Chapter 53 – Joining Hands

"Ikarus, if you want to take this course of action, there are some things you might want to consider beforehand"

While me and Petra are flying over back to one of the three islands to get the other two-party members back, she started to chat with me while on my back.

We both spent the last night with my parents in the nest, they definitely like her, that's pretty much confirmed now. My parents even got to see her phoenix form since father asked, both of them were as concerned as me when they first saw all the scars and damage but since Petra's mentally strong, she was fine about it.

Also left just after midday and had something to eat beforehand as well, human food is a hell of a lot better than eating a raw goat or wolf but beggars can't be choosers especially when Minos brought us back some lunch to eat, he definitely likes Petra as well.

Thinking about it, it's quite a nice day out today, should probably focus on Petra instead of that though.

"What's do I need to consider then?"

"To start with, just killing the prince alone won't be enough. Another family member with the same goals would just take his place"

Ah crap, I'd rather not have to kill too many innocents, it's a slight problem but not something I'm one hundred percent against, can easily be convinced.

"So... we've got to wipe out the royal entire family?"

"Not necessarily, the entire family aren't bad, just the ones who hold most of the power. The main three people who would need to be dealt with are the prince, the emperor and the oldest princess"

To kill an emperor... I've already decided I'm doing this, would rather not have a guilty conscience over killing an old man and a defenceless woman though.

"Tell me a little about the emperor and the princess then, do they deserve to die or is this something that is morally questionable?"

Petra takes a second to answer, then returns in a slightly serious tone.

"The emperor is debatable, he is probably one of the kindest emperors in recent generation but that's not saying much, he still was a main supporter in killing or enslaving dragons..."

'Looks like I'll have no issues killing the old man then'

"... The princess... you'll want to kill her the second you speak"

Damn, Petra actually sounds pissed, the princess must be a right bitch then. Even though she says three people must die, it's more like four since the mage is included in that list.

"How do we go about it then? Should we start slowly picking one off at a time or just go for them all at once?"

Petra takes another second to think, I guess even she hasn't gotten everything planned out in advance.

"It would be better to do it all in one go, saves any chance of the prince getting any knowledge on such an attempt on his life. This still won't be an easy task, I'll provide you with as much support as I can but with the mage, there's always a dangerous risk"

I do sometimes wonder why she hasn't tried killing them beforehand, she'd probably have her reasons for not doing it just yet but I feel like it might be sad and depressing again. Her past is always like that it seems, I feel like I'm taking advantage of her a little with her help but it should be fine, right?

The mage is definitely more powerful than I know if Petra thinks she's a risk though, might need to spend more time levelling to prepare only if Petra doesn't believe we're ready yet.

"There is another issue about what happens afterwards though. If we take care of the people who will prove the most problematic, then the empire will end up in turmoil. That is something you really don't want happening"

"Why's that?"

"Because then the rebels in the southeast will take over and reintroduce things like slavery and other barbaric methods, they don't belong in any world"

I guess the empire were actually telling the truth on that then, Petra definitely thinks really far ahead if she's thinking about stuff like that. It does make sense, the empire holds a lot of people, everything will go to shit if there isn't a suitable person or party to take over and rebuild from the turmoil or just prevent it from happening.

This isn't really something I'm suited for thinking about though, my issue is with their dragon treatment, everything else isn't that much of a concern but we should probably do something that doesn't end up effecting thousands of lives.

"What needs to happen is someone else would need to take the throne, someone who is capable enough to run an empire but at the same time, stop all corruption that runs throughout it"

"Who would suit such a task?"

Actually, I know who would suit a task but there's no way Petra would want to do something like that, I'd rather her not as well since we couldn't spend so much time together. Her entire life would be about things like politics just like what happened in the pyramid dungeon, I'm a little selfish when it comes to sharing.

Damn it, I'm starting to get slightly possessive as well now, that's really not something good.

"I'm not... completely sure, there is someone who has helped me over recent years who might know someone suitable for such a leadership role"

"And who's that?"

"A captain known by the name Jekyll; he's been an acquaintance for a while now"

Captain Jekyll knows Petra? I know I haven't actually spent that much time around him but still, this seems like something that's big.

"You mean that captain has been working against the empire this whole time?"

