One armored girl was running away towards another part of the caverns to find the rest with all her might. She looked tired enough to pass out as perspiration was building upon her forehead and her cheeks were becoming reddened. She looked towards a group of some other girls in armor. A group of four girls was there. She felt relief wash over herself at the sight of the girls. She noticed the girl in front call out to her while waving her down.
"Hey, newbie! Looking a bit worn out there, huh?"
The one that called out to her was none other than Kana Minami, the 2nd Vice-Captain of the Flower Knights. She had fiery red hair and a personality to match. She stood out amongst the girls near her due to her tall stature and muscular physique. She was the most tom-boyish out of the Flower Knights.
"I have a name!... Ma'am!"
She had to catch her breath from all the running she just did and only just managed to use a bit of energy to retort back. She's always being referred to as "Newbie" by the Second Vice-Captain. Even though she had already graduated from being a mere squire a while back. Though there is a proper time and place for these things, now is not one. Something more important is happening.
"And what is it, newbie? It's greenhorn, isn't it? Gofufufu!"
"That's not funny! Vice-Captain, sir!"
The green-haired girl began to pout at the 2nd Vice Captain's jeering.
A loud crash rang out. All the knights froze in place including the previously bickering 2nd Vice-Captain and her junior. The looks on their faces didn't even match their previous ones at all. Each girl now wore serious expressions and the atmosphere around them froze.
A deafening silence followed by the sounds of footsteps approaching from the corner of the hallway. Each girl reached for their weapons and assumed a stance. The one who turned the corner was a heavily shrouded individual who gave off a threatening aura.
The green-haired girl pulled out her weapon from its sheath and was ready to attack the unknown assailant. Until-
"Newbie, stand down."
The order came from the tall, redheaded girl. The 2nd Vice-Captain, Kana Minami.
"W-wai--Huh?!"
The lime-haired girl couldn't help but tilt her head and let out an uncalculated response like that.
What is the Vice-Captain thinking at a time like this?
She knew that a fight would soon go down. She started to brace herself as she kept her gaze affixed to the enemy in front of her.
But she realized something.
The figure wasn't attacking nor did they look as if they were going to attack anytime soon.
Instead, they sort of gave off a neutral aura, if not an indifferent one. Also, she looked around and noticed she was the only one with her weapon drawn and in a fighting stance at that.
What is going on here?
"You still haven't figured it out, yet? That's why you're still a newbie, kid."
The redhead sauntered over to the unknown assailant emitting that strange aura and stopped next to her. Her eyes seemed to be staring into an abyss that broke the silence once she had gotten her to feel.
"Would ya stop doing that for a sec, boss? You're scaring the new girl."
She said with a tinge of irritation in her voice. Although her facial expression said otherwise. She looked quite happy to see this mysterious figure, if not a bit relieved as well. The green-haired girl couldn't understand what the dynamic between those two was but something the Vice-Captain had said thrown her off a bit. That's when a realization hit her.
"Wait! Did you just say...boss?"
"Dang, newbie. God, you're slow! I thought you'd never catch on? Why don't you meet someone special? This here's the First Vice-Captain of the Flower Knights! Gofufufu!"
"Honestly! I had hoped you fixed that way of talking by now, but beggars can't be choosers, I say."
Slowly, but steadily, the vague aura was dissipating. Where an unclear figure once was, stood a platinum-haired girl with twin tails. Her body seemed slim but upon further inspection,n the girl's body was well-toned and healthy. Her features looked regal and could be on par with the best beauties of this country. Looking at her fair face seemed almost calming. The green-haired girl couldn't help but stare hopelessly at her. She would've forgotten that there were others in the room if a certain Vice-Captain didn't butt in.
"Don't look at her too much, newbie! The Vice Cap'n will pee her pants if you keep gawking at her like that! Gofu~"
"How, crude. With a tongue like that, you will never get married, Kana."
"Really? Then I guess I'll have to settle with marrying you. Oh! So maiden~"
She said this while holding her face in her palms followed by exaggerated movements. Couple this with her obnoxious tone in her voice, she was certainly trying to get under her superior's skin. It would have worked with anyone under these circumstances. Anyone, except the First Vice Captain, that is.
"Not a chance. I will only marry someone stronger than me and you are still leaps and bounds away."
Hit with that abrupt retort, one couldn't help but feel impressed. Although the Vice-Captain said it with a blank face, Kana was still smirking with a triumphant look on her face.
Though she had more to say, the First Vice-Captain still had to address the other girls in the area.
She had turned to the green-haired girl in the front and pointed to her.
"You... I haven't had the chance to make your acquaintance yet. I am First Vice-Captain Lunez Orchid. You may call me Vice Captain or Miss Orchid if you'd like."
"Oh, uh yes. Vice-Captain Orchid! I am a knight from the 4th Flower Knight Squadron, Velvet!"
Velvet couldn't help but be enthralled by the exchange that was going on in front of her. So much so, that she almost forgot to answer. The two Vice Captains are in front of her right now. This is a situation that would probably never happen in a million years for a new knight like herself, yet here she was talking to one. Two powerful beings in front of her. This must be fate, she thought to herself.
At first, she thought that they couldn't be too special based on her interactions with the 2nd Vice-Captain, but it was evident she was leagues above her. After being assaulted with that oppressive aura, she noticed the Second Vice-Captain didn't budge at all. She even went closer and scoffed at it. Velvet, who couldn't even brave that kind of aura alone, dared to think less of the Vice-Captain from just a few short interactions with her.
Velvet began to look down out of embarrassment at her past actions. She would have slipped into deep thought had she not heard the Vice Captain's voice.
