Chapter 14 Part 2. A White Rose
(This guy is loud, sighs a lot, and is rude.) Sky thinks to herself and clears her throat. "Ahem, excuse yourself," she tells him. But her words are ignored.
"I said, excuse yourself!"
"Huh, why? You are the one sitting on a chair that is placed too far back. And who needs that much space between their seat and the table anyways?"
She looks between herself and the table.
(Points to the hooded guy) Millie thinks to herself, watching the two.
"Well, if you found me to be in the way, you could have asked me to move," Sky pushes back.
(Points to Sky) Millie blinks.
"One shouldn't need to."
"What was that?"
"It isn't my fault that you think that you own the entire aisle."
"Why, you little... guys like you are the worst!" she says louder than intended.
(And now we are behaving like children, minus points for both parties.) Millie looks to between the two.
"Maybe you need to be taught a lesson," the guy tells her and brings out his grimoire, which is grey with purple smoke patterns swirling around the three-leaf clover in the middle.
(Okay, that is going too far. Minus points for the hoodie.)
"Bring it on, you snot-nosed nobile!" she says and brings out her own grimoire.
(And she just escalated the situation. minus points to Sky) Millie thinks to herself, and Sky sends a short glance at Millie. (What. She wants me as backup, putting this much faith in me so soon.) Millie sits herself up.
'ready for your doom you pile of gloom?'
(oh we are being poetic now?) Millie blinks again.
'bring it you little Minx'
(oooh words are flying, they both have officially met their adversary, how shall this go?) Millie wonders.
"So this is where the loud voices came from. If you're about to spar, then fine, but do it outside."
"We were just..." they guy says.
"I said leave, or I will have to call security," the lady tells them.
"Fine, we are going," Sky picks Millie up and heads out.
"Good," the guy says.
"That goes for you too, mister," the lady orders.
"What?" he exclaims, and she raises an eyebrow at him. With a grumble, he leaves.
Sky stands in front and looks around.
"Great, happy now, Miss Tomato head?"
"Excuse you?" Sky retorts.
(oh and the match continues. round two) Millie thinks to her self.
"You heard me. Why did you have to get me kicked out?"
"Eh, it isn't my fault you were being obnoxiously loud and rude."
"Tsk, I wasn't being that loud anyways. Besides, the only one who had a problem with me in there was you," he tells her and looks her over. "Besides, I don't think you are supposed to bring pets inside the library."
(I am not a...)
"Millie is not a pet, mister snob."
"Oh yeah, she sure looks like one to me, Miss Tomato Head."
"Tomato head?"
"Yeah, your hair is red, and the more we talk, the redder your face gets to match!"
"Why, you little! Purple striped pile of snob nosed jerk face" she snaps back.
(oh no shots are fiered) Millie blinks looking at the two.
the guy frown as his eye twitches ''you know-''
"Haze!" the guy's entire being stiffens, and he slowly looks behind him.
"Yes, Dad?"
"Do not tell me that you are out making ruckus again," a man with light purple hair walks up to the group.
"No, Dad, I wasn't. I just..."
"Good, now move along. A noble of your status will only sully your own reputation and even worse, your family's reputation by interacting with a low-born such as this," the man says and gives Sky a cold scowl.
(This guy's mana is strong and oppressive, and his presence is so cold) Sky thinks to herself and clutches her grip around Millie, who looks up at her and back at Haze, who grits his teeth.
"Now come along. We will have a word about this when we get back home," the man orders. And Haze looks at the girl and at his father. "Well..."
"Understood, Dad," Haze reluctantly says and moves just as reluctantly. And his father follows behind, keeping an eye on his son.
Sky stomps her feet, moving the opposite way. "What an ass. Seriously, who does he think he is?" Sky says rhetorically. "I mean, seriously, talking smack after being so rude, and he had no remorse for his behavior either. I mean, gah, you agree with me, Millie, don't you?" she asks and looks at the cat in her arms.
"Actually, I uh..."
''wait don't tell me you are on his side''
''You are right he should have asked you to move instead of bumping into you the way he did''
''thank you'' she utter.
