The citizens strolled the streets draped in flowing garments rich with elegance and tradition. The men wore tunics cinched with ornate belts, their shoulders often covered by layered cloaks that signified status or profession. Women were adorned in long, layered dresses with intricate embroidery, fastened by brooches at the shoulder and wrapped in vibrant sashes. Their hairstyles were styled into elegant coils or braids, decorated with small metal or ivory pins. Children mirrored their elders, though with simpler versions of the same garb—soft linen tunics or dresses, barefoot and lively as they played between the pillars and courtyards.
"Well, they don't seem hostile at least. Looks like they're open to visitors. Friendly enough—so far," Fioren said, weaving slowly through the bustling crowd, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Yet Chiaki barely reacted. She walked in a haze, thoughts spinning in her head, unaware of the people or even her companions.
"Oooh, I smell something meaty! Please tell me they've got something juicy roastin' somewhere!" Razor blurted, practically vibrating with excitement. She licked her lips, then gagged dramatically. "But if it's veggies—bleh! Keep that leafy garbage away from me. I've had enough seaweed in my life to feed an ocean!"
"Veggies are just as important as meat, Razor," Fioren added with a smirk, raising an eyebrow.
"Gaaaah, no! Ew! Disgusting!" Razor snapped, clutching her mouth and pretending to retch. "Say 'leaf' one more time and I'm jumping into the nearest meat cart for sanctuary!"
"Please don't," Fioren said, narrowing her eyes with a sigh. "That'll only stir up trouble—and I'm not in the mood to pay fines or talk our way out of city jail for 'meat-inspired chaos' again." She offered a half-apologetic glance to a nearby vendor, just in case Razor's energy sparked suspicion. Thankfully, despite her bloodthirsty banter, Razor knew her limits… sort of.
Still, from the dark sliver of the alleyway, the mysterious figure remained—silent, motionless, invisible to the flow of life around them. Neither the citizens nor even Razor's wild awareness seemed to pick up on the observer lurking within the veil of shadow. Who they were, what they wanted—it was a puzzle waiting to snap its pieces into place.
"Hey, look," Fioren pointed out, squinting down a vast marble avenue. "There's a stadium up ahead. We might learn something there. Maybe someone can fill in the gaps about this city."
Razor perked up like an excited beast. "Oooh! Maybe it's a gladiator pit! Blood and bruises! I bet their bones crack real crisp under pressure! Imagine the texture—skin sizzling in the sun, organs flying like party confetti—YES!" she howled, twirling in glee. "Gladiators gotta be crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside! Just the way I like it, wa-hahaha!"
Temoshí simply sighed, eyes forward. "You're not eating anyone, Razor."
"No promises!" she sang with a wink and a waggle of her tongue.
"Razor reminds me more of a shark than an octopus…" Temoshí muttered, squinting at her as she skipped ahead, practically salivating over her own violent fantasies.
"That's because I am, baby!" she spun on her heels and flashed him a feral grin. "My tentacles? A lovely little gift from my darling sea-witch mama. But don't get it twisted, Captain Fire—shark through and through! Born to bite, built to feast! Raw meat, bloody and squishy? Mmm. But grilled with some spice? UGH, culinary euphoria! Wa-hahaha!"
Temoshí blinked. Twice. Processing Razor's biology felt like trying to untangle a fishing net in a hurricane. Shark girl with inherited tentacles. Got it. Sort of.
"So…" he started cautiously, "you're basically a shark with tentacle arms. Glad we got that clarified. But—uh—can you actually hide those things? Or are they permanent, like… forever wiggling?"
Razor whipped around with a dramatic flair, her tentacles flinging droplets of seawater in every direction as she locked eyes with him, eyes wide like storm clouds. "Oh, I can hide them. But when I do? Ughhh, you don't even wanna know."
She crossed her arms—or rather, two tentacles curled into a mock pout. "I turn into a total snoozefest. All calm and quiet. Like some background NPC with nothing spicy to say. I start sipping tea, reading poetry, and contemplating feelings. Blegh! No bite, no bark, just a mellow little sea-puppy floating through life without a single chaotic spark! No thanks!"
Then she grinned again, tentacles snapping with glee. "So yeah, I choose the wild! I live the wiggle! Tentacle arms for life, Captain Fire, because boring Razor is the true nightmare!"
"She's telling the truth," Fioren sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose as if this was the millionth time she'd had to explain Razor's chaos to a confused soul. "Whenever she hides her tentacles and takes on normal human arms, she basically becomes an entirely different person. Calm. Peaceful. Frankly… unsettling. I suppose she prefers living as a lunatic. I don't know myself."
"Hell yeah I do!" Razor cackled, flipping backwards onto a crate like a slippery eel at a circus. "You know me better than I know myself, Fioren! Wa-hahahah!"
