Third Person’s POV

"Mother and Father....I wished I knew more about them" Xiuying smiled, what else but sadness hides behind that sweet face. She shook her head, "Lin must be really powerful huh?! With a spirit beast like Àn Mêi in her and her nature powers..woah cool!"

"You have no idea" Soren laughed lightly at his little sister's reaction and shrunk back on the chair he's sitting, "Promise me, that you won't tell her until she's ready okay? I'll be the one to do it" He moved a finger in front of his lips for secrecy, his voice back to its gentle tone.

"Of course big brother! I hope you'll  find a perfect time for that, although, what did Father mean by stabilized? "Xiuying asked, twirling a piece of her brown hair around her fingers.

"You know our sister, the emotion she hides are bigger than her wardrobe.. I don’t know much of the details but my conclusion is that when she let's it go, she'll reach the stability they meant"

"Hmph, I guess someone just has to do it for her" Soren nods. The wind around them turned humid signalling the arrival of mid-day and with that, the amount of people passing them seemed to decrease.

“Brother….if, in some cases that sister might find out about it so suddenly, what will you do?” Xiuying pressed on, putting scenarios that Soren himself had a hard time finding a solution.

“She's bound to know this sooner or later” She added and saw how her brother’s smooth facade fell apart.

“I.. don't know how to tell her even when I have practiced many times about this” Soren admitted, his shoulders slumped together and that gentle face turned into something that paints pain.

“Father and Mother hid it with utmost security that I don't know the beginning, middle, and end of my sister's predicament” He shook his head and Xiuying understood the masks her siblings wore which drove her to the thought that maybe she was also wearing a mask.

“I've been talking to Aunt Izstahra but she also told me to wait. I know that woman knew alot but I just can't sit idly while my sister is suffering from the ‘fact’ that she doesn't have any magical abilities like us” 

“Big brother…” Xiuying hugged himself with all her might, “Don't worry….trust in our sister and our family, everything will work out in the end. Even if that happens, we'll talk it out right?” The little girl felt a hand caressing her hair with loving care and knew that her siblings will be fine.

“Of course, we will never fight” Soren reassured her as he hugged back but in his mind, he knew Linthea would never take it calmly. 

“Do you have any more questions?” He asked his sister again. This secret must slowly come to light starting with the little sister who loved them deeply and as the eldest, he must shoulder the responsibility of clearing it up to them.

"Hmmm…I do have a few, what about the necklace Calyx took back from Tiolas?" Xiuying paused for a while before she finally came with a question as she fished the pocket of her dress to give him a necklace with a flower shaped pendant with symmetrical designs; its heavy weight signifies that the materials used for the jewelry is not just silver and gold.

"Well....the other piece is usually needed because the necklace itself is the key to the Royal Vault...where certain things are kept" Soren pondered, "Lin has the other side of it" he eyed the necklace with scrutiny before shifting his gaze to the city before him.

"I see…, I forgot to tell you something related that Yato told me" Xiuying piped another story with juvenile interest. Her innocence and exuberance seemed to have an effect on Soren as he leaned his cheek upon his hand and listened, “When they went to Tiolas, all the plants and trees seemed to bow whenever sister walked near them!”

The older brother chuckled. His sweet little sister, mother would be proud to see her grown up.

"Well, I guess her powers are already showing themselves" Soren spoke with a carefree tone "If we can't let her let go of her negative emotions, I guess we need her knight in shining armor..anyone in mind?" He continued with a smile, Xiuying perked at the idea and shared his sentiments.

"Your friend Calyx. He's got the soft eyed look when she's around" Xiuying looked at Soren for confirmation but found him new to the revelation, "Don't tell me you never noticed?"

"AHAHA no, sorry...well, let's just hope he'll get around her tenacious wall. My bet is on Kale though" Xiuying guffawed, she didn't seem to disagree as much. The brown haired girl wiped her tears and stood up, beckoning her brother to return back inside.

"I still hope you won't go to Tiolas anytime soon. I know your calibre brother. I'm also saying this for your safety, what will Thea say when she wakes up knowing that you're not there? She will be mad and follow you and both of you ends up in the medbay again!" Xiuying rambled, closing her eyes with furrowed brows as she spoke.

"Alright, alright don't worry baby sis" Soren assured with a soft tone of a voice, patting Xiuying's head as he walked towards the entrance.

"Yayy~ You promised alright!" Xiuying exclaimed with joy and ran to catch up to him, "I have some concerns... it's about that Denohar woman she seems awfully concerned about you..are you two a thing?"

"What? No! Cressida.... she's just a friend. I don't like her because I have somebody else" Soren reasoned calmly albeit the redness of his cheeks before his sister's searching eyes that reminded her of their mother bugging him about the princesses of different kingdoms, "I'm... currently searching for her everywhere" Xiuying's gaze softened and a hand patted Soren's back, the part that she can reach, "I'm sure you'll find her....she means a lot, yes?" 

Soren could only nod in agreement.

-•-

Icycilis-Dusk

"How's your mission?" Dinner was quiet in the Tal Mino residence as it always was, absence of parents but was supplied by each other's presence was enough to keep the solemn atmosphere away.

