《The Idol and his Assistant》 Prologue The cold wind seemed to blow right through the two children, their legs buried as they slowly moved forward in the harsh blizzard. However, it seemed the larger of the two was doing their best to take the brunt of it, as the smaller of the two was burning up with a fever beneath them. The smaller was breathing shallowly, their breaths barely seen even as the snow was preventing them from seeing two feet in front of their faces. The two hardly had any clothes at all, just some teal robes that one would normally see in a hospital. However, it seemed as if they were torn and even had dark brown stains on several parts of them. In fact, if one were to come across them the two would look as if they were ghosts slowly making their way to the afterlife. One of the figures, a girl, looked down at the small boy in her arms, using every ounce of strength she had in her to keep them both moving. At this point, the young girl was walking for the both of them as the sickly-looking boy¡¯s legs were dragged in the snow. Nonetheless, this did nothing to deter the girl from saving the small boy''s life as she moved with purpose. ¡°I¡¯ll get us out of this¡­¡± The girl thought, the small boy in her arms gripping onto her with all the strength he had. His hands practically blue as he did his best to lighten the burden on his savior. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. It seemed as if all hope was lost, the girl''s vision became even more obscured as the cold began to affect her more harshly. Just then, as the young girl struggled to look up in an attempt to see where they were heading, she saw it¡­A flurry of lights in the distance, that looked to be dancing as they drew nearer to them. Realizing that they were not a trick made by her mind, she began to quicken her pace as hope began to shine in her heart. She did her best to lift the young boy onto her back, despite the fact that her legs felt like lead. She forced herself to move quickly through the condensed snow that consumed her legs at a steady pace. ¡°and when I do¡­¡± The girl nearly tripped onto a relatively smooth surface, surprising the girl as her bare feet were finally touching a more level ground. The breeze was still blowing strong, but it seemed as if the snow had become more tame. With the horizon shining brightly, she adjusted the small boy on her back for better comfort. He seemed to perk up a bit at the feeling of light touching his face, squinting as he opened his eyes slightly. As if it was a sign from the heavens, the sun seemed to rise just behind the large city like a light of hope. A spark seemed to shine in the girl''s eyes, a new level of determination showing across her face as she took her first step towards the town. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll never let anything bad happen to you again.¡± Chapter 1 A beautiful woman was speaking on the phone as she walked down a hall. She wore a dark gray suit jacket, a matching pencil skirt, a white-collar button up shirt, with dark gray stockings, and a pair of black heels. The suit clung to the woman¡¯s body near perfectly, her curves accentuated. ¡°Yes, I understand completely and will inform Mr. Taraka accordingly.¡± Saki Katsumi, 16 years-old, known to those who have worked with her as ¡®the cold-hearted beauty,¡¯ has made a name for herself working as manager and personal bodyguard to the popular idol Kouki Takara for the last year. For the most part this young beauty does her job in relative silence, however when it comes to her client she was the definition of ¡®No Nonsense¡¯. ¡°No, he will not be answering any questions outside of his work.¡± A few moments after her response, she stopped in her tracks. A loud stomp from her heels was heard throughout the hall as she bit her lips in frustration, catching the attention of a few bystanders. Her face contorted to that of anger, her emerald green eyes darkening as she looked to the phone as if the person on the other end of the line was able to see her. Most who saw this were thankful that it was not directed at them. Taking a deep breath in to calm herself, she spoke as sternly as possible. ¡°You do realize that as his manager I can easily convince Mr. Takara to not attend this interview at all? He is quite busy and I can speak on his behalf that he would love to have one less thing on his list to do.¡± Moments after, a smirk began to form on her lips as she turned back around and continued to walk towards her destination. Soon, she arrived at a large set of doors. A plaque stating ¡®Studio 9¡¯ decorating it. ¡°Very good. Then I will inform him of the changes and will contact you if anything. Have a good afternoon sir.¡± She hung up, sighing in relief that the conversation was over. Looking at her phone once more she saw the time read 3:45PM, causing her to sigh once again putting the phone in her suit pocket. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s as if these conversations happen more and more often. After 8 years I would¡¯ve thought these idiots would get the hint that Kouki prefers to keep his private life private.¡± Opening the door, she entered the room being sure to look around to see if anyone else was in the room. However, what she found instead was a heaving, wheezing, and sweating Kouki bent over a trash bin throwing up. The sight alone caused her to feel concern for Kouki, as she rushed to his side rubbing his back in concern. ¡°I-I¡¯m fi-¡± Kouki attempted to say but was interrupted by his own bile as he heaved one last time into the nearly full trash bin in front of him. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m okay Katsumi just¡­give me a minute...¡± Kouki finished, his voice sounding hoarse, taking a moment to spit a few times more into the bin before shakily attempting to stand. The teen sensation, Kouki Takara, 15 years-old, was one of the greatest generations of idol singers. However, due to his abnormally low immune system he tended to get ill more often than others. While for Saki this was common knowledge, there were only a few companies and studios that were actively aware of this fact. So, to make up for it, Saki took it upon herself to learn basic first aid so that if Kouki¡¯s condition were to worsen she would be able to help. However, if worse came to worse they would visit a special doctor who had more experience in helping Kouki¡¯s condition. In most cases Kouki did his best to hide his illness, and to Saki¡¯s disappointment he was very good at it. Saki took the initiative, helping Kouki to his feet as he stumbled to get his footing. Kouki heaved slightly, clearly having trouble breathing. Despite what he said Kouki was clearly unable to continue to work in this condition. With a sigh, Saki took her phone from her pocket and quickly dialed a number on her phone. ¡°Yes, this is Kouki Takara¡¯s manager. I¡¯m afraid we must cancel today¡¯s recording.¡± Kouki looked at Saki quickly, doing his best to try to stop her but due to his weaker stature all he succeeded in was getting himself more exhausted as Saki continued to speak in her usual professional manner. ¡°I understand that, but at the moment he isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± Kouki sighed in defeat, knowing that no matter how hard he pushed Saki always got her way in these situations. In a large way, he was grateful for all of her help but there was still a stubborn part of him that just screamed he could¡¯ve done more. