Briar exploded into motion, her small frame belying the fierce determination in her eyes as she closed the distance between us in a heartbeat, her wooden sword a blur.
Time seemed to slow as I realized it was impossible for me to block her attack, and so I darted right, ducking underneath her thrust.
The whoosh of her blade passing by sent a shiver down my spine that couldn't quite quell my rising excitement.
I guessed right, I really did! Hehe, now it's time for a counter attack!
As I sluggishly recentered my body, I pivoted my left foot, blades of grass tearing underneath my forward lunge. "Raagh!" Her eyes widened with surprise as I brought my sword down on her exposed shoulder.
But Briar was quicker than I anticipated, and she brought her sword around in one fluid motion, catching my strike on the flat of her blade.
The clash of wood on wood rang out, a deep sound that reverberated throughout my arms.
We both stood like this, our weapons struggling in vain against each other, before she twisted, redirecting my momentum and sending me a foot or two off of balance, and I stumbled, my sword cutting through empty air.
Crap…!
She capitalized on this opening instantly, her crimson eyes flashing as she brought her sword down, carving a bronze arc through the air.
Just barely, I managed to block her attack, the impact jarring my bones. Tch. But there was no reprieve. Her attacks came in an unrelenting flurry, each one seamlessly transitioning into another, and I was caught in their barrage. Left, right, overhead—her sword was everywhere all at once, occasionally almost knocking my own out of my hand. I was caught in a desperate mixture of backpedaling and straight up rolling out of harm's way whenever I could, though she hardly left me anytime to recover.
Dammit! At this rate, she'll win in no time! I can't afford to stay on the defensive like this, something has to change.
…But, what could I do?
I ground my teeth at the thought of losing my first ever sword fight so pathetically.
I scanned the room in between her swings, searching for any sort of advantage, but there wasn't much in this room. Only the tree and the small stream.
Wait a second… Water…! That could work.
In a burst of energy, I rolled out of Briar's reach, scrambling to my feet as I dashed towards the tree, a desperate plan half-forming in my mind.
I don't know if this'll work, but I have to try. Hell, as far as I'm concerned, this is the only thing that'll work!
As expected, Briar was on me in the seconds following, her speed far outstripping my own.
But by this time, I had already reached a far enough distance from her to where she couldn't reach me in time, disappearing behind the massive trunk of the tree.
She stopped in her tracks, seemingly planning on waiting me out and catching me later.
But I had no intention of allowing this spar to play out so uneventfully.
Gathering all the strength my aching body could muster, I kicked a loose branch on the floor up and out, aiming to catch her attention as I erupted out from the opposite end of the tree, unleashing my own (star)burst stream of attacks.
Surprise flickered across Briar's face as she found herself on the defensive for the first time, and I pressed my advantage.
My swings weren't nearly as precise or powerful as hers—no, not by a long shot—but that wasn't what I was after. I poured every ounce of my being into the speed of my attacks.
That way, it'd feel, to her, as if she was being suppressed by a flurry of attacks, and it'd hold her there just long enough…!
She found herself mimicking the dance of backpedaling I had once been caught in, only this time, her pride—probably—or skill didn't allow her to back down like I once had by jumping out of the way in futile efforts to gain space. Except, that would precisely be her downfall. I could feel this time would be different, I had the advantage here!
All I had to do was get her to the stream, and the water would take care of everything from there!
Our swords broke into a chain of reverberations as I kept up my barrage of attacks, my plan finally nearing its end. My arm ached terribly and my breath came in a chaotic disorder, but I couldn't linger on that. A sense of accomplishment began to overtake me, underscoring the ferocity of my attacks.
"Let's see how long you can stay standing for…!" I panted in between breaths.
She didn't respond, confusion knit itself into her brow, interweaving itself into her concentration and determination.
But there was no need for her to say anything, anyways, or rather, no time for her to—her foot hit a slick patch of grass.
She stumbled, and triumph surged through me.
Finally, this is my chance! I lunged forward, eager to claim victory as I unleashed a sloppy attack.
In my impatience, however, I overextended, the entirety of my weight committed to my diagonal strike.
It was a rookie mistake, really, one that could've been avoided had I not gotten overzealous.
Briar's response was instantaneous, almost surgical, and she dropped low, her small frame easily avoiding my wild swing. A feint?! In one fluid motion, she swept her leg out. My ankle caught her sweep, and suddenly the world tilted.
