Ren was almost late (again) for her second day of examination, Erisa having to wake her up once more. When Ren had failed to emerge on time Erisa had presumed the girl had overslept, just like the previous day, and went to knock on her door, a similar chaos soon occurring behind it.

And whilst Erisa had been correct in her presumptions, Ren's lie in was for more reasons than just her inclination to sleep till noon. When Ren had returned her mind was still buzzing with Cynthia's words, digging themselves deeper and deeper into her mind, lodging themselves there and refusing to let Ren get any sleep. It was only because of sheer exhaustion that Ren finally managed to pass out in the early hours of dawn.

Fortunately, Ren had awoken with a clear head, the poisonous thoughts pushed far back into the recesses of her mind, forgotten for now. Though, the panic of running late may have also helped her forget the trio's words.

As she raced through the palace gates the two guards waved and smiled, calling out a quick "Good morning!" to her, as Ren had paused for only a split second to show her permission slip before moving on. The guards noted a little humorously that she was once again cutting it fine as she hurriedly returned their greeting; for it was Kai and Shirra who were on duty again, and they were still quietly rooting for Ren.

Once she had arrived at the palace and her panicked, thumping heart had calmed down, Ren spent the morning wandering the grounds, collecting her lunch from Sakuro at the kitchen door; the shouts of the old hag were easily discernible among the clanging pots and pans inside.

There is way too much stress around for this time of morning, Ren thought.

Having collected her provisions, Ren eventually came to a small courtyard with a low surrounding wall. There were a few trees scattered around the outer edges of the courtyard, one large clump providing some shade in the far corner, but the rest of the area was bathed in the warm rays of the midday sun.

Ren decided to sit on the section of wall that was shaded by the trees, relaxing as she ate her lunch and enjoying the warmth and stillness of the day. As she ate, she went over the steps she would have to take in the forge that evening to create a dagger, and noticed that Sakuro had managed to sneak in some chicken for her today.

I'll save that for later, Ren thought with a smile.

Full and content, Ren laid down on the low wall with her knees up, one leg crossed over the other and her hands behind her head. She closed her eyes and her elevated foot swayed slightly, every limb relaxing as she began to doze off.

The melodic chirps of birds and the soft rustling of leaves reminded her of home, and even the joyous laughter of some passers-by reminded her of her village, far, far away in the East.

Ren's already nostalgic memories were shattered, however, when one of those passers-by noticed her.

"Oh look, it's the peasant scum."

Tama and Rai were now laughing at Cynthia's comment, and Ren could practically hear the devilish smirks that graced all their lips. She tensed and took a deep breath. The trio made their way towards her.

However, they were once again faced with closed eyes and blatant disregard.

"Can't you hear me, peasant?"

"I'm speaking to you."

"I know you're not asleep so answer me!"

…Nothing. Not even a twitch.

The silence was broken only by Cynthia's now heavy breathing.

"Someone," Cynthia said, fists clenching and teeth grinding, "Needs to teach you a lesson in manners!"

With that Cynthia's foot rose high into the air, rushing down and aiming for Ren's shoulder in the hopes of knocking her off the wall, Ren's eyes still sealed shut and unaware of-

But Cynthia's journey was cut short.

A lightly scarred hand was wrapped around Cynthia's ankle, and the shocked group looked up from the arm that had struck out, all the way to Ren's face; her eyes were now open, but the group wished they weren't.

The piercing glare was aimed towards Cynthia, but the deep, swirling pools of brown still managed to send chills down Tama and Rai's necks. Only Ren's arm had moved, and she had stopped Cynthia's foot just inches from her shoulder. She hadn't even flinched.

The trio were stunned by Ren's reflexes, as none of them had even seen her arm move from behind her head; but it clearly had, and they stood dumbly like kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Cynthia recovered first from her shock.

"Let go off me you imbecile!" She screamed like a banshee, "How dare you touch me! I will have your head for this! My father will not stand for it!" Her frantic screams continued as she futilely tried to free herself from Ren's grasp, pulling at her ankle and leaning backwards.

