Hero

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

The princess actually had to bite her lip for a moment, trying to stifle a giggle as she would look at Wesley. "Is that all? Wesley, that's something everyone has had to deal with at some point in their life," She gently reminded him, placing both her hands on his in an effort to get him to relax. "In our own eyes, we will never be good enough to rise to the occasion. There's always some reason or another stopping us from going forward, when the truth of the matter is that it's frightening. We don't know what the future holds for us, but that only means we are the only ones who can shape it."

She was being completely honest at that point, though perhaps she had assumed too much. Still, she had said it anyway, and decided to roll with it. "Even if you truly feel inadequate, even if you truly believe you won't be a great king, you can always count on me. You're not alone anymore, not with me around. I will do my best to guide you as you need it. You may become king, but that doesn't mean you become this pillar of solitude."

---

Lorenzo stared at Jaakuna for a moment, though rather than disbelief, instead confusion was on his face. He then scoffed, much to Reia's surprise, and he crossed his arms. He seemed to be in thought for a moment, as if trying to assess whether or not Jaakuna was telling the truth. He peered at the man, though it seemed that he was trying to remember something. Reia raised an eyebrow at him, slightly suspicious. She figured he'd be either jumping for joy or on the floor kissing Jaakuna's feet.

After a moment, Lorenzo snapped his fingers. "I remember now! It was Jackson Darcone that was famous in Archadia for being one of the youngest engineers in Archadian history!" He seemed very proud of himself for remembering, though he furrowed his brow at Jaakuna. "What, are you related to him or something, Jaakie?"

Reia nearly staggered, though she stared at him. "He is Jackson. Are you truly that dense?"

"What?! Really?! You mean your name isn't actually Jaakie?!" Lorenzo gasped rather dramatically, even taking a step back. After a second though, he would recompose himself. "Though I like 'Jaakie' better then 'Jackson'."

"I...feel like your shock is misplaced..."

---

By some miracle, she had managed to close her eyes and drift away for a moment, though as she would sit up, she couldn't help but feel worse. No, it had nothing to do with her head, but her body was aching. She felt so...tired. Perhaps because she hadn't eaten anything at all? No, this was more than fatigue. Every muscle in her body went against her will, wanting only to rest. Emiri let out a groan as she would lay back down, an arm over her head. She almost wanted to go back to sleep, but her headache returned, and now it was just cumbersome. It was a little sharper then usual, though as she would force herself to sit up once more, she nearly jumped out of her skin as she spotted someone on the balcony.

How had she not seen him? He was very still, watching something in the distance. The wind blew his black hair around him, and as he would tuck a lock behind his ear, he would notice her. He was deathly pale, his eyes a dark, deep gray, almost black. His clothes were more on the casual side, though he was dressed entirely in black and white. He smiled, deciding now was a good time to approach her, and a small panic rose in her head.

Forcing herself to get up, she would jump to her feet, though she would remember she had no weapon. Great. "You're trespassing." She informed him rather coldly, deciding to stand her ground.

"Really? But I was invited," He cheerfully responded, clearly not seeing her as a threat as he would simply waltz into the room. "Everyone knows Rozarria is infamous for its privacy, a nobody would never be able to wander the halls without permission."

She didn't want to admit it, but he was right. "Then who are you?"

"A friend," He replied simply, holding out a hand to her. "After all, you were the one who invited me, Emiri."

He knew her name--well, her fake name. How? He didn't look familiar to her at all. She wasn't sure if she could believe him, though he didn't look hostile at all. But there was something she couldn't quite put her finger on, something in her heart that told her not to trust him. Karolina was probably busy with the Council, but maybe she could somehow get Aloa to come by. If she was even around, who knows where she is, She thought, contemplating her next move.

To her surprise, the man frowned. "What is it?"

She shook her head. "I don't know how you knew my name, but that alone doesn't give me enough reason to trust in you." She said.

"Good point," He would drop his hand, a rather mysterious smile on his face. "Let's see...I do know many things about you. I know that for many years you've been a hunter, I know that you've been sailing around the world on a wanted airship with a wanted criminal, I know you were previously engaged to Prince Grant."

