Chapter 84: Albert von Bartholomeus

Happy Turkey day for you Americans. I for one am also an American so I may not have time to write much today.

Still Giliath demands your power stones!

*

"How have I been?", Vita said, only to slam down on the table she was currently sitting at hard, creating a sudden loud bang. This bang startled the few figures who seemed prestigious beside her.

"Where the HELL have you been, Naoto!? You just cut me off telling me to come here and you acted as if you vanished off the face of Zemuria! Even Grandmother has been worried lately.",

Vita yelled out in anger as she started to berate me.

"Right...I should have been in contact with you guys more, but let's just say I was in a place where contact...has been minimal.", I answered, scratching my head a bit. I mean I have reached out to Vita a couple times, but I was still in the DG Cult then so she wouldn't really want to see me placed in a cell.

"Minimal contact, even though you could still reach out to me...?", Vita began to answer back, only to blink her eyes seeing where we currently were. Vita finally saw that I was not alone either. Seven figures were standing beside me. Well six, cause a certain someone was being way too relaxed right now. Vita also saw I was next to three different girls as well. Vita rested her hand on her cheek before shaking her head a bit.

"Oh Emma is not going to like this.", Vita said, shaking her head a bit as she saw Sherryl, Tio and Ennea next to me.

"That's the first thing you came up with!?", I couldn't help retort Vita when I heard her say that.

"Hehe, surely I jest. But Emma misses you, you know?", Vita said with a light smile after hearing me retort that.

"I do need to make it a point to return to the village soon, but as you can kind of see, we are wrapped up right now.", I answered, lifting my hand a bit.

Vita took this time to see we were on a cruise ship, surrounded by nothing but clear crystal water in all directions. She blinked for a moment before continuing to speak.

"Where in blazes are you anyway, Naoto?", Vita asked curiously.

"Northeast Calvard.", I simply answered, which caused Vita to blink her eyes again.

"Ehhh? How in Aidios's name did you end up all the way up there!?", Vita exclaimed in shock. Hearing this, Rufus slightly smiled.

"Well that's a story in itself, but as you can see, we are now accompanying the Young Duke. You must be his study companion, as the Young Duke mentioned. As much as I would love to learn how all of this is working, it is still nice to meet you.", Rufus said, introducing himself to Vita.

Oh right, Rufus and Vita probably met at some point since the two did work together during that Phantasmal Blaze Plan, even though they did end up being antagonistic to each other at the end. But since they are meeting each other this early, will that change at all? And on that side note, I will make it so Grianos doesn't die. Having your familiar die is pretty much cutting your life force down since they are tied to your mana. That was one of the few things I hated about Rufus was the fact that Grianos met its end that way.

"Rufus, huh? That name sounds familiar...", Vita wondered to herself.

As Vita thought to herself for a moment, we were distracted by a cute-sounding voice.

"Kyuuu!", A voice suddenly said, which seemed to have come from a silver fox sitting beside Vita. The fox then jumped down into Vita's lap, and saw it was now looking directly at me. Seeing me, the fox's tails started to spin. I too froze for a moment, as I could see this fox now having three tails now, instead of two. Seeing this brought a smile over my face before letting out a chuckle.

"Haha, it's good to see you again too Tama. I see the training period has gone rather well for you.', I replied with a smile. This fox was of course Tamamo, who was my familiar that Roselia created along with Grianos and Celine. Since Tamamo is bound to me, she shares my mana, should she require it.

"Kyuu.", Tamamo replied, as if she acknowledged me.

"So what's been happening? And I'm being serious this time.", Vita said as her tone became serious. I looked at everyone beside me and they nodded their heads. Seeing the acknowledgement, I began to describe what has been going on for the last couple years.

Several moments later.

"The DG Cult...", Vita uttered softly. "Now that wasn't a name I wasn't expecting to hear. And you are saying these people around you were prisoners, and you successfully escaped together?", Vita asked with wonder.

"Minus Lechter and Rufus, but basically that's what happened. I do have some plans remaining, which is why we are on the cruise ship.",

Hearing that, Vita nodded her head.

