Four years
( Four years )
Four years had passed since that conversation, for the past four years. Cale and William, had been associating with some barters, the royal family and invests on business to keep their title as 'marquis' and his 'brother'. They always used their aliases when out in public, it has been four years and the story still hasn't started. They started to doubt.
The women were, of course, suffering in those tight and puffy dresses outside and inside. Because they had helpers, they couldn't possibly wear their original clothes. They'll get caught and everyone would be suspicious of them.
But something unexpected happened this morning, On came running down stairs, trying to find Cale while shouting his name worriedly.
She halted when she reached the dining room, everyone was eating except her but they all stopped when they saw her running down.
"Cale!" She shouted, grabbing the doorknob as she panted from all that running.
Cale stood up hurriedly, worried about On. But he stopped mid way when On's eyes glistened.
"Look! They grew!" She pointed at her breast and all the men quickly looked away, embarrassed.
"Oh dear.." Furina looked at her chest and to her own, she grumbled in her gown.
"Is that so? I guess the story's beginning is getting closer." Krul said, her legs crossed under the table as she stared at On's breasts. It's been four years, she guessed she would grow like how humans does.
"It's normal On, you'll be fine. Come eat." Amber had her brunette hair tied into a ponytail, it fits her nicely.
All the men cleared their throats and went back on eating as On settled down beside Cale.
"I ain't growing though." Rika said, pushing her chest up with her hands and Ai trying to smack her hands away, embarrassed.
Dazai choked on water as the men quickly looked away again. This wasn't the time to discuss such manner, especially private stuff.. in the dining room.
"Gosh damn, Merlin." Draco sighed, shaking his head with disapproval.
"Mind your manners." Diluc grumbled, but still not looking back.
"You're always so boring." Zero Two said, picking up the piece of bread and splashed honey onto it without a spoon.
"Right." Rika went on, back to eating and so did the others. It was just one normal morning for them and yet, everything seemed livelier. This past four years really strengthened their bond together. But of course, they cannot help but feel like they want to go back home, see the others. But it just happened that they were transported much more early.
They were now outside, the girls having their tea party in a little corner while the men just beside the flowing river outside their mansion.
"Kids grow so fast." Cale muttered under his breath, smiling bitterly. His mind wonders to his other children, wondering how grown they are right now if the time isn't frozen.
"I suppose they do." William chimed, his hands clasped behind his back with a cane in his grip. His eyes distant and far.
"And then they become more troublesome." Diluc grumbled, he had a frown, which was of course normal. He picked up a rock before throwing it into the river, watching as it skipped the water two times.
Mika was also beside him throwing rocks but more sheepishly, he couldn't help but miss and think about Yuu. It has been so long since he last saw him, when was it again? Right, when they tried to escape.
"Where's Dazai and Chuuya?" Cale asked, turning his head other ways to see the familiar red head and brunette not anywhere near them, not even with the girls.
"Probably in the library." Lu Guang responded, not taking his eyes off Cheng Xiaoshi as he observed him going around taking pictures of everyone.
"Does anyone even still remember how old they are?" William asked, but of course he does, but he was curious with the others. After four years, they lost track of time and forgot when they were transported into the novel.
The others shrugged and continued on what they were doing. Meanwhile the girls sitting down on the chairs, holding up tea cups filled with jasmine tea as they followed Furina's instructions.
"Now, hold it up, your pinky finger stretched out and sip gently." She said, her voice pitched and high like always.
"This is stupid." Rika said, putting down her tea cup. Ai sheepishly smiles at Rika's attitude, she was used to it... Everybody is.
"Nuh uh uh, young lady. Drink your tea." Noé smiled, he was standing beside Furina, clasping Murr in his hands as he smiled at the girls.
"Why are you even here?" Zero Two asked, instead of drinking tea, she was already digging the desserts.
"Do you want tea?" Amber asked, holding up an empty tea cup towards Noé.
"I'm pretty sure he would, come sit down gentleman." Furina chimed, a graceful smile on her face as Noé sat down beside her.
"Yeah, the girl's right. This is stupid." Krul grumbled, staring at her reflection on the liquid in the cup. She hated how similar she looked with her past self in this white gown. It makes her want to tear it.
-----
For a thousand of years, the kingdom Camelot was founded by King Arthur. He has passed away and passed down Excalibur generations to generations. The magnificent kingdom was seen as a kingdom of freeness because no king nor queen ruled over the people.
But as years goes by, corrupted nobles, and even some poor townsfolk was in war. Trying to fight for who gets the throne. That's when they had the battle of the greatest, if one would win, they will be throned as a noble heir, or the next king.
It was said that four years ago, the prince of Camelot was crowned because he managed to defeat two great sons of leaders from the other kingdoms. And now, he was king.
There were many problems king Arthur has to resolve which he failed to fully take action. There were still creatures created from sorrow and darkness left behind to lurk in the woods. That wasn't the main problem now, the problem was the people itself. The corrupted nobles, the poorest of the poor.