"Those things are public knowledge." She pointed out.

He would walk over to her, causing her alarm, though he would simply take a seat on the bed. "I understand. You would rather I divulge deeper, more intimate details. Like your betrothal, perhaps? Only a few people bar the royalty of Archadia know about that. Or maybe something simple, like the fact that your favorite color was violet until you fell in love with a sky pirate, in which now you find yourself preferring red. There's also the fact that you wanted to originally become a soldier in the army, just like your father. How about that you hate your hair loose because it reminds you of your mother--" Emiri visibly blanched at that point. "--Oh, forgive me, is it too soon? It's a shame what happened, really."

How did he know any of those things? The first one, maybe word had gotten around, but she had never told anyone about the rest. She narrowed her eyes as he would raise his hand again, beckoning her. "That's..."

"All truths. I know everything there is to know about you," He said as he would stand.

"What do you want from me, then?" She asked. "I have nothing to offer you."

There was that smile of his again. "Actually, you do." He stated, walking right up to her. She backed away, only to hit the dresser behind her. "You have that little gift of yours, don't you? But that is not what I want. What I'd really like is your heart."

Emiri nearly laughed, shaking her head at him. "If this is your attempt at wooing a woman, I daresay you could use some more practice."

"Oh, not romantically," He corrected her, as he would take her hand in his. "I want your heart to be mended. I am well aware that it is currently shattered into a million pieces. Why would Jaakuna leave you behind like that?" That hurt more than she wanted to admit. As she looked away, he would gently place his hand under her chin, pointing her face towards him again. "Fear not. I won't abandon you."

She didn't respond. Though the sound of footsteps alarmed her to someone else's presence, and Emiri would duck away from the man as Aloa entered the room. "Do you feel better?" The viera asked her.

Emiri was surprised that she hadn't mentioned the man, though when she turned to look at him, he was gone. Had he fled? "I...I'm fine. Just tired," She admitted.

Aloa seemed to notice something in the air. "...Rest, then. It will do you well," She said slowly, looking around the room.

"Is something wrong?"

Aloa paused, as if contemplating the answer. "No," Was her simple, unconvincing response as she would turn and leave.

Emiri let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding, and she looked around herself. Where had he gone off to now? Should she have notified Aloa? She was beginning to think she was imagining things. And yet, as she really thought about it as she would sit on her bed again, she was disturbed. He knew so many intimate details about her, things she had never shared with anybody. Even her preference to red! That wasn't something she would ever casually bring up in a conversation.

What's wrong with me? She noticed her own body tensing up, her hands on the side of her head. He's probably just trying to trick me. This much she was sure of. Though the more she thought about it, the more...familiar he seemed. Somehow. How was that possible?

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Wesley was stressed.

It was the understatement of the century, really, and more than obvious. Nadeline was more then positive that he was nodding off to her words out of politeness, though once they had stepped into their cabinet, not even that would remain. He seemed to be deep in thought, all but ignoring anything she was saying to him. Not that she was saying anything important at the moment, but she had hoped she could be a slight distraction for him. She honestly had no idea what to do; despite all her talk about supporting him, what exactly was she supposed to do? Stay by his side and simply nod at every decision? Steer him in the right direction? But what was the right direction? Now that she really thought about it, she was actually at a loss. Despite knowing her whole life that someday she would be married off and live as a queen, now that it was happening, she felt very unsure of herself.

Still, she wasn't about to lose hope just yet. If Wesley was lost, then it was her job to put him on the right path.

Nadeline wandered over to Wesley, placing both her hands on his shoulders. He was tense. Super tense. She would then slide her hands under his coat, the act coming off as slightly sensual, though that wasn't her purpose. Instead she would knead her knuckles onto his stiff shoulder blades, her hands gently massaging his shoulders.

She would lean down, placing a light kiss on his cheek. "It'll be alright," She told him quietly, lifting her hands off of him and wrapping them around him. "Whatever you need, I'll be here. Talk to me, what troubles you so?"

