CHAPTER 403: ARC 6, CHAPTER 19: THE CASTLE UPON THE HILL

Endless was this forest path it seemed, winding and twisting at every bend it could. "Can we buy bicycles next time...?" Asobi dragged her feet along the dirt.

"If we can find someone who makes them this far out in South End," Hotaru remarked.

"As if old timey bikes are gonna go through these roads," Jotou staggered her foot onto the ground and kicked up dust. "Unless they’re enchanted."

"Oh yeah, bicycles in Jotou’s world have springy thingies," Asobi replied.

Fumeko raised a brow, "Springy thingies?"

"Suspension. It’s made for bumpy uneven roads like this," Jotou looked through the foliage that was beginning to clear up and the trees that grew more sparse.

The brunette’s scrutinous gaze switched over to the raven-haired woman, "Why do you know that?"

Asobi shrugged and hummed.

"Hey Sobi, you think when we were with Iridina we basically got a botched psychotherapy session that might’ve messed with some things?"

Asobi poked her wand under her chin, "Well she didn’t have a licence and I don’t think she’s legally doing that, but it’s probs nothing to worry about!"

"Yeah, silly me," Jotou, alongside everyone, made it out of the forest and into where the breeze blew past the grass. Further onwards were bumpy flatlands crowded by low-lying emerald-green grass and patches of flower meadows.

"Ahhmm..." Jotou fanned her hands out and walked off the path and into the grass as the wind blew against her lashes and through locks of her yellowish blonde hair, fluttering the blacks at the ends. She closed her eyes, took a breath and twirled around.

The cloudy sky was not obstructed in the slightest and stretched with white fluffy lines against the afternoon blue. "Tis a magnificent view," Tiffany marvelled at flowers across the field.

"Just be careful, who knows what’s hopping around in here," Hotaru said as she bent over to examine one of the tall flowers by the roadside.

It was red with five petals of plump velvety texture, in sort of a long tulip shape. Hotaru held it by the long floppy stem and brought her nose towards it-

"CHf!"

"Ghya!" Hotaru immediately was met with a face full of some greyish spores that stuck to her face like powder. She grimaced and wheeled around, batting at her own face and spitting the powder past her lips.

She splashed water across her face repeatedly clearing the spores and opening her eyes that were beginning to redden and swell. She sniffled and, "Achoo! Ach! Choo!" She had a sneezing fit for the next few seconds; tears leaked down her eyes.

She finally stifled it down and looked at the others, breathing heavily with a runny nose she constantly washed away with a few splashes.

Jotou just stared at her with a large smirk on her face till she simply snickered.

"Oh don’t help me or anything!" Hotaru shouted with a sniffle.

"Be careful Aru, who knows what’s hopping around in here," Fumeko replied.

"Was it poisonous?" Jotou queried.

"I don’t think so," Hotaru reached for a handkerchief from her pack.

"Over yonder lies an orchard of pristine white flowers," Tiffany glanced from afar.

"Is there anyone around?" the wolf-girl asked while Asobi helped her open and closer her backpack. "I might have to ask about this flower."

"None that are discernible to mine eye," Tiffany replied and faced the direction.

"Let’s head that way. It must be the town we’re looking for," Fumeko marched forward.

"I can confirm that," Hotaru held the handkerchief to her nose as she walked. "Alänschäf," as they approached the orchard of apple trees in bloom, what came into view was downhill.

Walls of stone blocked and squared all the way down till it was flatland below. A path went down the slight slope of maybe a few metres long—the angle was not steep, but it gave a good view of the township.

People bustled around the afternoon through the cobblestone paths, passing the town square where a massive old bell was being cleaned and polished.

Livestock roamed free from cattle to hens and a school bell rang as children ran out of a small building as if escaping the moment they heard it.

Carts and horses roamed with various goods and masonry. The sound of a blacksmith hammering away at an anvil echoed till even they could hear at the outskirts.

