“My apologies, but you can’t leave yet. I need to ask you a few more questions.” Once Navia turned around, she saw a man standing right beside Abigail. She quickly turned her blood into a dagger and pointed it at the man. “I don’t hear the voice saying that he is my enemy…” Thought Navia before asking the question, “Who are you?”
“My name is Devin Golding. The president of Liberin City.” The man introduced himself and lightly bowed with a hand placed on his heart.
“Are you here to hunt me?” Navia asked, which surprised the man, making him wonder what kind of person was standing in front of him.
“Only if you’re a wanted criminal.” Devin said as he stepped in front of Abigail, being protective. “Since we have no information about you, we must question you first. You’re not from around here?”
“I’m not a criminal. I belong to the Order of Tomorrow.” Navia stood at attention and announced herself like a proper soldier. “My name is Navia Silckthron, Warrior of the Order of Tomorrow and a squad Vice Captain.”
“Abigail, note that.” Devin whispered and then turned to Navia. “So, you’re from the order. That could only explain your possession of gate. Why would a warrior from the order appear in Liberin City without any notice or registration at the border? Sounds like you trespassed onto our territory without permission.” Devin continued his monologue, looking for the missing pieces in Navia’s story to understand them or to find that she was lying.
“While sailing back home, I was attacked by pirates. I got caught and sold as a slave. I was forced to fight in an underground arena. I thought I had escaped it, but then I was thrown into the chimney with thousands of bodies. I had to destroy the wall to leave this place alive.” Navia shortened her story and told it in one breath, showing that she didn’t come up with it at the very moment.
“The story makes sense… Aguero mentioned an arena but…” Devin thought through the story and continued with another question, “So you were the one who destroyed the building… But what do you mean by the chimney?” Curiously asked Devin as he didn’t fully comprehend what she meant by chimney.
Before Navia could answer, Abigail did that for her. “That building wasn’t a tower. They burned the corpses in there. That’s why the streets were so empty. Everyone who was dead or near death was thrown in there…”
“That wasn’t a tower…” Devin tried to show confidence this whole time, but it began to crumble. His stare was on Abigail, goosebumps appeared all over his body as he realized he had repaired something as horrifying as the furnace. “Something like that is on the same island we live on… Yet I didn’t notice… The worst is I can’t do anything about it.”
“Yes, you can. You’re the president of this city. Not part of it, but all of it. If you want, you can just demolish it.” Navia spoke the words that Devin wished to hide. He didn’t want to be known as a tyrant; he wanted to be a diplomat, the one who destroyed the wall that separated the zones. His dream utopia.
“It’s not as simple as you think… There are many complications standing in my way to make it possible…” Devin trailed off, trying to justify his lack of action.
“It is simple. There is a law in this city, and they don’t obey it. Without any action, the people will be treated the same way as they are now. Slaves, lackeys for dangerous jobs, those with nothing living in the streets. Face those complications and change this city. It is as simple as that because I’m going to do the same. I’ll barge into their homes and rescue Mirabell. So, if you would be kind enough and make an exit for me?” Navia punched the wall where a door used to be and waited.
“I’ll have to think about your… arguments… But you’re not off the hook yet.” As he said that Navia was about to make the exit herself, but Devin quickly added, “I’ll let you rescue your… companion. But one of my men will go with you. Is that fine with you?”
“If he won’t slow me down.” Answered Navia, unsure of the deal Devin wanted to make, but it seemed better than being targeted by the police in this zone.
“I’ll assure you he won’t.” Said Devin with a smirk as he approached Navia and brought back the doors. He then opened them for Navia and Abigail. Before his assistant could step through the doors, he whispered to her, “Send a letter to the order. Ask about Navia Silckthron, her position, missions, anything you can gather. There is something off about her, and I need a confirmation.”
Abigail simply nodded and went the other way than him and Navia. As they walked through the hallway of the hospital, Devin glanced at Navia. “Before we meet with one of my people… Maybe you should get some clothes…” He noted that Navia was wearing a white shirt and long white pants, like each patient in the hospital. He was especially bothered by missing shoes.
Only then did Navia realize she wasn’t wearing her tight black clothes with thicker parts for where her armor used to be. “Oh… Right…”
People observed as the president of Liberin City walked with a patient from the hospital through the streets as if it were a completely normal thing. “Uhm… Aren’t you worried about your reputation? People are staring at us, and they might get the wrong idea about it…” Pointed out Navia, concerned for the president, as she didn’t want to trouble him.
“I barely noticed. People often stare at me, and even more when I walk with Abigail, so I've gotten used to it. I don’t have to worry about it because my intentions are pure.” Devin simply stated as he walked forward.
They finally stopped near the wall at a small alley where there was a small shop with a small sign. “All You Can Wear” was painted on a white wooden sign. “This is a second hand clothes store that Abigail often visits. You can find some pearls in shops like that.”
“You brought me here because you knew I don’t have any money, and you can spare a few coins for me in a place like this. Am I right?” Navia gave Devin a side eye as she read him like an open book.
“That’s the second reason, haha.” Devin let out an uncomfortable laugh as he opened the doors for Navia.
The store was indeed a small one, but it was packed with clothes on hangers. All kinds of styles and colors were visible, no matter where you put your eyes. There were no fancy decorations or paintings, just a simple store that fulfilled its purpose.
“Will I find anything fitting for a fight? I’m not looking for anything stylish…” Navia grabbed the first dress she noticed with shiny sequins that made Devin flinch his eyes.
“Who knows? You might find it or not. That’s the beauty of those shops.” Answered Devin with a light smile, inside hoping she would find what she was looking for, not wanting to hear any complaints.
Devin went straight to the front desk to talk with the shop owner. A woman in her fifties drew designs for dresses on a piece of paper; she seemed focused on that task until Devin appeared. “Devin! Sweaty. How are you doing?”
“Good… I think. A lot happened today.” He answered and looked back to check on Navia.
The woman gasped with amusement and whispered into Devin’s ear. “You found yourself a girlfriend? I thought you would end up with Abi…” The woman seemed excited at first and then disappointed as she remembered Abigail’s relation with the president.
“No… No. You’ve got it wrong.” Devin giggled as he tried to explain who the woman he accompanied is. “She is from the order and lacks clothing after her clothes got damaged. Since she doesn’t have any coins on her, I thought I would help out.”
“Ah. What a kind man you are, mister president.” The woman smiled and continued talking with Devin while Navia searched for clothes that would fit her.
After twenty minutes, Navia approached the counter with her new clothing. Black leather boots with light heels stretched halfway to her knees, strapped with two belts per boot. The hem of her dark grey linen pants went into her shoes. On top, she wore a black shirt with long sleeves, lightly turning into a skirt a bit above her knees. Over it, she wore a white buttonless t-shirt without sleeves, tied with a belt.
“That looks great on you.” The woman behind the counter complimented Navia as she was amazed by the choice of clothing, then quickly began to draw what she wore for her future designs.
“Thank you.” Navia was touched by the compliment, a warm smile painted her face. “I wanted to ask if you have any capes?”
Navia wanted something that would hide her appearance, but the owner only had capes without hoods for military occasions. Navia took the black cape held by a silver chain and added a black slouch hat to better hide her face. Before Navia could leave the store, the woman asked her to pose for a second as she drew her design.
“This will be… My new fashion set!” The woman gladly announced and showed the drawings of similar clothing that Navia now had, combined with different dresses and pants.