Even she had to admit she missed her brother, causing her to go up the staircases a little faster than normal.

There were small, narrow windows every twenty steps up the stairs. The open sky was filled with strange glittering birds soaring on the wind. At the top of the stairs stood an iron door, bearing the insignia of a barbed crown.

She hesitantly walked towards the door, then slowly opened it.

Isiea waits impatiently.

They stood at the entrance of an enormous garden, the door creaking as it swung away from them. The smooth iron walls surrounding them were topped with jagged spines, silhouetted black against the open sky. Trees lined a stony path, but they were all made of metal, their branches twisted and sharp. Birds watched them from the steel limbs. When they fluttered their wings, it sounded like knives scraping against one another.

In the center of the garden, where all the paths converged, a fountain stood. Made not of marble or plaster, but of different-size gearheads, turning sluggishly with the water's flow. On the bottom cog, lying on his back as the gear slowly spun him around, was a figure.

It was Ash.

Isiea immediately heads towards him.

Lise stared at him, then slowly began walking towards him.

(Y'know, it would be such a crying shame if both girls fell for the same guy)

The good thing about it was that there weren't many places for attackers to hide; except for the metal trees and a few thorny vines, the garden seemed empty.

She speeds up, wanting to get there before Lise.

(and then Ash would reject them both)

Lise let Isiea get ahead of her. She wasn't sure if this was a trap or not anyway.