She didn't know how long she was running.
She didn't even know where she was running to.
She just seemed to rely on instincts alone. She just kept running blindly as she could feel her heart had practically tightened like a vice.
She just didn't want to think of what had happened, she wanted to get rid of what had occurred. It reminded her of a bad place, a place she didn't want to recall. She didn't want to feel what she was feeling right now. In fact, she was so deep in her own thoughts, she didn't even see what was in front of her as her foot suddenly caught on an uprooted tree root.
She tumbled onto the ground as she hit a tree as she ended up hitting her elbow.
"Ow!"
Prism rubbed her arm as she removed the arm sleeve to see a fresh purplish bruise. "It hurts…" She groaned again as she rubbed her elbow while her arm shook. She took her hood and pulled it over her head so that it was covering her face.
She sniffled a little, as she could feel her scars aching as she brought herself in a fetal position, before she placed her hand over the bruise.
" I don't want to be trapped…"
She could feel the tears run down her cheeks again, as her vision became a bit of a blur; It hadn't been long though, she felt herself shut her eyes as the last thing she saw was Adrien, who sat himself beside her as he curled his body around her. The little spirits soon reappeared near her feet as she could hear them talking to her.
***
"Prism, there you are!"
She could hear the rustling of the leaves blowing in the wind around her as she had hidden herself behind a tree. The sound of the birds could be heard in her ears as she had been safe underneath the branches as she couldn't see what was in front of her. The only thing she could see was the feet of the little spirits as well as the tail of her raptor as he had been sitting against her; though another pair of feet as whoever it had been wore a set of brown sandals soon approached.
"So this is where you ran off to." The voice of a man had said, his voice sounded soothing and comforting, "You gave everyone quite a scare."
"Prism's not here." Prism said, "She's away on a trip."
"Oh?" The man said as he kneeled, "Do you know when she's going to be back?"
Prism only shook her head as she let out a whimper.
She felt a hand on her own as he managed to pry her fingers, "Come now, there's no need to hide."
Her hood had been removed from her head and there she was met with a very familiar face. Before her had been a young man who had been a tall and slender-framed elf with white skin and somewhat effeminate facial features and gold eyes, and his white hair was pulled back into a single braid.
"There we are." He said with a warm comforting smile, "That's better. You really surprised everyone with that little trick. I think you even scared your father's advisors this time around."
"... Licht…" Prism soon said, "... I--I didn't mean to wreck anything, I--I just--"
The elf--Licht only shook his head before he took a seat next to her, "None of us are mad. We know you would never tell the spirits to hurt anyone or destroy anything."
"But--The party for auntie--It's all--"
"It was only an accident. Teita knows that as does Lemiel and your parents."
Prism only sighed as she leaned against him; in turn, Licht placed his arm around as he gave her a couple of pats.
"You know I'm here for you Prism." He said, "As a leader, it's my responsibility to everyone, whether they're human or elf, to help fix their problems in the best way I can. But--I'm also here as your friend and family. Whatever is on your mind, you can tell me."
Prism soon spoke up, "... Licht…? When you were chosen to lead our tribe… Did anyone ever tell you what you could or couldn't be…? Did they say who you relate yourself to was wrong?"
Licht's gaze softened at this, before he seemed to have put it together, "Now I see why Patri and Rhya had gotten upset. The advisors said something to you before, didn't they?"
"They--" She soon said hesitantly, "--They said one day a decision would be made, regardless of what father told them. I've never felt so trapped in my life. I want to see the capital with father and mother one day, but--I don't--I can't--"
Licht seemed to have gotten the idea as his look softened, "I understand. You don't have to finish."
"I don't want to let anyone down, but I don't know if I can step up to be like father or his father. I don't know if I'll be the Queen they want me to be for Clover. I don't even know if I can help our people become accepted by other humans." She said honestly, "I'm--I'm afraid of them taking me. I don't want to be trapped."
Licht sighed, "You're right. It's scary. I'm sure Zeid felt the same when he was declared King. Leading a whole country, they are big shoes to fill. But--That doesn't mean your trapped."