Eventually Ren released the girl, rolling her eyes at the dramatics and returning to her relaxed position once more. But before she closed her eyes she saw Cynthia stumble backwards from the sudden change in resistance, and a small smirk graced Ren's otherwise expressionless face.

The banshee-like screams had drawn the attention of the four people residing in a study which faced the courtyard. It was a grand study with a large balcony, several floors above the courtyard, and yet the screams were easily heard in the quiet room. All four heads turned towards the sound, and varying expressions of confusion and concern could be found on Prince Zen and his aide's faces. They all silently agreed and went out onto the balcony, where they could just about hear the conversation below:

"You were the one who was going to kick me off this wall." Ren said, her calm exterior back as she nonchalantly shrugged; as easily as you can whilst laying down, that is.

"You have no respect." Rai said, his brows furrowed and shaking his head slowly, as though he couldn't quite believe it.

Ren simply shrugged again; she felt as though the air had become stiller during their exchange, like the stuffy atmosphere before a thunderstorm. The group on the balcony felt it too, but having heard very little of the conversation below, they couldn't feel the same tension and sense of dread that she did.

"Who are they? They don't look like any of the palace staff." Zen asked curiously as he lent on the balcony's railing.

Kiki answered, "They're probably candidates for becoming the Court Blacksmiths Apprentice. They've been given access to nearly the whole of Wistal Palace."

"And my brother agreed to that?" Zen said a little incredulously, turning his head towards her.

"It would appear that way, yes." Kiki replied. The group's attention fell back onto those below.

"You'll never be a Court Blacksmith." Cynthia's onslaught continued, and Ren tensed with every word, "In fact, I'm surprised they let you into the city, let alone into the palace, dressed in those tattered old rags and that ridiculous cloak. You must be pretty delusional if you think some peasant scum like you, a nobody from nowhere, could even dream of-"

"Enough." It was barely a whisper, just a harsh breath released from Ren's lips; but it was still a warning, one that went unheeded.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Cynthia mocked, standing tall and proud, her grey eyes shining in delight, "You don't belong here. So why don't you just give up now? Run home before it's too late and-"

All of the pressure that had been building up seemed to be released at once, and the air itself appeared to crackle with energy, so much so that all who were there would swear to their graves that they saw it dancing in the humid, still air. And they would also swear that despite the midday sun shining brightly above them, a dark cloud loomed over that courtyard; a storm that could no longer be held back.

"No," Ren said. She was now standing, having moved just as quickly as before, and was mere inches away from her tormentor, "You shouldn't be surprised, Cynthia." She said the other girls name in a sickly sweet tone, and each could feel the others hot breath on their faces, "Status and rank don't matter, it's a test of skill. If it were a test of personality however… well, you wouldn't be let anywhere near the city, let alone the palace."

The energy in the air seemed to spark around them like lightning, but they continued to stare at one another, neither backing down; earth brown and slate grey, battling it out, unaware of the world around them.

Ren stared down at the shorter girl, whose beauty and piercing stare were rooting her to the ground against her will. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Cynthia's fists clench, and she could only hope her stare were doing the same; it was, for despite Cynthia's fury she found she could not move, nor look away, and it was maddening.

"You're lucky it's not." Ren then continued passionately, saying, "I know so many people of 'lower' status who are so much kinder, so much more selfless and generous. No qualities you seem to possess. So why don't you go torment some of the puppies in the Kennels, I'm sure you'll feel right at home in there."

The two girls were so close their noses almost touched; Cynthia could see the green flecks around Ren's irises and the slight crook in her nose, whilst Ren could see Cynthia's irises dilate and how her breath would ever so slightly move her sweeping fringe. The air was still thick and heavy. None of the onlookers dared to even breathe for fear of what the two young women would do next, not even the group on the balcony. They were all shocked by Ren's passionate outburst.

But there was another storm which could not be contained.

Cynthia lunged for Ren with a strangled cry, her nails flashing like talons. But her friends were quicker and restrained her, each holding back an arm, stances wide as they struggled to hold onto a storm, pulling her back inch by inch.

