Shifting a little, I tried not to smirk too much as Vim slowly stood.

Clinging to his back, there was a small moment of pure bliss as Vim took a deep breath and sighed. I enjoyed the feeling of his chest as he did so, and the way his whole body got a tad bit tighter in the process.

“Feel fine?” Vim asked as he tilted his head back a bit, as if to look at me. I leaned forward, so we could just barely meet eyes. “Yeah!” I said.

In truth it was a tad cumbersome. Since we had a few bags. Not as much as we had before reaching Telmik, but we still had more than normal. Vim had situated most of them on his sides and in his front, but I also had a few tied to my own back and waist.

They didn’t completely ruin the feeling of riding on his back, but I did wish we didn’t need to carry them at this moment. It was so rare that Vim let me be so clingy to him, outside of the bed, so I wanted to enjoy it fully.

Even if it was only for a few moments.

“So, like I said. I’ll climb it quickly. Just keep your head down, don’t bite your tongue, and keep hold of me. If for some reason you slip I’ll catch you,” Vim once again said, giving me warnings and tips as we both stared up the massive wall of white.

We were in front of one of Lumen’s massive walls. Where the forest was really thick, and not near any roads or entrances. No gates or towers were on this section, seemingly because it was not a place they seemed to think would be attacked. Not far behind us was a massive section of heavily wooded rocks, the type that no person or horse could easily traverse. Even bears would avoid them, so it made sense that the humans figured it not a place to worry about.

“I had been looking forward to going through the gates again, Vim,” I said lightly.

“I know. But like I said, I don’t want Light and the rest to know we’re here yet. Art of surprise and all that,” he said.

I nodded, and sighed a little as I brushed my cheek against his hair and ear. I liked the feel of our faces touching, especially since it was a rather new sensation.

If what I was doing bothered Vim, he didn’t let it show as he studied the wall before us. It was actually quite a feat to be able to claim he could scale the wall, and do so with me on his back. It was made of those huge white blocks most of Lumen was made from, and though they were essentially giant bricks… they were rather smooth. Too smooth to climb, even though some parts showed age and wear with cracks and broken pieces.

“You know Vim…” I tried not to get too distracted by the feel of his cheek on mine as I thought of something.

“Hm?”

“You’re strong,” I said.

“Well… yes?” he tilted his head a bit, enough to separated our cheeks. I glared at him, but knew he had not done it on purpose. He had simply glanced at me.

“I mean, you’re strong in the sense that you shouldn’t be. And not just because of your abilities. You don’t ever train. You don’t run, you don’t work out, even when you spar with me you don’t even ever break a sweat. How is that?” I asked.

“Oh. Yes. You’re not the first to notice. I’m lucky, I don’t need to keep my body in shape,” he said as he nodded, understanding what I meant.

“How? Is it something I could do too?” I asked.

“You’ve not changed much at all, Renn. You don’t need to worry about that. But no, there isn’t. I was made this way,” he said.

Right… “Your parents,” I said.

He nodded.

Shifting my knees a little, I tried not to let him notice my sudden interest. Just in case he tried to suddenly leap up the wall, as to keep us from having this conversation.

“What about… that thing Lilly mentioned once?” I asked.

“What thing?”

“Muscle memory. When we started to spar at the smithy, she said she was glad for it. That she had been worried she’d been getting rusty, having not done so in a long time. Don’t you suffer the same? Even if your body doesn’t need to keep in shape, what about that stuff?” I asked.

He chuckled at me. “That is true. Muscle memory only can compensate so much. But you’re forgetting something,” he said.

“I am…?”

“How much experience do you think I have, Renn? In fighting? Or waging war? Honestly?” he asked.

Hesitating… I wasn’t sure how to answer that.

Experience…? Vim likely had more than I could imagine. Even what little history I knew of him told me how long he’s been alive and how most of that life has been rife with war. Possibly even thousands of years worth.

Even just the years he’s spent with the Society…! I could only imagine how many battles, and chaotic events like the monsters he had faced here in Lumen, had happened just in these last few hundred years alone!

“Exactly. Even if I did suffer such… degradation, it’d take a lot longer for me to suffer it compared to a normal person. Hell, even compared to a non-human. Even if my nerves and reflexes did lessen without use, I can’t imagine it happening. I’ve simply been in too many situations and have too many experiences. To me fighting, man or monster, is normal. As normal as you eating a snack,” he said.

I grinned at him. “Can we get one? Before confronting Light?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yes. In fact I plan to not confront her right away. I want to examine the city for a moment, and then sneak you into the company and put you next to Merit,” he said.

My grin slowly faded. “I’d love to see Merit first… but why are we doing it that way?” I asked.

“Because I worry. I agreed to let you meet Light, Renn. To confront her with me. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be foolish. We don’t know what they are planning, the extent they’re willing to go, or their numbers. We also don’t even know who we can trust. Merit right now is the only person in these walls I trust. At least with your life,” he said.

