The City of Ionia

The orange sun poked between the branches and leaves. The temperature didn’t change—it was warm but not too hot. Clothes didn’t stick to the skin, and nature provided a green blanket from the rays of light. Theoretically, if they marched on grassland, the chances of getting sunburned were there.

Summertime was close. The days were longer, and Harley didn’t sneeze as much as before. Aside from the sun’s occasional cruciality, summer wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t Ruby’s favorite season, but it wasn’t her least.

As the group maneuvered through the woods like a serpent, conversations flew as if the situation wasn’t dire.

“Ruby, hey, Ruby, wanna go to the beach someday?”

“Beach? The place with sand and water?”

“Duh,” Harley said, tapping her forehead. I’ve always wanted to go.”

“Is there a beach nearby?” Jeremy asked.

Harley glared with knives piercing through his soul. “Who said you're invited?”

“Wherever Ruby goes, I go. It’s a package deal.”

“Screw this package. Ruby, what do you say? Beach day soon?”

Ruby, who was at the front of the pack, looked down at Harley from her horse. “We’ll see. I first have to find out where a beach is. Then it’s a matter of getting there. If it’s too far, then it’ll be quite the drag.”

Harley held onto Ruby’s defenseless knee. “Or, we can just enjoy the journey. There’s no competition, so why bother rushing.”

“Ok, but can you let go of my knee.”

“Sure.”

There wasn’t a reason why Harley grabbed Ruby’s knee. She just did. It was pretty troublesome since Ruby didn’t really enjoy the touch of others. Unless when it comes to hairstyles. She didn’t mind Harley messing around with her hair at all.

“Since we are on the topic, what makes the beach so good? I heard merchants talk about the scenery, but is that really it?”

“Jeremy, oh ignorant little Jeremy, the beach is more than just scenery. It's a big pool of water that expands past the horizon. Think about it. You can swim while the waves crash onto your frail, little body and splash everyone with water nonconsensually. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

“I’m perplexed.”

“Seems like you’re always confused. Anyways, what do you say, Ruby? Beach one day?”

Ruby took her time to answer. Ultimately, she muttered only two words: “I’ll see.”

“That didn’t sound so convincing,” Harley sighed with a half-baked sulk.

“I suggest we converse about that topic another time.”

A serious voice came from behind. The words of urgency and focus. She was in no joking mood.

“Ah, Nadia, we were just—”

She cut Harley off mid-sentence. “Your conversation is irrelevant. Once we retrieve Quinn, then you may speak about the beach.”

“She’s a poet, and she doesn’t even know it.”

“Excuse me, Jeremy? Care to repeat that louder?”

“Enough, Nadia,” Ruby said while being the only one on a horse. “They may express a lack of urgency, but I know they care more than anyone behind.”

Once the moon showed itself, Ruby decided to set up camp. The crowd set up their sleeping bags and discussed who would be on watch duty. A lot of arguments stirred up, and things became heated. At one point, people suggested a duel—the loser had to be on watch duty. No one wanted to be the loser.

Ruby broke the petty argument by announcing that she would be on watch duty. The group watched their leader take initiative and followed on their own. People who had rejected the task before volunteered for watch duty. They probably felt bad for Ruby, given what she had dealt with. The last thing she needed was a poor night's rest.

Though the branches made the moon’s glow difficult to pierce through, the camp built a fire as a return point. Considering the season, the fire wasn’t used for warmth. If someone wanted to use the restroom, they knew where to return.

Since it wasn’t a casual trip, the group didn’t sing around the fire. No games were played. Everyone ate and went to sleep.

Ruby usually preferred this. She wasn’t the type to tell scary stories in the dark, sing while everyone listened, or even join a friendly game of Simon Says. Ruby never participated in anything. She preferred being at the back while everyone enjoyed themselves. So why did it feel boring? Was there something missing?

Facing away from the fire, Ruby hugged her knees to her chest. Despite everyone insisting she shouldn't, she wanted to be the first on watch duty.

“Pretty boring,” she yawned.

