Chapter 20: Their true lineage
Hola, amigos! How are you guys? I feel as if I've just came back from the dead with a mountain of tasks clouding over my head for the past few months. Anyway, remember that Yuzuru guy from the previous chapter? Yeah, that Yuzuru guy is gonna play an important part in this chapter, so keep your eyes open for it! XD
See the notes at the end of the chapter for further clarification.
After what felt like an eternity of convincing the villagers that the bandits won't be returning to raid the village and settling both Judal and Morgiana to their shared bed (courtesy of the villagers), Ran invited the two Kou princes to join her at the low table provided inside their ger, prepared to answer as many questions as they would throw at her.
Speaking in a hushed tone, she broke the ice that seemed to grow even thicker with every passing second between the three of them.
" So, is there anything you would like to ask? Regarding my true identity, that is. " Her body leaned forward slightly against the wooden table, observing the brief glances exchanged among the two brothers.
" Ah. Then I'd like you to answer this honestly, Ran. Just what are you? " Hakuren gingerly raised his hand, eliciting a chuckle from the girl due to the expression plastered on his face.
" Me? I'm a human. Just like the two of you, " She shrugged, tilting her head slightly to the left.
" That's not what I meant! Just who are you in the first place? What is your true identity? What motive do you have in aiding us since the beginning? And lastly, why didn't anyone tell me that I have a djinn now? " The lotus prince raised his voice slightly higher, causing a Ran, Hakuyuu, and himself to freeze when they heard a quiet grunt coming from where Judal and Morgiana were.
Ran tiptoed over to see whether either of the two had woken up due to the ruckus, but it seems that both were out cold; with Judal having his left arm rested on Morgiana's face, the girl's face slightly disgruntled upon feeling the weight on top of her.
Releasing a sigh, the magi returned to her seat, directing a glare towards Hakuren; to which the latter only responded with a "sorry!" in a quieter voice.
" Well, I'll start answering all four of your questions. " Ran coughed into her sleeve, before a serious expression replaced her glare, gone was her playful and cheery persona.
Hakuyuu and Hakuren simultaneously nodded, as both males leaned forward in interest, eyes never leaving the girl's figure.
The girl caught sight of Hakuyuu's gaze on her; it almost feels like he was drilling holes on her with how intensely he was looking at her. It was as if nothing can distract him.
What's wrong with him? She ignored the slight tug within her heart, and continued talking.
" I shall introduce myself once again. My name is Ran, and I am a magi. Although I might have regarded myself as an ordinary magician, this is the truth. I was born and raised in a small village in the east of Kou until the age of five. " She made sure to emphasize on her true identity, and ultimately enjoyed the gobsmacked-scratch that, Hakuren was totally slack-jawed.
" A-A m-magi?! W-Why? H-how?! " Hakuren turned his head towards his brother, who didn't seem surprised in the least.
" I haven't finished answering your third question, Hakuren-san. Please be patient, " Drawing a deep breath, Ran resumed her explanation.
" At the beginning, I simply thought it was right to aid two victims of a big fire, especially when your stomach had been continuously bleeding without showing any signs of stopping. " The crimson head pointed at the younger Ren, as her lips broke into a wry chuckle.
" Never expected the both of you to be princes, actually. I've never seen your faces even once back in Kou. I only knew your names. " That sentence brought Hakuyuu back from the depths of his mind.
" You are a Kou citizen, yet you don't recognize us? " At his question, Ran shook her head.
" Not at all. I lived far away from Rakushou until I turned five years old. Even then, I only learned of the imperial family from the rumors going on around when the late Emperor Hakutoku dropped by our village after he subjugated a rebellion in an area close to my village. Apparently, he brought one of his sons back then, but I... never got a glimpse of him nor the emperor. B-Besides, I heard that the two of you mostly spent your time on campaigns, so it's natural for kids of the younger generation to not recognize your faces. " She almost slipped up with her little white lie. While it was true that she didn't manage to see the emperor, it was part of her daily routine to see the prince during his stay on the outskirts of her village.
But it's been a long time since then, it's only natural if I couldn't remember his face. As the maiden was drowning in her own thoughts, the calling of her name brought the girl back to reality.
" Ah, sorry. I got lost in my thoughts for a second there. I spent almost half of my life exploring the world. Well, countries, mostly. I only returned to Kou when I was thirteen. " She curtly replied, not wanting to elaborate further.
" How did you come to learn of your true identity? You told me you were not aware of it in the beginning, " The former crown prince inquired, lacing his arms together.
While the magi knew pretty much everything about him and his brother, she gave away little to no information regarding herself. She was an enigma, she leaves out too many details of her life for him to connect the dots.
" I reckon you've heard the name Yunan, the Wandering Magi. " The older Ren nodded at the mention of the magi, while the younger brother was taken aback by her statement.
" Yunan's a magi? I thought he was just a traveler. We crossed paths once, right after Sinbad and Mystras dragged me into one of their shenanigans. " The former second prince's face contorted into that of a befuddled expression, disbelief slowly creeping into his senses.
" You've met him in person?! " Ran hissed under her breath, casting a worried glance at the former second prince.
" Why didn't you tell us, Ren? " Hakuyuu, on the contrary, appeared curious at Hakuren's unexpected revelation.
The man merely rubbed the back of his head and let out a nervous laugh. " Because... I kinda forgot? Until Ran mentioned it earlier, that is. " He stuck a tongue out and winked.
" You 'kinda' forgot? He didn't do anything nasty, did he? Like talking about anything weird or something, " Ran inquired, arching one of her eyebrows.
The white lotus prince held his chin in a contemplative manner. " I think not. If memory serves me, he showed the way back to our inn when we first arrived in Reim after Sinbad and Mystras dragged me to the red light district. " Then, realization flashed on his face. " But he did ask me something back then. It was a matter concerning you, but I only kept silent since I didn't know who he was. "
" He probably knows I was with you guys. " She heaved a sigh. " Now then, back to the topic. I met him in Balbadd when I was nine, about a year after I first encountered Ja'far-san. He was being bullied by the local children, so I decided to help him. And from there on, I learned of my real identity as a magi. I stayed with him for a year at the bottom of the Great Rift; at that time he often left me to my own devices since he was busy dealing with his precious king vessel. " Ran rolled her eyes in indignation, snorting quietly.
" When you said you were traveling around the world, you really weren't kidding... " Hakuren eyed the girl in awe and envy. To be traveling around the world at the mere age of 9 was a huge feat itself, something he could never have done when he was Kou's second prince and war general.
" Of course I wasn't, every part and detail was my firsthand experience. Every part of it is real, unless your refuse to believe me-well, that's your choice. " She shrugged lightly.
" Then what about your expertise in magic? Did you hone it on your own? " Hakuren asked after a moment of silence, and the girl regarded him with a nod.
" Partially, yes. My training in Magnostadt was incomplete; I only managed to learn there for a year before being on the move again. But despite that, the knowledge bore a fruitful result, as it has aided me through countless situations. After I left Magnostadt, I practiced on my own, and the magic that you have witnessed so far is the result of my self-study. " She offered them a small smile, pride flashing briefly on her face.
Then, as quick as it came, the pride vanished from the magi's facial features, the girl regaining her composure. " And as for your third question, I simply chose the both of you as my king vessels because I can see the potential in you. I believe that you won't easily fall into depravity, and have what it takes to face Ren Gyokuen. "
She paused, before averting her gaze to the side. " If you're going to ask me why I didn't choose anyone before the two of you came; well, I had other things... to attend to. I knew that ridding the world of Al-Thamen is one of my top priorities, but I wasn't interested in anyone before you guys came along. " That said, Ran lifted her head. " Which was why I opened a clinic; to help the sick as well as information-gathering. My hut itself served as a dual purpose, as what you saw when we escaped through the underground passage I built prior to opening the clinic. I often did experiments for my research there, as a safety precaution if anything were to accidentally blow up. "The girl airily made gestures as she explained, a small smirk making its way to her lips.
" So in other words, you were going undercover until you encountered us in that forest. " Hakuren concluded, pointing towards the girl with his index finger.
" You can put it that way, since I was evading the eyes of Al-Thamen in Kou. It's their nest, after all. " She nods, cracking her knuckles. " Sorry, my fingers feel a little stiff, " She apologized, before resuming the conversation.
" Anyway, your determination to rid Kou of Al-Thamen is my main reason to help you, so rest assured, I will never betray you, no matter what. And mind you, your social rank has nothing to do with this; I simply chose the both of you out of my own accord. " Ran eyed them sharply, clearing any misunderstanding or thoughts the former princes had regarding her intentions in aiding them.
" I see. Thank you for that. " The doubt is now cleared from the younger Ren's face, while his brother remained silent.
He's probably feeling bored, having to listen to this twice. She thought to herself, recognizing that knowing look plastered on the older man's facial features.
" And by the way, Stolas told us you're the most suitable to become his king vessel, so, he chose you. And the rest is history. You can ask for the rest of the details yourself. " The red head pointed towards Solomon's insignia engraved on the former prince's Guan Dao, where his djinn rested.
" Is there anything else you wish to know? " Clearing her throat, the red-haired magi inquired her two companions, who exchanged glances before Hakuren spoke once again.
" Ah, yeah. Why do you always keep you forearms bandaged? Is there something that should be hidden? Or is it your family's custom? " Hakuren inquired, pointing at the girl's bandaged limbs.
" Oh, these? Good question. Just don't freak out when you see what's under them, though. " Slowly, Ran tore her bandages open, revealing her skin, paler than the rest of her body. As the rest of the fabric came off from her forearms, the fragment of Fanalis fangs came into view, embedded on her skin.
" Is that what I think it is? " The second prince asked in a hushed tone, grimacing slightly at the sight.
