After they parted ways, Calista changed really quickly back into her regular attire.
She heaved a huge sigh of relief. Having her own clothes back on her body felt like heaven and all her knives and daggers strapped back where they belonged felt leagues more comfortable than that smooth silk robe.
The squirrel was sitting on top of her head from where Shin-ah had passed the animal back to her, and Calista tossed her cloak across her shoulders, throwing the hood up.
And a few minutes later, she and Yona had regrouped with Lili, Ayura and Tetora.
Perched on a tree stump, Lili's eyes were filled with subtle awe, gently petting Ao as she watched Yona practice her swordsmanship.
Calista had given the squirrel to her to keep her company when she caught her looking longingly at her. She was willing to bet that the girl hadn't been around too many animals that often.
"You really are learning how to swing a sword." Lili commented, admiration lacing her tone.
But her expression dropped as Yona's stance wobbled. "You look weak though."
"Isn't that cute~" Tetora cooed, clasping her hands joyfully from beside Ayura.
Yona blew the hair out of her face and flashed her a sheepish smile, lowering her practice sword.
"Your swings look good though." Ayura cut in, giving her two cents while giving the assassin sitting up in a tree a side eye glance.
Calista watched proudly from her perch, looking down on the princess with one leg dangling off the branch, the other propped up. She initially was her sparring partner, giving the other three a brief demonstration but after about ten minutes, the two girls were out of breath and were going to be in need of another bath if they kept up the intensive training.
Still, a proud grin threatened to overtake her facial expression at the determined glint in the princess' eye that was normally reserved for when they ran into trouble.
Yona panted but her eyes were shining and a wide beam split her delicate features at Ayura's praise. "Really?!"
Ayura nodded, her arms folded over her chest as she studied her closely. "Yes, you have no wasted movements. You must have a good teacher."
Yona's face broke out in a smile and her eyes crinkled at the edges happily. Hak got praised!!
Calista held back a snicker as she heard that. It was true that Hak was a good mentor, but no way was she going to tell him that. His ego was already huge.
Flipping a slim blade in between her fingers, her head thumped back against the tree. She didn't wear her mask. Didn't need it.
"... Hak and the others," Yona said as she set down the wooden sword, her eyes growing worried when the glow of the sunset washed over her. "They're late."
And as the princess gazed up to catch her eye, Calista shrugged, giving her a helpless shake of the head. It wasn't like she knew how much longer this would take and she had no way of contacting them unless she left to go find them directly.
But she was sure they were alright.
Probably.
Look, it wasn't as though she could control everything and if she had it her way, she would be everywhere at once so that she could protect them all. But that wasn't possible.
Lili raised an eyebrow, passing over Calista's contemplative silence in favor of responding to Yona. "They're at the red-light district, right? They won't come back until morning."
"Even if they don't come back, that's part of the plan too." Yona sighed, picking back up her sword to resume her training.
"You're being deceived." Lili stated flatly.
"You're wrong!!" Yona protested.
Tetora giggled as the two bantered back and forth but Ayura ignored them, turning her attention upwards.
Calista caught her eye easily enough, silver glinting in the light of the setting sun as the moon slowly rose up into the sky and she tilted her head. It was getting darker as day turned into night, the warm glow of the fire lamps illuminating the gardens.
"I'm really glad that Lady Lili has made a friend." Tetora interjected but not unkindly, clapping as she pranced over to her side, Ayura following behind much slower.
Lili was affronted and thrown off guard by her claim. "Wha—!!"
"Ever since you were little, you haven't had any friends." Tetora said with a reminiscent smile, hiding her smile behind a hand. "Even if there was another lady around your age, you would quickly start fighting with them, remember?"
"Be quiet, Tetora." Lili commanded instantly. "Besides, this country girl isn't my friend."
Calista almost snorted and gave it away that Yona was anything but what she thought, but she held herself back just in time, smiling innocently at Lili when her gaze turned to her at the sound of her coughs used to cover up her slip up.
Yona smiled easily though, completely unbothered by her words of her supposed status. "That's right, we aren't friends."
Lili practically glared at her and the princess blinked, puzzled.
This time, Calista did laugh and Ayura cracked a smile.
"I don't need any friends." Lili huffed, breaking eye contact with Yona and resumed stroking Ao's head lightly once she scampered up to her shoulder. "If I need someone to talk to, you and Ayura are enough."
"You really shouldn't depend on us like that." Tetora giggled cheekily, her eyes shining with mischief. "We're currently getting money from your father after all."
Ayura nodded along and Lili scowled, shooting them both a glare, silently telling them that this was when they were supposed to keep quiet.
Noting the girl's change of attitude, Tetora giggled. "Nevertheless, the moon is very beautiful tonight."
A soft smile slipped onto Calista's face at the mention. She was right after all, it really was.
