Trial Three~Birth280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxTlGj3W1s
Avarice had gone to get Nikiro since Sin didn't want to and this for sure, didn't go unnoticed by Illya. When they came into the hut, Sin had been trying really hard to avoid eye contact. Kashino went over to his mother to discuss something while the other's watched Illya open a portal back home.
"Mom, can I go with them? It's been forever since I last saw Nikiro!" Kashino pleaded.
Sin spun around, protest written all over his face. "I mean Solaria's got pretty harsh conditions and like...you could die so maybe you should stay here!" Sin cursed himself for being so childish, but he still couldn't help himself.
"Harsh conditions are nothing. We have that over here too. Plus I'm a warrior, I wouldn't be killed so easily," said Kashino.
Hideki, who had been standing in the doorway the entire time tossed Kashino a bag with basic necessities. "Oi, Princess Crybaby, why don't you let my boy go with you."
Chiyakuya looked down at the bag in Kashino's hands. "Are you sure? He's never been outside the rifts for a long period of time before?"
Hideki nodded. "That's exactly why he should go. Get some experience in the outside world. Trust me if anyone can take care of him it's her." He pointed to Illya.
Illya sighed. "Fine, but I have to discuss some conditions with you." Chiyakuya and Hideki walked outside to talk. Sin didn't wait for them to come back, he just sped through the portal, leaving everyone else behind.
"...He...uh...must be really tired..." Nikiro said, still unconvinced that Sin was just tired.
Avarice scratched his head nervously and went in after Sin. Callisto, who was sitting and watching everything unfold stood up and dusted himself off. He patted Nikiro's back.
"Sorry about that, my sons are always kinda moody, don't let it get to you! Bellany, come with me I'll show you to my daughter." 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCVQc4FkP0
Bellany nodded, following Callisto through the portal.
"I'm gonna head back too. I'll see you back at the castle sweety!" Tekina finished organizing her notes on the trip and headed through the portal herself.
A few moments later, Illya returned and smacked Kashino on the back.
"Alright kid. Looks like you're getting your wish. Come on. Let's go."
She waited as Kashino said goodbye to his parents and Nikiro lead him through the portal. Illya was the last to enter, to make sure nothing went wrong. As the portal closed, so did their little excursion to the ancient land. Now it was time to head back home.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Ea had taken Tah Min out for a walk in the gardens. Ever since the death of her brother, she had understandably been quite down. She didn't let it get to her for long though. She was adamant in picking herself back up, saying that it would have upset her brother to see her down for so long. Tah Min hadn't taken apart in the battle several days ago despite how much she wanted to because Ea recommended she take some time to remove herself from the madness so she could collect herself and take the time she needed to mourn. Now that she was feeling better, Ea wanted to take her out and spend some time with her. He held his arm out and she gladly accepted as she linked her arm through his and they strolled leisurely through the gardens. At some point during their walk, they had come across Ri-is and Yukimi, who were looking around on the path opposite to them. Tah Min waved and they came over.
"Good Afternoon Tah Min. How are you feeling today?" Asked Yukimi.
"Much better now. What about you? Were you looking for something?"
"Yeah, actually. We just went to check on the baby. She seems to be holding on pretty well. The doctor is tending to her but he asked us if we could go find Astrid. He says the baby had been a little fussy since mom left this morning. He think's that maybe having another girl from the family around might calm her down. We can't seem to find her though." Explained Ri-is.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiHSc5ZWrP
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCIPJR3ivn
"Have you checked her room?" Asked Ea.
Yukimi shook her head. "Not yet. We were just heading there actually."
"Would you like us to help you look for her? I'm sure the more people looking, the quicker we'll find her," Tah Min offered.
Yukimi and Ri-is looked at each other and broke into a fit of childish giggles as they looked back at the pair in front of him.
"That's alright. You don't have to...I mean, you two seem pretty busy right now and we wouldn't want to interrupt you guys." Yukimi pointed at their hands.
Both Tah Min and Ea looked down and immediately separated their hands. A deep, rosy hue crept onto their faces as they pulled away from each other. "W-We're not busy at all! Come on, let's go to Astrid's room!" Ea stammered as he walked off, Tah Min close behind him. Ri-is and Yukimi exchanged glances with big smiles plastered on their faces as they followed after them.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
When the arrived at her room, Ea knocked on the door. There was no answer.
"Astrid? You in there?" Called Ri-is.
Still no answer. Ea pushed the door open slightly. "Astrid we're coming in!" He pushed it open all the way and looked around the room.
"She's not here..." Noted Tah Min.
Ri-is walked over to a corner of her room."I guess not...maybe her and Tobi went out for a ride."
Ea sighed and looked out the window. "I guess we'll just have to talk to her when she gets back." His eyes wandered down to a pile of papers that were scattered across the little table in front of the window. "What's...that?"
