Ridin' the wind, baby!
Minako
🎮Super High School Level Gamer: Chiaki Nanami🎮
Rosalina Chandra
You look away for a second and hang your head...
You're glad you're getting help to do this, but... How exactly are you supposed to do this?
First of all, how will you find them? Second, even if you do find one (by some miracle)... How will you know they bear a crest? Is it like a tattoo...? A tattoo that can be ANYWHERE on their body?
What if they're in a place that can be covered by clothes?! You can't just ask random people to strip!!
Your heart sinks and stomach lurches at the thought of just HOW ill-equipped you are to handle this situation...
You hardly have any skill sets at all, and you haven't even finished basic education in your world... And you made a good point earlier: A lot of your basic knowledge may not even help you here! You can't do this...
But do you really have a choice? If you don't you'll probably never get home and see your best friend or family ever again, and not only that but it looks like everyone in this kingdom (or worse, more than just the kingdom) will die!
You can't help but feel stuck between a rock and a hard place...
You consider asking him about trying to boost your phone magically, and you keep a mental note to remember to ask him later, when you two have more time to have gotten acquainted (and he's not just about to carry you over a whole kingdom) but decide ultimately that right this second might not be the best time.
While at first you figured it was just dumb luck he found you, you do now stop to consider that while he did explain his speed and such, he didn't mention how he was even nearby the forest entrance at the time or why he would be: If he needed wind magic to traverse simply from the Palace to the outskirts, why would the brother of the Emperor's advisor be there to start?
You start to feel just a tad uneasy, since you don't want to keep questioning him right now (though once you guys get talking with the Empress all bets are off...). You think he's a good, honest, and true person so far, but you only just met him a bit ago and you probably can't solidly make that judgement call (Plus, according to Corny who almost always has to babysit you, you are a horrible judge of character)...
Though while the lurch in your stomach from thinking about the Kingdom and your lack of capability to help it is strong... Nothing but good feelings come from actually thinking about just Elias as a person. He seems like the type to wear his heart on his sleeve.
Now that you think about it: Is Elias the next closest thing to royalty aside the Empress herself? If he's the brother of the Advisor then he must live in the palace, too, right? Is he treated like he's royalty as well? Does he have servants?
Though it's not impossible, to you, it seems unlikely such a sweet boy could come from such a pampered lifestyle, right? Well, it would explain his happy-go-lucky effervescence, but... His flaws seem his intelligence, naivety, and comprehension, not being spoiled rotten or self-centered... Augh! You just told yourself you barely know him and can't make these types of judgement yet!!
You decide since now isn't the time for any of this not to ask him such personal questions about his life either, and honestly it seems a bit unnecessary since you'll know his place in the palace practically as soon as you guys get there...
"Rosie...?" Comes Elias' voice, you look up instantly to see him staring at you worriedly.
You were spaced out the whole time you were sorting out your thoughts!! Ugh, you must look like such a ditz to him!
"A-ah! Uh-uhm, sorry about that! A-about carrying me... I-I'm a bit heavy, short and stuff as I am, haha... A-are you sure you wanna carry me? M-might be uncomfortable f-for, uhm, y-you..." You ask, choosing your words carefully so as not to insinuate to him you think he's weak or whatever (you can't tell with his long, loose clothing, but he seems to have a normal, if not lanky-ish, build, tall-ish as he is) but rather that you are chubby for your height (not that 115lbs is a lot, but to lift while using magic to fly across the kingdom is another story).
"Sure! I don't mind! And I don't think you look heavy at all!" He chirps back happily.
"Ahahahahahaha, you'd be surprised..." You mumble nervously, continuing the insinuation, but also partly happy he doesn't think you're fat...
Well, naturally, because if he did, he'd basically be saying his Empress is fat if she is your true splitting image, and already you know he wouldn't do that to her...
You really don't like where this train of thought is going!
Elias gives you that comforting, understanding, sympathetic smile like he did when you were both with Calliope, and you start to feel a little better about everything.
You know, as well as you can for being in another world you know next to nothing about while being practically alone in it aside 1 new friend.