" Yeah. These are what you call magoi suppressors, made from Fanalis fangs. I've had them on me since I was five. " Said fragments glimmered in mild orange, due to the dim lighting provided by the lantern inside the room.
" Five years old? That must've been a painful experience. " Hakuyuu commented, brows slightly furrowed. Ran then recalled that she skipped the story of how those fangs ended up on her arms when she and the former crown prince engaged in a private conversation at the meadow two weeks prior to tonight.
" Well, it did hurt when my grandmother replaced the rubies on my arms with these, but they serve as a protection as well. " Gingerly touching the fragments, a lopsided smile found its way to Ran's lips, as a memory of her family flickered across her mind.
" Replaced? And you had rubies before that? Are your parents insane?! " Hakuren half-yelled, only to be shushed by Ran and Hakuyuu.
" Yes, I originally had rubies embedded on my forearms. And no, my parents are not crazy and willing enough to hurt me. If anything, it was Yunan-san's fault for that. When I was born, he happened to be nearby my village. And the tacky geezer just had to place the rubies onto my newborn self's arms. So voila, they were embedded on my arms for about five years before I had to leave my village. Afterwards, the Fanalis fangs came in their place. " Using magic to re-attach her bandages, Ran once again covered her forearms with the fabric, concealing the Fanalis fangs underneath them as she sighed aloud in annoyance.
" ... I see. If you were to remove them, it would result to the revelation of your identity as a magi, am I correct? " Hakuyuu concluded, earning a nod from the red head.
" Exactly. And it would make it easier for Gyokuen to track me down, since she is no ordinary magician herself. " Ran crossed her arms over her chest, licking her dry lips.
" Speaking of Gyokuen, just what are her true colors? She's no longer the mother that Yuu and I used to know. It's like she's had her personality warped. " Hakuren frowned, using his arms to exaggerate his claim.
" Since you're questioning her sanity, I hope you're prepared to hear what I have to say. " ran glanced at both men, earning a nod from each of them. "Very well. That woman is no longer herself. She's lost control of her body a long time ago, " Ran joined her hands together, a grim expression overtaking her features.
" By losing control of her body you mean... she's possessed by something? " The lotus prince inquired, doubt clearly portrayed in his eyes.
" I can't tell you yet, I'm sorry. But whatever it is, that thing controlling her is dangerous. " The magi's gaze hardened, anger and grief flashed across her red orbs briefly before dissipating into thin air.
Then it was Hakuyuu's turn to question her. " How do you know so much regarding this matter? Not even us, her own sons have any knowledge regarding that. " A wry smile crept up to Ran's lips, as a cracked laugh escaped her throat.
Because I was once her ally, her comrade, and we once fought against the same enemy.
" Let's just say that I've done my research. I promise that I'll tell you about it when the time comes. " The look in Ran's eyes pleaded them not to question her any further.
Hakuyuu cleared his throat. " If you say so. But now that I think of it, you haven't mentioned a thing regarding your lineage, " At the mention of her family, Ran visibly clenched her jaw.
" Is that so? Well, I have to regretfully inform you that they're all gone. " She flatly informed them, not wanting to be pitied nor sympathized with.
The candle flickered slightly.
" Long story short, my whole village was raided by Al-Thamen when I was six. No one was spared from the incident, save for my younger brother, who went missing during the catastrophe. He and I were the only survivors of the village. Quite a sad story, I have to admit. " It was something she was used to telling. People would then throw sympathetic looks and pity her, trying to empathize her situation, and she'd simply smile. Nothing they said could bring any of the people she loved back, and she never liked any treatment of the sort.
But instead of pitying eyes, her gaze was met with admiration and acknowledgement. Neither of the two had done what she initially expected them to do.
" No wonder you're this strong, Ran. You were able to be what you are now, despite the tragedy that fell upon your family. I respect you for that. We both lost our father as well, so at least we know the feeling of losing a loved one, " Hakuyuu pats her head, catching her off guard.
It took her several minutes to muster a proper respond to the man." You flatter me, Hakuyuu-san. " She chuckled, raising a fist to her mouth. The look in her eyes somewhat changed.
" Don't be modest, Ran! You deserve it! " Hakuren guffawed, eyes crinkling slightly with joy.
" Thank you for sharing with us. It seems that you look more relaxed now. " The former crown prince commented, as she noticed that the tension from her shoulders were gone.
" Hm? I guess so. My chest feels lighter now. " She hummed, masking a yawn.
A loud yawn came from her right. " I feel exhausted. I'm gonna hit the bed now, so, night' Ran, brother. " The spiky blue head climbed onto his bed, and laid down. The man's loud snores could be heard in a mere three minutes.
" Night. " The magi softly replied, walking towards the flap of the ger.
" You're not going to sleep yet? " Hakuyuu's voice halted her footsteps, as she partially turned to face him.
" Nah, I'm going to get some fresh air. You can go ahead and sleep, Hakuyuu-san. " As she was about to leave, Hakuyuu's hand wrapped around hers, pulling her backward.
" I'll accompany you. Walking alone at night is dangerous. " His midnight blue orbs flashed genuine concern for her, and thus, the girl reluctantly agreed.
" Alright. " Great, there goes her chance of having some private time to herself.
Might as well tell him that. A small voice in her mind uttered, as the magi steeled her nerves in preparation of the chain of events that will follow as a consequence of her actions.
I just hope his opinion about me won't change.
Nights at Rakushou are often chilly, even during the peak of summer.
A soft breeze entered the man's room, causing the candle on his study table to flicker slightly. Cicadas chirped outside his window; joined by the frogs' croaking, and the aged willow tree in his garden allowed its leaves to dance to the wind's rhythm.
The room itself was dimly lit; several lanterns hung themselves on four corners of the room, as numerous scrolls laid unfurled on top of his study table along with a map of the world; some of the continents drawn on the parchment circled with black ink. A lavender-scented incense burned inside an intricately decorated censer; depicting a white egret, was placed on one of the room, producing a faint yet alluring scent.
Rumpled sheets of paper lied still on the ground; bristling slightly from their position when an occasionally strong wind blew into the room.
Yet no man was spotted, supposedly reveling and divulging into pieces of information that the scrolls stored, written on their yellowed pages.
Instead, a figure was leisurely lounging on the porch; a leather-bound book in hand, basking in the gentle moonlight.
As if fully aware of his surroundings, the man suddenly lifted his head as a rukh fluttered by, a minuscule smile slowly forming across his face.
Closing the book with a small thud, red-ringed eyes gazed upon the cloudless sky, fully exposing the pale moon.
" So it's finally time... "
Kouen scanned the contents of the scroll in his hand, an outer robe draped on his sleeping garb. The report was written by Koumei, regarding another plan to expand Kou's territory further to the west.
He could hear footsteps approaching his chambers, it was quick but heavy. It must be Gaku Kin, one of his loyal retainers.
And true to his guess, the man's voice could be heard a while later. " Your highness, Saijou Kuzuryu's son wishes to see you. " His message came between pants, it was apparent that Gaku had rushed to his room as soon as possible.
It must be important. " Bring him in. " He ordered, not looking up from the parchment.
" But it's late, my king. Shall I send him back- "
" Bring him in. " The flame emperor firmly repeated his order, as his retainer replied to him in a quieter voice.
" Your wish is my command. " and his footsteps disappeared again, fetching his guest.
What is he up to this time? His brows furrowed as he rubbed his temples, briefly closing his eyes.
For as long as he's known Saijou Yuzuru, that scoundrel was the type of person to infuriate people with his pranks. Kouen wonders how his parents have managed to cope up with him for the past seventeen years of his life.
" Yo, crown prince, or should I address you as Kouen-dono? " There came his cheerful voice, yet filled with mockery and amusement.
" Drop the formalities, Saijou. It's just you and I inside this room. " Kouen stood up from his chair, turning to face his childhood friend.
" My, what a serious face you have there! You'll have premature wrinkles, you know! Don't blame me if the ladies will flock to me instead of you ~ " The masked man joked, his tone teasing.
" Why are you here? " The red head frankly asked, making no effort to conceal the annoyance in his tone.
" Hey, chill! Why, can't I drop by to see my dear childhood friend? It's been a while since we last saw each other, thanks to that recent conquest you had. " The Saijou heir grumbled, clicking his tongue as he glanced at the crown prince's face.
" At this ungodly hour? Out of all the people I know, you are the only one gutsy enough to do this, " The eighteen-year-old deadpanned, getting bored of their conversation.
" Aww~ You're really no fun to joke with! Anyways, I discovered something regarding that red-haired girl you mentioned some time ago. " That piqued Kouen's interest, who almost immediately approached his friend.
" What about her? " His eyes grew slightly wider, as the prankster's lips curled into a smirk.
He places a hand on the red head's shoulder. " Ah, getting interested, I see. I recently found out that she's working under Sindria Trading Company in Reim. I think she's acquainted to its head... who was it again? " He paused, struggling to remember that famed dungeon conqueror.
" Sinbad. " He answered, urging the man to proceed.
" Yeah, Sinbad. And I also caught wind of the 'masked men of Sindria'. According to the rumors, they both have hair as dark as midnight, and are very charismatic. The ladies are very much drawn to them. " The Saijou heir wiggled his eyebrows, as realization dawned on the teen.
Of course.. Why hadn't I thought about that? He silently berated himself for missing such an important detail.
" And you assume they are Hakuyuu-dono and Hakuren-dono? " The eighteen-year-old lifted an eyebrow, leaning against the door, lowering the volume of his voice.
" Positive. You told me that the girl was there too when you saw them, no? It's highly possible that they are still together. " Yuzuru fiddled with his sleeve, smiling to himself.
" And you'll be going to Reim to see them for yourself, aren't you? " Kouen heaved a sigh, shaking his head at his friend and subject's antics.
