A fourth

A figure approached from a short distance away. As she closed in on their position, a stiff smile surfaced as she looked towards Amelia. As Perses scanned her figure, he noticed her timid, standoffish nature almost immediately. 

"Looks like it went well."

Amelia's mood brightened a little at the sound of her voice as she turned to greet her. Ignoring the girl's reluctance with a mild grin, Amelia quickly approached and wrapped an arm around her back tightly. Amelia awkwardly restrained the girl with her embrace as she grinned cheerfully. 

Embarrassed by Amelia's brash actions, the girl turned to complain, allowing Perses to examine her. The brunette's hair was tied in a simple bun, and her attire was made of an ordinary fabric similar to his own. With astute hazel eyes, she returned his quizzical gaze. 

"Amelia, shouldn't you introduce him?"

Amelia, with a sheepish look, loosened her grip on the girl. Her mood indicated that their previous conflict was already long forgotten to her.

"You know who he is, though. You're the one who told me he even existed-"

The girl groaned as she sent a sorrowful glance towards Perses. 

"It's basic courtesy, Amelia. You'll make things awkward. "

The wind blew across the grassy plains as Perses stood apart from the duo. As the sporadic weather assaulted their words, hair, and ears, Perses raised his voice. 

"So, who are you?"

The girl turned to face him combatively as she raised an eye at him. 

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first before you ask me my name?"

Perses blinked; he was unfamiliar with her sentiment, but he chose to comply regardless. 

"I'm Perses, so who are you?"

"Perses, is that all? Aren't you leaving out the important part?"

Perses frowned at the girl's arrogant words. But her insinuation soon dawned on him. 

"My name is the important part. But, I guess you want me to say I'm a Blessed, right? How did you know?"

Amelia shuffled uncomfortably behind the girl, considering interjecting as the tension between the duo rose. She reached out an arm towards the brunette but nervously receded it once the girl started to speak.

"No need to be so bratty, boy. If you're gonna be like that, then just figure it out yourself. I'm in a good mood, though, so I suppose I'll share at least my name with you. I'm Asteria."

'Perses, what do you think, Is she telling the truth?'

"About her name? I don't see why not. Hmm, she's not very likeable, though, so maybe no."

After opening his mouth, Perse's eyes widened a little, realizing he had not spoken inside the safe confounds of his mind. He was still getting used to the sensation, after all. He noticed Amelia's nervous gaze as she shivered behind the girl.

"What did you just say!"

Asteria stared red-faced towards Perses as a petulant spite decorated her features. 

"Who are you saying that to? Do you think you're funny or something?"

Perses blinked indifferently. 

"It's really none of your business."

Behind the girl, Perses watched Amelia visibly flinch and begin to avoid his gaze as she turned to ponder the sky. Asteria, unrestrained, marched towards Perses and threateningly loomed over him, moving her face closer towards his. Though Perses was unperturbed by her aggression, the voice inside his head felt differently.

'Did you see that. Didn't you notice it, I think this girl, Amelia was scared of her.'

The frightened, incessant voice of the girl inside his head confused Perses. No matter how he looked at the girl in front of him, she posed no real threat. He allowed his gaze to wander to the more intimidating but strangely aloof Amelia, who continued to stare at the clouds. 

Before Perses could make an ironic remark, a fist lunged towards him. Realizing he had let his guard down, froze to the ground in shock, a slow fist connected with his cheek. But nothing happened. Rather than be flung back like in the battle with Machia or the time Lugh had punched him, he stood stagnantly and curiously at Asteria.

"I thought you were supposed to be a Blessed?"

Asteria maintained her furious gaze as she bit down on her lip. Eventually, she winced and turned away, rubbing her fist and cursing dramatically. Perses couldn't help but revel a little with an uncharacteristic smirk.

'See, you must have imagined it. Your just on edge because of the battle, Amelia clearly doesn't intend to hurt us either so...'

As he mentioned Amelia, he noticed that, strangely, she now stood a little further away than before. Perses titled his head curiously. Perhaps he had imagined it. 

With vigour, a red-faced Asteria turned back towards Perses as fumes appeared to rise from her ears. Once again, she approached Perses. This time, she began to yell in his ear. 

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE KID! IM OLDER THAN YOU, HOW DARE YOU!"

Perse's ears were assaulted by yelling. He fought the urge to look away from the girl and also to not push her over. A significant distance away, Amelia watched on in awe. 

"Listen here, Perses, I'm a Blessed just like you, ok! Just because I'm not some muscle-headed idiot like your sister over there doesn't mean anything. I'm older."

As Perses flinched from the tirade of shouting, he couldn't help but find himself curious about a few details.

"Older? So you say you're a Blessed, but you know you're own age."

"Yeah what about it?"

 Perses sighed at her blunt, unhelpful response as he looked towards Amelia, who returned his gaze with only an unhelpful shrug. 

"Hey, Amelia, if we're leaving the kingdom, does that mean this person has to come too?"

Amelia had moved a little closer again, somewhat nervously, as both Asteria and Perses turned to look at her expectantly. Frightened by the gaze of both, she stuttered over her words.

"Uhhh righttt."

Turning to focus on the far more agitated Asteria, Amelia gulped. 

"I mean, yes, were all leaving together... you'll come, won't you, Perses?"

At an impasse, the trio exchanged distrustful glances. Turning his gaze towards the ocean, Perses did his best to hide his amazement as his eyes squinted. He was the first to break the stubborn silence as he pointed towards the ocean.

"Fine. But, tell me. How you plan to leave-"

Sound. There was a strange, methodical sound somehow loud, yet at the same time, so very far away.

Ever so slightly, the earth quaked. Silenced by this quaking, Perses stared at the floor in utter disbelief. Strangely, the sky began to appear a whole lot darker, as if called forth by someone. The terrified Amelia was nowhere to be found, in her place stood a composed yet cold warrior. 

"...We leave quickly."