''but you should have had the chair closer so people could pass without troubling them more than necessary, so in a way you were both right about the other being in the wrong, you both should have been more considerate, at the end of round two you both have minus 6 points'' Millie explains softly and Sky's mouth gapes not believing Millie at the moment.
'F-fine, I guess you have a point, still that snobby fool... Wait minus point, don't tell me you made a game out of that!' she says in shock.
''Oh no, my game has been discovered''
''What do you mean discovered, you literally just told me'
''I failed, how regrettable. how shall I ever go on?'' she asks in a dramatic tone.
'if this is you being funny, I am not going to be a part of it'' Sky says with comedic indifference.
''Wait, you are not having fun?'' Millie asks.
'uh' Sky blushes 'Maybe a little' she utter as the moment goes silent...
Rumble.
''Uh are you hungry?''
''what no I am fine'' she says and stops and looks at a stand selling bbq.
''do you want some?'' Millie asks.
"No, of course not," she blushes and stops, seeing someone purchase food.
"Here, enjoy. It is freshly cooked."
"We will. I bet it is as delicious as always," a lady says and looks down at her child.
"Right, Nora?"
"Yes, it is always tasty," the girl smiles, and the two continues on their way and sits down on a bench.
"I bet it must be nice," Sky utters quietly, and Millie sees the longing on Sky's face.
"Sky, I..."
"Never mind, Millie, let us go," she perks up and moves along. Rumble...
"You are hungry," Millie utters.
"Well, maybe a little. I probably should have stayed at the medical ward until lunch. I mean, it is still a long time until the sun sets," she blushes.
Millie looks at the price at the stand and looks up at Sky. "Sky, could you hold out your hand in front of me, please?" she softly asks.
"Oh, like this?" she asks. "That is fine," Millie utters and touches her bell, bringing out the amount. "Whoa, you have money?"
"Yeah, I have done some dungeon crawling some time ago, and I—"
"Wait, I can't take this," she says.
"It is fine. I have enough. I rarely use money anyways."
"But I bet you have worked hard for it. It wouldn't be right of me to just take it."
"It is all right. I insist. I can always get more if I ever need it."
"But—"
"Take it, Sky. You deserve a treat."
Rumble...
"Well, if you are sure," she says and goes over to the stand.
A little later, they walk over to a bench overlooking the streets. "Well, the view isn't impressive, but the food is yummy," she says as her cheeks slightly turn pink.
"Here," she says and picks up a piece and hands it to Millie.
"No, it is all right. I am trained to eat a certain amount, and I must not go over," Millie replies.
"Trained to?"
"Yes." "What, were you in some sort of army or something?" she asks.
"Something like that, yes."
"Uh, oh."
"H-How was that like?"
"I am not sure how it was like for most others as I was trained under a special unit, but it was brutal and rough," Millie replies.
"I see. It must be hard being under the Magic Knights," she says and looks at the streets filled with people.
"You are misunderstanding me. I was under a unit of a different country."
"A different country?"
"Yes, I was in the Sun Kingdom, where I have lived for most of my life up to this point."
"Oh, how is it like?"
"Well, it is very different from here. Most people over there have black hair and dark color to their eyes, and their system and towns, even the buildings, look incredibly different."
"Oh, it sounds exotic and intriguing."
"I suppose so," Millie smiles and looks at the streets.
Sky smiles too until her eyes falter a little. "Something on your mind, miss?"
"No, I just... Sometimes I wish I was born into different circumstances. I wish I could see the world too." she says watching some kids play and run past them.
Millie turns her gaze to Sky and the White rose in her hair as the wind plays with it and she looks back to the street.
"Maybe it could happen one day," Millie tells her.
"I don't know," she replies with a lot of doubt.
"Hmm, well I suppose no one knows."
"Huh? I guess," she says and takes another bite.
"Millie, I read that Familiars stay with their contractor until the contractor passes, is that true?"
"So, that's the book you chose to read?"
"Is it?"
