The windows were shut with drapes of purple that brushed across the floor—the lamps were all alit down the halls she walked down. Her boots clacked and echoed; no people around her other than the occasional guard.
Jotou peered down at her attire, the sa one from the battle. There lingered no marks of gunpowder nor blood or sand. Her fingers and palms were smooth from being healed.
She walked alone in the yellow glow, silent with nothing but the footsteps, the low humming of electrical lights and the thoughts that filled her head.
As she absentmindedly examined her adventuring gear, she noticed small rips and tears within the white of the dress. As well as so on the yellow coat.
Many of the enchantnts placed on it were for convenience after all, dirt and gri would not even adhere to the clothing. Enchantnts that made it breathable for the heat and insulated for the cold made it quite the resilient garnt.
Still, proper care needed to be taken... Repairs are costly as she can attest after her fights with Okod, Moren and the Frosting Wind. Though she was not exactly sure where to send it for repairs now...
Jotou shrugged it off, the tears were barely noticeable anyway. ’It’s only the first layer out of two. Although... if soone shot through the sa tear once, the next shot will just hit ...
Well, I am in the biggest country in the world. I’m sure I can find soone to fix this.’ Jotou then peeked around each open door on the fourth floor, still having no luck with her endeavour.
’The dinner was delicious and that room was supposed to be ’small’? But not much talking went around. Fuko chowed it down like normal, Asobi praised it and Hotaru enjoyed it.
The boar at was cooked to perfection and so, many, spices and herbs.’ Jotou’s mouth watered. ’Maybe that’s why nobody talked. Feyan pretty much was closed off and Arabella was busying her hands with the utensils.
It’s more likely that we’re all a bit wary of each other. That goes the sa for Daiyu I guess.
Right; to us we’re best friends for more than a decade. To my friends she’s a foreign princess who has the sa story as , coming from another world.
And to her people, I’m just so adventurer who helped them in a difficult battle. I haven’t even gotten the chance to talk to the three of them without soone else there.
Everyone needs to get comfortable... And I thought I was the introvert. Sigh, Asobi’s still Asobi though, so there’s that. Right now, those three should be checking our luggage.
Hotaru said she’d check mine for while I find the bathroom. I feel like I’m in school again coming up with that stupid excuse. I’m trying to eavesdrop on what’s actually going on in this palace.
I’d send Fuko, but I’d rather not for this; I can probably talk my way out if I get caught... Other guests? Different dinner tables? Daiyu not opening her mouth too much?
Velatos, returning from death, magic, ti shenanigans, playing hero and a gigantic palace where my best friend is the princess; Daiyu shutting up though? Now that’s just fiction.
Now, I just have to find this fabled dinner table.’ Her footsteps took a pause, before she looked around... ’Where am I again?’ Jotou glanced out the windows past the curtains and to the army of shut doors.
"Fourth floor... wes- no, north...? No, the palace faces west, so the windows should be on my left, but they’re on my right. Wait a sec, that doesn’t matter, the windows’ll always be left or right of ..."
’... ...I’m an idiot.’ "Who would put the dining room on the fourth floor anyway? Did Feyan show us a dining room? I can’t even rember!
Dammit, Daiyu completely threw off my ga today," Jotou sighed, palming her own face.
"Jotou! There you are. What’re you doing here?" Daiyu’s voice rang from an opening door as the blonde peered up. Or at least, the princess’s voice that Daiyu was using.
’Gonna have to get used to that posh-ish, low voice...’ Jotou smirked. ’Though, that’s still Daiyu I hear; she always makes her voice kinda coarse.’ "I, got lost..." Jotou sighed.
"So Feyan didn’t show you to my room?" Daiyu raised a brow, looking past Jotou to see rely the last guard that passed by.
The large open doors that Daiyu erged from had a bronze coloured fra, with gold and purple patterns all over the white door.
Two won in maid uniforms departed from her room as well, carrying the clothes Daiyu was previously wearing. A simple maroon nightgown she now wore—simple for a princess anyway. Her curled shoes of maroon had golden patterns at its tip.
