58th Dawn - The Town of Aria

After meeting with Tristan at the park, I began to tread the path towards my new endeavor.

"Five months in Ellicht, and I still managed to get lost... Great..."

Finding my way isn't as easy as I expected, though. Apparently, the address that Alexander gave to me in his business card was a street I'm still not familiar with. It's way past the shopping district that Lewis and I visited a while ago, beyond a bridge that stretches across the stupendous Amphitrite River, and a little bit further from the bustling town of Aria. This well-known borough is much more grandiose than the uptown and downtown since it's mostly inhabited by the middle class. A huge number of retreat houses and villas can also be found in Aria, and all of these belong to nobles.

"Well, that's wonderful and all, but I really need to get there before night falls..."

Until now, I'm still groping my way around. The compelling sceneries and imposing buildings didn't help me quicken my pace either. I've been sight-seeing for quite some time now, though I mainly did it to distract myself from the fact that I'm indeed lost. Even then, however, I can't deny that everything around here almost made my neck snap with how I eagerly swivel and look around. The architecture is more defined and decorous, and there's a lot more commerical edifices here that center around manufacturing and service, such as factories, craft shops, restaurants, and even resorts. Then again, merchandising businesses are often found in the uptown and shopping districts.

"Now that I think about it, I feel like I'm even further from home now... Downtown's all the way there, and so are Madeline's inn and Ruben's diner..." I mused as I turned and looked back, feeling a bit melancholic.

I don't really treat that as a bad thing. Rather, it seems more like I'm leaving my comfort zone. My time in Freya didn't end up for nothing as well. It helps me become more determined and tenacious than ever, giving me the boost I need to pursue this path. I want to take revenge on those big heads by proving myself to them and showing off just how passionate I can be, but more importantly, I aim to make my message about fashion cross.

"People design to express, not to impress..." is my biggest realization from my recent eye-opening adversary - the theme I decided to follow from now on.

Still in the middle of this train of thoughts, I almost failed to notice that I already arrived at my destination. If it wasn't for the familiar blob of blonde that I just happened to lay eyes upon, I might've gotten even more lost than I already was. He's about to enter a luxurious building, which I assume is his workplace. In an attempt to catch his attention, I then call for him while I'm still on the opposite side of the road. What didn't scrape my mind, however, was the fact that we're not the only ones who're present there at the moment.

"Sir Alexander! Sir! I came, Sir!" I exclaimed zestfully as I strode to his direction, unknowingly receiving flabbergasted looks all the while.

"Idiot! What are you doing?" Alexander greeted back, quite too sternly to my liking.

"What's wrong?" I asked in confusion, tilting my head at him quizzically.

"You are, idiot. This is a public place, not a shouting fest. Lower down your voice."

"O-Oh."

Alexander seems to be the short-tempered type, but he's still honest and straightforward, at least. This candid side of him is the main reason why I'm more comfortable around him. He may have the domineering air of an heir, but his true colors leak out too easily. Even though we just met for a few times, I already feel like we will get along just fine.

"Is this the studio, Sir?" I inquired, gawking at the opulent edifice before us in wonder.

"Huh? Of course not. It's way over there."

When Alexander points at something from a distance, my eyes just follow it until they stop on a certain building that makes me gape in flummox. It turns out that the workshop isn't this sumptuous place after all. Instead, it's that small two-story house with an alabaster wall exterior and somber gray tinted windows. What's more, it's stuck and cramped between two larger blocks, like a tiny dude being bullied by a couple of buff school jocks.

"It's... cute," I simply remarked, choosing not to be picky.

"It's a David, I know. But there's a reason why I bought that one," Alexander replied with a solemn expression.

"A David?"

"You don't know? The small guy who defeated a giant."

"Wow... You sure know you're stuff."

Alexander can be such a nerd sometimes. I don't really mind since I did meet someone similar that goes by the name of Lewis. Perhaps, I can learn a thing or two from him as well.

"Dummy... Of course I will. He's now my instructor, after all..." I mumbled with a straight face.

"What are you murmuring about? Stop dilly-dallying and let's go," Alexander blurted out, already a few steps away.

"Right! I'm coming!"

The two of us then walk together to the workshop. Although it isn't as extravagant as Freya's headquarter, that exhilarating sensation still swells up in me as I stare at it like it's the doorway to my dreams. It's the same feeling I've had when I was starting back there, perhaps even more intense since I now already know my passion. But then, what I didn't expect is how everything shattered in a matter of milliseconds as soon as we step a foot inside. It just happened that what comes into view is a kingdom of soots, dusts and spider webs, like a real haunted house that came straight out of a horror film.

"I apologize for the mess. Since I was already disowned, I have no servants to clean up the place so I hired a couple of guys to do the job instead. They'll come here after three days," Alexander explained to which I only returned a mortified expression.

"Three days?! Why not now? Or why even bother to hire people? Can't you clean by yourself?"

"Of course, I can't. I wasn't raised at that kind of household, you know. I haven't even touched a mop before, much less use one."

Then, I groaned.

On second thought, we'll probably not get along after all.