| The DragonHeart City Ryuken Part 1

Arc 1 | A Detectives End

Phase 1 | The 13th Star Etched In History

[???]: "Theresia-sensei, last night was quite a storm, wasn't it?"

[Theresia]: "Sure was Gilbert; maybe I should've been with the others sooner..."

[Gilbert]: "If you're worried about the cindertaur rumor, then it's a good thing Princess Luna is there; she's strong."

[Theresia]: Gilbert, what did we talk about calling her 'princess'? We swore to secrecy about her real identity, at least until we've dealt with the 'royal murder case, that is. Many royalties have been murdered, and some disappeared out of nowhere without a hint of any traces; this is affecting a lot of communities as well as the authorities."

[Gilbert]: "That is true. That case is still unsolved. Many royals had to rid themselves of their prestigious titles and go into hiding, even changing their names! Who would do such a thing? This is unforgivable! It's a grave violation of trust and a threat to the stability of monarchies worldwide. The fear and uncertainty surrounding these murders have created a sense of unease among both the common people and those in power.

[Theresia]: "Investigators think it's an attempt to corrupt the system before any new royal elections. Anyway, we're here now; be nice to everyone, Gilbert, and try not to give Luna special treatment because she's royal."

[Gilbert]: "As your advisor, I adhere to your requests, Theresia-sensei. But if you had taken me to this mansion sooner, I could have teleported us instantly."

[Theresia]: "You do have a point, but to be honest, I almost forgot this mansion existed...but it has a nice garden and it's massive indoors!"

[Gilbert]: "It looks..."

[Theresia]: "Something's wrong, Gilbert."

Theresia noticed that certain parts of her mansion were demolished; the front porch was left stung by lightning, the windows were shattered, and it looked like something had smashed its face on the walls. Theresia unsheathed a long sword at her hilt next to her legendary Dragon Sword and charged forward even closer to her mansion.

[Gilbert]: "It looks like your mansion has suffered some serious damage, Theresia. This doesn't seem like a mere accident or natural disaster." [Theresia]: "You're right, Gilbert. The destruction seems intentional and targeted. I can't help but feel a sense of danger lurking within."

"Third Eye", using one of her abilities that can detect and judge how powerful and how many lifeforms it sees, changed her irises from her natural sky blue eyes to emerald green. Only six lifeforms are inside; it must be Tsubasa, Luna, Daphne, and the YoRoKo sisters. She closed her eyes and then reopened them back to their original form, disabling her 'third eye'.

Ah, sorry, Gilbert looks like everything's fine". "Your mansion is not in any condition to live in, however." Gilbert pointed to the broken walls, which were noticeable from a mile away; any passerby would see them as an old ruin or a battlefield.

"What happened here? Theresia approached the front door and attempted to open it. Ah, I forgot the keys. Let's try knocking. Knock. The entire door slammed down with just a single touch from Theresia's knuckles.

[Theresia]: "Oh my."

[Gilbert]: "Not again."

Theresia and Gilbert entered the mansion hastily. The interior of the mansion was just as dilapidated as the exterior. Dust covered every surface, and cobwebs hung from the ceiling. The air was musty and filled with a sense of abandonment.

"Hello! Anyone here!" No response. Gilbert, see if anything is lying around; I'll join the others". Gilbert, a rather short man, nodded to his master and marched over the complex to find anything as to why the mansion was left in such a crushed state.

As the morning sun cast its golden rays through the windows of the grand Astrea Mansion, a sense of tranquility enveloped the main room where Ko, Ro, Yo, Tsubasa, Luna, and Daphne lay asleep on the floor, their bodies nestled together in peaceful slumber, other than the fact that Daphne's feet were on Tsubasa's face.

The previous night's tensions had melted away, replaced by a newfound sense of camaraderie. As the gentle warmth of the sun touched her face, Tsubasa slowly stirred, opening her eyes to the sight of the cobblestone street thief's feet on her face as she snorted nonchalantly.

