To Find the Truth

To be a woman sucked. Admittedly, it was better now than it was then, but even I knew that this was thanks to the effort of a lot of people. Commoners, nobilities, both of them had done something that had helped, and changed the course of people's lives. Of course, the one people talked the most was the shining example of Duchess Springtomb.

Her husband, whose family she married into, had ended up dying over the course of their marriage--there were, of course, rumors that the Duchess had murdered him herself. But I doubted it, succumbing to illness was a likelier possibility, one way or another. Besides, I was certain he got the best medicine and care, with the money nobilities tended to throw around. Then the husband died, and somehow, the wife bloomed. As if she had released the shackles tying her down, and so freed herself after taking over the businesses owned by the family.

People

gossiped

. Especially commoners, people like me, who worked near the family but not employed by them--I drank every word people said. How those businesses seemingly flourished anywhere and everywhere by now, that she was competent.

So, I decided I would be like her. I studied my numbers and alphabets as well as I could, ignoring the ones who would try to tell me we could just play instead of studying. They never asked me again.

Having almost no friends, except the bare few acquaintances, admittedly sucked. Those people I knew stick by me a little was mostly because their parents were friends with mine, so it was mostly a forced relationship--and everyone left, in the end. I just wasn't feminine enough, or interested in gossips or doing every other things people expected me to.

No. I refused their demands instead. And when I was finally old enough, I went and applied to one of the news companies opening up in Riverdale--well, that wasn't the only place I applied to. But somehow, the boss thought my spunk and desire to get news were a good fit for the company he wanted to make. A few others also asked me about my seriousness, telling me that as a woman, doing things like trying to find and chase people for news wasn't anything good. It would be hard work, and wouldn't it be better if I'm in the building supporting others better suited for the job? Yeah, I left really soon the moment I heard that.

For now, I was instead sitting in the new... kind of office the company had. Truthstar News Company, for truly reporting about the truth and facts, and we really wouldn't embellish anything. Or at least that was what would be said, who knew how it would truly work. We hadn't really published anything, not yet at least.

The office was located at the bottom floor of the boss's building, and it wasn't too bad. What with the decent ventilation, and there were even a few tables for each of us. We could easily go out and find clues, and other people would have easy time to get in too. Very open, even if there wasn't anyone coming right now. We were still too new, without any published paper for people to peruse and read.

My hands caressed the wooden desk I got, a

personal

one. Felt wild to be invested in like this, but I wouldn't look at the gift horse in the mouth. Taking the wax tablet the boss gave me, I focused on writing on a few topics I might want to poke at.

A few issues on the border, with the whole demons starting to appear more, perhaps? People were always interested in demons, but this one would be mostly filled with rumors, and besides, if people wanted gossips they could just listen to merchants or the aunties. Perhaps I should focus more locally, of the people living here, in Riverdale.

Talking how the business was booming, what with how Duchess Springtomb had managed to salvage the businesses handled by the dukedom and even pushing them to greatness? That sounded better, and people always liked a bit of good news.

But as I thought over the Duchess, I remembered something else. The ones the news wouldn't stop yapping about while it was built, and then there were just... silence afterward. The prison building, where the Duchess said that the place will accept any and every criminal around, and would even take in the worst of the worst. The country was originally skeptical, but then--I frowned, feeling a sense of weirdness. Of something different, all because I didn't remember there were any follow up. Just that the Duchess was building the prison suddenly, and then it was all just up and starting to work a few years ago.

I immediately wrote that note down, trying to also remember whether people talked about it or not currently, and felt a trickle of coldness sweeping through my body at the realization that I didn't remember anything like it.

Something had to be afoot. The builders, carpenters or stonemasons needed to be asked, and then some people who could be hired as guards? I noted everything in the wax, happy that I had somewhere to put this thoughts down that wasn't merely in my head.

With this decided, I started to walk out--before remembering I had to leave a note to the boss so he wouldn't explode when no one was in the office. Everyone else had gotten out, either for lunch or some other reason I had no idea, I was too into my notes to talk to anyone previously.

At least he left another wax notepad for me to write in, I would probably get a heart attack if I had to use some precious paper and ink for this.

Boss, chasing some lead. - Delilah.

--

The more people I talked about, the more certain I was that this was a

case

. A true one worth to be researched on, even.

The carpenters had shrugged when I asked them, saying that they weren't the ones doing it, but maybe this rival or another did? So of course I went to those people as well, and they also frowned and said they didn't. The stonemasons were the same! The only certainty was everyone saying someone else did that. But I couldn't find them, not even when I tried asking the more gossipy people in the city.

Had to promise that I would listen to them again in the future, of course. But I felt that it was worth it, considering I also found out that none of the usual temporary guards got asked as well. Those people would usually be dragged into doing something, at least to keep people out during the building time. Nor did they know if anyone was working there now, and that was completely weird. Riverdale is the closest city in position with the prison, so if they wanted to take anyone in, it was obviously cheaper to get people here than from some other cities.

Didn't mean I could scratch that out, just made it incredibly unlikely. I closed my pad, full of tiny scribbles that I was sure that I would need to fix later on--but for now, I paced on the road, the one right outside an inn.

