CHAPTER 2: TO JOIN HANDS - ACT 1
"You're gonna WHAT!?"
"You heard me!" Akashi enthusiastically replies to me. "I'm going to set you up with one of my friends! Cya-hahahahaha!" Her maniacal cackle echoes throughout my bedroom. "Your parents are pretty cool with me, so I doubt they'll mind you marrying a witch. Don't worry, your highness, I'll pick out a good looking one just for you!"
Her wink and thumbs up doesn't fill me with much confidence.
"Uh… Hmm…" Jeez. I need to think about this for a sec.
Akashi is familiar with her friends, right? So… she could easily match what they're into with what I can offer! "Hmm… Yeah… I guess we can give that a try…"
"Huh? Why are you being so hesitant? You've gotta take action, your highness! You can't move your destination, so you've just gotta move towards it!"
What the? When did Akashi get so wise? She's definitely done this kind of thing before!
I take a deep breath and raise my chin. "Akashi, you're totally right! I'll fire my bow, and strike my target!"
Wow, her wisdom is starting to rub off on me!
"Yeah! That's the spirit!" Akashi exclaims, proudly slapping her hand on my back.
You know, I'd never considered marrying a witch before, but I guess it would be useful having a queen with special powers around… Especially since the threat from the East side is becoming more and more dangerous.
***
"The threat from the East side is becoming more and more dangerous," my father declares.
Akashi and I stand before my parents and the four robed members of the council, all of whom are seated behind a long oak table.
"As such, we must increase our own defenses. Akashi, we are eternally grateful for your help in defeating the sorceress who attacked Prince Goyasaku the other night. The display of your powers have influenced our decision to ask your coven to aid our defenses."
So that's where Father was going with this sudden summoning. I guess his proposal makes sense. The West side witches would also want their territory to be free from our enemies, so it's likely that they will help us.
"Prince Goyasaku, we request that you approach the head witch from the West Forest with our proposal, and Akashi will show you the way there. I take it neither of you have any objections?"
Father sounds serious about this. He must have been spooked when I got targeted.
"No, your highness." Akashi responds first and with zero emotion. Her boldness reassures me.
"No, Father."
***
"So, uh… Who are you gonna introduce me to?"
"Hmmm… I'm not too sure, actually… Let's see now…"
Oh, great. So Akashi hadn't decided who it would be. She just came up with the idea on an emotional spur, and is only now applying some logic! I'm glad we're alone in the forest so no-one can see my distraught!
"What about… Eren! She's slightly older than you, but she's cool and confident, plus she wears a super cool eye patch!"
Huh? An eye patch?
"I can't believe annoying salesmen wander the forest, too! Get lost, buddy!"
Yikes! I remembered! She must be THAT witch from before! Oh man, I highly doubt I'm in her good books right now!
I nervously look around. "Um… Akashi, can it be a witch whom I've not run into yet?"
She stops walking, and so do I.
She closes her eyes, and covers her mouth with her finger. "Hmmmmmm… Well, there's maybe one stranger who's a good match for you, your highness! Not only is she super cute, but she's a sucker for a man in expensive clothes! Cya-hahahahahaha!"
Ah… Yeah, that girl sounds like a match!
"Her name's Etsuko. I'll introduce her to you right after we've finished speaking with mother!"
I feel my shoulders relax. "Yeah… That'll be great. Thanks, Akashi."
"Hey, don't mention it!"
We approach the hut by the stream. It looks way less spooky in the sunlight.
We stand before the door, and I give Akashi a nod.
She then bangs on the door way too hard!
"Mother! Prince Goyasaku is here! He wants to ask you to round up the gang and protect his palace from some evil freaks!"
"Akashi! I was supposed to make the proposal!"
"Huh? Whoops! Heh-heh… Sorry! Got ahead of myself, there!"
As Akashi awkwardly rubs the back of her head, the door suddenly opens. Momoka stands before us with an annoyed look on her face.
I try to stay calm, but my nerves are probably showing as I shoot the lady a nervous smile.
"Akashi, will you wait outside, please?"
"Sure thing, mother! Best of luck, your highness!"
Akashi waves at me and walks away, humming to herself.
Alright, now I'm on my own. It's time to lend my kingdom a hand.
"Come in, young man." Momoka goes into her hut. I follow on and close the door behind me.
She walks over to a large cauldron containing some thick, bubbling green mixture. She grabs a giant wooden spoon from the wall, and starts stirring… whatever that stuff is.
"So, you want us witches to be your bodyguards, huh?" Momoka asks while staring into the vat.
