CHAPTER THIRTY: THE KINGDOM OF THE ROSE

“I’m scared, Makai… What’s going to happen to us?”

The young Spirit Princess trembled behind her twin brother, her voice barely more than a frightened whisper. They had been torn from sleep by frantic cries echoing through the corridor outside, guards shouting warnings of a sudden attack. According to the Captain assigned to protect them, contact with the castle’s main defence had been severed. Patrols had gone silent.

Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

In response, the Captain dispatched two scouts to investigate.

Minutes dragged by like hours until the men finally returned, pale and breathless. Every castle guard had been knocked unconscious. Worse still, a massive human army was advancing toward the Spirit Castle even as they spoke.

Chaos erupted.

Without hesitation, Makai seized the sword gifted to him on his seventh birthday and pulled Mika from the bed. He extinguished every candle in the room, plunging it into darkness, then positioned himself between the door and his sister, shielding her small, shivering form with his own.

He waited.

Every second stretched unbearably long.

When thirty minutes passed and still no one came, unease coiled deep in his chest.

“I don’t think they’re coming for us…” he muttered.

“D-do you think something happened to them?” Mika’s voice cracked, her crying reduced to small, hitching sobs.

Makai turned to her and gently placed a hand on her head. He smoothed down her long scarlet hair, the same shade as their late mother’s. The only image he had of her hung above their shared bed in a faded portrait, its colours worn by time.

“Don’t cry, you big crybaby,” he whispered.

“I am not a crybaby!” She scrubbed at her cheeks with her sleeve, pouting fiercely. She hated when he called her that. Crybaby. Slowpoke. Little princess. And yet, she knew, deep down, that this was how Makai showed he cared.

Makai smirked at her red nose and puffed cheeks. At least she was not crying anymore.

“You know… we still haven’t exchanged birthday gifts yet.”

“I already gave you mine! You’re the one who hasn’t given me anything,” Mika grumbled.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t pout.” Makai chuckled and reached into his pocket. “Your gift arrived late. But here. It’s yours now.” He held out a delicate locket. Carved into its surface were two trees, a Redwood on the left and a Maple on the right. At the bottom, her name was etched in an elegant script.

“I read about them in a Human World book,” Makai said softly. “The Redwood means forever. The Maple means promise. So let’s make one. Right here. Right now.”

Makai took her small hand and placed it gently over his palm. He hesitated, then lowered his voice, as though the walls themselves might be listening.

“You know Reza doesn’t like us, right?” he said quietly.

Mika sniffed. “She always looks at us funny.”

“Yeah,” he muttered. “And Uncle Leo says we have to be careful. Grown-ups have secrets. Big ones. They talk when they think we’re asleep.” He clenched his fist slightly, the way he always did when he was trying to be brave.

“I don’t understand everything they say,” Makai admitted. “But I know this. If something bad happens… things will change. And I don’t want you to be alone when that happens.”

He looked at her then, really looked at her, as if memorising her face.

“So we stick together,” Makai said, more firmly now. “No matter what. Even if people tell us different things. Even if they try to separate us.” His voice wavered, just a little. “Uncle Leo says being born special doesn’t mean you get a choice. It just means people expect more things from you than others. And I don’t want them to scare you.”

Makai swallowed. “So promise me, Mika. Even if we get lost. Even if everything feels wrong. Promise you’ll come back to me.”

I promise…

***

Darkness answered her vow.

Mika drifted within it, weightless and numb, as though she were sinking into an endless abyss with no bottom and no light. Her body floated aimlessly, pulled toward a sleep that felt far too deep, far too final. The echoes of her unleashed Spirit still rang through her, wild and furious, dragging her further down.

Her eyes grew heavy.

Do not give in. The voice was manly but warm, familiar. Do not let the darkness take you, Mika.

Light stirred around her.

At first, it was faint. A glow no brighter than a dying ember. Then it grew, steady and gentle, wrapping itself around her like arms she had known since childhood.

Mika opened her eyes.

Two figures floating before her. Maroon hair. Forest-green eyes. Faces she had not seen in so long, yet had never forgotten. They smiled at her with quiet love, untouched by fear or sorrow, and drew her into their embrace.

She felt it then. Not power. Not magic.

Love.

Unconditional. Unwavering.

