Music and songs echoed throughout the castle. Celebrations were always a joyous occasion. People moved about energetically, laughter ringing out and conversations filled with cheer. They were all dressed beautifully, like flowers blooming in spring.
All the leaders of the nations, provinces, and districts had begun to gather in the castle. Led by Ferio, their supreme leader, a grand feast was underway. With their presence, gifts from the people flowed in as a gesture of gratitude for the prosperity they had achieved. Each day, Ferio found himself astonished, yet another mountain of gifts piled up in the great hall.
"I have told them not to do this." Ferio sighed while Fuu followed closely behind, holding a long list in her hands, deep in thought, as she wrote something down.
"It indicates that our people are thriving..."
"Not like that." Ferio turned to a servant and commanded, "Check the contents, sort them out, and return them to the people." He sighed again. "We don't need this."
Dealing with the gifts was, in fact, an enjoyable task. The trio—Ryuuki, Kotori, and Dyna—volunteered to take on the job. Antique vases, ancient books, precious gemstones, paintings, herbal potions, fashionable clothing, jewelry, etc. Dyna and Kotori compiled the list.
"I hope someone gifts us a sentinel," Zazu, who happened to pass by, said. "Give it to me if you find one."
"Didn't you destroy the last one Albatross gave you?" Dyna asked incredulously. "You're wasting the nation's resources." Zazu appeared annoyed by Dyna's scolding.
"Uncle, you destroy everything in your workshop. I bet Alba won't give you any more," Ryuuki warned Zazu about his bad habits.
"What did you say, kid?" Zazu grew increasingly irritated, rapping Ryuuki on the head.
"Ow! I'm not a kid! I'm already 18! Look at me!" Ryuuki stood tall, showcasing how much he had grown compared to Zazu.
Primera, the fairy sitting on the windowsill with her knees hugged to her chest, watched the commotion and sighed deeply. "I hope someone gifts us with Lord Lantis..." she murmured. Indeed, it had been three years since she had last seen Lantis.
"I hope someone gifts us Shinre." Everyone was taken aback, including Primera, who immediately lifted her head and stared at Kotori in disbelief. "What?" she asked, confused by their surprised expressions. "He hasn't returned. At the very least, if he were here, he might be able to give us a way to stop Uncle Zazu from destroying the sentinels over and over."
"Then, I hope someone gifts us Her Highness Hikaru..." Dyna raised her head and gazed at a painting on the wall before her. Everyone turned their attention to Hikaru's portrait. "Shinre and Lord Lantis might come home if she returned."
"I've never met her..." Kotori said. "She looks so young and beautiful. After 20 years, will she still look the same?"
"Who knows…"
Ryuuki felt annoyed with Kotori for mentioning Shinre yet again. Out of everyone, Kotori spoke about Shinre the most. It couldn't be denied that the boy was impressive in combat skills and appearance. Jealous, Ryuuki decided to immerse himself in sorting through the gifts. He pulled a box from the pile, noticing a letter affixed to the top.
"Your Highness, I am Yoona from Fahren. I open an antique shop. Please support my business. I am gifting one of the items to prove how exquisite my store will be..." Ryuuki jotted down her request in the ledger. Curious about its contents, he opened the box and found a necklace with a long silver chain and a hexagonal pendant featuring a cracked black crystal shaped like a snowflower.
Despite the cracks… Wow! So exquisite! Ryuuki exclaimed in his heart. A plan began to form in his mind. He looked at Kotori excitedly and slipped the necklace into his pocket.
"The people so believe the rumors about my marriage. It's truly unsettling..." Kotori sighed. "I must be careful about who I go out of the castle with... Right, Ryuuki?" She toyed with her brown hair, tousled by the wind, her green eyes gazing far into the distance. The weather was indeed quite windy at the top of the tower. "Why did you bring me here, Ryuuki?" Kotori asked.
Ryuuki regretted it, too. He thought this was the perfect place but hadn't expected it to be so windy. Listening to Kotori's complaints about royal marriage, Ryuuki felt quite the opposite. The rumors circulating among the people felt like support to him since he had always been with Kotori wherever they went outside the castle.
"I can't stay here for long..."
"Wait a minute." Ryuuki fished around in his pocket. "I want to give you this."
Kotori took a small box from Ryuuki's hands, her face lighting up with joy. "A gift?"
"Open it..." Ryuuki cheered in his heart.
As she pulled out the necklace, the silver chain flowed like water in her hands. "How did you get this?" Kotori began to put it on. "It's beautiful..."
"I... bought it at the market. There's an antique shop, and..."
"Thank you... You're my best friend!"
Best? Best what? Just best friend?! "Yeah... that's a gift for you..."
"I have to go back. My father is looking for me, and I must report on our work." Kotori then took off running.
She only sees me as a friend. Ryuuki questioned himself, staring blankly as Kotori disappeared into the distance. "Hah..." he sighed. "Oh well, maybe someday I can be her best boyfriend."
The night had grown late. Senna ran through the crowded streets, which remained bustling despite the bells chiming midnight. The crowd was truly hindering...
"How are you going to find Magic Guru Clef? You don't even know who or where he is..."
Fear of failure enveloped him. He didn't know how much longer their mother could hold on. Tears began to well up in his eyes. He considered calling her magic animal but quickly quelled the thought. He couldn't reveal his identity by summoning it. But…
"I cannot be this patient! Serena!" Senna finally decided to call upon her magic animal, named after her sister. A white deer with a golden horn appeared, startling everyone around. They scattered. Some fell over, swept aside by the wave caused by the magic animal's arrival.
People began to point and panic, recalling their bad experiences with magic swordsmen. Seeing one appear among them, many called for guards and reported what they saw. Soon, security whistles echoed as they searched but lost their target.
Senna had flown into the sky, hiding among the low-hanging clouds of Cephiro. Within minutes, he arrived, and his steps halted in disbelief. The grand Cephiro Castle was entirely protected by a mental shield and a large squad of soldiers guarding it.
"Damn..."
The report this time was shocking.
"Is that Cail Lantis?" LaFarga immediately rose from where he had been studying various reports and looked outside. "Has Lantis returned?"
"Seems not," replied a soldier who approached General LaFarga immediately after the news reached him. "The person was flying on a magic animal, a white deer with a golden horn."
A white deer? That wasn't Lantis. "Where did this report come from?"
"About 15 kilometers from the main castle."
"Then this person is close to us. Were you able to get a description of the rider?"
"Not very clear. He was dressed tightly. Nothing was visible except that he was a tall man. Some people say he was a young man."
LaFarga donned his cloak and stepped out of his office, followed by several generals and soldiers. As they walked, LaFarga issued quick orders to ensure that no news of this reached the ears of those in the castle, especially Ferio. The banquet must not be disrupted. Next, they would work to capture this young man. Two of his subordinates quickly left to carry out his orders.
"Don't act recklessly and cause a commotion," LaFarga told the last person with him. "Tighten security across all defensive walls. Record anything suspicious, especially concerning magic swordsmen."
"Understood!"
LaFarga continued his way. He was going to meet Eagle Vision, Ascot, and Umi Ryuuzaki. Inside, he felt anxious. Who was this person? What did he want by coming to Cephiro? Weren't magic swordsmen of Runes temporarily barred from entering the capital and using their power? To avoid any chaos that might still occur...
Until morning, Eagle, Ascot, and Umi had not been able to meet LaFarga, despite the message being sent. Apparently, they were trapped in the grand banquet inside the castle. Until morning, there was no further news about the magic swordsman. Amidst his vigilance, LaFarga began to hope that it was all just his dream...