"What you guys doing here!" four travelers shouted at each other in the warm dining area of the Toban Inn of Trojan Town.
"Well this is really weird.." said the red-head girl of the group, "Me and Gourry here were planning visiting you, Filia, while we were out here in the Old World, but I really didn't expect to see you here. Heh..and with the Fruitcake no the less!"
"This quiet a suprise for us too, Miss Lina" the blond lady, obviously Filia, sighed
"Ofcourse I've been having quite ALOT of suprises lately..."
"Well it's great to see you two anyway!" Gourry smiled "Oh! and this is Gramps" he pointed to the old man sitting at their table "We were lost on the road, and he lead us here"
"Pleasure to meet you" Filia smiled
The man next to her, Xelloss, just gave a curt nod and continued to look at the old man closely
"Which was really cool" Gourry continued "Since he's blind and everything-"
"What?" Lina exclaimed in shock "He's blind?"
"Yeah Lina" the blond man said simply "Couldn't you tell? Look at his eyes"
And indeed he was correct, the old man's green eyes were clouded and worn.
"I can't believe that I didn't notice that!" the young woman said in wonder at being the cluesless one in the duo for the first time. "I think I need to put my head down..."
Gourry looked at her in concern.
"Why? Do you have a headache?"
"Close Gourry. I think my head might explode or something. Why didn't you say anything about this in the first place?"
"But Lina, that would have been rude! And my grandma aways says-"
"Shut up, Gourry..."
"Oh don't worry child!" the elder laughed "Most do not notice my...little disablity because of my nack of getting around so well. I know most places like the back of my hand"
"Well in that case-"
"You seem...familiar old man.." Xelloss interupted, speaking for the first time.
The old man focused his attention and smirked. If the others didn't know any better they would have guess that the elder was actually staring at him back!
"I would think I would..." He chuckled lightly "...Master Xelloss..."
Others looked at the two in shock!
"What's going on here..." Filia asked, carefully looking at one man to the other
"He was the strange aura I had sensed at your house that morning" Xelloss explained
"So you were the one that must has left the map!"
"What are you two talking about?" Lina looked at her two companions in utter confusion "And what does all this have to do with a map?"
"Not just a map, child..." Gramps grinned "..but all of you"
"Come on now!" she exclaimed, gradually getting irriated at the strangness of the situration "Out with it Gramps! What's going on here?"
"All in due time, child...afterall we don't even have all the players yet"
"Is something the matter, your Highness?"
Amelia looked up from her soup in suprise and looked at the man sitting across from her
"You aren't eating." he said, gestering towards her untouched meal
"Oh..." she responded, putting down her spoon "I guess I'm not hungery, Governor Karke.
"Of course, your Highness. Afterall you have been on a very long journey, I'm sure you are more tired than hungery."
She smiled a bit in responce and looked around the dim-lit dining chamber and then back to her host. He was a handsome middle-aged man, with sandy blond hair and ice blue eyes.
"Oh I'll be alright, but thank you for your concern"
"I'll get on the servants to prepare your bedding"
"Thank you"
"Oh, but before you retire I would like you to meet someone"
"Meet someone?"
"Yes.." he said with a small smile as he stood up from his place at the table. He then walked over to her and gently placed his hand out for her to grasp.
She looked at his hand, uncertain for some strange reason...
"Is it not polite to help a lady from her chair in your country?" Karke said, a bit a suprise in his voice.
"No! I mean yes! I mean..." she stuttered for a moment, fairly suprised at her own behavoir. What made her hestitate so?
She finally composed herself and took the handsom lord's hand. With a slight smile he lead her through one of the many corridors of his vast mansion.
It was dark at first, but then as the servants who were dutifully following behind and in front of them began lighting the candles that cascaded across the hall walls, Amelia began seeing the true wonder of the area that surrounded her. On every inch of the walls were covered in rich artwork and tapisties.
"It so beautiful.."she breathed
"Yes isn't it? This is our main hall which lead to our library, the biggest library in our city of Trojin Town, I might add."
"Amazing! Do many come in here?"
"Oh yes, lots. At certain times of the day the hall is open for display to the public and our library is open to all, from dawn till dusk."
"That is wonderfully generous of you" Amelia said, clearly impressed
"Well, this masion has been here for more that a hundred yeas. With a few renavations and improvements here and there of course, all in all, this home is practically a family heirloom."
"Heirloom? Has you family ruled this country long?"
"My dear, my family practically discovered this country"
"What! But that would mean that your family is basically the royality of this country!"
"So it would seem" he chuckled as he said it, quite amused by her astonishment.
"But I don't understand...if you are king, then why is your title "Govenor"?"
"Just a technically of the past. The founding father of this country, a prince I may add, grew tired of the title of "King" and "Queen", most likely from the previous action of his father the king. It was then that he changed the name to simply "Govenor". He felt it was less imposing and demanding. The people generally like it alot, made them less afraid to look upon their leaders for guildence and help. So it stuck."
"You ancestor must have been a very gentle and kind man to think about his people's feelings so"
"Yes he was..."
Suddenly they came to the of the amazing hall where two large double doors, with entricate carvings, stood.
"And this is the library" Karke announced, allowing the servants to open the large door for them.
As Amelia followed him in, she stared in wonder at the large collection of books. So many rows, so many levels, it was almost like being back home again in Sailoon!
"And this..." Karke said, catching her attention "..is the one I wanted you to meet"
He gestered his hand towards the far wall of the large library to a large painting on the wall.
Amelia gasped deeply when she saw it.
"She is the one our country was named after. In the old languge, Askata de Amalthia means "One who was lost, but never forgotten". Yet in time the country's name was shortened to just Askata, but now you know it's formal name"
Amelia nodded numbly as she stared at the painting.
It was a beautiful portrait of a white unicorn...
"What is her name?" Amelia asked unable to take her eyes off the portait.
"Amalthia, of course-"never forgotten"