Chapter 35: Farewell
.....
No one's pov
Lady Grace walked into an exclusive bar. The bartender stared at her as she flashed her emerald ring at him. He nodded once then pointed his thumb to the back.
She went to the back which led to a spiral staircase going downwards. She walked down without hesitation. As she reached the ground floor it led to a room where others like her were standing.
"Well if it isn't gracey...." A brown skinned man stared at her with a smirk. His black hair was tied into a low ponytail, his eyes were green as the emerald itself, his clothes were of that of the dessert kingdom from the northern part of the beast nation.
"Quit the nonsense, monkey. what's the purpose of this gathering?" Grace frowned at the man
"Now now that's no way to speak to a command..." The man joked.
"Thomas...." A voice warned. It belonged to The lady sitted not so far from the two. Her Black hair reaching her waist as her hazel cat like eyes glared at man, assessing him as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
"Sorry..." The man named Thomas mocked surrender.
"Thankyou, jade. Now can someone please explain what's going on here?..." Grace said, eager to escape this brown fool.
"It would seem that lady Abigail and the ruby of youth has disappeared" the lady named Jaden replied flatly
"What?!" Both Thomas and grace gasped in shock.
Just then a cloaked figure stepped into the room, faced hidden by a silver mask. His form carried a dominating presence as his voice was deep and cold like ice.
The room went silent.
"I see that the three of you arrived. Yes, lady Abigail has been arrested, as for the ruby of youth it's no longer in her possession..." The cloak figure said
"whom could have been responsible..." Jade asked curiously
"That part, we are unaware of, but they are not small threat we can ignore. We the ruby of youth discovered, theirs a chance they know about us...." He said
"So what now gloomy, Gonna make us go into hiding? " Thomas chuckled playfully
"No, according to our Intel, they currently reside at the beast Human palace. We best act now and deal with them before the cause further inconvenience to our clan...." He then turned to lady grace
"Please hand over your ring to lord Thomas, he'll be dealing with this matter" he ordered
"What?! You want me to hand over the emerald of greed to this monkey!" She yelled
"It's not a request, your clearly unfit for this mission..." The cloak figure said sharply. Lady Grace reluctantly handed the ring over.
"Don't worry sir, I'll get this done quickly..." Thomas smirked
Shiori's pov
...........
"And with that, today concludes our final lesson!" I cheered
"We can't thank you enough lady shiori " Oliver smiled
I grinned smugly. Today marks eight months of tutoring these two. I have to say, it's been one hell of a ride
"It's been fun, good luck on the entrance exam.." I smiled, heading to my room to pack up my things.
"I hope everyone is alright back home, I haven't heard from them..." I muttered as mochi walked beside me.
I heard running footsteps outside, I looked out my window to see Chris and some maid carrying in large boxes.
"Huh? How strange..." I turned to mochi who stared at me curiously.
I wonder if I can make you talk...
"MASTER!" I flinched as a loud transmission hit my ears
"What the hell Ryu?! You haven't contacted me in months and the time you do you start screaming in my ears?"
"sorry shiori-sama! Are you coming home soon?" He asked
"Yeah I'm done with my business here, how's everyone back home?"
"Good, our organization is steadily growing and everyone is invested in one hobby or the other.." he replied
"I see, good work. I'll see you all soon" I said as he cut the transmission.
A few days later
"Alright! Everything is ready to go..." I smiled as I hauled the last of my
"That's good" Oliver said sitting by my window sit.
"Everyone has been really busy lately, strange..." I stared outside blankly.
"Is that so..." He chuckled nervously
Ok something's up
"All this chatting has made me hungry, let's go get a snack from the kitchen..."I smiled heading for the door.
"NO!" he blocked the door
"Ok what's going on?" I rose a brow
He giggled nervously, the maid opened the door as he fell through it.
"My lady, your presence is needed in the grand hall, and please dress appointment" she said handing me a box. Inside was the most beautiful silver gown I'd ever seen.
"Ok, oh and Oliver do yourself a favor and get off the floor..." I signed skipping over him.
Maids surrounded me as they did my hair, my makeup, even assisted me to wear the dress. I felt like a princess in it as I walked down the corridor dramatically like some stuck up noble lady.
I pussed opened the doors to the ballroom, feeling curious to what is going on....
"SURPRISE !!!"
I blinked, staring at the roomful of well dressed familiar figures
"What's all this?" I asked, everyone I knew in these past months were here...
"It's a little farewell party for you, as a special thanks for everything you've done for us all" Chris explained with a proud grin on his face...
I wasn't expecting this! I wonder if my clothes are even suitable for the event...
Everyone was shocked as tears ran down my face.
"I'm sorry.... This is all so new to me.....I never expected you all to go this far as to grant me a party, thankyou.... so much..." I sniffled, trying to wipe away my tears
"So cute! That's it your not leaving this palace!" King James yelled staring at my expression.
"Father no!" Oliver pounced on him to calm him down..
I sweatdropped.
A lady ran up to me and engulfed me in a hug. Looking up I saw her face. Black wavy hair, baby blue eyes and a smile that could melt an ice berg
"Who are you?!"
"Where are my manners, my name is Linda Gacier, I'm the queen of the beast human nation" she grinned
I froze, she's CHRIS'S MOTHER?!
"I just had to see you before you left, Chris has written so much about you in his letters!, and oh my your even more gorgeous in the flesh!" She squealed
"Um thankyou?" I sweatdropped
"Your so cute! I have to adopt you, no! Even better You'll marry one of my boys!" She smiled
Say what?!