Millie thinks it over. "That is how it is supposed to be," she replies.
"Crap," she says.
"What is it?"
"I wish that you could be my familiar. I mean, I bet my life would have been better. I mean, our lives, since it seems we have some things in common, and I bet life wouldn't be so lonely."
"Miss Sky, I am not the ideal Familiar by a long shot."
"Yes, you are, at least for me," she says and looks at Millie.
"Miss Sky... are you lonely right now?"
"Huh, of course not. I am with you."
"And we will keep being together until sundown, so let's forget about everything else for now and make the most of this day. That would make you happy too, right?"
"I-I. It would," she says and lights up.
"So, let us do that together," Millie says cheerfully her tone still soft as always.
"Yeah, I agree," she says and takes the last piece into her mouth, chewing it quickly, and gets up as she swallows.
"Well, let us explore the capital together," she says with a big smile.
"And just for today, you are my familiar, okay?"
"Well, I... sure," Millie replies (normally the contractor should be asked first, but I can make an exception) Millie thinks to her self.
"Great, let us go," she smiles and heads into the streets. They look into different windows and see all kinds of different people and stands.
"Look at all this stuff, it is so different from where I grew up," she giggles, seeing a man doing a street performance.
"So cool, so that is foil magic, so pretty," she giggles and watches him change the shapes from flowers to a tea-pot and many different household items.
"Whoa, that fountain is impressive," she says, seeing unicorns running in a circle with vases pouring out water above them from their riders.
"There is so much more to look at here than I imagined," she smiles and looks ahead.
"Ah, a bookstore, cool," she says and runs up to it, looking at the books in the window before heading inside.
She browses through the books and stops, letting out a sigh. "They do not have it."
"What were you looking for?"
"Well, the book they had at the library... you know, '15 Things to Know Before Getting a Familiar,'" Sky blushes.
"Those books are old, and seeing that my kind have not been on this continent for quite some time, it is not exactly a book that sells," Millie explains.
"I suppose you are right," she says disappointed.
"Miss Sky, If I may ask, what is the reason you want to read about that subject?"
"I know I can't bring you with me, and I know that we won't see each other much, but I just wanted to understand you a little better while you are away."
"Miss Sky, you think you would be less lonely if you did that?" Millie asks, and she nods while blushing a bit.
"Sky, if being less lonely is what you seek, why not try and understand people a little better?"
"People... are shitheads..."
"I see. You have every right to feel that way. After all, people haven't given you a very fair deal to begin with," Millie utters.
"But does that mean all of them are bad?" she asks, and Sky thinks about Asta and the nurses and what Marx is trying to do for her, despite her shortcomings and past crimes.
"Well, I guess not all of them are," she utters.
"Then I bet you would benefit from understanding people and getting closer to them."
"I... I don't know. I mean, that shithead we met today isn't exactly convincing me that there are a lot of them out there," she grumbles.
"Well, to me it looked like he had his own world of problems to deal with," Millie points out.
"Yeah, right. He was being super rude and looked down on me just because I am a commoner."
"Did he say that he didn't like you because you were a commoner?"
"N-no, but his dad did, and that kind of thing is easily taught to the next generations. Nobility is all the same," Sky says.
"What about Leo?"
"Huh, the guy at the medical ward who was just as loud as Asta?" Sky asks looking at the cat in her arms.
"Yes."
"He is a noble?"
"He is royalty, a prince of House Vermillion," Millie explains and Sky's cheeks blush.
"What? But he treated Zora and Asta, who are commoners, so well." Sky says hardly believing her ears.
"See miss Sky, not everyone is the same."
"I-I guess."
"Miss Sky, I am not saying you should try to be friends with everyone, just some, or even just one person."
"Millie, I... maybe if I meet someone nice, I could try," she blushes.
"And wouldn't it be great to understand them a little bit better in case you meet them?" Sky looks up at the different books about people relationships in front of her.
"I truly believe you would benefit from it miss Sky."
"You really do, huh? Fine, I guess. But these prices..."
