A Day of Peace and Promises

Joshua stirred awake, greeted by the gentle rays of morning light slipping through the curtains. Blanchette was already awake, lying beside him, her gaze fixed warmly on his face. The intensity of her stare made Joshua blush, and he quickly rolled out of her bed, his feet searching for his boots.

"Morning, Blanchette," he mumbled as he sat on the edge of her bed, tugging his boots on. "But I should really get ready for training."

"Morning, Joshua," Blanchette replied softly, her eyes still on him as she lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. "Okay, I understand."

Joshua gave her a small smile before slipping out the door and closing it gently behind him. Just outside in the hallway, he nearly bumped into Lancelot, who was also stepping out of his room, looking calm but his expression changed to disappointment when he saw Joshua.

"Yeah, I know, I know," Joshua sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I had to stay the night. Anyway, let's head to the training ground."

"There's no training today," Lancelot replied flatly. "My father's attending a seminar with the king in the Witch's District."

"Oh… that's actually great, but what should I..." Before Joshua could finish, Blanchette's door swung open and, with a surprising burst of strength, she yanked him back into her room and shut the door with a determined thud.

Lancelot shook his head with a sigh and continued walking down the hallway, muttering something about "hopeless romantics."

Back in Blanchette's room, Joshua stumbled a bit as she let go of him.

"Blanchette, what are you doing?" he asked, utterly confused.

She beamed with excitement. "Since you're free today… let's go on a date! To the Human District!"

Joshua blinked. "So I guess you overheard that, huh? Alright, sure, let's do it."

Her face lit up like a sunbeam. "Okay! I'm going to get ready. Meet me at the front gate in a few minutes!" she chirped, practically pushing him back out of her room before slamming the door shut behind him.

Joshua walked down the hallway scratching his head, already mentally preparing for what this date might bring.

In the room shared by Jack, Raphael, and Joshua, Jack was getting dressed, buttoning up his shirt for a planned picnic with Jessica in the garden. Raphael lounged lazily on his bed.

"Where the hell is Joshua? Did he get a new room or something?" Jack muttered as he tightened his belt.

"Yeah, weird," Raphael replied, "He's never once slept in this room since I got here."

Just then, Joshua strolled in with a grin on his face.

"Speak of the devil," Jack huffed. "Where the hell were you?"

"Hey, Joshua," Raphael said, noticing the bright energy around him. "You look happy."

"Yeah, I'm going on a date with Blanchette," Joshua beamed, completely ignoring Jack's question.

"Hey! Asshole! You ignoring me now?" Jack growled, grabbing Joshua by the shirt.

Joshua, unbothered, continued getting dressed for his date.

"Tch. Whatever. This is dumb anyway," Jack muttered, releasing him and heading out the door.

Raphael chuckled. "Why do you work on Jack's nerves like that?"

Joshua shrugged with a mischievous smile. "What do you mean?"

"Okay, whatever," Raphael sighed. "But seriously, where were you?"

"I spent the night in Blanchette's room."

"Oh… wow," Raphael said, eyes widening. "How do her parents feel about that? You being a noble werewolf and all."

"Her dad's cool with me, I think. Her mom, though? She absolutely hates me," Joshua said, finishing his outfit with a confident nod. "White shirt, black tie… Not bad, right?"

"Yeah, looks fine," Raphael said, giving him a thumbs-up.

As Joshua headed out, Raphael lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"What am I gonna do today?" he muttered. Then a thought struck him. (I'll go see what Julia's doing.)

Raphael walked down the hallway to Julia and Sam's room and knocked. No answer. He knocked again, still nothing. He hesitated, then opened the door.

(No one's here.) He was just about to leave when the bathroom door creaked open, and Julia stepped out, towel draped over her shoulder, completely nude.

Raphael's eyes widened in shock as his face flushed crimson and a very physical reaction betrayed him. He slapped his hands over his face.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't know...!"

Julia didn't flinch. Calmly, she walked up to him, leaned past him, and closed the door behind him.

"Do you want me, Raphael?" she whispered, eyes full of heat. "Then take me."

She dropped the towel and climbed onto the bed. Without a second thought, Raphael followed.

Meanwhile, in the Kaizer noble graveyard, Merlin and Sam stood silently before Jonathan's gravestone.

"I didn't know him well," Sam murmured. "But James said he was a really good guy. I can't imagine how James must feel."

Merlin nodded sadly. "He was his teacher… and maybe like a second father. I hope James is still alive."

"Yeah. Me too."

Far away, in the cold depths of the Xeno dungeon, James lay curled beneath his thin blanket, face swollen and red from crying.

(Someone… please save me. Anyone. I can't take it anymore.)

Back at the Kaizer estate, Joshua waited at the gate, hands in his pockets. Then he saw her.

Blanchette walked toward him, radiant in a white floral dress tied with a pink ribbon at her waist. A wide-brimmed hat adorned with small blossoms sat atop her head. She looked like a dream come to life.

Joshua's breath caught in his throat. "Wow… you look beautiful."

Blanchette smiled sweetly. "Thanks. Shall we get going?"

"Yeah," he said, offering her his arm. "Let's go."

And so, hand in hand, the two made their way toward the Human District, unaware of the storm still brewing in the shadows of another kingdom.