The main hall of the imperial palace was so awash with light that the air itself glittered like it was made of jewels as chandeliers of the same stones as the ones used in the capital's street lights twinkled from the ceiling. An orchestra played on a raised platform so their music could reach the entire hall for all the gathered nobles to dance to. Refreshments and snacks packed multiple tables that were along one of the far walls with a few couches and chairs placed so that the nobles could comfortably gather in their cliques. Banners of the imperial family were hung from all the balconies that overlooked the hall and fluttered in a wind that was created by strategically placed stones that were enchanted with wind magic by wizards.
"I wonder if we could sell air conditioning units?" Olivia pondered aloud as she watched the fluttering banners while sipping on a glass of water. Her gaudy gold dress sparkled almost as much as the chandeliers, and it was so heavy that Olivia had to constantly drink water not to overheat while wearing it since summer was at its peak.
"The wizard's tower would most likely stop us," Margaret said as she brushed some stray confetti that was thrown from the balconies earlier off her rich green dress that was adorned with sparkling emeralds and bright yellow silk accents. Normally such a ball would be only open to nobles but since Trent had played such a key role in supplying the Hellhounds, Margaret and her father were specially invited to participate in the festivities within the palace. While her father was doing his best to mingle with various nobles, Margaret was sticking close to Olivia to show the strong bond between the company and the Crown Princess. "We were barely able to get Wortrest street lights with how much pushback the tower was giving so I have no doubt they'll do all they can to stop 'air conditioning' units." Margaret didn't know what an air conditioning unit was, but she had a good guess after noticing what Olivia was looking at and how uncomfortable she was in her dress.
Cassandra continued to fan her face and said, "For so-called 'researchers' and 'scientists', the wizards are awfully quick to smother any kind of useful advancements." She was also regretting wearing such an extravagant pink dress because of how many layers it had. The three of them were standing next to one of the pillars that held up a balcony as they watched the dancing nobles with indifference. "Just because they're stuck in their ways of using those magic crystals for everything doesn't mean the rest of us have to be." Despite creating their staffs and orbs from pieces of the meteor that fell over three hundred years ago, the wizard's tower seemed to have a limitless amount of magic crystals no matter how much they used yet they also acted like they could run out at any time.
"That's because the decisions of the tower are made by the eldest members," a fourteen-year-old boy who was as tall as Olivia approached the three ladies with two glasses of water in his hands. His blonde hair was extremely short and a little spiky, and he wore a scarlet red suit with a white undershirt, and his light red eyes sparkled in the light.
"That doesn't excuse the wizards for blatantly messing with us, Lord Augustus," Margaret flatly stated as she averted her gaze from the boy.
"True," Augustus agreed while brushing off Margaret's rudeness, and offered Olivia a fresh glass of water since hers was now empty. "But I've heard that some of the younger Wizards are getting fed up with that and are trying to change things from the inside. So who knows what the future will bring for the Wizard's Tower."
"Hopefully a future with fewer restrictions on my business," Olivia replied and accepted the new glass while setting the empty one down on a nearby table. "Are you not dancing, Augustus?"
"I think I'll take a hint from others and just enjoy mingling," Augustus said while looking over to the nobles who were dancing to see them almost as shiny as the jewels they wore since the dry heat of the day had persisted into the night. "That is, unless you would like to dance with me, Your Highness?" Augustus turned and gave a slight bow to Olivia while showing a playful smile. Cassandra looked a little uncomfortable though that was probably just due to the heat, but Olivia heard Margaret click her tongue in annoyance at Augustus' brazen advance.
"Not today. Though, since you're here," Olivia turned to Augustus and asked, "Have you seen Lucina anywhere?"
"Countess Sanguine?" Augustus straightened himself up, tilted his head and pondered for a moment before replying, "I haven't seen her yet, though I also just arrived so I imagine I haven't had the chance to run into her. Did you need something from her?"
"No, I was just curious," Olivia lied as she took a sip of water. In truth, Olivia wanted to properly greet and see her friend after they'd been gone for so long but what she felt in the throne room yesterday still plagued her mind. Lucina's gaze never wavered from Marcus as if she were an actor performing her lines before promptly leaving the stage. Unanswered questions and future worries darkened Olivia's mood on the otherwise joyous night of festivities. "I haven't seen her since yesterday's ceremony. Not even Countess Felswore has seen her… I should ask one of the servants."
