The City of Ionia

“Seconds, please.”

Tim slammed both fists on the table. “Hey, what do you mean by seconds? That was your fourth bowl already! Hey Owen, don’t give that muscle head anymore!”

Roger raised a single brow. “Why the hell are you talking? Your brain is like the end parts of a loaf of bread. It’s so useless that everyone just wants to throw it out!”

That so-called insult definitely wasn’t well thought out since it got me scratching my head.

However, I’m glad this place was as lively as ever. The constant bickering kept this place alive. It felt a bit empty when the two were gone.

“Owen! Curse you! You actually gave that man more stew! How much stew can a man eat before becoming stew?! At this point, his entire body is just stew!”

“You always have something to complain about! It’s not my fault that I’m twice the size of you. You’re five years younger than me, yet you look ten years younger.”

Tim pointed at Roger. “Maybe I would’ve grown a bit if you didn’t hog everything!”

“Relax a bit. We have more stew on the counter, so if you want more, you know where to find it, " grunted Owen, avoiding eye contact with Tim.

We were all sitting at the table, trying to enjoy Owen's vegetable stew. Speaking of Owen, he missed the chaotic morning because he’s a profound sleeper. He could sleep through the noise of war.

Roger filled me in on the details. Apparently, Tim’s friend was separated from him for a few years and miraculously crossed paths again. To keep it sweet, it’s a childhood friend. They reunited after a long six years.

I envied them, wishing to have the same miraculous encounter with a friend of my own.

Tim was shoulder–to—shoulder with his friend, who looked a few years older than he did, whispering something in his ear. I couldn’t care since I was munching down my food when Tim questioned me.

“So what’s the word on Avery?”

I expected this question to come sooner or later. Truthfully, I didn’t mind if Tim's friend stayed with us since he was already close to Tim. But wouldn’t his staying make Tim more distant from me? Would he still let me care for him?

I didn’t want that to be stolen by someone else. I wanted to be the one to clean his cuts, yell at him every time he broke a plate, and be the one he counted on.

If someone else was there, wouldn’t that be more competition?

No, no, no. This wasn’t a matter of competition. I just wanted to be us four and no one else.

But I shouldn’t frown on this. When we get to Ionia, we’ll have to meet new people. They will inevitably find someone else and get closer to that someone else.

And then they’ll probably grow distant. Isn’t that a scary thought?

No, that wasn’t accurate. The future is unknown, so maybe they won't become friends with a new group. That’s a future issue, so I’ll try to enjoy this for now.

“Sure, I guess.”

Tim leaned over the table. “Are you sure? Do you really mean it?”

I guess I didn’t sound too convincing.

With a light smile, I said, “Ya, I do.”

Tim punched the air victoriously, giving his friend a quick hug, exploding joyfully.

I'm glad I could make him this happy.

“Great, since he’s living with us, start by cleaning the dishes. I’m way too tired for that.” Roger said with food in his mouth.

Tim’s friend didn’t say a word. In fact, he barely spoke, probably because he was in a new environment.

Speaking of a new environment, it popped right into my head. I completely forgot to tell them something important.

I took another sip of the under-seasoned stew and asked, “Will you guys be alright without me?”

Owen’s spoon clattered on the table, his face rotted with a frown. “Are you leaving us? Why? This place is big enough for five of us.” He sounded genuinely depressed.

Roger, holding his bowl and spoon, looked at me in total shock. “Don’t leave us like that. Tim, kick your friend out. I’ll choose Jill any day of the year.”

“This has nothing to do with Avery, I think. Hey Jill, are you going to leave us? Please don’t. Who will yell at Roger wherever he forces me to do the stupidest things? I mean, just the other day, he made me violently flop like a fish out of water while screaming like a broken animal.”

What?

Roger’s face resembled that of a man who had been betrayed. “You little—Owen, before we left, Tim ate the leftover chicken you hid under your bed.”

“You ate that! You made me go crazy! I thought I had eaten it and didn’t remember! You bastard, I’ll kill you!” Owen vigorously stood up with his spoon aimed at Tim.

How did we get here?

The yelling across the table raised along with the seconds. I forcefully cleared my throat loud enough for them to hear. Once I got their attention, I rephrased what I asked earlier.

“That came out wrong. I meant to ask if you guys would be fine for the night without me. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Where are you going?” Owen was always the first to ask whenever I left the cabin.

Normally, when I leave, it’s just for a few hours or half a day. But today was the first time I planned to leave and return the next day. The thought was nerve-racking. I’d never left them alone for that long, so I wondered if they’d be fine.

“I’m going to Walisburg.”

Everyone besides Tim's friend slammed the table as they shot up onto their feet.

“Walisburg? Why are you going there? Can I go with you?”

“The musical city? That Walisburg? Please let me go with you!”

“Hey Jill, I wanna go!”

I was overwhelmed with questions from all angles. “C–Can you guys just settle down a bit and let me explain?”

Simultaneously, they sat back in their seats, patiently waiting for my explanation.

I wasn’t expecting them to react the way they did. I thought I’d get a simple' okay,' but I couldn’t say I blamed them for acting that way.

Walisburg was the capital for the outsiders, where the music hardly stopped. At least, that’s what I’d heard. I’ve never actually been.

But I wasn’t going for that reason. There was something I had to do—something I’d waited ten years for, give or take a couple. I couldn’t possibly tell them that. If they went with me, wouldn’t they get in my way?

Maybe not. Since there was a huge event later that night, there were many things to do that could keep them distracted.

I guess I could give them a vague run-down.

“Well, I’m going since I have something to do. But, as long as you don’t get in my way, it should be fine.”

An unfamiliar voice was heard across from me. The same voice I heard this morning. “Isn’t the Walisburg event tonight?”