Prism couldn't help but look confused by this sort of thing before he told her, "No one chose me to take the mantle of being leader of our people. I decided that on my own accord. Just as your father chose to marry your mother, even though she isn't human."
"Licht..." Prism said.
"You can have that same choice as well." He told her, "You don't have to wait for someone to make it for you. Your answer won't come today, nor will it come tomorrow. It'll be on your own time--" He soon gave her a hug which she couldn't help but flinch, "--Just know that whatever choice you make, whether you choose to take the throne or not, we'll be right beside you with every step of the way."
Prism couldn't help but smile, before she returned the hug; she shut her eyes as she took in his warmth.
***
"Hey, lizard girl."
Prism flinched slightly as she opened her eyes; her hood had still over her head as she saw a pair of black boots standing in front of her. "I… Fell asleep?" She thought as she rubbed her eyes as she kept her head down. She could detect the smell of tobacco in the air.
"So had a nice dream?" Yami asked as he took a puff.
Prism pulled her hood a little as she still held onto her elbow, "Prism isn't here… She's out of town."
Yami had said, "Really? She's out of town? Well, if you see her, tell her this. She needs to come back to base. She's got some cleaning up to do."
"... Ye-yeah--" Prism said as she rubbed her elbow to soothe her bruise, "I'll be sure to tell her, when I can. Though, she might not be back in awhile."
"Hey." Yami said as she stopped herself from standing, "You know, you don't have to pick what people chose you to be. You make your own damn rules, Princess or not."
Prism sat back into the tree as she looked to the sky; Adrien rested his head on her lap as the little spirits flew above her head. She soon spoke up, "... You know, the six months I stayed in Hage, I felt normal for the first time in my life. Even after Asta, Yuno and Feo found out I was the princess, I was actually a normal kid and I fit right in. No one basically walked up to me and said that I had to leave that life behind me. But--When Noelle talked to me, I just felt--Trapped. I'm afraid of being trapped." She soon looked at him, as she moved her hood from her face partially, "Is that kind of weird to say?"
Yami let out a sigh before he took a seat in the grass, "Well I wouldn't think about it too much."
"Huh?" She said she was a bit confused before she felt Yami flick her on the forehead.
"Ya herd me, quick being a worrywart." Yami said. "Who cares what that Royal thinks? It's your life. You get to decide on it. If you want something then make it happen with your own two hands, don't let anyone or anything else slow you down."
"But I--" She was about to say before he flicked her again, "--Ow! Would you stop that!? That really hurts!"
"When you stop over thinking." Yami told her as he took a puff.
Prism soon said as she rubbed her forehead, "You're probably the second person ever to tell me something like that--And the first person to flick me. But what do you expect me to think? I'm half of an elf, not to mention a princess! Combine that with my apparent five hundred year absence, and the order my father left, I've got a lot on my mind! Don't you think about stuff like this? About what Noelle said about your squad being the worst one? And the constant worry about letting people down? Doesn't it bother you?"
Yami had answered, "Yeah and guess what? I don't care."
Prism's eyes widened in shock as even Adrien looked just as surprised as she did. "You… Don't?" She was surprised as she removed her hood.
"Yeah, we maybe the worst squad in all of the Clover Kingdom and we get a lot of bad rep." Yami told her, "But, what matters the most is that those idiots are my squadmates and I'm their captain. Hell, I even said that to the whiny smarty pants when he first joined and he hasn't left to join some other squad despite what he says. I gave his family a home, and yet they stayed because that's their own choice. They all could've refused, but they stayed."
Prism couldn't help but give it some thought; strangely enough she felt calmer and her mind couldn't be ever more clearer. She could even feel her scars had stopped hurting, even the bruise on her elbow.
"Not to mention, what you did to save those three from getting their memories erased, and the fact you treated an injury you gave me--" Yami added which surprised her, "--You made that choice on your own, so that says something about you." He soon gave her a pat on the head, "You may not know it yourself, but you'll be a good role model to people when you become an adult."
Prism had blushed out of embarrassment at this before she had a smile, "O-Oh, well--It was nothing. Mother always said we were pacifists by nature, but a warrior by name. We always took that seri--OW, OW, OW!"
