Old Memories Come Flooding Back (5)
Rosens to the capital Verabche usually took a good long while. You had to pass through several directly ruled territories and fiefdoms, and no matter how fast you went, multiple overnight stops were mandatory. But riding a Hell Horse changed all that—no time wasted. Hell Horses ignored the laws of this world, galloping at insane speeds without the rider getting shredded by the wind. The cold, though—that it couldn't block, so I had to huddle deep inside Idi's cloak. Her body heat turned the inside of that cloak sweltering, even in the biting early winter chill.
We stopped at some fief on the way for an early dinner. Afternoons in early winter were short; dawdle too long, and you'd be eating in the pitch-black roadside gloom. Back when I'd raced here at breakneck speed to send that shady letter to Elua before smashing Grancis, things were different. But now, with Idi along, I had to feed her properly. She loved eating—and ate a ton. Had to be some secret to keeping that figure. Though how her chest hadn't shrunk back in her starving days was a mystery. Wait, no—probably that was its shrunken state. It'd only grown bigger after she started eating right at the inn.
Throughout the meal, Idi watched me like a hawk, fretting if I chewed properly or picked at my food.
"I'm fine, quit worrying."
"Still... you're a kid now... Big sis has to keep an eye on you... Eat your broccoli..."
"Ugh, no way. Tastes like crap."
I smacked away the broccoli she'd forked toward my mouth with my spoon. Being a kid had ruined my appetite—even stuff I used to like tasted off now. The broccoli hit the table, and Idi sucked in her breath, trying to sound firm in her own way.
"Bertrand... You gotta eat your veggies..."
"No. If you're not eating that drumstick, gimme it."
She muttered about picky eating being bad but still slid her drumstick onto my plate.
"Pick the bones clean... And wipe your hands with the napkin..."
"Yeah, yeah. Relax and eat already."
We stuffed ourselves full and remounted the Hell Horse. We'd make Verabche before midnight, probably. Guards started scrutinizing entrants after that, which would be a headache. Better slip in beforehand.
We made it into the capital just before midnight, barely. The Hell Horse's eerie look had the guards halt us briefly, but when Idi explained she was a black mage summoning it for long-distance travel, they waved us through. Innate black mages weren't criminals, and using black magic for personal convenience wasn't illegal.
Even on this frigid early winter night, the capital's streets blazed like daylight from the lights spilling from shops still open for business. Towering buildings you rarely saw in Rosens lined the wide boulevards, choked with carriages. Luxurious boutiques and fine dining spots. Cosmetics shops wafting thick scents through open doors, flashy clothing stores. Everyone wore expensive, high-quality outfits, faces brimming with leisure.
"Whoa... A place like this exists...? Feels like a whole different world..."
Idi gawked, mouth agape, eyes darting everywhere.
The capital wasn't all glitz, of course. Slums and filthy corners existed anywhere people lived. The dumps where Idi had skulked about, hunting victims for her Sansa ingredients—dank, dirty, dangerous spots. She'd prowled them nightly back then.
"Hehe... Look at that, Bertrand..."
Idi pointed at a shop. A women's clothing store, packed and clearly famous.
"Heard about it, but first time seeing it for real... Always wanted to check it out..."
"Yeah? Wanna go in?"
She shook her head in surprise at my words.
"No... No... We're busy... Let's just go... Don't need to..."
"We're already here. Bit of time won't hurt. How often do you get back to the capital?"
"Hehe... Then... Just a quick peek..."
We parked the Hell Horse by the roadside and headed in. Idi gripped my hand tight, terrified of losing me in the crowd. The store stocked everything: outerwear, casuals, lingerie. Accessories, garter belts, perfumes, cosmetics—anything to tempt a woman.
Amid the chic capital shoppers, Idi stood out in her black hair and rough windproof cloak—though for several reasons. Sure, she had that vacant look, but she was as pretty as any woman there. And the killer figure hidden under the cloak? No contest. Still, no makeup and that shabby cloak meant the clerks ignored her, brushing her off.
Idi took it in stride, giggling as she browsed eagerly.
"Whoa... Check this out... They have my size... So hard to find..."
She stood by the lingerie rack, holding up a bra the size of a helmet.
"Um... Excuse me... Sorry..."
She flagged down a passing clerk with effort.
"Could I... maybe try this on... to see if it fits...?"
"Over there."
The clerk eyed her up and down dismissively and pointed vaguely.
"Bertrand... I'll be right back, so... stay right here, okay...?"
"Don't worry, go ahead."
