Clover was lost in thought, as a result she couldn't hear her sister calling out to her until she felt a tap on her shoulder which startled her… "oh sis Dia… it's just you, please don't scared me like that" said Clover holding her chest… "well I did call out to you several times, but it would appear you were lost in thought, so, what were you thinking about… was it prince Jericho?" princess Diamond asked, trying to tease her sister, Clover turned red a little on the inside but she still managed to keep a straight face on the outside… "what!… no, no… it's just my research, I think It might finally be concluding" Clover argued trying to cover up some part of the truth in her sister's words… "set that aside for now Tio, tell me… how did you truly feel when father said prince Jericho was still alive, how did you even grow to care about him this much after only meeting him once when you were just ten, and never complained once even when father and the late king Richard were scheming to make you his fiancee… you might try to hide it sister but I still noticed the complete joy you felt knowing he was alive… even if it's not in the romantic sense tell me what made you feel this strongly for someone you only met once before" princess Diamond asked with pure curiosity, but also taking the advantage to spend quality time with her sister whom she barely sees, as she is always locked up in her lab…..
Clover sighed, then for the first time gave a genuine smile to princess Diamond, then she took her hand and began leading her to someplace else… "come with me, with what you are asking we can't talk out here" she said, the joy on princess Diamond's face could not be described as she looked at how Clover held her hands, she was so happy she was finally going to spend sometime with her little sister, which was an extremely rare occurrence… just behind them Vetra followed closely as he over heard the princesses, for he too was curious of the relationship between Jericho and princess Clover, he wasn't planning on missing this opportunity to finally find out.
The girls made their way outside the castle and towards the center of the maze garden, sitting under a small tent with a table and a tea stand on it… they both took their sits opposite one another as princess Diamond prepared some tea… "thank you" ... "so, tell me" Diamond said as she took her sit again, Vetra had made his way to where they are and hid behind the maze, eavesdropping on their conversation.
"well, it was Jericho's 12th birthday celebration, and I was forced to attend with father, you couldn't cause of your private lessons, so I was picked cause I stay indoors too much… well that was the excuse father used anyway.. (she smiled) when I got there it was very crowded, I was so uncomfortable it felt like I was suffocating… then i went to the balcony to receive some air, that's when I saw a boy in a gray hooded cloth, running out of the castle with a hug sack on his shoulders, I was scared cause I thought the castle was about to be attacked, but upon accessing the situation more thoroughly, my fears evolved into curiosity, so I followed, the boy headed to an orphanage in the capital, and in that bag he held was a lot of food and drinks he took from the castle, he sat with the children laughed, played and ate with them, I found it strange but the boy looked so happy, I sooner left following the same secret passageway the boy took, back to the castle, soon I saw the boy coming back, I thought he was too greedy coming back for more food, cause what he took was more than enough, so I got very upset and headed to stop him, I saw him disappear into a room then I followed… when I entered the room I-I-I… umm" ... "yes… you what… tell me!!" Diamond screamed impatiently… "I saw him butt naked okay!!!"... "(gasp in surprise) Tio you pervert" princess Diamond exclaimed in shock… "hey it wasn't my fault (sigh) he was changing… but I didn't care, I thought he was stealing clothes this time, all I was thinking about was how nice king Richard was, and it was incredibly evil for a person to actually be so heartless to steal from someone like him, so I wanted to help… when I burst in, the boy was so embarrassed and asking what I was doing there, but I turned the question on him, trying to take away the clothes he was trying to put on, to his protest he tried telling me something but I wasn't interested, all I wanted at that moment was to stop him… that's when I heard a knock on the door, with a maid calling out… 'prince Jericho are you alright… we keep hearing your voice, your father said you should come down soon, the guest are ready for you'….. when I was about to scream for her attention, he let go of the clothes and held my mouth shut, replying her, telling her he will soon be down, the