Royal Conversation

Nasu was not sure where Amara would be until he heard her voice, was she there already? A good coincidence. He chanced to choose the balcony entrance because he felt like it was the most discreet one without having to raise eyebrows should people know about his ascension, nevertheless, once he stepped inside his mind was ruled by a mixture of curiosity and confusion. He could understand that she chose to send everyone else out, but on the other hand when he happened to actually see Amara, and then the room from within, he was… very confused.

He turned around and once more took a peek outside of the balcony, but he did not actually ‘gaze’ at the balcony itself but apparently at its position. Nasu blinked shortly before he just leaned back inside once more.

“Strange. I am pretty sure this is the balcony from whence Rosemary and I fell while beating each other up. And I am very confident this was no bedroom.”

The man pressed a finger into his own temple, no matter how much he tried to recall the thought the very same image would pop into his mind. Yeah, he had no idea if there had been any changes to the palace as of late, he did not really care about it but he did feel sorry for having intruded so boldly. Probably he did not have to care at all, but he still had some of that Knight etiquette and all that.

“My apologies. I was not sure if the entrance was fine. I remained quiet with myself alone to recover from that injury, so I have no idea exactly what kind of knowledge the people have and I have no desire in being swarmed by fanatics and madmen.”

Alas his very father was one of those, therefore he had very good reason not to want the fame related to being a Super Saiyan. Sadly he could not stop anyone that was there that day from divulging information.

“Yeah. I am… normal. Yeah. I would say that. I can become ‘yellow’ at will, if I think about that time. Thankfully I do not have those insane moments Lottus had; those were his own alone.”

Figures now that he was dead, he wondered if his mind could at least find some manner of peace or if his soul alone was yet in pain. It was not something that he could ever discover, however, so he did not give it too much thought.

“Anyhow. I did anticipate a possible visit, I believe. First, I would offer proper thanks. Without your help I doubt I would be standing here to begin with, and second I was anyhow curious to meet the Queen. True, I admit I was wildly interested in that remark about you returning from the dead. But something tells me that it might either not be something that grand as you hinted or perhaps you would keep it a secret. One way or another, I would hear it from you rather than keeping to my own speculations.”

It was not just about ‘returning from the dead’. For a time Nasu searched for Amara when Cheri did not know whether she was hiding or had potentially perished by the hands of the same people that allegedly killed Garrick. So he was at least curious to hear if that even happened at all.

WC: 566
Total WC: 958

Oh. So apparently there was a huge change to the layout. Again none of it would be stuff that he could have possibly known, so he guessed it was not much but luck that he just happened to stumble into the one correct room. But to be fair, he did not even remember where he used to sleep when he was yet enthralled to the demonic magics, maybe in the storage. Ah whatever, old times that were meant to be swept away to make space for new days and stories to be told.

Of course Nasu was also quite relieved to hear the news of the Super Saiyan. It looked like he was relatively safe from the attention for the days to come, he could keep watching out for Hatchi and also continue his travels around the galaxy to yearn for self-improvement and look out for his friends that struggled on other worlds without being dragged in some weird political dramas on Plant.

“I doubt it will last long, do not worry. If what I have been told is real, the vacuum of power Lottus and I have created will soon rub off on the rest of the galaxy. Soon we will have more Super Saiyans, Super Tuffles and whatever else is out there. But still, I admit I am glad I do not have to deal with that temporary fame.”

While Amara would not give herself much credit, he insisted that of course she lent him a great hand a couple of times.

“You did help me. Both me and the city that I swore I would protect. Victory is all the more reason for me to recognize your part in it.”

He was kind of curious when she mentioned the part about Cheri’s trust, what did she know about it? As far as Nasu believed, he had done a perfect job playing the part of the stalwart Knight from the shadows, maybe Cheri told her about him?

“I assume you spoke with Cheri.”

The man could only respond with a solemn nod.

“You have my word. Details shall not leave this room.”

WC: 355
Total WC: 1,313

Nasu was mostly very confident of this result because he had heard the Shinjin’s teachings before and while of course he did not trust them naively because of their self-imposed good nature, he believed there was some truth to it. Ever since these few individuals had been reaching higher levels of power, so too did new people arise to higher levels of power with ease.

“I also hope that would not be what we end up facing, but I believe Lottus and I must have left some vacuum of power. One that will soon stretch enough and be more easily accessible. Hard times await surely. But we must at least be thankful we still live to see the morrow.”

Amara spoke of experiments to reach such levels of power, that alone he expected to bear some results. She was one of the few to feel the power firsthand and of course, there was also the very theory he just stated to her. Surely not anyone could just so easily turn into a Super Saiyan, but the very few that had the skills to reach such levels would surely be able to, in his opinion at least.

Nasu nodded briefly when she mentioned that she might have spoken with Cheri. Cheri was a grown woman and… wait what? Nasu’s eyes widened and stayed frozen for a moment, embarrassment reached him into the head before he just rested his forehead into the palm of his hand, fingers pinched the bridge of his nose.

“R-right… Pray do not mistake, I would not try to take your father's place. Your mom cares for you and I would rather see that you thrive for all’s sake. I had to deal with the loss of my four children in the past, so I would shield you as many times as it takes not to have Cheri experience that pain. Besides, you are a good person. All the more reason to assist you if I can.”

He cleared his throat and breathed, recovering from the embarrassment. He did not really wish he had to talk of such things with Cheri’s daughter, but she did not seem to mind or be upset.

