"Sakura . Sakura!"
Kero felt a soft hand holding his paw. "Don't worry, Kero. I'm right here."
Cautiously, Kero opened his eyes. Sakura sighed with relief seeing him awake. Kero smiled meekly. "I see. And a lot bigger, too."
Sakura laughed, nodding. "Meilin used a potion to help you relax while she was applying the healing spells. You were in such a deep sleep, you reverted back to your borrowed form."
"Meilin?" Kero repeated.
Sakura leaned to one side, giving Kero full view of the black-haired girl laying asleep against the tree.
"Meilin used a lot to heal that wound of yours," A voice said.
The two turned around, one smiling at the arrival of the young man while the other eyed the newcomer warily.
"This is Li," Sakura explained. "He's a good friend of Meilin's. Actually, he's the boy I was with years ago that one time I was late for class."
Kero snorted. "That doesn't help. I couldn't begin to name how many times you've been late for class!"
Zia rolled her eyes, glancing at Li. Her expression was a tiring one, as if she were saying, 'He's back to his old self, alright.'
Sakura giggled nervously. "Kero!"
Ignoring her, Kero narrowed his eyes at Li. After a few moments, he snorted unpleasantly. "I remember you, now. If I'm not mistaken, you were the one who dared to call the Princess of Falyndor a spoiled purebred!"
Before an argument could erupt, Sakura quickly turned to the Kreetal. "Hey Zia, why do you go show Kero where that bag of fruit was. He's gonna need food to build up his strength."
Nodding obligingly, Zia flew to his side, and in a flash, they both vanished, the residue from the smoke settling on the grass.
Li hid his smile of surprise. "You almost sound like I did this morning."
Sakura glanced at him, eyes sparkling. "And the food obviously worked, didn't it?"
"Guess so."
Leaning down, Sakura proceeded to clear the remaining ingredients used in Meilin's potions. Li watched, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He involuntarily rubbed the back of his neck, clearing his throat restlessly. "Um . P-princess?"
Dusting her hands, she stood up, smiling at him brightly. "Please, don't bother calling me 'Princess.' I hate that. Just Sakura."
"Oh, uh . Sakura . um ."
Sakura cocked her head to one side, observing him curiously as he rambled on. "Yes?"
"Uh . I just wanted to say sorry."
"Sorry?"
"Uh, yeah. For the whole. purebred thing."
Sakura smiled, looking at him slyly. "A little late for that, isn't it?"
Not sure of what to say, Li looked down at the ground, carefully studying the wrinkles in his leather boots. Sakura blinked, clearly not expecting such a sensitive side to what seemed like an unemotional person. Gently, she placed her hand on his shoulder. Slowly, his gaze drifted upward to meet hers. "Li, I've already forgiven you. long before today. Don't worry about it, okay?"
Li hardly heard a word she said. So lost was he in her sparkling emerald green eyes he merely nodded, staring mindlessly. Reaffirming it with a nod of her own, she removed her hand and returned to her cleaning.
"Good."
Suddenly, Zia appeared between the two, facing Sakura. Li barely managed to contain his annoyance at the interruption as he growled, "Aren't you supposed to be with that guardian?"
Ignoring his remark, Zia chirped at Sakura. Her head tilted slightly to one side as she listened. Briefly, she glanced up at Li. "Zia said Kero wants to talk."
"What about?"
Again, Sakura's attention reverted to the Kreetal who continued to repeat the message. During the conversation, Zia said something that made Sakura gasp. Her face paled instantly as she stared at her friend.
"Sakura?" Li questioned. "What is it?"
"M-my father," she stuttered.
"The King?"
Speechless, she nodded, still staring blankly at Zia. The Kreetal stopped its chattering, flying to Sakura's shoulder and rubbing her tiny head affectionately against the princess's cheek. Sakura sighed, just now realizing she had been holding her breath.
"We have to get back to Kero," she said quietly, voice trembling.
Nodding in silent agreement, Li glanced back at the sleeping form of the healer. "Do you think you can keep an eye on her?" he asked the Kreetal.
Looking over his head to where Meilin lay, Zia chirped affirmation, leaping off Sakura's shoulder and gliding to a low branch over where she sat. Smiling gratefully at her friend, Sakura glanced at Li before heading towards Kero sat waiting, the young man directly behind her.
