Spirit Chronicles: A New Beginning

S2 EP 6: A Mission

"And that is how the journey all around has been for I in the past year." Rio told his grandma and cousin. After leaving his home for a whole year, Rio had been asked by the Demi-Beasts to take Flora and Celia to this place to make some bonds. Since he had arrived, he had been at a giant gathering between the village and found it reassuring that nothing much had changed since he'd left.

"That's so cool!" Rio's cousin, Ruri, exclaimed. "Seems like you've had quite the past year of work! Saving girls from unwanted weddings, hiding in Beast villages! I wish that could do such things!" Ruri hugged Rio, and for some reason both Celia and Flora looked him with burning eyes.

"It is indeed very impressive, Rio." Yuba agreed. "And it is good to see you again with some company, eh?" She laughed and Rio already knew that this was going to go downhill very fast.

"It's since to meet you, Rio's family." Flora bowed politely.

"Well it is since to meet you as well, Princess Flora." Yuba said, bowing as well. "I see that you must have had some trouble fleeing your own kingdom. Fear not though, for we will take good care of you while you remain here." Yuba gave her a light smile, while Flora returned quickly.

"So, what do we do in your village now that we're here?" Celia asked, turning the attention to her. "You have a festival going on and I wouldn't want us to intrude on anything, Chief Yuba." Rio noticed that Celia and Flora were shaking and knew they felt nervous. Before, both came from high families and had never experienced something like this.

"Do what you like." Yuba said, looking at Rio. "Maybe you could take them by people around the village and introduce them. And by the way, Celia and Princess Flora, you may want to loose the proper language here."

Celia and Flora nodded to Yuba, and Rio too them out of the main tent and onto the festival. "It happened yet again! What a perilous predicament I find myself in! Even Chief Yuba believes that this is a triangle for the ages!"

"So, who are we going to greet first, Sir Rio?" Flora asked. "Did you have someone in mind?"

"Well my other grandparents are here, but it may be best to get in touch with them later..." Rio mumbled. "So I guess I could take you... by Shin and Sayo..."

"Is something the matter, Rio?" Celia asked.

"Nothing really. I just don't exactly have a perfect bond of friendship with Shin and a Sayo. Last time I saw them, we had a bit of a problem fiesta." Rio sighed as he knew seeing them now would be a bit of a problem. The last time he'd seen them, Sayo had confessed her love to him, which he had declined and made problems with her brother, Shin. It wasn't like Rio didn't like Sayo, it was just he couldn't do it! And now, if they saw him with two new girls, they like everyone else would think something completely wrong!

"What are Shin and Sayo like?" Flora asked in awe. "Are they like that awful Alphonse Rodan? If so, I don't want to have me getting anywhere near them!"

"Agreed!" Celia chimed in. "People like that are so crude."

"I understand..." Rio replied. "But who in the world is Alphonse Rodan? Did you make some new friends or something when I was away?" Rio wondered who they could be talking about, for he saw no one of their description in the kingdom when he had come to take Celia from her unwanted wedding.

Flora tilted her head to Rio in dismay. "Alphonse Rodan was the boy who always bullied you at the academy until he even got you kicked out! How could you not remember a scum like him, Sir Rio?"

"I guess it just isn't clicking." Rio admitted. When Rio was in the academy, he'd mostly ignored most faces except a few like Celia's and Flora's. No name of Alphonse Rodan was clicking for him, so maybe he just had bad memory or something. Celia sighed and Flora laughed as the three walked to find Shin and Sayo. "Anyway, these two aren't jerks... I just kind of have an awkward relationship with them at the moment. Still, I'm sure Sayo will probably be ok with seeing me."

Flora and Celia nodded and Rio froze in place. "Something wrong, Sir Rio? What happened? You just stopped?" Rio would have told them, but something in him froze. "I guess they're here..."

"Rio?" Shin said, seeing him in the flesh. "Rio! How you been, man!" Shin ran up to Rio and gave his shoulder a friendly punch. Meanwhile, Sayo stayed behind her brother, shaking. Rio could see the shock in her eyes from seeing Rio back in her village. Especially after last time...

"How have you been, Shin?" Rio asked, turning his gaze away from the amazed yet scared girl. "It's been quite a while since I've been here. Have you and Sayo been doing well? I hear that it's been quite a predicament for the people of this village lately."

"Indeed." Shin laughed. "But thanks to chief Yuba, we should be ok for the meantime. So, you never answered my questioning, Rio. What have you been on doing in your past year? Any tales?" Rio told Shin of what had been happening since he'd left and he listened in awe. "No wonder you look worn. If you need, you could rest for a while."

"Thanks." Rio said to him. "So, how have you been doing, Sayo?" Rio turned to the still shivering girl and smiled. "I wonder if she's still feeling awkward about what happened. I know I am indubitably."

"F-Fine." Sayo murmured.

"You may want to talk some to her while your here, Rio." Shin growled. "She didn't exactly take your rejection all that well." Rio nodded and the five walked around the festival until days end...