She had arrived at exactly one in the morning at Lady Luck and was welcome by Yukari's friend. She had taken a nap as soon as she arrived feeling exhilarated for the adventure she was about to take.
She looked around, the sun is bright in the sky and she could see birds flying around. For the first time that morning she found her smile. She smiled as she looked across the sea. It's already eight in the morning and she's on her way to…
"Freedom…" she whispered and laughed. She stood there at the deck as she stared at the sea.
"Is there anything you need, my lady Anne…" the captain asked as he walked towards her.
"Oh nothing, Captain. But I do thank you for inquiring and I do thank you for allowing me passage…" she said. She thought it would be best not to tell the Captain her real name.
"I hope you'll see Sir Allen when we arrived at Asturia."
"I know I will, Captain. I know I will…"
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"I can't believe this I beg you Yukari where is Hitomi?" the king asked.
"I don't know, my lord. She knew if she ever told me where she is heading, you would ask me first. I'm her only close friend, my lord." She answered.
"Not unless if you were the one who gave her the idea to leave in the first place." Van said as he stood by one of the pillars. His arms crossed on his chest. Yukari trembled.
"I would never give her such idea, my lord. I would want her to stay here, safe."
"We both know you know something, Yukari. Unfortunately, your friendship with Hitomi's holding you back. Let me tell you precisely what would happen to un-chaperoned princess like Hitomi. She could be by now being sold as a slave, or maybe by now she could be on the hands of a man who would very much ravish her before the day is out, or maybe she's already been killed by thieves, highwayman or maybe she's…"
"Stop it!" Yukari gasped.
"That's reality, Yukari. Nothing is safe."
"She's safe! I know it! Sh-she can pr-protect herself!" She said, on the verge of crying.
"Really now? Who the hell are you fooling, Yukari? Me or yourself?" Van said as he walked in front of Yukari.
"I can easily know where she's heading. But it would save as lots of time if you tell us where she is."
"I…I…can't…I…I promised her…I won't tell…"Yukari said as she cried.
"My child, I beg you. It's not safe. She'll likely find herself in trouble. You know her. Wherever she is trouble always finds her." The King said.
"I don't want her hurt, my lord, you know that. All I wanted is for her to be happy, and I know she will be… with Allen…" she whispered.
"Allen? She had gone to Allen?" The king asked.
"Yes, my lord." Before the king could issue a command, Van is already walking towards the door.
"Allen's in love with Hitomi, Van! He's been in love with her for so long! He'll do anything for her." the king shouted.
"What's mine is mine!" Van shouted back.
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"Here we are, my lady. Asturia." The Captain said as he escorted her down the dock.
"Thank you very much, Captain."
"Are you sure you'll be fine here. I could ask someone to escort you to the castle."
"There's no need. I could do that myself. I also need to buy a few necessities before I go to the castle. And once more, my Captain, I do thank you…" she said bowing her head.
"No need for that, my lady. If you need another passage, I'll gladly give you one. Just find me."
"I will, Captain. See you soon." She said as she walks away. * This is going to be, an adventure…yes an adventure…* she smile as she pulled her cloak. * I need to find an inn… no need to look for Allen. Father, will surely alert him *. She walked and instantly saw an inn beside a bookstore. She pulled her hood up and walked in. She looked around and saw a man by the desk.
"Good Morning. I'd like to have a room please." She said.
"Wait a second." He said, as he looked down at his log book.
"Across the hallway upstairs, two doors from the very last right." She then pulled gold coins and asked the man how much and then gave it to him.
"Wait up, missus. What's your name? Need it on the log book, you see…" He asked as he pointed on the book in front of him.
"My name's Anne."
"Anne…any last name that goes with it?" The man asked.
"None." She answered as she walked to the stairs.
"Anne None… weird name, missus." She couldn't stifle her laugh.
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Dark tower room…
"Tell me, tell me you have found it…" an old voice said.
"I'm sorry, your highness, we haven't found it yet. We've searched the whole…"
"Silence!" the old voice cut in.
"Folken, what are your plans?" The man wearing a black cloak walked forward.
"To follow the prophecy is the only way for us to find escaflowne." The man said.
"Hell! If we follow it, Folken. The chance of it getting on the hand of that draconian man is high! We can't risk that!"
"It's the only way. "Goddess of wing will appear, with her are the light and the tear that will awaken the heart of the God of Destruction…" By finding the goddess of wing, escaflowne will appear." Folken said.
"But you forgot Folken, only a draconian man can operate the escaflowne." Folken started walking away.
"Then I will operate it." He said as he opened the door and closed it behind him.
"Find the goddess." He said at the man standing by the door. The man was caressing his scar on his cheek.
"And how will I know, who's the goddess?" the man asked.
"An image of wings at her back."
"How interesting. All I have to do then is pull all the women's clothes!" He said, laughing, as he walked away.
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"Will she be there, Van?" Merle asked as they stood by the deck. Van didn't answer.
"Is there something wrong?" Merle looked at him worried.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" he whispered, looking at the darkened clouds.