Downgrade

Next in Line

Vixen wasn’t fine in leaving the young child alone in the Orphanage. Soon, Hannah will be sent to the training ground or she will be adopted by some. She wanted to keep her, hence she had plans to discuss with Kinzel about the matter. Cody was in approval of it. He also doesn’t want the girl to be kept with those she rarely even know. Family is for sure a thing to be revered, but it’s imperative to choose sensibly.

“She’ll be well.” Cody spoke out of the blue. He had seen Vixen intermingled several laments.She had been attached to the children lately, as if it was her responsibility to take care of them. She wished that Macky is alright and promised that they will take him back.

“Hannah doesn’t deserve to be left out.” She muttered, kicking some pebbles on the ground. The sun was shining hard upon them.

“She’ll learn things eventually inside. Probably take them as motivations to get out. Don’t worry, I can see Kinzel will be in favor of taking her with us.” Cody made a smile enough to reassure her.

They stopped by. Vixen rummaged the market in search of the old lady whom she promised to work under in recompense for the lotus flower. The place was fairly getting occupied with the hefty mass. People writhed as they hurled with each other, finding what they needed. After some time of meandering, they have reconciled with the dear woman with smiles.

“Oh, dear. Where have you been? I kept waiting for you since the last days.” The woman said with delight as soon as she recognized the two. Cody kept his distance, in thoughts that most traders are great cons, tricksters who heartened gambling with them. A lot have been dealing with them and their filfy deeds. “Aye, what does your partner doing?” The woman added when she spotted the incongruous behavior of him. He gave her a shrugged. Vixen stood uprightly and turned to confront him with a scowl. He raised both his hands in agreement not to do any rubbish deed. Vixen broached the focus of having her to drudge for the lady.

“Good day. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to aid you in the farm. There was a crucial trip that we’ve attended.” Vixen exclaimed remorsefully, taking herself inside her shop.

The lady gave her a tap. “It’s okay. You can call me Favia, by the way.”

The name befitted her. “Thank you. Your name suits you well. So…how can I help you?” Vixen was undeniably late for her work.

“Thank you. And what’s your name again?”

“I’m Kinzel. Kinzel Morenz and that’s Cody Willows.” Vixen said and pointed to Cody.

“Nice to meet you both. For now, you can water the plants and till the soil for those dandelions.” Favia told her. She grazed upon Cody who was just gawking upon the casks filled with honey. “Do you want some?” She opted with a soft voice. The man eyed her, didn’t say a single word.

“Don’t mind him. He’s cracked.” Kinzel muttered as she launched to plow the soil of the plants. She didn’t ponder that it would be amusing just to do it. She was having a like.

Favia was a bit distressed with Cody’s behavior and left with no choice but to let him be. The ladies didn’t bother to be mindful of him and permitted him to stray. Cody wasn’t even sure what’s going around but he needed air. These past days he would just gape for nil as if he had engulfed himself with the dead. He observed those who’re above them at the opening. The fountain was still the same – gushing water upwardly. Publics are still the same – mortifying those low rankers. All things are still in place. He had lost hope in a sudden gaze, not until Favia nudged him by his side. He precipitously flinched as if he had seen a wraith. The woman gushed in glee, grasping still her gut.

“W-What are you doing here?” He tremored.

“Well…I was thinking you want some of these.” The woman responded and handed a substantial amount of honey. The smell embraced him – he couldn’t think properly and it made him licked his lips.

“Why are you doing this?” His brusqueness was showing – defacing again Favia, but she just offered him a smile. Cody was still in a fuss to equal the woman’s sympathy.

“You don’t have to give me a grimace. I’m not doing this for an underhand reason. I just want to have close friends.” Favia merely said.

Cody breathed. He guessed he was wrong. He doesn’t need to be so anxious with everyone. He doesn’t need to be pejorative. “I-I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. And, this is for you.” The woman replied and gladly gave the pouch with honey to him. He took it with a smile and thanked her.

Favia was a woman who isn’t full with herself and just desired to have close, true friends. Selling flowers and ornaments is not so fine enough to sustain herself, yet, in precise, she was grateful to meet the two, hoping that they will have a bond. Often, in Embreal City, greed is the thing that keeps them off in bringing connections and even unpretentious conversation with a queerer. Everyone was laying off their inferior impetus to do mischief. No one needs to trust the other; No one needs to seek help from one another – they were rules made by the people. To them, self-reliance is a must and if a foundation was built, it will be a rare thing to treasure, just like the Era. The two were getting along and eventually returned to Favia’s shop.

