The two of them finally see a kingdom in a distance, Ava pulls out her Binoculars to see it properly and she lets out a sigh and smiles. She rushes towards a drawer and pulls out the map, and opens it, Kami who's sleeping gets up and joins her as Ava analysis the map.
''I see we've made it to Pheonix Kingdom; we should go there to refresh and get our gravetread cleaned.'' Ava says while she points on the map.
Kami looks at her and nods, Ava goes back to steering the gravetread and they approach closer and closer towards the kingdom's gates. The closer they approach the gates the clearer they can see that Mason soldiers are standing armed at the gate.
Ava takes a look at them and looks at Kami, she slowly starts to panic, especially with the dry blood all over the gravetread will make them suspicious. But she also can't turn away anymore because it will be even more suspicious that they suddenly turn around.
''Captain... we might have a problem.''
Kami opens his eyes while lying on his back enjoying the sunlight, he looks at her as she signals for him to get on his feet.
''There's a bunch of Mason soldiers at the gate. So don't say or do anything that will get us in trouble.'' She gives mean scare.
''Okay got it, I'll just go back to rest. Tell me when we're already in.'' He chuckles.
Ava slowly approaches the gate and the Masons signal for her to slow down, one soldier wearing yellow uniform. More are standing above while aiming their rifles at them, but Ava shows no sign of want conflict.
''Get your hands away from the steering wheel!'' One of them shouts as they approach Ava.
Ava takes a few steps back with her hands up while Kami is still resting himself, the soldier walks towards gets on the gravetread uninvited. He looks around in disgust as and covers his nose from the stench of blood around him, while walking closer to both Kami and Ava.
''Wow, this place is mess!'' He teases sarcastically and stands in front of Ava's face as she can smell the tobacco from his face. ''And if I didn't know any better, I'd say it's blood.''
''Yeah, it is.'' She pulls her face away because of his tobacco breath while answering.
''Are you going to tell me who's it is?''
''Some bandits tried to rough us up, but we took care of them.''
''Mhhh, bandits you say... See now I don't believe that. I really don't because I believe you and your friend there were the bandits in this situation.''
''We're not, we were just looking to clean our vehicle and get on our way. That's it.''
The soldier goes as close as to his nose touching hers, but Ava doesn't move although she feels uncomfortable with how close he is. He growls as he sighs through his nostrils and decides to slowly take steps back while looks around the gravetread.
''We'll have to do a search through this vehicle and see whether we'll find anything.''
''Like what?'' Ava asks while narrowing her eyes.
''Anything necessary.'' Before getting off he signals to other soldiers that they can come do the search, and before he officially gets off, he turns around. ''And wake your friend up.''
He walks off and Ava wakes Kami awake but Kami is already awake, and he looks at Ava. The soldiers walk on and look through the gravetread by tearing everything apart until they find a sack of gold coins and he shakes it in front of his comrades before putting it in his pocket.
''Hey, come on that's ours!'' Ava protest.
''No anymore.'' He chuckles. ''Consider it as the payment you guys are giving us for getting inside our kingdom. And by the way, we're taking your weapons in too because this kingdom has no weapon policy allowed aside from the Mason.''
Ava sighs as she hands over her weapons and the men off the gravetread laughing.
''Welcome to the Pheonix Kingdom, lady and gentleman.''
She drives them in, and she can't get that off her mind. ''Can't believe they'd do something like that. Take our money and weapons? Wow.''
''Calm down Ava, we're here aren't we?'' Kami grins.
''Yeah whatever, luck me. I have a secret stash.'' She gets a bigger bag out of a secret place only she'd know of and waves it in front of Kami's face and they both start laughing.
While driving in the quiet streets of the Pheonix, Kami sees a sign from far away that says 'Local Bar'. He goes to the edge of his gravetread and looks at the sign properly and starts smiling in excitement.
''Ava look! Look! It's a bar!'' He points excitingly. ''My uncle always told me about that! He said many bandits like us drink and eat there!''
''Would you shut up?! If they heard you, we'd be dead!'' She slaps him on the head as she whispers.
''Gimme some money so I can go try some! Gimme! gimme!'' Kami reaches out in excitement.
''Okay, okay I'll give you some 50 quills, since rum barely cost 30.''
''Great! Thank you!'' Kami jumps off and starts running towards the bar.
''Kami wait- Oh forget it.'' She gives up on trying to stop him and continues with driving towards the inner city. As she drives more towards the city, she realizes that the kingdom is silent, and no one is on the streets.
Why is the main street so quiet? Every kingdom I've been to always has the main street full of people, and the stores open during the day.
Especially twin he fact it's Pheonix kingdom of all places. I used to read that they were a very social and welcoming kingdom, so why is it like this? I also heard that they are one of the latest kingdoms to go under the Grand Mason, maybe that's why... You never know with those people.
She drives around looking the streets until she sees a building where they clean gravetreads, but it looks like it's been abandoned. Every door is closed, and the windows have collected dust, she tries to look inside but can't see anything through the windows.
''You have to be kidding me.'' She utters frustrated.
Meanwhile Kami opens the bar door recklessly and it swings open as he runs towards the bar table. The whole bar goes silent, and they look at him as he takes a seat, he slams the whole 50 quills on the table.
''Give me rum worth this much!'' Kami grins towards the bartender.
He realizes the room went quiet and can feel the sour eyes looking at him, and he suddenly realizes that the whole bar is filled with Grand Mason soldiers.
Some in white uniforms, and others with yellow uniforms. He looks next to him, and there's a bulky man with a huge muscular figure sitting two chairs from him. And the two of them are the only ones sitting on the bar table. He can sense the tension from the man but he pays him no mind and focuses on his drink.
The bartender puts the glass of rum for Kami and takes his 50 quills, just as Kami is about to grab the glass, a hand hovers over his shoulder and hold his drink at bay.
''Don't you look to young to be drinking rum boy?''
Kami looks over his shoulder and it's another Mason soldier.