♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
The notes drifted afloat the air, a harmonious symphony wafting throughout the light and central stage. Silver glimmers scattered around the place as the lights reflected off the iron blades, flowing smoothly like the ocean waves.
Beautiful ladies danced around gracefully, their steps light and springy as they bent their bodies to the music, wielding the aforementioned blades. All eyes were on them as they circled, hopped, waved, and made all sorts of movements and formations.
Pair such a wonderful show with a lovely meal and you got heaven. Three figures enjoyed everything about the place, a certain silver-haired elf smiling from ear to ear whilst she sliced the steak and fed it to herself with such delight.
"Mmn～! So good～! Can we eat this for dinner too?" ［Yuna］
"Me too... But they're limited time only... I doubt they will last long." ［Lisandra］
"Ah! In that case, shall we order more?" ［Yuna］
"We can only get one order per person, you know?... Yuna, were you even listening to the explanation before?" ［Grey］
The three are having their lovely lunch in the "White Nightingale", a famous luxury restaurant who serve all sorts of high-class and expensive ingredients. One which has a good reputation between nobles, the gentry, and wealthy merchants.
Today, as they heard from the passing men by the streets, they are serving a limited time dish, "Silverback Buffalo's Steak", an exquisite dish not many had the chance to get a taste of. One said to taste so delicious, it feels like angels cooked for you.
They were only serving a hundred pieces for the day and only about a dozen were left when the trio arrived at the restaurant. They don't even know whether they could consider themselves lucky. All they knew was that the steak was delicious.
"Grey, where can we find a silverback buffalo again?" ［Yuna］
"To the east of the kingdom, and no, we won't be hunting them. They're really hard to find and also quite stubborn. It would be really troublesome." ［Grey］
"Eh? Even just oneー no, two! Let's catch two, please～!" ［Yuna］
"Eh?! You're going to hunt one?! Can I buy some?" ［Lisandra］
Grey hasn't even made a decision, yet the young ladies already acted as if he already agreed, Lisandra even offering to buy some meat from them when they get back from their hunt. Grey didn't know whether he should cry or laugh. They were impossible.
"Haah... Alright, but only after we finish the Labyrinth of Stars. It might take a while but that's the only way I'll compromise." ［Grey］
"Yes! That's more than enough! I can finally eat all the meat I want!" ［Lisandra］
"Then, in exchange, I want to eat steak for dinner too." ［Yuna］
"Haah... Yuna... Really, you..." ［Grey］
Grey finally gave up thinking. With his fiancée the way she is, there really is nothing much he could do about it. It would just turn into another dish request if he refused her at that moment. Well, he loves that gluttonous and needy part of her as well.
The dancers continued to dance and as they brandished their swords gracefully, the music started to slow down until it was no more. The performers then lined up one after another, before bowing towards the audience, a resounding round of applause echoing all over the restaurant.
"I'm going to order some more. Do you want anything else too, Grey, Lisa? Some drinks or refreshments, maybe?" ［Yuna］
"Hmm... I'll have another serving of buttered lobsters, I guess..." ［Grey］
"I'm already full so I will pass." ［Lisandra］
"Okay, got it... Waiter～!" ［Yuna］
By Yuna's call, one of the waiters approached them and took their orders, and just in time, the music played in the background again and another set of performers went up the stage, all draped in shawls this time around.
They ate, they watched performances, they clapped, and had some delicious treats together. It was a wonderful lunch filled with smiles, stories, and laughter ringing over the dining tableー and well, a little bit of shenanigans to spice things up.
The sun soon started to sink down from the horizon, and their lunch was soon over. With a full stomach and satisfied smiles, they exited the restaurant and headed out to the streets again, greeted by the liveliness and the gentle sunlight once more.
"Then, since our plans were interrupted before, should we continue our tour? Let's go to the Museum!" ［Lisandra］
"Un! Let's go!" ［Yuna］
The ladies punched their hands towards the sky and went full speed ahead. As they headed towards their destination, they swung by a couple stalls, buying a handful of items, and by items, they were snacks and spices for their eating needs.
Just like the other establishment they visited before them, the museum was also just as grand. The roofs were high, the pillars were massive, and so was the entrance. A large number of people, locals and tourists alike, heading inside the place.
And as one would expect from such a valuable building, there were a number of guards laced all over the place, assigned by the kingdom itself. There weren't just soldiers, but knights as well, patrolling and securing the place, making it the second most heavily guarded place in the Royal Capital.
Normally, kingdoms would place their treasures inside the their treasuries hidden inside the Royal Castle, but Graystone was somewhat different. Though they still have a Royal Treasury, they also have a museum to showcase their long history.