" Bingo~ I'll be sure to bring you some souvenirs back! Or perhaps, you might get to meet the girl herself. " The raven head mischievously grinned from ear-to-ear, his signature smile.
" You barely even know her. Do you think she'll willingly go with you? " Kouen skeptically inquired, shooting the man a chiding look.
" Says who? I've been acquainted to her for two years or so, it shouldn't be a problem at all. Besides, I have some important news to deliver to her as well, " The masked man shrugged, tempting the crown prince to slam his friend's head to the wall.
They were acquainted, and yet he had never mentioned even a word about it.
" You don't know how much I wish to kill you right now. " Kouen muttered under his breath, as his friend was about to leave.
" Huh? What was that? Oh well, it's probably unimportant. I'll report to you soon, so wish me luck! " That said, Saijou Yuzuru walked out from the prince's chambers, humming to himself.
The red-haired teen was left to drown in his thoughts, before another knock came from his door. He opened it to see Koumei in his usual haggard form; clutching a pillow on his right arm.
" My brother and king, please let me sleep here tonight. " His younger brother pleaded.
" Why? You have your own bed and chambers, " The younger teen shook his head, before yawning loudly.
" Your bed is more comfortable than mine, we can exchange beds if you want. " The freckled boy proceeds to entering the room, before being halted by his older brother.
" Go back to your chambers. " Kouen ordered.
" I don't want to. " The boy retorted.
" Go back. "
" Your bed is more comfortable. "
" You have plenty of rooms in your wing. "
" I can't fall asleep there. "
" I want to sleep. "
" Me too. "
" Then go back and sleep. "
" I want your bed. "
" No. "
" You also have plenty of rooms here, my brother and king. Why can't you just choose another room to inhabit? " Koumei's brows furrowed in frustration, as a yawn escaped his lips.
" I like this one the most. " Kouen replied, shrugging.
" Me too. I wish to sleep here. "
" No. "
" My brother and king- "
" Seishuu. " The man came running at the call of his name.
" Yes, my lord? " He bowed before the two princes.
" Take Koumei back to his room and force him to get some sleep. Don't leave until you make sure he really is asleep. " The first prince's retainer obliged, carrying the frail second prince on his shoulder.
" I shall see to it myself, my king. "
" No... let me down, Seishuu. I'm.. I'm about to die.. I... have to feel the softness of my brother's bed to get better... " The teen coughed in a fake manner, which earned him a snort from his brother.
" That won't work on me, Koumei. I know you are faking it. " That said, Kouen closed the door to his room, and returned to his study.
" My prince, you have to work on something better to fool your lord brother next time, " Seishuu advised the boy who was now dangling from his shoulder, too tired to care about anything else.
The second prince nodded in agreement. " You're right. Perhaps I might have to use some food coloring next time... "
" Princess. You called? " Hakuei swerved around, facing the cloaked figure in front of her.
She was out for a stroll in one of the imperial gardens within the palace, and hadn't expected to bump into anyone, especially this certain uninvited guest.
" Ah, I did not. But it is a pleasure to see you, Saijou Yuzuru-dono. " She nods in respect, as the man clad in black bowed respectfully.
" It is an honor to be graced with your presence, milady. " She gestured him to rise from his position.
" You flatter me too much, " The first princess gave a small smile, scratching her left cheek with her index finger.
Saijou Yuzuru was her second friend after Seisyun, who treated her like a normal person.
He often spent time with her within the palace walls, or occasionally exploring markets downtown and accompanying her to visit shops. He was pretty popular outside the palace, so it wasn't always easy to get around, especially with the women flocking around him.
But despite his position as the Saijou family's heir, whose family deals with the main production of the imperial army's weaponry and other war equipments, he has plenty of free time to make time for her.
" Jokes aside, what brings you here at this unholy hour? Unless you're going to meet with Kouen-dono to report matters in regards to weaponry and the like, " She tilted her head to the side, genuinely curious as to what the man was up to, showing up in the palace in the evening; it was unlikely that he was going to have an audience with her step-brother.
" Why, my sole purpose in visiting the imperial palace tonight was to catch a glimpse of your lovely face, my lady. " At that, the first princess' face turned blank, daring him to continue.
Sighing, Saijou Yuzuru raised his hands up in resignation. " My, looks like your family really has no sense of humor. I give up. Even your stepbrother back there didn't laugh at any of my jokes. And I made sure it was funny too! " He impersonated Kouen's flat face, which elicited a giggle from her lips.
Then, his expression turned serious. " But the fact that I came to see you was true, Hakuei-sama. "
" Are there matters you have to attend to? " She softly spoke, recognizing the look in his eyes.
It was the look that he gave her when he is about to say that he couldn't meet nor accompany her for the next few weeks.
" I'm afraid so, my dear princess. This one is far more important than the previous ones I had. It could not be delayed any further. I hope you are willing to comprehend. " Her heart clenched in disappointment, but she knew this was urgent. If it hadn't been one, he would've notified her right before he left or even leave a message behind.
To think that he would leave again-stop Hakuei, he's your friend, you shouldn't think that way. He has his own life, and you have yours. It's not for you to decide whether he gets to stay by your side all the time or not. You shouldn't be selfish. Shaking her head, a smile slowly crept upon her lips, enhancing her naturally beautiful features under the luminous moon. She looked ethereal, from his point of view.
" It's alright, I understand. Just be sure to return safely; you are my precious friend, after all. We can visit the marketplace again after you return to Rakushou, so- " Somewhere along those lines, she caught a subtle smirk on his lips, which vanished as quick as it appeared. The next moment, she found herself in his arms, a vibrant red spreading across her pale face.
" And that too, is about to change soon, princess. " Placing a kiss on the back of her palm, he released her from his grip and tousled the twelve-year-old's hair, reducing her into a stuttering mess.
" W-What do you mean, this is about to change? That was indecent of you, Saijou-dono. If anyone were present, your head would've flown off your body for touching me. " The redness of her face ceased to fade, only becoming darker in shade as she touched the spot where he kissed her.
" That's for you to know when I return, hime. And besides, a little gesture of affection won't hurt, right? I'll see you soon then, " Casually waving a hand towards Paimon's chosen candidate, Saijou turned around and walked away, his body no longer seen as he made a turn to the left.
Cat got your tongue, my queen? Paimon inquired from her dwelling.
I'm not sure what to say... it surprises me though. I'm nothing but a twelve-year-old who is interested in fighting and has a metal vessel, and happened to bear the title 'princess'. Was he trying to court me? She mentally replied, not wanting other people to overhear her words.
My, my Hakuei-chan. You sure are slow when it comes to matters concerning love. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts sending marriage proposals in anytime soon. Hakuei could literally hear her djinn rolling her eyes, huffing in indignation.
Well, that's currently the least of my concerns. Besides, my hands are full with learning how to use my metal vessel and becoming a general at the same time. Matters regarding love and courtship are simply a waste of my time. Clenching her fists, Hakuei gritted her teeth at the thought.
That's right. She fully knows is still weak; she has to be stronger in order to protect her younger brother.
True, matters of the heart will only lead to your downfall, little princess, especially those that involve men. Better stay away from those vile creatures, I'd say. Hakuei nods in agreement.
Why waste time on idle and temporary feelings such as love when you can exert more effort in helping your own country? She never understood why men and women fall in love, or perhaps, it was because she is yet to be exposed to that certain feeling.
That aside, don't his eyes resemble that oracle of yours? If you noticed, they have the exact same blood red eyes, plus they're ringed too. Paimon's words were true, it was only now that she noticed said magi and the Saijou heir bore some resemblance to each other. But the problem is, Saijou Yuzuru always has his face covered by a mask, only allowing his eyes and mouth to be visible. There was no proof that they were related.
What you're trying to say is... that Saijou-dono's current errand is related to Judal's disappearance? And that they're somehow related? Her djinn immediately regarded her statement, agreeing with the princess.
Exactly! And once he returns, you can question him on-
" Princess? " A sleepy yawn came from behind her, revealing a slightly beddraggled Seisyun, trying to rid of his sleepiness at the sight of his mistress.
I'm afraid we'll have to continue this conversation later, Paimon. Hakuei sighed, earning a nod from her djinn.
Agreed. I'll talk to you later then. And with that, the girl could no longer hear the djinn's voice.
" Yes, Seisyun?" She flashed him a grin, before finding herself being draped with a warm blanket.
" Summer nights are cold too. You should get some rest, my lady. " Another yawn escaped her attendant's lips, as she smiled at the endearing gesture.
" Thank you for the kind thought, Seisyun. But it's pretty clear who needs sleep more between the two of us. " Ushering the boy into his room in her personal quarters, she bid him a 'good night' before returning to her own room.
She couldn't help but release a sigh within the privacy of her room. " Just what are you planning to do, Saijou-dono? "
Hakuyuu briefly glanced at the female sitting beside him. " So you still have things hidden up your sleeve, Ran. " At that, said girl lets out a small snort.
" My life is far too complicated to have it laid out all at once. I'm human after all, of course sometimes I can forget some things too. " She replied, knowing what he was implying to.
" There are things you 'forgot' to mention in the discussion earlier but brought up in our private conversation two weeks ago, " The man pointed out, his tone as calm as ever.
" I'd rather not have Hakuren-san know too much regarding the rest of the story. He doesn't hold his liquor well, and him spilling everything out is the last thing we want to happen. " The magi uttered, enjoying the pleasant feeling of the wind brushing against her face.
" Then, why choose me? You still have Baba-sama to confide into or even Rurumu-san, and plenty of others whom you can trust. Of all people, why me? " Ran whipped her head, facing him with awkwardness and slight embarrassment.
