The duke took a black button down, a vest and a pair of dark colored breeches to wear. After donning the basic clothes, he silently made his way to the arsenal. Though it was locked, the duke did not have a hard time picking the lock and slipping in.
A smile made its way into his face as he surveyed the collection. "Marvelous!"
The ninja arsenal was unlike any other that he had seen in Verbana. The one in his realm was used to keep long swords, axes, mazes and some spears.
Here, the arsenal is filled with different throwing weapons, daggers, knives, chain whips and a range of katana to choose from.
Eyeing the weapons, Aliester made his choice. He sauntered near the corner where knives were lined up and choose several throwing knives.
Lacing his leather boots properly, he slid a couple of knives in its secret compartment.
Looking over the other weapon, he chose a five inched dagger. Strapping on the leather belt around his waist, he sheathed the dagger in place.
After securing the leather gauntlets in both hands, he took several small daggers and placed them in the secret pockets of the gloves.
Going to the other corner, the duke eyed the selection of shuriken. Taking a few pieces of star shuriken, he kept them under his sleeves.
Then choosing a long sword, he drew a 30 inched katana. "Really sharp." He muttered as he looked at his own reflection from the sword.
He sheathed the katana and carried it on his back.
Before exiting the arsenal, the duke fetched a black hooded cloak to conceal his face and the weapons he was carrying.
"you look quite good, my lord." Daxtion said as he emerged from another room.
The duke would have said anything but was unable to. He was taken aback when he saw the knight.
"Bloody hell! What are you wearing?" the duke eyed the knight with incredulity. "Even the worst archer in history could hit you with that outfit."
"What is wrong with wearing this signature ninja outfit?" Daxton asked while inspecting his clothes.
"Nothing... the problem is that you are wearing an orange Naruto costume!"
"Well, I can be a splendid ninja if I wear this costume." The knight proudly announced as he flaunted the orange pants and jacket he was wearing.
"Even if you wear that you won't be a splendid ninja." Blaze said as he entered their conversation. "You are making a lot of noises. Regardless of wearing that outfit, you cannot move that fast."
"You won't be able to move fast in those." The knight spat at the wizard. "Your robes are reaching the floor. I won't be surprised if you trip with that length. How are you supposed to run in that?"
"I can manage moving with these robes on." The wizard retorted. "At the very least I am not wearing a light armor."
They turned and saw that the King of Thyme enter. He was wearing a light armor that he had used when they first came. He had donned the breastplate, shoulder guards, a pair of gauntlet and boots.
"You are wearing those costumes. You do know that we are going to face knights back in our realm." the king pointed out.
"Your majesty that tin can outfit will only slow you down." Daxton said as he made his way to the king. "Although that can provide you with maximum protection, that armor will affect your agility."
In no time at all, the four were engaged in a debate about the clothes that they needed to wear for their mission. They were so engrossed that they did not even notice that their master and the princess came in the room.
"Nani kore?" Innocia exclaimed as she eyed the four. "Cosplay?"
Their master had a similar reaction. "What do you think you are wearing?" Kuroe narrowed her eyes at the boys before her. "You are supposed to be going to a mission, but with those clothes on...you look like you are going to a Cosplay in Akihabara!"
"Of course not!" they denied in chorus.
"Really?" Innocia looked at them and labelled each character. She looked at her cousin and pointed. "We got Ezio." She referred to the RPG character that they like playing on the personal computer. Looking at the knight, the girl said. "Naruto, from the anime we like to watch." Then eyeing the wizard, she muttered. "Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. You even copied his staff." and turning towards the king, she finished. "Lantis from Magic Knight Rayeart, the manga you always read... Definitely cosplay."
Daxton pouted before grumbling. "You are one to talk! Why are you wearing your uniform? You do not have class today."
Innocia looked at her own red skirt and black button down uniform before proudly saying. "Anime characters usually wear their school uniform in going to missions! Saya from Blood –C is a good example."
"So you were the one who gave them ideas about their clothes... I was wondering where they got those outrageous ideas for their outfit." As punishment, Kuroe grind Innocia's temples.
"Itai! That hurts!" the girl tried to get away, but her master won't allow her.
"You are not wearing proper clothing and to top it all, you are wearing a skirt!"
Before Innocia could open her mouth to retort, the king beat her with a question. "Princess, are you wearing something underneath that skirt? It will be bad if you kick and let the enemies see your underclothes."
The girl flushed. It happened for a few times. Since Innocia became the king's sparring partner, she developed a habit of giving surprise attacks. When she got home from school, she had assaulted him a couple of times before she could even change into her ninjutsu gi.
The king did not only receive a few bumps and bruises, he also got an eyeful and a bleeding nose.
"How rude! I am wearing bloomers! See... " she lifted her skirt to prove it, but Kuroe stopped her in time and slapped her upside her head.
"You idiot!" her master reprimanded her. "Stop acting like a kid! It is not okay to show your knickers to people."
Innocia would have answered but Kuroe looked at her pointedly before giving her two leather arm guards.
"Why do I have to wear these?" the princess complained as she laced the arm guards on. "they weigh a ton!" Sulking, she let both her arms rest by her sides as if they had grown heavy.
"That will serve as your punishment and your additional training." Her master snapped. Then turning to her other students, Kuroe said. "You have to remember, as a ninja, you need to wear something comfortable so that you can move fast. But most often than not, ninjas would wear clothes that will allow them to blend in with the common folk." She focused her attention to the king. "Conrad, are they wearing armor in that realm?"
"Not all..." the king mumbled in reply.
After considering, the master then laid down their plan. "First mission is to infiltrate... to do that you need to blend in." turning to her students, she asked. "What are the clothes worn by villagers?"
