Extra's Ascent

Aldrich and Saldrich together headed for Upstate where they can get Aldrich his uniform.

If the goal had been to just take a stroll or get him some fitting clothing? There are boutiques in Midstate available for that, and quite a place to tour in.

However, to get Aldrich the uniform of Eldora Institute? There is only one boutique for that and said boutique is located in Upstate, where the high-class individual resides.

Eldorado continent is divided into three sectors. Each is under the protection of the three prominent clans from the mystic society.

Sector A where Aldrich and his folks reside is under the jurisdiction of the Pendragon clan. A clan is known for her versatile involvement with elemental arts, even dubbed as the greatest elemental users.

Sector B is under the Valtheran clan. This clan is often feared due to their inherent knowledge of the ways of summoning.

And finally, Sector C controlled by the Astravon clan, is a clan learned in sealing arts, more so than any other clan out there.

Their research and quantitative observation of the ways of sealing art made them excel and rise to the top.

The three clans are portrayed as powerful and together, they hold the key to humanity's continued survival when paired with the four races.

To clarify, each sector is further broken down into three jurisdictions, the Upstate, Midstate, and Downstate. Each reflects the economic hierarchy that stands between them.

The Upstate being home to the rich and the privileged, the Midstate is home to those with conducive means of survival, and the Downstate is depicted as a place where the unfortunates reside.

They took the train from Midstate and arrived at Upstate in less than an hour.

In the train, it gave Aldrich the moment to experience in a vivid state what it feels like to be in the world he had only ever seen in a book.

Saldrich, being a regular of the Upstate was able to navigate through with ease and take Aldrich to the boutique where he would get his uniform.

The buildings, the streets, the cars, and the people about? All of those differ by far from the Midstate he had come from.

Life here was exquisite, expensive-looking looking and definitely worth it.

A whole six-storey complex dedicated to a boutique of antiques and rich taste.

That is where he was taken to by Saldrich.

Inside the complex, in the uniform stand, they both walked around looking for a fit size for his uniform.

"I need to go to the lady's room, I will be back in a moment. Wait here for me, okay".

"Okay Mom, I will". He remarked a sarcastic smile flashing at her.

Alone, Aldrich navigated the uniform stand in search of a fitting one.

As he walked, he came across a girl also in the same stand but in the female area, probably shopping for a woman's uniform.

"A girl shopping alone? Someone please tell me the universe is not about to end soon," he commented, loud enough for her to hear where she stood.

She turned, clearly making out that his comment was directed at her.

"Excuse me". She says, somewhat intrigued.

"Yes milady, you are excused". He responded, willy-nilly.

To his comment, she glanced at him, silent for a while, her pupils scanning him, thoughts going through her mind.

Then, after a brief moment of silence, she let out a slight giggle, a smile tugged at her lips.

"Oh, and she smiled, a pointer for me". He says, going closer to her.

"Can I ask, what is a damsel doing in a shopping mall all alone". Aldrich asked, closing the distance ever so familiarly.

Her brows blinked, once, twice, and a third time.

"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me". She says.

"Try me".

He leaned closer, now about inches away from her.

She looked at him, a gimmick forming in her head.

"The boyfriend of my best friend from childhood confessed his feelings for me with a kiss and my best friend caught us which led to me being outcasted by my best friend and now wandering this magnificent complex a loner". She explained with a playful gimmick.

"What do you think... Too much?...".

"Yes". He says, reluctantly. "Too much- definitely, too much". He stammered.

His eyes rolled around awkwardly and nervously. Then, he got himself back together and with a chuckle he said;

"I am sorry, you caught me off guard with that so I was a bit stoic at my reaction." He had a hearty smile to brush off the earlier awkwardness.

"At least now I know better than to stay quiet when I see a lady shopping without an entourage. Right". Articulated in a playful tone to lighten up the atmosphere.

"Right, who knows what sort of story she has to tell". Her charming smile was evident as she responded.

"Well then. Guess I will leave you to your fortress of solitude shopping".

Aldrich walked away, reluctantly short of what to say after that had been dropped on him out of nowhere.

"Yeah". She answered with a slight brush of her blonde hair to the back.

"Hey". Her voice called as he was about to walk away.

Aldrich stopped, ready to listen to what she had to say.

"Say, how would you like to be my white knight and save a damsel in distress?". She proposed.

"A damsel? Oh... I never took you for a damsel. Thought you were more of a boss lady".

The lady smiled, earnestly entertaining his comical remarks. comiced. "But what's up," Aldrich added, paying listening ears.

"I have this event coming up at a friend's house, but I have no one to go with."

Aldrich interrupted her saying, "So you want me to go with you."

His eyes were on her as he said it.

"Right, if you want of course. I mean no pressure. I would totally understand if yo-

"I would actually." Aldrich interrupted her midway. "Accompany you to the event I mean."

Her pupils hinted at surprise overshadowed with delight.

"Great. See you at Crystal Palace by eight." She retorts.

"Right... Eight, can't wait."

With that, she smiled at him as she took a uniform set on the stand and exited from his sight.

It wasn't long before Saldrich came back from the lady's room, refreshed.

She saw her brother seated in a corner, his expression dazed. 

"Did something happen while I was gone?" Saldrich asked, walking up to her brother Aldrich.

"Not really. I think I just got myself a date". He revealed, oddly numbed about it.