CHAPTER 3, THE GIRL WHO HAD A STALKER

As she talked with the girls I felt bad for her, she does have combat abilities, she also has keen sense and is nimble when she shock off that man's hand earlier. She might make it as an adventurer but with her timid personality she wouldn't last a day. She apparently has skill in gardening and planting too. "Asami-chan, why don't you come with me? I'm an herbalist and I own a shop back in my hometown, I'll pay you if you help out there." I offered her.

"T-thank you... but... I-I don't have a p-pass." She said.

"What's a pass?" Aria asked her.

"It's a permission slip that allows you to come and go from the city." I answered her, I learned about it from Miyu-san, they are apparently passes that allow a person to come and go from the Aerial Isles, they cost a bit since they can only be used by the one who is registered as an owner. "I can have one issued for you, just come along... or do you have family here?"

"I h-have a y-younger brother... is it fine i-if I take h-him along?" She asked.

"Sure." I said with a smile.

We told her we'd meet her here tomorrow and give her the pass after the festival that was going to be held a few days away from now.

We returned to the castle where we all parted ways. In my room I watched as the sun finally began to set on the town, it's actually very beautiful. Some day, I'll be living in this castle ruling over this land. This beautiful town filled with wonderful people. As my mind wondered about I felt the need for a bath so I checked and saw that the was a bathroom in my room, I filled the tub with water and soaked in it for as long as I needed to calm down my head. After my bath, I changed into a black hooded jacket with gray sleeves and black pants. I was soon called out to dinner so I went along with them, my hair takes longer to dry now that it's longer... I don't feel like cutting it though, the necklace my grandparents gave me, it shattered when I casted the spell for changing yhe Mediums so I have nowhere to store the keys anymore so I keep them on a keyring on my belt.

As I joined everyone in a large dining hall, there weren't many people here, just the four nobles I met today, a few other important nobility and our guild members. Apparently Tsubaki-san told them I didn't like crowded parties and they only invited the important ones. I talked to Hoshi-san about the pass and he happily gave it to me, even giving me another one in case I lost one. The pass are nothing more than bracelets with a clear blue gem on them. I thanked him and sat down on the dining table. As we were all making small talk, a noble man, I think he's a Marquis began to talk. He was fat, with a bald head and only a few strands on his head. "It is a joyous occasion indeed for our king has arrived. But for every king, a queen is needed." He said and I already knew where this was going.

"Indeed!" Hoshi-san said but I think he didn't know where the Marquis was going.

"Therefore if you will my daughter is ready for marri-" I cut his sentence because I don't like arranged marriage.

"I'm sorry to say I already have three fiancees at the moment." I said as I ate some of the food. "I'd advise you not to try and set up an arranged marriage with me, you'll only waste your time, I personally detest such things."

He sat back down after he heard what I said, my guess he wanted to gain power by getting close to me. I personally detest such people, using others for their own gain. "Speaking of which, where are you three fiancees?" Ginga-san asked.

"The three girls that were with me all day." I answered her in a kinder tone than I did with the Marquis.

"I see, they are rather beautiful and I can tell they have a kind heart." Himari-san said, despite her look she seems to have a keen sense of judgement. "That said, how many wives do you plan to take Haru-sama?"

"Who knows?" I answered her. "And, it's fine to be less formal with me, Himari-san, the same goes for Riku-san, Hoshi-san and Ginga-san."

"Same to me." She said with a gentle smile.

The next day, as I got up early to give Asami-san the pass she invited me for a walk and I gladly accepted her offer. "Hey, cute little girl, come with us and we'll show you a good time." A man said, he is the man from yesterday.

"Sorry, she is rather busy." I told him blocking Asami-san.

"You lowly commoner!! How dare you come between us. We love each other don't get in our way. I'll have you know I'm a son of a baron." He said and now I see why he was so confident.

"Sorry, but she doesn't seem to like you much." I answered him and grabbed Asami-chan's hand and ran through the streets to the guard post.

"Haru-san, thank you for helping me out. I'm so sorry I couldn't show you around." Asami-san apologized.

"Don't mind it. Really." I told her and showed her a gentle smile. "I'm more worried about you, you had better be careful around those people."

"I will, thank you so much." She blushed and I smiled and we parted ways.

Returning to the castle I noticed that some knights were doing sword fighting practice outside. Maybe I'll go and join them, I don't have much things to do and it's still early. I went to where the knights were as they practiced their swords, among them was Ginga-san and Riku-san. "Oh? Haru, what's up, wanna join?" Neph asked as he sheathed his sword, I guess he was practicing to, thankfully it's just a normal sword not his special swords.

"If you have room." I answered him and I tried to dodge his hug, he is sweaty and stinks.