Taking a deep breath, I went ahead and squeezed him. With not just my arms, but my legs too.

“I love you, Vim,” I said happily

“Hm…?” he didn’t seem to really understand why I’d say such a thing here and now, but it was fine.

After all he’d just simply once again proved to me why he was everything I wanted and needed. And had done so effortlessly, without even realizing it.

I wanted to kiss his cheek, but before I could he nodded and looked up the wall. He stepped forward, and I stiffened a little as I realized we were about to climb it.

“I’ll stop at the top, if there’s no one around. So we can look at the city from up there for a moment,” he said.

“Okay…” I felt oddly anxious as I nodded.

I wonder what this was going to feel like. Like the jump from earlier? When he had leapt over that canyon? Or will it feel like that weird weightless feeling when we had flown on Miss Beak’s back?

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“Take a breath. Don’t bite your tongue. Ready?” Vim asked, patting my arm around his neck as he did.

I nodded. “Ready.” And I did so, and focused as to not bite my tongue as he warned. He kept warning that same thing, so I knew that meant it was a big possibility. Vim only warned out of experience, which meant others he’d done this with had bit their tongues before.

“Here I go.”

Then he jumped.

For a tiny moment I squeezed up, closing my eyes and clinging to him, as the world got suddenly very heavy. I had to actually hold on with far more strength than I expected, thanks to the force pushing down upon us… upon me, as we flew up into the air.

Then the feeling of heaviness abruptly ended, and I had to cling to him for a different reason. He had jumped up and into the wall, hitting it hard enough to dig his fingers and hands into the stone. It kept us from falling back down, but also nearly sent me flying off his back. I had went from falling down, to feeling like I was being flung upwards since he had came to an abrupt stop.

“You okay?” Vim asked as he clung to the wall for a moment.

A little stunned, I glanced around a bit and then nodded. We were already half way up the wall!

Then he jumped again. I’m not sure how he did it, since I had thought only his hands and fingers had been in the wall, but we went flying upwards once more. This time there was no abrupt stop, but instead a strange graceful one… as we flew over the side of the rampart walls and onto the wall itself.

Vim landed rather gently, as if we’d not just jumped many dozens of feet into the air, and we both hurriedly looked around.

The wall was smaller than I had thought it would have been. The section we had landed on had these huge bricks on the outer rims, blocking most of the world from sight. This both hid us, and made it feel a little claustrophobic. I sat up a bit on Vim’s back, as to look up and down the wall… and found no one in sight.

There was a large tower down one side, but it had a door and no windows. If anyone was in it, I couldn’t tell. The other way also had a tower, but it was far away and before you reached the tower the wall diverted in different directions. Though I couldn’t see where or how, thanks to how tall the sides of the walls were.

“Doesn’t look like anyone’s here,” I said.

“Nope. Figured,” Vim said as he stepped over to the other side of the wall. He grabbed the top of one of the upper rampart ledges, and lifted us up. Half a moment later he was half-sitting and half-kneeling on the wall’s edge, and we were overlooking Lumen in its entirety.

A little stunned at the sight, I had to blink a few times… since it was so bright.

Lumen had always been bright. Since most of its bricks were those white ones, but now it had the added affect of snow layering it. Then it also seemed like nearly every chimney was leaking gray smoke, which only further made the sun overhead gleam off the city.

“Looks fine…?” I said as I scanned the city. I looked for anything familiar, like the Animalia Guild or the ports, but strangely couldn’t find them. Likely because I’d never seen the city from this angle, and also because we were on basically the opposite side of the city.

“Oddly it does. There’s where that giant creature had sprouted from beneath. Looks like it’s all patched up already. Humans really do work fast when they want to,” Vim said as he pointed to a section of the city in the distance.

I followed his point, but wasn’t really able to tell if he was right or not. All I saw were buildings covered in snow, surrounded by haze from the fireplaces and stuff.

“Where’s the Society?” I asked.

Vim pointed the other way, not far from the great expansive ocean in the distance.

I studied the spot he had pointed at for a moment, and after a bit recognized the building. It was a tad bigger than the others near it, and although was also covered in snow and haze from chimneys it also had some green upon it.

“It’s a good thing it’s not near any of these walls and towers. Otherwise people would see our members on the roof,” I said.

“Humans don’t have good eyesight anyway. You ready? I’m going to drop down unless you want to study the city longer,” he asked.

For a small moment I debated telling him to wait, since this was likely a scene I’d not see again for a long time. And not just because we might soon be leaving Lumen for good.

How often would I be overlooking such a huge city like this…?

Taking a small breath, I nodded. “I’m ready. I’ll remember it well enough and paint it someday,” I said.

“Hm…” Vim grunted at that and slid forward, he dangled his legs over the ledge and I squeezed him tighter. I could feel the solid stone beneath me, thanks to one of the bags. The way he was sitting on the ledge made me feel as if it was me who was doing so.