---

To say Grant was disappointment would be putting it lightly. He couldn't help but get sulky, doing as Savayna commanded and the ship would start, lifting them above the ground. Pressing a few buttons, the garage door would open, granting him access, and they were off. Lorenzo had worked on it somewhat since they last rode it; the ride seemed much smoother than before, the controls less clunky and more obedient to his commands. He nodded in approval, though as they would soar, he really wanted to know why Savayna was being so moody--rather, more pessimistic than anything. Still, he couldn't quite bring himself to ask, and would much rather ride in silence then risk facing her wrath.

A sigh escaped him, entirely on accident, though he figured it was a sign. He would then pull the ship back, and they would come to a temporary halt. He would then turn around to look at Savayna, a very serious look on his face.

"If you really don't want to go, I'd rather you say something now," He told her, a slight frown on his face. "We could just forget about the whole thing and meet Jaakuna in Archades."

---

Reia looked around curiously, unable to understand anything the pair spoke of. They were two regular peas in a pod, and she could feel a headache coming on already. Lorenzo, on the other hand, was having the time of his life, especially now that he could see his predictions were correct. The magicite definitely had a filter, just as he thought, though it seemed to have been combined with some sort of mechanism. A reader, he guessed, that Iris could read and respond to. It was genius, he was more than sure her calculations could either pump out more power as needed or cool things down and preserve energy. But wouldn't that mean the conductors would have to be especially precise for any sudden changes? Even with top-notch technology that was something to calculate. He ended up craning his neck to get as close a look as possible, only to get pulled back by Reia.

"Honestly..." She shook her head at him, pointing at Jaakuna. "If you have something to ask, say it instead of sticking your head in there!"

"Huh? OH!" Lorenzo raised his hand, as if he was in school. "Say, who built this ship? Are there any blueprints around?"

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

The blonde haired man was scrutinizing every detail of the Ifrit, muttering to himself. He was making several observations, his face scrunched deep in thought as he would guess the materials, the calculations made for the ship, wondering who had made the blueprints and where he could ask. His eyes were burning with a passion that would put the sun itself to shame as his eyes darted this way and that. The teleporter was a refined, updated waystone, this much he was definitely sure, using approximately three hundred times the amount of Mist a normal Waystone would use. No, it would have to be more considering the speed they had come, unless the teleporter was equipped with a Mist filter, in which case it wouldn't use as much Mist to compensate for the new stone? He was ninety nine percent sure that the metals used were a mixture, he had seen the same of other Archadian ships, but he would daresay that the Ifrit had maybe four or five metals instead of the standard two or three. Not only was the build itself a marvel, but the ship boasted both functionality and style! Truly a sight to behold! No wonder the Ifrit was on all the watchlists; Archadia was probably kicking itself in the shin for letting such a magnificent peace of work out of its hands! All this and he hadn't even examined the engine yet!

Reia, on the other hand, was a little more nonchalant to the whole ordeal. She was more than well aware that Archadia was much more technologically ahead than Rozarria. It wasn't that it wasn't impressive--she found many aspects quite fascinating, actually--it was more that technology itself never really interested her personally. The strange voice was something else though, especially since it responded to Jaakuna. Lorenzo would perk up immediately, staring at the ceiling. Reia let out a slight sigh as she would shake her head. She definitely recognized that look, though unfortunately, Jaakuna questioned it.

A shine emitted from one of Lorenzo's eyes, his muttering now much more audible as he would point to the ceiling. "An artifical intelligence!" He finished Jaakuna's statement, a crazy grin on his face. "But not just any old A.I., a self-reactive assistant capable of steering the ship and having complete control over any and all of the ship's various amenities and controls! She even calculates arrival times! The complexity behind it is astounding!"

Reia stared at Lorenzo blankly, having absolutely no idea what he was talking about. "...Perhaps...a tour of the facilities is in order...?" She asked rather hesitantly, as if afraid of Lorenzo's reaction.

Lorenzo was bouncing like a kid in a candy shop. "A tour! That's a great idea!"