"I'll remind myself to teach this runt some proper manners!" Tsubasa thought to herself, her irritation momentarily overshadowed by the overall tranquility of the moment. She carefully moved Daphne's feet off her face and decided to address the issue later, not wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere that had settled among them.

Meanwhile, her sisters and her newfound friends are all sleeping peacefully around her. A soft smile spread across her lips as she realized the significance of this moment—a testament to the bond they had forged through a perilous, thundering battle.

Tsubasa sat up, careful not to disturb the others, and relished the serenity of the morning. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape. T

subasa took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp morning air, and felt a renewed sense of gratitude for the camaraderie they had formed. As she watched the peaceful slumber of her companions, she couldn't help but feel hopeful for the adventures that lay ahead.

The tranquility was soon interrupted by a sudden knock on the mansion's front door. Everyone's eyes shot open in surprise, wondering who could be visiting so early in the day. Curious and cautious, Ko, Ro, and Yo exchanged glances before rising to their feet, followed closely by Tsubasa, Luna, and Daphne.

They made their way to the front door of the main room, where Ko carefully opened it to reveal Theresia, a wise and kind swordswoman. Theresia's presence brought a sense of relief to the group, as they knew she possessed valuable knowledge and skills.

Her arrival hinted at the possibility of guidance and protection in their upcoming adventures. The group eagerly welcomed her inside, ready to hear what she had to say; in Tsubasa's case, it was more about her and Daphne's run-in with the Demon Worshippers.

Theresia was known for her status as the current Sword Saint alongside her master, 'Malica Van Astrea'. Theresia's reputation as the current Sword Saint preceded her, and her mastery of the blade was renowned throughout the seven continents.

Many warriors sought her guidance and training, hoping to learn from the best. As she entered the room, her confident aura filled the air, instantly commanding respect from all those present. The Uakren continent's greatest weapons

Crap, Theresia's here! Due to the cindertaur rampage, her mansions were left in an uninhabitable state. I hadn't thought about the consequences should the mansion be eviscerated in the process.

There was no way I could predict the cindertaur's behavior as well as the once-raging weather that engulfed the forest in despair and desolation. But the damage inflicted on the mansion is a small price to pay for everyone's safety, right?

Tsubasa was profusely fidgeting with her fingers at the thought of what the owner of her proclaimed mansion would do to the one who couldn't protect it. Surely she will understand the severity of the situation once we explain what happened.

U-um, Theresia, it is good to see and all, but about the mansion..." Tsubasa couldn't help but murmur between her lines. The mansion was too big to handle.

"Good morning, young ones; sorry for the ruckus about the door." Theresia greeted them with a warm smile. "And Tsubasa, you don't need to worry about the mansion; it seems you all endured a heavy battle and triumphed.

As long as you all are safe, then I'm content with the way things are. Besides, I have a dozen more mansions, so it's not a huge issue for me."

Tsubasa felt a sense of relief after hearing Theresia's words. She realized that the mansion's size was not a burden for Theresia after all.

As they continued their conversation, Tsubasa couldn't help but feel grateful for Theresia's understanding and generosity. Theresia gently patted Tsubasa's head. She was prepared to take the fall for it if it came down to who held the most responsibility among everyone last night.

Tsubasa couldn't even face Theresia, but knowing that she did the best she could in the given situation made her relieved. Successfully vanquishing the cindertaurs, using her aptitude when it mattered—some of them may have been injured, but at least they could live to see the next day—and consoling and gaining Ko's trust alongside her sisters was another achievement in three hours that felt like a nightmare.

The fight had lasted until midnight, and all the tension from then on had ceased. Everyone was gazing at the angelic figure, and despite how everything went down last night, her angelic voice soothed their souls with each word like its own melody of comfort. But before anyone could say anything, their stomachs rumbled explosively. "Oh my, hungry?" Everyone nodded feverishly.

They had been so engrossed in the intense battle and subsequent relief that they had forgotten about their basic needs. The sound of their rumbling stomachs broke the spell, reminding them of their hunger.