"In Verbana, most women wear peasant dresses while others would wear a blouse, apron and skirt. On the other hand, men usually wore breeches and button down shirt." The duke provided.
"But I think it would be futile, sensei..." Blaze incised. "the villages had been deserted. So there is no need for disguises in entering the villages. What we need to infiltrate is the prison... La Verbana."
"Most of the guards are wearing light armor, but the warden usually wore full armor. The prisoners were wearing ordinary clothing." Daxton provided the necessary information.
"By ordinary clothing, you mean breeches and button down?" their master confirmed.
"We may have clothes similar to those in this realm." The wizard said.
"Why don't we just use comfortable clothes?" the knight asked. "This ninja clothes are comfortable." He gestured to the orange costume he was wearing.
The others gave him a pointed look which made him shut his trap.
"I haven't tried taking down an armored enemy before." Their master confessed. "But every opponent has a weak spot. If we learn about that weak spot, it will be easy for us to take the opponent down."
"Most of the knight are wearing light armor. We can easily slit their throats swiftly and silently as possible." The knight said. "after all the Aim of assassin is to take down the enemy without being noticed, right?"
"But what if we engage in full combat?" the king asked.
"Then we fight using stealth, power and skills." Their master answered.
***
"In the end, we only get to wear these clothes." The wizard grumbled as he looked at his breeches and shirt. "I feel bare."
"At the very least, we can just materialize the armor if the need arises." The knight said as he showed off the cards which contained his stored equipment.
"So where are we heading off?" the wizard asked.
"To the portal." Their master replied.
But before they could go exit the main door, they heard the two cousins having a debate.
"I need to do this!" Innocia insisted.
"But Innocia that is-" Aliester began.
"Look, I do not want what that thing five years ago to happen again." The girl said as she made her way to the backyard. "I need to ensure that we have damage control."
The duke followed her while pleading. "Innocia, you don't have to do this."
"My decision is final, oniichan..." her reddish brown orbs met with his light brown ones.
In resignation, the duke allowed her to approach the king.
"Your majesty." She began. "A word with you please."
“Is there anything wrong, your highness?” the king asked after the girl pulled him away from the group. “Are you getting cold feet or something?”
The girl’s brows creased at his question. Then shaking her head, she replied. “No. I don’t have cold feet.”
The king studied the girl. He could see that she was somewhat anxious. She kept on fidgeting as if she wanted to say something more but couldn’t.
However, before the words could leave his mouth, the girl beat him to it. She added under her breath that the king barely got the words.
“I am just mentally preparing myself for this unexpected home coming. I am not supposed to go back to Verbana but I had to.”
At the princess’s words, some thoughts crossed Conrad’s mind. “Does it have something to do with your exile?” he asked all of the sudden. “Why were you exiled in the first place?
Innocia’s eyes widened at his questions. But instead of answering she just averted her eyes. “Sorry but I cannot talk about that…“
Noting the distressed look on the girl’s face, the king tried to change the topic to ease up the tension he had unintentionally made.
“I am a bit nervous going back to our realm.” Conrad began. “I was never raised to be a king. I had two older brothers who were by far better than I am.”
That got the princess’s attention. She stopped fidgeting and listened intently to his tale.
“I used to work hard to be noticed by my parents, by everyone else in the court and by the council. Unfortunately, my achievements were always inferior to my older siblings. Although I am happy working behind my siblings’ shadows, there is always a part of me that wanted to excel and be recognized.”
The girl nodded for him to continue.
“My parents and most of the people only saw my two older brothers as candidates to be the next king, they never considered me. However, just a few weeks ago I was the one who had received the mark of the Enclave of Thyme.” Feeling the warm mark on his chest, he confessed. “There would be a lot of responsibilities that I am considering running away with my tail tucked between my legs. I am pathetic.”
“You shouldn’t run. You are given that responsibility, you need to prove that you deserve it.” She advised. “My case is quite different from yours but I have inkling on what you might be feeling. Despite having been born in the royal family, I was never given an opportunity to do my duties. But now that I have been given the chance… I will do my best to save everyone.”
“We will just have to do what we can.” The king agreed before he made a move towards the others.
However, Innocia stopped him. “My lord, before we depart. I need to do this precautionary measure…”
His brows rose at her words. “Precautionary measure?”
“I would like to initiate a contract.”
“What?” Taken aback by her request, Conrad exclaimed in incredulity.
Innocia held her hand to silence him and explained. “Being a king, you have a higher position than mine. Aliester-nii chan is a duke. His position is almost the same as mine. I could not form a contract with him.”
“Hold on. Why do you need to initiate a contract?” The king got confused.
“I will need a king’s command to do this mission. I will not be under your command unless I will be temporarily contracted to you.”
The king’s brows knotted even more. “But why would you need a king’s command?”
“If I decided to back out and run away due to some reasons, you can force me to help you in this mission with the command spell.”
Narrowing his eyes, he sternly said. “Innocia if this is a joke, this is not funny.”
Sighing, she finally blurted out. ” I need some limitations before engaging in battle or there may be some great consequences. I cannot control my power properly. I might go berserk… so it is better to set a limit before that happen and a king’s command is the only thing that can do that.”
Accepting her reasoning, the king consented.
Kneeling down, the princess said. “Before we make this contract, I need to lay down a few conditions, your majesty.”
“What are they?” he asked as the golden pentagram began to form engulfing the two of them.
She barely whispered her conditions before she pledged allegiance to the king of Thyme.
“I am Datura Innocia, princess of Verbana. I pledge my loyalty to his majesty, King Conrad Harrison of Thyme.” As the girl kissed his king’s hand, the golden pentagram glowed and the contract was completed.
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