Hands brushed her hair back. A familiar warmth pressed against her forehead. A kiss, soft and lingering, filled with all the things left unsaid.

You are not alone, the woman seemed to say. You never were.

Images surfaced, slow and gentle. Laughter. A lullaby hummed in the dark. Small hands held tight between larger ones. A promise whispered beneath a painted ceiling. Memories long buried rose not with pain, but with comfort.

Tears slipped from Mika’s eyes as the light surrounded her completely.

We love you two very much, the warmth murmured. Live. Remember who you are. Return to them.

The darkness loosened its grip. The light carried her upward.

***

A soft groan escaped Mika’s lips.

Light emerald eyes fluttered open. A white ceiling greeted her, blurred and unfamiliar. Pain radiated through her body in slow, aching waves. Her throat burned as though scraped raw, and even the simple act of breathing made her chest tighten. Every muscle throbbed, heavy and sore, as if she had been crushed beneath something enormous.

Where am I?

Through the haze, the room slowly came into focus. Clean. Warm. Quiet. It reminded her faintly of the guest rooms in Shinji’s estate, though the thought felt distant, almost unreal.

She tried to turn onto her side.

Nausea surged instantly. Her vision spun, stomach twisting violently as a sharp gasp tore from her lips. Before panic could set in, warm hands steadied her, lifting her upright with careful ease.

Two calm voices reached her through the fog.

“It’s all right, Milady. Breathe in and out.”

“That’s it. You’re safe now. Good girl.”

Mika barely had time to register the words before a sharp sting pierced her arm. A needle. An injection. Relief followed almost immediately, pulling the tension from her body as darkness closed in once more.

When Mika opened her eyes again, hours later, the world felt muted and distant. Her body was sluggish, weighed down by the lingering effects of medication. She blinked slowly, letting her vision adjust to the soft glow of lamplight.

Then she saw them. Two familiar figures sat on wooden chairs beside her bed.

Four weary eyes, brown and rimmed red from exhaustion, lifted at once. The moment they realised she was awake, relief flooded their faces, raw and unguarded.

Mika did not know how long she had been unconscious. Minutes. Hours. Days. It no longer mattered.

She was alive. Awake.

A single tear slipped down her cheek as the Heartlets’ siblings rose and gently pulled her into their arms, holding her as though afraid she might vanish again.

***

Mika sat on the living room floor with a towel draped loosely around her neck, her hair still damp from a long, soothing bath. She faced the garden, where lantern light spilled softly across the grass, silvering the leaves and catching on the low stone wall. Behind her, the house pulsed with noise and laughter.

The men were deep into a drinking game. Kazuo, most notably, had turned it into a contest of endurance, pride, and increasingly questionable logic. Someone attempted to down a mug too quickly, choked spectacularly, and burst into a coughing fit as beer sprayed from his nose.

The room erupted.

Mika laughed too. Loudly. Freely. The sound surprised even her.

It felt good. A breath of life after so much pain.

It was still hard to believe she had survived.

Earlier, Milla had explained it to her gently. When Shinji sealed her Spirit form, Mika’s body had shut down completely. Her mind had nearly let go. If not for Milla’s swift intervention and her own parents’ guidance, she might never have woken.

Within two hours of regaining consciousness, Mika had already met with the elite Captains, Sigurd and Rogg. After that, any hope of peace vanished entirely.

Kazuo had started it and it quickly escalated to Milla threatening him and Guy - Kazuo had somehow managed to pull the latter into his mess - to feed them to her pet alligator if they didn’t stop what they were doing.

Mika turned her attention back to the garden. The moon hung low and bright above the trees. Her smile faded.

Her fingers curled into the towel. Should I tell them I’ve recovered my memories? How do I even begin? How would Shinji react? Would he be relieved, or would it only complicate things further?

“Is something bothering you?”

“GAH!” Mika nearly launched herself off the floor, fists raised on instinct.

“S-Shinji!” she blurted. “I didn’t see you there. How long have you been standing?”

Shinji raised an eyebrow. “Just now.”

He stepped forward and sat beside her, the movement easy despite the exhaustion etched into his posture. He slipped a cigarette between his lips, exhaled slowly, then cracked his neck and stretched his arms.

“What a day.”

Mika remained quiet for a moment, the words tangling in her throat.

“How was the Clan meeting? Sorry I’ve been out for four whole days.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Shinji said, taking a drag. “And it went well. In a way.”