"Mother?!" Chris and Oliver blushed heavily
"Come on shiori, pick one" she gestured eagerly
"Huh?!" Chris ftize
"Mother this is rediculous!" Oliver flushed
"What are you saying? Your not good enough for her?!" She stared them dead in the eyes
"She's just a friend mother!" They yelled in sync
"Um I'm sorry but not interested in marriage for now.." I said nervously
If I tell her that I'm engaged, worried about Nate's safety.
"I see, very well..." She sighed
"Um let the party begin!" Chris announced awkwardly
As the music kick off, the tension faded.
"Shiori, darling, may I have the first dance?" Nate asked offering his hand
"Of course..." I said accepting his hand.
We begun dancing waltz as Nate try to make small talk...
"You look beautiful tonight, how has your job been treating you?" He asked
"It's over finally over, though I would miss the Garcair twins chaos a lot especially Chris..." I smiled at all the memories we've shared over the past few months.
Nate's smile tighten
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, however, although I'm aware that your association we other men can't be help, it's best if I perform a faith-of-complee right now.." He grinned
" A what?" Just then he yanked my arm, causing me to lose my footing and press against him.
"Um Nate...." I wavered awkwardly, he chuckled
"So powerful yet so defenseless against my charm, with you like this I could take you anyway I wanted..." He leans in and kisses the curve my neck...
My eyes widened.
"That's enough for now, but someday I shall help myself to all of you, my dear" he kissed the back of my knuckles before leaving as I stood there frozen.
"Shiori, are you alright?!" Eliot asked frantically
"Yes I'm fine..." He sighed before muttering something inaudible
"Look about prince Nathaniel, I think it's best if you avoid meeting him in private from now on alright..." He said
"Don't worry I can handle myself-..."
"Are we clear about this!" He's gaze went dark.
"Um yes!"
What has him so worried?
"Hey shiori, I was hoping you would dance with me next, I've been practicing" Chris asked as he approached me.
"Sure...." I smiled dancing with him.
"You look better than usual" he complimented
"Thanks, and thanks for the party, it was really nice of you..." I smiled
"That's enough dancing " he pulled away and walked away quickly to the food table
"What?" I just blinked in confusion
"Lady shiori, I was hoping you would dance with me next" Felix offered as I had just finished dancing with Chris...
"Sure..." I took his hand as Everyone watched us dancing like we were the couple of honor
"You certainly are popular prince Felix" I gestured to the fangirls watching us with envy
He didn't reply and just kept staring at me.
He's so hard to talk to!😓
"So anyway, I heard you've broken your engagement to lady ivory, is that right?"
"Yes, we had our shares of differences and decided to break it off" he answered unfazed.
"I heard you also had a lot of marriage proposals soon after, seen anyone you like?"
"I do like, but it's someone I really shouldn't have feelings for..." He replied
Huh? Is it a man or maybe his sister?
"But either way I'm always wising for that person's happiness " he added
"Prince Felix..." I awed
"Move!" My hand was yanked by a delicate one. I turned to see it's was jasmine
"I was to chat with her too!" She pouted. Felix smiled at her clinginess
.......
After the party, I sat in the common room with the Garcairs.
"We have a surprise for you!" Chris said.
"What is it?" I tilted my head
Oliver came forward hold a lond parcel, handing it to me. I removed the wrapping as my jaw slacked at the gift.
Inside was a long silver staff, that has a purple gem as it's man source.
One word entered my mind
So expensive!
"Its nothing special, no price is too great when it comes to friends" Chris said with a smug look.
"I'll cherish it!" I beamed
.......
I sat on my bed with a bounce, happily snuggling mochi as I got ready for bed.
"I leave tomorrow morning, I wonder how everyone has been doing these past few months..." I smiled
I had already pooffed all my stuff to my room at my temporary residence now I won't have to worry about forgetting anything as I leave tomorrow...
I turned to my window to see the stars.
"Huh what's that?..." I noticed something strange in the sky.
The strange star like object shining, all I could tell was that it contained a serious amount of mana.
"Something seems off..."
As if sensing my bothered Express, mochi hugged my shoulders, I nodded before I leapt out of my window to get a better look.
I stood on top of the highest tower of the places as my eyes narrowed at the foreign object in the sky. It's dazzling light shine brighter than any star.
I looked down and noticed Chris and Oliver leaving the palace, There movements were slow and dazed like a zombie. I ran towards them.
"Oi wake up!" I shook their shoulders as they slowly regained the light in their eyes.
"What's going on?" Oliver asked
"And what is that?!" Chris pointed at the strange object in the sky.
"I'm not sure, but for some reason you two were sleep walking..."
"That thing looks dangerous, we should get dad- look out!" Chris yelled as I a yellow flash nearly sliced off my head off.
A figure in white appeared in front of us, his piercing gaze lingering on me...
Without wasting any moment, they lunged at us with flashing speed. Chris took out his sword I had gifted him and fought back.
The two clashing weapons like a spectacular. The two went at it but no victor was clear.
"Why are you attacking us?!" Chris questioned the foe
"That woman might be the cause of this phenomenon!" The foe replied calmly
"What are you, whack!? Shiori had nothing to do with that thing!" Chris yelled
The foe leapt back and stared at us.
"Are you sure?" They asked
"I swear it on my name as the first prince of baurheld"
" you friend better be telling me the truth..." He frowned
I stared at the star daze for a moment before the whole earth shook. The guy teleported away.
"What's going on?!" Oliver asked panicking
"We have to go now!" I and Oliver ran for our lives. I turned to see Chris on the ground, frozen with fear as the star exploded into a beamed of bright light.
I ran back to Chris,
this better work...
{Mist portal activated}
I surrounded all sides of the beam with mist, preventing it from spreading.
I hugged Chris tightly. Embracing for what's to come next as the beam swallowed us both...