Chapter 12: The Golden Years
[07/23/4517]
Kenichi scanned the area below. He counted ten paladins still standing, three priests, and one Kiana. The entrance into the cathedral was right behind them and he had one thing in mind that worried him. Emma. With Emma in the arms of a priest, Kenichi thought of ways to get to her without them killing her. He realized something and asked one question. “Why is Emma alive?”
“Huh?” Kiana lifted her head up hearing that question.
“You boast so much about how much of a sinner she is and how she needs to die, why is she still alive?”
Kiana stood there as Kenichi looked back at the cathedral. “I don’t have to answer you Earthworlder.”
“Sarina, is there anything to the cathedral that’s unusual?”
“What do you mean?”
Kiana raised her staff up. “Get them!”
“Cathedrals only house priests, right?”
“Yeah.” Sarina squeezed her staff and a iron spike stretched out at the tip end. She jabbed the staff into the concrete, freeing both of her hands. It had the look of a microphone stand. She leaned close to the arthurian orb and spoke. “Barrera!”
A wall of light appeared in front of her. However there were openings at the end of the wall. The guards got beside each end of the wall with swords drawn. As the charging paladins drew their swords up, Kenichi held up his smartphone upwards.
“Red… Water Canon.”
The magic circle appeared on the screen. “Cañón de agua.”
A burst of water shot out striking the three paladins in front. They fell over on top of two paladins sending them tumbling down the stairs. When they landed in front of Kiana she had her staff aimed at the entrance with a large magic circle before. “Dino Sunano!”
Birds of light flew out of the magic circle. They flew at high speed up to the entrance. As the guards clashed their swords with the remaining paladins, the birds rammed into the barrier. Cracks formed along with each strike as Sarina wrapped her hands around the orb and spoke. “Fuerza.”
A green hue covered the guard’s bodies. The next swing knocked the swords off their opponents. As they pushed back on the paladins, Kenichi pocketed his smartphone walked out of the barrier’s range. He ran down the stairs getting Kiana’s attention. She aimed her staff at him whispering her next spell. “Lonemu Domine!”
A ball of light with electric sparks fired at Kenichi. As it got close to him he swung Ikaruga at it. Like a baseball, he swatted it into the air. Everyone stopped. They watched the spell fly into the air. As their mouths opened wide at what they witnessed, Kenichi pocketed his smartphone and approached the priests. He pushed the one carrying Emma getting everyone’s attention. As Kenichi reached out to Emma to pick her up, one of the priests raised his hand up with a magic circle appearing before it. Kenichi turned around and punched the priest.
Kenichi saw the third priest slowly raising his hand up. However it shivered violently in fear of Kenichi as he approached him. Just as the priest aimed it, Kenichi slapped it aside. He grabbed the priest by the head, and slammed it into the carriage.
As the priest collapsed to the ground, Emma’s eyes opened up. She saw Kenichi stand over her kidnappers with Ikaruga in hand. His back was toward one of the priests laying on the ground. She shook her hand and noticed that priest with his hand up and magic circle aimed at Kenichi’s back. She crawled over and planted her hand on the priest’s back. “Estatico!”
Electricity covered the priests body. His scream caught Kenichi’s attention. He noticed Emma struggling to stand up. He hurried over to her. “Are you all right?”
Emma answered as Sarina and Kiana chanted spells in the distance. “Yes. You came for me.”
Kenichi helped Emma to her feet. “I have a lot to say to you, but right now, there something about the cathedral I don’t understand.”
“What’s that?” Emma said looking up at the entrance where Sarina and guards are at.
“If they wanted to kill you, why here and not back at the blockade? They had that arch guy there with a whole bunch of soldiers.”
“You’re right. Why was I brought here?”
Kenichi took Emma’s hand and ran for the stairs. “They said they were looking for the Golden Years. They have something or someone here looking for it.”
The arrived at the top of the stairs when a veil of light from above covered Sarina and guards. A loud gong burst from above within the light. Sarina and the guard covered their ears screaming. As the guards collapsed, Sarina dropped to her knees.
“Sarina!” Kenichi and Emma hurried over as the last two paladins blocked their way. Kenichi stood in front of Emma using his arm to mover her behind him. He held with two fingers his brass knuckles. When she looked up at him, he gave her a nod.