"Hey..." He starts to say to get your attention again, no doubt because his hand must be getting tired from being extended for so long, while his smile and warmth didn't falter, he adds, "Do you trust me?"
"...Yes," You respond, and finally take his hand.
As he takes you into his arms as you accept his hand and carries you, you can help but look away and blush as a goofy grin now seems permanently etched on his face: He seems very happy with your decision to let him carry you!
Your eyebrows are raised so high you fear you may lose them as that line he said before this really did seem like it was from that movie... But before you could ask yourself if that made you the princess (or would the more accurate comparison be if that made the Empress the princess from that movie?) and him the pauper, that train of thought must be a bullet train because, upon remembering how you even GOT INTO THIS WORLD to start, you realize that you are going through the story of the book... and if this is as trope-y as you suspect it might be and Elias really isn't the heroine's love interest...
What's going to happen to him?
The thought of him dying broke your heart so much you felt sick to your stomach and just existing seemed to make you dizzy (though, that coulda just been going faster that you were used to while he's carrying you and riding the literal wind high-ish in the sky).
Sure, maybe it doesn't matter he's a character in this book, and you most assuredly do NOT have a boy or even a crush (those never ended well for you and swore those off last year...) so it's not like falling in love with him would be cheating on anyone, but... He's the only person that has been nice to you so far in this whole world (and honestly, aside your family and Corny he's high up there on the nice list even counting people in your world, too) you'd surely die if you were alone in... You already, at the least, consider him a friend (and definitely one of the better people earning that title aside, of course, Corny) and you... you don't want anything to happen to him!
You realize in this thought you're clinging to him harder and he chuckles, thank goodness, not reading your mind at all and thinking you're just scared of the speed and height (you haven't even paid attention to how high you are or anything since you kinda shut your eyes soon as you were in his arms).
...Crap. You really are going sweet on him.
You take a deep breath and try to keep things in perspective: You guys just met, you have to focus on finding the crest bearers, and its all in some book... Right now your growing crush you're trying to fight for several IMPORTANT (and some personal) reasons is not high on your list of priorities!
You realize while you are trying to strongly to keep things in perspective your breathing sounds like hyper-ventilating.
Elias looks at you and snickers a bit.
"Wh-what's s-so funny, m-mister?" You ask, pouting, hoping he's not thinking you're a total spazz or something.
"O-oh, s-sorry," He replies, sending butterflies in your stomach as now he seems to be the bumbling, shy one, explaining, "I-it's just... The empress and I, when we were little, used to play a lot of make-believe, and she can't use magic like I can, so when we wanted to go somewhere I'd have to carry her... Like I am with you now... I-it just brings me back to when we were children, is all."
His face has a slight blush, but you're unsure of how to feel about that all stemming from her. Well, almost unsure, it's definitely not a good feeling.
...Is it possible to be jealous of your supposed twin?
Wait... JEALOUS?!
Oh... Oh no...
You really don't want to be falling in love with him so soon and in this situation!
"Heh, sounds like you two have been really good friends a long time...I'm glad," You smile, despite everything, still happy he's had someone there for HIM the majority of his life.
"Mmmhmm! She's the best!" He cheers, now smiling with that carefree attitude that is his staple.
"Hey, uhm... S-sorry if this is a weird question, but... If I look so much like her... a-and even Calliope mistook me for her... How come YOU didn't think I was your Empress as well when you first saw me?" You ask, wanting to get that question off your mind.
"Hee hee! Silly Rosie, it sure did take me by surprise, but of course you couldn't actually be her! I know she's back in the palace, she can't sneak out without me, and I've never seen her wear your clothes before... I don't even know where she could get them!" He answered happily.
It makes sense: If he knew she was safely in her palace, she couldn't be in two places at once. And while you look like her, its probably safe to assume you aren't DRESSED like her. Calliope must have figured you were the Empress incognito. Elias knew better because he was with the Empress probably even right before he left for the woods (you make a mental note to remind yourself to ask him why he was there again...).
"R-right, got it," You weakly chuckle back, somehow feeling a slight pang in your chest as he said "you couldn't actually be her!"
