《Happiness Bends》


 The World Bank

    My eyes squinted as I stared at the steaming brick road. I couldn¡¯t believe this was the Town all the girls wanted to come to!


    I already missed the soft grass and the cool ground. It was such a long walk. I was on my papa¡¯s shoulders now.


    His golden hair smelled like oranges, bitter when I licked it.


    ¡°Papa, Where are we going?¡± I asked.


    I didn¡¯t get a chance to take the sliced tomatoes off the roof today.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to the bank,¡± he replied.


    I even remembered when I lied to the other girls about papa taking me to town with him. Now papa is really doing it.


    ¡°Where they keep the money?¡± I asked.


    The town was a blur away but every moment walking towards the sun felt forever,


    The road wasn¡¯t too far, so I thought he had a carriage for us, but noo¡­


    ¡°Gerda, you¡¯re so smart. It¡¯s not that kind of bank. People are banks,¡± he said.


    I wasn¡¯t allowed to say he was my papa. We had to call him a customer.


    The other girls keep saying I''m a farm girl even when we only have a tomato garden.


    ¡°Nuh uh! People have cards, I heard it from the other girls!¡± i shouted.


    Papa kneeled down and put me down on the hot bricks as we looked at each other in surprise.


    ¡°Gerda! Don¡¯t you ever say that!¡±


    I stretched out my arms to hug him and stood on his shoes, hopping from the ground, burning hot!


    ¡°I have talent,¡± papa said, ¡°I give that old lady money so you can eat, don¡¯t talk about cards¡±.


    My eyes quivered as I couldn''t bear it any longer


    ¡°No!¡± i shouted, ¡°I have talents too¡±.


    He moved his shoe away as my feet got back to the scalding floor.


    I couldn¡¯t take the heat at all but hasn¡¯t he always given me and granny too much to bear.


    ¡°That¡¯s not how they work!¡± he shouted.


    ¡°Did you get nothing from my dried tomato idea? What about when I fixed your display?¡±


    His shoulder staggered as he shifted his knee off the floor as he pretended to be dumbfounded.


    I know he¡¯s been doing better ever since i gave him that idea when I was four years old.


    We stood surprised in a scalding heat - was he really going to wait until I climbed his shoes?


    I knitted my eyebrows in a deep stare, a bell rang as a strong breeze of cold air wafted. I dashed into the door as gladness eased into me but my eyes still burned as water simply blocked my view as I stared disgruntled at the floor.


    I got lifted up and hugged as my body was cooled by skin and I heard a woman¡¯s voice. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay,¡± she said, patting my back. I couldn¡¯t breathe! I gasped for breath as I got irritated by trickles on my face.


    ¡°You¡¯re so smart and you can do whatever you want, you know that don¡¯t you, Don¡¯t let anyone tell you different. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Gerda,¡± i whimpered.


    ¡°Gerda, today is a hard day for everyone. Your daddy is having a bad day, it¡¯s your daddy right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm!¡± i nodded. I couldn¡¯t stop wheezing.


    ¡°So you¡¯re a gellhorn, who¡¯s your mommy?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Put me down,¡± I said.


    Her body was soft and cool that i forgot that I wasn''t supposed to tell anyone that! she''s going to get me into trouble!


    ¡°Shhh, Shhh - let me speak to your daddy okay.¡±


    I looked outside as papa looked at us as he tried to open the door.


    I wiped my face as I looked at the woman more clearly. She put me down and pinched her lips.


    She walked towards the counter as I watched her walk, she wore thin hoof shoes that clicked on the floor and pajama style clothes that glimmered orange like a candy wrapper luckily she wore white underneath, i could see straight through her skirt hem.


    ¡°Have you cooled down?¡± the woman asked.


    Papa took a moment to let the cooling air refresh him since he was damped in heat.


    ¡°If this wasn¡¯t a registered jeweler¡­!¡± my papa shouted.


    ¡°You¡¯ll what? I no longer have allegiance! Spare me the squabble and take this, here!¡±. She gave a shiny black pouch to my papa.


    ¡°Let me join your table at the ceremony banquet,¡± she said.


    Why was this room so sparkly? I walked to the counter and started looking at the shiny stone. I started getting cold and I saw a blanket on the chair and wrapped it around me.


    Touching the blanket was so slippery but I did it while holding my suspender straps on my shoulders that held up my pants.