As Idi vanished toward the fitting rooms, I wandered the racks, checking clothes, fiddling with accessories, lingering by the stockings. Good thing I looked like a kid; my adult self would've been booted out.
"Oh, what a cute little one. Here with Mommy?"
Clerks approached me smiling. I was poking at some open-crotch panties when a wail echoed from across the store.
"Bertrand...! Where are you...!"
Idi was stumbling around, bra in hand, on the verge of tears, searching for me. I'd wandered too far while browsing. I bolted to her.
"Bertrand...! My... my little brother... so, brown hair and..."
She'd been sobbing on a clerk; spotting me, she dropped to her knees and hugged tight.
"Thought I'd lost you..."
"Just looking around. And I'm not a baby—my head's fine."
"Still... What if someone snatched you...?"
She clung for ages, turning us into a spectacle.
"Let's go. Gonna buy that, right? I'll get it for you. Hurry up."
"Hehe... For real...?"
Tears streaking her face, she beamed like nothing happened.
"Maybe get the matching bottoms too..."
"Fine. Grab 'em quick. This is embarrassing."
"Hehe... Bertrand's... buying me a gift..."
She dashed to the panty rack, thrilled. I hurried after, lest she freak out thinking I'd vanished again.
"Hehe... I'll show you the new undies first thing..."
"Yeah, yeah."
Riding to the royal castle, Idi hugged me from behind. Her soft, squishy chest made the best seat. Even Grace Bay's fancy landau carriages couldn't top this.
"Such a good little brother... Buying sis clothes too..."
"Haha. Sure."
I couldn't help laughing at the absurdity. As we neared the castle, an eight-story high-rise with a lavish lobby appeared. Idi gasped, craning her neck.
"Whoa... What's that building...? The royal castle...?"
"Wipford Hotel. National chain, only in major cities."
"Huge... Twice the size of Grace Bay Hotel..."
She murmured, staring at the brightly lit floors.
"Think our inn could get this big...?"
"Eh, someday maybe."
"Hehe... Hope I see it before I die... I'll work at the inn forever..."
Yeah. Idi couldn't work anywhere else. Only our inn could contain her polluting black magic power. One more reason to keep the place running.
The city gave way to the Verabche Plains encircling the castle. Within a kilometer radius: flat grassland, nothing else. Attackers had to cross that open field, exposed to the mana cannons atop the walls pouring hellfire. Even the Demon King's army had failed here, retreating bloodied.
Idi gawked at cannonballs half-buried in the earth and monster skeletons.
The Hell Horse crossed the plains in a blink, halting at the drawbridge. Night riders on a Hell Horse drew wary glares from the guards, crossbows trained, killing intent thick.
"State your business at the castle at this hour. And what is that mount?"
Courteous tone, but ready to riddle us with bolts at the slightest slip.
"Um... H-hello... Here to see the royal mage... Th-this... Hell Horse... 'Cause I'm a black mage and..."
Idi stammered, tense. Sweat soaked through from her chest, steaming up the cloak. The guard seemed to get it, replying curtly without further questions.
"Return at dawn. This is no time for visitors."
"B-but it's urgent... My little brother... He's cursed..."
Idi fumbled out my ID, handing it over. The guard read it, tilting his head in confusion at me.
"Why does this kid have a top-tier ID?"
"Uh... Um... Well..."
Idi floundered. Growing impatient, I took a gamble.
"None of your business. Go fetch Brione."
In a marketplace, he'd have slapped me silly. But a kid with a black mage escort, flashing a top ID and barking orders? Different story. The guards exchanged uneasy glances, pegging me for royalty or high noble kin.
"Do as I say, and I'll keep this quiet. Block me, and no choice but to escalate."
"S-sorry. We'll fetch her at once..."
They figured I was untouchable, whatever my identity. One bolted inside.
Idi whispered, cowed by my boldness.
"Bertrand... Is this okay...?"
"No problem."
Moments later, Brione rushed across the drawbridge, robe flapping. She squinted at us in the torchlight.
"Idwild...? You here for me this late...?"
"Ah... Y-yeah... H-hi... Brione...? N-not me... It's Bertrand..."
Idi spread her cloak wide, stammering. I waved from the warm confines, grinning.
"Hey, Brione. Sorry for the late hour."
Her eyes widened in shock at me.
"You... Bertrand...? Why...? You're a kid...? How...?"
Brione babbled like Idi before snapping to.
"Bertrand! Whatever it is, you can't come here like this...!"
She glanced fearfully at the castle spires.