After I Agreed to the proposal King Lucian gave me. We made our quick leaves to the University. When we got to the university, I told Claire to just look around for Amelia in the campus since it was most likely she was off in one of her classes. With that out of the way, I was told I needed to get an Exemption card under the request of King Lucian, so I found the best way to ask about that is to ask my teacher about it. But she didn't seem thrilled to see us at all, specifically Kale.
"Exemption card? Why?" Tera's voice echoed in her classroom. Her classroom was on the second floor and farthest to the left and was named the Class for the Unique.
"Can we go? I'd like to go." Griffin asked. He was leaning back in his chair, his feet planted onto the desk. "Ooh, it'll be like a school trip with us all!" Beside him was Sura, who was reading a book on water spells.
"Can't make everyone an exemption card. Especially if they manage to get a failed test in alchemy." Tera nonchalantly said. She sat at her desk with a mug of Prusha coffee. "Either way, this is King duties we are talking of right now." She looked up at me. "Right?"
"Unfortunate, yeah…" Kale said. He stood beside me on my left with Lilith on my right. "King Lucian wants us to go to Ozoth and these two are coming."
Tera took a sip from her coffee, eyeing us with Annoyance. "Another job from the king, huh. Shame." Her gaze fell onto Kale, who was sweating for some reason.
There seemed to be something up with Tera this morning. There was a strange feeling coming off of her and Kale, like they had a fight or something. Did kale forget to do something for her this morning?
"Yes…you seem bummed out." Kale awkwardly said. "Is it because you aren't going?"
"No…No, that isn't it." Tera gently swayed her mug. "Well…There is something that comes to mind." She sharply inhaled as kale stared at her in both confusion and fear now. "Do you recall telling anyone?"
Tell everyone about what? I looked at Lilith to see if she knew anything, but she seemed to be out of the conversation as well. Everyone else in the classroom looked at kale in confusion at what Tera meant by that.
"I-uh…Well…W-what? Tell anyone a-about what?" Kale was sweating bullets now as he stumbled over his own words.
"I heard some of the guards talking as I came in…Something about seeing something in this room." Tera's eye met kales with a Ferocious amount of anger. "Any idea how that happened?"
I heard an audible gulp come from kale as he cupped his mouth. His eyes wide and staring towards the ground in panic. Haven't seen kale look this bad before. What the hell happened?
"A-Arthur…" He muttered to himself. "I'm going to kill you…" he then tried not to compose himself, taking a deep breath as he looked up at Tera.
"I-it's seems like somehow…someone was patrolling this side of the building during the festival…"
"Eh?…it wasn't you then?"
"No! We got caught!"
"Our F-Fun time was caught!? Oh, we should've just used the closet instead of the window!" Tera slumped into her desk, the mug she held slamming beside her as her head dropped as well.
"Why are you saying that out loud?! The kids don't know!"
Sura dropped her book onto her desk and stared at the two as they bickered. "I knew…" before raising the book again to read. "Might as well tell us since we won't tell…I think."
"Ah, Sura!" Tera raised her head from her desk. "How the hell did you kno-Oops!" She covered her mouth instantly as she realized she cursed at sura. But sura didn't care, she didn't even look up from her book as she explained herself.
"After the festival ended, I came into class and I wanted to see the sunrise. No one else was here, so I decided to open the blinds myself…You know handprints can last for some time, right?"
There was a long pause after she said that. Everyone was in utter disbelief in what she had just said. Besides Lilith, who oddly looked around at everyone in confusion. I don't think she really understood what Sura found. Griffin seemed to be in such disbelief that he leaned too far back and tipped over in his chair, Laughing hysterically.
"Hahah! Hah! A-are you saying they had sex in here?! Hahaha! No way, oh my!"
Tera screamed into her desk as she held her head with her hands, embarrassed. Kale looked down, eyes wide and looking like he was screaming internally. Actually, maybe I should've seen this happening. That day when me and Lilith came home, they weren't even there until the morning. When I did see them the next morning, they hadn't even gotten out of their outfit and looked rugged. Kinda just assumed they got absolutely slammed with Furor or someone.
Then again, someone did get slammed against a wall. I guess my assumption wasn't totally off?
Still, it's a surprise that these two are that nasty when it comes to that sort of thing.
