Chapter 127 Rulers

As the sun rose just above the horizon in between the mountains, a dignified young lady swung open the door, saying. "Where is he?"

Yasashi, who was walking beside her, answered. "At the empty room next to his, Your Highness."

"Good."

After walking down the corridor, and opening a door, Queen Ame inspected the room.

There is a group of people checking up on Shiru and Prince Tsuku.

"How long will it take for you to finish?"

"We are already done, Your Highness. We are only double checking the bandages."

"Very well. Thank you. Leave and return to your posts when you are done."

And after finishing what they were supposed to do, the group of medical personnel bowed before Queen Ame before leaving and closing the door behind them.

Now, it only leaves Queen Ame, Prince Tsuku, Shiru, and Yasashi in the room.

Immediately, Yasashi went over to Shiru, asking. "Are you okay now?"

"Y... e... s..."

"What happened to you, Shiru?"

"She got hit by an enemy arrow, taking away her ability to speak. I only received a graze so the effect didn't last as long."

As Queen Ame stood infront of Prince Tsuku, who was sitting on the edge of a bed, Yasashi assisted Shiru out of the room, leaving only the siblings in the room.

Taking a seat right next to him, Queen Ame said as Prince Tsuku turned away. "I am not against you going out whenever you want."

"..."

"What I am against is the fact that you placed yourself in unnecessary danger."

"What? Are you going to punish me?"

"No... I would never do that to you."

"Heh..."

"I have already sent people over to where you guys fought."

"The enemies are smart, they wouldn't be there anymore."

"If they were truly smart, they wouldn't have attacked you and let you leave without a chase."

"The enemies actions might seem random, but they definitely have a plan in mind."

"That may be the case..."

"I'm leaving."

"Tsuku. Sit back down. Please."

"...Fine."

After sitting back down, Prince Tsuku asked. "Alright, you have been trying to reach out to me all of this time, you better make sure it's worth it."

"..."

"..."

"I..."

"...If you are going to say sorry, don't. Not to me anyways."

"I need you right now, Tsuku."

"..."

"You are the only family that I have left. I can't afford to lose you too."

"If you want to call this a family, sure, whatever you want."

"...Why are trying to be so difficult, Tsuku?"

"Because I don't want you near me."

"...Why?"

"Because it hurts."

"..."

"You are a living reminder that we will NEVER go back the way we used to be. Never."

"That is true. Things will never be the same. But, when can-"

"There are no but's, Ame. We are done. The only reason I'm talking to you right now is because our father's legacy is in danger."

"...I'm sorry, Tsuku."

"I'm not the one you should say that to."

After saying that last statement, Tsuku stood up and left, leaving Ame to just sit there all alone.

After a few minutes have passed, Yasashi entered the room.

She then walked over to Queen Ame, who is just sitting there while blankly staring into nothingness.

Then, Yasashi took out an animal plushy from behind her before offering it to Ame.

With a small smile, Ame took the plushy and hugged it.

Yasashi then took a seat next to her, saying absolutely nothing while Ame continued to hug the plushy.

After a few moments, a few raindrops seem to drop on the plushy's head as the two of them remained still inside the room.

Meanwhile, on the otherside of the valley, a dignified man walked down a corridor with a straight face.

After looking out of a window, something seemingly caught the attention of the man.

After taking a turn, he found himself in a courtyard, where a certain young lady is seething.

"Jade, is everything alright?" He asked.

"Ah, father! Everything is alright here, do not worry."

"..."

"It was the usual... father."

After he saw a few individuals running away, Lord Jade then continued.

"Are you still taking your personal steps on the matter?"

"Yes. I hope you don't mind."

"I am proud of the person that you have become, Jade. Just do what you want, I trust you to make the appropriate decisions when it matters."

"Thank you very much, father."

"...Is there something else bothering you?"

"Ah, yes. Last night, Sun decided that it was a good idea to camp outside with Joan and Brad."

"While they slept, they woke up to an ambush in the dead of the night. They managed it, but..."

"Go on."

"When they where about to start interrogating, the ambushers suddenly exploded from the inside out."

"Exploded from the inside out... Have they brought in the bodies for an autopsy?"

"No, father. The bodies all exploded so thoroughly that nothing was identifiable after the explosion."

"That just means they were hiding something."

"Yes... but, they did say something to them before it happened."

"..."

"'Prepare, for it will be your last chance to do so'."

"That sounds awfully familiar, yes?"

"Yes, Long's letter. We presume that the reason why he hasn't returned is because he is fighting these very same guys."

"Knowing this, I could guess that you guys are ready to go out there and find him."

"Votes were casted, and all was in favor to do so after this entire situation is done."

"Well, you won't have to wait that long, my daughter."

"Hmm?"

"Last night, three family heads, seemingly picked out of random, were assassinated. The assassins who didn't get killed that night, died in custody like how you described.

"Ah! W-why? How?!"

"It seems that the enemy are acting in random in order to cause chaos and distress. I, and the rest of the family heads, are having a meeting once more to talk about this."

"But... Why? If they want to cause chaos, they would have done so in one big move? This just gives us time to prepare, doesn't it?"

"I am afraid that I do not hold the answer to any of those, Jade."