It was a quiet walk listening to the sounds of the cold streets of Idosa. The cold wind carried the usual mumbling banter of passing folks. However, no words were said between me and Monty. Keeping close, I follow behind him as he passes by the many frosted windows with random assortments on display. Mumbling some inaudible nonsense, Monty stops in front of a window with many bottles on display. I lean in, my eye catching a distinct looking bottle of wine. “Torbell’s finest wine, dulce simulacra” labeled across the familiar bottle.

  “I’ve seen this wine before! I swore I delivered it to Cornelius a ways back.”

  I exclaim, staring off at the fancy decor and interpretable letters on the bottle. Monty looked at me and back at the wine.

  “Want to give it a try?”

  He shuffles around a coin pouch in his pocket, gazing at the daunting price label, 8 silver coins Discounted from 10 or 1 gold.

  “Don’t you think it’s still a little costly even with the discount?”

  I ask as he gives a light smile.

  “I have 6 silver on me right now, how about you?”

  I reach into my coin pouch and count each pale white coin.

  “5 silver”

  A mischievous grin curls Monty’s face ,

  “How about this, we split the cost 50 50, I pay 4, you pay 4”

  Hesitation gripped my hand as Monty placed a hand on my shoulder.

  “Come on Clover. We’ll split the wine as well!”

  His grip tightens a bit as I sigh,

  “Fine. I can’t help but be curious as well.”

  Monty and I walk into the store. An enticing, cologne-like scent lingers in the air. Bottles of liquor lined the cramped wooden shelves. Beside the store entrance, an intimidating store clerk eyed us both and lowered his legs from the counter.

  “Welcome. What might be of interest?”

  The store clerk leans on the counter, awaiting a response.

  “We’d like one Dulce simulacra.”

  Monty says, forcing confidence in his tone. The store clerk lets out a chuckle and heads into the back. After a couple of seconds, the store clerk comes back with the bottle of wine.

  “This wine is truly something precious. Don’t know how they made it, but it’s something truly magical. I was lucky enough to secure a shipment, luckily… 8 silver, take it or leave.”

  Monty looks over to me and gestures for my portion of the payment. Begrudgingly, I shakily take out 4 out of the 5 silver coins in my pouch. Taking the coins, Monty slides the 8 silver on the counter.

  “Can we have two cups with it as well? It is quite an expensive purchase ya know”

  The store clerk glances at Monty with annoyance and shrugs,

  “Fine, I won’t miss a couple cups. Do be careful with this wine though. This isn’t any ordinary beverage. It has hallucinogenic properties in it.”

  Monty nods quietly as the store clerk slides two tiny cups. Taking the bottle and cups off the counter, Monty heads out the store. Following along, we start walking down the cold winter streets.

  The sky was darker than usual; sunlight barely piercing the thick layer of clouds. A dull chill lingered near the ground, left behind by yesterday’s wind. Passing by the many buildings, we arrive at a small park. A few benches lined the tended cobblestone paths. Heading over to a bench, Monty swipes away some built up snow and takes a seat.

  “Come now, have a seat.”

  I sit down on the icy bench which gnaws away the warmth on my thighs. Taking a deep breath, I shudder away the numbing cold.

  “So…”

  Monty clasps his hands together and stares off at a lonesome pine tree. It was quiet and cold, except the occasional passerby taking a stroll.

  “I’m sorry, Granny…”

  Monty whispers under his breath as he looks at the bottle of wine. The fancy decor dulled under the murky gray lights. Swishing the liquid around, Monty gives me a lifeless look.

  “Shall we indulge?”

  I nod slightly as Monty pops the cork open. Filling up the small cups, he hands over one to me.

  “Here”

  I take the cup, catching a sickly sweet scent in the air. Staring off into the dark liquid, I look up to Monty who hesitantly raises the cup.

  “Cheers I guess?”

  His voice cracks slightly as he sips the whole cup down. I follow along, drinking down the oddly sweet liquid, reminiscent of grape juice.

  “Is there even any alcohol to this?”

  He picks up the bottle, staring at the obvious alcohol label.

