"Something like that. Sadly, I cannot tell you the details. No matter how many times I try to remember, there's this strange fog that clouds my head. It is unfortunate, but even I do not know of her current whereabouts---?", Joshua tried to say.
Yet, to the two's surprise, they heard a doorbell ding in the near distance. It would seem someone is at their front door! Estelle blinked her eyes, not expecting someone to pay them a visit while it is snowing outside like this.
"A guest? But I thought it was currently blizzarding outside right now...?", Estelle wondered. To her surprise a second time, the blizzard unexpectedly subsided! Most of it remained, but it was scattered enough where sunlight was beginning to pierce through the clouds, allowing its rays to strike against the pure-white snow. It was beginning to create a thin layer of water, only to turn into ice-crystals shortly after, creating a thin layer of ice. "Oh! It looks like the blizzard is already ending. The sun is beginning to clear. Coming!"
Estelle shouted from the room the two were presently in, which made Joshua flinch a bit, ending his current progress on the book he was reading.
"Guests, huh?", Joshua said to himself as he observed Estelle's retreating figure head out the room. "It isn't often just anyone wanders out here with Dad absent from the picture. It's just us two..."
Joshua wondered who it was. Taking the time, he placed a bookmark on the page he was currently on and closed it. He then came down from the chair he was seated at, and began to walk out of the room. It didn't take long for him to chase after Estelle, who already made it down to the first floor in a jiffy.
The moment Estelle opened their front door, she was greeted by a cold blast of wintry air.
"Brrr.", Estelle said. "I know the storm just ended and all, but it's still pretty cold out. Who is it?"
After Estelle asked that, she let her eyes wander. She couldn't help but blink for a moment as she spotted four figures standing in front of her doorstep. The moment she spotted a familiar violet-haired girl, Estelle's eyes lit up.
"Why hello again, Estelle. It is ever so nice to see you.", A familiar girl's voice spoke out, only to reveal a girl wearing a white and purple frilly dress. Who else could it be but Renne?
"It really is you, Renne! You finally made it out here, huh? Come and give your big sis a hug!", Estelle said, letting her smile blossom the moment she spotted Renne standing on her doorstep. She ignored the cold air outright. Instead, Estelle lunged at Renne, and proceeded to give her a big hug.
"Since when did you become my older sister?", Renne asked, but didn't deny the hug.
"Just now! Or do you not like it?", Estelle asked.
"Hmm, it does have a nice ring to it, but sadly I'll have to decline. I already have a big brother you know.", Renne said.
Hearing Renne's response like that, Estelle's body tensed up, acting as if a bucket of ice-cold water got doused over her body. Renne even saw Estelle's body turn completely white, fading from color as if all life was drained from her body.
"So I was too late...", Estelle softly uttered, causing Renne to circle her eyes in a nonchalant manner. The disappearing color only lasted for a moment before fire appeared in Estelle's eyes. "But that doesn't matter! It doesn't matter if you have a big brother or not. I can still be your big sister!", Estelle said, urging Renne again.
"Well, if you're going by that logic, I technically have a big sister already too.", Renne retorted again.
As Renne said that, space began to distort and a visible defeat sign appeared out of nowhere, striking right through Estelle's chest, and her body slumped downward as a defeated look appeared in her eyes.
"Wow, you really went in for the double-kill.", Another familiar voice sounded as a white-haired girl approached Renne's side. The two weren't alone either, a plum-haired girl and an olive-green haired girl walked up to the doorstep alongside with the white-haired girl.
"I take it you know this person, Renne?", Musse asked, observing Estelle for the first time.
"Uh-huh. This is Estelle Bright. We were in town again and I figured we'd drop by and say hi before we make our way back to the capital.", Renne said, introducing Estelle to the three girls beside her.
"So you've brought some new friends with you this time, huh Renne? And I see a familiar face again.", Estelle said, quickly recovering from Renne's earlier retorting. Her eyes landed on the plum-haired girl.
"It's nice to see you again, Estelle.", Emma said, greeting Estelle with a smile.
"Likewise.", Estelle happily responded, nodding her head.
Estelle was already acquainted with Emma and Renne, but she hadn't seen the white-haired and olive green-haired girl beside the two. It was her first time meeting Fie and Musse.
"I'm Fie. Don't mind me, I'm just along for the ride.", Fie casually introduced herself to Estelle.
"And you can call me Musse Egret, or that's what my friends call me anyways. It's ever so wonderful to meet you, miss daughter of the Divine Blade.", Musse said with a heartfelt smile.
"You know my Dad huh? Well, it's nice to meet you two. It's super-duper cold out right now so come on in you girls. It's now past noon, I was going to heat up some of our leftover stew for lunch. You are all welcome to join in.", Estelle said, urging the four girls.
"Hehe, well aren't you a polite one. Sorry for intruding right after the holiday ended. I was curious about who Renne's friend was all the way out here in southeast Liberl. My curiosity has been satisfied for the moment.", Musse replied with a giggle.
"Nonsense! You girls could even stay the night if you want.", Estelle responded as the four entered the Bright House, letting the cold air leave them. The door closed shortly after.
"We really aren't tight on time, so we could definitely relax here for a bit, if you don't mind Estelle.", Renne said.
