Arthur sighed as he looked out into the courtyard, it was market day and villagers moved around in a crowd. From where Arthur sat, it looked like a mess, with farmers with animals, buyers and children moved in all directions. How he would love to run around and look at all of the things for sale, but instead he had to say inside for his own safety.
He heard his door open and close with the shuffle of feet, then like clockwork. The feet them moved to his bed room, opened his wardrobe, closed it and then returned to stop behind him.
'You need to get changed if you want to leave this room.' A voice then said before the feet moved closer before stopping next to him. 'Vi is waiting, she got a few horses for us.'
'Does my uncle know?' Arthur asked, still not drawing his eyes away from the courtyard.
'Of course, even Duet recommended it.' The person said before moving away again, most likely for Arthur's clothes. Arthur finally stood up straight and turned to face his purple haired guard, who held some of the simplest clothes that a prince could possibly own. Arthur allowed a smile to appear on his face before heading for his bedroom to change.
'Thanks Lew.' Arthur said before entering his room. It wasn't a few minutes later that Arthur was changed and running through the castles halls with Lewis right beside him, the two of them made it down to the kitchen. Which was filled with servants and the two Pepper chefs were hard at work. As Arthur passed many would stop to greet him, Arthur would return with a nod as he moved along.
'Hold on you two.' A voice yelled out and one of the Peppers approached with a pack, he handed it to Lewis with a smile. 'For the trip, and make sure that you are back before dark.'
'Of course father.' Lewis promised with a sigh.
'Don't worry Mr Pepper, I am sure that if Vivi and I lose track of time then Lewis will drag us back.' Arthur said with a smile.
'As he should.' Mr Pepper said firmly. 'Now off you two go, I am sure that the little lady wouldn't want to be kept waiting.' The two of them nodded before walking out through a side door that lead outside of the castle walls, once out the two of them headed down to the stables where they found Vivi already sitting on a horse with Mystery next to her.
'Took you two long enough.' She huffed once she spotted the two of them.
'Sorry, Mr Pepper stopped us for a chat.' Arthur apologised before climbing onto his horse, Lewis got onto the last one and tied the pack onto the saddle.
'Oh, is that a packed lunch?' She then asked before ordering her horse closer to Lewis'.
'Yes and you are going to keep your mites off of it before we stop to eat.' Lewis huffed before leading his horse away and headed off towards the castle gate, Arthur followed soon afterwards with Vivi and Mystery right behind. Vivi then took off ahead of them and lead them through the more quiet streets to exit the kingdom through the gate that allowed entry to the kingdom. Once out of the city, the three of them picked up pace and they speed off passed the farms and then into the forest. Once out of site of the city, they slowed down to a trot and continued on.
'Where too, great mage?' Arthur asked with a smile, Vivi rolled her eyes before looking over at him with a smile of her own.
'But great prince, you must lead us. It would be practice for your rule.' Vivi said with a grin, Arthur huffed from his spot.
'Will the wo of you stop teasing one another?' Lewis said before taking the lead.
'Oh really?' Vivi said before looking over at Arthur before the two of them moved to either side of him. 'Well we better stay close to the great knight, isn't that right Arthur?' Arthur nodded with a smile.
'I shouldn't go anywhere without my big strong guard, plus his parents make some of the best meals in the land.' Arthur said as Vivi also nodded to it, before she perked up.
'We are here.' She yelled out before getting her horse to run ahead of them, she headed off to a clearing with a river running through it. She stopped her horse before jumping down and running to the river, Lewis collected Vivi's horse before he and Arthur tied the horses to a low tree branch before joining Vivi. Who was already dripping wet with Mystery playing in the water as well, the two boys got to the water's edge before Vivi jumped out of the water to pull the two of them in. Arthur couldn't help but to yep as he fell into the water and the chilled water seeped into his clothing before it touched his skin. He stood up quickly to take a breath, before Lewis helped him out of the water.
'Vivi, we will need to dry our clothes if you get us soaked.' Lewis pointed out and Vivi only smiled.
'I can always dry us off.' Vivi said proudly.
'Oh no, I am not going to be the target of your magic. Vivi, I support you learning it, but not becoming the target of it.' Arthur said as he started to take off his soaked cloak and laid it out in the sun.
