Kojo and Lin walked through the city of Eldrida, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling metropolis. The city was a hub of activity, with people from all walks of life rushing to and fro to do this and that. Even though the sky was dark, the moons shone brightly to illuminate the ground below. Their radiance was further complimented by the various artifacts like street lamps, which were scattered around the city at regular intervals to provide more light.
At first glance, Eldrida seemed like a city that would be steeped in the doctrine of its dominant religion, the Church of the Goddess. However, as Kojo and Lin explored the city, they found that it was...normal, surprisingly cool and laid-back.
The architecture was a blend of ancient and modern styles, with intricately carved stone buildings of Romanesque architecture. The white marble that made up the buildings blended in seamlessly with the snow-covered landscape and stood out in the seemingly perpetual night of the northern continent, creating a stark divergence between the earth and the sky, like the contrast between black and white.
There was a certain order to the arrangement of things. People didn't crowd in the streets when moving, as there was enough space for all of them, and the streets themselves weren't crowded with vendors on either side, with hawkers in the middle trying to sell their wares, as one would normally see in a largely populated area like, say, the Capitol back in Archadia.
The people themselves were courteous and polite to one another, and each person carried themselves with dignified reservation.
Kojo and Lin observed that the people in Eldrida all wore clothes that were predominantly white, a nod to the city's devotion to the Goddess. They hadn't noticed it while at Portfol due to the fact that there were many sailors of different nationalities from the various continents present to sell or buy.
Kojo noticed people staring at them and realized it was because they were both clad in black. The people over here had some weird beliefs about the color being associated with evil and ill omens. With a sigh, he scratched both his and Lin's coats, dyeing them with his Poison King ability and turning hers white, while his didn't completely bleach to white but rather turned bright grey.
"Close enough," he thought with a shrug.
Many wore a golden chain with the symbol of the Goddess around their necks, a subtle yet visible sign of their faith. However, despite the city's strong religious roots, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming.
Kojo and Lin walked through the city, taking in the sights and sounds. They passed by a group of men playing a lively game of cards under a leafless tree covered by icicles that gave it a surreal appearance, as if the ice itself were the leaves. All the trees were in a similar state with varying designs.
Nearby, a group of young women were laughing as they carried baskets and headed towards the market, their white dresses fluttering as they moved.
The city's residents seemed to embody a sense of balance and harmony. They moved with a quiet confidence, their actions guided by a sense of purpose and conviction. It was clear that the people of Eldrida took their faith seriously, but they also seemed to enjoy life and live in the moment.
Kojo meanwhile was narrating the events of that morning to her with a laugh as he recounted the entire episode.
Lin raised an eyebrow, her expression turning serious. "You shouldn't laugh about that. It's serious. You could have gotten yourself into real trouble."
Kojo waved his hand dismissively.
"At that point I was already in trouble. Besides, it was just a big misunderstanding. It was kind of fun though. I got to do some pretty cool acrobatics to evade them. You should have been there to see me in action," he said proudly.
Lin sighed. "You could have come to wake me up to clarify things. I'm sure I could have helped."
Kojo shook his head. "There'd be no point to that. Because I'm pretty sure there's a kind of penalty for anyone who's going to go against the rules by bringing a man into the convent. Apparently, the man involved gets cursed with impotence."
"What?!" Lin looked at him in alarm.
"Relax, curses don't work on me. Why do you still have that look on your face? Wanna confirm?"
Lin punched him in the arm and blushed. Kojo just chuckled.
"Our positions as foreigners would ensure that we won't be punished, but it would make matters needlessly complex. I'd rather avoid a hassle."
Lin looked at him thoughtfully. "You're right, I suppose. But still, it's not something to take lightly."
Kojo shrugged. "I know, I know. But honestly, it's not a big deal. I handled it, and everything turned out fine. Cyrus came and spoke to those knights, so it's all good."
Lin nodded, seeming to accept his explanation. "Okay, if you're sure you're okay..."
Kojo smiled, standing up. "I'm positive. Now, what do you say we grab some lunch? I'm starving after all that excitement."
Lin smiled back, standing up beside him. "Sounds like a plan to me."
As they continued their walk, they came across a small café, where they decided to stop and rest. They were given a seat outside.
