My eyes squinted as I stared at the steaming brick road. I couldn’t believe this was the Town all the girls wanted to come to!

  I already missed the soft grass and the cool ground. It was such a long walk. I was on my papa’s shoulders now.

  His golden hair smelled like oranges, bitter when I licked it.

  “Papa, Where are we going?” I asked.

  I didn’t get a chance to take the sliced tomatoes off the roof today.

  “We’re going to the bank,” he replied.

  I even remembered when I lied to the other girls about papa taking me to town with him. Now papa is really doing it.

  “Where they keep the money?” I asked.

  The town was a blur away but every moment walking towards the sun felt forever,

  The road wasn’t too far, so I thought he had a carriage for us, but noo…

  “Gerda, you’re so smart. It’s not that kind of bank. People are banks,” he said.

  I wasn’t allowed to say he was my papa. We had to call him a customer.

  The other girls keep saying I'm a farm girl even when we only have a tomato garden.

  “Nuh uh! People have cards, I heard it from the other girls!” i shouted.

  Papa kneeled down and put me down on the hot bricks as we looked at each other in surprise.

  “Gerda! Don’t you ever say that!”

  I stretched out my arms to hug him and stood on his shoes, hopping from the ground, burning hot!

  “I have talent,” papa said, “I give that old lady money so you can eat, don’t talk about cards”.

  My eyes quivered as I couldn't bear it any longer

  “No!” i shouted, “I have talents too”.

  He moved his shoe away as my feet got back to the scalding floor.

  I couldn’t take the heat at all but hasn’t he always given me and granny too much to bear.

  “That’s not how they work!” he shouted.

  “Did you get nothing from my dried tomato idea? What about when I fixed your display?”

  His shoulder staggered as he shifted his knee off the floor as he pretended to be dumbfounded.

  I know he’s been doing better ever since i gave him that idea when I was four years old.

  We stood surprised in a scalding heat - was he really going to wait until I climbed his shoes?

  I knitted my eyebrows in a deep stare, a bell rang as a strong breeze of cold air wafted. I dashed into the door as gladness eased into me but my eyes still burned as water simply blocked my view as I stared disgruntled at the floor.

  I got lifted up and hugged as my body was cooled by skin and I heard a woman’s voice. “It’s okay, it’s okay,” she said, patting my back. I couldn’t breathe! I gasped for breath as I got irritated by trickles on my face.

  “You’re so smart and you can do whatever you want, you know that don’t you, Don’t let anyone tell you different. What’s your name?”

  “Gerda,” i whimpered.

  “Gerda, today is a hard day for everyone. Your daddy is having a bad day, it’s your daddy right?”

  “Hmm!” i nodded. I couldn’t stop wheezing.

  “So you’re a gellhorn, who’s your mommy?” she asked.

  “Put me down,” I said.

  Her body was soft and cool that i forgot that I wasn't supposed to tell anyone that! she's going to get me into trouble!

  “Shhh, Shhh - let me speak to your daddy okay.”

  I looked outside as papa looked at us as he tried to open the door.

  I wiped my face as I looked at the woman more clearly. She put me down and pinched her lips.

  She walked towards the counter as I watched her walk, she wore thin hoof shoes that clicked on the floor and pajama style clothes that glimmered orange like a candy wrapper luckily she wore white underneath, i could see straight through her skirt hem.

  “Have you cooled down?” the woman asked.

  Papa took a moment to let the cooling air refresh him since he was damped in heat.

  “If this wasn’t a registered jeweler…!” my papa shouted.

  “You’ll what? I no longer have allegiance! Spare me the squabble and take this, here!”. She gave a shiny black pouch to my papa.

  “Let me join your table at the ceremony banquet,” she said.

  Why was this room so sparkly? I walked to the counter and started looking at the shiny stone. I started getting cold and I saw a blanket on the chair and wrapped it around me.

  Touching the blanket was so slippery but I did it while holding my suspender straps on my shoulders that held up my pants.

  “I’m Jocelyn Erranart. I was the third assistant to the camp of Lady Kou.

  I know you’re not involved in the outskirt and I've dealt with many merchants there, I’ll have some trouble but… can we make due?” Ms. Erranart asked.

  “You worked with Kou the castle owner? Yeah! sure i’d be happy to have you on my table at the banquet!” My father replied.

  “It’s not… it’s not that simple," jocelyn was deep in thought as she clasped her hand into a fist until her thumb got cut from her diamond ring on her finger. "Castles are hard to keep for over a month, Kou is just starting and my team didn’t do well for her but if we play our cards right…”

  “Forget it then!” My papa said, “It’s too fierce and the banquet will only get worse. We don’t have enough charisma to take a stand”.

