The City of Ionia

“So you brew tea for its beauty?”

“As expected from the leader of the Bariac Cult. Your intuition is spot on. The craft, the aroma, serving, and drinking connect me with my God, allowing me to connect deeper beauty.”

Harley couldn’t handle it any longer. “Is there a restroom nearby?”

The king clapped, simulating a roaring thunder. The green women entered the room and quickly walked to the chairs.

“Please escort our guest to the restroom.”

“Of course.”

Harley followed the green women out of the room. The massive hall had an arched ceiling for birds to fly comfortably. Portraits of the previous kings and queens were everywhere.

That reminded Harley…

“Are you the queen by any chance?”

“No.”

“Then what exactly are you? You aren’t dressed as a soldier or a cook, so I’m unsure what else you could be.”

“My, my, I’m not sure myself…”

Harley playfully flicked the back of her head. “Cheer up. If you’re going through a tough day, just remember tomorrow can be better. Anyways, I never caught your name.”

The sudden impact caught her off guard, and for a moment, she was too stunned to react. She rubbed her forehead, feeling the spot where her finger landed.

“What’s your name?”

“Syl-Syliva.”

Harley’s eyes sparkled. “That’s such a cute name. Man, I’m jealous.”

“Je-Jealous?”

“Of course. Not saying Harley is a bad name, but Syliva… man… it sounds so much cooler.”

She was going to say something, but the oncoming traffic of guards interrupted her. The guards question Sylvia, wondering why she had a king’s guest. Sylvia told them the reason, and they went on without trouble.

“The restroom is here. I’ll be waiting outside in case of assistance.”

“Thanks, but I think I’ll be fine.”

The restroom was a white room with a sink and a toilet. Unlike the rest of the palace, its normality stood out. Smart not investing in a fancy restroom. People who did, contributed to industrial waste.

The rectangular mirror reflected her upper body. A yellow mark stained her sleeve, though its size was unnoticeable. Someone could only tell by locking their eyes to that spot. Who would stare at a woman’s triceps?

Tied into two high pigtails, her silver hair curled down. She brushed her untangled hair with her finger. It was perfectly smooth.

Unlike Jill’s, it was unbraided. She never did Jill’s hair. How troublesome. She used to do it all the time. Unique styles sparkled Harley’s eyes. Jill was a saint regardless of her style. Her hair could be tangled at a point of no return, but Harley would still find something beautiful about her.

Could that be where her God found beauty?

Speaking of hair, she recalled that Jill wasn’t wearing the matching butterfly hairpin. When did she decide to take it off? Did she not care enough to wear it? It’s frustrating. Every day, she floated further and further away.

The cold, refreshing water slapped her face. She ran her wet hands through her hair, and patted her face, then left without drying herself.

Guards surrounded Sylvia in a circle as if they were bullies. Laughing after their remarks, they left her alone, leaving a menacing smirk on her face. She quickly wiped it off once she saw Harley.

“My, my, is there no towel in the restroom?”

“I think there was.”

“I suggest you dry your face,” she said, “your appearance must not be careless.”

Harley listened to her instructions, wiping her face with the towel.

“Let’s head back,” Sylvia said once Harley exited the restroom.

“Sylvia.”

She turned around. “Yes?”

“Do you know the pain of a friend leaving you?”

Similar to the flick earlier, those words caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. She stood still as if her brain had trouble processing the question.

“It wasn’t a friend, but there was someone who left me when I needed them. I was lied to. It’s unforgivable.” Her voice diminished. She stood still with a distant look as if she recalled the past. “My, my, I shouldn’t get into this. We must get going. Being absent for a period of time isn’t appealing.”

Food was spread on the table like a buffet—a whole turkey with filling, greens, and sliced fruits. Harley salivated at the plethora of options. They took turns piling up food on their plates. Jeremy’s plate was a mountain. What a glutton.

Nadia and Ruby took a respectful amount while Stark grabbed a single turkey leg with some asparagus. Was he not a heavy eater? Didn’t seem like it.

Before taking a bite, Stark led a prayer. No one paid attention.

Once he gave the go-ahead to start eating, Jeremy shoved food into his face with his bare hands.

So much for manners.