----
Furina was out with Noé in the local market to look for stones called Mana stones. Appearantly, William remembered that Mana stones could help control your power or even give a mock-power for the holder to use. It took quite a long debate since they couldn't even use their powers while being stuck in this world.
---
"What, you guys never have powers before?" Rika asked smugly as she crashed onto the couch.
"I believe all of us has powers here, right? Everything is possible and it was proven by us being teleported or transported into this world." Dazai said, crossing his arms and he looked at William who smiled knowingly.
William knows he was the only one who doesn't have any powers at all, he either just nodded or hummed at whatever they were saying. He knows the theories of supernatural powers and science fiction so it wasn't so hard to understand. Little by little, pieces of the puzzle was put up clearly.
----
"Why do we have to look for the Mana stones? This outfit is itchy." Furina commented, emphasizing the 'we' as she was scratching the side of her neck that was almost covered by the ruffles and accessories that seemed to weight pounds for her. At least she still had her hat on, but it's quite different now since it was tailored last week.
"I believe, Lady Furina is capable of searching, am I right?" Noé asked, Murr on his wide shoulders listening to the exchange. Noé was suited in his usual white outfit and with the purple vest.
"Of course I can!" She said, placing both hands on her waist since she couldn't even almost touch her hips from all of this petticoats and skits.
Four years have passed and she still managed to keep up the facade. She was starting to get comfortable around them, but still, Dazai and William scares her most, they always had the keenest eye among all of them and they could expose her any second.
"I believe these are Mana stones." Noé picked up an amethyst colored with slight pink ombre Mana stone. It was beautiful to the eye and it looked smooth but was rough to touch.
"Oh yes dear sir, that is a Mana stone. This is called ombre of light, it of course, can grant the holder the power of light!" The shopper persuade as he looked at the two individuals that were known as the Moriarty siblings.
Noé nodded and Furina observed the other Mana stones, they were fascinating to be honest. She unconsciously clutched her own vision, she didn't need Mana stones because unlike visions, they weren't gifted from gods at all.
"And it of course costs 100 gold, each one but I can give you a discount!" The shopper said, smiling so brightly with his one golden teeth. Furina couldn't help but feel icked about it.
"A hundred? What's the discount?" Noé asked innocently. Murr turned it's little head towards Noé, looking at him like he was foolish.
"20 gold! So you'll only have to pay 80!" The shop owner was jumpy and everything, noticing that Noé was falling for his tricks.
"The price isn't right, this Mana stone merely costs 50 gold and 5 silver. This is a cheap one." A voice was heard between the two, the shop keeper quickly shut his mouth when he saw who it was.
Furina and Noé eyed eachother before turning around, they saw it was the king (crown prince who they saved four years ago). The dashing white hair, and chiseled jaw. Red ruby eyes that seems to cut through you and pale skin was something not easy to forget, but also because Cale had been friends with the king and he would sometimes call for one of them to the palace to spend some time or drink tea, in most the visits, it was likely Diluc.
"Greetings to the sun of the western empire." The both bowed as well as the shop keeper, Furina held up her gown slightly while peeking behind the king. There were royal guards inspecting and alert.
"You two may rise." The king smiled and looked at them as they went back to their original position.
"Shopping for Mana stones aren't you?" He laughed, stepping forward that made the shop keeper flinch. He was looking at the Mana stones one by one, leaving Furina and Noé aside.
"Why is the king here?" She whispered to Noé, soft enough just for them to here.
"I don't have a clue." He replied as soft as how she whispered to him.
"These aren't acceptable. You two, follow me." He requested, but a bit authorized.
The two looked at each other and back to the guards behind the prince - the prince name was Iziekel if they remembered clearly. They followed quietly as they took a stroll around the local market to search for Mana stones.
"What is your purpose here, your royal highness?" Furina asked, in the past years, her tongue would slip and she wouldn't say 'royal highness' she never considered royalty to be above gods or demi-gods so she wasn't used to it.
It was a moment of silence before Iziekel signaled the guards to look somewhere else so he can talk to them alone.
"I planned to see your brother... I thought he'd come with you, but it seems he did not." The prince observed his fingers, rubbing his index against his thumb as his red eyes watched.
'Brother?' Noé and Furina shared the same thought. "Which one? If I may ask your majesty." Noé asked, his tone soft and calming as ever as he held murr against his chest in his arms.
"The redhead." He replied, being so vague and not clear, he was clearly enjoying it even though he couldn't see their faces since they were behind him.
"Oh... Di- Daniel!" Furina almost slipped. Even though almost five years had passed since they had been transported here in this world she still forgets their aliases.
"Yes miss Focalors, I've been looking forward for Daniel's visits. But everytime he comes, he is always grumpy and serious." The prince sighed, clasping his hands together.
The two looked at each other and understood what the prince was going through. They were used with Diluc being cold and mysterious, they never really opened up or anything not their secrets, nothing even in their own world they dared to share.
"Mister Noah and Miss Focalors. Please carry this telegram from me to Daniel, I would like to see him this Saturday" Iziekel smiled, he took out a piece of envelope from his pocket and handed it over to Noé.