| Starter Town: Lanier, Saki Household |
We both walk inside and are greeted by the grinning faces of Aiyoma and Maoki.
Sakuma walks over to me and hands me a cup of tea.
"Your cheeks are red dear, you mustn't stay out for too long or you'll catch a cold."
"Y-yeah, sorry for making you worry Miss Saki..."
Aiyoma looked over at us.
"What did you guys chat about?"
"Y'know, just some knight stuff, had to give her the good ol' run down of what it truly means to be a crusader!"
The blonde girl narrowed her eyes.
"... I see."
Higashi yawns.
"Well Saki family, I think it's about time I call it a night. The early bird catches the worm and all of that."
He walks towards the stairs and looks over at me.
I feel his gaze but couldn't bring myself to look at him.
"Ok, Okami, time for bed!"
Aiyoma picked up her sister and walked towards the stairs.
"But Okami isn't sleepy, I can still…"
She lets off a subtle yawn.
"Your body says otherwise little one."
They disappear upstairs leaving me to my lonesome.
I walk over to the living room couch and took a seat, putting down the hot tea I barely felt due to my cold hands.
I never realized how big of a task that goddess gave to me. I hold my hands together to calm myself.
Aiyoma comes back down the stairs.
"I can tell that you and my father talked more than just 'knight stuff."
She walks over to sit next to me, picking up her tea from the table.
"I came to this land thinking it was going to be easy. But he made me realize the reality of what I want to do."
"I empathize, I once, too, didn't know the weight of what I wanted to do when I first wanted to become a knight."
I look over at her.
"You? No way."
Aiyoma laughs and looks down.
"My sister was almost killed by one of the Evil King's creatures, I couldn't save her."
She clenches her teacup.
"I blamed myself and ruthlessly trained to become a knight."
Aiyoma looks at the ceiling.
"One day, I got so intent with becoming stronger that I went into the woods and tried to fight a beast that was twice my size."
"It almost killed me. If it wasn't for my father venturing out and following me I surely would've died."
Her gaze met mine.
"That day I was taught the brutal truth that…that no one is exempt from death."
Aiyoma sets her cup on a table.
"I could train to my heart's content, but my life could easily be taken from me."
"So what did you do? How do you continue fighting knowing that there are people stronger than you?"
"I fight for something greater than myself."
She stands up and smiles.
"For the people of Phoenia; For the feeble and weak; For…for my family…my little sister Okami."
"How would I ever be able to face her, if I didn't give it my all in my battles?!"
The words of Higashi ringed in my ears, '...That girl has resolve, and I can't have someone without, clouding her good judgment.'
I can see it now.
Aiyoma sits back down.
"If I understand correctly, you're trying to find that thing that's going to push you. I know that look in your eye all too well."
"That belief, person, or ideal that'll make you get up each day and train till you pass out, and do it again the next day."
But what is it?
"That thing that'll drive you to defeat a foe, even though they'll keep knocking you down on your feet."
But what is it?!
"You could have a thousand enemies in front of you, but despite that, you continue to fight valiantly. Once you find that one goal or purpose, everything else becomes obsolete."
"But how do I find such a thing?!"
Aiyoma smiles and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"That's only something you can do."
She stands sipping the rest of her tea and stretches.
"We better get some sleep, don't want to wake up later in the day!"
Aiyoma let me borrow some of her pajamas and we decided that we'd share a bed.
…How can I possibly become a Holy Knight and save others…if I can't even save myself?
. . .
…Momoko
I open my eyes to see Mikku in the distance.
"Mikku, is that you? How did you get here?"
"Help me Momoko…I need you..."
She starts to fade away in the distance.
"Wait! Mikku, wait!"
Momoko...
..Momoko...
"Momoko!"
"MIKKU!"
I frantically open my eyes and see Aiyoma looking over me.
She puts her palm on my forehead.
"You were talking in your sleep and you're burning up, are you alright?"
I turn to put both my feet on the floor.
"I'm fine, just a bad dream."
Looking out the window it's still quite dark but hints of the sun are coming from the horizon.
I yawn blatantly.
"What time is it?"
Aiyoma looked outside.
"Just a bit before daybreak."
She straps on a silver breastplate. Looking down, the rest of her armor is already attached.
I groan plowing my face in my pillow.
"It's too early!"
Aiyoma chuckles.
"But we always wake up at this time for training."
She latched on the back of her armor. All of the pieces attach and it glows brilliantly, a runic symbol resembling a shield virtualized on her back.
"Woah, what was that!"
Aiyoma turns to face me.
"Every knight is given armor that's both powerful and durable, in addition, it's very resistant to magic."
That's pretty freaking cool!
"Come downstairs when you're ready so we can start."
Aiyoma walks out of the room, closing the door behind her.
I take a deep breath and smack both my cheeks together.
"It's time to get good!"
. . .
"NOT GOOD...NOT GOOD!" I wheeze trying to catch my breath.
"We're almost there, you can do it!"
Aiyoma strides far ahead of me.
"In through your nose, out through your mouth, Momoko!"
Higashi keeps up with Aiyoma's pace.
Apparently, these two muscleheads run a full lap around the entire town every damn morning!
"OH…OH GOD…I MIGHT DIE!"
I gasp and start flailing my hands around attempting to run.
The town is quiet and serene, a totally different look from its usually bustling streets in the day. Lamps start to lose their flame one by one as the sun's light tips over the housetops we run by.
Looking forward I see Aiyoma and Higashi stop in front of a fountain, they begin chatting and laughing as if the run wasn't tiring at all.
"Able to keep up with your old man, are ya?"
Aiyoma stretches her arms and smiles.
"I'm not a little girl anymore dad, these runs are mere child's play for me now!"
Higashi strokes his stubble.
"I'm not in the least tired either, maybe another lap should do the trick."
Aiyoma flexes her arm.
"I agree, last one back is a rotten…"
"OH GOD NO…STOP!"
I finally make it over to them and fall down to my knees, unable to catch my breath.
Aiyoma bends down and pats my back.
"I guess this is still a bit much for you."
Higashi laughs. "You'll get used to it in no time! You've improved a lot from last week believe it or not. We'd have to carry you from time to time from you passing out."
"Actually,"
Aiyoma stands and looks behind us.
"I believe this is a new record for you Momoko!"
I get on one knee and give a thumbs-up still panting.
"Could…could we walk dammit, I had enough.."
Aiyoma and Higashi look at each other and laugh.
"I guess we could call it a day,"
Higashi lends me a hand.
We've been training for about a month now. Most of it has been physical—push-ups, sit-ups, and my least favorite exercise—running. I take his hand and stand up, looking at his spirited grin.
. . .
…"Let's go inside, you can stay here for the night."
Higashi helps me up, while tears stream down my face.
"But if you plan to stay here, you're going to have to train! I don't house any freeloaders around here!"
I look up to him.
"Does this mean that you'll train me?"
Higashi nods. "Some people just need the extra push to find what they're chasing, and I see the fight in your eyes so you definitely aren't just all talk."
"But be warned, I don't hold back!"
He flexes his muscles.
"You'll be trained to the bone!"
Wiping the tears from my cheeks I stand up on my own.
"I wouldn't want anything less!"
. . .