Chapter 7

Nel walked towards Clair's mansion, and many things rushed through her head. Why is it that now, poisonous porcupines are appearing? And when she got attacked by it, she didn't move. Why? Because….

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Flashback

Nel walked in her room, (In Clair's mansion), looking for something. She was looking for the symbol of her parents. The only symbol for her parents memories.

"What are you looking for, Nel? Can I help?" Said Clair, the same age as Nel that time.

"Clair, have you seen my rings? I thought I kept it on my table, but I can't find it." Nel asked Clair, worried.

Clair didn't want Nel to be sad or upset. She knew how it felt to lose a mother, but losing both her mother and father? It's very, very sad.

"I'll help you, Nel. We'll find it, that's for sure." Clair said, smiling at her friend reassuringly.

"Thanks, Clair. I owe you." Nel said, happy.

They looked for countless hours. Still, no luck. But they never gave up. They continued searching, also after lunch.

"Nel, what do you think we do after we find your rings?" Clair asked.

"I don't know. Do you want to play?" Asked Nel.

"Sure. But before that, I think I would want a drink." Clair said.

They both kept looking for the ring. Then Nel said, "Clair, I think I lost it. I don't think we can find it."

"Don't give up, Nel! I'm sure it's somewhere here. I know we can find it!" Clair said.

"Your right! Let's search." Nel said, and she continued to search.

After 1 hour…

They were exhausted. They searched everywhere.

"Nel, I'm tired. Can we get a drink?" Clair asked.

"Yeah, okay." Nel said.

Clair got out to get a drink first, leaving Nel to think. Where did I put it? How can I lose it?

"Nel! Drink!" Clair shouted out.

"OK!" She shouted back, leaving her thoughts for a while.

In the dining room…

"Clair, I think I really did lose it. But you know, I think it's ok. As long as they are in my heart, I'll be fine." Nel said, smiling at Clair. Nel took a sip of her drink.

"But Nel…are you sure?" Clair asked.

"Yeah. I'm sure, Clair. I'll be fine." Nel said. She finished her drink. "Let's go and play!" She said, smiling.

"OK!" Clair said, and the two of them ran out of the house.

And so they played. But Nel wasn't really okay, she realized after they went back home.

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Nel arrived at Clair's mansion. She went in, Albel following behind.

"Clair!" Nel shouted out. She went to the conference room, and saw Clair bending over, looking at something. Nel went closer, and saw Clair bending over a small shelf, looking behind.

"Uh…what are you doing, Clair?" Nel asked, amused.

"Nel! Look what I've found! I think it's your rings!" Clair said, happily.

My rings… "What! You found it! In here!" Nel shouted.

"Yes! In here! We finally found it!" Clair said happily.

Nel picked up the rings, which were held by a chain, making it a necklace.

Nel was really happy. She finally found it. She held in tears of joy.

Nel clutched it tightly in her hand, as if fearing that if she let it go, it will be lost again.

Albel watched everything, and wondered, what are those rings? Why were they so important? They are just rings…

"Well, if it isn't Albel? Nice to see you again…I guess." Clair said, smiling.

"Whatever." Albel said, as he went to lean in the wall.

"Clair," Nel said, seriously, "how is the situation now?" She asked, and sat down on the chair.

Clair too, sat down on a chair. "Not any better. We better hurry before everything is lost. I'm sure, we will find everything, like we found your rings." Clair said, her face serious, but smiling at the same time.

"Yes, you're right." Nel said, with the same expression as Clair's.

"So, I see Albel is the assistance that we have from Airyglyph. Very well, Nel, you have to go to Aquaria, as the queen needs to have a word with you." Clair said.

"Alright. Can we stay here, for tonight?" Nel asked. She didn't want Albel to stay in the mansion, but she did feel bad to leave him like that.

"Sure. We always have room for you." Clair said, smiling. "Dinner will be served later, so you can go prepare and do whatever you want meantime." Clair said.

"Alright. Thanks for everything." Nel said.

"No problem." Clair said, as she watched the Nel and Albel walk out. Then something hit her. They look kind of cute together…I can't believe I said that. Nel would kill me if I told her.

Nel went to have a rest in her room, but Albel decided to walk around the village. He wasn't paying attention to a thing Nel and Clair discussed, so he might as well ask Nel later.

The reason he didn't listen to Nel and Clair's discussion is because he had…another reminiscence of the past.

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Flashback

"Son, I need to ask of you this; if you were to die, how would you feel?" Glou asked his son.

Albel thought for a moment. "Well…I would feel happy and sad, I think." He answered.

"Why is that?" Glou asked, surprised t his son's answer.

"Because I would be with mother again, but I wouldn't be with you, father." Albel said.

"I see. Well, would you stay alive, or die?" Glou asked.

"I don't know, father. But why are you asking me these questions?" Albel asked his father, confused.

Glou just smiled. "Nothing, son." He continued smiling, but inside, his heart was confused and sad. He would not want his son to die. He just couldn't let it happen.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Said Glou.

Woltar came in. "The day is decided. It will be on…….

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That was when he started thinking why his father asked him that question. That was the day when he started having his horrible life. Or maybe his life was horrible to begin with.

'Tch'. "Fool." He muttered. "Then again, I'm a fool too." He said, to himself.

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Nel frowned. She just woke up from her sleep, because she had an awful headache. "Why now? Why when I'm having a nice sleep?"

She sighed. Why is it that nowadays she's always having some kind of illness? Headaches, faintness, blah…

It's just irritating, like Albel. He's irritating. Sometimes she wished she never knew him. But then again, it is something good that she did meet him. Or else she would have never found a nice feeling about him. Love, of course.

She decided to go down to get some medicine or something that would help get rid of her headache. At least, maybe it might be for now….

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Clair knew that Nel loved Albel. Nel told her, and she knew by looking at Nel was looking at Albel. It was too obvious. And she bet everybody in this mansion knew about it. Even if no one told them.

Just at the right time, she saw Nel walking towards her. And she was frowning. Something's wrong with her. "What's wrong, Nel?" Said Clair, worried.

"I just have a headache. Is there anything that would help get rid of it?" Nel asked.

"Yeah, of course." Clair said as she looked in her small backpack. She soon took out a type of herb.

"Here. This helps." Clair said, as she gave Nel the herb.

Nel ate it and felt much better. Her headache soon disappeared. "Thanks." She said, smiling.

"No problem." Clair said. "Oh yeah, you know, even if you didn't tell me that you loved Albel, it would have still been obvious."

Nel started to blush from pink. "W-Well, he doesn't seem to notice it, right? So everything's…um…fine?" She said, shyly.

"But Nel, maybe almost everyone here knows your little thing for 'Albel the wicked'! What do you think you're going to say to them when they ask?" Clair said, smiling victoriously.

From pink to red. "I won't say the truth. I wouldn't say the truth." Said Nel.

"And what if someone tells this to the queen? What will you say when she asks you?" Clair said.

"Um…well…then I'll have to say the truth, but as long as that stupid Lasselle doesn't hear it, everything's fine." Nel said.

"Suit yourself. Oh, and another question. What if there was an arranged marriage between you two?" Clair said, laughing giddily. (Does she ever do that?)

"Um…I don't know, maybe if that day comes, I'll think about it. But when it's an arranged marriage, I can't do anything, can I?" Said Nel, the blush still visible.

"Hm…you maybe right. Oh well, I hope that say comes." Clair said, laughing.

"CLAIR!" Nel shouted out, making Clair laugh more.

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Author's notes : Phew…I don't think I can write any longer. And this chapter is so weird, I think. Oh well, please review!