Hmm…Kinda hope that Lilith didn't learn anything from Tera. I wouldn't want to live a nonstop sex life….Wait, do I not? Sounds like every man's dream for nonstop sex.
Ah wait! Stop! Focus on the exemption cards! I'd rather not have myself be caught in that state right now!
"Uh…Tera, can we just get my exemption card so we can not be in this mess?" I asked. Tera slowly raised her head off the desk and looked at me.
The look that she gave me reminded me of someone who wanted to erase themselves from history. Her hand fumbled into her desk drawer for a moment before she grabbed a sheet of documents. Swiftly as she could, she grabbed an ink pen on her desk and began to put her signature on it.
"Hey, I don't understand any of this. Did Kale try to throw Tera out the window or something? Is that why there's prints on the glass?"
"No, Lilith. I mean…I don't even want to explain this to you."
"Why am I being left out of All of this!?"
You are too pure for this…Ok maybe not. But still, I feel like she'd have figured it out by now. Is she just slow to figuring things out? How is she so fast at learning combat, but slow at other things?
As Tera finished the forms, she handed them to me. As soon as she did, she looked at kale with frustration.
"Hey, what are we going to do?"
"Um…" Kale scratched his head, he looked like he was starting to snap out of his trance. He rubbed his chin as he thought. He took a glance at Griffin and sura, the latter trying to get up and fix his chair. "Why don't you come with us?"
"I cannot, who'd teach these two? you already know I dislike working for the king…"
"I don't know, you'd rather stay with these two? Maybe some time off work could really help u-."
"No." Tera firmly said. "If I go, I'll just be an obstacle in your duties…Perhaps this is a good time for the both of us to cool down after what we did…"
"Wha-Why?!" Kale seemed considerably confused. As if his brain couldn't comprehend what he had done during the festival. Tera gave him a Moment to think.
"We've been a little too risky as of late. And you know it, And considering that one of our students has already figured it all out…I think it's best for us to relax right now and focus on work."
"Hmm…well, If that's how you feel." Kale looked saddened. "I suppose we have been."
"Indeed, perhaps you could learn something in Ozoth? " Tera rested her cheek on her open palm, looking more relaxed now. Seems like she'd gotten over the embarrassment now. "Perhaps learning how to maintain urges?"
"Alright, stopping the conversation there. I get it now…I think." Kale then turned towards Sura and Griffin. "Uh…Pink hair girl."
"Sura."
"Eh-yeah…make sure to not tell anyone."
Sura raised her head from the book, a blank face peered over. "No promises. Griffin is a talker." She quickly looked right back to her book, not wanting to continue with speaking. Griffin had already fixed his chair, so he was just sitting there.
Once Kale turned to him, Griffin automatically raised his hands in fear. "Hey! Woah! I haven't babbled about anything related to you or anyone in this one! Besides the fact that I've asked Sura out!"
I raised my eyebrows at that response, that whole event completely flew over my head. It was a week after the festival that Griffin asked Sura out. The two came into class very quietly before Griffin jumped out of his chair to announce it. It then proceeded with Sura throwing her table at him in embarrassment and storming out. Tera found it amusing and had Griffin run after her. Not sure why Sura even accepted his confession,
I would've assumed that she would've kicked him or something.
"You idiot! You aren't supposed to babble about that!" Sura snarled, she slammed her book and immediately threw it at him. Her cheeks flushed red, her glasses fogging up. "Idiot!" I could see her lips quivering into what I almost thought was a small smile.
I guess a part of her enjoys the stupidness of Griffin, though most of her absolutely hates it. I don't know. I find it amusing though.
Kale scratched his head in confusion at Tera, who just nodded and looked used to it. Thinking about it now, it was pretty common for Griffin and Sura to be bickering. Whether it be in class or at lunch.
The book that sura threw at griffin hit him right in his forehead, causing him to fall out of his chair again. Sura adjusted her glasses and quickly made haste to retrieve her book, taking a subtle glance at Griffin before moving back to her seat.
Griffin laid on the floor, looking at the ceiling. It was a couple of seconds before he looked at sura.
"Thanks babe."
Sura didn't answer, though she shifted in her seat while she read.
"Noted."
I noticed Lilith watching the two with intrigue. Wait, was she thinking about throwing shit at me? When I took a glance at her, she looked at me and shook her head. I'm going to take that as a no. I let out a sigh of relief, I already get jabs from Lilith from time to time. I'd rather not have her throw anything at me with those strong hands of hers.
