Spirit Chronicles: A New Beginning

S2 EP 3: Problems for the Wanted

Rio, Celia, Lafita, Sera, Alma, Aisha, and Orphia were all in the house, getting ready for sleep. This would be the first night that Rio had been back to the Beast Village and he hoped that it wouldn't go wrong.

Walking into the Kitchen to grab some water, he noticed someone already there. Messy white hair in a blue jumpsuit who was getting some water as well. "Celia? You getting some stuff too?"

Celia jumped from surprise and turned around with a look of annoyance. "Rio, don't ever do that again! I thought you were someone from the kingdom who was here to take me back! And yes, I'm getting water before we decide where everyone is sleeping." Rio was almost worried she would attack him until she calmed down. "So, did you prefer life in the kingdom or here?"

Rio didn't quite understand the question as it seemed a little odd. Life in the kingdom or in the village. "Well life in the kingdom wasn't bad aside from the constant bullying, but here feels more like home to me now. That, and where my grandparents are." Rio almost told her of him being a prince, but decided to keep that quiet to avoid any unnecessary praise.

"I see..." she mumbled. "I wish I could have done more to help you so you would have felt a little better staying there." Rio looked at Celia and her guilt ridden face and felt bad. He knew that she would have rather he had stayed in the kingdom with her and her not been forced to marry Charles Arbour, but it just wasn't his true home.

Rio put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. She seemed confused at the situation, but he didn't care. "You have nothing to feel guilty about, Professor. You were one of the few people who cared for me."

Celia laughed at his statement. "I thought I told you to stop calling me professor, Rio." Rio almost thought this was going to be the best moment since he had got back, until he saw eyes watching them from the corner. Noticing he saw them, the eyes disappeared in the dark.

"Someone saw that? They probably got the wrong idea of what's happening here..."

"Uh, I'd better get my water and see everyone else." Celia said, pulling away. Rio guessed she knew someone had seen them as well and was just as embarrassed as he was.

"Same..."

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"So, is everyone here to discuss rearrangement of rooms?" Sara asked.

"Yes"

"Yes!"

"Sure."

"Here!"

"Present"

"We're all here, Sara." Rio assured. It was time for the seven of them to figure out how living conditions would work under this time. If Rio's new group was going to stay here for a few years at least, they would need some order around the house.

"Ok then." Sara sighed. "Well, the four Demi-beasts of this house have talked and decided. With only six rooms, we needed to change some stuff up. I'll take room one, Alma in room two, Orphia in room three, Lafita in room four, Aisha in room five, and Rio will share room six with Celia."

"WHAT"

"That would be fi- Wait! What in the world?!" Celia was panicking and Rio knew for a fact what had happened now. One of the other five had seen Celia and Rio hugging in the kitchen and thought it would be a good idea to put them in the same room.

"I think it's a great arrangement." Aisha complemented.

"So she's in on this as well?"

"Rio, are you okay with this?" Celia asked. Rio knew she wanted him to reject the idea, but at this point it was too late. There was only one thing he could come up with...

"It's fine." Rio assured, making Celia jump. Then, he whispered something in her ear so the others wouldn't catch it. "There's a couch in that room that I can sleep on while you take the bed."

Celia gave a light nod and the group headed off to their own rooms. On the way, Celia stopped Rio in the hallway and was looking at him, blushing. "Are you sure this will be ok?"

"It's fine." Rio said, clinching her hands. "Although I'm annoyed that one of them oversaw what happened in the kitchen. The problems of being a wanted criminal..." Celia laughed and the two headed into the room.

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"So... warm. There's something hugging me and it feels nice. Is it Lafita hugging me? What's happening right now?" It was the morning and the second day of Rio being in the village. Today, he and the others would go out into the village and help for the upcoming festival. Rio's first one had been interrupted by Wyverns, so this would be interesting. "I should get up and prepare."

Opening his eyes, Rio saw the ceiling above him and the side of the couch. Yet, something still clung to him like glue. Hands wrapped around his waist. "So Lafita did come in here to sleep with big brother?"  Rio looked over his should and saw... white hair? Celia?! "What in the..."

"Gngh" Celia said, snoring next to Rio.

"She's hugging me... on the couch? It's so tight that I can't even move! What were you thinking when you did this, Professor? I'm doomed!"  Rio knew he couldn't leave the situation due to the fact he would wake Celia up and start a fuss, but this was still really embarrassing!

When Celia did wake up, Rio had to fake he was asleep to avoid problems. "I don't know why, but something tells me these are going to be a long three years..."

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When Rio was finally able to leave the house alone, he decided to check in on Miharu, Aki, and Masato. He didn't know what they had so far thought of the situation here in the Beast Village, but he still wanted to know. "I also want to know what happened when they were summoned here. It was strange enough for the people of the world."

Rio had placed the rock house at the edge of the village, so it would take a while for him to make it there. "Maybe I should grab some breakfast for them before heading there..."

RUSTLE RUSTLE

"Huh?" The bushes next to Rio had moved, even if only for a second. "Hello? Is someone there? If so, come out in an orderly fashion. This doesn't need to go anywhere!" Nothing happened as the bushes stopped moving and not another sound was made. "Maybe I was imagining things..."