They couldn't help but laugh at the timing, realizing that even in the midst of chaos, human needs still prevailed. "In that case, I'll cook then; YoRoKo, you don't need to trouble yourselves; I can tell that something took a toll on you three, breakfasts on me!"

[YoRoKo]: "Yes maam."

[Tsubasa]: "YoRoKo? Are you referring to the maid sisters, Theresia?"

[Theresia]: "That's what I nicknamed them. One time they were arguing over a last slice of cake, and I had to try to break them up for it. They wouldn't listen to me, so I tried repeatedly saying their names so fast that it sounded like I was saying 'yoroko'."

Tsubasa stared at the three sisters; they looked away shyly in unison, embarrassed that they were fighting over a piece of cake. Tsubasa sighed and shook her head, realizing how trivial their argument was. She decided to change the subject and asked

[Tsubasa]: "Can you cook, Theresia?"

[Theresia]: "Sure can; how about stew?"

[Tsubasa]: "Anything is fine, but I thought you were all about swords."

[Theresia]: "And I didn't know you liked gambling, Tsubasa?"

[Tsubasa]: "H-HOW-" Tsubasa stuttered, caught off guard by Theresia's unexpected remark about gambling.

[Theresia]: "Carol told me."

[Tsubasa]: "That woman-"

[Tsubasa]: "She never knows when to keep her mouth shut." Tsubasa's frustration with Carol's loose lips was evident in her tone. She couldn't believe that her secret love for gambling had been exposed so easily.

Tsubasa tried standing up and fixing herself. Her hair was all messy, and her body was still fatigued. Tsubasa had quite a unique reincarnation experience.

The norm in most literature or depictions was for a man to get hit by a truck only to awaken his eyes in front of a goddess that grants him a special ability, then send him down to a new fantasy world where he is tasked with defeating some sort of devil and ridding evil alongside his new allies in his guild.

It should have been a straightforward life for most Isekai. Tsubasa was different. She had been teleported to another world in an unknown way; she was never greeted by some 'goddess, and there was certainly no time for her to settle down and make a guild.

Upon her first arrival, she was attacked out of nowhere, and shortly after, she was saved by a girl she had no connection with. It was all so confusing for Tsubasa, but she'll try to get by one step at a time.

But before she could stand upright, she felt something warm tugging at her back. A few strands of silver hair were blissfully flowing over Tsubasa's shoulders from the winds blowing in and out of the mansions due to the shattered windows.

"U-um Luna! You are holding me rather tightly, I suppose!" The one who was tugging her was Luna; not a word came out of her mouth as she continued to hold Tsubasa in between her arms that were wrapped around her abdominals.

Tsubasa could feel Luna's gentle embrace providing a sense of comfort amidst the chaos. As Luna held her, Tsubasa couldn't help but wonder what had caused such a strong reaction from her friend.

Tsubasa didn't know what to make of it at first. She was left with a perplexed impression: Luna was the one who saved Tsubasa in the first place.

If it hadn't been for her, she would certainly have been killed by Ryuosuke. She was very grateful that she was there at the moment, but what exactly was their relationship?

Tsubasa never once questioned Luna as to why she saved her in the first place; did it have anything to do with the fact that the enemy was a Demon Worshipper? Or did Luna simply save her out of the goodness of her heart?

Ever since then, the two of them have spent a bit of quality time together. Maybe Tsubasa was overthinking things again, but then again, she never did have that many friends in her previous life.

Tsubasa could have just shrugged Luna off and demanded a proper explanation—at least the old Tsubasa would—but instead she embraced Luna's warmth out of care and sat back down to lean on her. "I guess I should spoil you a bit more, I suppose; this is the second time you saved me, and I'm grateful to you, Luna."

Tsubasa's heart swelled with gratitude as she reflected on Luna's unwavering support. It was a rare feeling for her to have someone who genuinely cared about her well-being. At that moment, Tsubasa made a silent promise to herself to cherish their friendship and reciprocate the kindness Luna had shown her.

She turned her head around with her body tilted towards Luna's and hugged her back. "I'm glad I could keep you safe again, Tsu". She said her first words of the morning.