I crashed into the ground, the impact driving the air out of my lungs in a sharp, painful exhale.
Despite being grass, the floor was unforgiving against my back.
I watched as my sword clattered out of reach, and I scrambled desperately to claim it, whipping around with the intent of standing up again, but turning around, I felt a rush of air echo past my ears.
"That's enough."
Haldir's words cut through our spell of combat.
Briar's wooden sword cut through the air like a thin reed being whipped through the wind—stopping mere inches of my face, poised to strike.
I blinked, realizing just how close she could've been to ending my life, had she been wielding a real weapon.
The grain of wood and the faint scent of whatever oil or treatment had been used to preserve it were all nauseatingly clear to me.
My heart sank. For the first time since my rebirth, I felt fear. Dread. Imagining the potential scenario in which this was a true battle to the death.
Her expression was a mix of indiscernible emotions, but most apparent throughout them all was the deep, focused satisfaction, so clear that it was almost scintillating.
Then I realized something, staring at the backlit silhouette of the young elven girl in front of me, a halo effect framing her crown of hair.
This is what it was like to face a stronger opponent.
…I was far from ready to become a Hero, much less a King, or the strongest mage on the continent. Damn it… I got overconfident—and for what? Her slipping wouldn't have marked the end of the battle anyways. My follow up is what mattered the most.
As Briar lowered her sword, Haldir approached, his silver eyes gleaming with approval.
"Well, this was quite intriguing. Well done, both of you," he applauded us slowly.
I took this time to catch the breath I had lost, heaving heavily.
Gaagh… My entire body hurts.
While I knew this required good stamina, the countless manga and novels I'd read never fully emphasized it. I feel like I'm going to die…!
"Briar, you're as swift and unrelenting as ever,"
Haldir began. "But it seems you've developed a bad habit of underestimating your opponents and holding back on them. That's considered disrespectful amongst swordsmen. In a fight, there's an agreement between two duelists to respect each other by showcasing their full strength. By putting your all on the line together, you can begin to understand each other; strength of will, passion, talent, skill, and even your reason for fighting all together—all of those can be communicated by a clashing of blades. By holding back, you disgrace the sacred art that is swordsmanship. Never let it happen again, my dear granddaughter."
Haldir locked eyes with her, and she nodded in response.
That was her holding back?! I almost screamed.
"As for you, Seraphis," he began, turning towards me.
"For your first time wielding a sword, you showed potential. Though, that is only to be expected of an heir, much less royalty. Your approach, while ultimately unsuccessful, showed promise in its conception. It is a rare talent to see one that is able to formulate strategies on the fly, particularly under the heat of combat. That's good, it'll lead you to high places. I'll help you to cultivate that talent. As for your compatibility with the sword, I'd give you a… 42 percent. Much higher than that of anyone else's I've given, with the exception of Briar. With proper teaching, you could become a very formidable foe. And the best part about that is… You were limited without your use of magic."
A sly smirk grew on Haldir's handsome face, and he began a small pace around the room.
"Of course, you both were, yes, but the restriction on magic was more debilitating on you, considering you're a conjurer, while Briar is an enhancer. Yet you managed to keep up with my greatest student, if only a little bit. Impressive wouldn't be sufficient enough a word to describe it."
I could practically feel the shift in the room's energy at his mention of my being a conjurer.
Ismeria, who was quiet, silently watching until now, had a puzzled look on her face, as if she was struggling to even believe what the old man was saying. "G-grandpa, is that true? The Prince is… a conjurer? I've never seen one using a sword before…" Her words trailed off in disbelief.
"That's amazing…"
Briar's reaction was subtle, yet carried more weight to me beyond that of anyone else's.
Her eyes widened slightly as the implications of Haldir's words sank in, her gaze darting back and forth between me and the oasis, as if reassessing everything that had transpired during our duel. An indiscernible emotion flickered across her features—perhaps it was embarrassment at her quiet confidence, knowing that I managed to pose a slight challenge, despite having twice fold her limits.
…But I found no solace in that thought, however.
If it was true, and she was beginning to regret underestimating me, then it only proved that I was that much more pitiful.
"But of course it's the truth, dear Ismeria," Haldir said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"No student of mine can hide their capabilities from me. But, if you happen to not believe me, you could always ask our watchful guests…"
As if on cue, three figures stepped into the oasis, regal and precise.
