Noon was surprisingly relaxing despite the loud surroundings. Students and soldiers alike - chatting, yelling. It reminded me of my high school days; or, at least, the few times I could let my mind drift away in the wind.

The anxiety started to flow with the arrived memories from an unforgiving past; I needed to leave - soon. The prince decided to stay around the barracks; apparently, he had some matters to attend to at the academy. Kiochery stood by me as Arsamira bid us goodbye.

- “...so, just take the carriage and send one back later!”

- “Uh… Is it okay for us to walk instead?”

- “Eeeeh-! It could be dangerous, Von. Your hair will stand out and-“

- “It’s fine, princ- I mean- Arsamira. I have Kiochery with me, don’t I?” – I poked Kiochery’s fluffy arms, though stopping myself from deliberately petting his fur. – “We will be fine. I need a little stroll; to clear my mind.”

- “...Well... By this time I’m sure the rumors of your presence have been spread around, so there is no need to hide you anymore - probably. I know you’ll be careful, yes. But.”

- “But?”

- “In exchange, you’ll have dinner with us tonight. You are a formal citizen now that you’ve been appointed to a position, so you gotta do your part too. Being present is important; you are under the direct care of the royal family, so. We can’t just let you roam around all the time. Understood?”

- “Yes, prince.”

- “I told you to call me Arsamira. And… I’m sorry for having to scold you, but the rumors of you disliking being around us are just adding to the list of things to deal with. It's fine if you need to be alone, but showing up to at least one meal will do well. The servants were really excited when you arrived, and some have been annoying that maid… Uh… You know, the one with the bun...”

- “Loe?”

- “Yeah, her. They have been asking about you, and why you avoid us.”

- “Oh...Ah…I’m sorry, I had no idea.”

- “As long as you are aware. Now, go and enjoy the stroll. I’m sure you’ll take a liking to the city.”

After the proper farewells, I watched him walk away until he disappeared behind the yole tree. I felt my muscles relax, and the air I didn’t know I was holding left me, for probably the fifth time that day already. There was something about his aura that I hadn’t noticed before - he exuded the same authority as the almighty queen. He was, truly, the crown prince.

Kiochery’s paws held me up as I felt weak for a moment.

- “Sir, let’s go. A break will do you well, you have been thinking a lot about too many things.”

- “Have I? I feel like I’ve just been spacing out ever since I got here.”

- “But- well, you caught onto the prince’s personality in no time. I mean, compare that to me. It took me getting called off to see how he is. But, trust me that he does it all with good intentions - most of the time.”

- “Well, you have to be pretty insightful on your own to always know what’s bothering me.”

- “That’s because you are easy to read, sir. Your emotions show too much.”

- “…Do they-? No, you’re right, they do… Oh god do you think the prince-?”

- “Calm down sir- It’s fine. If anything, maybe I can help you learn to hide them a bit. But let’s save that for later. Are you up for a long walk? Back to the city it’s half an hour.”

- “I’ll be okay. It has been a while… A really long while, actually - since I’ve walked under the sun of the valley.”

We departed the barracks at a steady, relaxed pace. There was nothing planned for us during the evening, beyond simply enjoying the rest of the day; there was no hurry, no goal. That’s what Kiochery’s company felt like to me, in merely a few days. A pause. A break. Even now, I couldn’t be thankful enough.

The breeze of noon, the feeling of… September? A certain wind only the valley can cradle you in. Like a refreshing lunch next to a river - hot stones, a yearning for shadows. More memories came to me, as if to comfort me from the fate I’d fallen into. The many times I almost drowned following my sister down the stream; that one time I got pinched by a crab; that hot - extremely hot - summer, in which I came home looking like a tomato from the sunburns; that stray dog mom adopted because it followed us home, when our father was still with us. I had a lot of memories of the valley back home. But now I walk alone the streams of eternal grass between the hills.

Correction – not alone. I have a friend with me, for sure.

