"What's the occasion? You calling me by my name?" the king addresses the voice.
"Oh nothing! You can't deny that you like it rolling off my tongue!" the voice chirps. Tsuyosa exhales frustrated, how did he get himself into this? He has no clear memory.
"Are you wondering how you got into a contract with me? Poor Tsuyosa. I pity you. That part of your memory is mine now. Along with other sweet delicious memories, like your childhood, your marriage, the day your children were born. It shocks me, the strength you still possess. The mental strain I've placed on you hasn't broken you yet. I can sense your resistance, yet you are still obedient and spineless. Your name is such a contradiction; tsuyo- the first part of your name is supposed to mean strong and sosa that makes the second part means brave. I wonder… What would the beautiful one from Heaven think about this?"
"Don't you dare speak of her! Her name shouldn't be pronounced by a filthy mouth like yours!" the king throws a tantrum but is silenced by another sick feeling, a light touch on his brain.
"Tsuyosa~ you shouldn't speak to me like that! I get angry when you disrespect me," the voice says, "her powers have been growing for the past ten years. Driving her out of her home was indeed a marvelous idea. Look at the fruitful phenomenon she has become! Nolani…"
Meanwhile, the prince, who joined Nolani and the others, is leading the group towards a safe house, as he called it.
"Nolani…." The mentioned shivers and stops to look behind her, only to see an empty path.
"Let's take a break here. There's supposed to be a river down this stone path. Mister Sho, if you could grab some water, it would be much appreciated," Levianth addresses the purple hair male in a polite manner.
"Well when you put like that who can say no," Sho smiles sheepishly but glares at Nolani when she says "ass-wipe". The latter shrugs and claims that she'll be accompanying him.
"No you rest. I'll take dear Sho here and grab us some water," Charles links his arm in Sho's and drags him away from the stunned duo.
"What was that about?" Nolani questions Charles' unusual behavior.
"Beats me. I never know what goes on in that head of his," he sits on a stone and looks at the woman before him.
"Yet you're such good friends," Nolani murmurs and moves so that she's facing the prince. "I'm sorry if I caused you trouble. I should have been more careful and used my brain. What was I thinking getting drunk in the light of day?" she continues rambling and insulting herself. Frustrated, Levianth calls her but she doesn't seem to hear him. He stands, walks to her and places a hand on her shoulder. Then he shakes her, "Stop it! Stop blaming yourself Nolani! It wasn't your fault!"
She looks at him, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. He looks upset and in pain.
"Why?" the word flows between her lips unconsciously. He inhales sharply and brings her to his chest. He wraps his arms around her making sure that she's not in an uncomfortable position. "Nolani," he whispers her name and press his nose into her short hair smelling its natural perfume, "how come your hair always smells so nice?"
The woman, too shocked to talk, clutches his jacket. Feeling her distress, he tightens his embrace. "I'll never let you go. Never again. I lost you once, I'm not going to lose you again. Even if the whole world stands against me, as long as I have you beside me, I'll keep fighting to keep you safe".
"You dummy… I don't want that," she whispers in his chest. "All I want is…"
"WE'RE BACK!!!" Sho's voice startles them.
"Don't be so loud moron! You'll attract beasts," Charles huffs irritated. When they come into view, Nolani had separated by Levianth and has her cape on again to cover her blushing face. As for the prince, he clears his throat when both men near closer.
"Good you came in time. My throat was starting to feel sore," he massages his neck and snatches a pottery flask from Charles and gulps down its content.
"Did we miss something?" Sho asks hesitantly looking between the brown haired male and female.
"No. Now hand me some water," Nolani replies quickly and grabs the flask as soon as Sho offers it. The latter shares a knowing look with the investigator.
"How long till we reach our destination?" Sho asks taking a seat on the dirty ground.
"About that…" the prince scratches the back of his head, a nervous chuckle escaping him.
"What?" Nolani asks preparing herself for the worst.
"The safe house I mentioned earlier. It belongs to someone both of you share a past with," he stops to examine Sho and Nolani's expressions. The duo tilt their heads to their lefts simultaneously and wear a similar clueless expressions. Charles rolls his eyes and the prince slaps his forehead. "It's Rose Vermillion's house".
The duo blinks twice and they burst out laughing. "Yeah as if she'd associate herself with royalty!" Sho exclaims slapping his thigh and laughing out loud. The laughter dies down and Nolani queries, "seriously where are you taking us?"
"I'M NOT LYING!" Levianth exclaims flustered, "Charles say something".
"Why would your friend say anything when I can personally vouch for you?" a woman emerges out of nowhere and places a hand on the prince's shoulder. "Levianth here, has worked hard on finding me. Once he did, he worked twice as hard to convince me to associate myself with him. So be a dear and stop teasing him Sho!" Rose smiles at her former comrade. A gust of wind blows and her long white hair flows with it, as if dancing with the current. Her eyes are sparkling navy blue as she looks between her apprentice and her friend. She locks eyes with the fourth person whom she hasn't spoken to yet but knows him too well. "How have you been Charles?"
"I've been doing well until your trainee caused trouble at Sapphire port," he replies and nods in curtesy to the old lady.
"I see," Rose says dryly.
"Wait… You two know each other?!" the prince gapes
"Yes. Why?" Charles asks adjusting his glasses.
"WHY?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT SHE MADE ME DO IN ORDER TO GET HER TO JOIN FORCES WITH ME?" Levianth waves his arms around like a child whose toy's been taken away from him.
"Oh don't complain. You got what you wanted in return," Rose pats the prince on his head and turns to Nolani. She opens her arms wide inviting the latter into her embrace and expecting a happy reunion one reads about in books and novels. However, Nolani doesn't move a muscle, nor does her stature falter.
"Do you expect me to run into your arms like a child returning to her mother?" she asks bitterly, "guess I have to disappoint you and decline" she stands up and looks Rose directly in her soul, "or have you forgotten the sacred thing you taught me?"
Nolani marches ahead and when she arrives to Rose's side, she speaks in a cool manner, "Never go back to what broke you".