"If you're looking for our Harbinger, then perhaps we could be of some assistance," a feminine voice came from behind the group and everyone turned to see a woman and man in knight's uniforms approach them. "Daughter Elise of the Hellhounds greets Arlexia's Little Lioness, Crown Princess Olivia Ordrin," Elise said and gave a respectful bow.
"Jeremy of the Hellhounds greets Arlexia's Little Lioness, Crown Princess Olivia Ordrin," Jeremy followed Elise's lead and also bowed with his greeting.
"Jeremy? You're the one I corresponded with during the past few months in Lucina's stead, correct?" Olivia perked up as she finally met two of the people Lucina had written to her about back during the beginning of the war.
"I am one and the same, Your Highness," Jeremy replied and raised his head. "It is an honor to finally meet our benefactor in person."
"I only did what I should as a crown princess," Olivia had to watch her words since they were in the middle of a ball where not everyone supported her decision in sponsoring the Hellhounds. But she could allow a little of her true thoughts to show, "I would like to thank you both for being there for Lucina and for all you've done during the past two years in the Hellhounds."
"It was our pleasure, Your Highness."
"Indeed," Elise added, "To be able to serve alongside The Harbinger of Zulm is a blessing in and of itself so we should be the ones thanking you for all the support you've given us."
"I'm glad." While Olivia put on a happy front, looking at Elise reminded her of Lucina's appearance yesterday; mainly in how Elise held the same broken gaze. "But did you mention something about assisting in finding Lucina?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Elise held a knowing smile as she said, "And in exchange for telling you where our Harbinger is, I would like to ask a favor of you, Crown Princess."
"A favor?"
Cassandra butted in the conversation, "You're asking the Crown Princess for a favor in exchange for telling us where the Countess is? If you know where she is then you should speak when asked."
Elise showed no annoyance or fear at Cassandra's outburst and just calmly smiled and clarified, "This is by no means a hard favor, and based on what I know it is something the Crown Princess would be more than willing to help out with since it will help our Harbinger, too."
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"…Tell me what you want." Olivia felt uneasy with Elise, but she didn't sense any hostility from the woman so she would at least hear her out before deciding on what to do.
Elise's face took on a pained expression as she explained, "Well…"
***
Even though the sun had already set and the night sky was filled with stars, the outside air still held its dry heat. Just beyond the east wing of the palace was a magnificent garden filled with flowers and tall hedges that rustled in the gentle night breeze. Stone paths wove through the garden and were wide enough for carriages to pass through despite none being allowed this far into the palace.
"…" Lucina stood alone on a second-floor balcony that overlooked the garden. A glass of water slowly twirled in her hand as she absentmindedly stared off into the distance. The night was far too quiet for Lucina to feel comfortable and her mind began to wander. Banners were hung from her balcony's stone railing that flapped-
***
-in the harsh wind that whipped the battlefield. The standard bearer had died in such a way that their body propped up Urldrusk's flag which inspired the surrounding soldiers to fight harder. No matter how hard the wind blew, the flag remained standing as she and her knights fought to take the hill. Peltaira's army felt endless as-
***
-Lucina's eyes remained fixated on the night's horizon. The breeze danced through her balcony and jostled her long hair as if playfully tugging at her. Clopping hooves drew her attention to the stone paths and she saw a few nobles racing each other on horseback while laughing amongst themselves. The sounds of horse hooves clacking against the stones-
***
-echoed as the earth trembled beneath the cavalry charge. The Hellhounds charged downhill into the rear of an unsuspecting Peltairan convoy as the raid began and their spearmen desperately tried to get into position and their own horsemen rushed to meet the Hellhounds. Lucina's hands tightened around the reins of her horse when she locked eyes with one of the enemy knights on horseback and her horse-
***
-quickly disappeared around the corner of the palace's east wing. Her eyes kept staring at the building's corner before drifting back to the garden as movement caught her attention.
