Valenca
Eventually, the trees of the mountains began to give way to farms and open fields. As they reached the end of the forest, Sirene stopped and motioned for Julia to come closer.
"Yes?" Julia asked, and noticed Sirene looked a bit serious.
"You best keep that fancy magic of yours hidden." Sirene said in a half-whisper.
"I already know that, why do you think I asked if the road was clear earlier?" Julia countered, whispering as well.
"Just making sure you get it. Come on." Sirene said, continuing to walk.
The sun was low in the now orange sky as they passed through the farmland surrounding Valenca. A shadow of its former self compared to the massive city it was in Sirene's youth, the evidence of former glory was everywhere if you knew where to look, from decaying walls far beyond the current city walls, to remnants of buildings in the fields.
"This city's glory has long since passed, hasn't it?" Julia asked, as she looked around at the ruins, which were numerous despite their obvious age.
"When I was in my 30s, this was one of the largest cities in Southern Karand." Sirene said, sounding slightly sad. "They squat in the ruins of greatness."
"Greatness?" Julia asked, as someone waved at Sirene, and Sirene waved back. Sirene looked back at Julia and nodded before speaking.
"Once, this was the capital of the Rozen Republica, the greatest republic of ancient Karand and not just because it was my homeland." Sirene said, almost wistfully.
"What happened to it?" Julia asked, watching as Sirene changed course and walked up to a ruined building not far off the main path. "Did you know who lived here?"
"Nearly nine hundred years ago I had the best meal of my life in this building." Sirene said, placing her hand on the collapsed wall. "By the time I returned to Valenca just 10 years later, it was already a long abandoned ruin. Starting to understand why my master calls my immortality a curse."
"Who's this master you keeping talking about?" Julia asked, approaching Sirene, and sitting on a stone outside the building. Sirene shrugged and sat as well before speaking.
"Lady Eigengrau, the Goddess of Death." Sirene stated quite matter of factly. "Met her for the first time as a teenager, in my hometown."
"A Goddess?" Julia asked, quite shocked.
"Should have seen my face when I met her." Sirene said with a grin. "She came to my hometown."
"Where's your hometown?" Julia asked.
"Long gone." Sirene said quietly. "But we'll go there in the winter."
"You seem quite certain I'll continue to travel with you." Julia said with a sly smile.
"Give me a good reason you won't." Sirene said, playfully punching Julia in the arm. "Come on, let's get going. Dwelling on the past isn't healthy."
"Easy for you to say, you're immortal!" Julia shouted, following Sirene as she sprang to her feet and resumed walking toward Valenca.
Sirene didn't answer and just smirked, continuing her signature unhurried walk toward the city. Julia sighed and kept pace with her. She briefly glanced back at the building and could swear she saw a pair of eyes looking at her from one of the windows, but they quickly disappeared. Shrugging, Julia turned her attention toward the city they were starting to approach.
The newer walls as Sirene called them still looked old and weathered to Julia, as if the city itself was falling apart while still inhabited. Even the armour of the city guard at the gates as they passed through with a wave from Sirene seemed run down. The guards didn't even so much as look at Julia, but Sirene assured her that was because she was with her, something that Julia doubted, and could see on Sirene's face behind the smile she nearly always wore.
As they walked through the city, Julia noticed the buildings were only slightly better kept than the ruins surrounding the city, and were in deplorable condition. Questioning Sirene got nowhere, as she just didn't answer her questions on why the city was falling apart, no matter what or how she asked. Eventually, Julia lost her patience.
"Where are we even going?" Julia demanded, tugging at Sirene's sleeve.
"The start of a series of answers." Sirene replied, raising an eyebrow. "The Shadow Court might know what you are, if nothing else."
Julia was intrigued but the name sounded sinister, and made her displeasure known immediately.
"That name even sounds evil, Sirene!" Julia protested, but much to her surprise, Sirene actually stopped and hit her on the face. "What was that for?" Julia asked, rubbing her cheek.
"You're not wrong, but The Shadow Court is quite literally all that remains of the Rozen Republica." Sirene said, sounding slightly cross. "Part criminal empire, part ancient library, and part religion. I'm one of the few people who can always get an audience."
"Let me guess, you trade knowledge?" Julia asked as they began to walk again.
"Well... you'll see. Come on." Sirene said cryptically, motioning for them to cut down an alley. The alley opened up into a small square surrounded by buildings, and a single city guard, but this one's armour was in quite good condition, and he saluted Sirene when he spotted her.
"Miss Ignitis, good to see you!" He said, standing to attention. "What brings you to the Shadow Court?"
"Need to speak to the Curia, Ken." Sirene said, tapping her foot.
"Of course of course." Ken replied, making a series of taps with his halberd on the paving stones. "Watch your step."
"Watch my-" Julia started to ask, but was cut off as the ground fell out from beneath her, swallowing both her and Sirene in an instant, leaving Ken alone in the courtyard.
"A new one, huh?" He said out loud to himself, before chuckling.
From the edge of the courtyard, a man muttered under his breath as he saw Julia and Sirene disappear into the Earth.
"The Shadow Court?" He said, clearly angry. "How am I going to explain this to mother? She would never believe they even exist!"
He muttered for some time before eventually leaving, skulking away into the shadows. Unknown to him, Ken was watching him the whole time, and tapped his halberd twice after the man left.