Took time with this one of how much to progress since the one year skip.
Giliath demands your power stones!
*
A long sigh drew the duo's eyes as the stood in place motionlessly, lest they would get attacked by the guards who were currently holding the duo up. The woman stood there motionlessly as a silvery white fox enjoyed the woman's embrace with several tails swaying around happily. The messy gray haired teen stood there with his hands raised in the air, lest he be attacked by the palace guards.
In the next moment or two, the two large pearl white doors of Grancel Castle.
Crow soon saw two identical figures slowly approaching. A boy, who seemed about 5'5 and a girl who was about 5'3, both sporting short violet hair, and a year younger than him.
Yet once the two came close, Crow felt a cold gust of wind sweep through his body, almost as if something had seen right through him. He then was taken by surprise by what he saw, the violet haired boy's eyes. They were mostly golden with very small pupils.
"The hell is up with this guy's eyes?", Crow uttered softly but it was loud enough for Vita to hear him.
"Oh you'll get used to that.", Vita answered Crow, only to blink her eyes again to observe the violet haired teen.
Puberty had finally hit him this last year, and experienced a rather big growth in his body, to which has not shown signs of stopping yet. In a couple years he will likely reach over six feet tall. The same could be said for the girl beside him. She no longer was a kid herself either. She was becoming more beautiful and her chest was starting to swell.
"But is that really you, Naoto?", Vita asked, still in disbelief at the boy's growth. The last time she had seen him in person was the island back in Calvard. She had not seen him since Roselia dragged Vita away.
"Of course it's me. But did you really think you could waltz into this place like it's your own backyard, Vita?", The violet haired teen asked as he squinted his eyes a bit.
Some of the guards also saluted the violet haired teen seeing him arrive, including a green haired woman who seemed to be a couple ranks higher than the other soldiers.
"Greetings, Your Highnesses.", Julia called out to welcome Kloe and I as she gave us a salute. "We were not allowing visitors in today so we caught these two suspicious individuals loitering around the front gate. I couldn't help notice though that you seem to be already acquainted with one of them, Your Highness?", Julia continued to ask as she looked my way.
"Haha, you could say that.", I answered Julia with a nod of my head. Seeing me do this, Vita blinked her eyes.
"We could always come at another time, especially if you aren't accepting any visitors today.", Vita said as she waved her hand a bit.
"You guys already made it this far, so might as well let you two in. But it is true we aren't letting any visitors in lately.", I began to say, only to cause Julia to nod her head.
"That's right, Your Highness. Ever since Her Majesty permitted the royal harem, rumors have started to surface. In turn we have started to tighten security around the castle. It is our duty as the Imperial Army to ensure your safety.", Julia said with respect in her tone.
However, the moment Julia uttered that, Vita couldn't help spat out a mouthful of air and her eyes turned wide as she looked back at me. Crow also blinked his eyes my way. A smug grin couldn't help but form on my lips as I saw her surprise.
"D-Did I just hear that right?", Vita tried to ask with surprise in her eyes.
"You really have missed out on a lot, Vita.", I replied, only to shake my head a bit.
"Haha, so we really did have guests today.", A third voice said. A third figure came out the gate, only to reveal a purple haired girl a year older than me dressed in a casual outfit. Vita felt a familiar air seeing this girl arrive but her eyes were taken for a spin again the moment Vita saw her hands wrap around me, only to give me a quick kiss on the cheek.
"You...", Vita tried to utter but couldn't finish her words. She then heard a whistle come from Crow's mouth.
"Sheesh, this guy is shameless, isn't he? Maybe you got the wrong guy after all.", Crow retorted as he looked at Vita.
"Haha, Vita didn't. You must be Crow. Thank you, Julia but you guys can stand down. I'll bring Vita and Crow in. Keep up the good work. Oh, and Tama, stop bothering Vita.", I responded to everyone.
"Ha!", Julia and the other soldiers responded giving us a salute as sech one began to sheath their weapons. Seeing the soldiers do thus Crow let out a sigh of relief seeing that his life was no longer threatened.
"Kyuu~", Tamamo replied. The cute fox then suddenly leapt from Vita's embrace, only to be caught back into mine.
