CHAPTER 3

            "It was said, that no matter how much people enter here, there will always be room," Fuu informed them after arriving to the indoor gardens of the palace. "During the dark days of this planet, all residents of Sefiro stayed in a commune inside the castle. And this garden became a place where all residents of Sefiro gather and forget about their sorrows."

            "Beautiful isn't it?" Umi said. "That was what I first thought when I first came here…Everything in Sefiro is just so beautiful…"

            Ariana looked around her, Umi was right, it 'is' beautiful…But it has something more than mere beauty…No, it wasn't just beautiful…it was magical. It hadn't been long ago when the thought of seeing such splendor was impossible. "Isn't Father supposed to be here already?" she asked.

            "He might have passed by the throne room again." Fuu told her.

            "And Febin?"

            "…must be around here somewhere…talking to his friends…"

            "Actually, I'm thinking that he must be with my sons, "Umi informed her. "Oh you 'must' meet them, Ariana. You don't have a boyfriend yet, do you?"

            Ariana blushed as she shook her head side to side. If she got it right, her 'Aunt' Umi was planning to set her up with one of her sons. Ariana sighed as her eyes searched for Febin, trying hard not to make the people around her notice. She found him talking with young men of his age. He was wearing an outfit similar to what a prince would wear in the middle ages. The thought that she found him quite handsome in his royal garb made her blush more. Ariana smiled to himself. If she has told Liz about this, her friend would probably call her mad. It's not that he wasn't though…

            "Oh there they are!" Umi exclaimed. "Let's go and join them…Hmm…no, it wouldn't be proper if you would have to be the one to approach them…Wait here, I'll let them join us instead." Before anybody could protest, Umi had already left. Fuu just sighed and then apologized.

*          *          *

            Febin looked around and sighed. He had been wondering on how Ariana had been doing since he left her with the Guru. He had been wondering too much actually that he wasn't even paying attention to the conversation going on in front of him.

            "…So how about you Febin, what do you think?"

            'Where is she? She should be here by now…' Febin said to himself. 'Maybe I should go and escort her…'

            "Febin…Febin!!!" It was only then that his mind came back to reality. "Huh?"

            "About rumors that you will be the next kailu," said the young man beside him. Febin just shrugged. "Why Febin, aren't you flattered?"

            "It is just a crazy rumor anyway, we won't really be knowing until we're twenty Falcon." Febin answered. "For all we know, it might be Umiro who's going to be chosen…or maybe Yukino."

            Umiro is a guy at the same age as Febin, with straight long blue hair. He is also Umi's son. His twin, Yukino is a boy that looks exactly like Umi except that he has lavender hair. Although they are very much alike physically, their personalities are very different. While Umiro can be considered as very talkative and outspoken, Yukino is very quiet and sometimes snobbish.

            "He's right, it is no use talking about some silly rumors," Yukino said.

            "Oh well, let's just talk of something else…Oh I know! Tell us about the Princess Ariana. What is she like?" Umiro asked.

            "Black hair, multi-hued eyes…"

            "Multi-hued eyes?" Falcon asked.

            "Like Lord lantis' eyes, you dimwit!" Yukino answered him, rolling his eyes. "You know, eyes that shifts colors depending on the light source."

            "Anyway, jet-black hair, multi-hued eyes…a little bit short for her age…"

            "I didn't mean it that way! I meant what is she like as a person?"

            "She's really nice, kind, honest, funny, loyal, caring…she gets excited about almost anything…"
            "So the two of you had been pretty close, huh?" Umiro teased Febin.

            "Febin blushed as he answered, "Well we're really close friends…She is my confidante…"

            "A confidante Febin? Wow! She really must be something! Besides my brother, I consider you as one of the most secretive and most detached person I had ever met!" Umiro said laughing. Febin just shrugged.

            "Tell us about her companions…"Falcon said.

            "Well there's Felicia…long blond hair, blue eyes…Kind of snobbish but really nice once you get to know how to get along with her…"

            "Hey brother, you'll going to meet your match soon," Umiro teased Yukino.

            "Very funny brother."

            "And there's Virginia, curly brown hair, green eyes…medium height…very polite and frien—" The guys wondered how come Febin stopped talking all of a sudden. He seemed to look stunned actually, staring at something or someone far behind them. They quickly followed Febin's gaze---and then they saw the princess and her friends as they enter the garden.

            "How lucky you had been Febin, getting close to someone as beautiful as her!" Umiro exclaimed.  "Is she pledged to anyone?"

            "No she is not…" Febin answered.

