Neon Cavaliers

Chapter 14: Castal Kingdom

We arrived at the Castal port and got off the ship. The smell of sea salt filled the air as I looked out to the large castle in the middle of the town. While I was looking around, I noticed someone walking toward me.

"Are you Alexander Durham?"

"Yeah."

The person was a 24-year-old demi-human fox wearing a dark-blue dress with arm sleeves, fingerless gloves, and black boots. She had dark skin, orange hair, eyes and ears, a dark black tail with a silver coloring on the tip, and a height of 5'7.

"Is Selena with you?"

I was about to say something when Selena put her hand on my shoulder.

"Stand aside, Alex."

I moved and let Selena walk past me as the women walked forward. They glared at each other and laughed.

"Good to see you again, Selena."

"Same to you, Yuutsuna."

Yuutsuna looked at me and leaned near her ear.

"So, is that your boyfriend?"

"No! What makes you think that?!"

"Then you don't mind if I take him?"

Selena's face turned slightly red, and Yuutsuna chuckled slightly.

"I'm kidding. You know I'm not into men."

Yuutsuna asked all of us to follow her to the castle to speak with the queen.

"Who is that, Selena?"

"My friend Yuutsuna Kagemori. We've known each other since we were kids and my rival."

"Rival?"

"She's a great swordsman, almost as good as me. Almost."

"Is she the friend you asked to investigate Hartdall?"

"Yeah."

I said wow quietly, and Yuutsuna smiled.

"I'm also known as The Melanic Fox."

"You heard me from here?"

"Of course. I'm a fox. I can hear everything from 40 yards away, even the slightest whisper."

We entered the castle and walked to the queen's throne room.

"Queen Hikari, I brought the Neon Cavaliers and their companions."

The queen bowed as we did the same.

"Thank you, Yuutsuna. You can go now."

Yuutsuna bowed and left the room.

"My name is Queen Hikari, sister to Queen Tiffani and I-"

"Wait, your sisters to Queen Tiffani?!"

I nudged Connor on the shoulder, telling him to be quiet.

"Yes. My sister's full name is Tiffani Hikari, and I am Hatanaka Hikari."

I told Connor to apologize for interrupting her, but the queen said there was no need. She then explained to us how several islands, big and small, have mysteriously disappeared into the ocean and how there have been reports of a sea serpent.

"I want you and your comrades to stop this sea serpent. It appears to be going into a pattern and will strike us next. My scout's out in the ocean have spotted it in the northernmost islands. You understand my plan?"