"Why don't we just head in for now?", Vita asked only sigh as she shook her head.
"Works for me.", Crow said, becoming relaxed as he placed his hands behind his head as we began to walk.
"You do realize you were held at gunpoint just now, right?", Vita retorted.
"Hey man, sometimes you just gotta be in the moment.", Crow retorted back at Vita.
"Tell me why I agreed to work with you again?", Vita asked.
"Who knows.", Crow couldn't help but answer.
Seeing the two bicker like this earned a giggle from Kloe.
"Teehee, it seems the two of you are close.", Kloe responded happily. As she did, we found our way back inside our home, and proceeded up the stairs
"That may be so, but still pails in comparison since you first came to our village, Naoto. It was unfortunate, but it's not like I could go against Grandmother back then.", Vita said, feeling a bit guilty.
As we began to chat, we soon found ourselves on the open terrace, letting the lake's cool breeze sweep past us.
"I don't blame you for that, Vita. It was what Rose wanted. Sounds like her lecturing you started to rub off on you. You're finally taking your role as a witch more seriously.", I answered revealing a smile as I turned around, only to look at Vita again.
Feeling my sincerity, Vita blinked her eyes at me for a moment.
"It was only a matter of time", Vita said, shrugging her shoulders a bit. "But now that we're here, I couldn't help but notice there's a lack of a certain someone. My dear little sister couldn't be hiding now, is she?", Vita wondered.
Hearing that, I turned quiet, while Vita saw Kloe shake her head.
"Like Brother said, a lot has happened since you were last with Brother. I do believe this is our first time meeting too. You two look different but I can feel a familiarity as with Emma. But sadly, Emma isn't present at the moment.", Kloe said, looking at Vita.
"You two really members of the royal family here? You are strutting around like you own the place, but I still can't believe Miss Witch here would be acquainted with you folks. Let alone you knowing Miss Witch here is a witch too. Guess that saves some time explaining things, haha.", Crow said, letting out a laugh.
"Hmph. I did tell you that the prince here is a fellow trial goer like you are, didn't I, Crow?", Vita retorted.
"You're like me then.", I said, only to look at the messy gray haired teen.
"I still don't get this witch business stuff but you seem a friend of Naoto's, so that'd make you my friend too.", Angelica said, welcoming Vita and Crow, ignoring the fact she was currently holding onto my hand.
Seeing this, Vita blinked at Angelica.
"It took me a moment but you are the daughter of the Rogner House, aren't you?", Vita couldn't help but ask.
"You shitting me?", Crow couldn't help but curse as well.
"Hehe, of course. I currently hold the first spot in the royal harem, but that excludes Her Highness since she'll become the Queen later on. Still nice to meet you two though.", Angelica responded as she got acquainted with Crow and Vita.
"I still find it hard to believe, but that's really a thing, huh?", Vita said in doubt.
"It is. It has only been brought to the surface recently. Not many have been informed yet, but we have already started to tighten security as a result. I see these few years are going to be a challenge, haha.", I replied with a laugh.
"Still, feel free to get comfy. You guys came all the way here, so the least we can do is show our hospitality. We were about to start something though right as you guys came.", Kloe said.
"That's right. You'll get to see a connection test of sorts. Courtesy of the latest progress of the Epstein Foundation. Hope you guys don't mind.", I also explained.
"Hey I'm just here cause Vita is. Don't mind me.", Crow said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Will that be alright? We'll be able to catch up on things after.", Vita asked.
"That'd be nice.", I answered with a nod.
Just like that, it seemed Vita somehow made her way all the way here to Grancel, despite not seeing each other for a few years. It was nice to see Vita in her prime, as she was a very breathtaking girl. She had also gotten acquainted with Crow during this time, one of the leading characters in the cold steel saga.
We are both trial goers of the Divine Knights, so I bet the two of us will get along. Considering the fact if it progresses into the cold steel games, we'll eventually become fellow classmates at Thors.
But for now, we gave Crow and Vita z small tour of Grancel Castle before resuming what we were about to do next. The moment Vita and Crow arrived in our room, they were confused seeing a large orbal repeater in one of the corners, designed to receive long distance signals...