Our story starts in Bosco, the country of trade. It is known for its rocky mountains, lush and expansive forestry, large seaside docks, and trade ports of all types to every kingdom. Though where there is normal trade, a shadow looms and uses these systems for dark and horrid purposes.
Being such a large country makes pinpointing differences between normal trades and black market dealings difficult. Sadly, every bustling country has a city where the poison is thick, and for Bosco, that would be the inner city capital, Heliconia.
Unlike many other countries, Bosco had separated its country into several sections:
You had the outer city, Veldhaven, known for being the basic slums or wastelands. There was only one job out there, which was to work the seaside ports and road patrol and you had to be hired from the inner city to do so.
Then you had the middle city, Aspenreach, where a majority of people live, usually the low-paying middle-working class and the impoverished. It was also the home to low-paying jobs that were more risky than comfortable.
Finally, you had the main bustling inner city, Heliconia, where the shops, refined businesses, and the rich or upper middle-working class lived. This city is also the home to our story's protagonist, who had been unwittingly preparing for the day that would change her life, July 14th, X772.
"Korazón, getcha coat and shoes on." A mature feminine voice had called. The voice belonged to a dark-skinned short, broad, and curvaceous woman in her mid-20s with mahogany red eyes and dark black, thick locs.
"The quicker you do, the quicker we can go look for that new deel you want so much." A more masculine voice followed after. The voice belonged to a pale, taller, stocky man in his late 20s or perhaps early 30s with olive green eyes and peacock blue hair.
"Chh, Zaya! Don't make promises we can not keep." The woman exclaimed, clearly upset by the man called Zaya
"Vea, I simply said we'd look at it with her. You know it never hurts for Kora to look and have your taste and eye for fashion," he said, a smirk evident in the man's tone, clearly trying to flirt with the woman, Vea.
He came up behind her and hugged her tightly, his arms wrapping around her waist as he kissed her cheek. Vea chuckled at Zaya's antics and looked back at the man "You silly man..my silly mans." she said as she gave him a small kiss and sighed a bit, "I enjoy these sweet moments we get when we are both not so busy."
Zaya smiled a bit, and he noticed that his wife looked tired as she didn't stand as tall as she usually would. Her eyes had slightly noticeable dark circles, and he just knew she was overworking herself, not that he was any better. He also found himself working more than he usually would. He rested his chin on her head and hummed for a second before speaking, "Vea, why not rest? I can take Kora to the shops myself. You need to rest." he urged softly, clearly worried about his wife.
Vea took a small breath. This was not the first time he made this suggestion to her, and it may never be the last. "I should say the same to you. When will you rest? You work so hard, you must rest eventually, yes?" She asked, glancing up at him, her head moving a bit to do so. She had noticed how tired her husband looked. He had just arrived home about 10 minutes earlier and had not yet changed his clothes or rested. She could see his very noticeable dark circles and eye bags. He worked hard so they could have their home in the inner city.
He worked a job in the outer city on one of the seaside docks as one of the many men who'd move boxes, crates, and many shipments on and off ships and cargos. As for her, she had started working a newer job in the city as a desk clerk for one of the newer businesses that had started up, of course, she was working harder than any of the other women but she didn't mind too much.
Before he could argue, the two heard pitter-pattering of feet, more like soft stomping as a long peacock blue-haired little girl bounded into the room and hugged the back of one of Zaya's legs with a giggle "Good Evening miss, sir" she said as she looked up at them, a bright little smile on her face, she couldn't be older than 6 years old.
Zaya chuckles as he stops hugging his wife and instead bends down and picks up his little girl and chuckles, kissing her face. "My little Altais! Are you ready for the shops?" He asks with a smile as he keeps smothering his daughter in kisses
Kora laughed, and her laugh was so sweet and infectious, like music to their ears. The little girl tried to push her father's face away from hers as he ambushed her face "Y-yes" she finally said in between all her laughter and giggles. Upon hearing her, her father stopped and set her back on the ground. Her mother had just watched them and held her hand out for Kora to take, which she happily did.
After a few minutes of making sure they had everything they needed, they left their home. It would be a little bit of a walk, but they didn't mind. The couple would talk and play games with their daughter as they went, they'd swing her around, and her father would try to jokingly throw her in a pond in a park on their way to their destination. As they neared the exit of the park, Kora pulled her father to a patch of colorful flowers.
"Daddy! Daddy! What are these flowers called? These red, white, yellow, and pink ones?" She asked excitedly
Zaya chuckles as he squats to her level to look at the flowers. "Camellias. They're called Camellias. They have a very delicate smell but they have very nice colors, yeah?" He smiles a bit and looks around before plucking a white one and placing it in her hair. "There, for the cutest princess," he plucks another as he stands up, taking Kora's hand and walking back over to his wife and placing it behind her ear "For the most beautiful queen I have ever laid my eyes on."