Vixen was occupied in watering the flowers not until she was astonished at what she saw from a distance – the two were talking so close. Did they just click? She thought. The woman waved at her, bliss was seen in her eyes. She quickly gave a flap and continued her work. Eventually, the two arrived as nothing had happened from the very moment. Vixen watched Cody with a question.

“Am I a spectre?” His eyebrows went up and curved.

“N-No…I thought I have seen you with a nagging face a while ago.” She shrugged.

“Oh that, I already apologized to Favia.”

“Yes, dear. He’s such a good boy and a cutie.” Favia gave a sneer and went to wash some ceramic colored pots. Some visited the shop and the old lady was able to vend her plants. She thought that the two were her luck for upbringing customers to her place. She giggled. Vixen silently smiled in the corner. Cody helped her in cutting the twigs. Time ran fast and they have finished their work. Slowly, Vixen was able to pay for the lotus flower. She still got three days felt to work under Favia. The woman thanked them for helping her and gave Vixen an amount of honey too. They waved goodbye as they hoped to see each other again soon.

“Why did you even help me pay that flower?” Vixen suddenly pondered as they headed back home.

“Well…I didn’t have a choice.”

Vixen simpered. “You just embraced closure with that woman. Is she your type?”

Cody scrabbled his back. “Of course not. I just saw a motherly side of her.” He made a reassuring smile.

Vixen didn’t ask again and laid her arms inside her coat. Tossing a pebble, Vixen kept the ball she wanted to give to Macky inside her pocket, deciding to keep it until she sees him. The two of them were making their pace. It was getting dusk. Demureness hailed them as soon as they arrived. Crickets offered them an alarm. Cody set the code and went directly inside. The place was in total darkness – no one is around. They called everyone, but there was no answer to keep. Vixen headed to the basement and saw someone resting on the couch. Cody was there in a moment, bringing with him his book he had left on the chair this morning. The guy’s eyes are glued on the ground, unwearyingly rubbing his temple. It was Miguel. He slowly lifted his head and recognized the two. He forced a smile and waved.

“What happened to you?” Cody inquisitively asked and sat beside him.

“Hey…you just arrived.” Miguel wasn’t still thinking straight.

Vixen traveled to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. She offered and waited for him to finish it. A sounding guzzle was enough to quench his thirst.

“So, tell us, what happened to you? And where are the others?” Cody reverted his question.

Vixen stooped by the table and spotted something. It was the sheet having the written notes of Kinzel and Loshiana.

The two of you kept hurling around. We’ll be gone on a trip that doesn’t suit you. Yet, you need to check somewhere else. Go find some answers. The moment you come back, bringing not even a single one, then don’t dare to set your feet again in the base.

Love, Kinzel

Kinzel left the letter together with the address. Glooms have just crawled their bodies and realized that it was a threat and not a bit of advice.

“That was just a harsh thing to say.” Cody acted like he’s in unendurable pain, scouring his chest.

Vixen trudged and rubbed her forehead. Their day was really in a bad state. She hissed upon Kinzel’s bluntness and even in a very short message, she’s acting atrocious.

“That woman…What is she even thinking of?!” Vixen hollered. She was breathing hard, her chest was moving as if she’s a bull who has seen a red flag.

“They left to meet the messenger.” Miguel cut the possibility of having an outrage from Vixen. “A message was sent in our base with an address being written. We thought that it’s connected with someone from the other levels.” He added.

“Where are they heading?” Cody abruptly asked.

“The Old Mill.”

“We have to catch up on them –.”

Just before Vixen could finish her words, Miguel cut her off. “You have a different mission to succeed. I’m quite sure the boss had told you through that message.”

“Damn that woman.”

“Vix...we have no choice but to check this place.” Cody said holding the letter.

“Cody is right,” Miguel gradually stood up from his seat. He just composed himself again. “And I’m going with you two.”

“Then…let’s catch that fish.”

“You mean the messenger.”

“That person is still a fish. He just swam across to us without thinking twice. Tsh.”