The Arcadis

The servants run to the wagons lining up in the side. Seira followed Hannah who climbed off to one of the vans on the right. She immediately leaned on the wooden board of the wagon, releasing a sigh of relief for a moment as her back came in contact with the solid board. The vehicle started to move as soon as everyone was settled. The wagon had no roof shed resulting in the sweltering sun hitting them like a wave. She could feel sweats trickling down in her back and face.

"Damn" she muttered. The heat was worsening her headache and uncomfortable state.

"Are you okay?"

Seira glanced at Hannah looking at her with concern on her face. She nodded, too tired to even speak. With a groan, she brings her knees to her chest; circling her arms on her knees.

After almost 30 minutes, the wagon in front of them suddenly stopped in the middle of the road causing them to stop. The servants along with her in the vehicle peek their heads out in front of the vehicle, squinting their eyes. Questions filled with curiosity and uncertainty start suddenly.

"Why did it stop?"

"Isn't this Arcadis?"

"Why are there no houses?"

Seira sighed, not bothering to peep on what was the cause of the sudden impede.

Soon after, the vehicles started to move forward. She grabbed her dress when she saw the tall; silver gate with a large name 'ARCADIS' gold plate on the upper part. The gate was taller than the trees as well as the iron fences on the side of the gate.

Sounds of pure astonishment and awe erupt from every servant as they get nearer in the iron gate. Seira hugs her knees, hiding her face and shutting her eyes closely. She was getting nearer every second to the real entrance through the capital—Arcadis—where her nightmares lie.

"So this is the real entrance to Arcadis huh" Hannah expected to receive a side comment from Seira but no one came. She turned to Seira's side who was next to her. Her eyebrows furrowed when she saw Siera with her head on her knees. The white stained dress that she was wearing was sticking on her back. Hannah tilted her head quizzically. There was something odd about the woman, she was sure of it but the problem was she can pinpoint what. The thought was instantly shaken off as it was replaced by anxiety again when the vehicle that Hannah was in, passed by the silver gate.

The moment Seira felt a swift rise of dread weighing her down, she knew that they already passed the gate. She hid her face even more. Her body went cold even though the sun was blazing hot.

Gasps and words of flabbergasted with a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration came from the servants who gape at the sight in front of them.

Hannah nudged Seira as her eyes was busy taking the exceptional view before her eyes "Seira, Seira you should see this"

The streets are full of long palaces with regal lines of meeting houses where the fronts of each distinct block of buildings are united so as to form an eye-catching facade principal front that looks onto a street. Decorous; high-class crystal storehouses with the display of the luxurious products in the world surround the streets. Women, men, and children dressed in expensive clothing stroll to the upscale capital of the kingdom.

"Ouch" Seira slumped downward, accidentally leaning on the woman next to her as Hannah continuously nudged her arms. The woman with black hair and brown eyes contract her brow in an expression of displeasure. "Sorry" she hastily said.

The woman rolled her eyes before turning away from her. Seira was about to talk to Hannah who was busy glancing around when she realized the surroundings that will deceive anyone to its resplendent structures in front of them. But she knows better not to dream walking around the streets and entering the stores in the place.

The wagon she was in suddenly stopped so as the wagon next to them. Some curiously peeked at the front to catch what's going on while others were still busy admiring the upscale, classy setting aside from Seira who was about to hide her face again until she take notice of an unusual wagon—at least for her, on the side of the road; in front of one of the big store. The wagon was made of metal and instead of cloth as its roof or cover, it is also metal and a small window made of glass was constructed on its side. She squinted her eyes, intrigued by the vehicle.

A woman, full of wounds on her face; with metal collar to her neck appeared, thumping the glass. Her eyes were filled with horror, terror; tears were flowing in her red eyes.

"Oh my god," Seira covers her widened mouth as she beholds the sight. The woman mouthed something but she couldn't decipher the movement of her lips.

Her eyes shifted to the people in the vehicle she was in. Instead of seeing a solace expression of distress, she was met with their mouths open wide in amazement while intently staring at the streets. It was as if they couldn't see the wagon at all and completely forgot the whole argument they had on the train earlier.

"What is happening?"

She frantically pulled Hannah in her shoulder to face her. "Hannah, she needs help" she pointed to the woman still hitting the glass.

"Who?"

"There! At the wagon" she pointed to the wagon "There she is" her voice raised slightly, as panic rose in her.

Hannah raised her eyebrow and sighed, deciding to look thoroughly at the streets but like earlier, she didn't see a wagon and a woman who seemed to be needing help. The only thing she was seeing was the demure, classy-looking populace in the busy street. There are others who she thinks were second-rate high-class persons but other than that, there was no person who belonged in her class—the proletarian kind. "I don't see any wagon, Seira" she turned to the woman whose face twisted into confusion.

"B-but there it is," Seira pursed her lips, swallowing the words she wanted to utter that was a pure attempt of convincing Hannah "Forget what I said" she made a smile that she sure looked forced.

Hannah shrugged and tapped her shoulders "Relax a little bit Seira, you should enjoy the view while it last"

"No wonder everyone wants here" Hannah continued, looking away at her with a broad grin on her face.