  “Did I get scammed with grape juice?”

  Monty shrugs, pouring another round. And then another. And another. We kept drinking while enjoying the snow gliding along the wind. Soon, a lingering tartness tugged at our throats. Hic*Sniffle* I turn to monty as tears pour out of his eyes. Faint scribbles floated out of Monty’s body,

  I miss you

  It reads, as a soft breeze blows the words away. I blink twice, feeling blood rushing to my fingertips. Faint whispers danced in my ear as warm snowflakes fell on my palm.

  “Wanna hear a story?”

  Monty’s voice wobbles around me,

  “Sure.”

  I force my voice out as faint lines wobble in the back of my eye.

  “It was long ago, around the time I was a kid. I went out into the woods on a cloudy winter day like this one. Snow piled up to my soles as I ran around wildly. Weaving between the trees and darting around the unknown.”

  Nauseously nodding, a laughter caught my attention. I glance up to an unfamiliar forest surrounding us.

  “Before I knew it, I was lost. I tried calling out into the forest. But each plea was drowned by the trees.” Help…! Please…!

  A very faint call echoed into my ears. Followed along by an intensing silence.

  “It was getting very late, if I recall. Because a fog fell onto the forest bed. I kept moving, I had to move. Or else the cold will get to me.”

  Monty takes a swig from the nearly empty bottle of wine and slumps forward.

  “It must have been my lucky day that day. I found a paved road with wooden boards placed between metal lines.”

  Looking around, I see a disturbingly familiar creation as I rub my eyes.

  Those are train tracks

  The voice in my head says, seemingly aware of whatever that is.

  “There was a strange metal creature lying on its side down the path. It wore rust as its skin. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I went in. It was run by gears!”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Monty lets out an honest laugh and slumps on the bench.

  “I don’t remember how I made it back home that night… There was this figure, with long white hair. But that’s the best I can recall.”

  I look up to see Flindyr walking towards young Monty. His slender sword was drenched in dark-red blood. Slashing at the air, the thin sword dissipates into a flurry of red snowflakes.

  “O’ Young one. You do not belong here”

  He gets closer to Monty who was fiddling with the internals of this machine. Whispering some words, Monty suddenly passes out. The world around us started to flicker. The trees blink in and out, returning us back to the park.

  “Grans was worried sick that morning. Cooking up my favorite foods and all that day…”

  Giving his runny nose a rub, Monty stares off into the field of snow.

  “Granny never believed that the metal creature I saw was real. But I was going to prove her wrong. I had to recreate it.”

  He furrows his brows as a cold breeze darts snow on our faces.

  “How about you, Clover? What motivates you to keep going?”

  I take in a deep breath, inhaling the sharp, icy air.

  “I wonder…”

  Clasping my numbing hand, I reach out for the snowfall.

  “My motivation is to understand this strange world. To understand who I am, I guess?”

  Monty gives an exhausted smile, barely keeping his eyes open.

  “Isn’t everyone like that? Chasing after the unknown? Pah, I don’t know…”

  A yawn escapes Monty as he falls asleep on the bench. I gaze up at the dark clouds, staring at folding shades of gray. Snowflakes melt on my flushed, reddened face. A burning sensation scratched at the back of my throat.

  “My hands are cold, aren’t they?”

  Swiping at the air, my eyes catch thin lines rippling around my fingers. The wind passes by, humming nonsense in my ears.

  “Didn’t I warn you before?”

  I turn my head around as a field of white stretches around me. Outlines of buildings, trees and structures stood tall. Faintly in the distance, a familiar tapping of a cane tapped on the ground. Tension gripped my spine as my eyes met with the old man.

  “You are quite the tiresome lad indeed”

  With each tap of the cane, black fluff wisps off the ground. The lines that make up this world lift off the ground as he lets out a disgruntled sigh.

  “How long has it been? I could wonder. Before that, I ought get seated”

  An eerie smile stretches his lips as he takes a seat beside me. Suddenly, a laugh bursts out of the old man as he slumps on the cane.

  “To sit above the fool’s land of gold! How wondrously sad.”

