A few days would pass and now we were on the afternoon of the 19th of June, a Thursday.
At the moment we were, somewhere in the middle of the tall and cold mountains of Narodnaya in Russia, where a small village dyed in pure white snow, rested.
This village, looked at first glance a bit like the village of Clitheroe in England, with its small woods that surrounded the village and the small frozen river that traversed it.
The buildings were old but well preserved and they ranged from simple and modest homes to bigger fancier ones and of course, there were also schools, libraries, and courtrooms, but there were two things that stood out in this village.
They were, its large market street and the enormous and imposing castle, that stood at the top of a hill, that gave the feeling that the castle, was watching over the town.
In a way this village looked similar to your average, run of the mill village, the only thing it lacked, was cars, that weren't non-existent but quite rare, even though there was a long straight road, that leads from this village directly to Moscow.
But this raised a question, why was there a village in these mountains?
The answer was a rather simple one, as this village that was given the name, Strekoza, wasn't one, that was inhabited by humans.
No, in this village, all of its inhabitants had eyes with vertical pupils, some had wings in their backs, horns that went from small to big, and reptile tails that were either scaled or consisted of fur and fangs hidden in their mouths.
Yes, the people of this village were, in fact, dragons, the oldest and strongest magical creature in the existence of the world and said to be the first mythological beings capable of using magic, before humans or even beast-kins.
But right now, we had to go inside the castle atop of the hill, where a young woman walked down a long elegant hallway, that had various windows on its right side and a floor made out of marble...
This young and beautiful woman had long light silver hair and eyes that had vertical pupils, her face was one that showed no emotion, a face of stoicism if you will and she wore a light blue Victorian maid outfit, complete with a white frilled apron and an equally white frilled headdress, but what caught the attention of anyone that saw her, was not the maid outfit, no, it was her big light sliver fur tail that pointed down.
The name of this young woman was, Talya Aminev and she was this castle's head maid.
"I wonder...what this is all about..." Talya thought as she made kept walking down the hallway, only to stop shortly after, in front of a wooden door.
"Please, pardon the intrusion..." Talya said with a very respectful tone, as she opened the door of this room, that revealed to be a small library that had all of its walls covered with shelves that went from the floor to the ceiling, with the only exception being the wall in the front of the door, that had a small fireplace and in its middle, it had a big armchair with a small round table, right next to it and in that chair was a woman reading a book.
This woman despite being close to her 50's, was a breathtaking beauty, with her beautiful golden hair, that reached to the middle of her back and her eyes that also had a vertical pupil, were in a shade of deep blue.
She wore a long dark blue dress that reached to her heels and over this dress, she wore an equally dark blue blazer, but what stood out the most in this woman, were both the horns on her head that looked similar to feathers and her pure white fur tail.
This woman was, Sanya Drakon, the 11th queen of Strekoza.
"Oh! Talya, please come in!" Sanya said with a cheerful tone, while she closed the book she was reading and placed it on her lap.
"Sure, Lady Drakon..." Talya said while she entered the room and closed the door behind her.
"Talya, no need to be so shy and respectful around me, it's alright..." Sanya said with a reassuring tone, as she looked at Talya getting close to her.
"Even if you say that Lady Drakon, I'm still your servant and I owe you all the respect possible..." Talya said as she finally stood in front of Sanya that upon hearing her began to pout, as she placed the book, on the small round table.
"You're so stubborn sometimes, Talya...but for now I'll let it slide, since we got other things to talk about, and you're probably curious of the reason why I summoned you here so suddenly..." Sanya said a bit angry, as she frowned a bit, Talya just nodded upon hearing her.
"Well then, Talya...I have very good and wonderful news! Today, Timofey finally accepted, to let Livanya, go to Takamagahara so she can be seen by the renowned doctor that specializes in mythological creatures and beast-kins!" Sanya said with a very happy tone as she placed her hands together, Talya just opened her eyes wide.
"Is that true? Did Lord Drakon, finally agree to let Lidy Lavanya be seen by, Miss Erika Muller?" Talya asked with a surprised tone and expression, as she looked at the still smiling Sanya.
"Yes, he did...and I was also quite surprised when Timofey said that she could go, but taking into account her condition and how long this has been going on...he was bound to let her go there, sooner or later..." Sanya said again with a happy tone, but it didn't last long...
