A Transparent Lesson

Say a war does break out, I should learn my Creation inside out.

She grabbed the chakram lying on her bed and no sooner opened a small portal the diameter of her head, before stuffing it inside.

One… Two… Three!

She struck a pose as if using a shield to block an arrow to her neck. Another small portal appeared next to her, yet the chakram was already in the hand she clenched that same instance next to where a ceratoid artery would be.

“My instincts surprise me...”

Okay, to prepare for a situation where I would be attacked unharmed I should store some weapons in the realm. I can materialize the chakram, but I can’t make it return to me if it were to be stolen, it’s not copyable after all.

She began striding in circles, her boots drumming the pace of her thoughts.

I’m not skilled enough to materialize arrows and throw them one by one fast enough, not to mention the aim required for that in the heat of battle. I’m also too petite at the moment to train at unsheathing a blade the size of Kamiko’s.

She clicked her tongue.

Is my only choice really to learn offensive Spiritual Arts? I don’t have the telepathy or spatial awareness Sgura and Hedyla are so proud of… Wait, why are they even proud of things they got freely at birth anyway? I’ve yet to notice my Creation having any passive attributes or improvements!

She nearly decided to slump to her bed when her ears picked up a...

Knock-knock!

Did the time for her first decisive battle come?

“Yes?”

She approached the door.

A man as tall as possible to still go under the doorframe, with the idealistic chest width even heroes in fantasy stories dream of, stepped inside.

His build was covered by a crimson and gold robe that fit his stature perfectly, and his nape-length hair was proportionally longer than Zayobi’s.

“Dad?”

“What befall my daughter that she wasn’t in first place to arrive to the dinner table?” His eyes fell onto the chakram in her hand. “Are you this immersed in your future that you simulate battles by training with Kamiko’s gift?”

“More so, I am immersed by the fact that I have a weapon suited for me now. Hopefully training with it enough will allow me to go on a long expedition and conquer the Hallowed Forest.”

She wholeheartedly grinned.

“Or maybe it has already awakened my potential.”

“Nonsense.” He declared. “I will be the one to conquer that triangle of trees, followed by Mizrakah and Zevesh at its corners. And then your succession ritual will take place at the center, where the new age of you ruling the lands united as one will begin.”

“So I’ll have my personal palace in the middle, and thus while I’ll be away my three litter sisters will each govern the land outside the forest’s borders?”

“Oh my dear princess, this year all I did was offer assistance to Kamiko. I should’ve marched into the forest prior to your birthday, and thus guarantee that as your seventeenth birthday’s present from me.” He clenched a fist to his chest as if vowing.

To that Zayobi replied: “Well, I suppose I can’t waste time that Zevesh might be using to act instead of arrogantly toying around with plans.” She crossed her arms. “It would at least be better to speak of the future with everyone present instead of just us, so let’s get to the solar before both of us fall to third place.”

And thus they went to dinner.

The grand windows set the stars in the night’s sky as a stage belonging solely to the royal family as they dined. Some would call it a musical performance, fortunate to have the full moon as the conductor.

The white walls reflected the radiance of the meat, the smell was crowned with its heat.

It might be a stupid thought, but if they were to serve us a big enough amount of food that just left the fire, if they lift all the cloches at once, would it fog up the windows?

Her sisters and mother were yet to surround the table as Zayobi playfully tapped her fingers at the pale-red tablecloth.

I suppose the room’s width allows airflow, though I’ve yet to see someone actually clean up those windows with my own eyes, compared the servants I see going about everywhere else.

“Dad, I know we have our own secret treasures below the castle, yet what about the windows here?”

His gaze deepened, directed at Zayobi’s eyes.

This royal staring content lasted ten thoughtful seconds.

“No one ever told you, right?”

“I was never told nor asked anyone until this moment.”

“As expected of the future queen. Saying ‘like mother, like daughter’ would be an understatement, I lack the applause myself even as her husband.”

He turned to the windows.

Three grand windows, one in the center and two diagonal at its sides to allow observing from three directions. Their shape might’ve resembled a symmetrical slice of cake had they were gazed upon from high or below.

It’s odd even for our castle to have glass that stays clean constantly. When I think about it, last week when I fell through the floor, they all survived Kamiko’s slash, I don’t remember any pieces of glass hitting the ground.

“This is a backup weapon made with your mother’s Elegance.”

“...Mom made them? I don’t feel any Spiritual Energy though.”

“While it works differently from Kamiko’s Form, the glass is stronger than a Flame Soul’s core, and I mean a lit one.” Her father approached the glass, the reflection showed his early-middle aged face.

Right-right, yours truly genius princess still has the fragile transparent core while in this world.

Her thoughts continued.

Wait no. I may have the mental capacity, but I can’t afford to burden myself with more trivia.

And thus Zayobi survived the approaching dinner without getting a private architecture lesson.