            "Very interesting indeed. I wonder how come you didn't fall in love with her…Or are you in love with but just could not tell…?"

            Febin did not answer for he saw Lord Lantis walking towards them. It really wouldn't be nice if he heard them talking about his daughter that way. "Febin," Lantis said. ""Can I have a word with you?"

            "I…uh…sure…" he stammered and then mentally kicked himself for answering in an almost disrespectful manner. Lantis then led Febin towards a somewhat private spot in the gardens.

            "First of all, I want to thank you personally for bring my daughter back home," Lantis told him. "And how was your stay over there?"

            "I…well…it had been quite…interesting…"

            "You had a good time there also, I hope?"

            "Yes sir, very much."

            "I had been talking to Hikaru before I came here…And she told me she wanted you to be my daughter's sworn protector."

            "You mean, her bodyguard?"

            "Well, something like that…"

            "I must say this my lord, but knowing her skills, I don't think it's quite necessary…"

            "Yes, yes…I do understand what you mean…but it couldn't hurt to be more cautious don't you think so?" All that Febin could do at that time was nod. "She is Sefiro's princess after all…and also a candidate for the Pillar…You should know that she had passed the first test…"

            "She was able to enter the crown-room?!" Febin exclaimed in disbelief. "But she just got here…"

            "It surprised us too…but she did enter the crown-room and got out of it alive…Now going back to my offer…would you accept it?"

            "But why me?"

"Of course by now you have heard of the rumors that you will be the one succeeding my title as the planet's kailu."

"Yes but they are merely rumors…"

            "Hikaru never told me why, but I personally think that you are the perfect man for the job. Ariana is comfortable with you and you are the greatest swordsman among your peers.  I heard from Clef that you are able to infuse elemental magic with your sword and have mastered this art at a very young age…"

            "Yes that's quite true."

            "Do you know that it is not very often that anybody can be born with such talents?"

            "Yes…I heard that it is very rare."

            "Yes it is so. So rare that it had become an important characteristic for someone to be chosen as a magic swordsman…a kailu…

            "We are born of the same magical ability. Only one child, if not none, is born with such ability for every generation."

            "I know my lord."

            " You see, I have already acknowledged you as the successor of my title as the Kailu of this planet. And as my successor for that title, your duty is to protect the Pillar's successor also, in this case, my daughter."

            Febin nodded. "It is an honor Lord Lantis."

            "Very well, now it is settled, we can go and join them. From now on, you are no longer Clef's student but mine. "

            "I understand."

            Both men walked towards where the girls are standing. "I apologize for not being here earlier, Ariana," Lantis said to his daughter. "I presume Umi and Fuu took care of you well?"

            "Yes Father."

            Febin, on the other hand, couldn't help but stare at his best friend. She seemed to look very different than how she looked like before. She smiled when she caught his gaze, which caused his heart to beat two-times faster. '…Weird. This is the same thing that happened to me when she ran away from me before…but what is this feeling?'

            "Ahem!" Lantis said, clearing his throat. He had noticed Febin staring at his daughter. Not that he did mind, it is just to avoid the others to notice the telltale look, filled with affection. Besides, the poor boy seemed to be confused at the same time.

            Lantis' cough seemed to have worked in bringing Febin back to the real world. Febin forced himself to look away and managed to ask the other two knights of what they think of Sefiro.

            "Your world is very beautiful," Ginnie answered.

            "Yes, I agree," Liz said. "It's amazing how all of this came from the strength of it's people's will."

            "And your presence, young ladies, had added to this planet's beauty," said the blue-haired young man as he approached them. With him is Umi, and two more young men of his age. "Forgive our intrusion, Lord Lantis."

            "Tut! Tut! Save the apology for yourself, Umiro," Umi said. "We all know you didn't mean that. Anyway, these are Princess Ariana, Felicia and Virginia, our new Magic Knights." She then turned to the young girls. "This is my son, Umiro. The one with the lavender hair is his twin, Yukino. And this one," she pointed at the mascular, tanned, blond guy beside her, "is a friend of theirs, Falcon. His father is the head of the palace guards."

            "Such beautiful names for beautiful ladies," Umiro said, making the girls blush.

            "We heard lots about you from Febin over here…"

            "Oh really Febin?" Ariana asked.

            "Don't mind him, he is just jesting."

            Umiro laughed and then said, "Of course I am jesting, but what are the things that he would have told us then?"

            "Nothing of course!" Febin told him, getting a little bit irritated.

            A sudden sound of the gong was heard. "Ah! Our special guests must have arrived already…"Fuu said.

            "PRINCESS TARTA AND TATRA OF CEZETA!" someone had just announced. Two women then entered the room.