"I can take care of the money, so pick whatever you like," Millie tells her.
"You sure?"
"That I am. So pick whatever you want. Today is your day, remember," Millie says, and Sky's eyes widen as her mouth shiver.
"Millie, I thank you."
"Uh, my apologies. I never intended for you to cry."
"Huh, of course," Sky says, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I am just not used to... I mean, just the thought of being given something, I just... I..."
"Is it overwhelming?" Millie asks, and she nods.
"See, you get me, more than anyone could," Sky clenches her grip around Millie tighter.
"Miss Sky, I have spent my whole life trying to understand people, just so I can help someone like you."
"No, it is more than that. I can hear it in your voice, and I know from your interactions today. Your understanding goes deeper than what someone can get from a page," she says, wiping more tears.
"Well, a page was a good start for me," she replies.
"It was?'' she asks and Millie nods.
''Right, got it." She pulls herself together and picks out a couple of books, and Millie gives her the money for the purchase. The books are placed inside a paper bag that she carries around her arm, and they head outside.
"So Miss Sky, what do you wish to do next?" Millie asks as she looks around.
"Oh, I know," she says and runs along.
They spend the rest of the day enjoying the sunlight and filling it up with many experiences. Millie smiles while watching Sky's moments of happiness.
(Mother, your lesson on reaching out to others and the books you gave me really does help me help others. For that, I thank you,)Millie thinks to her self as the evening comes and they reach a lookout point. and As Sky walks the last steps of the circular tower, she stops in amazement as she reaches the fence.
"Wow, you can see everything from here," she smiles and looks ahead at the buildings in the evening sun.
"Oh, look at the birds having fun," she says, seeing a few fly by, messing with each other as they do.
They sit down to enjoy the view and chat while Sky enjoys some snacks.
The wind blows through her red hair as she looks at the view. "Today has been the best day of my life, thank you, Millie," she utters.
"There is no need for that ,Miss Sky. I was honored to help out, even if it was just a little."
"Just accept the gratitude," Sky insists, still looking at the view.
"You are welcome," Millie replies.
"Oh no!"
"Miss Sky What is it?"
"The sun is setting, and HQ is really far from here," she says and shoots to her feet.
"I can take you there," Millie tells her. "Huh?"
Millie brings out her wings and flies to her back, and using her magic, she forms a shielded belt around Sky, and they begin to fly.
"Whoa, this is so cool. It is like I am flying on my own," she laughs as they move through the sky.
"Uh, Millie, where are you going? HQ is that way."
"Huh, right, my bad," Millie replies and changes direction.
"You seriously lack a sense of direction, don't you?"
"Yes, ma'am," Millie replies.
Sky giggles, "I guess even you can't be perfect."
"Sky, I promise you I am far from perfect," Millie utters.
"Here it is," she says as Millie lands with them and gets on the ground and transforms into her human form, standing next to Sky who stares at the door.
"Miss Sky, is there something on your mind?"
"Well, I guess I will be heading off to somewhere unknown... and I am a little worried."
"Miss Sky..."
Sky takes a deep breath and puts on her bravest smile, and opens the door, heading inside.
They enter, and Sky walks into a brightly lit room with wooden details on the walls and a few desks about with people working. she walks up to the main desk. "Hi," she says, and the guy behind the desk looks up at her.
"Yes, hi, what can I help you with?"
"Well, I... I mean, my name is Sky, and I am here for..." (what do I even call it? a pick up a aid from Marx? a transport?) her mind raises.
"You are here to wait for your escort," she hears a voice, and she turns toward the light blue-haired mage.
"Oh, Marx, I thought you went to bed."
"I did, and I napped for a bit, and then it was off to work, but do not worry, I will get a proper night's rest tonight," he says and clears his throat, placing a few papers on the desk and giving the guy behind it a few instructions.
"Now, Sky, the person who will come and get you isn't here yet, but he should be here soon, so feel free to take a seat and wait."
"Right, I... right," she utters and walks over to a wooden bench. She sits and watches as a few knights come in, give their reports, and leave. A little later, a few people come in with requests for aid and such. And a little later, someone walks by with a huge amount of letters.
