EPISODE 12: MISTY & SERI RANKA
Summary: Misty Rosenblum and Seri Ranka Velda. Two unlikely royal children who somehow convinced their families of their relationship as a bridge between their nations…unaware of their secret roles in their world.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cross Ange or any of its characters and original plot, excluding the original characters I created for this story. This is a spin-off series of the main 'Cross Ange: Living Hell' story. So please read that before here.
Cross Ange and all its rights belong to King Records (Japan), Sentai Filmworks (USA), and Sunrise/ Bandai Namco Entertainment (Japan). This fanfiction is meant for entertainment only and not for profit. This story contains heavy language, blood and violence, and mild sexual themes not for audiences under 16-18 years old.
[10 years ago…]
Rosenblum Kingdom, home of the proud King and Queen Rosenblum who also holds the highest duty in maintaining the Norma facility which, to them, makes them superior to those wretched animals posed as powerless human women but share this ownership with the other nations' assistance, most notably Misurugi. And other than their rulers, their commoners' adoration extends to their two princesses Blair and Misty, one of them shall be the new Queen or Duchess when it comes of age and the King and Queen's approval. And just like Misurugi's Princess Angelise, once the three princesses are old enough, men of both commoner and royalty or higher status will have the opportunity to offer their hands and even fight themselves to marry one of them out of their love or receive their status as an important figure in the future Queens, Duchess, or Empress's eyes. In Rosenblum's case, to the people and their servants, Blair and Misty are indeed beautiful girls when growing up but personality-wise; Misty is more honest and kind than Blair because the latter is the eldest with a slight superiority complex shared by their parents.
But not even the royal family would expect that their youngest daughter would also have a companion that could both change their expectations and Misty's life…
"Ah, King Shia and Queen Parvati. Welcome to our humble home!" King Rosenblum tranquilly greeted the royal family of three from the Velda Dynasty he and his wife invited for a peaceful visit and lunch for two reasons; one to meet the prince who shares Misty's age and a meeting regarding a 'privately severe but important circumstance' happening in the world. Unlike his wife and the entire Velda Dynasty nation, the king who was once a foreign orphan since birth but served the royal Velda family that kindly accepted him is a fair-skinned and purple-eyed, but handsome, brunette man with their six-year-old, half-blooded son also resembling his father but mostly his skin and eye colour that matches his hair from his mother.
"Thank you for inviting us, Your Majesties." Queen Velda warmly noted with the couple bowing their gratitude, their son held on to his father's arms until she turned and smiled at their child. "Seri Ranka? Would you like to greet the King and Queen of Rosenblum?"
"Here you go…" King Shia gently lowers and places Seri Ranka on the carpet-filled floor, with the adults seeing and smiling at the nervous boy looking at his parents, revealing his timid personality almost like his father, but slowly works the courage to bow in front of his family's hosts. "I-I-It is nice to meet you, Your Majesties…"
"Oh ho ho ho! What a charming boy! Misty would love him!" The sound of the Rosenblum Queen laughing with her appreciation alarmed Seri Ranka who ran to his mother's legs, prompting his parents to hold his hands for the four royal adults and half-Velda prince to walk through the Rosenblum hallways, ignoring the servants doing their duties and the guards staying on guard. But unknown to the Kings and Queens of the two nations, the innocent Seri Ranka would look around but frown his fear and sadness at seeing some of the men secretly eying at him more than his parents…it's like he did something suspicious to THEM but unsure what it is. After a couple of minutes with the Rosenblum King and his mother talking something quiet that he couldn't hear, they arrived in front of one of the closed doors at the palace's lower west wing where a soldier stood guard until he noticed his rulers and their guests. "Your Majesty." The soldier wearing the black fedora saluted.
"Are Blair and Misty inside the living room, Beolagh?" King Rosenblum enquired.
