< Ten Hours Before Disaster >

 

 

“Look at that!” The voice of a child remarked as many tiny hands found themselves plastered against the train windows.

“The buildings are all red!”

“So many love hearts everywhere!”

“It’s so huge! I’ve never seen so much green!”

“Plants! Fruits! They have farms! They’re so much bigger than the ones we had!”

Small knees barely sunk into the cushions as they gathered along the sides of their carriage. Twinkles shone in their eyes as they stared out at the passing city scape beyond the dividing walls of D10. They were fascinated by the architecture of the small towns near the border of H3 where rural life thrived. Canals stretching far across its vast green expanse drew their eyes to distant cities, and plantations where phallic-shaped fruits were grown.

Unsurprisingly, the owners and workers of those estates were perpetually frustrated Elves.

One of the supervisors, who was a member of Objet D’Art, was about to point this out until the Train Conductor swiftly wrapped a hand around their mouth.

“Please remain silent while on board our trains.” He whispered into the Impuritas’ ear, causing a bead of sweat to drip down their forehead.

The children of the Derma Layer and several more from their local district embarked on an excursion sponsored by the Golden Index. Excursions were a monthly event conducted by schools across the Golden Index where children would go out on a fun, educational trip to learn more about their world.

Safety was their number one priority.

Because they were residents of the Golden Index, losing even one was seen as a tragedy. To put things into perspective, 100% of all casualties from the recent Atelier War were found in the Outskirt Sectors. Not a single death was recorded to have occurred within the ivory walls of the inner cities.

As bright as the world appeared to the children, they were unaware of how sheltered their lives were. But for those who had already seen hell had their eyes shine the brightest, for this was a new part of the world unseen to them.

Less than a quarter of the children present were from the Derma Layer. There were roughly a hundred in total. It could have been more than a thousand, but parents were fearful of lingering threats following the aftermath of the war.

There was no safer place than home.

The Express Trains had returned just a week prior, and there hadn’t been any disasters since. It was seen as a good sign, although the injury rate had increased by tenfold now that the Trains were no longer allowed to carry a mandatory on-board healer.

As a result, Caldera Industries finally employed safe departures and stops to prevent people from having their bones snapped from the whiplash. It was seen as useless by the greater part of Caldera Industries who were result orientated.

However, the Train Conductor wore a pleasant smile on his face as he made his rounds, happy to see that things were slowly changing. Of all the personnel within Caldera Industries’ hierarchy, they were the most down to earth because their job allowed them to interact with people.

It was how they knew people by name and why even the Triplets were able to befriend the late T.C Gral, whose death still haunted Sana who found herself seated with Stella, Aster, and Revy. She watched Revy toy with a red card cover between her fingers as she lost herself in thought.

She couldn’t find it in her to be excited about the trip, aside from meeting up with one of the Moons of the Amalgam that promised to meet them at their destination. Still, she wore a façade of innocence. Like Aster, she was among the tallest present so naturally, she was seen as a big sister by a lot of children.

“What do you see Aster? Sana? Everyone’s saying it’s different from the yellow roofs of the Golden Index!” Stella was ecstatic, imagining the scenery as she looked down at the table, unaware that the window was to her left.

Aster relayed everything she could to her, now serving as her eyes and the sole ‘star’ as she promised.

“That’s right. The color scheme has changed entirely.” Sana added, causing Stella’s face to beam. “Once we go deeper no one’s going to be wearing noble dressed.”

Aster brought Stella’s hands onto the skirt of her vibrant, yellow dress to feel the cloth.

“I heard it’s going to be frilly.” Aster said, describing a skirt that had a wave-like patten.

“Just like something Revy used to wear when she worked in Carpal Tower.” Sana found a way to bring the shy girl into the conversation.

Revy was also entertained by the sight, but she was far too timid to initiate a conversation. She felt awkward now that none of her Demi-Human friends were with her.

“M-Mhm. L.S said everyone wears maid outfits there.” She said, patting her legs which were covered by knee-length trousers. She ditched the maid outfit because she didn’t know if L.S was pulling a fast one on her, but she quickly realized that this was true the deeper they entered the City of Hearts.

