Two days went by and things have been relatively calm since the fight between me and Gideon. Gideon and Freya decided to head back to their home to celebrate with their family about them getting their Adventurer's License, I decided to stay in the city with Esta, Takame decided to go back to her home to show her family her license, and Shira had finally made it to the city.
I was helping Esta train to help her reach a higher level on her Physical Augmentation technique. She found a way to make her Physical Augmentation unique. She used her energy reserves to boost all aspects of her body and rightfully named it Energy Augmentation.
Esta grunted as she went for a strike at my body. I blocked her attack and smiled. She was getting a lot better and worked extremely hard. She had finally unlocked 25% of her Energy Augmentation. I went for an attack and she dodged it and created a ball of energy then made it grow in size. She shot the energy ball at me and I avoided it. She panted and her aura disappeared.
"This is such hard work..!" Esta whined and sat down on the floor.
"You're getting better, maybe we can find more ways for you to use your Energy Augmentation. It's an interesting concept." I said then heard the door open.
Fujo walked inside and behind him was Shira. "Hey, how's the training going?"
"Pretty good. Esta is making wonderful progress. Soon she will be reaching Tier 9-A." I smiled and helped Esta up.
"That's great news. Oh yeah, Gideon and Freya are coming back to the city. The Princess wishes to speak with you four. I don't know why she didn't invite Takame, but I'm sure you'll give her the news also." Fujo said.
"Of course." I nodded and smiled. I looked at Shira. "So how are you liking the life of a Knight?"
"It's cool. The people are pretty nice here and I'm getting the proper training regimen so I'll be in top shape in no time. As a Ragnarok, I have to uphold the family technique like you do." Shira smiled.
"Just remember, as a Ragnarok our power and technique is very destructive. If we lose control we will pay the price." I said.
"I know. It was sad hearing the story of our biological dad, but I'll make him proud by mastering the Ragnarok State!" Shira smiled.
I nodded and pat her shoulder. The bell rang and signalled our time in the training room was over. We left the gym and headed to the outlook to wait for Gideon and Freya to arrive. They didn't live too far from the city so it wasn't a long wait. Within the next five or so minutes, they arrived and Freya hugged me and Esta then Gideon gave me a fist bump. We took Gideon's car to the main kingdom area and drove to the castle.
"So what's this princess like? Is she like from those sappy princess movies who's married to a prince charming or something?" I asked.
I only asked because I really didn't remember who she was. She was killed early by an evil king from another nation.
"She's...well...Interesting to say the least. She is a warrior princess who isn't scared to bare her fangs. Even the King has to hold her tongue for her. She's got zero filter." Fujo answered.
"Zero filter you say. Huh." I said then looked out the window.
"I wonder what she needs us for! It's not everyday a princess wants to meet with someone outside those who are noblemen or work for the royals!" Esta said.
"This is a special request. She saw the battle between Gideon and Shiryo. Let's say she was pleased with the match. She's very interested in Shiryo since he bares multiple Crests." Fujo said. "I didn't even know he bared a Crest but I guess it would be because of Mr. Ragnarok as he was also an adventurer. I don't know."
"Interested in me. Heh I've only been here a week or so and I already have fans." I smirked.
"Don't get too arrogant there bud." Gideon said.
Freya smiled and looked out the window. "To meet a real princess is an honor."
Fujo and Shira smiled. We continued on the road and soon stopped once we made it to the castle. We got out and walked to the castle then the royal guards allowed us inside. We walked to the throne room and entered.
"Lady Serafina. I have brought the four as you requested." Fujo bowed.
I looked at Serafina and crossed my arms then rose an eyebrow. She was a woman with red hair that stopped at her shoulders, pink eyes which were her contacts, and had your typical tsundere look on her face. She wore a royal dress and had a petite figure but had a body mature enough to not be a Loli, thankfully. She looked to be 20 years old and I could tell she was looking directly at me.
"You there. Step forward!" Serafina said as she pointed to me.
I walked ahead and looked at her. "Yes?"
"I didn't tell you to speak, idiot!" Serafina yelled.
I blinked and looked at her.
"I am Princess Serafina, soon Queen of Gesia and I take quite the interest in you because of your power that was displayed two days ago." Serafina said then clapped her hands and a magic screen showing the replay of the fight between me and Gideon. "You not only bare the Crest of Deviation but you also used the Crest of Absence! You have two very High Tier Crests and that alone makes you a worthy suitor for marriage for me."
"Huh?" I said.
"What?!" Both Freya and Esta said.
"The hell..?" Gideon asked and crossed his arms.
"Silence peasants!" Serafina commanded then stomped her foot down. "I wasn't done talking!"
"Pardon my intrusion, but are you thinking about marrying my brother?" Shira asked.
"A Princess only deserves the highest and because of that, yes." Serafina crossed one leg over the other and crossed her legs. "My status can not be tarnished by wedding a barbarian! Crests are very rare and I shall take what is mine rightfully."
