The next morning.
Inside the Phoenix Wings.
Dawn began to rise up over the Eisengard Mountain Range. Sunrise here begins earlier due to Ymir's unique placement inside Erebonia. Some of its residents could be seen opening up shop for the day. Back inside the Phoenix Wings, several guest rooms could be seen. A couple of them were currently occupied. Sunlight began to crack between the window blinds, signaling the start of the day.
Boing. Boing.
I was greeted with two soft sensations striking against my body, which stirred my mind awake from dreamland quicker than usual. Once clarity in my mind returned, I also felt two warm hands currently wrapped over my chest. Once my eyes opened, I blinked.
"Mmm...Is it morning already?", Emma's voice uttered softly from underneath my covers. That was a voice I was all too familiar with. Reaching downward, I gently removed the covers.
The sight of a plum-haired girl whose mounds were half-exposed entered my view. They were presently being pressed against my back as Emma stirred awake not too long after me. Of course it was Emma. Only this time, her hair wasn't braided at all. It was quite messy. Seeing Emma hugging me from behind, I could only sigh, and shake my head. After that, my eyes wandered toward the left side of the room.
Sure enough, the bed to the left of me was now empty. Emma had likely wandered into mine during my sleep. Not that I didn't like it. It was a pleasant sensation. While Emma was in the middle of rubbing her eyes, I did a subtle motion, and moved deeper into the covers. Lifting my pajamas outward, I saw my own glory.
No reaction, whatsoever.
Seeing this, I let out a second sigh. My tone even carried a hint of defeat.
"One of these days, it's going to come in full swing...", I uttered to myself, keeping my voice quiet. Yet it seemed loud enough to hear a giggle come across from my bed. Not from Emma. Beyond us was a purple-haired girl dressed in a nightgown, who seemed to be a year older than me. Her head was currently propped up against one of her pillows, signaling that she was also awake.
"Hehehe. Oh my, what is it that my eyes see on this fine morning?", Angelica spoke out with a playful grin. Hearing this, my expression turned deadpan.
"You did this on purpose, didn't you, Angie?", I shot back at her.
"Oh please. You can't put this on me Naoto. Rather, I'm quite jealous that such a cute little kitten wandered into your bed instead of mine~", Angelica teased, sticking out her tongue.
"I swear you...", I uttered, shaking my head again. This time, at her.
"Think fast.", Angelica suddenly said, and cut me off. For a good reason. She somehow grabbed ahold of Emma's glasses from Aidios-knows-where, and tossed them my way.
"What are you two blabbing on about so early in the morning...", Emma tried to ask, only to see her vision too blurry. For some reason, she could make out a couple figures, and one of them was extremely close to her. That was me of course.
"Nevermind that. Take this, Emma.", I said, trying to distract Emma. I gave Emma her glasses.
"Thank you.", Emma responded, taking a moment to put her glasses on. Once that happened, her vision became clear again. In the games, Emma said she didn't need to use these glasses since they acted as some form of inhibitor for her Mana, but it looks like her eyesight isn't all that perfect.
It didn't take long for Emma to realize her hands were wrapped around my back, let alone be inside my bed. I saw Emma's cheeks turn red.
"T-This isn't what it looks like...", Emma tried to say, and stuttered.
"It is exactly what it looks like, Emma. Your presence is always welcome, unlike a certain someone.", I said, and looked back at Angelica.
"H-Hey! Totally uncool. I'm right here you know.", Angelica retorted. Hearing that, Emma's embarrassment faded slightly, and giggled.
"Teehee.", Emma replied, feeling less embarrassed. Sadly, we couldn't even continue our current conversation before we saw the door swing open with a loud bang. BANG!
"It's time to up and at 'em, folks! Mira is burning on the clock as we speak!", An upbeat voice said, belonging to that of a scarlet-haired boy who could now be seen standing in the doorway. "---Is what I'd like to say, but it looks like I'm interrupting a rather interesting development here. Way to go, Young Master~"
As the scarlet-haired boy gave me a thumbs up after observing Emma clinging to me, my eyes turned wide in shock.
