Elias Leywin POV
A sharp jolt of pain shot up my leg, dragging me out of the warm haze of sleep.
"Ow! Ow, ow, ow! What the heck?!" I yelped, clutching at my ankle as I flailed, form half buried under the blanket.
When my vision cleared enough to focus, the culprit was standing at the edge of my bed. Her shadow loomed over me, arms folded, her silver hair tied back.
"Morning, sleepyhead," my now self-proclaimed 'Big Sis' greeted, tilting her head just enough for that infuriating smirk to appear. "I guess you two really are brothers"
Golden light began to emanate from my foot as I sat up.
"This was your brother's room back when he was staying with us", she said as her eyes drifted up towards the light.
"You could've, I don't know, tapped my shoulder?" I grumbled in an attempted retort, "I know I can heal up pretty good, but... It still hurts," I spoke with a sniffle.
"Get dressed." She turned and started toward the door without giving me so much as a chance to argue. But she paused and glanced back halfway there.
"It's too *yawn* early", I yawned mid-sentence, sleepily rubbing my eyes.
"I'm heading out into town", she said, casually leaning against the doorframe. Her eyes glinted in that way that told me she'd already made up her mind.
"Are you coming or not?"
I rubbed the last of the sleep from my eyes, my ankle already feeling better after the soft pulse of golden light.
"Town?"
"Mm-hm. I heard the market's lively this time of day."
Ten minutes later, I was following her down the wide, polished corridors, slightly augmenting myself with mana to keep up with her fast pace.
The air outside was crisp and clean, carrying the faint fragrance of blooming flowers mixed with something sweet, maybe fresh pastries from a bakery nearby. But what really took my breath away was the view that unfolded the moment we stepped beyond the castle's marble-white archway.
The whole town looked like it had been grown, not built.
Pure white buildings rose gracefully between massive, centuries-old trees whose trunks were wider than most of the houses. Their bark was a deep, warm brown streaked with mossy green, and here and there, doorways and windows had been carved straight into the living wood. Shops bustled inside those tree trunks, their signs hanging from vines or polished wooden beams.
Above us, the trees' sprawling branches stretched so wide they formed natural bridges between buildings. Some were thick enough for two people to walk side-by-side, with railings grown right out of the wood itself. Others twisted together into winding paths overhead, disappearing into tangles of leaves that shimmered in the sunlight.
"Pretty, isn't it?" said Big Sis Tess, glancing over her shoulder at me.
"Pretty?" I laughed. "It's amazing! Look, there's a shop inside that trunk."
She gave me a small smile. "Told you it was worth getting up for."
We walked on, the cobblestones warm underfoot despite the shade. The air was alive with sound, vendors calling out their wares, the clink of coins, the rustle of leaves overhead. Somewhere in the distance, music floated through the air, faint but bright.
"Where are we going first?" I asked, craning my neck to see what lay ahead.
"You'll see," she replied, eyes forward but with that little smirk again. "Though... I might grab something to eat first."
"What kind of something?"
Her smile widened just slightly. "Follow me and find out."
We crossed a smooth, arching bridge of grown wood, its sides wrapped in leafy vines. From up there, I could see more of the town spreading out below, white walls and green canopies stretching toward the horizon, stitched together by those living bridges.
The street dipped down again, and the scent of baking bread drifted past a warm, sweet smell that made my stomach growl. We passed a stall where a baker was pulling trays of golden pastries straight from a brick oven nestled into a tree's base. My feet nearly veered toward it on their own.
"Later," she said, steering me back on course.
"But-"
"Trust me."
I grumbled but followed, weaving through the growing crowd as we reached the market. Stalls lined both sides of the street, their awnings bright against the pale buildings. Merchants held up trinkets and food, calling over the noise. There were baskets of fruit dusted with sugar, jars of liquid that shimmered like captured sunlight, and handwoven scarves in every colour of the forest.
I slowed again without realising it, my eyes darting from one display to the next.
"Don't get lost," Big Sis called back, her tone halfway between warning and amusement.
The corner of her mouth twitched upward before she slipped ahead through the crowd again.
The market seemed endless. The more we walked, the more it revealed, spices in open baskets, their scents tangling together into something rich and heady; jewel-bright cloths fluttering in the breeze; tiny cages filled with singing birds, their feathers shifting like liquid metal in the sunlight.
We turned down a narrower lane where the trees' branches grew closer overhead, casting the stalls in a shifting green shade. Lanterns shaped like glowing flowers hung from the branches, and the air here smelled faintly of citrus and smoke.
"You've been here before, haven't you?" I asked.
"Once or twice," she said without slowing. "Long enough to know the good places."
That only made me more curious. "So where are we going now?"
"You'll see," she said again, which was starting to feel like her favourite answer.
The lane opened into a smaller square, dominated by a single massive tree whose roots rose from the ground in looping arches before diving back into the earth. At its base, several carved doorways led inside, each framed with climbing ivy. One of them stood open, warm golden light spilling out.
She pushed the door open and stepped aside. "After you."
Inside, the walls were lined with shelves stocked to the brim with jars, each filled with amber liquid that caught the light like captured fire. Wooden tables were scattered across the room, and a few people sat chatting quietly over steaming drinks and plates of something that looked... fluffy.
A cheerful woman behind the counter waved. "Welcome! Ya here for the honeycakes?"
I blinked. "Honeycakes?"
"They're the best in the city," Big Sis said, already heading for a table by the window.
I followed, still glancing around at the jars and the little carved wooden bees that decorated the shelves. The woman brought over two plates a moment later, each with a stack of small, round cakes, golden-brown and drizzled with honey that pooled at the edges.
"Careful," Big sis warned as I picked up a fork. "They're hot."
I cut into one, steam curling upward as the honey soaked into the soft crumb. The first bite was warm and sweet, the honey thick and fragrant in a way that made my mouth water like a broken dam.
"Okay," I said after swallowing, "I take it back. This was worth getting up for."
She smirked. "I did say that, didn't I?"
We lingered over the cakes longer than we probably should have, the sunlight slowly shifting across the wooden floor. By the time we stepped back outside, my stomach was warm and pleasantly full, and I had to fight the urge to suggest buying a dozen more to take with us.
The market had grown busier in the short time we'd been inside. Merchants were speaking over one another now, their voices mixing with the clatter of wooden carts and the rustle of baskets. Tess slowed near a small stall tucked between two larger ones, its canopy a faded green.
The stall was piled high with berries and small, round fruits that glistened in the dappled light. The vendor, a stocky man with bark-brown skin and a voice like gravel, smiled as Big Sis Tess leaned closer to inspect the goods.
"These are from the western orchards?" she asked, lightly brushing her fingers over a cluster of deep red berries.
"Picked this morning, Your Highness," he replied with a respectful nod. "Best of the season."
Big Sis Tess took a moment to choose a small paper-wrapped parcel of fruit, and I hung back, glancing over the other baskets. The air faintly smelled of crushed leaves and citrus from somewhere nearby.
We were just about to leave when a voice called out over the crowd—clear, confident, and just loud enough to cut through the market noise.
"Princess Tessia!"
I turned towards it, spotting a boy weaving easily through the shoppers.
He was around Big Brother Art's age, maybe even a little older, with hair so blonde it almost caught the sunlight like polished gold. Long for a boy, it hung down past his shoulders, swaying slightly as he walked. His eyes were sharp and a striking pale green, the kind of gaze that seemed to take in everything at once.
"Ah," Tess murmured under her breath, the corner of her mouth twitching upward.
The boy stopped just short of us, giving a slight bow. "I was hoping I'd see you. How have you been, Princess?"
"Busy," Big Sis Tess replied smoothly, the faintest hint of amusement in her tone. "But pleasant. We were just on our way back to the palace." She stepped slightly to the side and gestured toward me. "This is Elias Leywin. Lias, this is Feyrith Ivsaar the Third."
The boy's lips curved into a polite smile as he turned his attention to me. "A pleasure. I've heard a great deal about your family."
I blinked at him, then glanced at Tess. "Wait... huh? Who? How?" I asked in rapid-fire quick succession.
"Surely you jest, Elias?" he questioned, a panic growing on his face. Did your brother not talk of our fierce rivalry?"
I stared at the blonde boy for a beat, my head instinctively turning. "Rival? I don't remember Big Bro ever mentioning you."
The older boy looked to the floor, defeated "I see..."
He dragged his feet as he began his retreat.
I watch him go, still not entirely sure what just happened. Tess, however, didn't move until Feyrith had vanished back into the crowd, his pale hair a fleeting flash between swaying market stalls.
"You didn't have to crush him like that, you know," she spoke at last, her voice just shy of a laugh.
"I didn't crush anything!" I protested. "I just... didn't know who he was. That's not my fault."
She arched one gunmetal eyebrow at me. "To him, it probably felt like you just erased years of his personal drama with your brother."
I frowned, trying to imagine Art in some kind of "fierce rivalry" with Mr. Goldy Locks. I mean, sure, my brother's had his share of people who didn't like him, but the guy just now seemed more... politely wounded than a mortal enemy.
"Besides," Tess added, her tone light but her eyes sharp, "Feyrith's the type who thrives on people knowing his name. You not recognising him probably hurt more than if you'd insulted him outright."
"Oh," I said, a little sheepish. "Uh... who is he, exactly?"
Big Sis Tess started walking again, and I hurried to keep pace. "The heir to House Ivsaar. Old family, lots of land, lots of gold. Feyrith's been training to be the next head since he could walk. Smart, talented, and convinced he's destined for greatness. That's why your brother irritated him so much."
"Because Art... beat him at something?" I guessed.
Tess gave a short laugh. "At a lot of things. Feyrith hates being second place, and your brother has a way of making people feel like that without even trying."
'That sounds... very much like Art.'
"Still," I muttered, "he doesn't seem that bad."
"He's not," Tess admitted. "Though he is incredibly competitive"
We wove back through the market, past stalls of embroidered scarves and stacks of carved wooden toys.
At one corner, a musician with a long, curved string instrument plucks out a gentle tune. The notes drifted upward, mingling with the rustle of leaves overhead. I slowed down a little, just enough to listen, but Tess nudged me forward.
"Come on. If we dawdle too much, we'll get caught in the afternoon rush."
~~~
The sound of hurried footsteps and soft voices met me before I even reached the end of the corridor. It wasn't the usual polished calm of the palace halls—this was sharper, busier. When I pushed open the door to Tessia's room, the reason became obvious.
The place looked like a storm had passed through, only instead of debris, there were neat stacks of folded clothes, travel chests, and bundles wrapped in soft fabric. A team of maids moved in a quiet rhythm, carrying things from one side of the room to the other. The scent of lavender hung faintly in the air, coming from the small sachets being tucked between garments.
Tess was in the middle of it all, kneeling beside an open trunk. She was carefully tucking a pair of leather-bound books into a gap between clothes, her gunmetal hair falling forward over her shoulder.
I hesitated in the doorway for a moment before speaking. "Need a hand?"
She looked up, surprised, then gave a small smile. "Only if you don't mind lifting a few heavy boxes."
"Sure. Beats standing around," I said, stepping into the room.
One of the maids pointed me toward a stack of sealed boxes near the wall.
'I'm not an augmenter, but let's give this a go.'
I let out a heavy exhale as I let mana fill my body. I crouched down and lifted the top one, it wasn't light, but manageable, and I followed the princess toward the door.
The hallway outside was already busy, a steady line of maids carrying luggage towards the main courtyard. Their shoes made soft clicks against the marble floor, the sound overlapping with faint voices echoing off the walls.
We joined the flow, carrying our loads down the grand staircase. Outside, the courtyard was bright under the midday sun, the air fresh with the scent of the gardens.
I followed Big Sis Tess to the side of the carrier, where a footman guided me to an open space between two larger trunks. I slid the box into place and stepped back, brushing my hands on my trousers.
Around us, the work continued without pause. Maids wove between each other with practised ease, passing off parcels to the footmen, who secured them with taut ropes.
Somewhere behind me, I heard the low murmur of King Alduin's voice, followed by the softer, warmer tone of Queen Merial. When I turned, I saw them standing near the steps up to the palace, speaking quietly with Virion and my Grandmother.
The three of them carried themselves with the same calm dignity I'd always seen, but there was a subtle heaviness in the way they stood, the way Merial's gaze kept drifting toward her daughter.
It didn't take long for the last of the luggage to be secured. The courtyard, once filled with the steady bustle of preparation, began to quiet. Big Sis Tess stepped away from the carrier, brushing her hands together as she turned toward her family.
The elven queen crossed the space between them in a few quick steps. She took Tess's hands in hers, the movement almost urgent, and for a moment the queen's composed mask slipped. "Stay safe," she said softly. "And write to us when you can."
"I will," Big Sis Tess replied, her voice steady but warm.
King Alduin was the next to step forward, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder. He didn't speak right away, but when he did speak, his voice was low and firm. "Make us proud, Tessia."
She nodded, the corners of her mouth lifting faintly. "I'll do my best, Father"
Mother and Father pull their daughter into an embrace as the two people who look as if they could be her grandparents step closer.
"Remember," Virion began, as a faint smirk tugged on his lips, "slacking off is not an option. If I hear you've been neglecting your training, I'll drag you back here myself."
Tess laughed softly. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Also", he added, looking at me ", Keep an eye on this one, I get the feeling you're less reckless than your brother"
"Who knows? Maybe I am more reckless because I could heal fast," I laughed slightly as I walked towards the carriage and climbed aboard.
After a few more minutes, Grandma Cynthia climbed aboard with her new apprentice in tow, who sat next to the older woman.
"How are you feeling?" I asked my now co-pupil as I stretched my arms.
She smiled at me and lowered her head slightly, as if she were steadying her resolve before she uttered a single word. "Excited"
OMAKE - MAMA DRAGON'S WRATH
(MADE BY LANCELOT DRAGON ROAD)
"AAAAH!" A scream tore out from a man's throat, said man was suspended in the air, chains belonging to a certain golden king around his wrists and ankles, tying him in the air in an 'X' shape.
"P-please! Have merc— AHHH!" screamed the man as a another weapon entered his flesh, his body imbedded with all sorts of weapons— a red spear that reverses cause and effect, a dagger that cuts through magic, a massive sword made of stone, a spiralling sword, a sword that channels the power of the sun, twin swords of black and white— among others of course.
Said man was one Merlin Myrddin Wynn Emrys— Grand Caster, Master Swordsman, Playboy and the idiot that angered this dragon, who was currently being tortured for his mistake by one furious Mama Dragon dubbed Artoria Pendragon and her... Husband? Queen? Shirou E. Pendragon.
The two of them stood side by side in front of this stupid half-incubus.
Artoria's face was blank, the only words to be heard out of her were the calls of "Next" as her Husband, Shirou, projected more and more weapons for her to stab into this poor man.
"PLEASE! I'M SORRY! HAVE MERCY ON THE HANDSOME ME!" screamed out Merlin as another weapon was stabbed into him.
"KYAAA!" A particularly girlish scream erupted out of his throat as a cursed short spear was thrust up the man's backside.
"Sure, you can go." Said Artoria in a tone cold as ice.
"Really!?" asked the mutilated Incubus in delight.
"But only once I've stabbed every weapon within Unlimited Blade Works in you at once."
The man's face lost all colour and hope at those words; he closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.
WC - 3128
Thanks for reading this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. 😊
All Criticism and feedback are welcome. Any suggestions for the story or plot are also more than welcome.
Swans won both of their games this week (3-0 vs Crawley in the League Cup) (1-0 vs Sheffield Utd).
Fulton was dropped and the team was amazing (Shocker), Our midfield depth is now insane, (Yakub, Franco, Windell, Galbraith and some fella from New Zealand).
No mid week game but we've got Watford at home on Saturday, I expect an easy 2-0 win from the boys with Bobby scoring his first in the league.
Special Thanks to LancelotDragonroad for editing this Chapter.
If there are any questions, feel free to message my Discord - Navarius13
If we're all still alive, the next chapter will be released on Wednesday.
Rius out.