A group of palace maid went out of Princess Kiyomi's room, carrying the golden food tray of Queen Suiko.
"The Queen still rejects her food for three days, she's just staring in a blank sheet of paper", the maid said worriedly.
The royal knight Raijin overheard their conversation and proceed inside the room.
"Your Majesty, pardon my intrusion but—"
"I used to put white roses in this vase when my daughter was still alive", Queen Suiko blurted out.
"Your Majesty, they say that the Princess was just sleeping, she's not dead so please do not skip your meals", Raijin responded.
"I think she like red roses instead", the queen said.
"Then I will go and get some", Raijin replied.
Raijin left the room and headed to the palace garden.
"It's much better if she won't return", Queen Suiko uttered to herself, weeping.
Raijin arrived at the garden and went over the red rose bush to pick some. When he was cutting the stem, he noticed a sudden movement in a bush behind him. He paused and stealthily crept towards it. To his surprise, he found a charming jackrabbit leveret, he carefully extend his arms and took it.
"Ostara! Ostara! Please come out", a strange guy shouted nearby.
"Heimrick?! what brings you here? And who is Ostara?", Raijin asked.
"She's going to be my mount soon, but I can't find her, she was fluffy, small, cute—Hey! that's my Ostara!", Heimrick exclaimed, pointing to the leveret in Raijin's arms.
"What?! We are Royal Knights and you're taking a jackrabbit mount? Not to mention that she's still a baby", Raijin said.
"The last time I remembered, we are best of friends, so please be supportive to me just like I supported you in pursuing Bridget even though she was attracted to me first!", Heimrick replied.
"Don't you know that everything is—"
"Everything is fair in love and in war, I already knew that, but, didn't you know that Bridget already left to Gotholga Academy, I thought you were escorting her there?", Heimrick said.
"I, I was not informed", Raijin said in a sad tone.
"I think you should ride your horse and go there as soon as possible", Heimrick replied.
Raijin packed his things up and prepared to travel in Gotholga. Before he left his room, he suddenly remembered the red roses in the garden. He gathered some and headed to the princess' chamber. He entered and found out that the Queen already left, he noticed a pile of blank papers in the table she usually stayed. He was curious for a second but eventually, he continued his task. He carefully put the red roses on the white vase and glance at Kiyomi, however he could not see her clearly due to the silk curtains attached to her bed. He arranged the roses and immediately left. As the door closes, the fingers of the princess moved a little.
The sun always rises in Olivet Hills, the sacred land for healer class, Sachi suddenly moved her fingers when she was awakened by the bright rays of the sun. She lifted her right hand to cover her face, she opened her eyes, stood up and yawn. She prepared her breakfast and changed to a new set of clothes fit for her first-tier job, the Servant.
Servants wear a plain red and white robe with matching headdress and assists higher tier jobs as their training. They are not capable to equip weapons and usually depends on chanting their skills with hand gestures for support. Every morning, servants assemble in the Cathedral to learn new skills taught by Priestess Clara.
"The first skill you need to learn is the healing skill, raise both your hands to an injured, tired or sick person and utter 'heal', make sure you always have Mana potion with you so you can continue healing, also you need to have strong faith to succeed", Priestess Clara said.
"The next skill is the 'holy wall', this will grant a shield that can hold up to five hits for anyone in your party, you just have to put your hands together in a 'praying' gesture like this", she added, showing the hand gesture.
The servants were trying to cast the skill while Sachi was busy jotting down notes about the lesson.
"Remember that we, as healers and support must not only be skillwise but also be knowledgeable about nature, so please study the book of herbs well", Priestess Clara said.
Just then, a strong gust of the wind drove down in Olivet Hills when a group of novices landed. They are carrying a scroll to deliver a message for Archbishop Luna. Bishop Roy and Priestess Clara had to cancel their classes to receive it and went to the Altar of Heavens.
Sachi and the other servants decided to do their usual chores while their class was halted. She carried a basket with rose seeds and plant them in an empty field, while she was sowing them, she suddenly think of the whereabouts of her friend Ven when she saw the arrival of the novices.
"If Ven was here, I am sure, she would be flabbergasted on how cool the novices are, hmmm, I hope she is doing well", she thought.
"Sachiko", Priestess Clara called her from a distance.
Sachi lifted her head, stood up and bowed on her recognition.
"Priestess Clara, I am glad to see you, is our class resuming?", Sachi asked.
"For the meantime it is still suspended because of an urgent matter, the Queen is requesting for a new Servant, they say that her well-being is not good, so Archbishop Luna decided to send you there", Priestess Clara answered.
"It's a pleasure for me, priestess", Sachi said.