They saw Sarina struggling back to her feet as Kiana walked up the stairs. Kenichi led Emma back to the wall as the paladins held their sword up to his neck.
“Impressive.” Kiana said as she stopped halfway. “It’s very annoying how Spanish can be so fast, and yet so weak.”
Kenichi spoke. “What do you mean?”
“I understand Earthworlder.” Kiana raised her staff up at Kenichi and Emma. “Magic does not exist on your world. No arthurian. No merlinion. Yet… your science surpasses us.”
“You are very annoying.” Kenichi leaned forward but the paladins sword pushed him back. “Nothing you’re saying makes any sense.”
Emma spoke. “Kenichi… Spanish took over the language of magic because it is one of two languages with 100% accuracy rate. Alurian is the other.”
“So what?”
“Society adopted Spanish because it is faster to chant than Alurian, however Spanish language magic is weaker than Alurian.”
Kiana spoke as a magic circle appeared at the end of her staff. “Alurian is more than just the most powerful of magic language in the world. It is the language of heaven itself. No word in the Spanish language brings forth the holy veil of magic itself. It has led many followers to abandon the Church of Endira. Spanish has brought forth temptation and made our people blasphemous sinners. You Earthworlders shall repent, and be cleansed by the grace of the Alurian texts… through death’s loving mercy. Kenesa–”
A gunshot echoed into the air. A magic cap struck Kiana’s arm. Ice formed over it and the staff breaking the magic circle. Her concentration disrupted by her scream. Kenichi saw Maddox riding on horseback through the park. The paladins were distracted. Sarina stood up towering over the paladin. She slapped the sword of his hand before he had a chance to react. When he turned around to runs, she scoop him up and performed a suplex on him.
Kenichi used Ikaruga to slap the other paladins sword aside. It gave Emma a chance to rush Kiana with the brass knuckles. Kiana aimed her staff at Emma despite the ice. Just as Emma and Kiana were about to clash, another gunshot sound. The magic cap struck Kiana in the leg forming ice over it. As screamed from the pain Emma pulled back her arm exposing the brass knuckle to Kiana. “Estatico!”
Emma jabbed at Kiana’s neck. The electricity spread out like a ripple of water. Kiana collapsed to the ground. She grabbed Emma’s left arm. Emma saw hatred in Kiana’s face. It made the Grand-herald look like a monster. Emma struggled to break free as fear started to reach her.
“You Earthworlders, five hundred years on our world, with your diseases, and conquests and guns and farm animals… you are not long for our world. We will cleanse our home of filthy hands. You all be wiped out like how gods of old dealt with Narinites.”
As Maddox got off his horse hearing what she said. He looked at Sarina shedding tears at what Kiana said. Sarina was not smiling. She took a needle and stood behind Kiana.
“Bedtime.” She jabbed the needle on the back of Kiana’s neck.
Kiana lurched back releasing Emma. She froze in place struggling to move. Her eyes slowly closed. Once the needle was removed, she fell forward. Emma placed her palm on Kiana’s hand and pushed her back. The arch-herald laid on the ground.
Sarina knelt before Emma, almost in tears. “I don’t hate Earthworlders, Emma. I think you all are awesome and have cool stuff.”
“It’s okay.” Emma said patting Sarina’s head with her left arm. “It’s okay.”
Sarina hugged Emma and heard Emma whimpered. Sarina pulled herself back. “Did I hurt you?”
“No it’s my right arm. I think it’s numb again from using the brass knuckle with estatico.”
“I’ll check it out.”
Kenichi walked up the steps getting Maddox’s attention. “Where are you going Yamamura?”
“Something tells me Koba Komani is here.”
Maddox hurried over. “Even if he is here, it’s only a matter of time before they wake up.”
“Ophelia is sending reinforcements right now.”
“Then let’s wait for them.” Maddox pulled Kenichi away. “Come.”
“If they wake up, or that other paladin at the blockade arrive, we might not get another chance.” Kenichi ran to the entrance much to Maddox frustration. Emma hurried after Kenichi and Sarina waved Maddox to come along.
Maddox saw the guards getting up. “You two, are you all right?”
They nodded and Maddox gave them his order. “Watch the Earthtech while we go inside.”
As Maddox followed the party, Sarina called out to Emma. “Wait I have to check your right arm.”