Vea and Kora look at each other and then at Zaya with a chuckle and a giggle and take each other's hand "Well, this queen and princess must get to the shops, come now servant boy. We must hurry if the princess wants to look at new deels." Vea states with a regal voice, then just smiles at her husband.
"Yeah! I want to find a blue one!" Kora says happily as she starts to drag Vea. "Let's go go go!" She said, that despite pulling and moving, they weren't getting very far.
"Yes, yes, we are coming. Slow down, Kora, we don't need to rush. The shops will still be there this evening." Vea chuckles as she motions for her husband to help her
"Kora. Take my hand and then we can go, okay?" Zaya said a bit firmly.
Kora stopped looked at her parents and nodded. "Sorry.." She said with that obvious kid guilt, knowing she was being warned, as she took her father's hand and properly held her mother's hand.
Upon her doing so, they began their way to the shops, where there stands the grand, greenhouse-inspired mall named The Merchant's Garden. This architectural marvel reflects a modern design with sleek lines and expansive glass panels that capture the sunlight, illuminating the interior with a bright, airy ambiance. The glass is framed with finely crafted steel beams that arch gracefully, giving the building an elegant, contemporary silhouette.
Inside, the mall buzzes with activity as merchants and shoppers navigate its spacious corridors. The floors are made of polished marble that gleams under the natural light, while the walls are adorned with neatly maintained vertical gardens. These lush green installations are carefully cultivated using traditional horticultural methods, reflecting Bosco's deep connection to nature such as its lush forestry along the walls of the middle city and the outer city.
Multiple levels are connected by transparent glass elevators and smooth, sweeping staircases with minimalist railings. The centerpiece of it all is a vast, circular atrium crowned by a magnificent glass dome, allowing an unobstructed view of the sky. In the middle, a grand fountain with intricately carved stonework creates a tranquil atmosphere as water cascades into a shallow pool surrounded by plush seating.
The shops within The Merchant's Garden cater to Bosco's trade-driven culture, ranging from high-end boutiques featuring imported luxury goods to local vendors offering handcrafted items and artisanal products. Cafes and bistros line the corridors, their patios adorned with wrought iron furniture and flowering plants. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and international delicacies fills the air, attracting visitors to take a break and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Entertainment is woven into the fabric of the mall, with small street performers showcasing their talents in designated open spaces. The upper levels are connected by glass walkways, offering stunning panoramic views of the bustling city outside and the majestic mountains beyond. The design seamlessly blends modern elegance with a nod to Bosco's natural beauty, making The Merchant's Garden not just a place of commerce but a social and cultural hub for the working-class families that populate the city.
Vea began dragging her family to multiple clothing shops, looking for new uniforms for each of them, very specifically: new shirts and work boots for Zaya, pants, and skirts for Kora, and a blouse and work pants for herself. Of course, the usual blubber and comments spilled from Kora and Zaya's mouths as they were forced to try everything on as most would when they had to try clothes on that they didn't care for.
After an hour or so of this, they moved to another shop and another doing the same thing over and over. Vea was getting frustrated that they couldn't find Zaya any new shoes nor get herself a proper blouse, and Zaya was getting tired to the point of almost falling asleep in one of the seats outside the dressing rooms.
They finally went to one more shop in the mall, a last resort as Vea would say. The biggest store in the mall, Jazz's, is a store that sells all types of clothes. The store that Kora was notorious for playing in the racks, to hide and wait to be found.
Once they walked in, she ran off to a rack near the shoes, going in and giggling while waiting for one of her parents to find her so she could hide in another. She sat there for a bit, patiently waiting and smiling to herself. Any minute they come to find her or hear her. 'Any minute now.' she thought as she played with a shirt, just waiting.
After what feels like forever, she crawls out from the rack, wondering if they went to look for shirts first instead of shoes. 'Maybe momma is trying on a bunch of shirts still..' she thought as she headed to the dressing room at the back of the store, looking down every aisle she could as she headed back there. Once she got back there, she looked around for that familiar peacock hair, but to no avail, she didn't see it. She decided to check near the clerks, maybe they walked past and were paying already, but again, she didn't see them. She started to walk out of the store and look around outside of it, and look around the area and through other shop windows.
'They are nearby. They probably think I wandered off again.' she thought as she wandered back and forth, looking into shops, but as she went back and forth and looked around, she started to panic and become frantic till she found herself on the floor against a wall and crying. She couldn't find them, she was alone and scared and couldn't find her parents. Any kid's worst nightmare was coming to life. She tried wiping her tears, but they kept coming as she realized she was lost and just wanted her mom and dad. "M-momma!" She cried more at the thought of being lost forever, having to live in the mall.
