-Several Years ago-
The neutral forest home to dangerous beasts , demons and dragons. Human civilization avoided this expanse of wood due to its hostile residents, however a human girl finds herself lost in its splendor.
"Micah! Where are you!." She yells looking for a friend
Micah her friend from the same village had convinced Alice to follow him into the forest promising an adventure and treasure, out of concern and partial curiosity the girl followed behind him.
"I'm here Alice!."
There was Micah waiting deep in the forest
"Micah it is dangerous around here , we should go. Mama said there're monsters that eat us humans." She says alarmed
"Pffft!, tall tales from cowardly adults. Anyways look what I found
a glowing leaf!." Micah points up to which Alice follows and sees droplets of glowing blue liquid falling from the leaves
"T-this is beautiful." She says entranced
"I know let us go further , I'm sure there are more wonders around."
Emboldened by the forests beauty the children trailed through the forests depths. Unbeknownst to them a creature trailed the two akin to a predator trailing it's prey.
"Wow, look at these insects Alice I never seen such beetle before."
"The butterfly shines in the dark."
The two children engrossed with the wildlife failed to notice an opportunistic slime as it lunged from above.
"See Alice I told you there's nothing to wo....ahhh!."
"Micah!."
The slime swallows Micah whole , his arm reaches for help.
"I'm coming!." Alice jumps grabbing at the boy's outstretched arm
The creature eventually swallows Micah and crept through Alice through the boy's arm
"Ahhhhh!."
Alice screams in terror the slime moving to swallow her , the more she struggled the more the liquid spread eventually enveloping her.
She ceases struggling giving into her fate.
When suddenly she caught a silhouette
It took only a second for that silhouette to unsheath his sword and cut through that slime's flesh and slash it's core, freeing her and Micah from being digested.
The boy unsheathes his sword and looks at the breathless children.
"Are you ok?." He asks as he crouched
"Y-yes I'm fine." Says Alice "Thank you for saving us."
"What was that just now , how did you beat that slime you're no older than us!." Micah forgetting his manners forgoes gratitude probing into the boy.
"I.."
The boy attempts to speak however an enraged voice interrupts him.
"Boy!, this is where you were off playing with those damned runts"
The elderly man grinds a fist on his head
"No, Mr he saved us." Alice defends the boy
"Saved you , ya say?." He arches a brow
"He came to the scene and swoosh the slime , it was amazing." Said Micah
"Swoosh?, did you use the skills!."
"Haha, I might have."
Following the old man were Micah and Alice parents, Alice mother rushes to embrace her daughter while Micah's mother and father chastise him.
"What do you think you're doing running around scaring the lights off us and on top of that you dragged poor Alice in your schemes!."
"You're going to plough the fields as punishment."
"Ma, pa I'm sorry. I won't do it again." Pleads Micah
"Alice!, thank goodness don't run off like that again. I don't know what would've happened had we not Master Theodore." Alice mother thanks Theodore "Thank you Master Theodore for finding my daughter." She bow her head
"Thank the boy, he did the saving." He scowled grinding the boy's head
"master I'm sorry I wouldnt use the skills recklessly again!."
In the end the boy was dragged by his master , and Alice was left without a name. A memory she
"I want to say thank you again for saving me!." She yells at the boy retreating figure
"What's gotten into you Aida, you've tried on over a hundred dress. Don't tell me ...."
"Its not about him at all."
"You want to be complimented by him hmmm."
"Miss Aida truly loves Eric hehe."
"What about you Alice, Misty why do you care for Eric?."
"Hmmm I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about him like that, however im not enamoured call it a slight admiration. Who wouldn't want to be with the hero of the royal ball."
"The hero of the royal ball, Mr.Eric sacrificed his life for Mistress Aida and brought down the crow organization following week's. I looked up to Mr.Eric even before I met him hes as gallant as the story made him to be."
"Alice looks up to Eric eh?."
"Of course I do!."
Alice looks away reminiscing, Aida taking notice wonders if she's hiding something
"My servant is popular." Says Aida her brows twitching
The group conversation is suddenly interrupted by sounds of yelling.
-back to the clothing store-
"Hahaha, then Gil,Joshua, Eric and Russel got serious. The manager saw us thus why we're back here." Said Killian
"We all went overboard , I can't believe we used magic indoors." Adds Joshua
"The fault lied in Killian he told me to use magic."