Tim spat his food out of his mouth. “Theee Walisburg event? The one where there’s a bunch of music, food carts, games, and people crowding the area? That Walisburg event?”

“That’s the one. It’s held every year around this time. It’s an event where all the outsiders in the surrounding cities and towns get together. I’ve never been to Walisburg or the event, but from the stories, it sounds like a blast.”

That’s the most energetic I’d seen from Tim’s friend.

“Yes! I can’t wait! Jill, when do we leave? When should I pack my bags?”

“Just tone it down a bit. And sit down. Your entire body is over the table.” I shoved away the wildly eager Tim.

Everyone else, besides Roger, who was on his sixth or seventh bowl, was done eating. At this point, we were still at the table to chat about Walisburg.

Roger and Tim passionately rambled about going to every food cart until they threw up. Did they not know food wasn’t free?

Tim's friend continued to sit in silence. I assumed he was going to follow Tim wherever he went.

Owen expressed his excitement about trying to become a “full adult.”

Whatever that meant.

Tim got up and rushed to his room. “I’m going to grab a few things I want to bring,” he said.

“Wait, Tim, at least clean up, idiot!”

“Roger, just let him do his thing,” I said.

Tim’s friend stood. “I’ll go help him.”

“Before that, you should go bathe. Roger, please escort Tim’s friend to the bathroom.”

He sighed and followed my request. I sat in silence with nothing to do.

That was until Owen spoke.

“What did you do to the man from yesterday?” He asked in a concerned manner.

I responded without looking at him. “What I did is none of your concern. Just know that he will not be bothering us.”

“You didn’t do anything stupid, right?”

I smiled broadly, this time looking at him. “Why would I?”

Before he could respond, Tim slammed the door open, nearly shaking the cabin.

“Hey, what do you think the weather will be?”

“No clue. Why?”

“I’m wondering whether to wear shorts or joggers.”

That’s a stupid reason to almost destroy your door.

“Stick with the joggers. We’ll be there pretty late." I said while getting up.

“Smart. Okay, will do.”

I cleaned the table and put the dishes in the sink. Roger insisted he would wash the dishes, and I gladly stepped aside.

Tim and his friend were packing or whatnot. I didn’t know, and I didn't care. I assumed they were fine, so I didn’t bother checking in.

With nothing to do, I took a step outside. The sun beamed down with mercy, and the wind felt perfect. It wasn’t strong, but it wasn’t non-existent.

I sat comfortably on the grass with thoughts sizzling.

But before I could address those thoughts, Owen called my name from the shed. Somehow, I was visible to him. I turned with an unenthusiastic sign and headed towards him.

“Do you need something?”

“Not really,” he said while digging through storage.

Bins and piles of wood were everywhere, making it difficult to walk. I really had to clean this up.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to find my bin of nice clothes. I have to look presentable for tonight.”

I gave him a blank stare. “Right. So why did you call me?”

“I wanted to ask you about yesterday. About the SCAR agent.”

I see…

He was troubled because he was unaware of the situation. I thought he wouldn’t really care, but I guess not.

“Don’t worry. He won’t trouble us again,” I said.

He stopped scavenging the bins, almost looking droopy. It was weird seeing him like this. Was he that uncomfortable? He shouldn’t be. He didn’t have to worry about him anymore.

So why did he look so empty?

“Owen, don’t worry about it. Everything is under control. Just get ready for the event. We have to start walking soon.”

“Yeah, you’re right. We can walk to the station and take a carriage. It’ll be quicker.”

Trinksville was the closest town to our isolated cabin. It was a decent-sized town with many merchants and people passing through. Usually, it’s used as a pitstop for those wanting to go to cities far away. It's an hour's walk, but it’s better than six to get to Walisburg.

“Sounds good.”

He didn’t reply and continued to search through the hundreds of bins stored. I left him alone and went back inside.

Tim and his friend finished packing. They packed enough for a week, which was insane since we would only be gone for a night or two. When I told Tim that, he was bummed out, swaying his head low and kicking the wall. I told them to pack less, then shut the door behind them.

When I went to check on Roger, he did the exact opposite. He didn’t even pack. All he wanted to bring was an Ionian item that could light anything on fire. It was pretty great since it could fit in your pocket without being in the way. I told him to pack more, which he refused, saying he would buy clothes if needed. Most stores would have inflated prices because of the event. I wasn’t going to tell him that.

With nothing to do, I went outside again, but this time to my favorite spot nearby. It was a close yet relaxing walk. It was beautiful outside. Nothing seemed dull. Everything looked so bright. I collapsed by the place I called “comfort.”

The vines suffocated the surrounding trees. A clear, blue stream gracefully flowed, babbling and burbling across the rocks. Pebbles swished around underwater like sparkles.

Sitting on a fresh patch of emerald grass, I hugged my knees to my chest. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a silver necklace that shone light. I cupped the semicircle pendant in my hands.

“It’s been some time.”

Before officially being granted freedom, I promised someone that I would return. He wanted me to meet him at the Walisburg event for an unknown reason. That might’ve been a lie. He could’ve told me the reason, but it’s been so long that I'd forgotten.

Maybe he wanted to know how serious I was about chasing Raphtalia’s dream. I tossed thoughts in the air. I didn’t know for sure.

The last time I saw that man, it was a disaster. I would rather have a meteorite strike the world than relive that day again.

“Sometimes I wonder if things would’ve played out differently.”

Would Raphtalia be alive? Would I’ve not been granted freedom? I didn’t know. How could I know? I was just an innocent child wanting to live in a world away from the hell I knew.

Next to me was a bush abundant with berries. I plucked a few, tossing them in my mouth. They were sweet yet sour—the taste of sorrow.