Within the noble quarter of Lescatie, individuals of high social standing strolled along the pristine cobblestone streets. They all moved with their heads held high and their noses in the air.
"That way, Elt! Go that way!"
Men in clean purple jerkins and trousers walked arm in arm with women in long violet skirts and dresses. Expensive jewelry hung from their fingers or was proudly displayed in their hair.
"Now that way! Go that way!"
Every single one of them could trace their lineage back to an ancient bloodline that spanned thousands of years. Every single one of them would use this fact as an example of why they deserve to be where they are now. Why they deserve to be part of the "upper class" within the nation. This gave them a sense of pride that was unmatched by any of the "lower class". Every step they took was made with the certainty that the world revolved around them.
Which is why the three people, running through the cobblestone streets without a care in the world, drew so many judgmental eyes towards them. Elt was being guided through the noble quarter by Mimil Miltie. The young girl wore a dark red dress with a matching skirt and a pink corset around her waist. The corset was the same color as her sleeves and hair. White "ears" stood out atop her head and matched the stockings that extended down to her brown, childlike shoes. Her thighs were exposed to the world...and were currently being grasped by a flushed Elt.
He was carrying her piggyback, going in whichever direction she pointed her long brass staff. She laughed as the two made their way through the streets of the noble quarter, the sound drawing the attention of all those they passed by. Elt did his best to avoid looking at any of the citizens they ran past, focusing instead on the various stone buildings they passed. The structures were made of white marble instead of the cobblestone found in the other districts. Not to mention much cleaner and with fewer places in disrepair. It was to be expected, but the disparity still caused a part of his heart to ache. Both from the fact that these people lived like this while those below them suffered, and because of his memories from before. Of how he used to live here. How-
"Turn left here, Elt! Go, go, go!" Mimil interrupted Elt's thoughts by leaning over his head and pointing her staff to the left. Without hesitation, he turned to the left and accidentally collided with a female guard along the way. He apologized as he ran past her, while the guard tripped and fell onto a man carrying a bouquet of flowers. The flowers went flying as the two humans fell, before eventually landing back in the man's right hand. As the man and woman stared at each other in the eye, the man held the bouquet out to the girl. A radiant smile spread across her face as she embraced the man tightly.
Merse witnessed the entire sequence of events and could only whistle in astonishment. She shook her head while mouthing, "Lucky guy," under her breath. She then moved to keep pace with Elt and Mimil. She had left her halberd back at the barracks so she wouldn't have to worry about people complaining about her carrying it around here. Her silver hair waved in the breeze as she caught up to Mimil and Elt. After Mimil showed up at the barracks, the first thing she did was ask Elt to give her a piggyback ride. Elt, although confused, nonetheless did as the girl asked. However, instead of answering their questions about what they were, she immediately began ordering him to run to the noble quarter. Merse had prepared to retort, but Elt ran off before she could say anything. With little choice, she followed the two of them into the noble quarter. Now, she was here. Chasing after her young trainee, and the magical girl riding on his back.
She pulled alongside them and said, "Uh, Mimil? Not to burst your bubble, but you might want to tone it down a little bit?"
Mimil turned to look at Merse, tilting her head while smiling, "What do you mean? I'm just having a little fun with my Onii-Chan. Right, Elt?"
"Yeah bu-Onii-Chan?" Merse repeated with clear confusion on her face. She raised an eyebrow as she turned her gaze to Elt. Feeling her judgmental gaze on his back, Elt glanced at Merse and shrugged. He quickly returned his attention to the street and barely managed to avoid colliding with a man carrying two buckets of water. The man yelled after them, but Mimil just laughed as they left him in the dust.
Putting her surprise aside for a moment, Merse spoke again, "Whatever. But, you have to understand what this looks like, right? You're the premier magic user in Lescatie. You have a reputation for being a prodigy. If you behave childishly in front of all these nobles, your reputation will suffer. And the people who want your position will take advantage of that. Use it to damage your standing."
Merse blinked. Then, she frowned while asking herself how she knew all of that.
Mimil tapped a finger against her chin and hummed, "You're probably right, Merse. In fact, I can name ten people who would do just that off the top of my head. But, do you want to know something?"
"What?" Merse stared at Mimil, expecting a witty retort or wise comeback.
Instead, she nearly jumped out her skin when Mimil pulled down her right bottom eyelid and stuck out her tongue.