            "They look like they're belly-dancers if you ask me," Liz whispered to Ginnie.  Although this might sound true with the princesses' clothes, they still possess the bearing and gracefulness of true princesses.

            "Welcome back to Sefiro Princess Tatra and Princess Tarta," Umi said. "This is Princess Ariana, Princess Hikaru's daughter."

            One of them, who has her hair down, smiled sweetly, while the other wearing a ponytail was so straight-faced that she looks like she's scowling and made Ariana quite nervous. The first princess however noticed it. "Please do not mind my sister, "she said, still smiling sweetly. "She may look scary but she won't bite."

            "You are embarrassing me again Tatra!!!" Tarta exclaimed. "You always say I'm scary!"

            "But you are really scaring them my sister….There you're frowning again. Try to smile once in a while so that they won't get scared of you."

            "GRRRR…STOP SAYING THAT!!!" Tarta snapped at her.

            The others just face-faulted. Giggling at her sisters' reaction she started introducing themselves.  "This is Tarta and I am Tatra."

            "We are honored to meet you," Ariana replied.

            The gong was heard again. "GENERAL GEO AND ENGINEER ZAZU OF AUTOZAM." A muscular, dark-haired man entered the room along with a short man, wearing an aero-cap.

            "Well, well, well…If it isn't Autozam's secretary of defence and his right hand man. Welcome back to Sefiro," Lantis said. "This is my daughter, Ariana," he introduced. "This is Geo, Autozam's defense secretary. And this is Zazu, Autozam's defence chief engineer. Two very close friends of mine."

            "I am honored to meet you both," Ariana said.

            "She is as cute as her mother Lantis, "Geo said grinning.

            Ariana blushed upon hearing this. She tried to hide her embarrassment by diverting her attention.

            Again, there was the gong. "PRINCESS ASUKA OF FARHREN AND PRIME MINISTER SAN-YUN." A young lady wearing something like a mix of Chinese and Korean traditional gown, entered. Beside her is a shy, yet good-looking young man.

            "Welcome Princess Asuka. We are so glad you can make it," Fuu said.

            "Oh come now, you know I won't miss this for the world. Right San-yun?" The young man beside her nodded.

            "This is Princess Ariana, Princess Hikaru's daughter. The girls beside her are the new magic knights, Felicia and Virginia."

            Asuka smiled and then said, "Pleased to meet you."

            "Same here," Araina replied and smiled back nervously.

            "San-yun!"

            "Yes, love?"

            "Oh for God's sake, introduce yourself!"

            "Yes love." Then he said, "I am San-yun, Princess Asuka's fiancée and the current prime minister of Fahren."

            "Nice to meet you, San-yun."

            "Pleased to meet you, your Excellency," Virginia said.

*          *          *

            The orchestra had been playing and many of the guests had already been dancing.  Watching them made the tension leave Ariana. She felt her Father's hand on her shoulder. She then to turned to him and smiled. He smiled back and said, "As your Father, it is only right to have me as your first dance."

            All she could do was nod in agreement and took Lantis' hand when he offered it. He led her at the center of the dance floor, and as if by cue, the rest stopped and moved aside to watch. The first thought that went to her mind was that her father was a good dancer. He guided her to the dance smoothly, and made her forget that many people were actually watching.

            Lantis could tell on his daughter's face that she was enjoying herself. It made him proud that her daughter not only learned the dance quickly, but also that Ariana danced like an angel.

            They then heard the song ended and the crowd around them applauded. Lantis took the opportunity to introduce his daughter. "As you might have guessed, this lovely young lady beside me is my daughter. She along with her friends have accepted the titles of the new generation of Magic Knights." The crowd applauded again but was silenced when lantis raised his hand. "And I would also want to inform all of you that she had passed the Ordeal of the Crown-room." This time there were no applause, but gasps followed by the guests' whispers.

            "She had passed the first ordeal!"

            "She really have a very strong will!"

            "…But her mother is still alive. There shouldn't be any ordeal yet at the first place…"

            Lantis cleared his throat as a plead for silence. The whisperings stopped and the silence was granted. "I would also want to formally introduce to you the other soon to be Magic Knights—Felicia Watson and Virginia Smith."

            The two looked around them and saw the people were looking at them both in curiousness and awe. They knew, deep inside, that these people are putting their lives on the Knights' hands.