"Not always, he at one point had the crest applied to him like many other high-ranking soldiers and nobles but he found a way of getting it removed. Ever since then, he's been assisting me with information and providing me backdoor access to certain things"

I guess she doesn't only use her mimic ability to get bits and pieces of information then. She probably didn't have complete trust in me a while back so that might be another reason why I've only just found out about this now, it is slightly a shock though.

"You know he's never seems to be in the capital right?"

"I'll have to send word for him to be in the capital next time we're over there, shouldn't prove too difficult since he's basically allowed free rein to go wherever he wants"

This really is an odd twist, I can't believe that guy dislikes the empire that much to be helping Petra out, is there any hidden meaning behind it? And that he'll definitely come back if she sends a message?

I better not have to compete with someone for Petra, that better not be the case. There is something I want to add right now though.

"You know his training methods are a bit dumb right?"

"Heh, he only teaches what he's also been taught, the entire empire's training methods must be dumb then"

At least she found that slightly funny, enough talking for now though, it's time to head back to the other two.

__________

"Ikarus, you probably shouldn't do that"

"Shh, just let me watch"

"We should just go over there already"

"They're holding hands though; I feel like I shouldn't intervene"

We've both arrived at that hot springs settlement and are currently in the centre of the town market watching Nat x Lotte in full swing. They are literally holding hands on a bench together right now; this is one of those times where I have to sit back and watch otherwise my obnoxious nature might ruin it.

This is nothing like with Zeki being a dick about stuff like this, I really don't want to ruin it for those two by my presence becoming a distraction. Sometimes I can be thoughtful believe it or not.

"You know if you're so interested in that sort a thing..."

'Wait, is she going to suggest that we do the same?'

"... Forget it, we shouldn't be watching them like this right now"

Damn it, I thought she was going to start teasing and then I could throw her off guard by saying yes, we probably shouldn't be doing this for much longer anymore. It has been a good ten minutes or so watching them already.

Petra seemed a little off saying that, not angry or anything like that, is she being slightly tsundare or something? If she'd actually asked properly, I would've found it hard to say no, that probably isn't the case though.

We both walk over to them and they very quickly get excited meeting us once again.

(Charlotte) "Ikarus-sama and Petra sama!"

(Nathan) "Ah, you're both back"

Should I teas- no, Zeki has put me off being like that anymore, I might say something every now and then but it'll be accidental if I do, I'd rather not be a hypocrite if I can stop myself.

(Ikarus) "How you two doing anyway?"

(Petra) "You two good?"

As soon as we respond, both of them still sitting on the bench stop holding each other's hands, they probably expected me to start teasing or something, I guess.

(Charlotte) "We've been good"

(Nathan) "Yeah, nothing too much to tell"

So they're going to not bring the handholding up then, whatever floats their boat then, I won't press them on it.

"Good good then, want to start making a move? You've been waiting here long enough now, no point sticking around any longer"

I guess spending a couple of hours in the hot spring isn't that terrible an idea but it just makes me think even more on the empire so I'd rather just get on with it now.

"Just a few things to do before we need to leave Ikarus-sama, shouldn't take very long"

(Nathan) "We definitely need to retrieve our gear, most of it is stored at the inn"

It doesn't matter that much, these two are normally quite good at hurrying it up. Me and Petra won't have to experience the hell of travelling with Zeki as well so I'm looking slightly forward to joining back up with the boring two.

"Thinking about it... I need to top up on some things beforehand as well, food is running low"

"Do you still have cake Ikarus-sama?"

"Sorry priestess, I only have a few left now, everything really good is gone"

Charlotte pouts from my response, I'm not kidding though, me and Petra shared everything really nice on our travel over here together. I'm more than happy to share with her, favouritism at its finest.

Actually don't have to purchase alcohol for once, I've been barely drinking recently. It's not even like I've been forcing myself to stop, just haven't been craving it as much, probably because there's been too much going on.

I definitely need to stock up on some more food, cake isn't going to be common here like in the capital but they should still have other sweet things to eat. Ah, we're on an island so seafood should be the norm, let's buy and store loads of that.

