The Duke of Maltana

*She turns to look at him.*

"Yes, a little bit. I'm looking for my sister, but I don't really know where she might be, because I don't know where anything is."

*He looks out, trying to make out who they are.*

James: <Friends, or foes...?>

*He keeps giving her water.*

=====

Aegis: <Ah.... ahhhh....>

*He falls to the ground in defeat.*

Aegis: <I'll need to spend a whole day cleaning this place up...>

Sephira

Grayson: <Hum, ye-->

Allina: <You're a terrible example, Lucy. C'mon you two, you can play more once we get back.>

=====

Soldier: <Oh, let me help you. Is there some place you think your sister could be at that you'd like help finding, or something?>

---

Alda

Vesper: <Haha, hardly. I've heard a lot about you! Don't make a big deal out of it!>

*She speaks as she runs out of the room, chuckling.*

---

Toros

Booth Lady: <I'm going to need your royal permission slips. It's a new rule the Duke decreed this morning.>

=====

*Aegi's door's knocked on again and a white envelope with golden linings is thrown through the mail slot before steps sound, going away from the door.*

=====

*Her eyes snap open and she starts coughing a lot as a small puddle forms under her soaking wet head. She could possibly be drowning.*

---

Ars Isle

Gaius: <Haha, yeah. Don't worry, you are lucky enough to have the best guide you could've asked for traveling right next to you.>

"Oh joy" Oriens says in the most deadpan tone imaginable.

"Told you we'd have to jump through hoops to get in" Alto says in a matter of fact way.

"I don't suppose his royal usurperness is seeing guests today is he?"

---

"Oh Allina, lighten up its been so long since we've been able to use our magic. The least we can do is show Grayson" he smiled with a wink as a shadow ring manifested behind his back. It floated behind him before spinning. As it spun shadowy hands emerged from it. The hands were different from Lucien's old ones. They were faintly purple and had an eye in the palm not unlike the eye Shadow had. The hands flexed before slamming into the ground. When they pulled up they pulled up eight shadowy knights donned in black armor. Their face plates bore the symbol of Origin.

"Pretty cool eh Grayson?"

---

Cello turned red and followed silently.

James: <Are you awake yet? C'mon. I'm not good with these kinds of things.>

=====

*Aegis scurries over to the door and picks it up to read it.*

"Not exactly. She said she was going to become a soldier, but no one Mom spoke to had seen her. But the people in the last town I was in said she definitely left for the city."

*Sorelyn laughs*

Sorelyn:< I hope you're telling the truth. You coming might actually be helpful.>

Sephira

*Distracted admiring the knights, astonished, Grayson is startled by Lucien's question. He looks at him and nods vigorously.*

Grayson: <...Y-Yes!>

Allina: <You're such a show off. C'mon guys, let's go home.>

*She takes Grayson's hand and they start walking.*

Grayson: <...Home?>

Allina: <Yeah! ...Listen, I know you and Crone went through a lot when you were younger, without your parents, or a house... but you're okay now. You have a lot of friends, even if you don't know them yet.>

*She smiles and teary-eyed Grayson smiles right back.*

=====

*The soldier smiles and holds his hand out to her.*

Soldier: <I think...I can help you. My name is Ari Turmill. I'm a General of the Sephiran army.>

---

Alda

*Soon they arrive on the aerodrome and get on the airship. A fully armored Aldanian knight awaits them on the bridge and presents himself as Holtz, their bodyguard. He then shows them to their rooms.*

---

Toros

Booth Lady: <You don't need to see the Duke to request a permission slip.>

=====

"The Toran Palace and the Duke of Maltana hereby request your presence at the palace until the end of the current day. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary measures.

Always remember: supporting the Duke is supporting Toran glory."

=====

???: <What--*cough*--are you doing?!>

*She sits up and continues to cough up water.*

---

Ars Isle

*Gaius smirks.*

Gaius: <I think you might actually complain too much. Come on, le-->


*The ship shakes violently and they hear the fishermen at the other side of the cabin screaming, as well as a loud roar.*

Gaius: <Already!?>

"Oh! I had no idea, Sir!"

*Not really sure what is proper protocol, she shakes his hand, bows, & salutes at the same time.*

James: <Bringing you back to life.>

=====

Aegis: <Now, what's this about...? Suppose I'll need to go regardless...>

*He puts the letter in his pocket and walks out the door.*

"Ah excellent. Then where can we get one?" Oriens asks.

