"hey Leo where is your highness", asked Luis as he placed an arm around Leo shoulder with a jerk. Leo stared at louis, if looks could kill louis would already have been dead, but he controlled himself and pointed with his head towards the bridge.

Luis looked up and saw Valiac standing on the bridge facing the canal, he wore a black hanfu with golden embroidery and a black cape hodling a fan infront of him and supporting the top of it with his another hand.

"he has still not got over it ", expressed Luis as his joyous eyes turned teary and continued ,"will he ever able too?"

"Every year before the flower festival he is like this, I hope his void can be fulfilled,  but how can his mother come back, how can he have his happy family back, how can the good old days come back?" spoke Leo as he gazed at the firm figure standing on the bridge, his wet eyes betrayed his firm posture.

Seeing this Luis again put his hand on his shoulder with a jerk and said with a smile ,"good old days cannot come back, but they sure can be created, right?"

Leo smiled and said, "let's go to your highness"

"sure", spoke Luis as they chucked together and went to the man on the bridge.

"your highness", they called out in unison.

Valiac heard and turned towards the two and asked, his eyes had already dried and the heartache on his face disappeared from his face ,"what happened"

"your highness Miss brown had asked you for the flower fate earlier but now since they have to go the the royal banquet so now you will meet there", notified Leo.

"alright", replied Valiac as he turned back again lost in his sea of thoughts.

his world has always been lonely for the first time ever he had felt familiar with someone, which had brought a soothing sensation to him, like a fire on a cold winter night.

*********************

"Isia let's go to the banquet!!", announced thrilled Reika.

"first of, why are you here today, and how did  a fate changed into a banquet"

"oh my dear, I'm sorry", apologized Reika as she held Isia's shoulders with both her hands, if it was a normal girl she might have been on the ground by now , but they were martial arts expert so such a force was nothing to them.

today was the day before the planned outingo f the two girls with Valiac, when suddenly Reika dropped by the Prime ministers residence and urged Isia to get ready and did not leave until she accomplished her wish, whenever Isia tried to question her she would just shake her off and when she was all ready she announced of something which Isia did not get, they was going to the banquet!.

"speak up now!", ordered annoyed Isia.

she had already ran out of her patience when this girl forced her to get ready without giving any reason and when she mentioned banquet Isia lashed out.

"ah! Isia you know there's royal banquet every year..........", said Reika as her eyebrows raised a little and lips curved up into a smile.

"my father is accused of a case, we are not attending", retorted already angry Isia.

"yes but there was a sudden change in plan, well Valiac told me that the emperor asked your father to come to the banquet, I already knew that you wouldn't come even after your father told you so............well i have seen you quite.............not like the social gatherings" explained Reika slowly but suddenly her eyes lit up as she held Isia's hand and continued, "but do you know Valiac will also be there..............he...he can help your family.........so I took it on myself to take you there"

hearing this all Isia's anger dissipated and she sighed.

huh......this girl.........

Isia turned Reika's hand and held them tightly," I am sorry, I shouldn't have treated you like this"

well what can you do your character has been like that, even when i find your methods.........well quite annoying but.......your good intention always leap pass them.........

"Ah it's ok, we are friends Isia and we should help each other.",Reika replied, her voice screamed happiness.

Friends, can i really be your friend and protect my family....

"Alright! let's go, even if I don't like theses gatherings i have to eventually participate in them, so let it be today, and you are right i have to meet your highness only he can help me now", said Isia as she reflected on her course of action.

"yes! let's go", Reika replied.

Isia and Reika reached the main entrance of the house and just them a bell rang in her mind, 'danger!!!'

"wait!" spoke out Isia loudly

Reika and her maid who were walking infront of her stopped immediately and looked behind them, at the source of the sound.

"what happened?", asked Reika as she reached for Isia.

"ah! can you keep a secret" said Isia as she stared into Reika's eyes for an answer.

"ah of course, tell me"

Isia whispered into Reika's ears, "don't let anyone know that i am Master Jaren's student, not even your highness, can you do that"

"even you highness, but...........that will be" said Reika as she moved away from Isia.

Isia knew very well this girl would never hide anything and she doesn't has any magic to make her forget this information so she needs to give her a good reason for doing so.

"listen, you are not harming Your highness in any way by doing so, and plus if you tell them I am master Jaren's student, student of  the most famous person in the martial world that even  noble's know him very well, then everyone will focus there attention on me and it will make our investigation difficult and if your highness helps us then we will me meeting a lot, then..........."

"ah how stupid why i did not think so......but with Valiac"

"walls have ears too......." replied Isia, to which Reika lit up

"sure we'll do as you say, now lets go , your family has already left"

"sure" replied Isia.