By the time they got off the boat, Anastasios was exhausted- mostly from having to deal with a cooped up Hikaze and an overly-excited Celia. Xander had at least been... reasonably well-behaved- at least compared to the other two, but even he'd been jittery.
"I feel like I'm the only one here acting my age," Anastasios muttered as they disembarked.
"You're acting like a stick-in-the-mud, is what you're acting like. My behavior is totally reasonable for a teenager," Hikaze retorted.
"Shut up, you! You're still in trouble for that stunt you pulled in Galar. Arceus, I hope no one recognizes us." Hundreds of people had seen that spectacle, and while travel from Galar to OKI wasn't easy, it was certainly being done for this festival.
"MOM!" The sound of Xander's yell caught Anastasios' attention, and he quickly found the person the fox had spotted.
"Uggghhh... I told her not to come get us," Anastasios muttered under his breath. "Now it's gonna be a whole spectacle."
Hikaze, blantantly ignoring him, also ran towards the figure.
"Nee-sama! Thanks for coming to get us!"
Anastasios trudged up last, holding onto an excited Celia like her arm as a leash and clearly already worn out.
"Can we just get somewhere I can be away from these three? Please?" Anastasios sighed.
Aria and her guard stood waiting in the open pavilion as the ships came into the harbor. She would have preferred that they teleport in but things didn’t end up working out like that. She’d also wanted her siblings to be there with her but there was a lot that went into running a country. They were trying to make sure that all their work that needed to be done was completed before their guests arrived at the palace. They did have help, but still.
There were wingulls and cramorant cackling and honking above and there were other wild Pokémon playing in and out of the water and in the skies. Peliper sitting on piling and hoping for the fishermen to let their guards down enough to give them a chance to steal some fish. Fishmongers and other vendors calling out to crowds about their wares. There was a tavern just down the peir that Aria could hear some music coming from. Pokemon and people and gijinka alike going about their business around them. Of course they were drawing attention. It wasn’t every day that one of the Royal family was in the Port Town short of a holiday. But for the most part they were now acting the looky-loos a little less. Aria was fidgeting, it had been a really long time since any of the Ofthalmós could pay attention to what was going on and not be clamored over while Stasi and Celia were getting off the boat.
It had been a week since Hikaze had reunited with his best friend from his previous life. He hadn’t expected Anastasios coming back the next day, but he’d started getting anxious wondering if he should be the one to seek him out. it’d only been for a couple hours, but he already missed horsing around with the other boy. Just when he was thinking about it, however, who else did he find in the town square that day but Celia and Anastasios. Hikaze couldn’t help the grin that came to his face as he ran over.
“Stasi!” he yelled. That definitely got the teen’s attention. Too bad all it earned him was a death glare.
“I still haven’t given you permission to call me that!” Anastasios spat as he trudged up to meet him. “I’m older than you, you know that right? At least show some modicum of respect.” There was no way Hikaze was doing that though, especially with the way the other boy was dressed. When they’d reunited, Anastasios had at least been wearing something relatively simple that, while in no means letting him pass for a commoner, still looked very casual. Today, however, oh today he was completely decked out in formalwear. Hikaze was actually surprised that he’d wear something that fancy to town. He was covered in decorative embroidery, gold jewelry, and even some light makeup. Anastasios looked like a noble child’s exotic doll, and it was kind of awkward to see. Not to mention, he looked even more like a girl than the first time they’d met.
“Oh come on, a life and death battle isn’t enough to earn the right to call you by your nickname?” Hikaze teased.
“I put up with Celia doing it because there’s no stopping her,” Anastasios sighed. “My parents eventually started doing it too, and I didn’t have the heart to make them stop either, but they’re the only people who call me that... mostly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Anastasios didn’t reply, his response trailing off into a series of grumbles as he looked away.
Celia approached the two looking absolutely radiant. Hikaze wasn’t sure even Kazuya had even seen her smile this much.
“Hikaze! You’re coming over today!” she announced, pointing one of her childish fingers at him.
“What?” He looked to Anastasios for confirmation, but if anything, the boy only looked more annoyed than he was before. “Wait, why am I coming over? I thought you had to get permission.”
“Praise me, for I have gotten you permission far more quickly than it would take the average guest,” Celia said proudly. “There is an event at the estate today which you simply must be in attendance for.” Hikaze vaguely heard Anastasios mutter profanities under his breath, then something about tissues and a flood.
“Why would I need to attend though?”
