CHAPTER 4: TO LOSE HER - ACT 1
The princess lies on the ground unconscious. Etsuko keeps her glowing palms on her, and Eren keeps watch beside them.
I stayed by the river with Momoka.
"We'll have to be on our toes when we're around the princess," the lady notes. "She was either fleeing persecutors on the East side, or she's invading the West side with malicious intent."
Her bluntness makes me grit my teeth, but I can't fault her thinking.
There's no doubt that the princess is a powerful sorceress herself, but something tells me she's far from evil.
It's time to make a call.
"Under normal circumstances, I would send a trespasser back without hesitation, but so far she hasn't tried to harm us, nor is she in a position to tell us her full story. Miss Momoka, I acknowledge your concerns. She could indeed be a rotten apple, but the fairest thing to do right now is to hear her side of the story through the court. If we abandon her now, especially after she saved all our lives, then it'll leave way too many questions unanswered. I believe it's worth taking the risk."
"Very well, Your Highness."
Momoka's being impressively fair, given the tough circumstances.
She bows, then looks behind her at the princess. "She's in a very bad condition. Even Etsuko's powers won't heal her up anytime soon."
"Right. Let's get her to the village immediately."
I then look into the distance, and I see Akashi with her back to me as she watches the forest.
She seems… tense…
***
The princess is now moving forward through the air, feet first with Eren walking behind her head. Etsuko keeps her palm on the princess's torso to monitor her health. Momoka rides sideways on Ban at the back of the group, keeping an eye out for danger from the rear. Akashi takes point at the front.
I walk alongside the princess parallel to Etsuko, all the while trying my best to keep my chin up.
It's a shame we can't move any faster, but we've gotta be careful with her.
"How's she doing, Etsuko?"
"She's stable for now, Your Highness… But something's not right. She has so many injuries. I can sense some internal bleeding and even some broken bones! Are you sure she fell out of a tree?"
"Etsuko, don't question the prince!" Eren scolds.
"Huh? I can't do that? Oh, no! Sorry, sorry, sorry!"
I shoot them both a light smile. "It's all right, you two. Maybe she didn't fall from a tree. Maybe… something else happened to her before I reached her…"
Akashi places her hand on her stomach. This catches my attention.
"Let's rest here for now."
"You heard His Highness," says Momoka. "Eren, gently place the princess down."
"Yes, ma'am."
As the princess is laid down, Eren and Etsuko stretch out.
"Akashi, I'd like a word with you, please."
She turns around and looks at me plainly. "Yes, Your Highness."
We both venture out a few yards from the party, then face each other.
"Akashi, when I was running along the energy wall to reach you, I noticed that the footprints of Zaiken and his guards had trailed off, and then I found the princess after that. Therefore, as far as I know, only one other person could have crossed paths with her before me." I cross my arms. "I'm sorry, Akashi, but you're the one who injured the princess, and I command you to explain yourself."
I didn't sound angry. I didn't raise my voice. Just a straightforward, neutral order is all I need to get the truth from her.
Akashi looks down and hides her face under her hat's rim for a few moments. She then looks up at me with a straight face, ready to tell her story.
She'd better have a good reason for hurting the princess!
***
I jog down the side of the energy wall, heading North. Man, this energy wall is so big and scary! No doubt the head sorceress made all this… Her dark energy powers are capable of almost anything!
Now… This wall's gotta be broken somewhere along here! I'll eye it carefully to spot any weaknesses. Let's hope no nasty sorceress suddenly jumps through it!
WHOOOOSH!
Huh? Where did this sudden wind come from? It ain't cold, but it feels dense…
I stop moving to assess the situation. Perhaps a storm is coming, and it's time to take shelter.
What the?
The wind suddenly gets stronger. It's coming from the West. Something's just not right about it.
Suddenly, the wind gets so strong that it starts pushing me toward the energy wall!
This weather is seriously cuckoo!