"Yes, as you informed of having guests from the Velda Dynasty." This Beolagh noted with a nod, never flinching in front of a royal to show his loyalty to his master. But for a split second, Seri Ranka shuddered with a muffled whine at seeing the older, hat-wearing servant glaring at the little boy accompanying his parents with such anger and disdain, that would make him wet his big boy underwear, hidden underneath the brim of his hat but said nothing when he opened the door with Light of Mana. Making sure not to say anything that would upset his parents nor their hosts, Seri Ranka followed them inside the spacious living room that looked like two common-sized living rooms of a non-royal house combined and some of the maids present. One half of the room contains a large, circular dining table with multiple chairs surrounding it. The other half has three couches around a furred carpet where two girls almost the same age as Seri Ranka are seated with the eldest using her Light of Mana in boredom while the latter, who caught the Veldan prince's attention other than their age, is reading a book she is enjoying until the two girls noticed their arrival.
"Ah, Blair, Misty. Come, come. We have our guest joining us today." King Rosenblum happily called their daughters forward, alerting them to hurriedly get on their feet with the youngest girl named Misty kindly smiling, which made Seri Ranka's cheeks heat a little bit in awe. "Girls, this is Prince Seri Ranka of the Velda Dynasty. Misty, he is your age so would you like to be his friend?"
"Yes, Father!" Misty happily nodded and strode a bit closer to stand in front of Seri Ranka's family, holding each side of her skirt with her hands for a proper curtsey. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Seri Ranka! My name is Misty Rosenblum, and I hope we shall be great friends!" Misty introduced with such cheerfulness that prompted Seri Ranka's now blushing face out of shock and start releasing inaudibly quiet, muffled whimpers that confused their parents and girls from the embarrassed boy.
"Seri Ranka?" Shia asked, snapping his son's mind back to reality with another gasp and hurriedly removing his hands from his parents to stand a bit closer to Misty, startling her when everyone now saw Seri Ranka trying to bow with his face still flushing red.
"I-I-I-I-It is nice to meet you too, Lady Misty! M-My name's…" Unfortunately, just when he tried to bow, he leaned more than he could balance and accidentally landed his full body and face-planted on the floor with a muffled gasp of pain, alarming everyone mostly his parents and Misty in dread for his accident despite Misty's parents noticing in surprise and a tinge of disappointment of Blair almost sniggering a full laugh of the younger boy's fall with her grin, acting a bit remorseless for her age if not for everyone watching Misty hurriedly kneel and gently pull Seri Ranka on his knees, his face having a slight red bruise on his forehead and almost shed tears but trying to hold it in.
"Oh no, you're hurt!" Misty gasped in shock, hastily helping themselves up to stand by holding Seri Ranka's hand with hers. "Mommy, Father, Your Majesties! I shall cheer Seri Ranka up!" Without a response, everyone watches in mixed surprise at Misty boldly leading Seri Ranka to the rug she sat on earlier before the family's arrival, stopping him from crying his pain when he was surprised to find himself sitting by Misty's side with her kindly placing her box of butter cookies between them. "Here, Seri Ranka. This can help cheer you up. Pain, pain, go away!" Stunned by Misty offering him her cookies while touching the bruised part of his forehead with a chant, both her generosity and her kind smile slowly but surely alleviated Seri Ranka's mood with a sniffle and slight chuckle from his smile, starting to feel better.
"Oh, look dear! Our daughter made Seri Ranka smile! They are getting along well!" Queen Rosenblum whispered her delight to her husband smiling at his relief and satisfaction for their youngest daughter surprisingly helping cheer the neighbouring prince up from his accident, saving grace by the Velda King and Queen who also expressed their relief and happiness for seeing their children getting along.
"Big deal. I can also do what she can." Blair whispered to her parents with her cheeks puffing up and crossed her arms, jealous of her younger sister.
"You can, despite almost laughing at him earlier. Why don't you watch over them, with Beolagh's guard while we need to discuss something important?" King Rosenblum suggested as Blair and even Beolagh begrudgingly walked away from the four now heading to the dining table, Blair sitting on one of the couches with her Light of Mana materializing in front of her as a screen. At the same time, Beolagh stood between the couch behind Misty and Seri Ranka, and the table used for the meeting. Unaware of everyone, Beolagh's only attention was on the two younger children now playing with each other with his cruel sneer showing disgust and disapproval directed to Seri Ranka but managed to hear his king and queen's meeting with the other royal couple.