The cores of three fruits lay beside the small guardian when Sakura and Li found him. His smile upon seeing the princess instantly disappeared as Li walked in right behind her. Recognizing the scowl all too well, Sakura looked sternly at Kero. "Don't you dare say a word! Li has as much of a right to hear whatever you have to say as I do."
Snorting, Kero crossed his arms, muttering something under his breath. Finding reassurance in Li's brief glance, Sakura seated herself on the moss beside Kero, controlling the tears threatening to run down her cheeks. "Kero? What happened to my father?"
Kero looked at the princess, concern filling his heart. Sighing, he made himself comfortable, refusing to look Sakura in the eyes, fearing his expression may betray the anxiety he sought to hide from her. Li stayed standing, leaning against the base of a tree, arms crossed as he watched Sakura and the guardian. Several moments of silence passed before Sakura whispered, "Kero?"
Giving himself up to another sigh, he looked up slowly as he began. "I don't exactly know that much about it. King Aiden never really told me that much about it. He said it was to kept a secret, especially from you, but-"
"Keep what a secret from me? The cloud?"
Kero shook his head. "I'm afraid it's much more than a mere cloud. It's the essence of a very powerful being called Kain."
"Kain?"
"Yes. See, long ago there used to be a very powerful sorcerer who assisted the King's father in protecting the land. They were great friends and together, the kingdom lived prosperously.
"The sorcerer would often teach your father magic, among other students. He was an efficient learner and a diligent worker. However, he wasn't the only one who was such a success at the art of magic."
Sakura frowned, assuming she understood what he meant. "Kain was a student, too?"
Kero nodded as he continued. "Yes. Kain was also proficient, though for much different reasons than to merely keep the kingdom safe, as the King did. Kain had long sought the power that the sorcerer had. However, once all that was needed was learned, Kain vanished. No one, at the time, thought anything of it."
Li sensed a tone of regret in Kero's voice as he spoke.
"So time had passed, and your father had come into rule. You were merely five years old when Kain returned."
Though she had meant to remain calm, Sakura couldn't help gasping as a sudden thought ran across her mind. "I was five when my mother died!"
Kero looked up at her, surprised. "Yes. That's true. Queen Natasha died of illness the year Kain had attacked the kingdom, although I'm not sure of any similarities between the two incidents."
Sakura, her face pale, stared at the guardian blankly. Weakly, she begged him to continue.
"A storm cloud identical to the one over the kingdom now had appeared in the sky that day, Kain emerging from it at the steps of the palace. I was instructed to watch over you and young Prince Tori during the invasion, so I'm only repeating information given to me. From what I understand, your father and Kain had had proceeded with a duel, a duel of magic. Your father studied under the same sorcerer as his predecessor, as did myself and Professor Julian."
Still pale, Sakura said, "Your borrowed forms. both yours and the professor's. they were bestowed upon you by this sorcerer?"
"Yes. He was a good man. He never expected Kain to actually be demon in human form, nor to use the magic he himself taught in such a wicked way."
"A demon?"
"Yes. Of the worst kind, may I add. See, all demons posses a form that is very similar to humans- not unlike my current form. Born with limited power, as well as this alternate form, Kain somehow managed to conceal all traces of this aspect from the sorcerer."
"Didn't the sorcerer come to my father's assistance during the duel?"
Kero shook his head sadly. "No one knew why. Whether some former argument had arisen between your father and him, I don't know."
"I assume the duel resulted in my father's victory?"
"Yes. Kain had been stripped of all power and banished to the far western islands upon a former pirate ship called the Ebony. To ensure Kain would never return, all the magicians and sorcerers of Falyndor, save my master, joined efforts in creating a barrier that would not allow the demon to pass through into the continent."
"But I don't understand. How can Kain be back?"
Kero shrugged. "Your guess would be as good as mine, Princess. All demons have the ability to absorb the power of other life forms, so it is assumed that must be the only method we know of that could have aided Kain's breach of the barrier."
"And so my father and Tori are fighting that Kain right now."
Kero sighed. "Unfortunately, no."
"Unfortunately?"
"During the demon's absence, Kain had managed to arrange a group of supporters. They are the one the royal army is defending against as we speak and the cause behind the wound you saw me with earlier. Kain will choose a time to attack the King directly that fits best to whatever plan that demon may have schemed."
