It first started out as a light thump.

The beating rapidly grew as Ignavus laid eyes on the person in front of him.

There she was.

Sitting.

'White!'

It felt too much like a dream.

"Marie, Marie!! Put me down! Put me down quickly!!" (I)

Ignavus struggled in Marie's grasp as he waited on her to release him.

Marie merely gave a light chuckle before starting to gently set Ignavus down.

'Come on, come on! Faster!'

It felt like Marie was being much slower than normal.

When his feet finally touched the ground, Ignavus took off to the free chair.

It's been a really long time since Ignavus felt genuine excitement. Good, genuine excitement. His days within the castle had been steadily growing more monotonous and dreadful. The relentless babying, coupled with the pressure to consistently perform, had created a unique kind of nightmare. One he couldn't talk about with anyone. It was really no wonder he was excited. He finally had someone to talk to.

Someone to take him seriously.

Finally reaching the chair, Ignavus paused, then turned and sent a glare Marie's way.

It was too high for him to climb.

'I hope you're enjoying yourself...'

And, by the looks of it, she definitely was. The smug smile she was fighting with, coupled with her slow walk, were telling signs.

'Just wait! The moment I get taller, I'll... I'll...!'

After failing to come up with an appropriate comeback, Ignavus tried to shift his thoughts.

White was here. His most trusted subordinate became the new hero. Presumably in his place. It was a fact that Ignavus swallowed somewhat bitterly. Something that took his entire military career to achieve was earned in such a short time. Ignavus sense of time may have been a little messed up since arriving at the castle, but it couldn't have been more than a couple of months since his "death," and they had already replaced him.

'Whatever! That doesn't matter now!'

Yes, that was true. What mattered now was something entirely different. What mattered now was seeking help. Help from someone who best knew him. With that help, he might... might just be able to do the impossible.

Escape.

Ignavus shifted his glare from Marie onto the chair.

The idea he currently held was nothing new. In fact, it was something he had given up on. Escaping from this nightmare castle had proved to be something he was incapable of. If his countless failed attempts were to be taken as evidence, it was a task that bordered on the impossible. But... that was when he was attempting it by himself. If he could get White to help him, that would change everything. After all, the Afia army must have some tricks up their sleeve if they were able to form some weird peace with the demons. A trick that would discourage them from attacking. All Ignavus had to do was get White to recognise him and formulate a plan.

"Do you need help, my lady?" (M)

Struggling to look at Marie, Ignavus answered in a softer tone.

"Yes..." (I)

Marie gave a warm smile before lowering and scooping Ignavus with one hand.

Maybe... maybe Ignavus could take her with him. He already had the silly bird within him, though trapped.

What was one more person?

"Would you like some pillows, my lady?" (M)

Marie's hand gestured to the ground beside the chair. Four large puffy white pillows that Ignavus didn't notice earlier rested beside it.

"N-No, I don't need them." (I)

Though... looking at it. If Ignavus didn't take at least one pillow, he would have a hard time even peering over the table, and that's assuming he's standing.

"Are you sure?" (M)

"Well... maybe one wouldn't hurt." (I)

Ultimately, Ignavus ended up using two pillows due to Marie not wanting him to stand for too long.

'Right, time to get back on track'

Sitting cross-legged on the pillow, Ignavus started to plot his next move.

He needed to get White to notice it was him without alerting Marie. Throwing his gaze around, Ignavus brainstormed. There were two main ways he could go about this. Directly or indirectly. Knowing White and her nativity, any other approach besides directly would fail.

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'Now I just need to get Marie out of here'

Ignavus' wondering gaze finally settled on his empty glass.

'Perfect'

"Marie, may you fill my glass with... with that!" (I)

Ignavus pointed straight at the quarter-filled cup in front of White. The red liquid contained within seemed to glow at his words. Given Marie's usual efficiency, Ignavus wagered it would take her no more than ten seconds to go and fill his glass, which was good. He only needed five.

"No." (M)

'Huh?'

"W-Why, not?" (I)

"You are not approved to drink that." (M)

Ignavus' diet was generally limited to whatever his mother approved. The only time he had ever gotten to eat something outside of her control was when that monster captured him and the twins. Apart from that single instance, he has never truly had a choice, and even though he knew he wouldn't be given one, he couldn't resist complaining.

"Just a little? Please? I won't-" (I)

"No." (M)

Ignavus gritted his teeth. He may not be allowed to drink that red liquid, but that wasn't the only drink he knew.

Clearing his throat, he spoke again.

"How, how about sweet honey?" (I)

"No." (M)

"Tufaha juices?" (I)

"No." (M)

"Lulu mix?" (I)

"No." (M)

This exchange carried on until Ignavus felt his head throb in mild annoyance.

'Not everything I eat has to be some weird exotic delicacy!'

It was a guess, but one Ignavus thought to be true. He knew for a fact that most, if not all, of his food came from some legendary monstrous beast. Ignavus believed his mother disliked feeding him food she thought beneath them. It was for that reason that he tried to suggest drinks he thought were of high status, but in the eyes of an immortal Yalery...

"Milk! The good kind! You can't say no to-!" (I)

"No- Oh, no. Wait a second." (M)

'How can you respond before even being sure?'

Marie adopted a thoughtful expression.

"The good kind... of course!" (M)

Suddenly, Marie turned to Ignavus with a very serious face.

"My lady, I understand what you need completely!" (M)

Despite her saying that, Ignavus felt something was off.