"It...it has been a while since I was so happy, to be honest...but still, this is our last chance, if this doctor can't solve Livanya's problem...I don't know who will..." Sanya said with a faint sad tone, as she looked a bit down.
"Please, Lady Drakon, Miss Muller is a very well known doctor in the world of mythological beasts and she has taken care of dragons Before! So I believe, that she will be able to solve Lady Livanya's condition! No, I'm sure of it!" Talya said with a reassuring tone as she smiled.
"Thanks for your reassuring words, Talya...I can't wait for this to finally have some closure for this..." Sanya said as she got up from her chair and smiled.
"Now then, the meeting with Miss Erika is this Saturday...but I want that you and Livanya depart for the airport in Moscow and then take the jet to Takamagahara tomorrow morning!" Sanya said with an informative tone as she moved her right hand a bit.
"Sure, Lady Drakon, I'll go and talk with Lady Livanya right now and tell her about this! She'll be so happy to finally visit another country!" Talya said with a happy tone, as she briefly smiled, but unfortunately, it didn't last long as Sanya got a sad expression on her face.
"I'm sorry, Talya...but Timofey said that Livanya can't visit Takamagahara...she has to stay in her hotel room, until the day of her meeting with Miss Erika..." Sanya said still with a sad tone as she looked down.
"She can't visit anything? But Lady Drakon that..." As Talya said this she was interrupted by Sanya.
"I know... it's unfair...but Timofey still believes that Takamagahara is a dangerous place for us, dragons, despite Lady Youjo having already talked with him about it and reassured him of the safety of her island...but he still doesn't believe her completely..." As Sanya said this, she made a small pause and placed her hands behind her back.
"So for now, let's hope this meeting goes well, and perhaps he changes his mind and lets Miss Erika have a look at him too..." Sanya said as she got close to Talya and smiled.
"Yes...let's hope he does..." Talya said while she let out a small sigh and frowned a bit.
"Come on, Talya, turn that frown upside down! I know that everything will go just fine...and unlike Timofey, I'm not that scared of Takamagahara, so I will allow that Livanya explores after her meeting, but just a little, unfortunately..." As Sanya said this Talya began to smile again.
"Thank you...Lady...! " Talya said as her tail wiggled around for a brief moment, but it didn't last long, as she was interrupted by a ringing sound.
"I'm sorry, Lady Drakon, but it's about time for Lady Livanya's classes to start..." Talya said as she took out a small pocket watch, from the pocket of her apron and turned it off.
"I see, then I won't take any more of your time, Talya! You may take your leave..." Sanya said as she smiled.
"Yes...I will..." Talya said as she made a small bow towards Sanya, before turning to the door, but as she got close to it...
"Lady Drakon? Since we're going to depart for Takamagahara tomorrow...do you want to see Lady Livanya now or do you want to eat dinner with her tonight and wish her a safe trip?" Talya asked with a curious tone, as she looked at Sanya, that in turn looked a bit down.
"Unfortunately...I can't meet her right now and I also can't eat dinner with her, as both Timofey and I will attend a party in Paris tonight, that will be hosted by the leader of the Black Bear unity and the leader of the Supreme cross because of a peace treaty, I believe...if I had to be honest, I don't really want to go..." Sanya said with a faint annoyed tone as she sighed.
"I understand..." Talya said with a very faint sad tone, as she turned to the door.
"Please Talya, tell Livanya, that I'm sorry, alright?" Sanya asked as she looked at Talya opening the door of the library.
"I will...do not worry about it..." Talya said as she stepped out of the library and as she closed the door behind her, Talya looked down at the floor for a bit.
"I can't believe that none of them will make a single second to wish Livanya a good trip or to spend some time with her..." Talya said with a faint angry tone as she stooped looking at the floor and began making her way down the hallway once again...
A few minutes later, on the other side of the castle, in the chambers section to be precise, Talya stood in front of a beautiful adorned wooden door...
"Lady Livanya!" Talya called as she slowly opened this door that revealed a rather big bedroom, that had a large bed close to the wall on the left side, that also had a door that led to a dressing room.
On the wall to right there was a medium-sized fireplace, and on the left side of that fireplace was a small drawer with a TV and a game console on top of it with a small sofa in front of it and next to that drawer, was a small desk, with a shelve on top of it.
But what stuck out more in this room was the enormous window, that faced the entrance door, which had long white curtains and big shelves with various books, on both of its sides.
