Aqua had quickly changed into a similar simple dress to what she gave to Sheira; It was red and gold in color. It had a slit on the side, revealing Aqua's thigh while at the same time enhancing her alluring appearance.
She wore white stockings with simple red shoes.
"Aqua, you dressing up like this makes me feel inadequate…" Azure pouted as the duo of girls made their way outside of Palace's land.
"Why so? I would say you look amazing as well." Aqua smiled warmly as she strode toward the final gates that separated the palace from the City.
Azure stopped for a moment as she gripped her dress. "Thank you, Aqua."
"I only stated a fact." Aqua nodded as she stopped and turned to Azure.
"So unfair…" Azure lifted her dress slightly as she pushed herself against Aqua and gently placed her head on the heroine's head.
"Azu?" Without a word, Azure wrapped her hands around her and pushed Aqua's head against her chest.
She had noticed that Azure had softened rather drastically around her, but the fact that she truly abandoned her rank's pride when in her presence made Aqua feel strange.
Her heartbeat slightly sped up, and her face turned light red.
Umbra… It reminded her of a feeling when she was close to her late teacher. It was warm and soothing. She shifted her head and placed her ear on Azure's chest.
Her heartbeat is faster than usual. Her eyes wandered up to see Azure, who had averted her gaze to the side.
With a gentle push, Aqua separated from Azure, and her lips stretched into a thin line, "Well, let's head out, shall we?"
Azure responded with a nod as the two girls passed the final gate toward the city.
Azure chipperly skipped forward with her hands behind her back while Aqua closely followed. It was the second time she was going out to the city with someone, and it was a rather pleasant experience that she truly wished to happen more often.
"What was the plan, Azure?"
"Hmm…" She stopped and pinched her chin and turned to Aqua. "I just wanted to spend time with you, if I am to be completely honest."
"Well, I do not have an issue with that. So I suppose we will merely take a walk around the city?"
"Yes, and possibly visit a shop or two. I have something I want to buy." She turned her face to the side.
Aqua crossed her hands and approached Azure. She then slowly reached forward and gently turned Azure's head toward her. "We should head out~."
Azure's face turned red as she quickly nodded. "Let's visit a central library first!"
"A Library?"
"Yes."
"So, I guess you are interested in learning more about something…" Aqua nodded as she pinched her chin.
"I guess, you could say that." Azure's lips stretched into a line as she took a place next to her heroine and wrapped her hands around her arm.
"You seem to have grown more attached."
"Just let me be. I am being friendly."
"Friendly…" Aqua smiled as the duo slowly made their way down the wide stone roads of Onost. However, unlike the first time she passed through the city, every building and residence was decorated in orange and green.
"Azu, what are those decorations about?"
Some raised banners and some were decorated in golden autumn leaves.
"Ah… It's about time for the harvest festival to start." Azure's eyes wandered over the current state of the city. Most women were dressed in autumn wear with long dresses and predominantly green and orange colors.
While men had similar suits and various articles of clothing. The wind was soft and soothing as the weather slowly prepared to turn colder in the coming months.
"Harvest festival, huh." Aqua nodded. It was not uncommon for a civilization to celebrate the time when those who worked in the fields reaped the hard labor, yet it was rather uncommon to be celebrated in such a major city like Onost.
It was tradition to revere the month of harvest in more rural areas of any given civilization; however, there were always exceptions.
"Are you curious about the festival?"
Aqua merely nodded; she had unconsciously plunged herself into a nostalgic mindset that she needed to be taken out of.
Azure smiled softly as she tilted her head up. "I am not the best at history, but I will try to be as accurate as I can."
She clicked her tongue twice, "It is a relatively recent tradition, started around 200 years ago."
Aqua nodded along as they weaved through the crowd of people.
"Around that time, our kingdom was struck by a massive famine; it is an era that many of us older elves know and remember well."
"A famine?" Aqua's expression soured. The famine had ravaged many elven nations in her old world, made possible by a divine tyrant. He had made their harvests fail and animals die.
Could it be the work of this world's gods?
Her fists clenched. If it were, it would merely reinforce the need for them to be eradicated once she had learned more about them.
"Aqua…" Azure's eyes widened as Aqua's mood soured. She quickly grabbed her hand and brought it to her heart. "This was not caused by the gods, that much I am certain."