“Right. Anyway, yes. I think it is in her best interests that such information stays among us. I am sure she still has a lot to give as Chancellor, thus I would rather not undermine her efforts by having people doubt her rule.”

Nasu wondered briefly. TL;D… what? He had no idea what that meant but what followed was easy enough to follow, given what he knew about the Afterlife. He nodded shortly and just tried to kind of put it all together.

“In the end it was an effort you had to craft. I doubt Lottus would be able to replicate the very path you took, but a reality seam however… I guess it depends on how lucky you are. But how reliable is that? Who knows if stepping inside one would not just wrap you in space?”

He sighed shortly.

“Well, surely not questions for me. I have no idea how this stuff works. Nevertheless I will be sure to keep training and improve my swordplay, should more threats be born… or return, I will be ready. Is there any assistance I can give you to create that Super Saiyan level of power gear? I would rather have the likes of you also prepared.”

WC: 575
Total WC: 1,888

Nasu formed a weak smile over his features. He knew she was exaggerating, but she was not wrong. It was something out of anyone’s reach and yet everyone would likely want that kind of peace, but it would never happen.

“Which will never be. Each time we take one down, someone else comes up eventually. In the end we can only find happiness in the small things.”

It was best to just enjoy the small moments between each tragedy than hope for a peaceful future, for it would never happen. He knew that much, was it a negative view? Perhaps, but he preferred that slice of realism over blind optimism.

He was glad however that Amara had a clear stance on his relationship with Cheri. It meant that he did not really feel awkward for too long, given she looked content enough. He did not expect some sort of approval but he believed she also trusted him, to some extent. In the end Nasu knew perfectly that as long as Cheri was Chancellor, things could not get official but he was quite fine with this. Whatever path Cheri would walk, he would respect it.

“Do not worry. It was a while ago. I was slightly past my twenties at the time.”

He had moved on. But that did not change the fact that any pain and experience was forever carved into him and he liked to believe this made him somewhat more mature and a better man to begin with, so it had been a burden worth carrying.

“I gave up on him changing, so I would rather have him stay dead as well. If he will not, I shall be ready.”

Nasu had no idea what Amara had just said, but he did figure out she needed to get a sample of his energy in his Super Saiyan form. Well, that was simple enough and thus he nodded, he did not have to really adjust anything, as he stepped forward, with his sword yet strapped to his back.

“On your lead.”

WC: 343
Total WC: 2,231

He chuckled weakly. No, it was not quite wrong. Still, it was not possible of course most of the time. Yet it did not mean that they could not do something against it, after all, they also had power much like those they would oppose.

“Certainly not. It is just that I prefer not to be too optimistic, we will struggle a lot… but we can definitely keep up with those that would do ill.”

Amara had a point yes, but of course it was not something that had gone unnoticed. Cheri knew most of it, while he knew most of her story already. Of course he figured Amara would not have all the details, but indeed, it was no easy thing to move on… or if he even moved on completely, in a way even those memories yet were something but they were no longer a burden. It was like fire. Flames that drove his blade faster and stronger.

“Yeah, she knows. We opened up a while ago, she told me her story as well. Also requested that I would help in your search, since at the time you were missing… or dead rather, from what you have told me. Imagine my surprise when nearly a year later you show up in the throne room.”

He smiled and followed Amara all the way to the lab, and thought briefly over what Cheri told him. She was relieved that Amara was alive, but he wondered if he would not just make Amara as sad as her own mother was due to the implications of their political positions.

“We were relieved. Her in particular, of course.”

That would have to do. And then his attention was completely taken by the proceedings of such a room, of course it was very suspicious, cold and really unwelcoming from an objective point of view.

But he trusted Amara, simply it was a matter of function over form. As long as it did its job, he would not release a single lament. He walked up to the line on the wall and turned around, for a moment his expression shifted into a far more tense one and then his vocal chords began to stride and resonate much like a beast, his pupils flickered with green, and his body began to release power until finally he roared and unleashed the selfsame power he had awakened in Hatchi.

“Ready.”

Power Level: 1,962,000
Nasu transforms! Super Saiyan (x18)

WC: 402
Total WC: 2,633

He did not know which reaction she would have displayed at that announcement, but it looked like it was not a bad idea to tell her. Good, he felt a small amount of relief in his heart finally allow his frozen blood to resume flowing comfortably. Of course it was going to be something between her and her mother whether the two could even manage to meet without trouble, but he could not really say much more about it for he had no idea how they could manage that. Perhaps they could meet if their paths happened to perchance cross on another world. Maybe that was an idea he would have to keep in mind.

There was a curious moment where his transformation later had alarms pop off which were quite annoying, to say the least, but he tried to at least endure them while he kept one of his eyes closed, the noise fought against his eardrums until Amara finally calmed her systems down and now all he could spot was the needle.

“Oh. Is that it?”

He expected something weird, almost as if she had to draw his blood. Well then, then he would do just as much. Though he felt like he could pretty much blow up this entire place if he was not careful, therefore he did not do it without hesitation. His hand approached the arm and his eyes closed, in an attempt to concentrate and suppress his power enough not to create dangerous explosions and channeled the energy into the needle, hoping she would be able to harvest a portion of it at least without damaging her equipment.

“Drop a hint maybe when it is enough. I am not exactly a science guy, so I can not tell.”

He waited for her to tell him when to stop, in a few words.

WC: 308
Total WC: 2,941