"Strange...did she go to the bathroom?" Talya asked herself as she entered the room and looked around it for a bit.
"She can't have gone far...after all, she's still playing her video games..." Talya thought as she got close to the drawer, that had the TV on top of it turned on, with a paused video game.
"I honestly don't see, the appeal of these things..." As Talya said this she got close to the sofa and picked up the controller that was lying there, but as she moved it around and inspect it...
"Growl!!" A rather cute voice made this growling sound from behind Talya and when she turned around to see who it was, she saw a cute young girl that was perhaps 1,55 meters tall, she had straight golden hair that reached to the bottom of her back and Light blue eyes.
She wore a long white dress that reached to her heels that showed off her curvy figure a bit, she also wore an equally white and black shawl around her shoulders, but something that caught the attention of anyone that saw her was the large and fluffy looking black and white beret on her head.
This young girl was, Livanya Drakon, the daughter of Timofey and Sanya Drakon and the only princess of Strekoza.
"Lady Livanya...you have to do better than that if you plan on scaring me..." Talya said with a stoic tone to Livanya, that began pouting when she heard Talya's remark.
"Your no fun, Talya...you never get scared once...but I'll never give up you hear! " Livanya said with a faint angry tone, as she kept pouting.
"Lady Livanya, you are already 14 and close to 15...so I believe that you should stop these childish actions, that are unbecoming of your age and your title of princess..." Talya said with a faint scolding tone befitting of a mother, as she raised her index finger.
"I know, I know...you don't need to say it all the time Talya...I'll just play my game, again..." Livanya said with a faint depressed tone, while she sighed and made her way towards the sofa.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, Lady Livanya, as it is time for your classes now..." As Talya said this, Livanya jolted a bit upon hearing her.
"T-Talya...can't that wait? I just got to a good part in this new game..." Livanya said with a nervous tone, as she pointed at the paused game on the TV.
"You know, that I can't let you do that and we still have to catch up on your math classes!" Talya said with a faint angry tone, as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Eh!? Math?! I hate that subject...why do I even need to learn something that I'll never use in my life?" Livanya asked with a very angry tone as she took a seat on the couch and pouted while looking away from Talya, she just sighed upon seeing her reaction, but it didn't last long as Talya got hit with an idea.
"Well...if that's the case, then I can only assume that you don't want to hear about the surprise I have..." Talya said with a faint stoic tone as she looked a bit away from Livanya, that looked at Talya almost instantly.
"S-Surprise?! What is it Talya, tell me, tell me?" Livanya asked with a very curious and excited tone as she clenched her hands.
"Oh...but you don't want to have your classes...so I don't think I can tell you..." Talya said as she looked at Livanya, then away.
"OK, ok, you won Talya, I'll take my classes...so now tell me about this "surprise", pretty please?" Livanya said after she let out a sigh and upon hearing this Talya smiled, as she took a seat next to her.
"Well then, Lady Livanya, the surprise is that tomorrow, we will be departing for the island of Takamagahara!" Talya said with a happy tone as she raised her index finger a bit, Livanya just looked at her with awe written all over her face.
"R-Really?! Were going to go visit the famous island of Takamagahara?!" Livanya asked with a very excited tone as she looked at Talya, that just nodded.
"Finally! Finally, I will be visiting another country! I can't believe it! Say, Talya, is Takamagahara just like this video game I'm playing? With lots of people walking around, cars and things to visit?" Livanya asked again with an excited tone, as she pointed at the case of the "Yakuza 2 kiwami" video game she was playing.
"Hmm...as far as I know, it's a bit like this video game you like so much, except no one's picking fights with random people, I believe..." Talya said as placed her hand on her cheek.
"I see, but that's good since we can walk around and visit everything without worrying about anything!" Livanya said with a happy tone as she smiled, but Talya on the other hand looked a bit down.
"I'm sorry, Lady Livanya...but unfortunately, we won't be able to visit too much of the island, since this is mostly, for you to meet a doctor..." Talya said a bit sad as she placed her hands together.
"Another doctor visit? I'm tired of going to the doctor's, Talya! I want to go visit the island and have tons of fun instead!" Livanya said with a faint angry tone while she crossed her arms and pouted again.
"It is your fathers wish that you go there, to be seen by this doctor...but it doesn't mean that we won't be able to visit Takamagahara, you just have to be patient, I promise that after it's done, Lady Livanya, we can explore!" Talya said with a reassuring tone as she smiled.
