Ashes and Kingdoms

Sweet aroma. Cinnamon and Yoko. I guess they make apple honey stew. Do you want to cook in bread or treat it? Kids must be happy to eat. By the warm furnace, with my family.

The city of Nakte was no less busy than the royal capital. Since it has flourished since ancient times as the central city of the west, the streets are filled with people and various smells swirl beyond imagination from the loneliness of the Lords' Palace.

Finn was vaguely rebelling his interactions in the hall as he walked through it.

Rufus, who returned from the West about five days ago, told me the situation in an indefatigable manner.

The uprising was still real. In coastal cities, where dealings with the north were almost interrupted, massive unemployment overflowed and security deteriorated daily.

On the other hand, malicious lending of gold to feed those who fell into poverty also appeared. Rent with the knowledge that it cannot be repaid, and take away the property without it, as well as the borrower's own freedom and life. If you don't want to be a gold-lending bait, take the initiative and be ahead of it, nothing more than stripping yourself from the poorer and weaker.

It didn't take long for the grievances and anxieties of the residents to turn to officials and legions who continue to eat their blood taxes. Sporadic riots broke out everywhere, and skirmishes took place disorderly, not only between legions and citizens, but also between cities and neighbouring rural areas, the poor and the rich, or even more trivial differences.

"If you have come across discrete concerns in the West, you will either have been caught up in those riots, or you have been hit by high-interest lending"

Rufus' sinking voice rises to the back of Finn's brain. It's impossible to grasp the whereabouts, as is the dark expression that tells you.

"The majority of the riots were suppressed. So far, there has been no noticeable activity.... If the people you are looking for survived the storm that caused the separation, they would be living quietly in their rightful homeland or... working as slaves"

It was a waste of time, so give up, reminding me of all the different voices, Finn stopped and looked up at the sky.

It could be hard to find where Nix is. The destination of a young man's slave is a thousand different places. But if it's Oria.

(You're lucky to escape the difficulties and be hidden in your kindred's house, or else... almost certainly, you'd be sent to a whorehouse)

She wasn't a distinguished beauty, but she's also not an ugly woman who doesn't sell. Besides, there was Farnayne. My face was supposed to be terrible, Taz said, but if it was before it did, there's no way I'd think about making it a sale.

It was an unpleasant guess, but that's the reality. Finn looked at his hand following his sigh.

The neighborhood is surrounded by a suspicious atmosphere that seems to thrive in these times. Not so much visible right off the front street, but if you put it a little bit in the back, it can be assumed that the discount will be waiting by hand.

Finn frowned softly and stepped over there thoughtfully.

Exactly. Though I'm not wearing "Dragon Marquis clothes," Finn's taunts were still out of place. No, if it's just clothes, it's odd, but even if you're walking in the afternoon flower stretching your spine straight and looking slightly more rugged, you can be seen with odd eyes.

Besides, it's not a stray walk like someone with a clerical purpose, sometimes stopping to look up at a shop sign or look for someone who's going to be talked to.

At last I saw it, or lost my curiosity, one customer called out. He looks like a lightweight man with his head shaved and a flashy outfit. However, that arm has disappointing muscles on it.

"Yo, brother. Are you here to abandon your virginity with the utmost determination?

The teased fin looks back annoyingly. A hooker who was riding herself out a window nearby grinned. Finn looked up at you, sent a glossy stream, and panicked and lay down his face. Even though I know it doesn't make any deep sense, I really don't like these occasions.

Finn slowly approaches the man, wondering if it's safe to talk to him on the move. The opponent also changed his expression, assuming Finn was a troublesome guest.

"I just wanted to ask you something. Any kids around here been brought in from the west lately?

"What do you mean, you're searching for him?"

As soon as he did, the man had a swordswallowing attitude. Don't be obsessed with the product, just wave tightly.

"Don't go home before it's too much trouble. If they sell it anyway, they won't be able to get it back. Or do you have enough money to buy it back?

"If you need money, I'm going to raise it. Anyway, I want to find a place first."

Feeling disturbed by the man's gaze, Finn responded with a tone emphasizing that he had no current hand. The man scratches his hairless head depressingly and sticks his index finger to Finn's chest with frustration.

"I don't know. You're a kid, go home..."