  “Even so, you’re the only person that has a mandatory table for the past two years!” Ms. Erranart shouted, “that’s a ridiculous amount of negotiation cards”.

  “It’s the bloody kiddies table - it serves absolutely no purpose!” my father shouted.

  “That’s because you won’t acknowledge your daughter, Gerda!” ms.erranart said. I gulped as i looked at my father and this woman!

  She told on me! Now he knows that i said his my papa!

  “Gerda,” Ms. Erranart said, “ how many steps are in those sundried tomatoes you make?”

  “Thirteen… do you like them?” I asked.

  “I’ve never tasted it, sweety,” she replied, “but Bice has ”.

  she turned towards papa who pallored yet in a ruddy color was riddled complex.

  “Bice?” he said completely focused on her.

  "what is this pale from anxiety and red from embarrasment, a lover she is, correct?"

  She was so smart, i didn't care if papa was like this, but to capture emotions so fast... "Wow".

  I felt as if i moved while my brain froze and i mistakenly bumped on one of the glass and it opened.

  inside was what papa said they sold, jewelry i reached out for that had melting red colors, a necklace rich in intense red.

  “She’s been the interior ministry and held the rank Bice for so many decades, i don’t even Know her real name while Kou is finding it hard holding to the Marcella rank. Bice is the reason you’ve been granted the table and not once have you brought your Secret weapon, bring her to the banquet - let some arrangement be made,” Jocelyn said.

  They gestured at each other, while my papa was shrugging not noticing me.

  I was Now like Ms.Erranart with my shiny blanket wrapped around me and a necklace that struggled to fit through my hair buns

  now they were loose.

  I saw my face in the mirror, and my hair!

  “I’m not going anywhere near the Bice,” ahh papa said.

  “I heard your conversation, Your daughter engaged you about agriculture in an impervious attribute, that’s two different talents!” ahh jocelyn said.

  “She’s just affected by green money that gave her persistence!” ahh papa said.

  “It’s imperviousness, I'd know that from anyone with the intellect attribute!” ahh Ms. Erranart said. “This is a hassle, just go to the parade, I'll meet you there once i get her an essence from the bank” ahh papa said.

  “You’re hiding something, that’s why you don’t want to meet bice! Who’s her mother!” ahh Ms. Erranart said.

  My father paused as he grumbled to himself - i can finally speak!

  “Papa!” - they both looked at me as i held on a strand of my locks, “My hair!” They clattered towards me as they knelt right in front of me. “My hair is red!” i shouted. A few strands of my hair were red. “My hair is bleeding!” i shouted.

  “Calm down, you’re hair isn’t bleeding - this necklace changes color of hair, Right, Elia?”

  “To purple! This is an Charisma store for amethyst customers, what am i looking at Gellhorn!” Jocelyn said.

  She admitted to herself that there was one red mineral interlaced with the purple amethyst necklace.

  “I don’t… look, i’ll meet you at the parade - i’m sure an essence from the bank will help.” Papa took the necklace off me and held my hand as we walked off.

  Jocelyn frantically followed us to the door - i glanced at her and she had a crinkly smile towards me. “Can i keep the blanket?”

  “Yes, Gerda - don’t worry about that,” Ms. Erranart shouted as she waved. “Papa, hold me,” i said.

  We left the store into the hot weather. I liked ms. Erranart, so i paid attention to the road. I'd like to come see her again.

  Finding my way was so liberating, especially when the community hunted me in the forest, that was fun.

  The town showed me I wasn't the only one that wanted to make a path. Papa knew his way around but… i didn’t have what i was looking for.

  We went up a bunch of stairs as my father started getting wet and yucky on my hands. I could hear him breathing as he held onto my arm with his yucky hands, i was already avoiding holding on to his head. He opened the huge door and collapsed on his knees. “Hello, anyone here?” papa shouted.

  My father huffed like he was in pain. I held my fist to my mouth avoiding sucking my thumb. looking around at this huge place - chairs, tables, papers - there was nothing to help papa out.

  “Hello? Anyone there” I repeated papa.

  I fondled my papa’s ear and my thumb was almost sucked into my mouth when i heard a shout. Papa pushed my hand away as if hurt his ear.

  “Who’s there!, you’re not supposed to be here!”

  Two men walked up to us, papa tried to stand up and i bumped into him to get closer and he fell. “Do you have a message from the Bank owner - Orlon? Why has he not arrived!”