"I don't know if the mistress will be ready... but I'll see what I can do!" (M)

It was a feeling that just grew deeper.

'No way... She doesn't really think I'm that young?'

As soon as the thought bloomed in Ignavus, an image of his current reflection passed in mind.

"Wait! Wait!! Actually, I think I'll just have the usual!" (I)

Ignavus nearly fell off his pillows trying to grab on to Marie. The shocked Marie managed to catch him and gently place him back on the pillows without forgetting to admonish him.

"My lady, please be careful! This chair is very high up for you! I don't know what I would've done if-" (M)

"I get, I get. I'm sorry, I'll try and be more careful." (I)

Marie grimaced at Ignavus words. She didn't seem to like that he used the word try. Marie stared at Ignavus for a short moment before finally letting out a sigh.

"Alright then, I'll be back shortly." (M)

Without much ceremony, Marie turned, briefly glanced at White, and made way to the only door in the room.

'Why does she even bother?'

If Ignavus had the ability to suddenly appear, you would never catch him walking again.

The sound of a door slamming shut bounced around the desolate green field.

'Now!'

Ignavus needed to tell White right now. He needed to inform his inexperienced subordinate.

'She's been weirdly silent though....'

Lifting his gaze, Ignavus met White's own for the first time today.

His excitement died as he felt his blood run cold.

'Ah, right'

An obvious realisation suddenly hit him. There was a reason why White was so silent.

Today he was meeting the hero, Mouse Kin White, and conversely, White was meeting the princess Yalery.

The daughter of her Commander's killer.

Ignavus really was delusional.

The air between the two grew colder.

The beating within his chest returned, though twisted.

Ignavus felt... fear.

He was scared. Scared of the hero White.

'What have I done?! I shouldn't have asked to meet her alone! I shouldn't have sent Maire away!! I shouldn't have-!'

The hero stood up.

Ignavus felt his thoughts as well as his whole-body freeze.

There was a lot he shouldn't have done. He shouldn't have been so careless; he shouldn't have tricked Marie to go... but, most importantly, he shouldn't have been so stupid. Did he really think it would've been that easy? Even if Afia had something to deter the Yalery, it would've been rendered void the moment Ignavus went missing. Their kind—his kind, would stop at nothing to get him back. That knowledge alone should've been a deterrent, but Ignavus had even more to consider. Like... like all the promises he had made. Being honest with himself, he knew there was no way he could carry his current companions. Was he really going to leave Marie, or even his silly bird? What about the self-proclaimed Boss Navy?

'Gosh, I'm so, so stupid!'

Now he was going to die and likely kick off the end of Afia. All this was just because he was still struggling to accept reality.

The hero, White, circled the table.

Ignavus shut his eyes tight and waited.

The sound of metal clanking rang as something hit the table. It was likely the gauntlet the hero wore. It looked like the hero was going to make this ending personal.

'Damn it, someone please... anyone, please save me...'

Ignavus could almost feel the hand looming over him.

A warm sensation abruptly spread on his head as the hand finally made contact. The hand rested on his head for a few short moments before slowly moving back and forth.

'What... what is she doing?'

Ignavus gradually poked open his right eye.

"Are you feeling better? Princess?" (W)

The crude movements stopped as Ignavus met the eyes of the hero. He had never seen White, the battle-crazed manic, ever smile like that.

"Y-Yes!" (I)

The hero slowly walked back to her seat, but not before grabbing and equipping her gauntlet.

"I heard you like heroes, princess?" (W)

Ignavus gave a light nod, his hands reaching and touching the rubbed spot.

"Have you ever heard of the Great Hero Ignavus?" (W)

"A-And then what happened?!" (I)

"The great valiant hero raised his sword! And! And!!" (W)

"And!?" (I)

"BOOM! He fell a thousand soldiers in a single swing!" (W)

Unconsciously, Ignavus reeled back from the table he didn't realise he was leaning on as the story finally hit its climax. He stared at the hero, White, after he quickly recovered. Begging her to continue.

The hero White, still smiling, spoke,

"Well, I guess that's enough for today." (W)

"H-Huh?! No! You can't end there!" (I)

It was not like Ignavus didn't know how the story would end. It was just the way White spoke it that made him want to continue. The hero, White, appeared to have a gift for storytelling. She should have been a bard.

The hero White suddenly spoke in a sombre tone.

"Hmm... I could continue, but... that might ruin the story." (W)

'Really!?'

"Yes, really." (W)

The hero's face scowled as she appeared deep in thought.

"How, how about I finish the story the next time you invite me?" (W)

Before thinking, Ignavus spoke,

"Deal!" (I)

The hero's face broke out into a grin as she eyed Ignavus.

"Say, princess. Have you ever met a hero besides me?" (W)

Ignavus briefly pondered the question before finally settling on an answer.

"Yes, I have met one other hero." (I)

"Oh, who was that hero?" (W)

Ignavus paused.

"I-I didn't really get their-" (I)

Light steps ranged behind Ignavus, causing him to turn.

"-name..." (I)

It was Marie.

He had completely forgotten about her.

Marie just smiled at Ignavus before asking,

"Ready to go, my lady?" (M)

"Um, n-not really..." (I)

Marie casually scooped Ignavus off the pillows.

"Well, unfortunately, we have very serious matters to attend to!" (M)

With tender coaxing, Marie encouraged him to say his parting words.

"Come on, say your goodbyes." (M)

Looking at White, the hero White, Ignavus felt something he couldn't describe.

So, with a soft wave, he said his goodbyes.