"Oh, there you go honey, anything else?" the maid set the cup of tea in front of Hotaru.
"No, thank you," the redhead smiled before taking a sip from the cup. Low music played from a gramophone in this room of white; flowers sat in almost every corner of the room—on the tables, in a vase, just hanging.
Cushioned chairs circled the tables whilst a countertop was to the side, with fruity mixes and fragrant teas that filled the room’s aroma.
In Tamara Palace’s tea room, they reconvened. Jotou held her head up with her hand while Fuko had her forehead on the table, swinging her legs.
Hotaru soothed Asobi’s back as she took a sip of the tea, "Yum!" All four of their eyes were drooping, lethargic in their movents while Daiyu kept watch.
Feyan opened the doors, leading Arabella in. Once he saw Jotou’s sudden ailnt, he rushed to get the admiral back to the princess’s side. "I may have figured out what is happening," he paced in.
"We’re dying..." Fuko murmured.
"No we’re not." Hotaru shook her head, "What is it Feyan?" she splashed herself with another dose of rejuvenate, though it barely seed to help.
"I believe this is the effect of the ti device. Your bodies are acclimating for the two weeks they missed, syncing back with the normal flow of ti."
"Ac-climate-ting?" Asobi tilted her head.
"Ti’s not supposed to be ssed with, and realistically, it can’t, even with magic involved—not without drastic repercussions at least apparently. We’re suffering the consequences of it; at least my head doesn’t ache," Jotou sighed.
"Well lucky you you’re brain’s protected," Fuko glared up with a flip of her hair.
"I still don’t get it... You destroyed the ti thingy and we were fine after the pain when you first destroyed it," Asobi pressed.
Hotaru’s ears folded, "The sa way the grass in Hartamat will grow back and catch up to the grass not affected, we’ll catch up with everyone else not affected by the ti device."
"Hm, so that’s what prevented from growing taller."
"Sure ko, two weeks really stopped you from having a growth spurt," Jotou sipped her tea.
"It could still happen!"
"Aren’t you like halfway to eighteen? It’s way too late for that," Daiyu budded in.
Fuko slouched down with a pout, sipping her tea before blowing bubbles in the cup. The late afternoon hour had hit, their lunches consisting of so biscuits and other small consumptions.
The maid stood out of earshot, wiping down the counter while they had gathered at a nice table next to the window. "We should check in on the citizens of Hartamat as well," Feyan reminded.
"Go on ahead. Will you guys be okay?" Daiyu raised a brow.
"Yeah, a bit of rest maybe and we’ll be fine," Jotou replied.
"For how long? I feel so, eaugh..." Asobi shivered.
"Good question; Feyan?" Hotaru turned.
"I could not say, this is not exactly a regular occurrence and the only one who could explain it is no longer with us.
If I had to give advice, I would suggest all of you to remain active and not succumb to tiredness till the ti you have to go to sleep.
If you do not, when this predicant solves itself, your sleep cycles may be affected and your routines may be in a ss; in other words, continue as if nothing is happening so that when it ends, it will all be back to normal."
"Easier said than done," Fuko side-eyed.
"There’s nothing planned while these four are out of commission, right?" Daiyu glanced to her advisor.
"Our treason predicant will hopefully go over smoothly," Feyan turned to Arabella to which she nodded. "Then, no. The next council eting is after a letter from Trailon arrives, or not.
That should be the ninth—the arrival of the letter on the eighth. So, nothing that predominantly that concerns them till next week."
"Great, then you guys’re free to do what you will around the palace; I’ll probs have to deal with all this treason crap."
"Mm, hopefully it doesn’t an you’ll be too busy to teach a few spells Feyan," Hotaru pondered.
"I, can make ti."
"Please, only after you get so rest..."
"...Will do. There is also the matter of assigning positions for people to manage the palace and various sectors."
Arabella signed, "None, of the, higher, positioned Royal Guard, were caught. They were, all, without high standing in the Royal Guard."
