12
Hopes, Dreams
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She heard.
She felt.
She saw.
She dreamt.
She dreamt of a forest, of the sea, of the sky, of stars. She heard clashing metal, the roaring of beasts, the screams of men. She saw an obelisk in the distance, shining darkness beneath a maddening red sky.
The skies burned, the earth shattered, the oceans churned.
She saw. She felt. She heard. She knew.
A reality she had seen a myriad times before, and would see again. The dead of the past, the dead of the present, the dying of the future.
She committed to memory as many details as She could. The distant mountains, the positions of the stars above, the tide of aberrants rushing forward a wave from the sea.
And yet, the future was as fickle as it was vague. Ever unwritten, ever changing.
How? When? Nothing could be certain.
Nothing except…
Again, the pitch-black tower, far to the north, dominated her sight. Within stood another, shining like gold in a sea of black.
The sorcerous might the enemy commanded was unparalleled. As easily as she breathed, she bent reality to her will, conjuring fire and ice to smite—
—In a distant world, the flames sputtered and died. Knowing the taste of despair, Dark Queen fell to her knees.
—In a distant world, she stood surrounded by her foes. Almost as if she knew her death was certain, she drew her strength inward. Only for it to fizzle out and—
—In a distant world, someone stood before her. The Saint breathed heavily, his body battered, his weapon broken, his hands bloodied. But in his eyes shone a light of defiance, even against her.
—In a distant world, she looked to the skies, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
—In a distant world, she did not move. Her eyes, once shining with ambition and pride, stared lifelessly ahead.
The skeins of the future were uncertain, twisting and unraveling with every heartbeat. But throughout all that could come to pass, one constant remained, unerringly certain; The Dark Queen’s power failed.
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I tugged at my collar for the umpteenth time in the past ten minutes. It was too tight, too hot, and really, not the least bit my taste. For a second, I could’ve sworn it had actually shrunk a size, as if mocking me for having the audacity of trying to breathe.
I sighed. I felt uneasy and out of place, having my hair combed back, and wearing these finely-crafted clothes. And though they’d been tailored specifically to fit me, well, I hardly felt like myself in them.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Lady Claudia looking at me, her lips tilted upwards. “Yes, I know the feeling,” she said, as if reading my thoughts. “But it’s something you’ll have to get used to, I’m afraid. It’s important that you look the part.”
“Yeah,” I said with a nod. “I know.”
Sitting beside her, Lord Klaus gave a small chuckle. “Though, to be honest, I find that this type of attire has always been something of an acquired taste. One I myself have yet to acquire,” he added, shooting me a wink. Both he and Lady Claudia were also dressed in elegant courtly wear. Though, given that she was a knight, and I her squire, ours were a touch more militaristic in design.
I chuckled back, and glanced out the carriage’s window. In the distance, the White Citadel came into view, its walls glittering in the sunlight like a ring around a finger. Banners of various colors, displaying the sigils of all the seven Shields, flew proudly from each of the towers.
We’d be arriving at the gates shortly. My heart raced and my hands began to bead with sweat as I settled back into my seat. Clasping my hands together, I kept my eyes trained on my boots.
“Relax, Ansel,” Lord Klaus said in a low voice, laying a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll be fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Breathing in deeply, I closed my eyes, and allowed his soothing words to calm me.
Sooner than I would’ve liked, I felt the coach come to a stop, and opened my eyes. I dismounted first, holding the door open for the lord and lady Levantine. Together, the three of us began walking into the citadel proper, the guards who stood at the gates making no motion to stop us.
“It certainly is something, isn’t it?” Lord Klaus said, gesturing to the environment around us. “I remember the first time I laid eyes on this place. I was but a boy, seeing it for the first time with my father. But yes, even after all these years, it still impresses.”
Lady Claudia gently slipped her hand into his, a warm smile on her lips. “Are you ever going to forget that day?” She asked, her tone light and playful.
“Gods,” he chuckled, his own smile widening. “I hope not.”
I glanced away, feeling as though I was intruding on something private. Instead, I let my eyes wander, taking in every sight, ever detail.
But man, the White Citadel’s interior was far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The stone that comprised the floors was polished to a flawless sheen, seeming more akin to art than, well, an actual floor. The high ceilings were held up by evenly-spaced columns of white marble. Chandeliers hung from them, illuminating the citadel not with an otherworldly light as I’d half-expected, but rather in a warm, earthly glow.
I was so engrossed by it all that I almost didn’t notice the amused smiles that Lord Claus and Lady Claudia sent my way.
“You can take your time, if you’d like,” she said.
“Erm, n-no ma’am,” I replied, shaking my head. “That’s okay.”
With a nod, she resumed walking, leading us through the citadel’s halls.
