(Leo)
***
"As far as the report goes, a significant magical presence was discovered in Whitaker, but upon further investigation of the town, it was determined to be a fluke caused by a mistaken signal coming from deep inside one of the caverns. The 'false alarm' was derived from an unknown substance that needs further testing to determine its magical properties and given the code name, 'uranium'. Thus, the search party there was dismissed earlier this morning with the mission listed as a failure.
"No other plausible areas have been found currently—though people are on the lookout still—and many military personnel have been deprived of sleep during this case. Additionally, some civilians submitted false reports in attempts to earn large sums of reward money—an issue which King Daemon has yet to fix. Quacks have also disturbed the search with their use of unauthorized items, which has caused some minor delays.
"The situation on the ground has been deemed difficult to keep up with at this rate, and King Daemon asks we send reinforcements in either the form of soldiers or magic. To quote part of his General Galen's message: 'We have tried our best, King Inei, but I am afraid the sparks of heroism and motivation are quickly dwindling, leaving us with only the ashes of anxiety and the cold clothes on our backs to move us along.'
"It is solely off King Daemon's kindness that such extensive searches have taken place, but he is not truly obligated to continue, even if he supports the efforts in spirit.
"As such, it is imperative that we, the fairies," Sinclair continued as they pointed at Algor and I, "unite to do whatever it may take to locate the pair. We are beginning to run out of options with on-ground searches and aerial fleets… Oh, I apologize to General Asahi, but they are also useless at this point."
"Only the detection of a magic vector will be adequate for this situation, though it will take several hours and much of our strength to complete our duty to this kingdom.
"We are fortunate the young princess has already had the wonders of magic bestowed upon her, lest we leave this search inconclusive while she is being starved and frozen to death alongside the esteemed Moon Advisor. I would like to apologize to the parents of both for this occurrence, and the Terrestrial Kingdom admires your persistence in these difficult times."
Sinclair placed the paper covered in chicken scratch back inside their pocket.
"That concludes the summary of King Daemon's report regarding the search for the missing Princess Koharu and Advisor Ophelia. As is my official duty to all the local kingdoms, I will relay the important points of this discussion to the Terrestrial Kingdom."
With a bow, they stepped away from the center of the room to come sit beside me so that I was sandwiched between them and Algor.
Although all the advisors and Mr. Heide (who quietly arrived while I fetched Sinclair) remained eerily still like hyperrealistic statues, I shifted to stretch after the lengthy briefing. I took my place upon the columns and arches in the room again, kicking and swatting at the air as my muscles became limber.
I listened to Sinclair insistently, perhaps zoning out once or twice to feel nothing except the optical sensation of watching them talk—of seeing the gentle curve of their lips wrap around the words on which everyone in the room clung. Their mannerisms were sublime as they were accentuated by the glamour of sparkling chocolate eyes.
But I knew that was an inappropriate time to think that, I told myself as I brought my focus back to Sinclair's statements each time as a distraction from my brain.
The messenger themself snapped me back to reality when they tapped my forearm, and Algor glanced over at us while the aristocrats discussed their next course of action several feet below our shoes. I nearly threw my popcorn and dunked it on Jisoo's head below me—not my brightest idea.
"Are you listening to them?" Sinclair asked me quietly, brushing a knee against mine. "They've been talking about what they want us to do."
I pressed my eyelids shut and opened them again, seeing white dots clutter my vision like specks of dust.
"I haven't really."
Truth be told, as apathetic as I tried to be towards people who would die before the end of the century, the two missing nobles had been some of my favorites in a long time. They reminded me of the man I considered like an uncle—King Isao—from when I was around three or four hundred years old. He was kind and humorous, and I still carried his cynical sense of humor over a millennium later.
He was one of two people I cried over for weeks when they died; somehow, I figured I would do the same for either Ophelia or Koharu. Because of this suspicion, I was thoroughly worried, and beyond that inconceivable attraction I felt towards the messenger beside me, my blank spells were caused by a series of hypotheticals.
What if those two were gone? Would they ever know how much they taught me without even trying? Would they ever know the kindness they gave me? (Yes, even Ophelia's constant arguing.) I pondered questions like these in the empty, tense hours between search updates while Sinclair soared in the sky like a majestic eagle inside their chariot.
"I think you should pay attention now," Sinclair told me with a nudge to my shoulder, and I nodded. "I think they're being serious for once."
I snorted. I almost would have doubted them if I hadn't peered down.
"Is that the time you want to do it? Even Mr. Heide said it might be too difficult, and he's been involved with the castle longer than you," Hikaru asked, losing his perturbed attitude from before and replacing it with a semblance of hope.
Inei shook his head. "No, we need it earlier."
"For the magic scan? How early?" I butted in, descending to the marble floor of the chamber below me.
"Yes, that. Ah, and twelve hours from now," Hikaru responded.
I slapped my wings against the air, nearly knocking over some of the lighter statues.
"What the heck are you talking about?" I yelled despite knowing I wasn't imposing as I panicked. "Isn't that too quick? Don't you know we need to get some gemstones from the mines before then? Have you thought about Algor since he just arrived, or are you denser than a diamond?"
I placed my fingers against my chest and directed my gaze to the side in immediate regret. "I mean no offense, but this is a lot to handle."