“Damn right it is.”

She knew exactly who it was.

“Go to sleep, Jeremy.”

He didn’t listen and sat down next to Ruby.

“I said, go to sleep. I don’t want you to complain about how tired you are.”

“I’ll be fine,” he insisted with a wave.

“If you say so. Do you have anything on your mind?”

He responded in a low tone. “Can I not hang with you?”

“Do as you please. Just don’t be cranky in the morning.”

“I’m–I’m never cranky. Do I look like an old hag to you?”

What was with the attitude? She simply desired to ponder in peace, and that wish was granted in a heartbeat.

Jermry hardly got on Ruby’s nerves. In fact, Ruby was subconsciously pleased with his company. Jermry went wherever Ruby went. He never left her side. Today, history remains the same. He wouldn’t sleep before Ruby. His consciousness wouldn't allow him.

“Ruby.”

“I’m listening.”

“Are you scared?”

What a strange question.

“What is there to be scared of? We go in, grab Quinn for a minimal price, then leave. I don’t plan on attacking.”

“That’s good to hear,” he said with a hint of relief.

“Why do you ask? Could it be that you’re scared?”

He answered immediately as if he’d read Ruby’s mind. “Of course I am. I’m shakin’ through my socks. That group isn’t normal. They are something else.”

Genuine fear plagued his voice. He wasn’t lying when he described his fear. His shaky breath was the key indicator.

“Will you be okay after what happened,” asked Ruby.

“Heh, I don’t know. I might chicken out.”

“We aren’t initiating an attack, so there’s no point in chickening out.

“That’s… That’s not the point. Just remembering what they did to me is enough reason to chicken out.”

Ruby remembered the day she was tasked with sweeping out a village for any survivors. As far as the eye could see, the village lay in ruins. Charred remains of what once were houses stood blackened and lifeless. The ashy smell of smoke still lingered in the air. Walls, once vibrant with decorations, bore the marks of catastrophe. Piles of rubble scattered in disarray, and broken glass shards glimmered among the debris.

A literal mountain of corpses piled at the village center. Ruby almost vomited from the scene. Loose eyeballs dangled from the sockets, ears ripped out, some clothing removed, and some missing teeth. A mountain high enough for Ruby to not want to look up.

“The aftermath was gruesome. I could only imagine the terror you witnessed first-hand.”

“I blocked it out of memory, though it resurfaced when the name was mentioned. I hope this time around I don’t have to witness the horror I once did.”

“You won’t,” said Ruby.

“How can you be so sure? We’re going up against the most feared bandit group out there. Heck, the Royal Guards don’t even fight them. That’s how bad they are. Unlike you, I can’t see the light through the tunnel.”

Ruby fixed her gaze at the night sky. Stars glimmered through the branches that were obstructing the view. Nevertheless, the other side was beautiful despite the obstacles in front.

“We aren’t necessarily walking through a tunnel. Tunnels are pitch black with unknown obstacles: spiders with webs thicker than skin, mosquitos thirsting for blood, and the discomfort of the mysteries ahead. Often, they split into different paths. One path could be better than the other. Regardless of where you end up and the obstacles thrown towards you, fighting and clawing your way through is all we can do. The other side may be darker and more difficult, but there’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“Heh, heh, heh. When did you become a philosopher?”

Ruby placed her arm around Jeremy's shoulder. His miniature jump suggested that he didn’t see this happening.

“Look at the sky. Isn’t it pretty?”

“S–I–Ya.”

“We do everything under the twinkling stars, from the bonfires to the dances and booze. We are most active when the sun hides—all our memories as a cult made when the moon watches. I plan to make many more memories under the moon, which can’t happen if someone slips away. Jeremy, I promise that with every bone in my body, no one will slip away. We will leave with an extra person. The moon will watch us sing again. There’s no doubt about it.”

She spoke with determination. Any obstacle thrown would be flicked aside like a fly. There was nothing stopping her—a full-force bull charging into enemy territory. She couldn’t betray her words. Everyone counted on her. The only thing left was to execute her ideals.