"Ungh!" I use my hand to shield my face from the wind. I can't see anything suspicious in the forest, just violently rustling trees and bushes.
I feel myself sliding toward the wall.
Oh, crap! This wind's in a bad, bad mood!
I generate a curved shield made out of crystal, and use it to protect my body from the gust as it washes over my cover. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
Suddenly, a girl with long silver hair and a beautiful blue and gold stitch dress emerges from the trees. Her palm faces me. Ah, SHE'S controlling the wind!
Wait… I know her!
"Hey! What are you doing? Don't you recognize me? I'm Akashi!"
She remains emotionless.
I struggle to stand my ground. The gust is so strong that I continue to slowly slide across the grass. Now I'm only a few meters from getting vaporized!
That does it! I don't care if I know her! I have to defend myself here!
I transform my curved shield into one shaped like a giant arrow. The wind is cut in half by the arrow's apex, and it flows along the sides of my shield so it can no longer move me back.
I push forward, and start moving toward my attacker.
"Grrrrrrrrrr!" It's tough work, but I manage to get closer and closer to her. She seems unphased by my advancement.
Once I get close enough to her, I make a crystal hand emerge from my shield. The hand grabs her wrist, and forces her palm to the sky, making the wind go upwards instead of at me.
I then turn my shield into dust, jump through the cloud at the princess, and punch her in the face hard.
BAM!
She's knocked back into the greenery, and the wind stops. I can now move around freely. Just the way I like it!
I jump into the greenery and rush toward the princess just as she stands up with her back to me.
I tackle her from behind, and I slam her forehead into the tree!
CRASH!
The tree shakes from the impact, and many leaves shower us.
Huh? She's still conscious?
She stretches out her right arm in front of her, then elbows me hard in my stomach!
"Urghh!" Dammit! She's been working out!
I'm knocked back, and the impact nearly makes me topple over! Luckily, I gain my footing.
The princess turns around, revealing her bleeding head. Uh oh!
She faces her palms to the ground, and a gust of wind picks up multiple twigs. They aim at me like daggers, and she launches them all at me!
I'm just conscious enough to do something. I create half a hollow sphere out of crystal, and launch them at the twigs. The twigs get destroyed, and my half sphere travels over to the princess.
The half sphere then morphs into a full sphere, and the princess gets enclosed within my crystal dome.
I've got her!
The princess stares at me hard through her transparent prison, and my victorious grin soon vanishes as I feel the wind around me pick up again.
No way… She can control the outdoor wind even though she's trapped inside there? She's improved her powers!
She's not passing out from a lack of oxygen in there, either. The wind she's able to generate must be fresh air!
The gust swirls around me hard, and I realize I'm about to get trapped in her whirlwind!
WHOOOOOSH!
I can barely open one eye now. It's like being in a sandstorm! But my palms remain stretched out to keep my sphere intact.
But, at this rate… I'm gonna be scooped up off my feet and tossed into the energy wall!
I have to stop her… now!
I drop to one knee and place my right hand on the ground. Crystal veins form along the ground and reach the sphere. I then slam my left hand onto the ground, and the crystals beneath the sphere grow and grow vertically, pushing it higher and higher into the air to the point where I can barely see it whilst looking up.
"Take this!" I clap my hands, and my crystal tower shatters. The princess inside the sphere begins falling to the ground. The sphere is heavy, so although she tries to cushion her fall with her own winds, they're not strong enough to fight its gravity!
KA-BOOM!
The sphere hits the ground hard and shatters into a million pieces.
I generate a crystal shield, hide behind it, and close my eyes as dust and crystal fragments strike my barrier. I then wait for the wave of debris to pass over me.
After a while, I open my eyes again, and look ahead as the dust clears. The princess is lying on the ground, unconscious and bleeding.
She's not pretending... No one could stay conscious after an impact like that.
I drop my shield, run over to her and kneel by her side.