"Waah～! So many swords! It's like the Garden of Glory!" ［Yuna］
"Yeah... Many of them are the real deal as well." ［Grey］
"Oh? You noticed?" ［Lisandra］
"Just a blacksmith's intuition, plus, no matter how secure the place is, it's still too risky to display them in public. Hahaha." ［Grey］
That was a lie. Grey just used his eyes and he could differentiate what were real and what were fakes, things dotted all over the place and protected by extremely tough cases which were protected by powerful barriers and similarly powerful arrays.
Though most of the items displayed were real, those which are Legendary-Grade and above are stored in the Royal Treasury. They cost billions of kiels, after all. It would surely make a dent in the nation's wealth in the event it were to be stolen. It would be a national crisis for sure.
"Grey, look at this sword! Doesn't this look cool?" ［Yuna］
"Yuna, you really do have an eye for swords! Here, this one's my favorite! What do you think?" ［Lisandra］
"It looks amazing! The dragon on the hilt makes it even more so!" ［Yuna］
And off they go, the young ladies heading left and right all over the place as they admired all manners of swords. If Yuna were an alchemy maniac, the same could also be said for Lisandra. The only difference was that her fascination is for swords.
Well, there weren't just swords inside the museum. There were armors, glass items, broken shields, and even torn pieces of paper. Each one was a part of the kingdom's ling and well cherished history.
Grey was especially interested in the older artifacts. He's seen many of them back on Earth when he was surfing the internet, but seeing such items before his very eyes felt so bizarre. He couldn't help but be interested.
'I wonder what they use this for...' ［Grey］
Now, he's staring at a teapot-looking item which seemed like it was something one would find anywhere else. It looked pretty, yes, but it just seemed like any normal household item, a floral design painted all over it.
Grey even used his eyes to appraise it, but it was just as normal as one would expect despite being encased by such powerful protection spells. Such facts only made him even more curious with the passing of time, tilting his head even more.
If it were a golden lamp with some strange engravings plastered all over it, he would have rubbed it then and there, and received his three precious wishes from a certain blue genie... If only such was possible.
"Grey, is there something wrong? You've been staring at that teapot for quite some time already. Did you find something?" ［Lisandra］
"Not really... I was just wondering what kind of magic tool this is..." ［Grey］
"Magic tool...? It's just a teapot, you know?" ［Lisandra］
"Eh?" ［Grey］
The appraisal didn't lie. It really was a normal teapot, a very nonchalant expression on Lisandra's face as she explained to Grey. Meanwhile, the latter was frozen and a little baffled, unable to believe he busied himself with such trivialities.
"An enchanted teapot, perhaps...?" ［Grey］
"No. Just a normal teapot." ［Lisandra］
Grey tried to bargain, but what he got in exchange was an even harder slap to the face. He couldn't help but feel flustered by his own questions, wanting to dig a hole and hide himself inside it for a good amount of time. He was embarrassed.
As for the reason why the teapot was displayed in the museum in the first place was none other than the fact that it was the first King's favorite teapot which he used to serve his most important guests. Nothing more, nothing less.
Well, if there were some historical importance about it, it was that it witnessed many valuable turnarounds in the kingdom's history which was vital for the existence of the current Graystone Kingdom.
As for the lovely fiancée, she was now softly giggling to herself, knowing full well just what kind of embarrassment Grey just went to. She rarely gets to tease him, so it was an opportunity she must grab on to no matter what.
『You sure are having fun, aren't you, Yuna?』 ［Grey］
『Fufufu! My～ I wonder what you mean～!』 ［Yuna］
『Fine. You can laugh about it now, but don't think I'll go easy on you next time around. Please prepare yourself, My Love.』 ［Grey］
『Fwueeh?! No fair! I didn't even do anything!』 ［Yuna］
He may be going down, but he won't be going down alone. With his seed of revenge and mischief now planted, a strange atmosphere loomed over the air. Lisandra was still unaware of what was happening between the other two.
They continued touring the museum and admired many ancient artifacts, and it only went on to say that they took a lot of pictures as well. Most of which were filled by the bright faces of the three as they explored the place.
And just as they explored, curious eyes suddenly locked on to them, making the Princess jolt as an ominous feeling welled up in her heart. She turned around and sure enough, she was right. Trouble was heading their way.
"Lisa, you're acting strange... Did you forget something?" ［Yuna］
"Ah, no... I will be back in a moment. I just need a breath of fresh air," ［Lisandra］
"A breath of fresh air... Oh... Oh! S-Sure! You should have told us sooner, Lisa. It's fine. We'll be waiting for you here." ［Yuna］
"Thank you. I'll be back in a jiffy!" ［Lisandra］
With how she phrased it, both Grey and Yuna thought that she needed a restroom break. She may be tomboyish, but she was still a princess. Sugarcoating such words was only natural for someone of her standing.
