The smell of grilled veggie patties filled the air. Serrano was hard at work flipping them while Ryonoko prepared the burgers.

"Are you alright?" Serrano asked, glancing over at me. "You appear to be side-tracked."

"Yeah, she does," Rosalba said, leaning in. "Are you tired? If so, head to the tent. We'll finish preparing lunch ourselves."

Today was our assigned day to make each meal while everyone else trained. Tomorrow another one of the knights and his group would have his turn.

I rubbed my head and stood up. "Alright, I'll leave it to you two. I am going to go on a hike to cool myself down."

Serrano smiled. "Yeah, do that. Make sure that you follow the trail or you might get lost."

"Will do!" I left the camp behind and headed back to the forest. Birds chirped over me, catching passerby insects in their sharp beaks.

It's so beautiful here. I shook my head. Now is not the time for a nature hike. I have to get stronger. I transformed my silver bracelet into a platinum chain and diamond ball form. I need to become worthy of wielding Alma. My father has high expectations for me. I have never been able to meet them, but that's due to my own rebellious nature. I should at least meet this expectation.

A weak queen like me would end up being taken advantage of. So, I have to avoid becoming said weak queen. I need to help the other four too. I have to shape them into the knights they should be.

Perhaps, five days of training won't be enough to even start to move the needle in the right direction. We need to awaken more of our angel powers. Kuroshi though had said that he would get around to teaching us how to do so. Still, it all felt far too slow. Those monsters could attack at any moment.

"Don't push yourself too far," a voice echoed. "You are already strong for your age. Your power rivals that of your soon to be husband, if not surpassing it. And if you feel that you don't have the strength to face the threat you're up against, then call upon the other four of the Seven Hills. They will surely aid you. Or do you plan to battle by yourself?"

True, but I rather not rely on them. I even hesitate to rely too much on Rosa, Kohri, and Serrano along with my fellow knights of prophecy.

"You mustn't be afraid to rely on the others. We, seven angels, worked together to build the world you now see before you. Though, we did fail at our task to some degree. The current world's corruption is a result of our own moral failures."

I don't believe that it's entirely your fault. We mortals would likely have fallen anyway.

"The matter remains. If it were not for our fall then we would have at least been able to continue to guide you toward the right path."

I chuckled. "You still are. Look at you, both Hanketsu and you are aiding Tetsuya and me."

Valencia snickered. "True. Though, it appears that my conversation with you has literally led you out of the path."

"Huh?" I said out loud. All around me were trees but beneath my feet was no dirt path. I curled up into a ball on the fern covered ground. "Oh no. I went ahead and got lost..."

"Sorry," Valencia said.

I shook my head vehemently. "No, don't blame yourself. It's my inattention which caused this mess. So, I'll get myself out of this." I jumped to my feet and gave the place a three-sixty-degree scan. "Uh, I think this is the right way." I glanced up at the canopy and the closeness of the trees to one another. "Damn, if only there was an open space for me to just fly out of here." I ran for it. Serrano and Rosa are going to be worried if I don't return soon. Not to mention that I'll miss out on lunch. I need to replenish my energy too.

Continuing to run, I came to a stop as the ground gave way. It was on top of a small cliff overlooking the river. "Yeah, I finally found an open space."

"Hey, be careful with yourself. You're going to fall."

I stepped back and coughed as my face reddened. "Right." I glanced down at the edge of the cliff and wished that I hadn't. Bathing in the river by his lonesome self was Tetsuya.

The Shield Knight gave me a smug grin. "You're going to cannon dive down from there? Or are you just peeping? I always figured your sin to be greed, not lust."

I turned around. "I was looking for a way out of this forest. I'll go to another part."

"You're lost?" he said as the sound of water splashing rang out. "Stay there. I'll get dressed and help you back."

"Hmph. I'll find my own way back," I said, marching back into the forest. I made sure to be far away from the edge of the cliff, yet close enough to still make it out.

"You should've accepted the help of the Shield Knight," Valencia said.

"Hmph. I don't need his help."

"Angry at him for accusing you of peeping?"