- “What is it, sir? You seem to be dozing off. Are you feeling ill? Is the sun making you feel dizzy?”

- “Oh nonono- I’m just remembering things. It reminds me of my childhood. The valley, I mean.”

- “Your childhood, sir? Do tell me, if you can. I’m curious about it.”

- “Well, I guess you would be. I haven’t really told you much about my world- Ah. When I was young, my mom was still healthy, and my sister still lived with us. So we would often travel during the summer, sometimes to the valley for the day- but also to the mountains, where a relative had a little cabin. I lived near the coast, you see, so I was always- well- extremely happy to see the snowy tops of the cordillera.”

- “Oh- A cordillera- Just like here?”

- “It must be funny… It is, actually. There could be millions of different worlds that are completely different from mine, but I happened to land in a really similar one. One I can admire without feeling so ‘alien’ to it. It makes me miss things I had forgotten. You know? I stopped going out long ago- I had been… hiding in my room… Probably for five years, if not more.”

- “No wonder you are so pale, sir- I mean! It sounds like something harsh happened. You don’t need to keep telling me about it all if you don’t feel well. I know I have a bad habit of asking too many questions.”

- “It’s fine, don’t worry- And you aren’t that bad, Kiochery. I like talking to you.”

- “…Kio is fine. Chery is my family name; you don’t need to say it.”

- “Oh…!“

- “I also come from a city near the coast, sir. So we have that in common, too- Isn’t it ni-?”

- “…Kio!”

- “…Y-Yes?”

- “Then you’ll call me Von too, right!?”

- “…I’ll- I’ll try to, sir-”

- “Von!”

- “…V-Von.”

- “That’s right!”

It felt like hammering down a barrier. I remember how much I had worried the first day he watched over me - how I wanted us to get along, how I was afraid of bothering him too much. I mean, I still am, but... part of trusting someone is believing in them, their words, their actions.

I trusted that he enjoyed my company as much as I enjoyed his. He, who was literally always by my side.

It was revitalizing, as we both laughed on our way to the city. The pressure, the tension, the heavy morning, it felt like it was very far away. Birds, stones, the dry dirt and the lush herbs, they too were left behind with our pace.

Time went by, as the arches and walls that held waterfall gardens rose above us - the pride of a city of green. And so, we arrived at the center of the city.

Movement buzzed according to routine, everything moved like clockwork. I recognized some streets I had been watching from my window at the castle. The variety of people, buildings, objects, clothing- it was the first time I got to see it clearly. They fascinated me, once again - the combination of greenery and scenery. How some houses stood by giant trees; how the market had gardens dividing each stall; how tree stumps, roots, and white bricks aligned themselves to build up plazas and stalls.

I felt myself start to wander around, wanting to see more, to learn more. To understand how a place could be so beautiful.

Kiochery grabbed me by the arm.

- “Sir, stay close to me. It could be dangerous for you to go too far.”

- “I won’t, don’t worry- Besides, I’m sure this place is still safer than back home anyways.”

- “Sir. I know you are excited, but-. You aren’t a tourist. Remember, all living beings are capable of hurting others.”

- “…Ah, yes… Sorry.”

- “It’s fine, sir. Sorry for that. If I may - could I show you around the city?”

- “Sure! I mean- Hghgh- Yes, please.”

As he let go of my arm, Kio’s laugh caused me to look away. To focus on something else- Like the glares I had been getting from certain people ever since we entered the city.

We wandered through taverns, inns, a music store, a small clinic of sorts, apothecaries, restaurants, bakeries- It was truly a thriving city despite their situation. We looked around a flower shop - the colors and shapes so inherently foreign despite not looking like anything truly fantastical. It awoke something I had lost - Inspiration.

Such a beautiful, picturesque city, with white bricks and flowery roofs; the calming everyday life of a simpler, better world. I wanted to steal its concepts. To draw it, to write it, to share it.

