Akagame No Shirayuki-Hime-The Next Chapter

As Twilight woke up, she noticed the sun was shining and the birds were chirping. She went for her bag, then she realized she had only packed a notebook, pencils, some ink, and other miscellaneous clutter. A change of clothes was nowhere to be found.

"Darn." She said quietly. As she started to rummage around, she eventually stumbled upon a shirt, a skirt, and a small jacket. As she dressed, she smiled. Then, a knock came at the door, and Obi walked in.

"You ready, Twilight?" he asked.

"Yep." Twilight said, grabbing her bag.

"Let's go, then." he replied, and as they walked out towards the keep, Twilight smiled. Obi huffed quietly and as they continued to walk, Twilight looked over at him.

"Where are you from?" She asked.

"Not important. I have no interest in that life." he replied quickly and snappishly.

"Oh." she replied. "Why'd you end up working for Zen, then?"

"It's a long story." he replied. "I did some favors, went on a few adventures, the like. There's a lot of things I've done."

"Same for me." Twilight replied. "I tend to get into adventures and general mischief quite often."

"Seems like you're experienced in dangerous situations." Obi replied.

"Well, when my sister in law and I were searching for some medicinal plants for a friend of ours, we got cornered by…"

"Bandits?" Obi asked.

"A Goliath Worm." Twilight said.

"Really?" Obi said.

"Yeah. It's not exactly the most….pleasant of creatures from my homeland. Scales cover a good part of its body, gaping mouth, long, string-like appendages that snare, it's really not very nice. The reason it attacked us was kinda...simple."

"Hungry?"

"It had a head cold." Twilight replied.

"It attacked you because it got a cold?" Obi said incredulously.

"Yeah. After it...erm...sneezed on us, my sister and I managed to dodge it, butt my friend wasn't so lucky...he got pretty sick and had to be contained in a magical bubble for two weeks."

"I thought he was sick already." Obi said.

"He was faking." Twilight said. "Wanted too be sure we were and I quote "Still friends."

"Seems rude." Obi said, laughing.

"He's a nice guy. Mischievous and comedic, but nice." Twilight said as they arrived at the keep. Soon, they found Shirayuki, Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide at a small room. While the two of them sat down, Zen looked over at Obi.

"What took you so long?" he asked.

"Stories." Obi replied simply. Zen sighed and sipped his tea, to which Shirayuki started to giggle.

"Shirayuki?" Zen asked. "What's so funny?"

"I've never imagined you as the person to drink tea, Zen." she said. "Most of the time when I was growing up, I had to make do with water infused with herbs."

"Well, the other option is alcohol, which I don't exactly want to drink liberally." Zen replied.

"Didn't they serve wine at the party at the Lion's Village? You drank then." Kiki said.

"Well, that's different." Zen said. "It was...more of a formality."

"I thought you didn't like formalities." Mitsuhide said.

Zen blushed slightly and scowled. Then, Twilight started to giggle.

"Sorry." She said. "This had got to be one of the most interesting breakfasts I've had."

"Hear, hear." Obi said.

As they laughed, atop the balcony overlooking the room, Izana Wisteria watched with interest. The guards had notified him they, along with Zen's messenger, had caught a thief pursuing a girl. They also said Obi had taken the girl to the dorms, something that bothered Izana in a way he could not describe. But there was something about the girl, judging from what he saw, that could only be described as odd. There was a strange...feel to her.

"Interesting…" he said quietly.

"Your highness."

Izana turned to see Lord Haruka walk up.

"Ah, Haruka. Any news about the thief from last night?" Izana said.

"He is in custody." Haruka replied. "That's not what I wish to talk about."

"I can make a guess as to what it is." Izana replied.

"That girl is a risk." Haruka replied.

"I think otherwise." Izana replied. "She has not been here long, yet she dines with my brother like good friends do. She is an interesting case, I will say."

Haruka sighed.

"Still, I do not think it is a good idea for people to be that close to the prince."

"Do you care for my brother's safety, Lord Haruka?" Izana asked.

"Yes."

"Then let me deal with this. Do not approach unless approached yourself. I also are for my brother's safety, but something tells me…"

Izana smiled as he looked over at Zen.

"That Zen will be able to handle this himself."

"As you wish."

Haruka bowed and walked out of the hall. Izana, after a few seconds, smiled and walked over to the staircase.

"Let's see what this girl is made of." He said quietly as he walked over to the table.