Vibrant cherry blossom trees sway in the wind. Warm afternoon sunlight cast shadows across Leonore's cobblestone streets. Golden, marble, and granite statues depict previous PRIMEs from Leonore that stretch down Main Street. Business was flourishing as market vendors sold high-end furniture, art, and designer outfits. The ENGINE slumbered over the islands in the ocean.
"Excuse me, chosen. Can I take a moment of your time?" A female merchant asked as Emily and Elijah approached.
Emily glanced up at the merchant and then at the designer clothing on display. She glanced at the intricate sewing and craftsmanship in each of the outfits. A soft smile stretched on her face as her eyes glanced at a dressed speckled in stars. She rubbed her neck as a thousand-yard stare formed on her face.
"Chosen, what are you wearing!? You can't go around looking like that...this outfit...if I can call it that, is not befitting for someone like yourself," the merchant said, wide-eyed as she stared at Emily's tattered clothes.
"Your outfits are beautiful, but I don't have any money," Emily replied.
"Don't worry, I will pay," Elijah replied as he flicked his cigarette to the ground and dug into his pants pocket for his wallet.
"Pay? Chosen do not need to pay. It would be my honor to tailor-make your outfits for the pilgrimage," the merchant replied with a smile.
"You sure?"
The merchant nodded her head. "To have my outfits worn by the chosen would be an advertisement for me. Additionally, if you happen to become Prime, my outfit would be featured in the sculpture of your image," she explained as she gestured towards the statues lining the road.
"Do you have anything I don't know...less dressy?" Emily mumbled as she fixated on the star-speckled dress. "From what I learned growing up. The pilgrimage isn't a runway show."
"You're right, and don't worry about that. This is for regular citizens. I am more than capable of designing outfits for a more practical purpose," the merchant explained as she noticed Emily gaze at her outfits. "So what say you two?"
Elijah shrugged, then glanced at Emily. "Your call, kid...you need a new outfit anyway."
Emily chuckled, then rubbed her arm. "I guess you have a point there."
The merchant clapped her hands as a smile formed on her face. She then reached under her booth and retrieved some clothes. "Here, take these in the meantime. It will take me a few days to get both your outfits ready, but I will have them done before you set sail."
"Set sail?"
"It's tradition that all one hundred contestants meet one another. All four cities become open to one another. You're not from Leonore, are you?" She asked as she gazed at Elijah.
Elijah nodded. "Tyrial, born and raised. Came to Leonore for business, and I guess business found me," he chuckled as he pointed at his grey mask.
"Guess you had no interest in divinity?"
Elijah shook his head. "No, and especially not when the other option is being six feet under."
"I wish I could take your position chosen. But alas, the ENGINE saw something in you more so than I."
"Why would you want to be chosen?" Emily asked.
"I like to dream that I would be a great PRIME. Not a single person wearing atrocious outfits on my watch," she chuckled.
Emily glanced up at Elijah, then accepted the clothes. "Could I make one small request?"
"Of course... It's about that dress, right?" The merchant replied.
Emily nodded. "I like it...don't know why though."
The merchant smirked. "Not to worry, I will make sure your pilgrimage outfit will have the stars sewn in with each stitch."
Emily smiled, but her thousand-yard stare slowly returned as the merchant's response echoed in her ears.
"Hey, kid," Elijah said, then snapped his fingers. "Hey, kid...back to earth!"
Emily blinked heavily then gazed up at Elijah with wide eyes. "Sorry, started daydreaming," Emily muttered, forcing a smile on her face.
"We need to find a place where you can clean up."
The merchant pointed across the street to a building. "I have a friend there who teaches fencing. Tell her that Lisa sent you, and she will let our young chosen freshen up."
"Appreciate that," he replied with a smile as he reached for his pack of cigarettes. "Come on, kid, let's get you out of that. Can't have you winning the pilgrimage due to your hygiene."
"You won't be winning it either if comedy was the only thing the ENGINE cared about," Emily grumbled.
Elijah chuckled as they walked. "You didn't like that? I thought it was funny."
"Delusional sourpuss."
Baroque tunes echoed as Emily followed Elijah into the building. Silver and gold adorned the paintings on the wall. Trophies aligned the hallway as her weathered shoes stepped on pristine marble floors. She glanced inside a training room, watching two people fence in protective outfits.
"Hello, Lisa sent us. You think this one can freshen up here?" Elijah asked the receptionist, then gestured at Emily standing next to him.
"Of course, the bathroom is just down that hallway. Also, feel free to join any of our fencing lessons for free. It's on the house," the receptionist explained with a smile as she looked at their masks on their faces.
"You don't gotta do any of this, sourpuss? Still don't know why you're trying to help me when we're supposed to be killing each other in a week," Emily asked as she followed Elijah down the hallway.
"That's in a week, and believe it or not, maybe I don't care about winning," Elijah replied as he shrugged and lit his cigarette.
"You ain't scared to die?"
"Not really, we die many times in our lives before we actually kick the bucket."
"Don't you have family?"
Elijah rolled his eyes as he leaned on the front entrance to the bathrooms. "Did."
Emily's eyes lowered, then she glanced up at Elijah. "Oh."