"I was wondering about something. Velvet, is it? Did you say you were knighted recently? Have you received your own [Earned Name]?"
"An [Earned Name]? What would that be, Sir? Ah, Ma'am!"
"There's no need to be so formal here. We're just conversing, aren't we? You can call me Orchid if you'd like."
"Yes, Miss Orchid. Oh!"
"It's quite alright. Now back to my question from earlier…An [Earned Name] is the name you are given once you are knighted or if you gain some achievements. In some cases, you get your [Earned Name] through inheritance from an ancestor or through personal contributions for our clan. I, for example, received the [Earned Name] Orchid from my mother."
"Oh, so Miss Orchid's name is what one would call an Earned Name! I haven't gotten one to call my own as of yet. But I will get one!"
Orchid started to smile a bit and let out a small laugh. She seemed to have a pleased look on her face. Staring at her, Velvet couldn't help but blush out of embarrassment.
"No, no. You didn't say anything wrong. It's just...Your enthusiasm kind of reminds me of someone I know."
Orchid had glanced at the other Vice Captain, Kana. Noticing this, Kana ran to her with her arms spread out as if she was about to hug her.
"I was starting to feel left out for a second. You know me so well! Oh, Lulu~"
In a flash, the Second Vice Captain was sent flying off in a random direction. The culprit was none other than Orchid. Although she still had the same look on her face from earlier, her eyes never left Velvet.
Feeling a bit worried about the Second Vice Captain, she wanted to hurry and finish the conversation with Orchid so she could check up on her as soon as possible.
"Well moving on. I was asking if you had an Earned Name because normally it's odd that someone without one would be in this section of the caverns. Did something happen?"
That's when it hit her, Velvet had gotten caught up in talking with her superiors that she had forgotten why she had run here with all her might in the first place.
"It's our Lady! She is currently in a fight with an unknown assailant as we speak! Although she told us to stay out of it, I still think some of us should go just in case!"
Velvet couldn't stop her shaking. She worried that the longer it took to find help, the greater the chance of harm coming to their leader. Even though she was stressed out about the thought, it seemed no one else shared this sentiment.
As she looked around at the others, Velvet noticed no one else seemed fearful at all. Both of the Vice Captains wore a face of calm and the other girls were the same. Velvet must have had quite the expression as the First Vice-Captain spoke.
"I understand your concern but I think what we ought to do is clear."
"Yes, Lulu is right! We should listen to the boss and stay out of it!"
"Yes, the musclehead has the right of it, for once."
"Wait! Shouldn't we go back up our Clan Leader? She may be in trouble! We should use this time to gather everyone we can and launch an assault from his rear while he's distracted."
"So. You are saying we should disobey orders. Not only that, but you are also saying our Lady isn't strong enough to defeat one, measly pest."
"W-wait, I-I thought…"
"You thought what exactly? That you could order two of your superiors around and to even sully our Lady's name without so much as a second thought!"
Velvet was speechless. Not only did she not think things through. She even went so far as to insult her superiors and was ready to go against her orders.
She even managed to anger the usually calm and monotone Vice-Captain. Velvet felt ashamed of herself. She wanted the floor to just open up and swallow her at that moment. But that didn't happen. So she could only do one thing.
"My deepest apologies, Vice-Captain Orchid. I wasn't thinking straight. I can only hope to make amends with this small life of mine."
Bowing deeply as she spoke, Velvet could only hope that the Vice Captain could give her a swift end.
"Wait, Lulu! The kid's just a newbie. Cut her some slack. Just this once! I swear I'll train her to be better. Just give the kid another chance to make a better decision."
The vice Captain looked down at the display in front of her. The green-haired girl, bowing deeply, was shaking. She was scared and yet she didn't try to run. She didn't try to make excuses, either. She accepted her mistakes and offered an immediate solution, even if extreme. She noticed an outline of herself appear over the girl from that time. The Vice-Captain let slip a smirk. Reminiscing isn't like her. It's time she finds her answer.
"Stand up, Sir Velvet."
Velvet slowly raised. Her face held an uneasy look.
"You...are not at fault. Your love and devotion to our Lady are quite evident. Continue to show that same devotion going forward. You did what any Flower Knight would have done in the same circumstances. Be proud, you will not die today."
Tears started rolling down the sides of Velvet's cheeks. Her uneasiness was soon replaced with a deepened respect for her seniors. Velvet raised her right hand over her chest and bowed deeply.
"T-thank you, Miss Orchid. You won't regret this!"
"I hope so…Now, follow me. Let's go and see this intruder is met with swiftly. For what would the spider be without its legs~" With that said, every girl was just about ready to fight.
"Wait, what. But what about orders? Miss Orchid, you had said--"
Before she could finish her sentence, she was cut off. It was the Second Vice Commander this time who was the first to say something. She had a serious look on her face, one opposite to her usual playful demeanor.
"I think what the little Orchid wants to say is that she wants to give your plan a shot, kid. It seems she's taken a real liking to ya. Ha, I'm so jealous!"
The Second Vice Commander began to pat the girl on the back.
'How did she recover so fast? She even heard everything that was said thus far. Was she even hurt?!' Velvet thought all of this as she received encouragement from her superior.
First Vice Commander Orchid was the first to take back the discussion.
"If something goes wrong, we shall take full responsibility. Right, girls?"
Everyone gave their reply. We were all of the same minds.
"With that said, only the people present shall go. We can't let this get out of hand. Besides, the overall attack power in this room should be more than sufficient to take care of one intruder. Anyone wants to input any criticism on my judgment?"
"No, Ma'am!"
With a salute, the first one to answer was the Second Vice-Captain Kana, albeit a bit too energetically. All the other girls followed suit. They were now all ready to help their liege.