Prism had been cut off when she felt Yami pinch her cheek; she couldn't help but flail her arms.
"Though—" He said, "—How about you DON'T make that a habit of you throwing your life away? It'll make our job a lot easier for the next four years."
"But wait, you just said--" Prism started to say before she felt her other cheek getting stretched.
He told her in a familiar threatening aura, as he said more firmly, "Are we clear?"
"Y-yes sir." Prism said as her voice shook before she cringed a little at the bruise on her arm. It was then Yami noticed the fresh bruise that had been on her elbow.
He let out a sigh, "And do me a favor, try not to get yourself injured. You already have one best friend that worries about you, let alone four more."
"Oh you mean this--?" Prism said as she quickly hid the bruise with her arm sleeve though looked to be having trouble getting it on, "Silly me, I must've put it too hard against the tree. Plu-Plu said I was always clumsy."
Yami sighed as he said, "Give it here."
Prism could only tilt her head at this sort of thing before she held her arm out to him. He examined the bruise as he took a puff from his cigarette.
"Hold still, this might sting." He told her as he took out what looked to be medicine. Yami took out what appeared to be a dab of an ointment as he placed it on the bruise causing Prism to flinch a little.
Prism couldn't help but give a small smile, "No offense, but you're pretty strange for a human. Though you're really nice in your own way. I--Might get adjusted to living here after all."
Yami merely told her, "See? What did I tell you? If only your bestie can see that way instead of complaining like he normally does."
"Plu-Plu really hasn't changed." Prism said, "Even after five hundred years."
It hadn't been long till she heard a set of familiar voices calling out to her.
"PRISM!"
"Hey Dummy girl!"
"Can you be nice to her?!"
"What are you talking about?! I always call her a dummy girl!"
"What kind of best friend are you? And Slow down!"
"Hayai!"
"Not my fault if you get left behind."
Asta had been the first to come stumbling out of the bushes as he had been completely out of breath; his hair had been covered with leaves and branches which surprised her and Yami.
"Asta?" She said shocked, just as Yami finished treating her bruise.
"Prism!" Asta exclaimed with relief before he ran up to her and gave her a hug, "Oh thank God! You really scared us when you ran off like that!"
"Sorry--" Prism replied as she returned the hug, "--I didn't mean for you to worry."
Feodora soon came out from the bushes along with Pluck with Addeline, Karasu, his younger sister Sachiko and their dog. "There you are!" Feodora exclaimed, "Seriously, you gotta stop taking off so suddenly!"
"For real tater-tot you could really get killed if you just run off blindly." Karasu told her.
"Yokata!" Sachiko said as she went to hug her and Yoshi started to lick Prism, "Buji datta!"
"Feo, Karasu, Sachiko--" Prism said, as she stood up with Asta's help "--I'm sorry you guys, I didn't mean to cause trouble."
"What are you talking about? I should be the one to say sorry." Pluck said, "I forget you get flustered easily with all that pressure, since you're royalty and all."
"It's okay Plu-Plu." Prism said as the little light lemur made itself known on her shoulders and Adrien stood at her side, "I sometimes forget you have short-term memory."
"QUACK!" Addeline said in agreement.
Asta soon noticed Yami as he brushed off the grass stains from his pants. "Huh? Captain Yami?" He said, a bit surprised, "When did you get here?"
"I walked." Yami said as he took a puff.
"JUST LIKE THAT?!" Asta and Feodora exclaimed out of confusion.
"That's obviously a lie." Karasu mumbled.
Pluck added as he shook his head, "Not surprised he came up with that one."
"You wanna say something about you two?" Yami asked as he gave a glare.
"NO SIR!" Pluck exclaimed.
"Nothing cap." Karasu said as he merely waved his hand.
"Good, now get back to base." Yami said in a dark tone, "You brats have a lot of cleaning to do."
Immediately the teens froze up and paled before Asta immediately made a mad dash along with Pluck, Feodora and Karasu. "YES SIR!!" Asta shouted, "SEE YOU BACK AT BASE PRI!"
Pluck shouted fearfully, "YEAH! SEE YA LATER, DUMMY GIRL!"