"As you know, we have received bits about this 'Human Killer' who suddenly revealed himself when a Norma sympathizing traitor was apprehended at my kingdom last week." King Rosenblum started with a stern glower bearing anger, curiosity, and a tinge of bafflement. "When the police tried to interrogate both the traitor and the Human Killer, I received word that it was just a filthy teenage boy who heartlessly gunned down those who instigates him."
"Yes, it was shocking." Queen Parvati nodded with sadness, feeling her husband holding her right hand with his left on the table which she accepted.
"What might be more saddening is that he is sixteen, and he looks like he no longer has the same love and faith we and our kind have." King Shia pondered.
"Hmph. He's nothing but a lowborn brat abusing his Light of Mana to harm us like animals." Queen Rosenblum scoffed with a snort, openly showing her arrogant pride.
"Yes, my love. According to the police, he came here with the Haven's ruler who is acquainted with Jurai who brought him there just for a tour, and that was before the traitor attempted his final attack only to be shot mercilessly by the Human Killer." The Rosenblum King shuddered at remembering the surveillance footage he received from the Rosenblum's royal police force; his surprise at seeing a bronze-haired boy who might be a bit older than Bronson's daughter, dressed in bandages and expertly wielding a gun he used to publicly and brutally killing a traitor in front of the traumatised witnesses and even his new ruler for his murder and even such foul words not even the King or any decent human being would say to another. That shows what a horrid boy he is. "Well, since the Haven is not considered a nation but a military force, it should be reassuring that we won't see a lot of that Human Killer even if he becomes the Haven's succeeding ruler."
"Indeed…but is there a way we can convince him to not harm our kind?" Queen Parvati proposed with curiosity unfazed by her husband and the Rosenblum couple's puzzlement. "Surely, despite his increasingly dangerous achievements we would see it as crimes against humanity, he is just a boy. Perhaps, if we negotiate with the Haven and Human Killer…"
"And instantly get ourselves killed by that brat and his filthy nation of murderers?" The Rosenblum Queen interrupted with a choked gasp of anger, fortunately, that the children couldn't hear.
"The murderers are just doing their duty in punishing the humans who wished to protect Norma. Perhaps some, hopefully more of them might be civil enough to convince their leaders and youngest soldier for a peaceful meeting." King Shia joined in, gently holding his wife's hand a bit tighter as reassurance. Parvati looked at their hands before her husband's face with a startled but grateful smile for his understanding of her wishes that was the reason, she married him out of love despite their social status.
"Even so, Jurai is the only one out of everyone in our circle who has contact with the Haven. It might as well be both impossible and ludicrous unless there could be a way…" Unaware of the royal council, the sole guard in the room is listening to every single word with grim anticipation of what he is thinking about when everyone either did not see or chose to ignore him conjuring a Mana screen to start a message.
'Tonight will be the night…everything shall take place in my hand.' The soldier decided, looking up at the youngest prince and princess happily playing with their toys and Mana without knowing of a foreboding…with disgust and envy towards the former and lust at the latter.
"Baba, where's Ama?" Seri Ranka asked once his father gently lowered him onto his bed, back at the Velda Dynasty Palace, after getting dressed into his pyjamas by himself without a servant or using Light of Mana just to impress his father happy of seeing his son being a big boy. Despite his accident earlier, Seri Ranka was glad that he had fun with the nice and pretty girl Lady Misty Rosenblum as his first friend, which he initially had difficulty with due to both his shyness and fear of being seen as different from people's expectations of being a Veldan prince. However, he still cannot shake the feeling of that weird and terrifyingly old man Beolagh who would angrily glare at him more vigilantly than anyone inside the Rosenblum Palace. Luckily, despite wanting to, Seri Ranka didn't mention this to worry his parents as he just wanted them to be happy and be seen as a future leader to protect their people and loved ones.
