"Usadem! Are you there!?"
She called out his name into a void but there was no one.
Her chest pulsed unnaturally as her hair clumped up with sweat and her teeth wrung against one another.
She needed to find him.
"Y-Young lady! Where are you going?", Joshua exclaims, arising from his kneeling position.
Soarir doesn't answer.
She doesn't hear him.
A swell ringing burst in her ears, blocking all sounds into opaque muffles.
"Usadem, where are you?!"
She felt regret.
Shame.
For forgetting her first friend in this world. Her polished ebony shoes wore off from mud and rocks as her ankles grew red from friction.
Needle-like pains pierced her lanky child legs.
But she didn't care.
She checked the markets, the fairs and many other gardens.
There was still no sign of her green-haired companion.
"If I was Usadem, where would I be?"
The sun began to set.
Soarir still hasn't found Usadem.
She eventually gave up and went back home with Joshua, who accompanied her throughout her search even though he didn't understand why or who she was looking for.
"Well you look exhausted"
Her head turned instantly to the familiar silvery voice.
It was Usadem.
An ecstatic emotion pushed her to run to her partner and embrace him tightly.
The overflowing feelings reached her eyes.
Usadem became stiff at this sudden act of affection. His hands reach her back hesitantly and eventually, he returned the hug.
No words were spoken.
It was just them under a billion of stars and three moons.
_____
"So you blow a bubble"
"That's all there is to it?"
"That's all there is to it"
Usadem chews the candy thoroughly, making sure it's rubbery enough to stretch. Soarir copies his actions.
Huge gum bubbles float in front of their faces as they threaten to burst any second. The young lady blinks in disbelief and worry that the gum won't stop growing.
Suddenly, Usadem inhales all the air in his bubble and disappears.
"Soarir dearest, someone's here to see you in the lounge room", Julian barges into the room.
At the sudden slam of the door, Soarir's bubble formed a tiny hole. The young girl nods as her bubble slowly deflates into an empty sack.
[Aaaw, you were almost there]
"It can wait"
Soarir waddles down the stairs, Joshua following her tail, and just when she was about to enter the lounge room, she heard chattering.
"Your Highness, would you like some sweets?"
"No, thank you"
Her eyebrow twitched at the voice.
Taking a deep breath, Soarir walks into the lounge room with a welcoming smile. Just as she suspected, the young Prince was in the lounge room.
"It's the Prince from the tea party!", Joshua freaks, instantly cowering into a bow.
"Nice to see you again, Your Highness", Soarir curtsies calmly.
Julian shockingly looks at his daughter with the word "what?!" written on his youthful face. Andre grins as if he was trying to fight it back.
"Nice to see you again too", he fiddles with the ruffles of his prince suit.
At the sight of the flustered prince, Julian blinks a few more times while furrowing his brows. Joshua could only wonder about his master's expression from under his silver bangs.
"So what brings you here, Your Highness?", Soarir asks, going straight to the point while appearing polite.
"I just wanted to hang out with you"
The widened eyes of Julian spread out further as Joshua choked down a clump of jealousy and anxiety.
"Sure! Let me call my sister"
"I mean, the two of us"
[Wait, what?!] "Wait, what?"
Julian's jaw dropped to the ground as he gawked at his daughter, warning her with his alarming red eyes.
"Uhm, sure. Where do you want to go?", Soarir replies with a slight shrug and side smile.
It can't hurt anyone to hang out with the boy who would've been one of the love interests in a book but isn't, and for some reason wasn't mentioned at all.
Yeah, not suspicious and scary at all.
[Are you actually asking him where he wants to go?!]
"Well...yeah"
[Why?!]
"Because he wants to hang out? What's up with you, Usadem?"
[What's up with me? What's up with you, princess?!]
"I am super confused right now. At least give me some context"
[Argh, nevermind. All you need to know is that you now owe me]
"What?! I don't owe you anything"
[Hmph]
"We should go-", Andre begins but suddenly freezes. Soarir lifts an eyebrow in confusion.
"Sorry, but I just received a notification from the Palace and they need me back. I'll give you my letter code so be sure to write to me so we can meet again", the young Prince rises from his seat and begins writing on a piece of paper.
"He's so young. What matters does he have to go to?"
[Maybe studies?]
"Maybe"
Soarir and her father wave away at the young Prince as he enters his carriage. She clutches the piece of paper and suddenly wonders if she should write to him.
"What's a letter code?"
[A code to where you can send letters to him. Everyone has an individual code]
"So it's like a boy giving me his number..."
A faint flush brushes the girl's cheek.
[Hey, heeeeey, what are you getting all mucky for?]
"What do you mean?"
[You're turning all red and shit]
"I have no idea what you're talking about", Soarir lifts her bottom lip and begins walking back to her room.
"I'll be going back to my room, papa", she informs.
"Alright, dearest, you need all the rest because tomorrow we're going dress shopping!", Julian cheers from behind Soarir. At this remark, Soarir halts. Then she remembers about the ball. Giving a nod to her father, she continues walking back.
