As the sun set, the group of six began to make camp for the night. Everyone, say for Caelia, helped set the camp. Caelia already lay as if asleep as she was the most mentally exhausted out and had been given leave to rest. After they made camp and ate dinner, the group settled in.

Caelia still felt out of place as it was the first time they had camped together. She had gravitated to Shiro and sat down next to her. Shiro didn’t seem to notice as she eyed Cali, who was on Martel’s lap, with jealousy. Martel gently patted Cali’s head.

“That feels good,” Cali said with a small smile as she pressed against Martel’s hand.

At Cali’s words, Shiro made a cute sound her hair stood on end in frustration. Finally, she snapped. “Cali has been sitting in my seat long enough. It’s my turn now.”

“Now now, Shiro. Last time was your turn. It’s only fair the Cali have a turn now.” Martel said.

“It’s not fair. You wear Cali as armor all the time.”

“It’s not fair that you got to spend time with me before we met Cali either then.”

Shiro had a very depressed look on her face.

“Don’t worry Shiro. It’s not like either one of you can take each other’s place. You are both irreplaceable to me.”

Shiro’s face became bright. “That’s right because I’m going to have your baby.”

“Shiro!” Morgan exclaimed. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”

Shiro looked at Morgan and tilted her head cutely. “Why not? Martel says I shouldn’t say it in front of people who don’t already know.”

Cali looked up at Martel. “Can I have your baby too?” She asked with an innocent expression.

"""Eh?""" The three girls exclaimed. Duran sighed, and Martel looked at Cali suspiciously.

“Do you even know what that means?” Martel asked her.

“No,” Cali replied as she cutely shook her head.

“Well… To explain it… For example, you are your father’s baby.”

“Not a daughter?”

“You are, sons and daughters can also be called babies.”

“I Can’t? Not strong like Father.”

“That would be true if you made the baby on your own, but then it wouldn’t be our baby.”

“How to make a baby?”

““Don’t answer that!”” Morgan and Caelia shouted in perfect unison.

“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything unnecessary,” Martel said a little annoyed. “Cali, I don’t think it’s possible. You have to have a real flesh and blood body, but you are a spirit.”

“Okay. In the future.”

“You can have a real body?” Martel asked with surprise.

Cali nodded her head. “Yes. Not strong or knowledgeable enough.”

“I see. How do you get stronger?”

“Absorbing spirits.”

“I see. Well, we’ll talk when you get your real body. I’m not going to make any promises, just like with Shiro.”

“I understand,” Cali replied with a cute nod.

“You pervert,” Morgan said under her breath.  

After a few seconds of silence, Caelia began to speak. “Say, Martel. Why… Why didn’t you fight my father seriously?”

Martel had revealed only a part of his strength during the duel but laid it bare to intimidate the King

Martel’s expression became complex. “Believe me; I meant no disrespect if that is how you interpret it. There’s a simple reason; it’s a trump card.”

“Trump card?”

“Yes, it refers to a method or technique to increase the chances of winning. If we take the example in the throne room, the King himself stated that I defeated a foe stronger than myself. Thus, he believed me to be weaker, so he assumed my level of strength and believed he could handle it. As a result, he took a straightforward route towards trying to undermine me rather than something underhanded, like poisoning. It helps create situations where those who would plot against me would reveal themselves in a way which I could take back control quickly.”

“That’s very well thought out,” Caelia said in honest surprise.

“It’s not like it’s a surefire thing, but I do not believe that underestimating me would be something that would not work in my favor.”

“I’m going to bed,” Morgan said as she got up and walked over to the girls’ tent. 

“Me too,” Shiro said.

“I will join you,” Caelia added as she joined them.

“Caelia, wait a moment,” Martel said with a rope in hand just before she entered the tent. 

“What is it?” She asked him.

“If you are going to bed I’m going to tie you up,” He replied with a smile.  

“What!?!?” Morgan shouted while her head peeked out of the tent. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Caelia suffers from sleepwalking, and it would be troublesome if she walked out of camp.”