__________

'I can believe how far those two have developed'

On the way over to the marked location of the next dungeon after leaving that island, we had one of the never ending stops we had to do, it gets boring mentioning them all the time but can't exactly help it really.

We've come across an old ruin of some kind in this part of the tall pine tree forest, there isn't much to it other than a large pillar basically standing upright in the middle of nowhere but we decided to set up camp here for the night since it was roughly the time to do such a thing.

'I'm seriously starting to get jealous now, damn it'

I'm watching both priestess and the knight holding hands once again across from the fire while I'm alongside Petra, all of us are sitting on the stone floor of this little outside ruin.

They are doing it so subtlety though, I know if I say anything or even get up, they'll probably stop. I guess they'd rather it not be known yet but still, seems like they're trying to hide a little too much. I'm not going to tease, I swear!

I can't get over how their relationship has developed faster than me and Petra's. Sure, they met earlier than us but damn it, the amount of envy or jealously I'm feeling right now is intense. It makes me want to do the same thing with Petra.

Clearly, I can't just come out and say I want to hold her hand, can I? No, my bird brain wouldn't allow such a thing, human brain I mean right now. I've got to be subtle about it too, I doubt Petra would turn me down but I need to do it this way to remain sane otherwise I might die of embarrassment, impossible but I struggle with these types of situations so this is the only way I can force myself to do it.

Let's think how to do this... Oh, that could work...

"Petra, can I check your hand quickly?"

"Why's that?"

"I'm curious on who has bigger hands between us"

It's such a dumb excuse but I'm always curious about weird and stupid things, this shouldn't seem like anything different.

"Okay then?"

I take her hand and then measure it up against mine, her hand is warm and it's the exact same size. Me and Petra do seem to be similar in body size and shape so I guess it's to be expected.

I lightly grab it and then put it back down while still holding on, it's such an odd way of doing things but I am odd so it might just come across like I'm being my usual self. Just pretend I forgot to let go when she asks about it...

Her hand does seem pretty warm though, it's kinda nice.

"Heh Ikarus, you can let go now if you want"

Damn it, she said that way too quick, I think she knows what my intention was. If she knows, maybe I should toy with her like she does with me, I can tease as well believe it or not.

"What if I don't want to?"

"Heh, then I'll have to up my game"

It was at that moment; I might've made a slight error in judgement. I had the thought she couldn't back up her teasing, that was seriously wrong. I never had a chance of trying to win against her.

Petra still holding my hand pulls herself up slightly and then sits onto my lap, smiling the entire time. This has now put me out of my comfort zone.

(Petra) "That's a little more comfortable now, isn't it?"

(Ikarus) "Erm... erm"

Both the other two-party members look away from us, this wasn't even what I planned! This is too much affection, even for me.

"You're not normally speechless Ikarus, is there something weighing you down? Or is it just me?"

She knows what she's doing, I swear I'm going red as well now. Her flirting is next level at times, of course she's weighing me down, she's sitting on my freaking lap!

"Please... this is a little much right now"

It doesn't matter how much I like her; this is too much to handle. My heart really can't take it, the way I'm speaking as well sounds a little uncomfortable, not in a bad way though, just unsure more than anything else.

"Oh, you'd just rather hold hands then?"

I think Zeki doesn't understand his older sis, she's a lot more perceptive when it comes to this type of thing than first thought. There isn't anything holding her back, it's all on my side, it seems that way now anyway.

No idea what happened back when we were training and she had an odd reaction, that might've just caught her off guard. All the other times, she's very difficult to catch off guard, maybe impossible.

"Yeah"

Petra gets of my lap and sits back alongside me, still holding my hand but this time sits a lot closer, can feel her shoulder against mine as well now. That's not too much to deal with though.

Thank God those other two aren't saying anything and are in their own little world, they are also still holding hands so it's not like they'd be able to say anything anyways. I'd feel embarrassed showing acts of affection around others but who cares?

"In future Ikarus, if you want to hold hands, just ask, never say no"

This woman is really too much, her teasing is really something else as well. It's fine though, seeing her smile is a lot better than her being sad. An it isn't like it's horrible.

"Okay dokey"

The thing is, it's not like I hated her sitting on my lap though, just was a little too soon, I think? I wonder if the positions were reversed would I be more okay with it? I don't know...