Later that evening, Rei and the party are resting themselves up from today's long walk. All of them are now occupying around a campfire that they constructed in a circle. The search for their allies, Shokei and Antoinette, is at a standstill and they thought it would be best to find the Bloodstrike's cn tomorrow.

  "So, Obsidian," Tamiko said. "Tell us more about yourself."

  "I am just an adventurer that is searching for an ancient treasure that is found somewhere on this pnet."

  Obsidian said to the party.

  "Really?" asked Rei.

  "Yep." nodded Obsidian. "This treasure is very special that I'm looking for and because that it's valuable, the location for the treasure is hidden somewhere in this pnet."

  "...pnet?" Marie asked, confused to what he meant.

  "Right, we are on Nolea." Rei tells her. "Did you forget?"

  "Oh yeah...I recall now." Marie taps her head. "Silly me."

  "Judging by your clothes, you're different from us." Sadako said, checking out his outfit. "Where exactly are you from?"

  "I'm from the other side of this world, Pnet Zibato." Obsidian said to the party.

  "Wow...that's far." Marie said and blinked.

  "Figures because you are different from us." Rei said, folding her arms. "You might as well tell us more about yourself."

  "I will." Obsidian nodded. "I live very far from here and I am originally from a pce called Judabias. I was a member from a group of adventures, seeking for a legendary treasure. Came that one fateful day, a tragic separation happened to me. My group was killed by a powerful Necromancer and his creations were destroying civilization in Judabias. Before the minute I knew my life was on the line, I escaped death by heading for the Sanctuary to flee and reach on Nolea. Since my escape, I continued to travel far from that point in the snowy arctic area of Antatreos. Right now, I now reside in the snow city of Pontalus."

  "...that's quite a long story." Rei said after hearing Obsidian's story.

  Obsidian nodded.

  "It's sad that you lost your friends. You still miss them, right?" Rei asked.

  "Very much." Obsidian said sadly. "I was really close to all of them. All that and their lives lost by powerful monsters that I never seen before."

  "Awww, I feel bad for you." Marie said with symphony.

  "At least you met us." Saeko said to him with a smile. "We are your new friends now."

  "Oh of course! I like meeting new people." Obsidian said.

  "Well," Kichiro said with a yarn and walks off from the fire. "It's getting te. I'm going to get some sleep."

  "Me too." Marie said, feeling sleepy. "My legs feel too tired from all that walking."

  "Yet you have been compining about this over and over!" Rei shouted at her.

  "Geez! What's your point?" Marie rudely asked her.

  "Forget it! I'm out to go sleep! Nite!" Rei said, completely ignoring her and tucks in to sleep immediately.

  "Sheesh!" Marie pouted but decided not to make it a big deal and went to sleep.

  The party all went to sleep and then campfire died out shortly afterwards.

  On the same night, Shokei and Antoinette could not sleep yet. It was dark inside their cell and the moon, now shining brighter, was the only avaible light for them to see each other. The Bloodstrike cn is asleep in their tents while they have some guards outside keeping watch.

  Shokei and Antoinette were looking up at the skies through the small window, where the moon and the stars are shining brightly.

  "The stars are beautiful." Antoinette said. "Even through a small window, it's still beautiful."

  "They are." Shokei said.

  "Every night, before I go to sleep, I enjoy star gazing." Antoinette said. "I can imagine myself with the stars and never want it to end."

  Both girls are gazing out at the window, staring at the stars. In a few minutes, the silence between girls broke again.

  "Say, let's talk about something." said Antoinette.

  "What's that?" Shokei asked.

  "Hmm, I know." Antoinette came up with a topic. "How about...retionships?"

  "Sure." Shokei blinked. "That's fine by me."

  "Before I get myself into detail, are you currently in a retionship?" asked Antoinette.

  "Nahhh." replied Shokei. "Actually, someone that I used to had in my life is not with me anymore."

  "I see..."

  "Hold up now!" Shokei interrupted her. "Why are you asking me this question?"

  Antoinette paused when she heard Shokei spoke to her in a disturbed way. Shokei was about to say something but takes note on the princesses's finger. There she sees a shiny ring, which apparently looks like an engagement ring. Antoinette sees her looking at her right and has her eyes on Shokei's face.

  "I...I should admit that I am engaged with someone at the moment..." Antoinette said to her.

  "I see..." Shokei said, clearing her throat.

  "Just that..." Antoinette turned her face from Shokei. "I am...how should I say it...trapped in this retionship. And I truly, truly, hate him."

  Shokei listened.

  "Ok, I know this is complicated, but I know that it would be best to bring this up." Antoinette said and then asked. "Can I expin everything about this please?"

  "...go ahead..." Shokei nodded slightly.