A familiar, calculating, golden-eyed gaze swept over the room, landing on all of us at once.
"The old man speaks the truth," Mother said, her regal bearing drawing eyes to her while the other two royals spread out.
"Using the terrain to force your opponent into a vulnerable position shows a strategic mind at work.
It's a level of cunning I hadn't anticipated from you, Seraphis. Some might call such tactics underhanded, or vile. But in the arena of combat, even such shrewdness can be advantageous."
I felt a sting at her words.
Could you blame me?! Consider who I was up against, at least…!
Queen Merlyn took her turn to speak after a brief exchange with Ismeria.
"Well, I, for one, think it was a brilliant plan. It shows that our Young Prince here has the machinations necessary for strategizing—a rather favorable sign for the future. But alas, there were too many missing key parts for it to work. A shame," she concluded with a shrug.
King Rowan made a placating gesture, stepping forward.
"Now, now, everyone, I believe we all have our differing opinions on the matter. And while that may ring true, none of us can deny that both fighters did exceptionally well. Nicely done, Briar, Prince Seraphis. You two will both make great warriors in the future."
The royals were swept up in conversation after that.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Ismeria's gaze flickering away at the King's words.
Her expression seemed distant, as if she were lost in thought, contemplating something beyond the immediate praise, though her eyes settled on Gael.
He ruffled his feathers, shifting slightly on Haldir's shoulder, his gaze laser focused on Seraphina, who had hopped off my head at some point, and was now chasing butterflies around the room.
I wonder… Just what exactly is Gael?
At first I thought him to be some type of night raven-wyvern hybrid, but he seems a little too intelligent for that.
Maybe he was some type of rare breed?
One that was only found in the elven kingdom?
But then, his kind would definitely be put in some sort of tourist guide pamphlet and made a spectacle, no?
Or, perhaps, the elves are just too noble for such petty things.
I remember hearing—or rather, reading—about the elves not having a throne room because they see it as a sign of ignorance and inequality. I wonder how true that is…
My thoughts drifted back to Ismeria.
If she plans to forge a contract with such a creature, I can only imagine what type of abilities she'd be able to use. Maybe she'd grow wings and start flying… I began to imagine the sight of an older Ismeria sprouting a pair of silver wings and taking to the skies.
Something about the idea was so theatrical and dramatic that it was hard to even project.
But seriously, the thought of it is interesting.
I wonder what abilities I'd gain from Seraphina? Would I…. turn into a fox?
Shape-shifting, maybe?
I cast a glance at my clueless companion, who was still chasing butterflies like an intrigued cat.
Knowing her, my ability would just be something like being capable of sleeping all day. Yeah, I shouldn't get my hopes up.
These kinds of thoughts went on for what seemed like forever until I was interrupted.
"—ell, Seraphis?" Mother's voice snapped me back to reality. "Huh? Oh, y-yes, Mother?"
"We were discussing the details of your training. I'm going to be leaving quite soon, and I wanted to make sure you understand what's expected of you in your time here." Then, turning to Haldir she said, "Continue from where you left off."
The old man cleared his throat.
"Right. As I was saying, Seraphis, your training will be briefly postponed. I have some business to take care of tomorrow, so I'll be gone for most of the day. The day after that is when we can begin. For the rest of today, however, we'll spend some time reviewing the basics. As for the details of what we'll be doing when I get back, well…" His eyes landed on Mother, seeking some sort of approval.
She gave him an indiscernible, wordless look, and he continued.
"You'll just have to see for yourself, though I can tell you that they'll be related to improving your general proficiency with spellcasting and swordsmanship, along with familiars and Tamers. Now isn't the time to get too into it."
I made a "Hmm" sound, processing his words. Our conversation continued for another few minutes or so, Master Haldir and Mother going over the sort of stuff that I was to expect/to be expected from me. Eventually, things began to settle.
"...In any case, I'm much needed elsewhere at the moment," Mother interjected, her usually composed face scrunching into something unrecognizable as she brought her palm up to her belly before pivoting to fix her overcoat.
"Forgive me, but I'll be leaving early."
She turned around in a slight hurry, picking up a stride, but stopped just before the exit, turning around and meeting everyone's eyes in turn. "It's a shame I won't be able to talk for much longer with everyone. I've never been one to indulge in sentimental departures… but I suppose there is a first for everything."
I took a step towards her and her attention turned to me.