  “W-what do you mean land of gold?”

  I ask, pushing my fear aside. The old man straightens his back and taps his foot on the ground.

  “Do you not see the shimmering light around you? That sickening, chaotic madness that leeches on this land?”

  I look around, peering past the thin lines defining the trees and buildings. Past the fields of white mounds and oddly drawn trees. But no light was there!

  “I’m sorry… I can’t see this light.”

  The old man lets out a chuckle as he pokes me on my forehead.

  “Look here lad. Let the blind eye guide you.”

  I close my eyes, listening to the sound of my breath. A slight ache pulses on my forehead. Suddenly, the darkness became a sea of fiery gold, flickering and snapping at the ground below.

  “What is that!”

  I snap my eyes open, pain radiating from my heart. The scent of smoke grips at my nostrils as my hand aches with pain.

  “That is a truth of this world, at least one could say. How does one see chaos? Is it not the gold that mad men yearn for?”

  Speechless, I let out a sigh. The old man was right.

  “How can one live with this horrid truth? That this pointless world is chaos?”

  The old man gives a saddened look as he stares off at the horizon.

  “Purpose, lad. It’s about your own desire for this world. You wish to see truth, no? To understand this strange world, is how you put it.”

  A polite nod lowers my head as the old man lets another grumble.

  “Close your eyes and listen to your heart.”

  I close my eyes, listening to the light thumping of my heart. Suddenly a wave of nonsensical text flies by the back of my eyes. I take in a deep breath, inhaling the tasteful chaos as the winter air bites at the back of my throat. Brushing off the snow on my forehead, I look at Monty.

  “Hey! Wake up, We have to get going!”

  I shake Monty’s body as he grumbles awake.

  “Where… Why is it so cold?”

  Letting out a chuckle, I let out yawn and shake Monty some more.

  “Come on man, we’re gonna get sick if we sleep out here!”

  He shivers up from the bench and stretches awkwardly.

  “Alright, fine. Let’s go to my shop…”

  Monty hides his pale hands into his sleeves as we start trekking back to his store.

  ***

  Along the edge of Idosa, off the beaten path, stood a group of men around a campfire. These men stood tall, like a wall hiding the light from the cold snow around. Amongst these men, a tired and scruffy Edward herded amongst this herd. With the occasional shuffle and cough, they waited patiently. Waiting and waiting, listening for the sound of a carriage driving by.

  “... is it here yet?...”

  Mumbled one of the men, impatiently tapping wiggling his feet.

  “...Just wait. Any minute now…”

  A voice replies, somewhere within this wall. Within distance, the sounds of a carriage could be heard.

  “...It’s here! It’s here!...”

  They all exclaim in a sequentially chaotic choir. Quickly dosing the fire, the men's eyes dart towards the carriage’s light moving on the road.

  “...Let’s go! No time to waste. Get what we can and get out!...”

  An empowering voice shouts as the herd of men quickly dash towards the carriage. It was an ambush from all angles. First the men slaughtered the horses. Then, without a moment’s notice, they knocked out the carriage driver. The guards desperately held their ground, but the numbers were too much. Before they knew it, they were being stripped of their armor and gear.

  “...Take it all! Everything here is worth some value!...”

  A man shouts as they pile up in the back, quickly tossing crate after crate out of the carriage. Edward, along with the rest of the men start searching into the crates. Grabbing a hold of whatever caught their eye.

  “Dulce Simulacra huh… I guess this is mine?”

  He takes out the bottle of wine, tucks it in his cloak and waves a silent farewell.

  Farewell to the men dragging those poor horses away. Farewell to the guards laying bare on the ground, and farewell to my good friend Philip, that sly old man who smiled with glee while watching this savagery play out.

  Swerving past the many shaded trees, Edward found himself standing in an open field of snow, the city straight ahead. Idosa shone like a beacon of light in this dark murky night.

  “It’s truly beautiful, no matter how many times I see it…”

  Edward murmured as he pulled his legs out of the boot-deep snow. Each step carried an increasing amount of weight. Numbness crawled to his toes as he progressed forward.

