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Finally walking through Mantle proper there is an odd sense of nostalgia for something you never experienced.
This place used to be the capital of the Kingdom and it shows in just how much emptiness there is. Alleyways, torn down buildings, all accompanied by what looked to once be beautiful and well-kept streets and parks.
A shell of its former glory, forever living in the shadow of Atlas.
“A lot of Kingdom presence in the streets, is this normal?” You cautiously eye one of the automaton guards. You don’t trust machines to keep the people safe.
Narci looks to the said, avoiding eye contact with a cold, metal stare. “Not really, but it makes sense in a way.”
“Why?”
“The problem isn't the riots per se, rather the negativity caused by it.”
“So the general wants to make people feel safe by putting those things on the street?” They don’t really make you breathe easier, and by the looks of it, a lot of people agree with you.
“Yes, and they work!” It, too, works on Narci. “Those are AK-130! I heard they can shoot accurately at a Nevermore more than a hundred feet away!”
“That doesn’t seem very impressive, Nevermore are pretty big.”
“But they won’t see those sexy numbers until it’s too late, robots don’t feel emotions!”
Such is the reasoning behind Atlas' push for robotics, putting men out of the battlefield. “But if they are so good, why are they here defending nothing instead of helping in the slums?”
Narci’s childlike wonder melts almost instantly. “I imagine that it was decided keeping morale up around here to be more important than…” The rest went unsaid.
‘I wonder if Ironwood is okay with this.’
“This is the place.” Narci stops at an unremarkable looking building. “Sir, can I ask you one more thing?”
“Sure.”
“My parents, well, they maybe, sorta…” she mumbles the final part.
“What?”
She continues mumbling.
“Speak up!”
“They don’t know I’m a huntress!” Narci yells.
“What?!”
“They don’t know-!”
“No, no, I heard you, I was just… how?”
Narci looks at her shoes. “I lied and told them I went to an elite school in Vacuo.”
“Elite school.”
“Yeah.”
“In Vacuo.”
“… yeah…” Narci realizes how dumb it sounds now that she’s actually seen the sand Kingdom.
“The lie will be revealed-”
“I know…” She speaks no further.
“So you want me to play along?”
She keeps averting her eyes, focusing instead on the strand of hair she’s currently twirling. “That’s not all, they will most definitely ask you to stay for dinner.”
“So?”
“They don’t like huntsmen.”
“Like almost every Atlesian I met.” You find it ironic how despite that, it is huntsmen who are protecting them right now while the Kingdom stands idly.
“Really don’t like them.” She finally looks you in the eyes. “It would mean a lot if you accepted, but I understand if you don’t want to hear two people badmouthing your dream for a few hours, I won’t force you.” She smiles, the same sad smile she gave you almost a month ago when she failed to help Coco. “You’ve done enough for me already.”
