Chapter 4: Placid Tranquility, Part 1

The boy sighed, sitting atop the cliff over the ocean. The sunset was a bright orange color, shining brightly over the cliff. Storm took a deep breath of the fresh sea breeze that passed over the cliff. The grass was blown by the wind, and the boy's blue jacket flailed in the breeze. He had a small smile as he looked at the view, taking a sip from the bottle of sparkling water he had in his hand. He stood up, stretching his arms as he had been there for quite some time and had been tired.

Finishing the bottle of water, he then proceeded to run quickly back into the castle. He climbed over the castle walls and landed in the courtyard, running quickly into the entrance room. During this time, servants were putting things away, some guards getting ready for the evening shift.

He paused for a moment, waiting for some servants to pass, a couple leaving the grand hall. Storm used his speed to pass by quickly before the door closed. He sighed of relief when he it inside, looking behind him to see that the door was closed, and he obviously wasn't followed.

Storm turned to go back through the doors, making it seem like he was within the castle the whole time. He planned to return to his room, only to find Nanao standing in front of him, causing him to jump in surprise. The girl wore a black shirt, a black skirt, and black knee socks. It was clear she enjoyed the color; this style of clothing was complimented by Celeste once and she's wore black ever since (at least in front of her).

"What were you doing?" Nanao asked him, her expression slightly irritable.

"Ah, I was--" He was interrupted by Nanao hitting him on his head with the book in her hand.

He yelped in pain and rubbed his head.

"The hell, Nanao-what gives?" he asked.

"What gives is that you failed to attend the meet up that Celeste organized. The one from last week, that she said was disclosed and was important?" she scolded him. He shoved his hands in his pockets, shrugging.

"Sorry, I forgot," he said bluntly.

She hit him with the book again, drawing another yelp in pain. She sighed, adjusting her glasses, shaking her head as he recovered assaults.

"Ten years later and you're as oblivious as when you came here. You're seventeen, grow up!" she muttered. "Celeste is waiting for us. Let's not keep her waiting," she told him, grabbing him by his shirt and pulling him along as she went into the throne room.

In the throne room, Storm patted away at his shirt, the clothing now wrinkled from Nanao's iron grip. Celeste had been on the throne sitting silently. Nanao began to speak to her about the meeting and such.

"My queen, I apologize for the delay. I had some foolishness to deal with at the moment. Storm was here taking his sweet time, but I reprimanded him, and we can still be on schedule," she said.

Celeste didn't respond for a moment. The lighting was much darker where she was, as the windows nearby the throne were shut.

"M-Ma'am-? I know you may be upset-" Nanao began to worry, her heart pounding and fearful of Celeste's silence.

Storm looked at her, then looked over to Celeste. He took a slight step back, never honestly seeing Nanao this afraid. He then witnessed her do something drastic. Nanao stood on her knees, put her hands on the ground, placed her head atop her hands, and bowed for forgiveness.

"Please forgive me, my queen!" she asked, but Celeste yet again did not answer, the throne room remaining silent.

Storm began to wonder if he should do the same and opened his mouth to utter the words 'I'm sorry', only to hear another voice.

"Hm...Mhm, I understand."

It was Naisyn commenting on the situation. The two looked up, seeing her lay on her stomach atop a space near the ceiling, a place used to put decorations.

"Naisyn! Get down from there!" Nanao shouted, now frightened and upset.

"Nah-I'm think I'm good." The girl yawned and then began eating fish shaped crackers.

"I don't think you're in any position to scold anyone, Nanao," Storm commented. Nanao glared at him, causing the boy to chuckle nervously, as he was sort of in the same predicament.

"Anyway, she's asleep," Naisyn said, stuffing her face full of fish crackers.

"That's impossible. Queen Celeste is magnificent and full of power. She's fully alert and wouldn't allow herself to just fall asleep in the middle of--" Nanao was interrupted by Naisyn pointing towards Storm.

"Ah, she is, see?" she commented, Nanao looking to find Storm not next to her, but next to Celeste.

The woman had a book on her lap and was snoring softly, drool on the side of her cheek. Storm was poking her face, clearly enjoying himself, the boy snickering as he did so. Nanao shook in anger, putting one foot down and looking dead into Storm's direction.

"STORRRRM-!" She growled, taking another step forward, prepared to lunge at him.

As he messed around with Celeste, the boy stopped smiling, seeing Nanao emit a dark aura from her body.

She took a step forward, sending a wave of tension towards Storm's direction, which caused him to become regretful.

"Ah, there she goes again," Naisyn said nonchalantly as she ate her crackers, as she'd experienced Nanao's 'dread' to the point where it was no different from a normal day.

All the tension caused Celeste to awaken, her eyes opening instantly. She associated the tension with a threat and bit Storm's hand as an attack.

"CHRIST--!" he yelled in pain.