“A surprise,” Celia replied. “You’ll know when you see it, if you truly are Kazuya.” Celia gave him one of her knowing smiles, the kind that made her look absolutely nothing like the childish form she’d taken. “Tell your family that you won’t need dinner tonight- that you’ve been invited to House Ofthalmós for an event and we’ll return you in due time.” A brief flash of panic ran through Hikaze. Given his family’s reaction the week prior, should he tell them the truth? But if he made up a lie and they found out, there would be no hiding it after. Anastasios seemed to catch on and started staring at him, no doubt picking his Ultrareality apart piece by piece. For the first time, he understood what Esaias meant when he said that his eyes freaked people out.
“Something wrong with that?” Anastasios asked. Anastasios’ golden eyes bored into him, and Kazuya reminded him not to lie.
“No. Nothing,” Hikaze replied. He couldn’t tell if Anastasios would be able to See that. Was it a lie? Hikaze wasn’t even sure himself. “Yeah, uhh... I’ll let them know that I’ll be out for a bit and not to make me anything. Give me twenty minutes or so.”
“Right...”
Hikaze didn’t see the look on Anastasios’ face when he turned to run back home. He just didn’t want the other boy to See him right now.
“Something’s wrong,” Anastasios pointed out once Hikaze was gone.
“Indeed. One needn’t have eyes to observe what just happened. Though he may be Kazuya, we should monitor him closely.” Anastasios stared quietly down at Celia. He had no doubt the immortal abomination was ecstatic to see another remnant of some of her happiest years, but that was it. She had never been nearly as attached to anyone else as she had been to Esaias. Balia was probably the only exception, but it spoke volumes that Celia had continued to remain around Esaias’ family rather than go to stay with her when the job no longer amused her. If Hikaze was a threat to House Ofhtalmós, she would eat him without a second thought. Anastasios would have to prevent that by any means possible. Even if he was a threat, Esaias would never let Kazuya die, and that meant that he couldn’t let Hikaze die either.
Hikaze returned closer to thirty minutes later with Itsu mounted on his shoulders and wearing that stupid smile again like nothing was wrong.
“Alright! Let’s go!” Hikaze cheered, heading for the town gate.
“You’re late,” Anastasios spat. Hikaze clapped him on the back, which almost earned him a punch.
“Aw come on, it’s just a few minutes, right?” It was definitely not just a few minutes. Hikaze looked okay, but his Ultrareality told Anastasios that he was desperate.
“Whatever. We need to get going. We’re running late,” Anastasios sighed and rolled his eyes. To anyone else, Hikaze looked fine, but Anastasios could still see that he was pushing himself. Still, he’d have bigger problems to worry about once they were at House Ofthalmós. It would be a good distraction for him.
“So, any reason you’re all dressed up today?” Hikaze asked, noting Anastasios’ clothes. “Did I need to dress up too?”
“There’ll be an esteemed guest for this event,” Anastasios sighed. “Normally, I wouldn’t even be allowed to leave the manor, let alone the estate, but Celia kicked up a fuss to my grandfather saying that I had to be the one to accompany her to get you, so, despite the fact that I had already been prepared to be the one to welcome our guest, I had to come to town in my ceremonial robes to come get you first. As for your clothes…” Hikaze almost missed a step over the smug grin Anastasios flashed him. “Your clothes have already been prepared. There’s no way the Ofthalmós could allow such an esteemed guest to be greeted in such cheap clothing.”
“Urk… Wait, am I going to have to get as dolled up as you?”
“No. I am the young patriarch. It’s my duty to accompany our guest throughout their stay,” Anastasios replied. “My state of dress confers my rank. You won’t need to go through this much, but you will need to be dressed and possibly have some makeup put on you.”
“This totally doesn’t suit you at all,” Hikaze teased. Anastaios definitely looked beautiful, but it was pretty hilarious to see someone so crass all dolled up like a well-behaved royal. Anastasios snorted at his comment.
“If I start a fight with you right now, even I won’t be able to survive the lecture I’ll receive, so behave yourself. For both our sakes.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Anastasios didn’t answer.
The two boys continued to chat idly until they reached the village gate, but, to Hikaze’s surprise, there wasn’t a horse-like Pokémon posted anywhere nearby. Instead, there was a person who strongly resembled Anastasios, but with dark brown hair and emerald eyes.
“I see you’re back safely, young master.”
“I told you not to call me that,” Anastasios spat. Hikaze pointed at the man and looked at Anastasios.
“One of my distant relatives.”
“A sixth cousin,” the man replied.
“A sixth?”