Her mind whirling, Sakura stood up, trembling with fear. "But, my father isn't as young or as strong as he was twelve years ago! Even with my brother's help, he couldn't possibly hope to defeat Kain!"
"King Aiden is aware of this, which is why he asked me to take you and your brother away from the palace."
"But that's ridiculous! I mean, I can help just as much as Tori! Why wouldn't he let me help?"
"Princess, the reason he wanted you away from the Kingdom is to protect you! He doesn't want anything to happen to either you or Prince Tori, although your brother seems to fail to understand that concept," he added sourly.
Sakura said nothing. She simply stood, trembling violently, staring blankly at the ground.
"Princess?" Kero said, cautiously.
"Kero, go check on Meilin," she commanded emotionlessly.
"But Princess, isn't the Kreetal with-"
"Just go!"
Stunned at the request, Kero leapt into the air, floating slowly towards where Meilin and Zia were left. As he did, he passed Li, who had remained silent and motionless during the entire story. He glared at the young man, who did nothing to acknowledge the action. Snorting, Kero stole one last glance at Sakura before leaving.
Sakura hardly noticed the guardian's departure. Too shocked was she by the prospect of her father in danger that she stared mindlessly at the ground, unable to keep her body from quivering.
Lifting himself from his position against the tree, Li walked slowly towards the princess.
"Sakura? Are you gonna be okay?" he asked softly.
Sakura pulled her head up abruptly, turning swiftly to look at Li. He stopped.
Never had he seen such an expression on anyone, much less the usually cheery princess. Her face was colorless, her eyes wide with fear. To see such a look on what used to be such a lovely face pained Li in a way he never knew possible.
"Sakura?"
Fear was exchanged for sadness as tears began flowing down her face. "I have to help him. I have to help my father."
Suddenly, Li found himself involuntarily striding forward, grabbing Sakura's shoulders and shaking her vigorously. "Don't you dare, you idiot! You heard Kero! Kain's dangerous!" he said angrily.
Sakura struggled to release herself from his grasp. "I don't care! I have to help him! Let me go!"
"I'm not letting you go!"
With more strength than Li assumed she possessed, Sakura pushed him away, succeeding in freeing one of her arms. Twisting her other arm gently yet forcefully, Li made her look at him, despite the teary glare she gave him in return.
"Sakura, listen to me. Your father, he loved your mother a lot, didn't he?"
Unable to move without injuring her arm, she replied angrily, "Of course he did! He loved her more than anything!"
"How did he feel when she died?"
Reminded of her father's agony, Sakura's intense glare subsided. "Her death nearly killed him."
"Nearly, but it didn't. Then probably the only reason he stayed alive was for you and your brother."
Sakura stared at him, not wanting to believe what she knew he was implying. Knowing she would not run, Li released her arm. "If anything were to happen to you, what makes you think he would have the will to stay alive this time?"
She opened her mouth to say something, but then decided against it. Li continued.
"You say you don't care if anything happens you? Well, that may be true, but what about everyone else that cares about you? You think that they would just forget you and go on with their lives? I can tell you this, I'm willing to bet my life that your father would never be able to live with himself know that both you and your mother were gone. and would never come back."
"So what am I supposed to do, then?" Sakura whispered dejectedly, signs of weariness clearly being displayed. "Are you saying I just leave my father to his death?"
Li shook his head, eyes never leaving Sakura's. "No. What I'm saying is you can't rush headfirst into this mess, expecting to save your father with any success. Such a foolish action isn't the only option you have."
Sakura stared at him, her brows furrowed together in thought.
Now, growing up with foolish girls such as Meilin and his sisters, Li didn't actually expect her to understand what he was implying. He simply paused to let the thought sink in, preparing to explain his idea anyway. However, to his great surprise, her eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at him, excitement ringing in her voice.
"The sorcerer! The one that taught my father and Kain! He can help!"
Li was stunned into silence, clearly shocked. Sakura, not noticing this, continued, the thrill of the idea obvious in her tone. "That sorcerer taught both my father and Kain, right? He's the only one who could defeat that demon! If not, then surely he would know of some weakness or something. Or maybe he has something we can use ourselves!"
His admiration of the princess doubling, Li nodded, unable to resist grinning at her almost childish excitement.
"We have to tell Kero!" she exclaimed. "He'll know where the sorcerer lives!"