  "Here goes..." Antoinette begins. "I cannot stand men. No, in fact, I am someone who hates men in general. With that new King, I was forced to be paired with random men that would be my soon-to-be husbands. Rather than decent ones, I ended up being forced with low-life, ugly ones. I refused to be kissed by any of these vile men that I was forced into. Now I find myself in the hands of this creepy bastard that I'm stuck with. I cannot bear to marry him...and now I am confined with this cursed ring that's on my finger!"

  "One time," she continued. "I was physically vioted by him because I refused to give in to his carnal needs. Here..."

  Antoinette shows a mark to Shokei by the arm that caused her suffering. The bruise mark was visible to her eyes.

  "I can still remember that night. I found myself in a hellish nightmare and my life was at stake by the hands of him."

  Hearing all this made Shokei feel sad for her. Imagining the princess going through a struggle, Shokei can see through her eyes that she has been through.

  "I'm terribly sorry to hear this." Shokei sadly said.

  Antoinette nodded and sighed. "I should admit another thing to you."

  "What's that?" Shokei asked.

  "As far as guys hurt me the most," Antoinette continued. "I have to admit that I have thoughts on girls. When it comes to girls around me, I feel much safer and more comfortable. I know, and probably you too, find that us women can develop friendships easier in my opinion."

  "True...but that's only your opinion." said Shokei.

  "Know what?" Antoinette looks up at Shokei. "I have been thinking about this for quite some time now. And I've came to my sense of questioning."

  "What is it?" asked Shokei.

  "What if..." Antoinette takes a slight breath and asked. "...what if I kissed a girl for once?"

  Silence came to the cell and Shokei blinked. The conversation made a sudden turn and then Shokei takes the princess's hand and pats on the back of her hand.

  "If I can make a confession, can I go ahead and get it off my chest?" she asked Antoinette.

  "...sure." Antoinette replied.

  "I was into someone back then," Shokei begin. "Ever since I had my heart broken, I just don't have that same feeling anymore. Not that I have a grudge on men, I still find them trustworthy as friends and that's that. Who I want to be with really does not matter. For me, as long as I am happily attracted with someone, I'll feel more satisfied as long as that desired one treats me right."

  "However," she continued. "There are times that I feel very lonely, and I really hate being alone. Feeling alone makes me wonder if no one would ever accept me as a being, by my appearance and looks. I find it hard at times if I were ever to fall in love with someone ever again."

  Antoinette hears everything to what Shokei has to say. Shokei sees the princess staring at her. The princess looks very calm and rexed from the conversation they are having.

  "Shokei," said Antoinette. "I-I feel much safer with you here."

  "Really?" asked Shokei.

  "From what you're saying to me now, I feel better knowing that you are here with me." Antoinette said with a slight blush.

  "Well...hehe..." Shokei ughed a little. "But we only knew each other for two days."

  "I know." Antoinette nodded. "Even if we are trapped in a cell together..."

  Shokei takes this moment to get a sense of what was happening. The princess has her eyes set on her the whole time. Shokei was aware of what the princess was doing.

  Is it me...or the princess has a thing towards me? Shokei thought, tracing her mindset in the back. She has a face that looks innocent of a child. Then again, there is no way that she has an affection for me. Where is this going? What does she see inside of me?

  "Shokei..." Antoinette gets her attention.

  "Uhh, yes?" Shokei blinks and looks at her.

  "I have a request for you." said Antoinette.

  "What's that?" asked Shokei.

  "I..." the princess thinks for a minute. She then looks up to her and asked, "What would happen if I were to kiss you?"

  "...on the lips?" Shokei points out her lips.

  "Why...yes. I mean, yes, I want to experience it. A test for myself." Antoinette said to her.

  Shokei was about to say something, but then she thinks about this for a minute.

  Does she really mean it? thought Shokei. A touch of love that I can imagine. But...is she that serious about it? Hmm...

  "Look at me..." Shokei said to her.

  Shokei looks deep in the eyes of the princess. Antoinette did the same as she looks carefully in the eyes of the blonde-haired girl. Staring each other, their eyes gazing deeply through their souls.

  Antoinette...she's so beautiful...but I've know her for only two days...how is this happening?

  Not knowing, the girls move closer to each other before their lips could meet. Soon, the lips are connected as Shokei closed her eyes to kiss Antoinette on the lips. Holding up her chin, Shokei brings herself closer to her to fulfill the princess's request. The kiss was passionate as the girls locked lips again while feeling each other's breaths. A few minutes in and the kiss was broken up.

  After all that, Antoinette turned away from Shokei and she blushed. Never had she experienced being kissed by an opposite sex for the first time. Shokei slightly smiled and looks at her face. Antoinette did not say anything, but quietly had a lit smile.

  I cannot tell if the princess has feelings for me...but for her to experience this moment, she must be blessed to have what she wanted... Shokei thought to herself.

  "...we should go to bed right now." Antoinette said to Shokei.

  Shokei nodded. Both girls shared the small bed, and they lie together. Shokei felt the princess holding her from behind as Antoinette smiled with a tear in her eye, satisfied by her request. Soon, the girls fell asleep.