Kia led me back to the entrance hall, and we turned left into another long hallway. Beautiful paintings of landscapes and buildings lined the wall on my left, only broken up now and again by a door. On my right, tall windows looked out over the castle grounds. The whole place still felt unreal, but somehow I walked through it as if I belonged here. Not knowing how long it would take to reach the dining hall, I decided to chat with Kia as we walked.
“I’m really grateful that your father allowed me to stay here.”
Kia glanced over her shoulder at me and smiled.
“You do not need to thank me.”
“I kind of do. He didn’t exactly seem thrilled about the idea.”
She let out a small laugh.
“That is putting it mildly.”
I chuckled.
“Still, I don’t know what I would’ve done if he had said no.”
Kia’s smile faded slightly.
“Neither do I.”
There was a brief silence between us.
“Although,” she added, “I probably would have found a way to convince him eventually.”
“You mean you would’ve kept begging him?”
“Absolutely.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Somehow, I can actually see that happening.”
“Hey! It worked, did it not?”
“I suppose it did.”
For a moment, we continued walking in silence. Then a thought crossed my mind.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“What is your father actually like?”
Kia’s expression changed ever so slightly.
“That is… a complicated question. I suppose, if I had to give you a summary of his character, I would say he is a strict yet noble man. He places the responsibility of the crown above almost everything else. Especially after–”
She paused for a moment and shook her head.
“Never mind. That does not matter now. My father has endured plenty of hardships throughout his life, but so has any ruler who wore the crown before him. Perhaps that is why he can come off as displeasing, from time to time.”
“I see.”
A few silent seconds passed.
“And what about your mother? Can you tell me what she’s like?”
“My mother… passed away a few years ago. Although I am sure she would have loved to have you work here.”
“O-Oh, my bad! I’m so sorry for bringing her up!”
Kia made a gesture.
“I know you meant no harm with it.”
Before this moment could turn even more awkward, Kia stopped and turned towards a pair of doors to her side.
“We have arrived.”
She opened the doors and let me in. The room was huge. In the middle stood a large, elongated table covered with a fancy, red tablecloth. Three giant, golden chandeliers hung overhead, lighting the room. On the wall across from the entrance was a large portrait of Kia’s dad, looking just as serious as he had earlier. Kia showed me to my seat, then went to check the kitchen through a small door to my left. As soon as she entered, I heard pans clattering and someone shouting orders. The delicious smell hanging in the air made me even hungrier. Soon, Kia returned and sat down next to me.
“Dinner will arrive soon.”
Just as she said, a few minutes later, several servants came out of the kitchen, each pushing a trolley with silver trays. When they reached the table, they put the trays down and lifted the lids, showing the most delicious food I had ever seen—perfect cuts of meat, tasty salads, and golden-brown bread. There was so much to choose from that I had trouble deciding where to start. But first, I pressed my hands together and said:
“Itadakimasu!”
I started picking out what to eat first. Kia had already helped herself and was calmly eating a piece of meat. My eyes landed on a small bowl filled with meatballs covered in a gravy-like sauce, so I grabbed one with my fork and took a bite. The flavor was incredible—tender, juicy meat with a sauce that had just a hint of sweetness. The more I ate, the better it tasted. Before I knew it, I was stuffing my mouth full of meatballs. Wait, maybe I could’ve phrased that a bit better, now that I think about it.
“I hope the food is to your liking.”
I turned around and noticed an old man dressed in a chef’s uniform standing behind Kia. He had a white beard, dark brown eyes, and a wrinkled face.
“It is absolutely wonderful! You outperformed yourself once again, Luzel.” Kia said.
“You flatter me too much, My Lady.”
She turned towards me.
“Shako, please meet Alberius Luzel, our head chef.”
The chef placed his hand on his chest and made a slight bow.
“It is a pleasure meeting you. When Lady Kia told me she had brought a guest over, I was shocked. Had I known this would happen, I would have prepared dinner sooner.”