Kero felt a soft hand holding his paw. "Don't worry, Kero. I'm right here."
Cautiously, Kero opened his eyes. Sakura sighed with relief seeing him awake. Kero smiled meekly. "I see. And a lot bigger, too."
Sakura laughed, nodding. "Meilin used a potion to help you relax while she was applying the healing spells. You were in such a deep sleep, you reverted back to your borrowed form."
"Meilin?" Kero repeated.
Sakura leaned to one side, giving Kero full view of the black-haired girl laying asleep against the tree.
"Meilin used a lot to heal that wound of yours," A voice said.
The two turned around, one smiling at the arrival of the young man while the other eyed the newcomer warily.
"This is Li," Sakura explained. "He's a good friend of Meilin's. Actually, he's the boy I was with years ago that one time I was late for class."
Kero snorted. "That doesn't help. I couldn't begin to name how many times you've been late for class!"
Zia rolled her eyes, glancing at Li. Her expression was a tiring one, as if she were saying, 'He's back to his old self, alright.'
Sakura giggled nervously. "Kero!"
Ignoring her, Kero narrowed his eyes at Li. After a few moments, he snorted unpleasantly. "I remember you, now. If I'm not mistaken, you were the one who dared to call the Princess of Falyndor a spoiled purebred!"
Before an argument could erupt, Sakura quickly turned to the Kreetal. "Hey Zia, why do you go show Kero where that bag of fruit was. He's gonna need food to build up his strength."
Nodding obligingly, Zia flew to his side, and in a flash, they both vanished, the residue from the smoke settling on the grass.
Li hid his smile of surprise. "You almost sound like I did this morning."
Sakura glanced at him, eyes sparkling. "And the food obviously worked, didn't it?"
"Guess so."
Leaning down, Sakura proceeded to clear the remaining ingredients used in Meilin's potions. Li watched, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He involuntarily rubbed the back of his neck, clearing his throat restlessly. "Um . P-princess?"
Dusting her hands, she stood up, smiling at him brightly. "Please, don't bother calling me 'Princess.' I hate that. Just Sakura."
"Oh, uh . Sakura . um ."
Sakura cocked her head to one side, observing him curiously as he rambled on. "Yes?"
"Uh . I just wanted to say sorry."
"Sorry?"
"Uh, yeah. For the whole. purebred thing."
Sakura smiled, looking at him slyly. "A little late for that, isn't it?"
Not sure of what to say, Li looked down at the ground, carefully studying the wrinkles in his leather boots. Sakura blinked, clearly not expecting such a sensitive side to what seemed like an unemotional person. Gently, she placed her hand on his shoulder. Slowly, his gaze drifted upward to meet hers. "Li, I've already forgiven you. long before today. Don't worry about it, okay?"
Li hardly heard a word she said. So lost was he in her sparkling emerald green eyes he merely nodded, staring mindlessly. Reaffirming it with a nod of her own, she removed her hand and returned to her cleaning.
"Good."
Suddenly, Zia appeared between the two, facing Sakura. Li barely managed to contain his annoyance at the interruption as he growled, "Aren't you supposed to be with that guardian?"
Ignoring his remark, Zia chirped at Sakura. Her head tilted slightly to one side as she listened. Briefly, she glanced up at Li. "Zia said Kero wants to talk."
"What about?"
Again, Sakura's attention reverted to the Kreetal who continued to repeat the message. During the conversation, Zia said something that made Sakura gasp. Her face paled instantly as she stared at her friend.
"Sakura?" Li questioned. "What is it?"
"M-my father," she stuttered.
"The King?"
Speechless, she nodded, still staring blankly at Zia. The Kreetal stopped its chattering, flying to Sakura's shoulder and rubbing her tiny head affectionately against the princess's cheek. Sakura sighed, just now realizing she had been holding her breath.
"We have to get back to Kero," she said quietly, voice trembling.
Nodding in silent agreement, Li glanced back at the sleeping form of the healer. "Do you think you can keep an eye on her?" he asked the Kreetal.
Looking over his head to where Meilin lay, Zia chirped affirmation, leaping off Sakura's shoulder and gliding to a low branch over where she sat. Smiling gratefully at her friend, Sakura glanced at Li before heading towards Kero sat waiting, the young man directly behind her.
