The castle still amazed Izatha by how big it was, even though she had now gotten lost twice in its corridors. It could run as an independent city, given the resources and workshops that it contained.

The House of Kannan had several large rooms for their artisans to work. Just the seamstress's room was larger than most boutiques, even with only six people stationed there. The rows of fabrics on equipment made her smile at the hands busy at work.

"Really, I am quite glad that you came with me. You did an excellent job communicating with Miss Hito, and we did not get lost once on the way here!" Izatha declared to her companion.

Winry walked a few paces ahead of her, guiding the way through the halls. "I want to help where I can," she replied. "Where need you go next?"

"Could we tour the castle? It would be much easier for me to find my way around if I knew the way it was set."

Turning back, she nodded lightly. Izatha smiled at the action. For whatever reason, Winry had agreed to her proposal, so now she wanted her to be comfortable with her. It would make the whole castle feel more friendly that way.

It was no wonder that they didn't have tourists with how long it took simply to walk from one side of the castle to the other. She mused of how news would spread should there be an emergency. Then again, it wasn't as though the place was going to be attacked, even if only because of the city protecting it.

Izatha did her best to pay attention to the endless hallways they trailed. She was building a map in her mind of all the floors and sections, hoping that it matched the structure she saw from outside. It was far too massive to graph, and she was just passing by the wings without entering them.

Partway through the tour, she stopped by an open door. Carefully, she entered the room.

This was by far the most stunning thing she had ever seen. A section with enough room for another castle, filled with the greatest treasure she knew-books. Floor after floor extended upward, as far as she could see, and a vast array beneath.

Heart pounding, she suddenly drew in a deep breath and then another. It was probably for the better that she had held her breath, for once air entered her lungs, it escaped in a squeal so high she could not hear it.

Someone grabbed her arm, and she turned to see Winry's concerned expression. "Princess, you are hurt?"

She shook her head, grinning, "No, I am very happy! I have never seen so many books, and only heard of legends of libraries this great!"

"All books are here, since the first generation. It is the life of the Kophan to keep it."

Izatha recalled the people who had been introduced to her as members of the Kophan House. It was strange to think that she could find anything about their society in that vast storage of knowledge. There was so little she knew about them, and there was more than enough material to discover it all.

Sorrow filled her mind as she realized that she could not read their language. It would take far too long to learn than she liked, seeing as she was craving a good book after seeing so many. A week or more at least before she would be able to make sense of anything inside it.

Frowning, she whined, "I found so many books, but I cannot read them yet."

"I can read for you," Winry mentioned. The princess whirled around, eyes wide with renewed excitement. "I not good, but I can read. But, only Kophan and nobles can take books from here."

"So I would have to pick up books myself. That is a small price to pay for such treasure!"

When she felt like her cheeks might tear from her grinning, she strode out the library. Returning to pick out something to read was just another thing added to her list of errands for the day.

As they resumed their journey, a silver strand fell over her eyes. She had bathed and changed after lunch, yet had kept her hair in the bun. Quickly, she tucked back in the loose hairs.

A familiar face greeted her when she lifted her eyes. The spokesman of the High Court, Lord Pamber, approached her with a young man trailing him.

"Princess Nora, " he inclined his head. "Why are you wandering the castle without for escort? Surely he has no abandoned you after you ran off to the courtyard without him."

"No, I dismissed the young lord. My maid is accompanying me just fine, " she returned.

The corners of his lips pulled downward. "A servant should not suffice. Whether with escort or handmaiden, you should not be left alone."

Of course, he would not see a servant as a sufficient keeper. They were not loyal to his authority, reporting on any of her movements and tapering her words. Yet she would not give up her edge of control.

"Oh, like how I was left alone on earth for a thousand years?"

Stiffening, he protested, "Your Highness, that was beyond our cont-"

"Lord Pamber, " she interrupted, "I have sufficed with the people of my choosing in my entire life. I hope that I can manage the same within the greatest establishment in history without needing to waste a valuable nobleman's time by having him follow me around all day."

Before he could devise a reply, she bowed to him and sprinted away.

Stunned by her reaction, Winry hardly said a word as they walked along, save to give directions. Izatha grew tired of her silence, just as she had during lunch. She wanted her companion to speak with her, yet she hardly answered her questions.

Would it be too imposing to ask about her personal life? Maybe she'll change her mind and run away if she gets uncomfortable, the princess considered.

Finally, she said, "I hope that you are good at teaching."

The silence did not stand long in the face of her curiosity. "May I ask why you say that?" Winry inquired.

"Now, that is a funny phrase people use. They use a question to ask if it is okay to ask a question! Some languages are better at this than others, " she rambled.

Winry slowed her step to walk closer to her. "You knew more languages? Like the outsiders speak?"

"Outsiders?"

"People lived beyond the city with their houses. They speak with their lords, and their lords speak with us, " she explained, carefully chosen her words.

Izatha raised her eyebrow at the girl. "You know a lot more than most servants would. Who taught you English?"

Her eyes diverted to the ground. "It was my father. Not the male who sired me, but the one who speak for me."

She seemed hesitant to continue. Izatha wondered if it was wrong to push her for more. The past could be a sensitive subject for orphans, laced with pain and longing.