Aleheart Inn catered to both men and women, with the former coming after their work, so they tended to come at night. The latter came during afternoons, all so they would have some moments to talk with one another. I could go inside to get more information, asked if they had some more gossips--but that would just be superfluous information. Ones I didn't need for my current case.

So I instead started to walk back to the office, all the while thinking how I would tell the boss about what I had searched and found. Asking him how he wanted the article to look like, a call to action? A criticism? Just questioning? But before I could have gone more than a few steps, I realized something. Maybe I could dig a little deeper instead, give him something more concrete. That might be a stupid thing to do. Something incredibly idiotic that I was sure the boss would hit me on the head if he heard me pitching it.

But I still turned my head towards the prison building, which was located at the outbounds of the city and still a little further. No need to find anyone else to support me, or report to the boss where I was going.

Besides, I felt like if I didn't have any first person source, he would completely throw my article out. I knew he had said he would support us, but--this felt like it would be too much, especially when it was concerning the person everyone was lauding about. If I started talking about the Duchess in a random tavern? I could bet that soon enough, everyone would be singing some tales or tunes about how she had single-handedly saved the city.

So I started my walk, knowing it would be hours until it was time for me to come back.

--

I so wished I could have scolded myself for just walking straight to the building without any other plans. Well, I did buy some jerkies, all so I could have something to eat in between of going and coming back to the city, but I still didn't bring too many things.

Food, a waterskin, then a fresh wax notepad for both taking notes and drawing sketches of what I would see inside the building. It felt so little, and yet... it shouldn't take that long, right?

For a moment, I wondered why the other news company, especially bigger ones, never covered this. In fact, I remembered how all the other ones always praised the Duchess and the way she did things. Was there really no criticisms? Hm, actually, that rag no one really read might have those. But that was a contrarian newspaper, and I couldn't really use that as a stick to compare the others with.

I shivered at the thought that there might be more conspiracy afoot, but I doubted it. For that to happen, the Duchess had to be controlling so many parts of the city that I might as well just give up on this article. But there didn't seem to be anything wrong in the city, and I was sure that some people were still saying she wasn't as good as it seemed. So I dismissed that theory.

At least, I had arrived at the complex while thinking all of these. The first order of business: hiding in the bushes just in case. I still peeked out of it, of course. The sticks and leaves were sticking against my body, annoyingly. But I could ignore that easily, finding my focus coming on the first thing I saw ahead of me. A massive fence built right outside the building--it was so high that I barely could see what was behind it, considering my position. It was made of stone, and if I moved a little to the right, I could see the massive iron wrought gate placed at the front. Fully locked, and had spikes on the top to prevent people from trying to get inside from there.

But the most important part was--how there was no one else. With the way the gate was built, I could see that there were literally no guards moving around. I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at that information. Suspicion easily formed in my feelings as I watched, trying to see if something surprising would happen.

Maybe I should just try to sneak in? That thought immediately popped up in my mind. But I had no idea about what kind of security implements they had, beyond those barbs up top. Sneaking in would be really dangerous, both because it would be so easy to end up having clothes being snagged by it, or just the sheer danger of trying to walk across it. Especially up high, where there wasn't much, if any, other footholds.

However, since I wanted to work this article out--well, there wasn't any other choice. Breathing a few times, ones deep enough my chest ended up hurting, I tried to calm myself down. All while also trying to walk around the walls, trying to see if there was any part where the barbs weren't as tightly wound against each other. There really wasn't any gaps, not until I had walked for minutes. Or maybe an hour had passed, I wasn't certain. The whole fence and, presumably, building was bigger than I thought.

Maybe even more than the mansions in the city, but I never tried to do a measuring. Anyway, I jotted the huge size down, all the while wondering why did they need all the space for. Unless they were aiming to find thousands of people to fill in? But where would they even find them?

More questions, and yet no answers were given. All I could do was continuing my steps--and there! It wasn't much, but the barbs on top of this part of the fence were a little more stretched out. If I moved right, I should be able to wiggle through, even if some part of my clothes would snag. Hopefully not, but as long as I took those scraps off the barbs before I left, that should be fine.

With the position decided, I just went and climbed, not allowing myself to get any second thoughts. If I failed, I would go back home and tell the boss the little suspiciousness I was getting all over. But otherwise, I had gone too far to stop here.

The rocks were solid under my grip, under my soles. I hadn't done this for years--maybe ever since other kids no longer asked me to join up with them. But with the fact there were enough rocks to always be stepped over, and ones I could grip, it wasn't too hard to reach the top. The only question was, how do I pull myself over and up.

The answer to that was actually how I had to really use my arms--and considering I never did pull up or anything, it was incredibly painful and muscle pulling. I groaned and gasped for every inch I managed to gain, and nearly collapsed straight to the barbs when I was finally on top. It was only the certainty I wouldn't be able to extract myself did I stop myself... But I knew I would collapse on the grasses on the other side for a bit, after this.