maid left, and he quickly swiped the pants away from my hands and put it on, he finally was able to get my attention, with a huge laugh he apologized and told me I had the wrong idea, and he said I must be a very nice person to care this much… hearing those words I got so confused I protested in disbelief, then he showed me proof , a recent portrait of himself, his father king Richard and his younger brother prince Jace… that was when it dawned on me, he was prince Jericho, I felt so ashamed and I couldn't count how many times I apologized, but he just kept on smiling and telling me I was funny and interesting… no one had ever described me with anything close to fun in my life before then, I kinda liked it… we sat alone in his room talking, we talked about a lot of things, I felt so happy and comfortable, I've never felt that way with anyone outside my family before, it was so familiar talking to him… that was when I realized just like me, he saw the world very differently, we had the same dream to change the world, and make it much more comfortable for everyone, I was so happy I wasn't alone on that… even at a very young age… about why he left his own party, he told me he left the castle to the orphanage cause he had many friends there, and it was much more fun celebrating a birthday with people genuinely happy to be celebrating with him, and not people whom are only happy for the opportunity to meet him and win him to their side in other to boost their influence, he said he hated pretending, but as a prince and future emperor of the Dynasty, he belongs to the people, and he has to put up with it for their sake, but if it comes to it, also for their sake he will give them a nudge in the right path if they start to stray too far from his trust… I never thought I would ever hear words like that from anyone much-less a kid… his thinking was way ahead of it's time, and I just resonated with him… to my disappointment we were interrupted again, and our time had to come to an end… when I went back down I saw father standing with king Richard with a huge smile on his face, I went to him and stood by his side after greeting king Richard, then I saw Jericho making his way down, seeing him descend made my heart skip a beat, I did not understand the feeling at the time, but I didn't mind it one bit, a lot of young ladies surrounded him shaking his hands and throwing themselves on him, for some reason I didn't like that, but I felt better after seeing the look on his face, he was extremely uncomfortable, not at all like how he felt when I even unintentionally saw him naked (she giggled)… he got away and made his way to his father, and I saw how close he also was with our father, It was like they were of the same cohort (laugh)… haven't seen father like that in a very long time, we then spent more time together until the party was over… thinking about that now, I have to say that was the only time I could confidently say I was truly happy and never wanted the day to end… I really haven't felt that way since then, and I guess so did father" .... "oh Tio" said Diamond in an emotional tone….. "when I heard he died, I was so destroyed inside, I poured all my energy to focus on what we spent time talking about in his room all those years ago, making the world evolve with us, changing it for the better, and with that I achieved all this you can see now… I didn't want to see anyone, I just wanted to be alone, but with every breakthrough I felt like I made him proud of me, and it felt alright to not be alone anymore, that's when I hired Rose as my assistant and also started having dinner with everyone too… and now that I know he is alive, I was so happy, so so happy, so relieved, I wanted to scream but I had to hold it in… I guess I couldn't fool you uh sis Dia" she laughed, her sister stood up, walked up to her and gave her a long hug which took her by surprise… "it sounds like you are in love my sister… am so glad to finally see you smile again… I guess it's something I will have to thank Jericho for again" she said with a huge smile… "am not sure that's how I feel about Jericho sis Dia… I have a great amount of respect and adoration for him b-but I don't think it's anything like love" Clover nervously argued… "keep denying little sister… keep on denying" said princess Diamond with a giggle as she when back to her sit, they both continued talking and spending quality time together.
Behind the maze stood Vetra, he was so upset with what he heard and it only evolved the dislike he felt for Jericho to hate… "{there is no way I will let those two see each other, I have to protect Clover, that disgraceful prince can't be trusted, I will stop him no matter the cost}" he said turning his hands into a fist as he stormed off, back to the castle.