"Hi sweetie, are you lost?" A male voice asked her as gently as possible. It felt like she was crying forever till someone came up to her. "Is there any way we can help?" He asked.
When she looked up, there stood two older boys. Kora wasn't sure how old they were or who they were, so she didn't speak. 'Strangers..' she thought as she looked at them through teary eyes. The sweet-voiced boy was smaller, lanky, and slightly tanned. He had ash blonde hair, the sides were shaved short, while the top was left longer with the longer bits swept to the side to cover his left eye a bit as for his eyes...they were an orange color, and Kora noted that she liked his eyes. As for the other guy, he was way bigger than the lanky boy, he was way taller and broader. He had nice lilac purple hair that was short and straight, he too had some hair that was almost as long enough to cover his eyes. His eyes were a vibrant yellow, but they were watching her in a way that made her scared, uncomfortable almost.
"I'm Lev and that quiet big guy is Caius...we noticed you crying and wanted to make sure you were okay...are your parents around?" The sweet-voiced boy said. She noted their names, Lev and Caius. They were here to help, saviors.
"I-I'm Kora..." she spoke softly as she tried to wipe her tears away. She didn't want to cry in front of these nice boys. They wanted to help. "I just want to find my mommy and daddy... I lost them," she said softly.
Lev smiled at her a bit, though the smile was off to Kora, it was almost joyful when she said she was lost, but she thought he may just have had a funny smile. He looked at Caius and then at Kora. "We'll help you find them. Come on, I think we saw them on our way to the mall. Let's check outside." He said, offering his hand to Kora, who stood up and took it. That smile appeared on his face as they headed towards the exit a bit quickly.
The flower that was in her hair fell out when they made their way out, but she hadn't noticed. She was just excited to see her parents again and to go home since it was getting late, they were going to have dinner soon. Her favorite dish is Buuz. It was usually a holiday dish, but it was a treat for the night. As they headed to the exit, she realized this wasn't the exit they usually went through, this one went down a darkish labyrinth of a hallway.
"Where are we going..?" Kora asked, a little concerned by the exit and how scary it felt
"To your parents. We have to take a shortcut." Lev said that the smile on his face seemed to get wider when he spoke. It seemed more devious in this low lighting. After a minute or so, he pushed open a door, and they were outside on the side of the mall with no people around. All there was outside was a covered carriage. No one seemed to be around it or sitting in it.
Lev let her hand go, shoving her into Caius, who had a tight grip on her. He went up to the driver's seat. "Caius, do your thing quickly before she starts screaming," he said as he jumped up into the seat.
"Got it, boss." Caius finally spoke. His voice was deep and a bit gravelly. Kora looked scared as she looked between the two boys. "W-wait, where's my mommy and daddy?" She asked with tears in her eyes, scared
Lev laughs a bit as he looks around the cart "Hell if I know, brat, but aren't we lucky to stumble upon you? I mean, your parents never teach you to trust strangers? Caius, put her under already?"
Kora looked in horror at Lev, someone she thought she could trust, as she started to kick and flail, but Caius was bigger than her. His hand glowed a light blue.
"Sleep magic: 26-hour slumber," he spoke, his voice gruff, as he waved his glowing hand over her eyes, and the little girl immediately slumped against him, falling asleep. He picked her up and gently put her in the back of the cart, a blanket and a ratty pillow back there already, and covered her.
He then sat in the front with Lev, and the two quickly sped off from the mall and to an off-road through a forest and a mountain tunnel. As they entered the tunnel, they seemed to disappear in the shadows. Soon, Bosco turned into a distant memory, and all that seemed ahead of them was their destination, Fiore.
Several days passed by now, and Kora was still with Lev and Caius. They had cut her hair and had been constantly putting her to sleep when she made attempts to escape. They tried to be nice to her and to feed her, but she would fight them, scream, bite, and kick. After day 4, they decided not to make any more stops, instead camping out early evenings and leaving early morning, making this a daily occurrence for a few more days. They had barely made it to Fiore by day ten, driving through the forest on the outskirts, keeping away from people. By day ten, Kora had stopped fighting, she stopped screaming, and she would just stare at everything that passed her by, a blank empty expression, lost..unhappy, and soulless.
Kora closed her eyes as the wagon swayed and hit small bumps in the ground. She was tired of it all, tired of fighting, tired of trying to escape. She was silently praying for someone to save her, for her mom and dad to be behind them, trying to catch up and save her from these people. She lay there, leaning against the side of the carriage with her eyes closed and just hoping..after all, today was supposed to be a happy day.
