Home, sweet home. Even though it's not our cottage in the forest on Earth, this is great too. A tall house with two floors. Rooms upstairs. A shed downstairs, a kitchen with a round table with eight chairs and then a cellar. Small, cozy. Just what more could you ask for. As soon as I happily put down my shopping bags, the mood from the comfort of home passed me.

  "Irukooooooo.. I'm huungryy!!" Natsu started to scream.

  "We're here now!! So cook something yourself!" I screamed at him.

  He threw an indifferent expression and folded his arms across his chest.

  "I can't cook..." He muttered.

  "Whaaat?! Are you kidding? What did you eat the whole time before I joined you?"

  "Aki cooked."

  "Forget it. I'm not cooking. I'm going to bed. Cook yourself." Aki joined the conversation.

  "Idiot." Natsu spat.

  "You're an idiot."

  "Not you!"

  "What do you think of yourself, redhead?!" Aki growled.

  "Don't dare, little brother. After all.. I'm older." And he stuck out his tongue like a little child.

  "You one..." He was about to slap Natsu.

  "That's enough! I'll cook something." Shika shouted.

  I was already getting tired of it. Luckily Fuyu wasn't present for this conversation, so it didn't lead to a bigger disaster.

  "But you'll help me, Natsu. Maybe you'll learn something."

  "Yes!"

  Natsu grabbed all the shopping bags at once and disappeared into the kitchen with vampire speed.

  I silently thanked Shika for saving me. Yes, it's still my job, but I still don't feel 100% okay after that fight. Fuyu himself ordered rest, so I listened to the doctor and went to my room. I filled the bath in the bathroom and prepared a tuxedo for the ball. It was the same one I had on for the Ceremony. I don't have any more formal clothes here. The bath was filled and I climbed into the boiling water. That morning, almost every muscle in my body relaxed. It was so refreshing. I love hot baths. I sighed in my mind. We practically didn't have hot water in the orphanage. It always ran out quickly and I was always the last to go. Once I went first and the boys beat me up in the showers. It's not a happy memory, but I'll never forget when Momo, who felt sorry for my beaten face, took me to the public onsen. It was all perfect. I came to myself as an emperor. I realized again how lucky I was. And I let myself get lost in my thoughts, which flew from one to the other. After about five minutes, my thoughts ended up back at the fight with Azazel. I still got all dizzy with that memory. How did I defeat him? Is that really so powerful in me? I pull my hands out of the water and look at them. I still can't figure out what I'm capable of. The dragon power still feels a bit foreign to me, as if I'm not the one controlling it, and yet I feel most myself when dragon power flows through me. I remember 4 that I left my book of dragons at home on Earth. I didn't expect us to be here for so long, and during that time I'll discover my other abilities. Oh... What the hell is wrong with me?! Dragon power and four dragons on top of that? Why do I have to keep it a secret? My instinct tells me that everyone is hiding something from me. Why is he so worried about me? Safety? No, I need to know... How else am I supposed to protect myself? Grrrr.. I have to go back home for my book... I slap my hands against the water. So many questions and no answers... I dejectedly dip my head under the water and stay there.

  ??????????????????

  In the evening, two royal carriages arrived for us. They were lavishly decorated with gold. The interior was decorated with royal blue with gold threads woven through it and the seats were made of silk. The carriages are pulled by four teams of raven black horses, who stand calmly and await the command. They even had small yellow feathers on their heads and their reins were decorated with gold ornaments just like the carriage.

  "Good evening, I am here by order of His Highness King Hiko to take you to the castle." One of the carriage drivers takes off his hat and says.

  "Good evening, thank you very much." Aki replies and gets into the first carriage.

  His brothers join him. Kenji, Shika and I sit in the second carriage, where the second coachman welcomes us anyway. They all wear the same white uniform. They looked like the suits of people from Europe that they showed us at school in the orphanage. High stockings, high-heeled shoes, clothes decorated with lace and gold threads, and also a hat that had the same feathers stuck in it as their horses. The coachman cracks his whip and the carriage moves off.