    ¡°I¡¯m Jocelyn Erranart. I was the third assistant to the camp of Lady Kou.


    I know you¡¯re not involved in the outskirt and I''ve dealt with many merchants there, I¡¯ll have some trouble but¡­ can we make due?¡± Ms. Erranart asked.


    ¡°You worked with Kou the castle owner? Yeah! sure i¡¯d be happy to have you on my table at the banquet!¡± My father replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ it¡¯s not that simple," jocelyn was deep in thought as she clasped her hand into a fist until her thumb got cut from her diamond ring on her finger. "Castles are hard to keep for over a month, Kou is just starting and my team didn¡¯t do well for her but if we play our cards right¡­¡±


    ¡°Forget it then!¡± My papa said, ¡°It¡¯s too fierce and the banquet will only get worse. We don¡¯t have enough charisma to take a stand¡±.


    ¡°Even so, you¡¯re the only person that has a mandatory table for the past two years!¡± Ms. Erranart shouted, ¡°that¡¯s a ridiculous amount of negotiation cards¡±.


    ¡°It¡¯s the bloody kiddies table - it serves absolutely no purpose!¡± my father shouted.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you won¡¯t acknowledge your daughter, Gerda!¡± ms.erranart said. I gulped as i looked at my father and this woman!


    She told on me! Now he knows that i said his my papa!


    ¡°Gerda,¡± Ms. Erranart said, ¡° how many steps are in those sundried tomatoes you make?¡±


    ¡°Thirteen¡­ do you like them?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never tasted it, sweety,¡± she replied, ¡°but Bice has ¡±.


    she turned towards papa who pallored yet in a ruddy color was riddled complex.


    ¡°Bice?¡± he said completely focused on her.


    "what is this pale from anxiety and red from embarrasment, a lover she is, correct?"


    She was so smart, i didn''t care if papa was like this, but to capture emotions so fast... "Wow".


    I felt as if i moved while my brain froze and i mistakenly bumped on one of the glass and it opened.


    inside was what papa said they sold, jewelry i reached out for that had melting red colors, a necklace rich in intense red.


    ¡°She¡¯s been the interior ministry and held the rank Bice for so many decades, i don¡¯t even Know her real name while Kou is finding it hard holding to the Marcella rank. Bice is the reason you¡¯ve been granted the table and not once have you brought your Secret weapon, bring her to the banquet - let some arrangement be made,¡± Jocelyn said.


    They gestured at each other, while my papa was shrugging not noticing me.


    I was Now like Ms.Erranart with my shiny blanket wrapped around me and a necklace that struggled to fit through my hair buns


    now they were loose.


    I saw my face in the mirror, and my hair!


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere near the Bice,¡± ahh papa said.


    ¡°I heard your conversation, Your daughter engaged you about agriculture in an impervious attribute, that¡¯s two different talents!¡± ahh jocelyn said.


    ¡°She¡¯s just affected by green money that gave her persistence!¡± ahh papa said.


    ¡°It¡¯s imperviousness, I''d know that from anyone with the intellect attribute!¡± ahh Ms. Erranart said. ¡°This is a hassle, just go to the parade, I''ll meet you there once i get her an essence from the bank¡± ahh papa said.


    ¡°You¡¯re hiding something, that¡¯s why you don¡¯t want to meet bice! Who¡¯s her mother!¡± ahh Ms. Erranart said.


    My father paused as he grumbled to himself - i can finally speak!


    ¡°Papa!¡± - they both looked at me as i held on a strand of my locks, ¡°My hair!¡± They clattered towards me as they knelt right in front of me. ¡°My hair is red!¡± i shouted. A few strands of my hair were red. ¡°My hair is bleeding!¡± i shouted.


    ¡°Calm down, you¡¯re hair isn¡¯t bleeding - this necklace changes color of hair, Right, Elia?¡±


    ¡°To purple! This is an Charisma store for amethyst customers, what am i looking at Gellhorn!¡± Jocelyn said.


    She admitted to herself that there was one red mineral interlaced with the purple amethyst necklace.


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ look, i¡¯ll meet you at the parade - i¡¯m sure an essence from the bank will help.¡± Papa took the necklace off me and held my hand as we walked off.