"Come on~!" An obviously drunk couple were merrily stumbling their way out of the hall and into the garden. They were laughing and giggling as they tried their best to remain standing despite being intoxicated and they couldn't keep their hands off each other.
"Couldn't we just find a room? It would've been faster~." Lucina could practically smell the alcohol from where she was.
"But this is more exciting~!" The woman laughed as she dragged the man behind a hedge and gave an aroused shout. "Now~, come on! Come-
***
-on! Forward!" the Peltairan commander screamed over the chaos as he cut down one of the Hellhounds. "No mercy for these dogs!"
"Commander!?" Peter cried out as he cut down a charging horseman. The air was filled with the screams of soldiers fighting for their lives, the earth trembled and shook under man and horse as they broke against each other, and the sky was filled with burning banners as hell descended upon the battlefield. Lucina-
***
-shattered her glass of water against the stone railing to force her mind to snap out of her delusions. She looked at the shattered glass that her trembling hand was barely holding onto with a curious indifference. The lace black gloves she wore didn't provide any warmth to her numb fingers and Lucina allowed the glass to fall out of her hand and fully shatter against the ground. Her eyes lingered on the broken shards at her feet for a few moments before returning to the horizon.
"Despite how they look, that glass was quite expensive."
"…?" Lucina turned around and saw Olivia standing in the doorway to the balcony. Sailest's light bathed Olivia in its gentle glow and almost made her gaudy dress look appealing. Almost. "That dress looks terrible," Lucina flatly stated and didn't even bother offering a fake smile. "Change."
"You make it sound like I have a choice," Olivia joked as she approached and stood next to Lucina on the balcony. While it was difficult to stomach, she intentionally ignored the harshness of Lucina's words and continued, "James wanted me to wear this so I have to suffer through the ball like this. But at least it's cooler out here than inside." The stone railing felt refreshingly cool to her hands as Olivia leaned against it and took in a deep breath of fresh air. "Also, you're one to talk considering your dress is very…stylish." Olivia looked over the gown Lucina was wearing with a bemused and disturbed wonder.
"Is it?" Lucina's gown was a dark red that almost matched her wizard robe in color which was probably why it was chosen; another reminder of her new namesake. Unlike Olivia's ball gown, Lucina's dress evenly flowed down and hugged her body in an attempt to look seductive and the low off-shoulder neckline tried to be provocative despite Lucina only being twelve. Long, baggy sleeves covered her arms and danced in the breeze while giving glimpses of her silhouette depending on how the wind blew. It was a gown that Olivia knew was completely inappropriate for a young girl to wear.
"We should go shopping for some new clothes tomorrow." Olivia had no idea how Lucina's dress was even staying on her body because how low the neckline was, but what really drew her eyes were the scars that were visible because of how low it was. Lucina's shoulders and upper chest were covered in nicks and scratches that the dress made no attempt to hide, and there was a rather large-looking scar on her upper right chest that looked like an arrow wound.
"I'll make sure to complain in the next one," Lucina replied and turned back to the night sky.
"Next one?" Olivia knew what was coming and kept her calm mask up. "Next what?"
"The next dream." Lucina gave an annoyed sigh and glanced at Olivia out of the corner of her eyes, "Honestly, you get more talkative each time that I'm already dreading the next one."
"You think you're in a dream?"
"I know I'm in a dream," Lucina replied. "This is the fifth time I've come back to the capital, marched in the parade, spoken to the Emperor, and finally met you only to wake up still marching back from the front." The breeze blew some of Lucina's hair in her face that she half-heartedly brushed away. "At this point, I'd prefer it if you stopped stealing her face and voice. I'm losing my patience."
"…I see." Lucina fully believed she was hallucinating which was why she was acting so distant. Olivia gave a bitter chuckle before probing for some answers, "Is that why you asked the Emperor for Solfin? Even for a dream that feels like a bit much."
"It's just practice," Lucina answered. "Olivia's letters said Margaret was having trouble in Solfin, and controlling that place would make it easier for her to do more trading in the long run. Since none of this is real I can practice what I'm gonna say when we finally meet so that I don't mess up and embarrass Olivia."
"Don't you mean yourself?"
"Why would I care about myself?" Lucina's words were spoken so matter-of-factly that Olivia couldn't help but feel her heartache.