"Really? You promise?" Livanya asked still a bit angry as she briefly looked at Talya that nodded as she kept smiling.
"If you promise that I can explore after everything is said and done...then I'll go and visit the doctor!" As Livanya said this she warped her arms around Talya and gave her a tight hug as she buried her face away in Talya's ample chest, but just as Talya was about to hug Livanya, she hesitated and ended up not hugging her, as they we're still master and servant.
"What's wrong, Talya?" Livanya asked with a curious and worried tone as she looked at Talya.
"Nothings wrong...I was just thinking that it's going to be a fun trip..." Talya said as she briefly smiled at Livanya.
"It sure will! Oh, I better go make my luggage and choose which clothes to take, I hope it's not too hot there, and I also..." As Livanya went on and on like this Talya just smiled as she heard her.
"Well, that will have to wait...you still have your classes, don't you?" Talya asked as she tilted her head, something that made Livanya jolt again.
"O-Ok...I'll go and take my classes...but that reminds me...since I'm going to Takamagahara...does that mean, that I'll eat dinner with mother and father tonight before I go, right?" Livanya asked with a curious tone to Talya that looked a bit down again.
"Unfortunately, Lady Livanya, your parents have a meeting to attend today...so they won't be here to eat dinner nor to bid you farewell..." Talya said as she looked at Livanya, which got her face covered in sadness.
"I-I see...but well that is to be expected...they're busy after all and in a way it's better to eat dinner alone since we never talk during it anyways...so...let's have these classes, Talya..." Livanya said with a faint depressed tone as she looked a bit down, Talya upon seeing this felt as if she got punched, but it didn't last long...
"Well...those classes can wait for when we come back and after all...we do need to choose what you're going to take with you...right?" Talya asked with a shy tone as she briefly blushed, something that brought Livanya's cheerful mood back, upon hearing her.
"Talya...I love you so, so much!" Livanya said with a very happy tone as she grabbed Talya's hand and pulled her up from the couch.
"But you can't get used to it you hear, Lady Livanya!" Talya said while she sighed and looked at Livanya, that ignored Talya as she pulled her towards her dressing room...
------------
Meanwhile, back in Takamagahara, around 21:34 pm, in Tatsurou's apartment to be precise, Tatsurou was in his room, sitting at his desk and he didn't have the happiest of expressions on...
"God...I don't get it..." Tatsurou, that was wearing his usual black T-shirt and shorts, said with a faint depressed tone, as he scratched his head and looked at the notebook on top of his desk, that had various magic circles drawn on it.
"Any ideas about this, Frida-san?" As Tatsurou asked this, he stooped scratching his head, and looked at the back of his hand, where Friday's symbol appeared.
"Unfortunately it's not ready yet, Lord Kurokami...but if you allow me to be honest, the circles are very well drawn!" Frida said with an apologetic tone that turned into an encouraging one, as the symbol briefly lit up.
"You can thank the compass for that...but this is getting harder the more I think about it...I thought that I had finally got it, when I made this magic circle, with this drawing of a lock..." Tatsurou said with a faintly depressed tone, as he looked at his most recently drawn magic circle, which had a small lock drawn in it.
"The idea of drawing a lock was a good one! In a way, it captures the essence of what the strength limiter should be!" Frida said with an impressed tone.
"Well, since it is a strength limiter ability and taking into account what Marie said the other day...I think that it would only make sense to draw it, but I still can't believe that something's missing..." As Tatsurou said this he let out a sigh, but it didn't last long as someone knocked on the door of his room.
"Tatsurou, can I come in?" Shirayuki asked with a curious tone from the other side of the door.
"Hmm? Sure, come on in, Shirayuki!" As Tatsurou said this, Friday's symbol vanished while Shirayuki opened the door and entered the room.
"I brought you some tea, Tatsurou..." Shirayuki, that was wearing her usual long pink nightgown and holding a round wooden board with a cup of tea on it, said with a happy tone as she got close to Tatsurou.
"Thanks, Shirayuki...and you know that you don't have about knocking when you want or have to enter my room, you know?" Tatsurou said with a reassuring tone as he grabbed the cup and smiled.
"Well...I think that it is only normal to knock! Entering your room right away, as if I own it or something...doesn't feel right with me..." Shirayuki said with an embarrassed tone, as she hid her face behind the wooden board, something that surprised Tatsurou a bit.