“By the way, why do they call it the City of Lust?” Stella suddenly asked, causing all three of them to freeze, with Sana choking on her spit.

“Argh… Well –!”

“I believe it is because of the aspirations of the arts~!” A male voice announced as the carriage doors slammed open, revealing a tall figure with a canvas for a head. This man was none other than Ayle Aun Canvas, the leader of the Objet D’Art who offered his protection as well as his painting services.

Though it was mostly limited to just Stella.

He painted a quick sketch of the landscape along a canvas that was brought to life in his bare hands. The textures of the oil painting allowed Stella to feel what the world was like as she glided her hand across. The painting was larger than her, but she was able to carry it like it was made of paper.

“Lust has as much meaning tied to it as greed! I hope this painting is to your liking, dear Stella.”

“Mister Canvas! It’s wonderful. You made the frame too.” Stella was happy as she felt the rugged, false picture frame that surrounded the painting.

“Thank you, Mister Canvas.” Aster also acknowledged him. “You’re also here with us! I thought you were still in the Derma Layer!”

If Ayle could imagine it, then he could bring it to life with the mere stroke of his trusty paintbrush. A painted, childish smile formed on his canvas-head, causing Revy to nearly burst into laughter.

“Mister Canvas. Oh goodness.” Ayle was ecstatic to be called by such a name, wiping off a painted tear from his eye in a melodramatic manner. “Now if only others would call me that! It’s not Oil on Canvas. It’s Ayle Aun Canvas! But yes. I am here! It has been a while, Aster! I last remember you surrounded by a beam of light!”

“It still feels like it was only yesterday.” Aster said, having only just recently brought to the present. “Where have you been?”

“H5’s Academy of Arts, Literature and Music! I’ve been recruiting more like-minded people into our collective. Objet D’Art is thinking of going beyond just arts!” He exclaimed.

“Not in the way I think you’re doing it.” Sana said innocently, her words laced with suspicion.

“Oh, certainly not. We don’t even have a Heart of ours to turn people into Impuritas. We are nothing like the Maestros of Flesh.”

The reason why Sana was somewhat wary was because the Object D’Art were similar to the Maestros of Flesh that kidnapped and tortured her. Even if they were polar opposites and held the trust of the Amalgam, she couldn’t help but to feel uncomfortable in their presence.

“Very well. It was a pleasure seeing you all again~! I am passing on some artwork of the soldiers of the last carriage to their captain deeper into the train!” As if sensing her discomfort, Ayle immediately pardoned himself, but had his hand quickly snatched by a clumsy Stella.

“U-Um! You won’t stay?”

“Fear not, Stella. I will be close by when we’re in H5. I hear that the Eye of the Head will be with us too! Res was her name I believe?”

“Res?” Stella wondered who this person was.

“One of the wolf girls that came to help us. Remember? The one who you brought to give our apples away to?” Aster laughed at the memory, finding what was once painful to be silly now.

Stella, however, unexpectedly stiffened as if overcome by fear.

Because she remembered exactly who Res was. Everyone knew she was the one who saved them; who fought beside Frost for days on end; and who brought down the Blind Paw.

She remembered Res as the one she tried to betray to save her friends, and equally as the one who murdered countless. Memories of calling out to friends that were reduced to mush terrified her as she latched onto Aster for comfort.

“Res…” Stella whispered out the name of that cold-voiced wolfwoman.

Soon, they arrived at a station in H5 near the Main Strip. All one hundred children departed from the train, each guided by heavily armed Golden Middle Soldiers. And there, standing at the far end of the station beneath the glow of the red-tinted skylight were the Moon Triplets; the Eye, Fang and Claw.

“Alright little ones. Forget these two. If you want a trip of a lifetime, then you’re gonna want to come with me!” Cer barked, pointing a thumb at herself.

“There’s a lot of awesome food stores on my route!” Ber tried to buy more of them, declaring war on Cer.

Res however announced:

“Please distribute yourselves evenly and remain close to us at all times. We cannot guarantee your safety otherwise.” She directed her words to the adults that led the children. They were teachers but were also high-leveled ex-Adventurers that found respite in the Golden Index.

As expected, Res was as cold as Stella remembered.