Chapter 3: The Fenix Rises!

Elhaym continued through the castle, pointing out the different rooms and chambers to Tomoko, who listened on in wonderment. The workers who walked by often gave puzzled glances at Elhaym, seemingly talking to herself who brushed it off.

“I wish I could have the confidence Elhaym has with herself, I wouldn't be caught dead talking to myself in public like this” Tomoko thought to herself (at least she hoped it was to herself, if it wasn't Elhaym didn't seem to notice or care)

“And here is the mess hall~ Nfufu~” Elhaym motioned grandly in the large room. Rows of tables lined the sides of the walls, with various people sitting, eating, and chatting amongst themselves. A lot of them were wearing armor similar to Elhaym's, albeit less grand, but fully armored nonetheless.

“Brother Elhaym!” Boomed a voice from the side.

Elhaym turned towards the voice, and if Tomoko's jaw could drop it would. Standing before them was this tall, handsome, Elf (Tomoko assumed due to the ears) in resplendent armor with inlaid dragon designs. Waist-long beautiful, golden hair spilled out from the dragon-head helmet he wore. His eyes were of a molten gold. Stern, but with an edge of softness. He wasn't like Blegolad from King of the Crowns, he was a total hunk Tomoko thought. Her feelings summed up in one word from seeing this person: Awooga~

“Brother Fenix!!” Elhaym rushed over and picked up the Elf in a great bear hug. Tomoko noted how Elhaym was a shade taller than Fenix, and lifted him with relative ease.

“Alright! Down! Enough!” Fenix was gently set down by Elhaym, and he shook his hair out, freeing the tangles from the sudden hug, “How goes it Elly? You're late for breakfast! I got us a place over there, “He pointed to an empty table by the corner, a tray of food and some bowls laid upon it, “Where have you been?”

“Ah~ I went to visit Edgar in his tower, but he's not there! He's gone to his Northwest Tower, which is something I wanted to discuss with you!” She sat down next to the Elf at their table, “How would you like to travel to it with me?”

“Sure! I've been feeling a little antsy lately, stone walls are not my usual choice for homes, but with how your father insisted I stay I couldn't refuse our King haha!” Fenix took a few bites of food, “What do you need with Edgar anyway?”

“Ah well you see, I woke up with something...new? Nfufu~ And I need Edgar's help to take care of it...” Elhaym began to eat too. Tomoko was too enthralled by the handsome Elf to notice that she could taste the feel the food Elhaym was eating.

“Is this another Astra thing?” Fenix had a tone of exasperation in his voice, “If that fey nymph made you grow something weird again...”

“Oh no no! Nothing like that hahaha~” Elhaym waved her hand dismissively, “More of a soul being trapped in my body from another world and she needs her own body type of thing really~”

“How can she say such things so casually?!” Tomoko was broken from her lusty trance. Elhaym talked of the matter as if she had a splinter she needed removed.

“Oh, well if its something like that Edgar would be the best choice for sure,” Fenix continued to eat with a shrug.”

“How are you two so casual about this?!” Tomoko's incredulousness could not be contained anymore.

“Oh, well legally we can't speak of it nfufu~” Elhaym chuckled in between bites of food.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Can't legally speak of what?” Fenix looked at Elly, “Oh are you talking to your other half?” He cocked his head curiously.

“Oh yes, sorry! It's the easiest way for us to communicate, sorry Brother Fenix~” Elhaym smiled as she explained, “I can't wait for you to meet Tomoko when she gets her own body, she thinks you're really attractive nfufufu~”

“HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT SO SUDDENLY!!!” Tomoko was mortified, she wanted the ground to swallow her up as she felt her what should be her cheeks burn up.

“Aw well I'd very well would like to meet her once she gets her own body” Fenix said with such a warm smile Tomoko melted into a puddle.

“Alright! Well that settles that~” Elhaym stood up from the table. “Let me go tell Papa I'll be heading out with you and we can leave from the northern gate in a couple hours?”

“Sounds good to me Elly,” Fenix also got up, “I'll go get my sword and some travel supplies and meet you there. Give the King my best!” And he left with a wave.

“Wait till you meet Papa~” Elhaym polished a smudge on her armor, “He's the best warrior in all of Crescentia!” She had such a warm loving tone of pride in her voice that it held Tomoko in awe.

“Well if he's anything like you, he must be a nice person,” Tomoko nodded in affirmation.