The cores of three fruits lay beside the small guardian when Sakura and Li found him. His smile upon seeing the princess instantly disappeared as Li walked in right behind her. Recognizing the scowl all too well, Sakura looked sternly at Kero. "Don't you dare say a word! Li has as much of a right to hear whatever you have to say as I do."
Snorting, Kero crossed his arms, muttering something under his breath. Finding reassurance in Li's brief glance, Sakura seated herself on the moss beside Kero, controlling the tears threatening to run down her cheeks. "Kero? What happened to my father?"
Kero looked at the princess, concern filling his heart. Sighing, he made himself comfortable, refusing to look Sakura in the eyes, fearing his expression may betray the anxiety he sought to hide from her. Li stayed standing, leaning against the base of a tree, arms crossed as he watched Sakura and the guardian. Several moments of silence passed before Sakura whispered, "Kero?"
Giving himself up to another sigh, he looked up slowly as he began. "I don't exactly know that much about it. King Aiden never really told me that much about it. He said it was to kept a secret, especially from you, but-"
"Keep what a secret from me? The cloud?"
Kero shook his head. "I'm afraid it's much more than a mere cloud. It's the essence of a very powerful being called Kain."
"Kain?"
"Yes. See, long ago there used to be a very powerful sorcerer who assisted the King's father in protecting the land. They were great friends and together, the kingdom lived prosperously.
"The sorcerer would often teach your father magic, among other students. He was an efficient learner and a diligent worker. However, he wasn't the only one who was such a success at the art of magic."
Sakura frowned, assuming she understood what he meant. "Kain was a student, too?"
Kero nodded as he continued. "Yes. Kain was also proficient, though for much different reasons than to merely keep the kingdom safe, as the King did. Kain had long sought the power that the sorcerer had. However, once all that was needed was learned, Kain vanished. No one, at the time, thought anything of it."
Li sensed a tone of regret in Kero's voice as he spoke.
"So time had passed, and your father had come into rule. You were merely five years old when Kain returned."
Though she had meant to remain calm, Sakura couldn't help gasping as a sudden thought ran across her mind. "I was five when my mother died!"
Kero looked up at her, surprised. "Yes. That's true. Queen Natasha died of illness the year Kain had attacked the kingdom, although I'm not sure of any similarities between the two incidents."
Sakura, her face pale, stared at the guardian blankly. Weakly, she begged him to continue.
"A storm cloud identical to the one over the kingdom now had appeared in the sky that day, Kain emerging from it at the steps of the palace. I was instructed to watch over you and young Prince Tori during the invasion, so I'm only repeating information given to me. From what I understand, your father and Kain had had proceeded with a duel, a duel of magic. Your father studied under the same sorcerer as his predecessor, as did myself and Professor Julian."
Still pale, Sakura said, "Your borrowed forms. both yours and the professor's. they were bestowed upon you by this sorcerer?"
"Yes. He was a good man. He never expected Kain to actually be demon in human form, nor to use the magic he himself taught in such a wicked way."
"A demon?"
"Yes. Of the worst kind, may I add. See, all demons posses a form that is very similar to humans- not unlike my current form. Born with limited power, as well as this alternate form, Kain somehow managed to conceal all traces of this aspect from the sorcerer."
"Didn't the sorcerer come to my father's assistance during the duel?"
Kero shook his head sadly. "No one knew why. Whether some former argument had arisen between your father and him, I don't know."
"I assume the duel resulted in my father's victory?"
"Yes. Kain had been stripped of all power and banished to the far western islands upon a former pirate ship called the Ebony. To ensure Kain would never return, all the magicians and sorcerers of Falyndor, save my master, joined efforts in creating a barrier that would not allow the demon to pass through into the continent."
"But I don't understand. How can Kain be back?"
Kero shrugged. "Your guess would be as good as mine, Princess. All demons have the ability to absorb the power of other life forms, so it is assumed that must be the only method we know of that could have aided Kain's breach of the barrier."
"And so my father and Tori are fighting that Kain right now."
Kero sighed. "Unfortunately, no."
"Unfortunately?"
"During the demon's absence, Kain had managed to arrange a group of supporters. They are the one the royal army is defending against as we speak and the cause behind the wound you saw me with earlier. Kain will choose a time to attack the King directly that fits best to whatever plan that demon may have schemed."