"Don't worry, son. Your mother is in a meeting with the other rulers and their superior. We'll wait for her together." King Shia reassured his son with a pat on his head and a kind smile, sitting on his bed as his suggestion delighted his son nodding feverishly to both spend more time with his father and see his mother before bedtime. "So, what do you think of Rosenblum, Seri Ranka?"
"I think it's nice to meet the King and Queen of Rosenblum, although the Queen and older princess scares me for some reason…" Seri Ranka started answering with a nervous smile twitching into a timid frown for thinking about the Queen and Princess Blair acting like proud bully girls who would laugh like rich women until the thought of Princess Misty being kind and friendly to him reclaimed his shy smile but his cheeks flushed red again, hiding his neck with his sheets. "…But I had fun with Lady Misty. She is the nicest girl I've ever met with, and she was happy I get to be friends with her."
"Ah, that is a wonderful thought." King Shia smiled his satisfaction. "This reminds me of how I met your mother."
"Really?" Seri Ranka mused in awe. A love story of his baba meeting ama?
"Oh yes." King Shia nodded. "When I grew up as a servant for your mother's family, everyone but the royal family picked on me for not staying in the country I don't even know where I was born. But your mother is the only one who protects and supports me in being with her. Her kind nature and beauty inside out moved me to rise my ranks as her bodyguard until we were old enough and the previous king and queen accepted their daughter's public proposal to marry me. Shocked the entire world, but we don't care."
"And that's how Baba and Ama loved each other!" Seri Ranka proudly noted in happiness.
"Yes." King Shia chuckled at his son's adorable contentment. "And from that love, we were given the greatest gift of all; a lovable, energetic, and happy son who will one day grow up to be a mighty leader, sworn to protect your loved ones. Just like how I swore to protect mine; you and your mother." Seri Ranka's eyes grew wide in wonder at the story, and it immediately gave him an idea.
"Baba! I will prove to myself that I will be a great warrior!" Seri Ranka rose on the bed, startling his father with a faint smile. "I can show the world that I can be a noble king and warrior who can protect our people from those who want to harm us!"
"That would be great…once you're older." Shia's immediate tease at the end almost saddened Seri Ranka with a cheeky smile from his pout, making the king chuckle…just when the two almost fell on or off the bed from the sudden sensation of an earthquake rocking the Velda Dynasty Palace out of nowhere, alarming Shia to hurriedly reach his arms for his son hurriedly crawling to his father. "W-What's happening!?" Shia said nothing when Seri Ranka asked as the two felt the castle shaking from the same earthquake sensation a few more times until it stopped. However, it was now replaced with faint but noticeable sounds of angry groans or screams from outside the bedroom just when a Mana screen materialised in front of the royal father and son.
"Your Majesties! Intruders have bombed themselves in the palace, and it's too much for them to count…ARGH!" The royal Veldan soldier's immediate report shifted into a cry of pain from receiving an attack that switched his Mana off, perplexing the two royals in dread with Shia looking around Seri Ranka's room for something that might help him with this sudden situation. At the last minute, Shia dashed into Seri Ranka's wardrobe with his terrified son in his arms until he hurriedly swung one door open to carefully place Seri Ranka on the floor, stopping him from escaping when he reached his arms to his. "Baba!"
"Seri, stay here and don't come out. I'll make sure they won't lay a hand on you." Shia whispered his order, lightly swatting his hands from pushing Seri Ranka back inside the closet as the hiding spot to protect him until he managed to close the door, hiding him. Just when he stood up, Seri Ranka's bedroom door was blown out from the frame from the outside, alarming Shia to turn around and be greeted by three brutish-looking men dressed in ragged clothing unfitting for a Veldan citizen or even a Mana human.
'Come then, you villains!' Shia raised his fists glowing with the Light of Mana. 'You won't take my son!'