Soon enough, we came to a stop before a set of double doors, intricately inlaid with patterns of gold and silver. They were flanked on either side by a pair of knights clad in silvery steel armor; Dawn Templars.
“Your Excellency,” the two women intoned, bowing their heads as they greeted Lady Claudia.
She nodded to them in return, before turning and giving me a reassuring smile over her shoulder. “Breathe, Ansel,” she said. “You’ll be fine.”
And then, without further ado, the Templars pulled the doors open.
The chamber we stepped into was massive, almost matching the size of the grand hall at the citadel’s entrance. It was also quite crowded, as far as that went. Several people—knights, nobles, military officers, servants, all varieties—stood about, mingling and talking, their conversations filling the room with a low hum.
The people themselves were dressed in a variety of outfits, boasting the diverse fashions from amongst the Alliance’s seven nations—From Ken’s practical style, to the extravagant flowing robes and gowns of Ansur, their colors bright and varied. Gods, even with my own courtly outfit, I almost felt underdressed somehow.
A long wooden table stood at one side, adorned with numerous dishes. Roasts battered slathered in sauces, round pastries oozing sweet jams and jellies, thick slices of fruits, golden breads and honey cakes and more, far more than I could even begin to name. A dozen or so people stood around the table, helping themselves to the buffet with much gusto.
Though, none of them had the apparent appetite of the halfling woman seated at the head of the table, who heaped her plate with portions far exceeding her own size. Her cheeks were already pretty rounded as she chewed on a turkey leg, making her eyes into narrow slits, but she still glared down at the food before her with a ravenous hunger.
I had to tear my eyes away from that strangely disturbing scene.
At the center of the goddess chamber, surrounded by a small patch of flowers, was a statue of a high elf, holding a crescent-tipped staff in her hands. The light of the sun streamed in from high windows, casting a brilliant golden halo around the statue. Even from that distance, I could see the curve of her cheek, her smile, her proud gaze towards the skies.
“The goddess Laurentia?” I asked, almost without realizing it.
Lady Claudia nodded, noticing the direction of my gaze.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a white gown and a flash of pink hair.
Was that…?
“Erm, is it okay if I, y’know, walk around a bit?”
She quirked a brow, but nodded after a moment’s pause. “Of course, feel free.”
I nodded back, then set off, weaving through the crowd in the direction I’d seen her. I had to pause and backtrack a few times, but eventually, I—
“Hey, hey! I thought that was you!” a man’s voice came, as an arm was slung around my shoulders. Turning my head, I saw a brown-haired, freshly-shaven man, dressed in an uncharacteristically formal silken doublet. “What’s good, beautiful?” he joked, just barely fighting back a wide grin. “You come here often?”
“Hicks!” I cried out by way of greeting, smiling as I reached out to clasp hands with him. “When’d you get here? I mean, what are you even doing here?”
“Heh, nice to see ya too, Ansel. I’m doing fine, Ansel. Family’s in good health, Ansel, thanks for asking.” His voice dripped with sarcasm, though he was now openly grinning.
“Ah… Right, sorry. I’m just, y’know, surprised to see you here, is all.”
Hicks rolled his eyes. “Well, this is supposed to be a big ol’ important meeting for the entire Alliance. Only stands to reason that we Hounds would get invited, too.” He gestured to a corner, where I spotted some of the other Black Hounds. Two sat together, while a third leant against the wall.
“Ah, I see.” I glanced back at him. “You look… dapper,” I said, trying and failing to stop myself from chuckling. “That look doesn’t suit you at all.”
He crossed his arms, feigning a pout. “Well shit, Red, not all of us can look good in drag,” he said, sniffing haughtily. He held the silence for a moment, trying to keep a straight face, before bursting out into laughter. So did I.
“At any rate, it’s good to see you guys,” I said. “How’ve you been?”
“Eh, can’t complain,” he said with a shrug. “Just the usual shit, you know? Going ‘round, cutting down aberrants here and there. But it’s all good.”
I nodded, before glancing back at the other Hounds nearby. The two who were sitting idly looked about the room, seeming bored out of their minds. The third had actually managed to fall asleep, precariously resting his entire body against the wall.
“Chyeah,” Hicks chuckled, following my gaze. “This isn’t really our kind of scene. I know it ain’t exactly supposed to be a party, but fuck me, is it dull. All these nobles and merchants and snobs and shit. Yech,” he shuddered.
I shrugged in reply. Truth be told, I did feel pretty out of place here. Though, not really to the same point as him, I’d think. I was no noble or wealthy merchant. I didn’t really have anything to contribute to anyone here. I was just here to support my knight.
“Well, either way, are there more of you guys here?” I asked, trying to make conversation. “Y’know, Keane, Franz, Kieran?”
