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Kingdom's Fall - The Outer RingRecommended Music The air was cold and choking; several disgusting scents would overwhelm the girl's senses as she stepped into the abandoned settlement. Rotting wood, old food, and many other things made the atmosphere unbearable. Hilda plugged her nose as her feet dragged against the frosty road. "Eugh..." Her clattering boots would be the only sound in this hollow void, giving the girl another reason to shiver. Hilda scanned the area repeatedly while proceeding at a snail's pace. Rubbing her hands together did little to fight the frigid air, even as she planted her warm palms on various body parts. In the midst of all this, a tiny tickling sensation rubbed against her shoulders, and... "Eren?" Her gentle tone wasn't enough to keep his tiny red eyes from disappearing into the darkness of her hood the moment their gazes met. The dwarf would occasionally peek out to steal a glance at his caretaker. Aside from that, it went no further. Despite his silence, a smile still managed to creep on her face. ("At least I'm not alone.") Her body and mind would loosen as she ventured deeper into the decrepit abyss, her resolve somewhat steeled by her current responsibility. However, her bravery would go unrewarded. Small, run-down buildings that could barely even be considered homes would be all that lined these haunted streets. ("How terrible...") Mere moments after she made that mental remark, Hilda's eyes would light up like little stars. She leaned forward, staring at a rather magnificent structure that sat at the very end of this desolate road. It was completely untouched by nature, with such rigid and fine construction that it could stand for centuries. "Eren! Eren! Look!" She pointed directly at the building, jumping up and down ever so slightly as her freezing body was warmed by the mere presence of this small haven. "A home, a home!" Hilda's rushed towards the entrance, her pointed ears dancing with excitement. She nearly ripped off the doorknob before a haunting thought made her blood run cold. "Coming... in?" Hilda's excitement would taper, opening the door VERY lightly before peeking her head in. Minutes had passed, but nobody came. "But why?" This place was quite nice for an abandoned slum, suspiciously nice, and as Hilda made her way inside the house, her confusion would skyrocket. "By Eden, what is this?" Many books decorated the structure's walls; it almost seemed unending until her eyes reached the edge. Stocks of dry food, nice furniture—Hilda could not even fathom something like this existing outside the Inner Ring. She ran over to the magnificent wall and lightly thumbed through the books, many of these titles being staples in her own education. Her eyes would widen further with each second. Advanced books on history, language, and mathematics, some of which even eluded her recognition. "Since when did the common folk accumulate such an archive?" This grand hall of information absorbed her like a black hole. Many minutes passed, yet the elven child continued to glance through almost every title hosted by this mysterious archive, grabbing 'a few' of them and tossing them into her little sack. Finally having her fill, Hilda turned to explore the rest of this remarkable abode. Hilda ran her fingers along the walls, and to her surprise, very little dust had accumulated. Recently abandoned, yet blessed with a great wealth of resources. It was oh so curious... "I don't have time for this." Her brain hungered for an answer, but Hilda couldn't afford to lag behind. Despite his almost invisible presence, there was someone currently under her care, and his security was of the upmost priority. She quickly made her way to the master bedroom, her body almost melting to the floor upon seeing the centerpiece. A bed, not exactly befitting of royalty, but a bed nonetheless! "Oh great Goddess, I thank you." The girl clasped her hands together and held her head downward, muttering what seemed to be a prayer before leaping onto the plush mattress like an utter hooligan. "Ah.~" Her aching body was absorbed like quicksand—it was so warm, so comfortable, so magnificent... So absolutely, positively wonderful! Hilda could feel the tears welling up. Going so long without such comforts has been utter torture. A wide smile overtook her features as she stared at the ceiling. Even with her existence deemed worthless, Hilda still clung on. "Good night, Eren..." She muttered out, her blue eyes closing as she soundly drifted off. A few minutes had passed, the little red dots peering from within Hilda's hood. "Coast...clear." The dwarven boy scampered from outside the comfort of her cave-like headwear, scoping out her mountainous form in its slumbering state. He stared for what seemed to be eons as he gradually approached the peak, Hilda's 'great pit of despair' venting out a large wave of warm air that enveloped his body like a fuzzy blanket. Eren's instincts began to scream out in a rage, causing his approach to immediately halt. (The hood, the pocket, why...?") Eren's body would shiver as the thoughts continued to tear at his mind. Every aspect of her was identical to his captors, yet his body was still drawn to hers like a magnet. These sensations and emotions—the boy failed to make any sense of them as he slowly began to fade. Hilda's cheek absorbed his body like a soft cushion as it began to collapse, his anxious expression softening as he was taken by the night.trophyperson