CHAPTER 3 MELLONA

  Smoke choked the air as Ember sprinted through the crumbling streets, her boots kicking up dust and ash. All around her, people rushed—volunteers digging through rubble, knights barking orders, clerics kneeling beside the wounded, their hands glowing with faint magic.

  She ignored them.

  Her breath came in ragged gasps as she darted between shattered stone walls, eyes scanning the wreckage. A child wailed nearby, but another healer was already at their side. Ember didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.

  "Mother! Father!" she called, her voice hoarse.

  A collapsed roof blocked the next alley. She scrambled over broken beams, hands scraped raw against jagged edges. The acrid scent of burnt wood mixed with the stench of death. Somewhere behind her, a man shouted about another survivor being found. Ember barely registered it.

  She reached her old street. Or what was left of it. Homes reduced to rubble. Doors torn from hinges. Blood smeared across the cracked stone.

  Her chest tightened.

  Then—a sound. Faint. Beneath the wreckage of their home.

  She lunged forward, hands digging desperately through debris.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  A loud sound of closing a book can be heard as Mellona shuts her book. Her eyes dart around the room nervously, she reaches out to a nearby glass of water and gulps it down.

  With her eyebrows twitching mutters, “Stupid thing! Why does she let herself get used, like that? Ugh it's so irritating …”

  Vanilla who just entered the room looks tired, but also evidently confused by Mellona’s actions. She takes her seat in Mellona's bed and starts talking.

  “So. I can't believe how many books you have brought.” She says in awe of her determination to buy and actually read so many books.

  Mellona is annoyed by that question, she clicks her tongue and answers “What's it to you? Anyway” suddenly remembering that she overreacted, she coughs to change the topic. “By the way Vanilla, have you made any progress with Unicus? Is he treating you well …”

  Vanilla is quite used to Mellona's personality by this point, so she plays along, “Oh … that? It's making baby steps but nothing major so far. What about you then? Have you made any attempts to divert Unicus's attention towards me?”

  Mellona hesitates for a sec, thinking what might be the best way to not break Vanilla's heart. “Well. Umm. I'm trying my best, but Unicus seems to have an instinctive fear or distraint towards you? Have you done something that …”

  Vanilla abruptly cuts in, “I didn't do anything. I didn't …. I definitely didn't do a thing” she is full on panicking.

  With a half opened eye lids looks questioningly at Vanilla, “If you say so …” then looks at the water clock nearby. She notices that it's already been more than an hour. “Okay~ if I don't start now, the moon might rise. So I'll start washing clothes, if you excuse me”

  Then she walks away, and leaves the room. Vanilla now alone mutters to herself, “Who even uses water clocks nowadays? Isn't a sand clock one more convenient? …”

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  As Mellona walks in the corridor, she sees Unicus walking somewhere.

  Is he going to start scribbling again? Ugh! I should scold him more sternly this time.

  “Unicus~ wait.” She goes after him.

  With steady but silent stealthy steps she walks after him. And then she stands by the door stunned,

  Isn't that the room given to the new … girl? What's her name again? … Ah I don't remember.

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  “So. Who are you? Why are you here?” The question lingers in the air.

  Was that Unicus's voice? Never seen him so curious about someone. Maybe Vanilla might stop resenting me afterall~ I'm moved to tears.

  “Huh? …” The girl doesn't know how to answer.

  Unicus is determined, “I asked a question, didn't I? Answer me.”

  The girl finally realising that it's not good to stay quiet answers, “My name is Lacia. Nice … to meet you.” and gives an introduction.

  Unicus seems irritated, “That … I already know. Tell something I don't? Why are you here? …”

  Lacia puts a finger over her chin and tilts her head adorably. “What do you cough cough … want to know?” Her gaze says I'm puzzled and Unicus gets frustrated by that.

  Unicus raised his voice slightly, “Don't you understand language. Damn it. I'm asking why are you here? …” He is getting impatient.

  Okay okay. It's about time I stop laughing. According to Russell, she is suffering from an illness I believe. So let's calm things before it gets messy.

  “Hey Unicus~ Stop bothering the poor girl. She is sick you know ..” But she didn't get to finish her statement.

  “What about it?” He then thinks for a moment. “Why don't you tell me then? Why is she here?”

  “Her father is visiting the royal capital of our Velmora kingdom. Therefore no one is in her home to take care of her. That's why she is here, now stop disturbing her …”

  Hearing that he leaves the room, his steps are loud and filled with frustration.

  “Did he trouble you too much? I’ll make him apologize if that might help?” Mellona asks following her maid behaviour to the tee.

  Lacia however smiles and responds with a soft yet gentle voice, “No one has ever talked to me like that before.” and starts giggling, “My father and others are always worried cough cough… about how I don't have much time … yet he talks like that … it's interesting”

  Considering how Unicus reacted, things might start getting hectic huh? I better start preparing or I'll be left behind in the dust.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  The day passed quietly and the next day arrived, Mellona was taking a walk over the village to buy groceries. The village has a self-sustaining market where goods made within the village borders are put up for sale.

  It's not always been this way. People don't remember when, but approximately two generations ago a wandering traveler stayed in the village for 2 months, during his stay he had noticed that buying and selling stuff isn't exactly common as people would share each other harvest and supplies like a big happy family.