***
Inside the cathedral, the priests ran away as Kenichi marched up the aisle. He passed by the pews and looked up at the windows showing glass imagery of religious figures. As Sarina tend to Emma’s numbed arm. Kenichi stopped before the altar saw where the priests went. Just as he was about to follow them, Maddox grabbed Kenichi by the shoulder. “Yamamura wait.”
“They might know something.”
“Slow down. Consider your health.”
As Sarina staff stopped glowing, she spoke. “He’s right Kenichi. Let’s take our time.”
Emma stood before Kenichi. “What makes you think senpai is here?”
“They’re after the Golden Years, and knew about you. That means they could have been the ones who attacked you at Slope End and captured Koba.”
“You don’t know that. It could have been anyone that kidnapped Koba. I never saw their faces.”
“No…” Kenichi walked towards the entryway where the priests ran off to. “I don’t like the timing of this situation. Your friend has to be here. Come on.”
Maddox finished reloading his gun and got in front of Yamamura with his gun aimed down. “I got the point. Get behind me.”
They entered the hallway. The brick walls were grey. There was barely any light except for the small openings to the outside. The lack of torches made it hard to see. Kenichi reached into his toolbelt and took out his flashlight. With the flip of switch, the light shined to the sound of a man gasping in the distance. The light shined and it was a priest. He scurried off. Everyone followed him along the corridor passing by each locked room.
Maddox said. “Stay where or I’ll shoot.”
There was a loud thump and Kenichi shined at it. The priest had tripped over. Sarina hurried and picked him up. “Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Please don’t kill me.”
Emma stood before the priest. “I am looking for my friend. He is Oshuran.”
“I… I… I won’t tell you anything.”
Maddox sighed. “Great.”
Suddenly there was a sound of a whirl. Everyone looked in Kenichi’s direction. He held up his power drill. He shined the flashlight on the drill and pressed the button again. It spun real fast. The priest’s eyes grew wide as Kenichi demonstrated its use by drilling a hole in the wooden door. When he pulled it out, he shined the light at the door. “Doctor, have you ever seen an actual human brain before?”
“No.” Sarina said and the drill turned again. She squealed when she saw Kenichi approached the priest in her arms. “No… no… I have an oath.”
Maddox leaned over to the priest. “I have an oath too. That’s why my gun isn’t pointed at your head. However, my friend approaching you… he’s a trucker. His oath is to the money. Do you have money? Or, do you have our friend?”
“Friend… friend!”
Minutes later, the priest led the party to a room halfway down a hallway. It was wooden. Maddox leaned to the priest with his hand out. “The keys please.”
“I don’t have the keys.”
“We don’t have much time.” Kenichi reached around his back and took out a crowbar. He jabbed it into the edge of the wood. With all his strength he dislodged the door. When it opened only there was person sitting on the chair. The sunlight shined into the room from high above. Kenichi shined the flashlight inside and his eyes grew wide.
Emma rushed inside. “Senpai.”
Koba was a humanoid armadillo, with four fingers and four toes. When he lifted his head up, his eyes were withdrawn and red. His wrists and ankles were shackled down. He saw Emma taking short breaths when he spoke. “They captured you?”
“No… we’re here to rescue you.”
Kenichi knelt before the shackles and found the chain. “I’ll have to get my bolt cutter in my truck.”
Koba spoke. “Truck?”
“This is Kenichi…” Emma said as Kenichi stood up. “Kenichi Yamamura. He’s an Earthworlder.”
“That name.” Koba said. “Is he the one you talked about?”
“Yes.” Emma smiled at Kenichi. “He’s the one.”
“I got the location wrong.” Koba slowly slumped over. “It was a café… at the end of a… slope…”
Koba closed his eyes as Sarina let the priest go to check on him. The priest ran off.
Outside the cathedral, there were police arresting the paladins and priests everywhere. The embassy guards were in large numbers now, surrounding the truck. Ophelia saw Kenichi exit out and she hurried to him. After he explained everything, she sent the guards inside with the police following after them. As Kenichi walked to the truck’s side compartment, across the street in the park were the mysterious people watching on as he took out the bold cutter from his tool box.
“He has a lot of Earthtech.”
“One of them has to help us.”
“We shall follow him to Ironguard and grab something before he arrives there.” The mysterious people slipped through the trees before anyone noticed.
