Mosaic City, located along China's coast, is quite large city sometimes called the Crossroads Between Nations due to its diverse population. While it was once a large tourist spot, the city was placed under a blockade as the military appeared claiming there was a radiation leak. The true hazard, however, is much more sinister.
The boy, frustrated, kicked the empty tent further into the alley. It was a cheap piece of crap anyway, something that was bought on a whim. This garbage fulfilled its purpose as a home. Now, there is nothing left in store for it than to decay in a dark alleyway for the rest of its fictitious life. White became brown as its purity was corrupted by the dark waters within the cranny.
The boy abandoned the tent to its death, jogging the opposite direction from it with a fairly large backpack strapped behind him. He felt little motivation to actually look like he was rushing until he made it within distance of the park again. Hao examined his surroundings as he moved, amused by the ignorance of the people. Outside of the borders was a giant threat that, if they were able to, could smother the entire city and choke it with its own entrails. When peril washes over the masses, the worst of their nature takes over. They'll be animals let loose upon each other!
Finally a block away from the Park, the Shadow began to rush as he planned. While carrying this bag the size of twice the width of his torso, he ran as fast as he could back to Isolde. He stopped a few feet away from her, immediately letting down the bag and panting. "Sorry for... *huff*... being late. I couldn't find what I was... *pant* ...looking for." Hao looked up to her with a wide and happy grin prior to kneeling over to 'rest'.
Patience would have to do in this case. He should have rushed a little less, maybe killed one or two more wanderers on his way back. A nice stroll around Mosaic would be worth doing if he had to wait till the 'evening', which is the time that they would leave according to Isolde. While not taking into account the number of times he snuck into someone's house and rested there, this stay would mark the first time he enters a home with real permission. Warmth, affection, and a good amount of TLC awaited beyond whatever kind of doors separated the outside from the inside.
"Okay."
The happier-looking boy spent a few more seconds kneeling and panting, standing up and grabbing his bag after this short length of time. He set it next to where he would sit next to Isolde, snuggling in between the inanimate and the animate. Hao planted his feet on the edge of the bench and hugged his legs close to his body. Those two eyes of his scanned the people still present in the park. The melancholy atmosphere of the outskirts and the borders had not reached this part of the city, though for what reason? These weak humans would be quickly overrun by the Shadows beyond. What powerful entity would create this shield to protect people like this eighteen year-old student?
"Hey, Miss Isolde? Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?" The boy turned to his caretaker, internally taking into account her tendency to read books in the park without friends or company. Students were usually more social, he gathered. They also stunk of vanity and ignorance, while she was different in a unknowably slight sense. Playing off the innocent child role, he continued: "Are you a fairytale princess?"
"Well, I have an older brother and a younger sister. I used to be close to her until that one incident where I had hurt her by accident and I distanced myself from her since I was afraid that I would hurt her again. My hobbies include fencing and cooking. I guess I do occasionally play chess as well." she responded to the little boy's question. Well, he was certainly curious about her and it was to be expected. The incident had happened ten years ago was never forgotten even if it was such a long time ago. It was certain that the little boy would probably ask about what happened, so there was a need to keep it a secret for a while until things died down. However, there was one question that seemed like he wanted to know something about her. She wasn't sure how to respond, but there was something that compelled her to. She responded, "I am one, but not in a fairy tale sense. In truth, I was born into the imperial family and I had to keep my identity hidden from those who wish to cause harm to my family."
That was impossible...! His childish question actually produced a result that didn't resemble 'oh, stop it you adorable little boy'?! The excitement level just rose up to the highest-possible level. It could be a lie, and the chances of that being the case were high. Even if it was, it exposed multiple exploitable vulnerabilities. The approach was become more and more clearer in his head. Breaking her was going to be incredibly easy. Grinning wouldn't be appropriate as she told her story, though, so he must let her continue.
Hao's eyes opened wide, his body scooched even closer to Isolde. "Then... what landed you over here in the city? Royal visits are usually announced, right? How'd you get stuck? Don't your people miss you?" His eyes never left the blue-haired girl, tracking even the slightest movement. Hao was entirely focused on her now, waiting to analyze every bit of her being as she described her plight... or not. Everything would benefit his cause. Anything she said or neglected to say can and could be used against her.
It was sort of like an interrogation, yet it wasn't. It's not like he was forcing her at knife-point to spill the beans.
"Alright. So, what you want to do after getting out of this city is to try and reclaim the throne? You sound less like a princess and more like a prince now." It was the prince or some nondescript noble knight that rode to take down the tyrant. When she spoke of returning and she described getting kicked off the throne by her male senior citizen unit the way she did, everything lined up like a lincoln log house. That was all that he needed to ask of her to truly get to know her. A little part of him still didn't believe her story, but now he had to accept it. It would be rude to insult his host. Little boys are nicer than that.
Hao yawned loudly, attempting to rest his head on her side. Truthfully, he was tired. A meal was had and a delicious serving of dessert at the end was carefully taken apart and enjoyed to the fullest extent. "Mmmm..." His eyes began to droop. The basic needs of a child took the wheel. Even though he was a Shadow, his form relegated him to ultimately being a young boy. Sleep was a healthy habit.
"...I hope you take back the crown, miss Isolde..."
Hao's voice slurred into a mish-mash of words that barely resembled that statement. He loathed its stupidity, but acceptance was shoved into his picky emotional appetite.
"Well, it is true that I act much like a prince since I take a more active role than most stereotypical princesses. Although, I still have my proper demeanor to make up for it." she responded with a smile. Some of her friends might judge her for it, but she didn't mind at all. She had been planning to get out of the city first before she did anything, but she was afraid that most of the citizens in the city were stuck there for another reason. The Full Moon Shadows were also getting stronger, but they had higher-level users to take care of that. And there were Persona Users that turned into Shadows, though she knew of one person that she cared for as a friend. She noticed that the boy was getting sleepy, so she allowed him to rest his head. He had said something that was nearly unintelligible, but she heard it. She responded quietly, "I hope so too...after the conflict is over." She thought back to when she first made friends with a few people and how their lives were completely different. The conflict was going to draw to a close pretty soon.