"I don't care! Faster, Onii-Chan! Faster!" Mimil laughed aloud, kicking Elt in the sides as if he were a racehorse. Merse was speechless, her face flushing from what she had just seen. Mimil Miltie. The prodigal mage of Lescatie. The Matchless Magician. The little pink angel. The divinely-inspired intellect...just stuck her tongue out at Merse, behaving like a brat. She could only imagine what everyone who looked up to her would think if they saw what had just happened. How their image of the stoic, perfect magical prodigy would completely shatter upon seeing her act like this. Heck, she could hardly believe it! It was such a shock that she lagged behind the two of them. More and more space was opening up between them as Merse slowed down.
Mimil kept one eye on the warrior woman as she fell further and further behind. It was only when she was too far away to reach them immediately that Mimil made her move. Her body suddenly relaxed as she leaned closer to Elt's ear, her tone becoming as cool as ice, "Thank you for granting my request, Elt. I promise I will make it up to you."
Elt kept his attention on the streets ahead of him, but he spoke warmly to his passenger, "You don't have to do that, Mimil. I can tell that...this made you really happy. I don't know how or why I know that. But... I know it's true. If you ever want to do something like this again, just let me know. I'll do it in a heartbeat. OK?"
"So understanding and kind. It's no wonder you ended up like that," a frown mars Mimil's stoic expression as her grip on Elt tightens, "but don't worry. I'll make sure it doesn't happen. Not to you, not to Merse. Not to any of us. I promise."
"Mimil... what are you-" before Elt could finish, Mimil suddenly released her grip on his back. Elt halted in his tracks, shocked and nearly tripping over himself and into the intersection in front of him. He scrambled to get his feet under him before moving to check on Mimil. Behind him, a carriage with the crest of the Royal Lesctian Family emblazoned on it came to a sudden stop. Elt moved to Mimil and knelt before her, rubbing her shoulders as Merse finally caught up with them, "Mimil? Are you okay? Why did you let go like that? Did something-"
"You there, halt!"
Elt suddenly stiffened at the sound of an authoritative voice. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Merse and several other nobles bowing in respect to whoever was behind him. Sweat dripped from his brow as he stood up on trembling legs. He slowly turned around, his eyes wide and his teeth chattering. He thought he was about to come face to face with an enraged noblewoman. Someone who could, and would, make his life hell just for getting in her way during her morning commute. That the lives of him and his family would be uprooted yet again.
But as the identity of the person who spoke to him was revealed, he felt all his doubts and uncertainty being replaced by an all-encompassing awe.
For standing before him, both halfway out of the carriage they were riding in, were two people he didn't think he would ever see like this again.
Francisca and Wilmarina.
"Elt," they both said in unison.
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No, no, no, no.
This wasn't good. This wasn't good. This wasn't good.
Every fiber in Wilmarina's body was screaming at her to run away. She couldn't do this. Couldn't face Elt this soon after what happened last night. She had barely managed to regain control of her emotions since then. If she hadn't done so, she knew she would break. That her heart would shatter at the knowledge that Elt no longer recognized her. That he was giving the kindness that she once exclusively received to someone else. That she would never feel that warmth he brought into her life ever again.
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Yet, here she was.
Sitting in a carriage with its door open.
In the middle of an intersection in the noble quarter.
With countless unimportant, self-interested noblemen and women observing them.
In front of the only person she had ever truly loved in the world.
Francisca said something, but Wilmarina didn't hear it. Her heart was beating so fast that it was echoing in her ears. Sweat fell from her forehead and dripped into her armor, while her hands trembled against her thighs. Excitement, shame, fear, elation, and more all raged like a storm within her heart. Outwardly, she forced herself to smile and appear as calm as possible. Especially when Elt's eyes fell upon her. She needed to look like a Hero after all. That's the only way he wou-
...No.
No, why is he looking at her like that? Why is he grimacing? Why isn't he smiling? She looks like a Hero, doesn't she? Shouldn't he be happy? He's coming closer to her. Why is he coming closer to her?! Why is he looking at her with so much pity? No, no, no, no, no-
Every ounce of sensibility and strength of will that remained in Wilmarina was directed towards forcing a smile. It was the only defense she still had against the object of her affection, who ignored everything else to stare only at her. She closed her eyes to prevent herself from staring at his grimacing face and spoke aloud, "Hello, Elt. As you can see, the Princess had returned to full health. It is a wondrous occasion that we both-"
"Mary... I'm sorry."
