Chapter 57: Finally we leave this ce.


    Kein''s POV


    While Vincent ran in another direction I continued to the right one where I can see Vani not that far off carrying Natasha on the saddle.


    I waved to her and she stomped her hooves three times onto the ground. It was to show how impatient she was andined that I was taking so long.


    "Alright I''m sorry. He needed me back there so I couldn''t leave him." I told her and she snorted while walking away. First I promptly follow her curiously.


    Vani had a serious expression, and a worried one too.


    Makes me wonder what happened when I was gone? Should I engage in conversation with a Pegasus?


    "So... you seem to have gotten attached to Natasha." I brought the topic and she shakes her head.


    I looked at her position right now, her wings were a little spread to keep Natasha from falling, being careful of each stomping step she takes and she has the guts to lie to her master? "It''s clearly obvious that you''re attached to her. You don''t have to hide it, I''m your master I can understand." I tell her reassuringly and after some time, mypanion nods.


    I couldn''t help but stifle augh.


    My Pegasus who''s always been rough around people has found a friend, but then again I''ve always known Natasha has a soft spot for animals and she has been warming up to Vani for a while bringing her treats like apples and such.


    If I me Vani for being smitten with her at this point.


    "Natasha is a good person, I suppose you have good judgment as studies say about Pegasus creatures." I tell her but she looks away and snorts.


    Natasha looked so peaceful in her sleep. Vani stands still as I hopped onto the saddle and rests Natasha''s head into my shoulders.


    "Ugh..." I could hear Natasha groan in pain, grabbing the sides of her temples and began cursing something out in hernguage.


    I couldn''t understand but from the tone of it, it seemed like a curse.


    "Good morning." I tell her and she immediately looks up at my face and with a horrified look too.


    "Kein-!" she yells, almost falling off the saddle. I yanked her up before that could happen. "Ah- Natasha didn''t realize- Natasha is sorry-"


    Natasha looks so frantic and even flustered on our position but it''s okay. "Vani really didn''t want to disturb your sleep so we had to make do. Good thing you''re awake now though because I can''t support you that much once we''re out into the sky."


    "Natasha can walk instead. It is no problem." she shakes her head and tries moving down. I stopped her and held her wrist on instinct and wondered what''s wrong?


    "But we can get there faster if we rode Vani?" I attempted to convince her but it didn''t seem to work.


    "It doesn''t matter if we are going to get there faster. Natasha needs... some space before talking to you again." she tells me not being able to see my gaze. I let go of her wrist with a dejected look. So is that it? She''s going to cut me off because I couldn''t reciprocate her feelings?


    "Tell me are we... Still friends?" I ask Natasha, looking down on Vani''s silver mane. She must''ve felt how I was because her body tensed up, ncing up with a worried look on her face.


    I could hear Natasha groan for a second, she raised her hand and hit me with it by the shoulders. I wince in pain, "What the heck-?" I yell out holding my left shoulder while Natasha continues.


    "Are you deaf? Natasha said give space not cut each other off. Honestly you over dramatic people are just- so annoying." (Natasha) scolds me about just needing some space and I felt so horrible that I thought of her cutting me off from her life.


    "Sorry! Uh bad experience before so I just thought-" my words stop to remember Cecilia, even if we had a good bond of friendship- the thought still haunts me to this day.


    This is why I was scared for any of my close friends to fall for me because if they confess and I reject them.


    There''s a huge chance it won''t be the same anymore.


    "Natasha just needs space. Natasha recalls the two of you at the bar. You seem happier, the happiest I''ve ever seen." she smiles faintly, holding the back of her hand and rubbing it forfort.


    "It means Natasha has lost- no. From the start it seems that Natasha has lost a war she wasn''t meant to win." (Natasha) holds my hand and stands up front confident, but I could see something almost falling down from her cheeks. "It is alright though, as long as you are happy. That girl you like, she makes you happy."


    I rub the back of my neck nodding. "Yeah. She does make me happy." I answered not realizing a smile was already forming in my face. Natasha acknowledges my answer and walks forward, eyes a little teary but still she manages topose herself not showing any vulnerability.


    "Then give Natasha some time for herself. We can meet another time, once Natasha is ready to face you. It will be like old times again." She casually tells me to hold Vani''s cheek. "Take care of your owner."


    Vani snorts happily and she walks away. She nned to walk into the gates, and I held my steed''s lead. I took a minute to process all that had happened. "Vani. Do you think she''ll be alright?" I ask my Pegasus who shrugs and I bite my lip in worry.


    "She''ll be fine. I''ll meet Natasha again once we''re out of the kingdom. For now, I have to settle the n with a certain heroter." I motioned Vani''s direction up front and kicked her torso gently, "Up up."


    Her wings spread widely, and we flew onto the city gates where I could already see hundreds of soldiers yawning, weapons in hand. Adventurers were sitting in the corner waiting to set off. There was a small abundance of snow, and everyone was kind of freezing in their current condition. Even if everyone has some coats underneath their uniform I could see their teeth chattering a little.


    The royal carriage stands still in the middle of the crowd. I found an open area where we could park, there were certain spectators eyeing us for our expedition.<novelnext></novelnext>


    No one paid much attention to me, I steered over the crowds of adventurers trying to find a light blonde colored hair simr to mine... where is she?


    "Avery quit it! Solomus doesn''t like it when you poke his nose like that." a gentle soft voice yelled and my ears perked up from the name.