"Now, these are ready to be sent first thing in the morning," he tells someone. "Alright, I will sort through them."
"Wow, this place sure is busy." Sky utter seeing everyone doing something. (She is right; it is one of the things that haven't changed since I was here last. And I do not think it will change.) Millie thinks to herself.
"I didn't know the Magic Knight HQ served as a postal company too," Sky remarks.
"Well, not really. That mail is just for the different Magic Knight bases, with reports and updates on current events as well as missions."
"What, seriously? They have to go through that much paperwork, as well as defend the nation?"
"They do, but it is mostly the higher-ranking knights who do most of the paperwork. But it is good for everyone that they stay updated on current events, and the most important documents are given to Marx so he can relay them to the Wizard King."
"What, seriously? He works right under the Wizard King?" she asks, looking at him going through some papers.
"Huh, I always figured the Wizard King only stayed on his butt and let everyone else work," she says, grabbing a lock of her hair and pulling it between her fingers.
"I guess I know less about this country than I thought," she says.
"It gets harder to judge something once you have more information to go on, does it not?"
"Well," Sky looks around herself, "actually, you are right," she says.
"Oh, the cost of learning something new," Millie smiles, and Sky looks at her.
''Please don't think you are being funny right now'' she tells her.
''Miss Sky you sniffed me out again'' Millie utter.
''your idiocy knows no bounds'' Sky utter with a comedic expression.
''oh no round three friendly fire has been shot, and felt'' Millie utters dramatically.
''Seriously not funny'' Sky responds.
''All right miss Sky I will stop'' Millie smiles.
"But I suppose the more information is gathered judging something gets harder," she says, pulling her hand through her hair and stops as she feels something. (Uh, that is right, the rose,) she thinks to herself and pulls it out, looking at it intently as her mind wonders.
"Miss Sky, Something the matter?"
"No, nothing. It's just that one of the nurses gave me this, saying there have been a lot of these in bloom this year, which is a good sign or something'' She says and Millie looks at the Rose.
"A sign?"
"Yeah, the white rose is a sign of purity and a new beginning, so it must mean this country is entering a new chapter, similarly to my life seeming to enter a new chapter too."
"A new chapter? Well, a new beginning is what the rose represents, so..." Millie's mind trails off, remembering her vision last night of Meir reaching out his hand to her. in a field of white Roses ("Millie, are you coming? Let us begin a new chapter,") Meirs words goes through her mind as she grabs her Hazel brown crystal brooch.
"Millie?"
"Huh, oh, I apologize miss Sky. I did not catch the question."
"Oh, I only asked if you liked that sort of thing?"
"Uh, the language of flowers? I suppose so," she smiles and looks out into the room, seeing the guys working by the desk.
"Then here," Sky says, and Millie looks at Sky and the flower in her hand.
"What do you mean..., Miss Sky"
"It's not a big deal; it's just a flower," she says and looks at Millie's doe-eyed expression as she looks at it.
"Wow, you really do like this thing..., Here," she says and puts it into Millie's hair, "there, now you look extra cute.''
"I do?" Millie asks, confused, as a light blush comes to her cheeks.
"They almost match your eyes," she tells her with a smile, and Millie offers a smile back, and they look into the room together in silence for a moment.
''maybe this could be a new chapter for you too?''
'you think so?'' Millie face turns doe-eyed.
Sky looks at her and off to the room again 'I mean it is like you said, no one knows what is ahead so' she says awkwardly pulling at her dress.
''Right'' Millie replies and looks into the room as another moment of silence ensues as the only sound hears is the light scratching of quills against paper.
"I suppose it is just a matter of minutes now, and I will have to talk to a bunch of people that I do not know," she says and leans back.
"Can I give you any advice, miss Sky?"
"What is it?"
"Be good to them and give them a chance."
"Yeah, yeah."
"I mean it, miss," Millie utters, looking at her.
"If someone who hasn't even met you is willing to do this, then they deserve a chance."
