"Okay calm down Higen just think of reasons to not be with him," I thought, there must be a mistake "... he is a noble, and I don't want to further any agenda... except that he only looks like a prince but is not actually one... oh I know he won't be bearing my children I don't want to be a father just ye... I mean is not like he can actually bear anyone's children and even if he could I think he would be the best dad ever caring and loving... ahhhhh stop it brain" I clapped both of my cheeks with my hands "That's your best friend, you shouldn't be having feelings for him... right?", no matter how I look at it there's no reason to not be with him "Higen did you saw..." I stood up abruptly and he took a jump back "food!!! I'm starving I'll go get some food for us right now" I nervously laughed "Oh wait I could go with you and help you with the plates" "NO!!! ... I mean you just did a stunning dance routine you must be tired, and thou must rest here for mine return" I blurted out "You sure you are okay? You only speak like that when something bothers you!"

  "Blast it he knows me too well" I was picking a big plate of food for both of us, the more I think about it the more I like the idea of being with Ozwald, he is a great person, and he cares for me and others, his freckles are cute, actually, all of him is cute... when did I start to like guys? I mean I knew it was an option, back home is not strange for the nobility to have many wives or husbands as long as you can give them the same lifestyle and here I know some guys on the football team have boyfriends, and cheerleaders have girlfriends I guess that if Ozwald was a girl I would still want to be with her, I like him for him... but this was never on my script I don't know how to be flirty let alone with a guy I didn't read that part to fail at it deliberately I can't buy any more time here I'll go back and wish for the best.

  "I have the food! Look at how much food I have right here for us to consume and regain the strength this dance is taking from us" I set the plate on the center of the table as Ozwald was looking concerned at me, "... I know you are big, but don't you think you over did it a little?" I violently shook my head "No, absolutely not! Ozwald we must eat well and keep our mouths full, you know the rules, no speaking with your mouth full" I sat down and shoved a sandwich into my mouth, "... you know, don't you?" I started to choke on the food, how does he know I know? Niko could have told him. I don't think he would snitch on me "What do you mean Ozwald? Is me old airhead Higen I don't know anything about anything... unless you want me to know about it."

  He sighed and put his hat back on "It's not as bad as it sounds, I didn't know it was going to happen" "... I mean is okay don't worry that kind of thing... sometimes happens" "They shouldn't, one second you are okay and the next everything is different and I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable" "what? No, no, no... I mean it makes me confused a lot, but it doesn't make me uncomfortable I mean we have kissed before, right?" "you can't compare that to Paolo shoving his tongue down my throat" My heart sunk to the bottom of my stomach I thought we were talking about something else I tried to keep calm but I felt a rush of anger through my body "Ozwald you know I love you and I say this in the kindest way possible" I placed my hands on his shoulders "what in the actual hell did thou said to me?" "Well yeah, when I went to get the drinks, he was there and... he forced himself on me, but Carter was there to help, I thought you already knew, what were you talking about then?"

  "that's not the point right now, where is he? I will slash him to ribbons!!!" I was about to go search for that rat but Ozwald stopped me "Listen I know he sucks but you don't have to stand to his level, can we just enjoy the rest of the dance?" he frowned sadly and stared at the food, I sighed and calmed myself "okay I'll control myself but if he gets close to you one more time I will cut him" he smiled and took some food from the plate he grabbed some of the fruit covered in chocolate I prepare "these strawberries are great and so big try one" he put one in front of me, he was right they were quite good "oh you have something... here let me" Ozwald wiped the corner of my mouth with his finger and instantly lick his finger before he realized "oh... I... sorry entered "look after the twins' mode" should we go dance some more before it's over?" I was stunned I could only nod and follow him to the dance floor.

  "now before the night is over" the person behind the machines announced once more "This one goes to all the lovely couples in the crowd, grab your partner for the last slow dance of the night!" the music was slow people were dancing close to one another, must people had already left the party there were just a few couples left, counting our friends, "Higen we don't have to dance we can leave if you want," Ozwald told me I gathered my courage and shook my head "no lets have one last dance before leaving... Ozie" he looks right into my eyes as I grabbed his hand and his waist as we danced for the last time that night, "You are very good at this type of dance" I smiled "yeah, the waltz is one of the dances all the knights know or at least that's what my father told me, you are quite good yourself" he smiled in return "my mom and I used to dance like this when I was little she would always lead"

  "Ozwald, I have something to tell you," I told him as the melody continued "I know... you wanted to come here as a date" he was shocked, but he just shook his head "Was I that obvious that you noticed?" "No... I wouldn't have noticed I'm just bad at things like that but when I saw you dancing well I kind of connected the dots" Due to the melody of the music we ended up very close together, I could smell the chocolate from before in his breath his eyes shining in the light like two beautiful emeralds "Ozwald... I" I moved my head closer to his he stood on his tiptoes to match my height better I was ready to give him a proper kiss this time not under the influence of anything.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ME!!!" Paolo separated us and threw me against one of the tables, he wasn't this strong before, he was fuming his costume as tear at the shirt and I saw he had the core of a titan in the center of his chest "Ozwald get away from him!!!" he saw the core too and immediately yelled "throw!" a chair was flanged at Paolo hitting him right on the back of his neck, Ozwald quickly ran to our friends, they were in shock after seeing Paolo again "guys you have to get out of here now" I ran at our friends as Ozwald informed them "yeah let's go! Paolo is on something we must go right this instant" I supported his claim everyone else started to leave but when we were about to, the exit closed and a labyrinth formed before us.