It took a bit, but you're glad you accepted his ride in the end, as Auran Kingdom was big enough for it to be a bit of a walk. While this is seemingly more of a European (well, fantasy European) type setting... You can see why her title is EMPRESS and not Queen: This Kingdom is pretty huge!
You kinda wish you had had the time to look around and see all there is to see here, but also that might have taken the better part of a week, if not a month!
Now that you think about it, you wonder if they have calendars or something... how do they mark the passage of time? Sun dials for hours? Do they still use their moons lunar cycles for months?
You try to keep these questions in mind as you both start to land, surprisingly, in the middle of the palace!
Your breath is taken away with just the first glance, however: There is a large courtyard and reflecting pool the palace was seemingly built centered upon and the building itself seems like it is a combination of eastern and western architecture, of course with some other styles you imagine would only be seen in this fantasy like setting. There are some gorgeous flowers as well, though you've never seen them before (though one kiiinda looks like a bird of paradise with a different color scheme).
As soon as you two land some palace servants come and rush to the both of you, in an odd combination of freaking out and relieved.
"Elias!" One of them shouts as they run over to him, she has dark hair that is tinted red (odd, you wonder if most others or at least some others in the kingdom have odd colored hair as well?) and looks to be a little older than the two of you.
"Hi, Cora!" He greets back, almost chuckling, setting you down and waving at her.
"D-don't you "Hi Cora" Me--" She begins, irritated and exasperated when suddenly she notices you and gasps, "O-o-o-oh your highness! I keep telling you that you and Elias can't keep sneaking off like that and- Oh, what happened to your hair?! A-and where did you get those clothes?! What is that on your face?!"
She seems to be torn between disciplining you and clearly knowing she wasn't your mother. She must be a close, long time servant of the Empress.
"Actually, Cora, this isn't the Empress, she just looks like her!" Elias explains.
"Wh-what?! Bu- H-how?!" The stunned servant responds, unsure of how to react.
"This is the girl of prophecy from another world... I knew I'd find her eventually!" Elias cheers, making your stomach sink as he has waaaaayyy too much confidence in you.
"Ahahaha... H-hi... I'm Rosie..." You squeak softly with a nervous chuckle and small wave.
"...Also I have been meaning to ask you what is on your face as well..." Elias mutters cutely, almost giving you a pleading look with slightly pouted lips.
"Th-they're called glasses... They're to help people in my world see better when their eyes aren't 100% working..." You try to explain as best you can.
"Ooooh! So that's glass in there? Glass helps you see? Should I put some in my eyes, too?!" Elias gasps, apparently happy to be learning something new.
"N-no, please don't put glass in your eye, you'll cut it and hurt yourself..." You beg him, thinking maybe you should hold off on introducing him things from your world for his own physical health and safety.
"Wait, your eyes don't work 100%? Are you ok? Do you want my magic to heal you?" He asks, genuinely concerned about your eyes, disregarding personal space and getting really close to you to examine your face.
"I-it's fine! Don't worry about me! It's just a slight astigmatism!" You say, slightly pushing him away, hoping he didn't notice how red your face is.
"Elias! The Empress will want to see you and this girl right away if she is who you say she is!" Cora warns, trying to get both of you back on track, adding, "Ah! But perhaps I should go ahead and warn her of how... similar... this girl may be to her."
You notice that the guards that are passing by seem to be doing a double take, gaping at you no doubt wondering how the Empress went from one place to another and why she looks a little different in strange clothes. You think Cora going ahead to help ease the "blow" isn't a bad idea, at least until Elias speaks up disappointed.
"Awwww, I wanted it to be a surprise..." He almost whines.
"Elias, this isn't a game or something to be taken lightly! She needs to see you, now, and the less headaches and heart attacks the better!" Cora begs, looking at both of you.
You sigh exasperated, glad you took Elias up on his offer to use air magic to travel here, so you're not as tired (despite what you may have missed) as you would normally have been. It seems like they're looking to you to decide on what to do now: Do you want Cora to let the Empress know you're her twin ahead of time or play along with Elias to surprise her?
>>INPUT COMMAND<<
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