A/N: I got 7 reviews over the week-end and that just feels good. And getting this chapter done just in time felt good as well.

Okay, did anyone notice the various anime and book references? Avatar, CLAMP, etc? Anyone? Well if you noticed any in the last chapter, you can ask about them if you didn't.

As for the question on Lady Terru, she isn't mad, just read the rest of the chapter. As for Eva doing what she did, for anyone in the Mokka ship or besides, anyone who went through the entire of Oban Star Racers, you know what she was feeling. That is, unless, you just ignored the whole relationship and want to kill me for placing Eva on Nourasia instead of introducing Aikka to Generic Nourasian Princess #1097, then you have missed much of Oban. I feel sorry for you. There is more to Oban than just pretty star races and alien princes, there's a lot more.

Sorry about the little rant, just a little thing I needed to clear up.

Oh and more of the mysterious fellow in the blue haze my readers, more of the creepy guy and his mirror of doom...

Read and review.

Disclaimer: Do I need to put this up, really? No, I don't own Oban. Oban is (c) of Savin Yeatman-Eiffel.

Ch. 10 "The Secret of Magic"

"King Lao, Queen Nori, Prince Aikka…" said the shadowy man in the blue haze. "How sad…"

He was playing with the surface of the mirror. His finger stopped and the mirror's surface glowed a sickly green. There was a flash and an image of a young, non-Nourasian girl walking with the prince down an open hallway in an afternoon sunlight. The girl was seemingly trying to hug and comfort the prince.

"A foolish girl," he said, almost spitting into the mirror.

"She might be a problem," said another voice, this one cold and female. A figure dressed in blood red appeared in a darkened hallway.

"Of course," said the male, "but for now, she has no real power, nothing at all."

"She's still a threat," said the female.

"Ah yes," he said as he played with the surface of the mirror. "But do not worry. My seeds are starting to grow, and we shan't count our sprouts before they have grown my dear child."

"What am I to do?" asked the young woman.

"You are going to find the girl and the prince. Not to Dol, we should not alarm the people around that area, but soon we will have to make some kind of commotion, trouble if you may. Draw them away from the palace, from the city. Then you must befriend them, only in name."

The girl bowed her head.

"Yes my master," she said, "I will do as you have… commanded."

0000

At the moment, Aikka was in a mix of emotions. He was happy that Molly was there, but all of the mental messages and the looks the both of them were getting made him embarrassed. His cheeks would be burning red had he not learned the stuble art of hiding emotions from Thuy and she was good at it, he had to admit.

Thank the gods that they were now in the hallway facing the east, where no one was rushing around to even take notice of the strange duo walking, half leaning into each other.

She was holding him up a little, even though he was alright.

"Molly," he said, "I'm not harmed."

"But you got a foot in the chest!" she said.

"Perhaps you need to learn some restraint?" he asked. But in all honesty, Aikka was feeling some pain, but he was sure it was going to turn into a bruise in time.

"Prince! Prince Aikka!"

Both looked up to see the familiar face of the Fencing Master. He looked a little nerved seeing the two together like that.

"Your father wishes for a private meeting with you," he said. "Lady Molly, I suggest that you take your leave here."

"The child may come with me," said a motherly voice.

Eva turned to see the figure of Lady Terru standing before her. With a wave of her hand she seemed to ask Eva to come with her.

0000

Eva sat upon a stone bench covered in cushions stuffed with sweet smelling herbs. The room she had been led into looked like something out of a 1001 Nights. There were curtains covered in writings in purple ink, and lanterns of glass hung from the ceiling. A few incense burners hung from the ceiling as well, issuing a thin trail of purplish smoke with a scent not too strong or too soft. Flowers and vines grew across the ceilings and walls, missing a bookshelf which was filled with scrolls and expanding books, which as Eva could only speculate, was filled with spells and histories of Nourasia. In the middle of the room was a depression filled with clear water. Across from her, Eva could see the lower city, with the sight of a silvery river.

