Deep Bonds [1]

After a valiant victory against the Holy Order, the Semilia Kingdom was finally able to see peace once again...Well mostly. You see, me and Zain don't yet see eye to eye. He still kinda dislikes me and I still kinda dislike him. So at dinner, it was pretty awkward.

"Mmm.." Zain grumbled as he ate.

I stayed silent as I ate. I didn't even bother looking up from my plate to avoid accidentally looking at Zain and pissing myself off.

"Uhm so can we address the obvious elephant in the room?" Victoria asked and looked at everyone.

"Yeah...it needs to be said. Stella and Zain aren't on equal terms and it's kinda setting off the mood." Jin said as he took a sip of his wine.

"I agree...You two are acting more immature than the children." Ren said and looked at Kanon, Kotome, and Zekuu. The three were happily getting to know each other and chatting as if they've known each other for a long time. "They are setting an example better than you two ar-"

I slammed my cup on the table and the table began to get quiet. I'll admit, I was quite drunk, but it didn't stop me from speaking my mind. "I don't give a shit, if this Supreme Army member helped save this pathetic Kingdom...He helped kill my people, my mother...he's lucky that I am as patient as I am now because when push comes to shove again...I'll kill him instead of letting him leave."

"Oh so that's how you feel, Queen Stella?" Zain said then looked at me. "Do you believe you're in the right?"

"Yeah, I am in the right here. I did nothing but save Victoria from your people and did my duties as a Princess. You Uphelian Scums came and wrecked my entire kingdom! You don't expect me to be pissed off in your presence?!" I yelled and kept looking down. "My people...It doesn't matter how many of you I kill...it won't bring the dead back, it won't bring my mother back...but I can kill them to get revenge!"

Victoria grabbed my arm and stopped me then looked at me. "My Queen...You can't. He's one of us now.."

"One of us..?! Are you insane?! Have you forgotten what they did to your family?! They killed your mother and father, tried to kill you. He isn't one of us.." I said then hiccupped.

Lina looked at us and clapped her hands together. "Stella, I think you need a rest. You're drunk and need calm down. I know it pains you to be in the same room as Zain, but you have to understand he betrayed the Holy Order to stand with us. Please understand this.."

I looked at Victoria and she nodded at me. I sighed and stood up then walked away. "Fine I'll go lay down..."

Victoria stood up as well. "I'll go make sure she...doesn't kill one of the knights." She hurried off after me.

"She really hates you man. I may not understand why she hates you that much, or your backstory with her, but it seems like one you can only fix." Jin said then stood up.

"I'll help you clean up, Queen Lina." Ren said then stood up.

"Thank you, but you should rest as well. I have the maids to assist me." Lina smiled.

Ren nodded then walked away.

I laid on the bed in a room, Lina allowed me to stay in. Victoria sat next to me in a chair and looked at the ceiling with a pen between the bridge of her nose and her upper lip. I sighed and sat up.

"Can't sleep?" She asked.

"Why would I be able to? I have the same dream. The dream of my kingdom burning and in ruins. I only rarely have a good dream and it's a dream about...some old friends." I said.

"Old friends? What happened to them?" Victoria asked.

"I don't know...they are all gone but I know I used to go to a bakery with the guy I liked when I was younger. Other than that...it's all a blur." I said.

"You know...I don't think Zain is all that bad?" Victoria said.

"Get out." I said.

"Hold on hear me out!" Victoria said then sat up and looked at me. "Zain always struck me as some guy who just wants peace. Not saying that he was in the right for attacking your kingdom, but he switched up from the Holy Order to helping Lunia achieve our goal. He once believed peace should only be gained by Guiding the Light...but now he understands you. Peace can't be obtained with at least a little destruction to maintain balance. To keep peace there must be balance. Uphelia isn't holding that balance instead, only causing more damage. By helping cause the destruction, he's helping achieve his goal which is peace."

"What are you getting at?" I asked.