            It wasn't long after Lantis' formal introduction that the dance resumed. Umiro wasted no time for he immediately asked Ariana to dance with him. As they were walking towards the dance-floor, Lantis gave Febin a piercing look, as if commanding the young man to follow them since it is a part of his duty. Febin's first thought was to ask any girl beside him to dance, not caring who it might be. "May I have this dance?" Febin said as he offered his hand to the girl beside him. He didn't realize that it was Felicia until after.

            Felecia wouldn't normally agree but she would like to dance. Besides, Ginnie is already on the dance-floor with that big blond haired boy. Since she wouldn't want to die of boredom, she took Febin's offer. He then led her to a place beside Umiro and Ariana. 'He isn't a bad dancer after all,' Felicia said to herself. "Hey, you're not bad."

            "Thanks," he replied. "But actually Umiro is much better at this…"

            "Oh really?"

            "I'll ask him to change partners and you can see for yourself."

            "Sounds like you want to get rid of me," Felicia said laughing. "Not that I do mind though."

            Febin laughed. "No," he answered. "I was merely suggesting. You deserve a better partner." And to think that a few days ago, Febin would have had killed for a chance to dance with his former object of admiration.

            Meanwhile, Umiro and Ariana looked as if they were really enjoying themselves. "…And then there was this one time he was missing. His mother found him sleeping on top of the big old tree at the palace gardens." A hand tapped his shoulder and he saw it was Febin's.

            "I think now is the time that we change partners, hmm?" Febin told him.

            Umiro laughed. "And I thought that I can get away from telling the Princess some of the embarrassing moments of our youth."

            "Specifically my moments I presume…" Febin said, forcing a smile and yet gritting his teeth.

            "I think we should leave you two to dance." Umrio turned to Ariana, smiling, "It had been a pleasure…"

            "Thank you Umiro."

            Ariana and Febin watched as the two left. "What was it that my Father talked to you about?"

            "Me just being your sworn protector…Princess Hikaru requested it he said…"

            "Sworn-protector?"

            "Kind of like a body guard…but well a little more complicated than that…"

            "Did you tell Father that I am a skilled fighter? I don't need a bodyguard."

            "A sworn-protector," Febin corrected her. "And yes, I've told him, but he insisted. He said it doesn't hurt to be more careful…At least while you're still training."

            "Alright…"

            "But for now, enjoy the ball…"

*          *          *

            Somewhere close by, Falcon and Ginnie were busy trying not to step on each other's feet. In the end, both finally agreed to give up. "Say, why don't we sit over there and have a chat while we watch them dance?" Falcon suggested.

            "Hmmm…good idea, I am not much of a dancer anyway…"

            They headed to the nearest bench they could find and started talking. "Your blond friend seems to be very good in dancing."

            "She is a professional ballet dancer…"

            "Ballet?"

            "…Something like a classical dance in our world…"

            "Oh…My mother was a professional dancer too…I didn't seem to inherit her talent though…"

            "What does she dance?"

            "Well…traditional Cezetan dance…"

            "And that would be?"

            "Rhythmic shaking of the waist, hands and feet. The dancer usually wears small bells to accent their movements. The speed varies from fast to slow…"

            Ginnie almost face-faulted when she realized that Falcon was describing what actually is belly-dancing. She managed to give a smile instead.

            "Actually, it is more of a dance, it is some kind of medium for Cezetan magic. Take the princess of Cezeta for example. They use dancing to control their genies. Mother on the other hand, has mind-control magic."

            "Very interesting…"

            "My mother is around here somewhere…Want to meet her?"

            "That would be great."

            "You just wait here, I'll go look for her…unless of course you would want to come with me?"

            "No, I'd rather stay."

            "I'll be back soon."

            She watched as Falcon went off. As he promised he didn't take long, and with him is a very shapely dark-skinned woman with pink hair, wearing what in Ginnie's opinion is a very scandalous outfit.

            "Ginnie this is my mother…Mother, this is Ginnie, the girl I am going to marry…"

            Ginnie, calm as usual, figured that it was just a joke on Falcon's part. She smiled and said, "I am very pleased to meet you err…"

            "Caldina is fine honey…"

            "Uhm, Miss Caldina…"

            "Just plain Caldina will do, honey. Besides, I am married already and Mrs. Caldina sounds too old for me. Unless you prefer to call me Mother," Caldina said, winking.

            "Well Caldina it is. And well, I didn't know that your son is a joker…"

            Caldina started laughing out loud and then said, "My son? A joker? He is as serious as his father. Falcon dear, I think that she thought you were joking about marrying her…"

            "I am not joking…"

            "Well then, I don't think that would be possible…" Ginnie said.

            "You aren't pledged to anyone back home, aren't you?" Falcon asked her with a disappointed look.

