“Zinnia!” Lyra exclaims, rushing to hug the girl stepping out of a carriage,

“It’s been so long,”

(A little more than two months actually)

“You’ve gained weight,” Pinoki jokes,

“What are you going to name it?” Karina taps Zinnia’s stomach

“If it’s a girl Sage,

If it’s a boy, Sage,”

…..

“You really like flowers, don you?” Apollo comments hugging the girl,

“Queen Zinnia, should I find an inn for us?” A sturdy, well-built man steps out the carriage with her bags,

“I wouldn’t do that,” Pinoki advises,

“I know you err, what’s your name?”

“Trevor, I am a former knight,”

“Well, I wouldn’t do that Mr. Trevor,

I know you seem strong and all, but strength isn’t going to help you here,”

“Is it that bad?” Zinnia looking alarmed,

“No, Pinoki’s just overhyping it,” Lyra rolls her eyes

“Speak for yourself Lyra, you’re saying that because you have already gotten accustomed to the ‘Sweeping’,

Not surprised a violent animal like you would be ok with this,”

“Shall we have a match then?” Lyra sings passive aggressively,

(Which is scarier than regular angry Lyra)

“I suddenly feel like I have left my umm, sound diamond lying somewhere around the institute,

I will see you guys there,” Pinoki gulps, speed walking ahead,

…..

“Kage~?

I noticed you haven’t said anything to me yet,” Zinnia confronts me welcomingly,

“It’sniceseeingyou” I mumble,

(Darius’ memories still make me feel awkward around her)

…….

“Hmm, Has Kage changed at all Karina?” Zinnia asks.

“I guess,

He expresses himself a bit more, but besides that he’s into reading a lot, and he maybe will make a joke once a week,” Karina replies,

“Don’t forget the attitude he’s developing,” Lyra adds

“Mhm,” Karina agrees,

(Attitude?)

“Speaking of that,

Zinnia, do you know he refuses my advances?

I tried to sleep with him twice, maybe more, but he refused,”

“Maybe he is shy,”

“I don’t know, he does like to cuddle a lot,

The other night…”

…….

“…...Interesting conversation they’re having,” Apollo walking beside me leaving the girls behind to chatter

“I can hear them clearly Apollo.”

“I know, but I had to rub it in,”

……….

“This city is strange,” Trevor observes, also joining beside the two of us,

“You’ll get used to it, Apollo assures,

“Once you learn to avoid most confrontations,

It becomes kind of enjoyable here,

And trust me, anything can be a confrontation,”

“How so?”

“Shall we simplify it for him Kage?” Apollo nudges,

“I’ll begin,

If you Step on someone’s foot,”

“Battle” I Finish

“Stare at someone too long,”

“Battle,”

“Speak a bit too loudly in public

“Battle”

“Hold up a line,”

“Battle,”

“Something costs two silver, and you pay two silver,”

“Battle,”

“Wait, how is that one a confrontation?” Trevor stops my and Apollo’s back and forth

“If something costs any amount, you pay at least one extra,

If its two sliver pay three or they will charge you instead two gold, and if you argue against it, then they’ll battle you,” Apollo explains,

“Trust us, we learnt the hard way,” I add

“Hmm, Glad I won’t be here for that long then,

Speaking of, runaway king Apollo, how long do you plan to be away from Soterra?”

“First of all, I was never the king,

Secondly, never I hope,”

“You don’t plan on coming back?”

“I plan on visiting from time to time,

But I am not living there the bad memories are just too much plus, the fact that people still see me as king,

I don’t want that kind of that image,”

………

The conversation fizzles out, us three now walking in an awkward silence,

…..

“So, Trevor,” I break the awkwardness,

“What is your story, do you plan on living the rest of your life in Soterra?”

“I guess so, though I feel like I haven’t been myself for most of my life,

After being dedicated to Murdoc for so long,

Sometimes it’s hard just to think for myself again, and it’s not just me,

Many people back home feel the same…...”

(The aftereffects of Murdoc’s reign, runs deep within Soterra, huh,

How did he even obtain such power?

He said it was from a god’s body,

But what does that even mean?)

….

“Kage?” Apollo snaps in front my face

“Were you even listening to what Trevor was saying?”

“Yeah... I heard up to everyone feels the same,”

…..

“Hhhhh” he sighs,

“Your something else mann~”

*****

“Aughhh!” Yannick groans watching our group pass through the institute,

“I swear there is someone new coming here every other week,”

“Have some respect!” Tori, who had been waiting here for us, barks,

“That’s the queen of Soterra you are referring to,”

“Queen?” Yannick’s tone changing

“My apologies, madam, I saw you around this disrespectful, mannerless lot, that I assumed you were one of them,” He gives Lyra an ‘eye’

“H—” Lyra begins,

“—It’s alright, Zinnia smiles gracefully extending her hand to him,

He blushes kissing it and Zinnia flaunts off,

“She is really playing up this queen role quite well,” Pinoki whispers to me,

“I can see that,” Pinoki, Apollo and I watch in amusement as she struts about grandly and pompously, when greeting members of the guild, leaving them either charmed or humbled,

……

……

“So, the mayor of this city sent Murdoc to us?” Zinnia gasps,

After settling down, we filled in Zinnia of our conversation with the mayor a few days ago…

“I don’t think he meant bad on us, but as a result of his cowardice, we were forced to pay,” Karina explains,

“Do not let that deter you from forming an alliance however, we still need to re-establish Soterra, with you as queen,” Tori advises

“I understand that, and from what I have heard, Sweepstake, it’s called, is ran by the people rather than the mayor himself, so his actions do not represent the city,” Zinnia replies,

“I look forward to meeting these leaders at the Bellwether Ball, though I do not know too much about it,”

“I heard that it’s a twice a year, yearly event, where all the faction leaders meet up to discuss the goings on within their faction, the city, as well any issue that may have arisen,” Pinoki divulges

“Can you all attend then?” Zinnia questions

“I believe so, if we ask Giichi sir, only battling isn’t allowed that night,”

“In that case……………”

……….

*****

“Mr. Ginobelucci, sir,

Since the city has finally recognized us as an official faction, this will be your first time attending the ball as a leader,

Is it almost time for that?”

“Mmm, yes, you are correct, that old fool Giichi is going to be there

Which means we can finally stop our charade with the adventurers,

Get the beasts artifacts ready Adrik,”

“Sir, you don’t mean?” Adrik grins excitedly

“Yes, it is finally time to commence our true plan”