"Made peace with it years back. Now get cleaned up...you smell like shit," Elijah grumbled as he exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke.
Emily sighed and then stepped into the locker room. She dug into her pocket and put her notebook on the locker bench before hopping into the shower. Her fingers began to prune as she stood with a trance-like stare, as water trickled down her skin. Teal highlights showed more vividly as the dirt dripped down, swirling into the filthy water surrounding Emily's feet. She rubbed her hands through her hair as fog of steam spilled into the locker room.
I wake up where the city numbs,
Empty stomach, hunger drums.
Thread and needle in merchant's hands,
She promises what I can't understand.
Emily sang as her eyes stared down at the water swirling.She turned off the shower and dried her hair in the mirror.
My reflection fades, I'm barely there,
Eyes like hunger, tangled hair.
Every window shows what I could be,
If someone would just notice me.
Emily frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror, then got dressed. She quickly scribbled some lyrics in her notebook, then left the bathroom.
"Well, at least you don't smell like trash," Elijah jested as he looked at Emily in clean black clothes.
"Fuck you, sourpuss," Emily scowled.
"Hey, hope you don't mind, but I signed you up for a fencing lesson."
Emily closed her eyes slowly, then sighed. "What are you, my dad?"
"No, but given you're about to be fighting for your life in a week, I figure you should at least know how to defend yourself."
"I can take care of myself."
"Then show me."
"You don't believe me?"
"Just take the damn class, this is different from playing a damn cello well."
Emily let out an exasperated groan. "Fine...fine whatever. I will take this stupid fencing class."
Sweat, perfume, metal, and leather hit Emily's nose as she followed Elijah inside a training room. Baroque music played in the background as training swords clashed, overloading Emily's senses. Her eyes lingered on the two sparrers, their faces hidden behind a fencing mask. She examined their footwork as they shuffled back and forth.
"Set-match. Point to Rachel," the referee announced as the sparrers bowed and took off their fencing mask.
Emily's eyes widened as she stared at the female with strawberry blonde hair. Warm honey blonde highlights in her hair contrasted with the black mask on the right side of her face. Her chestnut eyes glanced over at Emily. Sweat dripped from her sun-touched, rosy skin.
"Another chosen?"The girl said with a raised eyebrow as she took off her gloves, a smile spreading across her face. "Finally, some competition."
Emily smiled as her heart raced. She quickly avoided her gaze, staring wide-eyed at the mat.
"Rachel from the Empire of Augustine. And you are chosen?"
"I ummm...Emily from Leonore?"
Rachel smiled then glanced up at Elijah, noticing his gray mask. "Oh, two chosen. Are you family?"
Elijah shook his head. "Nope, just met her today. What's someone from the empire doing in Leonore on PRIME Day?"
Rachel chuckled. "The empire goes wherever she pleases. After all, we birthed the most PRIMES, and I will be the next."
"Takes more than confidence to be the next PRIME," Elijah replied as he crossed his arms.
Rachel nodded, then looked at Emily, then back at Elijah. "Care for a friendly match?"
Elijah chuckled. "Sorry, kid, I won't be your ego boost today."
Rachel laughed, then looked at Emily. "What say you, Emily from Leonore?"
"I never fenced," Emily replied.
"The other chosen won't care about that when they put a sword through your gut."
Emily's eyes widened as she looked into Rachel's eyes. Both of them refused to break eye contact.
Elijah rubbed his neck and then lit another cigarette. "You're not wrong about that."
"She didn't have to say it like that," Emily said with narrowed eyes.
"Truth hurts. The ENGINE chose you both, but all I see is cowards."
Emily's nostrils flared as she grabbed a fencing sword.
"No gear?" Rachel asked as she noticed Emily approaching her without putting on the protective suit.
Emily didn't reply, just staring into Rachel's eyes without putting up her sword. Rachel's eyebrow raised as she waited for Emily to assume a fighting position, but it never came. Rachel's grip on her rapier tightened, then she lunged at Emily in one swift, precise movement. Emily dodged it without lifting a finger.
"The fuck?" Elijah whispered to himself as he watched—his facial expression matching Rachel's confusion.
"Sharp instincts, Emily, from Leonore. You might be a natural at this," Rachel said as she fixed her posture and readied her weapon once more.
She then lunged once more, feinting her attack, which caused Emily to block with her rapier. Rachel followed up with a swift assault, which Emily dodged and blocked.
"You're a cheeky one. Pretending you never fenced before to make me underestimate you," Rachel smirked as she parried Emily's attack, then tapped her Rapier on Emily's shoulder.
"Point, Rachel of Augustine," the referee declared as Rachel stepped back.
"I seriously never fenced before," Emily replied as she smiled, rubbing her shoulder where Rachel's rapier landed.
"Well, you're a freaking natural, Emily of Leonore," Rachel replied as she stretched out her hand.
Emily looked down at her hand and then looked into Rachel's eyes, shaking her hand with a smile.
"We must do this again before the pilgrimage," Rachel insisted.
Emily smiled; her heart fluttered as her cheeks flushed.
Elijah watched on with narrow eyebrows. He lit another cigarette as Emily and Rachel conversed. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was something off about Emily.