'Oh why not?' Vivi asked as Lewis followed suit and started to take of his own pail purple one before laying it out next to Arthur's yellow one.
'Easy, I have seen you practice on Mystery and he had turned blue for a day.' Arthur explained before laying down in the sun and looked over at Mystery who seemed to nod at what Arthur said.
'Oh poo, fine do it your own way.' Vivi said before stepping out of the water with her arms crossed, Mystery was already drying himself out in the sun as Vivi lifted her hands before muttered a few words as the water floated away from her before she dropped her hands and the water fell to the ground. She smiled and looked over at the three soaked boys.
'So are you guys sure that you don't want me to?' Vivi asked with a grin. Lewis sighed before holding out his arms, Vivi clapped her hands together before rubbing them.
'Just be careful.' Lewis asked as Vivi held out her hands towards Lewis.
'Why, of course.' Vivi said happily before muttering some words and then pulling her hands apart, water left Lewis' clothes and drifted out before dropping onto the ground with the dropping of her hands. Vivi frowned as she looked his clothes over.
'There, most of it should be gone.' Vivi announced before looking over at Arthur. 'See Lewis didn't change colour or anything like that.' Arthur looked Lewis over before sighing.
'True, but I am still not letting you do magic on me.' Arthur said before standing up and heading toward his horse, taking his cloak on the way, Vivi crossed her arms and looked over at Lewis. Lewis simply shrugged before following behind, after a while of pouting Vivi soon followed with Mystery.
The four of them rode in till midday before stopping for lunch in an old abandoned village, they found the centre of it and stopped there.
'So Arthur.' Vivi began as they started to eat. 'Is it true that another message from the South came with a marriage offer?' Arthur froze before looking over at her, he opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Vivi then turned to Lewis and he nodded.
'And you said no again?' Vivi asked Arthur.
'Yes, of course I did.' Arthur then said simply. The three of them fell silent, only Mystery chewed the meat that he was given. 'Uncle isn't forcing me, and I have no desire too.' Arthur then said some time later.
'Good.' Vivi said quietly. 'Duet doesn't talk about that sort of stuff with me, so I have to ask.'
'He is not leaving us Vivi.' Lewis added in before Vivi started to smile, she leaped forward and wrapped her arms around there necks before bringing them into a hug. The two boys smiled as Vivi almost squeezed the life out of them, she released them once she was finished and returned to her seat and her meal.
Mystery watched the three of them eat, at their smiles and he could only feel sadness. How many times has he watched this and seen how it ends. There where times where they life full lives, others where they don't even met one another or Mystery couldn't find them. It was Vivi that he was always drawn to and her magic, but there was always those times where he couldn't find her. Mystery couldn't help but to look over into the forest in thought, then something moved and all thoughts left him and he stood up in attention. A soft growl left him when he smelt a familiar smell that he was always running from, to stay away from. Shiramori. He had to leave Japan thanks to her. Granted he had some fault at her anger towards him, but he never thought that she would chase after him.
Vivi had heard his growl and now kneeled next to him, trying to get his attention.
'Mystery? What's wrong?' She asked, but Mystery had hardly heard her. His attention was on the moving shadow in the tree line, it wasn't in till the movement stopped and the scent dissipated that Mystery turned to her.
'Maybe we should get moving.' Lewis suggested as the other two nodded, his hand never left the hilt of his sword, Vivi scratched Mystery's ears before standing up and followed the other two to their horses.
'Let's head home.'
The sun was only just touching the hills when the four of them where passing through the first set of gates, the guards at their post nodded to Lewis as they passed. The stable hands took the horses off their hands as the three of them entered the castle through the kitchens exit, once inside they were surprised to find the kitchen staff were in full swing.
'Ah the three of you are back.' Lewis mother yelled out from where she was working by a stove, they made their way to her.
'What's going on Mrs Pepper?' Vivi asked once she managed to get threw the other servants.
'It appears that we have a guest tonight, there will be a proper dinner as well with this guest.' Arthur frowned for a moment.
'We weren't expecting anyone.' Arthur mumbled in confusion.
'Rumour is that it's the Southern princess that is always sending messagers.' Mrs Pepper said sadly as Arthur's eyes widened and before he could say something Mrs Pepper spoke again. 'And the king said that you would be joining them for dinner.' Arthur sighed in defeat before making his way through the mass of people that moved around to prepare for dinner, Lewis rubbed his neck before following behind leaving Vivi and Mystery.