She was so happy that both her eyes were shut tightly. ' Luna means flower, purity, love, and, of course, the moon. Her characteristics suit that name so well, which is what Tsubasa thought. She was the very personification of the moon; she also felt mysterious in many shades. Just like the moon.

Tsubasa admired Luna's ethereal beauty and the way she radiated calming energy, just like the moonlight. Meanwhile, Daphne's snoring ruined the mom's Tranquillyna's warmth was even more prominent.

Tsubasa couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance towards Daphne's disruptive snoring, which contrasted sharply with Luna's serene presence.

Despite the interruption, Luna's soothing aura continued to fill the room, creating a peaceful atmosphere that Tsubasa cherished. They both stayed like this for a few moments until breakfast was ready.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The kitchen was a couple of hallways away from the main room, where everyone had slept. But the sounds of the sizzling pan, coupled with the succulent aroma from the faint smoke dispersing from that very room, were so noticeable, and everyone could smell the food Theresia was cooking.

As the tantalizing scent wafted through the air, it stirred hunger in each person's stomach. They eagerly followed their noses, their anticipation growing with every step toward the kitchen. YoRoKo were all changing their attire in some other room in the ever-jumbo-sized mansion. There was a high probability that Tsubasa and the others wouldn't have any idea where they were changing.

The many rooms that they've explored trying to hunt down the cindertaurs had many rooms with dress drawers; it seemed many of the rooms had a repeating purpose for ones that already filled the role. The kitchen and the main room were exceptions. But when it came to other things like bathrooms, storage, and guest rooms, There were too many rooms that had the same purpose.

The layout of the mansion was perplexing, as it lacked clear organization or logic. Tsubasa and the others found themselves getting lost in the maze-like corridors, unsure of which room they had already searched. It became evident that the mansion's design prioritized aesthetic appeal over practicality, resulting in an abundance of redundant spaces.

What Tsubasa found very strange is that the mansion itself is located in a very isolated area where not many people would be able to find it. "What was the point of investing so much in this ridiculously huge mansion where no one would even know about it?"

Tsubasa couldn't help but wonder if there was a hidden purpose behind the mansion's seclusion. As they continued exploring, they stumbled upon a room filled with dusty old books, hinting at a possible hidden history or secret that the mansion held within its walls.

[Luna]: Well, Theresia wasn't the one who came up with the idea of the mansion's location, so there's no point in asking her, Tsu. This mansion is really old, so maybe one of her predecessors had a reason for this particular mansion?"

[Tsubasa]: "Does her family often use this one, Luna?"

[Luna]: "Not that I know of. This is also my first time being in this one, but why have you let me go?"

After hugging each other for almost an hour, Tsubasa finally decided to pull away from Luna and venture even more into the mansion, even though at least more than a quarter of its property got destroyed by the feral cindertaurs.

Luna looked a bit sad when Tsubasa did that; she was still sitting on the floor in a 'wariza' position. Wariza. Another casual sitting posture for women is wariza (literally "separate or split sitting", w-sitting," or "reverse tailor style sitting" in English), which is similar to seiza in that the buttocks are on the floor and the lower legs are bent off to the sides.

Her eyes looked a bit droopy with a frown, and Tsubasa felt a bit guilty for catching such a look on her face. "We can do that later, but I want to check on Theresia since it's been almost an hour and I'm famished".

[Luna]: "Promise?"

[Tsubasa]: "I promise."

[Daphne]: "Sorry to join in on whatever this is, but I am starving too!"

[YoRoKo]: "We shall escort you to the kitchen this way."

YoRoKo gestured towards a narrow hallway leading to the kitchen, and Tsubasa followed closely behind Luna and Daphne. As they walked, Tsubasa couldn't help but wonder what could have kept Theresia for so long.

I'm glad everything worked out. The maid sisters seem to be a tad more friendly compared to when we first arrived here a day ago. I do hope we can deepen that bond, but right now I need to have everything figured out in this world.

This world may be more complicated than I first realized. Tsubasa's mind raced with questions about the mysterious world they had stumbled upon. The more time they spent here, the more it became apparent that there was much more to discover and understand.