It was a charming little town, much bigger than the village they stayed in, but somehow more mirthful. Burntish flags fluttered atop the buildings of stone and rock. A humming creek snaked through the cobble paths, seemingly from the northwest.

Further in the direction, the grassy and flowery terrain stretched upwards with a few more trees that did not quite make a forest, but unkept enough to host a number of wild creatures presumably.

And atop, amongst the tress and yet still beating their short stature, was a castle of dark bricks that nature had reclaimed. Vines and leaves curled around its spires four and a gaping hole was present in the main structure at the centre, with bricks and floor pieces poking out under the sunlight.

The five were just stood at the outer path, gazing at the shattered castle that may hold the secrets they needed to glean. "We have no use going through the town," Jotou was the first to voice. "Let’s go straight to the castle before nightfall."

Hotaru finally breathed freely, "It might be useful to ask around first; get a lay of the land, maybe find a place to put our bags down, find other adventurers that might be here and maybe have explored the castle."

"Ask what? Where’s the castle?" Jotou said with a brow raised and an eye squinted. "It’s better we experience it for ourselves and then ask around. That way we have a clearer idea of what we’re asking and can compare notes with anything anyone else says. Everything else can come after, that’s not a rush."

"The castle’s our priority, I’d prefer we get there sooner," Fumeko agreed.

"Fine," Hotaru conceded with an annoyed sigh. "Lead the way."

Onwards they went, using the outer paths of the town to head towards the castle upon the hill. All the while, Tiffany had her eyes on the scenery of the town with every step she took.

"Like it here?" Asobi noticed.

Tiffany glanced towards the elf, "Hm. Tis a rather pleasant countryside. No..."

Asobi tilted her head, "No? You don’t like it here?"

"Nay... I do. However, one such as I have developed a palate befitted for the cities of this fair world. It means not that charm is lost in such places as this, however one could not weather a life here knowing of modernity.

Does thou find thyself imagining a livelihood here in the future? Elven-kind are notoriously fond of forests and the like, are they not?"

"Uhh," Asobi pretended to understand half of that. "I don’t know about other elves, but I do feel nicer around here. It’s like my skin’s all warm and fuzzy and my brain tingles clearer. Or it’s just allergies, I can’t really tell.

But no, not at all, I’m born for the spotlight and the star of the show," Asobi held the brim of her hat and beamed cheerfully. "I prefer the city night and the spotlight’s glow!

My future’s very bright and the countryside’s kinda slow—but it’s spry and still really pretty though," a burst of colourful flowers blasted off of the top of her hat and showered down around her.

"What’re you two doing, keep up," Fumeko turned to squint.

"Sorry!"

Tiffany furrowed her brows at the town once more and then at Asobi’s back as the raven-haired woman rushed forward.

_

The portcullis gate of wrought iron was bent and broken inwards, rusted and tarnished as wild brush twisted and gnarled around it—how many birds had built and abandoned their nests on the spikes of it over the years were uncountable.

Uneven was the entry road of stone bricks, overtaken by moss and small critters. Connected to the wall were the four towers in shambles of varying states.

They stepped through the gate and through the wall, into a garden left in disarray. Wildflowers mingled with former topiaries that had lost all form.

Water lied still within birdbaths and small fountains. Primroses and crocuses flowered by the hundreds, shifting subtly in the wind. Statues with pitchers poured out nothing but air, their figures covered in dark moss.

They neared the large wooden doors of the castle; it was ajar and the wood had long gone to rot, yet it was still sturdy and stiff. Jotou put her shoulder up to it and grunted as she pushed it open.

Dust rained down and a single beam of sunlight sparkled through one brick missing in the ceiling—the ceiling right below where the giant gash in the castle was.

It was indeed three or four stories high, but the walls were dense, leading to a wide yet narrow-feeling hallway. Each step they took echoed; the sconces on the wall had not seen use in months or perhaps years.

The single beam of sunlight brought no sight to the five as they went further in. Jotou sparked up her hands, but it was dim in comparison to the bright orb of light Asobi floated above them.