  “A little sip wouldn’t hurt”

  Popping open the wine, he takes a swig. The almost nectar-like grape juice flowed down his throat. Pleasantly surprised by the flavor, he takes a few more gulps and rolls up a cloth to seal the bottle. Immediately, Edward’s face flushes red as warmth rushes toward his fingers and toes. Hic*, he sighs and starts pacing across the field of snow.

  I see you

  A voice calls out. Perhaps it was the stars? Or maybe the wind called out to him? Shrugging, Edward closes his eyes and gulps down the cold winter air. Rubbing an aching tooth, his body starts swaying side to side.

  Over here…

  The voice calls out again, this time clearer. The city in the distance grew brighter, drawing him closer like a moth to a flame.

  “Anastasia, is that you?”

  Edward calls out to the markless field of snow, awaiting a response. His nose catches the scent of smoke.

  “No, that can’t be. She’s no longer here.”

  Rubbing his cloak and shaking his head, Edward arrives at the main road, a straight path back. Suddenly, the scent of lavender stings his nostrils.

  Do you remember the Lavender Fields? Those flowers stretched to the horizon! I was taken aback! It was truly a sight to behold…

  A chill crawls up Edward’s spine as he quickened his pace. Grasping at his dry hand tightly, he darts past the city gate.

  I’m over here…

  Hints of golden rust flakes off the iron poles, carried by the mellow, eerie wind. Light glowed from snow frosted, windows, like doorways to another realm.

  Look! That’s the grand sorcerer of the 5th brigade. I heard he incinerated his opponent without batting an eye…

  A shadow calls out from the light behind the window, its golden blobby eyes peering at Edward.

  Surely it is his fault. He ran away from the war!

  Another shadow in a window calls out, with the same blobby eyes.

  “Shut up! I know I’m not in the wrong.”

  Edward glares at the shadowy figures peering from above. Their blobby eyes swirling a weird, maddening light.

  Lies! We saw you abandon Philip, let alone your wife and son. How many things will you run from before you realize you are a coward!

  A stern, overwhelming voice responds from above.

  “I’m not in the wrong… I’m not in the wrong…”

  Edward murmurs quietly as a curtain of darkness falls from the heavens.

  Over here…

  A sickly sweet voice calls out in the darkness, leaving behind the scent of bitter lavender.

  “Thud* Ow!”

  Running into a streetlamp, the world flickers back into existence. Still and snowy, a quiet street illuminated by a faint yellow hue.

  Was it always this quiet?

  Pain ached from his forehead as a chilly breeze passes by. The wind sings its howling song as Edward stumbles on his feet and falls into a pile of snow.

  “Is my luck that bad today? Haha… hahahahaha! What do I do now?”

  Laughter fills the air as the biting chill forces him up. A warm light illuminates from a window. Yondor’s tavern, It read from the frost tinted glass. Giving the coin pouch a shake, Edward enters the tavern.

  A sour and savory scent lingered in the air of the tavern. In the back, a lone pair of eyes stared at Edward.

  “How might I help you, good sir?”

  The lone pair of eyes stepped out the dark storeroom, and stood at the counter. He was a rather skinny folk, with a balding scalp and elongated face.

  “Can I stay for the night, Yondor?”

  Rolling over a few coins, Yondor gives Edward a tired look.

  “We’ve got a room, far off in the back. Follow me.”

  With a heavy sigh, Yondor walks up the narrow, creaky staircase. Following up, Edward and Yondor arrive at the second floor. A long carpet laid on the floor, flaking at its seams. Around that, odd tables and paintings presented themselves.

  “There’s always something off when I come here. Like an unease gnawing at my mind.”

  Edward thought, inspecting the oddly colored paintings and vases. Shrugging, Edward continues forward and they both arrive at the door.

  “This room can be quite odd at times. But, don’t mind it. Do be warned, do not open the door until daylight arrives.”

  Yondor unlocks the door to a rather tame room, nothing of particular note.

  “I wish you a pleasant night.”

  Yondor shuts the door and leaves. Without a moment's notice, Edward takes off his cloak and heads to bed.