"Because I'll be sad if you get in trouble because of it. Since you're doing this for me then that makes me feel responsible for your actions." Olivia desperately tried to find some semblance of her old friend in the Countess' stare. "And even if you weren't doing it for me, I don't want to see the Emperor giving you a hard time since you've been through enough. I'm quite selfish like that."
"…Ah," Lucina nodded and pondered Olivia's words. "I should probably change my speech for next time, then."
"You should also think about how your family will feel."
"…" Lucina didn't answer right away and remained silent for a few seconds before speaking, "I'd rather they not see me like this."
"…That would make them sadder."
"I'd rather they be sad than scared." Lucina's fingers lightly tapped against her sides and her eyes fell. "Even I realize how ugly I look."
"You're not ugly," Olivia declared which got a flinch out of Lucina. "You're not ugly, and you hold no blame for anything that's happened. If anyone holds blame it would be me since I couldn't stop you from being sent to war despite saying I know the future… You did your best, Lucina."
"…Stop using her face and voice." Lucina turned and faced away from Olivia as she didn't want to be moved by a 'fake'.
"I can't help my face and voice," Olivia playfully replied. "They were what I was born with so you'll have to get used to them. Besides, you always complimented me on my looks so I see no need to change them." Olivia waited for Lucina to start talking again, but when she didn't Olivia decided it was time to end this charade. "How does it end?"
"Hmm?" Lucina turned back to Olivia and held her neutral expression and empty gaze once more.
"The dream, how does it end?" Olivia matched Lucina's gaze and the two girls stood in silence.
"…You end it." Lucina gave a tired smile.
"…How?" Olivia watched as Lucina gave a heavy sigh and turned her body to fully face her.
"By denying me what I want the most." Lucina's hand hesitantly tried to rise but quickly fell back to her side. "To hold you."
"So, you wake up from your dream when you try to touch me?" Olivia took a step closer to Lucina and gave her a gentle smile.
"…Yes." Lucina started feeling uncomfortable as the 'fake' approached her and she felt her heart stir.
"Then you should stop hanging around here and wake up so I can see you." Sailest's light swept across Olivia's face giving off a soft shimmer on her light skin. Her snow-white hair glittered like a waterfall of diamonds as it swayed in the breeze and fell over her body, and her deep blue eyes reflected Lucina's face back at her. The cool light from Sailest was offset by the gentle warm light that leaked in from the doorway which mesmerized Lucina as light and shadow danced across Olivia's figure.
"…Fine!" Lucina resolved herself and forced her left hand to reach up. "You keep getting ahead of yourself so I'm done…here?" Her hand cupped Olivia's cheek.
"Hmm," Olivia hummed to herself as she reached up and held Lucina's hand against her cheek.
"I… You…" Lucina's right hand immediately shot up and touched Olivia's other cheek. The fake Olivia always felt ice cold or Lucina couldn't touch her at all and the dream would immediately end, but the warmth her hands felt was too vivid to be in her head. The bitter numbness that had always plagued her subsided to the point that Lucina could properly feel and move her fingers without issue. "O-…Oliv-…!" Her fake smile was completely gone and tears started pouring down her face.
"Welcome home, Lucina." Olivia braced herself as Lucina threw herself into Olivia's arms and practically tackled her to the floor. The young girl had completely broken down and was incoherently babbling through her tears trying to get words to come out while failing miserably. Lucina's arms desperately wrapped around and clung to Olivia as if letting go would be the death of her; as if she would never see Olivia again if this moment ended. It was getting hard to stand so Olivia helped Lucina kneel down so they wouldn't fall over and Lucina continued to wail into Olivia's shoulder. The clacking of heels was all the warning Olivia had as Cassandra dragged Margaret over and forced all four of them into a massive hug as she was also moved to tears by Lucina's reaction. Olivia couldn't help but laugh as all four of them tumbled to the ground because of their surprise group hug, and she gently stroked Lucina's hair to comfort her trembling friend. Elise, Jeremy, and Augustus stood just outside the doorway as they didn't want to intrude on the reunion. And for the first time in almost two years, Lucina felt genuine happiness.