Within the first door down the corridor was no door at all and some sort of armoury that was barren of anything that should be there. They continued down a bend in the hallway.

"I thought castles would have a biiig foyer and rooms to go to," Asobi uttered as her voice bounced around the walls.

"Judging by the architecture, this type of castle was built for fortification and function. It was a home, but to someone who wanted to show strength and power to the settlements around.

Which is also why it has things like gardens and not a training ground or barricades. It’s less for war, more for a noble’s house with some protection. This place’s centuries old," Hotaru talked.

"It’s called Casten Castle, it must have a relation to the river we took. Question is, which came first?" Fumeko posed.

"I don’t actually know. I’d think you know more about Burntish history than me," Hotaru’s ears ticked.

"The name doesn’t ring a bell. Tiffy?" Fumeko turned.

"Nay." She then took a pause from looking around, "When did thou earn mine blessing to call I as such...?"

"You’ll get used to it," Jotou opened the wooden door into a dining hall it seemed. "I’m surprised it’s not a living room," Jotou poked her head back out. "We should be looking for a study, a library, maybe even a bedroom. I don’t think we’re getting much from a pantry."

"The cellar or dungeons might even give us something. We’re gonna search the whole place anyway, we didn’t come all the way here to look under a desk and leave," Fumeko replied.

"Mine understanding is that we seek that which is unknown—that being the fervent cult bent on authority over this fair land. However, what pray tell is to be attained here? Evidence of that new deity that rode off on a drake?

Surely thine aspiration must have a clearer course ahead. Thou informed I that he merely lingered here for a time. I find it akin to mortals with no dwelling residing in abodes they ought not," Tiffany furrowed her brows.

"If Ambrose was just some homeless dude, I’d agree. But knowing how meticulous the cult is, I doubt something wasn’t happening or something didn’t prompt him to stay here," Jotou stated.

"What if Ambrose’s last name is Casten and he’s super, super old?" Asobi pondered aloud.

"How can someone live that long," Hotaru seeded doubt.

"Well magic duh; silly Hotaru. But Ambrose did talk a lot about Burnetrout changing over centuries and what it used to be. Aren’t gods supposed to not die? Or did Ambrose just really like history?" Asobi’s thoughts continued.

Fumeko held a hand to her chin.

The redhead let out a disgruntled noise, "Magic has limitations."

"Magic is magic. It doesn’t have limitations," Jotou argued.

Hotaru rolled her eyes, "Okay fine, but a person with magic still does. It’d mean that Ambrose would’ve found some way to achieve immortality or an extended lifespan. If it were easy, nobody would die in the world."

"It doesn’t have to be easy. We’ve seen what the new gods are capable of," Fumeko added.

The wolf-girl tightened her lips.

"Asobi isn’t wrong. It’s not conclusive, but it’s a good possibility knowing what we know of him," the brunette replied.

"Yay!"

"Oh no, Hotaru’s wrong," Jotou said monotonously as she opened up the door that led into the musty and cobweb-ridden drawing room of the castle.

"You’re such a child," Hotaru sneered.

"Shut up, both of you," Fumeko ordered.

"I’m not the one who-"

"Shhh!" Fumeko halted Hotaru’s protest and furrowed her brows. Her eyes darted around and she seemed to search for a sound.

Hotaru took notice and glanced around as well. Her ears pricked.

"What? What is it?" Asobi hushed.

"Hiic."

"Sounds like weird rats or something?" Fumeko focused harder. "I don’t know from where," she whispered.

"It’s not rats, it sounds like crying? It’s squeaky, but faint," Hotaru’s ears flickered. "I can’t really tell from where either."

"Does this place have plumbing?" Jotou asked, hardly hearing anything.

"Tis origin must be found. Allow one such as I to aid in such an endeavour," Tiffany stepped forward in the hallway. She parted her lips and let out soft echoes that travelled down the path. They paused for the next few moments.