Their noses had briefly touched during that enraged lunge, but Ren continued to stand unflinchingly, staring the storm in the face.

She watched as Cynthia kicked and screamed, digging her feet into the earth below her as her friends tried desperately to pull her out of the courtyard. She had a snarl on her porcelain face and Ren could see both of her wide, mad grey eyes as she tossed her head about, the howls forever piercing the courtyard; it was a miracle no one came running to investigate.

Cynthia reminded Ren of a vengeful goddess in that very moment, like she would destroy the world if it meant getting her revenge on one puny mortal; and Ren supposed that was all she was to Cynthia, a being of lower status than she.

"You are worthless!" she screeched, "You will never amount to anything! Not here, not anywhere!"

Cynthia's vengeful promises finally faded away, long after she had disappeared from sight, and Ren was once again alone in the courtyard.

Her fists clenched by her sides, her knuckles turning white and nails threatening to cut her palms, but the storm was gone. Ren's whole body slumped, and to those on the balcony it seemed as though she was defeated, no strength left to hold herself up with.

Ren was only just beginning to remember Cynthia's words from the previous day when-

Achoo!

The gigantic sneeze echoed throughout the courtyard, and Ren's head snapped up to the source; the balcony up above.

All froze as they stared at each other, eyes wide. And whilst the metaphorical storm had vanished, the first grey clouds of rain were beginning to form in the sky above.

As Ren stared the only thing she could make out was the colour of her watchers hair, and as the clouds gathered, the last rays of the midday sun illuminated that balcony.

When the first drops of rain began to fall however, Ren's eyes widened in panic at the realisation of witnesses to her defeat. Embarrassed she spun on her heel, flicking up the hood of her cloak and vaulting over the low wall, grabbing her bag of provisions as she went and fleeing into the dark shadows of the trees.

There was a long silence and then:

"Congratulations, Mitsuhide. You scared her off." Obi said teasingly, casually leaning against one of the pillars.

They all turned to the culprit of the sneeze, who was quickly becoming flustered, "I-I didn't mean too! It's not like I can control my nose! I-"

As a blushing Mitsuhide made his excuses, Zen smiled and turned back to look at where the cloaked girl had once stood. He was impressed and gratified by her words on status, and despite not knowing her, thanked her. It was a reassurance to the prince to know that there were more people out there who believed status shouldn't get in the way of important things, like achievement or friendship, and that they were willing to defend that; in Zen and Shirayuki's case, love, and he appreciated it more than he could say.

"The Court Herbalist exam wasn't this bad," Zen said, turning to go back inside as the rain began to fall heavier, "And Shirayuki and I got locked in a greenhouse all night." He chuckled at the memory slightly.

Once again Kiki answered, everyone now back inside and the door to the balcony closed, "Only one person can get this apprenticeship, unlike in Shirayuki's exam where any number of candidates could pass. It's understandable the competition is so high."

"Even so… I just hope she's alright." Mitsuhide said, arms crossed as he looked out at the pouring rain.

"I doubt she'd want our help now anyway," Obi said, smirking, "especially if she knew who we were."

They all chuckled a bit at that, feeling slightly guilty about listening in on a very personal conversation, but were soon back to work.

But Obi would look out of the windows occasionally, out into that pouring rain which distorted everything in sight, and he would smirk to himself, for he could recognise that two toned hair anywhere.

Go get them Ren, he silently cheered, go show them who's boss and prove them wrong.


But Ren was far from proving them wrong.

The rain felt like tiny, freezing pinpricks as it hit her skin. Her hair was drenched and stringy, sticking to her neck and forehead despite the hood she wore. Her clothes stuck to her body, making movement harder and more uncomfortable, like wading through thick mud.

But still she ran. She ran with no purpose or direction, only to get away from that courtyard, from the words that had been said there, from the strangers who had seen her true, raw emotions; her defeat.

The feel of heavy rain against her skin was the only thing keeping her grounded, stopping her from being consumed by her traitorous thoughts; Cynthia's words from the previous day had also resurfaced.