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Thank you, I apologize for the late notice and we will call once Mr. Takara is feeling well again.¡± After hanging up the phone, Saki took it upon herself to help Kouki walk, but before she could, Kouki pushed her away, his face downturned so she couldn¡¯t see his face. ¡°Kouki, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Kouki stood there, his body trembling in anger as he looked at his friend. ¡°Why do you do that? You know I ca-¡± ¡°Keep going? Kouki, I know you and if there¡¯s anything I learned after all these years it¡¯s that if I gave you the chance, you¡¯d work yourself to death.¡± Saki pointed out, walking towards Kouki with a combination of seriousness and concern on her face as she continued. ¡°While I understand that this job is important to you, what''s more important to me is your health and well-being.¡± At that, Kouki''s body language softened, looking up at her with frustrated tears in his eyes. ¡°Sorry Saki¡­I don¡¯t mean to worry you¡­¡± Kouki spoke softly, now allowing Saki to put her arm around Kouki¡¯s frame to help him stand. ¡°I just want to do more, not just for me but for both of us! I don¡¯t want us to have to worry about being homeless again¡­¡± Saki looked down at Kouki, sighing as she flicked his nose, causing him to flinch and look at her in confusion. ¡°Honestly, don¡¯t be so dramatic.¡± Saki smiled softly, as she began to walk to exit the room helping Kouki as she spoke. ¡°Nothing falls solely on you Kouki. We¡¯re in this together, regardless of what happens I know that we can get through anything as long as we¡¯re together.¡± Saki softly stroked Kouki¡¯s hair, bringing him closer as she did so. ¡°Thanks Saki¡­¡± Kouki stated bashfully, a small blush on his cheeks. Saki nodded in appreciation, grabbing a nearby hat and glasses for Kouki. ¡°Here, put these back on.¡± Kouki groaned, having a bit of trouble with his stomach as he placed both items on his head. ¡°Good, now let¡¯s head home.¡± Saki stated, guiding the young idol towards the exit. Despite both teens earning more than enough money, they both agreed that having any sort of entourage would attract too much attention, and they both took great strides to keep the location of their home away from the public. So in order to avoid any of the public, they chose to take the bus to and from any location they needed to go to. The nearest one being on the corner of a 4-way intersection, surrounded by several different shops. ¡°By the way, did we have anything else scheduled today?¡± Kouki asked, looking up at Saki as they got increasingly closer to the nearby bus stop. ¡°No, though we do have one scheduled in a couple days. I almost just cancelled since they actually wanted to ask for more private information, but I took care of it.¡± Saki answered with a sigh, taking shelter from the burning sun underneath a bus stop bench where only a single older gentleman was holding a small bag of assorted groceries. ¡°Honestly, how do you put up with it? I mean I can essentially put up with it for a bit, but you have to put up with that kind of thing almost on a daily basis now.¡± Kouki admired, taking a seat on the bench quickly to keep himself from getting dizzy. ¡°Well, no it isn¡¯t, but I can handle most of them.¡± Saki stated, choosing to instead stand just under the shade of the bus stop as she spoke. It was then, in the corner of Kouki¡¯s eye was an elderly woman walking towards the crosswalk directly in front of them, dragging a rather large assortment of groceries behind her in a small run down utility cart almost to the point where it would break. However, as the bus began to pull up to the bus stop, Kouki saw a large moving truck come into his view. The driver was looking at their phone, and noticing that said driver was driving way too fast to stop in time. Kouki knew what he had to do. ¡°Great, it seems the bus is here early. if you need help I can help you int-¡° Saki couldn¡¯t finish. In fact, for the first time since she¡¯s known Kouki, he ran faster than she could track. However, it wasn¡¯t why he was running that concerned her but where he was running to. She immediately set off to catch him. ¡°I need to get to him¡­please, let me get to him.¡± ¡°Whoa, I¡¯ve never run this fast before¡­¡± Kouki thought, as the feeling of his outstretched hands made contact with the elderly woman forcefully pushing her out of the way. ¡°¡­I wonder, is this what it¡¯s like to be healthy?¡± Kouki continued, seeing that the elderly woman was sent out of the way. ¡°I¡¯ve never been able to move like this before¡­¡± He chuckled to himself, his eyes beginning to close as tears escaped. ¡°¡­it¡¯s almost a bit unfair, that the only time I run like this is when I¡¯m about to die...¡± Just then, he felt a pair of arms wrapping around him causing him to open his eyes widely. ¡°S-Saki!¡± Kouki panicked, seeing her worried face as she desperately held him tightly. Unbeknownst to them, an unnatural light began to shine beneath them containing strange symbols underneath. ¡°What are yo-? ¡° Kouki attempted to ask, but before he could, the light seemed to consume them and made it impossible to see. Chapter 2 The feeling of the wind rushing past her face, the unconscious decision to remove her high heels in attempt to rush to the aid of the one person in her life that she cherished more than life itself, and the feeling of a large truck just inches from her back as she held onto that person for dear life. These were the last moments Saki could recall before a blinding light consumed them both. ¡°Kouki!¡± Saki gasped, immediately getting up and looking frantically for the boy that she was desperately reaching for just moments ago. However, instead of finding the bright and sunny corner street they were in before, Saki instead found a dark, stone room only lit by carefully placed torches. ¡°Kita so?¡± A soft voice caught Saki¡¯s attention, causing the young woman to turn to see a girl in front of her. She looked beautiful, her skin was as smooth and clear as a porcelain doll. Her dress, which only complemented her complection, was as pale blue as the sky on the clearest day. It had gold edges and almost looked like robes a nun would wear it seemed to accentuate her form, and if it wasn¡¯t for the obvious signs Saki would¡¯ve sworn it was a second skin. ¡°W-What?¡± Saki questioned, her composure erratic as she looked around for Kouki in a panic. This caused the girl to move aside revealing the unconscious boy behind her. Saki rushed towards Kouki in distress, checking him over for any injuries. ¡°Kouki!¡± Saki exclaimed in a panic, lifting Kouki into her arms, holding him up and gently tapping his face to wake him. ¡°Wake up, please¡­¡± begged Saki, doing her best to wake Kouki up as tears threatened to exit her eyes. ¡°What did you do to us? Drugs, hypnosis? Did you set up that accident to capture Kouki?