"Ma'am, you and your coven will greatly complement our existing guard. I was recently attacked by a powerful East side sorcerer, and Akashi defeated her. It's only natural that the council now wants to leverage your coven against future attacks. You will all be paid handsomely, of course."
"Ha! How amusing," she taunts with a smirk. "Us witches have spent generations perfecting our craft, and we'll always have clients paying us bags of gold."
"Alright. If generous pay is not enough, then I'm willing to negotiate additional benefits for you."
Momoka stops stirring and faces me, unamused.
"Benefits, huh? It makes no difference what you shower us with. We survive in the forest on our own, and we develop our powers every day so we have no fear."
I pause to consider my next move. I guess she requires something far… deeper.
"Fine. We will always pay you out of courtesy, but you will also receive something far greater as a token of our appreciation."
"Hmm? And what will that be?" she questions as she raises her eyebrow and smiles.
"The respect of the villagers."
Her smugness disappears. Momoka turns back to her cauldron and starts stirring once again.
Her tone becomes gentler. "Is Akashi okay after her little fight?"
"Yes. She was injured, but my medical staff nursed her back to health."
"Thank you, your highness. A girl like that attracts all kinds of trouble. I sometimes wonder what will happen when she finally meets her match…"
I stop for a moment to consider Momoka's words. I take a breath, and speak softly. "Ma'am, I get what you're saying. Your coven guarding the monarchy will put you all in great danger. I've been tasked with simply forwarding the proposal, and I'm under no command to force you to agree."
She stops stirring. "But us risking our lives for the West side will earn us the respect of the villagers. Is that what you're selling me on, your highness?"
"Yes, miss. I know that the witches were here long before the monarchy took over, and that no witch has ever been arrested during my family's reign. I don't believe that it's justified that the villagers fear your coven, but that fear exists nethertheless. If your coven fights to protect the West side, then the villagers will hold you all in high esteem."
Momoka stands there in silence. After a while, she turns around to face me again. "Allow me to speak to my coven first, your highness."
I smile at her. "Thank you, ma'am. I know it's not an easy decision to make, but I look forward to hearing your response, whatever it may be."
Momoka nods in acknowledgement.
Phew! That didn't go as badly as I thought!
I look out the window, and I notice Akashi happily stroking Ban's head.
"Um, Ma'am, just so you know, Akashi is not my bodyguard. I've hired her as my… wingman."
"Your wingman, huh?"
"Yes. She's helping me find a queen-"
"I know what that is."
My shoulders tense up. Momoka's abruptness revealed it all. "I knew it. Akashi has done this kind of thing before, hasn't she?"
Momoka also goes over the window. She crosses her arms as she eyes her daughter.
"She was offered a job on the East side two years ago, so she emigrated over there. She worked for a governor who wanted someone with powers to help him find true love. After a year, Akashi finally got him matched with a counselor's daughter, and the two got married."
"Wow! That's great!" I smile at Momoka, but all I'm greeted with is a solemn face gazing out of the window. I drop my smile and I face my wingman again.
"Did Akashi fall for him?"
"Yes. He's a charming guy, and they spent so much time together over there. In all her letters to me that talked about him, her handwriting was the most beautiful I've ever seen. I kind of wish she hadn't burned all those letters…"
I fall silent as I'm filled with all kinds of emotions. It's great that Akashi was successful, but her past saddens and shocks me.
"Miss Momoka. I appreciate your time."
She bows to me, and I quietly leave the hut.
I walk over to Akashi who's beside the stream, and I stand beside her. She throws little stones into the water one by one.
"Akashi, you're risking your sanity. Everything you do as a wingman for me will remind you of the time you worked for him."
Akashi picks another stone from the small pile in her hand, and tosses another one in. "Are you questioning my judgment?"
I face her. "Yes, I am," comes my blunt reply.
She looks at me plainly. "Well… I'm not."
"Huh? But… Akashi…"
"I watched you that night, you know. You apologized to my mother straight after you disrespected her. No ego blocked your way. I'm super careful about who I choose to help, and those who recognize their mistakes and make up for it right away will always be worthy of my time."
She throws all of her remaining stones into the stream. "Your highness, my future is my responsibility, and your future is your own. Just remember that I chose to help you."
Akashi…
I look down, take a breath, then place my hand on her shoulder and look into her eyes. A gentle wind blows past.
"Akashi, when you're done helping me, I will find someone for you. I promise."
Akashi's eyes glisten, and she gently smiles at me with reddened cheeks. "Hey, that would be awesome! Thanks, your highness!"