---

As Grant would climb in, he couldn't help but notice Savayna's rather nonchalant attitude about the whole situation. He really thought she would be happy with the situation, but he wasn't quite sure what was bringing her down. Well, there was always the fact that she hadn't seen her family in a while. Perhaps they weren't on good terms? It sure would make things harder for him, wouldn't it?

"Do try to contain your excitement." He couldn't help but tell her as the ship would take off.

---

The palace was quiet, the absence of the Empress causing most operations to be put on hold. Any servants that were around were tending to their business quietly, the guards at their stations as they always would be. It was oddly nostalgic as Emiri roamed the halls, recalling that only silence accompanied her. Back then it was a comfort, but now the only thing it did was remind her just how alone she really felt.

A part of her was still in shock; she really didn’t think Jaakuna would leave her behind. It hurt to think she was nothing more than a burden the way she was now. She was always so independent before, now she felt weak again. Had she learned nothing? He had thought it was for the best. Their conversation from last night replayed in her head, and she felt nothing but bitterness. Sorrow. Frustration. Betrayal. Desperation. The emotions swam around in her heart freely, her mind an utter mess of thoughts that came and went as they pleased.

She winced, the familiar sensation of pain filling her head. Of course the pains would return, as if she didn’t have enough to deal with. They would come in fiercely, though they would subside after a moment. She didn’t feel well at all, but lying in bed was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted to do…well, something. Anything. Anything that would distract her from her feelings of betrayal and abandonment.

Don’t be so dramatic, She couldn’t help but mentally reprimand herself. This is exactly why you ended up in this situation.

She ended up wandering back into her old room, and let herself fall onto her bed. She let out a rather frustrated groan, burying her head in the sheets. Maybe a nap would fix things. No, it wouldn't, it's been far too long since she slept in a bed by herself, and she missed his presence terribly.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Lorenzo patted Emiri on the back, as if to reassure her of Jaakuna's words, and she would nod in return. With that being resolved, she would watch as Lorenzo dragged Reia along as they followed Jaakuna to the Ifrit. Emiri gave them a small wave, though now that they would actually leave, she felt completely crushed. She would feel another hand on her shoulder, and after seeing Nadeline, she shook her head.

"Nadeline, I..."

Nadeline would smile, instead pulling her into a hug. "I'll see you soon. Be well, alright?" She said as she would break away, eyeing her carefully. "You'll be fine. I believe in you."

Did she? That made one person in the room who would. Still, as she would watch Nadeline and Wesley leave, hand in hand, a pang of guilt and jealousy hit her. She should've just been honest with Jaakuna, she didn't want to be alone, now more then ever. Don't be selfish. What they're doing is important, too. She thought to herself, though it honestly didn't help her feel any better.

---

Grant let out a slight yawn as he would look around Lorenzo's garage. Despite having been there quite a few times, he still had difficulty finding anything in there. It wasn't that Lorenzo was messy, it was the opposite; the man had his own, strange way of organizing things, and liked everything to be set up a certain way. He claimed it was what helped his 'genius', but honestly, Grant figured he just did it because it was more convenient for him. To each his own, but right now, Grant was looking for a specific set of keys. As he opened the first drawer in the last row, he spotted the set he was looking for, spinning them on his finger in victory.

"Now we're set to go, your chariot awaits, my lady," He announced as he would head over to one of Lorenzo's bikes, beckoning her to follow. "This will get us to Mt. Bur-Omisace in a hurry. If there's one thing Lorenzo's good for, it's his technology."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

'Stay' was probably the last word Jaakuna meant to say.

Her eyes were wide at the end of his sentence, though she couldn't quite shake off the rather bitter feeling resurfacing with a vengeance.

'As if I'm going to leave your side after what happened today.'

She felt so stupid, she should't have been surprised at all. Of course he'd want her to stay behind, she was a liability at this point. It was her own fault. But didn't he want her with him? Maybe hearing it from someone else was one thing, but why would Jaakuna say it to her? Tearing her gaze away from him, the unfortunate headache returned, though she was much better at hiding it this time. No, it was for the best, no matter how much she hated it right now. And she really, really hated it right now.