  The big wide man said, my eyes calculated, i saw a skinny man next to him in a suit like papa. “I…” My father struggled to speak.

  “I’m here to get an essence!” i said, “You’re supposed to give me one”.

  “ Foolish !” the wide man shouted at my papa but my eyes were going to the skinny man. The skinny man twirled his mustache as he stared at me with wide-eyes. “Balandir! Wait,” the skinny man said. He ran to the desk and after the moment,

  I realized there was a strange feeling only when it was gone.

  “Gellhorn take a moment to recover then come take a seat.” the skinny man said. “Julian, What in Haruna are you thinking!” Balan said. Bayandir?

  The skinny man ignored the wide man and looked at my father but took glances at me. “Gellhorn what attribute are you?” The skinny man asked.

  My papa put up four fingers. “Leadership. How many stars?” Papa put up one finger.

  “It should be better now,” he said, “ Balandir, keep an eye at the door, his attribute is common”. “I earned a table with ‘common’ attribute, which gives me some prestige,” papa said.

  Papa got up, he was afraid of my hand, I wanted to hold him. We took a seat across from the man.

  “Ah! i found your picture: Landon Gellhorn, yes, you have the right of issue of one Essence under your family name,” the skinny man said.

  “I prefer to purchase one under the business in my name?” papa said.

  “Sundried tomatoes, i see - For haste, a discount under a random essence is in order.” Julian said.

  Papa nodded.

  I glanced at the far end as four more people came towards us. The skinny man put a finger to his lip showing the others to be quiet but the first to speak was Balandir.

  “I’m glad you are all here! Come see this nonsense Julian is doing! One child is greater than his whole world, helping a child with an essence with so many pressing matters happening everywhere, after three day i swear i’m gone from this world per our agreement”.

  “An offworlder has the nerve…” papa said but Julian reached across the table and held his arm. “Landon! He’s a Marquee that’s an equivalent rank to a Marcella of our world!” Julian said.

  Papa looked around holding my hand with wide eyes.

  “These three men are Dukes and this lady is a Bice all of equivalent ranks,

  Now slowly show me your displays, both of you… let’s do our business and pretend we never saw anyone here today” Julian said, keeping his hand at the four people.

  Papa nodded and leaned forward, not letting go of my hand.

  Papa opened his display which was a brown floating window, I've seen it plenty of times. I opened mine which was black,

  I couldn't use it yet - I had to wait until the white bars were still blocking the thingies i have to see; but Mister wanted to see it and papa didn’t say anything.

  “Okay, i’m processing all possible essences, it will take a few moments.”

  “Thanks for helping us, an essence would be great for her psychology,” papa said. They all gasped except Balandir who grunted.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “You’re simply getting an essence for the psychological attributes?” Julian asked.

  The four people hovered over my chair as they looked at my display, even pressing it. “She’s impulsive and clumsy. I had to call neighbors for a manhunt to find her in the forest”.

  “She’s just six years old,” The woman said.

  “Please miss Zyrex. One moment,” Julian said, “This is necessary to accomplish our goals”.

  “What do you mean, accomplish ‘our’ goals?” papa said.

  Julian became as strict as a teacher as he twirled his mustache.

  “Bice has called these esteemed guests to aid the intricate complexity of our global economic landscape. Our analysts have predetermined a catastrophe in our fiscal and monetary forces. Regrettably this means that the general public will be in economic chaos and just to inform you further, all banking services will be suspended indefinitely.” Julian said.

  Papa blocked his mouth and nose as I copied him before he slapped the table.

  “You can’t just close an entire reserve bank!” papa said “How can a bank be so negligent!” “Ha!” Balandir grumbled, “City boy dare talk of negligence!”

  “It still has the audacity to pay you!” My papa roared.

  Balandir took out his axe from his sheath while the other men stopped him from rushing us!

  “Gellhorn is it? You do understand that ecocurrency runs on scouts and soldiers - The quality of life you have is built on fought expertise and trying days," Miss Zyrek said.

  “We've worked hard to accomplish our peace,” papa said, "I was a scout right next to the Bice you revere, you dont even know her name!"

  “Ha!” Balandir snorted, “you were on your knees on a two-star strength, you think you will last a day on the outskirts!”

  Julian threw four huge pouches on the table, each a different color; red, silver, green and purple. Papa turned his attention to him

  But Julian never spoke as if calculating in his head. The woman Zyrek spoke.