"Ahem." Kale cleared his throat. "G-griffin, right?"
"Yessir, can promise you I won't say a thing about you. The guardian of my friends is a friend to me."
"Er…Alright." Kale seemed very uncomfortable with all this, turning around towards me and Lilith. "Well, we have your exemption card. The trip to Ozoth begins once we get the info out of the Minotaur that we caught. I'd give a good guess of a week or so before we head out."
"Mmm, a week. I see." Tera said from her desk. She looked at me and Lilith as well. "That's enough prep time for these two to learn about travelling. Isn't the trip to Ozoth about a week or two?"
"Erm…well I did plan to make a stop at Shanford for Kota. It'll probably be around two. I'm still trying to convince the king about that part though. Once we manage to get some info, then we'll make plans."
Hm, last time we went to regale, it took a good three days or something like that. That was from Shanford to Prusha. I'm guessing I'll spend a week in Shanford and the next week will just be
On the road. I'm wondering how long we'll be in Ozoth for…
"Kale, do you know how long we'd be in Ozoth for?" I asked.
"Hm…well it is just an escort and a meeting. I'd say it'd be about three days there before we get back on the road."
Two weeks for a three day adventure in another kingdom? Kinda thought it'd be longer…Then again, I'm not really sure how long these sorts of meetings last. Hm, well at least I'll be heading somewhere…
"Oh, don't give me that look! Three days can be a lot!" Kale said. I guess I was making a disappointed face when I was thinking.
Suddenly, the door of the classroom began to rattle. Causing all of us to look at it in confusion.
As the door finally opened, I saw two blue haired girls walk in. One was more taller than the other, the short one wearing our school uniforms and menacingly walking towards me. I instantly knew it was Amelia coming towards me and Claire.
Er…wait, why me?
"Woah. H-hey! Relax! What's with the aggression!" I instinctively put my hands up as she got closer. But she stopped as soon as I said that and looked at everyone with an angry face.
"Alright, Who brought her?!" Amelia planted her hands to her side, tapping her feet incredulously. "I was in the middle of my intermediate wind class when she stumbled into it, asking for me!"
I looked at her in confusion. "Uh…She came here on her own. I just told her where the school was."
"Huh?!" Amelia raised an eyebrow and stormed right up to me. "Why would you?!"
"Hey, she was looking for you. What, am I just going to ignore her?"
"Yes!"
"That's very rude to do that to your sister."
Amelia scoffed and looked away from us. "Hah! As if I'd be family with someone like her!"
Claire looked at her in dismay, holding her hands together and fussing her fingers. She hasn't said a thing since she's entered the room.
"Claire, what does she mean by that?" I asked. But instead of Claire answering, Amelia did.
"Yeah, tell him about our family! Unless you already did!" Amelia faced Claire now, her hands on her hip as she stared at her. "There's no way I'd fit in with you all! And there's no way I'm coming back with you!"
"But you must! Amelia, Father needs you to come back!" Claire insisted. "This…Absurd idea of being an adventurer is idiotic!"
"Well I think it's a great idea! Tell father that he can kiss my butt and that he should personally drag me back!"
Huh? Is that why Claire came back to visit? Well, I should've guessed there might've been a bigger reason for her coming to Prusha than just visiting. From the sound of it, the two sound like they aren't on the same footing…or maybe that's how they usually are. It's interesting to listen to though.
"Ugh, I've been trying to tell you! All you do is babble on about how you want to move away from us! Well let me tell you something." Claire tried to control her voice, it crackled with anger and sadness. "Father is sick right now and on his deathbed! That's what I've been trying to say to you!"
Ah…Suddenly the whole vibe of this conversation has changed now.
However, Amelia didn't flinch at that revelation. Rather she narrowed her eyes and looked even more angry.
"So what? You want me to come back just for him to lecture me before he dies?"
"He won't! He just wants to see you!"
"Well he can rot in his bed then!" The two slowly got more aggressive to each other, Amelia clenching her fist and ready to strike her sister before Kale clapped his hands extremely loud.
"Alright! No squabbling in this room! Unless you want Tera to kick us out!" He yelled. I looked at Tera, who was leisurely drinking from her mug.