“I… I guess it will work,” Caelia stammered as she tried to hide her embarrassment.

“Very well then,” Martel said with a smile as they entered the ladies’ tent.

Caelia lay down as he tied her feet together. She didn’t know why, but her heart started to beat faster, and her body started to tingle.

“Okay, next will be your hands,” Martel said as his smile turned evil.

“Wait just a minute you pervert. Why do you have to tie her hands too?” Morgan growled.

“We can’t have her untie herself in her sleep, that would defeat the purpose,” Martel replied as he tied her hands together. After he had finished, he took a second to look at her to admire his work. Then a small grin appeared on his face, which made Caelia nervous.

Martel turned to Shiro. “Shiro, do you know what we should do in a situation?”

Shiro shook her head, so he went and whispered something to her. Both of them started to wear a mischievous smile.

“What are you plotting?” Caelia asked in a small panic.

Martel looked at Shiro and smiled at her. “Ladies first.”

Shiro walked over to Caelia and.

“Little Sis? What are you... haha.” Caelia laughed as Shiro began to tickle her.

“Tickle tickle tickle tickle tickle,” Shiro said with a giggle.

“Haha, Little Sis, haha.”

“Okay, it’s Martel’s turn now.”

“Eh?!” Caelia exclaimed in shock as Martel moved toward her with an eerie smile.

“Like hell!” Morgan said as she punched him in the face.

“Oh? If you just wanted to take her place, you should’ve said so.” Martel said while he advanced toward Morgan.

“Get out of here, pervert!” she exclaimed while she protected herself.

“Fine fine. Shiro, you get the early morning watch.” He said as he exited the tent.

It takes Caelia a little time to get used to and calm down from being tied up, but she did eventually fall asleep.

End of Day -177

 

The next morning, Caelia slowly regained consciousness. With her eyes still closed, she began to move around. Only then did she remember that her hands and legs were bound. Still tired, she snuggled into the source of warmth next to her. A very firm source of warmth that she found quite pleasant. In her drowsiness, she did not even consider what it could be until she felt it tighten. When she opened her eyes and looked up, she found that the pleasant source of warmth was Martel’s chest.

“Good morning,” Martel says with a smile.

“Martel!” Morgan exclaimed from his other side. “What do you think you’re- why am I tied up?” She said as she struggled against her bonds. The whole experience left Caelia speechless from embarrassment.

“Good morning to you Morgan. I know how much you enjoy waking up to my face.” Martel said with a mischievous smile.

“Like hell! Now untie me so I can punch you in the face!”

“Oh? That’s rude seeing as I even wore my shirt for you this time. It looks like the Princess needs to learn what kind of position she’s in.” He said continued as he moved toward Morgan.

“What are you- don’t you dare,” Morgan said with a harsh glare.

He moved to her ear and whispered just loud enough for both girls to hear. “I take no prisoners.”

With vigor, he started to tickle Morgan. She struggled at first until she began to laugh.

After a time, he finally stopped.

“Now it’s your turn,” He said as he turned to Caelia.

Panic came over her face. “Mercy, please.” She managed to get out before he began.

Surprisingly he stopped. “Well… Since you asked nicely.” He kissed her on the forehead. It caught her by surprise, so she didn’t react for a couple of seconds as blood began to rush to her face.

“Thank you for keeping me warm tonight,” Martel said with a smile that Caelia found surprisingly honest. He did the same to Morgan, who uncharacteristically didn’t resist. “Now then, I’m going to go take care of some things. Have fun.” He said as he exited the tent.

“Wait a minute!” Morgan exclaimed in evident panic. “Are you just going to leave us here like this?”

Martel stopped and looked up to ponder before he smiled. “Yep.”

“You jerk! Pervert! Idiot!” Morgan yelled out in anger.

A couple of seconds later, Shiro entered the tent.

Morgan began to wear a forced smile as her eyebrows twitched. “Shiro, could you do me a favor and untie me?”

“No,” Shiro replied bluntly.

Shock appeared on Morgan’s face. “Why not?”