"We're all guilty by association Gil, remember that you were the first to use spells."
"Basically, you received the boot." Said Misty
"Hehehe, the boys had their fun." Said Alice
"*sigh* That oaf Gil aside , Eric how did you stoop down to his level."
"I got swept away mistress, it won't happen again..."
"It will happen with me around I'm afraid." Russel voiced satisfied
"When did Russel and Eric developed a rivalry all of a sudden." Said Misty
"Russel!, I expect you to reign your competitiveness you set a bad influence for Eric." Said Aida puffing her cheeks cutely
"H-haha mistress it's not like that at all."
"You should have seen how competitive he was , one second he was pushed back by Gil and a second later he was pushing Gil with his time wizardry."
"T-time wizardry , it's called Chromata Killian. "
"Chromata or whatever that is. I'll beat you next time." Said Gil turning away in shame.
"Gil Is cute when he's grumpy." Laughs Misty
"Get your hands off me woman!." He hisses
"Hahaha, you get along really well all of you." Said Alice wistfully "it must be nice to have a childhood friend."
"Alice.... I didn't have friends either that makes us two the same." For some reason , my heart aches for Alice . She was lonely I must have took her spotlight with my presence in what was supposed to be her story "just like you I lived in isolation and didn't interact with the outside world rooted in the same spot (wheelchair) watching people's lives through a window(tv screen). You're not alone anymore you have Misty meddling in your affairs and Mistress Aida might seem standoffish but she cares deeply about her friends."
"Mr. Eric thank you."
"You're welc... augh* Mistress why." I felt an elbow hit me in my solar plexus
"Don't act dashing around anyone but me."
"I wouldn't say that at all, Gil and Aida are like oil and water. However we have all grown up together and known each other since childhood."
"That's all of us save for him." Said Russel with a frown.
The 5th main love interest, his backstory is the most tragic out of the characters. We are supposed to meet him around a month passed the school year. I wonder how he's fearing.
"Did you finish shopping ?." Asks Joshua
"Yes , not yet we'll be on our way." Says Aida
"Boys, this is your queue to leave us girls are having a wardrobe change and , where do you think youre going dear Alice you're staying here!."
"Alice I volunteered to be a member of this dress up party thus you also will as a friend of myself and Misty." She hmphs cutely
The girls continue dressing up without the boys in their midst. Misty acting as the stylist chooses the garments / clothing that would fit their personalities
Misty goes for a casual streetwear common along the capital city commoners
An oversized black sweater , coupled with a white trousers with chains around the pockets , as for accessory she chooses earrings and nose piercing the style meahes well with her messy short brown hair.
"What do you think of my choice?." Said Misty showcasing her new outfit of choice
"This sums up Misty ever the wild one." Aida says approvingly
"Misty you look wonderful , cool is the word I'd describe you with." Said Alice nodding to herself
"Enough commenting you two, it's your turn now." Misty nudges the girls in the dressing booth
Alice goes for a simple long short sleeved dress a white cotton jacket , a white hat and white flat heels, and for accessory she chose a simple silver bracelet and silver earrings her clothing being suitable for her pure nature.
"W-what do you think?." Alice hesitantly leaves the dressing booth
"Alice, you're too cute!, it's unfair."
Misty goes to hug Alice , Aida watches stupified
'If Eric saw this he'd fall in love with her' she thought she pursed her lips
"Its cute,however you're no match for me."
Aida takes her clothes hurriedly to the booth, Misty had chosen a very ladylike option for Aida a long red dress , black heels and a black shawl befitting her status, as for accessories she wore a cute red clip with a flower insignia.
"Wow, you look majestic Aida!."
"You're very ladylike Mistress Aida!."
"Nothing will come out of such compliments."
She says sighing , thinking of her servant.
-later on-
"Boys you can come in now." Misty says
"alright then let's see the girls!." Says Killian excited
"What girls aside from that commoner , they're Misty and Aida." Gil clicks his tongue irritated
"There there Gil." Joshua consols Gil
"Mistress, I'm coming in..
Argh!."
The door opened suddenly hitting Eric in the face.
"Eric!." Aida the one that opened the door cries out however it's Alice that hurries toward him
"Mr Eric, are you hurt."
