Look who had time to do another chapter. Yup, I know I should be doing other books but I kind of decided that I want to do this one a bit more.
____________________________________

        There were three beds in the room, two bathrooms, and a whole living area and what seemed to be a sort of mini kitchen. The entire room was easily a little more than half Ara's crowded home...or at least what used to be her home. Her family was practically nonexistent now and it still bothered her. "Which one are you claiming?" Add asked, referring to the three beds in the room. He had broken the awkward silence that they'd found themselves in after Helputt had left them in the room.

       "I...it really doesn't matter to me," Ara replied. Again they fell into silence as they stood there and pondered their next move. "He said that we'll need to have our story strait. I don't think anyone will believe us," Ara suddenly said. Add nodded. "We could put together what we know so far and figure things out from there," Add suggested as he walked to the bed in the center of the three and sat on its edge. His nasod weapon rested next to him as well. He'd been carrying Ara's bag and had set it down next to him on the pearly white floors.

       "I suppose so. There isn't much we can really do now. If they decide to believe us though, perhaps they could help us get back to the village. We need to make that our priority since we don't know what could be going on in our absence," Ara said with a nod as she sat across from him on a different bed. "Yeah, I do need to get back and make sure that my mother is okay but from the way that kid was speaking, if we go back, he might kill us," Add said, a perplexed look on his face. "Are you saying that we shouldn't go back?" Ara asked.

       "No, that's not it. What I mean is that we can't just go back. We need to know what we're doing. We don't really know who, well no, we don't know what we're up against. You saw how he just got rid of us without much movement at all. Even with your skills, he could easily do the same or worse if he wanted to," Add muttered. "We'll focus on one thing at a time for now. Our priority is getting out of Hamel. Helputt was nice enough to let us live in luxury for a bit but it isn't going to last forever. That Astrin guy is probably going to find some type of way to get us in trouble again if we even manage to get out of our current issue. As pretty as this city is, it's just not my type of thing," Ara said in an attempt to keep Add from thinking too much.

        When he did that, he usually ignored her for short periods of time as he got lost in his own thoughts and calculations. His mind was rather brilliant which amazed Ara to a certain extent but she hated it when he spent so much time in his thoughts that he closed himself off from reality. "Then in that case, we'll go ahead and do a bit of recap. The first thing was the sudden temperature changing. Then there was the attack on the village," Add began.

        "And then I got a hold of Eun and another sudden temperature change occured that somehow teleported us throughout time or something," Ara said, slightly surprised at her ability to memorize these things. "And we were we also transported to Hamel through some sort of portal although we ended up in the middle of nothing but snow instead of Hamel," Add continued. "So we'll need to be convincing. Too bad we don't really have a witness. Even just one person to tell them about who we really are would be enough. We wouldn't have to worry about our story checking out," Ara muttered.

        When she said this though, Add looked at her as if she'd said the wisest words in the world. "We do have a witness. All I need to do is fix him," Add said as he pulled Dynamo from Ara's bag. Ara had almost forgotten that the broken nasod was with them. "But I'll need tools in order to fix him. I don't think Hamel has any nasod parts or the proper tools I need. Plus he's got an ancient nasod chip that will need to be repared. If it's damaged then I don't know if I'll be able to get him back in working condition," Add ranted with a slight frown as he stared into Dynamo's cracked sceen.

        He seemed hurt by the sight of Dynamo in his current state. Add opened Dynamo's back panel without much effort and took a look. "Well, can you fix him?" Ara asked after Add stared at Dynamo for a bit. He shook his head. "No. The chip is split down the middle. Even if I wanted to, I probably couldn't find a replacement in this time period," Add said with much disappointment. Ara nodded, remembering how he'd told her about his time travel experience. "Well there goes that idea," Add muttered as he set Dynamo aside.

        There was another silence between them as they thought of what they would do now. Ara suddenly found great interest in the hairpin that she still held. Before she could even think about contacting Eun, who had been silent since the two were temporarily separated, a knock came at the door. The person there didn't even bother to wait for a response before coming right in. A warning perhaps but it was still rude in Ara's opinion.

       "I am here to escort one of you to the royal baths. You will receive the best quality of care and be allowed to choose whatever is offered there," a woman in a maid uniform said with a bland voice. She held no expression or emotion but something told Ara that she didn't like them very much. "Oh, I'll go. That should give you some time to think right?" Ara said to Add. He nodded and so Ara stood up from the edge of her bed and headed towards the maid but Add stopped her, catching her wrist in his hand.