"Seraphis. You are a gifted child. You possess a talent like no other, that much is certain. But you would be wise to remember these words: Power without guidance is but a wildfire waiting to consume itself. And I certainly won't let you burn before your time. As you are a child of royalty—of purpose—it is precisely that reason that I see to it that you are forged, not coddled. There will be times where you feel as if the issues surrounding you are too mountainous to handle. But you must keep going. For your sake, as well as everyone else's."
Silence stretched for a second.
"You'll be here for a few years. Take this time to start your journey as a mage so that when you come back, you'll have the necessary skills for what's to come. By that, I mean your princely duties. They'll… Well, that's not important for now. Forgive me again, I'll be going now. I'll see you another time."
And with that cryptic message, Mother disappeared from the archway.
The rest of the day after that was spent mainly reviewing magic and things related to swordsmanship, though I found myself constantly lingering on her words and her unusually somber expression.
Eventually, when nightfall rolled around, class was dismissed, and I was escorted to a lavishly decorated guest room on the second floor, not too far from the Princesses rooms themselves.
Calling it a mere guest room felt too diminishing with how grand it was, however.
Once I was settled in, I plopped my torso on the bed along with Seraphina, my exhaustion threatening to bring me to sleep in that instant.
"Ahh, this feels wonderful… I could die like this. All of that fighting and teaching wore me out."
A particular scent chose that moment to waft through the air, cutting through my euphoria.
"…Or not. It seems a bath is needed for us both, Seraphina," I said, scrunching my nose.
Picking my tired body off the heavenly mattress, I quickly scooped up my companion who reeked with the scent of wet grass, along with myself, and made my way to the bathroom.
I flipped on the light switch, and what awaited me, hidden in the darkness, was like an entirely new room in of itself.
I struggled to even fathom the machinations of the great minds behind this intricate architecture.
I have got to stop being surprised by everything here…
Sighing, I let go of Seraphina, closed the door, and turned on the bath, though it took me some time to figure out the intrigue behind it.After some waiting, the bath was filled with warm water. "Alright then, let's get this over with quickly now."
I put my fists on my hips, shooting a glance at my furry friend, who, coincidentally, seemed just as… energetic—you could say—as myself.
"Well… your fur won't wash itself," I quipped with a smirk.
I had a strong feeling that the horrified expression on Seraphina's face would be forever ingrained in my memory.
My companion and I soaked in the bath for roughly the better half of an hour, mostly spent trying to remove the tough stains from her coat, a task easier said than done.
Note to self: Keep Seraphina's fur clean, lest I want another scrubbing session half spent trying to not get clawed to death…!
I wrapped Seraphina in a soft towel and gently dried her fur before changing into a pair of fresh clothes myself, a gift from the Endine Rex to commemorate my new home.
It was a rather elegant set of nigh-oversized emerald and silver robes, much unlike the ones he himself wore, which surprised me. By the way… Why does he wear all white in such an easy-to-stain environment?
By the time we had finished our baths, our tired bodies remembered their exhaustion.
But as I was about to collapse onto the bed, a soft knock on the door caught my attention.
I paused, wondering who it could be at this hour, as Seraphina's ears perked up, her eyes fixed on the door.
"Here I come," I called out, running my fingers through my damp hair.
When the door swung open, I was surprised to see a small figure standing there, her posture tense and her eyes downcast.
"Princess Ismeria? Is everything alright?" I asked, treading.
The young girl took a deep breath, her gaze finally meeting mine.
"F-forgive me for interrupting you, Prince Seraphis. It's just… I wanted to apologize for what happened with Gael. I can't forgive myself for nearly bringing harm to you."
She paused for a moment to let these words settle, an uneasy frown creasing her creatures.
"Eh? N-no, you're fine, Princess—really—it's not your fault. I could never hold a grudge against you, especially over something like that, so don't worry."
"Are you sure?" she asked, the words almost pleading. "I still feel as though I should repay you somehow…"
"Repay me? Nonsense, Princess Ismeria, you've done nothing wrong. Please don't worry."
I made a motion as if waving away cobwebs.
The gears shifting behind her eyes seemed all too visible at that moment.
"Well… Okay, I'll believe you. But as compensation, though it isn't much, p-please feel free to ask me for anything. I'll do whatever I can to help you, I swear by it."
