Raphtalia slowly walked up behind her master as he sat. She had found him after the trial and verdicts had been passed sitting quietly in the open air of a balcony. At first, she thought he was dozing in the waning daylight and making peace with his soul, but then his Heart began to shake against her chest.

That was her first clue that something much greater was going on than what could be seen. The next clue was her shadow moving forward, almost in a guard position. But she didn't know who it was safeguarding, it was a part of Master Naofumi after all.

She waited silently just inside the portal and just watched her master as he seemed to move in tune with the hum of the mana around him. His tail lazily moved in slow undulating arches across the ground as though it were keeping time to a song being played at a different pitch.

Then it ceased and true silence occupied the space.

"Raphtalia?"

She blinked at his soft-questioning tone as he kept ramrod straight and his head forward. She couldn't see it but felt his gentle smile that she always remembered him giving her. Back when she was a slave girl up until now, he was always protecting her even when she didn't understand why he was treated differently. He always smiled, just like her parents told her.

She smiled at the remembrances as she cleared her throat.

"Master, the Queen, and your parents want to speak with you."

He huffed softly as he stood and turned to her with his warm smile still in place.

"Then we best not keep them waiting."

The conference room Raphtalia led him to was set far enough away from the throne room that privacy would be guaranteed for which he was thankful. After his family's display in the throne room, he doubted the smells from the human crowd would clear until much later.

The guard standing by the simple door opened it for them after giving a quick soft knock.

Naofumi eased in followed by his Keeper as he saw his mother look up from a conversation with the Queen, his father was sitting off to the side quietly and wearing a small smile. Naofumi caught a brief glimmer of sadness in his eyes when he turned to the opening of the door.

Had he worried his father so much when he vanished?

Naofumi swallowed thickly as he clamped his memories down. Before he sat in one of the open chairs, he felt Raphtalia's gentle palm between his shoulders. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and gave her a subtle nod. He would need to tell her soon, rather than have her find out his pain through his Heart. Perhaps she could bring him peace...

He settled himself as Raphtalia sat beside him.

The Queen smiled cordially and was the first to speak once everyone was comfortable.

"Thank you for coming so promptly Emperor Iwatani."

She spoke as she bowed low in her seated position, Naofumi reached out and gently sat her up.

"Please your Majesty, to you it is Naofumi, you have more than earned my trust in you."

She smiled at him happily as he sat back. He looked around and sniffed, but could not find any trace of someone he thought would be there.

"Where is Melty?"

This time his mother spoke up in a soft voice.

"She and Draak are with Elder Tommas. Draak is learning of his heritage and the Young Queen is a rather curious child."

She glanced at the Queen and raised a brow as she spoke in a dry tone.

"I believe she gets that from you, after meeting her father."

The Queen snorted softly as she leaned back.

"She'll be a great Queen one day."

All silently agreed with Mirellia, before his father's voice broke the melancholy mood.

"Indeed, but now I believe there is something much more pertinent we must hear from you Naofumi before we return."

His tone was soft but firm enough to convey there would be no dancing around the subject. Naofumi bowed until his hair brushed against the table surface.

"Yes, Father Emperor."

Takeshi looked perplexed at his eldest as he sat up. Naofumi gave an easy smile as he met his father's gaze again.

"I may be the Emperor of this world, but you will always be the Emperor of ours."

The two males shared a small smile before Naofumi closed his eyes, hunched forward then sat back. He gave a small groan as he stretched before he sat forward again and began to speak.

"The beginning of the story is the only place to start."

I had just left my chambers to go and read our holy scriptures and meditate on them. I was looking through the scrolls to find the one I was to read that day when I saw one of pure black, like dull obsidian.

Curious, I picked it up and began to give it a cursory reading. The next thing, it began to glow brilliantly, and then there was darkness. The next thing I was aware of was a voice.