"We know," Hikaru said. "I've already asked my brother to mobilize his military to find you the rocks. Quartz and dalmatian stone, yes?"
"Yeah. I appreciate that, but it's still so—"
"Arrive at dawn tomorrow," Inei firmly stated. His eyes thinned. "Or else you know what I can do to you."
I stomped and grunted. Of course. He knew I couldn't disagree with him if he threatened me with that. I stepped into that trap myself by not shutting mine.
"Didn't I ask you to please not bring that up as a punishment?" I crossed my arms while rolling my eyes. "And since when are you and your husband on the same team again? Why are you—"
"Why, sir, you know you can't threaten to dismiss me, right?"
Algor strolled up to the throne like it was a tattered couch he owned for years. He placed his hands on the arms, caging the king in.
"I don't belong to you," he whispered sinisterly before backing away, cocking his head to each side as he spoke. "Give him the time he needs. He's much younger than Sinclair and me, and he can't deal with this as easily."
While saying this, he pointed at the messenger, who glared at him in return while they nibbled on something.
Algor simply smirked back.
"Look, Algor." Inei smacked his chair and stood up. "Don't think I won't report you to King Daemon, all right? You don't belong to the Galaxy Kingdom—you're right about that—but you belong to his kingdom. He can do with you as he wants."
That statement struck a weak spot in the fairy, and he backed away, curling his wings in defeat behind him. He looked ready to spit on the floor.
"Don't bite the one who keeps you alive," he reminded himself before turning away, leaving a few feathers on the ground that were quickly cleaned up by Jisoo and Seiji.
The pair then stood mutely behind the throne as sentries. I mouthed a word of gratitude to Algor, and he acknowledged me with a small gesture.
Sinclair then joined us on the ground, bits of salt and corn dirtying their face. They must have stolen the bucket from me when I left it atop the column.
"May I ask for your consideration please, Your Highness?" They wiped their mouth to not appear unkempt. "If we can have until noon, I will see it through myself that everything is prepared."
"Three hours before noon. Nine in the morning. That is the latest, Sinclair," Hikaru decided with a sigh, and Inei glanced at him in disapproval.
"Fine, fine!" Inei knocked a candle from the air.
"If my daughter disappears in those three hours you all take to procrastinate, I will be dismissing all of you! But I will allow the extension for now," he declared begrudgingly.
Sinclair moved their hand to stop the candle from hitting the floor and setting the castle ablaze. (Fortunately, they were logical enough to know accidental arson would have caused some iteration of Public Emergency Number Two.)
I sighed in relief, a nervous sweat about to ball up on my forehead. Sinclair raised the wax into the air with a smile, pinching their fingers together to stop the fire as it floated several feet in front of them.
I had hardly seen them use even the most simple magic, so the display shocked me, indicating their seriousness. Something about it was oddly entrancing.
"Lights out for tonight then," they said. They beckoned to me as my lips were slightly parted. "Let's leave so that you can get some rest, Lele."
"And me?" Algor complained—almost detached from his usual character.
Sinclair headed out with their arm threaded around my waist to drag me along, an action to which I did not object and even welcomed.
"Do I even know you?" they asked. Thinking, they quipped, "I'm sure there's a nice plot of grass or a cot somewhere you'd find comfortable. Sweet dreams." They waved the man away by curling their fingers on their palm.
Sinclair subsequently pulled me out of the room without greeting anyone else inside it.
"Why are you being so mean to him?" I asked when we traversed down the hall, being more direct this time.
Their unfounded rivalry with Algor made no sense! This wasn't some play where people hated each other just because one put the milk before the cereal or something petty! No actual adults acted like that—including me (except as an obvious joke).
"I'm not being mean," Sinclair stated without much thought. The sound of clicking heels on the floor filled the interim silence. "That's how I've always talked to him in passing. He doesn't genuinely mind it."
I glanced down at them, raising my eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. You didn't see him attack or curse me, did you?" They examined their bare hands, and they grazed my side while fumbling with the removal of one from my body. "I don't see any abnormal scratches."
When they threatened to speed ahead of me, I tugged on their shirt to stop them.
"No, but—"
Instead, they turned around with a sullen expression, and a pang of guilt irked me.
"Leave and get some sleep in the Galaxy Meadow," they stated coldly, but it came from a place of determination and care rather than indifference. "Tomorrow will be difficult for you."
They seemed almost like a different person to whom I hardly knew how to speak.
I protested, "What… What about you?"
I didn't want them to become drained trying to handle a predicament I indirectly caused. They were already on a sleep deficit due to their visceral, lifelike nightmares, so they had to have treasured their precious and peaceful nighttime hours. That time didn't need to be charitable towards me; Sinclair had to work just as hard—if not harder—to use their magic tomorrow.
A grin from them reassured me, though, as it stunted the overgrowth of weedlike thoughts in my head. They had too much power over me with that expression…
"I'm going to find a lot of amethysts to make things easier for you."
With a hint of sharpness to my voice, I argued, "You need to rest, too."
"I'll be fine," they stated. "Go home."
I curled two fingers towards me, saying in a cocky voice, "Come with me then."
It only made sense to have both of us share some of the poison if we couldn't agree, right?