[A few days Later]

Roa redirected his eyes away from the countryside toward Rosalba. The princess held her head down. In fact, she was snoozing away without a care in the world. If he wanted to, he could have killed her by now. However, there were several hundred others around, not that he and Etsuo couldn't take them on. Though, the two did need her alive and believing in them to infiltrate the palace. Plus, killing a sleeping person simply wasn't his style, nor was it Etsuo's.

He tilted his head as he noticed her arms were wrapped around a stuffed animal. Though he couldn't tell what kind it was.

Is that an animal unique to this dimension?

He leaned in to get a better look at it.

"Hey, Roa, don't do that. Someone is going to think you're a weirdo," Etsuo said, grabbing his companion by the collar of his black shirt.

He quickly pulled away, and it was a good thing, too, as the princess started to stir.

"What time is it?" she asked, yawning.

"I'm not sure how to answer that," Etsuo said, smiling. He had only a weak concept of time due to their world's unending darkness.

"Didn't know princesses slept with plushies," Roa said, leaning against his seat. He stared at the thing's large brown dog-like ears but bear-like body and arms yet having a dog-like tail. The bear-like body was wrapped in what looked like a dress made out of corn husks. "What is it supposed to be anyways? A bear or a dog?"

"A bear-dog," she mumbled as she pressed the plush's head against her chin.

The young man's eyes widened. "Bear-dog? Those exist?"

"No. It's a creative design. I've had this since I was a baby. It was a gift from my mom," she said, continuing to hug it as the bullet train they had taken sped through the countryside. Violet was kind enough to escort them there. She even bought clothes for the three of them. She wished to avoid suspicion of Rosa being princess Rosalba.

"I see. But aren't you too old for such things? I mean, where we're from, we stop using such things at age five."

"Dad says the same thing..." She recalled one time when she had searched frantically for her plush, going as far as overturning an entire floor of their giant palace. When she finally found it, it was in the hands of her maids. Her father had ordered the maids to throw it away. Thankfully, the one who had it couldn't bear to throw out the young princess' toy.

Then there was the time he threw it out of the car window on their way to the east. She had opened the door and jumped out, falling down a hill. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a boy with the same golden eyes as Roa and Etsuo. He had been treating her wounds. Ever since then, whenever she stared at her bear-dog, she would see that vision. The image of a smiling youth holding out his hand to her as if saying everything would be fine.

Etsuo stared at Rosa and then pulled on the sleeve of Roa's black shirt.

"Something the matter?" Roa asked.

Etsuo stared at him with stern eyes. "Be nice. That bear is a memento from her mom."

Roa glanced over at Rosa. "I know. Just trying to lighten up the mood a little."

Rosa glanced up and smiled. "I know. Thank you, Roa."

The raven-haired young man averted his gaze. "Y-you're welcome."

She chuckled. "Though picking on someone isn't the best way to do so."

Roa lowered his gaze to the empty green velvet seat opposite to them. "Why are you taking it so light-heartedly?"

"Well, I'm used to people joking around with me in a snarky tone. The two I'll be meeting up with do just that. Plus, even I do so... Though, when I do, people tend to think I mean it."

"Well, you do have a certain way of speaking," Roa said, raising his head.

The princess tilted her head. "Even when I attempt to hide it?"

Etsuo nodded. "Yeah. Your speech pattern ruins your disguise. It's obvious you're a noble."

"Yeah, you're a lousy actress," Roa said, chuckling.

Rosa pouted and averted her gaze. "How rude." She giggled. She really could try harder to improve. One day she might even be able to trick Tetsu. Of course, she would also need a well-made disguise.

***

[Two hours later- Angelic Dome]

"Let's stop," Tetsuya said, blocking Yuko's kicks with his bare hands. The two were using Serrano's private room once more to train.

"No, the master said to push mister to his limits," the young girl said, moving swiftly across the white tiled field. She appeared behind him and aimed for his neck, but he blocked with his right forearm.

Tetsuya sighed. "If anyone is being pushed to their limits here, it's you. You don't honestly expect a child to defeat an experienced adult, do you? Even one as strong as you must know that."