Lady Terru was busily taking out a small cup and teapot for her new guest. She poured a cup out for the Human girl before settling down on another bench, this one being made of wood and covered in a soft feathery blanket. Beside the old Nourasian woman were two creatures that looked like dormice which were the size of housecats, sleeping as peacefully as said animals.

"I saw you at the sparring ring today," said Lady Terru, as Eva drank a little of the tea. It was good, with a lemony taste she had not expected. "As you can see, my room looks over the Great Mother River or the Amuluka(1) as we call it. It helps me with my farsight abilities. But that is not the reason I have brought you here."

"Then why?" asked Eva.

"Well first is to learn some restraint," said Terru, "I need to tell you that, due to the little incident between you and Aikka."

"But he got hurt!"

One of Terru's eyebrows arched. She wasn't so much aware of the attachment between the young Human girl and the Prince. In fact, she had overheard something of a friendship, but was sure it nothing more than that. However the way the girl had spoken of that incident made Terru wonder.

"Still," she continued, "next time don't go rushing up to his radiance like that. The other reason I have brought you here was about your stay here. I know it has not been more than a night and half a day since you have come here, but I still want to know if you are doing well or not."

Eva kicked her legs up in a playful mode and spoke.

"Everything is fine here," she said, "the people are nice and except for nearly getting executed yesterday, I feel…"

"Yes?"

"Oddly enough, I don't think I've felt more accepted, except amongst my family and friends, well what few friends I have and on the Earth Team. Thank you so much."

Lady Terru nodded as she listened to the Earth girl and gave out a sigh.

"Well I'm glad of that," she said, "since I'm afraid until I can find a way to bring you back, you will be staying here for a while. I am very sorry that you have been taken from your home and your family so abruptly..."

"It isn't your fault," said Eva, "I mean, you didn't bring me here, did you?"

"No, in fact, I can't teleport people like that," said Terru, shaking her head. "Master Thuy of the Nourasian Knights can teleport herself anywhere, but whenever she does something like that over a long distance, she gets a terrible headache. And as far as I know, she can't teleport other people unless she's with them."

"Master Thuy?"

"She's Aikka's trainer. You saw her at the sparring ring today, did you not?"

"Oh yeah," Eva remembered the Nourasian woman who kicked a man in the face. Suddenly a question came to Eva's mind that had been nagging her ever since she met the old woman.

"Lady Terru, that's your name right," Eva asked as the old Nourasian woman nodded serenely. "Are you Aikka's magic teacher or something? I was just wondering if you where or not…"

Lady Terru gave her an odd look then laughed a little.

"You are quite inquisitive are you not?" she said. "I am not his teacher in the ways of magic in the way that Master Canaan is his fencing teacher, but yes, I have taught the Prince all the same. However, since my magic is mostly influenced by the presence of water and his is mostly influenced by the presence of wind, though he does share the abilities of some water, we can not learn spells from each other without a little conflict."

"Wind magic?" Eva asked. "Like an Elementalist?"

"Not entirely," said Terru, as one of the dormouse creatures woke up and washed itself. "You see in our magic and our wisdom, we believe that people can correspond to different magic's and different elements, elements that you might find different from your perception of elements. The magic I use is considered more allied with water, which deals with farsight and phophesy, as well as illusions and healing. There is little to do with fighting and protecting than wind magic is. Aikka's magic is rather interesting since wind has not truly been evident in many Royal Families and it rarer still to have empathy with two differing types. In any case, Aikka's magic is closely allied with wind, and is suitable to shielding, speed, and in the case of his proficiency in archery helps him make his arrows into deadly projectiles. But his water alliance is also helpful in his abilities to long send. However, the one thing that allies both of our magic is the fact that our magic also allies us with the Blue Moon Sekkai (2), which when her face is full gives us a full advantage in using our powers. Those allied with the Blue Moon are also able to mind speech more easily. So you could say that this element could be called moon, but due to our Three Moons, we really can't say that."

"Are there other magics?" asked Eva. "Is that what you are saying?"