While the sincerity behind her promise was unmistakably real, the idea of asking something of a Princess, especially one so unfamiliar to me like Ismeria, felt strange. Though it's not as if I'd ask for something crazy, like, I don't know, a trillion gold; even so, I felt a tinge of hesitation.
Yet, as I further considered her words, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that it might not be such a bad idea to accept her offer.
I took a deep breath, meeting her gaze.
"Thank you, Princess Ismeria, for the offer. While there's nothing I'd like now, I will…" The words died on my lips as I spoke them, an idea sparking to life.
"Actually… I do have an idea, if that's alright with you." She gave me a quizzical look and a slow smirk creeped onto my face.
A week went by before this idea of mine was brought to life.
***
The morning light filtered through the emerald canopy, casting long shadows across the intricate stone pathways as a soft breeze occasionally whistled through the city streets, carrying with it songs of laughter and sweet scents.
Ismeria walked slightly ahead of me, her each step filled with an undercurrent of infectious enthusiasm, threatening to sweep even myself away with it.
But with so many eyes watching, it was important that I didn't act too out of character for royalty.
I carried the name of Verlice with me wherever I went, after all, and first impressions were really hard to change.
"Let's see here…" Ismeria began, pausing in her tracks as she pulled out a piece of paper. Curious, I asked her about it.
"I've spent the majority of this week writing down everything that I wanted to show you today. It was quite the surprise that all you wanted was to see the city—and for m-me of all people to show you around. Honestly, you didn't seem like the type to be all that interested in such activities," she said with a bashful expression, averting her gaze before seeming to catch herself.
"B-but it's not like there's anything wrong with it, I was just saying that it was the last thing I would've expected such a magical genius like yourself to say—no offense…!"
I gestured placatingly.
"None taken, Princess. It's alright. If anything, I'm more interested in just what exactly you have planned for us. Care to share?"
"Ah, right! S-sorry, let me check it again… Okay, firstly, I wanted to show you my favorite cafe. They have a lot of yummy food, but personally, their drinks are what won me over. There's a certain one I always get, it's a cinnamon milk tea with chewy, edible balls that are particularly wonderful for cooling down in a summer's heat! Once you taste it, you'll never go back, promise! But we have to hurry, the lines get longer during the afternoon."
I took a second to collect my thoughts, seeing the sudden change in Ismeria's character.
It seems that once she sets her mind to something, that timid persona of hers goes right out the window.
The thought was mirthful.
"Alright then, shall we go? I'm looking forward to it, seeing as you seem to highly of it. Luckily for you, cinnamon flavored anything is actually my favorite," I mused, a smirk forming on my lips.
The Princess' face lit up with excitement and, in a swift movement, she grabbed my hand, pulling me along.
"We'll catch up with you later, Madam Jasmine!" she called out to the attendant who drove us here in a carriage.
Turning around, I noticed the woman bowing respectfully as she disappeared from view.
From there, we spent our time visiting the numerous shops and quarters of the city.
The Princess took her time with each place we visited, giving me an extensive lecture on the lore of everything. It was almost as if she herself had been the one to live through it all, though that's not quite a shocker, considering it was her people's history.
The most surprising thing about it all was the complete 180 in Ismeria's personality.
Earlier, I figured it to merely be a product of being involved in something she was passionate about, but the more the day went on, the more I realized that couldn't've been it.
It was almost like she was actively trying to appear a certain way, though it's not like I could speak.
And besides, what do I know about people?
The day was quite relaxing and helped to ease some of my own tension about being in Testruam, which I'd managed to keep hidden so far—at least, I think so.
While we were met with a lot of curious stares, people no doubt wondering what a human boy was doing being so friendly with a princess, they didn't seem to bother Ismeria too much, so I tried to put them in the back of my mind as well.
And before I knew it, I had been swept up in the fun, forgetting all of my self imposed restrictions. Going through the city again had rekindled some of the excitement I had when I arrived, and from then on, I felt positive that I'd never get tired of seeing it.
There was a particular "attraction" the Princess showed me that I'd dubbed as my favorite, something I wouldn't mind seeing once or twice again.
It was towards the end of the day, she enthusiastically marched me over to a water fountain located not too far from the castle.
We stopped a fair bit away from the fountain, seemingly waiting on something. Curious, I spoke up.
"Hm? What's—"
She placed a gentle hand on my arm, signaling me to be still. "Just watch," she whispered.
In the seconds following, the water began to shift and shimmer in ways that defied natural movement.