Hicks snorted. “Beats me. Far as I know, they’re probably all off doing their own thing. Though, I bet...” He then looked past my shoulder, and rolled his eyes. “Speak of the devil,” Hicks muttered, before another voice, deep and gravelly and familiar, joined in.
“So this is where you got off to.”
I turned to look at the man who’d joined us. Tall, imposing, and still wearing his dark armor, even at a formal gathering like this one. Vault had hardly changed since the last time I’d seen him.
“Hey,” Hicks said, waving half-heartedly.
“Hicks,” Vault greeted in return. “I’d appreciate it if you assholes didn’t wander off as you please. You know what a pain in the ass it’s been to find you?”
“Sorry, boss,” he replied, sounding absolutely not sorry at all. “Didn’t think I was important enough to chase after.”
Vault gave a noncommittal grunt, rolling his eyes. “Maybe I oughtta break your legs, then. We’ll have a whole lot less chasing to do then, won’t we?” Then his gaze shifted to me, almost seeming to size me up. “Who’s the ginger?”
Well, this was oddly familiar. “Actually, we’ve met before, cap… Vault. Back at Halem, nearly a year ago.”
He cocked a brow, and I reached into a pocket, pulling out the Black Hounds’ badge. “Erm, you gave this to me. B-but, well, like I said, it has been almost a year now, so I don’t really blame you if—”
“Give it here,” he said, holding out a hand. I did so, and he inspected the badge for a moment, before nodding. “Right. Red Ansel, the puppy.”
Vault chuckled and flicked his wrist, sending the badge flying. This time, I was able to catch it before it dropped, him grinning at me the whole time.
“Though, for some reason, I almost expected you’d get taller,” he mused, looking me up and down. “Guess they don’t feed you army boys as much as they ought to, huh?"
I wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that.
“Whatever,” Vault said, shaking his head. “The hell are you doing at a gathering like this, anyway? Thought you were supposed to be more of a rank-and-file type. Shouldn’t you be at some tavern or gambling den, or somewhere less… fancy?”
“Huh. Y’know what, that’s a good question,” Hicks muttered, glancing at me. “I mean, hell, how’d you even get in here, in the first place?”
I shuffled in my spot, scratching at my chin. “Well, uh, I came here with Knight-Commander Levantine. I’m her squire,” I elaborated.
Immediately, their attitude shifted. Both of them straightened up, their eyes taking on a strange new light, as if they were just now seeing me for the first time.
“Her squire, huh?” Vault repeated, his voice dropping low. “That’s pretty impressive, pup. Real impressive.” A small, strange smile spread across his lips. “You doin’ an okay job at it?”
I nodded, a bit nervous under his gaze. “I’d like to think I am, yeah,” I stammered.
Vault considered me for a moment longer, his smile broadening a bit. “Keep up the good work, then,” he eventually said.
Just then, a loud chime resonated throughout the chamber, and the chatter dropped to a hush.
“Huh, guess it’s finally ‘bout that time now,” Vault muttered, seemingly to himself. He then turned back to me and clapped my shoulder. “Better go on back to your master, puppy. Wouldn’t want her to think you got lost.”
I nodded back to him, and began making my way back to the center of the room. Thankfully, I spotted Lady Claudia and Lord Klaus pretty quickly, and headed towards them.
“Ah, there you are,” Lord Klaus said as I approached. “Is everything alright?”
“Fine, sir. I just happened to run into a friend, that’s all,” I explained.
He nodded. “You’ve good timing, then. It’s about to start,” he said, then gestured towards a set of doors at the far end of the room.
And then, moments later, those doors swung open.
Three hundred years ago, the Dark Queen arose far in the north, erecting the Black Citadel. Her dark arts completely transformed those lands, turning them into an inhospitable wasteland. And yet, those very same magics served to bolster the aberrant Legion’s might. Within the Dark Queen’s Country, the aberrants’ physical strength increased exponentially, and any wounds they suffered could heal within seconds. They became virtually invincible.
Even far from the Black Citadel’s range, her magic still retained a measure of its effectiveness on the aberrants.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the Legion could have crushed Eostia beneath their feet. And in truth, they would have, if the nations hadn’t been forewarned.
It was thanks to the warnings of the Elves that the people of Eostia knew what was coming. One amongst their number, believed to be the reincarnation of their goddess, foresaw the coming future. With this knowledge, the people were able to unite and erect the seven fortresses, forming the Seven Shields Alliance.
And now, Celestine Lucross, the goddess reborn, stood before us.
That was the first time I’d ever seen Her in person. The rich portraits and lovingly carved statues didn’t even come close to the reality. Her long golden hair descended like a waterfall down Her back. A white chiton, embroidered with fine golden thread, clung to Her form. A wreath of laurels rested atop Her hair, and around Her forehead, She wore a golden circlet. Her skin, fair and pristine, almost seemed to glow with some sort of radiance.
