Gaia. (7)

The woman looked at Nura and reached for one of the many swords that hung from either hip. She was stopped however as she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she looked to her side to see Princess Nkanyezi scowling at her intensely.

"How dare you speak to Uncle Nurunuru like that, Carolina?" The Princess asked, clearly displeased. "My behavior as far as Uncle is concerned is none of your business."

The Princess walked away from the still stunned Carolina and walked over to the Chief, smiling broadly.

"Well, would you get a load of this cheeky little Princess." Nura beamed. "You sure have grown to be able to speak to the Dragon Lady like that."

"She likes to treat me like I'm still a child, Uncle Nura." Princess Nkanyezi scoffed. "She means well, though."

Before saying anything else to Princess Nkanyezi, Nura held his clenched left fist in his open right hand, raised his bent right elbow while simultaneously lowering his left – creating a diagonal line with his arms. He then bent his knees ever so slightly and bowed his head.

"Forgive the tardiness Princess Nkanyezi, but Acting Police Chief Nurari Hyonto greets you, Princess."

Princess Nkanyezi slid one foot in front of the other, crossing her legs and curtsied in reply, smiling as she too bowed her head.

"Acting Police Chief."

"How you have grown since we last saw each other, Princess. You could still fit in my hand back then."

"I likely still can, Chief Nura." The Princess said with a chuckle.

She had suddenly become a lot more formal and serious with Nura, referring to him as Chief and not Uncle. It was as if she had switched the tone of their conversation to further illustrate that she had indeed grown up. The two brought their greeting to an end and stood normally, before Nura beamed some more.

"Are you here alone, Princess? Or is the Prince here with you?"

"Oh please, we are out here to enjoy the Gateway District, Chief. That one absolutely abhors any kind of shopping District, and would sooner schedule a tedious meeting on the spot than come shopping with me."

"Princess!" Carolina scolded. "Please watch how you speak about Prince Ali!"

"As much as I can relate with what you have just said, I would have to agree with Dragon Lady on that one, Princess."

Nkanyezi just rolled her eyes before stepping closer to Nura and smiling.

"News of your impending arrival was the talk of the town in certain circles, Chief. Considering the circumstances behind your departure and subsequent stance, I was surprised to hear that you were going to be here. May I ask what brought you here?"

"The planet I had been transferred to was on the wrong end of a Void Lord squabble, unfortunately. They ended up causing quite a bit of damage, and one of the Enforcers under my command was seriously injured."

"Really? What happened?"

"He confronted Juxtae and Vox, the Void Lords in question, and tried to arrest them." Nura said with a chuckle.

"Seriously?!" Nkanyezi boomed. "To have attempted to arrest that Lord Vox… that Enforcer must be very brave, and very strong. Is he an Adonian like you? Or a Lycus? Orcan?"

"…he's a Human, Princess. A squishy, soft, weak Human."

There was a bunch of scoffing, snorting and even laughter that came from all of the ladies-in-waiting. Meanwhile, Carolina shook her head and rolled her eyes as well.

"For one so weak and of such low standing to attempt such foolishness…" The Dragon lady snorted.

"You all laugh, but Lawman was in the right." Nura said as he looked at all the cackling servants.

The look in Nura's eyes not only shut them all up, but sent shivers down their spines.

"In fact, he even arrested a few Void Knights. While the others cowered and ran underground, he confronted beings far more powerful than himself without even a lick of hesitation. If I didn't know what kind of man he was, I would have turned you all to paste by now."

Nura was glaring pretty hard, but when he looked down and saw Princess Nkanyezi's face, he took a deep breath and calmed down.

"…what kind of man is he, Chief Nura?" The Princess inquired.

"Rigid." Nura replied with a nod. "I don't think I've met a mortal as rigid as he is. The law is the basis of that rigidity, and in order to uphold the law he swore to protect when he became a police officer, he really will confront and face any danger. He fought with the Professor, and made that bald-headed creep kneel."

"He did?!" Nkanyezi boomed again.

"…well, Vo didn't so much kneel as he collapsed and lost consciousness after being tormented with a stun baton. But hey, close enough."

As Nura and the Princess caught up, Carolina continued to monitor the immediate area for threats. She also had a small, yet immensely warm smile on her face as she watched her Princess speak happily and freely with somebody she was genuinely fond of.

"…I guess this trip was worth it to see that happy face." She whispered to herself.

"…it seems you're getting softer as you grow older, Lady Carolina." One of the ladies sniggered, prompting a glare to be shot her way.

There was some laughter, however that laughter came to an end very quickly, as a fluttering, regulation Police Cape caught the attention of the Princess' entourage. Relovan walked down the street that everybody had gathered next to, and when he saw Nura he sighed and started walking towards him.

"Chief, there you are. Do you even know what I've been through over the past few hours?"

"…this isn't possible." Carolina said with a look of disbelief on her face. "For that man to enter the realm of my consciousness, and get so close to not only us but the Princess, without me noticing?!"

"Yo, Lawman!" Nura greeted with a wave and grin. "How did you find me? Did you have fun browsing?"

"Of course not, Chief!" Relovan snapped before realising he was the subject of many, many glares.

He then looked at Princess Nkanyezi, before looking back at the Chief and speaking again.

"I believe I am in the presence of an esteemed somebody, am I not, Sir?"

"Oh, that's right! My mistake! Lawman, this is Nkanyezi, Seventh Princess of the Thoba people."

"…a member of the Thoba Royal Family?" Relovan said as he closed his eyes and looked as though he was trying to recall something.

A few seconds passed before his eyes shot open and he looked at the Princess. Immediately afterwards, he replicated the salute that Nura had done a little earlier, and bowed his head slightly.

"Greetings Princess, I am Police Enforcer Relovan, and am honoured to make your acquaintance."

The Princess, along with her people, were stunned by the culturally accurate greeting. Nura actually clapped and turned to face the Enforcer completely.

"Have you met a Thobanian Royal before, Lawman?"

"I have not." Relovan admitted with a shake of the head. "I just know the laws of their Constitution, in which the appropriate greeting is mentioned."

"…you know of our laws?" Carolina found herself asking before she knew what she was doing.

"Of course." Relovan stated as he finally stood up straight, having observed protocol by holding the salute for the prescribed amount of time. "I have studied and am up to date with the laws of all Coalition members."

There was a period of stunned silence from all but the Adonian Police Chief, who just grinned and nodded his head frantically.

"This is why I call you Lawman, Lawman."

The Princess, who had been quiet since the moment Relovan entered the equation and started speaking, was still able to pick up bits and pieces of the conversation. She had been rubbing her eyes and shaking her head every few seconds, as if trying to rid herself of cobwebs or adjust to something. Nura noticed this, and his eyes grew large for an instant, before they went back to normal. Nkanyezi's ears perked up and twitched a few times as she listened, and after some time, she spoke as she faced Relovan.

"…Lawman? Did the Chief just call you Lawman, Enforcer?"

"That is what he calls me, Princess."

"…then, you are the one who tried to arrest the Void Lords?"

"Oh? The Chief has divulged that tidbit, has he? Well yes, that was me. I failed terribly though, and my chest was destroyed."

"The footage was still impressive though, with you screaming 'I AM THE LAAAWWWWWWW' and all that."

Relovan shot Nura an embarrassed glare, before scoffing and looking off to the side.

"I am though." Relovan bullishly declared.

"Excuse me Enforcer, but if you are indeed the 'Lawman' that Unc… Chief Nura mentioned before, then are you really a Human?"

"Absolutely, Princess."

"…a-are you sure?"

"Is there any reason why I shouldn't be, Princess?"

"No, no at all…"