The tension of the water surface was disrupted; tiny, crystalline figures emerging from underneath, each of them no larger than my palm.
Their bodies were translucent, made of liquid light that seemed to constantly shift and reform itself with each movement—swirling, dancing shapes that caught and refracted the ethereal light of dawn.
Some were humanoid, others slightly more abstract. But one commonality they shared were the chimes of music that came with each movement they made, resonating just at the edge of hearing.
"Water sprites…"
The words escaped my lips breathlessly.
I had read about them before, they were considered a phenomenon thought only to occur in the great sea, far from all watchful eyes, or either a phenomenon that no longer occurred. We watched the… creatures?—dance for several more minutes, until Princess Ismeria let out a giggle, not even bothering to hide her amusement.
The youngest of them all noticed us at that moment, losing its form and melting beneath the water's surface. The other ones followed in its tracks, one by one, until finally, the Princess and I were in each other's company again.
For a minute, I stood entranced, captivated by the surreality of it all. "It's wonderful, isn't it?" her words broke the spell cast on me as she began a slow pace closer to the fountain. "I was hoping someone else would appreciate it just as much as I do." She leaned on the fountain, her gaze lost in its crystal luster.
"They're quite famous amongst us elves—a certain few, at least. But they are exceptionally shy. Usually, there are children and their families around since this is a busy area, which tends to make it hard for me to see them very often. Today is… a special day, however. Forgive me, but I made it like so to ensure we would be the lone observers of their emergence." Stepping forward, I leaned in next to her.
"So… What's the story behind these ones? Were they forged in the embers of a runaway dragon? Or are they, perhaps, a product of an everlasting spell?" I half joked.
She chuckled appreciatively at my humor.
"No, not these ones, though to be honest, I'm not quite sure. No one is, really. Truthfully. I think that's what makes them so special, though. Not many people know about this fountain's brilliance, courtesy of my father. Despite his reception, he's not the most receptive of other races—and he's very protective of our culture. He believes that if this area is made to be an attraction, it could very well prevent the sprites from ever returning again. Water sprites are thought to merely be a natural reaction from the mixing currents of water and mana, not as an intelligent species of themselves, after all, which guides his reasoning."
My eyes widened with surprise, though she couldn't see.
"Then, may I ask why did you show it to me? Is that not also a risk…?"
She was silent for many moments before she responded again. "I… I trust you, Prince Seraphis." Her words hung in the air, unchallenged.
"Since as far as I can remember, I've always been taught the values of being a Princess, along with the responsibilities that come with it. There are many lessons I've been taught, and others, I'm still grappling with as of now… I have a long way to go, but I think trusting in you—enough to show you this—could be my first step. Forgive me for being presumptuous, if I am, but I believe you've shown me that you're trustworthy throughout our time together, even if short. If it's you, I think…" her words died on her lips.
"...I see," was all that I—regretfully—could manage to say.
There was a long pause, and then, "O-oh dear, just what am I saying? S-sorry, I didn't mean to make it so awkward, it's just… No, I can't back out now. If I do, nothing will change," she began to mutter to herself.
There was another spell of silence, before finally, she seemed to have gathered her courage, meeting my gaze.
"W-what I was trying to say was… The reason I showed you this is because I trust you. And… I was hoping this would be a good time to ask you if you wanted to be friends, perhaps?"
The young girl was glowing in the face and hardly managed to even maintain eye contact with me.
But I felt a flush of relief and happiness at her words.
"O-of course, if you don't want to, that's perfectly okay! It's just, I wanted to show you this as a token of friendship, or allianceship, since typically, that's how they are formed between two royal families—one of them, gives the other one something!"
I bit back my smirk, resisting the urge to chuckle. "Yes, of course, Princess. I'd love to be friends with you."
"R-really? Are you sure" she asked, her ears almost perking up. "You're the one who asked, you know," I responded bluntly. "Ah, no, no, y-you're right, it's just… Sorry, I've never done this before. I'm not proud to admit it, but I don't have any friends."
"Is that so? What about your sister, Briar? Are you two… not on the best of terms?"
My words were slow and precise, careful to not strike a chord I shouldn't.
While I didn't initially get the impression that they weren't close, going through a weeks worth of motions with the two made it painfully obvious.
They seemed to never converse with one another, unless absolutely necessary. And even when they did, it was composed of short sentences.