“I’m sorry my sudden arrival here caused you some trouble,” I replied, trying to make him feel better. But Mr. Luzel shook his head and answered:
“There is no need to apologize. On the contrary, it only motivates me to have more people be able to enjoy my dishes.”
“Your dishes?” Kia responded sharply.
“Ahem, I meant me and my men’s dishes.”
“I was joking,” Kia replied calmly.
“I know, but a bit of whimsy can’t hurt, can it?”
They both started laughing at the same time. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them. Despite their differing positions, they seemed to have a surprisingly close relationship. Mr. Luzel spoke to Kia almost like an old friend rather than someone who served under her, and she seemed perfectly fine with it.
“Well then, I shall let you two return to your dinner. May you have a wonderful meal.”
With a polite nod, Mr. Luzel turned around and headed back toward the kitchen. Once he was gone, Kia and I continued eating.
“Does everyone here get along like that?”
Kia looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression.
“Like what?”
“Like you and Mr. Luzel. You’re a princess, right? I mean… I’d expect someone like him to be more formal around you.”
Kia let out a quiet laugh.
“Ah, that.”
She rested her cheek against one hand and thought for a moment.
“I suppose it depends on the person. Most of the castle staff are rather formal around me, especially when we first meet. However, after spending enough time together, I would prefer that they treat me like a normal person.”
“Even though you’re royalty?”
“Even then.”
I looked around the dining hall.
“So you don’t mind if they joke around with you?”
“Not at all. In fact, I would find it rather unpleasant if everyone constantly treated me as though I were some distant figure they could not speak freely around.”
“That actually makes sense.”
I took another bite of my food.
“Back where I’m from, people usually just talk to each other normally. I guess I’m still getting used to the whole royalty thing.”
Kia smiled.
“You seem to be adapting rather quickly.”
“I don’t know about that.”
I glanced down at my plate.
“I did just casually ask your father if I could work here after finding out he didn’t want me staying for free.”
Kia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
“Yes. That was certainly unexpected.”
“I wasn’t even thinking when I said it.”
“I could tell.”
“Hey, you don’t have to remind me.”
She laughed again. For some reason, hearing her laugh made me feel a little more at ease. When I first met her, she seemed so mysterious. I’d woken up in a cave, somehow alive despite remembering that I had died, and the first person I encountered was a girl carrying a sword that could burst into flames. Now, somehow, I was sitting across from that same girl, having dinner with her like it was the most normal thing in the world. I still had no idea what was going on. But at least I wasn’t alone anymore.
“So…” I started.
Kia looked up.
“What is it?”
“What is life here actually like?”
“In the castle?”
“Yeah.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“What would you like to know?”
“Pretty much everything.”
Kia smiled.
“That is rather broad.”
“Okay, then…”
I thought for a moment.
“What do you usually do all day?”
“My days vary quite a bit. There are lessons, meetings, training, and occasionally matters that require my attention as a member of the royal family.”
“Sounds exhausting.”
“It can be.”
She paused before continuing.
“But it is not always so serious. I have free time as well.”
“You do?”
“Of course.”
I looked at her skeptically.
“You?”
“Yes, me. How else do you think I was able to find you?”
“You’re right. But still, you seem like the type who would spend every waking moment training with that sword.”
Kia raised an eyebrow.
“And what gave you that impression?”
“You’re carrying a sword that can literally catch fire.”
She looked down at the weapon resting beside her.
“When you put it that way…”
She chuckled.
“I do enjoy training, but I would hardly spend my entire day doing it.”
“So what do you do when you’re not training?”
“I read quite often. Sometimes I walk around the castle grounds. I speak with the servants, visit the kitchens, or simply spend time with my father.”
“You’re pretty close with him, aren’t you?”
Kia’s expression softened.
“Yes. We are.”
There was a brief pause.
“He can be rather strict, as you have already seen.”
“That’s putting it lightly.”
Kia smiled.
“But he cares deeply about this kingdom. Sometimes, I believe he cares so much that he forgets to show it.”
