and such.
"Alright, that's everything."
Two large men received payment by the knights. Sacks full of gold were set in the iron machine. With the commotion nearly over, I walked towards the west gates.
"Tell the Castrol's we appreciate the shipment."
One of the knights casually spoke with what appeared to be a farmer. It was an older man with a straw hat. He sat in this iron-like cart. With a tip of his hat to the soldiers, the iron beast roared as its wheels started to spin.
The contraption took a wide turn, causing the knights and me along with them to back up. It rolled away back towards the farmland.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, ma'am."
The knight chuckled at my expression.
"A-Ah, I was just surprised."
I was awestruck at the machine as it rolled about on the land. My body could feel that it was using a wind and earth spectrum energy, but I had no idea how it moved like that. Effortlessly, it took the hills as it faded into the distance.
"It's a machine built by the Castrol farms. They got the funds from the Cafree family, and now shipment has never been easier."
The knight rubbed his beard as he admired the machine way off in the distance.
"Anyway, state your name and business here today."
"Oh, I'm Feodora Cicer. I'm here on business to help the Radiant knight, Jade Opal, with her investigation."
He looked at me intensely causing me to feel insecure.
"Oh, so you're the fabled dark vessel that beat the living daylights out of Lana Pasco, huh?"
He laughed, but I didn't find it funny at all.
"You caused a lot of cleanups yesterday ma'am. But I didn't mind because someone finally taught that little Pasco brat a lesson."
The knight chuckled and nodded at me sharply.
"I'll put you in the books, so you won't have to go through this process again. Have a good day ma'am."
I nodded and started making my way into the city when I turned back to the knight with a quick question.
"Oh, by the way, do you know where I can find The Radiant City Brewery?"
I caught myself and made sure I asked. I had no idea where to go in this city, it being so massive and I only visited yesterday.
"Ah, getting drunk this early? Well, it's in the north part of the city. When you enter, follow the signs heading north, and eventually, you'll come to the section promoting the brewery. You can't miss it."
"Thanks."
Not bothering to correct his misunderstanding, I timidly walked away without saying another word. Just like before, all the knights casually went about. Everything was at peace on this bright and sunny day.
When I made my way through the west gates, the bustle of the city was in full bloom. Instead of being part of the mess, I made my way to the meeting spot, staying in the shadows.
It was a tavern by the name of The Radiant City Brewery. When I finally found it, even the outside was jam-packed with people, so I kept my distance. Here in the morning sunlight, I stood across the street and watched the crowd come and go from in and out of the establishment.
"Wow, that many people drink this early?"
I was surprised to see the traffic this place had. It had a large wooden sign brightened up by holy spectrum. The exterior was made of lumber, and it was two stories high. The top had a balcony that one could sit out on. There was a collection of tables up there, too, full of people.
There was a large canopy in the front that covered the outdoor seating. Around five or so sets of wooden tables and chairs.
"No wonder why everyone is so crazy here. I bet they all start drinking around 5AM."
Adding to my suspicion, at one of the outside tables, there was an old wino that was going away at one of his many cups of gin tonic. He looked far too old to be doing that to his body, though. With a bald head and an arched back, he downed the liquor with vigor.
His hands shakily picked up the next one. Forcefully, he threw back another one. There had to be at least seven more on the table. It was a sight to see if anything.
"Ah, you made it."
The beauty's voice trickled in my ear as she approached. Her hair danced in the wind as she walked towards me. Her sword clicked behind her as she strode with purpose. It was earlier than I expected, but she might have wanted to be the first one here. There we stood across the street from the popular brewery.
"Ah, good morning, Jade."
"Morning, Feodora. I'm waiting for two others to arrive before we get started."
She leaned her firm body on the wall next to us. In the shade that the wall cast, her body was still just as radiant. With that sword still at her hip, I honestly thought she looked cool like that.
"Why are you staring at me?"
She asked, not even looking my way. I was caught, and it caused my cheeks to warm up.
"Oh, nothing."
"If you have something to say, say it. If it's a complaint, you might as well bring it up so I can shut you down and be done with it."
She was firm, direct, the kind that doesn't take it from anyone. I rubbed the back of my head as I slowly contemplated what I wanted to say, if I wanted to say anything.
"No, ah, I was just a little interested in you, I guess."
"How so?"
"Well, you know I'm new here, so I don't know much about you or your place here. This city is strange to me."
Still looking towards the brewery, she opened her thin lips.
"I am Jade Opal, next in line to be the head knight of the Radiant Kingdom."
She announced in a firm and direct tone.
"That sounds like a high position."
She shrugged.
"It is what it is. My job is to keep the order in this city. Lately, it's been harder than usual. So, to get ahead of this situation, I needed to bring in an expert of the dark spectrum."
She turned to me, causing her dark locks to roll behind her.
"And that just happened to be you. There aren't many people with your vessel around. By my list of people in the city, none are registered here that are dark vessels like you."
She rubbed her boots on the ground as she continued.
"Meaning, the person who is causing these people to go missing isn't registered here. They came to the city recently and don't live here."
"Yeah, I get it."
I held my shoulder.
"Well, I'm not the one who's doing it. Do you know why they went missing?"
She shook her head from side to side. That beautiful black hair of hers glistened in the morning sunlight.
"No idea. It's been random from how I've seen it. Men and women who have families vanishing and only leaving a dark spectrum trail. The old, the young, there's no prejudice when it comes to who has disappeared. I concluded that it had to be someone like you, Feodora."
"I see."
"Hey, what the hell are you doing, ya dang kids?!"
We looked up to see a group of winos going at it. That old man and some younger-looking guy with slicked-back hair. He had a posse of two others behind him as they accosted the drunken old man. Jade put her hand on her hip and sighed harshly.
"Come on people. You know not to mess with Ol' Man Yorks when he's having his gin tonics!"
She yelled, but it looked as if the group didn't notice as they continued their banter.
"Who?"
I asked as I leaned my back on the wall too. She pointed at the old man with around ten gin tonics under his belt. He looked plastered like a skunk, and his face was bright red. I bet he couldn't even see straight with all that liquor in him.
"That man right there is a Radiant and former hero. But he's been a washed-up soldier for nearly four-hundred years now. It's always best to just let him drink and leave him alone."
I found a new respect for the seemingly broken man. But it seemed a few young people were getting their kicks out of messing with him. I had no intention of going over there. I didn't want the attention it would bring.
"Aren't you going to step in and help, Jade?"
I asked, turning towards Jade. Her eyes were fierce as she bit her lip and coldly responded.
"No, I'm waiting for someone else to."
Curiously, I watched the fight go on. Ol' Man Yorks took to his feet and sucker-punched one of the three guys in the group. The victim's body fell to the ground as he flopped around like a fish about to die. He was already out for the count as he laid there shamefully defeated.
"Ah, is that guy okay, Jade?"
I asked Jade who was unamused.
"Hopefully…"
She bit her lip in seeming frustration. Despite that, she coldly analyzed the situation.
"Alright! That's enough!"