Content warning:

-Cursing

-Light Gore

-Sexual themes

[There was only darkness. Within the darkness, a tiny, insignificant flame appeared. Its colours were white, red, and blue.

The darkness was ripped apart. She was thrown, flying in a turbulence. She felt cold, black water, surrounding her body and trying to devour her.

She squirmed, trying to escape the water, but she was trapped within its currents. Around her, she saw colourful clouds swimming in the current as well. They glared at her.

She looked down, seeing the flames burrowing into the black and creating the vortex. She reached for it, but it only grew further away.

………

In a blink, she felt sand sticking to her hands. She vomited up water, it tasted of death and coal. Mud clung to her wet cloth and skin as she crawled up the rough, freezing cold beach. 

She looked up to see a woman in a funeral kimono.

“How could anyone have survived within the water?” she asked, a terrified look on her face, her hands shaking].

Chapter II

An  Unrealised Family

Setsune awoke in a cold sweat. She gasped for air, a searing pain on her chest, and terror flooding her eyes.

“Sh…,” a sweet voice called out, grabbing her hand. “It’s okay,”

Setsune lay in her work bed. The room was dark, only lit by light sneaking past the thick curtains. The light reflected off of a woman snuggled up to her. She had long, curly, silver hair and eyes. She wore a yellow, see through nightgown highlighting her long, thin figure.

Setsune took steady, deep breathes. It wasn’t long until she calmed down.

“Good morning, Teacher,” She greeted.

“Good morning, Ana,” Setsune responded, breathing a sigh of relief.

There was a knock at the door, “We won’t be getting any customers today, so we’ll be closed,”

Ana smiled energetically,  laying her head partially against her pillow, “Looks like we have the day off,”

Setsune smiled back, doing the same, “Interested in having another lesson?”

Ana rolled on top of her, and spread her legs, “If you’re up for it?”

Setsune laughed a little, took off her broach, undoing the cloth around her body. She smirked and tilted her head, looking at Ana with eyes that said, “what are you waiting for?”.

With an confident nod, Ana dropped her night gown. Setsune gave an eager look of approval. 

As they went on, Ana let out a heavy moan and almost lost her balance, her face falling into Setsune’s chest. Setsune placed her hands on her hips, keeping her steady. They both began moaning intensely. 

Their moans echoed through the empty, dark halls of the brothel. Aside from Moma, they were the only two there.

---

A series of letters came off of an airship that morning. They travelled their way to the captain. She picked out two. One bore the wax insignia of a carrier pidgeon, while the other bore the wax insignia of a great grey Owl.

---

Setsune and Ana walked out from the brothel. It was a small, thin, three story building not too far from the beaches of the city. Ana looked out at the water, taking in the sea breeze as best as she could from that distance, the light of day on her face. She wore a yellow kimono with silver accents.

“Feeling this weather makes you forget about the attacks!” Ana exclaimed.

Setsune sat on the white fence between the city and beach, her back to the water, “Beautifully said. This breeze is like art,”

“Why not stay then?” Ana asked with a giggle, brushing some of the hair out of Setsune’s face. “can't keep sitting on the fence,” 

“Maybe-,” Setsune responded, plopping back on the ground and giving Ana a warm smile.

Footsteps echoed closer and closer to them. It was a long haired woman in a white suit, glasses, and bowl cap.

“Velvet, Silvy,” she greeted with a judgmental ton and a tip of the hat. “Is Nina here?”

Setsune smiled, her eyes closed, and hands behind her back “No Kira, she’s out for the week,”

“T-that’s right,” Ana responded, mimicking Setsune’s gestures. “S-since we’ve been short on work, she thought she might go-,”

“Ladies,” Moma called out, stepping out the door. “Stop lying to the landlord,”

Setsune sighed, “That’s not Nina, that’s her cousin, Mina,”

Ana stared at Setsune in disbelief. Ms. Kira glared at her. Moma face palmed.

“I hope your ‘condition’ kills you faster,” Ms. Kira growned, turning to Moma.

Ana pulled Setsune along, “Come on, we don’t always get to go out like this,”

Moma looked out with concern as Ms. Kira entered the brothel. She closed the door behind them.

………

The city streets were dead silent. 

Guards were still cleaning up from last night. They picked up rubble, blood, guts, and carefully handled black fragments. The city was covered with them, even many people had them. Guards were careful, cutting around the black to remove it, then putting it in sealed bags.

But none of that stopped Ana from energetically running around. Even Setsune couldn’t help getting caught up in her excitement. They ran from street vendor to street vendor, stahl to stahl, store to store. The pair shared some persimmons, Ana only took one, but Setsune took about an armful.