" Well, I'm sorry to say this but, all this time I've always seen you as someone else-someone I truly cherish, to be exact. That's the impression I've been under all this time and I may have... developed, uh, some sort of crush towards you, if it wasn't obvious enough. And because of that, I came to trust you as much as I trusted him in the past. " The girl scratched her cheek, the slight blush on her cheeks now blooming into a full-scale catastrophe across her face.
The former crown prince was stunned for a split second, before replying with an " Oh. "
So in the end, even Ran fell for me. He suppressed a sigh, slightly disappointed at his companion. " Thank you for that... confession, I suppose? But forgive me when I say that I'm currently uninterested in- " Before he managed to finish his sentence, a pair of hands went flying to his mouth.
" Um, I'm just honestly telling you how I've been feeling towards you this whole time, not confessing. So please, don't get the wrong idea of me wanting to enter a relationship with you. " She wrinkled her nose before releasing her hands from his mouth.
" And actually, it's all your fault for resembling him so much, that I almost mistook him for you! " the red-haired maiden chuckled. " But he's no longer here, anyway, so I guess I'm just having a hard time moving on and unconsciously made you into my source of affection. I'm really sorry. " she bowed deeply towards him, showing her sincerity.
The warrior prince simply stayed silent.
She smiled sadly. " I realized that you and him are two different people, with two different personalities and faces. I can't possibly impose his personality on you. Who am I to do so? But thank you for listening to my feelings, Hakuyuu-san, and I see you in a different light now, so there's no need for our relationship to get strained, yes? Just pretend that this never happened, yeah, this never happened at all. " Lifting her head up, she saw Hakuyuu's discontented face.
" Who told you to lift your head up? I never said anything about allowing you to look at me straight in the eye. " The former prince coldly stared at her, his usually warm eyes turned hard. It irked her, a LOT.
" Aah? Playing the prince now, I see. " The maiden darkly retorted, her lips twitching furiously.
He releases a sigh from his lips. " To be honest, I am disappointed in you, Ran. I never thought that my own comrade will fall for me that easily like how those court ladies back in Rakushou used to, " He airily gestured, prompting the girl to fume even further.
" I told you I was sorry! " She protested, puffing her cheeks up.
" And to think that you have better standards, oh, was I so wrong, " He lamented in a teasing tone.
" Hakuyuu-san, please stop it already! You're embarrassing me even further, you know! And I am the better judge of my own standards, thank you very much. " She managed to regain her composure, brushing his snarky comment aside.
" My bad, my bad. It was pretty fun seeing you so riled up, so I thought of trying to bring that side of you out more often. And it's alright, so long as you've realized that. And if you'd like, I'll forget that this ever happened. Nothing happened between us aside from the conversation that is about to take place. " She nods, gazing directly into his eyes, waiting for his consent.
Hesitation was absent from her red orbs, showing her determination to conceal this matter just between the two of them. " Yes, please. What happens in the Tenzan plains, stays here. There's no need for the world to know. "
" If you insist so, " The Ren family's eldest son obliged to the young magi's request, earning a sigh of relief and a look of gratitude from the girl.
" So, what are your plans after all this? " Hakuyuu inquired, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
" Beats me. Everything will go back to the way it was once we return to Reim. " Ran gazed at the dark sky, the stars twinkling like diamonds studded on the length of a fabric.
" No, what I meant was after we managed to defeat Gyokuen. " Silence filled the air between the pair, save for the occasionally rustling grass.
The girl was in deep thought, biting her lower lip. It took her a while before replying to his question.
" After we defeat Gyokuen, huh... " She plucked a blade of grass near her, and blew into it. A shrill sound was produced, and she lifted it away from her lips.
" Once that witch is rid from Kou, the throne will be empty, and you will become the emperor, Hakuyuu-san. Why? " The magi idly played with the grass, before discarding it and letting the wind carry the blade of grass away.
" That is certain, but I was referring to your plans after that, " He stared at her dazed face.
Ran scoffed. " How cocky of you to think like that. Do you think that you will come out of the battle in one piece, or unscathed, even? I'd think twice about that if I were you. This is Ren Gyokuen we are talking about. She's no frail empress; that's just her guise. What lies beneath those layers of robes is a woman far more hideous than anyone can imagine, " Briefly closing her eyes, a slightly perturbed expression crossed the teen's face, causing her nose to scrunch up.
Hakuyuu shot her a confused look. She completely missed his point. " I never said I would be the one to inherit my father's throne. I was implying to the throne when I said 'that is certain'. While it was true that I was heir apparent until almost one-and-a-half year ago, destiny took its course, and here I am, proclaimed dead as I wander among the lands I have yet to explore. Now, any of my brothers and male cousins can occupy the seat on the golden throne, though the females might have a shot at it too- " The former crown prince paused at the sight of her blank face. Ran appeared to be slightly dazed as she was trying to process the information.
She lightly hit his shoulder. " You should've clarified that. I'm making a fool out of myself again because of you, Hakuyuu-san. " She grumbled, her lips forming into a pout.
" You never asked. " He shrugs. " Besides, I thought I made it clear enough when I said 'your plans'. " The man lifts an eyebrow, as realization struck Ran.
" Ah, now I see. I guess I was only half-listening back there. I apologize. " The red head bobbed her head at the man.
" That's alright. Despite your sleepiness you still surprisingly have a clear mind. " The former first prince joked, earning a low growl from her.
" Hakuyuu-san, you're being kinda mean, you know? " The girl weakly protested, rubbing her eyes to keep herself awake.
He chuckled in response. " Me? Mean? I'm simply trying to joke, just don't take it to heart, "
" You're lucky that it was just me. Had it been any kind of sensitive person like- " A memory of her being teased by him flashed through her mind, a bittersweet memory. A somber smile flitted across her lips.
Hakuyuu took note of the silence as her expression soften with a tinge of nostalgia. " Like whom? I don't think you can use Ja'far as an example. The only one who constantly riles him up is you. Apart from that, he is calm and composed towards everyone else. "
" Yeah, until they screw up in their work. That guy has completely no chill when it comes to business affairs. " The magi sighed, recalling a time when she made a mistake in her paperwork and got her ear talked off for the next two hours.
" I swear, even I have to admit that freckles is scary when he's like that. I think I know now why Sin-san chose Ja'far-san to become his right-hand man. He even intimidates his own boss when provoked! " She let out a laugh, imagining poor Sinbad getting scolded by the silver-haired teen.
" Speaking of Sinbad, there's something about him that makes me feel somewhat uneasy. I was wondering if you have felt the same way, " The blue-eyed man inquired, directing his gaze to the vast night sky.
" Hmmm... I'm not sure, but, I know one thing that you shouldn't ever do. " Ran's tone had a subtle warning slipped into it, yet her her face remained nonchalant.
" And that is? "
" Never, ever, reveal your true identities to him. Either that guy will use it for his own merit or he might turn that piece of information against you one day. " She quietly muttered under her breath.
" We share the same sentiment. I can't place my complete trust on him, since he tends to use underhanded methods to attain what he desires. " He softly sighs, stretching his legs forward from its cross-legged position.
" True. Not everyone can be trusted. " Ran nods in agreement, before a knowing smirk crossed the older man's lips.
" Even me? " He questioned, earning an exasperated look from the maiden.
" If I knew you can't be trusted, I would've abandoned you and made you forget about me a long time ago. " She wryly grins, as a small plant sprouted from her index finger.
" True, but I'm sure you wouldn't have the heart to abandon an injured person. " He voice his opinion, eyes glued to the small sprout on the top of her finger.
Humming, she flicked the plant away, causing the sprout to magically plant itself to the ground, instantly growing into a large willow tree. A satisfied expression overtook her facial features.
The magi faced the blue head, her eyes drifting to the space beside his head as she mustered a weak smile. " It depends, actually. If I were to do that, it won't be my first time casting such a spell. "
Silence overtook the atmosphere around them, before Hakuyuu found his voice once again.
" I'm surprised. I never took you as someone who could do such a thing, " He offhandedly remarked, trying to gauge a reaction from the girl.
" I had to. He was only a teen back then; it would've been dangerous if Al-Thamen knew he got into contact with me, " She uttered in a hushed tone, licking her lips.
" If I may ask, how old were you when you did that? And who was this person? Ah, sorry if I'm prying too much, I just think that you are still keeping plenty of things from me and Ren. Don't answer it if you don't wish to. " The former prince immediately apologized as he scratched his right ear.
She noticed the gesture, which was something he rarely did. He was feeling uncomfortable at the moment.
" I was five then, " She replied, yawning softly. " We often played with each other during the length of his stay in the outskirts of my village. I assume that he was someone important-someone... close to the emperor, I guess. " Hakuyuu's face morphed into a curious expression.
" A person close to the emperor? What about his appearance? " At this, creases formed on Ran's forehead as she wracked her brain to find that certain piece of information.
" I don't remember much; what I can recall was that he was merely a teen, and had a fresh scar etched on his back from his shoulder to hip. I can't remember much, as every time I try to do so I'd always get a headache, " Several yawns came between her answers, as the red-haired maiden struggled to keep her eyes open by rubbing them.
Hakuyuu was silent for quite a while, seeming to be in deep thought. It took her calling his name thrice until he finally snapped out of his thoughts.
" Ah, my bad. I was thinking of something. You look sleepy, let's end this here, shall we? We need to return to Reim tomorrow, after all. Can't have you falling asleep halfway throughout the journey. " The former crown prince stood up, and offered his hand to her. She steadily grasped it and hauled herself up.
" You're right. Let's call it a night, then. " As the two walked their way back to their designated ger, a pair of eyes intently followed their movements, before disappearing into the air.
" You'd better be right about this, Falan. I hate wasting my magic for just a baseless prediction, " Ithnan grumbled, finally reaching the destination Falan had told him as to where the princes and that girl might be.