A mischievous smile appeared on her face. “Because Martel told me to tickle both of you until I was satisfied.”

Morgan slumped over, depressed. “It figures,” She mumbled as she accepted her fate.

[Well, at least everyone’s mood has improved.] Martel thought as his plan had worked.

For the next ten minutes, miles around were filled with the pleasant laughter of angelic voices.

...

After Shiro finally untied them, Caelia made her way down to the river to clean up.

[It seems Martel has been a bit of a bad influence on Little Sis. Well, at least she’s happy, and genuinely cares about her. Still, I can’t believe she’s talking about having his b-b-b-]

She thought before she shook her head to dispel them as she made her way to the river bank.

*Splash* The sound of movement in the water caused her to freeze. Because of her embarrassment at her thoughts, she did not notice that Martel bathed just a few feet away in the river. Luckily his lower half was submerged.

“S-s-sorry!” She said in a fluster as she averted her gaze. After a couple of seconds, she slowly looked at him. Her eyes widened when she noticed bruised upper body.

“If you don’t mind turning around for a little bit I can get out, dry off, put some pants on,” He said with a soft, gentle, and a somewhat sad smile. 

“O-of course!” She replied as she turned around.

...

“Did you need something from me?” 

Caelia turned around and saw his still exposed upper body as his shirt was over his shoulder.

“N-no.” She stuttered as her face became warm.

“Okay, then I’ll be off to camp. Don’t be too long.” He said with a smile as he began to walk away.

“Wait,” She called out to him. He stopped and turned around and looked at her with a soft expression.

She walked up to him and gently placed her hand on his chest. Her mind began to go blank as blood rushed to it. “W-why haven’t you healed this?” She finally managed to get out. “This is my fault, right? You should be able to heal something of this level.”

Martel’s expression had a hint of embarrassment as he began to scratch the back of his head. “Well, I think I deserve far worse.”

“That… That’s not true.” She said as she shook her head as her unknown feeling and guilt grew. “You’re not a bad person. I know that much.” She said softly.

“Well, I’m glad you think so. However, I have no intention of healing this. Would you like to?” He asked her.

“What do you mean? I can’t use Healing Magic.”

“Yes, you can.”

Caelia made a small laugh. “No, I really can’t.”

Martel’s expression became soft as he took her hand and placed it on his bruises. “You can, I believe in you. Just imagine this bruise healed with magic. I know you can do it.” 

“O-okay,” She said as she started to focus. After several seconds, she stopped. “See, I can’t do it.”

“Only because you believe you can’t do it. Try again; I know you can do it.”

“Fine,” She skeptically said as she closed her eyes and began to concentrate.  

“Focus. You can do this. Imagine the bruise healing and make it a reality… Not bad for a first try,” Martel said with approval.

“Huh?” Caelia blurted in surprise as she opened her eyes, removed her hand, and saw the heald bruise. “I… I used healing magic?”

“See, I know you could do it,” He said with a smile as he puts his hand on her shoulder.

A smile appeared on Caelia’s lips. She could never imagine that she could use Healing Magic.

[Is it because he believed in me?] She wondered as she looked at him with wonder and gratitude as the unknown feeling grew and lifted her. A sense of happiness, joy, desire. It was then that she realized it. [This… This is what they call love, isn’t it?] She thought. The realization set in and made the feeling all the stronger. At the same time, she understood why she felt guilt.

End of Day -176

 

After several days filled with shenanigans, the group finally made their way into the palace grounds towards Martel’s base. Duran has already split from the group to see his family.  

As they walked up to a large building, Martel began to speak. “Caelia, this will be where you will be staying for the moment. My base of operation.”

“Humph, you mean my home,” Morgan said in annoyance.

“Well, if you want to get married, it can be our home,” He replied with a smile.

“Like hell!” She exclaimed as she punched him in the face.

Martel rubbed his nose “Shiro, why don’t you take Caelia inside and show her around? You can either share a room or have one next to her depending on what you two want.”

“Okay,” Shiro replied cutely and exuberantly.

...

