Chapter 108: Encounter

Are you sure you can't come with us, Big Brother?", Princess Alfin asked with a reluctant look in her eyes as she turned her head toward Prince Olivert.

"Alas, but I've a mountain of paperwork waiting for me. I am unfortunately not on vacation like you are, my dear sister.", Prince Olivert responded with downcast eyes. However, he immediately recovered, only to give us a wink.

"But~ I might have a certain friend of mine come check on how you guys are faring later.", Prince Olivert continued to, revealing a smile.

"Oh my. I wonder who ever this friend of course could be, Big Brother?", Princess Alfin said, deciding to play along as she clapped her hands again. My head pat and our hug had already ended.

"You're weird.", Estelle blurted out bluntly.

The moment Estelle blurted that out I burst into laughter.

"Haha! That's one way to put it, Estelle.", I replied, revealing a grin. "If we compare His Highness to a normal person, then yes he is indeed, not normal.", I continued to say.

Still, Prince Olivert couldn't be referring to that...alter ego of his, could he? Wondering that to myself, Joshua behind us could only do a face palm.

"I swear Estelle, your bluntness", Joshua couldn't help but utter. As he did, Kloe and Emma giggled.

After Estelle said that a moment ago, Prince Olivert shifted his eyes to the twin tailed brown haired girl who was currently looking at him with eyes of curiosity.

"So you're the famous daughter of the Divine Blade Cassius.", Prince Olivert said, sizing Estelle who was now beside me. When Prince Olivert said that, Estelle's eyes lit up.

"You know daddy?", Estelle asked with interest.

"Haha, how could I not, fare maiden? Your father put our country through the wringer and gave us a run for our mira a few years back. He had since retired from the military, but during his campaign, he was definitely a force to be reckoned with. I was not directly involved in that clash though, so I didn't see it happen in person.", Prince Olivert answered Estelle.

"That's cause daddy is the strongest. It's always fun to train when he's around!", Estelle responded happily.

"Estelle is right, in a way. But Zemuria is large and wide. Cassius is definitely not the only strong person out there.", Joshua said, approaching Estelle's side. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness Prince Olivert. You as well, Your Highness Princess Alfin.", Joshua said, giving a bow.

"indeed. You are Joshua Bright, are you not?", Prince Olivert asked, observing the black haired boy now.

"How am I not surprised you already know me?", Joshua responded nonchalantly. "But that's right. I am Estelle's brother, Joshua Bright.", Joshua said, introducing himself to the two.

"I didn't know that Cassius had a son too.", Princess Alfin responded as well.

"Well it happened pretty recently. I was surprised to see daddy carrying a boy into our home.", Estelle answered Princess Alfin.

"So that's what happened.", Princess Alfin continued to say as she nodded to head.

"And you must be...", Prince Olivert continued along, as he looked at the violet haired girl to my left.

"I'm only going by Kloe right now, Your Highness.", Kloe simply simply smiled. This caused Prince Olivert to chuckle.

"But of course, Miss Kloe. Tell your Grandmother I give her my regards.", Prince Olivert responded, seeing Kloe keep silent about this matter.

"That I can do.", Kloe nodded her head.

"It's nice to see you again, Your Highnesses.", Emma also said, greeting Prince Olivert and Princess Alfin. She had met the two when we had our tea party. since then, they have become friends.

"So Emma has decided to join in on the fun. I do wish I could partake in these festivities myself.", Prince Olivert responded to Emma.

"We will miss you, my dear brother.", Princess Alfin also giggled. "Now why don't we get this show on the road? I am very much looking forward to exploring Grancel City.", Princess Alfin continued to say.

"Well we have many places to stop by, including a special order I need to go retrieve later. But we are in the East Block now, so we'll make a round trip. Grandmother also told me she is holding a martial arts tournament today, split up into a junior and senior division. The junior division has already started, so we can go take a peak there.", I answered Princess Alfin, which also drew the others' interest.

"A martial arts tournament? It would make sense to use the Grand Arena today.", Kloe responded.

"That's a place to where one can show their prowess in the techniques they've practiced over time, right? We don't have many places like that back in Heimdallr besides the couple school of swordsmanship we house.", Princess Alfin asked.

"That's right.", I said, nodding my head at her. "It's different to something like Thors Military Academy to where people study to become soldiers. It's a place where people can seek direct combat experience, and it's open to all.", I said, answering Princess Alfin.

