▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓
▓ [CONTENT WARNING]:
▓ Offensive language.
▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓
After his lessons, Prince Lilith sat in the royal library at his usual spot, reading.
Several books were piled around him, most pertaining to the history of Dorono. The one he was currently studying, however, was a thick volume detailing Dorono's alliances and enemies.
He had just reached the section about Dorono's ongoing conflict with the kingdom to the north when his name rang in the distance.
"Li~ly~!" his nickname echoed throughout the library, freezing him in place. "I know you're in here, Lily! I know all your hiding spots!"
The voice echoed closer, and Lilith grew wary when someone stepped into view.
"Here you are!" the person chuckled, walking closer. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"No," Lilith rejected before the other could even suggest another of their impulsive ideas.
"Listen to what I have to say first!" the person laughed. Then they gravely proposed, "Let's sneak out."
Lilith shook his head and refocused on the text before him.
"We'll only visit the capital! C'mon, it's just nearby!" the person coaxed, but Lilith remained resolute.
…
"…You haven't been out of the palace since Rosen left for the north," the person said glumly. "And I'll be leaving in a month… Don't you want to spend time with me before then? C'mon, please?"
[…]
"The Branch Trials!" the person desperately added. "Registration is taking place in the capital! Weren't you curious about the participants this year? Maybe we can—"
Lilith slammed his book shut and stood, surprising the other.
"I'll…go with you!" Lilith breathed, his demeanor suddenly brightening with interest.
…
While the person was glad Lilith finally agreed to go, they were slightly hurt Lilith chose the Trials over spending time with them.
Though…this made the person curious…
"What's so great about this year's Trial, Lily?" the person asked. "Are there participants you're trying to recruit before the Branch Sect can?"
[…]
"…Something like that…" Lilith mumbled with an indiscernible expression, unwilling to explain further.
Now the person was even more curious!
Lilith was rarely this passionate about something outside of his studies…so maybe there was merit in this year's batch of participants?
…
The person smirked.
Maybe they should investigate the participants on their own…and have some fun before departing for the north…
=====
"They must have already reached the capital," Marchioness Cassandra thought aloud as she took a break from paperwork.
"Indeed, Madam," Heinman responded quietly as he served her tea.
"Are you worried about your daughter?" Lady Cassandra asked, noticing his slight absent-mindedness.
Heinman stiffened before bowing at the waist. "My apologies for showing such a sight… But yes, Madam, I suppose I am concerned about Shelly accompanying the young lady and master. Shelly is still inexperienced, so I fear she may trouble Lady Airee and young Master Winston."
"Surely it won't be Shelly, but Airee and Winston causing the trouble!" Lady Cassandra roared with laughter.
"If you say so, Madam…"
"Rest assured, Heinman," Lady Cassandra smiled. "We've a dozen knights assigned at various points within the capital, to aid should things go awry. What could go wrong?"
=====
Meanwhile…
On the other side of the country, at the Valguard residence, the Duke of Bearington received news that Airee had just arrived at the capital.
"Very good. Have our knights continue observing from a distance, and report every movement," the Duke told Sir Al. "And don't engage unless [absolutely] necessary… We wouldn't want to interfere with Airee's Trial."
Sir Al smiled.
"Yes, sir!" he responded enthusiastically, his heart warming at the sight of the Duke caring for the young lady.
║║║║║║║║║║
Registration for the Branch Trials took place at the temple erected east in the capital.
When we arrived at the temple, we were one of the few there, which wasn't a surprise.
We left for the capital as soon as registration opened, after all. And the official date for the Trial was set three months from now, so it was reasonable that other participants would arrive much later.
Thus, registering went swifter than expected.
As soon as Winston and I entered the temple, we were approached by two Templite acolytes, a Templite being a follower of the Divine Temple.
They separated me and Winston, and I was then guided towards a room in which sat a person manning a book of records.
The person wore plain garments, so perhaps they weren't affiliated with the Divine Temple. Although…there was an ornate jewel pinned to their shoulder that clearly distinguished a rank of some kind…
"Full name?" the person asked brusquely, their quill poised in their hand as I stood before them.
"Air," I stated shortly.
The person raised their brow, pausing in the middle of writing. "…No last name?"
"None," I confirmed.
The person stared at me for a second. Then they nodded and handed me a wooden tablet that was engraved with an intricate seal and the number 07.
"The Trial will commence three months from now. On that day, return to the temple and present your tag. Remember to always keep the tag with you before then," the person advised.