"How can you be sure. The gods of this world had proven they are willing to work in secret."
"Because this one was manmade."
"Manmade?"
"Yes." She released Aqua's hand as the duo turned right into more narrower street.
"There was an experiment into increasing the crop yield. Our experts used mana to accelerate growth and enhance the seeds."
"I can guess what happened." Aqua's fists relaxed as she learned that gods did not play a major part in a famine.
"Yes, instead of growth, those seeds acted as poison. Before we knew it even if one of them was planted, the entire farm was rendered barren and infertile. It was like we were creating a desert ."
"Are there any of those seeds left?" Aqua was rather curious about the failed experiment; it was the first time for her that mana could have such an adverse effect on the soil.
Azure nodded, "There are some in the royal treasury; however, not even I have clearance to access it. Only the Queen or the King can."
"I see." Aqua sighed.
The girls soon found themselves in a large marble clearing, where many smaller evergreen trees were planted, and the path led toward a massive stone building with a round bronze ceiling. On its front were four large windows that revealed its insides.
It was the central Library of Onost.
"If you are interested, I can try to ask for the access." Azure chuckled.
"If it's not too much trouble."
"When its for you? Never!" The duo passed through the marble clearing and stopped in front of the large oak double doors. Above them was a plaque inscribed with the words 'Onost Library'.
"I really appreciate it." Aqua smiled as they opened the door into the library.
They were greeted by a wholly different view than outside. The rows of the bookshelves lined multiple stories of the building, each was filled to the brim, and yet they were very well organized.
Leading to the next level were 3 sets of stairs, and each shelf had a category assigned to it.
This is rather impressive. Even Aqua couldn't help but gasp at the magnitude of knowledge the library of Onost held. It was very close to the largest knowledge base she had ever visited.
A small giggle reached her ears as Azure wrapped her hand around Aqua's shoulder.
"You like the library? So I was right to show it off to you." She raised her head with pride as Aqua nodded.
Clap
Azure clasped her hands and exclaimed, "Time to get what I came here for."
Before Aqua could display her confusion, Azure pulled her by the hand toward a section containing historical books.
The white haired girl rubbed her chin as her eyes moved from top to bottom of the large shelf.
"Aha!" With that, she reached up and retrieved a large red leatherbound book. She then turned to Aqua, "I wanted to buy you something, and considering how much you enjoy attaining new knowledge…" She awkwardly hugged the book.
"You really do not need to, Azu." Aqua's ears slumped slightly; she was not used to receiving gifts, even after many that she had been given from Soleah and even Lucia.
"But I do need to!" Azure grinned as she turned toward the next section that contained the knowledge of general religious practice.
Despite the wish for Laleyn and Aqua to get along, it was unlikely to happen as long as Aqua had mistrusted anything divine; thus, Azure wished to give Aqua any knowledge she could.
While Azure herself did not know what the best gift for Aqua was, someone like the heroine surely would appreciate the books as a gift.
Soon, the Champion retrieved a smaller blue book with a simple golden stripe decorating its back.
Like an excited schoolgirl, Azure rushed back toward the entrance with two books; however, instead of exiting, she turned to the librarian and placed the two books on the table.
"I would like to buy these two books. Please make the copies as soon as possible!" Without a word, Azure placed two silver coins on the counter. It was a sizeable price, yet she did not care.
The librarian collected the coins and nodded.
The librarian was a young elven man, yet the age could never truly be determined for the elves. They all seemed to be eternally young until the day they die.
Soon, the man disappeared, leaving the two girls alone once more.
Azure. Aqua smiled warmly. The woman in front of her was truly an amazing friend.
It did not take long for the librarian to return with two freshly created copies. "Here you go, Ladies. Thank you for visiting."
With a bow, the two girls made their way out. Azure gripped the books close to her before turning to Aqua and stretching her hands forward. "These are for you. A gift of appreciation from me to you! Please accept."
Her hands shook slightly as she stared at the floor.
Absolutely adorable. Aqua's lips widened into a smile as she took the books from Azure's hands. "Thank you, Azu. I really appreciate this gift."
Aqua could swear that she had heard Azure squeal with happiness, yet no sound reached her ears.
Azure straightened her back and crossed her arms, "Now on to the next part of my plan!"
"Plan?" Before Aqua could even ask a question, Azure pulled her by the hand into the city.