With none fanfare, we landed in Port Sendoff. The portmaster greeted us like standard, and we went on our merry method again to Kotosa. I imply, severely. I really feel like a variety of issues have been lacking proper now. The place was the urgency? The worry of being invaded? At this level, I did not even really feel like one thing was going to occur though we have been primarily at what I would name, ‘most world stress.’

Additionally, that very same nagging feeling that one thing large was about to occur nonetheless rang in the back of my head. Like, certain, one thing was going to occur, however there was some type of finality to this one for some cause.

“Say, do not you assume that every thing’s going too easily?” I could not assist however ask Steering as we quietly made our technique to Kotosa.

“Not for the time being, no,” the dev shook her head. “I for one just like the quiet we have been experiencing as of late. That factor we did in Marquee was greater than sufficient motion for me for a protracted whereas. Possibly even perpetually if I used to be actually pushing it.”

I blinked at her blase phrases. Was she severely saying that she wished to retire?

“What? I am simply saying that I need a little bit of relaxation,” Steering scoffed. “Should you’re fearful that I am achieved adventuring, then I am not. Not till we have mounted every thing that wanted to be mounted. I nonetheless have a nagging suspicion that we forgot about one thing, and we have achieved a variety of stuff already that wanted to be addressed.”

I sagely nodded at that. “Yeah, we’re type of lacking issues left and proper, I really feel. Possibly a little bit of downtime would put issues into perspective.”

Strolling our method via what I might recall being the one street that when stretched into perpetually, I discovered myself lazily being attentive to who was strolling with us. After all, Shizu was proper in entrance with Maruki and Shade following carefully behind her. Shen and Gem have been additionally taking part in tag together with her, by some means managing to seek out the time and power to play in the midst of the street as we handed via retailers and caravans touring from side to side in between Port Sendoff and Kotosa itself.

Likewise, the Vestygian couple was excellent in entrance of me and Steering. I might see that they actually care about their daughter, and their eyes by no means gave the impression to be relaxed whilst their outward look revealed something however. Not that I might fault them for it. A couple of cursory conversations with them revealed to me that they have been very a lot a paranoid couple, most likely as a result of their former jobs required it from them.

“So that is what an actual forest appears to be like like~”

And naturally, there was Nicole. The Marquean psychopath did not give a rattling what different individuals thought. Sporting what was nonetheless ostensibly Marquean put on and sensibilities, she all however wished to cease by each nook and cranny she discovered attention-grabbing and ‘examine.’ Her curiosity was somewhat infectious, really, what with Shen having picked up a few of her extra endearing habits of eager to understand how issues work versus letting her [Manifest] repair it for her.

However anyway, Nicole was flitting about on her toes, oohing and ahhing at each service provider caravan that went previous us as if it will assist her perceive no matter it was that they have been promoting. She even pestered us to try to purchase stuff for her, just for me to rapidly shoot her down saying that she ought to maintain her requests till after we’re within the Imperial Palace.

Additionally, “Did not Centrax have a forest on its outskirts? I doubt that is the primary time you noticed an precise forest.”

“However forests in Marquee do not look as thick as those discovered right here~” Nicole dreamily replied, her eyes glowing with manic power as she grinned. “I can solely think about what I can do with this a lot wooden round~”

Steering sputtered out a giggle, and I groaned at my girlfriend’s soiled thoughts. As a result of certainly, this lady beside me was simply that lecherous at instances.

“I am going to be sure you try to enable you to if you consider that stuff like that~” Steering giggled, a small blush showing on her cheeks. “However as for the forests, yeah. Kattleyna’s the richest of the three nations when it comes to pure assets in order that’s to be anticipated.”

“And I am solely studying it now with my very personal eyes~” Nicole excitedly questioned. “Do you assume the Emperor would give me all of the assets I would have to additional my improvements?”

“I am certain you can ask Shizu to do it for you as a substitute,” I scoffed. “She’s our ticket into the Imperial Palace within the first place, and I doubt that you simply’d even get heard if you happen to stated that you are a Marquean.”

Steering gave me a small glare, and I shrugged on the consideration. Why even get mad? I am fairly certain it was true anyway. The three nations appeared to hate one another with a ardour barring a number of exceptions. I am not even certain if Carbuncle and Alcian have been comfy right here with how tense they gave the impression to be.

“Effectively, irrespective of. I am certain that my brilliance will present everybody simply how a lot they want me~”

I shook my head at Nicole’s antics. Actually, whereas she was as good as she arrogantly says she was, she was additionally as tone-deaf and psychopathic about it with out a care on this planet. Then once more, that was often what mad genius wanted to thrive, and our [Rig] wanted that genius if we wished to go at it alone with out a fleet to again us up.

Ultimately, nevertheless, the discussions needed to cease as we lastly discovered ourselves again to the place this journey all started. Kotosa was simply as magical as I remembered leaving it. I had a niggling that one thing ought to’ve occurred after we first entered the town, however I assume it wasn’t too vital if I forgot about it. As an alternative, I centered extra on the truth that we have been about to make use of that magical fountain once more to get again as much as Yagokoro-

“How does that factor even float?!”

And there it was… “Nicole, be quiet-“

“What do you imply, be quiet?! That complete sphere of rock is an anomaly that requires fixing!” the mad Marquean squealed in anticipation. “Simply consider the probabilities if we are able to be taught the way it flies that top up with out even a lot as transferring! We are able to possibly make our [Rig] fly! Or we can-MPPHH!”

Gritting my enamel, I stepped in and lined Nicole’s mouth with my proper hand. The entire group checked out me with pity as I wrapped my arms across the Marquean, the lady combating to free herself whilst I tightened my grip even additional.

“Look, you are making a scene, and in Kattleyna, making a scene is the worst factor you are able to do out in public,” I harshly defined to her. “As quickly as I let go of you, you will not communicate one other phrase until you are spoken to, alright?”

Nicole glared at me, however she nodded her head anyway.

Taking that as her consent, I rapidly let go of her, Nicole rapidly placing a ways between me and her as she opened her mouth.

“You may’t inform me what to do~”

I rolled my eyes. “Shizu?”

“On it,” the princess rapidly replied with a sigh. She then turned to the free cannon and glared at her. “Nicole, kindly shut up.”

Fortunately, that appeared to have achieved the trick as Nicole promptly crossed her arms over her chest and pouted like we had simply taken away her favourite toy.

“You will get your likelihood to gush about issues later,” I sighed at her. “For now, simply preserve quiet and observe our lead.”

With that out of the best way, we made our technique to the fountain main as much as Yagokoro. For us that have been conversant in it, we simply did what we did final time and stepped up on the fountain. The others, nevertheless, seemed somewhat confused at what was even taking place.

“Wait, you need us to face on that factor and it will simply take us up there?” Nicole requested.

“That is the way it works. And no, we do not understand how or why it really works that method,” I rapidly replied simply as I felt the pull of gravity slowly taking maintain over my physique. “Simply stand on it and do what we did.”

Nicole narrowed her eyes, however rapidly adopted go well with as she stood beside Steering. Likewise, Shen and Gem simply blindly adopted Shizu’s lead whereas Carbuncle and Alcian stood beside me and Steering. Shade and Maruki have been already a given since they’d been right here earlier than as effectively.

And with out additional ado, we discovered ourselves floating up into area capturing up into Yagokoro. I took pleasure in the truth that Nicole was presently raving about how this wasn’t even speculated to be doable. Effectively, that and Carbuncle screaming bloody homicide as she held onto Gem and Alcian for pricey life earlier than we have been lastly again on stable floor.

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