¡± Saki questioned, only receiving a confused look from the angelic-like woman as she backed away more as Saki¡¯s emerald iris¡¯s glew with a dangerous glint. After a moment of silence, a look of realization appeared on the porcelain girl¡¯s face as her right hand began to glow with a strange golden yellow aura as she began to¡­chant? Comparing it to the outlandish words Saki heard before, these were simply incoherent as they flowed through her like a professional lyricist. As the aura around the girl''s hand began to spread around both Saki and Kouki causing her to hold Kouki more protectively as she attempted to shield him. Saki tightly shut her eyes in preparation for the pain that would possibly come. ¡°Miss, pardon me but can you understand me now?¡± This voice caused Saki to turn back. ¡°I¡­I can understand her?¡± Saki, while not completely understanding what was happening, decided to play along for the time being. ¡°Y-Yes, but why is it that I couldn¡¯t before?¡± she asked, doing her best not to let Kouki become more of an easy target than he already was. ¡°Ah, yes well just a moment ago, you and I couldn¡¯t understand each other due to the difference in language but I remedied that with a bit of magic.¡± As she spoke, she began to give a curtsy to the confused Saki, radiating grace as she introduced herself. ¡°I am Princess Celina, crowned princess of the Moonhaven Kingdom. It is very nice to meet you, hero.¡± Saki looked her over once again unbelieving, this caused her to notice more than a few armor clad individuals who surrounded them. ¡°Moonhaven Kingdom? Magic? What exactly are you playing at, and how did you bring us here?¡± Saki questioned, doing her best not to move too hastily. Both due to the guards around them, and to not move Kouki too abruptly. The self-proclaimed princess bowed her head, a look of guilt on her face. ¡°My apologies, what you experienced was a transportation spell. A very powerful one at that, and it had been done with one specific purpose in mind.¡± She explained, not lifting her head once as Saki took in the information. ¡°What purpose¡­?¡± Saki asked hesitantly. Princess Celina sighed. ¡°The spell I helped cast was a spell to summon what our world calls: ¡®The Legendary Hero¡¯. It¡¯s meant to find one of pure heart and valor, one who has the strength of body and character to save our world from great disaster.¡± She explained, causing Saki to scowl incredulously. ¡°Hero, as in singular? Then why are there two of us?¡± Saki asked, still not believing her story in the slightest. ¡°That¡­I can¡¯t explain in all honesty¡­¡± As Saki was about to reprimand her the princess raised a hand. ¡°I know that is an unsatisfactory answer, but in the last 200 years since our kingdom''s founding no other heroes have been summoned until you.¡± Celina seemed genuine in her explanation, which caused Saki to believe her if only for the moment. ¡°Still, while I cannot explain how this occurred it is clear by the strength of your mana. You are the hero we were searching for.¡± ¡°Mana? What do you mean?¡± Saki asked, confused. ¡°Ngh¡­¡± The noise caught Saki¡¯s attention immediately, looking down towards the now awakening boy in her arms. ¡°Kouki! Are you okay?¡± Saki worriedly asked, doing her best to check over him while still keeping a cautious look around them. ¡°Agh¡­Saki? What happened?¡± Kouki asked as he rubbed his head, doing his best to come out of his drowsiness. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but try not to panic okay?¡± Saki requested, stroking his hair as he started to open his eyes. ¡°What do you mean¡­? Wait, I remember we were leaving the studio¡­and then¡­¡± Kouki rose up quickly, looking around in a panic. ¡°Where are we? Did we die? Are you ok-?¡± ¡°You there, you are in the presence of her royal highness cease your prattling!¡± Yelled one of the guards, his armor being the only one different from the rest Saki assumed he was someone of importance. "That is enough, Captain. These two possess every right to act as they see fit in this matter." Celina reprimanded, causing the guard captain to bow in understanding. ¡°Your highness, you must think of your station you-¡± ¡°I will not repeat myself!¡± The princess stated, her eyes turning towards the guard with a scolding look. ¡°As long as they are here, they are my honored guests and will be treated as such.¡± The guards around her bowed in submission, followed suit by their captain who offered a deeper bow. ¡°Forgive me, I meant no disrespect.¡± The captain stated apologetically. ¡°Then please restrain yourself, now¡­¡± Princess Celina walked towards the two summoned heroes, kneeling down to meet them both at eye level as Saki brought Kouki closer to her chest in defense. ¡°Please forgive them, they are trained to defend me in every sense of the word so they can be a bit intimidating even towards family.¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s fine, still I would like to know what you mean by mana and what it has to do with us.¡± Saki stated, doing her best to keep her composure after the ordeal. ¡°Yes of course, let us go to a more comfortable setting. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s uncomfortable being on the floor like that.¡± Celina stated as she stood, chuckling at the sight of the boy being coddled by the woman so protectively. ¡°Though I will admit, it¡¯s a very interesting relationship you have.¡± She chuckled. This statement caused a large blush to show on Kouki¡¯s face, making him quickly sit up only to once again be pulled back into Saki¡¯s arms, a slight blush on her face as she still maintained her suspicious stance. ¡°Very well, but could we minimize our detail? After what I witnessed, I don¡¯t feel safe with this group around and I can guarantee it will go a long way in trust if you do so.¡± Saki stated calculating, causing the princess to giggle in response. ¡°Of course, guards please prepare my Solar and let the maids know to prepare some snacks and tea.¡± Celina commanded, causing the guards to move immediately after as they exited the large doorway leading to a rather extravagant hall. ¡°Please follow me, we can wait in my tea room whilst they prepare.¡± This caused Saki to steadily rise to her feet, helping Kouki to his feet as well, this caused the Princess to look curiously at the sight. "Pray, might I inquire as to what affliction troubles the young boy?" Celina questioned, causing Saki pause as she considered what to say. ¡°It¡¯s fine to tell her.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Saki looked at Kouki in shock as he weakly stood up. ¡°I¡¯m not sure where we are, but it seems we need to build some kind of trust. So it¡¯s fine.¡± Kouki stated, aware of the tension in the air as he leaned into Saki¡¯s hold as if to comfort her. Saki grit her teeth in frustration, trying to think of any other way to form a higher negotiation ground. Something that could ensure their, or at least Kouki¡¯s safety¡­ ¡°Maybe¡­¡± ¡°Very well, I will tell you but I request that you ensure our safety regardless of how things turn out.¡± Saki stated bluntly, causing the princess to nod in understanding. ¡°You have my word, as the princess of the Moonhaven Kingdom you will be safe regardless of the outcome.¡± Saki curtsied, causing some of the remaining guards to gasp in shock at the display. ¡°...Very well.¡± Saki hesitated, judging that it was a good sign as they began to move towards the aforementioned Solar. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