I can't believe this! She's known me for ages! There's no way she'd just attack me like that, unless…
I carefully open one of her eyes, and it fades from a darkish navy to its usual light blue color.
Dammit! She was under a mind control spell!
I immediately stand up and check my surroundings… but there's no one else around. She must've been controlled by someone a fair distance away, and knocking her out broke the spell.
I look back to the princess.
She's still breathing. That's good, but I've badly injured her.
I've gotta get help!
"Hold on, princess. I'll be right back!"
I race into the forest in search of my coven.
***
I see… So Akashi was defending herself… I guess.
It's true that she was the only one who could have hurt the princess, but was the princess really being controlled like that?
Akashi looks blankly at my doubtful face. She wants me to make up my own mind about what happened, huh?
"Akashi, are there any witches on the West side who could have done it?"
"No, Your Highness."
"And in the East?"
"Sorry, I'm not sure. I don't know of any sorcerers over there with those kinds of powers, but I was only over there for a year."
"Hmm…"
There's a chance the princess was under no mind control, and therefore committed a crime by attacking Akashi. But all I have to work with here is my friend's statement…
"I'm not just your wingman, you know…"
I look at her and stand frozen for a moment. Clarity suddenly washes over me, and I softly sigh and relax my shoulders.
"I know, Akashi."
I smile at her, and she smiles back.
"Come on. Let's get the princess back to the village."
"Sure thing, Your Highness."
I start walking off, but then I stop and turn to Akashi.
"By the way… What's her name?"
"Kiyori."
***
We eventually reach the village.
Just before we enter, Akashi takes off her hooded cloak and covers Kiyori with it. We have no idea if the mind controller is in the village, so we choose to keep the princess hidden for now.
It's real early in the morning, so fortunately no villagers are around as we walk through the streets.
We probably look bizarre right now. We're surrounding a levitating woman covered in a witch's cloak. But I continue to face forward and lead my team with confidence.
We reach a rectangular fort with tall wooden walls and no rooftop. I knock on the towering oak door.
"What, what, what? It's way too early in the morning to be sick, you know!"
The door opens, and Doctor Takumi, wearing a pink bedtime robe of all things, squints at me through his small, round glasses.
"Hmmmm… Huh? Your Highness! What are you doing here at this time?"
"Doctor Takumi, I need you to heal this woman. It's urgent!"
He looks at the cloaked Kiyori as she floats in the air. He closes his eyes and starts tapping his chin. "Hmmm… I do have a long waiting list for patients at present…"
I sigh. "I hereby pause all taxes on the Takumi Health Center for the next two months."
"Oh, yeah! That's right! I sorted out my entire waiting list yesterday! I'll sort out this young lady right away. I'm always happy to help, you know! Hahahahaha!"
As Takumi laughs away, the witches grumble at him, unimpressed. "Hmmmmmmm!"
***
"Wow!" Akashi's jaw drops as she gazes out at the fort's inner garden. It boasts colorful flowers, lush grass, an oak pagoda and a small pond with fish. The dawning sun gives everything an orange glow, which only enhances the incredible sight.
Along the North wall lies a row of beds under a wooden shelter. Eren carefully transports Kiyori over there, and places her onto a bed. Momoka takes off the cloak.
Eren, Etsuko, and Momoka then look around, and become stunned as Akashi.
"Whoa!" whispers Eren. "What… is this place?"
"It's a garden surgery, Eren," I explain. "Doctor Takumi believes that being surrounded by nature speeds up one's recovery."
"Oh, really? Let's play around her and put that theory to the test!"
"Not yet, Etsuko!" commands Momoka with her eyes closed and her arms sternly crossed.
The young witch stomps. "Awwww! No fair!"
"Doctor Takumi, Etsuko has healing powers and Eren can alleviate any gravity pressure on the princess," I inform him.
"Ah, good. I'll need to use both your powers. Miss Momoka, could you please make some more bone recovery potions for me?"