"Say, Shirayuki...is something wrong?" Tatsurou asked with a worried tone, as he placed the cup on his desk and looked at Shirayuki, that jolted a bit upon hearing him.
"W-Well... it's just that I wanted to thank you...for buying me a phone the other day... " Shirayuki said still with her embarrassing tone, as she slowly moved the wooden board away from her face as her ahoge wiggled a bit, Tatsurou got up from his chair, as he smiled.
"Come on, Shirayuki! You don't have to constantly thank me for it or do more work around the house because of it..." As Tatsurou said this he placed his hand on Shirayuki's head and remembered that ever since he gave Shirayuki her phone she did more chores around the house to compensate for it.
"I know...but I feel a bit bad since I don't think I do enough for deserving something like this and I don't want you to waste money like this..." Shirayuki said a bit embarrassed as she looked down a bit.
"That's not true at all Shirayuki...you help a lot around the house and I bought it because I want you to be able to contact, me or Marie if something happens and you need our help...so I don't want you to feel bad about it, ok?" Tatsurou said with a reassuring tone, as he gently, head patted Shirayuki, that blushed.
"Thanks...Tatsurou...but still...I want to deserve it! So is there anything you need help with or something else I can do around the house?" As Shirayuki asked this with a determined tone as her ahoge wiggled around.
"You don't need to do anything else around the house, you already do a lot...but if you really want to help then...could you lend me a hand with this magic circle here?" As Tatsurou said this he stooped head patting Shirayuki and pointed at the notebook on the desk with his thumb.
"Sure, I can have a look at it!" Shirayuki said again with a determined tone, as she got close to the desk and placed the wooden board on it before she leaned a bit forward to look at the magic circle, that Tatsurou had drawn.
"So, Shirayuki...what do you think?" Tatsurou asked a bit curious, as he got close to Shirayuki.
"Hmm...well, I'm not very familiar with western magic circles, since my clan used mostly kanji's, magic circles with kanji's or the most common enchantments, as you have seen me use...so I don't think I can't be of assistance here..." Shirayuki said with apologetic and embarrassed, tone as she stooped leaning and sighed.
"It's ok, Shirayuki...no need to put on such a long face!" Tatsurou said with a reassuring tone again, as he briefly head patted Shirayuki.
"B-But I think that they are very well drawn, taking into account that you never drew one, to begin with!" Shirayuki said also with a reassuring tone, as her ahoge wiggled around.
"Well...I wasn't the one that..." As Tatsurou said this, he got interrupted again by the sound of knocking.
"Shirayuki? Did you already asked Tatsurou if he wants to watch TV with us?" Marie, that was wearing her usual tank top and shorts and had her hair tied into a low ponytail, asked with a curious tone, as she stood close to the door.
"No, I haven't..." As Shirayuki said this, she looked at Marie, that entered the room.
"Hmm? What are you two doing?" Marie asked with a curious tone again, as she got close to Shirayuki and Tatsurou, and looked at the notebook on the desk.
"I'm trying to draw a magic circle so that I can use one of the abilities of the gauntlet..." Tatsurou said as he briefly scratched his head and took a seat on his chair.
"Oh, you asked me about it the other day! So how's it coming together?" Marie asked as she briefly placed her hands together.
"As you can see...not that well..." Tatsurou said a bit embarrassed, as he grabbed the notebook and handed it to Marie, which gave it a quick look.
"Hmm...I think this one here with the lock is pretty good! So this means it's a magic circle, that will lock something away, right? But there are still a few things missing..." Marie said as she looked at Tatsurou, then at the notebook.
"You guessed it, Marie! And what's missing here?" Tatsurou asked with a curious tone as he looked at Marie,
"Well then, allow me!" Marie said with a happy tone as she got close to the right side of Tatsurou's desk and placed the notebook, in front of Tatsurou.
"Say, Tatsurou, you don't mind, if have a look too, while Marie explains?" Shirayuki asked a bit curious and embarrassed.
"Of course not, Shirayuki!" As Tatsurou said this, Shirayuki got close to the right side of the desk and began looking at the notebook.
"Are you two ready?" Marie asked as she looked at Tatsurou and Shirayuki, that nodded upon hearing her.