Yet before Estelle could speak to Renne on that matter, everyone heard some feet shuffling from further inside, toward the staircase. The five girls saw the black-haired amber-eyed boy descend the stairs. The moment these girls entered his view, he couldn't help but blink his eyes, not expecting such a large group to enter his house. Yet the familiar violet-haired girl before him immediately entered a dash, and gave him a hug.
"It is Joshua! So you were here.", Renne happily chirped. Joshua reached out his hand, and ruffled Renne's hair.
"So I am. It really is you, Renne. I thought you were still at the castle back at the capital.", Joshua said, welcoming Renne in. His eyes then wandered to the three other girls. Like Estelle, he was already familiar with Emma, but he hadn't met Fie or Musse yet.
"I didn't think you'd call anyone your brother, Renne. I only thought His Royal Highness was treated as such.", Musse replied with a teasing tone.
"Nuh-uh. You see, Renne has three brothers! Naoto is definitely one, Joshua here is the second, and Loewe is the third!", Renne replied back, catching Musse off guard again.
"Three...?", Musse uttered softly to herself.
"Renne...", Joshua also uttered, not expecting Renne to utter Loewe's name. He remained silent as a serious look appeared in his eyes. Sensing this sudden shift, Estelle could only blink her eyes at Joshua.
'Just who is this Loewe person? Joshua has such sadness in his eyes...', Estelle wondered to herself.
As Estelle thought that to herself, Emma's gaze shifted elsewhere, outside a nearby window. Her eyes landed on a tree not too far in the distance. A swift shadow descended into it, and quickly obscured themselves from view, hiding away.
A fierce-looking sword could be seen equipped at the silver-haired man's waist. His face was currently hidden away by a demon-like mask. He didn't expect to be spotted so quickly after hiding away inside a nearby snow-covered tree as he observed the Bright House from afar. Still, he knew who the plum-haired girl was, as he had come across her on the Glorious before.
"It would seem witches aren't to be underestimated. I am glad she isn't an enemy. Still, this is where your current position wound up, No. XV. I did receive communication from The Faceless that the plan is currently underway and that No. XV will be heading beneath the lake waters at the capital. I guess one can't cut old ties that easily...", The masked person said, kneeling down from a large branch, ignoring the cold sensation spreading to his knee. He then turned silent, and continued observing the house, not moving from his current position...
As the masked person thought that, he knew it wasn't time yet to encounter the black-haired boy. His eyes only landed for a brief moment on them, but quickly shifted back to only observing Renne.
In the far distance obscure from view thanks to the snow and some magic, he saw a large figure currently twisted and distorted, a large humanoid doll standing tens of feet into the air.
"Should I join them?", The masked person thought to himself, wondering if he should join Renne for the exploration of the large and wide Sealed Ground beneath Grancel Castle.
"That will not be necessary. For it is I, Phantom Thief B!", A second voice called out, only to have that same magic circle appear beside the masked man, who was, of course, Leonhardt the Bladelord. Or Loewe for short. Even Loewe couldn't find a response to the sudden appearance of Phantom Thief B.
"Why does it have to be you?", Loewe scoffed, ignoring the man who arrived beside him, also blissfully undetected. All apart from Emma, that is.
"Alas, I have been assigned guard duty to make sure no danger befalls these fledglings.", Bleublanc said, paying Loewe no mind. "And you best be wary of her. His Royal Highness's companions should not be trifled with. That Witch spotted you as easily as she spotted me. Besides, the Fool informed me that you are underway in your part of the Gospel Plan. The less distractions, the better."
"Mmm.", Loewe responded, turning silent for a moment. "That might be for the best. I am very preoccupied at the moment. While your character is questionable at best, the strength you possess is genuine. But I will warn you now."
"Oh? And what would that be, my dear Bladelord?", Bleublanc asked with a grin behind his mask.
"Do your job properly. If Renne and the others get gravely injured from exploring the Primal Ground, I will throw you into the depths of the lake and lock you inside. A prison that even you won't be able to escape from.", Loewe said. His eyes turned cold as he said that.
"Aha, is that a challenge I hear?", Bleublanc responded. "Still, I know where I stand. You can rest assured. I can say the same thing to you. Do not slip even the slightest. We need the Faceless to advance his plans in this next year or two.", Bleublanc continued. "But I digress. Tata for now. To the Primal Ground!"
Bleublanc left as quickly as he arrived. Loewe was alone again. All he saw was Emma. But to Loewe's surprise, he suddenly heard Emma's voice speak directly into his head.
'You can rest assured, Mr. Bladelord. While we might not necessarily see eye-to-eye, Naoto knows what he is doing, and so do we. We promise to not get in your way. You have your own assignments to do, yes?', Emma's voice came through. Looks like she has learned enough to use Telepathy, even if it is at a short distance!
Hearing that, Loewe could only turn around as a soft smile appeared on his face.
"It would seem my worry is unfounded.", Loewe uttered.
All that Loewe did next was crouch down, and jump away, only to hide his figure in the blanketing snow. He soon departed the Bright House entirely.
As for Renne, Estelle invited the girls inside, and all Emma did was put a smile on her face, knowing that they were in safe hands.