He reached into his coat and handed her an old scroll.

“Before I forget. Here.”

“What’s this?”

“A map to our next destination. Open it.”

Mika unfolded the scroll, spreading it across the floor. Her breath caught. It wasn’t just a map of their route. It was a map of the entire world, including the Spirit World.

“Our next stop is the Kingdom of the Rose,” Shinji said, pointing east. “A dead end. But if you follow south from there, you’ll find the Kingdom of Aquarius. That will be our last stop before the Red Line.”

“I see,” Mika murmured. “I never knew your Clan kept something like this. Though I suppose it makes sense, considering you’re one quarter of—”

She stopped. Both hands flew to her mouth.

The cigarette slipped from Shinji’s lips. It struck the floor and rolled, hissing softly against the stone.

Silence settled between them—heavy and absolute.

Shinji stared at her.

Mika stared back. Her heart hammered. Thoughts tangled and collided, brushing against something she was not ready to face.

“I—I should go to bed,” she said suddenly, scrambling to her feet. “Big day tomorrow. Goodnight.”

“Wait. Mika.”

Mika was already moving and didn’t turn back.

Shinji remained where he was, eyes fixed on the space she had left behind, the cigarette still smouldering at his feet.

***

Dawn crept in slowly, pale light filtering through the thinning mist as the forest stirred awake. By the time the sun edged above the treeline, the campsite was already shifting. Supplies were packed with quiet efficiency. Weapons were checked, cloaks adjusted, straps tightened.

The First Aid Squad prepared to depart first.

Luna stood among them, armour lighter than before, her posture straighter than it had been days ago. The bruises on her arms were still there, faint and yellowing, but her eyes were clear.

She approached Mika and Guy, just as the final crates were loaded.

“So this is it… I’ll be heading back to Luyas,” Luna said.

“You’ll be safe with them. I heard from Milla that Prince Toya has already arranged a pickup closer to the Luyas border. I have faith that you will be safe under his care,” Guy said.

Luna nodded. “There is still so much that needs to be done… The wounded soldiers, displaced families. I know I can’t be at ease until everything’s settled.” Luna added, quieter now. “Once this is over… I want to retake the Knight examinations. Properly this time. On my own terms.”

Her gaze lifted, meeting theirs. “Not to prove anyone’s anything nor for my own pride. I want to protect the people of Luyas and others who need protection, no matter what races they are. That’s what I’m aiming for.”

Guy inclined his head once. His lips firmed slowly curved and he nodded. “Sounds like a great plan, Luna.”

Before mounting up, Luna turned back to Mika. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Luna reached out and clasped her forearm, firm and steady. The grip of a promise, not a farewell.

“Come home safe,” she said. “Both of you.”

Mika returned the grip. “You too.”

The First Aid Squad moved out shortly after, their figures swallowed by the forest path leading back toward Luyas.

The rest of the group waited until they were gone. Then they moved.

***

It took nearly an hour of steady travel to clear the forest, even at a fast pace. The undergrowth thinned, the trees giving way to open ground. The path ahead was quiet, secured in advance by Milla’s men. No beasts. No ambushes. Just the soft crunch of boots against earth and the steady rhythm of breath.

Kazuo consulted the map and compass as they walked.

“From here, it’s a straight route until we reach the lake,” he murmured. “Then we turn east and—”

“Stop.”

Shinji’s voice cut through the air, sharp and low.

He was already moving, one hand raised, the other drifting instinctively toward his weapon. He slipped off the path and pressed himself against the trunk of a tree, eyes narrowed.

Moments later, he spotted them.

Soldiers.

Black armour, polished but worn. Red rose crests emblazoned across their breastplates.

The Kingdom of the Rose.

They were too far north, well outside their borders.

Shinji’s jaw tightened. He signalled the others forward.

When they reached him, he gestured upward. They climbed swiftly, branches swallowing their silhouettes.

“What are Rose soldiers doing this far out?” Kazuo whispered once they were settled.

Shinji scanned the area again. “Mika. Do you sense anyone else nearby?”

“No. Just them.”

Just then, the sound of something cracked. The branch that Kazuo was standing on broke. He dropped.

“Up there!” Steel rang as soldiers raised their weapons.

“Shit,” Shinji cursed under his breath.

