Nostalgia was the first to speak. "Wait for me here," she said. "I'll be back." Then she hurried off and disappeared in the gardens, not giving him a chance to ask any questions. He fell on the bed with a heavy sigh.

Did he end up in the princess' guest house? Something didn't feel right. He wouldn't find the one person he was looking for in a big city just like that unless if she wanted him to find her, unless if she was looking for him already. But that was obvious the moment she spoke of the raven. It was even safe to assume that the princess and her family were already aware of his presence in the city. After all, it was their capital city and Armad wouldn't be surprised if they'd laced it with runes.

But if they knew he was there, then why didn't they send for him? Armad shook his head. It was a stupid question. Why would they send for him when they knew he would bring himself in? By now, they must have realized he needed something from them otherwise he wouldn't be there.

Armad ran different scenarios in his head. It was a huge risk but still something he was willing to take for his mother. It was either Bihanzin agreed to help him cure her or he attacked him, which was unlikely actually. Either way, he was ready for a confrontation. He might just be losing his grip on reality for thinking he could stand against a King but he would do it if it means a chance for his mother.

"Looking so serious," Nostalgia whispered in his ears. He was startled for a moment before he regained his calm and smiled. When did she come back? "Are you afraid?"

Her voice rang in his head. She sounded matured.

Looking past her, he noticed seven maids all dressed in the same brown clothes. Another set behind them was bringing food and drinks.

"Get up, wash, and eat. My father wants to talk to you."

There was still some drowsiness in his eyes but it was gone now. "Your father?"

She stared at him for a moment before she let out a small laugh. The walls of the room echoing her beautiful voice. Suddenly Armad felt like a flute was being played for him. Something that made him fell into a trance and forgot about his problems. Was he being enchanted? No, he took necessary precautions to avoid that.

"Hurry up, he's waiting."

When Armad realized she was being serious, he shook off the shock and asked, "Is everything all right?"

Nostalgia shrugged. "I don't know."

Armad sighed. It was as he expected. The King was already aware of his arrival.

"Where do I wash? And honestly, I..."

Nostalgia gave him a provocative look. "What? There is a bath for you." She pointed to a pool in the distance.

Armad headed for the door. The original plan was to ask Nostalgia to ask her father for a favor. But by meeting Bihanzin face-to-face he had the rare opportunity of meeting a King and to ask him directly. It would be much easier that way and he would know immediately if it was possible or not.

"If you go through that door," Nostalgia said, stopping him in his track. "How would you find the pool? You can get lost."

Armad turned with a frown. "Then, why don't you be so kind as to show me the way?"

His frown attracted another smile from the woman. "Go ahead and frown. I'll just call elder brother Kiru and Hasanu right away."

Armad opened his mouth to speak but the princess stood and walked toward him. He had forgotten about Kiru and Hasanu. They were the first three he met when he set out to find Triple Factor. He still remembered his fight with Kiru and wouldn't mind giving it a second try.

Nostalgia grabbed his hand and led him outside. It was unfitting, he thought. But he didn't break free either, letting her do as she wished for the meantime.

"Your brothers?" He said. "Hope they are safe? We haven't met in a long time."

"Huh?" She said. "How often do you ask for them? You are just scared of Kiru, I think. He's more experienced in sword Bending, you know."

Armad wanted to tell her about his sword too but she started running and dragging him with her. Every maid they met would fall to the ground to greet them. Nostalgia didn't acknowledge them or even slow down, and Armad was responding at first but he soon grew tired and eventually just kept nodding. He might just be the reason why so many maids were stationed there since they weren't there yesterday when he came.

On their way, Armad hit a flower pot after making every attempt to avoid it. He pulled Nostalgia back. "Stop running, will you? I'll end up breaking everything in your house."

Nostalgia shrugged. "Whatever you break, I'll pay. Don't worry." She even sounded like the spoiled princess in romance books.

As he sighed and relaxed, they ran around the palace like ten-year-olds. About half an hour later when they finally arrived at the pool, Armad turned to look at the room they had come out of and saw the path they had taken, and immediately realized that Nostalgia was consciously running around the place with him for no reason.

As if she knew what he was thinking, she said, "of course, I've been wandering around so you'll know your way around the place and you won't get lost. Hurry up before daddy sends someone to pick you up."

Armad began to take off his clothes but then he turned to her halfway. "Are you going to remain there?"

Nostalgia frowned slightly but she turned away. "Just don't drown and die."

Armad burst out laughing for the first time. "As if I will die by drowning."

"Alright. But I'll be back if you don't hurry." She left.

Armad waited until she disappeared before he finally took off his clothes and fell into the pool. The water was warm enough for a bath. And it gave off a deliciously sensual, delicate, flower-fruity scent.

The flowers floating on the water provided a soap-like ingredient that instantly cleansed the body. If it was up to him, Armad would have remained there a tad bit longer but the King was waiting for him.

He climbed out of the pool and put his shirt back on. On his way back, he thought about what clothes he would wear for a meeting with the King. More than a hundred questions were flooding his mind about why Bihanzin was looking for him. It should be safe to assume he was in the royal palace, or at least someplace big enough to accommodate a princess and a King with all their maids and servants.

He returned to the room to meet with Nostalgia who had been waiting for him. His food was still steaming and the room was smelling like barbeque already.

"You have ten minutes to get ready. You'll eat when you come back."

Armad rolled his eyes. "Must you sound like?" He was getting annoyed with himself for being affected by something so trivial. Was Niyashi's assumption affecting him? Von Hopping in his article about the human mind mentioned how people could be affected by what others say about them.

He shook his head and pushed the thoughts away.

Nostalgia remained silent looking at him. She seemed to consider it. "He's waiting for you," she spoke with the same tone.

Armad sighed and just ignored her. He dressed in formal attire.

"Lead the way," he said. Today should be the day he met a King.