Emiri would stand up, her hands behind her back as she would turn to Jaakuna. She gave him a small, sad smile. "It's okay, I get it. Really, I do," She admitted, half-shrugging.

Lorenzo watched the pair carefully, though he noticed Reia was less than amused. Ignoring her for the moment, he placed his elbow on Emiri's shoulder, leaning on her for a moment. "Hey, hey, hey, no need for that face. Remember Anther? I'll take good care of your boy, you can count on that," He said confidently. "We'll be back before you know it. Just think of it as a fun field trip!"

"Fun for who?" Reia couldn't help but ask. "You are going to end up driving me insane by the time we get to Archades."

"To be fair, I do that on a daily basis." He informed her rather cheerfully. Reia muttered something under her breath, though Lorenzo ignored her again as he gave Emiri his attention, pinching her cheek. "Don't look so sad! It's gonna make Jaakie here all moody when we go."

Emiri pouted. "You all get to have fun and I get stuck here. Where's the justice in that?"

Lorenzo grinned, looking at Jaakuna. "Sounds like you're going to have to make it up to her. What do you think?"

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

"I wouldn't say stealing so much as borrowing. Siblings do that often."

The prince paused as he spotted Wesley, Nadeline, and Lorenzo speaking. He figured Lorenzo was having a tough time saying goodbye to his daughter, even if he had the distraction of traveling with Reia to Archadia. It was a bittersweet moment for him, but Nadeline had made up her mind. Grant shifted in place uncomfortably, the realization also finally dawning on him. Without really thinking, he would put down his bag, walking over to her, and quickly pulling her into a hug.

Nadeline was confused at first, having been caught off guard, but as Grant pulled away, he would only smile. "Take care of yourself," He told her quietly as he would back away.

Lorenzo looked like he was about to cry again, and instead put his head on Grant's shoulder. "I can't believe she's abandoning us!" He wailed.

"No, Lorenzo, she's--"

"After everything we've done for her! My heart is crumbling, Grant! Crumbling!"

There was the Lorenzo he recognized. Yanking his shoulder away, he nodded at Wesley, ignoring Lorenzo's bawling for the moment. "Until next time," He said simply, picking up his bag and taking Savayna's hand in his as he would lead her away.

---

Reia paced her office with a rather nervous expression. Karolina watched her curiously, wondering what exactly was on the Empress' mind. Aloa watched her as well, though she seemed more amused than anything. When Reia came to a halt, the pair eyed her, only to nearly jump as Vlyn would enter the room.

"I've informed everyone that needed to know. You're all set to go, Eminence," Vlyn said, bowing. "The Council is aware and has agreed to put things to the side and will react accordingly upon your return."

Letting out a small sigh of relief, Reia nodded. "Thank you, Vlyn. I suppose that means I can finally depart," She said, striding across the room and exiting the door.

The trio followed suit, creating a small entourage as they would follow their Empress. Most of the servants they passed would bow to her, a few wishing her luck and others offering words of encouragement. She didn't know why she felt so pressured all of a sudden. But that kind of thinking would do her no good, and as she approached Jaakuna and Emiri, she decided she would just have to leave herself in their...capable hands.

As Reia entered the room, Lorenzo followed suit, sulking. He perked up slightly at the sight of his sister, shooting her a grin. "About time!" He boasted, placing his hands on his hips.

This earned him a glare. "An Empress leaving her country cannot simply up and leave. Unlike you, I have responsibilities," She reminded him, rolling her eyes. "Honestly..."

Emiri watched the siblings converse, though after a moment, she looked at Jaakuna. "It doesn't hurt anymore," She told him, a little relieved. "Though I can't say I won't get a headache from Lorenzo, he's a bit of a handful."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

"You suppose?" Grant mused out loud as he would lead the way. "Fret not, you are in capable hands." He wasn't sure what exactly why he had so much confidence, but he was making sure he would ride the wave for as long as he could. Even his stride was affected, but he wasn't about to let it go to his head just yet. No, getting there and finding Savayna's family was the easy part, so he would make sure to focus on that part first. Taking a ship over there would take far too long, so he already had an idea on how they would get there. All he needed to do was swipe the keys from Lorenzo.

