"I will wait for you downstairs." Gary announces.
"Alright." Siv washes her face. She finally got a good night of sleep. She goes to pick up her cloak when she hears knocking on the door. "Come in."
"Good morning, Miss Gene." Asa greets her.
"Oh, good morning, Asa." Siv smiles at the woman. "Thank you again for-" Siv freezes when Asa falls to the floor and kneels in front of her. "What are you-"
"I saw the mark." Asa says, her voice is muffled by the floor she has put her forehead on. Siv automatically looks at the open door, afraid that Gary might hear.
"Please, Asa." Siv tries to help the woman up. "Get up, please." Asa grabs on her arm.
"You are truly our savior, Your Majesty."
'Oh God.'
"Please, don't call me that." Siv is starting to panic. She pulls the woman up.
"It is you, is it not?" She asks her.
"Asa, I am nobody's savior. I am just a normal-"
"You are the destined queen, my grandfather told me the story so many times. I could recognize that mark anywhere." Siv's eyes widen.
'Damn it.'
"Miss Gene." Gary calls from downstairs. "We have to go."
"I am sorry, Asa. I don't even know what story you are talking about." The woman eyes her for a moment, then rushes out of the room. Siv lets out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. She takes her cloak and heads downstairs.
"What took you so long?"
"Sorry, I was thanking Asa for her hospitality."
"Alright, let's go. We have to make a stop first before we leave Vanimi."
"Alright." Siv hurries out of the house.
"Miss Gene." Lofi calls when they are outside. "I made you this." The boy hands her a carved butterfly.
"Did you make this?" Siv takes the butterfly and smiles at the boy while he nods. "It is beautiful. Thank you." A grin splits the boy's face in two.
"Alright, well take care of yourself and your mother." Siv ruffles the boy's hair.
Gary and Siv start walking away when Asa runs to them, out of breath. Siv's face pales.
'Oh God, don't say anything, don't say anything.'
"Take this." The woman hands her a book. "This is the story." She squeezes her hands. "Please, read it." Siv looks down at the aged leather cover of the book in her hands before the woman wraps a cloth around it. "Please." The woman urges her again when she sees her hesitation.
"Alright, I will." Asa smiles at her, relief evident on her face.
"Keep it hidden, Your Majesty. It is illegal to have." She whispers in Siv's ear.
"Please, don't call me that." Siv mimics her hushed tone. Siv looks over to Gary who didn't seem to have heard their exchange.
"I hope you have a safe journey." They bid each other farewell while Asa and Lofi wave at them.
"That was strange." Gary comments. "What is it?"
"A book." She answers. "She told me about it yesterday, and apparently she wanted me to read it." Siv looks back at the two and almost chokes on saliva when she sees both mother and son bowing to her.
'Oh God.'
She starts taking faster steps, hoping that Gary doesn't look back.
"So where are we stopping?" She tries to get his attention.
"The acquaintance I visited yesterday. He might have a way for us to use the portal to Bodo."
'Why does this not make me feel better?'
They make it to what looks like an abandoned warehouse of some sort. Asger is waiting at the entrance.
"Good morning, sir." The boy greets. "Miss Gene."
"Is Stein inside?"
"Yes, sir. He has everything ready."
They enter the dark building and find Stein and a few of his men waiting for them.
"Stein." Gary greets. "I understand you concocted a plan for us to use the portal."
"I sure did. After your friend here beat those Lions up to a pulp, I thought we might use their uniforms to try and have you cross-over to Bodo."
"Oh?"
"We have a carriage and a key, so you just need to play the part."
"Which part is that?"
"Your favorite part." Stein laughs out loud. "Being a noble."
"Oh great, you do know my face is plastered on every wall in the capital."
"In the capital, not Vanimi."
"He has a point." Siv comments. Gary is silent for a moment as he contemplates the situation.
"Alright, then."
"We have clothes ready for you that you can change into."
'Well, might as well tell them that whatever they found will probably not fit me.'
"Our seamstress even altered a dress for you, Miss Gene." Stein says as if he could read her thoughts.
"Oh?"
"You have become quite famous in a matter of hours."
"I was not trying to." Stein chuckles.
"I think some people don't have to try, to let their greatness shine." The man eyes Siv for a moment before turning back to Gary. "I will send two of my strongest and most trusted men to accompany you. They will be wearing the Lions' uniforms."
"Alright, this might actually work. It will save us days of traveling."
"You owe me one, then."
"As long as it is not my first born, because there will be none."
"Don't worry, it won't be that big of a request."
Gary, Siv, and Asger change into the expensive clothes Stein has provided. Siv's dress is beautiful and it looks like it was made for her. She feels like she is Siv again, with a different body. She hides the book Asa gave her underneath her puffy dress before walking to the carriage.
"Here." Stein hands Gary some documents. "Your identity cards in case they question it."
"How did you even make all of this in one night?"
"I have my secrets." He flashes him a proud grin.
"Well, you have my thanks and gratitude, Stein."
"May the Blue Fire guide you in your journey." Siv looks at the man.
'I have heard this before. That guard from the palace said the same thing.'
They all sit in the carriage, Gary next to Siv and Asger across from them.
'I wonder how many people know about the Blue Fire.'