Hello, Nora

It was when the sun touched down on the horizon that the group finally stepped out of the treeline of Akibara Forest.

With deep inhales, their eyes landed on what they had been aiming to get to for the last 7 hours and 30 minutes.

The City of Nora is now within their reach, down the sloping hill. The city was vast, stretching for miles on end with high, thick, concrete walls surrounding it.

The walls had four entries, all pointing in the cardinal direction with steel gates in the middle and guard towers beside the gate that was a little bit taller than the wall.

In front of the gates were always two Blessed Sentries and two Relic Knights who were branded in dark crimson armor from head to toe.

The Knights always pissed off Sophie due to their reputation for being horrendous to those in need and having an ego as big as the moon.

In the middle of the city stood the Cathedral, a safe haven for those if the walls were ever breached and a place the Blessed Sentries had to report to.

Each city was built the same way. But despite that, the happiness always felt brand new when they reached a place of safety.

Smiles touched their faces as they ambled downhill, heading over to the dirt path that linked to the gate.

As they got closer to the gate, Sophie drew in the cool air that was filled with smells of fresh bread, burning coal, and wood.

And in the corner of her eye, she could see that the Dark Glacier Lotuses had bloomed, ready to take in the moon's warmth.

But standing within the beautiful icy-colored flowers were small Wickeds with tiny arms and round bodies. Their eyes continued to pierce at them as they met the dirt road and proceed to follow it.

The closer the group got, the more lively they became.

It started out with a few laughs amongst one another as they congratulated the new recruits such as 9624; the Sentry who carried the limp body of the old woman on his back.

He had just joined them three weeks ago and was already proving himself to be worthy of their group.

And 4827, for being a Recorder. She was the person who wrote down every piece of information about their mission and would be handing it over to the Church and Celects, if needed. She made doing paperwork a lot easier.

Sophie grinned, remembering the days when she wanted to be a Recorder.

That was before the Shortal District incident.

Their conversation turned when the mention of a bed was brought up. Each of them groaned in desperation, saying how good it will feel to lay down in a bed and eat a hearty meal instead of the slob the church put in bags for them to eat.

(“A bed…”) Sophie thought, (“What a wonderful thing! I haven't slept in a bed for months or taken a bath. My hair is so dirty!”)

She lifted up her dirt-covered hands and saw grime tucked underneath her fingernails.

Whenever her grandmother did speak, it was in a harsh tone about her appearance.

She still remembers her breathy gasps as she lay in bed, frowning with thick grey eyebrows and shriveled white hair that barely covered her skull. Her skin sagged over her eyes and dropped onto the bed. She was melting, in Sophie’s eyes, from the very hate, she spewed.

The last day she ever saw her grandmother, she looked Sophie up and down, covered in dirt from playing in the yard, and spat, “Filthy Wench! A lady should never be dirty, especially their hands. You will get a man like that, hě̄chaw.”

Hě̄chaw was the name her grandmother called her. It means ugly.

Sophie pushed away the memories, (“At least I won't have to be called ugly anymore.”)

The group arrived before the gates and stopped. Head Swan approached the two Sentries whose eyes were green.

With a swift nod of his head, he acknowledged the tall Relic Knights that stood with black onyx swords at their side.

“I am Head Swan 3675, Lead Sentry of Cadre 11.” He lifted up his right hand while still holding onto Sophie with his left.

The Relic Knight on the right stepped forward and removed his glove, revealing a scorched hand. It was a brutal reminder that not everything that came from King Arthur was good.

“We have two survivors; the child on my back and the old woman who requires medical attention.” he continued to speak as the Relic Knight slipped his glove back on.

“Understood Head Swan 3675.” The two sentries synchronized, both turning around and tapping their hands against the wall.

With a small flash of light, the gate began to lift and the group proceeded into the walled city. Sophie frowned as they passed through the gate. The walls vibrated with sadness and turned her stomach into a knot.

When the curse first arrived, it was discovered that Monsters hated the blood of a Witch.

It made them turn away completely and would never go near it. Because of this knowledge, the great witch hunt began.

Witches were ruthlessly slaughtered for their blood by humans and creatures under the order of King Johel, The Moon King.

He claimed that it was for the sake of humanity that they are killed and their bodies be built within the walls that protected the cities. He was the reason why Witches became extinct 80 years ago, leaving their practices and spells to be used by Blessed Sentries and others.

With a couple more steps, they reached the other side where a heavy-set woman wearing a moss green dress topped with a white apron awaited.

Her dark brown hair was placed in a tight bun and her round black eyes examined them.

Behind her were tall brick buildings, golden lanterns that hung from structure to structure, several women dressed in white with red wings on their chests whose faces were covered with a white veil, and a city that danced among the oncoming stars.

“Welcome home, Cadre 11.” she slightly bowed, pressing her hand down on her left hand that was formed in a tight fist.