All her makeup was gone and rely so earrings dangled off her ears—her hair let loose completely. Now Jotou could see all the ends, which all ended in black similar to hers.
"No, Feyan’s busy helping the other three get their luggage and mine. I was looking for you, till I realized I had no clue where I was going."
Daiyu tapped her foot lightly before she smiled, "Miss that much?"
Jotou gave a chuckle, "You? I could never."
Daiyu tapped her foot once more, before giving a smug grin, "Liar, liar."
Jotou’s smile wiped away as she felt one or two sparks go over her hair and down her neck... ’What was that?’ Jotou looked to the ceiling and then squinted at the walls.
"What’s wrong?" Daiyu cocked a brow.
"Not sure... I have this, warning system with my affinity when," Jotou knitted her brows as she faced Daiyu, "sothing’s about to endanger ..."
"Hm? I’m not gonna tackle or prank you or anything, I literally didn’t know you were coming... Otherwise, I would’ve set up sothing," Daiyu admitted.
"Doesn’t feel like an attack... More like a, an intrusion? I haven’t really figured this sense out properly yet. Every signal feels different, sotis light, sotis strong. It’s weird," Jotou brushed it off.
"Hm, probably nothing," Daiyu smiled in a shrug.
Jotou leered to Daiyu, "Sothing weird’s going on. First the dinner, now this. Is now a good ti to talk then?"
Daiyu took a breath, "Well, it’s ten-thirty, no one should be coming to bother and you’re alone, right? I don’t wanna be rude or anything-"
"You absolutely do," Jotou’s eyes glazed over.
"Yeah, I don’t exactly trust your new buddies."
"Figured."
"I know you can vouch for them and all."
"But you’re not comfortable to say what you’re gonna say, I get it, no need to explain," Jotou halted.
Daiyu looked to Jotou as a genuine smile painted itself on the princess’s face. Having to explain every step she made to countless nobles, finally... She breathed out, "I’m glad you’re here. I love you."
Jotou blushed, hiding a smile, "Love you too. Now don’t make vomit."
"Trust , almost coughed up blood trying to get it out too," Daiyu chuckled going forward. "Co on, there’s a better place for this," Daiyu grabbed Jotou’s arm and tugged her along.
_
She led the blonde down till the actual north-end of the fourth floor, where two massive doors of tinted glass lood over them.
Daiyu let go of Jotou’s arm and smiled like a kid about to show their friend a new toy. She twisted the handles and opened the windows which led onto a massive tile balcony.
The breeze blew past their hair and the plants; windchis dangled to the sides. "Decorated the place myself; as much as I could that is... Co on," Daiyu walked onto the balcony.
Jotou followed, looking up past the doors and chis to notice the starry night and waning moon to reveal themselves. Another floor with windows sat above the two of them.
Small shrubs and topiaries were kept neatly around them, blooming flowers of yellows, whites and reds that had gone to sleep. The balustrade circled around the balcony, sa hue as the walls.
"Below’s the front of the palace, right?" Jotou glanced to Daiyu.
Daiyu kept walking till she was nearly pressed up against the balustrade, her purple locks flying past her face and hips. "There’s a reason I didn’t want you to see the city," she replied.
Jotou’s brows were knitted as she approached... The blonde’s eyes widened as she placed her hands upon the balustrade. The palace sat atop a small hill after all...
As far as the eye could see were yellow lights, glittering and shimring from buildings so tiny from here they could be grabbed by two fingers.
Streets lit by lights under the starry night with the Moon beaming a smile. Kria... had buildings; however they were not this ordered. Every row was at a perfect angle.
The buildings, so high, so low—a wide open area sat in the centre of it all; if one were to squint they could perhaps make out a fountain so far away.
And past the city centre, of which the palace was at the edge of, were houses and neighbourhoods, all glittering the sa glow. So mansions in the distance belonging to nobles.
The trees stuck out as dark shadows in the distance—rainforests kept bordered from the city. Even so, that did not stop many of the trees to be lit up by the lights.
Daiyu smiled, watching Jotou’s mouth open little by little, "Welco to Cravolta City."
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