Seri Ranka whimpered his voice from almost screaming at the harsh thuds, glass breaking, and the Light of Mana from outside with Baba and random voices grunting or gasping in pain. What is going on? Why is the Palace being invaded? What will happen to everyone, including him and his parents? He has so many questions but is forced to be quiet although the sudden sound of his father screaming a loud gasp of pain alarmed Seri Ranka who accidentally mewled his fear for his father… which accidentally blew his cover when he froze in horror at the closet door opening by the sight of three cruel-looking men smirking down on the innocently terrified prince.
"We got the Velda Prince!" One man laughed after forcefully grabbing Seri Ranka by the wrist and roughly tying the cloth around his mouth before the rope now tightly coiled around his wrists behind his back, his screams became muffled just when Seri Ranka ended up being thrown inside a human-sized sack big enough to hide him. 'Ama! Baba!' Seri Ranka wished he could scream for his parents as he found himself being led away by the ruffians kidnapping him.
"Shia! Seri Ranka!" Queen Parvati yelled her fear and alarm as she dashed through the hallways she noticed in horror that some of the walls and parts of the floor she ran past were stained with large splats of blood caused by the wounded or dead soldiers by the intruders she was informed via Mana during her meeting with the world leaders and Master Embryo in the Escarpment, just as they also found out that Rosenblum Palace is also invaded by more of those human trespassers or terrorists. Surprisingly even to the world leaders, Master Embryo was so shocked – that they had never seen him react before - about both Velda and Rosenblum's shared situation that he dismissed them from the Escarpment with an order to check if their families were safe.
'Master Embryo, I thank you for your concern.' Parvati wished she could've both thanked her master for his unexpected worry and desperation for her and Rosenblum's families, but also wondered more about revealing what he has never acted before.
Knowing that she is heading to the important place she needs to be, Parvati almost falls onto the floor but manages to regain her balance just when she freezes her tracks inside Seri Ranka's bedroom where the door is blown into pieces. The first thing she saw, that made her brown eyes widen in fear and tears was Seri Ranka missing and Shia's lifeless and bloodied body lying on the floor in front of the broken closet, his frozen wide eyes became a dull purple without light and blood seeped out of his mouth by his severe injuries.
"SHIA!" Parvati carelessly falls onto her knees beside her husband's body with her tears shedding in distraught, loudly crying her sorrow for both her husband's unfair death and their son's kidnapping. 'Who could do this!?' Parvati mentally demanded as she continued to scream and cry in Shia's body. 'Seri Ranka! Where is our son!? Please, whoever there are out there, save my baby!'
"Lady Blair, Lady Misty, please stay in here! The guards will take care of those foul intruders!" One of Misty and Blair's shared maids alerted the two frightened girls inside the latter's bedroom, ordered by the Queen inside her and her husband's quarters just after they felt their homes shaken by the group of human terrorists storming inside the Palace that night. How could anyone think of invading their rulers' home? Misty couldn't understand as she would hear Blair loudly whimpering her tears of the impending doom as if she were the one who would die. "This can't be real! I refuse to die! I'm the eldest princess of Rosenblum…"
"D-Don't worry, sister. We won't let them get to us." Misty tried to reassure her sister with her words and softly rubbed her head with her hand, promising her parents to be kind to her sister and their people although she was shocked by Blair glaring at her with angry tears, refusing to calm down from their plight. "What do you know, Misty!? Those worthless cowards of OUR kingdom are trying to kill us! If we survive this, we'll kill them for trying to take MY throne!" Misty and her maid were flabbergasted, almost afraid that Misty almost cried her shock. She knew Blair always acted a bit more childish than her, but she never thought that her eldest sister would say such harsh words.
BANG!
Blair, Misty, and their maid scream their horror with the latter blown away onto the floor and immediately unconscious by the door hitting her after being kicked from the outside by a muscled man in dirty clothing barging in, carrying a long rope, cloth, and a large sack possibly intending for them when he stomped closer to the terrified girls after one of his comrades ruthlessly kicked their maid to the side.
"A-Aaahhhh! Don't kill me! Take my sister!" Afraid of soon dying by this ruffian, Blair heartlessly pushed Misty forward and almost off her feet closer to the intruders with a startled scream changing into terror of being roughly held and tied up with the rope and cloth around her mouth by the same man.
