Later that day their distress signal had been answered. The 20th GCB had sent 4 Dragoons to conduct a rescue. Masato shot a manatek flare cartridge into the sky, not that it was necessary with the mountain peak being painted red in blood. Masato was quickly flown to the FOB and stabilized before being sent to the Bergin Military Hospital in the capital. During his rehabilitation members of the Royal Family went to see him and that is when the King christened Masato with his unique title; Sedulous Knight of The Empire, and Knight of The Kingsguard. These titles prove that Masato would not give up on his duty and in his service to the king even in the face of imminent defeat or death. During the Queen's first visit he was introduced to Aiya, a member of Low Royalty who had devoted herself to the service of the Queen. Aiya had immediately caught Masato's eye, her orange hair and hazel eyes spoke to Masato on another level. After the christening ceremony, Masato asked the Queen to stay so he could ask her a question. "What can I do for you Masato?" asked the Queen, "Your Highness I would like to humbly request your permission to pursue a relationship with your aid." I replied in the least awkward way I could think of. "Oh you must mean Aiya, I presume?" she giggled "Indeed" I replied coarsely. "That's Great!" she quietly exclaimed, "She asks about you all the time and I tell her stories of when you and the prince used to play together. I know, I'll assign her to tend to you while you're here so you can make your move." she prodded at me suggestively. The first few days were awkward but as we talked she started to become used to being my trustee. While I would say I'm devoted to my work, she is just obsessed with hers, even now. She would have my room cleaned by the first hour she was there, and as long as she didn't have any errands to run I would tell her stories from my past and she would giggle, or cry, or try and tell me off for doing something stupid(which she was always right) and as time passed I felt my connection turn from merely visual attraction to full-on love. This part of my life was terrible. I couldn't sleep at night. I just sat there thinking of her, what if she said no. Then I rounded up my nerve, it was do, or die. Aiya arrived for her morning cleaning as I was packing my items to be released from the hospital. "Feeling better today Masato?" Aiya asked happily, "I am feeling better today Aiya. But something is killing me inside." "OH!" Aiya asked, panicking "Should I call for a doctor?!?" "No Aiya, but what would make me feel 1000 times better would be if you and I could get dinner tonight?" Aiya just sat there still panicking. "Oh-ah-ah-ah, if the Queen hears of this I could get in troubl-." just as she finished the Queen kicked open the cracked door. "Non-sense Aiya I approve" Now this was a terrible idea because Aiya was already panicking about my medical issues, the date proposition and now the Queen herself was kicking in the room door telling her she could. This was too much for Aiya and she passed out. As Aiya hit the ground I jumped awake and realized I was in bed at the Hanada Manor, where I scared the doctor sick. "Mother of God lad, you're gonna give me a heart attack!" proclaimed the doctor. "Sorry, Sir." I replied, "Now what have you gone and done to yourself now?" He asked, looking at all my scars. "Just had a bad dream of the past." "Let me ask you this lad, if ye had the chance would you change it?" "Not for all the power in the world." I replied "Then it's not a bad dream, it's what makes you, you. I hate to tell ya kid life isn't a destination it's a journey, and no journey is a straight road." the doctor said as he walked out of the room. I sat there and thought about what he said, how would Lt. and Sgt. look at me if they saw my life today. I pondered for what seemed like hours but was just a few seconds as Mitsu burst into my room followed by her parents. "We're so glad you're okay Masato, you just passed out after talking to us we were afraid you were dying. "No ma'am, I'm fine just remembered an old war story." "Well you've been asleep for nearly 12 hours, would you care for some food?" I refused the food and walked outside on the castle walls, it had been 4 weeks since I'd seen Aiya in person, we talked all the time through the crystals but it's nothing like a face to face conversation. I returned to the throne room to talk with Mitsu's Father. "I regret to inform you sir that I must take my leave from your providence." "I understand Sir Hirose, but I do wish you had stayed longer to experience all LaFjord has to offer. However I do understand your position and how busy you must be, I will arrange transport for Hanada back to the academy so do not worry about her return." "As you wish Sir." I replied as I swiftly exited the Manor, I approached my Griffon and guided him towards the academy. "Sorry little guy, we've got a lot of flying ahead of us to see Aiya" the Griffon looked a tad annoyed until he heard Aiya "I know she always spoils you when I'm not looking." I frowned jokingly. We arrived back at the academy in record time only 1 hour 22 minutes, we then turned due East towards the capital where my castle is located, by the math it should have taken a similar amount of time to get from the academy to LaFjord(2 Hours) however Mr. Upbeat here must have decided today was top speed day because we again made record time at 1 hour and 19 minutes. Total flight time was only 2 hours 30 minutes which cut our flight time in half "Maybe I should try spoiling you too" I spouted off and the Griffon looked back at me menacingly in disapproval "Yeah then you'd be fat" I agreed, this didn't make the Griffon any happier but offered me time to escape.