"Oh yes!" Lady Terru smiled. "You didn't seriously think that there is one magic did you?"

"I knew about Dark Magic on Oban," said Eva, "as well as Light Magic."

"Those are absolutes," explained Terru, "all other magic is said to be derived from those two principles. The actual theories and thoughts on that is very complex and I won't bother explaining it here, and besides only high ranking sorcerers like myself can understand it. I don't want to bore you to death, or so the Earth saying goes."

"I see."

"Wind and fire are mostly associated with Nourasian Knights and fighting overall. Heart and Earth are most often associated with healing practices, while water and cloud are associated with what many think Light magic is. Shadow is a magic which is often mistaken for Dark Magic but isn't, crystal is used by illusionists, and there are others, but these are the ones I can get from the top of my head for the moment. However, you must remember that not all magic is assigned to one occupation. For example, there is at least one Nourasian Knight I know who is allied with cloud magic."

"Can you choose your magic?"

"No. Just like how not everyone is born with magic, no one can choose to be have cloud magic or any other. There are some scholars who have investigated this and think it's due to the different seasons, but there are other theories. For one, it is known that the prince was born in a different season than the previous kings and queens of Nourasia. Perhaps that's why his magic is so much different than others of the Royalty."

"Can anyone gain magic?" asked Eva.

"Not to my knowledge," said Terru. "However, as far as I can say, I still have to teach you some things about this place. I grant you have never been acquainted with some of the customs of the Nourasian court, no?"

"Well," said Eva, "no one writes about that stuff in the books on Earth."

"Books eh?" Terru smiled. She's like me at her age.

"The court is something of a family," she said "but not as truly complex as the ones on Earth have been..."

"You've read some books about Earth's history?" asked Eva.

Terru smiled. "Not exactly," she said. "No one writes about that stuff on Nourasia."

0000

There are numerous court officials in the Nourasian noble court. They consist of a majordomo who is often seen as the head of the staff and shares his or her duties with that of chamberlain; a seneschal who controlled the codes; a cup-bearer for the king; the masters of the horse (or at least the creature most like a horse in Nourasia), the shika, and the kabuto; a falconer and her apprentice; a Maid of honor and the various handmaidens and ladies in waiting of the Queen; a few grooms; a keeper of the seal; a few scribes here and there; knights and pages (not necessarily the Nourasian Knights Aikka spoke of); the panetier and the various cooks; harpers and bards; the maids; magicians and the royal physician; and the guards with the head marshal. (3)

Eva did not meet them all that day, but as Terru lead her down the hallway a washed with light, she saw some maids and a few of the ladies in waiting of Queen Nori as soon learned. They were milling around in the open air courtyard.

However, there was something else on her mind at the moment.

I wonder where the prince is? She thought to herself.

0000

Aikka's father was seated on a throne made out of the bronze material that made up his crown. Great wing-like structures branched out on either side of the throne, making his father seem larger than life. The prince upon the other hand was kneeling before his father, as was customary, head bowed so he would not meet eyes.

"You may rise, my son," said King Lao, waving his hand. His face seemed to be hiding something grim behind it; Aikka could give a guess as to why it was so. "Lately I have been deeply concerned about your safety."

"You have always been concerned about me, father," said Aikka. It was true, like every parent, Lao wanted his son to be kept free of dangers, although this was not always the case. The Great Race of Oban was one such case in which Lao and Nori had nearly lost their young son, mostly to the Crogs.

"This deals with something of far more weight than even that of the Great Race," he said, seemingly quickly. "It deals with your friend."

Suddenly Aikka's head jerked up.

"My friendship with the human girl is… mutual," he said. "There is…"

"Nothing?" Lao rubbed his temple in thought. "I wish it were. The Three Moons will be showing their full faces soon..."

"The Ceremony?" he asked.

"The Ceremony of the Three Moons will be soon commenced and your powers will be increased to their full limit. Are you not proud my son? Soon you will be an adult, a king!"