He looked back at Savayna. "We'll go for something fast, considering that Jaakuna will most likely take the Ifrit with him."

-------

Emiri didn't respond right away. The first thought that popped into her mind was the fact that she had no one to walk her down the aisle. She didn't want to admit it, but her mother was always there when she imagined herself getting married. She fiddled with her hair tie, her fingers lightly pulling and feeling every little clover on it. She was getting frantic again, she didn't want to think about anything anymore. She didn't want to feel sad, she wanted to scream, she wanted to rage to the heavens, she wanted to just make it all go away.

More than anything she wanted her mind to just be silent.

And yet, said silence was driving her just as crazy as her grief was. So much so, she had nearly forgotten what Jaakuna had said. Forcing herself to focus, she stopped playing with her hair tie long enough to rest her hands. She shook her head at him apologetically. "I'm glad you're always thinking ahead," She admitted quietly. "I can't even think straight myself right now." She let out a small sigh, scratching the back of her head as she would try to change the subject. "Traveling with Reia and Lorenzo...it'll be interesting, won't it?"

-------

On cue, Nadeline scowled at Wesley, displeased that he would agree with her father. She was more than happy Wesley would indulge him, but Lorenzo had a tendency to get his head inflated anytime he got encouraged. She huffed at her fiance, pouting rather childishly as he spoke. His declaration of protection warmed her up somewhat, and she let go of her mini grudge. Lorenzo grinned again, pleased at Wesley, though he would get a little more serious as he patted Nadeline's shoulder. "Now, now, my most precious daughter, the same way Wesley will protect you, you need to do your part and protect him, too." He said as he would wrap his arm around her shoulders. "There's nothing more beautiful then seeing the power of love on the battlefield, after all."

Nadeline shook her head at him. "Father, I appreciate the sentiment, but we will be fine," She assured him. "You have nothing to fear."

Lorenzo looked at his daughter, then at Wesley. "I sure hope so. I can't shake the feeling I have, it's a father's intuition," He admitted, releasing Nadeline and placing both his hands on her shoulders. "Now, listen here, should anything happen, I want you to get together with the others again, is that clear?"

What was he talking about? Should what happen? She felt like he knew more than he was letting on, but she didn't think he was going to divulge it so easily. Instead she stepped back from him, hooking her arm with Wesley's. "Of course, Father."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

There was something bittersweet about the events transpiring. For one thing, on the political side a massive change was about to happen, something that would benefit all Ivalice. Even if it would only last a little while, a needed peace would fall on the land, and everyone could focus on the enemy: Zodiark. The fact that Reia would even agree to walk into enemy territory was an accomplishment in itself, though Emiri had to admit that the pressure was on to make sure Reia would arrive in one piece.

So why did she feel so abandoned?

It was always a thought in the back of her mind that she had been putting off, she supposed. Most of them were people of influence, so it stood to reason that once everything was said and done everyone would return to their homes and go on with their lives. Perhaps she had gotten attached. Perhaps she was just uneasy about her own future. Either way she felt terribly alone, and slightly bitter for it. She blamed her grief; it seemed to be easiest this way, and she was still shaken from her mother’s death. She’d just have to deal with it for now, as the time to get ready was upon them. But what was she going to do?

Meanwhile Nadeline had to deal with her father’s mood swings, which got less and less charming as he would alternate between an overprotective, adamant force and a weeping, whining mess. She should have been used to this by now, but for once she couldn’t keep up with the man. She half-wished he would go bother Wesley instead, though she couldn’t honestly wish it upon him. As Lorenzo blubbered behind her as they walked to her room, she couldn’t help but stop in her tracks, turning to her father and placing her hands on her hips.