A week passed, Jericho and the others were finally making their way to the Unified Nation of Warmark, king Gustavious left his prime minister, Marquess. Monza Will Hidenham at Righteous to take care of things in the nation while he was away… he was accompanied by his Royal Guard, the Holy Knights and the newly formed Elite Holy Knights, to the request of his daughter the knights commander, he only wanted his royal guards to accompany him but she insisted on the others…. also present was his daughter, the commander of the Holy Knights and Elite Holy Knights Princess Erica Von Righteous, wearing an elegant blue dress, with several jewelry and a light make-up, as she was going as a princess, not the knight commander… the vice commander of the Holy Knights, Sir. William Grey, also in a formal attire called a suit, it was black in color and fitted him perfectly… the high ranking knight, Lady. Alice Will Hidenham also in a lovely dress and jewelry with make-up… and of course the co-founder of the Elite Holy Knights, the first Prince of The Dynasty of Menssai, Jericho Von Menssai, dawning an elegant attire for the first time since his return, a suit fit for a prince, white in color, with a long red cape covering his left shoulder, he felt uncomfortable dressing like that as he never got use to it, even when he was back home at Menssai, but he looked so good in it Erica was finding it difficult to look at him without turning red.
There were four royal carriages of the highest quality making the journey, two of which was the self moving carriage, while the other two was moved by horses, the first was occupied by the king's royal guards, with some taking to their horses just outside… the second was one of the self moving carriage, and it was the one the king occupied with his daughter and Jericho… the third was the second self moving carriage, occupied by William and Alice and few high ranking Holy Knights…. And the last was where the gifts they were bringing for king Leohart was kept, guarded by the rest of the Holy and Elite Holy Knights on horseback.
"wow… the roads are so smooth, this is so comfortable, things really did change this much in just three and a half years!!??… after a huge war no less… this is amazing" said Jericho excited and in awe as he stared out the window with a huge smile on his face, Erica couldn't help be smile watching him… "as much as I hate to admit it, Princess Clover was the biggest help and contributor to our quick recovery" Erica said with an eye twitch… "Princess Clover uh… (smile)… {it's been so long, I wonder how much she's grown, will she even still remember me tho}" Jericho thought with a nervous smile… "are you alright Jericho" ..… "uh?… y-yes I am… hey do you have a problem with princess Clover, you usually sound off when you talk about her, even when you mean well" Jericho asked curiously, they then heard a loud laughter coming from the second sit just behind them… "I see you haven't gotten over your spat with the second princess of Warmark my dear" king Gustavious said with a hearty laugh, Jericho turned his gaze to Erica whom was beside him, giving a curious look that was begging her to tell him… "(sigh)… fine I'll tell you… it happened when i visited Warmark for the first time, I was 12 years old then and I believe she was 11, I was playing a grand knight rescuing a princess with the first princess of Warmark, Princess Diamond, as my father was having his meeting, then we saw Princess Clover passing by, princess Diamond got really excited and hurried to her sister, I followed, and she asked princess Clover to come play with us… (her eye twitch increased)… I also insisted she did… (more eye twitch)… she didn't only turn me down, but the manner in which she did was truly vexing" Erica said clinching her teeth with her eyes closed trying to control her anger… "w-what did she say?" Jericho nervously asked… "she said, and I quote… 'playing pretend won't benefit me in the slightest, and the only thing I use my valuable energy on is something that will be very beneficial not just for me, but for the world'… (Jericho was seen trying to hold in a laugh, while king Gustavious giggled at the back)… it didn't just end there, when she was walking away she suddenly stopped and turned back, looking me in the eyes, she told me… she told me…. she wasn't interested in girls and even if she was it wouldn't be someone like me who only knows how to day dream, and not having any long term goals that can help the world" Erica concluded with a dramatic rant… "oh no… {that's princess Clover alright}" Jericho thought with a nervous smile… "WHAT DID SHE EXPECT FROM ME!!…. I WAS ONLY TWELVE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!…. NOT EVERYONE WAS A SUPER GENIUS LIKE HER AT THAT AGE!!… AND I WASN'T INTO GIRLS EITHER… GRRRRH!!!" Erica screamed in frustration, it caught the attention of everyone traveling with them, as they all turned their attention to her carriage.
"sounds like the commander is at it again" Alice said with a smile… "and I would bet anything Jericho caused it again (sigh)… Honestly, with those two I feel like a babysitter more than a knight" William concluded with an exasperated sigh, Alice and the others in the carriage laughed.