¡°I see, it sounds like you¡¯ve had a hard time keeping his health in check. We have amazing physicians here in the castle, perhaps they could assist as yours did.¡± Princess Celina offered, taking a sip of her tea. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I would like to have more information regarding this ¡®Hero Summoning¡¯ of yours. Why would you need heroes, and why would you think that random strangers who you summoned without consent would even want to help?¡± Saki questioned, as she took a sip of her own. Meanwhile, Kouki was munching away at a number of cookies. His face partially covered in crumbs, causing the tension created by Saki¡¯s question to be lightened by some. Celina giggled at the sight, whilst Saki groaned, grabbing a nearby handkerchief. ¡°Honestly, control yourself Kouki, this is serious.¡± Saki stated cleaning off the boy¡¯s face as he apologetically smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I for one enjoy this level of relaxed conversation. It¡¯s refreshing, especially when compared to the stuffy conversation I¡¯m used to.¡± Celina giggled, waving her hand in dismissal. ¡°Not to mention, it¡¯s surprising to me that you and I are the same age.¡± ¡°Yes, it is a surprise to most who learn my age. While I am thankful, I would appreciate it if my questions were answered.¡± Saki insisted, after setting the handkerchief down. ¡°Ah, yes of course. Well, as I said in the summoning room the ¡®hero¡¯ summoned is said to be one of great heart and mind that is to save our world from great disaster.¡± Celina stated, taking another sip of her tea as she continued. ¡°The disaster in question is the demons within The Territory of Pyrefall. It has been rather calm until now, with more and more attacks to our borders near their territory. We believed that there was something powerful at play causing the demons to be this aggressive, so we sent in a small group of reconnaissance agents to infiltrate the territory¡­Only one returned¡­¡± Celina stated sadly, causing the room to go silent for a moment before she took a deep breath to continue. ¡°From the report, they found that the old castle of the Demon Lord had looked active again. Thus confirming our greatest fears, that the Demon Lord has returned and taken control of the demons¡­We reached out, not just to our neighboring countries but to all countries to form an alliance to fight off and defeat the Demon Lord. We formed, we fought, but in the end we lost a number of soldiers. Among them were a number of brave nobles from each country, even my brother, the first prince went into the battle but failed to return home¡­¡± Tears started to flow from Celina¡¯s eyes as she gripped tightly at her dress. ¡°I apologize for this, we did everything we could but in the end we had to try the summoning. Our nation is in turmoil, alliances are on thin ice, and our people are scared of what¡¯s to come.¡± Celina bowed her head deeply, her tears now flowing freely. ¡°I beg you both, please help us¡­even if at least it¡¯s to show the people that there still is hope for the future of our race.¡± The sight surprised Saki, despite her high status here she was the apparent princess of this country crying in front of two complete strangers and begging them to help her people. It was hard to say ¡®no¡¯ at the very least, and when she looked at Kouki she saw a level of sadness in his eyes as she looked at her. It was obvious that he didn¡¯t know what to do, and in these moments he looked to her to make the right choice. She knew what she had to do, at least to ensure their safety. ¡°Look, I understand your position and I sympathize with you and your peoples strife. However, what you¡¯re asking us to do is put our lives on the line to either fight off and kill the Demon Lord, or to outwardly reveal ourselves as so-called ¡®heros¡¯ more than likely placing a target on our backs should word get back to the front lines. What assurances can you even provide that we will be safe?¡± Saki asked, clearly doing her best to sound sympathetic while also being clear-headed. Kouki leaned on Saki, saddened by the words but clearly understanding where she was coming from. The princess sniffed, and gently dabbed away the tears from her eyes as she smiled in understanding. ¡°You¡¯re right, in actuality we don¡¯t have much room to stand on. I can¡¯t guarantee anything, but I can vow only on my life that we will provide the best protection possible. Whether you help us on the battlefield or here for morale.¡± Celina stated, bowing once more as she allowed a moment for Saki to consider. ¡°Damn¡­it¡¯s really hard to say no here. Not only do we have no way of surviving here, but even if the princess were to help us we don¡¯t know anything about this place. I¡¯m still having enough trouble believing that this is legit, but her demeanor, her actions are all suggesting that it¡¯s true. Ugh¡­why did this ¡®hero¡¯ summoning thing-¡± Saki gasped lightly, catching both Kouki¡¯s and the princess¡¯s attention. ¡°Princess, first let me ask: is there a way to send us home if we decide not to do either?¡± Saki questioned. This caught the princess off guard, but she soon recovered and did her best to form a regal smile. ¡°I apologize, but the hero that was summoned over 200 years ago was in fact my ancestor who as you can probably guess married and lived the rest of their life here¡­¡± The Princess stated honestly, causing Saki to sigh in exasperation. ¡°I thought so¡­then I have a proposal based on the information I have. Would I be allowed to make my offer?¡± Saki stated, causing the princess to look up in hope as she nodded her head. ¡°Please, feel free to speak your mind.¡± ¡°Ahem, well since you stated earlier that it is uncommon for more than one hero to be summoned I want to offer you this: Announce me as your hero, and train me as you need but in return you will keep Kouki safe. You will provide anything and everything he needs, and should I fail, you will continue to do so till even your dying breath.¡± Saki offered, causing silence to take over for a moment. ¡°Y-You¡¯d be willing to help us?¡± Celina asked unbelievingly. ¡°I understand why you did this, but since we can¡¯t go home and even if we decline and you offer to help us find a place to live we know nothing of your culture or if there are other things to be wary of aside from these so-called Demons. So, as long as you meet these requirements then I will do what I can to assist.¡± Saki stated, standing up walking towards the princess holding out a hand. ¡°Do we have an agreement, your highness?¡± The next second surprised Saki as Celina lunged into her arms, hugging her tightly and causing a slight pop to be heard from her back. ¡°Of course! Thank you so much Lady Saki, and please feel free to address me as Celina.¡± Saki jumped for joy looking up at Saki simply due to the now noticeable size difference. She was a few inches shorter than Kouki, but not that Saki cared much for such things. ¡°Is she really the same age as me?¡± ¡°Please allow a moment for me to alert my father, we can have a meeting with him immediately.