"CAN YOU NOT CALL HER THAT?!" Feodora shouted "I THOUGHT YOU ROYALS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE NICE TO A LADY!"
"But aren't you a roy-"
SMACK!
"OW!" She heard Pluck shout as it was followed by a crash and branches snapping and Pluck just shrieking.
"QUACK! QUACK!" She heard Addeline shout.
"Bi-Bime i elena they're fast." Prism said dumbfounded.
Yami told her, "Heh, see? With the right motivation. It gets the job done."
Prism couldn't help but laugh softly at this before she felt Yami pat her shoulder, before he went in the direction they had gone, "Come on, the base isn't gonna clean itself."
"Yami?" Prism soon said as he had stopped in his tracks, "That stuff you said earlier--Thanks. I think I needed to hear it."
Yami merely responded with a wave of his hand, "Think nothing of it, kid."
With that being said, the two of them had headed back in the direction the Black Bulls base had been, Adrien had followed behind them as well as the little spirits.
The minute they had gotten back to base they were put to work in rebuilding the wall that Prism had accidentally made. It had been a couple of hours since they started, and already most of them had been exhausted and ready to collapse. All except Asta, Feodora, and Karasu as they still had some energy left in them.
"Pluck no!" Aisling had shouted, "For the last time, you're not gonna go and quote on quote 'studying' while we're fixing the wall!"
"Hey, Addi got it covered" Pluck told "besides Now That we have another Silvia in this accrued squad. I have to show her my place when it comes to academics!"
"First of all she's a duck--" Aidan told him, "--Second, if Yami and ma catch you slacking off again, they're gonna kill you in your sleep!"
"And then tap dance on your grave so you'd never have eternal rest." Aine added.
Pluck looked to her as he sighed "Okay, Fine. I'll go help. Just in case Addi attacks someone aga-"
"DON'T BE LAZY!!" They heard Yukiko shout inside.
Pluck flinched at this before he said quickly getting rid of the debris, "Yes mom, sorry mom!"
Prism let out a grunt as she placed some of the debris into what looked to be a wagon. "Sorry about all these guys--" Prism said to them, "--I didn't mean to make a mess with my outburst."
"Don't sweat it shorty." Feodora said as she had been supporting Asta as he was fixing the upper entrance with only one hand, "You just had a bad day. We all get like that."
"Yeah, believe you me, it's understandable." Asta said as Feodora handed him a tool, "If I was in your shoes I would react the same way."
Pluck had added, "Yeah. Leave it to a Silvia to make people feel that way. Damn them."
"Again with the pointing fingers?" Vandy said, "And I thought mom and dad taught you better!"
"Plu-Plu, I know that Noelle said some things earlier, but surely you can't hate them forever?" Prism said, "I mean, Mr. Nozel seems nice when I met him. After our little misunderstanding that is."
"Don't be naive, Prism." Pluck told her. "At first, it seems that way till they show their true ugly colors. That's when it's too late."
"At least we can agree on one thing." Feodora said.
"Here, here." Karasu added, as he helped Sachiko with gathering the debris, "Though it sounds like you and the spoiled princess' family have a lot of bad blood going on between you two."
Pluck nodded and replied "Damn right! I'm glad she left! Because that's the last thing this squad needs. Someone like her kind!"
"I don't know--" Asta said, "--There was something off about her, I just can't put my finger on it."
"Yeah, I noticed it too." Prism added, "I wish we could talk to her."
"If you ask me what was off from her--" Pluck told the two "--Is the fact that she's a b-"
"Pluck!" His siblings shouted.
"If you say a swear, you're losing study privileges!" Jubei said, "That's the rule from dad!"
Pluck grumbled as he cleaned an area; he stuffed them in a barrel as he brushed his hands. "It's not my fault, I speak the truth."
"Look I hate her too but that's uncalled for." Feodora said, "Personally I'd just freeze a finger off, maybe two while she's sleeping."
Asta gasped before he bonked her, "FEO! YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT!"
"What? You were thinking it Dum-Dum." She reasoned as she rubbed her head.
Addeline gave an agreeing quack as she nodded.