They're hiding here, in the Kouga Clan's territory? They're a clan of horse-riders and are natural-born warriors, thus are often targeted by slavers due to their high value in the slave market. But is there even such a chance that the princes and that girl are taking refuge here? That woman even told me that the oracle is here with them. Unbelievable. The mage rolled his eyes, as he began scanning the area to detect any traces of the girl's presence.
Who was that red-haired brat anyway? I don't think I've met her before our first encounter, yet she seems to know how my magic works. Something about her makes me feel uneasy. And she addressed me in a way that only they know. She couldn't be part of the resistance, that's impossible- His train of thought was halted by a sudden alert of Hakuyuu's rukh lingering nearby.
Ithnan followed the rukh's presence, his line of sight trailing along with it.
His eyes spotted Hakuyuu and the mysterious maiden, sitting side-by-side out in the open as they talked the night away. He didn't find anything unusual about them, until he came slightly closer towards the pair.
Wha- It's her?! Ithnan felt her breath hitch, a sudden surge of magoi pulsed through his veins.
He finally discovered what had been missing. The mask concealing her face was not in place, exposing the girl's face for whole wide world to see.
The memory of Al-Thamen's rebellion unfolded within his mind, once again reminding him of the 8,000 year-old grudge against that man, the one whom that girl selflessly devoted herself to.
" It can't be... Sheba was dead! Not even Arba have sensed her rukh since that time... when she killed that girl with her own two hands-No, wait. Could she perhaps be that child? But it was confirmed that the baby was a son, not a daughter, then perhaps... " As the mage continued talking to himself, an image of Ugo flickered across his mind.
Of course! This must have something to do with that crazy twat; only he would be able to create such... such a similar face to that wretched girl. All of a sudden, the masked man felt a strong presence looming over him, as if it was threatening him to leave.
" Well, now that I've discovered your real identity, you'd better prepare yourselves for another goose chase, brats. This should be enough to satisfy that lunatic of a woman, for now. " That said, Ithnan disappeared into the dark of the night, leaving no trace of him behind.
Baba reopened her eyes, and heaved a long sigh.
" An intruder in my clan's grounds.. and a member of Al-Thamen, no less. " Her attention drifted to the staff in her hand; her wrinkled fingers tracing the carving of the rukh at the tip.
" My dear granddaughter, it looks like you still have a long way ahead of you.. " The aged woman recalled the things the Ran showed her when the girl used Solomon's Wisdom on her.
That child is indeed destined to confront Al-Thamen again in the future. But, why can't I foresee her future? Nor that of the two princes.. The candle that sat on top of the wooden table flickered, gaining Baba's attention, her lips pursed into a tight line.
Something's bound to happen soon.
The sun had barely peeked beyond the horizon when Ran bid her fellow tribesmen farewell, preparing to return to Reim.
" Well then, everyone, we'll be on our way now. Thanks for taking care of us for the past two weeks. " Ran clasped her hands in front of her body, before her eyes landed on Baba walking towards them, with Touya in tow.
Baba gestured her to move closer, and brought her into a hug. It felt truly heartwarming.
" Take care, Ran. And don't forget to drop by and visit us sometimes, alright? " Baba released the girl, ruffling her hair in the process.
" Thank you, baa-san. I promise I'll pay you a visit soon. " Nodding, the elderly woman turned towards Hakuyuu and Hakuren, gesturing towards them to watch over the girl.
Hakuren gave a very slight nod, as Baba hummed in satisfaction, knowing that her granddaughter's safety was guaranteed. Then, her gaze finally landed on Judal and Morgiana, who were standing in front of the two princes.
" Don't give the three of them too much trouble, alright? " Judal simply stuck his tongue out, while Morgiana stoically uttered a "yes".
" It was nice knowing you, Touya-chan. " Ran waved at the young brunette, who shyly returned the gesture.
And with that, they boarded the caravan heading towards Balbadd, the figures of the villagers fading into the background, as they became smaller and smaller, wishing them well for the journey ahead of them.
They were finally returning to Sindria.
" Have all these years finally caught up to you, Ithnan? Back then, I ended her with my own two hands, there is no possible way of reviving the dead. " Gyokuen scoffed as she elegantly took a sip from her porcelain cup, letting the warm liquid slide down her throat slowly.
Said man brushed the empress' subtle insult with a nonchalant shrug. " You call me old, Arba? I think you should have a look at yourself in a- never mind. " The glare she gave him was enough to send chills down his spine.
" So that means you did manage to find them, didn't you? " Falan shook her teacup lightly, watching ripples forming in her tea.
" If I never found them, why would I even bother to report anything? That was a foolish question, Falan. " The masked man scowled, rolling his eyes behind his mask.
Unfortunately for him, that action of his didn't escape the orange head's vision.
" Why you- "
" I believe that is enough, Falan, Ithnan. There is no use bickering among ourselves. Is it true, that girl's face looks exactly like Sheba's? " Gently placing down her cup on the table, Gyokuen raised her sleeve to her face, covering the lower half of her facial features.
" There's no mistaking it. The only things that differ are her hair and eye color. It was darker compared to Sheba's. " Ithnan firmly nodded, tightly clenching his scythe with both hands.
" But that shouldn't even be possible. She returned to the rukh a long time ago, not even Ugo could manipulate the rukh for her to be reborn in this world. Unless... " Falan's eyes widened in realization, as she lifted her gaze to meet Ithnan's, who replied with a smirk plastered on his face.
" You're thinking what I'm thinking, aren't you, Falan? That child is not a boy, but a girl. " Both mages turned towards Gyokuen, who was shaking uncontrollably on her seat, her face hidden behind her garb's long sleeve.
" What is it, Arba? " Falan inquired.
As the empress lowered her sleeve, her face was twisting with amusement, hysterical laughter threatening to break free from her lips.
" Impossible! We all know that their child was a boy, no matter how tempting it is to think otherwise. And there's no way that Sheba would allow her child to survive on its own in this world. Either the child is dead, or it was entrusted to Ugo. This girl is certainly not her sister, but she must be somehow related to that brat, or perhaps, she might be the key to that place! " Gyokuen gleefully uttered, excitement apparent in her voice.
" Right, that place... why didn't I think of it before? " Ithnan rubbed his chin in a contemplative manner.
" Must be getting old, huh. " Falan snickered, sarcasm lying under her sweet tone.
" Won't a day ever get by without the two of you bickering with each other? " Gyokuen sighed, as she took yet another sip from her cup.
As she devoured the hot tea, her lips curled into a devious smirk.
Prepare yourself, little girl, because I will find you soon enough, and this time, you and my sons won't be able to escape.
Dusk came. The sun was beginning to set, its warm rays infiltrating the privacy of his office.
Ja'far sighed. The paperwork never seems to end. And to add it up, that brat hasn't shown any signs of returning now. I hope she'll return as quickly as possible so that pest won't be bothering us any longer. Just then, his ears caught a faint rustling of cloth near his windowsill.
" Yo, snakey. What's up? " The ex-assassin released yet another sigh as he spotted the red-haired girl perching on his windowsill.
Pushing his chair backward with more force than he intended to, the silver head faced the magi with a grim look. " What's up? What's up?! Don't you know that your extended vacation caused us a handful here in Sindria?! There's this guy who's been insisting to meet you for the past few days, and he won't leave unless he gets to meet you. This is the 5th day since he came here, and the sooner you meet him, the better. " Pulling her hand along with him, the girl stumbled slightly before slapping his grip off her wrist.
" I just got back and you had to yell at me. Fine, let's have it your way then! Why is he looking for me? Where did he come from? Don't tell me you let one of those Al-Thamen in, did you? And I can walk on my own, thank you very much. " Walking side-by-side with Ja'far, the two teens butted heads with each other down the hall, earning several comments from the onlookers.
" If it isn't Ja'far-san and Ran-chan. Who could miss their daily squabble? " A chuckle came from one of the male workers.
" Their verbal war is really hard to miss since they're never really quiet about it, " Another worker chimed in, smiling wryly as the two continued to retort to each other's insults while ignoring the rest of them.
" If I haven't known them for quite a while now, I'd mistake them as a pair of quarelling lovers, " That invited the duo's attention, denying their female co-worker's comment in unison.
" We're not! " That earned them another round of laughter from the gathering crowd.
" Who'd want to be your boyfriend? Your childish antics will drive all the men away! " Ja'far snorted, glaring at Ran in a condescending manner.
" Took the words right out of my mouth. Your sadistic tendencies and loyalty to Sin-san will never attract any sane girl! I'd say, they'd probably even think you're abnormal! " That said, Ran and Ja'far continued to fight along the way to the reception room, where the mysterious guest awaits the maiden's arrival.
" Pray tell, are my words that hard to believe? Because doubt is showing on your face, Sinbad-dono. " Sinbad flashed his signature smile at the man, while trying to rearrange his thoughts.
Did he really mean what he said? Ran was really tight-lipped regarding her lineage and past, she wouldn't even open up to Rurumu. I can't simply confirm this on my own. Ran, just where on earth are- His train of thought was cut by the loud slam of the door, followed by two familiar voices.
" I dare you to say that again! " Ran growled, ferociously baring her teeth at the silver head.
" Alright, I'll say it again for you! You're a- " Before he managed to finish his sentence, Ran was immediately swept off her feet, and into the arms of the man clad in black.
" Ran, sweetheart~ I missed you so, so much! " He spun the magi around in the air, catching her off-guard.
Sinbad could feel his jaw dropping to the ground in disbelief. Ja'far mirrored his action, gaping like a fish at the scene the stranger caused.
He called her... sweetheart?! His eyes widened to the size of saucers.
In the background, Mystras spit the tea he was drinking while the porcelain cup in Hinahoho's hand slipped from his grasp, shattered to bits on the ground.