"Yeah, I bet they are paid to do it anyway, so..."
"Still, just give them a chance, Miss Sky." Sky thinks the words over.
"Fine, I guess. For you, I can," she replies.
(Good, she needs to keep her heart open to it if she is going to grow, even if it is a small opening. It will be enough, and right now it is all up to her and whoever gets to take care of her. Please be a good one; this girl needs it,) Millie thinks to herself.
"Na'ah, I was way faster than you."
"In your wildest dreams, Asta."
"You want to go again, Leo? 'Cause I can go another round," they hear banter entering the building from familiar voices.
"You two idiots have way too high a reserve of energy. It is frankly a bit bothersome."
"Hey, don't get all high and mighty on us, Mister Cool Mask."
"Let us just give the report and be done with this already," Zora tells them both.
"Fine, as long as I do it better than Asta, I am good," Leo says and heads for the desk.
"Hey, not so fast," Asta pushes and catches up to the orange-haired guy.
"Oh, there are the girls. You both look way better than this morning."
"What do you mean, both of us? Millie was the one who looked like she was dying."
"I do believe my condition was not that bad, Miss Sky."
"You looked like death, I tell you," Sky pushes.
"Anyways, you're better now, right?" he asks, looking at Millie, who stiffens. "I-I am thank you, Master Asta, for the concern," she utters.
Sky looks at Millie, smiles, and with her elbow, bumps into Millie's arm. As Millie gives her attention, she leans in, and Millie gives her her ear. "Seems like I'm not the only one who needs to work on receiving kindness," she giggles, and Millie blushes.
"I-I, I suppose so," Millie says, looking between them.
"Let us both work on it, alright?"
"But I," Millie utters, getting really unsure.
"Come on, let us do this together."
"If that is what you need, then I suppose I can give it a go," Millie whispers, clenching her fist.
("It is different for me,") she thinks to herself as memories flash before her mind, (she stands in a barren wasteland littered with bodies, who are bloody. Her mind goes to the streets with people. "Did you hear?" a girl of her kind says. "Hear it? I saw it. Being born with her magic is bad enough, but then she actually went and got her soul scorched, and after that, she hung around that devil, and now she looks like one and even has a devils power. I mean, she might as well have turned,"
"Shhhh, look," the girl shushes.
"Hi guys, I eh, are you going to the festival this weekend?" Millie asked with a warm smile filled with hope.
"Uh, no thanks. I mean, if my master has me go, then obviously, but aside from that, no," the girl replied.
"Oh, I, right. Well, if you change your mind, I would love to."
"We said no, come on," the guy says, and they walk away.)
(Then her mind goes to her hand going through Sara's chest and the way her life left her eyes.)
(Her mind fast forwards. "How many times does it have to happen before you get it?"
"It isn't true!" Millie pushes.
"It is. Tell me about one person you had close to you that has actually lived a long life. Name one." My eyes fell to the grass as the answer is zero.)
("Millie, when you get close to someone, you let your feelings take over, and you become incapable of protecting anyone.")
(Millie's mind goes to the streets. "Did you hear? She killed her only friend," whispers were heard.
"Yeah, what else would you expect after all? She is the one touched by death from the moment she was born."
"I am surprised Minty didn't off her when she had the chance.")
("My mom would never off me," Millie head screams as she heads for the woods stopping by a small lake. she shakes her head and looks at her brooch as it sparkles in the moonlight. "You are right, Meir. I must keep being be and keep going, I will keep my promise to you. there fore I shall not give in," she tells herself.)
"Uh, hello, oh Asta," a voice utters, and they turn around. "Oh, Neige, long time no see," Asta greets. "You are a long way from Neon. What has brought you all the way to the capital?"
"I-I am here to get someone named Sky. I am supposed to bring her to Sister Theresa," he explains.
"Oh, so that's where she is going. Sky is right over there," he Asta tells him and Neige looks at the girl.