Lisandra soon headed off, leaving Grey and Yuna behind. It was only then did Grey and Yuna feel the same ominous feeling the former felt, a cold shiver running down their spines. They turned around to see an excited child, eyes sparkly as can be.
"Mama! Mama! It's the Heroes! The Heroes! The Grim Reaper and the Phantom!"
"What?! The heroes are here?! Seriously?!"
"Where are they?! I want to get their autograph!"
With a single statement, the people which were once so focused with their own little things immediately became starving predators, turning their heads left and right as they eagerly searched for Grey and Yuna, eyes glowing fervently,
It wasn't long before Grey and Yuna were found, and as soon as they did, people swarmed over them like a ground of orcas circling their prey. All of them had eyes filled to the brim with excitement and expectations, fans crowding over celebrities.
Lisandra has been swarmed by people ever since she was young so she immediately felt the looming danger, allowing her to escape the predicament before it could even start. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for Grey and Yuna.
'Lisa! You traitor! We will remember this!' ［Yuna］
"I'm really sorry!' ［Lisandra］
The people swarmed over them and asked for autograph after autograph whilst the Princess watched from afar, only supporting them with a thumbs up, hiding herself as much as she could all the while praying for forgiveness.
It was a rough experience, a cacophony ringing all throughout the Museum and only attracting even more people. They crowded even more once they realized why the others were crowding. However, also because of this...
"Hey! What's happening over there?!"
... That the guards of the museum were alerted. As their voices boomed in the air, the people's heads turned towards them for a moment. That little time window was all Yuna needed to activate her abilities and veil herself and Grey with it.
The road was blocked, but with a quick leap, they quickly got over the crowd. Not a single sound of their footsteps echoed and not a single person noticed their escape. Before long, they finally exited the museum, dragging an unsuspecting princess as they made their escape.
They ran and they ran, and soon enough, they were back on the streets. They only ran for a few seconds yet it felt like they have been running for a long time, then gasping for their breaths.
"Umm... Can I buy you guys something...?" ［Lisandra］
"Where are you going, Lisa? You still have some explaining to do." ［Grey］
The Princess tried to escape again, but she was out of luck. Before she could even turn around, Grey had already grabbed her by the shoulders, preventing her from doing so. A fearsome expression was painted on her face.
"Please forgive me..." ［Lisandra］
There was no escape, little tears forming by the corner of Lisandra's eyes as she faced two menacing forces. There was no need to say anymore. Lisandra received the lengthiest scolding she ever did in her entire life.
Lisandra may be a princess, but Grey and Yuna outranks her both in strength and in status. She could only nod and listen as the two gave her quite the earful. To make things worse, they were still in the streets as well. It was quite the show they made.
"And... What should you say, Young Lady?" ［Yuna］
"I'm sorry..." ［Lisandra］
"I can't hear you. Louder!" ［Yuna］
"I-I'm sorry! I really am!" ［Lisandra］
They were like a mother scolding her child, the passersby not even daring to look because of the scary aura looming over Yuna, it was then that Lisandra learnt to never use her friends as bait again. It was carved deep in her heart.
Even Grey was shocked with how scary his fiancée was. The normally cheerful and energetic Yuna was now a demoness from the depths of hell. It wasn't his first time seeing her angry, yet it was still scary. He couldn't even pitch in the scolding.
"Haah... It's fine. As long as you've learnt your lessー Hm?" ［Yuna］
Just as the lecture finished, string bursts of winds blew over the streets, pieces and pages of newspaper fluttering in the air as they howled. At the same time, a number of large shadows were cast on the ground, moving at breakneck speeds.
The people looked up, and surely enough, they saw the reason for such winds. There were not just one not two, but five beasts soaring in the sky, reigning over it and flying freely as they pleased, the people cheering for them
They were the five guardian beasts of the Kingdom which had been present for more than two centuries already. It just so happens that they are doing their monthly duty where they fly over the whole capital and do a quick inspection over it.
"Oh? Isn't that..." ［Grey］
And amongst one of those beasts, one of them was ridden by a familiar figure whose turquoise hair blended perfectly with the vast blue sky. It was Galahad, the escort knight who led them towards the Royal Palace during their first day,
To be expected from the eyesight of a High-Ranker, he also spotted everyone just as they spotted him. He slowly waved his hands before commanding his trusty mount to slow down and descend towards the streets.