" Hoshiki-san, please let me down. And please don't call me 'darling' or 'sweetheart'. It makes me sick. And still wearing that same old mask, I see. " Ran deadpanned, unamused by the man's actions.
" Sweetheart?! Darling?! " All of them exclaimed, joined by two additional voices.
" Why the hell are you calling my Ran-nee your 'darling'?! I demand an explanation this instant! " Judal childishly stomped his foot, a dark aura surrounding him as he fished his wand out, its ruby tip glinting dangerously under the light.
Yet the man ignored the child's threat, and continued to converse with Ran as if they were the only people in the room.
" Aww, sweetie, there's no need to be shy! Judging from the looks on their faces, you haven't told them about us, have you? " Hoshiki continued, his tone awfully flirty as he let her down.
" Ran-neechan, I thought you were still single. Were you married after all? " Sharrkan casually asked, unknowingly adding more fuel to the fire.
" So we've been staying with a married woman this whole time?! Solomon, is this for real? " Hakuren ruffled his head with both hands, seeming to be in denial.
" Married? I've never heard of this, Ran. Why were you hiding such an important thing this whole time? " Sinbad arched his eyebrow, arms folded on his chest.
" I highly doubt- " Just as Hakuyuu opened his mouth, Ran interrupted him by yelling:
" Stop jumping into conclusions! I never said I was married! Listen to the whole story before deciding to throw your opinions in, you bunch of idiots! "
In the end, each and every on of them received a whack on their heads, Hakuyuu and Hoshiki included.
Afterwards, the children were sent out to play in the company's backyard, with Morgiana trailing behind Judal (who reluctantly left after Ran promised to fill him in with the details), Sharrkan, and Kikiriku, while the rest remained in the room to hear what Hoshiki has to say.
" Oh... So the two of you were acquaintances back in Kou? " Mystras inquired, rubbing the large bump on his head. Ran sure went all-out on them; her strength wasn't something to be made fun of!
" That's right. We met around two years ago, at the outskirts of Rakushou. If memory serves me, he was running away from a bunch of servants in a wild goose chase. Right, Hoshiki-san? " Ran nudged the man's left side, a small smile present on his face.
" So you do know him, " Ja'far nonchalantly remarked, lifting his teacup to his lips.
" Well, what do you think, genius? " Ran snappily retorted, rolling her eyes.
" Hey, hey, you're a girl, don't be so crude. Anyways, they were pestering me regarding some marriage offer, so I pleaded you to let me hide inside your cottage. It worked for a while, though eventually they found me, so I had to go back. " He patted her head, before Hakuren abruptly stood up from his seat.
" Wait a minute. I think I've seen you before. That gesture is somehow familiar... where have I seen that before, huh.. Ah! You're that fishy mask guy! The one who's always around Haku-Mmphh! " Hakuyuu's hand immediately covered Hakuren's mouth, preventing his younger brother from blurting out anything that will reveal their true identities.
" Haku? " Sinbad parroted, while Ja'far tensed ever so slightly, careful not to alert the rest.
I hope Yuuichi-san will do something to cover Rentei-san's blunder. The ex-assassin warily glanced at the older blue-haired man.
" Now that you mention it, Rentei, you do look somewhat familiar. You're.. Hoshiki, correct? " Releasing his hand from Hakuren's mouth, Hakuyuu meticulously eyed the cloaked man, wracking his brain as he tried to recall if they had ever crossed each other's paths.
The man, in return, threw him an impassive look; his sharp, ringed ruby eyes filled with warning as they bore straight into the former first prince's eyes.
We'll settle this later. Was what his eyes told Hakuyuu.
" If you are trying to court someone with that line, that seriously sucks, dude. That was so old-fashioned and corny! Gals these days would want something more interesting, something that makes their heart race-wait, that's not what I'm here for. " He abruptly stopped himself by clearing his throat, and proceeded to removing the hood covering his face.
" Anyway, I have no idea what you are talking about. This is the first time I have seen you, young sirs, and you might have mistook me for someone else. " Hoshiki then faced the red-haired maiden, his hand reaching for the ribbon securing his mask in place behind his head, which conceals his facial features.
" Say, Ran. What do you think is the reason that I suddenly came here to find you? "
Said girl shook her head as her brows furrowed, curiosity apparent on her face. " Honestly, I couldn't tell. It's been two years since we've last seen each other, and I reckon that there is nothing else between us, apart from the fact that I helped you temporarily escape your arranged marriage. I assume you have another favor to ask of me? And are you taking off that mask? You said it was for safety reasons! Even I have never seen your face back then, "
A smile played on his lips as the knot came loose. " Not quite, but my intention isn't that far-fetched from your guess. It's more of a plea, I guess. " He shrugged playfully.
" And true, I had my reasons for not showing my face to you back then. More of, I wasn't certain if you were the girl I was searching for. My real identity has something to do with this face, so I do hope you are ready for a surprise. " The moment her village's familiar dialect hit her ears, Ran simply couldn't believe what she was hearing. Not to mention that Hoshiki's visage is exactly that of her father's and Aki's, it convinced her all the more that she was indeed dreaming.
Her breath hitched as she tried to open her mouth and speak. " Survivors? No, that's impossible. No one survived the genocide, apart from Aki and myself. Grandma's letter proved that. But how are you able to use our dialect? And that your face looks so similar to Dad and Aki, are you a family member? " The magi replied in the same language, her tone faltering as she has yet to overcome the shock from seeing Hoshiki's full visage. It's been a long time since she last spoken in her dialect, to the point it felt very foreign to her own tongue.
" What language are the two of you speaking? It isn't familiar at all, " Mystras tilted his head, slightly confused at the words exchanged between the two.
" I'm not familiar with this language either. This is my first time hearing it, actually. " Sinbad admitted, a disgruntled expression plastered on his face.
" It's a dialect from a region in the east of Kou. " Hakuyuu calmly replied, followed by a set of 'ooh's and 'ahh's from the two.
" That's what you're paying attention to?! Look at that guy's face! It looks exactly like Judal's ! " Ja'far yelled, gaining the three's attention.
" I was already in Rakushou prior to the tragedy. I truly know nothing of it. I only heard what an acquaintance told me. I came form the same village as you do. The rest can wait. Besides. these men deserve to know about it too. Judging from their expressions, it looks like you've barely told them anything about yourself. " Winking at her, the man turned around to face the rest of the meeting's participants.
And she wasn't the only one unnerved by the sudden bombshell that Hoshiki dropped.
" Wha- Judal?! " Sinbad suddenly jumped from his seat, rubbing his eyes repetitively to make sure he wasn't dreaming. A grown-up Judal suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and is standing right in the middle of the meeting room!
" What?! How?! Why?! When?! Who exactly are you?! Oh my Solomon, is this for real?! " Mystras' eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets, with how his hazelnut-colored orbs grew to the size of saucers.
" How slow can those two be? They're such idiots sometimes, " Hakuren muttered, sighing as he shook his head.
" Don't mention it. I often experienced second-hand embarrassment in public because of them. " Ja'far grumbled, sipping his tea.
" Wait a second... I've heard several rumors regarding someone who looks like Judal, I think his name was.. Saino Fugu... or something. " Hinahoho rubbed his chin in a contemplative manner, brows furrowing deeply.
" It's Saijou. Saijou Yuzuru, at your service~ " The raven head replied instantly, pointing to himself.
" So this means you and that kid Judal are related by blood? Their faces says it all, but you might just be half-siblings or something. " Hinahoho remarked, rubbing his chin contemplatively.
Sinbad noticed, that the Sei brothers, on the other hand, were coping up with the sudden revelation well enough. Even the rash Rentei was behaving calmly this time.
They must know something about this man, or possibly even acquainted to him prior to joining my company. And Saijou Yuzuru is by any means, not an ordinary person. I'll have to look up on it later. Who knows, he might even be willing to help us expand all the way to Kou. Grinning to himself, Sinbad didn't realize he was spacing out until Ja'far roughly pinched his cheek.
" Ouch! That hurt, Ja'far! " Sinbad wailed, faking his tears.
" You're the head of this company! So stop daydreaming about women and start paying attention! " The young man growled, returning back to his seat.
" So this was the reason you were hiding your face all along, Saijou. You two are indeed related. " Hakuyuu spoke out of the blue, cool as a cucumber.
" I never knew that even Judal would have siblings. Or for that sibling to be you, specifically. But that aside, even if he is related to Judal, what does it have to do with Ran? I don't see any connection between these two, " Hakuren mumbled to himself, throwing questioning glances towards Hoshiki's direction.
" I wasn't finished. As Ran may or may not have told you, she isn't actually an only child. She has a younger brother named 'Aki'; the sole survivor of Al-Thamen's genocide in a village located in the East of Kou 9 years ago. " Judal's look-alike elaborated, earning several doubting looks.
" How did you even know about those things? I don't recall telling you anything about them. " Ran flatly inquired, slightly irritated that her acquaintance of 2 years was bringing up her past all of a sudden.
" If they'd wait for you to tell them, chances are you're never going to do so. I'm doing you the honor of story-telling here, so just sit back and hear me out. " Clearing his throat, the carmine-eyed man continued speaking, as the others listened intently to his story.
" That 'Aki' is the Judal you know. He was kidnapped from his own village and the rest were annihilated by that wretched organization. Basically, that was how he ended up in the palace; Al-Thamen brought him up only to fulfill their own goals-but that would be for another day. " Hoshiki's hand reached for his tea, as he savored the liquid in two gulps.