Everyone looked over at what Ea was gesturing towards. Ri-is shrugged. "Dunno...Astrid...isn't much of a reader...that's weird..."
Tah Min took a closer look at the papers. "Um...I don't think they're normal documents...they're letters!"
Ea poked his head over Tah Min's shoulder. "What letters? From who?"
Tah Min laughed, the soft chime of bells rung in Ea's ear. "I don't know. The envelopes are signed with the initials A.D...I accidentally saw the first few words when I picked it up. Looks like it's from a boy." She put the letters down. "We shouldn't pry too much into it."
"What! What boy?" Asked Ea.
Ri-is thought for a moment. "Y'know...yesterday I saw Tobi bringing Astrid a letter. When I asked who it was from they were really evasive about it. They said it was nothing but then an hour later I saw them laughing like little girls while reading it. When I asked them again they said the same thing."
Ri-is and Ea looked at each other.
"No!" Came Tah Min's chastising. She glared at them as if she already knew what they were thinking. "Guys don't read her letters!"
Ea raised his hands. "Okay okay, I know this is a really Zur-Sin thing to do and normally I would never condone such actions, buuut...you can't tell me you're not even a little bit curious and this is my little sister we're talking about! If she's hiding something, I'd like to know why!"
Tah Min and Yukimi looked at each other."Fine but...you can't read all!" Tah Min compromised.
Ea picked up one and began to read it.
"I'm the happiest kid on earth this morning and it's because I've finally received your letter! Every time I speak of you, people tell me I should break things off because we're so far apart, but today one of my patrons who bought a trinket I had made in honour of you said that she thought we should stay together! I don't know what it was like for you, but for me it was as if I'd known you my entire life. If I'm being honest, I never believed in love at first sight until I met you. I love you my darling and from now on there will be no more talk of us quitting. I know it couldn't be done and it isn't necessary. Goodbye sweetheart. All my love for you.
Your own,280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLIAO4VWYI
Stone Beastie"
Tah Min and Yukimi awed in unison. "A love letter!" They chimed.
"Stone Beastie? Stone Beastie? How cheesy. Who is this guy and why is he sending our Astrid these letters?" Ea's eye twitched as he scanned the letter.
Ri-is picked up another letter. "Look! This looks like she was drafting a letter to send to him. Probably not in response to that one though. The dates are different."
Yukimi leaned over Ri-is' shoulder to read it.
"My sweetheart, you sure did have a funny dream. Well, I can't tell you how I would act under such circumstances. You see darling, I haven't had much experience with gentlemen who do things like you did in your dream. However, I do like trying new things. Here I am in my little room, just wishing you were with me. I hadn't thought of it before you told me yesterday. I love you very much and I'd surely like to give you what you want, and I want it too, but there's no use to think of it right now. Perhaps it's too soon to suggest this, but one day maybe we can even get married. So you'll try real hard to be patient, won't you my sweet beastie? After all, it'll be some time before you return to Solaria."
Ea almost passed out. "M-marriage? She's thinking of m-marriage? With a stranger?" Tah Min laughed nervously and sat him down on the bed.
Ri-is scanned the letter again. "Seems like it. Looks like she really likes this guy...whoever it is. I've never seen her try and speak so proper before haha!"
Ea was pale with worry. "When did she even meet this man! Just a few months ago she said she didn't want to get married!"
He picked up another letter. Of course, it was from Astrid's mystery man.
"I like to tease you about little things because you're just so funny and sweet about it. I'll promise to do what you say, although if it happens, I hope you won't be angry. I kind of hope it does because in the future I'd really love a family with you. We can read books together, listen to music together, work together and be with each other all the time. That's paradise. I know I'm a dumb guy when it comes to things like this but it's all I can think about when I think of you."
"WHAT HAPPEND? WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?" Ea panicked. He moved to rummage through more letters but the girls stopped him.
"Alllright! How about we end it here yeah? Maybe don't do anything crazy? I'm sure there's a reason why she hasn't told anyone about this person." Tah Min gently nudged him in the direction of the door.
He turned around and grabbed her shoulders. "Minny! She's only sixteen! They're most definitely moving too fast!
Yukimi and Ri-is glanced at each other yet again. With a snicker, they turned to Ea and Tah Min.
"Minny? That's a cute nickname you've given her there Ea," chuckled Yukimi.
Ea froze. He let go of her as he got flustered. That seemed to get his mind off of Astrid and completely distract him.
"Wha—"
Before he could say anything, Yukimi and Ri-is were pushing them out of the room.
"Come on lovebirds. Let's just go check on the baby. We can wait for Astrid there." Said Ri-is.
They walked out, laughing at the flushed pair.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAI1aonnKB