***
[07/25/4517]
Kenichi was in Sarina’s clinic. He used his power drill with a flathead screwdriver bit to drill in a screw on the hinge of a door. The cabinet door was made of fresh wood and sturdy. The whole entire room looked new now. When Sarina pushed the door open and she gasped at what she saw. Kenichi returned all his tools into the tool box and placed his hands on his hips. “So what do you think?”
Sarina tested the doors and they opened with no trouble. “Thank you.”
“It’s the least I could.”
“Oh, doctor come in.”
Dr. Harrison entered the room and was awed by the look. “This looks fantastic Sarina.”
He looked at the doorknob. “What is this?”
“It’s called a door knob. I was supposed to replace it for a client back on Earth. Close the door then you turn the knob and pull.”
Dr. Harrison did as instructed and his eyes grew wide. “Amazing.”
“Kenichi that is so cool.”
Dr. Harrison pulled up a chair for Kenichi. “Today the day Mr. Yamamura. Please sit.”
Kenichi sat as Dr. Harrison spoke. “Your test results yesterday showed that your lungs are improving. However, they still have compression, meaning they are small.”
Kenichi was presented a case. He opened it revealing five inhalers.
“You will inhale every five hours a day, from the start of your morning, and take one before you go to bed. The only time you should break from the routine is if you struggle to breath, but I have a feeling you won’t have to since you woin’t get yourself into trouble anymore.”
“I won’t, doctor.”
“Good.” Dr. Harrison stood up. “Be sure to exercise, eat Teoran food, and in two weeks, you should start jogging to build your lung’s muscle strength.”
“I will doctor.” Kenichi stood and shook hands. “Thank you very much.”
Dr. Harrison approached Sarina. “Have a good journey to Ironguard, doctor.”
“I will. Thank you.” Sarina smiled and turned to Kenichi. “Let’s go get Maddox. He should be done investigating at the veterinarian.”
“All right.”
***
Maddox stared at the Oryx sitting at the corner looking at him. He looked back out the window where Kenichi, Emma, and Sarina patted it at. When he faced the Oryx, it tilted its head at Maddox almost as if they recognized each other. The Oryx suddenly stood up wagging its tail. Maddox looked back and saw Kenichi and Sarina looking inside. He went and opened the door. “Fine come in.”
Kenichi spoke. “Finally. I get to see the inside.”
“Crysta will be out in a moment, she went to get the evidence.”
Sarina knelt before the oryx and played with it. “Evidence.”
Kenichi leaned close to Maddox. “Are you sure she should see this?”
“We could use a little extra help. I’m going to show it to Emma as well.”
Crysta stepped entered the room carrying a file folder. She presented it to Maddox. “Hello, you must be the Earthworlder.”
“I’m Kenichi Yamamura, and this is my doctor, Sarina Loren.”
“Nice to meet you both. So, what are your interests?”
“He’s married.” Maddox said and Crysta pouted.
“It’s not everyday I meet an adult Earthworlder.”
“Crysta?”
“Fine.” She gave Kenichi a quick look then turned to her brother. “The results showed that the quill came from a dolanite.”
Sarina spoke. “A dolanite?”
Kenichi tilted his head. “What’s a dolanai?”
“Dolanite.” Crysta said. “It’s a giant flying serpent. It’s golden like the sun and the long neck of a bird. Its feathers are extremely rare and poachers travel all over the world hunting one of these.”
Maddox spoke. “The odds of finding one are extremely high. You have to be an expert to hunt one.”
“That quill alone can fetch you a couple of hundred thousand in the black market. The feathers attached are much higher.”
Kenichi’s hand shivered into a fist. “Is this why so many people died at Braddock Forest? Over a feather?”
Maddox raised his hand up. “Hold on. We don’t know for sure. We only have clues.”
Sarina nodded. “He’s right.”
Kenichi spoke. “Then I how did I get teleported and the quill end up in my truck?”
“These feathers are known to have a magical property to it, we’ll have to go to Valencia and get a trace on it.”
“All right.” Kenichi said. “Let’s see if Emma and Koba finished their task and get ready to leave.”
The oryx whimpered just as Kenichi reached for the door. Everyone looked at it and Crysta spoke. “The oryx was abandoned across the street.”
Maddox spoke. “I knew that looked familiar.”
“It happens all the time. People really don’t handle oryx’ well since they can cast spells.”
Kenichi stared at the oryx wagging it tail at him. “I see.”