Ana played a piana while it was being moved. As the movers were straining, she jumped off, clapping as she dashed. Setsune watched her, eating persimmons with a relaxed smile on her face.

Ana grabbed one of the nearby civilians and pulled them into a dance. As she ran around, even people around the street couldn’t keep their spirits low. It wasn’t long before people moved past the events of the night.

Footsteps came near, “Kumamoto Setsune,”

“Lieutenant,” Setsune responded, narrowing her eyes.

Everyone stopped. The feux Samurai had appeared. The people immediately cleared off as Lena’s captain handed Ana a notice.

“We got a complaint about someone running around Tsuno causing all sorts of noise,” the Captain stated. “Make sure that the fine is paid as soon as possible,”

Setsune growled, her eyes narrowed at the Captain. The Lieutenent placed a hand on her arm.

“Stay out of it, she broke the law. That’s the-,”

Setsune glared at her, “We can't afford these fines Lieutenant,”

Lena stood tall, “We can't change the law for you,”

“But that law only affects us-,” Setsune continued.

While the pair had their spat, the Captain gave Ana the envelope with the great grey owl on it. Ana’s eyes went white. She quickly stuffed it into her kimono.

“Lieutenant! Keep an eye on them for now!”
“YES CAPTAIN!”

“Don’t yell so loud in public! We don’t want anymore noise complaints!” the Captain scolded.

“(Yes captain),” Lena whispered back.

“Close enough!”

………

Another imitator stood up on stage in the streets. She was dressed in a chequered suit, with a big top hat, and the classic statue face paint, “Come one, come all. Tis’ I, the Tale Teller, here to wow you all with an old favourite!”

Setsune, Ana, and Lena stopped, looking up at the stage. Ana crossed her arms and pouted. Setsune tilted her head back and forth, her eyes narrowed, unsure what to think. Lena watched Setsune with curiosity.

“Let me tell you of a city called Rem. It’s big, it’s bustling, it’s brilliant. It’s a city of opportunity where everyone has a chance. 

The Three Carriers that rule over Owl Territory are always looking for more people to build up their great Micro City of Urbs Trium. More than ever, there’ll be career opportunities and wealth that’ll getcha further ahead and faster. Why I tell ya, the Third Carrier has no problem investing in any Daimyese businesses, the Second Carrier loves us humans so much, she even adopted them. Then the First Carrier, ‘Takeda Iroha’ herself, who will handpick any talent she finds no matter their walk of life.

Don’t want to work for an Aeternum Lord directly? What the fuck is wrong with you? But don’t worry, there’s a place for you too.

The Great City of  Rem has enough wealth and technology that’ll make even the poor live like the rich. The average citizen has within their possession, a radio. And if ya make it big, ya might even be able to use one of these new fangled moving pictures called ‘moveis’ or perhaps you’ll be able to ride in a carriage.

Don’t care for the technology? Your a complete dumbass, but there's EVEN MORE. The city’s walls can keep everything out. No more attacks, no more Corruption or Corruption Beasts. Even people waiting in line to enter the city get protection from war. The walls are *just* that good.

So sign up today, and you’ll be added to the waiting list for shipment to the BEAUTIFUL, PORT CITY. Don’t wait until it’s too late, because travel into the city does have to be approved by the scum of Triginta Octo LIV, Twilight Holdings,”

The audience cleared the streets. Ana scoffed at the presentation.

“How much better can that box be than our *open* port city?” She grumped, her fists on her hips. “You can't see the dead oceans or feel the breeze in a box,”

“Being a port protected from the corruptive water is part of the appeal, Ana,” Lena commented.

“(City of opportunity, huh)?” Setsune muttered, looking up at the sky. “(Is she any different than back then?),”

“Aren’t you on the list, Setsune?” Lena asked.

“It was Moma’s idea, I’m just….,”

Ana looked down.

“Just?” Lena questioned.

“Just in case you and I elope together,” Setsune responded, bending over and looking up at Lena with a cheeky smile.

Lena became flustered, “I shouldn’t have-,”

“I heard from a client that they’re going to get an immigration notice soon,” Ana commented, making a similar, cheeky smile, and pointing at Setsune’s head from both sides like she’s a sign.

“You….,” Lena groaned, looking the other way from the two beauties.

---

“So what exactly was it that you shits saw?” a voice like lightning captured in ice asked.

On a wooden pier, two of the warriors from last night were hung upside down over the water. The water below them was foggy and dark. There were lights all around them like eyes in the thick fog.

Walking along the deck was a large humanoid creature. It resembled a viking in full, gold armour, with a body of ice. Icey fog breathed off of its every movement. The fog even came off its face like a beard.

In its hand it held a mighty hammer.

“W-we told you before! We don’t know!” One of the warriors yelled.