I gulped, staring at how... sharp the barbs looked. They weren't huge, each wire perhaps only as thick as my finger. But the fact they were looped constantly, and the loops reached to my calf, well... I was scared it would hook onto my pants. Or something else more dangerous, such as stabbing right into my flesh.

I shuddered, not liking the thought I was having. Despite my drive to continuously finding out the truth, one way or another, blood was a little too much. More like wounding myself badly, I suppose. Because that way lay the road to losing all independence, one I had painstakingly

getting

. Finding people I could work with, all fearing that I would end up having to work under my parents with their way of thinking--I really couldn't do that.

Oh, I do love them, but they had certain notions on how I should be, and it was the way my parents had been. Support my husband and family, and nothing else. Any wish I had to be my own person? Forgotten. My mother might be able to do that, or she might have ended up convincing herself to do that, in the end it didn't matter. As long as I could, as long as there was something else I could be doing, I shall try.

Focusing back to the present, I grimaced as I slowly find places where I could grip the wires, almost afraid to do that because these things were slightly rusted. Even if no one really understand why, but wounds from something dirty like a tarnished sword would always end up worse than if it was a clean one.

My hands were slightly clammy as I clasped it, nervousness making my heart beat faster in my chest. Not so fast I felt it would jump out of it, but enough to make my stomach twist uncomfortably. Once I felt my grip was solid enough, I jumped over--and nearly had my organs leaping into my throat at the feeling.

Breathing fast and panicking, I looked over the barbs and my pants, really glad that there were merely a bit of a nick--not enough for a full-blown rip, but at least I was mostly unscathed. Not sure how I would go back out later, but I would handle it. I might even be able to open the gate from the inside.

Before going down, I spent a few moments just... looking at the other side. It was pretty barren, except for various trees and vegetation growing. The concerning part was how empty it sounded? I couldn't hear any insects, which, when I thought about it, was also how it was when I wasn't on top of the fence.

When I was walking here from the city, of course I heard the insects sounds, the mosquitoes biting wherever they could... But when did they stop appearing? I felt chills going down my spine because there were a lot of implications. Bad ones.

I knew the temples had been saying something, along the lines about more demons than ever spreading all over the place. But they had been calling for a warning nearly every year--and without anything bad happening, people ended up ignoring them. Perhaps I should rectify myself, and go to find them again soon. Maybe tonight, even. As long as I could go back from here safe and sound.

Pushing those thoughts away, because I had no fancy holy magic to do anything about demons. Back to looking forward, and I finally saw the building properly. My breath caught at its sheer majestic. It was a dome, all made from smooth, white stone that didn't seem to have seams with one another. They were all just connected without end until it reached up top, until I couldn't see it anymore. Definitely couldn't be scaled through. Not unless I somehow have a sticky palms and feet.

Alright, time for more walking. Maybe there would be another way in, since the main entrance would be watched over for sure. I could go through there, but unless I didn't mind being caught... Nope, I didn't want to know what might happen to myself in that case.

--

Walking through shrubberies and bushes weren't too bad, especially without any sort of bugs slipping through the cracks and biting my skin. The main issue was how... hot everything felt, as if my body had decided to heat up like a furnace. An uncomfortable feeling forming across my body, a warmth I couldn't really describe--and these all became worse everytime I took a look at the building.

That didn't mean it wasn't progressively becoming worse when I didn't, it just meant I could feel a difference when I was staring. Sometimes, I ended up staring for minutes, time passing without me realizing it beyond how this smooth walls were pulling my attention. Only the sound of leaves being shaken by a strong breeze did I jerk awake, as if the thundering sound was the only thing that caused me to come back to the present.

I shook my head, and my thoughts joined in the wobble. They felt awkward and slipping away from my metaphorical grip, my control was being eroded away. On some levels, this felt... dangerous, giving evidence that there was something going on, so much so that it had even affected my thoughts. And yet, I couldn't really feel any panic in my bones, or in my thoughts. They were gone, impossible to form and yet logically, I knew I should be feeling them. Maybe not too much, just on the edges, nipping and influencing my thoughts in certain ways. And yet... all I could feel right now was nothing, except for curiosity.

The only thing that kept me continuing on, trudging without stopping, was the fact that there was no reason to halt. That I still wanted to find more articles for my newspaper, even if there was one news I could make right now. The prison the Duchess made need a cleansing from the local Temple, especially considering it has some sort of mind muddling magic going on inside.

And yet, I couldn't find it in me to turn back. Because that news, while very... dubious on the Duchess' side, could all still be explained away by her. The darkness, the corruption could definitely be side-stepped as a recent thing, it didn't... feel thick after all.

The Temple always said that when it had reached a certain level, it would be easy to feel against one's skin. It would be as if there were oil in the air, heavy and cloying, making it harder to breathe--so many symptoms, but none I could feel right now. There were no pests around too, no bugs or arachnids.

I had come here believing the Duchess had done wrong, and I needed to find out what. Everything I found pointed toward that idea, but there was nothing

concrete.

Gritting my teeth, I continued, trying to ignore the way I was starting to feel woozy. I knew something was messing with my brain, further than what was already in the air. I couldn't fight it, and the longer I was walking, the more I found myself compromised even further without any recourse.