What is inside all of us

- "You are just a human."

Those were the words said by Fon that cut deep for Shade. While they were eating, the conversation went to why Shade and Mira hadn't held the ceremony yet. Fon arrogantly said.

- "You are just a human. That is why the ceremony can't be held just like that. Your name has to have bearing on the citizens of Hokori for you to marry a lord such as Amirasha."

Aisha strictly shouted at Fon.

- "Apologize to Shade right now! What you said was uncalled for!"

Fon gives a smirk.

- "But I'm right, aren't I? That's how the system works. It's the same for me. I can't just go and marry anybody that I see. They have to be from a very highly regarded clan at the very least."

- "You…"

Shade says.

- "It's fine. I don't mind her saying stuff like that."

- "But…"

- "It's fine, Miss angel."

Mira knew that Shade wouldn't mind a comment like that, so she kept her mouth shut about it, even though she felt that it was uncalled for.

Shade was left to wonder after that, "What do I need to do to gain the approval of other clans?"

It had been a couple of weeks and Fon had been studying alongside Yui. Aisha quickly realized that her intelligence was higher than you would expect a child to have, which made her not get along with others of similar growth. Aisha learned that Fon liked very complex problems, though they had to be interesting for her to actually do them properly.

One day Fon started asking for Koya to visit soon. This is why Mira saw it best to let Shade transport some gold alongside his trip to Aoikami territory. For you see, Shade had the ability to change forms to animals such as birds, dogs and cats. One other form he could take was that of a blue colored dragon. With his dragon form, he could take some cargo with him when he travels. And so Shade left for a day.

In the meantime, Fon went and asked Mira a question that she did not expect. Fon was a bit fidgety.

- "How… how do you think I can charm the blue guy?"

- "You want to charm him?"

- "Ye- Yes… I find him… a person of interest, yes."

- "Oh, I see. And you want to make sure he has eyes on you as a man."

- "Ye- Yes! Exactly! If I can get him to see me that way, then I can perhaps interest him in other accommodations that I can offer. That… That is only if he respects me not as a girl, but as a woman."

- "I see. You do know how to act ladylike don't you?"

- "Of course I do. I have to act that way most of the time anyways. Not that I always bother with such annoying things."

- "Then, if you act more ladylike and be a bit pushy, then maybe he will realize your intentions."

- "But… But if I'm too pushy, then wouldn't that make me look desperate?"

- "Don't worry. You are someone who is sought after by many. So if you act in a bold and pushy way, then you indicate that you have chosen him over many."

- "Is… Is that so?"

- "Oh, forget me for asking, but how old are you again?"

- "I'm 22." (In terms of growth, she is like 11 year old human)

- "I- I see."

Then later that day, Shade comes with Koya and Fon begins to act formally.

- "Pleasure to see you, mister Aoikami. I apologize for suddenly summoning you here."

- "Ple- Pleasure as well?"

- "Please come inside. We have tea prepared for you."

- "Ri- Right."

Both Koya and Shade are confused but Koya still pushes on. Fon and Koya go to a small room with a singular table with two pillows on each side. Koya sits and Fon asks.

- "Here is some tea, mister Aoikami."

- "Tha- Thanks."

Fon sits on the opposite side of the table and asks.

- "So how was your flight here?"

- "Well… It was fast, but I think it was a bit too fast."

- "Is that so?"

They sip some tea. Then Fon asks.

- "Do you have a lady you have your sights on, mister Aoikami?"

- "At the moment I don't."

- "Are you actively searching for one?"

- "I'm a bit too busy as of now."

- "Then once this charade of a kidnapping is over, would you like to be engaged to me?"

- "So that's what this is about. Look, I appreciate the offer, but I don't think it is appropriate to do so."

- "Why is that?"

- "Firstly, you are only 22 years old."

- "Many engagements happen early in people's lives. Even marriages."

- "Well… I don't think it's morally right for me to be engaged to you."

- "What if it was an order?"

- "What?"

- "What if I ordered you to be engaged to me?"

- "Would you really want that kind of relationship?"

- "My mother always told me to never let go of the one you love."

- "And that is why your mother is glued to the sun emperor almost always. He has no freedom."

- "She also said to make sure to not let them escape."

- "That's not helping your case."

- "Still, I don't understand why you don't accept such a great proposal that would make you the husband to be to the next and first sun empress."

- *Sigh* "Look, you will have a long life ahead of you. You may find another person you fall in love with so don't make your choice now."

- "But, at this moment, I would dedicate my whole life to be your wife."