I’d never seen anyone like Her. And, for a moment, I forgot why we were there in the first place.
Then, Lady Claudia stepped forward, and dropped to one knee, bowing her head. Lord Klaus and I did likewise. One by one, everyone present knelt before the goddess.
“My friends,” She spoke, Her voice carrying and filling the room, “you honor me with your presence. Please, rise.”
As one, we all stood.
She came forward and stopped in front of Lady Claudia, smiling to her with what I could only describe as fondness. “Claudia,” She greeted, “I hope that you are well?”
“I am, Your Holiness,” Lady Claudia responded.
“Please, none of that,” the goddess chided with a gentle laugh. Her green eyes then fell on the halfling woman I’d spotted earlier. “It’s been too long, dear Luu-Luu. It gladdens my heart to see you in good health.
The halfling, Luu-Luu, laughed and curtsied. “Right back at ya, Holiness!”
The goddess continued, greeting nearly everyone present in turn. To each person She showed the same kindness and respect, from the priestesses of Thorn, to the few officers of the army in attendance.
Then I noticed the group of people She was approaching next, and one of them immediately stood out to me.
Pink hair, blue eyes, and a petite frame. Unlike the day I met her, just a couple of weeks ago, Princess Prim now wore a fine silken gown, with a circlet sitting over her brow. Her hair was still tied back in a long plait, though this one seemed a great deal more elaborate. Gods, she looked regal. More than that, though, she looked absolutely delighted as the goddess approached and greeted her and her family.
From their fair coloring and similar features, I could only assume that the man and woman standing with her were her parents. Her father, Ur’s king, was a tall man, possessing broad shoulders and bright orange hair. The queen, by contrast, was a fair bit shorter, with pale blonde hair, and features that matched her daughter’s.
Another family stood with them as well. A dark-haired man of average height, another woman who strongly resembled Prim’s mother, and a blonde girl, somewhere around my age, who was clad in a half plate armor.
Were they the princess’ extended family, maybe? I wasn’t really familiar with the noble families, especially not those of the other kingdoms. Then again, for all I knew, the Fiorire family could simply be really large, and I was just now encountering a series of cousins and relatives I didn’t even know existed.
I was so caught up on my thoughts that I didn’t even realize that the goddess had come to a stop just a few feet away from me, until I heard Her speak again.
“And this young man...?”
I felt my body freeze, my heart skip a beat. I felt as if the whole world had ground to a halt just to center on this one moment. Her eyes, bright and green, gazed into mine, almost holding me transfixed, as I felt the weight of everyone else’s stares press down upon my shoulders.
Then, She smiled again, “Ah. You must be Ansel Eschenwald, then? I’ve heard a great deal about you from dear Claudia.”
Her voice was soft, kind and gentle. The warmth of Her smile was matched by the warmth of Her eyes. I swallowed and managed to nod in return, not trusting myself with words.
The goddess laughed softly in response. “I am glad to finally make your acquaintance, Ansel,” She said, then stepped back to the center of the chamber, raising Her eyes to address all present.
“My friends,” she said, “I know you must all have many questions for me, and I hope to answer them in due to me. But for now, we have a great deal to discuss.” She paused, drawing a deep breath, before continuing; “I have received another vision. The future is unclear, and many details yet elude me, but I can say this with absolute certainty; Soon, the Dark Queen’s power will fail. I do not know when this will be. It could be as soon as tomorrow, or as distant as several years. But this war will come to an end.”
There was a muted silence throughout the chamber, the air thick with tension, before a clamoring broke out as all began to speak at once.
The air rang with cries of joy, praising Her name, of excitement, of fear and doubt. But for my part, I just stood still, staring at the goddess.
An end to the war.
Gods, I… I didn’t know how to even begin reacting to that. Gods, after all this time—three hundred years of fight and bloodshed, of death, destruction and despair… It would all finally be over.
“So? So? What’s the plan?” Luu-Luu suddenly piped up, her voice piercing through the din as she bounced up and down on her feet. “What’s next? Will we attack Garan? Rad’s halflings are ready to go at a moment’s notice!”
A herald, standing some ways behind the goddess reborn cleared his throat loudly. "We recognise the dame Luu-Luu of Rad," he said, banging the butt of his staff against the floor.
The halfling's boisterous announcement silenced the room once more, all eyes turning towards Her Holiness.
The girl next to Princess Prim stepped forward, holding her chin high, her purple eyes practically gleaming with confidence. "The knights of Saint Iris stand ready as well, Your Holiness," she said. "We are at your command."
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...What? As in, the Holy Iris Chivalric Order? Just who was this girl?
The herald banged his staff again. "We regonise Her Highness, Alicia Arcturus, Knight-Commander of the knights of Saint Iris," he said.