Amelia and Claire glared at each other. Claire clutched her dress for a moment before easing and taking a deep breath. Meanwhile…Amelia scoffed and folded her arms, tapping her feet aggressively against the floor.
"Look, I don't want to be all up in your guy's Issues. I don't think any of us do. However, Claire is a prime target right now due to her kidnapping…Actually I think even Amelia is as well."
"she got kidnapped!?" Amelia looked at Kale with confusion and surprise. "What do you mean?!"
"Put it simply: Both you and Claire are wanted as slaves by a noble here. He has a knack for blue haired girls. Which is why we'll be escorting her back to Ozoth along with trying to solve this with the king there."
"Gah! Hrmm…" Amelia looked frustrated as she cupped her chin. "Kidnapping?…"
"I think it's best if you stay quiet for som-."
"You should come with us!" Lilith blurted out, cutting off Kale. "What if you get kidnapped when we leave?"
"I-I would never get caught by some kidnappers! I'd beat them!" Amelia stammered on her words. "A-and there's no way I'm going back to Ozoth just because my sister got into this!"
"What? You aren't going to help your sister get back home safe?"
"I…" Amelia pursed her lips, her foot tapping even faster against the floor. "I refuse to answer that!" Her face now brimming hot pink.
It was obvious to me that She still cared for her sister. I'm starting to think this all stems from her hatred for her father. Thinking about it more, This makes Amelia a runaway child then, right?
"Aww…She's trying to act all mean." Kale said in a joking manner. "But Lilith is right. We can't put you at risk as well. It'd be best for you and Claire to lay low until we find out any information."
"Or…" Lilith slowly said. "They can have a sleepover with us!" She leaned forward and looked at Kale as she said that. "That way we can keep an eye on both of them! Instead of having to be wary all the time!"
Kale gave her a questionable look. "Look, I can't even process the two of you in my house. If I add two more, I'm pretty sure I'd go insane. So the answer is…" He hesitated, slowly turning to Tera. "Actually, what do you think?"
"Me?" Tera pointed at herself.
"Yeah, you live with me. I-who else would I ask?"
"Are you asking me to have an opinion on bringing more kids into our home?"
"…yes?"
Tera smiled as she took another sip from her mug. "Sure. More practice with kids. Some point we'll end up with that many kids of our own."
"Ugh…Ok, maybe I should've asked someone else." Kale then looked at me. "Kota, what do you think?"
Hmm…Well having these two would probably bring a lot of issues into the house. Mainly Amelia with her recklessness and attitude. The fact that we only have our two rooms and a bathroom means they'd most likely sleep in the living room, so the house would be cramped. Though from what Kale said before, it'd just be a week or so. It's true that having them at our place would have them be protected, but that's also putting everyone else in the house at risk if they ever do find out where they are…Actually considering the fact that one of us had knocked out a Minotaur and a demon owl thingy, plus two mages which one of them is able to silent cast…I'd think we'd do actually fine.
"I'd say we should let them stay." I finally responded. Kale slowly nodded and looked at the two blue haired girls.
"Alright, what do the two of you say?"
Amelia first responded. Glaring at me.
"Pervert! You just want two more girls in the house to ogle at! I see how you look at Lilith when we excercise!"
Wait, I should've actually gave a damn response when I answered! Not just think of it all in my head!
"I bet you when the two of us come into that house, you're just gonna look at sister and be all like 'ooh, nice legs! Let me rub them, can I get some kissy huggies? Wanna exercise?' Disgusting!" Amelia continued.
"That is not why I said yes!"
Amelia gasped when I said that, her hand over her mouth. "So you're just targeting me then, huh? Can't get enough of looking at your rival after getting a good look at her panties? Is that it?!"
"As if I'd enjoy looking at you! I'm not into looking at a plank!"
"I will smack you with my staff!" Amelia warned me, she raised her staff.
Just before anything could escalate, Claire spoke.
"I…do not mind staying at your place."
"Huuuh?!" Amelia whooped her head to her. "Why?!"
"Well…i am a target now for those kidnappers. I wouldn't think they'd let me go. It'd be much safer to be with kale…plus most of my items were taken when I was kidnapped, so I don't…have any money…" Claire poked her fingers together in embarrassment as she said that. Thinking of it now, it did seem like she didn't have anything on her.
"You could stay with me in my Inn!" Amelia argued.