  “Mr. Gellhorn, if I may be so forward, the truth of the matter is that this city will face an Imminent doom. The very fabric of your society has been given an unrelentless kindness from your Bice and with that, the urban citizens have overlapped their needs, granted there is a need for a vacated area to retreat and relax, but have you, like many others not used the currency for your lineage on unnecessary luxuries?” Miss Zyrek said.

  “I…” Papa stammered.

  “Mr. Gellhorn we are not suppressing you," Miss zyrek said, "...you have been enabled, coddled, condoned and pardoned. The amount Mr. Julian has given the last amount the bank has, it's insufficient but you may monopolize it to reach my world if your prestige is enough, "Miss Zyrek said.

  “You’re saying this is the end of Brashtilia?” papa asked.

  “There is no citadel in any of our worlds. The luxury you have is beyond measure, miss zyerk said, "My home world is full of mages and the endless war is always at our doorstep. you’d need to have developer’s skill to utilize which is why

  Julian made the offer. The currency will help but this…” Zyrek said.

  I stared at her finger as I made the connection that she pointed at my display.

  “Do displays have something to do with developer’s skills?” I asked.

  “Go to your parade, try and win over as much prestige as you can, leave this little girl in our care - it's my opinion that Julian wishes to hold on to the child, I'm sorry Julian but we need to expedite the matter.”

  “Is her display that important?” Balandir asked.

  “I don't know, I've never seen a black display before, julian?” Zyrek said.

  Julian didn't say a word and waited patiently. “You'll bring her back?” Papa said.

  “You're concerned about what your family are doing about the situation and this girl is your illegitimate child. We all have three days grace.” Julian said.

  Granny spoke about grace a lot, she was the most powerful woman when she was younger But what did he mean by the days.

  “I'll be back as soon as I can, Gerda, stay with…”

  “Lyra,” Miss Zyrek said.

  “...Lyra - Do as they say Gerda. And you…” Papa pointed at julian.

  “I'm confessing everything to Bice, if anything happens to her…” Papa said.

  “Please sign her out of your display. I trust your new found sincerity will not be lost,” Julian said. Papa's head turned red as he quickly flicked his screen, took the money bags and ran off. I scratched my eyebrows where my eyes should be, something didn't sit right.

  “Were you talking about grace? What's three days grace?” I asked.

  “Yes,” julian said with curved lips, “ you’re our grace, the legendary Bice but it might mean something different to your dad.”

  Julian stood up and pressed a piece of paper on my screen as a light crossed through the paper. I stood up on the chair as I looked at it, I never knew you could do that! I looked at miss zyrek who was reading the papers print on my screen as were all of them. There was a green tick and my hand print.

  “Congratulations young'un, the document you just signed made you the owner of this bank.” Balandir said.

  "Affiliate owner, if she survives..." Julian said.

  I stood on the chair, giving a glance at everyone, as my mind blurred.

  My mind sped through each empty hallway as it became filled with people.

  Each door opened as I could see treasures everywhere and some doors that had liquid swirls

  that I couldn't enter.

  “Is there even such a thing as a bank in world laws? Balandir, she just became Marcella so she's equal to you in rank.” Zyrek said.

  “What?” Balandir said.

  “For our objective, let us introduce ourselves,” Julian said.

  There was a room far away that felt warm but made me shiver. I shook as I looked at everyone.

  “Lyra Zyrek, bice mage of the Zyrek castle.”

  “Orwen sailik, Duke of the Kaizer stronghold”

  “Lee fang of the Phoenix cultivators”

  “Balandir Krug marquee of swift mountains”

  “Gerda strashur Gellhorn, Bice of brashtilia” I said as natural as the air I breathed.

  “I knew it,” Julian said, “Julian bastion your vice deputy.”

  My name isn't gellhorn? I'm a strashur?

  “Julian was this worth an entire bank” orwen asked, “her display is still encrypted.”

  “It’s better this way,” Balandir said, “ her display will guard better and the bank will protect her”. “That last part requires intuition,” fang said.

  “I have a measure for that,” Julian said, “let’s continue blocking the breach”.

  Miss Zyrek picked me up as we started walking more inside the bank.

  Everything felt more like granny's house, even though we took twists and turns, I felt as if I knew where we were going, like a forest heading towards the body of a lake. I had a deep fear that made my head turn around to what laid beneath the bank.

  “Julian, is the Strashur surname a known commodity in your world?” Miss Zyrek asked.

  “No,” Julian said, “your side?”

  “Never heard of it,” Miss Zyrek replied.

