Chapter 77: A Royal Daughter?

As Nana approached, Ty noticed her curiosity. She inquired, "What's all the commotion about?" Her hair fell gently over her face, a stark contrast to the scene of combat that had now come to a halt. In the background, Ty observed men and women being carried off on stretchers by support members.

Ty introduced her to the newcomer. "Oh, Nana, this is Armond Zaraki, the son of the leader of House Three. What are the odds?" he said, a note of surprise in his voice.

Armond, who had momentarily appeared horrified, now addressed Nana with a composed demeanor. "Please forgive me if I frightened you," he spoke. "I am Armond Zaraki, head member of House Three." Ty could sense the formality in his tone, mixed with genuine concern. "I understand you've had a long journey getting back home," Armond added.

Nana, seemingly taken aback, stammered in response. "Y-you told him about what we talked about?" Her glance towards Ty was filled with disbelief and a hint of frustration. Ty could see that she had not expected this turn of events.

Ty, his expression a mix of confusion and resolve, stated, "Of course, why would I not? This is exactly what you wanted, right?" His words were almost drowned out by a sudden, ominous shiver that coursed through the ground.

Both Ty and Armond instinctively turned their shoulders to look behind them, their gaze drawn to the unfolding chaos.

In the midst of a tumultuous battlefield, Todd was a whirlwind of action, fiercely battling against a horde of shadow creatures.

His figure cut through the enemy lines, a beacon of strength, protecting the injured and rallying the warriors in plain armor who stood stunned by his prowess.

"It's important we get you back to the kingdom, lady... Nana?" Armond's voice, tinged with urgency, cut through the noise of combat.

"Oh, her name is Nanako Kagarib, but I just call her Nana for short," he offered a brief glance towards Armond, revealing the importance of this revelation.

Armond's expression shifted subtly, a frown forming as he absorbed this new information. "Please refrain from doing such things at the capital," he said, his tone firm yet respectful. "It is rude not to speak on royals without giving their full names."

At this, Nana spoke up, her voice gentle yet clear, "It's okay."

The words hung in the air, a momentary respite amidst the tumult around them, reflecting the complexities of their situation and the nuances of their relationships.

Nana, with a flare of independence, declared, "He's the only one I will allow to shorten my name, as he has garnered my respect." She flipped her hair back with her hands placed firmly on her hips, her voice carrying a slight huff of defiance.

"Let's be quick, as I need to change out of these muddied clothes as soon as possible," she added, her gaze briefly scanning her dirt-stained attire.

The men and women retreated to a small makeshift town that spanned a few miles lengthwise.

The town was adorned with battle tents and unusual mud structures that seemed magically created, far from the normal brick-by-brick constructions Ty was used to.

He pondered this as he walked down the dirt road, his boots kicking up small clouds of dust with each step.

The moon, a pale guardian in the sky, slowly hung over the town.

Ty entered a small, secluded hut, remarking, "It was nice of Armond to give us our own little section." Inside, six cots were arranged: one for Ty, one for Nana, and four for Todd, who chuckled at the sight. The cots for Todd were tied together by a woven green string, a makeshift solution for his larger frame.

"So, Nana, what exactly is the plan?" Ty asked, his tone tinged with concern. "When Armond gets the report back that they don't know who you are, I'm sure that will cause some issues."

He leaned against a cot, his expression contemplative. "I realized I probably should have been more vague about us. The importance of the situation just flew over my head for a moment."

Nana, sitting on her cot with her feet dangling off the side, covered her face with a hand. "It's fine," she said, her voice tinged with resignation, "it just makes our mission a bit harder."

Looking up, she continued, "I think first thing in the morning we should head out before anyone notices, and if anything, just force our way through. I don't think anyone here is strong enough to stop us."

Ty gave a slight smirk in response. "No, they probably aren't," he agreed. "But I also think we need to prepare a better answer than just beating them up until they let us leave."

The hut, dimly lit and quiet, became a space for plotting and planning, their voices a low hum in the stillness of the night.

"I wonder how things are going over for Mattison," Ty mused, a hint of concern creeping into his voice. "I'm a little worried about him. He mentioned he was sending a messenger crow to the capital."

Nana, her gaze distant, added, "Crows should be rather slow, so I'm sure he'd just be getting the message. But I can't imagine his response if it's not something he likes." She paused, her thoughts trailing off. "Even so, we should be out of his area, so—"

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a loud bang at their door. Ty, his curiosity piqued, shrugged off the interruption and walked over to the door. He opened it to find a woman standing outside. She was tall, with bright blue hair cascading down her back in a striking contrast to the night around them.

"I'm here for my daughter Nanako," the woman announced, her voice carrying an authoritative tone that resonated with urgency and expectation.