    Jocelyn frantically followed us to the door - i glanced at her and she had a crinkly smile towards me. ¡°Can i keep the blanket?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Gerda - don¡¯t worry about that,¡± Ms. Erranart shouted as she waved. ¡°Papa, hold me,¡± i said.


    We left the store into the hot weather. I liked ms. Erranart, so i paid attention to the road. I''d like to come see her again.


    Finding my way was so liberating, especially when the community hunted me in the forest, that was fun.


    The town showed me I wasn''t the only one that wanted to make a path. Papa knew his way around but¡­ i didn¡¯t have what i was looking for.


    We went up a bunch of stairs as my father started getting wet and yucky on my hands. I could hear him breathing as he held onto my arm with his yucky hands, i was already avoiding holding on to his head. He opened the huge door and collapsed on his knees. ¡°Hello, anyone here?¡± papa shouted.


    My father huffed like he was in pain. I held my fist to my mouth avoiding sucking my thumb. looking around at this huge place - chairs, tables, papers - there was nothing to help papa out.


    ¡°Hello? Anyone there¡± I repeated papa.


    I fondled my papa¡¯s ear and my thumb was almost sucked into my mouth when i heard a shout. Papa pushed my hand away as if hurt his ear.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there!, you¡¯re not supposed to be here!¡±


    Two men walked up to us, papa tried to stand up and i bumped into him to get closer and he fell. ¡°Do you have a message from the Bank owner - Orlon? Why has he not arrived!¡±


    The big wide man said, my eyes calculated, i saw a skinny man next to him in a suit like papa. ¡°I¡­¡± My father struggled to speak.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to get an essence!¡± i said, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to give me one¡±.


    ¡° Foolish !¡± the wide man shouted at my papa but my eyes were going to the skinny man. The skinny man twirled his mustache as he stared at me with wide-eyes. ¡°Balandir! Wait,¡± the skinny man said. He ran to the desk and after the moment,


    I realized there was a strange feeling only when it was gone.


    ¡°Gellhorn take a moment to recover then come take a seat.¡± the skinny man said. ¡°Julian, What in Haruna are you thinking!¡± Balan said. Bayandir?


    The skinny man ignored the wide man and looked at my father but took glances at me. ¡°Gellhorn what attribute are you?¡± The skinny man asked.


    My papa put up four fingers. ¡°Leadership. How many stars?¡± Papa put up one finger.


    ¡°It should be better now,¡± he said, ¡° Balandir, keep an eye at the door, his attribute is common¡±. ¡°I earned a table with ¡®common¡¯ attribute, which gives me some prestige,¡± papa said.


    Papa got up, he was afraid of my hand, I wanted to hold him. We took a seat across from the man.


    ¡°Ah! i found your picture: Landon Gellhorn, yes, you have the right of issue of one Essence under your family name,¡± the skinny man said.


    ¡°I prefer to purchase one under the business in my name?¡± papa said.


    ¡°Sundried tomatoes, i see - For haste, a discount under a random essence is in order.¡± Julian said.


    Papa nodded.


    I glanced at the far end as four more people came towards us. The skinny man put a finger to his lip showing the others to be quiet but the first to speak was Balandir.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you are all here! Come see this nonsense Julian is doing! One child is greater than his whole world, helping a child with an essence with so many pressing matters happening everywhere, after three day i swear i¡¯m gone from this world per our agreement¡±.


    ¡°An offworlder has the nerve¡­¡± papa said but Julian reached across the table and held his arm. ¡°Landon! He¡¯s a Marquee that¡¯s an equivalent rank to a Marcella of our world!¡± Julian said.


    Papa looked around holding my hand with wide eyes.


    ¡°These three men are Dukes and this lady is a Bice all of equivalent ranks,


    Now slowly show me your displays, both of you¡­ let¡¯s do our business and pretend we never saw anyone here today¡± Julian said, keeping his hand at the four people.


    Papa nodded and leaned forward, not letting go of my hand.


    Papa opened his display which was a brown floating window, I''ve seen it plenty of times. I opened mine which was black,


    I couldn''t use it yet - I had to wait until the white bars were still blocking the thingies i have to see; but Mister wanted to see it and papa didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°Okay, i¡¯m processing all possible essences, it will take a few moments.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for helping us, an essence would be great for her psychology,¡± papa said. They all gasped except Balandir who grunted.