Tsubasa couldn't shake off the feeling that their journey was just beginning and that many challenges and surprises were awaiting them ahead. We followed the three to the kitchen; the last time I went there, it was a mess, with Ko's blood on the floor and the kitchen wall demolished with the mass of a beast.

Maybe that's why Theresia is taking too long. Walking down hallway after hallway, there were numerous paintings hung on the walls. It's no surprise that Tsubasa didn't recognize anyone. But there was one painting among them that caught her attention. "Hey guys, what's this painting about?" Ko stepped forward and examined it.

[Ko]: "It's called 'The 13th Star Etched In History. There are no literal stars, but this painting included 13 individuals who represented 'stars', but I don't recognize them. Maybe five of them were the Ruling Paragons?

That would make more sense if it was more about them, but I don't see them here." Tsubasa's curiosity was piqued as she listened to Ko's explanation. She couldn't help but wonder who these 13 individuals were and why they were considered "stars."

As she studied the painting more closely, she noticed intricate details that hinted at a deeper meaning behind their inclusion.

[Ro]: "We only know the physical features of the Five Ruling Paragons, but they haven't been around for centuries, so we may never know what they looked like. But what a strange painting! I've read many historical books, but I've never heard of '13 Stars'. It's intriguing how the artist managed to capture the essence of these individuals through their intricate details. Perhaps the 13 Stars hold a significant role in history that has been overlooked or forgotten."

[Tsubasa]: "If there's 13, then why do I only see 12? Where is the last one?"

[Ro]: "You're right! How come I've never noticed that before? It's so weird; nothing in history has ever mentioned these people; we don't even know who they were.

[Tsubasa]: "They all look prominent. Then why is this painting here?

[Ko]: "That's a really good question, but we weren't the ones who put this up; I'm familiar with the other paintings, which are more related to the Astrea family, but this painting stands out quite a bit." [Tsubasa]: "I wonder if there's any significance to these mysterious figures. Maybe they were important in a different era or culture that we're not aware of?"

Tsubasa and Ro were both so intent on this painting; it was a really old painting that didn't portray clear definitions of each individual, but to make it out, none of them seemed to be related to the Astreas, as Ko and Ro's reactions showed. One of the stars was posing in a cross-legged fashion; it looked like a young girl with a giant magician's top hat with black and white squared patterns all over it and a blue feather hanging on it.

She was the clearest of the rest, wearing a tuxedo and smirking like it was school photo day. Tsubasa's initial thought was that she could be the one who bore the name Seijuku Reia', but the description didn't fit. The magician's characteristics were blue eyes and black hair with two braids running down.

Reia had scarlet hair and golden eyes, so she immediately neglected the thought of that theory. She seemed like an interesting person. But for the other 11 silhouettes, Tsubasa could not make out any of them; they were all so blurred out like someone used a smudge tool to misrepresent the painting.

Ro and Tsubasa tried standing afar to see if the quality of the image would be better. Just like zooming out of a 360-degree video, the definition of the image becomes sharper the more you zoom out. No luck; in fact, it looked even worse; it looked like Pablo Picasso doodling with all the colors in the rainbow.

[Ro]: "Tsubasa, maybe the 13th is the one who painted this? Could that be why he or she wasn't included?

[Tsubasa]: "That is a great theory, Ro! But something still doesn't add up; it kind of looks like 12 separate portraits were just squished together in a horizontal landscape frame. The overall background looked like it was set in an open field."

[Ro]: "You're right, Tsubasa. It seems like there's a disconnect between the individual portraits and the background. Maybe the artist wanted to convey a sense of unity but ended up creating a chaotic composition instead." [Tsubasa]: "Exactly, Ro. It's as if they were trying to merge different styles and concepts into one piece, but it didn't quite come together harmoniously. I wonder what message they were trying to convey with this unconventional approach."

It was very similar to a high school classroom photo with different heights of girls and boys divided; the tallest would be on the floor and vice versa. All 12 individuals were placed similarly, but it didn't look like they were together.

