Aekira stood at the edge of the training ground, her mouth slightly agape. "What the heck..." she muttered under her breath, unable to believe the scene unfolding before her.
Before them stretched a massive open space with a stunning view of the city beyond—tall, gleaming towers and a skyline that shimmered under the sunlight. It should have been a breathtaking sight, a symbol of the kingdom's beauty and power. But the chaos happening on the training grounds below completely stole the focus.
Members of the Dark Plumes were scattered everywhere, some clashing swords in what looked like a mock battle, while others were shouting at each other, embroiled in heated arguments. A few were even hurling small bursts of magic across the field, with some members narrowly dodging or retaliating with their own spells. The whole scene was like a whirlwind of mayhem, where no one seemed to be following any rules or order.
Aekira glanced up at Shenan, who stood beside her, seemingly unfazed. Her mother's calm demeanor in the midst of this madness only deepened Aekira's confusion. "Is… is this normal?" she asked hesitantly.
Shenan chuckled softly. "This is just how they train sometimes. It's not as disorganized as it looks," she said, though Aekira could hear a hint of amusement in her voice. "The Dark Plumes are an unpredictable bunch, but they're some of the most skilled fighters and tacticians you'll ever meet."
Aekira watched in disbelief as a particularly tall man with spiked armor was sent flying across the field after an explosive spell collided with him. He landed with a thud, got back up, and immediately charged at his opponent with a wide grin.
"Right…" Aekira mumbled, her eyes still glued to the chaos. She wondered how any of this could possibly count as training, but she was starting to realize that the Dark Plumes had their own… unique way of doing things.
Aekira blinked as the chaotic scene came to an abrupt halt. The girl with long yellow hair and pale skin, who had just gasped, was now standing rigid, her black eyes wide with shock.
"G-guys, the queen is here!!" she stammered, pointing frantically in Aekira and Shenan's direction.
It was as if someone had flipped a switch. The entire training ground went eerily silent, and everyone froze mid-action. The man who had just been flung across the field stopped in his tracks, and those who had been yelling at each other quickly straightened up, their previous hostility vanishing in an instant. Swords were sheathed, magic dissipated, and the members of the Dark Plumes stood to attention, their eyes fixed on Shenan with a mix of awe and reverence.
Aekira glanced up at her mother, who smiled serenely, completely unfazed by the sudden shift in behavior. Shenan nodded politely at the gathered warriors, her presence alone commanding absolute respect.
"I see you're all as lively as ever," Shenan said with a gentle, knowing smile. Her voice was calm, but it carried a weight of authority that made even the most reckless members of the Dark Plumes stand a little straighter.
The girl with the yellow hair stepped forward, clearly flustered, but trying her best to keep composed. "W-we didn't expect you, Your Majesty!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly. "If we had known you were coming—"
"There's no need for formalities," Shenan interrupted, raising a hand to calm the girl. "I was simply showing my daughter Aekira around. You can all return to your training."
Aekira, still processing the sudden change in atmosphere, felt every pair of eyes on her. She waved awkwardly, trying to shake off the attention. "Uh… hi?" she said, unsure of what else to say.
The yellow-haired girl gave Aekira a shy but respectful nod. "It's an honor to meet you, Princess Aekira."
A murmur of agreement swept through the gathered crowd as they all bowed slightly in acknowledgment. Aekira could feel the weight of their gazes, and for the first time, she truly felt like part of the royal family.
"Okay... that was weird," she muttered under her breath, glancing sideways at her mother, who seemed to be enjoying the moment.
"I'm the vice-captain of Group B of the Dark Plumes... Kina," the yellow-haired girl said with a warm smile, her initial nervousness easing slightly.
Aekira raised an eyebrow. "Vice-captain?" she repeated, looking the girl up and down. Kina didn't exactly look like the type to be leading soldiers, especially considering how flustered she'd been just a moment ago. But there was something in her steady gaze now, a quiet confidence that hadn't been there before.
Kina nodded, her smile widening a little. "Yes, I help keep things in order around here, or at least I try to. Group B can be... a handful," she admitted, glancing over at the still-frozen members of her squad, who were all pretending to be on their best behavior now that the queen was present. "But we do our best."
Aekira found herself intrigued. "And what does the vice-captain of Group B actually do?"
Kina chuckled softly. "Well, it's a bit of everything—organizing missions, training, keeping the more... spirited members in line. Basically, making sure everything runs smoothly, even when chaos is inevitable." She shot a look at her squad, who immediately resumed their activities but noticeably toned down the recklessness.
Aekira nodded, feeling a sense of respect for Kina's role. Despite her initial impression, it was clear that Kina knew how to handle herself and her team. "Sounds like a lot of responsibility," she said, her voice more thoughtful.
Kina shrugged, her expression growing a little more serious. "It is, but I enjoy it. The Dark Plumes protect the kingdom, and we take that job very seriously." She paused, then added, "Especially with everything going on these days."
Aekira's curiosity piqued. "Everything going on?"