Before the goddess could answer, a red-haired woman with fierce eyes cut in as well, pushing her way through the crowd with a wide grin. "Can't say we have in the way of fancy-schmancy knights in Ansur, but I'll have every able-bodied man and woman ready to fight!" she declared, placing her hands on her hips.
Again, the herald struck his staff against the floor. "We regonise—"
One by one, more of the Alliance's commanders came forward, pledging their forces for the cause. At some point, the herald realised he would not be heard any more, and stepped back. The knights of the Holy Iris would fight; the eastern warriors of Thorn would fight; the garrisons and disparate militias of countless towns and cities would fight. All of them, offering all they could in fighting this one final battle against evil.
Her Holiness held up a hand for silence, and after a few moments, the clamor gradually died down. “Peace, my friends. Peace. I thank you all for your courage and dedication, but I fear that this will not be as simple a task as sending our armies north to the Black Citadel,” She said, shaking Her head slowly. “Just this past month, as I’m certain you are aware, the Legion launched an incursion throughout the entirety of the border, which wiped out dozens of communities. By far, this has been the largest concentrated attack our Alliance has ever endured”
“So, what’re you saying?” the red-haired woman asked. “The Dark Queen knows she’s on the downswing, so she decided to attack us en-masse?” She scoffed. “What a sore loser.”
The goddess shook Her head. “Whether this is her final attempt to escalate, I cannot say. And yet…” She trailed off, staring into the distance for a moment. Her eyes closed, and a deep breath escaped Her lips. Then, She opened Her eyes once more, and turned Her gaze to the crowd. “And yet, I have seen more of the Legion coming south yet again, outnumbering us many times over.”
“What?!” I heard my own voice blurt out, unable to contain myself. Gods, the Legion had always been fearsome foes, but if the numbers the goddess was talking about were even remotely accurate, we wouldn’t stand a chance.
Lady Claudia nodded, her expression grim. “Several scouting reports corroborate this, unfortunately. Day by day, more aberrants are spotted, amassing into sizable forces. I have no doubt,” she said, looking across the room to meet everyone’s gazes, “that this is all leading up to another assault. One that may very well be the last.”
The chamber remained silent as the grave for several long, tense moments. Few could meet the Knight-Commander’s gaze, and those that did were hardly optimistic of our chances.
I felt a weight press against my chest, as if an ox had just toppled on top of me. All of my breath left my body, and I struggled to find it again.
“Our Shields cannot go undefended,” the goddess said, breaking the silence. “I know you all have your homelands, your loved ones. Your families and friends. I know that would give all that you have and more to protect them—We must stand our ground. But by that same token, we cannot allow this opportunity to slip us by. If there’s a chance that we can defeat the Dark Queen, once and for all… We must take it, no matter how slim. We have to try.”
Her gaze flickered across the room once more, unwavering in its intensity.
A low chuckle cut through the silence, breaking the tension. Slowly, all heads turned to face the source of the laughter. Vault stood far from the crowd, his lips curled up into a wry grin. “Yeah, I can see where this is going,” he said, nodding his head slowly. “Can’t have the Alliance both defending in the south and attacking in the north, right? So, I guess this is where I come in.” He laughed once more, stepping forward. The crowd before him parted to make way, almost subconsciously.
“Sure, I can see it working. Olga’s horde comes south, and while they're busy throwing themselves against the fortresses, we Black Hounds charge north to strike at her directly.”
It… it made sense, in a way. With the threat of an impending invasion, the seven fortresses would have to give their all to mount any semblance of an effective defense. Thus, only the Black Hounds would be able to lead a counter attack.
But just by themselves? Gods, I could hardly wrap my head around how badly the odds would be stacked against them. Attempting to approach Garan in and of itself would be almost suicide, even with the Black Hounds’ numbers. That would be implying that their lives were somehow worth less than those of the Alliance’s soldiers. That they were expendable.
“In essence, yes.” The goddess nodded slowly in reply to Vault’s statement, a frown creasing Her brow. “I know this is too much to ask of anyone. I know it isn’t fair, that it may not even succeed, but—”
“That’s fine. We’ll do it.”
His sudden declaration drew a response of baffled silence from all those present, myself included. Eyes went wide and heads turned, shock smothering all other expression. But Vault showed no sign of worry, instead maintaining a dauntless smirk. It was just the same as the day I’d met him, when he’d announced his near-suicidal plan to end the battle at Halem.
“You know,” he continued, “given that this is more or less a do-or-die situation, I’d like to say something like ‘It’s on the house.’ But the truth is, my army isn’t gonna perform too good on empty stomachs and promises. So I’m gonna have to insist on payment in advance.”
“I understand,” the goddess said, nodding. “This is the least that can be done as thanks, Captain Vault.”
He paused then, his gaze flickering about the room, passing over me for a moment before returning and settling on my own. Slowly, a different kind of smile spread across his face, as he added, “Right. And one more thing—I want him to come with us.”