The question beckoned Tsubasa: Why is this painting here?' If Ko and Ro didn't have the answers, then who would?

I doubt Theresia would have any idea either; she wasn't the one who built this mansion in the first place, and there's a high possibility that this very infrastructure was constructed long before she was even born. That was how old Tsubasa thought the mansion was. Even with the delicate care of the YoRoKo sisters, the mansion itself was far older compared to most buildings in the Outer and Inner cities of Ryuken.

[Ro]: "It's a bit creepy that we only found out about this because you pointed it out; if you hadn't done that, then I doubt I'd ever notice. After the other paintings we've passed, this one stands out but also doesn't stand out, if that makes sense."

[Tsubasa]: "I get what you mean, Ro; I agree that the other paintings do seem a bit more polished and, I guess, interesting; for some reason, my perception caught this one out of habit."

[Ro]: "In that case, how about this painting over here?"

[Ro]: "This is the battle of young teenage Theresia against the Turbans of the eastern provinces that was led by the 'Taoist In Black. At the time, she hadn't obtained the title of Sword Saint and had to rely on her abilities! Here she slays the spiritual dragon YingLong, the dragon who got corrupted by the Taoist In Black. Originally, it was contracted with Theresia, but she somehow lost control of YingLong, and to save the Uakren continent from being under threat, she had to kill her dragon. This is one of her most memorable feats! Malica was there too, but I'm a Theresia fan!" The painting portrayed a graphic battle between a younger-looking Theresia in a yellow and brown outfit, drawing out a bronze saber, and a red and black faceless dragon with no wings. The dragon's scales shimmered with an ominous glow, reflecting the intensity of the impending clash. Theresia's determination was evident in her piercing gaze as she prepared to face her formidable adversary. The painting captured the pivotal moment when Theresia unleashed a powerful strike, her saber cutting through the air with unmatched precision and strength.

[Ko]: "Malica is her master, so of course she's the better fighter!"

[Ro]: "Theresia has an elegant aura, while Malica is more vicious and scary!"

The two of them continued to argue, growling at each other. Tsubasa was enlightened by how casual these sisters were with each other; at first, they gave off a more serious and inhumane vibe, but seeing them like this made her happy. Tsubasa didn't mind the additional history lesson; overloading her brain with new information was normal for her. Back on earth, she once helped someone code a fighting game about a two-dimensional, pixelated samurai. She had only learned code in less than a week. Tsubasa's quick grasp of coding skills has always amazed those around her. As she observed the sisters arguing, she couldn't help but appreciate the complexity of their relationship. It reminded her of the intricate algorithms she had mastered in such a short span of time. Tsubasa's memory has never failed her, but there were faint cracks that hurt her brain at the thought of remembering someone she wasn't completely sure she even knew. Her brain felt a sudden vibrating sensation the longer she stared at the magician-looking girl. "I've never seen this person; why does my head hurt so much just by looking at her?" After some banter and dispute between Ko and Ro, who opposed each other over who was the better fighter of the Astreas, Daphne reminded everyone why they were in the hallway. But not with her words. *rumble

[Daphne]: "If yall are still here talking about paintings, then I'm out beatin' my stomach and going ahead without you."

[Luna]: "I agree with Daphne; none of us had even had dinner last night because of..."

[Yo]: "YEAH!!!"

[Tsubasa]: "I guess there's a time and place for this later."

[Ro]: "There are more interesting paintings back in the capital, Tsubasa; I'd like to tell you more stories."

Tsubasa stared at the ceiling. With all the chaos she's endured so far in this world that she still doesn't know the name of, sharing an interest with Ro was a great idea. "I'll gladly take your offer then!" Ro and Tsubasa shook hands like two children scheming something naughty.

As they continued their conversation, Tsubasa couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the stories Ro had promised to share. She hoped that through these stories, she would gain a deeper understanding of the world she found herself in and perhaps even uncover some clues about how to navigate its chaos.