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    ¡°You¡¯re simply getting an essence for the psychological attributes?¡± Julian asked.


    The four people hovered over my chair as they looked at my display, even pressing it. ¡°She¡¯s impulsive and clumsy. I had to call neighbors for a manhunt to find her in the forest¡±.


    ¡°She¡¯s just six years old,¡± The woman said.


    ¡°Please miss Zyrex. One moment,¡± Julian said, ¡°This is necessary to accomplish our goals¡±.


    ¡°What do you mean, accomplish ¡®our¡¯ goals?¡± papa said.


    Julian became as strict as a teacher as he twirled his mustache.


    ¡°Bice has called these esteemed guests to aid the intricate complexity of our global economic landscape. Our analysts have predetermined a catastrophe in our fiscal and monetary forces. Regrettably this means that the general public will be in economic chaos and just to inform you further, all banking services will be suspended indefinitely.¡± Julian said.


    Papa blocked his mouth and nose as I copied him before he slapped the table.


    ¡°You can¡¯t just close an entire reserve bank!¡± papa said ¡°How can a bank be so negligent!¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Balandir grumbled, ¡°City boy dare talk of negligence!¡±


    ¡°It still has the audacity to pay you!¡± My papa roared.


    Balandir took out his axe from his sheath while the other men stopped him from rushing us!


    ¡°Gellhorn is it? You do understand that ecocurrency runs on scouts and soldiers - The quality of life you have is built on fought expertise and trying days," Miss Zyrek said.


    ¡°We''ve worked hard to accomplish our peace,¡± papa said, "I was a scout right next to the Bice you revere, you dont even know her name!"


    ¡°Ha!¡± Balandir snorted, ¡°you were on your knees on a two-star strength, you think you will last a day on the outskirts!¡±


    Julian threw four huge pouches on the table, each a different color; red, silver, green and purple. Papa turned his attention to him


    But Julian never spoke as if calculating in his head. The woman Zyrek spoke.


    ¡°Mr. Gellhorn, if I may be so forward, the truth of the matter is that this city will face an Imminent doom. The very fabric of your society has been given an unrelentless kindness from your Bice and with that, the urban citizens have overlapped their needs, granted there is a need for a vacated area to retreat and relax, but have you, like many others not used the currency for your lineage on unnecessary luxuries?¡± Miss Zyrek said.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Papa stammered.


    ¡°Mr. Gellhorn we are not suppressing you," Miss zyrek said, "...you have been enabled, coddled, condoned and pardoned. The amount Mr. Julian has given the last amount the bank has, it''s insufficient but you may monopolize it to reach my world if your prestige is enough, "Miss Zyrek said.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying this is the end of Brashtilia?¡± papa asked.


    ¡°There is no citadel in any of our worlds. The luxury you have is beyond measure, miss zyerk said, "My home world is full of mages and the endless war is always at our doorstep. you¡¯d need to have developer¡¯s skill to utilize which is why


    Julian made the offer. The currency will help but this¡­¡± Zyrek said.


    I stared at her finger as I made the connection that she pointed at my display.


    ¡°Do displays have something to do with developer¡¯s skills?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Go to your parade, try and win over as much prestige as you can, leave this little girl in our care - it''s my opinion that Julian wishes to hold on to the child, I''m sorry Julian but we need to expedite the matter.¡±


    ¡°Is her display that important?¡± Balandir asked.


    ¡°I don''t know, I''ve never seen a black display before, julian?¡± Zyrek said.


    Julian didn''t say a word and waited patiently. ¡°You''ll bring her back?¡± Papa said.


    ¡°You''re concerned about what your family are doing about the situation and this girl is your illegitimate child. We all have three days grace.¡± Julian said.


    Granny spoke about grace a lot, she was the most powerful woman when she was younger But what did he mean by the days.


    ¡°I''ll be back as soon as I can, Gerda, stay with¡­¡±


    ¡°Lyra,¡± Miss Zyrek said.


    ¡°...Lyra - Do as they say Gerda. And you¡­¡± Papa pointed at julian.


    ¡°I''m confessing everything to Bice, if anything happens to her¡­¡± Papa said.


    ¡°Please sign her out of your display. I trust your new found sincerity will not be lost,¡± Julian said. Papa''s head turned red as he quickly flicked his screen, took the money bags and ran off. I scratched my eyebrows where my eyes should be, something didn''t sit right.