Uncomprehending, I looked at his extended finger, following it over to myself. Then, suddenly, all eyes were on me. The entirety of the room was focused on me, expectant and curious. I could only blink back at them.
“I… don’t understand,” I managed to say, finding my voice.
Lady Claudia stepped forward then, laying a hand on my shoulder. “And may I ask why you would want my squire, captain?” Her voice was even and controlled, but there was a strange something in her tone.
“Maybe I just like his face,” Vault answered with a shrug, “or maybe it’s for the same reason you took him under your wing; He’s not half-bad as a fighter. I guess you could say I wanna gamble on him again,” he said. Then, he added, “But obviously, that’ll be up to him. I’m just extending the offer.”
My mouth opened slightly as I looked from him, then back to my master. Her face betrayed nothing, and she offered no help, instead only giving me a single, curt nod. The decision, as Vault said, was mine to make.
‘A gamble,’ he’d called me.
That was the thought that ran through my head as I stood there, still as a statue, feeling countless gazes weighing down on me. Were they hopeful? Doubtful? Impatient? Curious? Worried?
Why?
Why me? Why not anyone else?
I was hardly amongst the best here. Gods, I wasn’t even that good in comparison. Countless others were gathered in the goddess chamber, soldiers with much greater experience, strength, talent. Knights whose families had fought against the Legion for generations on end. Warriors who’d already earned their place in the annals of history. People who could do so much more than me.
All I had to my credit was a single stroke of luck.
Slowly, I raised eyes, meeting those of the men and women assembled. There were many I didn’t know, and many I did. Vault. Lady Claudia. Princess Prim. Lord Klaus. Hicks. Her Holiness.
I’m not sure what I saw in their eyes. I’m not sure what impact, if any, they made in my decision. But I knew what I wanted.
My body moved before my mind had even finished thinking. My hand rose, my heels clicked against each other, and I found myself standing in a salute, drawing in a deep breath.
“I would be honored to dedicate my heart and soul and fight alongside the Black Hounds, sir!” I shouted, hammering my fist onto my chest.
Silence.
Did… did my voice crack at the end? Was it confident enough? Was my salute straight enough? Wait, why’d I even call him ‘sir?’ Vault already told me he hated that. Oh gods, did I just make an absolute ass out of myself in front of the Alliance’s leadership?
I didn’t dare to move a single muscle, even though a large part of me wanted nothing less than to cringe out of existence.
A single, quiet clap broke the silence. Slowly, I turned my head, finding the source. Princess Prim stood there, her hands coming together in applause, a small smile playing on her lips. Within moments, someone else joined in, and then another and another, until the chamber filled with applause, and I sheepishly let my arms fall back to my sides, feeling my ears heat up.
“Alright, I guess that settles that, then,” Vault said, chuckling slightly.
I allowed myself to breathe once more, smiling in spite of myself.
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The rest of the meeting passed me by in what felt like a blur. At some point, I excused myself and stepped outside the chamber to try and gather my thoughts. I leant against a wall, taking slow, deep breaths.
With each passing moment, my mind felt more at ease. I didn’t know if it was because of a sense of purpose, or because I was taking the time to decompress. Despite my anxiety and apprehension and every other warring emotion churning inside me, I felt… calm, somehow. I let myself slide down a bit, sitting against a large windowsill, and just looked at the scenery beyond, basking in the warm sunlight.
Just for a few minutes, I told myself.
The quiet chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects soon mixed with the distant sounds of the people beyond the White Citadel, completely unaware of the important meeting held within.
I don’t know how long I sat there, but eventually, I heard footsteps approach. “Ansel?” a soft, familiar voice came from beside me. I turned my head, finding myself staring up at Princess Prim.
“Oh. Uh, hi.”
“Hello,” she said, offering a small smile, which I returned without thinking. “Mind if I sit with you?”
“No, please, go ahead,” I said, shifting over to make room.
She sat down beside me, keeping a respectful distance between us. We sat in silence for a few moments, before I glanced over at her, and realized that she was watching me, as if trying to figure out what to say.
“We didn’t get to talk during the conference,” she finally said. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Ansel.”
“Well, I wasn’t really expecting to be here either, Your Highness,” I admitted.
She quirked a brow, giving me a look, before laughing softly. “You don’t need to call me that, you know? Just ‘Prim’ is fine.”
“Uh… Okay. Prim it is, then,” I said with a small smile. “Sorry, it’s just, pretty much everyone here has a title or something attached to their name. So I didn’t wanna break protocol, y’know?”
“I understand. But there’s no need to observe every little bit of formality and etiquette with a friend,” she said, looking back out the window.
