A few days have passed since the feast captain Redway and Chara organized for Alicia, Sleeping soundly in her bed she is awoken by the usual morning call of Chara.

"Alicia wake up, today is the day the chariot towards Eredin is scheduled to arrive." Chara informed while gently unlocking Alicia's door. Knowing what's coming she ready herself as she enters the room, seeing the thrown pillow she catches in the air and simply held it in her hand.

"Did I hit?" The grumpy voice coming from underneath the blanket on the bed asked.

"as usual, no. Keep trying, your efforts are not in vain." Chara laughed at her comrade's attempt, hearing Chara's comment Alicia's head sticks out from the blanket, her tongue sticking out.

"Alicia! You are not twelve!" Chara responded to Alicia.

"I'm still seventeen!" Alicia said as she tried throwing a bundle of bandages from her bedside table, catching it Chara looked amused at her friends actions.

"Well, I'm nineteen, and as the older one I order you to leave the bed." Chara explained as she walked over towards the bed, placing the pillow on the bed and the bandages on the bedside table she grabs ahold the blanket and tug it, Alicia shrieked due to the sudden cold air on her skin.

Fully awake now by her friend's actions Alicia grumpily rises up from the bed and walk towards the armory to pick one of her academy dresses. Fumbling around she finds her clothing but stop in her actions as she hears Chara's voice.

"Not that one, you will be wearing one of the traveling dresses for now and we will pack one of the beautiful dresses we bought from the boutique." Chara explained as she grabbed the appropriate two dresses, handing the traveling dress over to Alicia she walks over and packs down Alicia's banquet dress in a large coffer. Chara looks inside the coffer, seeing her own clothing for the banquet she gently place Alicia's dress atop and locks the coffer with a large padlock.

Surrendering to her friend Alicia puts on the traveling dress and braid her hair into loose single braid held together with a single teal colored silk band. Chara look over towards the fully clothed Alicia, "I can help you with the dress when we arrive at the capital." Thanking her Alicia gently push Chara and walk out of the room, Chara scoffs and follow behind, closing the door and leading Alicia towards the mess hall at the knights quarters.

Arriving at the mess hall Alicia hear the familiar voices from the knights, calling to her Alicia wave in the direction of their voices. Locating two seats where captain Redway and a few other knights are eating. Heading towards the kitchen Chara grabs two plates of food and walk back towards the table, sitting opposite Alicia and Reginald she begins eating and listening in to their conversation.

"So Alicia, how have your stay been?" Reginald asked while slowly eating.

"Its fun, you and the knights are really hospitable and its fun to talk with everyone. But Chara is evil." Alicia answered while looking up towards Chara and frown.

Rolling her eyes in response Chara explained to Reginald, "It seems like my lady favor sleep over breakfast, I will consider this for future reference." Chara responded with a smug look on her face. Hearing her response Alicia choked on her food, coughing for air she wanted to respond but she instead kept quiet, knowing herself she loved the food offered at the knights quarters. Giggling in response to Alicia's reaction Chara continued the conversation with Reginald and explained that their carriage will be arriving a bit after noon.

Excusing themselves from the dining hall Alicia and Chara head towards the training field, arriving at the large open field they met up with another knight, a younger looking male, in his early twenties with short blond hair and a light scruff on his cheeks and jaw.

"Good day Lady Chara and miss Alicia." The knight called out, waving in their direction. Hearing the voice Alicia's lips grew into a wide smile.

"Good day Sir Calvin. I guess you have business with Chara as usual." Alicia asked, assuming their usual routine of eating in the mess hall and then following Chara to the training field to spar with Sir Calvin and a few other knights.

"Chara, remember we have the carriage at noon." Alicia shouted at Chara as she heard her walking beside her towards the large ring in front of them where sir Calvin were standing.

Thirty minutes pass as Chara and Calvin duel, their unusual routine while Alicia is sitting beside the large sand ring.

Casting her divination spell she can see the usual fire core belonging to Chara and the emerald colored core of the earth belonging to Calvin, hearing the two knights panting loudly the sound of clashing blades end and Alicia looks up from the book of Tevali, trying to decipher the magical runes embedded into the parchment, her divination magic sufficient in sensing magical cores as well as runic markings.

"Damn I am tired, how is the book Alicia?" Chara asked whilst walking over to her friend, seeing Alicia engrossed in the book.

"Its really complicated, a lot of magical formulas and spell formations I have never heard of before. How was the duel?" Alicia answered and asked back.

"Sir Calvin is a good opponent, I really have to use all my skills to match his strength." Chara asked, not hearing Calvin walking towards them.