I snuck into my quarters, removed my sweaty and bug covered military uniform, and donned my most elegant robes. As I grabbed my crystal it started vibrating violently "Hello" I spouted as I infused it with mana "where are you dear?" asked Aiya "Still in LaFjord my love." "I can see your Griffon in the courtyard Masato, where are you." as she finished her sentence I kicked in the dining room doors, only to reveal an empty room. As I took a few steps inside the room Aiya tackled me "That trick only works once." "What about the first eight times?" I cracked, she elbowed me in reply. We sat there hugging each other for a long time I could see a single tear fall from her eye, but knew better than bring it up and ruin our moment. Aiya looked up at me and broke the silence "How was school dear?" "It's not school it's military training!" I retorted and Aiya exploded with laughter. "We both know your father sent you there because you missed out on basic education so you could learn how to poke people with sharp sticks." "If it were a school why would they be sending me to-" I cut myself off if she knew they were sending me to bat-. "WHERE ARE THEY SENDING YOU!" "Aiya, calm down its not my first battle, and it's supposed to be low risk, unlike the incident." "You've been gone for 4 weeks just to come back and tell me you're leaving again!" "Look, I'm sorry it will be like 4 days tops and I'll be back, I'll use some leave and help around the manor a while." I pleaded, Aiya contemplated then smirked "Oh no," I thought out loud "We're getting married when you get back." Aiya commanded. "Okay, I think two years has been long enough." "You better teach those Escarian dogs a lesson in submission and do it fast, I'll be waiting," she said while she walked out of the room. I thought about what just happened and realized "OH NO." I have to get the Queen and King's permission before the ceremony, I'm sure Aiya will take care of the ceremony and guests but if the King and Queen get their invite before I ask permission it could seem I'm undermining the Monarchy. I slept in my bed for the first time in 4 months but it was not long-lived because it was Sunday, I had to fly to Bergin get the Royal Decree from the King and Queen, fly back to my manor, drop of the Royal Decree, fly to Wilhelmshaven and report for duty.
As I road my griffon from my castle in the boonies of Bergin I realized if anyone says no: I'm boned. If my griffon gets tired and can't fly me: I'm boned. IF MY TIMING IS EVEN A LITTLE OFF, I'M BONED! I started having a panic attack but that's okay cause the griffon knows the way I'll just arrive as a puddle of insecurity. Luckily as I landed the Crown Prince was boarding his Dragon "Hey Masato how's it going, off to see father?" "Yes, I'm on a dire time crunch as well." I stated as I fell to a knee "Father is in the throne room with mother they are having a meeting with some lesser Nobles but they should make time for you." "I bowed my head, stood up, and booked it to the throne room." The guards looked at me confused until they realized I was one of them. "Ah, Masato experimenting with politics today?" joked one of the guards, but his words fell upon deaf ears as I entered the throne room. As I walked past the Nobles and took a knee before the king and queen I unlaced my sheath and placed it before myself "Your Highness and her Queenship I humbly request your permission as your guard and humble servant, permission to take a wife." the king dismissed the nobles temporarily as the doors closed the King and Queen burst out laughing. "Hirose, Masato Knight of Estral and Sword of the House of Yuuto. I hereby grant thee permission to take a wife under the exception that he remain in service to the kingdom whilst maintaining his current duties." As the King finished his address the queen grabbed a magic crystal and Masato could hear a familiar voice, that's Aiya and she was asking the same thing! "Masato I appreciate the formality but you could have just used a stone." I reached in my pocket and took out my stone, then I crushed it in frustration "I forgot that I could have used it." I whispered as a sole tear fell from my eye. Now there was no time to waste, I dismissed myself and ran as fast as I could to the griffon.
On our way to Wilhelmshaven, I stopped at the castle and donned my 12 SOD Uniform, and then I stopped myself and changed into my academy uniform... No reason to make myself a target. We arrived in Wilhelmshaven much earlier than I anticipated, formation wasn't for another hour. With 30 minutes of time to kill I entered a restaurant and bought dinner for myself and the griffon. Dinner passed quick, and before I knew it the Captain was calling muster for the company "Masato Hirose, that's an interesting name, however, why are you out of uniform recru-" He cut himself short as he saw the pin upon my chest. "My apologies guardsman," he muttered obviously angry. Two Lieutenants marched before the formation with the left one explaining the mission, its objective, and the role of the academy trainees. "There will be no casualties, we will not allow the King to be disgraced by recklessness or arrogance. YOU ARE DISMISSED UNTIL 1900, THE BOAT DEPARTS AT 1910, DO NOT BE LATE!"