I remembered the conversation in the throne room. Her father’s words had been harsh, but there had been something behind them. He hadn’t simply thrown me out. He had listened, questioned Kia’s decision, and eventually allowed me to stay.
“Yeah,” I said. “I think I understand what you mean.”
Kia looked at me curiously.
“You do?”
“He didn’t seem like he actually wanted to throw me out.”
She seemed surprised by my answer.
“He just wanted to make sure you weren’t making a decision without thinking about the consequences.”
Kia stared at me for a moment before smiling.
“Perhaps you understand him better than I expected.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She picked up her glass and took a small sip.
“My father has always believed that being a ruler means putting the needs of the kingdom before your own feelings. I do not always agree with him.”
“Because you’re more compassionate?”
“I suppose you could say that.”
She placed the glass back on the table.
“But I have learned that he is not entirely wrong, either.”
I nodded slowly. That made me think about what she had said earlier.
“So… is everyone here treated well?”
Kia’s expression became a little more serious.
“Yes. My father expects the castle to be orderly, but he does not permit the staff to be mistreated. They are people, not tools.”
“That’s good.”
“Most of the staff have worked here for many years. Some have even been here since before I was born.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“That explains why everyone seems so comfortable around you.”
“Exactly.”
I looked toward the doorway leading into the kitchen.
“So Mr. Luzel has been here for that long?”
“He has.”
“Then I guess you two have known each other for ages.”
Kia smiled.
“I have known him for nearly my entire life.”
“That explains a lot.”
“What do you mean?”
“You two were arguing like an old married couple.”
Kia nearly choked on her drink.
“What?!”
I immediately realized what I had said.
“Wait, that came out wrong.”
She stared at me in disbelief before bursting into laughter.
“I certainly hope you do not say things like that to everyone you meet.”
“I don’t!”
“Good.”
She was still laughing as she wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye.
“You really are an interesting person, Shako.”
I paused. It was the first time she had said my name so casually.
“Interesting?”
“Yes.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“I meant it as one.”
“Well… thanks, I guess.”
For a moment, neither of us said anything. Then Kia leaned back slightly in her chair.
“You know, you seem much more relaxed than when we first met.”
I stopped eating.
“Do I?”
“You do.”
She smiled gently.
“When I found you in the cave, you looked completely lost. You were frightened, confused, and clearly had no idea where you were.”
“I still don’t.”
“I know.”
There was something almost apologetic in her voice.
“But at least now you have somewhere to stay.”
I looked down at my plate.
“Yeah.”
The thought made me feel strangely warm. When I first woke up, I thought I was completely alone. I didn’t know where I was, why I was alive, or what had happened to me. Now I had a place to sleep. Food. People who were willing to help me. And, most importantly, someone I could actually talk to.
“Thanks, Kia.”
“For what?”
“For everything, I guess.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly feeling awkward.
“You found me. You brought me here. You convinced your father to let me stay…”
I hesitated.
“And you’ve been answering all my stupid questions.”
Kia smiled.
“Your questions are not stupid.”
“They probably are.”
“They are merely… numerous.”
I laughed.
“Okay, I’ll take that.”
She smiled back.
“You do not need to thank me, Shako. I am simply glad that I was able to help.”
I nodded. For the first time since waking up in that cave, I felt like I might actually be okay. Not completely okay. There were still too many questions. Why was I alive? What had happened to me? And what exactly had Lucifer done? I had no answers to any of them. But maybe I didn’t need all of them tonight. For now, I was sitting in a warm dining hall, eating a proper meal, with someone I could trust sitting across from me. That was enough.
Soon after, we left the dining hall as Kia was going to show me my room. We continued walking through the same long hallway and eventually reached a set of spiraling stairs. We climbed up the stairs and arrived at, you guessed it, another long hallway. I’m never going to remember the layout of this place, am I? Fortunately for me, we didn’t need to keep walking for that long, as we arrived at a door with a golden nameplate attached, reading:
GUEST BEDROOM.