"Zain is our most promising ally. He still holds the Excalibur and holds incredible power! Plus I know a few of Zain's old allies who would be grateful to join our side. All we need to do is convince them." Victoria said.

"Which allies..?" I asked.

"The Holy Order members, some of them like Yaura, Otima, Kaya, Laina, Catanova, Seda, one of Kanon's friends named Kaguri, and a hidden leader named Mozien. Each of the Holy Order have their own original Kingdoms they once belonged to. If we convince them to join our side...we would have the most powerful army known in the land. Arcania will be ours for good!" Victoria explained.

"How the hell are we supposed to convince a bunch of self-righteous assholes who one, hate me, and two want me dead? Zain sure as hell isn't gonna convince them because he BETRAYED them. Yeah we might as well count our losses and kill them." I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Well we haven't truly lost yet. You see, these members highly respect Zain so they are bound to listen to him even if he is on our side. Also, Kanon was saying something interesting to Zain earlier also. Her and her friends are planning to travel to a forest where they saw an Holy Order member. We might can check it out...ask Zain to come and help recruit them." Victoria said and suggested the idea, that Zain and I should follow Kanon and her friends.

"Ugh...just kill me now. As if I would ever work along side Zain." I rolled my eyes and laid down.

"Just think about it, My Queen." Victoria smiled and stood up. She walked over to the lamp and turned it off then rubbed my hair and walked out of the room.

I stared at the ceiling and sighed then rolled on my side, going straight to sleep.

The next day arrived and I walked out of the room, freshened up and ready for the day. I sighed and went to find Zain. I walked outside the castle and heard clashing of blades. I wandered in the direction of the sound and noticed Zain training with Lina. They both were clashing and dodged each other's attacks. Lina was an exceptional swordswoman from what I witnessed within the first minute of watching them. I walked out onto the training grounds.

"Zain! Can we talk?" I asked.

Lina and Zain looked at me. Lina smiled and sheathed her weapon then walked off. She walked by me and rubbed my arm. I looked at Lina then walked toward Zain.

"What is it that you want?" Zain asked and made his sword disappear. He crossed his arms and looked at me.

"I've come to talk to you about you joining me and accompanying me to the forest." I said.

"And why would I do that?" Zain asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because! I want you to. I don't want Jin, Ren, or Victoria coming with. So are you coming or not? I don't have all day." I said. "It's really important."

"Fine. My sister just went that way with her friends a couple minutes ago so I'll join you there just to check up on them." Zain said.

I nodded and we headed over to the stables and got our horses. We rode off to the forest and the silence between us was pretty loud. We didn't even say a word to each other.

"Come on, Chloe!~ This way! I know I saw her the other day!" Kanon said.

"I'm coming!" Chloe smiled and hurried with her friends.

"I dunno about this." Zekuu said and looked around. "What if we get attacked and kidnapped?"

"We won't!~ I'm a Paladin in Training, Chloe is a Squire in training, Kaguri is a Mage in training, and Kotome is an Assassin!~ We will be fine!" Kanon smiled.

"I-If you say so.." Zekuu said and stayed on edge with his knife in his hand.

"Oh there she is!" Kanon pointed.

She pointed at a young woman with violet colored hair that was styled in a single braid. She had purple eyes and an innocent smile as she looked at the birds. She looked to be my age. She wore a black and white top with gold embellishments, white pants with blue designs and silver thigh high boots. She had on a white cape and carried a rapier on her side.

"A Holy Order member!" Kotome said then prepared her weapons.

"Wait Kotome!" Kanon said.

Kotome ran to the woman and yell then slashed. The woman looked at her then dodged the attack and looked a bit surprised. Kotome threw her dagger at the woman's head. The woman dodged it and watched the dagger zip by her and hit a tree sticking to it.

"Whoa..." The woman said in awe at Kotome's accuracy and speed.

"No stop! She isn't dangerous!" Kanon said and ran ahead with the others.