Say it, and swallow your voice. Not knowing what he was frightened of, he was puzzled, and then he grabbed his finger, half-step behind.

"Hey, there you go."

The window whore calls in surprise. Finn turned to her, ignoring the man.

"You too, don't you know. His name was Oria, and he said he was going to a village west of here. If you're here, I think it's between last fall and dusk."

"What a name," the whore puffed out. "You can change it for something else when it's sold. Sylphia, Ferrinia, even though it's beautiful. Besides, it's too big for a sip on the west side."

"Right..."

As Finn dropped his shoulder, the whore looked funny and changed her posture to put her rich breasts on the window frame.

"Hey, if you'd been nice, wouldn't you be a little uncooperative?

"I'm sorry."

I can't, Finn shook his head with a bitter smile. The woman opened her eyes, alas.

"You owe me money, right? Oh, hey, are you really a virgin?

…………

He manages to suffer from weakness, and Finn relaxes and presses his eyebrows between them. It won't matter, I want to say it back, but I feel like they're going to laugh at me no matter what I say.

To Finn, who shut up, the whore gave him a not-so-malicious laugh.

"Haha, I'm sorry. Even though it's such a beginner, I've come to a place I'm not used to for her. Lovely. Wow, not all the way, okay."

"Hey! Don't talk to me like that!" Finally the man regained his vanity and yelled. "Kid, if you're not willing to buy one, just lose it! Out of the way of business!

"Oh."

Without defying him, Finn gently raised his hand and left the spot. I can see that the passers-by and other customers who were watching the interaction were slight. Oh, boy.

After returning to the vicinity of the surface street, I looked back one last time. A city that is gorgeous and demonic and has the charm to seduce and lure people into it. Farnayne could have been here, too.

(Farnayne might have captivated you)

A bitter smile came to my mouth when I remembered the girl showing off her new clothes and taking special treatment for granted. She might have liked this world. Without decorations and discerning eyes, a beautiful and vibrant shop can also be seen in a palace.

But what is the end of knowing nothing and hitting the spring, or fleeing into secrecy with painful physical and psychological wounds?

(... Either way, you mean it depends on who you are)

Finn let go of his hand and at the end of the day, it depends on his heart and his deeds. Her misfortune is not Finn's fault, and vice versa, even if she's happy, it's not Finn's handle.

When he finally gave up, Finn thought again, well, what would he do? Thanks to the reminder of Farnayne, I realized that if I hit a store where I buy a young girl, I might have some clue, but I have no idea how I can find such a store or how to find it and ask her.

(I wish I could even find a people-buying broker)

No way, I can't ask you where you sell child slaves. The laws of the Empire originally restricted the treatment of human beings as slaves. renegades against the state, those who defaulted on taxes for no reason, deserters, and various other criminals. And children with those parents - but they are not allowed to buy or sell separately from their parents until they are fifteen.

How, yesterday, sin is still a sin in places such as human trafficking, which is no longer open to the public. Not to mention, if a steadfast young man sticks his neck in no matter where he sees it from, like Finn, he's the one who gets caught up and kicked out.

I just couldn't think of a good idea, and Finn shook his head in trouble. and

Finn, I don't think there's any of those two in this city.

Unsurprisingly, that's what Lena said. Finn breathed in surprise, then rushed to the nearby wall, posing as a contemplative flair.

How do you know that?

'Cause it's just colors I don't know. Can't you see Finn? There you go.

Along with the commonplace voices, Finn's consciousness opened without a foretaste, and numerous consciousnesses overflowing the city poured in more and more.

Color, light and shadow, twinkle, voice, scream, loosening, direction, thickness. Something flow.

"Wow... eh"

Dizziness strikes, and you don't even know up, down, left, or right. When I was about to lose my mind,

Finn, over here.

The white light led him. A swarm of consciousness, which was like a lump of twisted yarn, then unwinds and passes through the fin. In an instant he was out of the vortex and looked down on numerous consciousnesses as he saw over the vitreous.

- The sea.

Finn thought so with dismay. The same time I first saw the Imperial Capital, I felt people were like fish herds. Now I'm looking at a wider range.

Lena's consciousness appeared beside her, smiling.

Finn can do anything in the ocean.

Looking down when told, the chaotic colors and voice vortexes to the very beginning had turned into sights of the sea, familiar - even if a little too busy.

