Chapter 16 - Unlikely friends

Tamina: "That vendor had no right to speak to you like that! Why did you stop me from making him apologize?"

Tatsu: "It wasn't genuine."

Tamina: "what?"

Tatsu: "An apology holds no meaning if it's forced. It's just empty."

Tamina: "I don't understand, that logic doesn't make any sense to me."

Tatsu: "don't worry about it, princess."

There was silence for a while as Tamina sorted through her thoughts.

I don't get it. Isn't an apology important? Even if the speaker doesn't mean it, an apology lets it be known that what they did was unacceptable, right? That makes sense to me, but I guess apologies are different for everyone.

Tatsu: "Hey, Princess Tamina, tell me, has Irumina always been mean?"

Tamina: "Just 'Tamina' is fine, and no, she wasn't always like that. Back when we were kids, she was quiet, but not foul-mouthed."

Tatsu let out a light laugh: "maybe she was just better with keeping her thoughts to herself back then."

Tamina: "Perhaps, but she seems happier now than she was then."

Tatsu: "really? To me, she seems grumpy twenty-four seven. Like she's constantly annoyed by the presence of other living organisms. But anyways, who's the older twin?"

Tamina: "what?"

Tatsu: "You know, twins always argue who the older one is, even though they're born on the same day and all, they still want to establish who the superior twin is. So, who's the older one?"

Tamina: "I'm not sure I understand the question, but Irumina was supposed to be the first heir to the Ankoku empire. I just got the job after she ran off."

Tatsu: "She 'ran off'?"

Tamina: "Irumina never really expressed much interest in the throne, and once she reached the age where she could legally become an adventurer, she immediately fled from the castle. That left me to pick up the position that she left behind. And now, I need to become the ruler my mother wants me to be, which is a person strong enough to lead our nation in the right direction. She wants me to appear as this 'no nonsense' symbol of authority, elegant, yet powerful. It's difficult, but I've managed it for now."

Tatsu: "I totally feel you on that one, my father could accept that I couldn't be a blacksmith like him, but the moment that was out of the way, my mother was hellbent on turning me into the perfect swordsman. No matter what I said, there was no way she'd let me be anything else."

Tamina: "From the sound of it, adventuring was not your first job choice."

Tatsu: "That's right, initially, I wanted to become something like a teacher or something. I like the idea of spreading knowledge and helping the world grow. But of course, parents took priority, besides, mother spent all of that time teaching me how to use a sword, if I had gone down that path, it would've all been for nothing."

Tamina: "I can understand that, but if you already had an idea for your future, why didn't you just tell them what you had in mind?"

Tatsu: "if you already had an idea of what kind of ruler you wanted to be, why didn't you tell your mother what you had in mind?"

Tamina laughed: "That's a fair point. I guess it's just tough to confront the ones who raised you, huh?"

Tatsu: "Perhaps even tougher than fighting any SS ranked monster in existence."

Tamina: "Maybe."

I had my doubts about this guy, but Tatsu seems to be an honest adventurer. I should apologize later. I was no better than that street vendor earlier, I thought the same thing when we first met, so I wanted to keep an eye on him as he shopped. I immediately judged him as a thief when I saw him and I couldn't have been more wrong. He's kind and earnest, as a proper adventurer should be. That reminds me of my father's words:

"Remember, my daughter, that adventurers are here to protect and fight for humanity. A truly exceptional adventurer will show compassion for his fellow man and will defend all that is precious to them. When you find one such as this, never let them go, instead, you must ask them this question…"

Yes, that question… Father, I may have found one worthy of it. Now may not be the time to ask, but soon, I will ask him.