Her mood seemed to shift in that moment as her silver eyes dimly reflected off the crystalline surface of the water. "It's… complicated between us," she said after too long a pause. I got the feeling that she'd rather not continue talking about it, so I mustered some courage.
"Well, that's okay, Princess, everything takes time. Even with family. The most important thing is that you keep trying," I encouraged, giving her a thumbs up as the edges of my lips curved into what I thought to be a reassuring smile.
She looked away before responding bluntly.
"...You sound like my grandpa."
Ouch! I clutched my chest, half feigning as if I was hurt. "Critical damage…"
There was a brief pause before the young girl snickered, struggling to contain her laughter. "I was proud of that one, you know…"
"Sorry, Prince Seraphis," she said, wiping a tear out of her eye. "The resemblance was too much is all. It's not a bad thing, either."
"By the way, you can just call me Sera now, since we're friends," I added.
She gave me a curious look.
"It's a nickname given to me by my overseer back at home. Her name was Esil. My retainer and I also call each other by nicknames, as well."
Her silver eyes tracked back towards me, curiosity lingering in them. "Then… You can call me by my first name too, without the title. I don't have a nickname, so I can't give you much in return, but I hope that's acceptable with you."
I paused, thinking for a minute.
"...Hm? No nickname huh"Well, if you'd like I could give you one. It wouldn't be too much of a hassle, but only if you're okay with it. I already have an idea for one, anyways."
"R-really? I'd like that very much then. Thank you in advance." She bowed slightly.
I made a motion with my hand as if waving away cobwebs.
"We're friends now, so it's only normal. You don't have to thank me. As for your nickname… How about Ismene? It's relatively simple and still maintains the core essence of your own original name."
I could practically see the spark of approval igniting behind her eyes. "Ismene…" she said delicately, playing around with it on the tip of her tongue. "...I like it. I really do. Then… You'll call me Ismene. And I'll call you Sera."
There was something about the warm, excited expression on her face that was infectious, and I felt a deep satisfaction resonating within me, as if I was feeling her happiness as my own.
But hidden underneath was another pang, like something was amiss. I ignored the feeling.
"With that settled, I think we should head back to Madam Jasmine. It is pretty late," I pointed out, breaking the Princess from her reverie.
"O-oh, you're right! I completely forgot. We should hurry… Sera."
"Yeah. Let's go, Ismene."
From there, we returned to the manor, the ignition of a new bond resounding deeply within our tired bodies.
There was more training the next day, after all, therefore it was all too important we were well rested. I was almost too excited to even sleep that night.
Almost.
***
…What the?
By now, I figured I'd gotten used to waking up to the familiar ceiling of my room in Testruam these past few months, living in the same rhythm of routine.
Wake up, eat, train, repeat. It felt like that was all I ever did nowadays, though that's to be expected.
Which makes it all the more confusing as to what exactly is happening to me.
Where… am I?
Instead of the familiar comfort of my bed, I was greeted with an endless, crystalline sea, stretching impossibly far into the horizon, and impeccably reflecting the sky above.
Imposing far above was a light blue sky accentuated with perfect cumulonimbus clouds so picturesque it seemed like something out of a painting.
They hung in the air motionless, as if time itself had stopped, yet the comforting sensation of a gentle wind's breeze denounced the idea.
I stood up slowly, the reflective ground underneath me rippling slightly with each movement, offering a very surreal experience, and I blinked in confusion, feeling the muddled mess of my memories clashing.
Once my headache eased a little, I scanned the area again.
No sign of Testruam or any familiar landmarks, just this endless, beautiful landscape; so perfect it was eerie.
"Am I… dreaming?" I whispered to myself.
A soft chime caught my attention, and I spun on my heel, seeing an unexpected figure.
It was a woman with smooth, porcelain gray skin, sitting at an elegant table set for tea—poised against the horizon as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
From what I could make out, she wore a lengthy, fitted black dress adorned with shimmering, gold accents around her waist, and the matching sleeves on her arms, reaching an inch below her shoulder before curving in a sharp arch and looping around her arm again.
Long tresses of wispy, white hair draped behind her like an ethereal curtain before seemingly fading into the air.
The most striking of her features were the two coal horns that protruded just above her temples, curving downwards and then up.
"It seems you've finally come to. Quite the dramatic one, aren't you?" her honeyed voice mused. "Come, have a seat. And a drink. We've much to discuss, don't you know?"