Kade stood by the balcony, the wind brushing hair strands in and out of his face. He stared intently at the passing mountains and the crystal river below them. The pastel colors of the sky matched the relaxed mood. At that moment Grin climbed onto the deck and saw Kade staring mindlessly at the scenery. Just as Grin was about to call out Kade slammed his hands on the railings of the ship.
"Agghh! Damn my hair! I pull it back and I braid it and yet it still gets in my face?! Maybe I should just cut it? Wouldn't that be better? I've heard people say I'm feminine because of it." Kade continued to brush his hair out of his face. After a short pause the wind blew his hair in his face again. "I give up! I'm cutting you off now!" Kade held out his long braid in front of him, the sword on his waist in his hand. Grin was hiding behind him, stifling his laughter. Kade raised his sword and as he was about to cut it Asta appeared on the opposite side of the deck.
"What's wrong brother?" Asta tilted her head and her hair moved in waves as the wind blew at it gently.
"Uh nothing!" Kade quickly sheathed his sword.
"Were you going to cut your hair?" Asta walked towards Kade, her light steps making small clacks as she walked.
"No?"
"Why? I love your hair! Oh! I want to braid it like we used to when we were kids." Asta tugged on his sleeve, her face cheerful.
"Ah-Alright alright. Let's go sit inside, it's windy out." Kade gestured towards the cabin doors and Asta nodded in agreement.
Grin followed them shortly after, giving enough time in between to make sure he couldn't have seen it.
The rest of the day Kade was in his room shuffling through papers his back hunched whilst his body was hidden behind towers of paper. While Grin sat down in a chair by the window watching them pass over lush farms. A soft knock caused them both to look at the door in unison. Kade raised his head.
"Enter." With a faint click the door opened and Asta strode into the room, her face looking oddly satisfied.
"Brother, Grin." Asta nodded in each of their directions.
"Yes Asta?" Kade had shifted from his hunched back to leaning on one arm with his hand cupping his face.
"I have something very important to show you guys! It's my little 'something' I was talking about earlier." Kade and Grin shared a look of sympathy for each other. Sighing Kade stood up and walked towards the door.
"Well, we can't keep the young maiden waiting now can we Grin?" Kade looked over at Grin who, in turn, sighed and rose up as well.
"If the Emperor demands it, it shall be done." Grin walked over to Kade and did a mocking courtesy bow. Kade slapped Grin's back cheerfully and the three left the room.
Down the hall there was an odd silence. Though the ship member's voices still echoed in the ship they were far away. Asta walked happily as she led them to a large dining room. The tables had been removed and the chairs had all been removed except nine. Asta forced Kade and Grin to stand by the wall in the middle while she went out the other door to fetch her 'something'. A few moments passed and the door suddenly swung open. Out walked Valkyrie squad Ember but, they were all dressed in formal wear! They marched in unison towards the chairs and when each one was in front of a chair they sat down at the same time. The hues of light blue to light purple dresses swished and draped over their bodies like big blankets. Their initial messy braids were all undone and pulled up into different hairstyles. It was the first time Kade or Grin had seen their faces since they boarded the ship. Their golden ember eyes differed in shades and colors. The different hues of blond and brown hair bundles on top of their heads. Their lips had a hint of rose added to them and their eyes were surrounded by a light pink shade. Each of them was stunningly beautiful but their height made them a bit unapproachable.
"A-Asta... What's going on?" Kade was starting to feel very nervous. Grin was frozen next to him. His face reverting to his stone one in an instant.
"What do you mean? Ivar said that before every man gets married, they have to have a 'bachelors' life'. So, I asked Hilda what 'bachelors' life' meant and she said that it means to dance with different women. So here!" Asta's innocent smile almost hid the suspicious words mentioned by their main butler Ivar.
"Ivar said that?! Damn him! Always messing with your innocence." Kade's eyes were burning with a raging passion for Ivar that went beyond what happened this time. In the past Ivar had been his personal butler so he had been there to tease and witness all his embarrassing moments as a child. Even to this day Ivar has brought up multiple shameful memories whenever they meet, even shouting out one as they passed each other in the hall. When Asta was old enough to talk Ivar had told her awful stories about Kade and she had avoided him for most of her childhood. Kade put his hand on the wall to steady himself. His deep hatred igniting at the mention of Ivar's name.
