"I see…" I nodded, hiding my disappointment to her being a princess as best I could, "I suppose that's how you know the Van Dorens, then?" 

"Yes. My clan recently entered into a business contract with their family that will change many things both for them and for us. It is a three-way alliance with the man you saw standing beside me earlier, Ammon, representing the Viscera clan as the third party. We were in Selas finalizing our deal when Vanessa vanished." 

A business contract or alliance between three clans wasn't common, especially with the Visceran clan, but maybe things were changing. I shrugged. "I know little about business." 

"As expected of a traveler like yourself, Noct."

I wasn't sure if her comment was an insult or a compliment, but I let it go. Now that I was acclimating to her presence and my heart wasn't pounding like hell, could I sense other things about the princess, too.

What's strange is that she seems to emanate physical chill, even when it's nice out here. Could that be why she's wearing a long-sleeved dress with fur on the rims? They must have designed it for the winter months.

My mouth spoke before I could consider the repercussions of my words, and I blurted out, "You seem cold. Is everything alright?"

Anastalia nodded at me, and she put a hand over her pendant. "Yes, I'm fine. I've felt a chill ever since this attached itself to me. Even my skin is cool to the touch." the Borean princess paused in uncertainty, "It's almost as if this pendant has changed me somehow, as foolish as that may sound."  

After experiencing the same sensation of change often, I cut in, "It's not foolish at all, princess. I've felt that way since I woke up in the desert. I don't tire or consume resources like an ordinary human, and I also have some heightened abilities that aren't normal. My strength and speed are now at a point where they are no longer natural. That, and…" I stopped, uneasy about this subject, "I get these... Nightmares. They're vivid and quite terrifying." 

"So you've noticed several differences in your body as well? Interesting." she murmured as if thinking this whole thing through, "I have also had strange dreams as of late, but none that were frightening. In mine, I often see this unfamiliar man with long blond hair calling out to me. He beckons to me almost every night, and it is as if he's becoming impatient now. I'm uncertain why he is doing it or what I'm supposed to do about it."

I let her words sink in for a moment, and irritation bubbled inside me.

How far does this rabbit hole go? How many questions must I answer before I learn the truth?

Swallowing my temper, I closed my eyes briefly while cursing, "So many goddamn mysteries. Every answer I seek is hidden from me." Anastalia remained silent, but soon I remembered something that made me feel better about my situation — I had a lead.

I opened my eyes and looked at the princess. "Tomorrow, I'm leaving this place for the capital of Umbra, Nox, to sail across the ocean to Radia. Magnus, a sage in the library here, told me that in Adustio, they have the largest library in all of Esoterra. He has a child that works with strange artifacts like ours who may know what the symbols mean and where they come from." 

For a moment, I paused, wondering if what was in my mind was a good idea. I preferred to travel alone, but if I was traveling with the princess of Borea, perhaps I would find her company tolerable. It was a gamble, but I was willing to take it with her. After some hesitation, I asked, "I realize this is sudden and that you don't know me, but... I think we share a special bond because we both have these pendants. Would you like to come with me to discover their true meaning, princess? To seek the answers ourselves?"

It seemed like my question took Anastalia by surprise. Still, she only let it show for a second before answering me in a firm tone, "I must discuss such a thing with my head advisor. Curiosity burns inside me to uncover the reason for these necklaces, and it seems like you are closer than anyone else to discovering that reason. Yet, I cannot be away for too long because I have a clan to govern alongside my father and our new allies. A selfish trip like this will cause my father trouble. He's in poor health but has several aides that can help him while I'm away." 

Her answer made sense. She was a princess of a whole clan, after all, so I nodded. "Sure, take as long as you need to decide, but it would be best to leave as soon as possible. I don't want this journey to take too long, either."

"Thank you. I'll discuss these plans with my advisor and will meet you tomorrow before dawn if we decide it is in my best interest to do so. Before that, there is something you must change." she frowned, her blue eyes piercing through me like icicles. 

"One thing I need to change?" I asked.

Have I already messed up?

"You must stop calling me princess. Not only do I hate the connotation it carries, but it also endangers us both while traveling on the road. Many would want to capture me, to hold me for ransom if they knew my identity. I have no interest in being your bodyguard, and I have no interest in you being mine, so do not attract danger to us, or you will face it alone." 

She never gave me the impression that she needed a bodyguard, even at first glance. Her terms of "every man for himself" sounded more than acceptable.

"Got it. I won't need your protection. You can count on that." I agreed, liking her style of travel already. With Vanessa, I always had to protect her from anything and everything, which slowed me down. After providing that answer, I realized her request left me with nothing to call her by, so I asked, "What would you like me to call you, then? You can't expect me to go the whole trip without referring to you once."

Ah, that one earned a bit of a smile.

In truth, the princess's smile was a sight to behold, and its rarity made it even more precious. I preferred a serious disposition to a jovial one.

It only lasted a few seconds before it faded, but I didn't mind its disappearance. While it was there, I savored it. Now, she spoke in the same smooth tone I enjoyed, "No, I don't expect you to go the entire trip without saying my name once, Noct. You may call me Ana — not Anastalia, but Ana. We will be safer that way."

I nodded in understanding as a small smile of my own appeared on my face. "As you wish, Ana," I responded, her name tasting sweet on my tongue as I said it out loud.

I'm so damn happy I'm traveling with her now and not Vanessa— this will be a fine trip.

As Ana was about to reply, a different, sweeter female voice interrupted our conversation.

Speak of the devil …