- "You are going to be the next sun empress so you can't dedicate your life solely on the one you love."

- "That is only when I am the sun empress."

- "You are a sun princess."

- "So what?"

- *Sigh* "If you are so determined to do so, then let's wait and see for the day you become an adult."

- "But if you aren't engaged yet, you might be unfaithful."

- "That can happen even if we were engaged."

- "But you would be more encouraged not to do so if we were."

- "Damn you are terrifying."

- "That is what love does to a person."

- "No, I think your head is full of schemes that will make me your husband in the future."

- "How did you know?"

- "I knew it. You ARE terrifying."

- "So is that a no then?"

- "Yes."

- "A shame."

- "And can you stop being so polite, I got used to you being a bit of a brat."

- "Then be my husband!"

- "No."

- "That's an order!"

- "Then I'm a criminal."

- "You… You better remember this!"

Fon leaves the room furious. Shade, who was listening the whole time, enters the room and says.

- Good luck for your future endeavors.

- Thanks, I probably need it.

- And the real reason?

- I just don't want my bad name to sully her name.

- Are you that unpopular?

- Ever since I took the position of the family head.

- I see. Then you actually like her.

- Shut your mouth. I like women who are only a head smaller than me at best and they have great butt.

- So you are that kind of man.

- Are you not a butt man yourself?

- I do appreciate a good booty.

- Like miss Kogane's.

- Exactly.

Both men give a smirk. Meanwhile Mira was listening in the hallway, judging the two men. Later Shade would get Koya home.

Meanwhile Fon, who got to her room a little earlier, screams to the pillow at the top of her lungs.

Couple of days later, Fon had shut herself in her room. The only two people she allowed to talk to her were Koya and Shade. So later, when Shade got back home from hunting, Mira asked him to go and talk to him. He then went and knocked on the door and asked.

- "You wanted to talk?"

Then the door opens and Fon says.

- "Come in."

Shade does as she asked and Fon closes the door behind him. Shade sat on the chair and Fon sat on the bed and grabbed her pillow and held it on her lap. Fon started.

- "I'm being bratty again, aren't I?"

- "A bit, but you are a kid, you are allowed to be bratty sometimes."

- "Is that so?"

She hugged the pillow. Then Shade asks.

- "What is all of this about?"

- "I want to know what is going on, but no one would tell me."

- "That's because…"

- "I know that you all don't know what's going on either. And even if you knew, I understand that you'd like to keep it a secret from me."

- "You can tell?"

- "It is easy for me to grasp. I even heard you talk about this over the fire with Amirasha."

- "You were listening to us?"

- "I can hear things that flames can hear. Or something along those lines."

- "You can do that?"

- "Yes. Ever since I was born, I was always able to observe what the flames could observe. I could also tell if the fire was calm or not. On top of all that, I was tested to have super high aptitude for fire magic. So high that even my father couldn't compare to me once I got older. Because of all of those reasons, I have been called the spark of Fontiá. I even got my name from my connection with lady Fontiá."

- "Does this have to do with your sudden outburst?"

- "Well, sort of. Back home there are very few candles and fireplaces since most of their jobs are done by magic stones. But because of the few flames that were burning in my home, I could feel the dishonesty of the people around me. I can feel if a person is being honest or dishonest. I can even tell the extent of their loyalty. This is why I barely could trust any of the people back home. But those that managed to gain my trust, I cherish as much as I can. But those who I don't trust just sicken me. And my dad has to deal with those all the time. I don't know how he is doing it, but my dad manages to keep on going even though what people truly think of him."

- "Do you feel that we are dishonest?"

- "No, and that's why I can trust you all. Not just because of what uncle said. Though I trust you and Koyama more than the others."

- "Speaking of uncle, why do you call him that? He isn't your real uncle is he?"

- "No, he's not. I know that he was around when my granddad first built the empire. But as for why I call him that, I simply just feel like "That's what an uncle must be like" and stuff."

- "I see. Back to the topic. Why did you shut yourself up in this room?"

- "I… Just felt like I'm getting sick of all of this. Sick of not knowing."

- "Do you want us to do something about it?"

- "You… I think you can convince uncle to tell you more about what is going on. And if you do that, could you please tell me about it. I… want to know the full reason why I can't stay home right now."

- "I… see what I can do. But in the meantime, could you go out and apologize for causing others to worry?"

- "If you promise that you will try, then I do it."

- "I promise. Come now."