    ¡°Were you talking about grace? What''s three days grace?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± julian said with curved lips, ¡° you¡¯re our grace, the legendary Bice but it might mean something different to your dad.¡±


    Julian stood up and pressed a piece of paper on my screen as a light crossed through the paper. I stood up on the chair as I looked at it, I never knew you could do that! I looked at miss zyrek who was reading the papers print on my screen as were all of them. There was a green tick and my hand print.


    ¡°Congratulations young''un, the document you just signed made you the owner of this bank.¡± Balandir said.


    "Affiliate owner, if she survives..." Julian said.


    I stood on the chair, giving a glance at everyone, as my mind blurred.


    My mind sped through each empty hallway as it became filled with people.


    Each door opened as I could see treasures everywhere and some doors that had liquid swirls


    that I couldn''t enter.


    ¡°Is there even such a thing as a bank in world laws? Balandir, she just became Marcella so she''s equal to you in rank.¡± Zyrek said.


    ¡°What?¡± Balandir said.


    ¡°For our objective, let us introduce ourselves,¡± Julian said.


    There was a room far away that felt warm but made me shiver. I shook as I looked at everyone.


    ¡°Lyra Zyrek, bice mage of the Zyrek castle.¡±


    ¡°Orwen sailik, Duke of the Kaizer stronghold¡±


    ¡°Lee fang of the Phoenix cultivators¡±


    ¡°Balandir Krug marquee of swift mountains¡±


    ¡°Gerda strashur Gellhorn, Bice of brashtilia¡± I said as natural as the air I breathed.


    ¡°I knew it,¡± Julian said, ¡°Julian bastion your vice deputy.¡±


    My name isn''t gellhorn? I''m a strashur?


    ¡°Julian was this worth an entire bank¡± orwen asked, ¡°her display is still encrypted.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better this way,¡± Balandir said, ¡° her display will guard better and the bank will protect her¡±. ¡°That last part requires intuition,¡± fang said.


    ¡°I have a measure for that,¡± Julian said, ¡°let¡¯s continue blocking the breach¡±.


    Miss Zyrek picked me up as we started walking more inside the bank.


    Everything felt more like granny''s house, even though we took twists and turns, I felt as if I knew where we were going, like a forest heading towards the body of a lake. I had a deep fear that made my head turn around to what laid beneath the bank.


    ¡°Julian, is the Strashur surname a known commodity in your world?¡± Miss Zyrek asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Julian said, ¡°your side?¡±


    ¡°Never heard of it,¡± Miss Zyrek replied.


    Everyone seemed tense as we entered a strange aura and immediately everyone let out their displays. Miss zyrek¡¯s screen blocked and moved the chilling wind as if flowing it out. Julian gave me a secret glance that alerted me to take out my screen as well, as i did¡­ The entire air in the room shook out with a drum beat!


    There was an explosion!


    ¡°What was that?¡± Miss zyrek asked as she clasped me closer to her. I muffled out of her neck, ¡°it was the door!¡±


    In my head I could see the explosion that blew the huge front doors of the bank. Miss zyrek found no comfort in this as she held me even tighter.


    ¡°Her display is still encrypted,¡± Orwen said, ¡°How is she¡­¡±


    ¡°We have a job to do!¡± Julian shouted as each passing surge of air was vacuumed out! The alertness felt prompt, can anyone else see this? My screen was rippling.


    ¡°Put her down! Get in position!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a madman Julian, bringing a child here!¡± Balandir shouted ¡°It¡¯s her screen that¡¯s doing this!¡± fang shouted.


    All of our hair was billowing in the wind but I felt composed as I noticed we surrounded a vortex. I did notice this a while ago but the strange thing is, I knew it¡¯s name - vortex.


    ¡°Ha! I can work much easier now!¡± Lyra zyrek shouted.


    Her screen turned into a bunch of runes that partially covered the breach.


    ¡°You¡¯re a genius julian!¡± Balandir shouted, ¡°Fang, how does it feel that a young¡¯un has taken your place? Eh! Intuition you say, fang?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t possible!¡± Orwell shouted.


    My mind warped at what just happened, the compressed itself blowing all the doors of the bank including the front door.