"I simply dislike the tone he used. I'm his cousin's fiancée and the sister of the girl he claims to love, yet he dared to use that flirty tone with me. Apparently, his hair color wasn't the only thing that changed."

Valencia chuckled. "But you like him, don't you?"

"What? I don't like that guy! Not one bit!"

"You seemed pretty afraid when you thought that he had died. Not to the degree of Yuko. Now, that girl was as furious as Hanketsu when I..."

I'm telling you, that's not it. I only see that guy as a friend. Plus, I am engaged with his cousin and my sister likes him. Now, stop daydreaming!

"Goodness, Serra and you sure are bossy with us higher beings."

Ahh, sorry. I didn't mean to...

"It's fine. It means that you're honest. We appreciate honesty. I'm sure that Kushina's daughter was glad to hear him be so true to himself.

I was surprised to hear Serra say that. Seems that my rebelliousness is rubbing off on him, after all. But if I continue to act this way, it will only continue to cause me more issues down the line.

"I would say that yours is more welcomed than not." She gasped. "Stop! Something is coming!" Valencia screamed. I looked down as I felt the wet rock give in. I opened up my wings as much as I could and ran up a tree as the rock fell toward the river below.

No, Tetsuya!

I stopped running and slammed the rock, keeping it afloat. Pushing it back into the cliffside I jumped off and flew toward the river. Though, the view was blurred.

"Setsuko, land. You are still exhausted from your battle with Serrano," Valencia yelled.

I'll be fine.

"Oh, stop being so thick-headed for once and listen!"

My eyelids struggled to remain open as I neared the river where several rocks awaited. Suddenly, a sharp pain traveled along my left leg. I had no recollection of having splinted it.

I held out my hands and moved the rocks out of my way. With that, I closed my eyelids shut, ready to hit the water.

Instead of water, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around me. They were long and muscular. "Oi, I was just kidding about the cannon ball!"

I opened one eye and saw Tetsuya looking at me with worry.

"Tetsu?" I asked.

He held a hand out and transformed his silver bracelet into its twilight-colored shield form.

"Come out!" he screamed.

I pushed him aside and spun around. A black dark hit the water. A black-bat winged female-being flew overhead, grinning.

"So, she survived." The taloned creature summoned a black trident and threw it at us.

Tetsuya pushed me behind him and deflected the trident with his shield. "Stay away from her, you foul creature!"

"Hmph, you heroes truly are annoying. In that case, I'll devour both of you!"

I transformed my own bracelet and swung Alma around, building up momentum. I sent it flying at the demon but it flew past it. "You missed!" it cried out, sticking its tongue out at me.

I snickered. The meteor hammer turned around in mid-air and hit its back, sending it out of the sky. The creature exploded into black dust as soon as it hit the water.

"Like a weak being like you can kill me," I said, grinning.

Tetsuya turned around and glared at me. "What do you think you're doing? I told you to stay where you were. You could've gotten swarmed by the demons of the forest."

"Swarmed?"

"There's a portal to the realm of the demons in the direction that you were heading. No one, not even us locals are to travel in that direction. You're lucky that it was only one and a weak one at that. Not to mention, that I was here." He reverted his shield back to its bracelet form and held out his hand. "Here."

I blinked several times.

"Take it!" Valencia said.

What?

Listen. It's the least you can do after having failed to heed my warning.

Urg, fine!

"Thanks," I said, averting his golden eyes as I took his hand. His white shirt was wet, allowing one to see his rippling muscles.

"Get on my back," he said as he stared at my left leg.

"I can walk," I muttered.

He put his hands on his hips and stared me down. A piercing pain ran up my leg. "See, you can barely force yourself to stand. It appears that demon managed to land a hit on you after all. Luckily, my mother and brother can undo that curse for you."

"But, shouldn't you change first?"

"I'll be fine," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "Now get on before it worsens."

I nodded and wrapped my arms around his neck. The smell of cinnamon tickled my nose as I put my face against his long silver hair.

"Hold on tightly, because here we go!" he screamed, jumping and running at full speed. He was incredibly fast. I had to hug him tightly in order to not fall down, especially as he jumped to the side of the cliff.

