Bob, the man with a shaved head, tio observe Roselle and Risebelle while they browsed the frosty attire. He was deep in thought, pting whether or not to approach them, when a familiar person called his name.

  "Bob!"

  Startled, Bob turned around to see Alden, whom he hadn't seen in this part of town in quite some time. His face broke into a wide grin upon being hugged by Alden.

  "Alden! It's been a while. Work in the South keeps me pretty busy, you know."

  Alden grinned, his eyes twinkling with genuine joy. "I've missed having you up North. But you know me; I 't resist helping out children whenever I ."

  Bob chuckled again, shaking his head in amusement. "That's true. You've always had a soft spot kids, haven't you?"

  While the two caught up, Roselle and Risebelle tiheir search for suitable attire.

  Bob's curiosity got the better of him. He observed Roselle and Risebelle and leaned in slightly to Alden while l his speech. "Alden, where did you find these kids? Do you know who their creator is?"

  Alden sighed, growing more serious. He nodded in respoo Bob's question. "I do know, Bob, but it's a plicated situation. I found them after they fell from the sky he North Pole. As for their creator, it's a mystery. They don't have any memory of their ins."

  Bob raised an eyebrow, his i piqued by the mysterious circumstances. "No memory at all? That's unusual. What are you pnning to do with them, Alden?"

  Alden pted for a moment before replying, "For now, I'm helping them find their sister and navigate the city. They're like lost children in a world they don't uand. I want to ehey're safe and find out more about their past. But it won't be easy."

  Bob nodded in uanding, his gaze returning to Roselle and Risebelle. "Well, if there's anything I do to help, just let me know, Alden."

  Alden appreciated the offer and gave Bob a grateful smile. "Thank you, Bob. I might need your assistance down the line. We'll see how things unfold."

  Suddently, the door to the store swung open, and a mysterious figure entered, drawing the attention of everyone present. The man had a rugged and adventurous aura about him, with short light brown hair that tousled slightly in the wind. His pierg blue eyes held a sense of curiosity and fidence. He had a ly trimmed brown beard as well upon his chiseled jaw.

  Orikiail that immediately caught the eye was the crystal earring hanging from his left earlobe which glowed softly in the ambient light of the store. It seemed to radiate with every movement the man made.

  He wore a deep blue cape that swayed slightly behind him as he moved. Beh the cape, he sported the attire of a seasoraveler, practical and suited for various climates. Two finely crafted swords were sheathed at his side, their intricate hilts gleaming with craftsmanship.

  The man's presenatention, and he moved with a quiet fidence as he began to browse the frosty attire withiore.

  As the man, Gustaviaered the store, Bob's cheerful demeanor instantly vanished, repced by a palpable sense of fear and unease. He turo Alden with wide eyes.

  "A-Alden, that's Gustavian, the Master Swod of the East," Bob stammered, "R-rumors say he's ruthless to his students, no matter who or where they are. W-what's he doing up here in the North?"

  Gustavian's mere presence seemed to have a powerful effect, and Bob was so shaken that he sought refuge behind Alden, as if the simple act of hiding would shield him from the formidable figure in their midst.

  Cire, the store clerk, approached Gustavian with a friendly smile, though her curiosity iqued. Gustavian's pierg gaze seemed to bore into her soul. His intense blue eyes held a depth that made Cire uneasy, as if he could see through her every thought and iion.

  Cire tried to decipher why someone of Gustavian's stature would be here in the North, far from the Eastern Swod School. She pondered silently. She then looked for any clues in his demeanor.

  Cire's memory clicked into pd recalled the distinct order of attire for the Eastern's Army. Cire, with a sense of realization, hurriedly retrieved the items Gustavian needed for the Eastern Army's battle attire. Wheurned with the carefully selected garments, she but questioned him.

  "Five me for asking, but why would the East send someone of your caliber for something as simple as battle attire? Isn't that typically handled by ordinary soldiers?"

  Gustavian's response was measured, "Cire, it's not about the attire itself. It's about the jouro the North. This pce is far from the Eastern Swod School, and it's a challenging terrain to navigate. The East sends someone who's prepared for the battle of getting here."

  Cire nodded, prehending the logic behind Gustavian's presence.

  Gustavian was about to leave, but was stopped in his tracks by the imposing figure of a man iern armor. This tall, bald-headed individual exuded an air of authority and serioushat dematention. He addressed Gustavian directly with a firm tone.

  "Where do you think yoing, Gustavian?" he asked.

  Gustavian turo face the man. He was posed and respectful giving a nod of the head towards them. “Imperial Guard Elite, Bashido," he said, “I’ve e to handle some business here in the North. What brings you up to this part of the world?"

  Bashido's eyes narrowed. He kept a stern tone while responding, "The Empire has is everywhere, and I'm here on official orders. But enough about that. What business do you have up North?"

  Gustavian's response was curt, "None of your , Bashido."

  Bashido's hand burst into fmes, Gustavian's hand instinctively found its way to the hilt of one of his swords. The tension in the air was felt all around. Bob couldn't tain his worries any longer.