"Sure gave a run for my money," Jotou could still feel the cuts slashing through her.
"Of course, the Royal Guard, around the palace, are the best of the best. Do you expect it, to be, guarded by, people who cannot, take down, high-level threats? You were fortunate, they were fleeing," Feyan translated.
"Hmph, give my armour and we’ll see how long I can last," Jotou scoffed. "And I didn’t even use thundering strike," she flaunted more. "Had to hold back and still managed to take down a few. Honestly Arabella, I’m disappointed."
Arabella’s eye twitched just a smidgen... "Hey, why is it called the Empire of Shattering Earth when it’s not an empire?" Fuko raised her head.
"I dunno," Daiyu crunched her nose up. "Cause the Constitutional Monarchy of Shattering Earth doesn’t have quite the sa ring to it?"
"Speaking of weird things, Daiyu," Jotou glanced up. "Sothing hit , when ko said my brain’s protected... I couldn’t kill myself," the blonde knitted her brows.
"I’m, proud of you?"
"No dipshit, I an I physically couldn’t hurt myself, like at all—not intentionally anyway. Every ti I tried, it was like pushing the sa sides of a magnet together and it pushed away."
"Hold up, why were you trying to commit suicide? Do I need to beat so sense into you?" Daiyu furrowed her brows.
"That whole dilemma’s over, alright, I’m fine, I swear."
"She made a promise, don’t worry," Fuko defended with a grimace.
"It was, difficult, in those ti loops to say the least... Especially with her being the only one who could rember all of it," Hotaru sipped her tea, averting her eyes whilst Asobi fell silent.
"I told them everything after that loop and each one after that. Anyway the point is, I couldn’t hurt myself and I was wondering if that was just sothing with my affinity or... us?
Have you tried cutting your arm off? Intentionally?" Jotou brushed aside.
"Of course not dumbass!"
"Would you give it a try?" Jotou cocked a brow, "I can show you," she unsheathed her sword.
"...Sure, why not," Daiyu walked forward with a shrug.
"Princess!" Feyan shrieked. Arabella’s eyes widened stepping forward.
"What? There’s two healers in the room, I’ll be fine. Go on loser, prove it."
Jotou held the blade confidently over her arm. "Here we go..." Hotaru’s eyes glazed over while Asobi hid behind her cup.
’Gonna cut my arm off. Gotta convince myself I’m gonna-!’"PZZZ!! BZZ!!! TUUFF!!" Lightning ford above her skin and around the blade, buffeting the sword back with a heavy buzz. "See?"
"Fine, give it here," Daiyu took Jotou’s sword.
"Princess, please..." Feyan squeaked.
"I know you’re not lying," Daiyu smirked with the sword over her clothed arm.
"Princess! You did not tap your feet!"
And with the sound of Feyan’s last cry- "GRRBB... BRGRUBB... DFF!!!" "The hell?"
As Daiyu brought the sword down, a layer of earth surrounded over her arm and against the sword, hitting the sword away like a pickaxe recoiling off a rock; before all the stone disappeared into dust.
"Huh, so it’s an us thing not an affinity thing," Jotou squinted.
"Wait, so I can’t hurt myself?"
"Intentionally at least; that’s what Jotou told of that encounter," Hotaru replied.
Arabella let out a breath she had held the entire ti, removing her hand away from her sabre. Feyan went pale, before holding his forehead and taking a seat.
A gasp ca from the other side of the room as they turned to see the maid, with her eyes widened... "You didn’t see anything," Daiyu yelled over.
"Uh... yes, your majesty," she nodded, going back to cleaning with bewildernt in her gaze. Jotou took back her sword and sheathed it.
"Perhaps, I can, ugh... I will have a cup of black tea please," Feyan ordered. "I can send word of this to the scholars in Luxinor to explain any of the phenona? I doubt they will find anything however."
"If you have the ti," Jotou responded, "I think there are other things to deal with first though."