¡± The princess exclaimed excitedly, beginning to make her way out of the room. ¡°Prince- I mean Celina, we don¡¯t have anything proper to wear. Based on how some of the men we passed looked at me and Kouki, we seem to be wearing things that could be considered improper.¡± Saki noted, causing the princess to turn and relax as she understood the situation. ¡°Ah, yes you are quite right. Then allow me to call upon my tailor to create some garments for both of you. Do you have anything in mind?¡± Celina asked, wondering what the heroes would like. ¡°I would like to have a set of easy to move clothing, if I am to be the hero I want to present myself as such. So I will leave it to your tailor to create something fitting for that, as for Kouki please create something comfortable and breathable for him that doesn¡¯t restrict his movement.¡± Saki detailed, doing her best to list the key needs. ¡°I see, then follow me the tailor will need to measure you both and from there you must meet with my father.¡± Saki stated, a nearby maid opening the door to exit. ¡°The clothes won¡¯t be ready that quickly will they?¡± Saki asked, following the princess with Kouki following closely behind. ¡°No, but worry not, my father is understanding and won¡¯t mind it for this time. Especially if I ask, I will leave you with the tailor and head to my father to discuss your terms. I will send a maid for you once we are ready to see you.¡± Saki explained, causing Saki and Kouki to nod. ¡°Your highness¡­your eyes need to be washed and makeup redone.¡± The maid opened the door, causing Celina to realize and wipe her eyes gently with a finger. ¡°Ah, yes. We shall do so after leaving the heroes with the tailor.¡± Celina commanded, the maid bowing in response.
A few minutes after arriving at the royal tailor, the princess explained who Saki and Kouki were and what they required in terms of clothing. All the while, Saki and Kouki looked at the man in wonderment. The royal tailor, whose name was Kauxar, was an older gentleman who had orange hair and green eyes but what really caught both of their attention were the cat ears and tail protruding from the man¡¯s head and behind. ¡°He¡¯s¡­a Cat-person.¡± Kouki stated in shock. ¡°Yes, do you have them in your world?¡± Kauxar asked, preparing his measuring tapes. ¡°Ah, no we don¡¯t but we do have stories that talk about such creatures. Though they were just fictional.¡± Saki explained, gaining a confused but agreeing nod. ¡°Now shall we begin?¡± Kauxar offered, gesturing to a small pedestal surrounded by mirrors. ¡°Y-Yes of course, Kouki will-¡± ¡°You go first Saki.¡± Kouki interrupted, sitting down in one of the nearby chairs in front of the pedestal. ¡°Kouki?¡± Saki questioned, only to be jousted away and placed onto the pedestal by Kauxar. ¡°Now, let us begin.¡± Kauxar stated, starting to strip down the young lady. ¡°Will the young sir be staying or leaving?¡± ¡°Staying.¡± Kauxar looked surprised, neither of them hesitated for a second as more and more of Saki¡¯s form was revealed. She didn¡¯t hesitate, and Kouki wasn¡¯t bothered a bit. Kauxar simply shrugged and did his duty as he began to perform the measurements. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± It was less a question, but more a way to get Saki to talk. It was filled with an upset tone but his facial expression was that of numbness. ¡°You know why, you heard her story and we both felt her words in our hearts.¡± Saki began, understanding his expression. ¡°Yet you decided to take this on alone, leaving me here like some kind of defenseless puppy.¡± Kouki¡¯s voice elevated in tone, but his face did not change. ¡°You will be taken care of, that is all that matters.¡± ¡°THAT''S NOT YOUR CHOICE TO MAKE!¡± Kouki yelled, standing up suddenly and the chair falling to the ground. ¡°Lower your voice, you know your condition and we don¡¯t know what other illness¡¯s exist here and they do. The princess more than likely has great doctors on her payroll, doctors who can monitor your condition properly and heal you should anything major were to happen.¡± Saki explained bluntly, not hesitating a moment as Kauxar was still measuring. ¡°...UGH, why are you always like this! You should know how important you are to me, there¡¯s no way I would let you do this alone!¡± Kouki argued, stomping forward to face Saki with determination. ¡°Kouki¡­¡± ¡°NO! You may be calm in all the best situations, but when it comes to each other we are as equally emotional as anyone else.¡± Kouki stated, his voice lowering as he began to tremble in frustration. ¡°You¡­don¡¯t get to¡­do this to me.¡± Kouki fought, but tears began to drop to the floor as he bit his lip so hard he drew blood. Saki looked towards Kauxer, he nodded in understanding and she quickly hopped down from the pedestal and hugged Kouki with all the warmth and tenderness she could. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­I am being emotional and want nothing more than to leave you in capable hands while I face all the danger to protect you. Can you blame me though? I have always protected you, always done my best, and yet¡­here we are, in a situation where there really isn¡¯t any other way to keep ourselves fully safe.¡± Saki began to tear up, lifting Kouki¡¯s face to meet hers. ¡°You have to understand too right, after everything you heard this is the most logical conclusion to keep one of us safe and you know that out of both of us¡­I am the strongest. The princess even said I had great magical power, so maybe if I¡¯m careful I will be okay.¡± Saki placed a hand on Kouki¡¯s teary face, rubbing away a tear. ¡°I get that¡­I know that it¡¯s right¡­BUT I WON¡¯T ACCEPT IT!¡± Kouki exclaimed, slapping Saki¡¯s hand away. ¡°If you¡¯re going to die, then I want to be right by your side! Even if you don¡¯t like it, the safest place I¡¯ll be isn¡¯t with some country that only has a princess that seems kind to us but with you!¡± Saki furrowed her brow, frustrated. Not because of anger at Kouki, but at herself for considering what Kouki had to say. ¡°Everything he says is based on emotion¡­I know that.¡± ¡°I know that I should deny him, that I should smack him and tell him how much of an idiot he¡¯s being¡­¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°HE¡¯S JUST SO DAMN CUTE WHEN HE LOOKS SO DETERMINED LIKE THAT!¡± Saki squee¡¯d internally, her face blushing heavily as her happiness flew through the roof. KNOCK KNOCK This caused both to look towards the door, to see the blushing princess trying her best to not look at the both of them. ¡°H-Hello, I¡¯m¡­sorry to interrupt such an intimate moment but my father is ready for you.¡± Celina informed, still finding it hard to know where to look as her blush deepened. Both Kouki and Saki looked at each other. ¡°Pfft, Haha!¡± They both began to laugh, both at the situation and their realization of each other''s feelings. Chapter 3 ¡°I-I see, so your people are fine with letting someone cherished to them see each other nude.¡± Celina stated in faux understanding, her blush still on her face. ¡°Hehe, well we are a bit of an outlier. We both love each other. It''s as simple as that. We see each other often enough, so it¡¯s never been an issue for us.¡± Kouki explained, Celina still not understanding as they moved towards a set of large doors that were nearly as tall as the ceiling. ¡°Ahem, A-Are you both ready?