"Oh, hi there. My name is Neige," a man with long white hair that extends past his shoulders, with some hanging down in the front towards his nose, says. He extends his hand to Sky, who gets up and shakes his hand. "The name is Sky," she reluctantly says and looks off to the side.
"Nice to meet you. Sister Theresa Rapualis is busy getting the younger ones to bed, so I will take care of you for the evening, and tomorrow you will start your life anew."
"Whatever," Sky grumbles, and her eyes go to Millie.
"What?" Neige asks, and she looks over his clothes, which consist of an open, long-sleeved white shirt, white pants, and white shoes. He also wears a blue scarf around his neck and a blue belt that has a link of puff balls on his left side, connecting to a blue grimoire pouch.
Her eyes dart between him and Millie. "Nice to meet you too," she tells him.
"Right, you know how to fly a broom, right?" he asks.
"I-I have never really tried, so..."
"Well, that is alright. We can share my broom, and we will be in Neon in no time," he tells her. Sky takes a deep breath. "Right," she says and looks at him and Asta.
"Neige is a great guy, and the church is a perfect place for you. I know you will do great," Asta reassures her.
(Right, there is no way this guy gets to send me off without something from me), she thinks to herself and leans forward, locking eyes with Asta.
"Uh, what is it? Is there something on your mind?"
"Asta, before I go, I need to tell you something."
"Yeah, what is it?..." She stares into his eyes.
"Uh... you can tell me anything," he says as akwardness creeps up on him, but she keeps staring at him.(okey she is starting to wierd me out now) he thinks to himself.
"If there is something you want to say, just say it, I eh I am all ears" he tells her.
"You should know this. It is important."
"Yeah?..."
"You must pay attention, alright?"
"I am paying all the attention I have right now."
"Good, Asta."
"Uh?"
"You should know..."
"I should know?"
"...you are short," she tells him and stands up straight, walking past him.
"All that build-up just for that? You know that it isn't very nice of you," he says, dumbfounded. And Sky smiles satisfied (who knows, this chapter might be interesting), she thinks to herself and heads out the door.
Liebe chuckles on Asta's shoulder. "Hey, what are you laughing about? You are just as short as me, you know."
"Man, it was simple, but she sure knows how to make it hit hard, doesn't she?" Zora chuckles.
"It sure looks that way," Leo slightly laughs.
"Leo, not you too! come on"
"Sorry, Asta. It was just a bit too good," he replies.
"It wasn't, though," Asta says, seeing all his friends laugh, and he turns to Millie, whose mind is lost in space.
"At least Millie is on my side, right, Millie?" he asks and pats her shoulder, and she turns to him.
"Huh, I am confused, sir" she softly utters.
"Confused? This is no time to be confused," he tells her in comedic surprise.
"Oh no, I will try not to be," she slightly panics and looks at everyone as they laugh.
"Nice try, Asta. The girl seems to be a bit too confused to be on anyone's side right now," Zora says and leans his arm on her head.
"What? That can't be right, Millie?"
"Uh, sir, you are being far too confusing right now."
"What? that makes no sense" he says and comically falls, and everyone chuckles.
"hehehe, Get up, it isn't that bad," Zora tells him.
(I have no idea what is going on, but everyone is laughing and smiling), she thinks to herself, and soon Asta, Zora and Millie head to the hideout. She watches Zora walk inside, and Asta goes in after him, holding up the door.
"Millie, are you coming?" he asks and looks at her.
"I, uh..." she utters, still hesitant.
"Come on, I am sure Charmy has already made supper," he tells her.
(Right, I promised Sky I would at least give it a try to get used to this, so) she thinks to herself taking a deep breath and takes steps towards him, heading into the brightly lit hideout.
Soon, she is sitting at the table, watching everyone eat and exchange banter about the day's missions and events.
(Meir, maybe you are right. This might be a new chapter, a new beginning... but, am I really ready for it?)
...
Note: Well I had a lot of fun with this chapter showing Millie's more humorous side.
anyways, I will be glad to read more thoughts and opinions on the story as it progresses, and if there are any questions or plot holes be sure to let me know.
see you in the next one. :D
