Tenebris Renasci: A World of Magic and Gunpowder

The carriage continued its journey rolling down the hill and out of the fort. 

Entering the city, the air filled with the hustle and bustle of busy people going on about their lives. 

Carriages rolled along the streets, pedestrians walked the sidewalks, and trams cruised along the tracks that split the streets. 

"So where should we go first?" Elizabeth asked, looking out to the busy sidewalks with a wide grin. "I'm thinking about the candy shop!"

Victoria sighed. "Don't you ever get sick of candy, you have it like once a week." 

Elizabeth grinned. "I wish I could have it every day."

Victoria rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms, "I'd rather go to the market, they may have some foreign goods, I'm curious to see."

Elizabeth nodded. "That could be cool too, I know we're pretty close to the demon continent, maybe we could see some of their weapons and stuff!"

Alexander nodded his head, he knew the Ambur kingdom was close to the tip of the demon continent. (About the distance from Japan to Korea.)

It was a small horn that jetted out eastward, Ambur had colonies all over the horn of the demon continent. (The demon continent is massive, similar in size to Africa, however, it's split between the south of the main continent, and an entirely other landmass that in itself is the demon continent.)

(P.S.: the horn of the demon continent is connected to the main continent, and the horn of the demon continent is distanced from the main demon continent by about 80 kilometers or 50 miles.)

Even the Nova family's island was close to it, which is probably why there was a trading town on the island in the first place.

"You kids really wanna see a bunch of demon tools?" Donna asked confusedly, "It's just a bunch of crudely made crap."

"It was only a suggestion," Victoria said with a sigh. "I could care less what we do."

"Well, we could still go shopping for candy!" Elizabeth chimed in. 

"Well, it's up to you three what you wanna do," Donna said with a shrug of her shoulders. 

With those words, both Elizabeth and Victoria turned their gaze to Alexander. "Well, what do you want to do?" Elizabeth asked curiously. 

Oh great… I get to choose.

Alexander sighed as he thought over his answer. In all honesty, he could either way. 

He was interested in items from the demon continent, but he had a feeling it would just be bows and spears… on the other hand, candy was sweet and delicious.

Tugging his lips back, Alexander's expression grew more thoughtful. 

It was then that he realized picking what he wanted to do was pointless and that he should be focusing on who he wanted to cater to.

Elizabeth or Victoria. 

The choice was obvious.

"You know, I don't mind getting some candy right now," Alexander said with a nod.

"Yes!" Elizabeth said excitedly. 

"Ugh, I should've known you're an idiot, just like her," Victoria said with a groan. 

"Candy it is!" Donna said as she slapped Charles back, causing him to unexpectedly lurch forward. "Get a move on Charles."

"Cough cough…" Charles began coughing as the wind was knocked out of his back. "Right away." He whispered in his strained voice.

With their new destination in place, Charles began navigating toward the closest candy shop.

As they rode, Elizabeth excitedly began listing their from her favorite candies. "Alexander, I like caramel and chocolate almonds, but I really like lemon drops and lollipops, do you like lollipops Alexander?"

I more of a pastry kinda of guy, but I'll eat some candy.

Alexander nodded. "I'm fine with all candy to be fair, except sour candy, that's disgusting." He answered, shuddering at the mere thought of eating it. 

"I hate it too!" Elizabeth exclaimed, "It's… nasty, and stuff."

Victoria gave Elizabeth a disapproving look, her eyes narrowed as a frown crossed her lips. "Why are you lying?" She asked, "You'll eat just about anything."

Elizabeth blushed as she quickly turned to look towards her sister. "That's… that's not true!" She exclaimed defensively, though it was obvious she was lying.

Alexander couldn't help but chuckle. 

Elizabeth must've been desperate to relate to him, even to the point of disregarding what she personally liked.

"Princess Elizabeth, it's fine if you like sour candy," Alexander said with a warm smile, squeezing Elizabeth's hand.

Elizabeth looked at him with an embarrassed expression. "Alexander you can call me Elizabeth you know, and I don't like sour candy, honest!"

Alexander chuckled, it might've been a little early, but Alexander felt as if he could clock the type of person Elizabeth was.

She was the agreeable type, willing to sacrifice her comfort and preference for others. It was adorable, but Alexander knew he now had to be careful with his opinions.

"You know, It's been a while since I've had sour candy," Alexander said as he turned his attention toward the nearby shop they were approaching. "Maybe I should try it again, I think I'll like it."

Elizabeth's eyes widened, and her embarrassment vanished, replaced with relieved excitement. "Y-yes!" She stammered with a wide smile, "I think that's good, you'll like it, I just know you will!"

Victoria simply shook her head, leaning back in her seat she crossed as looked out to the people who curiously stared at their carriage.

