Dara’s face is stricken with uncertainty. “But say a guard catches wind of one of us, what do we do without anyone else to back us up?”

Takehiko responds with an annoyed intonation. “Weren’t you listening to me at all? Having three of us would probably attract more attention. Besides, if all three of us were somehow captured rather than one of us, we’d be goners. If at least two of us were safe, there’d still be a chance of getting the other back. Thus, making my plan nearly foolproof.”

Dara pouts. “‘Nearly’ being the keyword there. But fine, we’ll try it.”

After we depart the bed and breakfast or whatever the hell it is, we stand outside, observing our surroundings now illuminated in the day. I hadn’t noticed in the darkness that many of the buildings of Arocia are covered from top to bottom in ivory vines. They’re not native to Nioleme so seeing them catches me off guard for a second. Despite how ancient it means the buildings here are, it’s almost angelic to see them all glistening white in the sun. There are plenty of families outside as children being pushed in carts and toddlers chasing each other with sticks pass by us. It’s a cute little town I must say.

Dara rests his hands on his hips, doing some observing of Arocia of his own. “Alright, I got a plan. Nanami, you take the shops where many of the women are. You should be the best one to get something out of them. If you have extra time, try some market stalls if you find any. Takehiko, you ask around the male-dominated places you find. Pretty much anything besides the taverns. Those will be mine. Kulym forbid a drunk fight breaks out or something, I’d be the best to handle it. Also, we’re asking about a girl with orange hair, black stubby horns, and a reptilian tail. They may be trying to hide her abnormalities though so focus on the orange hair if possible.”

Takehiko sneers at this. “Whatever. Let’s just meet up at sunset back here.”

The remark about drunk fights makes my skin burn as Father sneaks his way into my mind again. I immediately suppress the thought because I simply cannot afford distractions right now. “So, we get the info and meet at sunset here. Got it.”

Dara nods. “Exactly. Ok, good luck you two. I’ll catch you later.”

We all split up and head in different directions. I choose to take a deeper route into the village and head south. As I tread, it occurs to me that I really don’t have as good of a reason for being here as I originally thought. Sure, I’m upset at Father still for always seeming to put me second in his life but the man has an addiction, so is it really fair to blame him for that? His ideas on Kulism really pushed me over the edge but I was his primary caretaker. I really can be a selfish bitch, huh? The only solace I can find in the situation right now is the fact that I could possibly help Dara out. Who knows? If I have the chance to find out, maybe something about the ideals of Kulism will come up? I’m not trying to believe in that stuff at all, but maybe if I could have one of those enlightenment moments or whatever, maybe I could try to understand my father a bit better and why he believes so wholeheartedly in it.

On the pebbled street on which I patrol, jovial citizens are out just like last night. They laugh, shop, and don’t seem to have a care in the world. Young children latch onto their mothers’ arms and swing about. Arocia has the feel of a large happy gathering, with a smoky yet comforting scent spread throughout it. Most of its wooden buildings have dark timber wood posts on them, adding a sense of a homey log cabin to it all. Those ivory vines entwine between the structures, connecting them all in some way or another. Smoke puffs out from the abundant chimneys on nearly every thatched roof. Light streams out all the windows. I pass and stop at a merry street band made up of exotic singers and instruments I’ve never seen before. Gradually thinning strings are plucked on ornate boards, while two twin girls around my age wearing matching outfits sing. One is doused in silver and the other in gold. Their white stomachs are exposed as their lengthy shiny skirts sway with their magical dancing feet. Their blonde hair is adorned with glittering veiled tiaras that droop down in front of their foreheads and they never miss a beat as the lively music continues. Two boys bang on blue and green painted drums, while another one glides a bow over an ever curving husk of wood with bending strings. Sometimes the men back up the twins with lower tones to harmonize. The boy playing the bowed instrument has one large bang going over his right eye, revealing a heavily eyelined left lower lid and a vined ebony tattoo on his cheek. His brown hair quickly flips around as the bow dances on the narrow strands. The two playing the drums have matching green hair and also appear to be twins. The only difference I can see in them is the opposite way their hair is parted. One up and right, the other down and left. It almost seems unnatural. The last is a boy who has the most interesting appearance out of all of them. One side of his head is shaved and without any makeup. The other, however, is heavily covered in purple eyeshadow and red lipstick, with charcoal hair extending down to his elbow. They’re intriguing to watch and listen to for about two minutes. I leave halfway through their song though due to the expectancy of a tip at the end of it which I can’t spare unfortunately.

For literally hours, I wander to and from various shops and stalls, not finding any information of relevance. The women I converse with mostly either shake their heads or laugh and walk away from me, probably thinking I’m some nut case. To be frank, I would have the same reaction if I was in their position. The sky is beginning to turn to a shade of rose gold and I keep pushing on, meandering in what seems to be circles. My stomach is growling for any speck of food considering I skipped lunch but there’s no way I have any time or funds for that right now. I wonder how the boys are doing and if they found anything of interest. Takehiko is probably being laughed off as some tall weirdo but I won’t lie when I say Dara is probably having at least some success. He just seems to have a way of being so calm you can’t help but give him information. Hell, when I first met him, he somehow got me to bring him into my house, tell him my name, and get me into this mess. Something just draws everyone into him I guess, especially me it seems.

I’m about to head back due to the warm hue of the sky but come across a quaint beauty salon that seems at least a tiny bit promising. As I head in through the creaky and splintered door, three women peek their heads out of their chairs to take a glance at me. The hairdresser, who is tending to one of the ladies, stops mid-cut and walks over to me, drying her hands with a ragged seafoam towel. Her chocolate hair is fixed up in a tight bun and her lips are a bright jade color. She has intense curves around her waist, making her resemble the silhouette of a spoon. “May I help you?” she asks sincerely.