"Even Addi agrees with you." Pluck told her, "That's scary."
"Yeah, well last I checked I didn't need your opinion." She said, making Pluck growl.
"QUACK!" Addleine shouted as she whacked her foot.
"OW!" Feodora shouted as she jumped on one foot, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
"QUACK! QUACK!" Addeline said before Adrien scooped her in his mouth.
"Thanks Adrien." Pluck told him as he petted him, making him wag his tail. "Last thing I need is more trouble right now."
"Oh yeah that reminds me--" Karasu said, before turning to Prism, "--You said before, you met with the other Captains other than Yami. You know before we came here. What did they want?"
Prism placed the last of the debris as she replied, "Well--Other then the fact I have to be kept a secret, even from the King himself, I'll be taking private lessons with each of them so that I'm prepared for when I take the throne. Still don't know if it's a good idea though. I know it's father's order but it's still so out of the blue."
"Wait what!?" Asta exclaimed as he accidentally caused him and Feodora to fall over making them scream. He immediately recovered, "Seriously!?"
"I know--" She replied, "--I was just as surprised as you are. Though with the private lessons I'll be in good hands and most likely don't have to worry about the worst case scenario in case I'm discovered. That's what Julius said at least."
"Who the heck is Julius?!" Feodora said as she recovered, while she brushed the dirt off of her.
"He's the Wizard King." Pluck replied casually.
Asta, Feodora and Karasu's jaws dropped at this as they looked to Prism. "THE WIZARD KING?!" The three of them exclaimed.
"YOU MET THE WIZARD KING!?" Asta exclaimed as his eyes just sparkled.
"Ye-Yeah." Prism said, "Pretty crazy, huh?"
"Well, I guess when you're someone like the princess it's to be expected for you to meet him." Karasu had reasoned.
"Wait a second--" Feodora said as she fixed herself up, "--The Wizard King knows that you're alive and real, but the King himself doesn't have a clue?"
Prism only shook her head, "At least, it seemed that way when he told me. It was really strange."
"Uh--More like a lot strange." Feodora said, "I know the King doesn't do much, but if that's not suspicious enough--"
Pluck had cut her off as he said, "What are you talking about? The guy's a magic nerd. Plus if the King actually found out about Prism's existence and sees--" He gestured to the little spirits at her feet, "--That! All hell's gonna break loose! In a literal sense."
"It's still damn suspicious to me." Feodora said to him, "Though I guess you're too much of a kiss ass to notice, Stuck Up."
Pluck growled at her as he said, "Here I thought royals are supposed to be polite. Ain't-"
Feodora's eyebrow twitched before she started to growl which made Pluck flinch. Immediately Asta held her back as he said to Prism nervously, "S-So Pri! What are the captains supposed to teach you exactly?"
"Well--" Prism started to say, "--Other then Yami's training, Jack is supposed to show me how to use my scythe, considering that I've never used one before."
Pluck's younger siblings gasped as well as Asta, Karasu and Feodora.
"Jack!?" Aine exclaimed fearfully, "As in Captain of the Praying Mantises Jack!?"
"AKA--One of Uncle Yami's rivals!?" Vandy shouted.
"And killer!?" Jubei said.
"And the equivalent of the boogeyman!?" Aisling added.
"Jack the Beanpole!? The guy that tried to murder, me, the know it all and Dum-Dum to get to you is your teacher?!" Feodora said, "Are they trying to get you killed!?"
"Bime i elena!" Aidan exclaimed, "What are they thinking!?"
"Julius said he would fit the job because of his kind of magic." Prism said, "And Yami even worked out a compromise for it!" The group only looked at her oddly as they didn't seem to buy it.
"Okay, there were A LOT of death threats between them, especially since I chose the Black Bulls willingly, and Julius might've helped out come to a compromise--" Prism added awkwardly as she smiled, "--But everything worked out in the end!"
"I'd hesitate to think what that might be if it involved death threats." Karasu said.
Pluck gave a sigh before he told them, "You really have no idea. You'll see when it comes time to train."
"Why do I feel like it's bad?" Asta said as he shivered.