"But can't it wait?" he pleaded again.

"I'm afraid I can not do much about the Moons," said King Lao, "and even less about the Crogs…"

Aikka's eyes went wide in shock.

"But outsiders are not allowed into the City of Dol," said Aikka.

"It did not stop you… or her."

"This is different. How could you let them in there after what they put us, our entire kingdom through?"

"We are on the same beetle (4) I guess," said King Lao. "I didn't invite our … allies either."

0000

"Don't you know how to sew?" asked one of the ladies-in-waiting of Queen Nori as Eva sat on the floor holding the bone needle in hand with a piece of cloth in the other, not really knowing what to do.

"I – I kinda flunked Home Ed," she said sheepishly.

The woman looked at her curiously.

"That means I didn't pass sewing," Eva explained.

A young woman, probably near her own age laughed.

"That's silly!" she said. "Didn't your mother teach you how to mend clothes?"

"No! Humans don't like mending ruined clothes," said another woman.

"Don't be so stupid!" cried out another woman. "She just needs to learn."

Eva didn't have the heart or the mind right now to tell them that she never learned sewing because her mother had died when she was very young or that she simply did not have the time. Of course being in a Boarding School she had a small kit to work on little tears and holes but she never learned how to make her own stuff.

Queen Nori merely smiled.

"So you do not know how to sew," said Queen Nori. "My son spoke of you as being talented in some area…"

"Well," said Eva, "if you want to know, I've mainly dedicated my life to racing and maintaining star racers."

Everyone in the room gave her some odd stares.

"That is, I race," she explained further. "Like how some of the Nourasian Knights must do on their beetles?"

"I can not lie about that," said a young woman with dark brown hair. "My friend Pia likes to race her kabuto against the other Nourasian Knights during festival times. Though I never ride on her kabuto like that. It seems scary!"

At least there is something I can talk about without alienating anyone, she thought with a dose of irony.

When she thought she couldn't do anything else, a figure appeared in the doorway of the Sun Room.

"Your Radiance, Lady Molly," said Canaan, "please excuse me."

He walked out of the way to show Prince Aikka standing there. Eva stood up and nearly jumped into his arms until she realized that after what Terru had told her, she stopped on her tracks.

"Prince," she said, smiling with a light, quick bow.

"Princess," he said, mimicking her moves. "Shall we go?"

He took her by the arm and brought her out of the Sun Room, much to the surprise of the ladies. However, Canaan and Nori did not seem shocked at all. Canaan merely showed his dour face; he didn't much approve of the entire relationship. Nori seemed to be chuckling inside; she knew something special was going on.

0000

"I'm feeling something here," said the figure in the blue haze, "it's getting a little on my nerves."

"You need her though," said another, male voice, worn by age.

"She is powerless," said the figure. "But the Prince is what I need overall. This human girl is mere child's play. Do not worry; be paitent, it will go as planned."

0000

Somewhere in the distance between Dol and the karst country, a lone rider on a shika was heading towards the Holy City.

To be continued...

A/N: Another cliffhanger, I seem to be full of these things. Here are some terms:

1. The Amuluka: This river is the main river that flows past Dol and the Palace. It's often called the Red River due to the color of the silt it carries which makes the water a clay red color. The entire city of Dol and the farmers around that area depend on the river to flood it's banks and bring fertile soil for the planting season, which is similar to the Nile during the time of the Ancient Egyptians.

2. Sekkai is the true name of the Blue Moon of Nourasia and the only moon to display the color blue.No one is certain why the moon is blue. The word "sekai" used by the Nourasians in their spells coliates to the Blue Moon's power.

3. All of those terms listed are actual terms used for the positions in the courts of many ancient monarchies. You can look it up on Wiki under Royal Courts.

4. "We're on the same beetle" is a saying that is in conjuction to Earth's "We're in the same boat."

Review please! That makes me write more.

Oh and btw I have not finished up with the next chapter. That will be coming soon, though I am having some trouble trying to write it though with school and work and all. Wish me luck.