I tucked the tablet into my sleeve and nodded.
Then I was promptly shown out.
"Lady Airee, over here!" Shelly called as I exited the temple.
"I'm [Air], now," I reminded Shelly after bounding over to her.
"Ah! Apologies, my la—ah, Air," Shelly stammered, flustered at her mistake.
Shelly was the attendant accompanying me and Winston during our three months stay at the capital. She was around Shire's age and had brown hair that was neatly tied back into a single braid.
Additionally, she had these big, brown eyes and eyebrows that always drooped and furrowed whenever she became concerned about something.
Like now.
"It's alright," I reassured her, finding her endearing. "I'm still getting used to it as well, so let's both take our time."
"Yes…Air," Shelly uttered, glancing up at me meekly.
It was only then I remembered I was taller than her, another thing I had yet to get used to.
Nine months had passed since the incident on Claymore's Peak, during which Winston and I trained harder than ever to prepare for the upcoming Branch Trial. And during that time, I increased five inches in height and ten pounds in muscles.
Thus, at the age of 12, I towered at a height of five feet, six inches. Adding that to my scars…I was quite the formidable sight.
Not to mention…
"Young mast—ah, Winston!" Shelly called as Winston exited the temple and headed towards us.
…I now stood four inches taller than Winston and had full view of the top of his head, a sight I was still unfamiliar with.
"…Shall we head back, now?" Shelly nervously suggested, clasping her hands together as silence stretched between all of us.
"Sure," I smiled at Shelly.
Winston said nothing as we began walking, his face hidden as he stared ahead.
…
This was another unexpected change.
Winston had become more serious and quieter.
He was rarely as talkative and joyful as before and he no longer freely laughed or smiled.
[…]
I reached out and poked Winston on the cheek.
He turned his head and looked up at me quizzically.
"Is something wrong, Air?" Shelly asked, noticing the exchange.
"Well, Winston just dropped something," I said. Then before the two of them could interpret it literally, I pointed to my mouth and smiled. "This," I said, still smiling.
...
"Shall we stop by the market to buy dinner?" Shelly asked Winston as if I hadn't spoken at all.
"Sure!" Winston chirped, ignoring my bad joke as well.
I palmed my face, feeling ashamed as my entire being shriveled.
My intent was to entertain Winston, yet—it seemed my jokes weren't worthy crawling out of the pit of my brain which was clearly devoid of comedy.
Thankfully, however, a burst of giggles broke my torment, and soon Shelly and Winston were laughing aloud.
"…It was funny…?" I asked hopefully, hoping to get feedback for next time.
Winston swiftly shook his head. "No," he answered, but both he and Shelly were grinning with amusement.
My heart warmed, and I smiled.
So, they both enjoyed bad jokes.
Noted.
=====
"Full name?" the person sitting at the table asked.
"Callous Rivers," Callous said.
The person recorded the name and handed Callous a wooden tag.
"The Trial will commence three months from now," the person said. "On that day, return to the temple and present your tag. Remember to—"
"Yeah, yeah," Callous uttered, waving his hand flippantly as he stalked off.
He wasn't even interested in the first place, having only registered to appease his father.
Frowning with unhappiness, he was just about to exit the temple when he saw a Templite conversing with [him].
…
[I thought I told that [fucker] to wait outside…?]
…
As soon as that fucker exited the temple, Callous grabbed them by the shirt and snarled, "Why the fuck were you in there?! Don't tell me you registered yourself, you little shit?!"
They didn't say anything as they stared back at Callous, their eyes empty and soulless.
"Say something, fucking bitch!" Callous hissed, his temper bursting as he struck the other.
"Stop," a wiry voice whispered from out of nowhere, and Callous flinched when a bony hand landed on his shoulder, squeezing it painfully.
Callous immediately let go of the fucker and whirled around to glare at the bony, lanky person behind him.
"You're supposed to be on [my] side…" Callous growled under his breath.
The bony, lanky person stared at Callous without saying a word, and Callous quickly looked away, unnerved.
"I didn't register…" the fucker finally spoke, causing Callous to scowl with renewed fury.
"Good," Callous said, patting the fucker on the cheek. "You're just a dirty doll, anyway. Something as dirty as [you] don't belong in the Divine Temple."
The fucker's expression turned lifeless, and Callous smiled.
This fucker deserved whatever he was feeling right now, ten times over.