Solaria silently walks through the palace, looking for either the daughter or even King Aloran himself. According to the elder priest, the Mazoku are starting to move, in manners that are seemingly warlike in nature. Assuming this, the dragon priestess firmly believes that the strange girl who was so foolheartedly brought in is a Mazoku. She feels like, so she has to be.
At the last second, when hearing hurried footsteps behind her, Solaria jumps aside. Her foot gets caught in her robes, though, and she falls to the ground ungracefully. Lying there silently, she looks up at who she managed to get out of the way of, to see Sherra looking down at her.
"I'm sorry, ma'am." The girl smiles to the priestess politely, bows to her, and continues her dash down the hallway.
Solara stands up again, looking around. For the first time today, she notices that the people of the castle are particularly busy today.
What's going on?
She begins to walk to where her priest stays in the palace, to stop while seeing servants cleaning up the hallways like mad; while seeing soldiers run off to bark out orders to the palace security. Something is definitely up. It seems like a major guest is coming to the palace.
A hand drops onto Solaria's shoulder. She jumps and turns around to see a young girl.
"Solara?"
"Princess Delania..."
"The High Priest is searching for you. He wants to talk to you before our guest arrives."
"Guest?"
"Haven't you heard, though?" The young princess smiles, brushing her black hair out of her face. "Lei Magnus is coming to Saillune! He's staying in the palace!"
Solara blinks.
Lei Magnus is staying in the palace?
"What is he coming here for?"
"I believe he's going to announce the apprentice he's taken."
Solara blinks a second time.
Lei Magnus is taking an apprentice?
"Thank you, Delania." Solara smiles to her, and takes off to see her elder.
Lei Magnus was greeted by a surprise. He blinks, standing there, looking at the holy people and the royal family in the throne room. He stops and looks down as he feels Mila step up against him, holding tightly to his arm. The young woman stands there; her figure is hidden within the long, seemingly oversized red robes she wears, her face hidden by the matching hood that falls over her head. She holds onto sorcerer's arm with one hand, gripping a lock of blond hair that falls from under the hood with her other.
"It's a pleasure to have you here, Lei Magnus." Aloran speaks, smiling as he does. "And this must be your apprentice. What is her name?"
"Oh." He states calmly. "This is Mila. She's very talented with the use of magic. Although..." he laughs lightly while pulling his arm away to make her stand up to the King and Princess. "She's very shy." Lei Magnus looks down at her again then back up. "I've never seen her talk when there are many people around her.
Mila just stands there silently, her head lowered, not speaking to any of the people.
Solara watches her, not sure about what she should think. She looks up at the priest standing next to her. Halorn looks back at her before turning to walk off. "Let us go, Solara. We have many things to do to prepare for tonight."
"Yes, sir." She turns away from the visitors and follows her elder, stopping for a second to look back at Mila. The girl looks up, her strange, lifeless eyes meeting with the dragon's. Solara backs away, fear flashing through her mind as she runs through many ideas of what Mila could really be. The priestess turns away quickly to catch up with Halorn.
Mila watches silently.
Mila's mind flickers over simple thoughts.
They Are Here.
Mila is aware that one she searches for is here.
Phibrizo Is Here.
This is working perfectly.
Mila wanted it this way.
Mila tightens her grip on the golden lock of hair that falls in front of her.
The Ryuzoku Are Threatened.
Mila notes Solara's exit.
She Knows Something.
Mila looks at her from under her hood.
Mila's eyes meet with the girl's.
The Girl Suspects Something.
Mila lowers her head again, listening to the girl walk away quickly.
I Must Find Phibrizo.
Mila's mind returns to the same thought she had earlier.
Grauscherra And Phibrizo Are Both Here.
Mila looks up at Lei Magnus before looking back to the king and his daughter.
They Don't Know.
Mila grins to herself.
No one Knows.
Mila's smile is because nothing can go wrong for her.
Nothing At All.
Mila's face becomes emotionless and lifeless again.
Nothing.
"It is great to have someone of such power stay here for the night!" Aloran smiles to the tall man standing before him. "We shall have a great feast to..."
"No need." Lei Magnus interrupts him shortly. "Mila is needing rest. We'll make the announcement tonight and head off to bed. That's about it."
"Can't we interest you in anything, though? I mean, the cook is working hard for tonight." Delania speaks softly.
"I said that there's no need." He looks down at the girl. "Are you okay, Mila? Shall we go to our rooms for now?" The shy, young woman nods slowly in response.
"Alright then." Aloran calls out to a few servants who promptly respond to his call, and begin to lead the sorcerer and his new apprentice to their rooms.
Mila studies the palace.
They've Become Very Productive.
Mila smiles to herself again.
The People Should Be Arriving Soon.
Mila suddenly remembers something.
The Knights Shall Be Arriving As Well.
Mila keeps close to Lei Magnus.
He Will Not Let Them Know.
Mila pulls her hood up, with her other hand, still gripping on the lock of hair.
Good.
Mila closes her eyes, still walking. Not needing sight to know where she is.
What The...?
Mila opens her eyes, truly surprised as Sherra walks past her and the sorcerer.
There Is The Dynast General.
Mila stops, then looks back. Lei Magnus looks at her questioningly.
It's Not Grauscherra I Feel. It's Her.
"Let's go, Mila."
Mila hears the comforting voice behind her.
Yes, Let's Go.
Mila returns to her walk to their rooms.
Sherra blinks after she's out of the sight of Lei Magnus and the strange girl.
"Who was that...?" She says softly before shrugging. "Whoever it is, I don't like the feel she's giving me. Maybe... Just maybe, Grauscherra should know this..." With those words, the General takes off.
Phibrizo stands at the gate of the palace, looking up. "They're here." He smiles, almost laughing. "They're finally here."
The boy then looks to the guards at the gate. I shouldn't cause a racket, She wouldn't be pleased of it. He nods to himself, turning from the palace and walking away. I'll wait until the announcement is made.
Solara sits back in her room, fear still in her mind from seeing the girl's eyes.
Who the hell is she?! What the hell is she?!
Solara doesn't know what to think, but that this person cannot be trusted either. She truly cannot be trusted. Halorn has to hear about her too. ...but... Solara can't do anything... The fear in her mind refuses to let her.
I have to prepare for tonight...
She tries to make herself get up, but she can't. She can't force herself to move, the emptiness within her making her remain where she is.
Can I even do anything in this situation...?
Solara closes her eyes. Being one of the Ryuzoku means that she is more advanced than the humans, but... Why these reactions to the girl...? Surely Halorn felt her presence as well? Who is she? What is she? She's definitely not human, nor does she seem Mazoku.
Who is she?!
Everything returns to that question.