She soon came to a lone tree on an empty lawn, and she stopped running. She leant her arm on the tree for support as she caught her breath, a large droplet of water falling off the tip of her nose. She looked around almost feverishly, checking to see if she was alone or if anybody had tried to follow her; there was no one in sight.

Seeking solitude and comfort, Ren climbed into the boughs of the tree, its large leaves providing little shelter from the relentless rain. Ren released a large sigh through her nose as she closed her eyes, and lent back against a sturdy branch, wrapping her cloak around her despite its soggy state.

She soon found herself taking an unexpected nap, her fitful night catching up with her and the pitter patter of rain lulling her to sleep. But as she drifted off, doubt had begun to creep into her mind, and it would only grow as she slept.

Will status affect my chances?

When Ren awoke, the sun was once again shining and was low in the pink sky above. The dark clouds had disappeared, and Ren's clothes were mostly dry. Her stomach rumbled and so she finished off her provisions.

No one had spotted her as she had slept, the browns and greens of her clothes and hair blending into the tree perfectly, and there was no one around now. Ren climbed down to the lowest branch, jumping to the ground and landing lightly on the balls of her feet, and started to aimlessly wander the palace, her head slightly bowed and shoulders hunched as she splashed through the few remaining puddles.

Usually, Ren would love the smell of trees and plants after a heavy fall of rain, but she was in torment over Cynthia's words, and they consumed her.

'Peasant scum.'

'A nobody from nowhere-'

Will status really effect my chances? Ren thought, The Court Blacksmith didn't seem like the kind of person who cares about stuff like that… But what do I know? Ren's fingers started to twist and pull at each other, I don't know a thing about cities or how they work, let alone a Royal Palace. I wouldn't know the first thing about working here…

'You don't belong here.'

Cynthia's right, I don't belong here, surrounded by strangers…

The sharp whistle of a nearby bird stopped Ren in her aimless shamble, and it broke her out of her gloomy thoughts. She turned towards the sound and found a small, jet black bird standing on top of a white marble bench. There were many of these benches dotted around the empty courtyard she had wandered into, but the bird continued to look at her, tilting its head and chirping as it hopped towards her. Ren blinked dumbly (not something she would look back on with any particular pride) and finally looked at where she was.

The final rays of the setting sun illuminated the courtyard Ren had danced in on Open Castle Day.

It seemed like so long ago now to Ren, and memories of her joy came flooding back to her. Brightly dressed ghosts seemed to dance and spin around her as she remembered, and they were soon joined by her memories of other people; of the dancers Kana and Shino, of the barkeeps Erisa and Maya, of the woman and her son Hitoshi who had given Ren a lantern, of the herbalist Higata, the cook Sakura, of the strange young man called Obi, who raised a shot glass to her, and even those two palace guards who helped her each morning at the gates.

Their kindness far outweighed those few negative people she had met. And Ren couldn't believe she had forgotten them.

'You don't belong here.' Cynthia's voice rang in her ears.

"Not yet." Ren breathed, and as she spoke she got louder and louder, her head raising to the sky, "One day, I will belong here, and I will grow and learn until that day comes, no matter how long it takes! From the moment I set foot in this city I began growing, learning. Whether status matters or not I will do my damn hardest in that forge and it will be the best work I've ever done!"

The bird next to her gave another chirp and flew off over the palace, Ren following its flight path in the sky until it disappeared from view. The sun was almost gone and the first stars were appearing in the sky; they filled her with determination, remembering her wish to them and how her parents could be looking at those same stars, cheering her on from afar; what she didn't know was that she had supporters in Wistal itself, Obi and Erisa, Kai and Shirra, and Higata. None had forgotten her.

As Ren headed towards the forge (she really hoped she wasn't late) she scoffed and shook her head, thinking:

I can't believe I let myself doubt the people here. That I doubted myself over something so stupid. I let Cynthia's words get to me, but it won't happen again, not as long as I have these people around me. I won't let them down.

She walked once again with a confident stride, her head held high and determination lighting a fire in her eyes.


The coals in the forge glowed white with heat and so did the metal.