“Do not mind the plaque on the door. I shall have it changed as soon as possible.”
Kia grabbed the doorknob and opened the door. To say that the room was spacious would have been an understatement. There was a king-size bed, several bookcases and drawers, a large writing table, and still enough room to walk around comfortably. A red carpet with golden edges covered the entire floor, while a small lamp hung from the ceiling, casting a warm light over the room.
“Wow… ”
Kia then led me towards the bathroom. Yes, you heard that correctly. I even had my own bathroom. The floor and walls were covered in black-and-white tiles. But what caught my attention the most was the giant bathtub standing at the far end of the room. It could probably fit four–no, maybe even five people my size.
“Is this really all mine?”
“Yes. You are free to use anything in the room.”
I stared at the bathtub for another few seconds. This place was ridiculous. Once Kia had finished showing me around, I finally collapsed onto my new bed. So much had happened today, I could feel the exhaustion catching up with me.
“So, does this room meet all your needs?” Kia asked.
“This is more than I could ask for. Thank you so much, Kia!”
“I am glad to hear that.”
She sat down beside me on the bed.
“I still have some time before I must leave. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them. What would you like to know first?”
“Well, first, I want to know how you set your sword aflame?”
She glanced at the sword resting beside her and remained silent for a few seconds. Then she turned back towards me with a smile.
“Would you mind if I explained that to you tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“It would be much easier to show you than to explain it. Unfortunately, this is not the best place for a demonstration.”
“Fair enough.”
I thought for a moment.
“Do you know how I got here? I mean… to Fira?”
Kia shook her head.
“No. I’m afraid I do not.”
I sighed. I thought long and hard about what to ask next. There were so many things I wanted answers to that I didn’t even know where to begin.
“I guess… what I’d also like to know is how I’m still alive after Lucifer killed me.”
Kia’s expression became more serious.
“I promised I would tell you that, did I not?”
I nodded.
“Well, to keep it brief, it has to do with something we Firans call The Flow of Life.”
“The Flow of Life?”
“Yes. It is an energy that exists within every living being. It is what allows life to continue within us.”
She paused for a moment, making sure I was following.
“The Flow of Life consists of three parts, which we call Life Spots. They are located within the brain, heart, and diaphragm. As long as even one of these Life Spots remains intact, a person can still recover from injuries that would otherwise be fatal.”
“So… I wasn’t actually dead?”
“You were–but not fully.”
She looked at me carefully before continuing.
“To truly die, all three Life Spots must be destroyed simultaneously. If that does not happen, the Flow of Life will eventually repair the damage and restore the body.”
I slowly looked down at my hands.
“So that’s why I’m alive…”
“Precisely.”
I sat there in silence for a moment, trying to wrap my head around it.
“A world where you can’t die, huh?”
Kia let out a quiet, pained chuckle.
“It is both a blessing and a curse.”
“A curse? How?”
Her smile faded slightly.
“Because not being able to die does not mean being unable to suffer.”
Her words left me silent. Just the thought of it–losing a limb or suffering fatal injuries, only to wake up and remember all the pain you experienced. In that case, maybe eternal life truly is a curse.
“Well then, I think it is best if we leave it at that. I reckon you must be feeling pretty tired right now. Take some much-needed rest, and I will see you tomorrow morning.”
Kia stood up from the bed and left the room. I stayed lying on my bed for another minute before going to the bathroom. When I turned the bathtub valve, the strange orange liquid Kia called Ignis poured from the tap. I took off my clothes and waited for the bath to fill before taking a nice, refreshing soak. Kia was right, the Ignis really feels wonderful here. It felt like all my worries were slowly washing away.
“Ah, this is what I needed.”
I don’t know how long I spent in that bath. Thirty minutes, an hour, or maybe even longer. Not that I was too eager to find out. When I was done bathing, I dried myself, put on my underwear, brushed my teeth, and jumped straight into bed.