A couple of hours later, Caelia rested on a tree limb. She was a little uncomfortable with the current situation. It wasn’t that she was unfamiliar with a building style dwelling, but the size and luxuries daunted her. At least the forest was familiar to her.

As she sat there, felt the sun on her face, and the breeze on her skin, she noticed a presence as it approached her. When she looked down, she saw Martel.

“Enjoying the view?” He asked her.

“I’m just more used to the outdoors. What… What are you doing here?” She asked as she jumped down in front of him and looked away with a hint of embarrassment. Ever since she had realized her feelings for him, she would be unable to look him in the eye as she had become too aware of him. On top of this, she had a very innocent heart, but her body wasn’t as honest.

Her feelings would overwhelm her, and her mind would go blank as her desire to hold and be close to him took over. If what she felt was known by Martel, she would probably faint from embarrassment. Because of this, it was lucky that she didn’t know that he was aware.

Martel couldn’t help but feel her intense emotions no matter how much he desired to shut them out. He had started to train himself because he felt it was an invasion of privacy, but he could still feel them until then. That said, he couldn’t accurately pinpoint what she was feeling; he only knew that they were positive and contained joy. Even when he was with Freyja, who loved him dearly, he couldn’t pinpoint the feeling of love. Because of this, he theorized that love was a combination of a bunch of different positive emotions and was different from person to person. All love was a mix of positive emotions, but positive emotions didn’t mean love existed much less romantic love. As such, he didn’t assume that what Caelia felt towards him was love. Instead, he figured she had found him to be dependable, like a family member. 

He looked at her with soft eyes as she posed cutely. “Just looking for you. I was just wondering where you had gotten to.”

“I hope you don’t plan to keep me trapped inside that monstrous house.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Say, since we are out here, would you be up for some sparring?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I assume that you know how to fight.”

“Of course. My father taught me well.”

“So how do you fight?”

“Well, I know Gentle Touch.”

“That’s good. I’ve found it to be a convenient technique. However, only against those that are weaker than oneself. What else?”

“When I asked my father for a non-lethal fighting technique, he and some of the others trained me with the staff.”

“Really? Can you show me?”

“Well, I don’t mind, but I don’t my staff with me.”

“I see. Well, wait a moment.” He said as he looked in the direction of the mansion. After about ten seconds, Cali appeared from behind a tree. Caelia couldn’t help but be surprised as Cali had appeared apparently from nowhere. Expressionless as always, Cali skipped over to Martel and beckoned him. He bent over, and she whispered something to him.

A smile appeared on his face. “Okay, we’ll go over and do the introductions after this,” Martel said as he turned to Caelia. “Hold your hands open, palms facing out.” 

Caelia was confused but complied. Martel looked over to Cali, who turned into a black staff which landed into Caelia hands.

“I heard she could transform into weapons, but to see it in person. She seems very handy.”

“She is quite an efficient timesaver.”

“Thank you.” Cali disembodied voice replied from the staff.

“She can still talk?” Caelia asked with surprise.

“Wind Magic.”

“You can use Magic?”

“She is a sentiment fuel of Magic,” Martel replied. “She tends to only focus on transforming as it uses the least amount of strength. It does not create new things; rather, it uses what is already there.”

“I… I see. I’m not sure there is much point fighting against you.”

“It’ll be fine, just come at me seriously,” Martel said with a mischievous smile as he started to release his Ki.

“Fine,” Caelia said with a sigh as she took a stance and also released her Ki. She mentally prepared herself, then lunged at him with a flurry of attacks as a strike him again and again. In response, he either dodged completely or deflected it with his Ki reinforced arm. As they spared, a smile slowly appears on his face.

[Are you taking this seriously? You don’t seem like you even intend to attack me.] Caelia thought as she struck from above.

Then, Martel did something different. With relative ease, he snatched the staff before it struck him and held on tightly. “Excellent. You had very little consistency in your attacks, and they were all fast enough that I wasn’t confident that I could do that until I got used to the speed. I’m impressed.”