Just as she watched her sister being stuffed inside the sack and held over and behind the kidnapper's back, he dashed into Blair who again closed her watery eyes and screamed…only to end up being kicked and landed on the floor to the side in pain by Misty's kidnapper heartlessly stomping swinging his foot at the eldest princess, heading to the window he again broke as an escape despite the massive height from the ground.
"Get out of my way, you spoiled brat!" One man yelled in anger and disdain for Blair, as most if not all would know the eldest princess of Rosenblum as the troublesome problem child compared to Princess Misty, who Blair dared try to sacrifice just to save her pathetic skin, angering the kidnapper despite performing his heinous crime.
"Father, Mother, Sister!" Misty's muffled cries almost wet the gag around her mouth with her tongue as she squirmed against her restraints and the sack carrying her, screaming when she felt that she had fallen from such a height until she was miraculously alive when the kidnapper was somehow caught from the fall only to be taken elsewhere…
"Boss, we finally got 'em!"
"Excellent. All that's left is Misurugi. I think we'll take their beloved princess Angelise since I heard how overprotective her parents are."
"KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK…BAM!"
"Excuse me…I'm looking for the assholes who took two royal children. Oh, there they are. Cynical, Hyacinth. Can you help take out the trash? I'll deal with the bitch once you two are done."
"Yes, sir."
"A Norma!?"
BANG!
Even in sleep, Misty can still remember what happened after she was taken away from the Rosenblum Palace; she and Seri Ranka Velda ended up in some abandoned factory in the middle of nowhere by a woman leading her army of men only to die by a young man and his two older female comrades; a human and a kind Norma, the latter somehow prompt Misty to think of what she would often be confused about; that humans call Norma girls as barbaric, antisocial monsters but this Cynical woman is just like any kind-looking, strong woman which the boy who called himself the Human Killer admitted that humans and Norma are not so different if not using the Light of Mana, but humans who refuse to accept Norma girls as one of them resort to drastically harsh methods that Misty would see her people and even her parents used to push innocent girls away from them even against their and their loving families' wills.
Often, she would ask her parents why just to be given the same answer: 'Norma are NOT humans, Misty. They must be sent to Arzenal where they will protect us until death.' As she grew up knowing that…she doesn't accept it.
With a groan, Misty sluggishly blinked her eyes almost blinded by the harsh, white lighting above her head but managed to reduce the brightness in her vision until it was clear to see her inside some hospital room filled with medical beds, the one she was sleeping on also have Seri Ranka at her side, relieving her that her friend is also safe and rescued from those foul 40 Thieves and their human leader, while the three nurses in front of the bed are watching over them, their anxious concern grew into relief in their smiles for seeing Misty waken up.
"Oh thank goodness." One nurse sighed.
"Princess Misty and Seri Ranka are well and healthy." Another nurse noted after checking Misty and Seri Ranka's pulses.
"And yet those rulers think Rush cannot save them!" The third nurse scoffed with a proud grin. Is their saviour's name Rush?
"And they look adorable together." The last one made Misty blush, wanting to smile her agreement but what she thought about alarmed her surprise to scowl her sadness.
"U-Um…where is…"
"The Human Killer? He and his team are with our leader, discussing when to send you both home once you two are feeling better." Another nurse softly informed.
"Oh…" A peek at the other doctors and nurses checking on the other patients who could be this secret Haven's citizens both old and young behind their nurses attracted Misty's attention. Not only the doctors and nurses don't use the Light of Mana unlike those from Rosenblum, but one toddler girl unknowingly broke her doctor's Light of Mana when she touched it out of curiosity. Yet no one is upset with the doctor warmly smiling his reassurance. If a Rosenblum doctor witnessed that, they would scream as if it were an animal they always say Norma girls are.
Seeing that little girl surrounded by kind people and their family instead of being thrown away, Misty couldn't help but smile her happiness at seeing what she thinks is nice; a family not being taken away just because people said so. "Lady Misty?" One nurse called.