"Well? Didn't I do a good job of dressing them up?" Asta was bouncing as she walked over to the Valkyrie captain they had seen before. "I mean, who would've expected them to all be this beautiful?" She beamed her smile at Svala who, in turn, tried to smile back but her mouth just moved in a weird curve. Looking like she was thinking mashed with feeling constipated. "Though I'm still working on helping them smile." Asta tapped her chin and turned to face her brother.
"Uhm, Asta. Come here for a quick second." Kade beckoned her with his finger and she happily bounced towards him.
"Yes?" Kade leaned in close to her ear and whispered some inaudible words to her. Slowly her face changed from cheerfulness to a slight realization, then to disgust and then to embarrassment. She quickly covered her face and turned away from Kade.
"I swear I didn't know!" Asta was turned around but the tips of her ears peaking out from her hair were bright red.
"Ha ha. It's alright Asta. I know all too well how Ivar can be." Kade gritted his teeth as he spat out the last few words along with Ivar's name. Asta turned around a hugged Kade.
"I'm glad you didn't have a bachelor's life and that you've never been in a relationship." Asta looked up from her hug and Kade had to gently removed himself from her. He gently patted her on the head and smiled dearly.
"It's alright. Now, why don't you get them changed. They look a bit uncomfortable." Kade flipped Asta around and handed her over to the Valkyries. The Valkyries were indeed uncomfortable. Having been in only armor and men's clothes suddenly wearing feminine clothes was weird, and very airy. Svala nodded in agreement and the Valkyries exited the room, dragging Asta with them.
Once the room was empty except for Kade and Grin they both let out a sigh of relief.
"Did you see that!? Asta was hugging me and when she looked up at me it was almost too much!" Kade's kingly aura was completely gone. It was like he changed to a completely different person. If someone walked in now they wouldn't associate the two with each other. "And Grin, did you see how she was bouncing as she walked? It was so cute! Damn! If only I could've recorded it, it would've been my greatest treasure!" Kade continued to ramble on about Asta. Grin had finally come back to his senses and was staring awkwardly at Kade, vaguely remembering what had happened. When Kade saw that Grin was moving again he turned his attention away from his incoherent speech and stared at Grin.
"You know, you're already at the age of marriage, right?" Grin whipped his head towards Kade.
"So what? Not like I'm ever going to find someone I feel comfortable enough around to marry nor would anyone like me." Grin brushed his black hair out of his face.
"Grin, you're already what, twenty-two years old? Most people are married by twenty." Kade placed his arm on Grin's shoulder.
"If I get married who's going to look after you? Besides I don't want to hear anything from you, you're already twenty-four." Grin shot back Kade's question.
"E-eh... I'm totally fine."
"What would Asta think about it?" Kade's expression changed drastically.
"How can I leave her when she's only sixteen? As her older brother I can't let anyone get between us!" As he said this Grin pulled off Kade's arm.
"What're you going to do when she gets married and falls in love?"
"Never! I'm not letting her marry a middle-aged weirdo who has a thing for young beauties like her! Nor will I allow her to be part of an official marriage! Any who dare court her must beat me in combat first!" Kade punched at the air as he finished.
"Well, what if she truly loves the person. Can you bear to keep her close and yet have her hate you because you won't allow her to marry?" Kade's expression turned grim. He pulled Grin close,
"I-I don't know. Why would you make me think about that? Aahhh! What do I do now?" Kade squatted down, ruffling his hair in frustration. Grin squatted down as well and placed his arm over Kade's shoulders.
"She is growing, we have to accept that. Even more so now that we've taken her outside." Grin sighed and patted Kade's back gently.
"I'm not ready for that!" Kade lifted his face which was covered in snot and tears. "Grin! You'll stay by me right?"
"Yes. That was my vow as a knight. To protect you always. And my vow as your friend, to never leave you alone." Grin stood up and moved back one step and kneeled on one knee with his head bent downwards. "My vow, my life." Grin placed his right hand over his heart. Kade had calmed down now and he stood as well.
"My sword, my shield." Kade placed on hand on Grin's shoulder. "I accept your vow." Silence passed between them and they suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ah, this is always funny no matter how many times we do it!" Grin was holding his stomach. Kade was coughing and laughing.
"We seemed too serious." They continued to laugh and Kade extended a hand to help Grin up. "My back is yours." Grin finished laughing and grabbed on firmly.
"My back is yours." They patted each other and laughed at their sad prime years.