¡± Celina asked, the blush now less prominent. ¡°Yes, we are both ready.¡± Saki stated, placing a hand on Kouki¡¯s shoulder who looked back at her face. Celina saw something be exchanged through their eye-contact, suddenly causing Kouki to take a breath with his face became stoic and serious. ¡°It¡¯s like they can read each other¡¯s mind.¡± Celina admired, smiling as she nodded towards the guards who took that as a signal to open the doors. A slight glow illuminating the doors, moving towards the inside of what looks to have been a lavish room. However, at the moment it looked dusty and the windows looked as if they hadn''t been cleaned in weeks. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a castle, how can anyone live in these conditions?¡± Saki questioned with a furrowed brow, looking around at the room with her eyes. As she did, her eyes fell onto a pair of royals who wore a regal regalia. However, the man who Saki and Kouki assumed to be the king seemed tired and looked as if he had just been working for 24 hours straight which both could relate to. However, the woman beside him seemed the complete opposite looking as regal as princess Celina and a professional smile on her face. ¡°Their royal highness Princess Celina is proud to present their royal majesties with the summoned heroes Lady Saki, and Lord Kouki!¡± a nearby guard exclaimed, causing the King to immediately sit up in his chair as if electrified. ¡°Mother, father, I hope you are doing well.¡± Celina greeted with a slight bow, which Saki and Kouki quickly followed. ¡°Kouki, Saki, these are my parents otherwise known as Queen Munya and King Turan Moonhaven.¡± ¡°These are the heroes you summoned hmm?¡± questioned the Queen, her facial expression unchanging. ¡°Yes mother, this is sir Kouki and lady Saki. They have agreed to help us with certain conditions in place.¡± Celina reintroduced. ¡°Ah yes, the conditions you spoke of stated that in exchange for giving one sanctuary and treating them as royalty the other will do what their title indicates. Do I have that right?¡± the queen questioned, looking over the two heroes. ¡°Yes your majesty, my beloved Kouki and I have discussed this and while we may make some adjustments to the terms we will be willing to assist however we can.¡± Saki announced, stepping forward. ¡°I can tell¡­¡± Saki thought. ¡°Oh? Pray tell what are these changes you¡¯d like to make to the terms?¡± Queen Munya smiled, her head tilted. ¡°If I may, I don¡¯t know all the proper ways of speaking to royalty as we aren¡¯t from a place that had such things. May I request to speak frankly?¡± Saki stated, being honest but professional. ¡°I will allow it, but do not forget that you are speaking to royalty.¡± Munya stated, her eyes taking on a stern look but her smile did not diminish. ¡°She¡¯s definitely the one with the most authority here¡­¡± Saki thought, taking in a breath. ¡°Thank you, it is as the princess explained. However, It was made clear by my partner that you may require the both of us to greet the public. Should that be the case, I would prefer we add one of the greatest healers you have to our party.¡± ¡°I see, and why do you need that?¡± The queen asked. ¡°Kouki¡­is a rather special case, unlike most he has a low immune system and gets Ill easily. He requires care regularly, and while I can monitor him just fine if we do find ourselves in conflict I will need someone trustworthy to look after him.¡± Saki explained, gesturing to Kouki who was doing his best to keep his composure. The queen¡¯s regal face cracked slightly as her mouth opened in shock for a fraction of a second, this also seemed to rattle the king who had been quiet this whole time. ¡°My wife understands your situation, and as her parents we share the blame for summoning you out of the blue. However, we cannot part with our strongest healer.¡± the king replied. ¡°But-¡± The king raised his hand, and Celina closed her mouth in frustration. King Turan sighed, and furrowed his brow. ¡°However, we can provide you with a slave who we found to be a rather exceptional healer with extraordinary healing magic.¡± The king explains. ¡°Forgive me, but I feel as if there is more to this that you are not saying.¡± Saki stated, ignoring the look of shock on Kouki¡¯s face at the thought of slavery no doubt. ¡°Yes¡­the issue with this slave is that she is a soldier of the demon realm. She was captured simply due to the fact that her comrades left her behind, despite that she¡¯s still incredibly loyal to their side.¡± Turan sighed, bowing his head apologetically. ¡°I see, and you say she¡¯s a slave but would she attack us the moment our back is turned?¡± Saki questioned, earning a look of slight surprise on the king''s face. ¡°N-No, with the slave contract she would be bound through magic to obey your every command and with it she is forever forbidden from attacking her master¡¯s.¡± the king explained instantly, Saki nodding in response as she gave it some thought. ¡°I see, then I must ask what would we start with?¡± Saki asked, her choice made as she moved on. A moment passed when the king turned to his wife, she was still a bit lost in thought before jumping at the king''s gentle touch on her hand. Queen Munya looked towards her husband, who smiled at his wife giving her silent comfort. After a moment, Munya took a breath and began. ¡°Apologies, as for your question I assume that you both would need to get assessed for the skills you possess. Once that is complete, we will be able to find teachers for you both to learn how to use said skills and find your place within our army.¡± the queen explained, her face contorting into thought as she contemplated the next steps. ¡°Will our terms be met?¡± Saki questioned. ¡°Yes, you have our word as royalty that you both will be cared for as family. You will have full authority in our kingdom second only to us and our daughter.¡± Queen Munya confirmed, causing a wave of relief to fall onto Saki as she bowed her head allowing herself to breathe easier. ¡°Now, are there any other concerns or requests you may have?¡± Queen Munya asked, causing Saki to look up. ¡°Yes, I have one last request.¡± Saki stated confidently. ¡°That is?¡± Queen Munya questioned, raising an eyebrow at Saki¡¯s tone. ¡°If we are to have the same authority as your family, we would like to address you less formally as well. Would that be acceptable?¡± Saki smiled, causing the three royals to look surprised. ¡°Hmm, yes I suppose that will be fine¡­Saki.¡± Munya answered, smiling at the two of them more warmly than before. ¡°Thank you Miss Munya.¡± Saki replied back smiling, this scene caused both Kouki and Celina to sigh in relief smiling towards each other. ¡°Now, since all that business talk is done shall we all talk over tea?¡± Celina suggested, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°While that would be lovely Celina, your father and I were still going over the paperwork for our domestics and will have another meeting with representatives of the neighboring Kingdom of Zador.¡± Munya declined, clearly wishing she didn¡¯t have so much to do. ¡°I see¡­that¡¯s alright, I wish you both well and please do not overwork yourselves.¡± Celina begged, bowing gently to her parents. ¡°Same to you my dear daughter, now enjoy yourselves for now and allow our heroes time to rest after their assessments.¡± King Turan stated, his wife nodding in agreement. Celina continued to bow, as both king and queen rose and began to take their leave. A guard opening a nearby smaller door which they both walked through. After a few moments, all three of them turned to each other. ¡°Seems as if everything is settled, shall we head down to the assessment temple?¡± Celina offered, taking the lead as she began to walk past them. ¡°Temple?¡± Saki and Kouki questioned in unison.
