34 Chapter 10: The Change 8 (1/2)

”So.... umm... Exactly how old are you guys?” She asks, as we went on walking following her lead.

”I'm twelve years old, princess.” I answered. I eyed the three and waited for them to state their ages as well.

Eriol just sneered at me. Levi boldly ignores my gestures and Aerra arched a brow at me. ”Why aren't you telling your age, she is asking?” I whispered.

”Silly. She was only asking yours.” Aerra whispered back, nudging a shoulder at me.

”What? Huh? No—.”

”How dense.” Levi murmured almost inaudible.

”Yeah, Aeron. That's obvious, isn't it?” Eriol added, also whispering.

I don't get it. She said 'you guys' though.

”Ah, I see. Well actually, I'm twelve years old too.” She turns her head to look at me over her shoulder. ”And Maru is nine.”

”Oh. I actually thought you were around eight or nine!” I stated, nonchalantly.

”Wha—?! D-do I look that childish?”

Aerra nudges at me once again, glaring.

'What?!' I groaned at her.

I sighed. ”It's not that you seem like a child, I suppose I just naturally assumed because of the height. I apologize if I offended you in any way.”

”Umm. N-no. It's alright.” She looks away, focusing her attention to the road ahead, but I can see her hands both cupping at her cheeks.

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When we finally arrived at Geníse Store, Levi and I cleaned off all the mud while Eriol and Aerra talked to Hysmin.

She gave out specific details of the area and drew a mark on a map for us. She then thanks us greatly.

I can't have Levi do that teleportation once again after seeing what it does to him. So I decided to ask Princess Ifrit for a favor which she gladly agreed to aid us in our travel.

And so, Princess Ifrit and Prince Maru escorted us to the harbors where the guild for merchants are found. She helped talk with the guild master to lend us one of the Courier Airships.

It's smaller than an ordinary airship but they boast its speed and agility in flying.

”She's fast, nimble, and a beauty too! She's built to out-speed even the fastest Pirate airships out there! So with this, you can reach the outskirts of Greenrun by only an hour!” Says one of the engineers as he opened the doors for us.

”Well I guess this is goodbye. Feel free to visit us soon. We will gladly accommodate you! I'm sure my parents will be happy to do so as well!” says Princess Ifrit. ”We owe you our lives after all.” she added, timidly.

”Thank you, Princess. But you owe me nothing! This airship is more than enough, really! Any how, Greenrun will be ready to accommodate you as well if you wish to visit.”

”I'll be sure to remember that. Farewell, Lord Aeron and—!” she pauses, eyeing my friends.

”I'm Eriol of House Windstray, first of my line.I'm a vassal under the House Leingod of Greenrun.” says he in a bow. And then he whispered at me, ”Too late now for introductions, isn't it?” But it was low enough that I only heard it, luckily.

”I'm Aerra. Umm... Aeron and I are twins.” She rubs at her nape. Maybe conflicted if she had to introduce herself as a girl or a boy, seeming as that would just mean an arduous explaining to do.”I'm uhh— actually...”

But then, Levi cuts in.

”And I am Levi of House Morlock from the Osteell Empire of the East, Son of the Castellan and next in line to the title. It's a pleasure” he bows briefly.

Princess Ifrit taps at her cheek. ”I remember you. You saved me and my brother as well, together with Lord Aeron, yes? I just don't know where you went since you disappeared. But still—!” She nods at her self as she studied Levi's face and then pounds a fist on her palm as if she figured something out. Her eyes sparkled as she went on, ”Yes! Of course, you did saved us as well after all. Both of you did so I'll be sure to relay your deed to my father! I owe you my life as well! I'm sorry for the late introduction. I wa—!”

”Excuse me, Princess. We might have actually a misconception here.” Levi interrupted, pulling Aerra beside him. ”Aerra is actually a girl. We wish not to fool you. We just had a situation so we had her wearing this for some personal reasons. That's why she wasn't able to properly introduce herself.”

