Last Day

Today is going to be a good day.

At least, that is what she decided as she watched the horizon begin to glow with the first rays of a sunrise. She glanced at the city below. Though she preferred a more rural setting, she supposed she could see the charm some people found in such places. Stone and brick buildings (with plumbing!), places to shop, places to mingle, and places to get drunk. There was definitely something to love about cities like this.

Well, the parts like High District anyways, she thought as she looked north. North Gate District was where most of the city's laborers lived. Buildings spewing dark smoke into the air stood out against the meager housing of the district. 'Factories', one of her co-workers had informed her. Gross. She turned her eyes to the south. If she craned her neck, she could just see the remains of a fallen city from days of a former world. Once overtaken by nature, the ruins were now being torn down and reused as resources. It was the smart thing to do, and, according to her grandmother, the first thing they had done. From what she could see, these buildings had been massive. 'Skyscrapers' her grandmother's voice supplied in her mind.

After getting dressed and packing away her belongings into a small bag, she retwisted a few of her braids and adjusted a small heart-shaped locket around her neck. Though many commented on its style and potential worth, its true value lay deep in her heart, for her and her alone. A promise she intended to keep.

Today is going to be a good day.

She made her way to the narrow streets below and met the head servant at the gates. There she had her uniform assessed and was given her errands for the day.

“Oh, Oliyah, today is your last day, correct?” her boss asked.

“Yes ma’am,” Oliyah said, nodding.

“Okay, here darling-” She was handed a few extra coins and her boss smiled. “-enjoy your last day.”

Oliyah tucked the coins into her bag and returned the smile.

“I will, thank you, ma’am.”

---

Thankfully for her, traffic in the market was light this morning and her errands went quick enough that she could take a small break. She nibbled on some sweet bread in the shade of one of the stalls and took her time observing her surroundings. It was an interesting contrast to the regal and pristine High District from which she had just come (it was where manor staff were located, so they could come in faster when called for, she presumed). It was like someone had smushed the shanty towns of North Gate District and the townhouses of High District together and threw in a bunch of shops and stalls. The same could be said for the people browsing the streets, she noted, as stiff posture and high fashion mingled with faded clothes and tired gait. Not far from where she stood was a particular group that caught her eye. The rather large man, an older-looking woman, and a young woman walked slowly down the road as they perused the wares. As they got closer, the younger of the three spotted the stall she stood near.

“I wish we could get sweet bread," the young woman sighed. The man frowned.

"We don’t have enough.”

"I know.” She stared at the stall longingly. "If only we could get better pay. Especially for all the work we do."

"I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like the little we do earn is just so we can give it all back," the man said.

Oliyah couldn't help but notice the droop in his shoulders as he said that. Her heart hurt for him.

"I understand your sentiments, you two, but we have every reason to be grateful," The older woman said sternly. " We have shelter, food, and clean water."

So do the governor's dogs, Oliyah thought bitterly.

"We should thank the emperor and the governors for their kindness," The older woman continued. "They took us lost stragglers in and gave us a home, after all."

Ugh.

"Yeah but..."

"Would you two rather be out in nature facing the cruelties this broken world has to offer?"

"No…" the young woman sighed.

"Then that settles it."

"Still, to not be able to at least do things like seeing a doctor when you're ill without going into debt…it doesn't feel right…"

"We can't live based on how we feel. You'll end up like those senseless rebels who only make things worse. I'm telling you, things right now are good, just hard. Now let's stop this talk, you never know who is listening." She looked pointedly at Oliyah, who stuck out her tongue in response.

If Oliyah used some of the errand money given her to buy them sweet bread while the older woman was haggling with a salesman, who would know?

---

A fruit vendor, apparently. She was friends with the younger woman and when she saw Oliyah casually slip them the bread, she felt compelled to thank her. She did so with a plum that she promised would be sweet as victory. Oliyah eyed the fruit before sticking it into her bag and thanking her.

Her next destination was a flower stall. There worked a friend of her own. She clutched at her locket and picked up her pace. Hopefully, he had something good to share.

"Good morning," he greeted when she arrived, briefly glancing at where she held her locket tightly. "Would you care for some flowers, fresh from the northern valley?"

"Yes, please. Two bouquets of the white ones."

"Of course!" He returned to his stock and carefully wrapped them in paper. "How has your week been, m'lady?"

"It went very well, thank you. And yours?" She replied.

"It started rough, but I'm feeling confident that everything will work out," He said, beaming brightly. She couldn't help how her heart fluttered a little at the proclamation. Before she could respond, a small bundle of feathery pink flowers was presented to her.

"For you," he said, smiling more softly now. "Doesn't it smell nice?"