"What about the others?" Aisling asked, "What are the other captains supposed to teach you?"
Prism thought about it before she had recalled, "Mr. Nozel is gonna teach me the history of Clover, Miss Charlotte how to be a proper lady, Rill is art, Fuegoleon is mental training--Whatever that is, Gueldre the criminal system and William, the history of the magic knights and the previous wizard kings."
"Even Captain William too!?" The triplets exclaimed.
"Lucky!" Vandy said.
"Wow, they really thought this through." Asta said dumbfounded.
"In their defense, according to them, they were preparing for the last five centuries." Prism said awkwardly.
Pluck groaned as he said "They could have picked anyone else other than a Silvia? I mean my dad has been around for years and he can do a better job than him."
"Yeah but that was five hundred years ago. You heard what Julius said, Plu-Plu." Prism reasoned, "It's best for everyone if I'm in the hands of people he and they trust. And if they trust Mr. Nozel, then I trust him too."
Pluck gave a huff as he said "Fine, but I ain't gonna like it!"
"He also said I have to take other lessons too that were beneficial." Prism added, "Plu-Plu is gonna be my sword teacher since according to him, I have to be ready for anything."
"EH!?" The siblings exclaimed.
"Pluck is your sword teacher?!" Aine shouted.
"Well he is the smartest out of all of us." Vandy said
"And he has sword magic." Jubei added. "So it does make him a perfect candidate."
Asta's eyes widened as he said to him "HOW AWESOME IS THAT?! CAN I SEE IT SOMETIME!?!"
Pluck was flustered as he said "Eh-eh?! U-uh sure!"
"You don't want to do that Asta." Aisling said, "Let's just say one of those blades packs a punch."
Pluck had argued, "HEY! I CAN CONTROL THE MANA OF MY BLADES YOU KNOW!"
"Tell that to the wall this morning." The triplets retorted, making Pluck turn red with embarrassment.
"Wait does this mean--You have to learn how to act like a royal too?" Karasu asked Prism.
Prism had shuddered and let out a groan, "I hope not. I think the scythe training I can handle, but trying to be like the donkey breath Plu-Plu here, that's a stretch."
Pluck had shouted at her as he pinched her cheeks, "HEY! LIKE I CHOSE NOT BE A DUMMY LIKE YOU ARE!"
"Plu-Plu, that hurts!"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
"Are you sure you two are best friends?" Feodora and Karasu asked.
Immediately Yoshi leaped up and bit Pluck's wrist causing him to jump back as he screamed, "YEOW! OFF! OFF!"
Addeline bit Adrien's tongue forcing him to spit her out as she gave Yoshi a headbutt forcing him to let go of Pluck as she shouted "QUACK!"
"HEY!" Karasu yelled, "DON'T HEADBUTT MY DOG!"
Addeline began to scare Yoshi off as he whimpered and ran to Sachiko.
"Addi!" Prism said, "You scared the poor thing!"
"QUACK!" Addeline replied.
"You can't be mean to other animals!" Prism said to Addeline, "You apologize to Yoshi, now!"
Addeline sighed before she turned to Yoshi as she bowed, "Quack, quack.."
"Wow, you really got her under control." Asta said in awe.
Prism only laughed sheepishly as her face turned red; it hadn't been long before Adrien started to squirm and whimper; he soon nudged at Prism as he nearly made her stumble. "Uh-oh--" Prism said as she went to soothe him, "--Adri is starting to get restless. I couldn't take him out on his morning run since we had the tour of the base."
"You best take him for a run now then." Aisling suggested, as she handed her his saddle, "You wouldn't want him to have an accident during your house warming party later today."
"That's a good idea." Prism said before she took the saddle and attached it to Adrien along with his harness.
"Go back out in the forest?" Vandy asked.
Pluck soon asked, "You sure it's a good idea? You don't know these forests like we do."
"I can take someone with me." Prism replied with a smile, "What do you say Asta, Feo?"
Asta soon had a smile, "Oh sure! Of course!"
"I'd thought you'd never ask." Feodora said.
Pluck's jaw dropped a little as he said, "You're serious are you?"