"Thank you Lady Chara, you indeed are a good opponent to hone one's sword." Calvin complimented.

Chatting for a bit longer they suddenly hear the voice belonging to one of the guards notifying Chara and Alicia their carriage have arrived.

"Have a great evening at the capital!" Calvin exclaimed as he waved off Alicia and Chara who walked towards the entrance where a medium sized carriage where located, drawn by two horses. Seeing their coffer already placed on top of the wagon they greet the carriage driver and enter the wagon, suddenly the wagon shake in response to the horses movements.

"Do we have everything for the banquet?" Alicia asked while gently caressing her spell book.

"Yes, everything is located in the coffer, we have a few hours before the banquet to refreshen themselves and get ready for the evening." Chara explained.

Two days later the Alicia look out from the carriage and sees the large walls protecting the city of Eredin. Amazed at the large city walls she notices several large ballistas and guard towers located all around the walls.

Entering the city gate Alicia continues to look outside and sees the sprawling city, countless people walking and buying wares for the upcoming festival. Passing through busy streets they after twenty minutes arrive at the large palace belonging to the ruling family of Eredria, House Eredros. Thanking the driver for their safe traveling a two servants are seen by Chara awaiting them, quickly moving towards the carriage they expertly grab ahold the coffer and ask Chara and Alicia to follow them to their temporary lodgment.

Passing through several intricately filled hallways, covered in paintings and busts of past royal house members they finally arrive before a large oaken-wood door with brass handles. Entering the room Chara is amazed by the interior, marble furnishing and beautifully designed book cases fill the right wall, placing the coffer in the bedroom the two servants excuse themselves.

"Well, it seems we have a banquet to prepare for." Chara commented while removing their clothing from the coffer while Alicia is gently walking while feeling around the room, looking for a chair, finding one at the left part of the large living room Alicia waits for Chara's word. After a few minutes she calls for Alicia, following her voice she exclaims in pain as she walks into a small table at the archway leading to the bedroom.

"You can take a bath first, I can help you." Chara said as she grabbed ahold Alicia's hand and led her towards the edge of the stone bathtub carved into the ground. Closing the door behind her Chara is left alone in the living room. "Why did I say that?!" She screamed in her mind, her blushing cheeks exposing her thoughts.

After ten minutes Chara heard Alicia's voice from the bathroom she walked towards the door, hearing that Alicia couldn't find the towel, grabbing ahold the door handle she abruptly stop, her mind cluttered and her blush returning. Frantically looking for a towel she finds two towels laying on the two beds in the bedroom, rushing towards the bed she grabs one of them and slowly open the bathroom door, leaving it ajar, not looking inside she calls for Alicia to grab it, feeling the towel leave her hand she smash the door shut to the surprise of Alicia.

Drying herself in the bathroom she puts on one of the robes hanging on the door, entering the living room she calls for Chara to also take a bath, hearing Chara hastily grabbed the towel laying on the bed and rushed into the bathroom.

A few minutes later Alicia could her the bathroom door opening, signaling Chara was done.

"Do you know anyone at the banquet?" Alicia asked.

"Not really, probably a bunch of nobles and their children, I assume my brother will be there." Chara responded with a sigh.

Continuing their conversation suddenly Alicia could feel Chara's presence behind her, hearing that she was finished dressing she was handed her own dress, slowly entering the bedroom she removed the robe and put on the evening dress. Chara waited in the living room, and upon seeing Alicia Chara became speechless. Compared to her fitted pants and embroidered black blazer with silver lines hugging the sides, her navy blue shirt nicely matching the dark colors of her outer clothing. In comparison Alicia was wearing her evening dress, black in color, matching her friend, the leaf pattern nicely flowing from the hip up to her shoulders on both sides. Shaking her head to focus Chara called over Alicia, seating her on the chair Chara began braiding Alicia's hair into an intricate crown braid, her usual teal colored silk band firmly holding the intricate design together.

"How do we look?" Alicia asked.

"We are stunning, we will be the main event." Chara joked. Laughing at her comment Alicia asked if they should be wearing their weapons, Chara explained that she will since she is a knight and personal guard, but Alicia can if she wants to. Thinking for a moment she agrees to carry her spell book, asking Chara for help the harness is securely placed on her hip, the spell book firmly placed beside her.

Suddenly a knock on the door interrupted their conversation, walking towards and opening the door Chara saw the servant from before, informing them that the banquet is beginning soon and all guests are to head towards the main area. Thanking the servant Chara closes the door and informs Alicia of the news.

"Are you ready?" Chara asked.

"More than ever." Alicia responded.