  Everyone seemed tense as we entered a strange aura and immediately everyone let out their displays. Miss zyrek’s screen blocked and moved the chilling wind as if flowing it out. Julian gave me a secret glance that alerted me to take out my screen as well, as i did… The entire air in the room shook out with a drum beat!

  There was an explosion!

  “What was that?” Miss zyrek asked as she clasped me closer to her. I muffled out of her neck, “it was the door!”

  In my head I could see the explosion that blew the huge front doors of the bank. Miss zyrek found no comfort in this as she held me even tighter.

  “Her display is still encrypted,” Orwen said, “How is she…”

  “We have a job to do!” Julian shouted as each passing surge of air was vacuumed out! The alertness felt prompt, can anyone else see this? My screen was rippling.

  “Put her down! Get in position!”

  “You’re a madman Julian, bringing a child here!” Balandir shouted “It’s her screen that’s doing this!” fang shouted.

  All of our hair was billowing in the wind but I felt composed as I noticed we surrounded a vortex. I did notice this a while ago but the strange thing is, I knew it’s name - vortex.

  “Ha! I can work much easier now!” Lyra zyrek shouted.

  Her screen turned into a bunch of runes that partially covered the breach.

  “You’re a genius julian!” Balandir shouted, “Fang, how does it feel that a young’un has taken your place? Eh! Intuition you say, fang?”

  “This isn’t possible!” Orwell shouted.

  My mind warped at what just happened, the compressed itself blowing all the doors of the bank including the front door.

  Their faces either had awe at the breach as it was closing or awe at me but they didn’t Look at my display that was pulsing like a drum shaking the screen, the room and the air…

  Finally i saw the white bars crack - the white bars that always annoyed me, when it was disabled in class, i annoyed the other girls when the teachers said, i had to use their display like i was thumbsucker fondling their ears but finally! I got excited as I never had to use papa’s display again because now I can finally see words and numbers on the screen.

  “Violette!” I read.

  “Hello Gerda,” the display said.

  “Yeeeess!!!!” julian shouted.

  The breach was about to close before it slightly reopened.

  “Initiating onyx spec-ops display, engaging phantasm: purple claw bear - erios. Commissioning current party, sending token to strashur house offshore bank account.”

  A light streaked past to the exit - i knew where it was going, it was going to a vortex that will take it far away from here. The silky fluid bear with a purple claw entered the breach and I could see information that belonged to everyone here.

  “It sifted through my display in a second!” Orwell said.

  “Why! Why are you opening the breach!” Miss Zyrek shouted. “Let it work - I was banking on this!” Julian said.

  The room was enveloped into darkness… a fluid white light emerged in the shape of a bear with a purple claw. It entered into the breach. “Calculating… please wait.”

  The entire room was black but I could see everyone trying to brighten their display to no luck.

  “My recommendation is that you enter the breach, do you comply?”

  “Yes!” Julian said, “Distinguished guests, let me remind you, brashtilia has already paid”.

  The room was pitch black with a billowing wind and now Violette wanted us to jump into the vortex.

  “What is the guarantee of success, the percentage, when will we get out?” Lyra asked.

  “We don’t know anything about this, Orlon said we just have to close it,” Orwell said. “The treasures from this bank is spat out,” Balandir said, “I’m keeping any loot i find”

  They all shouted to each other as I stopped listening and looked at the pulsing black display. I made my decision.

  “the percentage of success Is not numerical, your convictions will be tested” Violette said, answering Lyra's question.

  "Gerda jump in," Violette said to me.

  “Gerda Strashur has entered the breach - Conviction 100%” Violette announced.

  I don't know what happened above me as i heard noises from above, i just jumped in.

  I was in the air of darkness that felt forever as I felt something past me and exploded.

  “Erios: protective paw!” Violette said.

  I flew inside the tunnels darkness and blades flickered in the dark as the purple paw

  exploded into a bubble protecting me and spluttered on ten people. Someone captured me in mid-air.

  I could see in the darkness, even better that i could see five people clustered together around me.

  “I got the loot, strategic retreat!” The woman who captured me said.

  She wore a green cape and brown clothes, that’s all I saw before a huge arrow came towards us.

  She straighten her hands as i fell from her luckily she was just two peoples height in the air.

  I landed on my feet as my fear from falling from the roof fell away.

  “Letty is anchored! Ambush!” I heard shouts.

  “Get out of here kid,” Letty said

  “Ask her if were in a fog of war and the co-ordinates“ Violette voice sputtered.

  “Where am i in the fog of war?” I asked.

  In a vast volley of barrage, Letty simply looked at me with her body frozen.

  “Top Lane River,” Letty said in disbelief.