Jordan has always strive to be as good as a person can be ever since she was young. That is by helping those who are in need or offer to tutor those who are weak in studies or even defending the weaklings from school bullies.
One day, she had to pi...
We have been travelling for a few days while disguising ourselves as ordinary people. Mikael has to be hidden in the carriage with a worried Leonardo and a recovering Luna since he can't hide his huge wings. Elena is driving the horses to the Oppenheim League's headquarters with Sunny as a personal GPS.
Me, on the other hand, is still in a snake form so Sunny hides me under a somewhat hoodie. It's unfortunate that it's boiling when it's daytime, but beggars can't be choosers. We had to stop by the woods for toilet break and meal times. Fortunately for us all, Mikael is good at hunting for game and Sunny utilises her skills from her previous job at the cafe to make decent food.
Rengie and Tert promised Sunny to keep their mouths sealed when they sent us off with the medications needed for Luna. Luna woke up not long after we reached Rengie's tea shop and instantly burst into tears when she remembered Geronimo's sacrifice. Now the close friends grieve together in the carriage while Elena and Sunny takes charge on transporting everyone to safety.
Sunny has been very quiet the entire time, which greatly worries me. I hate the fact that I can't give her my verbal assurances and have to rely on the comfort of touch.
"Have you ever thought of staying on Earth forever?" Elena asks softly, watching my best friend carefully.
Sunny jerks in surprise at the question. I also open my slit eyes to listen to their conversation. My best friend is aware that I am eavesdropping since she runs her hands on my scales.
"Of course, I am future queen and it is my duty," Sunny responds defensively.
The foreign princess shakes her head. "Not Earth Kingdom. I meant the planet Earth... You seemed to really miss that planet when talking about the people and culture there."
I close my eyes as I think about the family I was forced to leave behind. I try to avoid thinking about how my family is handling my disappearance and can only hope that they would move on quickly. My life came with the price of never being able to see them again.
I miss Joshua so much.
Sunny doesn't answer the question. She doesn't need to. Instead, she focuses the conversation towards the foreign princess. "Why did you decide to attend Caeli Academy? Isn't it an institution for warriors and fighters?"
Elena shrugs while carefully evaluating our surrounding. "I suppose your sister and I have similar thoughts. As third-in-line for the throne, I'm not as important as my brother and won't inherit the crown if he has children. It's a fact that everyone knows and I'm glad that I'm not gaining that responsibility, yet I want to contribute to my Kingdom. Unlike any other princesses, I find joy in collecting and utilising intelligence for national security."
Sunny's speechless from Elena's little reveal. "Is that why you were so interested in Earth's advanced technology?"
The young warrior grins. "What gave it away?"
"Oh I don't know... maybe your intense fascination over the CIA and the Internet to stalk anyone virtually."
Elena giggles in embarassment. "Right, CIA. Central..."
"Central Intelligence Agency," Sunny continues for her. Her smile betrays her amusement. The both of the fall into a comfortable silence. I can see that Elena is trying very hard to keep the conversation going and is really interested in my best friend.
I wonder...
"So when did you learn to cook so well?" Elene asks, fidgeting a little on the rope connected to the horses.
Sunny smiles faintly. "I worked part-time at a cafe when I was on Earth and there are days where the kitchen was overwhelmed by orders so I help them out whenever I can."
The Wind Princess stares intensely at my best friend, which makes the latter blush.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Sunny asks, avoiding eye contact. To distract herself, she plays with the tip of my tail and admire my scales.
"You're going to be one of the best Queen this nation will have, ya know," Elena states casually.
I internally roll my eyes and cough sarcastically through our mindlink. "You're so whipped," I say mentally, not expecting Sunny to hear me.
Instead, her head snaps to me in a whip with wide shocked eyes.
"Oh my Gods! Jordan? Did you just say something?" she yells excitedly.
Elena looks at us in confusion while it takes me a while to process the fact that she heard my little comment.
"Say something," Sunny demands impatiently.
"I said you're so whipped," I tell her, trying to grin in my snake form. Snakes don't smile though.
"I'm not!" she hisses back but her deeper blush says otherwise. Her body is still thrumming in excitement at the fact that we can now communicate after a few weeks of silence.
"What did she say?" Elena asks curiously.
"Not - nothing," my best friend responds instantly.
I try to cough awkwardly as obviously as I can, which earns a concerned look from Elena and a glare from Sunny.
"I miss you so much," Sunny says mentally, stroking my face now. "I'm sorry for everything..."
"I've always been here, Sunny," I gently assure her. "I understood everything and I'm grateful for you saving me. It's okay."
With that, Sunny breaks down into silent tears. She tries her best to keep her sobs quiet, which doesn't fool Elena as she keeps casting us a frown. Almost as if on instinct, my body transforms into the same cat that I've been comfortable with.
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I suspect that the animal form that fits Sunny the most is a cat, which is why I frequently transform into it and I don't mind the change.
Sunny hugs my fluffy body to her as she hides her blotchy face into my thick fur. I purr while I comfort her mentally with words to ease the guilt that she's been carrying for weeks.
Elena doesn't speak until we stop the carriage once again for dinner. By tomorrow, we will finally reach Oppenheim League and hope this whole madness will end.