"Don't worry, I won't go far--" She said as she along with Asta and Feodora got on Adriens back when he settled on his stomach, "--We'll be back before it gets dark."
"You sure?" Pluck said his tone changed, "Because..I-I-I"
"Don't worry, we'll take care of her no problem!" Asta said as he gave a pat on his shoulder.
"Yeah, she'll be just fine. You worry wart stuck up." Feodora said, "If we can keep her safe for six months, we can certainly keep her safe for a couple of minutes give or take."
Pluck had said, "Again, I have a name, Ice queen."
"Call me that again, and I'll freeze off your tongue." Feodora threatened making Pluck back up with his hands up but his expression changed
Prism soon gave Adrien a pat on the neck before he stood; she soon had a sudden thought as she turned over to Karasu. "Hey, do you wanna come with us?"
"It'll be lots of fun!" Asta added.
Karasu looked to the raptor as he just realized how tall he had been; Prism and Asta thought they were imagining it, but they could've sworn he looked nervous. He took a deep breath as he regained his composure.
"Thanks for the offer tater-tot, but I think I'll pass." He said, before he patted Sachiko's back whose eyes had been sparkling, "Why don't you take Sachiko with you? Since we're going to be staying here, she can get an idea of the area."
"I can live with that." Prism said as she noted his expression.
"Ye-Yeah, that's okay." Asta added as he couldn't help but wonder.
Sachiko gasped as she looked to her brother before he nodded with encouragement. She ran over to them as Asta lifted her with ease before he handed her to Prism. She set Sachiko in front of her, hooking her arm around her waist so that she wouldn't fall off.
"Make sure you come back before sundown!" Aine told them, "We'll have everything set up by then!"
"Yeah, I don't wanna go around looking for you." Pluck told her.
"Don't worry! We'll be back!" Prism reassured them.
"Oh, and there's a lake nearby that you'll like!" Aidan added, "It's just down the path on your left, you can't miss it!"
"No, no, that's too far from the base!" Pluck told him as he bonked his head, "Are you trying to get them lost?!"
"Come on bro, it's not like she's gonna drown herself!" Aidan said as he rubbed his head, "She knows how to swim!"
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT!" Pluck yelled.
"I'll check it out some other day!" Prism said, "Adrien--Hup-hup!"
And just like that Adrien dashed down the road as it took Pluck back. He couldn't help but yell, "THAT'S WAY TOO FAST!"
Jubei had said while she shook her head, "You really do care, huh?"
"Being honest!" He yelled as his face turned red.
"Let's just work on the wall--" Karasu said before he bonked him on the head, "--Stuck-Up."
Pluck growled as he said, "Shut up Bad luck charm."
Yoshi merely barked at Pluck as if he was telling him to get back to work, while Addi quacked at the dog.
***
-Sometime Later-
With Prism, Asta, Feodora and Sachiko riding on Adriens back, they felt the wind and breeze in their hair as the little spirits flew beside them. The four of them couldn't help but laugh as they could practically feel Adrien go faster and faster.
"This definitely never gets old!" Asta said.
"Tell me about it!" Prism said practically shouting through the wind, "Have you ever felt so alive!"
"You know, I'd never thought I would get used to this--" Feodora said, "--But this--It really does keep your blood pumping!"
"Sugoi!" Sachiko cheered.
"This is amazing!" Asta cheered.
Adrien accidentally stepped on his ankle as he tripped on himself; the four of them went practically flying off as they went rolling on the grass in front of them. Though Prism ended up rolling right next to Asta as he stopped on his side too.
The four of them soon started to break out into fits of laughter as they each rolled on their backs, before they found themselves staring at the sky above.
"It looks just like the view in Hage." Asta commented.
"This might be a close second." Feodora said.
Prism couldn't help but give a soft laugh as she looked to the clouds; she noted the unique shapes in her head as she made a mental note to put them in a picture. She soon shut her eyes as she took in everything around her; the little spirits floated just above their heads as a couple of them rested close to her.
"Hey Asta, Feo--?" Prism soon said, getting their attention, "--Let's do this with Yuno too sometime. I bet he would love this."