  "How excited are you?" I ask curiously.

  "Yeah, quite excited." Kenji answers casually and looks out the window.

  I just nod my head in agreement.

  "What are you crazy about? Is it a royal ball? We'll celebrate our victory there! Your victory, Iruka. You defeated Azazel. What we've accomplished, not just any apprentice can do. Say what you want, but I feel like fate brought us together. Precisely because we're so special. And our masters? My God, they're the deadliest commando through the dimensions. This is no coincidence. I think the gods made it that way."

  Kenji and I looked at Shika in quite a bit of surprise. She was right. This is no coincidence. I've never believed in a higher power, but This is no coincidence either. Could it really be fate?

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Yes, you're right. I'm lucky to have friends like you."

  My lips immediately spread into a wide, genuine smile. Momo-san was right. True friends were always waiting for me somewhere.

  ???????????????????

  We arrived at the venue. The entire castle was lit up. There wasn't a room without a torch burning. Crowds of carriages, from which came all noble lords and ladies in robes. Perhaps all the nobles or high-ranking people had gathered to come to the ball and celebrate our victory. As soon as we got inside, I remembered our ceremony. It looked pretty much the same except that this one was a hundred times more magnificent and there were a hundred times more people. Of course, when people saw the Naruno brothers, they flocked to them and started congratulating them. We struggled out of the crowd and headed for the dance floor.

  "Shika, do you want to dance?" Kenji asked, holding out his hand.

  Shika happily accepted it and they danced together. I went to the table with food and drink.

  "So how is it, poor thing? Enjoying a moment of glory?" A familiar voice said to me.

  I turn around and the black hair immediately makes it clear who it is.

  "Are you jealous, Tori?" I say sarcastically.

  He frowns more.

  "You're still the same zero. So don't forget where your place is. If it weren't for those half-breeds, you wouldn't have achieved anything." And he lightly poked my shoulder with his finger.

  His comment about half-breeds really burned me. I was already trying to punch him in the face when someone grabbed Tori's shoulder.

  "But son, don't be so measured. Let the mob enjoy their day." His father pushed him away a little and reached over and grabbed my shoulder.

  "Here, the Cinderellas have their night. So enjoy it while you can, because when the clock strikes midnight, the Cinderellas will become half-breeds again."

  I dug my fingers deeper into my skin. I had to ball my hands into fists and hold them tightly until my knuckles were red. How can this monster walk among people? Mr. Takashiko pulled away with a wicked smile and left with his son. I exchanged another disgusted look with him. When they were out of reach, I left. I had to get some air. I don't want that kind of company. I ran to the royal gardens. I hoped no one would be there. I recognized that rage when Takashiko held my shoulder. It was the same wild rage I felt during the fight with Azazel. When I reached the beautiful garden, which must surely be even more impressive in the light, I sat down on a distant bench to tame my emotions. I leaned back and looked at the stars. I heard the king call out the names of my friends. Then tremendous applause and more thanks from the king. As you can see, no one misses me there. A tear starts rolling down my cheek. Maybe this was Azazel's power. Every now and then it reminds me of my dark and sad questions and memories. Maybe his power has never left me and is still holding me back. I chuckle at the thought. I'm just paranoid... And I look up at the sky again.

  "You missed the official thanks from the king." I tear my eyes away from the sky and look at the white-haired man. His eyes shine in the darkness like stars in the sky. When I look at him all over, I notice that he shines like an angel who has just descended from heaven.

  "Sorry, I've lost my temper." Fuyu sits down next to me and is silent. She also looks up at the stars.

  "I see. Everyone's temper changes after talking to Takashiko's family."

  I smile softly.

  "Yeah. They're really scary."

  Fuyu tears her eyes from the sky and pulls something out of her pocket.

