The air was different in the Vanilla Kingdom. It was crisper, colder than the coastal winds that blew through the Creme Republic streets. It didn’t carry the scent of the ocean- at first, Espresso had thought it hadn’t carried a scent at all, but the longer he spent there, the more he picked up the faint aroma of the pine forests that sprawled below the floating islands, and the earthy scent of the land itself.

The air was thinner than the Creme Republic’s. Espresso knew it was the altitude, but he couldn’t help but notice it.

He had to keep himself from leaning too far over the airship’s railway, lest he take a glorious fall into the breathtaking landscape below. It was hard to- the beautiful vastness of it all drew him in, like an intoxicant.

Madeleine had been courteous enough to lend Espresso his family’s airship for his journey to the Vanilla Kingdom, on the rather bothersome condition he accompany him there. Initially, Espresso had protested this, until he had realized that, without his longtime partner’s help, he wouldn’t be able to get to the Vanilla Kingdom at all. Despite all his accomplishments and efforts, Espresso had never learnt to pilot an airship.

The paladin hummed a light, merry tune as he piloted the airship. It was audible to Espresso, even as he stood on the outdoor deck, and Madeleine remained in its inner cabin. “You should really come inside,” Madeliene called out, as he had periodically throughout their trip. “The thin air is bad for your skin. It dries you out!”

“I’m quite fine out here, thank you.” Espresso replied, just like he had the last thirty times Madeleine had asked the same thing. He didn’t care about if his skin was dry. He had better things to care about.

But the cold air was biting, at this altitude. And his republic-fashioned cloak was not made to withstand the winds. A trip indoors- even a brief one- would be a respite from the weather. He even vaguely remembered Madeleine’s family airship having a coffeemaker on board. It wouldn’t be good coffee, but it’d be better than nothing.

Espresso slid the airship door shut after he’d slipped through it, and breathed in the warm, static air. “This isn’t an admission of defeat-” He raised a finger before Madeleine could say anything. “I’m only staying here to warm up a bit.”

“Whatever you say!” Madeleine hummed, ever-cheery.

Espresso didn’t say any more, but went to the coffee maker. As the machine whirred to life with it’s production of sub-par coffee, he let his gaze drift to his companion. The two of them had been travelling together for years, and over those years, they’d become so close they might as well be joined at the hip. It’d be odd, being parted from Madeleine.

After dropping him off- and most likely spending an inordinate amount of time on goodbyes- Madeleine would return to airship, and fly off to wherever the wind would take him next. Espresso would stay. He did not have the privileges or resources awarded a scion of a noble house, or the diplomatic immunity to stay in the Republic. He wasn’t bird suddenly uncaged, now free of inhibitions. He was a coward on the run.

Espresso had now lived his worst fear. He’d been disgraced, removed from his position at the Institute and all but banished from the city. All because he would not use his discovery for war.

In his rumination, Espresso found his hand gracing his Magic Candy, the crema-colored jewel resting on a pendent hanging over his chest. Such a small thing, yet full to the brim with such potent power. Clotted Cream thought it to be a weapon- was that what he was going to use it as? He had before, hadn’t he?

No. He would not see his discovery used to harm innocents. He would not see his work used only to fund a political campaign. And so, because he refused to become Clotted Cream’s pawn, he was running, like a coward. In the hopes that he might find some better luck elsewhere.

He could rebuild again. He’d built his life up, once. He could do it again. He even had a better idea of where he was going, this time.

He could rebuild again. He’d built his life up, once. He could do it again. He even had a better idea of where he was going, this time.

Madeleine took the airship to the balloon dock near the palace, where three solitary figures waited.

The first was a small, bony old man who’s face Espresso knew better from history textbooks than his own memories. Pure Vanilla was a strange man, with kind eyes and a wistful smile. Espresso had only spent fleeting moments with him, yet, the ancient hero made a lasting impression of the all-encompassing compassion befitting his healer title, and distinct, distant sadness of a man who’d seen all too much.

He stood next to a young woman- Espresso’s age, probably, or a few years younger, with a bony frame and dark coloration. Espresso didn’t know much about the odd, mysterious woman that was Black Raisin, but what he did know was that she was loyal, that she was a good fighter, and that she’d saved his life. A crow sat perched on her shoulder, and another on her head.

The last of the three was a short, lanky child with hair of vibrant pink and a posture indicative of general displeasure. Strawberry Crepe was a strange child, and Espresso knew very little of their past, but they had a certain endearing quality to them. Perhaps, it was their strange, standoffish qualities that made them so endearing. Perhaps, it was how they reminded him of himself, when he was that young. No matter the reason, they were one of the smartest people Espresso had met, and had a particular talent for robotics. They were the reason Espresso had chosen the Vanilla Kingdom to flee to, in the first place.

Espresso could not convince Madeleine to stay on the airship while he disembarked, and thus, the Paladin followed him onto the dock, waving wildly and calling out cheerful greetings.

“Espresso! Madeleine!” Pure Vanilla waved back, just as cheery. “It’s wonderful to see you both again. And it’s especially wonderful to have you researching here, Espresso! I think it’ll be wonderful to make these laboratories into the places they once were- full of energy and new ideas. Don’t you think so, Strawberry Crepe?”

Strawberry Crepe eyed Espresso up-and-down, and crossed their arms. “He’s smart enough, I guess. I’ll have to see how good of a research partner he makes.”

Before Espresso could defend himself, Black Raisin spoke. She looked to Madeleine “The letter you sent only spoke of Espresso’s coming here, I’m afraid we don’t have preparations for the both of you. Of course, we aren’t lacking in space, or anything, but I’d need to send a crow down to the inn-”

“Worry not,” Madeleine said with his usual flourish, “I’m only here to see Espresso off. After this, I’m heading out into the vast wide world, to see it all!” He punctuated his sentence with a hearty laugh.