"Well then, first you should grab an eraser, and then erase a little bit of this curve that enters the lock...basically to simulate the idea that the lock closes and opens when using say ability, a bit like turn it on and off switches, the other thing missing, is a sort of enchantment that you need to write around the circle, basically to reinforce its purpose in a way, but it has to be something personal...and..." Marie said this with an informative tone, as she pointed at the magic circle with her right index finger and of course, Tatsurou was paying attention, until something began to bother him a bit...
"M-Marie and S-Shirayuki...are a bit too close..." Tatsurou thought as he looked to his left and saw Marie pressing her chest against his left arm, as she explained what he had to do with the magic circle and then to his right side, where Shirayuki was pressing her chest against Tatsurou's right arm, as she tried to have a better look at the notebook.
"I won't lie...this isn't bad...w-wait! What the hell am I even thinking here! Marie is doing her best to explain to me what I have to do and Shirauki is paying attention to what Marie's saying and here I am thinking like a pervert...I-I should tell them...wait, no, no...if I tell them, this could turn out pretty bad, couldn't it? But then again, if they are the ones noticing, it could be pretty bad either, right?" Tatsurou thought again as he played various scenarios in his head of what could happen if told Marie and Shirayuki what was going on and his thoughts ranged from, them getting angry and slapping him, to making them embarrassed and not talking to him again because he's a "pervert".
"Tatsurou...is something wrong?" Marie asked with a curious tone, as she looked at Tatsurou that was suddenly brought back from his thoughts.
"Eh? E-Every things alright, Marie! Why are you asking?" Tatsurou asked with a very embarrassed tone as he looked at Marie.
"Well...your pretty red..." Marie said with a worried tone, as she looked at Tatsurou that was blushing quite hard.
"I-I...!" As Tatsurou said this, Marie placed her hand on Tatsurou's forehead, needless to say, this made him blush even more than before.
"Oh no! You're burning up quite bad!" Marie said with a worried and impressed tone as she kept her hand on Tatsurou's forehead.
"Really? Oh god, Marie's right! Tatsurou, don't tell me you came down with a cold?" Shirayuki asked as she placed her hand on Tatsurou's forehead and needless to say he was now blushing from head to toe, as he was sandwiched between Shirayuki and Marie, it was heaven on earth and yet it was also hell for Tatsurou, as they were worried about him and yet he was just blushing because they had their chests pressed against his arms and were too close to comfort.
"C-Come on, you two! I'm ok and how could I have caught a cold? It hasn't rained a single time yet!" Tatsurou said with a very embarrassed tone, as he got up from his chair, releasing himself from Marie's and Shirayuki's grasp.
"But your so red and burning up!" Marie said with a worried tone, as she took a step closer to Tatsurou.
"But I'm alright...it's just a little bit hot in here!" Tatsurou said with a reassuring tone as he moved his arms a bit.
"Please, Tatsurou! Let me at least check if everything's alright with my magic!" Shirayuki said also with a worried tone, as she took a step closer to Tatsurou.
"I'm ok, you don't need to check me up..." Tatsurou said with a reassuring tone as he took a step back, but Shirayuki and Marie weren't having any of it, as they took another step forward.
"Someone...please save me!" Tatsurou thought as he raised his hands a bit, as if telling them to calm down, but Tatsurou's prays were heard, as his phone began to ring, surprising them all in the process.
"Hmm? I wonder who could it be, at this hour...!" As Tatsurou said this, he made his way towards the bedside desk and when he picked up his phone, he saw that who was calling him, was Hime of all people.
"Who is it, Tatsurou?" Marie asked a bit curious as she looked at Tatsurou.
"It's my mother..." Tatsurou said as he looked at Marie and Shirayuki, that for a moment kept silent until their eyes opened wide.
"Oh, It's your mother! Then we better go and let you talk in private! Right, Marie?" Shirayuki asked, as she placed her hands together and glanced at Marie.
"Y-Yeah, we should!" Marie said as she nodded and turned towards the door with Shirayuki doing the same, but as they got close to the door.
"But after your done, you'll let Shirayuki do a little check-up on you, ok, Tatsurou?" Marie said as she turned towards Tatsurou and pointed at him, Shirayuki just nodded in agreement.
"If it puts you two more at ease, then I'll let Shirayuki do that..." Tatsurou said as he scratched his cheek a bit, Shirayuki and Marie upon hearing this, turned towards the door again and finally took their leave.
