Unwelcome

They were getting closer to a structure past the woods , Sails didn't trust them , nor did Heels , but what other choice could they get? 

They arrived at a castle on a hill , it was beautiful , seems like it was from there where they heard the bells before. 

As they entered the town and pass the heavily fortified walls , all the inhabitants started to look at them , they surely did not like strangers. But who can blame them? they live in a very scary and dangerous world.

The Knights help sails get on his feet , after retrying to be certain that they are humans , they decided that they need to go meet the Queen , they are not visitors , they woke up here , they can pose a threat. Besides , it is up to the Queen to decide if they can stay or not. 

when they get inside the throne room , they see a woman , in her Late Twenties looking down on them from her throne . She had a scar near her eye, she had golden eyes , and a lion near her. the lion seemed corrupted with core substance as well. 

As she was sitting on her golden chair , she raised an eyebrow and a smirk.

"Visitors?" she asks

the guards answers by no , he sums up the story they told him on the road.   

when he finishes she sighs , looks away then locks eyes with the two.

"You woke up here. Just like that"

"Yes" Sails answers , one of the guard pushes him and makes him fall to the ground , Heels tries to help him but they stop her. The guard says that he should bow and address her as Majesty.

"I Wouldn't have treated you this way if you came to our city , especially if your leg needs healing" he looks at her , holding himself up with an arm .

"I've been here for twenty years , i don't think i will ever go to Libra"

"So you know who i am?"

"Yes of course"

"Where are we?"

She chuckles

"I am really asking"

"Will answer after you call me Majesty and bow"

"I am against the idea of Monarchy"

Heels protests 

"Your Majesty" She says kneeling "We don't know what happened to us , i apologize for my friend's behavior , but he is still the leader of libra , the one that stood against the emperor."

"I am aware of that , but it is not up to woman to corrects men manners"

"I'm just making my point , we both are humans , we both bleed , why should i kneel to you?"

one of the guards hits Sails to push him back on the ground.

"Even when you are in the dirt you Librians are always so proud , why?"

"Because every living Librian , built his own freedom with his toes , fingers , sweat and blood, this is why , i fought a crown all my life , you want me to kneel in front of one now?"

She stays silent , this after all , was not arrogance , it was truth.

"Let's say i believe your unusual story" She says as she gets up from the throne , "why would i shelter you?" she asks.

"Why? What do you mean why? It's the morality of the underground. To help a stranger" Sails replies 

"Hm , but no one is here to enforce it , Libra is not here , you are , what are you going to do, tell my own guards to stop me?"

"Your normal guards no , your people would listen"

"Why would they listen to a leader that didn't even know they existed?"

Sails is the one who stays silent this time

"I fought for all of them ,whether they like it or not." 

"But you never came here" she stops "but anyway , there is no reason why i should shelter you"

"Then don't , just tell me how to come back to Libra and i'll be on my way"

"I am not going to"

"Your majesty we just want to go back home" Heels intervenes 

"Listen Heels, I cannot tell you where is Libra, because I don't know where it is. We are in the thin desert, and nothing is mapped out, so we drawn on our maps circles, the bigger the circle is, the less information we have"

"Well then it means I just need to get out of all of them"

"Good luck with that, we would have done it if we could, but the core is too strong it dominates these lands"

"You never tried reaching the.. Normal underground?"

"We tried but no messenger made it out alive past the fifth circle, so, we never got exterior help"

"Alright i see, what is causing these powerful beasts?"

"We are in the first circle, the safest place here. The other human presence lies in the 3 circle, it's also a kingdom, but it is governed by extremists people who want the core to take over the world"

"Those are core elements?" Heels intervenes as Sails looks to the map
"Their leader surely is, our kingdoms are at war"

Sails scoffs

"in such a world? Humans still fight? Hm interesting"

"They're the ones who are making our life hell"

"and how do we know your words are truthful?"

"Believe me or not, I really don't care. It's not like you're going to change anything"

"Will they at least heal and shelter me?"

"Probably not Sails, you are not welcome here if you don't bring anything"

"Okay"

Heels and Sails are now outside the city walls. The guards give them a backpack, a sword and a loaf of bread, then they close the doors.
Heels looks to Sails disappointed .Sails notices

"what's up?"

"what's up? Really? If you want to bring your morality everywhere don't drag me with you"

"Drag me with you? What? Did you see how she treated us?"

"she doesn't know us, and is living in a monstrous place, what did you expect?"

Sails scoffs "let's just go beyond the fifth circle we might find our-"

"No, I'm not going with you anymore"

"what? Where will you go then?"

"Alone, just not with someone willing to sacrifice himself for me like I would have for him"

Sails tries to speak but Heels cuts him right away

"You think i kneeled to her and spoke the Queen's egoistical language because i wanted to? I did it so we can survive. Sails morals are important, but your morals will die if you don't live tomorrow. What do you think Libra will be after your death? Flowers and love? No. A whole Civil War will happen. Once you sacrifice yourself for others, and put your morals aside to survive, we'll talk "

She walks away without even hearing him. She walks into the darkness until he couldn't hear her Heels anymore on the stones below.

picture credits :

https://pixabay.com/photos/castle-architecture-incredible-fog-5166062/

https://pixabay.com/vectors/cleopatra-queen-lion-egyptian-6060629/

https://pixabay.com/vectors/princess-silhouette-tiara-crown-5592642/

https://pixabay.com/photos/winter-coach-castle-cold-surreal-589600/

https://pixabay.com/photos/adventure-man-mountain-outdoors-1850178/