***
Emma and Koba waited a café where a slope led up the hill. Emma noticed embassy guards in disguise sat across from them, and pretending to be shoppers across the street.
“I’m nervous Koba.”
“I know. My hands and feet are still sore.”
“Hopefully the guards will come through and protect us.”
“With the Church of Endira busy dealing with the Nirico police, we shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
A little girl arrived with a basket of flowers. She presented a pink one to Emma. “Here, a pretty roshé?”
“Oh how beautiful.” Emma took it and smelled the flower. “So lovely. These are my favorite.”
Just as Emma reached into her pocket to give girl a coin, the child nodded and walked away. “Eh? Wait.”
The child ignored her and a young human woman with red hair from inside the café pulled up a seat. She sat before them with a satchel in hand. “You finally arrived.”
Koba spoke. “You’re the contact.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Just call me Librarian X.”
Emma nodded as she saw Librarian X open the satchel. She saw a thick book bound in leather. She took it out and it was written in Alurian text. “This is the Golden Years.”
“Yes.” Librarian X nodded. “Everything you need to know about your people on Earthworld is written in here. We must dispersed, the Church of Endira is determined to get anything Alurian and destroy everything from Earthworld. The truth about how you got here is written in this book.”
Librarian X noticed the disguised guards around. “You were smart to bring help. Hide in Ironguard. Take advantage of them. I will make contact again.”
Librarian X hurried out of the café leaving Emma and Koba behind. As soon as she was out of sight, the guards hurried over to Emma and Koba and led them away to a carriage.
***
[07/26/4517]
The clouds gathered around the morning sun at the park. Rain was due and Sabastian sat with Kiwi standing behind him. Across from the picnic table was Kenichi with Maddox standing behind him. The sound of thunder in the distance started the conversation. Sabastian spoke first. “It is an honor to finally meet you Mr. Yamamura.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
Kiwi handed paperwork to Sebastian. “I have a proposal that might be of great interest.”
Kenichi took the papers and read through them as Sebastian continued. “With your bountiful Earthtech, Talon Company will help usher in a new era of technology the world has never seen. I assume you are aware of how stagnant the world got with magic.”
“I figure that from the way Arthurian is used everyday.”
“Exactly.” Sabastian nodded as Kenichi continued reading. “That’s why we you should join my company. We have the technology to forge and manufacture Earthtech before anyone else can.”
“That’s nice, but what about all international law?”
“Yes, once your case situation is dealt with and the Grand Arbiter decides what you can do with your Earthtech, Talon Company will be ready with our top of the line researchers and staff to optimize your Earthtech with arturian and merlinion.”
“Net or gross?”
“Excuse me?”
“Net or gross?”
Sebastian smiled. “I’m sure we can work that out after you decide… to…”
Kenichi sat there with a straight face.
“Mr. Yamamura, you will be a well paid man.”
“Net or gross?” Kenichi slid the paperwork to Sebastian and tapped on a specific line.
“It’s a precaution. Your Earthworld economics are much different than ours.”
“Do you get money from profit?”
“Y…yes.”
Kenichi tapped on that same line. “Then net or gross?”
Sebastian’s hand slid over the paperwork until he finally got a grip on it and pulled it back. “I’ll have my lawyers double check this sentence. I will have you answer.”
“Good.” Kenichi stood up and reached out to shake hands. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Sebastian stood up and shock hands. Kenichi looked at the handshake and felt weakness in the grip. He tightened his hand and bowed. “Have a good day.”
Sebastian stared at him and Kenichi explained. “During a handshake, you bow when I do.”
“Oh, yes.” Sebastian bowed with Kenichi.
“Excellent. Until next time.”
As Kenichi walked past Maddox, the detective gave Sebastian a smirk. Sebastian crushed the paper and walked in the opposite direction with Kiwi.
***
Back at the embassy, Kenichi loaded up Sarina’s travel bags in the side compartment. The oryx sat staring at the truck tilting its head. Sarina approached it and gave it hug causing it to wag. “You’re so warm Reno.”
Maddox spoke. “It still an odd name.”
Kenichi closed the compartment door. “I named him after the city where I won my first arm wrestling tournament. It’s really nice.”
As it nuzzled Sarina, Ophelia arrived carrying a box with her belonging in it. She smiled at Reno as it can sense her sadness. “I see you’re ready to go.”