There weren't many people Tsubasa knew that took an interest in history or anything that she liked, but she could see a potential friendship with Ro, hoping it would be the same with the other two sisters.

The six of them finally made it to the kitchen, and YoRoKo was wearing traditional clothes. Ko was in red, Ro was in blue, and Yo was in yellow. The personifications of the primary colors matched them.

[Theresia]: Ah, I see you three are preparing for the Dragon Festival; the kimono compliments you three nicely."

[Tsubasa]: "Kimono?"

[Theresia]: "Kimono is a traditional dress citizens wear during festivals about their culture."

Tsubasa was surprised to hear the word 'kimono. In Japan, it is a national dress with an ankle-length gown with long, sleeveless sleeves and a V-neck. It is lapped left over right across the chest and tied at the waist with a broad sash known as an obi. It has no buttons or fasteners.

Essential YoRoKo was dressed with the same description. Something from Tsubasa's world made its way to this one, but it could either mean one was derived from the other or did it come from Tsubasa's original world? Or was it the opposite? "Could someone else also have been reincarnated here with me? That certainly is a possibility worth exploring".

[Luna]: "Did you say something, Tsu?"

[Tsubasa]: Nothing, just thinking to myself, So what's cooking Theresia? It doesn't smell like a stew."

[Theresia]: Well, we lack the ingredients to make stew. It's not something that's eaten for breakfast, but I made tenderized pygmy prawns with some oven-baked pademelon. My assistant, Gilbert, is still steaming the pasta buns. Gilbert, why don't you introduce yourself? I'll take over."

[Gilbert]: "Apologies for not introducing myself sooner; I am Gilbert Rowe, who is Theresia-sensei's advisor. A pleasure to make an acquaintance."

[Tsubasa]: "I am Seijuku Tsubasa; the pleasures are all mine."

Gilbert bowed his head, and Tsubasa in turn did so as well. "You must be Daphne, I presume? I can never mistake your face on the wanted posters in the Outer City."

[Daphne]: "You must be talkin' about a different Daphne; we have the same name, but I ain't no wanted person you hear."

Gilbert just chuckled to himself. No one was buying her bluff. He was a rather dwarfish-looking man; he was certainly older than everyone here. He must be of the same species as Chachi, who was also very petite.

He had ginger hair and brown eyes, and he was very muscular with his biceps, which were almost the same size as his head. He wore a steel helmet with small spikes coming out, and he was in grey-clad armor.

He doesn't look like an advisor in the slightest, but I wouldn't be so quick to judge someone. He seemed the type to flick open a hard-capped bottle of beer with ease. "Princess Luna I'm so glad you are safe and well.

[Theresia]: "Ahem"

[Gilbert]: "My deepest apologies, sensei."

Tsubasa caught on quickly to hearing something so unexpected. "Princess Luna?" She turned to face Luna, who stared back, smiling happily.

"I guess the cat's out of the bag; I'm a princess, you know." Her smile widened cheekily, pointing to herself. Would she expect Tsubasa to heed her special attention? Of course not. "Woah" was all Tsubasa could muster up. Daphne didn't care, and YoRoKo seemed to have known as well.

[Luna]: "I thought you would be even more shocked; you seem to be taking it well."

[Tsubasa]: "It wouldn't have been the craziest thing I've heard, but I am a bit surprised. I always knew you weren't a normal citizen. Your beauty is quite captivating."

Without realizing what she had said, Luna crept closer and closer to Tsubasa's face. "Hm? Complimenting me already?

We haven't even gone on a date yet, Tsu". "I didn't MEAN IT LIKE THAT". Attempting to hide herself by placing both her palms on her head, she took the phrase 'if I can't see them, they can't see me' literally, shutting her eyes. "I'm just teasing you, but I'm happy that you think I'm captivating". Just like that, she was laughing at Tsubasa's comment. "How irritating", she thought.

[Theresia]: "Enough chitchat, let's dig in! We still have much to discuss later."

Everyone: Yes, ma'am!"

They all eagerly grabbed their plates and began to enjoy the meal. The atmosphere became more relaxed as they savored the delicious food.