Mika jumped down from the tree and landed perfectly beside Kazuo, twin blades flashing into her hands as she turned to face the soldiers. Shinji and Guy landed shortly after.

But no attack came as one knight, a Commandant in a red-and-black uniform, stepped forward with his hand already raised in the air.

He removed his helmet and bowed courteously before Mika.

“We have been expecting you,” he said clearly. “Her Royal Highness, Princess Mika. Lord Shinji Karou.”

Shinji paused. Then stepped forward. “State your name and business."

“My name is Dinn,” the man replied, straightening. “Commandant of the Knights for the Kingdom of the Rose. We were sent by our King to escort you safely to the castle.”

Shinji exhaled slowly. Of course the Rose King would plan ahead.

“There were delays,” Shinji said. “Unavoidable ones.”

“Then we are glad we found you,” Dinn replied. He turned, issuing swift commands to his men. “Form up. Prepare escort formation.”

Dinn mounted his white steed, then turned back toward Mika and extended a hand. “Princess. May I have the honour of giving you a ride to the castle?”

Mika hesitated only a moment before taking his offer. Dinn lifted her easily, settling her in front of him. The horse moved forward at once, steady and unhurried.

“I assure you,” Dinn said calmly, reins held firm, “no harm will come to you or the others while you are under our King’s protection.”

Meanwhile, the soldiers offered the two men horses of their own. For Shinji, the First Captain offered him a ride.

***

As they rode toward the castle, the forest giving way to cobbled roads and rising stone walls, Kazuo shifted restlessly at the back of his saddle. He glanced ahead, where Mika rode with Commandant Dinn, then leaned closer to Shinji.

“Shinji,” he muttered, lowering his voice, “are ye sure we’re fine lettin’ Mika ride with… whateverhisname is?”

Shinji did not even bother to look at him. “Is this because she’s riding with the Commandant and not you?”

“No!” Kazuo hissed. “What kind of conclusion is that? I’m serious. We’ve never met this Commandant before. You haven’t either, or else I’d bloody well know. And Guy definitely hasn’t.”

“I have,” Guy said calmly.

Kazuo blinked. “You have?”

Guy nodded. “Once. During a gathering in Luyas. Sir Dinn was the First Captain then. We didn’t speak much beyond formal greetings, but his reputation already preceded him.”

Kazuo frowned, considering this. “Huh. Guess that makes him… less suspicious.”

“There’s no need to worry about Dinn,” Guy added gently. “If the order came from the King, then Sir Dinn is someone we can trust. The King of the Rose is known to be wise and level-headed even at his young age, after all. Besides, generally speaking, the Kingdom of the Rose has always been courteous to their guests. “It’s a well-documented fact in academic texts.”

He paused, then glanced sideways at Kazuo. “Didn’t they cover the neighbouring kingdoms during your academy years?”

Kazuo suddenly became very interested in the reins in his hands.

“Well,” he said after a moment, scratching the back of his neck, “I’ve had a hard enough time finding food back then. Books weren't exactly… my top priority.” He cleared his throat, then grinned, trying to wave it off. “Besides, it all worked out. Met Shinji, didn’t I?”

“Yes,” Shinji replied flatly. “Though you were more invested in flirting with the servants than paying attention in class.”

Kazuo spluttered in protest, loudly denying everything, but the damage was done.

Guy watched the exchange in silence, something tightening quietly in his chest. For him, education had been expected. A necessity in preparation for duty and leadership.

For Kazuo, survival had come first. Books had been a luxury.

The realisation sat heavy with him. Comfort had dulled his awareness more than he liked to admit.

The horses slowed as they passed through the town gates, stone walls rising on either side. The castle loomed ahead, banners of red and gold stirring in the breeze.

Guy dismounted first and thanked the soldier for lending his horse. Kazuo followed, stretching his limbs lazily.

“Kazuo,” Guy said, hesitating for only a moment. “May I speak with you?”

“Sure,” Kazuo replied easily. “What’s up?”

“If you’d like,” Guy said, “I can tell you more about the Kingdom of the Rose. Its history. Its King. It may ease your concerns — especially if you’ll be travelling further with Shinji.”

Kazuo’s grin softened. “Yeah. I’d like that. Thanks, Guy.”

They fell into step together, catching up with the others as the castle gates loomed ahead.