“You’re… just going to slide off, aren’t you?” I asked worriedly.

“Yep. I’ll land there, away from buildings. Looks like some kind of work area. I’ll fall slowly, since I’ll grab the wall not long before we land,” he said.

“Grab the wall…?” I asked, wondering what that meant, but didn’t get an answer. Vim simply slipped forward, and suddenly we were falling.

I grimaced, since we had fallen so close to the wall that my shoulder and one of my bags scrapped against it for a moment. But Vim spun a bit, and then I heard what his grabbing the wall had meant. He had genuinely grabbed it, and dug a few fingers into it… even as we fell.

There was a loud scrapping sound, as if two heavy stones were rubbing against each other, as we slid down the wall. Vim kept a few fingers in the wall, and used his foot and knee as guidance, and before I knew it…

We were on the ground.

My body felt stiff, almost painfully so, as Vim stepped away from the wall and we looked around. It seemed we were behind some kind of workshop, as Vim had thought. There were large tables and benches around, all littered with metal and leather stuff. Though I couldn’t tell what they were making from the bits and pieces around us.

My ears fluttered beneath my hat as I heard the sound of stones and rocks bouncing around us. I turned a bit, as Vim started walking, and saw the source. Dozens of tiny pieces of white rocks were clattering around near the wall. He had damaged the wall… but how badly? I glanced up, to try and find the spots where Vim had basically clawed into, but wasn’t able to pinpoint them.

Vim didn’t give me time to figure it out. Before I could even get off his back he hurried around the workshop, stepping between buildings. We passed through a couple rather small, and smelly, alleys… and eventually stepped out into a familiar styled road. One with the white brick.

It wasn’t a main road, and instead looked like one of those smaller housing districts. There didn’t seem to be anyone around our immediate area, but I heard voices and activity nearby. Especially in the buildings.

The noisiness of the city had returned.

Vim patted my arm, letting me know it was time to release him. I did so, a little slowly since I didn’t want to, and found my footing.

For a few moments I adjusted the bags I carried, as Vim did the same. He even took one of the ones I carried, letting me not feel as stuffy as I also adjusted my clothes a bit. They had shifted during his climbing and falling.

“Is that how you used to bring down castles, Vim?” I asked as I got my tail situated.

“Huh…? Oh. Kind of. Funny,” he seemed to find my question humorous, but I had actually meant it rather seriously.

I had heard before that during the wars he had actually participated in sieges and brought down a few castles and towns. I wonder if that had been how he had done so.

Once we were done, or rather once I was done, I nodded to Vim and we began to walk deeper into the city. I wasn’t sure at all where we were, but knew that as long as I headed towards the ports I’d eventually find my way if I had to.

As we walked, my heart started to beat even faster. Even more so than it had during our little wall climbing event just now.

“Renn…?” Vim seemed to notice, and I smiled at him.

“I feel nervous,” I told him honestly.

He slowed a bit, and nodded. “Right…” he said, understanding.

Taking a deep breath, I gestured lightly at the city around us. We were starting to see people, having neared a major road. “It’s been so long…! And there’s so much I need to do, and so many people to talk to…!” I said.

“Hm… do your best to be prompt about it. I’ll confront Light after handing you off to Merit. Depending on how it goes… I might be coming back to pick you up, as to run away,” Vim said.

“We won’t be running, Vim. We’ll be simply moving on,” I corrected him.

He smiled and nodded.

“Plus… try your best to not let that happen, please. Really,” I said as I reached over to grab his hand.

He nodded again, and his smile softened… and then died down. “I know, Renn. I know.”

Gulping a little, I nodded again at him. We’ve had plenty of talks about this… about what was about to happen. So I knew there didn’t need to be anything more said about it. And I knew he’s also had such conversations without me too. With Lilly, Nebl and everyone else.

I knew Vim was taking this seriously. He’s been rather… focused these last few days. A little too much so, in fact.

He was anxious too. Even if he wouldn’t ever admit it.

“Even if it goes badly… can I still meet her, Vim?” I asked.

“Hm…? Yes. If she’s still alive, at least.”

“Bah! Vim!” I smacked him with my free hand, trying hard to not laugh at his comment. Especially since it hadn’t been a joke at all!

He sighed and nodded, then pulled me closer to him. Our shoulders and arms bumped into each other, and I smiled at the way we were now walking arm-in-arm.

“Be careful here, Renn. I know many here are those you consider friends… and yes; we might end up not having to separate or go to war with the Society… but please, all the same, be careful. We have enemies here,” he said gently.

I nodded gravely. “Right. Okay. I promise… to not get kidnapped again,” I said, trying to be serious but also not burst into tears at the same time.

“Good. Because if it happens again this town won’t even have the rubble to rebuild with.”

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