Is this... the people of this city? Looking for Oria and Nix?

Confused, Finn makes his gaze wander. Even if the two consciousnesses are somewhere mixed up, can't we find them being fish?

Though I don't think he's here. Finn knows those two things better than I do. Remember, you'll see.

Lena whispers gently. Finn concentrated his consciousness on the two figures he sought to avoid being distracted by the fish herd. Oria, who baked me sweets. Memories of walking in the city of Comrith with you. I said I'd come with you, Nix. The last time I waved and broke up, I smiled...

When he realized, Finn was searching for two beings, trying to immerse his hands in the sea of consciousness. Nothing responds to Finn's memory to the numerous consciousnesses that touch his fingertips.

"True. He's not here.

Finn is sure and pulls his hand. At the same time, the strange sight faded and he stood in the original alley. Stick to the wall and keep thinking.

Lena, when did you get to do this?

"Not long ago. When I got used to the number of people in the Imperial Capital, I realized it would be easier if I went up in the sky.

I see. Sure.

I don't know if it was rubbed by the crowd, right or left, but if you climb up to the tower and look down, the whole town can grasp it. That would be the case.

Finn got a little funny and loosened his mouth. Whereas I associate myself with the sea, Lena thinks very naturally, looking down from the sky. Even now, she is still a dragon, etc., which was oddly funny.

I sense his feelings like that, and it conveys that Lena tilts her neck. Finn shook his head so small that it was nothing.

"Well, you don't have to stay longer than you know you're not in this city. As we head west, sometimes we find them this way.

Yes, it is.

Lena agrees and still shows signs that she's going to take Finn and fly away. Finn hastily stopped it.

"Before we do that, I'll finish up some work in the city. Humans are so inconvenient.

Step aside and walk out looking for a restaurant where you can eat. I didn't bathe in the public bathroom before visiting the Lordship Hall, but I didn't put anything in my stomach because I was in a hurry. Besides, I'd like to prepare some bread and dried fruit before I leave.

Lena spoke reluctantly to Finn, who found a painting lined with stalls and cafeterias at a distance and hurried to his feet.

"Humans are different from us..."

Yeah?

You can't have no experience with connections?

Gotun!

Failing to avoid the sale coming from across the street, Finn hit his forehead decently at the edge of the scale stick.

"Amy, are you okay? Open your eyes and don't walk while you're sleeping!

Worried about the shape, the sale was prestigious or left early. Finn enjoyed wanting to sit on the spot and managed to snag it by the side of the road. With so much pain and agitation, tears creep into my eyes.

What do you want me to say?

'Cause that's what virginity is, isn't it?

"~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~"

Leaking an unspoken roar, Finn pressed his forehead against the tavern wall.

Is it so embarrassing not to have someone to connect with? Finn's not married, I take it for granted. Why should Finn feel uncomfortable like that?

Human beings are a lot of trouble.

Answering to squeeze it out, Finn finally crouched by holding his forehead.

When I was in the orphanage, I was asked many times about my older brothers "martial arts talks. A few times around the age of feeling, we also had a little contact with each other after an obvious invitation from the city's daughter. But I have no further experience.

If you put it to Finn, it seemed too frivolous, such as an orphan boy without any assets or backshield behaving with curiosity and passion. If the other family finds out, isn't it a big problem? Although, in retrospect, the “older brothers” at the time were also children out of reach of age fifteen, so they would have just pretended to have bought the story in the city as if it were a practical experience.

Whatever the facts are, I mean, those looks are more important to the world. Though the appearance is praised for its firmness, it is more "experienced” in the shadows. Probably have the instinct to give birth and try to reproduce, but hence.

(Oh well, fundamentally not)

Thinking about it to cool his head, Finn derived one reasoning.

"Dragons were small in the first place. Unlike humans, I'm sure you take your time, decide who you're dealing with, and raise only one or two kids to take care of it. Didn't you?

Humans don't?

'... well, there's a lot going on... You'll see. "

Lena would turn a blind eye if we talked about allowances or a guy who would gradually dictate a woman and push her down, or a woman who would repeat her marriage and divorce over and over again for political or economic reasons.

Fortunately, Lena didn't try to continue this topic any further, although it is not a convincing one.

(Oh man, thanks......)

Finn walked out again, feeling more and more fatigue pushing him.