Yuko jumped back and charged at him.

It had been over a week since Rosalba gave Agnes to Tetsuya. During that time, Yuko and Serrano spared with him to try to trigger his weapon amid battle. Yet, the bracelet refused to transform into its weapon form.

Tetsuya raised his right hand but quickly lowered it, choosing to duck instead. Yuko landed behind him, her breath heavy. The two had been at it for an entire hour.

Yuko winced as sweat rolled down her face.

"You okay? I told you that we should've stopped," Tetsuya yelled, rushing over to her. He knelt down and touched her forehead but quickly pulled his hand back. "You're burning up!"

Yuko collapsed forward, falling into the young adult's arms.

Tetsuya stood up and ran out of Serrano's personal Angelic Dome room. He needed to get her some medicine, fast.

"Hey!" a voice called out. Tetsuya raised his eyes from Yuko and toward the one who had yelled. It was Rosalba.

"Weird Princess!" Tetsuya said, giving her a quick grin before turning it into a grimace. "Sorry, but now isn't the right time to chat. Yuko needs urgent care."

"Yuko?" Rosa said, eyeing the little girl.

"You don't know her? She's an acquaintance of Kuroshi. He left her here to help me with my training?"

"A kid?"

"Well, she's actually sixteen, but that's beside the point." He ran past her.

"Hey, wait!" Rosa yelled, running after him. "Let me help you treat her."

"Huh?" Tetsuya said, coming to a halt. "You can?"

Rosalba nodded and summoned a bottle out of the same ring she had previously taken Agnes out of. "Give her one of these, they're fever reducers, it should help ease the pain." She stared at the young girl, moving back and forth in agony. Looking at her reminded her of when she was a kid.

Tetsuya took the bottle and set Yuko against the wall. "Here, take one of these."

Yuko opened her mouth, but when she did, blood came pouring out. "What?" Tetsuya said, eyes wide.

Rosalba gasped. "How far did you push her?"

"I didn't. I told her to stop, but she wouldn't let up."

Rosa pushed him aside and put her hand against Yuko's mouth.

"Wait, what are you doing? She's going to choke on her blood!"

"Be quiet and trust me," Rosa said, closing her eyes.

She muttered something inaudible to Tetsuya. As soon as she began, the ruby red bracelet she wore radiated a pink aura drawing energy called mana from Rosa and transmitting it to Yuko.

Rosa smiled even as her eyes closed. "She'll be fine now."

"Rosa!" Tetsuya yelled as the princess' body weight shifted to the left. He held her before her head could hit the floor.

He glanced at Yuko. She no longer had any trace of blood on her lips, and her breathing had returned to normal.

He let out a relieved sigh. "Now, to take these two to someplace where they can rest."

"Oh, hey there, Tetsu. We were about to bring refreshments and snacks for you two," Ximena said as she walked over to them. Accompanying her were Serrano and Nori, who were carrying bags filled with snacks. Her eyes widened as she noticed Yuko and the princess.

Serrano dropped the bag of drinks he was carrying and ran over to Rosa and put a hand on her wrist. He sighed with relief as soon as he felt her pulse.

"Yuko? Yuko! Wake up! This isn't a place to sleep," Nori said, squatting beside his friend. He put down the paper bag he carried next to her and held her in his arms. He glanced at Tetsuya, fear in his eyes. "What happened? Did Mister hurt Yuko?"

"No, of course not. She exhausted herself despite my pleas to rest," Tetsuya responded, picking up Rosa from the floor.

"And what happened to the princess?" Serrano asked, worry in his voice.

"A while ago, Yuko had some sort of seizure and even coughed up a lot of blood. Due to the amount of blood, we couldn't administer oral medicine to her. So Rosa used some sort of weird power to heal her. Though, I'm not really sure if that was the reason why she collapsed..."

Serrano gasped. "Wait, did her bracelet grow a shade of pink?"

"Yeah," Tetsu said, nodding. "It did."

Serrano stared at the princess and sighed. "This girl..."