Temoshí gave a crooked smile, still half-processing the tentacle-life-choice situation, but then something sparked in his memory. "That does remind me… what about that saw you used back in the Coral Bastion? The big one. With the, uh... meat chunks flying off it?"
Razor's eyes sparkled like someone just handed her a candy shop that screams. "That little thing?" she chirped innocently.
She popped a squat on the crate like a goblin recounting a treasure heist. "Ohhh, that bad boy? Just yoinked it from the armory, no biggie! It was sitting there, all shiny, all spinny, just begging to taste a ribcage or two! I mean, who leaves a glorious, gore-loving weapon of mayhem just lying around?! That's irresponsible!"
She mimed revving it up, complete with "vrrrrr-VRRRR!" sounds, slicing an invisible person midair with dramatic flair. "I didn't even know what it was for! Could've been a can opener or a fancy toothbrush for all I care—but the moment it made that brrrrrrrgrrr noise and hacked through bone like a hot knife through cheesecake? I was in love."
Fioren sighed again. "She keeps it under her bed. Polishes it. Talks to it."
"His name's Bitey!" Razor added proudly.
"So... where is it now?" Temoshí asked, squinting suspiciously.
Razor froze mid-grin, her eyes wide for a second like a child caught stealing sweets, then slowly curled back into a mischievous smile.
She stared at him in deadpan silence for an awkward beat, then burst out, "Left it behind. Forgot it. Don't even care! Wa-hahahaha!" She flailed her arms like a maniac conductor, clearly more amused by the chaos than the consequences.
"I wish her tentacles fell off every now and then," Temoshí muttered, exasperated, watching Razor gleefully slither beside him.
Razor whipped her head toward him with a grin that stretched a little too wide. "Just you wait, Captain Fire!" she cackled, her voice flipping between playfulness and menace. "Maybe—just maybe—when I learn how to stay a glorious, unhinged lunatic without the tentacle arms, I'll ditch 'em! But until then, these babies stay!" She twirled them like ribbons, then slapped one against the ground for flair. "They're my juicy chaos noodles, and I'm not done seasoning the world with 'em! Wa-hahaha!"
Temoshí just blinked again, because what the hell do you even say to that?
The trio approached the towering stadium at the heart of Lyvoria Crest. From afar, it looked alive—grand banners fluttering, steps polished and regal—but as they drew closer, the silence clung to them like a cold, wet sheet. Not a soul wandered the steps. Not a whisper in the wind.
Fioren glanced around, brow furrowed. "It's… too quiet."
Temoshí squinted at the gates. "Wasn't there a celebration or something going on? Where the hell is everyone?"
Chiaki remained quiet, still shaken, her eyes darting cautiously. But Razor? Razor just stepped ahead, arms spread wide.
"I love this kinda creepy vibe," she screeched with delight. "It's like the start of one of those super gory horror plays where everyone gets chopped up in reverse order of how annoying they are! That means I survive the longest! Wa-hahaha!"
Suddenly a massive metal cage crashed down from above, surrounding the group in a sharp, sizzling barrier. Bolts of electricity danced across the metal bars, crackling and snapping with warning.
Fioren touched one of the bars and recoiled instantly. "It's electrified! Of course it's electrified!"
Razor stared at the sparking cage, her eyes twinkling like a kid in a candy store filled with knives. "Ohhhh baby, touch that and I'll be fried crispier than a fish fillet at a pirate banquet! Sizzle sizzle! Razor gonna turn into calamari tempura with a side of screaming agony! Waaa-hahahaha!"
Temoshí groaned. "Can you please not sound excited about that?!"
"No promises, Captain Fire! This is my element!" Razor declared with wild glee, then stuck out her tongue and licked the sparking cage.
A jolt of electricity blasted through her face, launching her back a few feet with a splat. She landed twitching, smoke puffing from her frizzed-up hair like a burnt mop.
"BLEEAAUURGH—HOOOOT MAMA!!!" she groaned, her tongue hanging out like a fried noodle. "M' tongue… m' beautiful tongue… it's roast beef now…!!"
Temoshí blinked. "Why would you even—?"
"I dunnowww, it wooked tassy…" Razor mumbled, still sprawled on the floor, tongue sizzling like a sausage on a grill. "Issshhsh got shhting! Like lickin' a lightning bolt dipped in wasabi!"
Fioren crouched beside her with a deadpan look. "You're lucky your brain's already broken."
"Thankshh… I think…" Razor slurred, eyes crossed and tongue still flopping out like a flag of poor choices. "Doesh it shtill look cool…?"
Fioren facepalmed. "We're gonna die in here… and she's gonna enjoy every second of it."
The silence returned—but this time, it felt watched.