It does, she thought. It smelled like a valley lined with silk trees, like shady woods, like old wooden cabins.

It smelled like home.

"Yes. Very." she finally replied as she took it.

"Good! Just remember - " He smiled boldly again "-everything will work out."

They bid their farewells and Oliyah walked away, heart thundering in her chest. As she gently tucked the small bouquet next to the plum in her bag she heard an older woman swooning about flowers and lovers. Romance? she thought. Not today.

Bouquets safely tucked in her arms and her own little bundle of reassurance stashed away at her side, she made her way to the gates of the Governor's mansion.

----

That evening, Oliyah was tasked with helping serve the governor’s guests. She brought the tray to the room and promptly began laying the table for tea.

"I hear we are starting to gain leverage on the front with Thusia," the man said.

"Really? That's great!” She clapped enthusiastically. “ We could use that strip of the coast. They have the most accessible part of the shoreline, correct?"

"And beautiful beaches, from what I hear."

"Nice. I bet there are good fish there too. It would be an economical hotspot!"

"It's a shame that they have barely done anything to utilize its resources. I bet it would be nice to visit."

It's hard to do much when you have a massive country trying to knock down your door, she thought.

"If they would simply surrender, things would be so much easier for them."

"For sure. I hope they give soon, too much damaged land would not make for good viewing."

"I hope so too. I think I will start investing in the fishing business. Do you think we can build boats in advance?"

"If broken into pieces…"

Finally done setting the table, Oliyah quickly excused herself from the room. Such conversations, while not new to her, still left a bad taste in her mouth. There were people that lived in Thusia, yet all the rulers of this empire could think about was their resources and how they would benefit them. Gross. The view of a setting sun through one of the windows caught her attention. She remembered the little bouquet and smiled nervously. It was almost time. Fingering her locket, she slowly made her way back to the manor kitchens. If she could linger there, then it would be easier to sneak out into the back gardens when-

BOOM!

Everyone froze as the sound seemed to rock the city. Before anyone could comment, more booms shook the air and the sound of tumbling stones followed. This time, everyone began to rush around in panic.

Oliyah used that to her advantage and in a feign panic made her way to the kitchens. No one was there so she slipped out into the courtyard.

Before she got any further heavy footsteps and rattling metal sounded nearby. Shoot, she thought as she quickly slipped between a row of tall hedges. She mentally thanked the child who had gleefully shown her this hiding spot. The footsteps paused near where she hid.

Double shoot.

"Hello?" a voice called out.

Oliyah held her breath. Had she been seen? Had they followed her? Had she just ruined a plan years in making? Had she broken her promise? She gripped the locket at the thought.

"Is anybody out there?" The voice called out again. The footsteps got closer. Oh no nononono don't find me DON'T-

"Rodrick!" another voice called out. The footsteps paused.

"Rodrick, we've looked all over and no one is here!" The other voice said, and the footsteps retreated slightly to join the new voice. Still, she dared not breathe yet. Go away go away goawaygoawaygoway- "We need to help secure the main walls. Three factories are on fire and there's damage along the main walls."

"Are you serious?!"

"As hell. Let's go!"

The footsteps thundered away, and Oliyah took a minute to calm down. Too close, she thought. Carefully, she slipped out of her spot. It was night now, and the lack of lights paired with a dark servant’s uniform made moving about the courtyard less harrowing. Behind her, the orange glow of the factory fires lit the sky. She had to hurry.

Tucked away in the back corner of the manor walls, shrouded in shrubbery, was a small forgotten door that led to old horse stables on the outside of the city walls. In the past, this would have been an ideal escape route for the governor. Today?

"Oliyah, thank goodness you made it!"

It was the entrance for the Hope Rock rebels.

With some help, she got the door fully open and stood back as they filed in. Meri, this group’s leader, gently patted her on the shoulder.

"Well done," he whispered. In the dim of the night, she was sure he was smiling.

"Thanks," she said. "And thanks for the flowers."

"They were part of the plan," he reminded her. "But I did pick those with you in mind. Thought you could use something to lift your spirits." When the last person came in, he quickly pushed her out.

"The rest of the group is waiting for you in the stables. They know the way back."

"You don't need my help here?"

"No. Auntie and Uncle are waiting for you back at home. We've got this."

With that, he shut the door.

Finally. She could go home.

When they were halfway up the mountain, a green flare shot up over the city. Victory. The group stopped to look at the city. She heard someone sniffle. Someone else muttered, "Thank goodness." How long had it been since they had won? Since when had they last tasted such a sweet victory?

Remembering her plum, she pulled it out and took a bite.

Delicious.