Harley’s plate consisted of chicken breast and rice. It’s a classic for a reason. Nothing could beat it.

Ruby and Nadia expanded their taste buds, exploring combinations that may never come across.

“Let us dedicate this feast in celebration of defeating Zen,” Stark said with a mug raised. “Now, the outside world can breathe easier.”

They followed Stark’s lead and commemorated with tapping glasses and mugs.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by royalty,” said Ruby.

“Thank the merchants who spread news like disease.”

Nadia spoke. “Your intuition was correct, Ruby.”

“I know the game all too well.”

“I can tell. The Bariac Cult has done wonders protecting villages in need. It makes our lives more breathable.”

“Stark, I got a question,” Jeremy said while covering his food-stuffed mouth.

“Jeremy, show some respect.”

Jeremy swallowed their food in a few chews, apologizing. “Anyways, I was going to ask about the lack of security outside the major cities. Shouldn’t the villagers have some protection?”

When did he decide to get political?

“Ah, a lovely question. I am more than content to answer. You see, child, it is jarring to deploy guards in small villages when there aren’t enough to spare. Protection in the major cities is absolute. Smaller villages and towns produce their own loyal men for defense, making them decently secure.”

What a garbage answer.

“Couldn’t major cities produce their own soldiers?”

“Bold of you to assume the rich will fight. Besides, crimes mainly happen in major cities. Villages and towns hardly go through crime, except bandit attacks. That is why we leave the work to trustworthy organizations like the Bariac Cult.”

“In the most humblest way imaginable, you’re welcome.”

Harley snapped. “Seriously Jeremy? You don’t do jackshit.”

Ruby looked away, pretending she heard something else.

“Excuse me? Harley, when was the last time you did something?”

“Literally, I was the one who killed Zen.”

The king jumped in, unphased by Harley’s rude comment. “You slayed Zen on your own? Impressive.”

It didn’t go down the way he imagined it. Pride overpowered his voice like Harley had gone through hell, taking Zen down. It wasn’t like that at all.

“Yes. It took a lot, but I managed to get it done.”

“Lies. You said it was a breeze.”

“And you’re not even supposed to be here. Seriously, why couldn’t Jill come instead of this loud dimwit.”

Ruby covered her face. Was she horrified by Harley and Jeremy's rudeness? Did she genuinely believe that they would be appropriately behaved? Surely, she had to learn by now.

On the other hand, Nadia embraced the moment, chowing down on corn and watching the show.

“Well, Jill didn’t want to come. And besides, she allowed me to take her spot.”

“And does she make the rules? No.”

“Ok? Ruby allowed it regardless. Get off my case.”

Harley’s fist was close to slamming the table. Luckily, Stark’s words prevented contact.

“Excuse my curiosity. How come your friend Jill refused to come?”

“Beats me. She never gave a clear answer. She just said she ‘doesn’t feel like it.’”

Jill had no reason not to come. Was it because she didn’t want to go to the city? Maybe something Harley said? It couldn’t be. Harley didn’t know till the day off that Jill wouldn’t come. Given time, she would’ve attempted to convince her.

The effort most likely would’ve gone in vain. Jill’s stubbornness was equivalent to a child’s.

“Oh really?” He sipped on his mug. “A rebellious phase, perhaps?”

“I wouldn’t call it a rebellious phase. It’s more like Jill being Jill. A weirdo being a weirdo,” Jeremy said.

“Don’t name-call Jill.”

“Quite a harsh reaction,” Stark said, “Are you fond of this Jill person?”

“We’ve stuck together for so long that days without each other are empty. Every day with her is like another story out of a book. Funny adventures, shoving our faces with dessert, competing in a duo. Everything we do is together. I guess we’re more than best friends. We’re more like… close sisters.”

Those months without Jill were painful. Sleeping in the quiet tent was painful. Eating without her was unbearable. Everything was empty. Everything was dull. It lacked the spark it had when Jill was around. Never again did Harley want to go through that. Instead, she would chain Jill down to her side forever. That way, Jill couldn’t run away into a faraway world.

Into a faraway paradise. A utopia brimmed with happiness. She yearned for that. To get there, she would have to leave Harley’s side.

Jill must’ve been one particular person to make someone else feel this way in her absence.