"Isn't your inn directly in the market district?" Kale questioned. "The two of you will be found immediately. That'll probably be one of the first place they'll look at."
Amelia looked even more frustrated, her foot tapping growing louder and louder before let out a frustrated groan.
"Gaaah! Fine! If it means keeping my sister safe, then we'll stay in your house!"
With that response, Lilith began to clap her hands. "Yay!"
Claire looked at Amelia with concern. Teaching a hand out to her. "Are you sure?"
Amelia quickly swatted her hand away, looking at her with her cheeks red. "You know, your little sister shouldn't be the one making these decisions! Be the older sister you're supposed to be!"
"S-sorry…" Claire mended to her hand. Though she looked in pain, I swear I could see a small smile creeping in her face.
"Well, If that's everyone's decision…I guess I could make some sort of plan." Kale scratched his head, I wonder what he was planning in his head? Maybe he had the same idea as me.
Tera finished her mug, placing it aside on her desk as she put her hands together. "Ok, Now that this is over and Kota has gotten his exemption form. It's best that you three head off, you all have stayed your visit too long." She grabbed some paperwork on her desk and began to organize them. "Need to Assist a specific student in their alechemy studies since it seems like they've gotten too lovey dovey in my room…"
"Why am I being blasted all of the sudden? It was just one test!" Griffin awkwardly said.
"Don't make it worse, just listen to her." Sura casually said. She was still reading her book, which reminded me…
"Oh! Sura, our book!" She looked up at me as I called to her.
"Oh…right, The one Lilith couldn't read. I have it here with me." Sura then leaned out of her chair and rummaged through her knapsack for a moment before presenting a book that had a letter on top of it. "Here. Also made a letter for the two of you."
I walked my way towards her, grabbing the book. "Thanks!"
"There's a part of the letter that I'd rather you keep to yourself." She leaned closer to me to whisper. "It's about getting a book."
"Ah…alright?"
"Yup. All I'm asking in return."
"I'll make sure I find a good book for you."
Sura only nodded and turned her gaze to griffin. The green haired boy was busy looking at Claire, looking quite mesmerized by the older blue haired girl's body. Sura tightly squeezed her book as her gaze seemed to stare deeply into his soul, it was only then that he noticed.
"Hey-uh-well- you see…I was…Comparing the two since they are sisters! Haha…ha…ah…" Griffin tried to play it off, but sura was already pissed. I decided to not be a part of that and hoped that my friend would not die. There are bigger issues right now. I walked back to Kale and Lilith, who began to head their way to the door. Kale was already chatting with Lilith as I made my way to them.
"I suppose we'll need to escort Claire back to our place and wait till Amelia gets off from her classes. Unfortunately…I'll have to head to the barracks later on to check on the guards."
"Like the old guy and Jerry?" Lilith asked. To which Kale nodded.
"I could probably get some information from the older man. Since I'll be out, I'll have you look after Claire and Amelia. I don't think it'll be that hard." Kale finally noticed me and made a quick change in his plans." Actually…Kota since you are off and in school now, you could probably wait for Amelia and go home with her. I'll have Lilith watch Claire at home."
"Yessir!" Lilith saluted kale, puffing her chest out as her amber eyes sparkled.
"Gotcha…" I said in a more disappointed manner. I'm pretty sure this would cause trouble in some form of way. Not that I wasn't incapable, just that Amelia-
"There's no way that's going to happen!" I heard Amelia say. "I don't need an escort!"
-Is most likely not up for that.
Ignoring her, Kale continued. "Ok, we are all good! Claire, let's head out and show you the house!" He moved towards the door, ushering Claire to follow along. Lilith in tow behind him.
Claire hesitated for a moment, reluctant to go. But as her gaze slowly came to me, I gave her a nod of assurance. With that, she let out a sigh of relief and looked at Amelia. "Don't be too mean to him…"
"I'm going to throw him in the air…" Amelia slowly said.
Without saying anything else, the three then left out the door. Before the door closed, Lilith looked back at me with a smile. I smiled back as the door slowly closed.
A/N: Hey all! Upcoming chapters will be a big focus on Amelia and her character development! There'll also be some action scenes as well! Hopefully you'll be able to wait as it's been quite busy for me at work, so I haven't had the chance to fully focus on writing. Enjoy this Chapter and the upcoming one!