That was all it took. With those three words, every defense and wall that Wilmarina had built up broke down in an instant. She opened her eyes as her forced smile turned brittle and started to waver, "Wh-Whatever do you me-mean? I..."
Her rapidly crumbling facade was dealt another blow as Elt reached out and took her hand in his. His rough calloused hands delicately held her soft and dainty ones. He interlaced his fingers with hers, while his gaze remained fixed on the ground. Elt's voice was smooth and comforting as he spoke, "I understand now. I didn't see it before, but...I wasn't the only one building walls between us. When my family and I were forced to leave, I...I wanted to look strong in front of you. I didn't want you to worry. And the same was true when I heard that you became a Hero. I thought that we were in two different worlds now. That it would be better if...we didn't go back to the way we were."
Before Wilmarina could say anything to salvage what little remained of her walls and mask, Elt stepped into the carriage. His face was suddenly inches from Wilmarina's, while his other hand moved to grip hers as well. He lifted his head and stared into her eyes, "But all I was doing was hurting you. And I... I'm so sorry for that. I know we're no longer socially equal. I know that we have our own obligations and reputations to maintain. I know that... I know that we can't go back to how things were when we were kids. But... But even so! I want to... I want to try! Try to regain what we once had. Break down these walls we've built and reconnect. Damn the consequences! So, Mary, please forgive me and give me another chance."
Wilmarina was speechless. Not only because Elt had just said every single thing that she had dreamed he would say to her again. Not only because he was holding both of her hands while staring her down with his beautiful eyes. Not only because his voice sounded confident and unafraid of the future.
But, because of the tears rolling down his face.
Those tears indicated that he was still her Elt.
The last of her walls broke. Her smile faded as her body started to shake. Half-sobs and gasps escaped her throat as her breath continued to catch. She closed her eyes as tears formed at their corners. Elt, for a moment, thought that he had said something wrong.
Then Wilmarina threw herself forward, knocking Elt to the ground outside of the carriage. Elt soon found himself being hugged by Wilmarina, who was crying into his chest. She called his name at irregular intervals, the image of a Hero she had carefully cultivated crumbling at Elt's words. She didn't care if they weren't true. She didn't care if she was dreaming right then. She didn't care if this somehow got back to her father.
Because, at that moment, she wasn't the legendary Hero of Lescatie, Wilmarina Noscrim.
She was Mary.
A young girl who, after so long, finally regained the only source of light in her life.
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Everyone else was utterly speechless. The nobles on the street, the passing guards, and even the carriage driver were completely astonished by what they were witnessing. No one moved, spoke, or even breathed; they were all too shocked by the sight in front of them. The sight of Hero Wilmarina Noscrim, a person known for her bright smile and confident stride, on the ground embracing a random soldier. One who, just moments before, approached her and delivered an incredibly personal speech about their past connection.
Merse was little better. Mimil's actions had already shocked her. Now she had to come to terms with the fact that her trainee not only knew Wilmarina, but they were apparently childhood friends! And how the fourth Princess, someone who was known for being bedridden and hardly seen outside the castle, knew him as well. And how he had the fucking balls to just walk up to Wilmarina, the most renowned Hero in the nation, and talk to her as if they were long-lost lovers!
The only comfort was that she wasn't the only one shocked by what she was seeing. Even the Princess was staring at the two people on the ground with her mouth open. Her eyes kept shifting from Elt to Wilmarina, and then to the people standing around them. She seemed completely beside herself as to what to do, one hand on her chin and another tentatively reaching out for Wilmarina's back.
However, the one person who wasn't staring in astonishment was the last person Merse would've expected.
Mimil.
The young girl, with a serious expression on her face, and eyes that seemed to have witnessed too much, approached Francisca with total nonchalanlce. She tugged at the taller girl's dress to get her attention. Once she had it, she motioned for Francisca to crouch down. The Princess, although confused, nonetheless did as Mimil asked. Mimil whispered something into Francisca's ear, causing her eyes to widen. Her eyes darted back and forth as Mimil continued to speak. First, the princess appeared shocked. Then, her eyes narrowed before she nodded and stood up straight. Afterward, she stepped out into the middle of the street.
