Whispers of the Sky (Hunter X Hunter)

Amaranths X And X A Surprise

The past has long hands, my child.
Wherever you hide, it will find you...
-*-

"You said it was a treasure hunt but you never told us back at the restaurant what treasure it was." Gon recalled, making Yllina nod before answering. "Well, Rhode was being careful so we had to lay low."

"Careful? Careful of what?" This time it was Killua who asked.

"Do you know of a kingdom called Soevenia?" Yllina trudged carefully, knowing well that she was getting closer to the very question she had avoided many times to answer.

When neither of the two replied, she sighed while trying her best to control her fingers from fidgeting due to nervousness. It would have been so much easier if Rhode was with her but she had already made it this far, she might as well finish it til the end.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I'm the last remaining royalty of that said Kingdom?" She tried with another question, dropping the bomb like that made her wonder if it was the right decision. Looking from Gon and then to Killua who both stared at her blankly, she wondered if she made a mistake of telling them too soon without consulting Rhode.

"I-Is that why she called you Mistress? But I thought Rhode was your sister?!"

"Wait. You're not surprised? Or even suspicious that I could be lying?"

"You should've known by now that Gon isn't one to judge you based on what your status is. He's odd that way and I guess that's what attracts people to him like a moth to a flame," Killua reminded her to which Yllina sighed with a smile.

"I seem to forget that."

"So you're a princess from a country no one's heard of? Unlike Gon who'd believe you at face value, I still have my doubts about you. I mean you look nothing like a princess!"

To any normal person, one would've been offended at the comment Killua made. In fact, even Rhode would have whacked him on the head by now for disrespecting her title and yet for Yllina- she was quite grateful.

That for once, she had come across people who not only didn't mind that she was of royalty but even considered her as normal as any human being went. Back home, her very family had been worshipped like deities and Yllina hated every second of it. She was just as human as the ones who worshipped her and yet when she showed this side of her they would only shy away.

So yes, in a way, Killua's off-handed remark was more reassuring than insulting.

"Then I'd like to keep it that way, Killua," Yllina admitted, which was enough to silence Killua.

It wasn't like he was doubting her for real. Even if he hadn't heard of this 'Soevenia' kingdom she spoke of, Killua knew that the emblem both she and her partner wore were proof enough that they weren't just cons out to trick people.

She was just as honest as Gon was, Killua hypothesized that it was probably this supposed danger that she had mentioned that prevented her from elaborating further about her identity.

"Well, now that you've been open about yourself, is it safe to assume that those chasing you both have stopped?" Killua queried, a grim look settling on Yllina's face at the question.

"I don't know. But they should be, seeing as Rhode did do a good job of faking our death."

"You ran away? But why?" Gon's questions could only make Yllina smile bitterly, the meaning behind it lost to both boys.

"That's why we have to become hunters. Rhode and I have done a cowardly deed to run away from responsibility but if I find the Immortal Flower then maybe we can return home without being branded as traitors."