"L-L-Lechter!?", I exclaimed, causing even Emma and Angelica to become wide-eyed. Guess the two girls weren't expecting to see Lechter randomly standing in front of our doorway either.
"It sure has been a hot minute, hasn't it, Young Master? Have you missed little 'ol me? I bet you're happy that you have me giving you a wake up call!", Lechter said, putting his hands at his waist with a sense of pride.
In response to that, I actually saw an annoyed mark appear on Angelica's forehead. Now that isn't something you see too often.
"As curious as I am about this "Young Master" business, permission to throw a pillow at whoever the hell this guy is?", Angelica asked me while doing a motion of a pillow she now had in her hands, acting like she had just prepped a shotgun.
"Permission granted.", I immediately answered, which caused Angelica to smile.
"Hey now, I'm not just some guy---?", Lechter tried to say, only to get interrupted by what appeared to be a leakage of Battle Qi. I'm not sure if it's the real deal, but Angelica has been learning the way of the Taito, from Kilika no less. I'm sure she has improved leaps and bounds in her own martial arts over these years. Shortly after, a loud bang struck Lechter's body. Angelica threw the pillow with enough force that caused Lechter to tumble backward into the hallway.
Following along, Emma raised her body upward, and ended her hug. Raising one of her hands, a small blue glow of Mana poured out. Then, Emma uttered a small incantation.
Lechter just blinked his eyes seeing the door in front of him magically close shut before he could even react. He remained on his butt down on the floor. A pillow could now be seen in his arms. He no longer saw inside the guest room.
"Sheesh. And here I was tryin' to be a nice guy and all. I simply wanted to wake the Young Master up. He wouldn't be one to miss his reservation with the hot springs here.", Lechter uttered to himself. He took a moment to regain his composure, then stood back up while patting himself down. As he did that, an aged man's voice spoke out to him with a laugh.
"Haha, I did warn you that it wouldn't be so easy, Sir Arundel. I did not think you would be acquainted with His Excellency Naoto. Then again, given your position, I can't help but wonder who it is that you're related to...", Teo's voice spoke out, revealing himself as he approached Lechter.
"Haha, I'm afraid that is classified information, Lord Schwarzer. Still, I recall the Young Master is a morning person. Then again, it looks like he was having a little fun inside there~", Lechter retorted with a teasing voice.
"What His Excellency does concerns him and him alone. It's a matter we shouldn't pry ourselves into. Instead, since you are here, I take it His Excellency's return to Liberl is guaranteed?", Teo asked Lechter.
"You betcha it is! That's my whole reason for this little shindig, if you catch my drift. Getting a chance to take a dip inside your famous hot springs is just icing on the cake.", Lechter replied, smiling.
"It isn't a problem on my end. Still, His Excellency sure is acquainted with a lot of people, isn't he? His personal circle is developing. I'm curious if he has met the other Great Houses. He seems quite close with the sole daughter of House Rogner.", Teo mused.
"One shouldn't pry their nose where it don't belong, old man. That's up to the Young Master to figure out, and him alone. I'm just along for the ride to make sure Young Master safely returns to Liberl after this~", Lechter teased.
"I-I'm not that old...", Teo uttered. "Either way, you did what you wanted to accomplish, yes? I have reserved out the entire Phoenix Wings for His Excellency and his friends today. Let us not disturb them until they're ready. If they want to take a dip before breakfast is served, they are more than welcome to.", Teo continued.
"Now you're speakin' my language!", Lechter replied with a wide grin.
Still, that did accomplish one thing, Lechter's shenanigans aside. Such a weird wake-up call, but if Lechter is here, that means Claire's assignment ended, and Father reassigned Lechter to me for the remainder of our travels. Likely up until we reach Grancel City, then Lechter will go back to doing whatever Lechter does.
That allowed us to get ready for the morning. Angelica shouted something about entering the hot springs. It was clear she was excited to do so. Despite that, we all regrouped inside the Phoenix Wings, meeting up with Rean's group again. Rean was full of confusion seeing Lechter and wondering why he was even here. I just told him Lechter was one of my confidants. At the same time, Elise became interested, as she knew who I was and all of that now.
We were ready to start the day.