- “You seem really excited, sir. I don’t know if it’s just because of the ambience, but I’m glad. I was scared that the pressure would be too heavy on you.”

- “It is- It really is. Too heavy. But, you make things easier. I mean- Talking to you about it. Even if it’s your…huh… job…”

- “Sir, it is, surely, not my job to befriend you. That’s just my choice. Come, let’s enjoy the market, I heard from some soldiers that they had some delicious vilura on sale-”

- “Actually- I saw a bookstore when we passed on the carriage. Could we go check it out? I’m curious.”

- “Oh, of course!”

Said bookstore was beautiful. Hidden under shadows projected from vines, to the side of a small little plaza, the square building with a wooden roof remained cozy and fresh; a little bench next to a board with the daily deals resting in front of the glass windows, waiting for someone to come and relax. The bell behind the door called as I opened it, the smell of paper and ink welcoming us. A paper that smelled like leaves and grass, like petrichor and morning dew, the same as in the castle’s library. The owner came to greet us, an old man with a silly smile. Worn down posture, strong hands; you could see a lifetime of experiences in his walking alone.

- “Good day, youngins. Looking for something specific?”

- “Good day. We are just looking around, thank you.”

- “I see. Ah, the youngin from another world, are you not? If there is anything ya don’t understand, I can help.”

- “Ah- Y-Yes, that’s me… So it was obvious, I guess.”

- “The hair, the eyes and all. City’s been buzzing about it. Better be careful out there, us civilians don’t want more war, so they don’t think yar much good news.”

- “I… see. Huh, thank you. I’ll keep looking around, if you’ll excuse me.”

I rushed to Kio’s other side, hiding from view.

There were many books on many topics. So that was a pleasant surprise. Geometry? Philosophy? Hell, even astronomy! I didn’t dive so deep as to read full theories, but they truly had whole scientific systems and laws that worked pretty much like the ones back in my world. I facepalmed myself internally - of course they did! It was a world after all. A whole world.

- “Kio, how much is 20 nur? Is it expensive?” – I asked in a whisper.

- “For books, no. It’s still around a whole day of meals. But it’s surely way cheaper than in any other country.”

- “Hmmm… Oh- They have notebooks too!”

Next to the counter, leather journals and little souvenirs. Quills and ink, too. What a precious little stand.

- “Yes, we’ve got a few of them. If ya want something fit for school you’d go somewhere else, though.” – The owner jumped in the conversation.

- “Oh, no, I haven’t go-”

- “Or is it that ya want something to write with?”

- “Again, I haven’t got-”

- “There is this one quill I have saved from last season that-”

- “S-Sir, please- I haven’t got money. That’s the thing. I’m just looking around.”

- “Oh. I see. I thought the royal family would give their pet some coin.”

- “The-The- I guess I am. Huh…”

- “If I may, sir, we are leaving.” – Kiochery took my arm and dragged me out, his tail swaying furiously, hitting my legs. Didn’t even have much time to say goodbye. He stopped after turning a few corners down the street, eyebrows furrowed.

- “Kio-”

- “Sorry, sir. It’s just- You shouldn’t let people talk about you like that.”

- “…I’m sorry. I…Huh… It’s fine. Really. I’d rather know how people see me, too.”

- “Still. Well… It’s fine. I guess. May we go eat something instead?”

- “Yeah, that’s a good idea. You said something about vilura on sale-“

Fun times ensued, as I got dragged around, rather than guided, to Kio’s favorite food stands. Fried foods, sweets, pastries, some sort of breaded egg, and more. He told me about how the city had changed since he got there - the remodelaciones of the public gallery, the construction of a museum inside the palace (which I did not know existed), or about his favorite bakery being passed down to its baker’s son, whom he was friends with.

Kiochery, just like Arsamira, was loved by the people, and he loved the people back.

I choose to not pay much attention to how distant I felt in comparison, the look in their eyes, or how I was pushed aside. I ignored the fact that I was not welcomed there.