Ren's cloak hung on a peg by the door and was replaced by a thick leather apron; they had been provided by Dai, the blacksmiths friend, to both Ren and the young man she was sharing the forge with.

But Ren didn't take any notice of the young man, and easily worked around him if they were ever using the same areas of the forge. She never really took in the grandeur of the palaces forge either; she had a job to do, and she was the most focused she had ever been.

She didn't even notice the stoic man in the corner, standing straight with his arms behind his back, watching her every move with a neutral expression. He would occasionally write something down in a small notebook, but he was always watching the two candidates.

The crackle of a fire, the pumping of bellows, the metallic ring of hammers striking metal, and the grinding of a blade edge against a whetstone. These sounds filled the forge as the sun set, Dai lighting several lamps as darkness fell.

For Ren those three hours flew by, but by the end she had completed a dagger she was proud off; nothing fancy, but it was sturdy and well made, ready to be used in any situation.

Dai thanked them for their time, tying name labels around the hilts of their daggers and dismissing them with a small, but friendly, smile.

Ren wiped the sweat from her forehead with the edge of her cloak, and welcomed the cool night air as she made her way to the Poets Gate; it was a sharp contrast to the hot, humid air of the forge. Once she got to the gate she saw that all of the other candidates were gathered there, the Court Blacksmith standing in front of them all.

"Congratulations," Otsu said, "You have all completed your exam. Tomorrow you do not need to be at the palace till the afternoon," there were a few murmurs of relief and gratitude from the candidates, "You all deserve a rest. We shall meet outside the interview area, and I hope you all have a restful evening."

With that Otsu strolled away and the group started to file through the gates, into the starlit night.

When Ren got back to 'The Anchor Inn and Alehouse' she was immediately spotted by Erisa, who was walking around with tray full of beers balanced in one hand, serving people at their tables.

"How did it go?" Erisa called over the noise of the inn.

"I'll find that out tomorrow," Ren laughed, "But not till the afternoon, so you won't have to wake me up!"

"But I was just getting used to doing that!" Erisa complained, but laughter still followed her statement, "If I don't see you before then, good luck!"

"Thanks!" Ren said, going up the stairs and into her room.

Her boots and cloak were quickly discarded on the floor and Ren crashed onto the bed, looking up at the ceiling as moonlight streamed in through the window, the sounds of the alehouse below barely dulled by the wooden floor.

Tomorrow is the day, Ren thought, I either achieve my dream, or have to try my luck somewhere else in Clarines.

With that she promptly fell asleep, emotionally and physically exhausted.


She woke late the next day to a church bell ringing and lazily got dressed, keeping her hair down today. The last signs that it had rained yesterday had all but disappeared in the morning sun, and Ren strolled down to the bakery to buy some cheese rolls.

There was a light breeze blowing and the sun was beating down on Wistal as Ren made her way up to the Poets Gate that afternoon, greeting the guards as she showed them her permission slip and smiling as they waved her through.

When she got to the lawn outside the interview area, Ren saw that there were already a few candidates standing around and chatting to each other. As they waited for everyone else to arrive, Ren noticed Cynthia and co. giving her dirty looks from the corner of her eyes, but decided to ignore them. Then Otsu and Dai arrived:

"Alright you lot, todays the day I announce my new apprentice," Otsu said, grabbing everyone's attention, "You will be told one by one whether you've got the job or not in the interview area. But you are not to reveal to anyone whether you've succeeded or failed. You must then give me your permission slip, and leave the palace grounds."

There was a pause and then, "Right, let's get this underway. Suzu, you're up first." Otsu walked into the interview area, followed by Dai and a nervous Suzu.

Ren sat in the shade at the base of a nearby tree, and she was adjacent to the opening of the interview area as she waited, thinking:

Although Otsu's methods are a little strange, they do seem to get the job done. Though I'm sure I'll be able to tell who got the apprenticeship by their expression alone…

However, the longer Ren waited, the more nervous she got. Her feet were flat against the ground, knees raised with her elbows resting on them, and her foot began to tap a slow rhythm.