"Is something the matter? Your face seems pale," Ximena asked, turning to look at Serrano.

The Seven-Hill Knight lowered his head as if in shame. "Yes. I'll explain it to you on the way back to the dorm."

"Princess! Don't go running off," a voice echoed from further down the hall. Serrano glanced up and saw a youth with long snow-white hair looking around. He gasped as soon as he noticed them. "Princess?"

"That darn girl, getting lost on us," said the raven-haired youth following lazily behind him. He shook his head and sighed. "Starting to wonder if it was worth accompanying her after all."

"Who are you two?" Serrano asked, drawing the attention of the two. He kept a gap of several feet between himself and the duo. Considering the way they spoke of the princess, most likely, they were friends, but he couldn't let his guard down.

"Princess!" the white-haired young man shouted.

His partner summoned a bronze sword and pointed it at Serrano. "I should be the one asking who you are. What did you do to our naive princess?"

Tetsuya and the others stepped back.

"The princess used a technique she wasn't supposed to. As for who I am, I am Serrano Kuroriku of the Seven-Hill Knights, a faithful guard of the monarchy of this nation. And this young man carrying the princess is Tetsuya Kuroriku, my cousin. Now, respond to my inquiry."

The two boys exchanged glances. "Did just say your last name is Kuroriku?" the one holding the sword said as he glanced at Tetsuya's golden eyes. They were the same shade as his and Etsuo's. Roa's eyes shifted to the crystal earring currently on Serrano's right ear. "That earring is..."

"Yes, it's Aventine. Like I said, I am one of the Seven-Hills," Serrano said, narrowing his eyes at him.

The white-haired youth stepped in. He smiled nervously. "Forgive my cousin here, he can be rather doubtful. So you're one of the Seven-Hills, you must be rather strong."

"Wonder if he's as strong as Kohri," Roa said, grinning.

"You know Kohri?" Serrano said, gasping.

"I don't think these two are antagonistic," Tetsuya said, glancing down at the unconscious princess. "They seem to be friends with her."

Serrano glanced back at his cousin. "Though I know all of the princess' friends, and these two are total strangers."

The raven-haired guy scoffed. "We aren't friends with that girl, we're simply her hired help."

"I like to think of myself as her friend," the white-haired one mumbled. He grinned at Serrano and the others. "To respond to your question, I am Etsuo, and this here is Roa. We're a pair of traveling cousins who ended up meeting the princess while we were in Kuroyuki no San. She was kind enough to invite us to Sir Hyosetsu's birthday party."

"Hyosetsu? Isn't he Rosa's cousin?" Tetsuya said, looking at Serrano.

"Yes. I have not had the fortune to fight nor see him in battle, but from what Kohri has told me, he's someone worthy of the title of Seven-Hill Knight. If his highness hadn't given Rosa her late mother's angel tool, then I would wager that it would've gone to Hyosetsu himself."

"That strong, huh?" Tetsuya said, grinning. He stared at his right hand. "Maybe one day I'll get a chance to spar against him."

"That guy and his brother were monsters," Roa said, lowering his sword. "And I don't detect a large power..." A gasp escaped his lips.

"What's wrong?"

Roa stared at Tetsuya's chest for a while before looking away. He looked up and shooked his head. "I thought I felt something, but it's gone."

Serrano smiled. "Of course, Tetsuya has latent potential. I'll make him the strongest knight behind me."

Tetsuya pouted. "More like the strongest knight ever! I don't plan to be second fiddle to anyone, not even you."

"Always competitive," Ximena said, snickering. She glanced down at Yuko, whom she was carrying. She was moving in her arms as if disturbed by all the noise. "Anyway, how about we take these two somewhere they can rest without in peace?"

"Yuko," Nori said, staring at his friend. "Nori hopes his friend feels better soon."

Ximena gave him a warm smile. "Don't worry, she'll be better."

"Yeah. She will be fine, considering what Rosa did to heal her," Serrano said, sighing.

Ximena tilted her head. "What exactly did she do?"

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this chapter :). Thoughts? Predictions?*