"So, we're just supposed to get her North West of Shirotsume Town...that's what the buyer said we should meet on the...not my business what kinda person they are, just pick up whatever or whoever is asked of us and deliver the goods then move on.." Lev's voice was that of a peaking mess, his words fading in and out as Kora slowly fell in and out of consciousness, her thoughts only that whoever wanted her to be taken away from her parents better know that her parents would bring her home...or she hoped so.
Just as she felt sleep take over, the cart seemed to swerve and jerk as she was being thrown around the carriage before the boys finally took back control of the horses and carriage. They stopped the cart, and Kora tried to sit up and see what caused the commotion. She could see a tall green-haired woman wearing a forest green strapless jumpsuit and a black leather cropped jacket standing over a forest Vulcan, her gloved hands had a soft green glow around them for a moment before they disappeared.
For a moment, her eyes were obscured by her bangs and hair that fell forward as her beat-up leather boot dug her foot into the Vulcan's face with annoyance.
"Well then, ready to apologize for your disgusting behavior towards me and my friend, or do I need to put your monkey ass in its place?" She said, her voice was older and rough for her age, but her face would be pretty if she wasn't making such an ugly and scary face at the Vulcan. She then proceeded to kick the unconscious beast and harass the beast with words and curses.
Lev and Caius stared at the woman a bit longer dumbfounded at how oblivious she was as she dealt with the Vulcan. "Hey, lady! You almost got us killed with your little fight!" Lev yelled, annoyed.
The woman looked towards them, her green eyes seeming sharp and annoyed as she huffed and went back to dealing with the Vulcan, wrapping it up with thick prickly vines that appeared from nowhere, it seemed to look like briar. "I'll deal with you later. As for you two.." she said as she walked up to the cart, her eyes moving to a figure in the cart, a blur of peacock blue seemingly disappearing, who was peeking over the cart side to watch before the woman came over. She took note of this and smirked. "You're right on schedule as I thought. Tell me, do you know who I am?" She said as she took the jacket off and threw it to the side with an evil smirk
"A stripper?-" Caius said, confused by her motion as he glanced at Lev, who seemed frozen and shaking a bit. He took note of his body language and knew something was wrong.
"Shit! Short green hair, rough voice, use of briar, feisty with a violent demeanor, and that damn green emblem on your collarbone! You're Fairy Tail's S-Class wizard, The Thorn Prowler!" Lev exclaimed as he realized what trouble they were in.
"That's right, and it seems you ran into the wrong person on this road. So we're going to start talking, or else this isn't going to end well for you two." she threatened as she dealt with the men easily, using briar vines to trap them so they could barely slip away or move.
The woman sighed and went to deal with Kora. She hopped into the cart with her and sat across from her. "Hi kid..um, I'm not good with kids, but uh...my name is Athens. I'm a wizard in a guild called Fairy Tail, and I'm here to help you..what's your name.." She spoke as softly and kindly as possible..at least that's how it felt to Kora
Kora stared at her, taking note that this woman who called herself Athens seemed to be nervous herself, but she knew what happened the last time she trusted a stranger and shook her head as if to say she wasn't going to say. She looked scared, terrified. Her knees tucked into her chest as she tried to stay out of reach of the woman.
"You're scared...I get that. How about this, we put these bad men away and then I take you for a meal with some of my nice friends, yeah? I know a girl your age who'd love to make a friend like you." she said as she offered her hand, and she smiled a bit. Her smile seemed soft and genuine. "I promise, I'll get you home..okay?"
Kora looked hesitant. This stranger was making the same promise as these men, but the difference was her smile and demeanor. Her smile reminded her of her mom and her school teacher and her demeanor was like that of someone who wanted to help her..to help people. She nodded hesitantly and took her hand. "K-kora.." she finally said.
Athens smiled a bit more and helped her out of the cart, picking up her jacket and flicking the jacket to get the dirt off. "Okay, Kora.. let's go take care of these guys."
Kora nodded a bit, a small and weak smile on her face, for the first time in over a week..she felt some joy and hope, and her mind eased for a bit 'Today is the best birthday ever..' she thought, July 24th, X772..the day Kora turned 6, the day she was saved, the day her new life started.
A/N: Hey guys! My name is Blair and this is my first book on this account, if you are familiar with Aphmau Fanfiction, I sadly wrote "He loves me?!" and oh boy...those bring back painfully stupid and cringe memories. But I am back and ready to deliver better oc insert fanfics lol. With that being said, enjoy Ivy & Echoes. Word Count (Not including A/N): 4k
Chapter finished 2/15. Chapter proofed & edited 2/16
Cover Finished 4/14 Chapter 1 Cover Finished 4/15