"take it easy Erica… I mean, now you are not only one of the strongest knight in the world, but you've helped the world in more ways than one" Jericho said trying to claim her down… "that's the thing, I decided on this path cause of her words... it didn't really upset me, I resonated with it, then I decided to become a holy knight, which was a long and hellish road, but with her words in my heart, it pushed me to succeed" Erica said with a smile and a sigh as she thought of Clover, seeing that Jericho also smiled with a proud look on his face…. "and succeed you did" said king Gustavious with an accomplished look on his face…. "says the person who gave me the most difficult time" Erica replied with a tired expression… "it made you stronger, did it not?, you didn't only prove me wrong, you also showed me I will be leaving the kingdom in a very very capable hand, you changed the views of everyone by yourself, you should be proud as I am and always have been" king Gustavious stated with a hug smile… "thank you father" Erica responded with a smile, seeing the both of them bond like that Jericho couldn't help but think about the quality time he spent with his father years ago, it brought some tears to his eyes which he quickly wiped before anyone could notice.
Just then they heard some distressing screams coming from the carriage at the front, then a knight on horseback ran back in a panic screaming… "IT"S THE LOST, SEVERAL GROUP OF THEM"…. "oh no… that doesn't sound good" said Jericho as he jumped out of the carriage he was in, towards the site of the distress… "father stay in here please" Erica said,then jumped out after Jericho… at the back, Alice and William both got out of their carriage too and made their way to the front, on getting there they couldn't believe what they were seeing…. it was the Lost, thousands of them, they had never seen this many gathered at one place ever, and it looked like they were making their way towards the capital of Warmark, It was nerve racking for the royal guards and some of them can be seen shaking, as that was the very first time they had ever seen the Lost, they only exist to guard the king against human threats, hence the name 'Royal Guard', so they don't get involved with this kind of situation.
Some Lost then separated from the group as they saw the guards, they were heading towards them filled with blood-lust… "royal guards, go protect the king, now" Erica screamed they quickly left following the orders of their commander… "this is outrageous… Jace really wants to destroy Warmark doesn't he" said William staring in disbelieve of their numbers… "we can talk about that later, looks like we are having company… Alice, swords please"... said Erica looking at the group of Lost heading their way... "right" she then toss two swords Erica's way, she caught it and ripped her dress, taking a fighting stance… "Alice, William… please take care of the ones that manages to get past us" Erica said to both Alice and William… "understood commander" they both answered… "watch my back?" Jericho asked looking at Erica, while he was taking off his suit… "always" she replied with a smile, then they both burst forward attacking the Lost.
With inhuman speed, Erica ran and jumped up in the air, landing at the center of the Lost and slashing at the one closes to her, even if it was inaffective, it did give her more room and time for her next attack…
"Soul Technique… Hurricane Inferno"… holding nothing back, from her sword a deep red fiery aura flowed out, surrounding her body, it began to stretch out, engulfing the entire space around her, since she held nothing back her sword instantly shattered… it was so hot it reached where the king was, the force disintegrated a few dozen Lost all at once, creating an opening for Jericho as he too ran forward pass Erica, heading for where they congested the most, he began waving and dodging the attacks from the Lost effortlessly, he returned their attacks with his, punching and kicking a few, sending them flying, he then held one and swing it around, taking out several others in the process, after successfully creating some space for himself, he then bent down putting his hand on the floor, he unleashed his next attack…
"Soul Casting… Potami"… his soul energy traveled through the ground, causing it to rumble viciously, and then cracks began to appear around where the Lost stood, they started sinking to the ground as a sliver liquid burst out, grabbing them, it pulled them in like quick sand… Jericho took down about two hundred of them at once with that move… "oh wow… did they just clear out all those Lost by themselves?!… the commander and Lord Jericho are amazing… I still can't get over the fact that we can also use this strange abilities… come on men let's watch their backs, protect the king… YEAH!!!" the Royal Guards and Knights screamed with determination as they formed a cycle around the king's carriage, and the elite knights that were already able to master the basics of soul energy ran forward to the side of Alice and William.