The people seemed to be surprised by the sight of the princesses, almost as if they didn't expect the royals to visit a frontier city such as theirs.

"Is that…"

"No that can't be…"

"Look at their eyes, it's the princesses." 

Everyone whispered amongst themselves in shock and confusion.

"Where's their Entourage?"

"Someone get my camera!"

Victoria crossed her legs as she sighed. "Donna, how do you expect us to shop if we're going to be blocked out by the commoners?" She asked skeptically.

Donna smiled. "Don't worry Vic, I'll handle the poor, don't want them breathing your royal air, right?" She teased. 

"To hell with you Donna."

Elizabeth simply smiled as she waved at the onlookers. "Hi!" She said with a giggle, "Hi everyone!"

The carriage rolled to a halt before their destination. The shop was a small brick building that was nestled between a bakery, and barber shop. It had a wide and vibrant display of sweets behind the glass windows that created an inviting sight.

Shelves lined with jars and bins that were filled with a variety of candy, from chocolate, lollipops, and even that sour candy that sparked Elizabeth's earlier embarrassment.

Unfortunately, just as Victoria had called out, there was a large group of people itching to see the princesses. They began surrounding the store, carriage, and anywhere else they could to get a better look at the princesses.

The excited and curious crowd began growing, and Victoria's disdain and uncomfortable expression grew. Elizabeth for her part continued to excitedly wave towards the crowd. "Hey, hey everyone, how are you?"

Alexander was surprised at the difference in reaction between the royals and the commoners here, and back home when he would go out. The difference was almost night and day.

"Donna, do something." Victoria hissed, her voice barely audible over the growing crowd surrounding their carriage.

Donna took a deep sigh as she stood up. "Alright." She said, turning her attention towards the crowd. "Everyone disperse, I'm only gonna ask once." She said firmly.

Though her eyes were hidden, the seriousness of her frown carried more than enough authority. 

The crowd began looking up at Donna, their expressions curious. They soon began whispering amongst themselves, ignoring Donna's warning. 

"She's just one person." 

"It's not like we're doing anything wrong."

"As long as we don't touch them we're fine."

Donna shrugged as she silently reached for her pistol. 

Retrieving it from her hip, she quickly aimed at the crowd. "Ten shots, then I start breaking bones." She threatened, her tone emotionless.

The quiet and curious whispers of earlier quickly turned to gasps of shock as the crowd hurriedly moved to disperse. The once cheery and curious atmosphere dissipated with the threat of violence looming in the air.

As the path to the candy shop was cleared, Victoria gave a supportive nod. 

Her expression became relieved as the crowd dispersed. Elizabeth on the other hand looked slightly disturbed and disappointed. She squeezed Alexander's hand tightly as a frown crossed her lips.

Alexander meanwhile was impressed. 

To disperse a crowd like that with a single threat was outstanding. The more time he spent with Donna, the more he began to realize why the queen only traveled with her. 

Donna hopped down from the carriage, grunting as she slightly bent her knees. "Let's get this candy before I have to make good on my threats." She said, moving to open the carriage door. 

She reached her hand into the carriage, and Victoria was the first to take it. After she was guided out of the carriage and out the sidewalk, Donna reached back for Elizabeth.

Elizabeth released Alexander's hand as she stood up, reaching out towards Donna. Donna then picked her up and placed her on the sidewalk.

She then reached for Alexander. 

Alexander stood up and approached Donna, he then reached out his arms towards her, and she gripped his waist. As she pulled him out of the carriage, Alexander gripped her forearms.

As she placed him on the ground Alexander couldn't help but notice how gentle she was despite her rowdy personality. 

When Donna released Alexander, Elizabeth moved to grab his hand. With Alexander's hand secured, she then turned towards Donna, who was already holding the door open for them.

Stepping inside the shop, the three children and Donna were greeted with a paradise filled with candy. 

Elizabeth, with Alexander in hand, darted towards the nearest shelf of candy. Her vigor renewed, and earlier reservations were forgotten.

"Look, Alexander!" She exclaimed, pointing at a large lollipop with white and gold swirls. "Isn't that one pretty?"

Alexander moved to examine the lollipop, eventually nodding his head. "Yeah, it looks pretty nice."

Elizabeth smiled as she moved to grab it, "here, you can have this one." She said, handing it to Alexander. 

Alexander accepted the lollipop, while Elizabeth then grabbed her own, which was pink and white. 

After staring at the lollipops, Elizabeth took Alexander throughout the store to select candies. 

Even a few sour ones. 

Victoria meanwhile, was less interested in sweets, and instead spent her time browsing the selection more leisurely. Her gaze slowly drifted across the vast shelves of sweets. 

Donna meanwhile stood at the door, occasionally glancing outside to study the remnants of the group from earlier standing outside.

They still seemed quite curious, yet they didn't dare cross Donna's path.