Pruned Trees Re-Sprout!! ~ Ragazza Volpe Magica ~

"Let's get this shit moved people!"

Chaos. That's what Emily bore witness to through the crack in the shipping container door. Many men and machines moved the various boxes around the dock. Some were stored, others were being opened and examined by the workers. It was confusing and the sheltered princess couldn't decipher what all of it meant.

"Al-"

"Shhh!"

Her mouth shut, resting in a hard line. Albarich was intensely studying the happenings outside their metal prison. "Let's move to the back of the container," he quietly advised.

"Why?" questioned Emily.

"We're going to bolt when we have a chance."

"But-"

"Just shut up and listen."

The girl frowned but decided he was the expert in this situation and obeyed orders.

Sitting in the back of the container, the duo waited in silence. Emily wiped the sweat from her brow. "Blech," she grimaced. She glanced over at Albarich, who remained quiet, sitting with his eyes closed. He was focused, that much was apparent to the princess. However, she was still hopelessly confused as to what he was focusing on.

Time passed, and Emily was bored. She refused to voice a complaint - it was clear there was some unknown opportunity the dragon was waiting for. She wished he would communicate with her. Sitting in the dark, hot shipping container was anxiety-inducing.

His eyes opened. "Let's go, quick," the dragon suddenly spoke, getting to his feet.

The two made their way back to the front of the container and slipped out through the door. Upon opening the door, it was revealed to Emily that all the workers were gone. "Where... did they go?" she asked uneasily, sticking close to Albarich.

"Lunchtime," he replied, his head whipping back and forth as they walked. "Act natural," he added.

"What the heck does that mean?" she questioned.

"Act like you belong here. Nobody questions you if you look like you know where you're going," he advised.

Once more Emily wondered who exactly Albarich was, but failed to find the courage to ask.

Navigating the various halls and maintenance docks was a challenge. They were most definitely lost, but as the dragon had previously stated, they had to look like they knew where they were going. Avoiding eye contact with people and acting as if the end of each hallway was where they intended to be.

It took them much longer than Emily had anticipated, but they soon found themselves leaving through a door and rejoining the general public.

The princess' eyes went wide. "Woah... what the terra is this?!"

Hundreds of people moved around the floor. In the center was a large glass cylinder that went down into the void. From the windows on the side walls, one could make out the blue Riterran skies and the clouds that dotted them.

"Not sure. From what it looks like we're in some kind of tower," Albarich observed.

"Oh! This must be the Lutera Space Elevator!" Emily realized.

"That sounds kinda familiar," Albarich hummed, stroking his chin in thought.

"I've heard Seat Teersa talk about it before," Emily beamed proudly.

"Who?" Albarich raised a brow.

"The third seat of the Fourteen's court, they're in charge of the Economy and Tourism of Luna," she informed him.

"Ah, government puppet," he said with a nod.

Ignoring that comment, Emily continued. "We do a lot of trade with Riterra, and I've heard them talk about Lutera a lot," she elaborated. "Though I didn't think there'd be this many people here," the princess paused. "Or that it'd be so big," she added, quieter.

"Well let's get to the ground floor and see what we can find outside." Albarich waved for her to follow him, which she did dutifully.

"Everything on Riterra is so... big..." Emily gasped in wonder, walking backward away from the Lutera Space Elevator. The structure reached high into the sky, piercing the very heavens itself with its monstrous height.

"They build 'em big on Terra," Albarich commented. "Probably compensating for something," he snarked with a smirk.

Emily rolled her eyes, turning back to the city before them. A helpful sign nearby pointed out they were leaving the Lutera Space Elevator and entering the base city of Naiza. Compared to the grand majesty of the tower that was behind them, Naiza was a shabby town. The buildings were no more than three stories at most. There was plenty of coverings extending out from the tops of the buildings, which gave the foot traffic below plenty of shade. That being said, there were also some small stalls hiding in the shade afforded by the buildings where many people exchanged goods and coin.

If they didn't know any better, they would have thought they were in any other town on Luna. There were many lunar Resonators and their Maestros walking about. Emily and Albarich took in the sights as they delved deeper into the city.

"Where are we gonna eat and sleep, Al?" Emily asked.

"Hm?" The dragon looked to the Maestro.

"I don't think any of my money will work here," she noted, watching unfamiliar bills and coins change hands.

"Ah, good point," Albarich grunted. He was surprised she was that sharp to have picked up on that. "At worst I can employ the good ol' five-finger discount." He grinned toothily.

"The what?" Emily raised a brow.

Albarich held out his open hand. "See these five fingers?" he asked.

She nodded.

"These babies can get me anything I want."

"How?"

"Usually by picking it up."

"But you have to pay."

"Not if they can't catch me."

Emily processed that information. "Ah." It clicked. "That's stealing!" she shrieked, pointing at her partner in crime.

"Only if you get caught!" he shouted in defense of his honor.

"Something the matter folks?" One of the stall keepers asked the lost couple.

Albarich huffed and elbowed his Maestro, urging her to speak up.

"We just got here and didn't realize there'd be... currency problems," Emily decided tactfully.

The stallkeeper nodded. "You should probably head to an MA Office, then. There's one on the north side of town," they advised.

"Why's that?" Emily questioned.

"You don't know? MA Offices take care of Maestros and their Resonators."

"Welcome to the North Naiza Maestro Affairs Office – how can we help you?"

Thanks to the helpful advice they received, Emily and Albarich had found their way to the so called "MA Office", but didn't actually know what they were supposed to be doing. The front desk attendant seemed cheerful enough, smiling silently while awaiting Emily's inquiry.

"I uh, we're lost," Emily admitted.

"Oh, no problem, can I see your tuner first?" the attendant asked.

"T-tuner…? Why?" she challenged weakly.

Thankfully for Emily, the front desk attendant was a professional and launched into an explanation. "In order to use any facilities at these MA Offices you need to present your tuner showing you're an active Maestro," they explained. "May I please see your tuner?" they asked again.

"I…" Emily glanced back to Albarich who cocked a brow. "We don't have one," she finally admitted. She didn't have a single coin to her name, especially on Riterra. How was she supposed to get a tuner without any money?!

"Oh, that's no problem. I'm assuming the dragon behind you is your Resonator?" the attendant asked, pointing to Albarich.

"Yeah, we did agree to be partners, but we hadn't gotten our tuner made yet," Emily told the attendant. Albarich nodded in agreement.

"Quite easy, please start with this form," they handed over a tablet.

Emily nodded slowly, her head spinning. This was all too much.

"Come on Emily, this way," Albarich grabbed his soon-to-be Maestro's shoulders and guided her to a seat to tackle the form they had just been handed.

"Seems simple enough," Emily glanced over the form. She began to fill it out using the touch screen keyboard, entering in her details as well as Albarich's.

"Address?" She raised a brow at that section.

"Giving the Riterran government folks the Lunar castle's address is probably a bad idea," Albarich advised.

"Why?"

"At least from what I heard, Riterra and Luna aren't on the best terms, you should probably change your last name," he pointed out.

"Oh."