"Does this make Melody the heir now?" Aria wonders.

She shuffles up next to me, lying on my lap. She looks dishevelled, but this time I haven't done anything to her or anything, her crying did this. Though it has left a wet patch on my trousers. I hope it will dry up...

"If it works like most monarchies in my old world, that would be the case." I say, gently.

She turns to face upwards, her silver hair over my lap and her deep blue eyes staring at me. They're still red around the edges from her crying before.

"Did your old country have a king, then, Elijah?" She asks.

"A queen, actually." I smile wistfully. "I suppose all civil servants, like me, technically served her. She was kinda old by the point I started work though. I've only seen pictures of her."

"Oh. A queen, huh?" She looks into some unfathomable distance.

"My country was kind of strange, though. The queen doesn't have much power. The prime minister and the parliament do. They're about a hundred men who sit in a posh green room."

"Eh!? But why have a queen then?" She twitches.

"I always wondered that myself as a boy. It’s because it’s an old family line and it’s good for tourism, I think."

"I really can't imagine such a frivolous thing. Don't that make arguments over things that need to be done?" Aria's brows furrow.

"All the time!" I laugh.

"What?! You're lying then?"

"Nope. It takes ages for those guys to get anything done. The Prime Minister changes all the time as well if the people dislike them."

I continue with my slapdash explanation of the British government. Aria honestly has a look of horror that grows worse as I go on.

"That’s all just crazy. I'm not a smart girl, but I think even Melody wouldn't be able to understand how that worked."

"Democracy is the worst kind of government, except for all the others we have tried." I quote.

"It’s just the worst if you ask me." She sticks out her tongue.

"You're probably right." I agree.

"Eh? You think?" She looks wide-eyed.

"Yep. A wise king or queen or emperor is generally better. The voting thing is supposed to avoid problems with potentially stupid and wicked heirs, put the best one in power, but all it really does is turn it into a juvenile popularity contest."

"My head hurts." She shuts her eyes, but she has a gentle expression. "I shouldn't have asked about boring politics things. I really am just better swinging a spear."

I laugh and stroke her hair. It has gotten slightly longer during the journey.

"Yep, Aria is best just like she is, as a cute musclehead."

She opens one eye.

"I want to be annoyed at that statement, but you're right." She snorts, and then she giggles.

"This is nice. If only we could have met under more normal circumstances. Things all seem out of order... ah! Not that... I'm unhappy with..."

"I know. You're also right. It’s a twisted situation, and I'm a lout."

She stares at me.

"Heh... you're such a strange man. But I'm also a strange girl, right?"

I laugh.

"A monster, you might say."

She glares and pouts for a moment, but then laughs for a moment.

"Needs a monster to fight a monster. Didn't you say that once?"

"Did I? I don't remember saying that..." I blink.

"Hn... I dunno..." She looks confused. "But that’s true for sure. This is... why I am like I am. Sendervil has plans for me. Heh... even if Sendervil was never really a god in the first place... hn... its honestly a good thing that I was never hugely pious."

Right... we did find out the so-called gods were just the first few sages. Man, I should have realised this could have a serious impact on the girls... should I talk to Rishya about that at some point?

Suddenly she squirms in my lap, and starts to get up.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It’s just we need to get moving, right?"

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"No. I'm not. I don't know if I'll ever be. Even so, I have to move on." She says, her face twitching slightly.

"You dummy. You don't have be as easy-going as me. You can be spoilt from time to time." I ruffle her head.

She grins.

"Elijah, I've been spoilt and naive my entire life. Its... it’s why I was a fool and started this mess in the first place. An idiot like me who didn't do much of anything before except swing a spear... suddenly summoning? A huge risk to my life. Throwing everything away... I think I realise just what a fool I was now."

She stands up and stretches. The sun is gradually setting behind her as she does, giving her silvery hair a golden halo. I realise it’s grown a bit. Her hair... no... all of her. That older version I saw briefly... I feel like I can see a mirage of it again.

A wind gust blows gently, and she brushes her hair aside. Her sapphire like gaze settles on me and her eyes smile.

"Hey! I should charge you a myriad for such a look." She titters.

"I'd be a poor man by now then. Worth every coin, though, investing in the silver princess market." I retort.

She laughs again.

"It’s nice to strong, loved, and valuable."

"Isn't it just?" I nod.

She pops out her hand to me to help me up. This feels like it’s the wrong way around, but I guess she's by far the stronger one.

I grab it and stand up.

It’s time to consider our next move.