A friend. For some reason, I found myself smiling at her words, a warm feeling spreading throughout my chest. I quickly turned back to the window again, hoping Prim hadn’t caught that. After a few more moments, I spoke up again. “Thank you, by the way.”
“Hm? Whatever for?” she asked, glancing back at me.
“Well, for clapping for me, I guess. I sorta just ended up saying the first thing that came to mind, and, uh, I thought I was gonna get laughed out of there.”
“No, no!” she said, waving a hand as if to dispel my doubt. “Your words were earnest, and I thought they deserved to be heard. Others may have done it out of politeness, but I meant it when I applauded you.” Her eyes lingered on my face for a moment, before she averted her gaze elsewhere again. “To think that you’re going to Garan… That… it’s very brave of you.”
“It is? I mean, I get what you’re saying, but I don’t feel all that brave, really. More like…” I trailed off, trying to find the words. “Like I need to do this. No. I want to. I mean, fighting back the Legion, protecting Eostia, that’s why I became a soldier in the first place.” My hand fell down to my arming sword, fingers tightening around its grip. “To be honest, I don’t know how much good I can do… But if I can help the Hounds, even just a tiny bit, then I want to try.”
Prim was silent, a faint look of surprise in her face. Though, I couldn’t really imagine why; I’d just spoken how I felt again. She turned to face me fully, her expression turning serious. “Ansel… I need to ask something rather unfair of you.”
I paused, a bit taken aback by that statement, before nodding to her. “Whatever you need, Prim.”
She nodded back, and her hands went up to her head, fingers combing through her hair until they found what they were looking for. She fiddled with something at the back of her head for a moment, and then she pulled.
Prim’s long, pink hair fell freely down her shoulders, reaching all the way to the small of her back, as she undid the ribbon that held her plait together.
I couldn’t help but stare, almost transfixed. She’d always been pretty, but now? She looked positively radiant. Her hair seemed to shimmer in the sunlight that streamed through the tall window, and I could’ve sworn her eyes were somehow a brighter blue.
She brought her hands down, still holding the long, red ribbon. “I want you to have this,” she said, holding it out to me.
“Um. This is…?” I didn’t want to be rude, though I honestly didn’t know why she was offering it to me in the first place.
“It’s a promise,” she said, her voice stronger now. “Your promise that no matter what happens, you’ll live. That you’ll come back from Garan. As long as you have this, I know you will.”
A favor. Her favor. As soon as my mind came to that realization, I felt my face light up as if I was on fire. “Prim… I… That’s…”
She looked down, smiling a bit at my reaction. If I wasn’t so flustered, I probably would have punched myself for making her feel embarrassed as well. “I-it’s okay,” she said, looking back up at me. “Like I said, it’s a very unfair thing to ask, so—”
“It’s not,” I said, interrupting her. Her eyes widened in surprise, as I fought to keep my words confident and coherent. “If… if you’re seriously giving me your favor… Then I’ll do it. I’ll live. I promise you, Prim.”
A smile blossomed on her face at my words, and she bit her lip as she glanced down again. Prim fiddled with her hands for a moment, before meeting my eyes once more.
“Then… in that case…” She raised her hands, and began wrapping her ribbon around my arm, just above the elbow. “I give you my favor, Ansel Eschenwald.” As she tied it into a neat bow, she continued, “Wear it with pride, and live through this final battle.”
I raised a hand to it, feeling the soft red fabric beneath my fingers. “Thank you, Prim. I won’t let you down.”
We sat there together, enjoying a comfortable silence until the stood up a few minutes later.
“I should be going now. My family will surely wonder where I am.”
“Ah, right.” I stood up too, stretching my shoulders as I did so. “Guess I’ll see you around, then.”
She bit her lip again, seeming to hesitate for a moment, and I couldn’t stop myself from chuckling at that reaction. “Hey… you’re not gonna hug me again, are you? I think your family might take exception to that.”
Prim pouted, giving me a playful glare. “Well, with that attitude, I don’t think you ought to be hugged at all!” she said, poking her index finger against my chest for emphasis. Then, she threw her arms around me anyway, squeezing me in a hug as she rested her head on my shoulder. “Bye, Ansel.”
I gently put my arms around her, hugging her back. “Bye, Prim.”
She pulled away, smiling as she took a few steps backwards. Then, she turned around and walked back to the goddess chamber.
I watched her until she was out of sight, still touching the ribbon on my arm.
“Well, that was cute as all hell,” someone said from behind me.
I absolutely did not jump in surprise, and I most definitely didn’t scream either.
----------------------------------------
The choked scream Ansel let out as he started and whirled around made her want to laugh something fierce, but she knew that if she did, she’d probably never stop. So she kept her composure, just barely, and did what she could to keep a straight face.
“Gods be good! Vera?!” he yelped, high-pitched, placing both hands over his chest
Welp, can’t say I didn’t try.