"Yeah…" Feodora said as she looked to the sky, "... Definitely."
"Still can't believe we made it." Asta said, "Despite everything, we actually made it."
Prism couldn't help but give a solemn sigh, "... If only mother and father could see this. They would've loved this too." She looked as though she was about to cry
Sachiko crawled over to Prism as she tugged on her jacket. She was a bit confused at first till she noticed the child had motioned her to sit up. Sachiko started to draw in the dirt what looked to be figures; two of them looked to be adults, while the other two had been children.
Prism looked at the picture as her eyes widened slightly; Asta and Feodora looked at the picture she had drawn.
"Huh?" Asta said, "What's that Sachiko?"
"Stick people?" Feodora said.
Prism looked at the people on the dirt as she had a sudden realization when she noticed that the child stick figure had been taller. "Karasu?" She said to her as she pointed to the taller figure, before she pointed to the smaller figure, "And you?"
Sachiko nodded her head in reply as Asta and Feodora noticed it as well. "Oh my gosh--" Asta said, before he pointed to the man and woman before asking Sachiko, "--Then, are these two--Your mom and dad?"
Sachiko tilted her head a little, though Asta understood why. He pointed to the two again, "Mommy? Daddy?"
Sachiko seemed to have understood though she didn't respond this time; she possessed a sad expression on her face as she put 'X's' across their faces. They seemed to have understood what she had meant as their gazes softened.
And yet, they saw her smile again; She soon drew a heart around the figures before drawing a small hear around the chest area of the small figures. She then placed her hand over Prism's heart, tapping it twice with her index finger. At this, they seemed to have understood what she was trying to tell them, or Prism at least.
Feodora couldn't help but laugh softly as she gave Prism a pat on the head, "Guess even this kid is trying to cheer you up."
"You really are a good kid, aren't you?" Asta said, giving Sachiko a pat on the head.
Prism chuckled softly too, "Thank you Sachi." She soon gave Sachiko a kiss on the cheek which made her blush with embarrassment as she gave a bit of a giggle.
Soon enough a shadow came over them as it had gotten their attention. They saw what looked to be a giant water ball as it came heading towards them.
"INCOMING!" Feodora shouted.
The four of them moved out of the way as they saw it had made a dent in the floor. They saw the dirt had been wet and all that remained was that of a little puddle. "What!? What!? What!?" Asta exclaimed.
"Are ha nanda tsu tan da?!" Sachiko exclaimed.
"The hell just happened!?" Feodora shouted.
Prism let out a groan as she sat up; she could feel her head had been fuzzy. Though she didn't realize--Her eyes had changed from purple to a familiar white color. "Ow--" She said, "--I think I hit my…"
She had stopped herself as she thought she had been imagining things but she saw what looked to be a blue trail coming from the water. "What?" She said, as she was tried to grab it, "What is--"
GROWL, GROWL.
Prism felt her stomach start to ache as she started to groan as she felt a sudden pain. The moan of agony had gotten the attention of Asta and Feodora as they went over to her side when she had suddenly collapsed. "Pri!" Asta exclaimed, "Pri, what's wrong!?"
"M-My stomach…!" Prism groaned, "... It's…Feels… Empty all of… Sudden…! It hurts…! It hurts…!"
"Empty?" Feodora said, "You ate a full meal just an hour ago, you shouldn't feel like that at all!"
"Pri, maybe we should take you back to—" Asta started to say before he stopped himself.
They soon noticed that Prism's eyes had been that of white and they noticed that her expression changed; she soon sat up which took them by surprise.
"Prism…?" Asta said as he noticed the expression on her face.
"Hungry…" She soon said softly, her eyes followed the invisible trail of mana she could only see, "... Hungry…" She soon stood as she started to follow the sound.
They noticed that she had been stumbling slightly as she had been walking where the water ball had come from; Adrien let out a whimper as he followed behind her along with the spirits. "Prism?!" Asta said before he went after her, "Prism, where are you going?!"
Feodora groaned as she followed, "Somehow I have a bad feeling about this."
Sachiko followed close behind her as they went into the forest, as hopefully they would find what had been the cause of the water ball.