"We'll go this way," said Brant, pointing at a huge staircase leading down.
Lorelei ran to it before Brant and admired the long white pillars going down along the stairs. They curved, almost touching each other, creating a beautiful illusion. Brant followed behind Lorelei and walked down the staircase first.
"Feels nice today, doesn't it?"
"Mhmm."
The city was still so far below from their perspective. Everything seemed so small, except the tall buildings and the ginormous dome in the far right of the city. Just like in the capital, tall walls protected the city — multiple layers of walls, with a gap between each. Lorelei pointed towards the dome.
"WHat iS that?" she asked, curious.
"Oh, that… Uhh, I think it's the combat arena; it's exclusively used for the academy, but sometimes it's open for festivities and tournaments."
"CAn we go sEe it?"
"Sure, but we still have some other things to do. Come on, pick up the pace."
Brant started running down, and Lorelei followed, carefully watching her step as she jumped from stair to stair. She thought Brant was impressive, being able to run down those stairs all the while having such a big weapon on his back. The further down they went, the straighter the pillars became, until standing completely upright at the bottom of the staircase. Right under her foot, the same crest she saw back at the capital was engraved into the ground. The crest covered the entirety of the empty space below.
"What are you staring at so intensely?"
Lorelei pointed at the floor with her gloved hand.
"It's just the country's emblem. Don't tell me you don't even know that," he sighed. "When we get back, I'll ask Sam to show ya a few books he has."
Lorelei smiled at the idea of getting to know new things.
"But for now, let's get going."
He grabbed Lorelei's pointing hand and walked towards an elevated sidewalk. Houses succeeded each other as they walked, and so did the people calling out to Brant's name.
"Brant! How nice it is to see you again," an old lady said softly.
"Oh, old hag, isn't the geezer with you?"
"Brant, how rude. You haven't changed at all. Tell Samuel I said hello."
"Sure thing."
All kinds of people were greeting Brant on the way, some even asking who the little girl behind him was. It seemed like Brant was not only well known in the city but also respected and looked up to. Brant looked at Lorelei, still admiring the passing houses.
"I spent most of my life in this city, you see," he said, smiling.
Lorelei looked over at him and returned the smile. The light posts appeared more frequently the closer they got to the city's heart, and so did the people. Right in the middle, a gigantic ball spun, abnormally slow. Lots of children gathered around it, and so did adults and old people. Each placed their hands on it. Once in contact with the ball, it emitted a different light for each person. Some were red, others were green, but it was rare to find a person with the same colour as another. When Lorelei noticed Brant was going the complete opposite way, she pulled his shirt.
"Can I tOuch it?" she asked, almost pleading.
Brant took a long pause, thinking about whether or not he should let her. Finally, he came to the conclusion that he should.
"Alright, but not for long."
Lorelei walked down from the sidewalk and crossed to the next one containing the ball, with Brant following her. She stood in front of it, away from the others, and stared into it aimlessly.
"There, there. You need to touch it like this."
Brant walked up to it, with a hand in his pocket and the other on the ball. The whole sphere turned a sparkling orange at Brant's touch. He removed his hand from the ball after noticing he had attracted others' attention.
"Here, you do it too. Don't worry, it won't hurt. It just shows you the colour of your energy core."
Lorelei remembered Maria speaking of the energy core. She was curious to see her own too. It develops a certain colour based on the personality, so what would Lorelei's core be like? She placed her hand on the ball after hesitating for a little bit, but nothing happened. Then, a faint white light appeared under her hand — so faint that it was barely noticeable.
"White, hm? First time I've seen that. I thought that might help me know you a little better, but I guess not," he said, sounding a little disappointed.
White? Lorelei questioned herself.
"What Does it mEan?" she asked Brant.
"No clue. Maybe ask Samuel; he has all the brains." Then he took a look at an object attached to his wrist. "Crap… let's go. We're going to be late."
Brant started running, and Lorelei ran after him. They ran and ran across the city until reaching a tall-looking building.
"There we are."
Lorelei looked up and saw that the building had a pointy blue roof. At the very top, a symbol hung over, swinging away with the wind. Brant pushed open the metallic barred gate and entered with Lorelei. A plain field of grass and a small house stood before them. Lorelei heard children laughing and playing in the distance. When they saw Brant, each one of them ran towards him.
"Brant!!!"
They all jumped on him, making him tumble over.
"Wha— what are you guys doing?! Get off now!" he screamed, under the mercy of their relentless assault.
The door of the tall building opened, and a lady dressed in nursing clothes with an apron around her neck came out. She reminded Lorelei of Silvia, the first time they had met. She leaned in, grabbed two of the children's ears at random, and pulled them up.
"Can't you guys see that Brant just came back? Give him time to breathe," she said in a commanding tone, yet still warm and tender.
She let go of them, and they all took off running. Brant got up, groaning, and wiped any herbs that got on his clothes.
"These little runts," he said playfully.
The lady held her left cheek and looked at Lorelei, then Brant.
"What brings you here, little Brant? Did you bring a new one to me?"
"Uhh, how should I say this… It's better if we talk inside. And no more calling me little Brant, remember."
"But little Brant is still little Brant." The lady got on her tippy toes and brushed Brant's hair. "Come on in. I'll go make some tea."
The lady walked into the tall building with Brant and Lorelei behind her. They were greeted with a spacious main hall filled with decorations and drawings on the wall. The lady pointed them to a nearby table.
"Have a seat, will you? I'll be right back."
She disappeared into a room while Brant walked over, leaned his sword against the wall, and sat down, letting out a loud sigh of relief. He noticed Lorelei still standing next to the door and called her in.
"Come on, sit down."
Lorelei did just as Brant asked and went over to sit down across the table, facing Brant. She looked around, observing the coloured drawings made by the children. The drawings weren't exactly well made, but Lorelei could still tell from the overall shape what they were. Stickmen for people, little squares with triangles for houses, and circles with little sticks around them for suns. It was almost funny to see all of these drawings covering every inch of these walls. It gave an indescribable warmth to the whole building. A sweet aroma flowed in the air when the lady came back with a tray and three cups on it. She placed the tray on the table and handed the cups.
"Here's a hot chocolate for you," she said, smiling at Lorelei, "and also a hot chocolate for you."
"Wha—I'm not a Child!" Brant claimed, almost blushing.
"Sure, sure you aren't."
She sat down on the chair in the middle.
"What about little Sam? Did he not come with you?"
"He went to do his mysterious stuff. You know him," Brant replied, chugging down his hot chocolate.
"Sure… You really aren't a child," she said, almost laughing.
"Hey! I'm just drinking what I was given!"
Lorelei took small sips of her drink and watched them converse for a while.
"Anyways, Brant, tell me, what are you here for?" she asked, turning her head towards Lorelei.