AQR1: A Peerless Genius from Two Cities [COMPLETED]

4: Grey City*

There was a huge difference between Royal City and Grey City.

Royal City was already considered as modernized in terms of their machineries and the likes. Probably because it had long been a democratic country despite its name. Bukod pa doon, they were trading different kind of products and most of the people living there were well-off.

Kagaya na lang nila Emy. Her father owned a toy factory and it was profitting more than the expenses they had. And since student pa rin naman si Emy, Uncle Shin was the one running the business temporarily. May sarili din namang business si Uncle Shin pero from time to time, isinisingit niya ang toy factory nila Emy in his schedule just to make sure that it was still doing well.

On the other hand, Grey City was totally different. Ganun din si Uncle Francis. Grey City still had an imperial government. It was being run by an Emperor. And one of the subordinates of this empire was the family of Uncle Francis.

There were several military families in Grey City. Kaya hindi maisip ni Emy if she had already encoutered Uncle Francis' family before.

Anyway, si Uncle Shin ang kasama niya sa pagbyahe papuntang Grey City. It took them two and a half days just to reach the boundary of Royal City and Grey City. When they passed the boundary, they travelled by horse and carriages since walang ibang mode ng transportation doon kundi ang mga iyon unlike Royal City na may mga ilang energy-operated mode of transportation na.

Uncle Shin rented a carriage for her and her luggage while he rented a horse for himself.

"It's been a while since I ride a horse." Uncle Shin said habang nakangiti.

"I have never thought you can ride one, Uncle Shin."

He laughed out loud.

"I might be weird looking wearing this kind of clothings habang nakasakay ng kabayo. But I am telling you, I am great at this. Hindi nga lang kasing galing ni Francis."

"D-does my father know how to ride one to?"

"Of course. After all, kapag bakasyon namin noon, dito kami ipinadadala ng grandparents mo. We used to have our aunt living here. It is such unfortunate na hindi siya nakapag-asawa at nagkaanak. But I think that's the reason why Francis had chosen to live here instead. He was the closest to Auntie Angeline."

Napatango na lang si Emy. In her old life, she focused herself sa circle of family na kinalakihan na niya. She wasn't that familiar to anyone na sa tingin niya ay hindi mahalaga. Her thinking back then was very narrow. Like a frog inside a well.

If she had taken a trouble to explore, maybe she would know other people. Baka rin hindi siya napahamak gaya ng nangyari sa kanya in her old life.

Uncle Shin noticed na natahimik ang dalaga. Lately, he had been observing his niece. Totoong close na ito sa kanya noon pa man. Emy was just like his other daughter. Mas mahinhin at mahiyain nga lang ito kaysa kanila Shantal at Sabrina. But since she woke up from her coma, it felt like she went into drastic change.

There were times na mukhang malalim lagi ang iniisip nito. Bukod pa doon, around everyone, it felt like she was being calculative towards people. Like she was being careful sa pakikisalamuha sa kanila. Maybe because she had amnesia and couldn't remember anything at all. Kahit siya rin naman siguro would feel the need to be careful kung magigising na lang siyang isang araw na hindi makilala ang mga taong nasa paligid niya.

And lastly, she also changed her style. Simpleng simple lang siya noong manamit. Those dresses in her closet only get worn kapag may mahalagang event silang pinupuntahan nila Jonas. But ever since she woke up, she started to dress up herself. Shin couldn't help but to see Ruby, Emy's mother, on her.