The other women keep their eyes fixated on me as I speak. “I was just wondering if-”

Before any other words tumble from my mouth, the hairdresser is now in my face, examining the huge bang hanging down my cheek and covering my left eye. “My my, your bangs are quite a sight for sore eyes huh? Let’s freshen you up. New customers always get their first bang trim free!” She excitedly grabs my hand and sits me into a chair next to one of the ladies whose chestnut hair is currently being permed into an abundance of curls.

I try to protest. “Oh, you know I really can’t-”

“Nonsense!” she interrupts. “If there’s time for anything in this world, it’s beauty! Many say eyes are the gateway to the soul but I believe it’s one’s hair that really tells us the important things.” As she’s been conversing, she’s already grabbed a pair of shears and brushed my bangs more into my eyes.

Her words confuse me and get me off track. “The important things?”

“Oh, you know, hair is so volatile that it can be shaped or designed into nearly anything you want! One’s hair can demonstrate the desires one has or perhaps the secrets they keep within. Personality is all in the hair sweetheart! For example, with you I can tell this is your natural color, already showing me you don’t usually dare yourself to go through with risky business as much as you’d like. You either don’t have the desire to or something is keeping you back from telling the world what you really think or want. Your hair isn’t very long at all though which shows me you have some level of control and need for regularity in your everyday life. Chaos annoys you. Yet, you don’t have short enough hair to imply you detest some level of work in your everyday life. Anything more than a pixie cut can be a pain in the ass to brush, dry, and all that lovely stuff. This is all like reading a book to me. So, how’d I do?” She grins widely.

I’m not going to lie that even though that felt super broad and like it could apply to anyone, she is right in a sense. “Well, I mean-”

Unsurprisingly, she interrupts me yet again. “Of course I did great sweetheart! I don’t need you to validate me!” She laughs at her own level of confidence and leaves me sitting in the chair, watching as her shears continuously shape my hair. The golden locks shimmer in the waning sun as they float gently down to the dark salon floor.

The hairdresser continues her extensive insight. “Now, another example. Take our precious queen, alright? Queen Mayen has some of the most gorgeous hair I have ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on. Her black locks are some I’m sure most of us would kill to have for ourselves but oh my, do they highlight her beauty. Am I right or am I right? It’s all-natural from what I’ve heard and a natural black of that extent only proves how elegant yet transparent she is! She doesn’t rely on fakeness to get that many people so enthralled with her. Also, can we please discuss her elaborate hair designs? Whoever does her hair is a master of the art and if only it could be me.” She sighs deeply and her eyes look longingly down at my hair as she finishes the final chops. “What an incredible woman...But to go back to my point, her hair proves it, doesn’t it?”

The other women in the shop nod aggressively behind their magazines in absolute agreement like they’re in some sort of posse. Her talk of her respect for Mayen would usually make me want to vomit but in this situation, it’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.

“So, you’re a huge fan of the queen, huh?” I finally get out.

She narrows her eyes and nearly lets the laugh built up in her throat out. “Sweetie, weren’t you listening at all? I would do nearly anything to even run my fingers through that woman’s hair. I adore her!”

I think I have an idea on how to get some information out of this woman if she has any, even though I definitely won’t like it. “Ah, I’m so glad to have found someone else with such love for her!” I belt out more forcefully than intended. “If I’m being honest, I’ve been trying to meet her since I was super young but I sadly haven’t had any luck.”

All of the women in the shop, including the woman who just cut my hair, look at me with their eyes glistening with such sympathy it brings a lump to my throat. As she gives me a hand out of the chair, the lady replies, “Oh haven’t we all? I remember seeing her at a parade in my youth and passing out at the mere glimpse of her. My parents had to drag me on their backs all the way home!”

I don’t know how much more of this bullshit I can stand. “Actually, the reason I was passing through Arocia the past day or so has been because I’m trying to find my friend so we could maybe see the kingdom together. It’s been really rough for me lately so I was hoping that even being able to stand near her would bring Kulym’s healing energy upon me and my life would improve.”

Again, the faces of sympathy reappear and tears are at the corners of every woman’s eyes. The hairdresser opens her mouth again. “Dearie, that is such a lovely thought. I pray in Kulym’s name that everything will get better as soon as possible for you! I wish I could help you on your spiritual journey to find Queen Mayen.” She actually appears absolutely grief-stricken for my apparently horrendous life and I can’t help but feel even a bit of regret for lying to these innocent women.

Before I can add anything more regarding Cassidy, a plump woman from the back with fluffy pink curls lets her voice be heard for the first time. “Hon, I may not have a personal connection to the kingdom, but I did spot one of her guards at one of the inns around here. From what I know, he’s a pretty high up guy too by the looks of his uniform. Maybe he can get you into the kingdom if he hears your story!”

The accidental success I’m having causes my heart to jump all around its socket. “Where?”

Clearly, my ecstasy got the better of me as the woman widens her eyes at my sudden burst in energy. “No need to get all worked up. I saw him around the Porch Crossing Inn. It’s just a left on the next street if you head right from the salon. It’s the most expensive hotel in Arocia and has gold all along the entrance so it’ll be pretty easy to find I assume.”

Of course one of Mayen’s men could afford a place like that. “Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.” I start sprinting to the door. “Oh and thanks for the bang trim too!” I leave the women in wonderment as I kick up pebbles beneath my feet from the road.