Placing down the cup, he spoke once again. " Anyways, back to the topic, Aki, or Judal, if you're more comfortable with it, isn't Ran's only sibling. You see, her parents had another child before her, and named him 'Jin'. He, too, like Judal, was kidnapped from his village and taken to Rakushou. There, the two-year-old child was adopted by Saijou Kuzuryu, Rakushou's most renowned blacksmith, as his heir, since his wife did not bear him any male child. That child gained another name after his coming-of-age ceremony, and now he is known as 'Saijou Yuzuru'. "
Mystras lifted his head from his hand, blurting out a speculation. " And your point is... that child is you? "
" Exactly! I'm Ran and Judal's older bro- " Before Saijou could finish his sentence, he immediately found himself flat on the ground, with Ran sitting on top of his back, her expression dark.
" I don't believe it. " She quietly muttered, her crimson bangs overshadowing her eyes.
" Why not? Aren't you glad that you now have two siblings instead of one? " Hinahoho questioned, his eyebrows slightly raised.
" I only have one younger brother, and that is Judal. I've never recalled Mom, Dad, or Grandmother mentioning you to me or anyone else. And besides.. " Her voice rose an octave higher, and her hands shook uncontrollably fast. Her grip on Saijou's arms became loose.
The man himself took this chance to pull his arms away, and reveal a mark on his right wrist. " They might not have, but I have solid proof that I am part of the White Egret tribe. "
It was the exact same symbol that was engraved on her right wrist when she was five. An orchid with a ruby in the middle, and the symbol of the eight-pointed star encircling the flower.
" No way... " The magi became even more dejected, as she rubbed her right wrist with her thumb in circles, and stood up, her head hug low.
Ja'far initiatively approached the girl, the opportunity to make fun of her laid open and wide in front of him. " What, brat? Still can't accept that Hoshiki's your brother because he's actually Saijou Yuzuru? Or is it- " The freckled teen then caught the maiden's expression, which made him pause in the middle of his words.
Ran fell silent. Her expression was a mixture of anger and confusion, and she was mumbling rapidly under her breath.
But unfortunately for her, the ex-assassin's ears caught every word she uttered.
He would've made fun of her, if only the things she was talking doesn't concern her personal affairs.
" I need some fresh air to clear my head. I'm leaving, " The muddleheaded girl stood up from her seat, yet to recover from the blush decorating her face.
" But I still have some things to discuss with you, Ran! Don't leave your poor brother alone with these beasts, will you? " Saijou cutely pouted, to which Ran replied with a deadpan and a flat smile.
" That's exactly why I can leave. I have you to discuss these matters with them. Right, onii-san? " That said, Ran quietly left the room, a lifeless expression plastered on her face. It startled anyone who passed by her in the hallway, causing even Masrur to fret over her.
Meanwhile, back in the meeting room, tension rises as each man was drowned in their own thoughts.
Saijou Yuzuru was the first one to call it off by clearing his throat.
" I believe that's enough of the drama. I will now explain my real intention of coming here to your company, Sinbad-dono. " Sinbad nods, urging the raven head to continue.
" Finally! I almost ran out of snacks watching while watching them earlier, " Mystras not-so-quietly whispered to Hinahoho, who downed his tea in one gulp.
" Thank goodness someone finally spoke up! The full-blown tension almost killed me in my seat, " The Imuchakk native sighed, and directed his gaze to Ja'far.
Said boy was still stunned by Ran's actions earlier, and robotically headed back towards his seat, only to hit a pillar once and got jabbed one of the coffee table's legs on his knee.
" It's high time you told us. No son of Saijou Kuzuryu would just drop by in Reim to fool around, " Hakuren sneered, and got elbowed by Hakuyuu on his side.
" Mind your manners, Ren. You're not a child anymore. " His older brother warned him as the man himself hissed in pain.
" But I'm still a kid at heart, " He tried to protest, but to no avail.
" I hate to admit that you're wrong, this is what you can call a business trip, young sir. Obviously, I'm here to collect my sister and younger brother and bring them somewhere safe. " All eyes went to Saijou's direction, as a satisfactory smile made its way to his lips.
" Good, it looks like I've caught all of your attention. I'll start with... "
Ran had brought the children to her and Masrur's secret hideout: a forest surrounded by lush greenery and a lake, and plenty of space where the children can run around and play to their heart's content. While she, on the other hand, wanted to find a quiet place where she can clearly sort her thoughts, yet her mind drifted off to Hoshiki-no, Saijou Yuzuru, her... brother.
If he had always been there all along, then why didn't he make any attempt to rescue Aki? Or even tried contacting me at the least? She brought her hands to cup her cheeks, a frown present on her lips.
The other three; Sharrkan, Morgiana, and Masrur were already playing tag with each other, yet the small raven head insisted on accompanying her rather than playing with the kids.
" They're just boring! I want someone more exciting to play with! " He said, and Ran just let him sit beside her, perching on top of a sturdy tree branch.
" Ran-nee! Are you okay? Are you sick? You look kinda like those stupid palace ladies who wear too much make-up, you look pale. " Ran snapped out of her thoughts the moment Judal waved his hand in front of her face.
" Ah, I... I'm fine, Ju-kun, no worries. " She smiled, yet Judal didn't find it convincing.
Suddenly, the boy places his small hand on his sister's forehead, trying to detect any signs of fever from the contact.
" No fever.. then what is it? Is Ren or Yuu bugging you? Or is it that purple-haired pervert or his snake attendant? Or! Or is it that masked guy? He looks like a creep, so yeah! I'm going to beat him up, Ran-nee, just you wait! " The boy pumped his fist, determination burning in those carmine orbs.
" Nah.. I was just... thinking. " She whipped her head towards Judal's direction.
" Say, Ju-kun, " It caught his attention, as the smaller magi looked up at her with curiosity.
" What's up, Ran-nee? " He tilted his head, anticipating Ran's next words.
" If you had an older brother and sister, what would you do if they suddenly appear in front of you, and tell that they are your siblings? " For a moment, the boy seemed to be in deep thought, as he rubbed he propped his head onto both of his hands, his elbows digging into his thighs.
" I'll get them to spar with me! My sister and brother must be strong people, if not, then they are not my siblings! " The boy haughtily replied, a feral grin spread across his face. But then, his face warped into that of realization.
" But come to think of it, those idiots told me that I don't have siblings, or parents. I honestly don't care, so I never bothered asking. " The carmine-eyed child shrugged, swinging his legs to and fro.
" Then, what will you do if I told you.. that I'm your sister and Hoshiki-san is your big brother? " For the longest time, silence reigned between them.
Ran bit her lip. While Judal seemed to be fond of her, she wasn't sure how he'd react to the current situation. If he could accept her as his sister.
" Are you... serious about it? " His voice was barely above a whisper, and the girl herself would've missed it if not for her sharp ears.
She gulped. " Yeah, I am. "
In an instant, she felt a pair of arms wrapped around her waist, and looked down to see Judal's elated face, beaming with joy.
" I can't believe that Ran-nee's my sister. This is too good to be true, even better than seeing people falling for my pranks and having a whole-year supply of peaches! " Releasing his hands, Judal pumped his fist into the air.
" You believe me? I thought you'd hate me for not telling you right away when we met, " A wry smile crept up to her lips, and she proceeded to blow on her fringe to the side of her face.
" Now that you mention it, I would be. That's how I normally act, anyway. " The younger magi lifted his wand, its ruby tip shimmering slightly.
As Ran's eyes followed the boy's line of view, she noticed that he was using gravity magic to pluck two peaches from its tree, ordered the rukh to bring it to him.
" Hey, you're going to get fat if you keep using magic without any exercise, " The teen chided her younger sibling, a disapproving look present in her eyes.
" Will not! I'm going to have guns when I grow up! " He retorted, handing one of the peaches to her.
She thanked him, and they both took a bite of the fruit. The flesh was a bit sour, and harder to chew compared to Kou's peaches.
" Not as good as Kou's, huh? " Ran chuckled at Judal's soured expression. The boy shook his head and stuck his tongue out, making his sister laugh harder.
" These are way inferior to Kou's peaches! They're the best I've ever had in my whole life! Even the ones from the marketplace taste better than this fruit you call 'peach' here, " The oracle of Kou complained, puffing his cheeks.
" Well, you plucked them off, so finish the whole fruit. Don't even think about wasting the peach by throwing it away. " The red-eyed maiden chastised, elliciting a groan from the raven head.
" Ran-nee! " He whined, but she remained firm with her decision.
" No buts, finish the peach. I'm doing the same, so you shouldn't complain either. " The older magi bit a particularly large chunk of the peach, chewing slowly with her teeth.
Silence ensues, the only noise that could be heard was the sound of their munching, and occasional breezes passing by.
" Say, Ran-nee, " After a while, Judal broke the silence between them.
He finally managed to finish his peach, licking its excess juice off his fingers to clean them.
" Yeah? What is it, Aki? " She regarded him with a gentle tone, a smile playing on her lips.
It somehow felt different; even though Judal frequently hears his sister calling him with the name Al-Thamen gave him, he felt warm when Ran referred to him as "Aki". He felt like he was finally "home".
A wide grin unknowingly overtook his face.
" Is that idiot Hoshiki really our brother? It's more believable to hear you say snake is your boyfriend or that you are friends with Kouen, although I think that the latter is pretty impossible, so yeah. In short, is that guy really our brother? " The child skeptically inquired, as the girl released an exasperated sigh.
" I can't believe it either, " As they faced each other, both of them sighed.
" With his jokester personality, I can't take his words seriously in a situation like this, " Ran and Judal said in unison, watching as Sharrkan was being chased by both Morgiana and Masrur.
Masrur thought long and hard about this. He didn't have any siblings, and was the only Fanalis left in the world.
That is, until Morgiana arrived in Sin's company today.
He stared at her from head to toe, before locking eyes with the skinny girl. She seemed to be timid, as she hid behind Ran's baggy pants when she introduced her to him.