"He is a weapon maker. I not have the skill to learn his house, so he secured room in the palace. He was unseen for a few decades, but when he returned, he teached me the tongue of earthlings."

She gasped suddenly, realizing she had said everything. "Ah, but, no person is to know that he go there! No person is to go!"

Waving her hand, the princess dismissed her fear. "Worry not, I won't tell anyone."

A smile reflected back to her. Winry nodded lightly, looking back to the hallway in front of them. There was comfort in her features, much more becoming of her than the worry that had I've taken her before.

Most likely, she was referring to her father as a smith of sort, or something similar. The mentioned reminded Izatha of her lack of proper weapon and armor.

Smithing was a favorite pastime of hers, though not so much now as it once had been. Perhaps with Winry's influence, she could use her adopted father's forge.

"Where is the forge? I did not see any large smoke trails out in the city, " she commented.

"Each family has their own forge. The palace has one, but it is unused. Most families live out of the city, " she informed her.

Izatha scrunched her nose at the thought of a barren forge. She did not like working alone.

"If you are wanting something made, my father can make it. He and his family make custom blades for the House Lords and the prince."

The royal blacksmiths. No wonder he had been able to get Winry into the palace with connection like that. They would be the ones how made Theod and Leon's weapons, which were certainly beautiful pieces. Especially how they conducted magic.

Her mind was made up. "Tomorrow, I would like to see the city. After a tour, I would like to speak with your father about using the forge, " she declared.

Winry bit her lip at the last statement. "That may not agree. Tamari are secretive of their forges. But, you are Nora, so maybe they will hear you. I doubt so."

Izatha smiled. It certainly wouldn't be her first time encountering stubborn craftsmen who did not want outsiders potentially spying on them for their rivals. Yet she knew other ways to get into a blacksmith's workshop.

Just like he taught me how to.

A chill down her spine made her stop walking. Scanning the hallway, she asked, "Why are we passing so many rooms?"

"These rooms have no purpose, " her maid explained. "The castle made them, but they have nothing to do in them."

Empty rooms with no purpose? No, it's smarter than that.

Curious, she stepped closer to one of the wooden doors. She pushed it open, the winning hinges echoing in the massive room. From the look of it, the room had never been entered-or cleaned. A layer of dust covered the stone walls and floor, stirring as she stepped inside.

Despite its state of care, the sight of it made her ecstatic. Having no windows, the floor began to glow as she walked, lighting it better than the trails from the hallway. She knew this room.

Leaving her shoes behind, she whirled around in joy. She had not studied architecture, just she recognized the shape anywhere. Sloping ceiling and walls to guide into a fan-this room was meant to amplify and hone the sounds made inside.

This was a music room.

What stumbled her was how it was not facing outward, but sideways. The far wall was made entirely of panels. Running over, she searched for some crack in their structure.

The castle responded to her desire, bulging the middle panel for her to get a grip. Quickly, she pushed it down so it folded up on one side, then did the other.

The connecting room made her smile all the more. It was much large and without a single piece of furniture. Given the structure, this room could make an excellent dance floor for those listening to the musicians play.

A spark lit inside her, and she giggled with joy. Music rooms-here, in the palace of an alien land, of all places! How she longed for something to give her music so she could fill it with beautiful sounds!

A shiver ran through her spine, one she was learning to recognize. She looked to the source of the feeling, eyes landing on a familiar object.

It had just appeared. Unlike the rest of the room, this was clean and polished, as if it was just brought it. But that was impossible, right?

Or maybe the castle could simply work that fast.

Her bare feet connected to the magical palace. It had lead her to the courtyard, and had brought her to these rooms. It knew what she wanted and formed a gift out of her memory.

I have a very nice friend.

Izatha ran her hand over the sleek black wood, moving to the ivory keys. Her eyes shut as she drew in a breath.

"Play for me, " she whispered.

Light notes drifted from the keys of a song she recalled. Izatha's feet carried her through the room, swaying to the spritely tune. Her whole body knew the beat.

She wasn't necessarily a skilled dancer, not was she a breathtaking sight in her casual garments. Yet the power with which she commanded the song through sound and motion-only the music was her redemption.

The notes ran like a river through her soul. She was lost to the world, only embellishing in the moment.

Because right here, with the sound of the wind twirling around her steps, she felt complete.

She hardly noticed when the song ended, music fading to her memory. Panting, a satisfied smile grew across her face.

Thank you, castle.

A muffled gasp connected her back to her surroundings. Turning, she saw Winry covering her mouth as she stared, chest heavily from unsteady breathes.

"What's wrong? Do you hurt somewhere?" Izatha cried, scrambling over to care for her maid.

The girl shook her head, forcing herself to calm down. "I am in awe. I not seen something so beautiful. This is what?"

A cold thought trembled through the princess's mind. No, it couldn't be. A culture so old and powerful, never having heard of music? The idea was devastating.

She was afraid to ask, yet she mumbled, "Have-have you never heard a song before?"

"What is a song?"

Oh, she was going to do something about that. Even the castle agreed that there needed to be music in the halls. It would take some work-a lot of work-but it was nothing she hadn't done before.

"Let me teach you."