The streets were filled with ruffians and common people, running around acting busy like they normally do. The stench of the harbour assailed Vincent’s delicate nose with horrendous smell of fish. A small price to pay, and it isn’t like Vincent had never been here before. Although at the time he was too busy trying to educate the girl, what was her name? Oh yes, Eilie. He was too busy trying to educate dear friend Eilie to notice the landscape.

“Excuse me, good sir” Said Vincent to one of the fishermen. “I shall need to be going to Forest Village, if my speculation serves me correct I shall have to cross into Lakewest.”

“500 potch” Said the man.

“I am afraid I cannot pay you, but you can have the honour of allowing my great aristocratic brilliance grace your boat”

“Where do these jokers come from? No money, no ride.”

Vincent was tempted to open his mouth when a voice called out from behind.

“Why Vincent de Boule, never would I have taught to see you begging from common simpletons.”

“Excuse me, but I am not begg..” Vincent turned back and saw the caller. A young woman in her late twenties, her red hair braided to her back, the delicate porcelain face shadowed with her pale blue umbrella. Vincent recognised the woman he was looking at.

“Why, cher Antoinette?! Can it really be you?”

She walked around Vincent, pale blue gloves placed delicately on his shoulder. Cher Antoinette, he had not expected to see her since she left Sirap so many years ago.

A twelve year old Vincent trotted down the cobble stone streets of Sirap, the accordion played throughout the wonderfully structured city, with it’s cafes and magnificent buildings. He looked at his hands to count the number of bits he had. Excellent, he had just enough to buy a delightful coup of tea.

Further down the beautiful city, the pigeons floated carelessly in the sky and the brilliant aristocrats walked down the streets for their afternoon strolls.

“Vincent” Called out the younger Antoinette. “May I join you in drinking the wonderful tea of the caffe?”

“Why, it is certain, cher Antoinette, but I am afraid that I carry not enough money with me to buy for your cup of tea.”

“It’s alright, I have my money....”

“Non non, I cannot allow that, how can I, a gentleman, not buy for a young lady’s drink?”

“How will we ever be able to get the money?”

“There is nothing impossible for aristocratic brilliance, cher Antoinette.”

The water shined like a wonderful crystal, the beautiful illusion shattered only by the small ripples and waves surrounding the luxurious white sail boat of Antoinette. Both Vincent and she sat around a familiar white table, drinking their tea around the approval of the roses.

“... and that is why I have ended up here, the city states.” Finished Vincent.

“Why, that is fascinating beyond words. And he says that the wonderful jardin au coeur de minuit is hidden safely in the heart of the woods of forest village? Can you believe an impostor?”

“While he was a poser, he was gracious enough to accept defeat, my brilliant intuition tells me to believe him.”

“Yes, that is wise”

“What about you, cher Antoinette? How did you end up in such a crude place?”

“It is a long story, dearest friend Vincent, after we have left the town of Sirap we settled in between the city states and the former scarlet moon empire, near Banner village. But the boat is always in this magnificent lake, and every year I spend my time dreaming in this lovely place.”

“That is truly excellent, dearest friend Antoinette.”

The dragon knight guard looked at the two children like they should be looked up in a safe place away from everyone else. Paint the dragons pink, they say?

“You cannot enter!” He said, firmly, hoping they would disappear.

Vincent and Antoinette sat on the giant boulder.

“That is terrible, can he not comprehend that pink dragons shall grace the sky with beauty? This green dulls the eyes.” Said Vincent, sulking.

Antoinette felt the ground shaking underneath her, and surprised Vincent by jumping off the boulder and inspecting the back of it.

“Dearest friend! Look at this! An entrance to the dragon knights den.”

Vincent took the bucket of pink paint and proceeded on. “Excellent!”

Cher Antoinette, she and Vincent had been inseparable dearest friends since they gazed at each other’s magnificent noble eyes under the glare of the Leffie tower. Their mission to spread the word of aristocracy had been united. Even their parents had decided to have them be tutored by the same instructor. But then, the wars had coerced Antoinette’s family to move to a safer place.

“Dearest friend, it shall be hard for me to find this forest village, for I am unfortunately ignorant of these fine states, may you honour me with your presence?” Said Vincent.

“The honour is all mine, I assure you. To be remembered in the fiery blazes of history as the first woman to witness the fabled eden shall set my soul into deep...”

The ship’s navigator appeared in panic. “Madame Antoinette! The ship is going to hit anoth....”

The warning had come too late, as before the navigator has the chance to finish his message a trembling quake threw everyone to the ground, leaving everyone in confusing. On the other side of the deck two equally perplexed narcissists investigated.

“What is a ship doing here?” Asked Milich. “What a disgrace, I spilled tea on my finest sailing suit!”

“Oh yes, Milich, it is a disgrace indeed.”

“Dearest friend Milich! Dearest friend Kasios!” Said Vincent, coming to the front of the deck. Why, what are you doing here in the states? Had you not planned to go to Harmonia?”

“Vincent! I had not noticed it was your ship, since we are such good friends I can forgive the spilling of tea on my finest sailing suit. I was momentarily distracted from my trip to Harmonia.”

“I see, fate truly smiles upon us!” Said Vincent again. “For I have knowledge that the fabled eden truly lies in the City States. Cher Antoinette and I were on our way to greet it’s magnificent radiance, care you join us?”

“Of course!” Said Milich, grabbing Kasios my the shoulder and running into the other boat. “I shall get our belongings and be on my way. Come, Kasios, I shall need help to carry my clothings.”

“Oh, Master Milich, I am in such joy I could sing a beautiful song of a thousand souls drowning in a thousand rivers of prose with the knowledge of a thousand poe-”

Out of the blue, a pointy sandal targeted for Kasios’ head reached it’s destination.

“Such a shame. Dearest friend Esmeralda and dearest friend Olivia shall not be here to partake in such glory.”

The boat currently stuck in position for at least a day, the 4 friends went to the back and enjoyed their tea.

A ten year old Vincent and Antoinette sat in the velvety chair in Vincent’s brilliant mansion, reading the book of vocabulary their teacher had instructed them to memorise.

“Such excellent words” Said Vincent “Brilliant, magnificent, aristocratic, noble, gentleman, perfection, words I can truly use.”

“Yes” Said Antoinette. “But there is this one word I am having misery understanding.”

“Dearest friend Antoinette, what word is that?”

Antoinette wore her confused look and kept bringing the book closer and farther from her vision, trying to grasp the word. Finally, she blurted it out in unsure tone