Her mind whirling, Sakura stood up, trembling with fear. "But, my father isn't as young or as strong as he was twelve years ago! Even with my brother's help, he couldn't possibly hope to defeat Kain!"
"King Aiden is aware of this, which is why he asked me to take you and your brother away from the palace."
"But that's ridiculous! I mean, I can help just as much as Tori! Why wouldn't he let me help?"
"Princess, the reason he wanted you away from the Kingdom is to protect you! He doesn't want anything to happen to either you or Prince Tori, although your brother seems to fail to understand that concept," he added sourly.
Sakura said nothing. She simply stood, trembling violently, staring blankly at the ground.
"Princess?" Kero said, cautiously.
"Kero, go check on Meilin," she commanded emotionlessly.
"But Princess, isn't the Kreetal with-"
"Just go!"
Stunned at the request, Kero leapt into the air, floating slowly towards where Meilin and Zia were left. As he did, he passed Li, who had remained silent and motionless during the entire story. He glared at the young man, who did nothing to acknowledge the action. Snorting, Kero stole one last glance at Sakura before leaving.
Sakura hardly noticed the guardian's departure. Too shocked was she by the prospect of her father in danger that she stared mindlessly at the ground, unable to keep her body from quivering.
Lifting himself from his position against the tree, Li walked slowly towards the princess.
"Sakura? Are you gonna be okay?" he asked softly.
Sakura pulled her head up abruptly, turning swiftly to look at Li. He stopped.
Never had he seen such an expression on anyone, much less the usually cheery princess. Her face was colorless, her eyes wide with fear. To see such a look on what used to be such a lovely face pained Li in a way he never knew possible.
"Sakura?"
Fear was exchanged for sadness as tears began flowing down her face. "I have to help him. I have to help my father."
Suddenly, Li found himself involuntarily striding forward, grabbing Sakura's shoulders and shaking her vigorously. "Don't you dare, you idiot! You heard Kero! Kain's dangerous!" he said angrily.
Sakura struggled to release herself from his grasp. "I don't care! I have to help him! Let me go!"
"I'm not letting you go!"
With more strength than Li assumed she possessed, Sakura pushed him away, succeeding in freeing one of her arms. Twisting her other arm gently yet forcefully, Li made her look at him, despite the teary glare she gave him in return.
"Sakura, listen to me. Your father, he loved your mother a lot, didn't he?"
Unable to move without injuring her arm, she replied angrily, "Of course he did! He loved her more than anything!"
"How did he feel when she died?"
Reminded of her father's agony, Sakura's intense glare subsided. "Her death nearly killed him."
"Nearly, but it didn't. Then probably the only reason he stayed alive was for you and your brother."
Sakura stared at him, not wanting to believe what she knew he was implying. Knowing she would not run, Li released her arm. "If anything were to happen to you, what makes you think he would have the will to stay alive this time?"
She opened her mouth to say something, but then decided against it. Li continued.
"You say you don't care if anything happens you? Well, that may be true, but what about everyone else that cares about you? You think that they would just forget you and go on with their lives? I can tell you this, I'm willing to bet my life that your father would never be able to live with himself know that both you and your mother were gone. and would never come back."
"So what am I supposed to do, then?" Sakura whispered dejectedly, signs of weariness clearly being displayed. "Are you saying I just leave my father to his death?"
Li shook his head, eyes never leaving Sakura's. "No. What I'm saying is you can't rush headfirst into this mess, expecting to save your father with any success. Such a foolish action isn't the only option you have."
Sakura stared at him, her brows furrowed together in thought.
Now, growing up with foolish girls such as Meilin and his sisters, Li didn't actually expect her to understand what he was implying. He simply paused to let the thought sink in, preparing to explain his idea anyway. However, to his great surprise, her eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at him, excitement ringing in her voice.
"The sorcerer! The one that taught my father and Kain! He can help!"
Li was stunned into silence, clearly shocked. Sakura, not noticing this, continued, the thrill of the idea obvious in her tone. "That sorcerer taught both my father and Kain, right? He's the only one who could defeat that demon! If not, then surely he would know of some weakness or something. Or maybe he has something we can use ourselves!"
His admiration of the princess doubling, Li nodded, unable to resist grinning at her almost childish excitement.
"We have to tell Kero!" she exclaimed. "He'll know where the sorcerer lives!"