"She's an enemy!" Kotome said.

"She's not, she's been around here for a while and never once attacked us. She's friendly and really nice." Kanon said.

The woman looked at the five children and smiled at them. "It's nice to meet you all. I promise you I mean no harm. I am just passing by. My name is Laina, yes I am a Holy Order member, but I am a pacifist...I don't really battle unless I need to."

Kanon smiled at Kotome and giggled. "See? She's very nice! I spotted her here a while ago before Siegfried attacked us."

"How is this possible..? A friendly Holy Order member..? It's impossible.." Kotome said.

Laina heard some rustling and looked around. She grunted and summoned a dark barrier around the children and deflected a beam of energy. "What the heck..? Mages in the area?"

"These are Bandits..!" Zekuu said.

The bandits came out of hiding and looked at Laina and the children and chuckled.

"We got the Princess of Semilia amongst the group. The boss is gonna be so happy with this capture plus a Holy Order member?! Oh yeah we're getting paid tonight boys!" A bandit laughed.

"Hey leave us alone!" Laina commanded, trying to stay tough for the children.

"Sweetheart you aren't tough. Just drop to your knees and stay silent." Another bandit said and smirked.

Laina unsheathed her rapier and got in her stance. The children also readied their blades for battle. They were gonna fight off the bandits as best as they could.

I heard the sounds of clashing and magic being shot. "Hold on."

Zain looked at me. "What?"

"There's a battle happening...southwest of us..." I said then turned my horse around and my horse galloped in that direction. Zain made his horse follow behind.

Zekuu stumbled backwards and fell on his butt. He panicked and noticed a bandit about to attack him, but Kotome protected him. She grunted and was beginning to get overpowered by the bandit.

"Now you die..!" The bandit laughed and pushed Kotome's arm away then grabbed her arm. Kotome screamed and panicked.

I rushed onto the battlefield and severed the head off the bandit with one slash then transformed into my Demon Form and summoned the Seven Suns Blade.

Kotome escaped the dead bandit's grip and ran to me. "Mama!"

I bellowed and my dark aura surged powerfully. "You dare mess with the children you low life punks..?!"

The bandits looked at me and froze in fear. Even Laina froze in fear, feeling my aura. I ran to each bandit and killed them in one fell swoop.

"Big brother!" Kanon ran to Zain, scared of me. Chloe and Kaguri ran behind Zain as well and seemed they were going to cry.

I appeared in front of Laina then looked at her. "Of course I knew it was one of your people...You'll pay for this!" I yelled and went for an attack to kill Laina. Laina squeaked and flinched.

Zain grabbed my wrist from behind and stopped me. I looked back at Zain then growled softly. "Stella...that's enough. I know you're angry about this, but Laina isn't one to put the children in danger."

I stared at him and slowly calmed down. My weapons disappeared and I controlled my breathing. I closed my eyes and reverted back to normal.

Zain smiled and let me go. He walked to Laina and held her shoulders. "Laina. Why are you here?"

"Because I was commanded to go to Wadataka. The Queen of Wadataka has returned and they want me to kidnap her to make her join the Uphelian Army." Laina said.

"That's a suicide mission...You aren't strong enough to challenge Yomi into a battle especially alone!" Zain said.

"I knew it was a suicide mission from the start, but it was either I go...or King Zephyr kills me for defying his orders." Laina looked down sadly.

I looked at her then crossed my arms. "I'll go with you, scum. Yomi is a powerful asset."

"I'll come too. Let's take these five back to the castle and we set out at noon. I can only imagine there being Holy Order members marching to Wadataka as we speak." Zain said.

"Right." Laina nodded and began to lead the children back home.

I stopped Zain by placing my hand on his chest and looked back at him. I was going to say something but didn't. I walked ahead to my horse and got on then she galloped off.

Zain looked at me and we felt our bond grow a bit closer off a small interaction. He got on his horse and rode off behind me.