"The way Shirayuki and Marie reacted after I told them that it was Hime calling..." Tatsurou thought as he let out a sigh, upon remembering that Shirayuki and Marie didn't have a mother and it must be hard for them, to see someone talking with their mother.
"I have to be more careful about it..." As Tatsurou said this, he pressed the answer button on his phone and placed it close to his ear.
"Hiya, Tatsurou! How are you doing?" Hime asked with a very cheerful tone from the other side, as soon as Tatsurou placed the phone close to his ear.
"Hi, Hime...I'm doing good, how about you?" Tatsurou asked with a curious tone as he smiled.
"That's good to know! As for me, I'm doing fine, but I have had a lot of work with planning all these lectures and whatnot...so that doesn't give me a lot of time to call you...sorry..." Hime said with a happy tone, that turned into a faintly depressed one as she sighed.
"I see...don't worry about that, Hime, it's alright...but please tell me that you at least eat and sleep properly..." Tatsurou said while he let out a sigh and took a seat on his bed.
"Come on! Now you sounded just like your grandma...and that should be my line if anything!" Hime said with a faint angry tone, as she let out a sigh.
"Sorry and don't worry, I have been eating healthy and sleeping properly..." Tatsurou said with a reassuring tone, as he smiled.
"That's good to know! But say Tatsurou...do you mind if ask you something?" Hime asked a bit curious.
"Not really...what is it?" Tatsurou asked also curious about what Hime would ask.
"Well...I know that you just said that you were doing good, but when I called Wise the other day and I asked her how you were doing...she was a bit nervous and avoided my questions a lot...so I want you to tell me, what's really going on..." Hime asked both curious and a bit suspicious, this made Tatsurou freeze on the spot.
"God...t-this it...Wise must have slipped up on something...but this could also be the opportunity to finally tell Hime, about Shirayuki and Marie!" Tatsurou thought a bit worried, but it didn't last long, as he put on a determined face.
"W-Well...you see Hime...the truth is..." Tatsurou said this a bit nervous, as he tried to muster the courage to tell Hime, about what has happened as of late.
"The truth is that...that a lot of things have happened since you left and now I have two people living here with me in our apartment, I'm so sorry for not telling you sooner! Please forgive me, Hime!" Tatsurou said all of this so fast, that one wouldn't be wrong to assume that Hime, didn't hear or understand a thing, but perhaps that wasn't the case, as after what Tatsurou said a long silence followed, a silence that scared him quite a lot.
"T-This is bad...Hime must be furious!" Tatsurou thought as he trembled and imagined Hime already booking a flight back home to suplex or dropkick him.
"H-Hime?" Tatsurou called her and for another bit, there wasn't an answer, until...
"Oh! Sorry, Tatsurou, what did you say? I was heating my food and dropped my phone..." Hime said as she laughed a bit, Tatsurou upon hearing this, sighed with relief but it also meant that he had to tell Hime this again, something that he didn't dare to do now.
"I...I mean...the truth is that...well Y-Yumeko enlisted me in the Soteria intern program...and...I was a bit afraid to tell you..." Tatsurou said a bit nervous, as he laughed.
"Really? Yumeko-chan, did that?" Hime asked both curious and worried.
"Yes, she did...your not angry, are you?" Tatsurou asked a bit worried, with Hime's reaction.
"Hmm...well, I'm not that angry, I just think that you two should have told me about it sooner, don't you think?" Hime asked a bit angry.
"Y-Yeah...we should have..." Tatsurou said a bit nervous again, as he laughed a bit.
"But I'm not surprised...this was bound to happen, knowing how you dash headfirst helping other people, without worrying about yourself in the slightest...so I'm happy that Yumeko placed you in the Soteria like that she can at least keep an eye on you...and you can also earn something for the troubles you go through!" Hime said a bit relieved as she sighed.
"That is true...but the earning part, isn't that important for me...as long as I help someone, I'm more than happy..." Tatsurou said with an honest tone as he smiled and for a moment Hime, didn't say anything.
"Honestly...that is one of the things I love the most about you, Tatsurou! Please, never change that!" Hime said with a very happy tone, which made Tatsurou blush.
"I-I see..." Tatsurou said a bit embarrassed.
"But please, be careful, you hear? I don't want you ending up in the hospital!" Hime said with a faint angry tone, that made Tatsurou jolt a bit.