    Their faces either had awe at the breach as it was closing or awe at me but they didn¡¯t Look at my display that was pulsing like a drum shaking the screen, the room and the air¡­


    Finally i saw the white bars crack - the white bars that always annoyed me, when it was disabled in class, i annoyed the other girls when the teachers said, i had to use their display like i was thumbsucker fondling their ears but finally! I got excited as I never had to use papa¡¯s display again because now I can finally see words and numbers on the screen.


    ¡°Violette!¡± I read.


    ¡°Hello Gerda,¡± the display said.


    ¡°Yeeeess!!!!¡± julian shouted.


    The breach was about to close before it slightly reopened.


    ¡°Initiating onyx spec-ops display, engaging phantasm: purple claw bear - erios. Commissioning current party, sending token to strashur house offshore bank account.¡±


    A light streaked past to the exit - i knew where it was going, it was going to a vortex that will take it far away from here. The silky fluid bear with a purple claw entered the breach and I could see information that belonged to everyone here.


    ¡°It sifted through my display in a second!¡± Orwell said.


    ¡°Why! Why are you opening the breach!¡± Miss Zyrek shouted. ¡°Let it work - I was banking on this!¡± Julian said.


    The room was enveloped into darkness¡­ a fluid white light emerged in the shape of a bear with a purple claw. It entered into the breach. ¡°Calculating¡­ please wait.¡±


    The entire room was black but I could see everyone trying to brighten their display to no luck.


    ¡°My recommendation is that you enter the breach, do you comply?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Julian said, ¡°Distinguished guests, let me remind you, brashtilia has already paid¡±.


    The room was pitch black with a billowing wind and now Violette wanted us to jump into the vortex.


    ¡°What is the guarantee of success, the percentage, when will we get out?¡± Lyra asked.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know anything about this, Orlon said we just have to close it,¡± Orwell said. ¡°The treasures from this bank is spat out,¡± Balandir said, ¡°I¡¯m keeping any loot i find¡±


    They all shouted to each other as I stopped listening and looked at the pulsing black display. I made my decision.


    ¡°the percentage of success Is not numerical, your convictions will be tested¡± Violette said, answering Lyra''s question.


    "Gerda jump in," Violette said to me.


    ¡°Gerda Strashur has entered the breach - Conviction 100%¡± Violette announced.


    I don''t know what happened above me as i heard noises from above, i just jumped in.


    I was in the air of darkness that felt forever as I felt something past me and exploded.


    ¡°Erios: protective paw!¡± Violette said.


    I flew inside the tunnels darkness and blades flickered in the dark as the purple paw


    exploded into a bubble protecting me and spluttered on ten people. Someone captured me in mid-air.


    I could see in the darkness, even better that i could see five people clustered together around me.


    ¡°I got the loot, strategic retreat!¡± The woman who captured me said.


    She wore a green cape and brown clothes, that¡¯s all I saw before a huge arrow came towards us.


    She straighten her hands as i fell from her luckily she was just two peoples height in the air.


    I landed on my feet as my fear from falling from the roof fell away.


    ¡°Letty is anchored! Ambush!¡± I heard shouts.


    ¡°Get out of here kid,¡± Letty said


    ¡°Ask her if were in a fog of war and the co-ordinates¡° Violette voice sputtered.


    ¡°Where am i in the fog of war?¡± I asked.


    In a vast volley of barrage, Letty simply looked at me with her body frozen.


    ¡°Top Lane River,¡± Letty said in disbelief.

 The mentored crawl

    Treasure flew into the white light room of bank, i looked up and i just knew,


    As the owner of the bank, i just got rich but the true value was down here.


    Letty looked at me with starkly eyes, her eyes in the verdant lush of foliage full of anger in conviction haunted me as she shifted in movement and held her broadsword with one hand,


    Letty¡¯s skin had had greenery growing from but her porcelain skin and mushroom polka dot


    Didn¡¯t fit the forest and we were spotted easily as we shifted, moving the enemy into darkness as they hunted us, but she moved steadily not attacking but she couldn¡¯t drop me yet.


    I started understanding the circle of vision we had. The enemy could see the same about the same length.


    "Soft support is needed!" a bird said.


    ¡°I know,¡± Letty shouted, ¡°Wind blowing east, clouds moving west - Susurration Explode!¡±


    ¡°Bramble!¡±


    I heard the enemy as two forces shot two colors of emerald and olive collided.


