Chapter I: First Meeting

  On the night of the silver moon, while the stars pointed eastward, Berenia sat at the edge of a fountain with water that danced under the stars. The fabric of a heavy, roughly sewn waistcoat chafed against her shoulders… Uncomfortable is what she considered it, though her lips comfortably rested along her expression. The intense chill of the nightly winds bled into her countenance. Matched her note by note, like nature itself was forming a harmony. Her raven-black hair danced with the wind like silk, curling along her murky expression like the gentle hand of an artist. The lights lining the streets glowed along the moonlight in a yellow hue that lent their radiance to the night streets, just enough to keep the world from falling entirely still.

  A benevolently insolent fool stood beside her, no other term could describe him. His brunette hair glimmered under the lamplight, his gaze one of a hunter tracking prey. He exuded a regal atmosphere, firm yet almost incompetent by association. While passersby frowned at his presence, he paid them no mind. His clothing sparkled under the mirage of dim lighting. Covered by obscure yet fanciful textures, and plated gems that refused to be hidden by soot.

  He stood comfortably above Berenia, hands splayed across her shoulders. He grinned ear to ear as she sat there in silence. His eyes chased the emerald gems within hers as they darted them across the empty street. At least the view is nice. The cobblestones covering the ground each held within them endless stories of endless souls who walked upon them. Some were bruised and battered, while others were glowing brighter than the moon under its gente light. Berenia’s strained shoulders eased slightly, as she swirled her head around toward the man behind her.

  “Please stop.” Berenia’s brows furrowed slightly, forming a crease along the lines of her head. The tensing muscles in her shoulders jerked away from him as he let go of her without complaint, a small smile across his lips.

  “My apologies…, I was merely assuring myself that you wouldn’t collapse and die at this very moment.” The man said with an expression that lent nothing but honesty… Incompetent honesty.

  “I don’t want your concern, and what kind of fool doesn’t start with his name when he’s trying to romance a woman?!” Berenia stood up with a huff, pulling off the waistcoat he’d so foolishly placed on her shoulders, tossing it in his general direction, “And this isn’t even warm, it’s itchy!” She uproariously exclaimed.

  “Hmm… I see… you may call me Flower then Miss.” the man said as he looked off into the night sky, his hand scratching his chin as the waistcoat rebounded off his chest and deflated slowly on the cobblestone ground.

  “Flour?” Berenia looked at the man, incredulous. What kind of name is Flour? She held his gaze, her body no longer tense. The empty street was only a showcase for her elegant atmosphere.

  “Yes… Flower. That’s why I smell so nice.” After a short pause, he bent down and lifted his waistcoat from the cold stone, a distinct whistle blew out from somewhere in the dark alleys. Flower patted it down and slowly slipped his arms in, adjusting it around his shoulders with a contented sigh.

  “What?” She tilted her head with a dubious expression. “Why would dough smell nice…” She murmured under her breath.

  “What?”

  “Hmm? It’s nothing.”

  “...Alright.” Flower gives a slow nod followed by a shrug.

  “Why are you bothering me Flower?” Berenia hopped between the balls of her feet lightly, leaning from side to side each time while she eyed his jacket. “It’s not affection, trust me.” She continued, predicting his intent, before spinning around on her left foot to leave.

  “Wait!” He clambered behind her awkwardly. “How can I meet you again, miss?” He followed behind her like a newborn duckling, falling in step with her.

  “None of your business.” She sped up her pace before rounding the nearest corner.

  “Agh!” As Flower followed behind her, he slipped on a wet cobble rounding the same corner in pursuit, slamming head-first into the ground. “Uhhh?” he said while lifting his head from the ground, a small wound left as Berenia continued on unperturbed. As she did, he watched while scratching his head before waddling off.

  The streets of the city flickered softly as Berenia continued toward the market, her raven hair flowed through the wind drawing the eyes of many. The market was filled by small stands and shops for trinkets or food. The colorful display of the city nightlife brought a smile to Berenia’s lips. Drunk men walked between different taverns in their stupor as they were shooed away from their drinking spaces. She approached the hustle and bustle of the city night-time market, as a small object flung past her quickly before making a sharp turn straight into her forehead. With a loud bump, the object bounced off said forehead. A subtle green gem with the color of her eyes floated before her, dimming to a gentle light revealing a small button with an emerald embedded in the center.

