Act VII

After a night of the festivities, the town still had yet to get itself together. Inside of Serenity's inn, many townsfolk could be seen lying around passed out, or slouching on the chairs with a headache, along with Captain Rhubarb who is constantly rubbing his temple.

"Ah, this'd be one heck of a thumper in me noggin."

In the meantime, Artix, Ash, and Cysero were cleaning up the messes that have been left behind from the falling drinks, snacks, and even Twill who appeared to be dead tired. Valencia would appear to be walking by them gleefully as she gave a quick greeting.

"G'morning, party animals."

"So, says the one who dragged Regis into the dance floor and disappeared."

"Hahaha, what can I say? The party was at full swing."

The three looked at each other very confused and wondered if Regis is somewhere passed out from the drinks. However, it would seem that wasn't actually the case. Back at Swordhaven, the castle was also on cleaning duty as well from the celebration on the prior night. In one of the towers higher up, a maiden rests peacefully in her room. Her hair was unbound and set loose upon the bed as her clothes were disheveled with the sheets. She appeared to be very tired and required the rest. Brown locks of hair cascaded off the edge of the bed and lightly brushed the silk. He moved about in a different position, groaning slightly before coming to awaken. Her bright sapphire eyes came to peer upon the ceiling before her hands gripped the cloth of her bed to prop herself up. She seemed fallen asleep when she had finally reached her room as her heeled shoes were still upon her feet. Her body and dress were still covered in the sheets before they slipped down from her. She even still wore the dress from the night before. She looked about with a slightly dazed expression before she turned to her side to be surprised. In front of her bedside table, a chair was positioned facing away from the bed. A pair of black limbs would hug against the back legs as his face was covered in the contents of his folded arms that seemed to have him propped in a sitting position, only allowing to be slouched within his slumber. Regis had been watching over her as he was supposed to as a bodyguard. She blinked a few times in realization that he may have been there for a while. Her voice was rather softening from her just waking up as she called to him silently as though whispering.

"Regis, Regis. You're going to hurt your back if you sleep that way."

She gently laid her hand upon his shoulder. His head moved slightly as he began to groan in muffled sounds. The riftwalker would lazily get up with his eyes still hiding beneath their lids as he was soon moving. Victoria placed her other hand upon his arm before pulling him. He then slipped off his chair and fell to the bed, but only partially with his legs still over the edge. Victoria could only smile to his sleepy expression as she patted him upon his head. Shortly after the said gesture, Regis' voice could be heard as he appeared to be mumbling something at first in a tune before it was clearer to the maiden.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday, princess. "

Robina giggled to his tune before flicking a finger over his head. His voice escaped from him once more in a tired sigh.

"Ow… Yeah, good morning to you too."

"I told you not to call me that."

"I couldn't resist."

The two were now completely relaxed upon the bed as they try to face the challenge of actually getting up. Victoria had come to raise her left hand, seeing that she had already worn the bangle that Regis had given her. She smiled upon it and looked to him once more.

"Thank you, Regis."

By the midday, the town was once again back to its usual activities. Well, those who have already recovered. It was the usual mood as Robina and Regis were once more out on small time quests to capture a few bandits who may have swindled some stores during the party. The two would find one bandit on a Caravan moving about the forest. It wasn't difficult to find, with the crates still baring names of the shops in Falconreach. Regis and Robina looked at one another and nodded that it would be nice to go check on everyone back at Falconreach after the party. When the caravan horse stopped by the handler's command so he could get off to answer the call of nature, two shadows appeared and leaped to the sides. Robina stood on the higher ground where she had her bow full drawn and aimed at the handler while several other bandits jumped off the caravan towards her, only to be blocked by a riftwalker appearing near her. Regis placed his hand against the handle of his weapon and pulled out a long blade that seemed to whistle in the movement against the air. At the same instant he ripped several tears in space before jumping in them, appearing out of another to knock each bandit upon the back of their heads with the hilt of his sword. The two now stood side by side as Robina aimed her bow and arrow with a smile.

Two hours later, a caravan was coming up to the village with Regis and Robina aboard it. Artix and Rolith had been standing nearby to notice it pull up. The riftwalker jumped from the caraven and unto the ground to approach them with a positive greeting while Robina got off to find Valencia.

"G'morning guys."

"Hey Regis, what happened to you last night?"

"Yeah, you suddenly disappeared after dancing with Valencia. Next thing we see, is you coming to town with Robina"

"Ohh right, uhhh."

Artix watched to Regis as he was trying to find an explanation as not many people seem to know that Regis is Princess Victoria's bodyguard. His face began to contort before he looked to Robina finding Valencia nearby and then hooking his arm about Regis' head and dragged him close enough for Artix to cup his hand over his ear to whisper, even with Rolith standing right in front of them.

"Alright Regis Felliand, what is going on?"

"Uh, what?"

"Lately, You and Robina have been around each other lately, and Valencia has be extra friendly to you."

Rolith folded his arms over his chest and grinned towards Regis. Although he knew about Regis being a bodyguard, he did notice that they have been getting along quite nicely as well as Valencia's treatment being friendlier than usual. Regis looked at both their grinning faces.

"What… whoah, wait. It's not like that."