Kina hesitated, glancing at Shenan as if seeking permission to continue. Shenan gave a small nod, allowing Kina to speak.
"There's been an increase in threats lately, from both inside and outside the kingdom," Kina explained quietly. "The Dark Plumes have been working around the clock to keep things under control, but... it's been challenging."
Suddenly, a voice boomed from behind Kina, cutting through the silence. "And that's why I always count on you, Kina!" The source of the voice was a tall, chubby anthro white rabbit wearing a black uniform and a navy hat. He strode forward with an air of authority, his scarred face adding to his intimidating presence.
The man's large ears twitched slightly as he stopped next to Kina, placing a hand on her shoulder in a friendly yet commanding manner. His eyes were sharp, but there was warmth behind them. "She's one of the best," he added proudly. "I'm Captain Thane, Group B."
Aekira felt her face heat up as she stared at the imposing figure of Captain Thane. 'OH MY GOSH, A RABBIT…' she screamed internally, her cheeks flushing slightly. There was something about his chubby, yet authoritative presence, the way his large ears twitched and his scarred face gave him an edge that she didn't expect from an anthro rabbit.
She tried to compose herself, but her mind was racing. 'Why is he so... cool?!' She could barely focus on the conversation as Thane continued talking.
Meanwhile, Shenan glanced down at Aekira, noticing the faint blush on her daughter's face. A sly smile crept onto her lips. "Aekira, are you alright?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Aekira snapped out of her thoughts, her blush deepening. "W-what? I'm fine!" she stammered, trying to wave off her mother's question as casually as possible.
Thane, oblivious to Aekira's internal panic, continued speaking with pride in his voice. "Group B is like family. We watch each other's backs."
Kina nodded enthusiastically, looking up at her captain with admiration. "And we take our jobs seriously, especially when it comes to protecting the kingdom."
Aekira nodded absently, her thoughts still swirling as she stole another glance at Thane. 'Okay, pull it together…' she told herself, taking a deep breath.
Shenan chuckled softly, clearly aware of what was going on but choosing not to comment further, for now. "Yes, Group B certainly has its charm," she said with a knowing smile.
Thane blinked in surprise, his large rabbit ears perking up slightly as he stared at Aekira. "Yes, exactly... how did you know?" he asked, genuinely impressed.
Aekira let out a nervous laugh, trying to play it cool. "Haha… I guess I just know stuff…" she replied, shrugging. But inside, her mind was racing.
'Wait, how the hell did I figure that out?'
She wasn't sure if it was a lucky guess or if something else had tipped her off, but it was eerie how accurate her response had been.
Kina, still beaming with pride, glanced at Thane. "She's sharp! I can see why she's part of the royal family."
Thane nodded, his expression softening with admiration. "You've got good instincts, Aekira. That'll serve you well in this kingdom."
Aekira awkwardly scratched the back of her head, trying to deflect the attention. "Yeah… instincts…" she mumbled, feeling the weight of their gazes. She couldn't shake the odd feeling that something deeper was at play, but for now, she kept it to herself.
Shenan chuckled softly, watching her daughter's reaction with amusement. "You always were quick to pick up on things," she said, giving Aekira a gentle pat on the back. "Maybe you're more in tune with the kingdom than you realize."
Aekira blinked, her mother's words adding to the strange sense of familiarity she couldn't quite place. 'In tune with the kingdom?' She wasn't sure what that meant, but something about it resonated with her.
Aekira's mind raced as a thought struck her. *Maybe I should try this…* She hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "Say… have you heard of the planet Earth?"
"Earth?" Thane tilted his head slightly, his ears twitching in thought. "Well… it got destroyed years ago. Not many people know what happened exactly."
*Figures… damn it,* Aekira thought, her heart sinking. But just as she was about to let it go, Thane continued.
"However," he added, "we do have some theories and old archives about it—"
"REALLY?!" Aekira's excitement exploded before she could stop herself, her eyes wide and eager.
Thane flinched slightly at her sudden outburst, his eyebrow raised in surprise. "Uh, yeah… really," he said cautiously. "We've got some old archives and theories that have been collected over the years. Earth's destruction is still a bit of a mystery, but certain scholars and historians managed to keep some information before it… well, vanished."
Aekira's heart raced faster. 'Archives? Theories?' Her mind was buzzing with curiosity. "Can I see them? I mean, those archives—are they accessible?"
Thane glanced at Shenan, clearly unsure. "Well… that's not something just anyone can access. The archives are heavily guarded, and not all of it is public knowledge."
Sensing her daughter's intense interest, Shenan smiled warmly and stepped forward. "Perhaps I can make an exception for you, Aekira. You're part of the royal family after all."
Aekira's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? I can actually see them?" she repeated, her voice almost trembling with anticipation.
Shenan chuckled softly, a knowing smile crossing her lips. "We'll see what we can do, dear. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves."
Aekira let out a small sigh, her eagerness simmering down just a little as she nodded. "Alright, I understand."
Despite her best efforts to stay calm, Aekira's mind kept racing with the possibilities.
'I have to know.'