It had taken a while to arrive at the temple Celina spoke of, and during that time she explained in detail as to the reason it was being done in a temple as well as the process they will be conducting. According to Celina, the power that she used to summon Saki and Kouki was granted to her by the God of Light Rueus. He apparently provides all the people of this world with what are called ¡®Skills¡¯. These skills are given to every person in the world, with the Temples acting as a means of evaluating and presenting what their skills are as well as what level of said skill is. Most individuals are blessed with multiple common skills like ¡°Swordsmanship Level 2¡± or ¡°Potion Brewing Level 1¡± but there are occasionally more high ranking skills like those of the royal family. With Celina¡¯s being given a high tier level of summoning magic, which as described only brings things to her rather than putting things back. Skills can be leveled up through consistent use, or simply by studying up on your skill thus enhancing it. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. According to Celina, there were many times when she first received her skill that she used it to cause quite the commotion. This brought out a few warm laughs to the conversation, as they arrived to the temple. ¡°Ah, here we are. Please follow me.¡± Celina gestured, opening the door with a gentle push which surprised Kouki and Saki as it was a rather large door. However, it was soon ignored at the sight they witnessed. The temple all in all was in the same state as the throne room, but what was at the center of the room was a magical orb. It was floating above a pedestal, and was brightly glowing with a rainbow of colors in the center but was a cool blue on the surface. ¡°Incredible¡­¡± Saki stated under her breath, she turned to see Celina giggling at them both which caused her to turn towards Kouki. Saki almost fell to the floor, Kouki did not have a look of admiration, he didn¡¯t even look scared. His face was positively glowing at the sight, his body trembling in what Saki recognized as uncontrollable excitement. ¡°No going back now¡­¡± Saki thought in exasperation, smiling as he rushed off. ¡°So cool! Saki, look it¡¯s floating off the ground!¡± Kouki excitedly pointed out, almost bouncing as his eyes looked as if stars were in them. ¡°Heh, yes Kouki. I see that.¡± Saki chuckled, seeing as Kouki ran around the orb in excitement trying to find out how it worked. ¡°This is the Orb of Rueus, it is said that Rueus used this orb in his battle against the first Demon Lord.¡± Celina began, walking alongside Saki as they approached the orb. ¡°As a token of gratitude for humanities assistance in this battle, he bestowed us with several of these orbs which are actually the inferior to the original but still just as powerful. It keeps the monsters that lurk in the nearby forests at bay.¡± Celina explained, causing Saki to look at the orb more carefully. ¡°Interesting, it¡¯s definitely different here than in our world¡­Seems their god actually cares for his people.¡± Saki thought darkly, remembering the past as she turned to Kouki. ¡°If gods are so powerful as to provide an entire world with magic, then why is ours so hands-off? Does he not care¡­or, are we just entertainment for him¡­¡± Kouki¡¯s face seemed to reflect her thoughts, his face still excited to see the orb and hearing a fantastical story. Saki couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath to calm herself, placing a content smile on her face. ¡°Nevermind that¡­we didn¡¯t have him then and we don¡¯t have him now, nothing has changed and I will continue to protect Kouki with all I have.¡± Saki calmed herself, as the sounds of a nearby door and following footsteps. ¡°Ah Father Magus, thank you for taking the time to see us.¡± Celina bowed gently to the man adorned in Black robes. ¡°Nonsense your highness, even if they weren¡¯t the heroes of this age I would come anytime you called.¡± Magus stated honestly, bowing more deeply to show his respect. ¡°Still, thank you all the same.¡± Celina giggled, causing Magus to do the same as they both raised their heads. ¡°I assume they are here to be assessed?¡± Magus asked, turning towards Kouki and Saki. ¡°You assume correctly, Lady Saki, Sir Kouki, this is Father Magus. He is the head priest of the Rueus faith, he is also a close friend of my father and our family so I can vouch for his integrity.¡± Celina introduced, earning a small bow from Saki and quite an adorable wave from Kouki as his excitement was still rather high. ¡°Nice to meet you Father Magus, I am Saki Katsumi, and this is my partner Kouki Takara. As the princess stated, we are the summoned heroes.¡± Saki stated, reaching out her hand towards the Priest. ¡°My, partners you say? Are you married?¡± Magus asked, causing a small blush to form on Saki¡¯s face. ¡°Ahem, no as our personal situations were rather unique we were not able to publicly marry as it would impede his work.¡± Saki answered honestly, catching Kouki¡¯s attention. ¡°If I remember correctly, you asked if we kidnapped Sir Kouki. Why would anyone wish to kidnap him?¡± Celina wondered, remembering the moment clearly. ¡°Yes, well Kouki is known as what is called an ¡®Idol¡¯ an individual who sings for large numbers of people to gain popularity.¡± Saki explained, causing Celina¡¯s eyes to widen. ¡°Sir Kouki, you can sing?¡± Celina asked excitedly, causing him to go into what Saki called ¡®Idol mode¡¯. ¡°Yes, I have been singing since I was very young. One day we were discovered, and from there an amazing fanbase came to support me.¡± Kouki stated honestly, chuckling nervously as Celina looked more amazed ¡°Would you mind if I heard you sing?¡± Celina requested, taking Kouki¡¯s hands in hers. ¡°Not at this time your highness, I believe we still have this assessment to do then we must rest.¡± Saki reminded her, causing Celina to recall their purpose here. ¡°Ah¡­yes, apologies for my outburst.¡± Celina blushed, causing Magus to chuckle at the display. ¡°Alright then, Lady Saki please follow me to the front of the orb.¡± Magus gestured, as she followed closely behind him. ¡°Now, the process is rather simple. The orb will reach it¡¯s magic inside you, circulating your mana and taking it back into itself. That is how it will determine your skills, and soon after you will be able to access your skills.¡± Magus explained, stepping aside for Saki to approach. ¡°Are there any negative effects when others do this?¡± Saki questioned, looking towards Kouki worriedly. ¡°Not that I have heard of, when under the light of the Orb of Rueus all are safe-¡± ¡°Yes or no please, I am not asking for myself.