"However, a lot of hard work is required, you know well that you need you take missions fr the Royal Mission Board for the advancement of your tier", Priestess Clara reminded her.
"I know and I promise that I will return here and become a priestess", Sachi replied.
Meanwhile, in Gotholga Academy, Raijin arrived and talked to the guards.
"Pardon me, I am a Royal Knight from the Palace and I know someone residing here, can I have a permission to visit?", Raijin asked politely.
"State the name", the gate guard said.
"Her name—", Raijin paused when he saw an uncanny resemblance of Bridget behind the gate who was wearing a red hood, covering her entire face.
The gate guards noticed it too and bowed, she lifted her left hand as a signal for the guards to come over, she whispered something to them and allowed Raijin to enter.
"Bridget", Raijin said.
She signaled him to keep quiet and follow her. They pass through a secret hall from the garden and reached her room. She turned off the lamp and remove her hood. Her wavy rose hair was revealed while facing away from Raijin.
"Bridget, I'm glad that I've finally seen you, by the way you should have told me that you are already heading here so that I was able to accompany you", Raijin said.
Unfortunately, she did not answer and remained standing opposite to his direction.
"Bridget? Is there something wrong? Why did you turned off the lights?", Raijin asked.
Raijin went to the cabinets and drawers nearby to find some way to light the lamp. He was searching through the darkness until she held his hands and kissed him. Raijin was shocked and withdrawn immediately.
"Bridget?! What—", Raijin was interrupted by her slap. She was so mad at him so she went on her bed, lay down and remained unresponsive.
"I am sorry, I know I should have kissed you back but this is not right time", Raijin explained.
She suddenly throw a piece of paper on the empty side of her bed with her reply written within it. Raijin tool her message and says, THIS IS OUR ONLY CHANCE, MOTHER WILL COME LATER TO VISIT ME, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I MISS YOU SINCE SHE WON'T ALLOW ME TO SEE YOU, PLEASE LET US THINK FOR OURSELVES TONIGHT.
After which, Raijin crumpled the paper and throw it om the ground.
"I'm really sorry but I have to go, I think I shall come again next time", Raijin said.
Raijin held the door knob when he paused as he heard a noise of a broken glass. He turned around and saw a red fume scattered in the air. His head was aching after inhaling the mysterious gas.
"Bridget! What is this?! Arrrghhh!", Raijin yelled in pain.
He fell into the floor as the smoke was inhaled to his internal organs. His whole body was sweating, his eyes was bloated with tears and he was salivating a lot. He crawled into the ground to escape until he saw her standing in front of him while naked. His discomfort was doubled, he cannot think straight because the moment he saw her there was some curse forcing him to make love with her. She touched his face, tool his right hand, placed in her breasts and the intercourse began.
Apparently, somebody is on their way to their room, strange footsteps of about two to three persons are getting nearer. The shadows on the hallway showed a figure of a woman walking in a slow pace. Upon reaching their destination, a lady held the door knob and paused when she heard strange moans inside. She entered the room and was devastated of what she had witnessed.
"Raijin", Bridget said.
"Bridget", Raijin replied.
"Raijin!", Bridget yelled, bursting in tears.
Raijin's vision was cleared up when he heard her call his name for the second time. To his surprise, he saw Lady Makeda on the bed below him and was completely naked. He instantly covered his lower body and stood away from her.
"Bridget, this is a misunderstanding, it was your mother!", Raijin explained.
"Liar!", Bridget said.
"Hear me out, I thought she was you—"
"So, if that was me, you will do the same thing to me? You disgust me!"
"No! I won't do it, you know how much I respect our relationship—"
"Stop explaining!", Bridget said, walking towards her bed. She lifter the blanket and sickened to what she saw.
"You said it was my mother? Then who is this dead woman?!", Bridget asked.
"What?! I really don't know!", Raijin answered.
"You are so full of lies! Mother was right about you!"
"Please let me explain", Raijin pleaded.
"I do not want to hear anything from you, it's over!", Bridget replied.
"You don't want to hear anything?! Then ask yourself, since when did you ever heard something from me? You just always believe in what you want to believe!", Raijin exclaimed.
Bridget slapped her and said, "Enough! You are just a low-born and you will never ever reach me!".
"Hearing your insulting words crushes not just my heart but also my soul, you know that I work so hard to be a Royal Knight so that one day I will be able to reach you, how could you treat me like this?", Raijin uttered.
"I regretted the day that I have loved you, now leave! and don't ever appear in front of me again!", Bridget said.
Raijin left Gotholga and helplessly walked along the woods while his white horse followed him. Halfway to the palace, he suddenly fell into the ground and fainted.