"Are you okay, Chiaki?" Temoshí asked, his voice laced with concern as he checked on her. "I'm... fine," Chiaki replied, her words hesitant, struggling to find the right ones. Just then, a horn blared throughout the area, cutting through the tension and drawing everyone's attention. The air filled with the sound of epic, booming music as a group of citizens closed in around the cage, trapping them in the middle.
"What's going on here?" Fioren asked, reaching out to touch the cage but stopping short, remembering Razor's earlier shock. The group of people they had seen before, dressed in unique uniforms, now gathered around them, with one person standing at the front, exuding authority—clearly the leader.
Razor eyed the man, her grin widening as she let out a loud cackle. "Ooh, look at that one! Fancy pants up front looks like he's about to give us a speech or something! Bet he's got some crazy ego to match that fancy outfit of his. Hah, he looks like he's ready to claim we're his next snack, wa-hahaha!" She cackled again, her tentacles twitching with excitement, eager for whatever chaos might unfold.
"Will you be quiet for a minute, geez?" Fioren groaned, rubbing her forehead in frustration. Razor paused, looking dramatically at her for a second before bursting out, "OH-KAY! I'll just sit here, all silent and peaceful, like a rock... if rocks could laugh maniacally and have tentacles!" She struck a ridiculous pose, flailing her arms around for effect, before dramatically dropping back into her usual chaotic state.
The man in charge studied them with a disinterested gaze, his expression flat and unenthused. His demeanor was the complete opposite of Razor's chaotic energy.
"Well, not the best at socializing... guess that's just me," he mumbled, his voice drenched in a constant wave of self-doubt and boredom. "So... a fish... two fish, actually... and two humans. Yeah, that's what I got to work with. Great. Just more things to deal with. You guys, the prisoners, or whatever you are, you're supposed to meet with our empress. Or, well, that's what I've been told. So... yeah... I guess I'm stuck escorting you to her." He sighed, slumping slightly as if the weight of even saying those words exhausted him. "I mean... it's whatever... I'm sure she'll have a lot to say, and I'll probably... just stand there, like usual. That's... pretty much my life. Fantastic."
Temoshí, Fioren, and Razor stared at the man, their eyes looking like two little dots of unimpressed judgment.
"The hell's with him...?" Temoshí muttered, raising an eyebrow as Razor squinted at the man in front of them, trying hard not to yawn.
"Ugh, this guy is like a walking nap. Am I supposed to be excited about meeting him, or...?" Razor groaned, her voice dripping with sarcasm, her tentacles flailing in exaggerated boredom.
The man sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh... sorry. I guess I'm just not... uh, what you'd call 'exciting,' huh?" he mumbled, his voice flat and apologetic. "I mean, I know... I've been told I'm kind of... a buzzkill. I can be more enthusiastic, though... or, you know, I could just keep standing here like a wet blanket. It's whatever, really."
Razor's eyes bugged out as she threw her arms into the air, her tentacles flapping like crazy. "Oh, come on! What is this? Another snooze fest?!" she bellowed, her voice bouncing off the walls with a manic energy. "I feel like I'm gonna fall asleep standing up, and I don't even sleep! This is worse than watching paint dry while it's stuck in traffic!" She turned to the man, her face twisted in disbelief. "Dude, you gotta be kidding me! Are you some kinda walking sleep aid? Am I supposed to be entertained or hypnotized?!"
She placed her tentacles on her hips, glaring at him like he'd just eaten the last piece of cake. "You're dragging the vibe down like a rock in a pond, man! Come on! Say something that doesn't make me want to bash my head against a wall for fun!" Razor then grinned wide, her eyes gleaming with chaotic delight. "If you're gonna be this boring, you better start handing out pillows and blankets 'cause this is the sleepiest show I've ever been to!"
"Okay..." the man mumbled, scratching his head. "I'll try my best." He let out a long sigh, slumping his shoulders. "Not that I'm good at anything, but hey, at least I'm trying, right? Not that anyone's ever noticed... I'm basically the human equivalent of a soggy napkin." He gave a half-hearted shrug, looking down at the ground. "But hey, at least I don't have to pretend to be exciting... That's gotta count for something, right?"
Razor practically bounced with anticipation, holding herself back with every ounce of willpower. "You better let me chop him into pieces when we get out of here! Though, I doubt he'd scream much... wouldn't have the chance!" She shot a grin at Temoshí, who stood there with a calm nod.
"No worries. I'll let you," he responded nonchalantly.
"Perfect!" Razor cheered, her grin widening to absurd proportions. "Oh, I can already taste it—chopping him up so fast, he'll think he never existed! Wa-hahaha!" Her manic laugh echoed as she paced excitedly. "I'll make him see the point of sharp objects! Get it?! Point?! Wa-hahaha!"
To be continued...