I scratched the back of my head then it clicked to me who Serafina was. I dated her before. She's worse than a tsundere. She was a himedere as well! She was a mixture of a tsundere and a himedere. If I remember correctly, it was extremely hard to even befriend her before dating her and it took a very long time. Since I have the eight Crests deriving from the Grand Crests, she's more fond with me but is still a total arrogant brat.
I cleared my throat and looked at Serafina then placed my hands in my pockets. "Aren't you moving a bit too fast? We literally just met three minutes ago."
"Fated marriages can't wait." Serafina said.
"Yes they can." I said.
"No they can't." Serafina said.
"Yes. They can." I said.
"No! And that's final, alright?!" Serafina said then stood up.
I groaned and rubbed the back of my head. "Alright, alright. But I'm not marrying you right now...mainly because we are literally too young for that right now and I'm not ready for marriage..."
"Hmph! Anyway I have called you all here for another reason!" Serafina said.
We all looked at Serafina and watched her walk down the staircase.
"I want to talk to you four in private about this, so meet me in the royal courtyard." Serafina said then walked off.
"I'll take you there." Fujo said.
I nodded and we followed Fujo to the royal courtyard. Shira decided to stay in the throne room and converse with the King of Gesia. We made it to the royal courtyard and noticed Serafina having tea with her royal bodyguard.
"Sit." Serafina said then the four of us sat at the table with Serafina then Fujo walked off.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.
"You are familiar with the Director of the Adventurer's Academy correct?" Serafina asked.
"Yeah, we all are." I nodded.
"He's scheming something. One of my knights named Blake informed me about it. The Director is apart of an evil organization called the League of the Damned and their leader is a King from another nation." Serafina said.
I looked at Esta and the others and they looked at me then we looked back at Serafina.
"As you know a wielder of a Crest is very much valued in the universe. The Director has his eyes on you, Shiryo. You are valuable to him so he will do whatever he can to obtain your allegiance. Not only that but his organization after Earth's sacred Crests that keeps Earth from falling into darkness. If those Crests fall into the wrong hands, the Earth is doomed." Serafina said.
"So basically you're saying you want us to protect the Crests?" I asked.
"Yes, but you can't get in the dungeons and temples alone without a Royal's help. That is why I propose joining you, but my father won't allow that. That is why I need your help, Shiryo. That's why I even proposed that stupid marriage idea to trick my father into letting me go venture out in the world to protect it." Serafina said.
"Ahh so you're not interested in me huh?" I asked.
"HA! You really believed me? I mean my acting skills are incredible." Serafina scoffed and looked at her nails. "Like you said we just met. Like I'd ever fall in love with a country boy."
I looked at Serafina then smirked. "Fair enough." I stood up.
Esta and Freya sighed in relief and watched me.
"Let's go convince your old man to let you come with us." I said.
Serafina nodded then stood up. The others stood up as well and we headed back to the castle and walked inside then went straight to the throne room. We stopped at the door and Serafina took a deep breath then exhaled.
"Give me your hand." She said.
"For what?" I asked.
"Just do it!" Serafina commanded. "I already feel icky doing this shit.."
I rolled my eyes then held her hand. We walked into the throne room and the king looked at us.
"Father! We have agreed to wed each other and I have decided to travel the world with him, my one true love!" Serafina said in her lovey-dovey voice.
"Is that so." The King said then smiled. "Well Shiryo, take care of my daughter and I wish you both a happy marriage."
"Thank you father!~" Serafina smiled.
She walked off while holding my hand.
"Wait you're not gonna have a wedding?" The King asked.
"Nope! I want to go straight to the honeymoon phase! Bye!~" Serafina said.
Gideon and the others bowed to the King then rushed after me and Serafina. We headed outside the castle and Serafina let go of my hand quickly then summoned a bottle of cleansing water and poured some on her hand.
"Now that's over with, let's hit the dash and beat it. We have a world to save from some jackasses. Do you all have horses? Cars can only be used inside cities." Serafina said.
"Yeah me and Esta have horses." I said.
"Gide and I have horses as well." Freya nodded.
"Good." Serafina said then whistled and her horse warped to her.
I performed hand gestures and warped Blitz and Esta's horse to us. Gideon and Freya summoned their horses. We all got on our horses and rode off.
Fujo watched and smiled. "Good luck on your adventure, lil bro."
We followed Serafina out of the city using a shortcut and I decided to contact Takame.
"Where are we going?" Esta asked.
"Yggdrasil Woods. That Crest is the easiest to be obtained. The King who leads the Damned, works fast so he's probably on the move as well. We can't let him do what he wants." Serafina answered.
"Yggdrasil Woods." I told Takame on the phone. "Alright."
"Who was that?" Gideon asked.
"Takame. We could use her abilities in battle. Something tells me she's gonna be very useful." I smiled.
"I see. Let's hope she is." Gideon said.
Meanwhile at the Academy, The Director was sitting in his office and looked over his plans. He noticed someone walk in his office and looked up.
"Director Blight. The Princess and the Adventurers have begun to move. Shall we pursue them?" The woman reported.
"Not yet...We should wait a bit as King Icas is already on the field. Just keep playing your role...Erin." Director Blight said.
Erin bowed and left the room.