"So, what’s with the feet tapping huh? I thought it was so nervous tick," Fuko squinted at Daiyu.
"Thanks Feyan," Daiyu glanced over.
"I-I did not an to... I, apologize deeply my lady..." he gave up. Jotou let out a yawn, the fatigue hitting her eyes before she shook her head.
Arabella grabbed Jotou by the shoulder, before signing to her—non-traditionally.
"Spar? Right now?"
She signed again.
"Get my mind off things? I guess, sure then. Don’t you have anything else to do?"
Feyan turned and apologized before translating proper, "The people, under , can handle it. I didn’t pick mindless, drones."
"You should go Jotou," Hotaru’s ears pricked; her tail wagged slightly. "If you, exhaust yourself you’ll sleep better. I’ll heal any injuries if you want..." she sipped with a blush across her cheeks.
"Fair enough. Let’s go then; everything else good here?" Jotou stood up.
"Welp, I’m under house arrest pretty much, so my job’s just to hang around right now," Daiyu folded her arms.
"Do not say it like that princess, it is for your safety. Wait, if both of you leave, who will safeguard the princess!?"
"I can safeguard her. You really should answer my question, your majesty..." Fuko rose up from her seat to glare with a step closer to intimidate.
Daiyu had to tilt her head down lower than usual to et the brunette’s stare as her eyes glazed over, "I’m quaking in my boots... Secret’s out, might as well explain it. You two go already."
"See ya later," Jotou bade.
_
"CLASH!" "TING!" "CLANG! TANG! SHINNNNGGG!" The two duelled till the cotton candy coloured clouds watched their performance.
The Sun set as Jotou and Arabella had both worked up a sweat. With the increase in action recently, Arabella wanted all the more adrenaline coursing through her; the vigour in her smile displayed that much.
Jotou now stood several tres away, landing back with a spin onto the sand while Arabella stood upright panting, holding her sabre in both hands.
The two let out a heavy breath, calling it yet another draw for now. Suddenly to Jotou’s left, "WOO!!" cheers and claps showered the two on the field.
"When did we get spectators?" Jotou raised a brow, panting in and out. Off-duty Royal Guard had co to watch the battle sowhere in the middle of their duel.
Arabella threw her hands out towards Jotou, and cocked her head with a smile; then pouted with her arms wilting down—in mocking.
"I’m not shy about this at least. Trying to make back down? What’s the matter? Getting tired?" Jotou gave a half-cocked smirk. The crowd leaned forward, so oohing.
Arabella spun her sabre by the hilt and readied it once more. ’Shit, I really was getting tired. Alright, one more go then!’ "I was more damaged than you last night; never expected you to have such a hard ti with ~"
Arabella glared with a smirk. She took one step forward before, "Admiral! Admiral!" a guard ran into the field in between the two. Arabella steadied, turning her head and furrowing her brows.
The guard whispered sothing in her ear as the audience looked to each other, worried if there was another ergency or breakout occurring.
Arabella recoiled, seemingly in surprise. She squinted to Jotou before signing sothing to the guard. The guard gave a nod, to which Arabella nodded before pointing the guard to Jotou.
"Oh, yes," the guard ran towards Jotou.
"What’s going on, did sothing happen to Daiyu- I an, the princess?" Jotou queried as Arabella sheathed her sabre and approached.
"No, no. The countess wishes to speak to you, in private. We first denied, but she requested to pass it on to the admiral and let her make the decision."
"Arabella?" Jotou raised a brow.
Arabella signed sothing in reply. "If you want to, but we will proceed with caution. I imagine this is sothing important if she’s already pleaded guilty," the guard interpreted.
’Why the hell does she want to talk with ...? Hm, this slls like danger... But there’s only way to find out.’ "Can I bring anyone else?"
"She specifically requested you and you alone Thundering Blade."
"Alright... Let’s see what she wants," Jotou knitted her brows.
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