"Actually," he began as he squatted once he reached the top of the cliff. He lowered me completely and twisted around, holding me in his arms. He stepped back and stretched out his raven black wing, draping them around us. With one flutter of his powerful appendages, we took off into the air.

His focus was on what lied ahead. His golden eyes sparkled in the summer sunlight. Looking at him, it was no wonder that Rosalba and Yuko fell for him. His personality mixed with his looks gave him a certain attraction. Serrano also had said beauty, but he wasn't what I was looking for in a guy. Unlike Tetsuya, he usually followed orders to a t. It was that, which made him such a good member of the Seven Hills. Plus... he was in love with Ximena...

"Setsuko!" a voice called, snapping me back to reality. Flying toward us was my fiancé. He paused midair and narrowed his eyes at his cousin before holding his arms out. "I can carry her back from here."

Tetsuya sighed as he handed me over to him. "Don't get jealous now," he muttered.

Serrano's eyes softened as he turned away. "I'm not. Uh, so what happened?"

"Oi, it's not what you're thinking. We got attacked at the river. I had to get drenched in order to protect the princess."

"What?"

"I'll tell you on the way. Hurry up, Setsuko is cursed. Right now, it's not moving beyond her left ankle, but it could still spread if not treated soon. I'm not sure where my mom is, but Taku, Xime, and Nori should be heading back here. Any of them should be able to heal it. They and the others might still be northward near the lavender fields."

Serrano picked me up into his arms and flew off. "Hold on tight," my fiancé said.

I looked back down. Rosa handed Tetsuya a towel.

I turned away and pressed my head against Serrano's chest. What was I thinking back there? He belongs with Rosa.

"Don't worry, Setty. Xime or one of the others will fix that wound right up!"

He looked up and saw that he had the same determined look in his eyes as his cousin.

I closed my eyes. "I rather Nori or Takuya heal me," I muttered.

Serrano chuckled. "No need to get jealous."

I turned my head away from him. "Hmph. Should I really be hearing that from you? You keep getting jealous of Tetsu."

He gasped. He didn't utter anything for a while before finally saying, "How can I not be? He has more in common with you. He fits you better. I've thought of that for years now. So, I'm not surprised to see sparks between you."

"Serra," I said. I opened my eyes and glared at him as I yanked on his cheeks.

"Hey! What ya doin' that for?" he asked. "We're gonna crash!"

I sighed and let go of him. "Don't compare yourself to him, or anyone else. You're you."

I smiled. "I guess, but I think you could use that advice too."

"Huh?"

"Don't think that I haven't noticed. You compare yourself to your grandfather and father when it comes to how you wish to be as a leader."

"I..."

He shook his head. "We can talk about this later. For now, rest. We wouldn't want you to agitate your curse."

I felt my face redden. Did he actually care for me?

Serrano stopped in mid-air and turned his eyes in the direction of the hill where we had gathered before splitting off to train.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"I sense something off."

"Let's go check it out. It could be another one of those demons."

He turned his eyes northward. "I'll go check it out, but first I'll drop you off with Tetsu's team."

"Hey!" I yelled.

"First comes your safety. Plus, if it's demon related then Taku, Nori, and Xime would help greatly. Hopefully, whoever is there is alright."

I hoped that it was Hyosetsu. He and his teammates probably could deal with it on their own. As for Hideo's, I sadly didn't have as much confidence.

Serra smiled at me.

"What?" I barked.

"It's nice to see you start to worry about your fellow knights," he said, grinning.

I grumbled. "I'm not heartless you know..."

"I know. You're very kind, but you hide yourself in a shell. Not letting others approach you. In some ways, you aren't too different from Hyosetsu."

I narrowed my amber eyes at him. I wasn't sure if I liked being compared to that guy, even if he was my maternal cousin.

"Speaking of Hyosetsu. I have a feeling that the king will name him Rosa's new fiancée. Though, I guess it is fitting since Kohri originally had that position."

"Hyosetsu? But Rosa loves..." I stopped talking as the sudden urge to cough came over me.

"Setty!" Serra yelled.

I closed my eyes, and clenched my arms around him. "Hu...rry."

"Right!"

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter, if so then click on that STAR! :D So, thoughts? Theories? Predictions of what is to come?**