Italics indicate thinking
Bold is for attacks
Serena's POV
"Kalim I'm tired." I whined "Carry me."
I slumped onto his shoulder like a dead body.
"Not a chance." He shrugged me off making me fall over.
"Boo." I whined "You're no fun."
We walked up to the castle gate and waved to the guard.
"Lady Serena, Sir Kalim." He said letting us in.
"Thank you." Kal said walking in.
"Thank you Samson." I tipped my hat.
"Anything for you Miss." He smiled.
I smiled back to the gate guard as we walked. We had just opened the door to enter the castle when…
"Young Lady!"
Uh oh…
"Mommy!" I smiled.
My mother walked up to me and hugged me.
"How many times do I need to tell you to stop running off without telling anyone. I was so worried."
"I'm 16 Mom." I said "I can take care of myself."
"Still." She said "You need to tell someone where you are."
"Okay…sorry." I said as Mom used her fingers to brush my hair.
"Oh you're back."
"Auntie!" I waved at Kalim's mom.
"Hey Mom." He said.
"How'd it go?" she asked him.
We both got quiet "Is Aunt Hisui around?"
Both our mothers got a concerned look "She's in the throne room."
We headed that way, pushing through the huge ornamental doors. At the back of the shimmering room was Aunt Hisui, sitting on her throne.
"If it isn't my favorite niece and nephew." She smiled.
"Your majesty." Kalim bowed.
"You don't have to bow Kal." She smiled "You two are family."
I saw a little head peak around from the side of the throne. I waved at the little girl and she came running over.
"You're home." The five year old said jumping into my arms.
"You're getting so big Topaz." I said spinning her around.
Topaz is Auntie Hisui's daughter with Lucy. Topaz has dark blonde, almost orange, hair. She's the heir to the throne and spends most of her time hiding behind her mother, the Queen. She's usually dressed up like a princess, in a beautiful golden dress. Topaz is still a little young but it looks like she might not have any magic.
"So how did your mission go Kalim?" Auntie asked.
Kal explained what happened while I held Topaz's arms and we swayed around.
"Will you focus!" he snapped.
We both stuck or tongues at him "NEHHHH!"
"Lighten up Little Brother." I smirked.
"Yeah big brother lighten up!" Topaz giggled.
"A dark guild…" the queen mumbled "How odd…"
"Do you want us to do anything?" I asked.
"Nothing for now." She said "You two can go."
"Come on let's go play." Topaz said skipping outside.
"Slow down." I laughed running after her.
I chased her around my favorite part of the castle, the garden. It was gull of beautiful flowers that Mom planted and took care of. I have my own little section I use to grow my own flowers. Occasionally I would sprout a plant or two to surprise Topaz.
"OOF!" Topaz yelped as she bumped into someone.
"Topaz are you okay?" I asked going over to her.
"You should be more careful Princess." Samson said helping her up.
Samson is a knight, he usually works the gate. He's been working her for about close to a year now. He's 18 and has shaggy brown hair…he's kinda cute…
"Lady Serena your hat is crooked." He said adjusting it.
"Thank you." I blushed.
"Here." He dug around his pocket and tied a ribbon around my hat "Now it looks even better."
"How kind…" I said looking at it.
"I must be getting back to the gate." He said going off.
As soon as he was out of ear shot I heard her.
"You like him~" Topaz snickered.
"I do not!" I yelled back.
I played with the red ribbon he had tied around my top hat while Topaz and I walked back inside.
"Well maybe he likes you?" my little sister smiled.
I didn't respond.
"Are you two gonna start kissing and stuff, cause that's gross." Topaz said.
"Keep it up and I'm telling your Mom, both of them."
"How come you get to go see Mommy all the time?" Topaz asked "I'm just stuck here at the palace, can't you take me with you?"
"I can't just take you." I told her "You have Princess stuff to do."
She sighed "I don't wanna be a princess I wanna be a wizard like you and everyone else"
I smiled and shrugged.
Asuka's POV
We got back to the guild and explained what had happened in the jungle. Master wasn't very happy with what had happened but Mom was just glad we came home safe. I was still thinking about Black Hole
"So Serena went home with Kalim?" Mom said.
"Yeah" Aqua told her "They were going back to Crocus."
"Asuka?" Mom called "Something wrong."
I snapped out of my daze "No I'm fine."
She gave me a look but didn't say anything.
"Speaking of Crocus…" Mom said "Topaz hasn't been by in a while…"
"Maybe you should go visit." Cornelia said.
"I'm going home." I said getting up "I'll see you guys later."
"Bye!" they all said.
I headed back to the house, got home changed into some sweats and laid on my bed…thinking
Why did it have to be them…?
Flashback- 5 years ago
I was sitting in the guild like any other day.
"Hey Asuka let's go on a job." Kate smiled.
Kate was a tall curvy blonde…she is my best friend…and more…
"Yeah okay." I said.
We took a simple job to get rid of a small ground of bandits. Everything was great, we completed the job and we were on the way home…and then…explosions and fire…
Someone had attacked the inn we were staying at. I got out, but Kate…
"Asuka if you don't leave now you'll die to."
She was pinned, under a fallen beam.
"No…I can't."
She wiped my tears away "Please…I don't want you to die to."
Then with the little strength she had left…she pushed me out the door as the floor broke.
"I love you…"
"KATE!"
I later learned that a Dark Guild called Black Hole had attacked the guild to kill some business man staying there…and in the process they killed 4 other innocent people.
End of Flashback
Back in the Present
I was just staring at the ceiling. I could feel a few tears rolling down my cheeks.
I heard the door creek open.
"How you doing?" Mom asked.
Lucy came over and took a seat on my bed.
I held my head and wiped my cheeks off.
"Mom…" I cried into her shoulder "Why?"
"I know…it's hard…" she reassured me "But it's been 5 years Asuka…"
"I miss her…" I sobbed.
"I know…I know…"
Mom let me cry into her shoulder for a while.
"Listen a few of us are going to visit Crocus." She said "Why don't you come and get your mind off things."
I wiped my eyes "O-okay that sounds nice."
"Come on." Mom said "It's time for dinners why don't you go get washed up."
"Okay…I love you Mom."
"I love you to sweetie." She said kissing my forehead.
AN
Thank you for reading. Feedback is appreciated. Feel free to message me any questions or concerns.
Lucy's Kiddie Corner
Today's guest…
Princess Topaz H. Fiore-
Age-5, Mother- Hisui Fiore, Magic-N/A
Topaz is the Princess of the Fiore kingdom. Daughter of Hisui and Lucy. She's playful like any five year old and adores her siblings, especially Kalim and Serena who she spends time with. She's a little shy and tends to keep close to her mother when at public events. The kingdom loves the cute little princess. While still incredibly young Topaz understand that one day she will be expected to rule the kingdom but she would much rather be a mage like her siblings then sit on a throne for the rest of her life. Also she hates Tomatoes.
Next Time- Lucy and a few of her kids take a quick trip to Crocus, but something is lurking in the shadows.
Till Next Time!