    Bingo. I found the hero I''m looking for. I went down from my Pegasus and ran to find that voice. Soon enough, I found Avery with someone that has a pet snake on his neck looking a little irritated at Avery but he doesn''t seem mad.


    Avery ignores him and pokes the snake''s nose. "He''s not hissing at me so I think he actually likes it." she pokes at the snake yet again that blinks curiously at Avery.


    I had to think for a moment if it would be rude to butt into their conversation but then again I have to speak with Avery as soon as possible to set up a meeting with her.


    "Excuse me-" I called out to them and they both turned their direction into mine.


    Avery was the first to react. "Oh! Commander that I made a friend before!" She happily prances around me and even gives me a hug. Her skin ship sure is strong.


    "Avery, is this a friend of yours?" the other person asked while keeping a polite smile in my direction. Avery drags me closer to him and removes the trouble of introduction.


    "This is Commander Kein Hills! She''s a really nicedy and I met her when we were trying to kill that huge wyvern thingy. She was the one riding the pegasus in battle? Remember?" She tries to remind the other hero and he blinks in recognition.


    "Ohhh- that one! Its nice to meet you. The way you flew into battle was really amazing.'''' Hepliments me and Iugh nervously from all the genuinepliments he gave.


    "Thank you- it was nothing, really besides it was Avery who actually cut it in half." I responded by giving some credit to the real person who yed it and he offered his hand to shake.


    "My name is Hirogata Haruki. It''s a little hard to pronounce so you can call me Haru. I''m the hero that was summoned from [Sprivato]." he introduced himself as his little cute pet snake with white skin slithers around his neck to the top of his head.


    The snake waves his tail in my direction and I wave back in return- that''s- cute. "You have... a really cutepanion."


    He seemed so happy with thepliment I gave to his snake that he covered his mouth a little embarrassed. "I-I know. She''s an adorablepanion and its really rare for anyone topliment Solomus so thank you." (Haru)


    "It''s nice to meet Solomus as well then." I raise my hand over his head to offer a little handshake, the white snake Solomus ces the end of his tail over at my hand and we both shake on it. "A real polite one. I''m really envious that mypanion isn''t really the humble type."


    Vani would''ve kicked me if she knew I don''t really see her as a polite steed. Avery held Haru''s hand and did a wink. "So what did you need~ did you came looking for me specifically?" (Avery)


    My face turned serious and I nodded. "Can I hire you for a mission with me? A dangerous one and it''s urgent." I took out my family seal, it has the symbol of a dove carrying a rose and offered it to Avery. "My family seal, so you will be wee to my home. Where I will discuss the details more privately if you ept."


    She noticed the sudden turn of my expression and immediately nodded seriously. "If it''s making you frown and make serious faces like that. I take it that something bad will happen if you fail." She took the seal from me and disappeared from thin air. I''m guessing she stored it in her [Inventory].


    Haru watches both of us in confusion but still doesn''t interrupt. My brows furrowed on Avery''s words because she was right. "Yeah it''s not safe here but when we go back to our kingdom. I''ll exin everything."


    Avery smiles casually holding the sword in her waist facing her Hero partner. "I''ll see you at your home then. I think we''re about to leave anyway, good old General Vincent is already at the front."


    I looked towards the front and noticed a streak of blue hair and tired eyes. "Yeah that''s him alright. With new clothes too but his uniform''s a bit messy so I think he rushed to go there."


    Avery shrugs, "He''ste anyways, must''ve sleptte. We were supposed to move ten minutes ago actually but I don''t really care much."


    Everyone gathers in a neat, organized line as everyone listens to Vincent with a hoarse voice. "E-Everyone. I must apologize for being a few minuteste but now it''s alright. We have already left a gift of parting to the royal family and thus we will leave the kingdom!"


    He made a few more speeches of saying his thanks to the soldiers, after that the soldiers near the gates turned on some sort of mechanism inside the walls and the gates opened.


    Our steeds walked forward slowly but in a few day''s time. We''ll be back home soon and I''ll be ready to do my part of the n.


    Hire a party that wille with me to y a dragon.


    I turned towards Avery who kept talking with Haru and I reassured myself that everything will be alright. I also found Natasha with her adventurer friends who noticed that something was not right with her but she kept pushing them away...


    A rush of guilt filled me and I couldn''t ignore it. A few more minutes of walking, I turned around to see that the kingdom''s view was no more.


    The rules there were strict, unfair, and biased against women. To think the princess even had to go through lengths of living her whole life as a man must''ve been hard. If Rose were to marry... if she was forced to live there...


    I leaned in to the side seeing that the curtains were open this time, I could see a familiar hand on the edge of the window tapping yfully. I smiled, motioning Vani to walk a little faster to be beside the carriage.


    My body rxed the moment I heard a certain someone''s chuckle giving a wave. "Greetings Commander. The snow is really pretty in the morning right?" (Rose) settles her elbow with a dreamy look onto me.


    "Rose..." I muttered her name softly and a sudden surge of confidence brims as I red at the [Winshern Kingdom]. I won''t let them take her away from me.


    "I''m d we''re finally out of there." She continues looking behind.


    "Me too. I can''t wait to be home with you. The orphanage- the kids have missed you. Now that you don''t necessarily need to be married... would you like to visit sometime?" I told her my fingers were fidgeting nervously. Iposed myself taking a deep breath and saw Rose smiling even more widely.


    "I would love to."