  But the traveller put up a shop to sell stuff like in the big cities, and the idea quickly gained traction. People still follow the old traditions during festivals and other special occasions but for the most part the customs have been changed.

  Mellona, who has been listening to all this history lesson, was experiencing a headache, “That's quite interesting~ I'll stop by later grandma.” She said as she ran away from the stall.

  Walking alone she mumbled to herself, “Who cares about history and all. I'm all about living in the moment. Why don't people understand that?” As she walks her eyes are drawn to a bunch of sweet potatoes, “guess I'll buy one after all~ ” giggling she runs off to buy snacks.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Following that, Mellona comes back home, the first thing she does is share what she brought with everyone.

  “Here Vanilla, take some~”

  But for Vanilla, she isn't exactly in the mood for food. She turns the stove off, extinguishing the fire underneath. She turns to face her and says in a clear voice.

  “No. I don't want to. I'm … I'm … I'll be eating meals. Why don't you share with Russell?”

  That's unusual. She always eats the snacks I buy from time to time.

  Mellona didn't push hard and walked off with a disappointed face. She looks back at her one last time before leaving the room.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  After getting rejected by Vanilla, she runs into Unicus. She thinks that since it might take an evening for Russell to get home, might as well force him to eat these snacks.

  “Unicus~ what are you doing?” she asks with a curious gaze.

  Unicus for his part has been laying and thinking hard. The moment he noticed Mellona, he jerked up. He scratches his head and looks at her with an annoying gaze.

  “What do you want? ..” he doesn't seem pleased to know that his time alone is interrupted by her.

  Mellona reacts to his annoyance, “Oh. Nothing much, I want you to eat these sweet potatoes, That's all~” and throws the bag of sweet potatoes next to him.

  Unicus reacts back, “Hey. Treat your food with the respect it deserves. Would you still do the same if you were starving from hunger?”

  Mellona takes a seat next to him, “Oh what would you know about starving anyways? You are a pampered brat ignoring his mother, aren't you?” She stands where it hurts for Unicus.

  Unicus isn't the kind to take a provocation lightly, “Is that so. So you've given me these to start talking about my mother! Didn't you?”

  Mellona reasons back, “That has nothing to do with this. Anyways, what's with you today? Aren't you too feisty today?” then she covers her mouth with both hands as she says, “Don't tell me you were expecting me to celebrate your next birthday? Was that it?” She teases him by repeatedly raising her eyebrows.

  Unicus thinks about it for a sec and his thoughts naturally end up in the past, “Birthday huh? … Hope Kira is doing well.” with a distant melancholic expression.

  Mellona asks, “Who's Kira? … Unicus tell me. Now~” her curiosity seems to have peaked.

  Unicus drops the sweet potato that he was holding when Mellona asks about Kira. “Wha … who? Who's Kira? …” he tries to laugh it off.

  Mellona is persistent however, “If you don't talk now, I'll start torturing you. Like these …” placing him between her legs, she starts tickling him.

  Unicus starts laughing uncontrollably, “hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha” Mellona however is enjoying playing with a kid and Unicus happens to be one.

  Mellona presses forward, “Don't hide it~ tell me who Kira is.” she keeps persistent in her attempts to get the answer out of him.

  Unicus who had enough lies his way out, “Okay okay … I'll tell you. Kira is the name of … name off … name of … Ah name of a doll.”

  Mellona seems sceptical, “Wait really? Since when do you have a doll?” With eyebrows raised she questions further.

  Unicus doubles down, “That's the name of a doll, Lacia gave. She handed it to me even though I said I don't need it … I swear.” He isn't backing down either.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Vanilla watches all these from the outside, tears streaming through her eyes.

  “Why? … Why?... What have I done to deserve this?” with a hand over her mouth she is muttering, “First it's Mellona and now Lacia too…”

  She wipes the tears and with a determination filling her resolve she wishes to see this through. “I'm with this … I'll … I'll … I'll call her out for this …” and shouts Mellona's name.

  “Vanilla~ something the …” she was being her usual self but the moment she saw Vanilla's face, something made her hesitate. “What happened? .. I'll help” She stretched her hands but Vanilla slaps it off.

  Wait? Don't tell me she saw us talking… oh no~ oh no … this is not good at all…

  Vanilla mutters something in a quiet whisper, “Me … fight me … Let's have a duel, Mellona!” Her eyes are reddened with tears, the faint tracks of tears are visible on her cheeks.

  Mellona asks again to make sure, “Wait~ what was it again? Vanilla tell me.” She wants to make sure this is what she wants.

  I know Vanilla is more emotional… but this. This won't solve anything.

  Vanilla shouts and throws a glove on Mellona’s face, as the glove slips off she reveals, “I challenge you Mellona. Fight me!!!”

  Well umm… now what should I do? … I have always expected that a day like this may arrive one day but … I don't wanna. She is my best friend and we've been through a lot.

  Vanilla urges for an answer, “Let's do it in the forest nearby. I'll be waiting for exactly half an hour. You are fighting me, no buts …” Pointing her finger to her she says, “I'll see you on the battlefield!” And takes off.

  Mellona, struggling to understand what's happening, asks her to wait, “Vanilla wait …” Her outstretched hands can grasp her in time.