He rises and opens up his hand. Fon puts her pillow back to where she got it and then takes hold of Shade's hand. Then they both go out. Fon apologized to all who she had worried and started being her normal self right after that.

But Shade had a promise to keep. He searched for the device that Mira would call Norman if she chose to reconsider his proposal. He eventually found it and activated it.

Couple of days later, when the sun had already gone down and Shade was alone, he heard a familiar voice.

- You called?

- So I did.

- And I expect that it wasn't to approve my proposal?

- Correct.

- So what is this all about?

Shade explains what Fon told him a couple of days back.

- I see. She has always been sharp.

- So would you tell me?

- But you are just a human. Would be an answer that was expected of me, but I have lived with humans before and as a human, so I won't say such thing. Little lady told you about her high aptitude for fire magic, so this will take a little less time to explain. The title of "Spark of Fontiá" is pure fiction. I'm not an expert on souls and the likes, but I have used one of my devices to know that the thing that gives her such efficiency with fire is because of her title of power called "Saint of flames". This gives her the abilities of which she told you about and some more. One of her abilities is that she is completely immune to fire. As to why she earned that title of power is questionable, but it might have to do the fact that she carries the blood of Fontiá. Or maybe a pure coincidence. Who knows.

- So even you can't tell.

- It's not my area of expertise. My area of expertise is all things material, not anything spiritual or magical.

- So why is all of this happening?

- Right, to tell you the truth, things aren't looking good on the current sun emperor. The fact that his first daughter has such a high aptitude for fire is driving people to think that she is the rightful ruler of Hokori. Which she is, but they are so eager to let her begin her reign that there are people willing to get rid of the current sun emperor. Rei wouldn't want the little lady to have to deal with so much politics in her current age. Especially because they would try to control her since she is so young. She is bright, but after they get rid of one of the sun emperors, they might have the urge to do something similar again. There have been multiple attempts already, but none have succeeded. But unfortunately, we haven't found any clues on people who have attempted or will try to get rid of Rei. To give him more time to find out about his current enemies, Rei made the decision to make the little lady seem like she is in potential danger.

- Has it worked?

- It's hard to tell if people are simply concerned for the little lady out of the kindness of their hearts or because of their agenda. We have found a couple of clans that have put a noticeable amount of effort on finding the little lady. Needless to say, we can't judge them solely on these efforts, but at least we have potential suspects. The Kogane and the Aoikami clans aren't out of suspicion either, but since I gave my word on the Kogane clan, it is less of a suspect now.

- I can vouch for the Aoikami clan's innocence.

- Oh, and why so?

- Earlier, Fon tried to get the current head Koyama to be engaged to her. If he would have accepted her proposal, I think he would be a suspect, but since he refused, I think there is a solid possibility of him not being a suspect.

- You might have a point, but we can't remove the Aoikami clan out of suspicion just because of that. Koyama is the fairly new head of the clan, so there might be some inside the clan who are for the fall of the current sun emperor. And even so, there is still a possibility that the previous head of the clan might have tried to assassinate Rei on some occasion. Koyama isn't completely out of the water as well. Don't trust people so easily.

- I keep that in mind.

- Here. Give this to your future wife.

He hands Shade a letter.

- What is it about?

- The empress is coming to Kogane valley to "investigate" the place for possible clues for the little lady's position.

- Isn't that bad?

- Don't worry. The empress knows that the little lady is here and all the guards do as well. They just come here to seem like they were searching for the little lady, but it's all a ruse. This letter is a formality that must be sent in order to prove that there was in fact an investigation on Kogane valley.

- Is there another reason for this visit?

- Well, other than being a fake investigation, the empress just wants to see if her child is doing well or not. And then there is the matter of getting people suspicious.

- What do you mean?

- Rei is planning to put people, who suspect that the kidnapping is just a ruse, to come and search this place. After the empress' visit or during it, someone might come to look around and see if the report is true. This is where we come in.

- I'm part of this too?

- Of course you are. The emperor specifically made this plan by relying on your power to figure out the energy of people. And for this, memorize and learn all the people's energy in this village, as well as the people who come with the empress. If you find any deviations or suspect someone not being part of the group, you are to take care of them as soon as possible. I will be on the side just in case something needs my attention, but don't rely on me too much. I don't have the ability to detect unfamiliar people. I have a device that can do something like that, but it takes time to set up. The plan is leaning on your power so don't screw up.

- Well… Okay I got it. I try my best.

- Good. I hope there won't be a need for us to meet soon.

And so Norman left, Shade gave Mira the letter and later told Fon about the situation.