“Look, we have a large village’s worth of people at House Ofthalmós. The estate has been added to significantly since Esaias’ time to accommodate new additions. Not only do we have our own children and families, but House Ofthalmós still adopts any non-relatives born with The Eyes to See who’re born to the outside world. There are literally hundreds of us.”
“And young Anastasios here is set to be our next leader,” the man pointed out with an almost proud smile.
“I’m not doing it to be praised,” Anastasios huffed before motioning to the man. “Anyways, this is my relative, Théo. He does not have The Eyes to See, but he is, undoubtedly, an Ofthalmós.”
“Yeah, I mean, he doesn’t have the eyes or hair, but he looks just like you,” Hikaze replied. His facial features were a bit different, but he looked a lot like Esaias. “He at least looks like more of a boy than you,” Hikaze teased. Anastasios’ cautious judgement gave way to indignance.
“Just you wait until I’m allowed back in my casual clothes,” he growled. “I’ll tear you to pieces. Théo, teleport! We’re running late!” Anastasios stormed over and stood next to Théo, tapping his feet. Théo had to bring up an olive-brown hand to cover his growing smile.
“Yes, young master,” he replied, trying his absolute best not to laugh. Théo patted the Espurr in this arms, and suddenly all four of them (plus Itsu) found themselves in a completely new place. Wood-paneled walls spread out to form a small room decorated with tapestries from various cultures. In front of a door stood several other individuals, one of whom quickly came over to brush off Anastasios’ clothes.
“Get this one something reasonable to wear, and help him put it on,” Anastasios said, motioning to Hikaze. “I have a few other things to address before Lady Aria arrives, and we’re running short on time.”
“Who’s Lady Aria?” Hikaze whispered to Celia.
“Our esteemed guest of the day,” Celia replied. “Her Highness, Princess Aria of Ray Isle.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Hikaze muttered.
“You’ll know when you meet her,” Celia said knowingly. Hikaze balked, but before he could say anything more, he was being lead away.
“You’re enjoying this far too much,” Anastasios stated, smoothing out the wrinkles in his sleeves.
“Well of course. I’m sure Balia will love it.”
“Least you can do is be the one carrying the mop,” Anastasios sighed and went to go take care of the rest of his part of the preparations (which was mostly just over-seeing at this point, making sure everything was cleaned and arranged properly for their guest.)
Roughly an hour later, the welcoming committee had been gathered, and Hikaze had been forced into a watered-down version of Anastasios’ robes, only where Anastasios’ were forest green, his were flaming red.
“So remind me again who this bigshot is and why they’re here? Celia was super unhelpful,” Hikaze said as they walked out to the estate’s gate.
Anastasios sighed in exasperation. “Lady Aria is a long-time friend of House Ofthalmós. While Celia can and will devour an entire army, it’s Lady Aria’s backing that intimidates most nations into not even bothering to try. She’s one of four rulers of an island nation that, while not as large as some others, still holds a great deal of power.”
“Okay, so she’s like a benefactor?”
“Something like that.” The fact was, Anastasios had decided to go along with Celia’s whim to not inform either of them that the other would be there. It was going to be a pain, but he would admit, he was looking forward to the spectacle.
The wrought-iron gates opened to reveal a moderate procession making their way towards them. At the front was a woman with seafoam-green hair surrounded by soldiers.
“Now presenting, Her Highness, Princess Aria of Ray,” came the annoncement.
“… Why does that sound famil-” Hikaze paused, blinking several times, before rubbing his eyes. “Hey,” he whispered to Anastasios, “is that???”
Anastasios nodded.
“How????”
Anastasios almost laughed at how confused his face looked. Almost. He was there as the Young Patriarch, he wasn’t allowed to do that. Not yet at least. “Something to ask her, I suppose.”
And before anyone could stop him, Hikaze had raised his arms to give her a big wave. “Long time no see, nee-sama!”
Several members of House Ofthalmós cringed. At least one tugged on Anastasios’ sleeve to get him to stop.
“Just leave it,” Anastasios stated, literally brushing them off. “Lady Aria is benevolent. She wouldn’t take issue with us over the insolence of a mere commoner.” If anything, Balia was probably about to have the second emotional breakdown in as many visits.
Stasi blinks at her, stares, rubs his eyes, and blinks again.
“Oh my god, I actually don’t feel like I’m having to look into the Nth dimension to see you...” Color him shocked and surprised. ... ... ... He... was going to have to be more mindful with his words, wasn’t he. Well, at least he wasn’t a tsundere like his predecessor...