  "What the fuck just happened?" Carter shouted at us when the labyrinth finished forming, it looked rudimentary, like not much and yet it had its own personality, it looked like a lush garden entrance, with a strange double helix on the front of the gate entrance, Me and Higen look at each other trying to find an answer for the question but we couldn't "... guys this is a monster's labyrinth" Donna blinked several times "alright Hon did you spike the drinks again?" Donna asked nervously to Carter, but he negated everything "Not me this time, remember we came together where would I hide the booze? In my fake tail?" Niko clapped loudly to get everyone's attention, "Guys stop, I don't think we are under the influence of anything, Ozie, Higen how do you know about... this place? And why aren't you guys freaking out?"

  Higen sighed and took some air "Because Ozwald and I have been fighting these monsters since we got to Merrionette City" Carter placed his hand on Higen's shoulder "What do you mean fighting? You are my age I don't think fighting monsters is a thing teenager do outside of T.V" we exchanged glances and I nodded, Higen summoned his short sword from his gloves to the amusement of everyone "and this staff is not just a prop or a hiking stick... gale!" I said as I pointed to one of the flowerpots near us, a strong wind current knocked the petals out of the flowers my nails partially turned black, now the truth is out we just need to see if they are going to be afraid of us.

  "I must be having another seizure, right? there's no way this is real, right babe?" Carter looked at Donna, she was lost in her own thoughts, she pinched him in the arm, then herself they both flinched "Sorry love it appears we are both wide awake and nobody is having a seizure" Niko came closer and looked at my hands "so that stone when we were going to band camp was... you?" I nodded "Oh that's cool!!! What else can you do, shoot fire? Fly? Are you a magical gir... boy?" I was going to answer but Higen stopped me "We have no more time for questions and answers Ozwald and I will see what is at the center of this place you three I must ask you to stay here out of the fight and Carter..." Higen pulled a black and blue dagger from his gloves and handed it to Carter "... if whatever comes after you three use this to defend everyone I can count on you, right friend?"

  "... this is not the end... you two better come back to answer more questions do you hear me Higen!" Higen smiled and hit his armor "You have mine word" Donna and Niko hugged me "You have to come back too!!! After this we are going to the arcade" "And you have to show me more of your powers Ozie" I returned the hug "I'll do my best for you guys and for everyone else" The three of them hid behind a big garden pot as we pulled our phones out, the resonance stones were dangling indicating that someone wanted to contact us, "Hello, Mrs. Lulu, what is going on in the outside?"

  "I'm glad I was able to reach you two, Tartaro's HQ is under attack, lesser Titans appeared a few minutes ago, and we managed to pick up a signal of a very powerful Titan in your area." Higen started the conversation "we saw what happen on our end, a student named Paolo was acting weird, and we managed to spot a titans core grafted onto his chest moments before the two of us alongside Donna Parker, Carter Marten and Niko Cruz were trapped in this labyrinth" there was a long pause as Lulu was processing the information we gave her "we had to confess the truth to them, they took it well, and are currently in no danger" a big sigh came from the other end "fine we will deal with this when all of us are on the clear from Titans, listen you two, the Titan at the center is an extremely powerful one, be prepared to use every single resource you have at your disposal, Higen I'm giving you permission for using your ace in the sleeves you requested from me, Ozwald use all the power you have this is going to be the hardest or the last fight you two will endure, be ready and above all else be careful, we will be getting there as soon as we have the situation here under control" And with that ominous message she hanged up as screeching was audible form her end, we pressed the barrier button and ran through the door of the garden.

  At the center of the garden surrounded by a fountain was the core of the Titan, but instead of being the size of a golf ball or a pearl, like usual it was bigger, and it was mounted at the top of the fountain, lightly shaking as if it was an egg instead of a core, Higen and I moved slowly as to not alert whatever it was that was inside "I see the new toys form Tartaro's have arrived I would say is a pleasure but it really isn't" Higen drew his sword and I pointed with my staff to the source of the sound a man was sitting next to the core his long white coat dangling on the breeze of the garden, he adjusted his silver glasses and looked at us, scanning, thinking, as if trying to define whether or not we were a treat for him and judging by his demeanor we weren't.

  "Who are you, strange intruder?" Higen asked pointing with his sword at the man, he tilted his head to one side, part of his hair touching the water of the fountain he was sitting in, "I wonder that sometimes names and nicknames are important after all words hold weight and power or so an idiot says, right?" I was shocked, this man knows Queen Rosaria which means he comes from Elysium, Higen ground his teeth at the insult of the Queen's name "If you know her highness thou art aware of the consequences of tarnishing her name correct?" the man sighed deeply at the allegation Higen made "right, right, the person that dears to tarnish the reputation or name of a member of the royal family will be sentenced to the remotion of their foolish tongue, I'm afraid that set of laws doesn't apply to me anymore, knights... always a bunch of goodies two shoes god I hate them" The man stood up in the middle of the air grabbed his hair and tie it at the base making a long ponytail behind him "I used to be someone but now I'm not my name should reflect that does it not? ... you might call me Otis, Otis the nobody."