Giliath demands your power stones!
*
A plum haired girl quickly left the violet haired boy's side on the orbal aircraft's deck outside with a light blush on her cheeks while she put on her glasses again. Heading inside the cabin, she left the violet haired boy to his own devices.
The violet haired boy couldn't help but smile seeing the plum haired girl retreat like that after he regained his clarity from the couple of system notifications that sounded off inside his mind.
"So Emma felt that way too huh? Guess Angie was right on the mira for this one. I too had my suspicions, but it has been a few years spending time together, similar to Angie. It was a surprise to hear Emma's resolve to return to her village for the time being though.", I mused to myself.
Either way, I enjoyed the brief kiss Emma gave me before I recollected myself. Seeing her head in, I also took off not long after, and also headed inside. As we did, we heard the aircraft's intercom resound in the cabin, saying it will be landing in Grancel Airport Dock soon. It seemed the sound woke up Lechter as well. Lechter blinked his eyes, seeing a light blush on Emma's cheeks while watching me return to my seat.
"Did something happen between you two?", Lechter decided to ask.
"It's nothing.", Emma immediately answered him. Hearing that caused me to chuckle.
"Haha, I wouldn't call it nothing. It's just Emma will be returning to her village for a while after this week.", I explained a bit, leaving out the rest since Lechter didn't need to know that part.
"I see. I take it I won't be able to see you again for a while.", Lechter asked back.
"Mmm.", Emma said, nodding her head in acknowledgement. Our village doesn't respond to outsiders too much.", Emma answered. She then turned her head toward Lechter and looked at him. "Why not turn it into a little game about whether or not you can find it?", Emma asked Lechter, only to reveal a playful grin.
"Seriously?", Lechter retorted as his eyes turned wide a bit. "I wish I could play along like that but I still have my studies back at school that still need some attention.", Lechter continued to say.
"Haha, then why are you still with us when you should obviously not be playing hooky?", I retorted back with a grin. Lechter couldn't help but sigh hearing that.
"You know I can't go against your old man like that.", Lechter said, shrugging his shoulders with a defeated sigh.
"While that is true, you should still be up for the challenge, no?", I also asked Lechter, seeing as Emma was the one who thought of it.
"Could ya at least give a hint? It's seriously not on any damn map.", Lechter said, still feeling defeated. Hearing Lechter ask that, Emma blinked her eyes as she looked at him.
"It's in Erebonia though?", Emma retorted back at him. The moment Emma said that, Lechter turned his eyes wide a bit.
"You shitting me?", Lechter retorted in surprise.
"Haha, 'fraid not. Think of it as a fun challenge for the time you spent playing hooky with us. I seriously doubt you'll find it though.", I happily answered with a laugh.
After I said that we heard another intercom message sound over us.
"We will be touching down in Grancel City in a few moments. Thank you for taking our airliner today. This is our last stop, Grancel City. Please ensure your luggage is secured before departing our aircraft.", The intercom's voice said, distracting us from our current conversation.
"Well, guess that's it. You'll be returning to Jenis though, right Lechter?", I asked Lechter, only for him to nod his head.
"That's right. Besides this gig I haven't really received anything else from your old man as of late. With any luck you'll get to see me in my last one to two years at Jenis when you enroll, Young Master.", Lechter responded.
"Sounds like a plan then.", I said, confirming Lechter.
Looking out toward the windows, we saw the orbal aircraft touch down in the Grancel Landing Port. It was quite big, so it took up a lot of space. As it was rather big, two platforms started to extend outward to connect to the aircraft for people to de-board. One closer to the top of the aircraft where we were, and one for the economy cabins in the middle. After we received a ding letting us know we could get out, swarms of people started to leave the middle dock while we in the first class started to leave. Thankfully there weren't many beside us up here in the front.
Still, the onlookers couldn't help but blink their eyes as they walked past us on our de-boarding dock. Everyone saw two single file lines of soldiers wearing the green armor everyone knows, members of the Royal Army. At it's tip stood a calm and graceful green haired woman with a rapier held at her waist. Hers was army-issued, so it wasn't as fancy as mine was.
Either way, the soldiers also couldn't help but blink at the large wrapped object hoisted over Emma's back. They realized it was taller than Emma's current height, but she was carrying it around like it was empty weight to her. The green haired woman disregarded the soldiers though, and gave me a salute the moment the three of us arrived in front of them.
"Welcome home, Your Highness. Did your trip go as planned?", Julia asked as she welcomed us.
"Mmm.", I replied with a nod of my head. "You didn't need to bring an entourage to welcome me though.", I continued to reply as I scratched my cheek seeing the line of soldiers welcoming me.
"How could we not? There is a rule for everything, Your Highness.", Julia retorted me, only to shift her eyes to look at the scarlet haired teen beside me. "Who is this though?", Julia asked, wondering. Hearing that, Lechter chuckled and waved his hand at me.