  "Here. You got this from the old lady at the market. It's made of dragon silver, one of the most durable and rarest silvers in existence between worlds, I've learned."

  She holds out her hand with the pendant of two dragons to me. I carefully touch the beauty. The silver was cold to the touch. Fuyu rocks it a little. It brings me back to reality.

  "I'll put it on for you. Show me." She says, unbuttoning it.

  I turn my back on him and let him fasten it on me. The chain was so light. I couldn't even feel it on my neck.

  "It suits you." He compliments Fuyu as I turn to him.

  "Thank you."

  "I still have to pass on my thanks for letting her meet the guardian."

  "What?! You told her about my power? But no one is supposed to know..."

  "I didn't tell her anything. You told her." He chuckled.

  "And how?"

  "Those tomatoes. No normal person eats them because they're disgusting, but for dragons and their guardians, they've always been a delicacy. Believe me, I tried to taste them secretly at home and they're really disgusting." And he lifts one corner of his face into a smile.

  "So those tomatoes gave me away?"

  "Yes."

  I sighed loudly.

  "What?"

  "Nothing. There's so much I don't know about my power.. I need to know everything. Why is what I'm doing happening? Why is it all so complicated?" Tears well up in my eyes without realizing I'm crying like this. All those doubts and confused feelings are washing out of me right here, but I don't care where I am. I can't stop it. Fuyu pulls me into a hug.

  "Don't worry. When we return to Earth tomorrow, we'll find out everything. You have the book there."

  "That's not the point..."

  "And what is?"

  "Why can't anyone know about my power?"

  Fuyu's face twisted. But then she became sad.

  "I told you that mages were murdered because of that power."

  "But by whom? And why?"

  "You'll find out one day, but when you're ready. I promise."

  It wasn't the answer I wanted, but it was clear from Fuyu's face that it wasn't that simple. There must be a pretty good reason why he doesn't want to tell me anything. What? That remains unknown to me for now. But now I'm so overcome with emotion that I'll give up and not ask any more questions.

  "Come on. Let's go get the others and get out. Wipe your tears and we'll head back to the castle together."

  "Okay, we're all here. Let's go." Fuyu orders.

  We were about to leave when someone grabs Kenji by the sleeve.

  "Kenji?" A female voice says.

  Kenji turns around and, as if he's seen a ghost, he stands there and doesn't move.

  "Mom..?" She sputters.

  What? Kenji's mother?! We all rolled our eyes. The woman straightened up. She was a middle-aged lady. She had the same blonde hair as Kenji, neatly combed into a bun. It matched her purple wardrobe perfectly. Kenji was quite similar to his mother, except for his eyes, which were green.

  Kenji immediately woke up from his trance and frowned. I was a little surprised by his reaction.

  "There's also..."

  "He is not here..." She interrupts him.

  Kenji relaxes a little.

  "What do you want, Mom?"

  "Your birthday... We're preparing a party for you like every year. Please come..." His mother sounded quite desperate.

  "Preparing? I doubt he's involved either." He spoke to her measuredly.

  "Kenji..."

  The woman grabs his hand and looks at him. He's on the verge of tears. Doesn't Kenji feel sorry for the way his mother looks? Kenji seems to be thinking about his answer. And when he gets to her, he looks straight at his mother.

  “I won’t go unless my friends are there.” He says coldly.

  “Okay. Of course they’re invited. It’s your party.” He says and looks at us.

  I think we all didn’t know what to say. Kenji never talked about his family. He was a bit too mysterious with her, like with his other power, when I think about it.

  “Duchess? We have to go. The carriage is waiting.” A man addresses Kenji’s mother.

  “I’m coming. Please come, Kenji.” She hugs him and leaves.

  Duchess? Kenji is a nobleman?! Kenji turns to us and starts to leave. He doesn’t say anything. He looked quite angry. None of us would have spoken to him. This ball has brought us more sadness than any of us expected. I guess Maxtrime was right. When the clock strikes midnight, Cinderella will become a nobody again...