The Sakura Kingdom

After defeating the evil Elisabeth, the citizens of Glabaskhan threw a huge banquet to celebrate their freedom and their saviours. Unfortunately, we, the guests of honour, could not attend the banquet. We had to disembark to the Sakura Kingdom and discuss future plans for Grand Order.

"Hey, Haruki..."

And we also need to appoint a new cross to take Louisa's place.

"Hey, Haruki..."

There is also the issue of...

"HEY, HARUKI!!!"

"Are you crazy!!!" I say covering my ears.

"I can't help it, I'm bored."

Elisabeth has been bored since we boarded the train. Unfortunately for her, we still have another two days until we reach the Sakura Kingdom.

"Hey, why don't I just ride you?" she asks.

"Ride… me? What do you mean?" I ask, flustered.

"I mean hitch a ride in your dragon form," she says tilting her head in confusion. After thinking for a few seconds, she smirks and says cunningly, "What do you think I meant?"

"N-nothing," I say, embarrassed.

I've become overly self-conscious of Elisabeth. She has a predator-like behaviour when it comes to making me blush. Just like Louisa. And she's quick to catch me off guard. This behaviour has made Selina more vicious as well. "Sigh, this is going to be a long train ride."

The train we are on is a special one that the engineers of Sakura Kingdom developed. It uses magic stones to travel instead of coal. This makes the train run faster and it also pollutes less. Unfortunately, the Borneheimer Kingdom's efforts in tech development pale in comparison to the other Kingdoms. This train has seven compartments, excluding the locomotive. We booked the first two compartments. Selina, Jinx, Ivy, Niklaus, Doll and the twins, Yukio and Emihiko boarded the second compartment and Elisabeth, and I boarded the first compartment. The reason for this arrangement is everyone's lack of trust in Elisabeth. She said she would answer questions once we meet up with the other members of Grand Order.

I go back to the second compartment but to my surprise, I only see Ivy, with the twins sleeping on her lap.

"Where have the others gone?" I ask her.

"They were bored and decided to go on an exploration," she says, sipping tea.

"I see."

"So, what brings you here?" she asks.

"Elisabeth keeps clinging to me."

"And as an alpha male that turns you on?"

"Far from it. It's starting to annoy me."

"That's brutally honest of you."

"I don't do fantasies. If the truth hurts, then you were weak."

"I see. But you aren't being completely honest. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here."

"What am I lying about?"

"Everything."

"Everything?"

"You don't find Elisabeth annoying. You're actually enjoying her company."

"No, I don't. She's annoying. Her clinging onto me is nothing but her fulfilling a childhood fantasy I don't remember. And like I said, I don't do fantasies."

"Haruki, you are broken."

"I'm what?"

"Broken. There is a hole in your heart that you refuse to block. It's slowly eating you up."

"A hole, you say. And just what has caused this hole?"

"Not what. Who."

"Oh? Are you saying someone had such control over my life that they could cause my life such disturbance?"

"Yes. And you know who she is. Haruki, you're still in love with—"

"Ivy," I say, threateningly pressuring her with mana. She retaliates with mana of her own. "Don't utter that name. She has no place in my heart. She never had."

"Fine," she sighs. "Could you lift your mana? The twins are squirming."

I look at the twins. As she says, they are shivering in fear. Still deep asleep, though. "You've grown quite attached to them. To the point where you would protect them over yourself." I raise my gaze to her bleeding nose. "To think you would take pressure from my mana directly. Are you insane?"

"We were enemies three weeks ago. But it's different now. I only see these two as children. As brothers."

"Brothers? Who's trying to fill a hole exactly?"

She giggles. "I guess you're right. I'm trying to fill the hole left in my heart after my brother died. I'm also trying to move on from the past. Something you're still stuck on."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're purposefully locking away painful memories, aren't you? Like Louisa's betrayal."

"I don't know—"

"Your face was expressionless when you were talking to Louisa in that cell. You showed no rage or joy. One would expect one or the other after what she did to you. But your expression was indifferent like a candytuft."

"A what?"

"A candytuft. In the language of flowers, it symbolises indifference."

"And I appear like this flower?"

"It's not the appearance of the flower that symbolises indifference. The flower can adapt to a wide variety of climates—hence its indifferent symbolism. You are like a candytuft. You naturally adapt to any situation you are thrown into. Or that's what you want us to believe. But deep inside, you are hiding intense emotions. Emotions you refuse to let surface. Locking those emotions makes you calculative and logical. But is a logical, emotionless dragon something you truly are, Haruki? Can you be a monotone being? An existence that doesn't care what happens to him because acknowledging his emotions will be too painful. Is this who you're trying to be?"

"I'm not hiding anything, Ivy."

"It's so obvious that you're locking your emotions away, Haruki."

"Elisabeth." A sigh leaves my mouth. "When did you start eavesdropping on our conversation?"

"From the beginning. And I must reiterate Ivy's words. You are brutally honest. Don't you know you can crush a maiden's heart with such brutality?"

"Luckily there's no maiden in sight." Both Ivy and Elisabeth knock me over the head. "Even you, Ivy?"

"I'm sorry I can't be maidenly enough in your eyes, Haruki."

"See, as I said. You're crushing the hearts of two beautiful maidens here."

"Why are you here, Elisabeth?"

"So cold. What happened to the heat of your flustered expression earlier?"

"Just forget about that," I say, flustered once again. "Why'd you eavesdrop?"