  "Great, now we've got the West in the North!" Bob muttered with frustration. "If a fight breaks out, we're all going to die!"

  The otion caught the attention of Roselle and Risebelle, who had been engrossed in browsing the shop's wares. They turo see the frontation unfoldiween Gustavian and Bashido. Risebelled stood looking unimpressed while Roselle held sorry on her face.

  The teandoff between Gustavian and Bashido seemed to reach a temporary resolution as Bashido extinguished the fmes around his hand, and Gustavian rexed his grip on his sword. The two shared a final gre, and Bashido delivered a parting remark.

  "You're lucky you're not in the East right now," he warned with a smirk pying on his lips. "One day, Gustavian, your luck will run out. But for now, you live to see another day."

  With that, Gustavian turned a, his preseno longer a sourmediate . Bashido watched him go, the threat lingering in the air, before he too departed, leaving the shop in an uneasy silence.

  Bob sighed in relief, "Well, that was close. Hopefully, we get bae normalow."

  Bashido turned his attention to Cire, his seriousness not leaving his face. "I'm here on official business," he began. "The West has decided on a new eic policy, and it affects your establishment. Starting immediately, you're to raise your prices by twenty pert on all goods and services. Failure to ply will result in severe sequences."

  Cire's eyes widened in shod disbelief at Bashido's decration. "Bashido, that's eous!" She protested. "Our unity relies on fair prices, and su increase would hurt everyone, including ourselves!"

  Bashido He stepped closer and gred down upon her sending a wave of fear down her body. "This is not a iation, Cire. The West's new eic policy is noiable. You have three days to ply or face the sequences."

  Cire felt a knot of fear tighten iomach. Arguing further might only worseuation. She allowed him to tinue, "You have three days to make the ges. If you resist or fail to meet the deadline, I'll be back, and I won't be as aodating as I am now. Your establishment will go up in literal fmes if you choose defiance."

  Cire nodded with a gulp. "Uood.”

  With his message delivered, Bashido turned a, leaving Cire and the others to grapple with the implications of the West's demands.

  Risebelle watched Bashido leave. She lowered her eyes and folded her arms while saying. "I don't like that guy. He seems like a bonehead."

  Cire immediately shushed her while looking around the store. "Quiet, Risebelle! The West has eyes everywhere. We 't afford to make enemies, especially with someone like Bashido."

  Roselle turo Alden with a fused stare " they really do that though? Just e in and force busio ge their prices like that?"

  Alden sighed, weary but wise. "Remember what I told you about the West's influence," he said. "They have a great deal of authority, and this is one of the ways they exert it. We may not like it, but we have to abide by their rules if we want to avoid trouble."

  Roselle nodded, her sense of unease lingering. "It just doesn't seem fair," she mumbled.

  Risebelle chimed in, "Life iies be plicated, especially when there are powerful fas like the West and the East at py. We o be careful and aware of the rules if we're going to navigate this world."

  Alden gave them a sympathetic smile. "You two have had quite the introdu to our city," he remarked. "But don't worry too much. Jancito has its challenges, but it also has its beauty and wonders. Just be mindful, and you'll find your way."

  Roselle had chosen a warm and sunny yellow dress that plemented her. The outfit was adorned with intricate floral patterns in shades e and pink. It aired with matg yellow boots designed for traversing the snowy streets of the Northern city. Her hair ut into ponytail thanks to Alden's help, adding a final touch hto her outfit.

  Risebelle, oher hand, had opted for a aqua color that matched her elements. The outfit had a flowihereal quality, with subtle ripples and patterns remi of flowing water. She wore practical yet stylish aqua boots designed for navigating the snowy terrain. Risebelle, while still maintaining her usual serious look, added a sense of refio her overall appearance.

  Roselle beamed with enthusiasm. She walked alongside Risebelle, enjoying the fresh snow-covered streets of the Northern city.

  "These clothes are really nice, don't you think?" Roselle asked her sister. "I mean, they're so colorful, and they make us look more like the people here."

  Risebelle nodded in agreement with her arms folded. "Yes, they're fine," she replied while moving and showing just a small smile to her face.

  Alden, feeling a sense ency to find Runebelle, pted his steps.

  "I wonder if my neighbors might know something," Alden mused aloud with reluce. He sighed and a faint blush colored his cheeks. "I hate to bother them, and it's... a plicated situation we have..."

  Roselle and Risebelle exged curious gnces, sensing there was more to the story.

  We uand," Roselle replied, him a reassuring smile. "Let's think about the best way to approach this. We'll find a way to reuh Runebelle."

  Risebelle nodded in agreement, her focus firmly on their goal. "We won't give up, Alden. We'll help you in any way we ."

  Meanwhile, Runebelle, maintaining her facade as the lifeless doll, found herself trapped in a peculiar situation. Her arm was raised to hold a tea cup, and she sat among the children, Manisha and Priya, who giggled and pyed with her.

  ‘I 't move now. That girl, Manisha, she believes I'm a gift from the goddess…If I suddenly move, it will frighten her. I don't want to make her sad… I don’t want to make anyone sad…but I o find Roselle and Risebelle. We 't stay separated like this…. Ungh… what should I do?’