“Aww! You're a sweetheart!” Elhaym grinned from ear to ear, as she walked down the hall.

“So what did you do in your previous world?” Elhaym suddenly asked as they walked.

“Oh, well I was starting a new job as an accountant haha~” Tomoko said with a bit of embarassment. Meeting royalty and warriors and about to meet a king made her feel really plain and humble. “I lived in Japan.”

“Oh Japan I love it there! Er, I mean, oh nevermind haha~” Elhaym quickly changed topics, “Was it your dream to be an accountant?”

“Wait how do you, you know what, I'm guessing legally you're not allowed to say huh?” Tomoko was beginning to suspect Elhaym knew a lot more than she let on, “Well I always wanted to be a bigwig in some company, and I just got hired when I passed away unfortunately haha” Tomoko still felt embarrassment over her manner of passing.

“Aw well that's too bad, hopefully we can find you something amazing to do in my world! If you want to be a knight I can totally train you nfufufu~” Elhaym flexed her arm, “I'm the best trainer you'll ever find oho~”

Tomoko wondered if she would do good as knight. She couldn't imagine herself marching around in armor, but then again the thought was exciting. Her thought were broken by a loud commanding voice.

“Defend yourself!” Cried the booming voice.

Elhaym caught a sword that was tossed to her, and in one swift motion she brought it around in a defensive block. A massive, armored warrior brought his own sword down upon Elhaym's. He was taller than Elhaym, in resplendent lion-themed armor. He had dark brown hair, tied back in a ponytail. He had the most piercing blue gaze Tomoko had ever seen, colder than ice. His handsome, rugged face had neatly trimmed stubble, but was fixed in a fierce war-face.

Tomoko felt the force of the blow in her arms, expecting it to hurt, she was surprised how the force was barely felt, her strength was Elhaym's and Elhaym was a battle-hardened knight, and in the prime of physical condition. Elhaym pushed the blow aside, and countered with her own spinning slash. Tomoko could feel the force behind the swing.

“Holy shit what is going on!” Tomoko cried as the large man stepped forward to catch Elhaym's arm mid swing with the side of his body. His massive arm wrapped around Elhaym's like a snake, and trapped her in place.

“Good block Papa!” Elhaym chuckled as she jumped in place with incredible dexterity, freeing herself with a twist and landing behind her opponent, She dropped low and spun a kick at her father's legs, who jumped over the attack himself and turned to face his daughter.

“Nice counter my Starshine!” He readied himself and came at Elhaym with a flurry of swordstrikes, each blow striking with the force of a meteor.

“I learned from the best!” Elhaym's voice swelled with pride as she blocked each blow, her face scrunched in concentration. Tomoko couldn't keep up with the exchange but was slackjawed with how it felt. “So this is a swordfight between masters! This is nothing like the movies!”

Elhaym blocked a massive overhead strike and then turned to counter with her own stabs and slashes. Her sword singing in the air as she attacked again and again. The fight continued on for the next several minutes, neither warrior finding an edge against the other. After a final exchange of blows Elhaym gave her father a Knightly salute, who returned in kind.

“Your dueling skills are almost better than mine now, in short order you'll best me no problem my Starshine!” King Ornstein put his training sword back on a rack on the side of the training circle.

“Only because I have the best teacher!” Elhaym's chest swelled with happiness. Tomoko could feel the overwhelming love Elhaym had for her father. Elhaym returned her sword on the same rack before turning back to the King, “I have come to let you know I'll be visiting Edgar in his tower to the northwest.”

“Oh?” King Ornstein wiped his face with a rag. “I was hoping you could help with some bandits that were assaulting caravans up north, could you take care of that on your way?” As King Ornstein spoke Tomoko couldn't help but think: Dilf Awooga!

“Of course Papa!” Elhaym gave a proper salute, “Fenix will be coming with me so no problem!” Elhaym bowed and took her leave.

As Elhaym walked away she suddenly piped up, “Whats a 'dilf' Tomoko? I've heard Astra use that term before when she spoke of Papa but wouldn't tell me what it meant.”

Tomoko choked (metaphorically of course) “Ah!!! Aha~ Uhhh, well, Dilf just means very handsome yes, yep, that's what it means hahahaha!” Tomoko was mortified again.

“Oh! I'll have to let Papa know next time I see him, maybe you can tell him that when you meet him in person oho~”

Tomoko wished the void would just suck her away.