        "Ara...be careful. Don't trust anyone," he said without looking at her. "Sure thing. Just make sure you don't stay too bored," Ara said with a slight laugh knowing just how easily Add could be brought to boredom. He let her wrist go and Ara left with the maid. They navigated through the halls and ended up in a beautiful fountain area. "This water is supposedly purified by the Water Priestess herself. It was requested that you have privacy so no one will be joining us at the momemt. When you are satisfied and wish to leave, your towel will be located on the towel wall and you can knock on the door that I will be exiting. It is the servant's door. Please enjoy yourself," the maid said before leaving just as she had said.

        Sure enough, Ara was alone and although she appreciated it, she didn't feel quite right and could tell that something was wrong. "I do not sense anyone nearby so you may bathe in peace," Eun's voice suddenly said in her head. Ara was startled at first, still not entirely used to the whole setup, but she was glad to hear Eun's voice. "I'm glad you spoke to me. I was starting to think something had happened to you," Ara said as she looked down at her hairpin that she was still holding.

        "I am more than durable enough to endure anything. If anything, you should be worried about yourself. If you are separated from me for too long at an extreme distance, you might perish since it is still me that provides your life force. If I were to get you to a real healer, then we could change that but until then, you're stuck with me," Eun said. Ara took a momemt to process Eun's words before freaking out. "I could have died and you didn't tell me?!" Ara said in alarm.

        "Relax child. You shouldn't worry. You were sent here to take a break anyway. Why don't you do that," Eun said. Ara didn't want to drop the topic but she realized that she might have sounded crazy to anyone that was listening rather than watching. She sighed and went ahead and took her bath in the large tub, leaving her clothes and shoes next to her at the bath's edge. Eun's hairpin was placed in just enough of her hair so that she could wash the rest of it.

        She stayed in the water for a good bit, calmed by the warm waters and fluffy sweet scented bubbles. Ara conversed with Eun all the while about what her life was like before everything went downhill since Eun had suggested she focus on the positive things. Of course she didn't do so aloud since she didn't want anyone hearing her. Once she was finished, she followed her given instructions and got a towel for herself, knocking on the servant's door only after she was dried, covered, and had gathered her clothes and slipped on her shoes.

        The same maid from before escorted her out and to a different area of the palace where other women already were. They gave Ara a variety of looks as she was escorted in, some pleasant and others not, but Ara was too distracted by what was actually in the room. A diversity of clothing was hanging from the walls or folded on up little tables. "You may choose whatever outfit you may like. It will be yours to keep. Please, take your time," the maid said. Ara was hesitant at first, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her treatment but with a little encouraging from Eun, Ara was looking through the clothes just like everyone else.

        Ara had to search for her size but once she found it, she began to see things that she would like to wear. In the end, she settled for a dark blue and black sleeveless shirt fit for a warrior and paired it with her already black combat pants. Her shirt bore the crest of Hamel in different spots whereas her pants bore her family crest at the bottom of both pants legs. She chose a black jacket of sorts with white designs and fuzzy fur lining the rim of its hood.

        Her shoes she refused to replace and luckily matched anyway. Their black base and white exterior along with the silver strings on them added a little extra style to her whole outfit. Her distinctly orange eyes and Eun's hairpin were the only part of her that stood out to be different. The maid guided Ara to a changing area and then took Ara to see a lady with various oils sitting around her. The woman took a good look at her and selected a lavender colored oil and gestured for Ara to come to her.

         Ara complied and the woman ran some of the scented oil through her hair and proceeded to style the hair, leaving half of it down amd the other half of it partially braided or pinned up with Eun's hairpin. "A true warrior will also be a true beauty," the woman said once she was done. Ara thanked the woman and the maid began to lead her back to her room. "So this is what Hamel's wardrobes are like," Ara said to herself, admiring the newly chosen clothes.

        "Only for those in the palace or the rich side of Hamel," a familiar voice said, causing both the maid and Ara to stop. Both of them turned around to find General Astrin standing not far behind them. "Maiden, leave us. I wish to speak with Helputt's guest alone," Astrin said. "Sir Helputt gave clear directions to escort one of the guests around the palace. I was especially warned not to leave either of them in your care," the maid said. Astrin seemed enraged by these words. "Are you going to disobey a direct order from your general? Do you wish to be relieved of service?" Astrin growled at the maid.

        She was shocked by his words and immediately shook her head to deny them. "Then leave as I have ordered you," Astrin said. The maid left Ara there with General Astrin. "I was nearly killed by you last time we met. Lucky for you, there's a fountain of healing here in Hamel or you wouldn't have the honor of meeting me again so soon. Why don't you come with me, Miss Haan," Astrin said as he walked closer to Ara. She was shocked that he knew her name. Her mind yelled at her to run but she found herself frozen on the spot. "Eun, please help. I don't know what to do," Ara yelped in her mind. Astrin smirked, knowing that he'd done something to cause Ara's frozen state.
____________________________________

Me and that word limit are about to have a fight. Until next time you cool readers!