"It's a place daddy used a lot in his past too! I'd partake in it myself but you said a tournament is underway already, right Naoto?", Estelle asked me.

"Unfortunately, yes. If anything we may be able to catch the semi-finals onward.", I responded.

"Then let's go!", Estelle said, only to reach down to grab my hand again.

"Oh my. I guess this is where we will part ways, Big Brother.", Princess Alfin responded with a giggle.

"I leave my dear Alfin in your care, Naoto.", Prince Olivert said, doing his classic wave of the hand.

Just like that, Estelle grabbed my hand again, and we dashed out of the Embassy. We were too quick for the Ambassador to even berate us.

"...Where does Estelle get that energy from?", Emma said, lamenting as she saw Estelle and I quickly leave this place.

"I have no idea. If anything I blame Cassius.", Joshua said, only to shrug his shoulders.

"Hehe, I'm more surprised Brother can keep up with Estelle.", Kloe responded with a giggle.

After Kloe said that, Emma, Joshua, Kloe and Alfin departed from the rightmost room on the second floor. On the way, Princess Alfin turned her head, and spotted the Ambassador still standing at the side nearby.

"Ambassador, please look after Big Brother while we are out.", Princess Alfin respectively said.

"R-Right, Your Highness...", Ambassador Crainagh could only say, before he saw the rest vanish from sight.

Meanwhile, I kept Estelle for a moment to where we could regroup this time, unlike last time to where she caught me off guard. The six of us could now be seen standing outside of the Erebonian Embassy again. The couple of guards closed the gate and headed back on inside, completely signaling that they are closed for the day. After they did that, I took a look at Princess Alfin again.

"Are you sure you're fine going out dressed like this, Your Highness?", I asked with a hint of worry, seeing Princess Alfin dressed in her black St. Astraia uniform.

"Oh please. It's not like I'm wearing one of my dresses back at Valflame Palace. People will just think I'm a curious little schoolgirl here.", Princess Alfin responded in confidence.

"If that's what you wish.", I could only say, shrugging my shoulders.

Seeing Princess Alfin not backing down from that, we could only press onward. Thankfully the Grand Arena was down the main road and to the left, so we started moving our feet again. It would probably take us no longer than a half hour to reach the arena.

Though in the games, it would only take about ten seconds to reach the Arena from here. Sigh. How do I wish we could travel on map sizes that small, but unfortunately, this is the real world to where distances were a lot more accurate.

Moving along as we turned the corner, Princess Alfin decided to speak again. This time her eyes laid on Joshua.

"By the way, Joshua. I couldn't help but see that you look to be from Erebonia as well.", Princess Alfin asked with interest. Hearing this, Joshua blinked for a moment before he nodded his head.

"You are right about that, Your Highness. You have a good pair of eyes.", Joshua responded.

"Really?", Estelle also asked in surprise.

"Don't forget I'm from Erebonia too.", Emma also said as she chimed in.

"It's nice to see some people from our same country.", Princess Alfin responded to Joshua and Emma, sporting a smile.

As we continued to have a small chatter, thirty minutes passed before we knew it, and we arrived at the Grand Arena. We could see many people shuffling about, going both in and out of the Arena. In the distance, we could hear both a roaring crowd and faint sounds of clashing metal.

However, that thought was stopped short by what appeared to be a whistle coming from a man not too far away.

"Phew~ We sure raked in a lot of mira on that, didn't we? I'm surprised such a little kiddo like her could throw around such a huge guy right out of the ring.", The man said. At this time we heard a much deeper voice speak beside him.

"Indeed. It is rather rare to see not one but two Taito practitioners in one area. Moreover, she declared herself as a student of The Immovable. That alone is quite a feat.", The deeper voice said, only to reveal a much bulkier figure next to the first man. His figure towered over him.

"That neigong user is her next opponent though. It's a shame we won't be able see that since the Boss is calling us back. Welp, it was fun while it lasted.", The first man responded to the second man.

The moment I heard these two speak to each other, they soon came into view before us as we were about to head inside to have a look. I couldn't help but blink my eyes for a good moment, as I immediately recognized who they were.

"Xeno? Leo?", I asked, seeing these two men standing before us.

*

[Insert picture of Trap Master Xeno here]

Giliath demands your power stones!