"I heard an interesting conversation. And I must agree with Ivy. Haruki, you are suppressing your emotions. When a mortal being experiences a traumatic experience, there is a chance that their mind will just erase the painful reality from their memory. But this does not erase the event that occurred. Haruki, your heart broke when Louisa betrayed you. You are overcome with guilt from killing the people of Trist. And you're still coming to terms with your sudden relocation into Leagard. Confusion, guilt, anger, and sorrow. A swirl of negative emotions is causing a similar reaction to the scenario I painted before. Suppressing these emotions is negatively affecting you. Locking them away is causing the emotions to eat away at your mental health."

"Well, Doctor Elisabeth, what do you suggest I do to unlock these emotions you say are plaguing my mind?"

"I could use my magic."

"But this is not a problem with my memory. What use would your magic have?"

"It does have something to do with your memory, Haruki. You have no memory of our meeting one thousand years ago, right? I assume your memories were tampered with."

"By whom?"

"I don't know. I never peeked into your memories before. But if I do that now, you will likely remember everything. Some of your questions may even be answered."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"Haruki, I don't think I should do this."

"What do you mean? You're the one who brought it up."

"Yes. I brought it to your attention. But I never planned on using my magic—for two reasons. One, your mind may not have the strength to handle the vast information that may enter. This process could break you. And I don't want to see you broken. Or, more broken than you currently are."

"And what is the second reason?"

"Your memories were tampered with. This may be from an external force. If someone purposefully did this to you, they may have had a reason to do so. And I fear this may have something to do with what Old Man Alvis feared. If so, I don't think bringing your memories to the forefront is a good idea."

"Then why would you bring this to my attention?"

"I felt like I needed to tell you."

"Sigh, Is that so? Well, if you're this concerned, I won't bother you with this matter anymore."

As I said, I did not pester Elisabeth to perform a spell on me. Thus, two days passed in the blink of an eye, and we arrive in the Sakura Kingdom. In the town called Delia, the capital of the Sakura Kingdom. As we get off the train, we are met by a group of female soldiers.

"Why do I feel an unnerving sense of Deja vu?" I say.

A blue-haired soldier walks forward. She pounds the ground with her foot, straightens her posture and raises her hand to her temple in salute. "I am Erika Blade. Commander of the Valkyrie Knights. Welcome to the Sakura Kingdom, Haruki Ryu, Poison Cross Ivy, Hero Niklaus Borneheimer and..." she looks at the others, "...I am terribly sorry, I was not informed of your other companions. Yuri!!" she calls one of the female knights forward.

"Y-yes!!"

"Inform the princess of our six new guests."

"Right away!"

She turns to us and continues, "As I said before, welcome to the Sakura Kingdom."

"Your name was Erika, correct? What do you mean before meeting the princess?"

"You will have an audience with the princess. That was decided on."

"We were invited here by our leader Raizo. What does meeting the princess have anything to do with our business here?"

"Are you not aware?"

"Aware of what?"

"Your organisation's new base of operations is the Sakura Kingdom's royal palace. And until further notice, your new leader will be Her Majesty, Princess Rai Sakura."

"New leader! What happened to Raizo?" asks Niklaus.

"Niklaus, she said 'until further notice'. That must mean he got injured in the exchange with our enemies. Right, Erika?"

"It's as Sir Haruki says. Lord Raizo was injured in the surprise attack by the assailant."

Lord Raizo?

"We have time before your appointed meeting with the princess, so how about we tour the city?"

Erika leads us through the city. Like Mico, it is bustling with merchants, citizens and even adventurers. There are many dragon masks and sculptures in the stores. We pass over a bridge that stretches over a beautifully clear river. There are many trees with pink leaves that I have never seen before. This town is the most beautiful town I have been to so far.

"Why is this city called Delia?" asks Elisabeth.

"This city was once a lawless land. The citizens were terrified of the bandits that would often kill, rape, and steal from them. No one came to help us, that was until a dragon came and saved this land. She got rid of all the bandits and even helped rebuild this city, that is why we named this city Delia. In honour of our saviour."

"Delia? A dragon who saved this town. Are you perhaps speaking about Cordelia?"

"Her full name was Cordelia, yes. How did you know?"

"Cordelia is the Sea Dragon Elder."

"Sea Dragon Elder? I'm sorry, I am not familiar with that moniker."

"Dragons are a powerful race. But even among giants, there are titans. The four dragons with unrivalled power, who are the pillars of Ragnarök, are called the Four Dragon Elders. My grandpa and Cordelia are two of these elders."

"I see. May I ask, how is Lady Cordelia?"

"Cordelia is as busy as ever. She is not a dragon that can remain in one realm, so she travels the realms often. Now that I think about it, I believe she told me about a town in Leagard which she rescued from bandits. She also brought in ponds and oceans to help the town flourish. She told me that she was ever grateful for the town and would like to visit here again."

I look at Erika and see her tears stream down her face.

"A-are you ok?" asks Niklaus.

"Yes," she says wiping her tears. "It is nothing, you do not have to worry about it. Anyway, it is time for you to meet the princess."

Erika leads us to the castle. Come to think of it, because I destroyed the castle, I was summoned to I never got to see it. I wonder what a castle looks like. We walk until we reach two large gates with a guard in front of each gate. Erika shows the guards a pass and they let us enter.

"Without this pass, no one can enter or exit the castle grounds. So, be sure to have a Valkyrie Knight with you at all times."

Duke Reinhart's mansion was large, but it does not compare to this. This castle is like the ones in fairytales. We finally reach the castle's front doors. It opens and a girl my age greets us.

"Good day, my knights. I am the princess of the Sakura Kingdom, Rai Sakura. Welcome to my Kingdom."

She looks familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on it.