    The bird passed a golden orb and liquids in a flask while we ran. Explosion rung on our left and clangor of steel near us...


    "A keepsake, for the next time we meet will be in war, ms. bank owner!" letty said.


    I didn¡¯t miss my chance to run.


    |observer ward : activated |


    "They say i''m evil, haha," A voice rang out from the golden orb"


    I bubbled my mouth, it was like the golden orb knew what i was thinking as i left on my own.


    Though its chuckles proved that i wasn¡¯t in danger even among the creatures that seemed


    human in the forest, I just knew from the distance they saw, I was practically invisible.


    Some were taller than me and fat, others were even taller and had long arms and legs.


    "Violette, is this an interface?" I enquired.


    I asked about the golden orb that was written ¡®observer ward¡¯ like it was scratched on.


    Violette didn''t answer but i knew this was correct, someone was watching and i walked through the forest following the orbs direction. The fighting was far behind as I heard a horn blow through the fog of darkness, I couldn''t see that far around me. I could hear footsteps but considering everything now, it was best they couldn''t see me and they left me alone because of the golden orb.


    Though i heard guttural sounds¡­ wolves.


    "Swaddling clothes of a farmer and doe eyes, fortune must favor you with the final round of Minerva, young brashtilian," A tall lanky man said.


    I looked towards the voice but i couldn''t see anything.


    "Ward augmentation," The voice said.


    My eyes changed! my eyes saw further all the way to the tunnel where a lanky old man stood.


    "Young brashtilian, i mean you no harm, come, come... young... what is your name?"


    "Gerda," I whispered in the dark.


    my whispers could be heard because i was holding the golden orb, i wasn''t freaked out by this - I''ve just never seen interfaces being used this way.


    "My name is Tepes, count Tepes. I mean you no harm, my fight isn''t in this world," He said.


    I walked up to him calmly and took a peek inside. There was projector screens of Letty,


    Even Julian and Miss Zyrek fighting.


    I ignored the tall man Tepes as I was in awe of the terrain visuals, that stern look Letty gave me surprised that i found it trustworthy¡­ everyone had a serious face...


    "A keepsake, for the next time we meet will be in war!" Letty said.


    I was fond of those words as they remained in my heart, i knew of war but i have never seen it.


    ¡­and most of all colors that allured the room, especially when they was clashing. It was like under water and noticing the sliver ripples on the water bed.


    Though it was intensely red, there was some that were green and silver and a touch of purple.


    Though my smile turned suspicious as i crossed my arms holding the straps of my bib overall.


    ¡°You noticed,¡± Tepes said.


    ¡°The colors only ripple when they¡¯re fighting or thinking but it¡¯s the same pattern¡±.


    My tiny voice seemed less needy and more determined and for too many reasons, i crossed my hand to my bib straps. Miss zyrek and the other only had one color and for that reason they were forced to retreat but the other two teams didn¡¯t directly focus on them and had multiple colors.


    ¡°Sprites,¡± Tepes said as if he knew what i was thinking.


    I felt more excited than ever before I started rambling.


    ¡°This person is shielding with his interface,¡± I pointed, ¡°though mostly red he has a touch of purple¡±.


    ¡°That is a tank (3), he has to defend and protect people, the purple is for deflection,¡± Tepes answered my rambles seamlessly without interrupting.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°This person is just full of silver and touch of green and he hides well,¡± I said.


    Tepes replied steadily and without haste despite communicating to someone rapidly.


    ¡°Full support (5), they are called hards, they¡¯re intellectuals, they think a lot in war,¡± he replied.


    I did notice that they get wounded quite a lot.


    ¡°And letty here,¡± I pointed.


    ¡°Change broader strategy,¡± Letty shouted in the screen, ¡°Implement new tactical planning¡±.


    Letty came out quite green though how she carried herself wasn¡¯t equal to the other green person when i saw him.


    ¡°Softs, such as soft support (4), she holds the balance between the core and hard position, she bruises easily, but does good damage,¡± Count tepes replied.


    It was my first time seeing what a green could do, i knew about the endless war and that i was raised to be green because i was simply born. The team retreated before anyone was fully hurt.


    I stood watching the terrain in the bends of the light shimmering on me as I calculated.


    Count Tepes smiled upon me as his tall body sat near mine.