"I'm sorry…" Misty sadly apologized for her embarrassment, holding Seri Ranka's hands. "I saw one of the Human Killer's lady friends is a Norma but she saved me and my friend Seri Ranka from those humans." Even for her age, Misty understood like a big girl older than her age to the older women's surprise and sadness. "From watching what happened; I see that humans can be bad and Norma can be good, and the Human Killer said that it doesn't matter…after seeing that, I think he's right."
"Indeed, he is right." An older male voice attracted everyone in the hospital room to look at the source and see Misty and Seri Ranka's saviour accompanying the old but tall and lean man, reminding Misty of her sweet grandfather before his passing last year, walking in with the two standing in front of Misty and Seri Ranka's bed. "The humans willingly throw away innocent girls to their deaths because of their dependence on the Light of Mana, calling their power as proof of being humans. They prefer using Mana to do everything like magic instead of using their own two hands. However, some humans rather fight or die than throw their loved ones away which is why we secretly kept them here to be families." Misty looked away in sadness but slowly understood his words. "Unfortunately, as the princess of Rosenblum who manages Arzenal and all the Norma in it, you or your sister would be the one who will handle the Norma the same as your people and kind would abuse Norma outside the Haven…"
"But I want to help!" Misty's sudden outburst startled the entire room and even, albeit slightly, the Human Killer who saw Misty crying angry tears but looking more calmer and mature for an eight-year-old princess. "Every time I see girls being taken away, I hear people talking bad about it and even point fingers and laugh at the Normas' families crying to not let them leave. But instead of joining them, I was confused and even afraid that I never told my parents because they acted like the humans who wanted Norma to go away and never come back. I do want to be Queen for my family and people, but after I also want to prove that no Norma deserves to leave their family and friends who love them. That is my wish and I'll make sure that it'll come true."
"That's a big wish…but that shows how you don't think like everyone outside the Haven." The Human Killer finally spoke, with the Haven leader and Misty seeing the stoic, scary look she and Seri Ranka saw in him when he saved them. "I recommend you to keep your wish to yourself because if your parents find out, they will hurt you more than Norma will get from the humans."
"Father and Mother…will hurt me?" Misty gasped her surprise and confusion which grew from seeing the sadness in the Haven leader and the three nurses right after the Human Killer added with a briefly angry hiss, reaching his bandaged right hand to his shielded left eye.
"Even if parents claim they love you like a normal person…they will also hurt you just to be human beings. I know this from experience…but I don't see true love."
'Human…Killer…' Misty gawked in dismay and sorrow even when the Human Killer lowered his hand and looked back at both her and Seri Ranka still sleeping, acting like what he said didn't matter. "Anyway. Gramps and I just got a call from your father, Princess Misty…he wants us to take you home immediately. We'll also send Seri Ranka back to Velda after you."
[Present time/ Before the main story…]
For years, Misty grew up as both a lady every human sees as dignified and proper to become the future Queen on her birthday happening in another month or so, and secretly a royal ally to the Haven and Norma that she shared with Seri Ranka who also received the truth and decided to aid Misty with their wish. At least, ever since that incident that nearly killed them, Misty sees Seri Ranka as a trusted friend alongside Lady Angelise and Momoka but it didn't take long, after their thirteenth birthdays, that Misty and Seri Ranka started having feelings for each other. When she told her parents her presumption, and unaware of Blair due to mixed feelings she's been noticing lately, her mother was the most overjoyed of her family that her daughter could potentially have a suitor for betrothal. But unlike her mother, Misty is patient about these kinds of things and must ask for Seri Ranka's opinions on this matter.
And this matter is why she is currently heading to Velda for a visit with both Seri Ranka and his mother Queen Parvati; as well today is the secret anniversary of Misty and Seri Ranka's attempted kidnapping which resulted in their goal to save Norma from their heartless people.
When she and Seri Ranka first received the real truth of Norma and their world, by showing them the people who can and cannot use the Light of Mana and what happened to them by the Mana humans, they were stunned by the latter horrified that the same people who killed his father and kidnap them are willing to harm even their kind despite being human themselves. Nonetheless, with their hearts and minds sticking their new wish of protecting those who are indeed good-hearted humans and Norma with the Human Killer, or Sir Rush, being the only one they can associate with in the government as a soldier and current ruler of the Haven after the founder's passing a few years ago.
