A Gamer Into Trails

Drop those power stones and add this to your collection!

*

"Haha!", Another voice responded from behind us with a laugh. Colonel Bright stood up and walked over after hearing me meet his daughter for the first time, Estelle Bright.

"You really are a curious one, aren't you? As expected of being the son of General Osborne.", Colonel Bright responded with a smile as he walked over.

"That's only natural. He has already started to show a deep interest in learning.", Father responded with a prideful town.

'Now isn't the time to show me off like that, old man. Though I guess it did already happen...' I inwardly retorted.

We then saw Colonel Bright turn around again once he was beside me and his family. Yet this time it was more of an about face. He directly gave an order to the other soldiers after.

"Second Lieutenant Schwarz, do a full perimeter sweep of the castle. If it is clear, take Captain Richard's squadron and keep up the guard duty around Grancel. I do not want anything to occur until tomorrow is over. And if guests like General Osborne here start arriving, please ensure their invitation checks out. Am I clear?", Colonel Bright said, issuing an order.

"At once, Colonel Bright.", Julia Schwarz suddenly became serious, giving Colonel Bright a salute.

"As you command, Colonel Bright.", Captain Richard also turned serious, giving him a salute as well.

Second Lieutenant Schwarz and Captain Richard then took their respective squad of soldiers, and split off from our group.

I also had a look at Sieg on my head and petted him a bit. In response, Sieg nestled my hand.

"Sieg you go make sure Miss Julia doesn't get lost, okay?", I asked him softly.

"Schriee~!", Sieg responded happily, only for it to take into the sky once again. It then flew toward Julia who shrugged her shoulders seeing Sieg behave this way. As for Captain Richard, he gave me the evil eye as he passed by me with his squad in silence. I wonder, should I play a trick on him seeing Captain Richard behave this way?

Nah I was thinking of using Vermillion Eyes on him, but decided against it. Instead, I just observed Captain Richard without backing away as he passed by us. Giliath seemed pleased by this action of mine, and smiled. Once most of the soldiers departed from the castle, father approached us as well.

"That was good, my son. Being an Osborne, one should not cower and face their problems head on.", Giliath responded, and actually gave me a pat on the head. For some reason this brought a smile to my face.

"Your dad is weird too.", Estelle retorted seeing Giliath behave this way. This earned another laugh Colonel Bright.

"The man you call weird Estelle is a very good rival of mine.", Colonel Bright said.

"Rivals we may be, but we belong to two different families. It looks like you came to introduce your family to Her Majesty as well.", Father responded.

"That is our intention. I didn't think we would come across one of my husband's rivals today, let alone his child, but it seems we share the same destination.', Lena spoke out who was quiet up till now.

As for me, I had a good look at Lena this time. She appeared to be a beautiful brown haired woman in her late twenties. She was wearing a pale blue one piece dress Her hair was similarly styled to Estelle's hair when she had it laid down in the games. That's of course this was Lena Bright, Estelle's mother. Truly an unfortunate person...

I know which me being reincarnated, especially of royal blood to the Liberl royal family, it will likely change things down the line. I know I am but a mere one year old child now...

But will I be able to prevent Lena Bright's death in the near future? And that begs to ask another question, if i had the ability to prevent her death, should I actually do that? Lena sacrificing herself to protect her child during that collapse of the clock tower would eventually allow Estelle to become that strong, upbeat, individual person as she was in the games.

If I took that away from Estelle, her personality would likely undergo several changes, And if that happened. How would Joshua react to that?

I could only speculate for now, but part of me is leaning toward not doing anything to prevent her death.

Father saw me deep in thought for a moment as I remained quiet, and decided to speak out to me.

"Is something wrong, Naoto? Are you too nervous to meet Her Majesty?", Giliath asked.

I immediately shook my head a bit to deny him, and exited my thoughts.

"It's nothing, father. Can we go in, Mister Bright?", I asked Colonel Bright.

"Well that depends on Her Majesty, Your Highness.", Colonel Bright answered. He then looked up, and saw Queen Alicia. This time, she was smiling back at us as she witnessed us conversing. "Permission to enter, Your Majesty?", Colonel Bright asked.

"Permission granted, Colonel Bright. Please bring our first round of guests to the throne room once they have settled in."

"As you command, Your Majesty.", Colonel Bright responded with a bow.