"Citizens of Lescatie!" Merse felt all of her attention suddenly be drawn to Francisca. An urge to stand up and salute the Princess filled her body...but somehow she knew it was unnatural. It didn't feel like she wanted to do so. More like...something was making her do it. She shook off the compulsion and stood up straight, looking around at the rest of the citizens. They were all standing at attention, their eyes locked onto their Princess. Once Francisca had their attention, she spoke, "There is no need to fear! The Hero, Wilmarina Noscrim, has now been reunited with her childhood friend, Elt. The two were separated due to a terrible rumor that froced them apart from one another. But, there is no need to worry. I have been made aware of the situation and have come to rectify it."
She turned to look down at Elt and Wilmarina. The young man was sitting up, with both of his arms wrapped around Wilmarina. She was still crying into his chest, her body wracked with sobs as she yelled out his name. Francisca smiled at the surprised Elt before speaking for all to hear, "Elt, from this day forward, your family is absolved of any wrongdoing. You are all welcome to return to the castle whenever you wish. So sayeth I, Princess Francisca Mistel Lescatie."
"P-Princess!" Merse shouted, somehow knowing how bad this was. If she did this out in the open like this, she would only cause more trouble for Elt and Wilmarina. Everyone would know that the Royal Family was playing favorites, and their enemies could exploit that to-
"HOORAY!"
"HUH?!" Merse couldn't help but shout in complete shock. All around her, the assorted nobles and guards, who likely had no idea what was happening, were all cheering. Some were clapping, others were yelling their congratulations, and yet others were yelling about how much they loved the Princess. Merse just stared as everyone celebrated the Princess essentially saying that Elt was the victim of a plot of some kind, that she was officially bringing him and his family into the castle, and that he is a close friend of Wilmarina Noscrim!
She didn't know how she knew that such an action would be social and political suicide among the treacherous individuals residing in the noble quarters. But she did. And it made her question how and why she couldn't see it happening, considering people's reactions to her declaration.
"Pri-Prince-"
"No, Elt. None of that," Francisca knelt next to Elt and Wilmarina. She reached out and gently cupped Elt's cheek. A warm smile lit up her face, "Don't call me Princess. Call me Franny. Just like you used to."
Elt swallowed as tears continued to stream down his face. He gritted his teeth but nodded, "O-OK. Thank you, Franny. Thank you so much. But... but how did you know?"
Francisca frowned and then turned her eyes towards Mimil, "I only knew something bad had happened. But I didn't know the whole story. Until she told me."
Everyone's eyes turned to Mimil. She paid them no heed as she stepped past Elt, the crying Wilmarina, Francisca, and Merse. She climbed into the carriage and sat down near the other door. Crossing her legs, she stared at everyone else and spoke, "Well done, Francisca," her voice was steady and sounded far older than she was, "Wilmarina should stop crying in about two minutes. After that, Merse, Elt, and I will accompany you in this carriage. Our next stop will be the orphanage where Sasha Fullmoon currently resides. Once we have collected her, we will head out to the forest to see Primera Concerto."
"Hold it," Merse stomped forward, stopping just in front of the stairs leading into the carriage. She placed her hands on the sides of the door while glaring at Mimil, "Mimil. You knew this was going to happen, didn't you? You know what's going on here. You know what's going on with me and Elt. And what's up with Francisca and Wilmarina. Something is going on here, and none of us are going anywhere until you start making sense?"
She punched the floor of the carriage, leaving a small dent in the wood. Her eyes blazed with suspicion as she spoke, "What the hell is going on? What the fuck are we?!"
Mimil stayed silent for a few moments.
Then she turned and looked Merse directly in the eyes.
Her voice carried no hesitation as she spoke her answer.
"Put simply? We're gods."
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"Goddess," Sasha closed her eyes as she focused on her renewed connection, "I have returned. Thank you for giving me another chance. However, I cannot in good conscience continue worshiping you. Not without an answer to the question I once asked of you."
"..."
"Goddess, you created us. Us and everything else in this world. And because you created us, we have been told that you love us. That you love everything you have created. If that is true...then do you not love the Mamono? The monsters that are supposedly so evil? Are they not worthy of your love as well?"
"...No. I don't love them, Sasha."
"...Why?"
"Because... I didn't create them to be loved. "I created them... to destroy."