"No I'm fine Alice, and Mistress Aida."
I'm bleeding profusely, with blood dripping from my nose , it's not something I can't handle aside from embrassment
"Hmm, what's wrong mistress?."
"Nothing."
Mistress acting distant all of a sudden rubs me the wrong way, could it be that I'm in the way?.
"Don't worry Aida, I will make sure you spend time with him." Whispers Misty in her ear
Him? Did she mean Joshua.
Just as I contemplated Misty grabs onto Joshua, Gil, Killian and Russel
"Oh no Eric is injured." She cries out "Aida quick take him to the hospital , we'll go wait on you here!."
"I'm fine Misty you don't need to"
I find myself slipping before words leave my mouth , my backside is wet.
"My back."
"Eric, stay your ground I'm coming."
My hips and joint pain coupled with my bleeding nose spurred Aida to come over she is quick to lend me her shoulder.
"Should I come along?." Asks Alice worried
"No!, Alice I need you here I mean the boy's will escort us back. It's getting dark."
"Oh, I get you misty you're right , it's getting dark ." Winks Killian at Misty
"Devious girl." Says Russel smiling
"Tch, I guess protecting girls is a man's job "
"I see , Misty it is getting dark. I will escort you both home." Said Gil and Joshua
- the group merrily left the mall leaving Aida and me alone-
"I'm really fine Mistress."
"Youre bleeding and I as your mistress am obligated to heal you."
She took my plea for health as an insult
"My injury isn't that serious beside, I can do this."
Chromata Skill - Reversal -
My body's clockwork reminds into a state before my injury , reversing the wound and the back pain.
"You're not humoring me at all." She pouts
"Oh, should I not have done that."
"Haha, no I meant that Misty finally gave us an opportunity and it feels wasted."
"An opportunity?, You mean with Joshua gone I don't see it."
"You're not that dense are you."
If you ask me this question then the answers a resounding yes, I never had much luck in this life and the previous when it comes to matters of the heart. I'd start with bearing my heart out so Aida won't chew me out.
"I'm dense mistress , what part of raised in the forests should I explain again?."
"*sigh* i wanted a date with you."
"A date with a bore like me?."
"Yes a date with my annoyingly perfect servant."
Shit , I've known and tried to sound oblivious but could she have been into me and not the Prince.
"The Prince wouldn't like to see his fiance with another boy even if it's me Mistress."
"Why should he be, we called off our engagement ages ago."
"Then why not tell me about this?."
I'm confused why play off the engagement act when it's not there
"I was afraid , if I told you that you were the reason we decided to part ways. That it would weigh on you."
"what do you mean."
"Will you stop the oblivious act!, I'm clearly in love with you Eric. I'm so enamored it hurts when other girls compliment you. They all sing you praises if you don't know."
I knew the day would come and tried to turn a blind eye , do I truly belong in her story. I was determined to live my life behind the shadows protecting Aida when it mattered most and seeing her now vulnerable wearing her heart out not for the noble Prince but for a mob who should have died in a backwater den.... Do I truly deserve her?
"But mistress... I'm not a noble." I protest in desperation
"I do not care, as if something trifling as that could stop a daughter of Lumere." She moves closer
"And I'm not that good at showing affection." Another desperate attempt
"I do not care again, I knew you were spineless since the fare." My walls almost crumble
"Ok ok then I'm not of this world!." I let it out
"You say some strange things sometimes and even then it's a part of who you are. The Eric I know and love."
My walls crumble as Aida moves to grab hold of my hand our faces mere inches from contact.
"You give me no leeway."
"Fine Mistress , i admit. I loved you since the first time we met and my love grew from then." "*sigh* I was content with being a servant to the very end , its just like you to be stubborn."
"Isn't there something you ought to do, a lady approached your personal space . Reciprocate with action."
She insinuates with her lips, the softness of her features invitingly pushes whatever reservation I had .
The kiss was something like a fairy tale , if I were a frog I'd probably transform into a Prince charming. I move in holding Aida as I taste more of her lips. It was five silent minutes before regrettably parting ways.
"What now?." My face turns red
"You took a vow , and the maidens kiss sealed it. You're mine now Eric." She says bewitchingly
The kiss marked the beginning of a special bond I'd come to share with Aida.
To be continued