    ¡°Our wards are smoked, check your six!¡±


    Letty looked at me as she checked the golden orb. I smiled back but she got back to searching.


    I¡¯ve never been happy, this was a well of information with glowing water everywhere, i couldn¡¯t help but smile as I played their movement over the projection terrain.


    ¡°Again,¡± I said to Violette, who pressed the control interface for me.


    ¡°What are those above their head?¡± I asked


    ¡°Their stars, those my dear girl are talents scorched with experience earned, right now they experimenting with the best combinations, only we can see them since their all mine?¡±


    ¡°WHat about me, i have talent!¡± I said in agony.


    ¡°I hope you know what to do with this,¡± Tepes said, leaving a vase on the floor, ¡°That has all the talent that I don''t need. You might not be able to dig yourself out but if those foreigners survive, they will help you¡±


    The vase disappeared slowly from top to bottom into my screen as Violette took it.


    ¡°Sir Tepes, do you always practice underground?¡± Violette asked.


    Violette cant be stingy since its my interface so i¡¯ll ignore it for now.


    ¡°practice is held underground to see our sprites but the endless war takes place in all planes, even space, that¡¯s why I couldn''t care less of a single Gellhorn¡±.


    ¡°I see..¡± Violette said, ¡°The normal lands aren''t like the cosmos, I guess¡±.


    I was so hyped from watching all the sprites i ignored his non-caring attitude to me.


    I watched three teams fight and mobilize in a blazing fury. Mr. Tepes commented rapidly.


    Their interface screen was a shield, their weapons coming from their shields as they troughed through the mud by the bank group was getting closer to where i am but it was very slow. I watched Letty fight ferociously for hours and encroached into the other team.


    The bank group still had to fight swarms of creatures in the jungle and they started calling my name, hoping i wasn¡¯t hurt and i knew it was my time to go into the fray.


    I got a bit smarter listening to Count tepes talking into his interface.


    Today was not my day, but one day¡­ I¡¯ll be in this fight.


    I walked out without saying goodbye, Count tepes could see me anyways as i felt my blood rush in anxiety as i entered the jungles with many eyes.


    Lyra Zyrek, Orwen sailik ,Lee fang ,Balandir Krug and julian were in tatters and wounded as they poured stinging liquid on themselves, they weren¡¯t difficult to find since i studied the map.


    ¡°Gerda!¡± Julian said.


    I looked at them, they were clearly more powerful than letty and her group but they couldn¡¯t work together because their personality clashed, lee entered the fray alone and julian circled though he was strong, he had no resources and the rest were easily harmed, balandir had no one to protect.


    They had all looked at me and rushed up to me and checked my body, i only had a couple of scratches from twigs and barks but they tended my wound with salves not saying anything.


    Today was a day none of us would forget, to know that there was a great expanse underground.


    ¡°Oh I have a gift,¡± I said. I took out the vase count tepes gave me.


    ¡°A talent vase?¡± Balandir said. ¡°How many stars are in it?¡± Lyra asked.


    I looked inside and there was twinkles inside. ¡°16 stars¡± Julian said, ¡°All purple¡­¡±


    ¡°No one has that many on this planet,¡± Balandir said.


    ¡°No¡­ One person has that many in the belt, a man who destroyed his castle,¡± Lyra said.


    ¡°Count Tepes,¡± Lee said.


    There were only critters as we stood in the silent echoes of a water droplet.


    ¡°He¡¯s very tall, you¡¯ve met him, Gerda?¡± Lyra asked.


    I nodded my head. ¡°His pale white and purple and red eyes,¡± i said.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let this stand, Lyra - not only are they practicing underground¡­¡± Balandir said.


    ¡°They not practicing,¡± i responded, ¡°It¡¯s the minerva tournament, finals¡±.


    Minerva was just like grace in brashtilia, Count tepes wasn¡¯t trying to worry anyone.


    ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Lyra said, ¡°Count tepes seems to be just teaching his warfare, if he was monitoring everything, we¡¯d be dead right now, and we¡¯re not - so let¡¯s just escape,¡± Lyra said.


    ¡°I dag out earlier,¡± Lee said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave and split up,¡±


    There were six of us and they had to fight through the dark in fear and horror but i found my love


    A well kept secrets of colors called sprites something i will always call happiness, yes happiness bends.