"Haha, I'm just a friend. I'll catch ya around, Young Master. Gotta catch my next flight back to Jenis.", Lechter said, only to wave his hand at us and left for another boarding dock. We were in Grancel now, so he had another flight to catch. Still, Julia blinked her eyes seeing Lechter call me like that.
"Did that guy just call you Young Master?", Julia asked as she blinked her eyes.
"Like Lechter said, he's just a friend. Why don't you get me up to speed with how things are doing here?", I decided to ask, which caused Emma to nod her head as well. Seeing this, the two of us began to walk with Julia next to us. The green armored soldiers also followed after us and kept their silence.
"That I can do. Since you've left, we have finished prioritizing the collaborative attacks on those cult lodges. There aren't that many bases left. We have not had any luck finding any survivors though.", Julia began to explain what happened here. As she did, we all left the boarding dock, only to arrive in the north block. We soon saw the market bustling with activity. Onlookers looked at us in surprise as they saw their crown prince return, but before they could react, we could already be seen making our way to the central block.
"I take it peace has returned to Crossbell then?", I asked Julia.
"Very much so. Even we have entered a period of peace after that freak explosion at the Guild. Thankfully the Guild quickly issued a notice saying it was an internal affair, so no harm was done. It's the height of summer now so everyone has been enjoying their spending sprees.", Julia responded.
"Business is booming, I like the sound of that. Has the military been doing well since Cassius's departure?", I asked Julia. I could see a hint of sadness appear in her eyes, but she still responded.
"We've been trying to restructure our military since mister Cassius left, but we've been doing well. We currently don't have a looming threat, so most of our soldiers have either been assisting the Guild in hunting monsters or doing training back at our fortresses. If there was one piece of news though, it's that we received a new blueprint for a high-speed cruiser. Its specs are like no other.", Julia's eyes started to beam as she said that.
"An advanced high-speed cruiser, eh? I take it it was one of his works?", I asked. After asking that, we soon found our way approaching the castle after arriving in the central block.
"Who else? Professor Russell is one of the top experts in the field of engineering. Many of us in the military are already looking forward to its development. A prototype is expected to hit the field early next year.", Julia responded in excitement.
"Haha, is that so? I might have to take a visit to Zeiss then and get acquainted with Professor Russell, if he is as important as you say he is.", I retorted with a laugh. "It sounds like it's quite peaceful around here though. Hopefully my dear sister hasn't been slacking off.", I continued to say.
Hearing me bring up Kloe, Julia blinked her eyes at me before her face turned serious again.
"She hasn't. I've been overseeing her swordsmanship training. She may very well be suited to have a spar with you now, Your Highness.", Julia said carrying a respectful tone. Hearing that did bring me some surprise.
"You think Kloe is already ready for sparring?", I asked, turning to Julia, blinking my eyes.
"Hehe, why don't you find out for yourself, my dear brother?", A third voice suddenly said, reaching our ears. After reaching the castle. We saw the two big doors open, only to reveal two figures exit. The moment these two figures exited the castle, the couple of soldiers stationed there gave them a salute. I soon saw a short violet haired girl who seemed to be the same age as me approach us,
along with a much older woman who was currently dressed in her regal dress.
"So you were around, Kloe.", I replied happily seeing Kloe and Grandmother arrive in front of us. Aside from Emma and I, the rest of the soldiers and Julia gave the two a salute as well. After I said that, however, I saw Kloe blink her eyes once she got close enough.
"Why do I smell a hint of lavender?", Kloe strangely asked, which caused my eyes to blink at her.
"Hahaha...", Emma tried to respond with a dry laugh, only to have her glasses fog up a bit. When we reacted like that, a smile bloomed on Grandmother's face.
"Welcome home, Naoto, Emma. I think I may know.", Grandmother responded vaguely, which caused Kloe to look at her. "We'll have to talk about this later, though. For now, why don't you two get situated since you're home now?", Grandmother asked us, only to look at Julia next. "Thank you for escorting His Highness home as well.", Grandmother continued to say.
"It was no issue. We are only doing our duty after all.", Julia and the soldiers immediately responded, giving us another salute. With that, they soon went about their own duties, as did Julia. We were soon left by ourselves before we started to walk again.
"That we can do.", I replied happily.
"Yes. that would be nice.", Emma began to say as she nodded her head. "I too will have something to discuss later.", Emma continued to say.
"I see. I look forward to it then.", Kloe replied happily.
With that said, we all enjoyed the fact we were going back to our home, even if it was just the four of us temporarily. It really did feel nice to go back to our room, especially since this trip started with me going to North Ambria...
Before I knew it, time started to speed up again when Emma started to declare her intent to the others...