"I see and that brings you to this.", Vita said, nodding her head.

After Vita said that, another more stern sounding voice spoke out, which seemed to be one of the figures next to her. It was a man who appeared to be in his 20s. He was wearing a full blown green military style-uniform with golden tassels on each shoulder. He was very reminiscent of a modern European man, as he had dark blonde hair which was spiked backwards. A few military medals could be seen displayed on his left chest.

"So this was related to the DG Cult after all. Its name has been on the rise lately given the reports we have received so far. And seeing children like you guys, it aligns to the missing children reports that have that detailed.", The stern voice said. Hearing this man say that, I nodded my head in agreement.

"Is that so? We may have been the lucky ones. And it is unfortunate for us to meet for the first time like this, but this way would do for now. I would love to visit your country some time should I be given the chance to.", I replied. This caused the man to chuckle.

"Haha, you could tell that right away, huh? As expected of Liberl's Crown Prince.", The man said calmly.

"You know me?", I responded curiously.

"How could I not? Among the royals you have been reported missing since three years ago. And now you wound up like this on a cruise ship in the middle of Calvardian waters. It wasn't hard to connect the two dots after hearing that name be brought up.", The stern man answered with a nod of his head. "And it looks like you know me already, even though we haven't met yet. Either way, it is a pleasure to meet Liberl's Crown Prince. I am of the Bartholomeus House which currently reigns over Remiferia. Second Prince, Albert von Bartholomeus.", Albert said as he introduced himself to us.

"Holy shit, are you really in contact with the royal house of Remiferia right now, Naoto?", Van said as his eyes turned wide in shock.

"The Bartholomeus House...", Tio uttered softly to herself.

That's right, Tio was from Remiferia, wasn't she?

Hearing this made me smile, and I spoke out to acknowledge Albert.

"Likewise. Naoto von Auslese, would be Crown Prince of Liberl.", I said, introducing myself to Albert with a bow. "And now for the fun part, did you know Tio here is Remiferian, only to be kidnapped like the rest of us?", I asked Albert.

"No kidding? To think those cultists would even kidnap someone from our own country.", Albert said, forming a fist but tried to remain calm. After Albert said that, I looked toward Tio and nodded at her.

Seeing this, Tio walked up and stood beside me.

"I am indeed a citizen of Remiferia, or I was until earlier this year. Tio Plato. It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.", Tio said without much emotion, and bowed like I did.

Hearing Tio introduce herself like that, Albert blinked.

"What exactly happened for you to talk this this, young miss?"

Tio looked at me and I nodded my head at her. Tio then moved her eyes back to Albert.

"Side effect of the Gnosis drug. I no longer feel much emotion.", Tio said with a hint of sadness in her tone.

Hearing that, Albert's eyes flared up in anger a bit but mostly remained calm.

"Tch, those cultist bastards. I do thank you for taking your time to deliver this information to us, Your Highness. We'll be sure to spread this to other local police departments.", Albert said with confidence.

"Thank you, Your Highness Prince Albert. But besides Tio, there is one other person I'd like you to meet. You have met her before.", I said, which drew Albert's interest.

"Oh?", Albert asked curiously.

I then looked down toward the lilac haired girl who was behind me. It was hard for Albert to current see Sherryl, but I nodded my head at Sherryl. The moment Sherryl became visible to Albert, it took Albert a good moment for it to register but seeing Sherryl in front of him now, his eyes turned wide in shock.

"Big Brother Bear...", Sherryl said with a hint of shyness, seeing Albert for the first time in a while. Not since the first Princess of Remiferia passed away from a heart-killing disease a few years back. Sherryl was probably two or three years old at most back then.

The moment Sherryl said that, Albert immediately stood up and quickly approached Vita's side to stare into the phantasmal window.

"Sherryl? Is that you, Sherryl!? You were also among those reported in the missing childrens' reports!", Albert exclaimed, still in shock seeing Sherryl standing before him. Albert immediately recognized Sherryl after getting a good look at her.

*

This is an OC connection to give Sherryl more influence. Cheers!