" Masrur! She's a Fanalis too, so now you're not alone anymore~ " The older female cheerfully said, as Morgiana found herself being pushed towards Masrur.
" My name is Masrur. " He stoically introduced himself, staring right into the girl's red orbs.
" I-I'm... Morgiana. Please take care of me, Masrur-san, " She bowed deeply, eyes not daring to look up at him.
When he saw her, it was like he saw a reflection of the old him, before Sinbad had freed him and his friends from slavery.
A sudden urge to protect the girl bubbled within the older Fanalis.
And Sharrkan just had to pop up behind Ran, examining Morgiana's features.
" Hm? Who's this pretty little girl? Did you bring her back, Ran-neechan? " The tanned boy inquisitively asked, circling Morgiana.
" Yes, I did. She's a lovely girl, isn't she? " The mage giggled, causing Morgiana to blush.
" I.. I'm not p-pretty, I.. " She was at loss for words, her blush reddening under the intense gazes coming from Sharrkan and Morgiana.
Masrur instinctively wrapped his arms around Morgiana's body and head, blocking half of her body from their sight.
" Ran-neechan is allowed to look, but you're not allowed, senpai. You'll influence her with your bad habits. " The boy proclaimed, as Sharrkan lets out an indignant huff.
" Whatever, I like grown women, okay? This girl can't even hold a candle to the girl I like! " In a flash, Sharrkan found himself lying on the ground, clutching his side. The jab was courtesy of Masrur, of course.
" I'm going to keep her. " He had a determined look on his eyes, not giving Morgiana up without a fight.
" Yea, sure, whatever. Can we go to Ran-nee's secret place? Mushy dramas and reunions aren't my style, " Judal suddenly appeared by the window, his chubby arms folded on his chest.
He shook his head. So much for a family reunion.
Morgiana noticed this, and approached her "older brother".
" Masrur-niichan, are you okay? " Her head was slightly tilted to the side, a cute frown present on her face.
He felt like wanting to protect her even more.
" No, senpai there is being an idiot again, so let's chase him away, okay? " The girl seemed to be confused at his words, so he simply instructed: " Let's play tag with senpai. "
Oh, the gleam in her eyes was precious, and how priceless Sharrkan's expression had been as he was freaking out when the two started chasing him around the orchard.
" I never expected for the two of you to end up in Reim, of all places. And in Sindria Trading Company, no less! " Saijou Yuzuru scoffed, an amused expression plastered on his face.
" Took the words right our of my mouth. Neither did we expect you to be Ran's brother, of all people. " Hakuren snidely remarked, leaning against the door.
" Well, if you disregard the fact that I am Saijou Kuzuryu's adopted heir, I'm nothing but the son of a farmer in the east of Kou. " The man shrugged his shoulders, his tone light and playful.
" And your point? I reckon that everything is settled with the discussion earlier. " Hakuyuu stated in a matter-of-factly manner, eyes showing no room for jests.
" I'm just saying that it's good to see the both of you alive and kicking, " The carmine-eyed man plainly stated, huffing loudly.
" If this is the reason why you called the both of us to meet you in private, I'd better be off with my work. " Hakuren dissed, raising both arms up as he stood up and headed towards the door.
" Ah, that. You see, I know that my sister is an incredibly shrewd and intelligent young lady; so I assume that she definitely has her own agenda as to willlingly aid you like this. " The Saijou heir's words strung a chord within Hakuyuu.
" I beg your pardon? " That elicited a chuckle from Saijou heir.
" I'll be frank with this; as kind as she is, no sane person would be willing enough to help two 'fugitives' of the Kou Empire, especially when they're proclaimed 'dead'. " Yuzuru quoted using his fingers, his eyes cold.
" So- " Hakuren was about to rebuke, but was interjected by Ran's brother.
" Ah ah, let me finish what I have to say first, " The man tutted, as Hakuren leaned back against the wooden door.
" Continuing from I left off, this leads to countless threats aimed at the both of you and her. And that is something I can no longer allow. Simply put, I want Judal and Ran to be under my care. " And just then, the door slammed open, which caught Hakuren by surprise as he lost his balance and fell down unceremoniously to the floor.
" I hate to break it to you, onii-san, but neither of us is leaving with you. " Ran stepped into the room with Judal trailing behind her.
" Ran-nee's right! If she's not leaving, then I won't either! " The boy nodded, pointing his wand at his brother.
" I have all necessary means to protect the both of you, if that's what you're concerned with. Besides, isn't it better to live in peace compared to constantly being pursued by Al-Thamen? " The man suggested, a smile creeping onto his lips.
" I'd rather spend those days being chased by Al-Thamen rather than having to play 'dress up' and sitting beautifully inside a gilded cage every single day. And please do not spread false rumors about me; I absolutely have no ulterior motives in helping the two princes. We simply share the same enemy, that is all. " The older magi boldly uttered, her gaze not faltering even once.
Her older brother hummed. " But still, I can't completely trust you in their hands. I've had enough family members lost from Al-Thamen's raid on our village. I only have the two of you left now, and I'm obligated to protect my younger siblings. It's part of mom and dad's will. " Saijou sharply eyed his younger brother and sister, so sharp that even Judal had flinched slightly under his gaze.
On the sidelines, Hakuyuu and Hakuren were watching as Ran and Saijou Yuzuru exchanged blows, their head whipping to and fro (especially Hakuren), not wanting to miss a single word.
But his sister remained firm. " I don't care if you are obligated to take care of us or even if it's part of our parents' will. By saying that you're going to take care of us, you're taking our freedom away. I still wish to travel around the world, not ending up with a marriage partner. "
" I never said you were restricted from traveling. " The Saijou heir arched his eyebrows.
" Within Rakushou, that is. " The maiden snorted. " I kindly appreciate your effort, Onii-san, but I'm not changing my mind any time soon. Well, at least until this matter is settled in its place and returned to normal, " She folded her arms to her chest.
A smirk formed on Yuzuru's lips. " Sweetheart, you do know from your experience that this brother of yours won't back down so easily, don't you? "
Judal growled possessively as he clung to Ran's pants. " Stop calling my nee-chan your 'sweetheart'! "
" Oh my, jealousy issues, is it? Well, sorry to inform you, kid, but before she was your nee-chan, she my cute imouto-chan first, " The older raven head drawled, riling his younger brother even more.
" You big jerk! " Judal yelled, royally pissed by Yuzuru.
" You were saying? " Ran, on the other hand, was patiently waiting for Yuzuru's proposition.
" How about we make a bet? I'll give you one year to prove that you are capable of fending for yourself and our little brother. If you win, I'll let you follow them to the ends of earth. But if I win, there will be no compromises. The two of you will be leaving with me and that is final. " A solemn look spread across the young woman's face, before she lifted her head, a confident grin replacing her contemplative expression.
" You're on. After all, the nickname, 'Ran the lucky star' is not just for show. " Sealing the deal with a handshake, Yuzuru tried to pull his younger sister into a hug, only to receive a smack on his cheek.
It's still a long way to go until the three can form a proper sibling bond among themselves and interact like normal siblings.
Okay! So this is the end of the chapter! There are some things I want to clarify regarding the chapter's contents:
Saijou Yuzuru: He's the baby 'Jin' that got kidnapped in the chapter "Distant memories of the past"! Kudos to those who have guessed it right. He basically looks exactly the same as Judal save for his hairstyle and a more well-developed body. He's two years older than Ran, which makes him eight years older than Judal. Yuzuru is kind of like Sai from Naruto with his sharp tongue but is more lively and even more of a prankster than that demure Sai HAHA
And there's another trivia: I took his given name from Hanyu Yuzuru XD If you don't know who he is, then google it XP
Ran's 'not confession": Okay, I never thought that the story would end up going in that direction, but I followed what my heart told me to do XD At least it's better compared to seeing Ran and Hakuyuu suddenly having a cold war out of nowhere (that was how the story almost turned out) which took me more than seven revisions to come up with a chapter that doesn't end up with them quarreling with each other :'D
Masrur and Judal's overprotective tendencies: Yep, having a female sibling really changes their personality.
Hakuyuu constantly joking: At first, he seems like the straight-laced type to me. But then, I guess his personality was slightly warped due to the presence of 'something' within him *if you know what I mean*
The White Egret tribe: It's a tribe from the Ancient world of Alma Torran. Back then, Sheba freed them from the influence of the control towers, and in return, the Egret tribe was ultimately loyal to the magi. It is said that members of this tribe and their descendants have special eye abilities, with each member possessing a different type of ability. There is only a small chance of an egret tribe member having the same ability as a fellow tribe member.
And it's time for the A/N section!
Now then, I realized that I have been completely irresponsible for neglecting this fanfic for almost 4 months or so. I have to deeply apologize to all of you readers for that. One thing that all of us can't deny is that things don't always happen the way we want it to be. And with all the things that have been happening for the earlier half of the year (my father's passing, a failed confession, and dealing with heartbreak over the summer), I just don't feel like I have the will to continue writing. A completely-packed schedule might be part of the reason, but I know that just that wouldn't be able to stop me from updating this story. Hell, I started writing this story when I was in the middle of taking my UN exams last year XD I was even thinking of abandoning this fanfic for good. I'm really, really sorry for even having those thoughts cross my mind. I'm a bad writer, really, for even having the thought to drop what I started just barely past a year ago :'(
You can berate me all you want, but I just felt that I needed to get away from writing. It reminds me too much of my dad and my family situation, so I ended up taking a 4-month hiatus. Really sorry guys. And by the way, I'm having my IGCSE exams later this month and in early November, so I can't guarantee you when I can have my next update, since I'll be leaving for Thailand in two weeks and they ain't havin' any wi-fi in the middle of a forest X'D
So in the end, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for the next update! See you soon! (^0^)/