”Oh.” Princess Ifrit just uttered shortly. ”It's actually fine. I take no offense from it”

”But on her behalf, I apologize for the confusion. If you allow me, I'll introduce her properly myself.” Levi side-glances at Aerra as she just squirms under his gaze. ”She is Lady Aerra of House Leingod. Only daughter of the Duke of Greenrun and twin sister of Lord Aeron. She's also my fiancee.”

Princess Ifrit just blinked in astonishment. She paused for a moment before she snaps to finally reply, ”Umm. I see. Uhh— on that case, if you both wish to visit here someday, I will be sure to accommodate the two of you.”

She then turns at Eriol, ”You too, Lord Eriol.”

Eriol just nods.

”I suppose I should introduce myself properly as well. My governess will surely get mad if she founds out I'm setting manners aside and introductions late!” She laughs. ”I am Ifrit of House Rahn. First born out of the six siblings and the crowned princess. This is my younger brother, Maru. He's born mute. He's the second born but first son.” The siblings exchanged glances, Maru beamed greatly. He seems contented with the brief introduction about him.

”Sadly we need to go now too. Father might be worried about us by now since General Jecht already brought the bad men you apprehended earlier. Again, it's been a pleasure to meet all of you!” She says in a slight bow. Prince Maru did the same.

”Safe travels, new friends!” She concluded.

We then began to board the ship.

Suddenly Maru pops out from my behind and pulls at my arm. ”What is it?” I asked. He hands me a golden pocketwatch. He gestured at himself and then point at me.

I'm guessing he wants to give me his pocketwatch.

I looked at it and saw the royal crest of Ak'hilheim.

It can symbolize our friendship with them so I suppose it won't hurt to accept it.

”Thank you, your Highness!” I beamed at him.

Maru beamed at me and then ran off back to where his sister is. They both waved at us as we all finally boarded the ship.

The deck was casted off and the door closes.

It soon began to disembark, hovering way up high to soar the skies.

We waved back to the siblings below and with that, we finally left Ak'hilheim Kingdom.

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I flipped my pocketwatch close as I gaze at the cabin windows.

We still have plenty of time left before sundown. The banquet will be held by then so we need to return home before dusk.

Right now we're still aboard the airship Princess Ifrit provided for us.

This airship is supposed to be faster than an ordinary airship but I barely feel we're going fast by just watching the scene from the windows. If anything else, it feels as if we're cruising leisurely.

I sank further down the bench I sat on and just hauled a sigh. I would have wanted to make the trip back faster but I don't have the heart to ask Levi, knowing it drains his energy a lot if he uses that automobile hyperloop drive thingy again for teleportation.

I guess I just have to make do with whatever time I have now to rest until we arrive.

I looked around the room. The room is not that spacious as other airship cabins usually are but they had few benches planted firmly on the floor to provide seats perhaps for guests. The ceiling is made of resilient looking glass that allows you to enjoy the view from above while the walls are covered in simple wallpapers where few circular windows are equally distributed. Not much of a furniture aside from the seats, I thought.

On one area of the room, it elongates into an edge that curves into a half circle where the entire wall is made of the same resilient looking glass similar with the ceilings, joining as one actually, but despite that resilience, a railing is provided which marginates the entire room. Perhaps something you can hold on too in dire situations? I reckon this is supposed to be a cargo ship belonging to some known merchant guild in Ak'hilheim but I'm quite surprise they still provided rooms like this.

Aerra stood by where that floor-to-ceiling glass windows is, holding on to the railings while looking beyond, while Levi stood beside her, perching on the railings.

I kept scouting my eyes around up to and about the degree where I end up looking at what's infront of me, a bench where Eriol sat with crossed arms. Is he napping?

Suddenly his eyes opens and met mine.

I nonchalantly look away.

I can see Eriol stood up from the corner of my eyes. He glances where Aerra is for a moment as he made his way towards me. I sat up straight.

”I'm amaze how you're not fuming with that guy monopolizing your sister over there,” he says, pointing at them with his thumb. ”I guess you really grew up now, huh?” he added, throwing himself at the empty space beside me.

”I don't know, he's not doing anything suspicious as of now at least.” I replied with a brief shrug. Eriol casually lays down on his back, leaving his head on my lap. I glared down at him, ”And what do you think you're doing?” I grunted at him.