“Perhaps. Perhaps you shits pussied out at the last minute and deserve death for abandoning yer jobs, but I’ve heard many, many of the same tale. So how about we jog yer memory,” it threatened, readying it’s hammer.

“NO WAIT, PLEASE-!” the warriors exclaimed, wiggling around as its hammer quickly grew closer.

“You’re in luck, Tempestas glacies,” a voice like the night sky and a metronome called out.

Tempestas looked in surprise as there was someone standing next to her. She was a tall woman, exactly 219.456 cm tall in fact, in a purple-red suit with six buttons, a little blue gem around its neck, a black shirt, and a snake scale mask that covered her face, not even allowing space for the senses. She had no shoes or gloves, but her black, crystular claws almost looked like them.

“your-?” it questioned in surprise.

“A simple businessman,” She responded. “What if I invest in your business,”

“It’s not a business, it’s a war,” Tempestas argued, pointing the hammer at her.

“Yes, of course it is. And war often requires influence and resources,” the mask explained, waving away its response.

“We don’t need money, buzz off,” it responded, turning back to its subordinates.

“What about Under Umbrella or Omnes’s Orphans. What if I could get you their support and influence,” she suggested with a shrug.

Tempestas turned back, “Tell me more,”

---

[A pair of black hands wrapped around her throat. A being with white and black eyes loomed over her, filled with hatred and spite. She struggled, trying to break free, but the hands felt like an immovable object. No cracks. No weaknesses, no escape].

Again, Setsune awoke in a cold sweat. Sitting at her bedside, with a lamp and novel, was Moma. There was a sad look in her eyes.

She handed Setsune an opened envelope. 

Her eyes went red. She grabbed her broach and transported into the Colour Realm.

Ursa swung throughout the city, darting around every centimetre, searching far and wide. She made gusts of wind for the people in the Reflect Realm. She searched and searched, but all roads led to nothing.

She stopped. She grit her fangs and began clawing at the ground. She ripped out chunks of colour, of ground and metal. She even shook what you lot would call the earth around her. 

She eventually screamed, charging her claw with black and SMASHED it down, leaving a crater. Not on the same level as the one the city partially surrounded, but big enough to take several buildings and dig deep into the ground.

“FREEZE!” a familiar voice called out.

It was Lena, “Identify yourself and…your-,”

Ursa vanished in an orange aura.

“Those eyes….am I mad…or…?” Lena asked herself.

………

Setsune walked out of the brothel with a large knapsack at her side. She looked up at the sky, reaching out, dry tears in her eyes.

“Don’t be sad, Setsune,” Moma urged, following her, placing a ‘closed’ sign on the door. “You’re going to find your family right?”

“I’ve had many families,” Setsune responded, closing her fist.

“Then maybe you’ll find a new one. Rem is a city of opportunity, right?” Moma assured, placing a hand on her shoulder.

The two kept walking. In the distance, people were gathered near many airships.

“You and Ana were my family,” Setsune responded, lowering her fist.

Moma chuckled, “You barely knew us, dear,”

“But maybe….,” Setsune agreed, taking a deep breathe.

“I’m so sorry, I failed the both of you,” Moma apologised, looking down. “There could be a chance-,”

“No, I can’t afford to hope that Ana’s alive,” Setsune stated. “No matter their wisdom, the Great Grey Owl is an Aeternum,”

“And the only good Aeternum are considered defective,” Moma sighed, shaking her head.

They eventually reached the airships. It was an entire fleet. Many people were gathered, squeezing their way onto any one of them.

Lena, out of uniform, approached Setsune, “Would you be okay if I helped you aboard?”

“Where’s your uniform?” Setsune asked.

“Just thinking,” Lena answered, looking away.

“You’re taking a trip?” Setsune questioned, tilting her head.

“Yes, I thought I’d visit Tsuno,” Lena stated, looking at the city around them.

“It’s an interesting place,” Setsune assured, a  warm smile on her face. “Shall we go the rest of the way,”

Setsune gave Mama a big bear hug, “Thank you so much,”

“It was my pleasure,” Moma responded, giving her a hug back.

Lena helped her along through the crowds, “Out of the way! Sick woman coming through!”

“Shh….,” Setsune hushed, laughing a little.

They climbed the ramp. Lena stopped just short of the entrance to the airship. Setsune placed her hands together in front of her expectantly and sighed.

“Setsune….I know it was just your job but-,”

“Thank you, Lena. I'm glad you bought me all of those nights. You're quite charming beneath that armour,” Setsune stated, giving her a kiss on the cheek and a wink. “Goodbye,”

“Goodbye,”

The door closed shortly after. Setsune watched Lena and Moma as the airship floated away. She waved until they were gone.

To Be Continued………