"Lady Misty. Why must you decide to visit the Velda Dynasty every year?" Misty composedly hid the suspicion and disdain she wished to show when she was asked by Beolagh who, although she NEVER asked, accompanied her as soon as their vehicle arrived at the front gates of the Velda Palace.
"Because Beolagh; I give condolences to the late King Shia Velda who sacrificed himself to protect Seri Ranka but ended tragically. As Seri Ranka's soon-to-be official fiancé, I must give my respects." Misty declared, unknowingly unaware of Beolagh's brief anger and disgust when he heard her call herself Seri Ranka's fiancé. Even before this ordeal years ago, Misty knew something both suspiciously odd and disgustingly concerning about Beolagh who kept insisting on protecting her as her bodyguard. But Misty always sees him as domineering as the rest, if not more than the other humans when it comes to her protection. It is as if he sees her as a child that will never grow up…or something more heinous than that.
As Misty and Beolagh exited their car and followed a servant leading them through the palace hallways heading to the throne room, the two saw not only the Queen and Prince present but they are accompanied by someone who, both delighted Misty with a smile and aggravated Beolagh with a cruel sneer and scoff, talking with Queen Parvati.
'Sir Rush!' Misty mentally cheered at seeing the Human Killer again. Although she knew how much Sir Rush was overly hated by the world for his cruel demeanour as the Human Killer willing to kill humans and Norma, the Haven, both she and Seri Ranka, and even Queen Parvati could see Sir Rush as someone trying to hide his insecurities and desires from those who would take advantage but also secretly kind to those who accept him.
According to Seri Ranka, ever since he took him back to his home eight years ago, the Velda Queen started willingly inviting the Human Killer when he is free to visit and spend time with both her and Seri Ranka after King Shia's death, with Seri Ranka seeing Sir Rush as a surrogate older brother for their fun times. And since he saved her, Misty trusts Sir Rush the most to protect her and Seri Ranka, even by secretly helping them get close to each other for their growing visits.
"Ah, Princess Misty. Welcome back to our home." Queen Parvati Velda noticed Misty's arrival with a kind smile for the proud and gentle queen of her nation, alerting Seri Ranka and Sir Rush to turn around and see the two new visitors stopping their walk to stand in front of the ruler once the servant backed away to the side.
"Thank you for accepting my visit, Your Majesty." Misty heartfully bowed her appreciation with Beolagh, secretly reluctantly, followed from behind his future Queen. "It is also a pleasure to see you all again, Your Majesties and Human Killer."
"It is nice to see you two, Princess Misty." Sir Rush faintly bowed with a bandaged right hand on his chest which, although delighted Misty, Seri Ranka, and Queen Parvati smiling for the Human Killer slowly acting more properly than what everyone in the world saw him as also infuriated Beolagh who snarled his exasperation for the crude and heartless murderer associating with his princess and the two Velda royalty as if he is equal to THEM.
"Princess Misty, Seri Ranka. I wished to converse with the Human Killer regarding an important matter. Will you two please excuse us but stay around here? I'll have my chefs make lunch for us later." Queen Parvati warmly proposed to both Seri Ranka and Misty.
"Of course, Your Majesty. Beolagh, please wait here while I discuss something with Seri Ranka." Misty accepted, hiding her suspicions from Beolagh who initially stared at Human Killer and Queen Parvati before seeing Misty taking Seri Ranka by the hand and walking a few steps away but still in Beolagh's vision beside a pillar of the throne room. All in all, Beolagh can still hear their conversations, but his visibly furious contempt and hatred are directed at Prince Seri Ranka and the Human Killer.
"…You insignificant fools…you both ruined everything to ME for years! But I will have Lady Misty to myself, even if God forbid!"
A/N: I was in a stump when writing this, hoping to get to the other chapters as quickly as possible...