“I’m sure you are,” Caelia sarcastically replied as she tried to pull the staff from his grasp.

Without letting go, he let his arm move before he jerked it back.

“Whoa!” She exclaimed as she fell forward, spun around, and stumbled backward towards him. Before she hit the ground, Martel caught her. “Careful,” He said with a small grin.  

“You… You did that on purpose.” Said as she averted her gaze and her face becoming hot.

“Possibly,” He said as he gently lifted her. “Well then, there is someone I want you to meet if you don’t mind.”

“I understand,” Caelia replied as she began to follow him while Cali turned back her humanoid form.

“By the way, what types of Ki are you proficient with?” Martel asked while they walked.  

“I’m proficient in Manipulation and Reinforcement Ki.”

“Really? That is very convenient. I’m gonna have some special training for you.” He said with a mischievous smile.

Caelia made a sarcastic expression. “I’m looking forward to it.”

...

A short time later, they entered the mansion and made their way to one of the rooms. They heard Shiro’s enthusiastic voice as they entered the room.

“And then he told me to cover my ears, and I did! Then, he raised his hand, and lightning struck it. Boom, boom, boom!” Shiro recounted enthusiastically with big gestures to a young lady who sat next to her. The young lady was lovely and had a graceful aura. The bangs of her golden hair went between her eyes and wrapped around the left one until it rejoined the rest of her hair. 

“Then what happened?” The young lady asked with a hint of excitement as she both enjoyed the story and Shiro’s enthusiasm.

“Then he dashed to the side and pointed, and a big lightning bolt shot from his hand! It was so cool!” Shiro excitedly continued, which caused her to neglect the entrance of Martel, Caelia, and Cali.

“I didn’t realize that it left such a big impression on you, Shiro,” Martel said as he walked in.

Shiro ran over and gave him a big hug and adorable smile.

“Hello, Freyja,” Martel said to the young lady with a smile, which she returned. “Freyja, this is Caelia. Caelia, this is the eldest Princess of Camelot, Freyja.”

“Nice to meet you,” Caelia said.

“Likewise,” Freja replied.

“Now then, Martel.” She began as she made her way towards him. She pouted as she pinched his cheek. “Why is it every time you leave, you come back with a different girl?” She asked accusatorily.

“It couldn’t be helped. She is like a sister to Shiro.” Martel answered in a small panic.

Surprise comes over Freyja’s face as she looked over at Caelia, who was together with Shiro.

“I guess it can’t be helped,” Freyja said with a sigh as she gave up. “Caelia if you need anything just let me know.”

“Thank you very much, Princess,” Caelia replied.

Martel turned to Morgan. “Can you take care of the girls? There’s something I want to talk to Freyja about in private.”  

“G-go ahead,” Morgan said with an unprompted stutter. 

“Shall we go to the war room?” Martel asked Freyja after the others were out of earshot.

“Of course,” She replied.  

They walked side-by-side for a short while until she gently reached out to take his hand, which he greedily clasped. After the door to the room was closed, Martel turned to her and found her face rapidly approached his. They shared a gentle and pure kiss as they enjoyed the other’s warmth and affection. After, a small confused expression came over her face as she led him to sit down on the couch.

“What’s wrong?” She asked in a soft and gentle voice.

“That obvious?” Martel asked with a sigh.

“No, I just know you,” She said with a small smile.

He gently rested his head on her lap. “I’ve done something bad,” He said softly.

“Do you want to talk to me about it?”

“Only if you are willing to listen.”

She gently placed her hand on his head and began to gently stroke it. “Of course.”

After he had recounted what had occurred, he sat up and looked up at her.  

Freyja wore a gentle smile. “While I can’t say I approve of everything you did, I can tell you this.” She gently moved toward him, and their foreheads touched. “No matter what, you will always be My Hero.”

They moved together for a gentle, sweet, long kiss. A feeling of admiration, gentleness, and comfort enveloped Martel as he felt a weight lifted off of him. [I fell in love with a wonderful woman. One who will accept me for who I am. She truly is the place I belong.]

End of Day -171