We then saw Queen Alicia retreat from the wide balcony on the higher floor. She crossed her open courtyard and eventually made her way back into the tower, which was where her personal quarters was located. As for the throne room, it was deep within the first floor, mostly toward the back.

As she vanished, we suddenly heard loud cranking sounds echoing from the palace doors.

Seeing the doors to this castle open in person for the first time...it was rather imposing.

It was a multi-door door, meaning after the two large walls parted ways, it revealed another door. It kept going until thrice the time.

Father and I took the left side while Colonel Bright, Lena Bright and Estelle Bright took the right. This was a splendid sight to behold as well. An air of seriousness bubbled around us without us saying anything. If I were to imagine it, I figured invisible lightning strikes would boom from both sides, with each strike cancelling each other out. Father and Colonel Bright have fought before, so its no wonder their auras would clash against each other.

As for Estelle, she was just oblivious to the whole thing, and constantly looked around since this was her first visit to the royal castle of Liberl too.

Upon entering, we arrived at the the ground floor. The ground floor had several rooms located on each side of the hallways. To the east was the Guard room, where soldiers would often hand around and sleep. To the left were government offices, left to Liberl's government officials to conduct their policies. In the center was another room, which had a large red carpet laid down on it.

One would think this lead to the throne room, but it did not. That was because this was a short red carpet. There was a much longer red carpet on the first floor. Technically that was the second floor, but since Grancel Castle included the ground floor, the ground floor is seen as the first floor. And this room led into the dining room, to which was connected to the Maid rooms and the kitchen.

"General Osborne, please stay in the guest area for now. I will go notify the Head Maid. I'm sure she will be surprised seeing this, haha!", Colonel Bright said with a smile.

"Of course, I shall not wander. We will leave that up to the young ones. So instead, before you depart Colonel Bright, may I request a favor?"

"A favor from my rival, is it? What would it be?", Colonel Bright responded with interest.

"I will present an opportunity, one that may benefit both of us, and it has been a while since our last. I propose a duel.", Giliath said, which immediately drew our attention.

"A duel...You are right. These bones of mine have not held a spar against you. Not since my Bracer days. How could I not be interested in having another spar against you, General Osborne?"

A spar between Giliath Osborne and Cassius Bright before the Hundred Days War...

That would be very interesting to watch, wouldn't it?

I became inwardly excited just hearing the notion of it. As I did, Colonel Bright spoke out once more.

"Another spar between the Hundred-Form Military and Eight Leaves One Blade style would definitely be a sight to behold once again. After I go inform the Head Maid of our arrival, I will bring this matter up to Her Majesty. As long as we receive her grace, I ill look forward to battling you, Giliath Osborne.", Colonel Bright said before he bowed a bit. We then saw him head into the dining area that connected to the Maids' rooms and vanished.

"With pleasure.", Giliath responded with a nod.

As for Estelle, she placed her finger on her lip and tilted her head a bit before looking at me.

"Your dad is gonna fight daddy?", Estelle asked, a bit confused.

"It seems like it. I haven't seen father fight before, so I would think it would be enjoyable to see.", I explained to Estelle.

"Is that so?", Estelle responded happily. Her eyes began to wander again, only for her eyes to sparkle seeing how big the castle was.

"But this place is really big! Let's go explore, Naoto!", Estelle said excitedly. She even tried to reach for my hand.

"I was afraid you would say that...", I retorted with a sigh.

"Don't be like that. This is your place, isn't it?", Estelle asked.

"Not exactly...?", I answered Estelle with a question of my own. It probably will become mine, but far off in the future if they decide to make me the Crown Prince.

"Haha, there is a chance of that happening in the future, young one.", Giliath also answered positively at Estelle, which caused her eyes to brighten again. Giliath then turned toward Lena and spoke out to her.

"You don't mind letting the two young ones wander around for a while, do you?", Giliath asked. Lena shook her head in response.

"No. Normally I would say yes, but I know this place his heavily guarded. I feel safe behind these walls. Estelle, feel free to take Naoto here and explore to your hearts content.

Hearing Lena say that, Estelle smiled brightly.

"Thank you, Mama! Let's go, Naoto!", Estelle replied happily, before she literally yanked my arm and entered a dash. She started with the right wing, which was the soldiers' quarters.

"...But I didn't agree to this!", I tried to yell back, only to let my voice echo and as we faded from sight, earning a laugh from both Giliath and Lena.

*

Do you like plot twists?

Trails is full of 'em (: