Azure rushed out of Aqua's chambers as she gripped the emerald necklace that Aqua had gifted to her. A small, happy tear formed in her eye, yet she couldn't help but smile.
I am really letting go of my role's dignity in her presence, huh? She slowed down to a crawl as she stared at the large gemstone. "How did she know I like emeralds?"
With a shake of her head, she made way toward her chambers. She could not let others see her behaving like a hormonal teen.
She was far too old for her behavior. Of course, she had not regretted it; she had trusted Aqua with her life and had enjoyed her presence too much not to act like herself. Someone like Aqua did not deserve Azure to behave as she did with others.
Her ears twitched widely as she slammed the door behind her. She had to hide and let her feelings subdue before she returned to the training grounds.
Soon after, she crashed onto her bed and stuffed her head into the pillow, and giggled.
"Aghhhh! I can't believe she gifted me something so valuable!" She rolled on her back and lifted the precious gift above her. "Even though it's probably nothing to her."
I should do something for her; a couple of books as a gift is too cheap for someone like her. Her cheeks puffed out as her mind plunged into thought.
"Maybe jewelry, just like she had given to me." She hummed. When she looked at Aqua, she could clearly see a preference in color; for all intents and purposes, a ruby would have been perfect, just like one she had in her circlet when they first met.
I wonder why she stopped wearing it.
She quickly shook her head and pushed herself out of the bed. The day she had spent with Aqua was wonderful and helped her put her mind at ease; however, it was true she had duties to attend to.
Especially as she was about to resume her attendance at Onost Academy, she should make sure her side was set right.
When she had disappeared, her pupils were surely slacking off as they usually did, and that was something she could not allow. If they were to die because she had allowed them to be slothful, then the guilt would have eaten her alive.
Just like those guards in Red Dawn. She sighed; they were long gone at this point, but as their superior, she had to keep them in her heart. They were now with Mortas, and thus they were safe from the worldly plight.
Is it right to even hold the gods in such high regard? If someone like Aqua disliked them, then she surely had many great reasons; however, Laleyn's actions contradicted it.
Who would guarantee that Mortas took care of her soldiers' souls? There was no guarantee all of them were amicable like Laleyn.
"I wonder if Lady Laleyn and Aqua could see eye to eye…" She muttered to herself. Despite that she had not trusted the goddess before, she had proven to be someone worthy of being called a goddess.
However, she truly understood why people were afraid of her; she was the mother of monsters and goddess of misfortune. She was someone whose name should not be uttered, yet when she spoke to her the second time, it was a caring little girl.
Can't judge her on her title alone, that is for sure. However, she had strongly suspected that Aqua would not wait for her patron to explain herself. Laleyn had been terrified when she spoke about her friend, to such an extent that it was clear that a direct meeting was impossible.
She shook her head and approached her table; she needed to change and get on with her duties. While she was assured that it was fine for her to rest for a couple of days, she was never the one to abandon her duties when she had vitality.
Perhaps for Aqua, yet that was an exception.
For the heroine, she would abandon her post even if it would have gotten her executed, it was just how much she had appreciated the woman she called her friend.
Why am I behaving like this? She had lived centuries without feeling what she felt.
"Do I actually like her that way?" Her face turned brighter red. She thought that Sheira was merely teasing her, yet the way her heart beat faster when she felt Aqua's head on her chest, the way her actions made her flutter.
Her eyes wandered down to the necklace, which she promptly grasped. "I like her… I really do. Sheira is right, how am I so cowardly when it comes to this!"
She could not find the courage to tell her, and it was not the right time anyway, while Sheira made sure to drill it into her head about what her feelings were, the same could not be said about Aqua.
"Compared to her, I am useless. Mere baggage, I am not worthy of being her partner." She wished for Aqua to feel the same, yet there was a shred of doubt.
Sheira seems to be sure she likes me, too. Her fingers fiddled with the necklace's large gemstone.
She quickly shook her head and set her mind straight. While she liked Aqua, it was not the time to be a bashful little girl; Azure had many duties that came before her feelings.
I should ask Sheira… While she had ignored her until recently, she truly was a master when it came to the ways of the heart. It was always embarrassing, yet when she needed help, Sheira was always there for her.
Her thoughts wandered and quickly imagined her in Aqua's embrace as they danced under a full moon.
Instantly, her face turned bright red as she forced herself to focus.
Stop it, Azure! She slapped her cheeks as she slowly got out of her elegant dress.
The fine silk passed over her as she made sure that the hairstyle that Aqua had made for her remained intact. I want to wear it for at least today.
She adjusted her shoulders before removing her necklace and gently placing it on the table.
Quickly, she approached her wardrobe and procured a set of usual officer armor. Its defensive capabilities were sorely lacking, yet when it came to looking good, it was state-of-the-art.
It was a silver plate with golden trim, which resembled a lion; over it was a long green cloak.
Always so gaudy. She scoffed.
She disliked wearing it, yet her favourite set had to be cleaned, and so she had to resort to the most uncomfortable, albeit the prettiest, armor.
With a sigh, she pulled the set out and slowly placed it on herself.
It slowly clicked, and the straps tightened before she threw the cloak behind her in a dramatic flourish. She made sure her hair was not ruined and nodded. "At least I am back in armor."
While she liked wearing a dress when with Aqua, the same couldn't be said about others. In most circumstances, she had only felt comfortable when a thick layer of metal fully protected her.
However, when she was with her heroine, she did not feel the need for protection. She felt safer than with any armor when Aqua was around.
"She did save both me and Sheira…" Her lips stretched into a thin line as she leaned underneath her bed and grabbed the Mortal's Hope.
Azure had tried to keep it close to herself whenever possible. It held a special place in her heart, for one, it was a powerful blade, worthy of being a national treasure.
And second, it was a gift from Aqua.
I wonder if she would teach me that dimensional storage thing. She quickly dismissed that idea; even basic spells were difficult for her, even if she was getting much better.
"I have no chance at learning that…" She exhaled loudly. She wanted to learn something so useful, yet she was not arrogant enough to believe that she had any chance to do so.
Perhaps, Sheira would be able to learn it in a decade or even sooner, but someone like Azure would struggle to do anything beyond the basics.
She slapped her cheeks again, "Azure, you idiot. Aqua called you a prodigy, too! You can't go giving up!"
If possible, she wished to impress Aqua. She wanted the heroine to think of her as someone incredible. Azure truly wanted for Aqua to look at her with admiration.
Sure, she will. She chuckled. I just need to keep practicing.
Her hand slowly pulled the door open, and she smiled at such a happy thought. I don't need sleep tonight.
Even if it made her lethargic for days, she would have made sure that she mastered the spells that Aqua had taught her to such an extent that it would leave even someone like Aqua speechless.