The Heart Can't Deny the Truth

It’s times like these, I hate having such long-drawn-out missions, Violet thinks. Walking through a marsh, the humidity making her sweat, hair sticking to her face uncomfortably. Swatting mosquitoes every ten minutes and keeping her guard up, never knowing if potential enemies are nearby. Violet trudges through the marsh until she reaches a clearing where a man and two guards stand with valuables and treasure. The man is in good condition wearing golden robes that are clean and not a speck of dirt on them, somewhat smug and a twinkle in his eye. While the guards are wearing dark flexible robes that don’t have any dirt on them. Their expressions neutral and no emotions showing on their face.

“So you finally arrived, I almost was worried you couldn’t make it and I would have to send Killian here to find you,” says the man teasingly.

“Oh shut it, Andrew. I’m not in the mood. I just trekked through the marsh and I have no idea when this mission is going to be over. After all, my clothes are just filthy and if I encounter any rival or enemy to the Family I will be in trouble and have to find a way out of trouble.” Says Violet to Andrew. Violet gestures to her clothes that are stained with dirty marsh water and her purple heart-shaped locket dirty from when she slept on the ground. Unbefitting of her status in the Bloody Heart Family, one of the big groups that emerged in the aftermath of the latest rounds of little skirmishes in the Land of Viridian. Stability isn’t really a thing the government does, the government changes every two-three years and small renegade groups are in control of different but tactical locations that are rich in some sort of resources or commodities, that are rare or hard to get in the one big city that Viridian even has which is called Krystal.

Andrew replies, “Well, you do have magic, my dear. Able to shimmy your way out of problems, if you are really in a bind. Though not to worry I brought back up clothing since I figured the mission would be a challenge.” Andrew grows silent for a minute and resumes talking. “The reason I asked for you specifically to transport these treasures and valuables for them is because I needed to talk to you. About something important and really dangerous” walking to Violet with a look of concern on his face. Violet now nervous finds her heart racing with anticipation and her palms sweaty. Andrew leads them over to chairs his guards had set up.

Sitting down, Andrew looks away briefly and looks back again at Violet. Violet sits down tense and nervous while Andrew takes a deep breath before continuing. “There are rumors that Reina out of her coma is wanting us to return to take our rite of passage into adulthood and work solely for the clan and family that helped us when we had nowhere to go.” Violet quickly gets up out of the chair, knocking it down, and then paces back and forth and not saying anything to Andrew.

Reminiscing Violet remembers what life was like while not being associated with anybody important, whether they were independent families, renegades of the government, or even those in Krystal. Violence was never too far and misery was soon to follow. For Violet being a part of the Bloody Heart Family is less painful than other independents or even not being associated with anyone. Not to mention the Bloody Hearts taught her so much, being able to value yourself and others without always having ulterior motives.

Andrew soon interrupts Violet’s pacing and reminiscing by continuing. “While neither of us really want that I think we should at least see Reina and tell her about our choices in person.”

Violet spins on her feet to face him and testily reply, “Why should we even let ourselves become vulnerable and also not do the smart thing and tell her in a letter? Andrew, we may owe Reina and her family for helping us when we were little and had nowhere else to go but that doesn’t mean we owe them our allegiance. We put in the hard work that made us into capable people that can function in the society that we live in.”

“I agree with that we don’t owe them our allegiance but don’t you agree we should tell Reina that to clear the air?” Andrew responds kindly.

“Yes. Though if we do it your way we have to tell everyone, my group, your group, and anyone we encounter on the way to tell our story. Not to mention we have to find a way to get to Reina’s home after all it is far east in the mountains while both of us are stuck in the far west for the most part except this mission on the southeast of Viridian.”

“Not to worry about that, I think the Wondering Train is making an appearance soon in this part of Viridian and I think if we take that it should get us there in no time.”

Violet sighs, “Alright, let’s figure out the rest and then head to an for the night.”

Andrew and Violet walk towards the carriage that Andrew and the guards used to get here to the clearing in the marsh (magic makes things so much easier on traveling sometimes and sometimes not), planning to get to Reina and also to tell the truth about their allegiance to Reina and Reina’s family. Though everything is going to change and Violet knows that all of them; Reina, Andrew, and her won’t escape out of this without new revelations and changes. Change is coming whether they want it or like it.