The café was cozy and welcoming, with comfortable seating and a warm atmosphere. The waitress, a friendly woman with a kind smile, greeted them and asked what they would like to drink.
As they sat there, Kojo turned to Lin and said, "You know, I think this city is really something special. The people here seem so happy and content."
Lin nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. There's something about this place that feels... balanced. Like everything is in harmony."
Kojo smiled, taking a sip of his coffee. "I think that's what it is. The people here seem to have found a sense of purpose and meaning, and they're living their lives accordingly."
Lin nodded, her eyes sparkling with interest. "I think you're right. And it's not just the people – the city itself seems to embody a sense of balance and harmony."
"Still, there's something not quite right here," Kojo said.
"What do you mean?" Lin asked.
The waitress came with a tray carrying their orders.
"Sorry for the wait," she said with a smile. Just then, a young child bumped into her, causing her to spill the contents on Lin.
"I am so sorry," she said apologetically. A group of knights ran past them after the person who had just passed.
Lin's entire outfit was a mess. Kojo spun a napkin with his webs and turned to observe the knights chasing the boy.
With the way the knights were hounding him, he was going to end up in an alley where he'd be captured.
"Poor thing," Kojo said, tearing his eyes away. However, he quickly sprang to his feet, staring in that direction with a strange look on his face.
Translucent white hair. Blue eyes. Wolf ears on the top of his head and a fluffy tail.
(Don't be foolish,) Sysia warned, but Kojo was already rising to his feet.
"There's something I need to attend to," he said as he moved away from the table.
Lin wanted to follow, but her dress was too colored with the food. The coat could be cleaned, but what she wore underneath needed to be changed. The waitress offered to clean the coat and a spare change of clothes that she herself had brought. Lin sighed and followed her into the cafe, praying that Kojo wasn't going to do anything stupid and get into trouble.
Which was exactly what he did.
The boy fell in the middle of the street. The knights cornered the boy, their faces twisted with anger and disgust. The boy fell to the ground, begging them not to hurt him.
"Please, don't hurt me," he cried but was rewarded with a blow to his head instead.
A crowd gathered around to observe. There was a collective grimace from the crowd.
"This abomination doesn't deserve your pity," one knight addressed the crowd, then grabbed the boy, lifting him up and sending him back to the ground with a punch.
The knights began to kick and hit the boy.
"You're a filthy creature," one of them grabbed him by the ears and spat.
"You shouldn't have come out into the open."
"I was only looking for 'the Lily,'" the boy pleaded.
"I swear I won't come out into the open again, so please spare me."
"Shut up!"
Kojo stood among the crowd, his aura hiding him from view. His hood cast a dark shadow over his face, and his hands were balled into fists in his pockets. He listened to the murmurs of the crowd.
"This is going too easy on him."
"Why don't they just kill him?"
"They should hurry up and get rid of the filth."
Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur. Murmur.
Kojo's eyes narrowed.
(Sysia,) he called out in his mind.
(I've got you,) she replied.
Kojo stepped out of the crowd, his movements calm and deliberate. One of the knights stood in his way.
"What are you doing?" the knight asked.
But Kojo didn't respond and walked past him. The knight grabbed him, pulling the hood off his head.
Kojo's crimson eyes flared, and his expressionless face struck fear into the knight's heart.
"You're... you're not from around here, are you?" the knight stammered.
Kojo's response was a casual uppercut that divided the knight's jaw, soaking his fist in blood.
The other knights rushed to check on their comrade, but Kojo walked past them, his eyes fixed on the boy. He reached out a hand, but the boy, full of fear, ran away.
He straightened just as the knights surrounded him.
"You're going to pay for what you just did," one of them snarled.
That same knight, who was most likely the leader, ordered the two others to go after the boy, but their bodies burst into blood, falling to the ground.
By the time reinforcements arrived, led by Archsaint Yukio, Kojo had already taken out 70 knights. She stared at the carnage and then glanced at him.
His hands were covered in blood, and his was dripping with it.
She had a neutral expression on her face as they both looked at each other expressionlessly.
He looked to his left and spotted Lin in the crowd. She tried to come to him, but he subtly shook his head, and she stopped. Kojo raised his hands as Yukio approached him, her face expressionless.
"You're under arrest," Yukio said, her voice cold.