After we left Koichi's shop we headed back to the house to finish packing for the trip to the capital, once we got there we saw a few bags near the door and when we walked in we saw Jack, Athena, Neon, Thunder, Jasmine, Tomatsu, Noshi, and Hoshi sitting at the table

"Lady Akira your back" Hoshi said as we entered the house

"We came over to see when you wanted to leave for the capital," Jasmine said as Noshi nodded

"I was thinking once we finish packing since it will take us about a week or so to get to the capital," I said as I placed down the box that had my dress in it,

"Well me and Jasmine are all packed up and ready to go," Noshi said as he got up and picked up his bag as Jasmine did the same

"I see well then let me and Masky go and put our clothes for the ball in our bags and then we will be off," I told them and they both nodded

"Hoshi, come with me I need to speak with you," I said to Hoshi as I picked up the box I placed down when I walked in, once Hoshi was in my room as I placed the box in my bag and closed it up

"I want you to do me a favor once we leave for the capital," I said as I looked at him

"Sure what is it Mi'lady," Hoshi said "First is to make sure Tomatsu doesn't burn the house down while I'm gone, and second keep a close eye on Yumi lately she has been acting odd and she disappeared from the village before the wall went up," I told him and he nodded

"Alright, I will do what I can," Hoshi said as he went downstairs.

"Masky I know you're there," I said as he heard the balcony door open and close as I turned around

"I wasn't here when that guard was but I can tell that she is up to no good," He said as he picked up the bag I was taking and I looked at him

"If we want to get to the capital before the Grand Ball we should leave while we still have light" Masky looked back at me as he held the door open for me and I nodded as we both walked downstairs.

"Is everyone ready?" I asked and they nodded "Alright then we should start getting going," I said as we all were making our way to the gate we were stopped by a few villagers and guards

"Lady Akira, please wait a moment," A villager said as we all stopped and turn to them to see what they needed and we see that they have a carriage and a few horses

"Since you have a long way to the capital we wanted you to take the carriage so it would be easier to get their" the elder villager said I gave them a smile

"Thank you very much," I told them as we started to place our bags on the back of the carriage and Noshi opened the door for me to get in but I was stopped when I felt someone hugging my leg and I looked down to see it was Athena

"I'll be home soon," I told her as I gave her a hug and the other three joined in on it as I was entering the carriage I looked at the four kids I just hugged and gave them a smile.

"Please be safe," Jack said and before I could say anything I heard him whisper "Mom".

"I will be Jack," I said to him as Noshi closed the door to the carriage.

I notice that Jasmine wasn't riding it with me and I looked out to see her on a horse and figured that she will be acting as a guard for the journey to the capital as are the others. I saw Noshi get on the coach seat so he could drive the carriage and Masky was on another horse on the other side of the carriage. As we started to leave I told everyone to be safe while I am gone. Soon we entered the forest on our way to the capital as I looked at Jasmine

"Hey, Jasmine?" I said to her as she turned her head to look at me

"Yes M'lady?" she said acting like a guard which made me slightly giggle "I wanted to ask why you choose to act like a guard on this journey?" I asked her

"Well since I am the blacksmith of the village it would be wrong of me if I didn't act like a guard on the village since in reality you on have one real guard with us and if bandits found out that a lord of a village only had one guard on hand then they could easily ambush us, and believe it or not, I can handle using a sword quite well" she said as she placed her hand on a sword that was attached to her wast that I didn't notice till now and I gave her a nodded

"I see, well thank you for doing this" I gave her a smile and I saw that she slightly blushed

"I-Its nothing M-M'lady" she stuttered. We have been riding for almost two hours and I was getting tired so I lied my head down on the seat and placed my legs up on it as I laid on my side and started to fall asleep

(3rd POV)

Noshi stopped the carriage to take a break and stretch his legs and to also give the horses a break as he went to go and open the carriage door so he could let Akira out he was surprised to find her asleep in it even though the road was very bumpy. Masky saw that she was asleep as well and took off his cloak that he was wearing and entered the carriage and placed it over her before leaving it again to check the surrounding area to make sure that they could rest peacefully. After 10 minutes of making sure the area was safe and since the sun was going down soon they decided to make camp for the night. Jasmine was about to wake Akira up but she was stopped by Noshi

"What is it Noshi?" Jasmine asked him

"Don't wake up Akira," he started before he continued after Jasmine asked him why. "Lately I have been noticing that she has gotten pale and hasn't been getting much sleep since the whole thing that happened with the High Priest," Noshi told her

They sat back down at the fire Masky made for some light

"Oh, but now that you mentioned it I have noticed that as well and a few days after that happened she told me that she has been having some nightmares," Jasmine told him as she looked at the carriage where their Lord was sleeping.

Not long after that talk Noshi and Jasmine had they decided that someone should take the first watch of the night to make sure that they lord was safe and Masky was the first person to do it.

Half an hour into Masky's watch over the camp he noticed that Akira was leaving the carriage and was walking into the forest where a river was so he followed her and to his surprise, she was sleepwalking, he was about to go and wake her up but stopped when she took off her shoes as the clouds cleared away from the moon which wasn't full yet, but the moon was reflecting off of the river that looked like it was frozen but it wasn't. Masky watched Akira as she stepped onto the water but her foot didn't go under it but it remained on top of it as she started to walk to the moon's reflection on the river and she just stood there for a while, Masky heard a noise from behind him and grabbed his sword to attack who or what it was and saw that it was both Jasmine and Noshi and they both were shocked to see their Lord standing on water.