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Airi's POV
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"Seriously, his silent treatment act is so annoying." (Astrid)
"He doesn't trust us, so it's not surprising." (Captain)
"What makes you say that?" (Etsu)
"He said it himself back in Alzibria. He wasn't saying our names, so I brought it up. He said he 'didn't understand the feeling of trust enough yet to freely give it out'." (Captain)
"So we just need to gain his trust?" (Airi)
"That's probably easier said than done. He doesn't seem to keen on telling us anything about himself." (Kana)
"That's true. But he's also only 12, surely he's craving some attention of sorts?" (Airi)
"Airi, he's probably not like you. We don't know his family situation, but it can't be good if they're bandits. You atleast had me as a parental figure, but we can't be too sure he had that." (Captain)
"... Maybe it will come by naturally. Just by fighting alongside each other." (Etsu)
"Based on the conversation with the King, he doesn't seem to fond of the bandits, but he must have fought alongside them." (Kana)
"Anyway. I wasn't planning on talking about this today, but since Ryu isn't here, I can." (Captain)
We all turn to look at the Captain with curiosity.
"I'm planning on sending some scouts across the Kingdom to find the location of Ryu's sister, Akari." (Captain)
"..." (Everyone)
"Wait? He has a sister?" (Etsu)
"Why didn't we know?" (Kana)
"Calm down. It seems that the No-Names didn't have to announce Ryu's birth, and they could've hidden it, which they did with the daughter." (Captain)
"Do we know anything about her?" (Etsu)
"Her name's Akari, and she's younger than Ryu. That's it." (Astrid)
"That's it?" (Kana)
"Well, then we can assume that there would be atleast a 2 year gap between their births, since it could not be easy travelling and being bandits with a pregnant member, so she is at most 10. But if you also account for pregnancy time, she would be at most 9 years old now." (Etsu)
"But there's so many 9 year olds." (Astrid)
"... We may be able to ease the search. Ryu said he'd been in the forest for 3 years and I don't think he'd have left her in the bandit's hands." (Airi)
"So we are looking for a 9 year old who entered a village or town at 6. But she may also not even be in the country." (Etsu)
"Maybe. But we can't do anything if she isn't." (Captain)
"Then, I will get someone on it." (Etsu)
Etsu stands up, ready to start his mission, before footsteps could be heard running away from the door.
He bursts out the door into the corridor, looking both ways.
"Eavesdropper." (Etsu)
"Did you see him?" (Captain)
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"No." (Etsu)
"Damn it. We weren't careful enough. There'll be chaos if it gets out." (Captain)
"Got it." (Etsu)
As if the Captain had told him some orders, Etsu sped off down the corridor, probably searching for the eavesdropper.
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Ryu's POV
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I knew it. I shouldn't have said anything.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!
I'm an idiot. I shouldn't have said anything about Akari to Healer. I should've known she'd say something.
My self-deprecation continues in my head as I dash around corners, retracing the steps I took from my allocated room.
All the corridors look the same to me, but I'm confident in my memory, so I don't hesitate as I navigate my way through this labyrinth of a palace.
After about a minute of running, I reach the door to my room and push it open, steeping inside.
I don't pay any mind to the details of the room, considering how stifling the decorations made the atmosphere.
Vice-Captain was tight behind me, so I made sure to close my door quietly, as to not alert him.
What do I do?
I'm sorry Akari. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I've put you in danger again.
How do I fix this?
Can I fix this?
...
I can fix this. I can.
Removing any hesitation from my mind, I walk over to the desk on the far side of my room and start writing a letter.
Using only the moonlight as my source of light, I fold the letter and seal it while walking over to the balcony door.
As I push the glass door open, the cold breeze of a winter night hits me, making me shiver slightly, but I brush it off.
From the balcony to the ground seems to be about 20 feet.
I might be able to jump to the tree just across from me and climb down?
Any fear that was in me seemed to hesitate to come to the surface as Akari's safety was the only thing in my mind.
I step up onto the railing of the balcony and jump to the tree.
Grabbing on to a tree branch, my weight causes it to snap and I start falling, all while grasping at anything in reach to slow my fall.
After several failed attempts, I clasp my hands on a sturdy branch and sit on it.
Looking up, it seems I'd fallen about 10 feet from where I jumped, meaning I'd have probably broken a bone if I hadn't caught hold of a branch.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I continue my climb down the tree and reach the grass quickly.
Unluckily for me, however, was the fact that the fence that surrounded the Palace was about 2 minutes away at a full dash, in full view of everyone - especially the guards that were patrolling the area.
I spend several minutes sitting under the tree, trying to think of a solution before coming to one.
"Let's try it." (Ryu)
"What was it... I call upon the spirits, answer my call, bestow upon thee thy power of Haste...?" (Ryu)
Despite my hesitation behind its success, the same glow that appeared around me in the fight against the Fenrir appeared around me now, indicating that it had worked.
It also seemed somewhat... Sturdier? The glow around me wasn't fluctuating, but a strong, vivid blue.
But I didn't spend long staring at it, instead watching the guards and waiting for an opening.
It came quickly and I started running, feeling the boost that the spirit magic had given me.
The 2 minute dash turned into 30 seconds and I almost crash into the fence, had it not been for the jump that I did making me leap over it entirely.
It wasn't a tall fence, maybe 10 foot at best, but I certainly couldn't leap over that normally.
Maybe it was a byproduct of Haste?
I didn't dwell on it for long, instead turning towards the direction of town and start running.
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Author Notes
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The end of another chapter.
Honestly, these days I've had a bunch of motivation to write this since I really want to reach the point that I've been waiting for forever, but it seems so very far off, since character growth needs to be a thing.
But anyway, I'm still having a bunch of fun writing, and I can't imagine myself taking a break from it anytime soon, but maybe when my exams start coming in full swing.
But thanks for reading the chapter!