'Keep the boys safe.' Mrs Pepper said to Vivi with a sigh, Vivi gave her a smile.
'Of course I will.' She replied before running off with Mystery right behind her.
'I hate this…' Arthur complained as he walked with Lewis to the dining hall, Lewis gave a small smile as he walked by Arthur's side.
'I know, but it's only a dinner.' Lewis replied. 'At least you got some sword practice in before.' Arthur hummed before they got to the door, Lewis opened it for Arthur and he walked through. Lance was already sitting at the table and engaged in a conversation with who was on the other end of the table.
'I am surprised that you came her one your own, not a guard in sight.' Lance was saying before he spotted his nephew entering. 'Ah and here he is, my nephew, Prince Arthur.' Lance interjected as Arthur headed to his seat next to his uncle, on the other side of him was Duet. When Arthur sat down, Lewis took his spot behind Arthur as per normal.
'It is very nice to finally meet you Prince Arthur.' The woman said from the other side of the table, Arthur looked at her once he sat down. She had rather pail skin with long to greenish blue hair.
'Arthur, this is Princess Shira.' Lance said.
'As I have told your messagers. I am not interested in marriage at the moment and most likely for a while.' Arthur said right out as Shira nodded in understanding.
'I see, I just couldn't believe my messagers when they would tell me the same thing over and over again.' Shira said with a slight smile, she then turned her attention on to Lance. 'And I do have guards, they are just sitting out in the forest as I saw no need to bring them into the city. I feel no threat here.' Lance cocked his head at this.
'Very well if that is the way you do things.' Lance said slowly before glancing over at Duet, the door then opened again before Vivi slid in with Mystery. She then quickly made her way around the room and made her way to her spot behind Duet with Mystery next to here. Arthur and Lewis, couldn't help but to see how Mystery was at full attention and wouldn't stop looking at Shira. Vivi also wouldn't stop glancing down at Mystery and then back at the princess in confusion, she and Lewis shared a look of worry.
'And this is Duet's pupil, Vivi.' Lance explained, they all noticed how Shira looked down on Mystery before even glancing at Vivi.
'It is good to see that magic is still practiced here.' Shira commented as she gave Vivi a smile. 'And that young people like you still practice it.'
'May we ask as to why you didn't send someone to ahead to inform us of your arrival?' Duet asked as Lance took a break from speaking. Shira looked surprised by this.
'Didn't one come, I had sent one to arrive a few days prior to my arrival.' Shira explained. 'Perhaps my messager was attacked on the way.' She then added.
'Perhaps.' Duet agreed with a nod.
Dinner had continued on and they all learn somethings about Shira, she was a vegetarian and that she didn't like Mystery. Always referring to him as a mutt.
'I must excuse myself, I have many things to attend too.' Duet then said as he stood from his seat.
'Of course.' Lance said with a nod before Duet left with Vivi and Mystery, Vivi glanced back to Lewis before they left the room. Lewis sighed softly from his spot as he tried to return his attention to the conversation, even Arthur had a hard time to keeping up.
'- I don't really know where the kids found the dog, but he turned up one day and he has kept them safe ever since.' Lance was saying and Shira nodded along.
'You never worried about the fact that it could turn on you?' Shira asked, Lance paused for a bit before looking over at Arthur. Arthur narrowed his eyes at her.
'Mystery has been with us for a while and he has faced down a bear for us, I don't think that he would be leaving us any time soon.' Arthur said in a way that made it clear that he wasn't going to be changing his mind any time soon.
'I see that you are a stubborn man, well never mind that. I was just giving my thoughts on the matter.' Shira said simply with a shrug, Arthur couldn't help but to frown at her.
'Arthur, don't you have a few things to do today?' Lance said and Arthur gave a small nod before standing up.
'I do indeed.' Arthur said simply before leaving the room with Lewis right behind him, once they exited the room Lewis moved to Arthur's side.
'I don't like her.' Arthur commented, Lewis nodded.
'Yea, she had some sort of problem with Mystery. Let's go see what Vivi is doing, maybe she has some sort of an idea.' Lewis suggested and the two of them headed off to the study of Duet's, where Vivi spent a lot of her time.