Ren noticed the first few rejects, evident through their body language:

Tap.

A woman in early twenties, head hung low and a silent tear rolling down her cheek as her arms hugged her chest.

Tap. Tap.

A young man in his late teens, shoulders hunched, brows furrowed and a slight sneer on his face as he looked back at the courtyard; an arrogant man, bitter in his failure and blaming the blacksmith for it.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Ren soon spaced out, not really thinking of much, but her tapping continuing as more and more people went in and came out disappointed.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

She barely even registered Cynthia's indignant cry as she stormed away, her two friends following behind her (they had found out their result earlier) and trying to console her, Cynthia voicing her disbelief and anger all the way. Ren had hoped she would learn a lesson from this; but apparently not.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Eventually Otsu and Dai emerged from the courtyard, Dai saying:

"Well, at least that's the hard bit out of the way."

"Mm…" Otsu hummed, "I hated letting go of all those people, disappointing them," he shook his head, looking down, "Especially the kids… I hope they don't give up on blacksmithing completely…"

"You did what you had too, Otsu," Dai reassured him, patting his uninjured shoulder, "But speaking of kids… where is the final candidate?"

The two men looked around and spotted Ren sitting beneath her tree; she was the last one left on the lawn.

"You're up, Ren." Otsu called out.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

When they got no reply, the two men looked at each other with raised brows and wandered over to the girl's side, looking down at her curiously.

Tap. Tap.

"Ren?" Otsu called loudly.

"Ah!" Ren jumped, snapping back to reality and turning her head to look at them, finally registering their presence. She noticed their rather bemused but slightly humoured expressions and shot to her feet, saying "Yes?"

"It's time for your results." Otsu said, a smile on his face.

"Right." She said, a little flustered and embarrassed by being caught off guard.

As the two men turned to walk back into the courtyard, Ren finally noticed that the sun was much lower in the sky than before, and that there was no one else around; she realized she must have been zoned out all afternoon. She followed the blacksmiths a little numbly, thinking she must have missed that one person's joyous expression as they left the palace.

As she walked into the courtyard and sat down at the small, metal table, Ren was preparing herself for the eventuality that she had failed:

It won't be the end, she thought, I could still find a job in Wistal. There must be plenty of blacksmiths who need apprentices, and if not here then there are plenty of other towns in Clarines I could go to-

"Congratulations, Ren. You've passed the examination." Otsu said.

Wait… What!?

"W-what?" Ren said, completely stunned and wanting to make sure she'd heard him right.

"You're the new Apprentice Court Blacksmith, Ren. Well done, you deserve it." Otsu reiterated, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"You should be proud, Ren. You performed excellently." Dai added after Ren only sat there with her mouth agape, expression dazed and shocked.

There was a long, stunned silence as Ren took in everything they had said, but then she exploded in gratitude, happiness and shock, her hands gesturing wildly as she babbled away:

"Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you! I can't believe it this is amazing, thank you so so much you have no idea what this means to me! I will not let you down I swear I am so excited thank you this is-"

Ren cut herself off, suddenly bowing respectively in her seat and clearing her throat, starting again in much calmer tone:

"I humbly thank you both for this opportunity, Otsu, Dai. I am honoured to have this chance to learn and work by your side."

"And I am honoured to teach you." Otsu said, patting her on the head and ruffling her hair lightly.

Ren looked up to see him now standing next to her, a wide grin on his bearded face. She subtly moved out of his touch as she turned her head; it was unfamiliar and a little uncomfortable for her at the moment, but Otsu didn't seem to notice nor care.

"I will meet you at the Poets Gate tomorrow, 9am sharp, to show you to your new accommodation; so don't forget to bring all of your belongings with you! After that, its straight to work, I'm afraid." He said, a deep, rumbling chuckle escaping his lips, "But tonight you can celebrate and rest! You've done well. Though I will need that permission slip of yours." And he held out his hand as Ren passed it over.

"Right, fancy a drink in the town?" Otsu asked, slapping his friend on the back as they left the courtyard.