"Ish was graef!" Gabriel replied, hid mouth full of broccoli stew. Zyrion grimaced at that but it's his brother's favourite dish soo...

"I totally kicked his ass haha!" Gabriel made a small punch on the table signalling his immense happiness with his older brother looking at him with a smile.

"Hm," Zyrion huffed with pride, " The more reason why I should go with you"

"Nahh, don't embarrass me brother" Gabriel took another spoonful of the dish, "By the way... how's Miss Nieve?" Zyrion almost choked on his food and looked at his brother's smug face.

"Ha! Still no progress? I told you she's a difficult nut to crack...I heard from her beloved apprentice that she closed all hope from men" the autumn haired man said but as soon as he saw his brother's face fall he almost felt guilty. Almost. Gabriel sighed internally, "Well, if it's you brother, I'm sure she'll budge, you're pretty much a smooth talker than I"

"Of course, I'm older than you" Gabriel's smirk was wiped off.

"Tsk, tsk, goodluck with her, not that you need it"He broke a taunting laugh, drawing a smile on Zyrion's face.

"If you're that generous, it's your turn to wash the dishes." He cleaned his part of the table and took his utensils away.

"Hey no fair! It was my turn yesterday" Gabriel retorts, still holding his drink.

"Is that so? If my memory serves, I cleaned yesterday"

"Don't worm your way out of this brother!"

-•-

Mylinggr- 7:00pm

Spending night-time in the country of Mylinggr is quite a bliss. Thrown quite right with the essence of a golden countryside view, fields adorned with gardenias and forsythias, the aroma of fresh bread and pastry, cobblestone roads, sturdy stone houses with flowering shrubs hanging from its balcony, and with the winds to protect this precious kingdom, everyone had a good night...well, almost everyone.

A few distances outside town sits an overlooking castle with trees and tall shrubs of amyrethis flower to decorate its entrance. Old blocks of the castle walls have been overrun by flowering vines and moss. An old bridge stretched towards the giant door that leads inside the castle and if you're wondering if there's a river underneath, no there isn't. Underneath the bridge is a land with a tall sanguine tree as its marker and if you go around the palace, you'll find yourself in a flower maze and soon see a gazebo where the princesses often enjoy tea and singing. The interior looks lavishing as well, accented with forest green, the house of von Frieden lives to the color of their element. Chartreuse tiles and chandeliers with emerald embellishments that decorates particular rooms of the castle with twin stairs etched, connecting the second and first floor. Hanging a shade of fabric that imitates the color of the forest with the house's sigil of a beautiful bird's head and its wing around the halls is also a must in this palace in order to flaunt how generously the wind blows according to an avian's perspective. 

Each flowers hanging by the castle walls was manually changed corresponding to the mood that this household needs and to prepare for the night, lavender scented air roamed the hallways of the castle as everyone gets ready to sleep.

"You called for me, mother?" Princess Cassandra walked inside the library, the place where the Queen often spends her respite.

"Sit, my daughter" Izstahra looked up from the paperwork she's handling and motioned her oldest to the chair in front of her table.

A moment of silence passed when the Queen broke it. "Cassandra, remember that time before when I said there will be a time for you to fulfill your duties as a princess of this kingdom?"

"Yes" the golden haired princess nods. Although she already knew where this conversation is heading, it's better if it's her mother who'll break it down to her.

"I have finally chose a man for you to marry, your betrothal" Cassandra stayed silent, head bowed with her heart pounding deafeningly in her chest. Her mother is often called a woman of steel for she is the law and a woman of decisiveness and strategic value; as her daughter, perhaps she can stop this and negotiate with her.

"You'll be marrying Prince Irith Desmond of Esgarde"

"No, I do not wish to be married to someone I don't love" came her straightforward answer. Izstahra's ink slipped across her paper.

"It's for the best: Your safety, security and for the kingdom"Even though she didn't take her eyes off the paper she's holding, the Queen's voice grew in authoritativeness. Of course, she's also a princess not just a young woman, she has duties to fulfill and a country to protect...fate is sometimes harsh to her. Cassandra's heart ached as her eyes blurred from tears.

"Mama!" Cassandra suddenly burst out, "Don't do this to me...please!"

"Cassandra. A princess is not a slave to her emotions. "Izstahra paused and puts down the pen she's holding to see the state of her daughter. Her face showing signs of age and tiredness but her gaze was cold.

"You always do this! Deciding what you think is right, think of me too! Our country's about freedom right?! But why am I the only one with chains around my being, caged in a glass?!" Cassandra stormed off in anger. Tears glistened from her eyes, falling spontaneously from her gentle face as she walked her way out of the door.

"Cassandra Francesca-!" And she slammed it close, slowly descending from the door frame to the floor, wailing silently. Cassandra clutched her aching heart as she tearfully looked up the window to see the moon in parallel to her gaze. Slowly wiping her tears and hoped for their god to be the one listening to her pleas, she prayed to find true love and happiness in the future.

—

Archive Log: Confession of Friendship

Calyx once confessed to Linthea but given her dense personality she took it as a promise of a stronger friendship and instead friendzoned him.