Vera doubled over in laughter at that. It was short and sweet, but it was glorious all the same. Once she regained control of herself, she looked back to Ansel, wiping her eyes.
He was different, now. He still had the same boyish looks and mannerisms, but there was also some strange quality to him now. Hints of a confidence and seriousness that hadn’t been there before.
The past year had been good to him, she reckoned. He’d really come into his own, so to speak. It made him look… Well, quite a bit more mature. It suited him.
It also made him look incredibly adorable, as well. Especially with the way his eyes were widened in surprise, and the blush that streaked all the way across his face and down to his neck.
Vera almost laughed again, but managed to refrain. “Good to see ya too, Ansel,” she said, extending a hand to shake.
He eyed it a bit apprehensively at first, like he was staring at a poisonous snake, before accepting it and giving it a single pump. “Gods, Vera,” he said, shaking his head as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “I think that’s ten whole years off my lifespan...”
“Well, you were a little preoccupied there. Had to get your attention somehow, didn’t I?” She nudged him with her elbow. “So? What was that all about? You just going around hugging princesses now?”
He let out a sigh, scratching at his chin as a faint blush remained on his face. “W-well… It’s a long story. Parts of it don’t make sense, even to me.”
“Hmm. Interesting. You wanna tell me anyway?”
“On a scale from one to ten; no.”
She chuckled again. “Alright, fair enough, forget I asked.” Vera then took a step back, giving him some extra space as she looked him over. “At any rate… You seem to be doing alright for yourself, Ansel.”
He offered a genuine smile at that. “Yeah… I’m getting there. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I’m getting there. How about you, though? It’s been a while since we last met, Vera.”
“It has,” she agreed, “but I’m doin’ pretty peachy, if I do say so myself. In fact… I just happened to get promoted!” She puffed out her chest, exaggerating the prideful gesture.
Ansel’s brows shot up. “Yeah? No kidding?”
“You’re now looking at Ken’s newest, bestest, most awesomely extraordinary lieutenant to ever live!” she declared, beaming.
He laughed, shaking his head slightly. “Well, you’ll always best the bestest, most awesome serjeant to ever live, in my eyes, too. But either way; congratulations, Vera. You definitely deserve it.”
“Thanks…” Her grin softened, and she glanced away briefly before meeting his eyes again. “Though, I guess congratulations are in order for you, too, huh?” Vera sighed, leaning back against the wall. “To tell you the truth, Ansel… I’m jealous of you.”
He glanced at the ribbon around his arm, then back to her, cocking an eyebrow in confusion. “Um…?”
“No, not that, dumbass,” she scoffed, waving her hand. “I mean you, and the Black Hounds. Your mission. You guys… You’re really gonna do it, aren’t you?”
A look of surprise flitted across his face, as he took a step towards her. “Vera?”
“This war’s gone on for centuries, and… This is it. This is the day everyone’s been waiting, praying for,” she found herself saying, her voice smaller than she thought it’d be. She laid her hands on his shoulders, closing her eyes, her voice falling to a whisper. “Say, Ansel… Can you see them? Our comrades?”
She could, in her mind’s eye.
Not just the ones who had fallen at Halem, or the soldiers she’d served alongside, but everyone. A veritable infinity of men and women, whose names and bodies were lost to those three hundred years of warfare, who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their homes and loved ones…
“Everyone’s who’s come before us… They’re looking to you all, you know that? Their hopes, their dreams, they’re riding on your shoulders now. You guys are the proof that they existed,” she continued, giving a waning smile. “I… I wish that was me in your shoes, kid.”
She fell silent.
And after several long moments, Vera felt him shift, grabbing her hand. “Hey, what’re you…?”
“I’ll carry that weight,” Ansel said, placing her hand on his chest, over his heart. “I’m a soldier, too. So all those hopes, all those dreams… I’ll carry them with me, all the way to Garan and back.” He smiled then, his eyes bright and honest. “And you can put your dreams on my shoulders, too. I’ll honor every last one of them, ma’am.”
“Hah… You punk…” She pulled away with a weak laugh, averting her gaze. Gods, to think that he’d go and turn into a proper little gentleman on her like that... “Y’know, you don’t really get to call me that, since I’m not your superior anymore.” She let out a deliberately exaggerated sigh. “Real shame, too. You actually sounded kinda cool when you said it like that.”
“O-oh? Did I?” He chuckled back, bashfully scratching at his cheek. “Well… that’s fine by me. When I get back, I’ll call you ‘ma’am’ as many times as you like.”
She snorted, shaking her head in mild exasperation, but still smiling. “You’re too much, Ansel, you know that?” She retreated a few steps, and straightened her posture, bringing a hand up over her heart in salute. “Now, you get out of here and do what you need to do, soldier.”
He returned the salute with one of his own. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll make you all proud.”