            "Oh no! I am definitely not, err, pledged to anybody."

            "Don't you like my son?" Caldina asked her.

            "Your son is very nice! How can I not like him?"

            "Well then I don't think there is any problem with that. You both have my blessings…"

            "But…"

            "No need to thank me my dear. Now I have to leave you two. There are things I have to do."

            "And now that my mother approved I think my father would not object. After all, he wouldn't deny that I have chosen well…"

            "Actually there is a big problem…" Ginnie informed him.

            "And what would that be?"

            "I have not agreed to this yet…"

            "Oh," Falcon said. "Don't worry, you will in the future…"

*          *          *

            Yukino had been sitting alone in the corner and yawning. Parties bored him. He'd rather practice the act of spirit summoning in some forest far away than put up with this ball. At least over there, he might be able to encounter some strong enemies to amuse himself---not some woman who is either too whiney or too dumb for his taste. Not that he has anything against women. Actually he thinks that his mother is the most wonderful person in the world. And even if he doesn't show it, she amuses him with her chirpy attitude. She calls him a total snob though since he had always have high qualifications in people he would want to be close to, men or women.

            "Brother, brother…" he heard a voice behind him said. "Tsk..tsk..tsk…Still prefers to be alone…"

            He saw his twin with the new magic knight beside him. "And you brother, cannot spend any minute without a woman by his side…"

            "Now brother, she might think that I am some kind of a womanizing rascal…" Umiro said.

            "She should be warned."

            "She can very well take care of herself, thank you," Felecia said. "Besides she would not permit herself to victimized by such men." The twins were surprised on how she managed to inform them that they were talking as if she is not there. "Of course since you two had been talking about her in her presence it would only be natural that she include herself in the conversation."

            "Oh there you are!" Umi said coming towards them. "Hello, Felicia dear. I hope you are enjoying yourself. Excuse me but I do need to borrow Umiro here. I need his help in instructing the cook about this cake…I am just too busy entertaining the Cezetan princesses…quite a handful I tell you."

            "Sorry I hate to leave you two…But I do think you can keep Felicia here entertained brother?"

            Yukino rolled his eyes. "Alright…"

            "Thank you." Umiro then turned and left with his mother.

            "You don't share your mother's passion for baking Yukino?"

            "No." As if I didn't know that Mother is trying to set me up again. "Would you like to dance?"

            "Yes, thank you. That is, if it is not too much trouble."

            "No trouble, at least I have something to do. I was starting to get bored." …And had been thinking of slipping out of the castle to train in the forest.         He led her to the dance floor and started dancing.

            "You didn't seem to be enjoying yourself…"

            "Parties such as this bore me."

            "How come?"

            Yukino sighed. 'It is because I always end up being set up with some brainless dolt of a girl who almost throws herself to me…' he thought. Somehow something about the girl in front of him didn't make him voice his answer out loud. "It just does."

            "Ah but there's something more…But…I will not pry…" Felicia said with a smile. "So tell me, what interests you?" Yukino raised his eyebrow and looked at the girl dancing with him. "You're looking at me like nobody have asked you that."

            "Well actually that is quite true…"

            "As you know, I am from another world so…I presume you are very famous among the Sefiro people?"

            Famous indeed! He is the son of the Master mage and the Magic Knight of Water after all. He nodded. "I am training to be a mage."

            "A mage?" Felicia started to laugh.

Yukino raised his eyebrow again. She dared laugh at him?

"I am very sorry…I might have offended you. You must have thought that I was laughing at you…I wasn't really. I was laughing at myself."

"At yourself?"

"Yes, at myself. Talking about mages and magic and such is quite new to me. Back in Earth if you had told me something about magic I would have thought of you mad…And then suddenly here I am where magic seemed to be the most natural thing to have." Yukino nodded in understanding. "You should have seen me ranting on that giant fish…my God!" she started laughing again. "I was shouting at Febin, telling him that he's talking nonsense until he pointed out that I was actually riding on a flying fish…and a gigantic one at that." Yukino couldn't help smiling. "Sorry…I've been babbling too much…"

"No, it's okay."

"You don't talk much don't you?"

"No…I don't."

"Would you mind if I ask you questions? As I said before I am just new here…I want to learn about your planet."

"Suit yourself."

"What kind of magic do you do?"

"Almost all kind…except for one…"

"And that is?"

"Kailu magic…"

"Kailu magic?"

"The kind of magic Febin and Lord Lantis have. Cannot be learned unless you are born with it."

"I see…"

Somewhere far away, Umi smiled as she watched his son talk with the Magic Knight without the usual bored look on his face.