---

"LOTS of friends" Lucien adds for emphasis.

---

Cello coughs when he's finally alone and spits out some blood which is jet black.

*Sorelyn jumps up*

Sorelyn:< What's going on?!>

Sephira

*They reach a clearing where two horses are grazing, tied to some trees.*

Allina: <Oh, you left yours here too?>

*Allina unties one of the horses, a white one, and rides it before holding her hand out to help Grayson get on too.*

=====

*He steps back, blushing, and shakes his head.*

Ari: <N-No, no, you don't have to do that! I'd be glad to help you, I can check our records.>

---

Toros

Booth Lady: <...Visit the palace.>

=====

*A lot of people are waiting outside the palace, many of them holding letters like the one Aegis got.*

=====

*She shakes some of the water off and looks around.*

???: <Wh-What happened? Who are you?>

---

Ars Isle

*Gaius stumbles over to the opposite end of the boat to find two Colossal Eels towering over the terrified fishermen.*

Gaius: <Crap!>

"Thank you very much. Her name is Lilith Psyche."

James: <Just a passerby. You were lying on the ground dying and, well. The rest is history.>

=====

Aegis: [Wait... If I backed out and went home now, they'd have no clue that I didn't go! But on the slim chance they do... I hate these kinds of decisions.]

*He starts tapping his foot on the ground a couple times and thinking it over.*

Aegis: [Fine! Fine! Let's go already. I hope this goes by fast.]

*He pushes through the crowd.*

The two head to the palace.

---

"I did" Lucien unties his horse and gets on.

*Sorelyn runs to Gaius*

Sorelyn:< You have got to be kidding me. Ready to kick their butts?>

Sephira

*Allina smirks and white energy begins gathering on either side of each of the horses, shaping into a pair of light wings. Used to the spell, the horses neigh and take flight into the sky and towards the capital.*

Grayson: <Wo-Woah!>

Allina: <Haha, I can show off too!>

=====

*General Ari nods and turns to face the palace peeking behind the numerous roofs in the distance.*

Ari: <Follow me, if you will.>

---

Toros

*Arriving at the palace, the two find a large crowd gathered near the main entrance.*

=====

*Pushing through the crowd, he finds the palace's main entrance to be shut. Two guards stand next to it, telling the crowd to settle down and wait to be called.*

=====

???: <O-Oh.>

*She stands up and awkwardly bows to him.*

???: <I thank you.>

---

Ars Isle

Gaius: <I'm always ready! Water conducts electricity, so I suggest you let me get them out of the water so you can finsih them!>

Cello lies down after hacking up the black colored blood.

---

The duo waits.

---

Lucien laughs, "Allina's magic is much more elegant than mine eh Grayson!?"

*Thiera follows.*

Sorelyn:< Sounds like a plan!>

Sephira

*Grayson kindly smiles to Lucien as the horses continue to soar towards the capital.*

Allina: <It shouldn't take us too long, but tell us if you need to stop to rest, Grayson.>

=====

*Ari leads to her to the western side of the palace, through a door directly into the military wing, and into his office.*

Ari: <It's really great to see that elves are becoming more and more comfortable around humans.>

---

Toros

*After a few minutes, a page in red and golden clothing steps outside and opens a long scroll.*

Page: <Ehem! Greetings, fellow Torans. You were summoned here today because the Duke has taken an interesting in each of you for your courage and fighting skills. I will call each of you inside, one by one, to speak with a representative of his lordship.>

---

Ars Isle

*Gaius's feet glow red and he jumps off the edge of the ship and lands on the water's surface, running on it around to the back of one of the monsters. His fists are then also enveloped in a red aura and he delivers two quick punches on the monster, causing it to roar loudly in pain, both of them turning around to bite at him.*

"Great" Oriens facepalms

"I smell bureaucratic bullshit too Oriens. Don't feel bad" Alto said in all too chipper a voice.

---

Lucien nods.

*Sorelyn runs to the side of the boat*

Sorelyn:< Tell me when!>

"I didn't know you knew I was an elf. The village I come from rarely sees outsiders, but I'm familiar with humans, because they brought the things my sister would order from abroad."