"Uh-huh, that's what they all say."

"Seriously guys, it's not like that."

"Right, so which one is it?"

"Err… What?"

"Which one are you after?"

"Robina the Hood, or Valencia Surhunter?"

Regis placed his hand unto Artix's elbow before pushing it over his head to slip out from his hold. He began to step back before being greeted by Robina and Valencia.

"Hello boys."

"Oh, hi there Velencia, Robina."

"What were you three talking about, seemed pretty important."

"I don't know. Regis, what were we talking about?"

Regis looked to Artix and Rolith's grins as well as the raised eyebrows of Robina and Valencia.

"Err; we were just talking about the festival last night. These two were worried that I drank too much since we disappeared. Right, Valencia?"

Valencia and Robina looked to each other, realizing that Regis was coming up for an alibi when attending Robina's birthday ball. Valencia suddenly chuckled to Regis in fits of laughter.

"Hahaha. Oh, yeah. Sorry about that, Regis. I couldn't recall since I got drunk after you passed out."

"What happened after that?"

Artix asked in curiosity since it was now said that Valencia and Regis had been drinking together after the festival. The three would look to each other at a loss on what to say before the Riftwalker decided to step up.

"We were trying to come up with idea for a picnic."

"A picnic, what for?"

Robina then also stood out with a proud stance that seemed to even surprise Artix.

"My birthday. It was yesterday."

"Oh, I never knew."

"It's because it was the same as the festival."

Artix took for a moment and began to rub at his chin.

"Hahahaha, same as the princess as well isn't it?"

Rolith looked to Artix in a chuckle before looking back to the gates, recalling he was supposed to be back at Oaklore an hour ago.

"Oh hell, I've gotta go. I was supposed to get back. I'll see you guys later. Maybe I can help with the picnic."

Artix chuckled before leaving for Amityvale as well, leaving the three standing in sighs. Well two out of three were in relief while Valencia was looking upon them with a grin. Regis and Robina looked upon her with a slightly nervous stare as she had her own devious smile darting towards them.

"You two were about to kiss last night, weren't you?"

The archer and the riftwalker were taken aback that she made such a comment before they each took a large step away from each other and were blatantly replying. Despite their reply, their faces appeared to be contrary to their unsure answer as they each had bright shades of rose upon their cheeks,

"No!"

Valencia giggled slightly and took hold of Regis's arm and dragged him to her side, of course against his consent as she teasingly looked to Robina.

"Then you won't mind if I borrow him for just a little bit, right?"

From the looks of Robina's face, she was having a bit of trouble coming up for an answer to her question before finally folding her arms and turning away with a dismissive wave of the hand.

"No; not all, just have him back before he has to resume his post."

Valencia giggled lightly joy before dragging Regis away once more, still beyond his consent and leaving Robina on her own for the meantime. Once again, they were back at Surewood forest where Regis was invited to Valencia's temporary campsite. There, he was offered some Moglinberry juice.

"Would you like a drink?"

Regis suspiciously looks upon the beverage and back to Valencia.

"What are you pulling at?"

"Oh, don't be silly. I'm just curious."

"Curious about what?"

"Between you two."

"There isn't anything between us. Well, we are friends."

Regis takes the drink from Valencia and starts to take a few sips.

"Oh, I see. So is that all?"

Valencia asked as Regis finally placed back the tankard he was offered and chuckled to the question.

"Ha ha, you're asking that again? I really like her in a special-"

Regis placed his hand over his mouth to a strange sudden slip of words that just escaped his mouth. For some reason, he ended up speaking out exactly what he was thinking. He looked to Valencia in a rather surprised and slightly irritated manner.

"Why am I telling you this? What did you put in here?"

"Truth serum"

Valencia replied back in a rather quirky tone. She raised her eyebrow in more curiosity as Regis was sitting awkwardly, looking to the tankard.

"So, you two were about to kiss last night weren't you?"

"I don't know, I was hoping- would you stop that."

Valencia would just lean back and stand to her feet. Regis was about to leave before she sat him back down and placed her hands against his shoulders, touching foreheads with him. Her green eyes had met with the riftwalker's brown hues. She stared intently as she spoke in hushed tones of whispers.

"Why don't you tell her then?"

This question had Regis aback and in a difficult point that disrupts his chain of thought before stuttering for an answer.

"What the heck are you talking about?"

"Robina is Princess Victoria. In a few days time, a suitor will be found for her. She does not want to be married to someone she isn't even in love with. I've seen that look she gives you since the day you nearly exposed her secret to King Alteon. She may look irritated, but I am sure that you were someone she rather comes back to when she needed to escape everything, escape having to be a Princess. You're the only person she can just be who she is, a girl looking to live normally like all the other girls out there, falling in love with whoever she wants and not have them decided for her. Think about this, Regis."

With that, Valencia left the tent, leaving Regis to his thoughts. Was there really something that Robina feels for him that he could share back? Silence fills the air inside the tent and within the towns where each of the two are thinking of what is to come.

(Hey there, I'm sorry that this chapter took a lot of time to be released. Recently, I have been conceptualizing two other new projects; Persona Black Oceans, and Halo Spartan Rising. I hope that you continue to stay tuned to my stories and have a nice day.)