After everything, Alice finally recognized the smell: blood. Rotten blood, fresh blood, dried blood. The streets and houses bore stains that looked like dirt, but they weren't. They were marks of blood, remnants of past battles that had taken place there.
Alice felt her stomach turn. The streets, the people, the smell… everything disgusted her.
"If this keeps up, I'll be the one to burn this city down."
Leaving that repulsive place behind, Alice started thinking about how to escape this nightmare. No matter what happened, she had to get out of there. It shouldn't be too difficult. Everyone knew the Spell was cruel, but it was always fair when it came to one's nightmare.
Alice had already lived on the streets and in orphanages. A kingdom ruled by lunatics who glorified death shouldn't be that hard to endure.
As she wandered aimlessly, Alice spotted a familiar sight: the girl with the covered face. She and the two women accompanying her were leaving a shop with bags in hand.
"Who is that girl?"
Alice wanted to find out. And what better way to do so than to follow her?
That was exactly what she did.
She trailed the girl through the city, watching her purchases: clothes, food, and jewelry. A lot of jewelry.
Apparently, she was just another noble. It made sense, really. Saying all those awful things and still walking around with two bodyguards? She had probably never killed anyone in her life.
"Damn hypocrite."
After following the girl for some time, Alice saw her arrive at a different place: a large house in the city center, near the imposing temple.
There, the scent of blood was weaker. The stains on the streets were almost imperceptible. The house was white—spotless. Not a single drop of blood. They must have painted it regularly.
Alice decided to stay nearby for a while. She had nothing better to do, so she lay down and started studying her runes while observing the mansion.
At least until she fell asleep.
---
Alice woke up with a jolt. Having slept on the ground, her body should have been sore. But it wasn't.
And, even stranger… she was no longer on the street.
Whatever had happened, she was now lying on a bed as soft as clouds. The room around her was white and pristine. Her clothes were clean.
Someone had carried her there while she slept. Someone had changed her clothes.
But who?
— Looks like the stalker is awake.
— What?
The voice came from the door. The girl with the covered face entered, accompanied by one of the women from before. She carried a jar of cookies.
— Did you bring me here? What, have you decided to kidnap me now?
The girl laughed.
— Hahaha. Why would I need to kidnap you?
She sat in a chair while the woman placed the jar on the nightstand beside Alice.
— If I wanted to do anything, I would've killed you while you were sleeping outside. But I felt sorry for you. You would've caught a nasty cold when night fell.
— Hard to imagine you feeling sorry for anyone.
Alice grabbed a cookie and ate it. She knew she should be more careful. Sleeping while tailing someone? What a stupid idea. But she was too hungry to care now.
— What do you mean by "someone like me"? Are you talking about a beautiful, rich girl? Or are you referring to that little incident earlier?
What a stupid question…
— Of course, I'm talking about the incident. I barely even know what your face looks like.
Alice wanted to say more, but she figured it was best not to anger the person providing her with food and a comfortable bed.
— Like I said, you'll get used to it soon. It's not like you have much of a choice.
The girl got up and moved closer, sitting on the bed beside Alice. Now that she was nearer—and without all that blood—Alice realized how beautiful she was.
Her hair was like a river of gold cascading over her shoulders. Her skin was porcelain.
But one thing remained: the horrible smell of blood. It clung to everyone in that damned city.
— By the way, since you didn't ask, my name is Rubin. And yours?
Rubin. Not an ugly name. But why the sudden intimacy? They didn't even know each other. Who said Rubin was trustworthy?
— My name is Nobody.
Rubin tilted her head, confused.
— What?
— Don't get me wrong. My name is really Nobody. I grew up on the streets. No one ever gave me a real name. Until they started calling me that…
Even after centuries, knowledge remained a powerful weapon. Nobody. Odysseus had given that name to the cyclops on his journey.
Now, Alice would do the same.
— I see. If you don't mind, then fine.
Rubin reached for a cookie from the jar. Her hair moved as she did, and Alice found herself mesmerized by the golden strands.
— Very well, Nobody… Now, are you going to tell me why you were following me?
— Ah, well…
Alice opened her mouth to reply. But at that very moment, she felt something strange.
A chill ran down her spine. Reflexively, she kicked Rubin, knocking her to the ground.
In the same instant, an arrow whizzed through the air, passing exactly where Rubin's chest had been a second before.