  “Hello! Are you his kid?” A disembodied voice rang out inside Berenia's head as she glanced around, her eyes straining to find where the voice was. “Hello? I’m right here you know.” The voice continued, followed by a small noise as if a foot was on the ground tapping along in wait.

  “You’re…” Her eyes widened as she jumped in exclamation, “What are you!” Backing away slowly her expression shifted, from calm relaxed muscles to furrowed and expectant.

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  “A button?” The small button nodded along with the words ringing in her mind, slowly approaching her with an innocent yet menacing glint from within the gem. Berenia flinched as the button slowly backed her into a corner, pausing just before her face. “You don’t look like him… hmm…” The button scratches its metaphorical chin while looking her over.

  “Who?” Berenia asked inquisitively, as the noise in her head sounded more natural by the second, “And you didn’t answer my question.” She poked the button which swayed back with her finger weightlessly.

  “King Friederin. Aren’t you his daughter?” The button swiveled slightly, shrugging off her prodding finger.

  Berenia faltered, taking a step back, “Say again?”

  “King Friederen.” The button responded in kind, hovering closer toward Berenia.

  “Of Iskoria?”

  “Yes.”

  “I see…” Berenia hastily looked around for a moment then began to dash past onlookers down the nearest alley as fast as possible, passing by the many undesirable items living within the alleys with the button fast in pursuit.

  “Where are you going?” The button followed, directly beside her head keeping a comfortable pace. “Is someone chasing you? I know! Pull out your sword!”

  “I’m not the king's daughter and I don’t have a sword!”

  “WHAT?!” The button pressed against her left cheek forming an indent. “Then who are you? Did you steal me?” It’s voice boomed throughout Berenia’s mind, echoing out several times.

  “I did not!” She responded in kind, “Why would I steal a creepy talking button?!”

  “Do you really mean that?” The button let off her cheek meekly, flipping forward as if lowering its head as Berenia slowed down her run to a jog, then a walk. The button rotated toward her full of hope.

  “Uh, no of course not.” Berenia gently patted the button on top. It dove straight down, leaving cracks in the stone.

  “Liar!” The button wriggled around, drilling deeper.

  “Wait! Will you calm down!” Berenia sat on her knees, bent over trying to pry the button from its stone fortress. The gravelly sound coming from the ground came to a halt, as the button rose from the hole and pushed past her prying fingers.

  “Fine, hmph.” The button leaned back in wait for her explanation.

  Berenia lowered to a cross-legged position on the cold paved alley, “What are you exactly?” She shifted until she felt more comfortable, her gaze setting comfortably on the imposing walls of the alley before returning to the strange button.

  “Why does that matter?”

  “Because you’re a button that talks?”

  “Yep.”

  “Nevermind, can you at least tell me your name?” Berenia looked up while her chest rose and fell in a deep sigh. She gave the button an earnest gaze, clearly willing to have a conversation.

  “No clue, I’m just a button.” The button shrugged off the comment. “ Anyway, I’m stuck with you now.”

  “Stuck? For how long?” Berenia leaned forward, almost falling over.

  “Probably till you die.”

  “What? How do I get rid of you?” Berenia pressed further.

  “I’m stuck with you, not the other way around. I took a nap and now I’m bound to some random lady I’ve never even heard of. Consider how I feel.” The button emphatically announced, the crocodile tears flowing from its voice.

  “How does the binding work? Do you have to follow my orders?”

  “Of course not! Why would I listen to some peasant lady! And why should I know how being bound functioned, I didn’t make me!” The button paused for a moment before circling around her like a drill sergeant, inspecting her every inch. “This won’t do. This won’t do at all.”

  Berenia snatched the button out of the air, “Zip it.”

  “Hey! Let go!”

  “No, apologize.” She began to violently shake the fist holding the button in the air like a madwoman, though luckily no bystanders were there to judge her.

  “Ahhh!” The button's screams slowly faded into a quiet groan. “I’m gonna puke…”

  “You can puke?”

  “Of course I can!” The button uproariously retorted.

  Berenia raised her fist high into the air, “Will you apologize?”

  “Yes…” Berenia began to shake her fist, “Sorry! I said sorry!”

  Berenia let go mid shake, sending the button flying out. “Will you listen to me now?”

  “Okay…” The button nodded meekly, before floating toward her.

  “Good. Now follow me, I want to go home.” Berenia began her walk home, the button following closely behind her.