"Always," Dai laughed, "One last drink before I return to my own forge. Can't get the same kind of ale back home, you know?"

"Oh yeah, there's nothing quite like a Wistal brew…"

The two blacksmiths conversation faded away, but Ren had hardly registered their words; she was still in a state of shock.

Ren was completely numb as she made her way out of the palace, all the way down through the town and until she finally had to stop at the harbour.

The salty sea breeze whipped her hair and cloak around her, stinging her cheeks and filling her ears as she watched the sun glitter on the vast blue ocean in front of her.

With a few deep breathes Ren's emotions came flooding back to her, a wide grin spreading across her face, eyes widening and chest heavy in elation. She punched the sky, looking up and shouting "Yes!" with all her heart, her smile becoming so wide it almost touched her ears, the only witness the seagulls, flying high above her.


That evening Ren found herself sat at the bar of 'The Anchor Inn and Alehouse', a celebratory pint of the inns famous ale in her hands. It was a fairly busy evening in the inn with loud, excited chatter filling every corner and people bustling about between overflowing tables.

Ren had written a letter to her parents, detailing her success, as soon as she had returned to the inn, and it was ready to be sent off to Tarrin in the morning.

"So this is your last night here then?" Erisa said, sounding a little disappointed as she cleaned a tankard.

"Yep," Ren replied, "I've got lodgings up at the palace grounds now."

"Well, be sure to visit." Erisa all but demanded, "It's rare we get such a talent and a beauty in here." She finished with a wink, a smirk, and a giggle.

Ren simply laughed at her friend's antics, saying "I'll be sure to visit my favourite barmaid. And where else am I supposed to go for the best ale in town?" She lifted her tankard in cheers, and Erisa raised the one she was cleaning as Ren took a swig of the infamous beer.

"Hey!" Erisa shouted, looking at something behind Ren, "What did I say about no bringing chickens into the bar?! Dad! They've done it again!" She raced around the side of the bar, tankard still clutched in hand and looking like a woman on a mission as she strode towards the commotion.

Ren laughed and smiled at the craziness of the alehouse, and took another drink from her tankard; she'll be very happy in Wistal.

Tomorrow is the start of my new beginning, she thought, my first day at Wistal Palace.

With that thought in mind Ren raised her tankard into the air, cheering anyone who she may meet in the near future, and those she had already met; after all, without them, she probably wouldn't be here.


A/N: I'm so sorry this took longer than expected. When I got home I got very distracted by Voltron and Fairy Tail and life. I hope this is worth the wait, and I hope I can get a chapter out each week, however I just realised how much summer work I have and it's already August. Yay.

Thank you to all who reviewed and followed! What do you guys think of the new cover photo thingy? I did it myself (more procrastination, ops).
Review Replies:

LilyAllycia: I did think about making the smaller guy the Court Blacksmith, but he is actually one anyway, he just doesn't work at the palace. And I'll let you in on a secret: I'm aspiring to be a silversmith, and have some experience with working with metal myself. And you definitely need to be strong, let me tell you that! Hope you enjoyed the interactions in this chapter!

VallarMorghulis11: Thank you for your review! I never created Ren because I thought Shirayuki was weak, and she is not meant to overshadow Shirayuki because of her strength, much like Kiki doesn't. They are all strong characters and they all have weaknesses. That's my belief, anyway. And, you'll laugh at this (you probably won't) but when I was originally planning this story... I did plan Obi and Ren to become a couple.
However, I have many reasons for changing this part of my plan:
1) This story's focus was never going to be on romance, mainly because I don't think I could write it and also because I value the friendship aspect over everything else.
2) I realised that there weren't enough stories, fanfiction or otherwise, with close, purley platonic, malexfemale relationships. I want to correct that and I think it's important.
So I apologise for that, but my mind will not change. You can still ship them as much as you want, I'm not going to stop you, I'm just saying it will never be canon in my story.
Sorry for the rant, and I hope it doesn't put you off reading my story, but I just wanted to put that out there.

Thank you to everyone who reads my story, and whether you like what you read or not...

PLEASE REVIEW!

-Limegreenarcher