The light was pure and soft, shimmering on the ground from where it was reflected and wrapping her arms around herself, she closed her eyes as Yona cheerfully chattered with a huffy Lili.
Shin-ah...
Calista distinctly registered Tetora saying that she was going to go back to the inn and ask the staff for some tea and sweets for them to munch on while Yona waited for the return of the three that left on their mission.
"Oh—" Yona said in surprise when her tired arms gave out and she dropped the sword unintentionally.
Calista was there in a flash though, catching it before it could hit the ground at a remarkable speed. Even though a practice sword wouldn't have done much damage, she still intervened before it could bruise her feet.
"You okay?" She murmured concernedly, setting the sword off to the sword. That was enough training for now. Her brother would have her head if she let Yona overwork herself. Their red-haired princess was the embodiment of determination.
Yona gave her a look of reassurance and nodded. "Calista, you're so fast!!"
Calista barked out a short laugh, chuckling under her breath in amusement. The princess had almost hurt herself again and yet all she could comment on was her speed. Typical Yona.
"Hehe, for some reason, I'm pretty excited." Yona beamed, her eyes sparkling at the prospect of sitting down in the luscious gardens and having tea with all of them in a circle. She wanted to get to know them better. "Conversations between women are really fun, aren't they?"
A rare smile popped up on Lili's face when she heard that.
Calista's gaze softened as she noticed the look on her face and thought maybe she wasn't as self-absorbed and stuck up as she previously thought. After all, she ended up being wrong about Kija when she first met him.
But she passed over Lili and gave Yona a small nod, conveying to her that she felt the same way.
While their one-on-one conversations were usually restricted to times that they needed to communicate to one another seriously, the rare and lighthearted ones they had with each other were extremely fun.
Like that time they eavesdropped on the boys after they finished changing.
Calista still couldn't believe Yona didn't accept that as Hak's confession. Jae-ha practically laid it out for her to clearly see and Hak even admitted to it by default when he didn't say anything against the green dragon's claim of his feelings.
"Oh, that's right."
Yona snapped her fingers as if she just remembered something, her eyes lighting up. "I'm going to call Yoon and the others."
Lili's expression immediately blanked.
"Huh?! Men are going to infiltrate this place?!" Lili shouted after her as she turned to leave to go get her friends.
Calista couldn't help but frown at her outburst, her brief spark of elation at getting to see them fizzling out the moment she complained. Huffing, she crossed her arms over her chest and used all of her strength not to show how it affected her.
"Hey, wait a second!!" Lili protested loudly as Yona turned to leave and Calista couldn't help but shake with laughter at such an insulted look on her face when the princess moved to find them anyways. "Tetora needs to get more tea and sweets!!"
Her attendant had already left to go fetch them, leaving Ayura to stay by her side until she returned.
The girl huffed when Yona didn't even slow down to acknowledge her words, already out of earshot.
"I will go." Ayura smoothed over simply, her fingers automatically going to her dual swords.
Lili pouted and waved her bodyguard off, planting her hands firmly on her hips. "It's fine."
"I'm going with you." Calista declared to the princess as she took a step to take the lead.
But Yona latched onto her arm, effectively stopping her.
"No, I'll be alright!!" The princess reassured, smiling up at her innocently when her friend arched an eyebrow and shot her a glance that clearly said she wasn't buying her act.
Calista paused for a beat but then shook her head. "No way, I'm coming with you."
Yona giggled at her protectiveness. That part of her was the same as Hak's. "I won't be gone long."
"I'm still coming with." Calista insisted, striding forward but the princess halted her again.
"No, you're not. I'll be fine." Yona gave her a smile softer than the last, her lavender eyes reflecting understanding. "It's only for a few minutes and we'll probably run into Tetora on the way!! Then I'll be right back."
Calista still hesitated. "Even if it's only for a few minutes, I can—"
Yona didn't falter. "Stay here."
Calista tensed. That was an unyielding command if she ever heard one.
Sighing in defeat, she glowered at the princess, wondering where she got all this stubbornness and bravery from. Certainly didn't come from her.
"Humph, it can't be helped." Lili scoffed and nodded her head decisively. "Wait here, Ayura."
After that order, the two left in a flurry, leaving the assassin and the bodyguard behind.
Calista watched Yona's back with a clenched jaw until she disappeared from view. She could feel Ayura's gaze burning into the side of her head and she smirked.
Bending down in a crouch, she got ready to spring.
Ayura raised an eyebrow, putting her intentions together easily enough thanks to the years she had by Lili's side. She had gotten rather good at knowing when the protective instinct instilled inside took effect.
"You are going after them." She stated plainly.
Calista grinned, rolling her neck. "You're not? My master has a tendency to draw danger and I'd like to be by her side when she runs into it."
Shrugging to herself, Ayura inclined her head to let her know that she was in. A hint of amusement swirling in her dark eyes as she readied herself to follow. Perhaps they were more alike than she had previously thought.
"Lead the way."