[You're falling for the kid, aren't you?]
"Ok, what? He's a literal baby!"
[So are you!]
"Internally, I'm an old woman"
[That doesn't mean that you can't fall for a kid the same AGE as you!]
"Look, I have no idea what your deal is but I'm tired from yesterday so let's just settle this, alright?"
[But-!]
"Besides, it's none of your business if I fall for someone or not"
[...]
A sombre blue yet flurry light shines from the top corner of the hallway.
_____
Soarir gripped the letter before her.
It was beige and had a blue wax seal on the front, preserving the small white flower against the opening. Amateur cursive writing embellished the corner of the envelope.
[It's literally any other letter you've received from the kid. Just open it already]
"Every time, I feel nervous. I don't know why..."
[...]
"Did you just roll your eyes at me?"
[You can't see me, can you?]
"Oh, shush up"
Opening the letter, she hastily read the contents.
She giggles at a few sentences and eventually, lets herself drown in the boys' stories.
A certain green-haired snake boy decided to appear behind her. The expression on his face couldn't be justified with words. He read every word, every line, trying to see which ones melted the girl in front of him.
Trying to see what was so captivating about this Prince.
Soarir sensed something behind her and turned around.
She didn't see anyone.
With a shrug, she continues reading the letter of sweetness. Her eyes grow at the last few lines.
My Prince, I've asked my father if I could take you somewhere and he's ok with it! Maybe we could go to town this weekend? I want to get to know you better.
I miss you, my Prince.
Andre Clover.
A love heart.
"He drew a love heart at the end!"
Soarir could feel herself growing concerned about her heating face and rapid beating pulse.
She shakes her head and puts the letter in a box with other letters from Andre.
"The weekend? That's in about 5 days...Wait, isn't he asking me on a date? A date?!"
[...]
"Oh c'mon, you usually say something at this. Seriously, what's up with you? Are you ok? Did something happen while I was...asleep or something?"
[Don't worry about it]
"Oo, something bad must've really happened"
[Aish, mind your business, kay?]
"I'm aaaalways here for you. You can tell me anything. Literally anything"
[Nothing happened, alright?!]
"Sure sure, keep that up"
Soarir glances at the letter she finished reading and dives into bed, beginning to kick her feet up and down.
[Gross]
"Hehe, whatever"
[Jeez, why do you even like the guy? It's annoying]
"Oh, for the last time, Usadem, I don't like him. He somehow rings a bell in my head. Plus he's adorable!"
[I think I'm gonna vomit!]
"Shut uuuup, you're just jealous, HAH!"
[HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! YOU AIN'T WRO- I MEAN, YOU'RE DEFINITELY WRONG! Absolutely IN-COR-RECT-UH! FALSIES]
"Ok ok, I get it. Didn't have to milk it that much, heh"
_____
Soarir sweats as she concentrates all her brainpower and will into her hand.
"Metal marble, metal marble, metal marble, metal marble"
[Hey, your hands are starting to turn blue!]
The young girl opens her eyes and sees that it was only her fingertips that were blue.
Other than that, she saw what seemed to be half of a metal marble.
Her mouth instantly warped into a huge grin as it pushes her eyes into a rainbow shape.
"You've improved from last time, kiddo", Ztahl concludes with a rare smirk. Soarir gives her a proud yet wild nod.
"I have a good feeling that you're going to be strong. Maybe stronger than me", the teacher quirks an eyebrow, keeping the smirk on her face. Soarir tilts her head in confusion.
"I'll be looking forward to that, kid. I'll give you an extra candy if you do", she chuckles.
Checking the sun, the teacher realised that the lesson took longer than expected.
"Oh no, bouta get sued again. I have to get going now, kid. Remember to practice every day. Teach you later, kiddo", Ztahl chucks a candy at the young girl and gives a finger salute as Lavender escorts her from the living room.
"I wonder if the problem between mum and Ztahl is settled"
[Most probably]
Before Soarir could exit the living room, she spots something on the floor.
She picks it up and realises that it's a picture of a young child.
They have dark black eyes and brown-red hair. His expression resembled Ztahl.
Soarir turns the photo over and sees "Scarlot" written on it.
"This must be Ztahl's"
[She already left so give it to her next time]
"Yeah. This child must be hers. They have the same eyes and lazy expression"
[Never thought that she had a child]
"Soarir, who's that?", Nichelle calls out from behind Soarir.
The Young Lady jolts in surprise and turns around.
"Oh, it's just you, mama. This is Ztahl's. She dropped it. Is this her child?", Soarir asks, showing the photo to her mother.
Nichelle examined the photo and a face of sorrow fell on her.
"Make sure you return it to her, alright? This photo is very very precious to her", the elder informs while patting her daughter's head, who gave a nod.
"Hm"
[Do you think that...]
"Yeah. Let's not think about it"