"It's been a while, Your Highnesses, Lord Grey, Lady Yuna, and Princess Lisandra. How have you been?" ［Galahad］
"We've been well, thanks for asking. And you?" ［Grey］
"Hahaha. Thanks to God, I'm also well and alive. I heard you won quite the number of duels in the colosseum. As expected of Your Highnesses." ［Galahad］
"You praise us too much, Sir Galahad. We were just lucky." ［Grey］
"Un. Everyone's also very strong and different. It's exciting going up the stage every time. Fighting different kinds of opponents really is fun!" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. I'm glad to hear that. I would also love it if we have a duel one day. But regrettably, it's difficult to make a slot in my schedule. It's been busy," ［Galahad］
Casual as can be, Galahad and the trio chatted over a bunch of topics and caught up with what's been happening to them over the past few days. Galahad, as usual, has been singing praises of them, fanboying like the fan that he was.
And just as they spoke, Galahad's glorious mount was starting to get surrounded by a large crowd, staring at it with curious and excited eyes. The children were especially merry, some even daring to touch it. They were quite the courageous ones,
"Oh right, how could I forget. This is my precious partner, Lugia." ［Galahad］
"It's a pleasure to meet the Master's acquaintances." ［Lugia］
A majestic creature adorned with obsidian feathers which shone like silver and ebony beaks which were sharper than daggers. Her eyes were pretty like the moon and her crown was weaved beautifully, tail feathers stretching several meters.
If Lugia were to be put beside a wyvern, they would surely be of the same size, and while she may be weaker, having lived for more than centuries, her strength was now at the pinnacle of B-rank. She was by no means, weak.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Lugia." ［Yuna］
"Same here. Good to see you." ［Grey］
"Fufufu! It's been a while, Lugia." ［Lisandra］
It was their first time meeting but Grey and Yuna were already at ease with Lugia. She was as gentle as she seemed, exuding the great wisdom of someone who has lived for centuries already.
"By the way, Your Highnesses. Where is your familiar... Lady Sirius? Is she resting in your shadows right now?" ［Galahad］
"Yeah. Why? Do you need anything from her?" ［Grey］
"Nothing much, really. I would just like to ask if you would like to join us over our patrol. I wanted to give you a tour of the city from above." ［Galahad］
There was nothing much to think about. Though they have been playing with the familiars everyday when they get home, it had been some time since they were in their true forms. It was about time for them to stretch their wings a little.
Plus, their tour was just about to end. What better way to end the day than soaring above the clouds and watching the city with all its glory. It would be a picture perfect scene, especially when the sun would start to set, painting the sky a golden hue.
"Alright. We'll take you up on the offer then." ［Grey］
"Great! Then, I'll be meeting you above, Your Highnesses." ［Galahad］
Galahad soon hopped on Lugia's back, a burst of winds filling the streets as they took off towards the sky. Soon after, another figure appeared from the shadows, platinum sheen shining in the streets as she spread her wings.
And it wasn't just Sirius, all familiars except Polaris who was still with Eliza suddenly appeared out of thin air, perching atop the roofs and giving their greetings to their masters. In just a single moment, a bizarre scene unfolded before everyone's eyes.
"Waah～! Look! They're dragons! They're really dragons!"
"Ohh! As expected of Their Highnesses! Their familiars are also amazing!"
"There's so many of them! I wonder where they got them."
A loud clamor echoed in the air as the people talked about the familiars. Grey and Yuna normally wouldn't be able to do such a thing, but in Avalon when people are quite used to the Guardian Beasts, there was no need to hold themselves back.
"Then, what do you say we join them in the sky?" ［Grey］
"Un! Let's go!" ［Yuna］
"Yes! I will be in your care!" ［Lisandra］
One after another, the familiars spread their wings freely, and one after another, they flapped them and ascended towards the sky, a series of nine booms echoing all over the place, platinum streaks darting like lightning bolts,
Yuna rode on Sirius, Grey rode on Arcturus, and Lisandra on Rigel. In just a couple moments, they were already high above the clouds, the buildings looking like ants from up above. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
"That was quite the spectacle, Your Highnesses. I didn't think you'd have so many beautiful familiars. Very impressive." ［Galahad］
"Fufufu! We were just lucky." ［Yuna］
"Luck again, huh... Then, should we start our tour?" ［Galahad］
Streaks or platinum and ebony bolted across the skies of Avalon, parting the clouds and leaving trails of white as they circled around the city. The cheers of the people rang out from below as they watched such a show unfold.
Soon, the sun finally set over the horizon and the sky changed into a spectrum of colors, before darkness engulfed the world. The day ended with a warm and hearty meal as the nightly breeze blew over the Royal Castle.
The day has come to its end.
CHAPTER 311 END