"Huh? What happened to the batch I sold you two days ago?"
"Um… Well… I-I have to look after my own body too, you know! Can't make the weak strong if I'm not strong myself! Hahahahaha!"
As he carefreely rubs the back of his head, all the witches grumble at him again, this time louder…
"HMMMMMMM!"
***
Despite his eccentricities, Takumi proves himself to be an excellent doctor.
He directs Etsuko to deliver careful doses of her powers on the most damaged parts of Kiyori.
He gets Eren to levitate parts of the princess during times of recovery, such as levitating her arm to relieve pressure on it.
Momoka prepares various recovery potions, and helps Kiyori to drink them.
The next day, as Kiyori rests asleep in her bed, Akashi and I watch her from a distance in the garden.
Akashi looks at me and squints her eyes impishly. "So, do you like her?"
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Oh, great. My cheeks are red again! "I'm just helping her out because she helped us!"
"Sure! Whatever you say, Your Highness! Hee-hee-hee!"
"Hey, it's the truth!"
Akashi's embarrassing me again, but she's totally caught me out here.
I've gotta be honest with myself, though. I do feel myself being drawn to her…
My voice becomes serious. "Can you… vouch for her, Akashi? I don't want any more assassination attempts from the East side."
"I can, Your Highness. I've known her for years. She's sweet enough," comes her comment with a carefree shrug.
"I see…"
I turn away from Kiyori and face the garden.
There's no guarantee she'll be granted refugee status on the West side… She could easily be sent back to the East, and I'll probably never see her again…
Should I… really get attached to a woman I'm just escorting?
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
"Why are you thinking about politics at a time like this? You should be thinking about what your heart says!"
Whoa… Am I really that easy to read?
"I just… wanna be realistic here, Akashi," I admit. "Whenever I try to court a woman, something always gets in the way. She's too busy. She's seeing someone else. She has eyes for another guy. And in this case, she can simply say that she doesn't belong here, and walk away forever."
Akashi puts her hands on her hips, and thinks to herself. "Hmmm…"
Maybe I should be more… optimistic? Positive thinking is crucial for me to find a queen, after all.
But, that said, I can't predict the future!
"Who cares!" Akashi exclaims.
"Huh?"
"Whatever the court rules doesn't matter. If you two were meant to be together, then you'll both find a way to make it happen! If you really like her, Your Highness, then at least try to win her over!"
I consider what Akashi says, then look back at Kiyori.
You know what… I can see things working out between us.
No more excuses!
It's time to win over that princess!
I face my wingman. "Akashi, help me to win her heart!"
She smiles at me. "Sure thing, Your Highness! Your wish is my command!"
***
Next to the beds, in the corner of the garden, is a small brick room. Inside it is the kitchen.
Akashi prepares vegetables, fruits, and spices. She pours them into a vat of water which stews above a lit wooden stove. She happily hums and shakes her hips as she stirs the broth.
I didn't know Akashi enjoyed cooking so much.
I sit in the corner reading a romance novel.
Planning, planning, planning.
***
Kiyori is sitting up on her bed. She's awake and silently watching the garden in motion.
She looks to her side, and sees a witch approach her.
Kiyori smiles at her visitor. "Hey, Akashi! Long time, no see. How are you?"
"Um… filled with nothing but regret, Your Highness," states the somber witch. "I'm the one who beat you up, after all. Please, forgive me for what I did," she asks, bowing deeply.
Kiyori just keeps on smiling. "It's okay, Akashi. You were just defending yourself, and knocking me out was the only way to break the spell. Fortunately for you, I'm a real tough cookie! Hahaha!"
Akashi looks up at Kiyori in earnest. "Thank you, Your Highness!" She bows again, and the princess acknowledges her with a nod.
Akashi straightens her back. "If… you don't mind, Your Highness, I'd like to formally introduce you to the one who saved you."
Akashi steps aside, and I step forward.