"Here." Riku-san said and handed me a wooden sword, the moment I held it I felt a little surprised, it has an anti-injury enchantment. "Something up?"

"Is there anyone willing to cross swords with me?" I asked and a man with black hair, silver eyes and white skin raised his hands, everyone was wearing the same outfit, a black shirt with black pants.

"I'll take you on." He said with a mocking smile.

"Begin!" Riku-san said as we had taken our places.

He has nice form, but it lacks the element of flexibility. I watch his movements carefully as he takes up his stance. He thrust the blade towards me rather quick, but he is too stiff so I can easily dodge it by predicting his movements. As our two blades crossed I saw an opening so I used the family technique, it uses the two blades that have joined each other and your own physical strength to break you opponents blade and send it flying. Since he isn't alert at all I easily kick his broken sword into the air and push him down with my own body while I hold the wooden sword to his neck. "Too stiff." I said as I got up.

"Haru, what was that you did with your sword? I've never seen it before." Neph said, ah he's referring to what I did when I blocked.

"It's the Tsuki family's sword fighting technique. Phantom Blade, it breaks their opponents sword but it requires lots of training to master." Ginga-san said as she patted my shoulder. "Never though I'd see it again in this lifetime."

"It was quick too. I didn't even get a clear view of it." Riku-san said walking towards us. "How many years have you trained for it?"

"Ah, I mastered it when I was ten." I said, I recall the time dad used this very same technique on me. The memories of swordfights with my had returned to me after all.

"Ehh!? At ten you already learned to master it!?" The two said in surprise.

"Dad, grandpa, grandma and mom made me do all sorts of training when I was kid. Camping in the woods on my own when I was nine, archery when I was eight, spear throwing when I was seven, axe wielding when I was six and whipping were just some of the basics." I answered the two. "Dad often told me, 'You aren't a man if you can't protect what's important to you' and grandpa always told me 'Protecting yourself and your friends is a must'."

"Your dad was a great man." Ginga said. "Your mother was a kind woman."

"Speaking of which, Haru I noticed you can kick pretty well too, your punches can hurt a bunch as well." Neph said. "Were you trained too?"

"Yeah, I wasn't allowed to rest until I could break a wooden placket with my bare hands when I was five." I answered him, my parent raised me two ways, the combat memories were sealed and the gentle me that was the often seen side of me. "Dad made me run laps around town every morning too. I have high resistance to poison and all sorts of stuff too."

"As expected from Teru, he trained you well." Ginga said.

"Teru?" I asked her.

"Your father's name, we were friends when he was still..." Ginga muttered. "Your mom, her name was Hinata. The two of them were both nobility and they fell in love here in this training field."

"I see..." I answered her, so she was mom and dad's friend. I wanted to ask more but it was time to meet Asami-san so I bid everyone farewell amd left.

As I walked around in town I was hearing all sorts of things and just then, in the distance I saw a burning house. Mages were running there along with Himari-san so I ran after them. The flames were a pale shade of blue and the water magic was slowly putting it out but if it continues like they'll spread before the fire can stop. "Water Spiral!" I casted the water-based spell to put out the foams, I'm actually using Aquarius' magic to do this. The fire had finally died out and I went to meet with Himari-san and I saw a familiar face there.

"Ah, Haru, thanks for helping." Himari-san said as I walked towards her.

"What are you doing here Asami-san?" I asked Asami-san who was with a young boy, he had blue hair and silver eyes with white skin wearing a black shirt with shorts and shoes.

"That home was theirs." Himari-san answered. "It seems some people have been after the young lady and have burned down her home offering her home at their inn."

"I see. Is it the man from earlier?" I asked Asami-san and she nodded her head. Unforgivable! They'll go as far as to burn her home just to get her. "Himari-san take Asami-san to the castle, bring her little brother with you please."

"Understood." She answered.

"Ehh! The castle! Why-y would you go so far?!" Asami-san asked with a confused expression.

"It's my job to protect the citizens. As the next king that is." I answered her and walked up to the little brother. "Ne, what's your name? Nii-chan's name is Haru Morganite Tsuki, let's be friends okay?"

"I'm Tetsuya... Testuya Akechi, is nii-chan going to... be mean to me?" He asked, this little boy seems to be a bit more braver than the sister. "Haru-nii, why do you help us?"

"That's because... I hate people who are being mistreated." I answered him and picked him up. "Want to ride on my back?"

"Can I?" He asked with sparkly eyes.

"Sure." I said and put him down and turned around, he climbed on and I held on to him, he sure is light. "Hold on tight, were going straight to the castle."

"Yay!" He exclaimed with a happy expression.