Kenichi approached her and bowed. “I am sorry I made you lose your job.”
“For we got out of it, it was worth it.” Ophelia saw the ambassador holding up a portrait. “Now that Mr. Winters and the captain of guard resigned to prevent international incident, the new ambassador will have a lot cleaning up to do.”
“What will you do now?”
“Finish law school.” Ophelia smiled. “I have to get to the ferry. You all be careful, and stay safe.”
Everyone watched Ophelia board a carriage as a motorcycle drove by. It was Emma. She took her helmet off as Kenichi stood before her. “Am I late?”
Kenichi approached Emma as she removed the satchel over her shoulder. “What is this?”
“The library is letting me borrow this since getting the book back to Boriken is high priority.”
“What about Koba?”
“He still has to recover from his injuries and provide testimony against the church for kidnapping. He’ll meet up with me at Ironguard.”
“Don’t you have testimony to give?”
“The library guild helped me with that so I don’t have to be here until court is in session. My priority is to get to Ironguard first. There I will meet with other members of the guild from Boriken so we can go further west safely.”
Maddox spoke. “Eiberia?”
“Yes.” Emma smiled at everyone. “May I join you all to Ironguard? It’s a long way there.”
“Emma… I just want to say I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For Fumiko and I making your life difficult.”
“Eh?”
“What I am saying us… that you carried my wife’s pain when you should have been living your own life. I’m not that good with this.”
“It’s okay. You and Fumiko have to nothing to be sorry about.”
“But, you were not supposed to remember my wife’s past life and…”
“Ah… I see.” Emma let out a smile and nodded. She took Kenichi’s hand and lifted it up. “I am not mad at either of you. It was... it has been an amazing experience in my life. I will cherish this because I got to give my past self the childhood that was denied. I understand why Fumiko unlocked all of my memories of her past life now and I understand why I am now emotionally disconnected. You’re right… I was not supposed to remember my past life with you, and my parents, and… our children.”
“Emma.”
“Fumiko wanted to make sure that what I experienced throughout my own childhood was not wasted now that I have all of her memories, but she wants me to live my life as who I should be… Emma.”
“Still, I really am sorry, especially with the way I treated you.”
Emma laughed. “Oh Kenichi… I understand why you acted the way you did. I cannot be angry with for that. You are a nice person, and you were hurt. Like I said the other day, forget the teleportation and reincarnation. I believe Fumiko wants us both to move forward now.”
“I guess you’re right. I do feel like whatever was pushing down on my shoulders is off of me now, and I feel lighter.”
As Kenichi walked over to the truck and climbed on board, Emma stared at him remembering what she said to Sarina about what pushed her down was released from her. Emma’s eyes shivered as she felt her heart skipped. She approached the truck standing next to Maddox and Sarina. Kenichi stuck his head out and tossed a black device to Emma. He took the microphone from his radio and spoke. “Come in Emma.”
Everyone stepped back at Kenichi’s voice projected through the walkie-talkie. “Just press the button and ‘Say loud and clear’.”
“Loud and clear. Ah…” Emma remembered this device and she held it up. “It’s called walkie-talkie.”
Sarina smiles. “Amazing.”
Maddox spoke. “So that’s how it works.”
The truck turned on and Kenichi slapped the side of the door. “It’s time to go. We got a very long ride ahead of us. Emma?”
“Yes.” Emma said as Sarina and Maddox climbed aboard.
“Stay ahead of the truck so I can see you.”
“I understand.”
Sarina sat in the back sticking her legs out, while Reno lay on the bed in the back. Maddox closed the door and Kenichi docked the smartphone.
Red spoke. “Interface connected.”
“Red… fuel gauge.”
“Fuel gauge.” Red said and Kenichi looked at the amount he has remaining.
“Just enough.” Kenichi slid his hand over the wheel. “Red… Chartmap. Destination… Ironguard.”
“Irongaurd is three days from your location.”
“All right Red.” Kenichi looked up at Fumiko’s necklace. He looked at his weeding ring as his hand gripped on steering wheel. With a nod, he shifted gears. “One last run, Fumiko… to a place in Ironguard I know you will love to see.”
Kenichi pulled the chord sounding the horn and stepped on the accelerator. As the clouds covered the morning sky, Emma drove out of the embassy first and led the truck out of the city–state of Nirico.
End Book 1
To be continued in Book 2.