¡± Saki interrupted, a surprised look coming over Magus¡¯s face. ¡°Ah, well no I have never heard of anything happening to anyone who interacted with the orb.¡± Magus stated, trying to sound encouraging. ¡°Alright, so what do I have to do to get started?¡± Saki bluntly asked, Kouki smiling nervously as if apologizing with his mannerisms. ¡°All you need to do is place your dominant hand against the orb.¡± Magus answered, gaining a stern nod from Saki as she placed her hand against the orb immediately. The orb glew and started to float above Saki, a few streams of cyan blue colors began to surround her this cause a chill to consume the room making Kouki and the Princess shiver slightly. [Skill: High Tier - Ice Magic, Mid-Tier - Wind Magic, God-Tier - Combat skills] ¡°What?¡± Celina and Magus exclaimed, both with looks of shock as Saki and Kouki looked back in confusion? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kouki panicked, worried for Saki¡¯s safety. ¡°N-No, nothing is wrong¡­It¡¯s just, we have never seen this level of skills when someone first gets assessed.¡± Celina began, still trying to find her voice. ¡°Not only that¡­but ¡®Combat Skills¡¯? I have never heard of such a general sounding skill.¡± Magus continued, causing a bit of fear to fill Kouki¡¯s chest. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Kouki asked hurriedly, annoyed at their vagueness. ¡°Forgive us Sir Kouki, but typically most people get specific skills like ¡®Swordsmanship¡¯ or ¡®Brawler¡¯, even ¡®Martial Arts¡¯ aren¡¯t ever as general as Lady Saki¡¯s current skill. By just saying ¡®Combat Skills¡¯ it insinuates that she can fight in all types of ways, and with the ¡®God-Tier¡¯ which was said to be only given to heroes tells us that she will most likely be the strongest warrior in this world.¡± Celina explained, doing her best to calm Kouki¡¯s fears. ¡°What does ¡®God Tier¡¯ mean? I can assume it¡¯s powerful, but I don¡¯t understand what it means to you.¡± Saki questioned, now stepping away from the orb. ¡°We don¡¯t know, it¡¯s honestly the first time it has occurred in this generation.¡± Magus started, being honest in his approach. ¡°As I said earlier it has been since our countries founding that a heroes been needed, all we know is that it¡¯s a rare occurrence that only happens with said hero. It¡¯s not so much that we didn¡¯t expect it, it¡¯s more along the lines that you should be able to master any fighting style with little to no effort. With or without weapons you¡¯d be a force to be reckoned with even among a battalion of soldiers if the legends are to be true.¡± Celina finished, causing Saki and Kouki to release a breath simultaneously. ¡°Do you mind showing us your skills?¡± Magus asked, causing Saki to look at her hand. ¡°You should be able to, since the orb should have shown you how to an extent.¡± Celina mentioned, encouraging the act out of curiosity. ¡°I mean I can feel it, and it seems like it would be easy to show them but¡­¡± Saki looked at her hands, unsure of what to do. ¡°Do it Saki!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Saki looked flabbergasted at Kouki, who himself was looking at her like an excited puppy. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t leave me in suspense! This is the first time we¡¯ll see magic, real magic Saki!¡± Kouki pushed, getting closer to Saki and causing her heart to race. ¡°Why is he so excited, it could be dangerous and¡­WHY DOES HE LOOK SO CUTE!¡± Saki thought, clearing her throat with a blush spreading across her cheeks. ¡°Alright, just be sure to stay safe okay?¡± Saki did her best to sound serious, but she could tell that Kouki saw right through her. ¡°So, how should I do this? I know how it feels, but how can I control the execution?¡± She asked, looking towards both Magus and Celina. ¡°Ah right, well let¡¯s start with your Wind Magic. With that you can create anything from a gentle breeze, to a blade made of wind. Magic is usually taught, and for the majority of people in this world one must study a number of books to learn spells. However, for heroes you should be able to just imagine what you want to do and it should just occur.¡± Celina explained, not sounding too confident but Saki understood for the most part. ¡°Just imagine huh?¡± Saki thought to herself, going through her memories to think of a safe way to use her magic without hurting or damaging herself or others. ¡°I got it.¡± Saki stated as she closed her eyes in concentration. Celina and Magus made sure to stay a safe distance, but Kouki had full confidence in Saki so he didn¡¯t budge. After a few moments, a spiral of wind started to surround Saki¡¯s form causing Kouki to squint his eyes at the sudden wind in his eyes. The wind was starting to mellow out, and allowed for Kouki to open his eyes again but what he witnessed made him want to rub his eyes to confirm what he was seeing. Saki was floating, actually floating as her hair was flowing beautifully with the wind she commanded. Kouki couldn¡¯t help but stare in slack-jawed wonderment, his face blushing as he couldn¡¯t stop himself from gushing over her beauty. If Celina didn¡¯t know better, she would¡¯ve sworn she saw hearts in the boys eyes. ¡°Lady Saki, I think that¡¯s fine for now. We don¡¯t want you to overdo it so soon.¡± Celina called out, causing Saki to lower gently to the ground. ¡°Sorry, still it¡¯s so surprising how easily it came to me.¡± Saki looked down at her hands in surprise. ¡°That is the norm, so we can assume there should be no abnormalities even with you heroes.¡± Magus offered, causing Saki a bit more confidence in Kouki¡¯s turn. ¡°Now, Sir Kouki please go ahead and do the same.¡± Celina gestured to the orb, Kouki soon finding himself in front of the orb. Kouki immediately placed his hand onto the orb, however unlike with Saki the orb shined much brighter than before. It was so bright that all in the room had to close their eyes due to the intensity. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Saki yelled, directing her question at both Celina and Magus. Before either of them could answer, an angelic voice took over the room. ¡°Is¡­that, singing?¡± Saki questioned internally, the voice continuing its song. The overwhelming light diminished, and as the group looked to where Kouki was standing they were shocked to see that Kouki¡¯s clothes had changed completely. While before he was wearing what was considered comfortable, with stylish jean with pre-torn knees and a simply black shirt. Now, he wore a much more stylish outfit. ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­?¡± Saki spoke to herself as Kouki¡¯s voice grew to a more thunderous as a song of hope that Saki didn¡¯t recognize filled the room. The outfit, was comprised of an oversized black trench coat, a white t-shirt that was stylishly torn at the collar, and a pair of Navy blue pants that seemed to bring together the whole outfit. ¡°How?¡± Celina questioned, causing Saki to notice as well. The entire room had been cleaned with the pure energy that came off of the singing Kouki, the entire area sparkled clean and just as Kouki¡¯s voice hit a dynamic point in his song the light off of him stopped suddenly and Kouki fell to the ground. Saki wasted no time, and ran to his side.