Lorenzo sniffled pathetically, trying to contain his hiccups. He cleared his throat, mustering up some decency as he looked at his daughter. “Nadeline…you’ll always have a home here, don’t forget that,” He told her quietly, genuinely looking upset.

“Thank you, Father, but please don’t be so sad, I don’t want Mother following suit,” She pleaded with him. “Although now that you’re to accompany Reia, I have a favor I wish to ask of you.”

The blonde man huffed, crossing his arms. “I already know about Emiri, if that’s what you’re going to ask,” He told her. “As much as I have confidence in Aloa’s abilities, I think it’s best if she stayed here, just in case. Can’t have her go stabbing Jaakuna or anything.”

“Don’t joke like that,” Nadeline reprimanded him with a frown.

“I’m not joking,” Lorenzo told her. “I realize that you all have your own things to do, but somewhere along the line you’ll have to revisit this problem.”

The princess let out a small sigh. “I know. But I have confidence in Aloa…and in Emiri. Now that she knows what she did, I’m hoping that she will have the strength to fight it. More importantly…” She looked at her father sternly. “I’m relying on you to take care of Reia and Jaakuna in my place. He’s impulsive, brash, and jumps at the first chance for a brawl.”

“He sounds like a problem?”

“No, he sounds like you.” She rolled her eyes. “I can’t help but feel you’re going to end up egging him on more than you realize. Do try not to drive Aunt Reia insane with your shenanigans, will you?”

“Him? Like me? He wishes!” Lorenzo grinned, though it faltered as Nadeline glared at him. “I’m a grown man, I can do whatever I want! Why am I the one getting scolded?”

“Because seeing as not only with Wesley and myself gone, Grant won’t be with them either, so someone needs to be the responsible one. And unfortunately, that falls on you, Father.” She pointed out. “I’m being serious.”

Lorenzo patted Nadeline’s head, much to her annoyance. “I know. You leave them to me while you accompany your king, alright? I have a feeling now that you’re all separated is where the real hard part starts.”

Back in his own room, Grant let out a low whistle, turning to Savayna. "We can leave at anytime that pleases you. Shall we?" He asked.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Grant slowly rose from his position, lightly dusting himself off. It was more for show than anything, as the maids usually kept the palace completely spotless, though he did it anyway. He felt stiff, though he wouldn't complain as he would join Savayna and together the pair would walk to the dining hall. The atmosphere seemed heavy, all things considered, as while their bodies were healed, their minds were clearly in a place far away. Nadeline was pensive, which wasn't unusual, but she seemed deep in thought. Emiri herself was rather quiet, barely stifling a yawn, and for some reason Grant couldn't help but wonder what was troubling her.

Deciding to make an attempt to lighten the mood, instead Grant initiated the greeting, "Good morning."

Nadeline snapped out of her thoughts, nearly jumping out of her seat in surprise. "Ah, good morning!" She greeted him, though he couldn't help but notice her rather apologetic look.

Emiri looked up from her untouched plate, a small frown on her face. "Good morning," She parroted him with a small shrug, though her look became more curious as she noticed the pair together. Were they together during the night?

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

No father in their right mind would approve of Grant, this much he knew. Though what was there to not love? His dashing good looks? His status as an enemy prince? His previously psycho persona? The fact that he was set to marry another woman not too long ago? Clearly Savayna was over-exaggerating and simply too nervous to present him to her family. Although the more he thought about it, perhaps leaving out his previous engagement was for the best, the rest of the details could be ironed out at any time. She was married once, as well, so if a buffoon like Jaakuna could get her hand from her father with success, then Grant definitely would.

(Albeit in the back of his mind he distinctly remembered something about a political marriage and benefiting both families...ah, details.)

Grant instead would take his beloved's hand in his, calmly patting it, as if to soothe her worries with such a simple action. Of course, he knew it would not assuage her, but instead, it was actually more to reassure himself. All he needed to do was stay with confidence and determination. Easier said than done, but... "We'll just have to see, then," He shrugged a shoulder as he would tilt his head slightly, as if trivializing her freakout. "We will go, and then we can take it as it comes."