"Y-Yeah...I will..." Tatsurou said a bit nervous, as he remembered that he didn't tell Hime of the times he got hospitalized, ever-since she left.
"Good! Now, I won't bother you any longer, so good night and talk to you soon!" Hime said with a very happy tone.
"Thanks, Hime...enjoy your food and have a good night too! Oh, and hug grandma for me, ok?" Tatsurou said also with a happy tone, as he smiled.
"I sure will! Bye-bye, Tatsurou!" Hime said again with a happy tone.
"Bye, Hime..." As Tatsurou said this he moved the phone away from his ear while he turned the call off and after that, a long silence followed.
"God...once again I wasn't able to tell Hime about Shirayuki and Marie..." Tatsurou said with a faint depressed tone, while he let out a sigh and remembered how he had been trying to tell Hime about Shirayuki and Marie every time she calls, but he would back off last minute or a chance to tell her, wouldn't show up at all.
"I have to tell her...if she finds out before I tell her anything... she'll probably murder me..." As Tatsurou thought this he got a shiver down his spine, as he got up from the bed, while he imagined Hime's reaction upon telling her about this.
"I better start to think about ways on how to tell her, but first let's take care of that magic circle, once and for all!" Tatsurou said as he made his way to the desk and when he got close, Tatsurou placed the phone on it and picked up the notebook, and looked at it for a bit.
"Marie said that the only things missing are, erasing a bit of the lock and the enchantment around the magic circle, but what do I even write? Frida-san, any ideas?" Tatsurou asked as he looked at the magic circle, with a rather puzzled expression, then at the back of his hand, where Frida's symbol appeared again.
"Hmm...when it comes to enchantments, you have to write something that is both personal and that will say what that ability is going to be used for...just as Lady Marie said...oh and you don't have to worry about the size of the enchantment!" Frida said with an informative tone that made the symbol light up a bit.
"I see...something personal...!" As Tatsurou said this, he opened his eyes wide.
"Frida-san...I know just what to write!" As Tatsurou said this, he placed the notebook on his desk and grabbed a pencil, that was on his pencil holder, and began to write around the magic circle.
"Let's see..."To restrict and release the power, that will keep the ones I love, from harm's way" what do you think, Frida-san...does this work?" Tatsurou asked as he read what he had written in the notebook out loud.
"Yes, that enchantment will work! You should show it to Lady Shirayuki and Lady Marie!" Frida said with a happy tone, to Tatsurou, that upon hearing her began to blush.
"T-This a bit embarrassing...so I better not show it..." Tatsurou said a bit embarrassed as he kept blushing.
"I understand, Lord Kurokami...but say do you want to activate it, now?" Frida asked a bit curious.
"No...we'll do that tomorrow, Frida-san! For now, I'll go see what Shirayuki and Marie, are up to, and perhaps I'll watch something with them..." Tatsurou said with a happy tone as he closed the notebook while he smiled and as this was happening, meanwhile in the apartment's living room, where Marie and Shirayuki were sitting side by side on the couch watching TV...
"That was a close one! Don't you think so too, Shirayuki?" Marie asked with a curious tone, as she looked at Shirayuki.
"Yes, it was...I didn't know what to say or do if Tatsurou asked us to talk to his mother..." Shirayuki said with a very embarrassed tone, as she placed her hands on her cheeks, and this was the reason why Shirayuki and Marie, acted the way they did when Hime called Tatsurou, they were both afraid that Tatsurou would present them to his mother, something that their hearts, weren't ready for yet.
"Honestly, I'm a bit nervous about the day we have to meet Miss Hime...just what are we going to say or how should we act around her...the more I think about it, the more worried I get..." Marie said with a nervous tone, as she let out a sigh.
"Well...I'm a bit nervous too...but I believe that everything will go well, after all, Hime-san does seem like a very good person!" Shirayuki said with a reassuring tone as she briefly looked at a framed picture on the wall, with Tatsurou and Hime next to each other.
"I know...but let's make some scenarios and plans for when that happens so that we don't sound or look like, unreliable girls!" Marie said with a determined tone, as she pointed at Shirayuki.
"I think that we should just act, as our usual selves, but if that makes you feel more at ease then ok, let's do that!" Shirayuki said with a happy and reassuring tone, as she held Marie's hand.
"Thanks, Shirayuki! Let's do our best to look good in front of Tatsurou's mother when the time comes!" Marie said with a determined tone as she smiled...