"As you know, this is Prince Goyasaku, monarch of the West side. Your Highness, this is Princess Kiyori, monarch of the East side."
"Good morning, Princess. It's nice to meet you."
Easy does it, Goyasaku… Show a genuine and confident smile…
"Hey. It's nice to meet you, too."
Her smile is so warm, and her voice is so carefree…
No time to get distracted, though! It's time to make my move… "Princess, I've brought you something."
A wooden bowl of steaming soup with a wooden spoon, cupped in a lavender tea towel, levitates over to myself and I grab it. Akashi winks to Eren in the distance.
"Doctor Takumi says you don't have to eat plain foods anymore, so I made you a special soup for breakfast."
She looks at the bowl. "Hmm?"
Please be ravenous!
"Wow, great timing! I'm so hungry, I could eat an entire buffet!"
Phew! "Y-yeah! If this doesn't cure your hunger, Princess, then I don't know what will! Akashi, you're dismissed."
"Yes, Your Highness." She bows and departs.
It's all up to me now…
"Here. Give it a try."
I carefully hand the bowl wrapped in a towel over to her, and she cups it in her hands.
She breathes in the steam. "Mmm… This smells heavenly!"
She then tries the soup.
When I tried it, it was fine. I sure hope she has the same taste buds as me!
"Wow, this tastes heavenly, too! Totally lives up to the hype! Thanks, Prince!"
Success! Her face glows with delight, to the point where I completely forget she's unwell.
It's like… she's a whole new person!
I should order Akashi to cook me my food in the future!
***
For the next few days, I spend time with Kiyori. I sit by her bedside. I listen to her. I laugh with her.
Once she recovers where she can walk again, we take a tour of the garden together. We visit the flower patches, the pagoda, and the pond. I'm impressed that she can name all the species of the fish there!
One day, I find myself sitting on a wooden park bench next to Kiyori. I glance at her as she stares out into the garden. She looks so happy. I'm glad she's made a full recovery now.
"Um… Princess Kiyori…"
She gazes at me with her sparkling blue eyes.
"I… uh… I'm going to make arrangements for you to go to the immigration court tomorrow. There's nothing to worry about. I'll make sure that everything is done safely and fairly."
She giggles. "You don't have to do all these things for me, you know. Just say the word, and I'll throw myself back over the energy wall!"
She's teasing me, of course, but I have to stick to my guns.
"No, Princess. I know that you're here for a good reason, and the right thing to do is formally hear you out."
She smiles at me devilishly. "Oh, yeah? I think you're just displaying all your power to impress me!"
"Huh?" I close my eyes and defiantly straighten my back. "Ahem! Princess, I will not stand for being taunted on my own land! I'm also shocked that you would treat such serious political matters with merriment!"
"Whoops! I'm so sorry, Your Highness! Will you ever forgive me?"
I open one eye and look at her. "Hmmmmmm... Well, alright! Just be thankful that I'm in a good mood today, Princess, or else you'd be locked up in my tower by now!"
She covers her mouth and giggles at my teasing. I open my eyes and laugh along with her.
She then gives a solemn sigh and stares out into the garden again. Some doves on the ground fly away.
"A court appearance, huh? That's a very risky move. There'll be many from the East side who want to take me back by force, and I'll be easy prey if I'm out in public like that…"
Alright. Time to shine!
Confident face on… Chest out… Here I go!
"Don't worry, Princess Kiyori…"
"Hmm?" She faces me, and I place my hand on my heart.
"I will always protect you… No matter what. I promise."
She's slightly taken aback by my words, but she soon returns to being laid-back/ "You know I'll always hold you accountable for that, right, Prince?"
"Of course," I reply. "It's only natural."
I don't think I've ever experienced a moment like this…
It's just the princess and I… sitting here, gazing into each other's eyes.
Happy. Healthy. Together.
I wish this moment would last forever.
Could this be… what love is like?
