"Alicia, do you know that you're special?"
That's what she always been told ever since she was child, as Alicia's view of the world had always appeared to be a peculiar place.
She was surrounded by an undeniable air of strangeness amidst the ordinary, as if she could glimpse behind the fabrics of reality.
"I'm Special?"
"Yes."
Throughout her childhood, Alicia couldn't shake off the nagging wonderment as she noticed the disparity between people's outward appearances and the complexities of emotions that are hiddenly brewing within them.
Is like everyone had wearing a masks, and if she could get a glimpse behind the masks of happiness and contentment, there seemed to be an abyss of deeper hues that are hidden in plain sight.
"What about me so special, your majesty?"
"Hmm~ Your eyes, your ears, your nose and mouth, Your face? Practically everything about you is special, even your soul, Alicia."
With an ethereal grace, the lady in white responded to her question.
"Hihihi~ you're just saying that's because you like me, you're majesty." Alicia Brust into laughter, unable to contain her amusement at white lady's lofty praise.
"Ara~ That is true...." The white lady smiled tenderly with affection, her pale countenance glowing.
"Inside of me, Can you see how many colors there are, Alicia?" She asked.
"Hmm~ there is one, two, three, four, five, six! Practically inside of you, there were six colors, your majesty." Mimicking the white lady's words, Alicia declared proudly.
"Ara Ara~ you're getting good at counting, Alicia. Is Sakura teach you well?" The white lady inquired, nodding approvingly at Alicia's burgeoning skills.
Alicia reminisced those youthful days, when she could only discern a few colors within the white lady, and now, witnessing her ability at perceiving others in full spectrum, she feel reassured.
As Alicia would be able to navigate the world's complexities on her own, without the constant guidance and protection she once thought isdipensable.
"Ah no, it was Mrs. Celestina who taught me numbers, while Grandpa Laurel taught me letters." Alicia chimed in, her voice carrying a note of innocence.
"I-I see...." The white lady responded softly, a flicker of sadness crossing her features.
However, she quickly dismissed the somber thought, unwilling to dampen the joyful mood. She refused to let her frustration over a annoying eldest sister would spoiled her precious fleeting moments of joy with Alicia.
Gently, running her fingers through Alicia's hair as she hummed a soothing melody, the white lady spoke. "Alicia...."
"Nn?" Alicia murmured in response as her attention captured by the gentle touch.
"When the time comes, I want you always remember... Only red and white are the truth in this world."
Confusion clouded Alicia's young features upon hearing white lady's words. "What are you talking about, your majesty? Does that mean blue and yellow weren't true colors?" She inquired, her voice hint of curiosity.
"Hmm~ no....but, only red and white are the truths you need to believed." The white lady explained cryptically.
"I don't get it..." Alicia confessed, her brows furrowing in perplexity.
"You'll understand in due time, when you're older." The white lady reassured Alicia, her tone imbued with a hint of melancholy. Yet, she couldn't help but notice the sadness in Alicia's precious eyes, reluctant to embrace the passage of time.
"But I don't want to get old...." Alicia admitted softly, the prospect of leaving this enchanting realm looming her like an inevitable specter.
Moved by Alicia's poignant words, the white queen gathered her into comforting embrace. "I'm sure there will come a time when you'll understand everything, Alicia. But for now, let's enjoy our afternoon fun, shall we?"
Reluctantly, Alicia nodded, allowing herself to be enveloped in her warmth for a moment.
And that was the last time Alicia meet with the white queen, yet her words about the shade of red and white had stirred in her heart.
Until, that a day what the white queen had told her....
"Huuwaaahh....!" Upon hearing the sounds of baby crying from afar, as everyone were celebrated for Mrs. Celestina successful birth.
"Lady Celestina! Congratulations, it's a boy!"
"Ho ho ho! It's my grandson!" Grandpa Laurel's joyous words as he raised the baby boy.
"Huh...?"
That's when her first time meeting him, a silver hair baby boy wimping, scared upon seeing the world for the first time.
And that baby had the shade of red and white that the white queen mentioned to her which spreads all throughout the room that overwhelmed her heart.
.....
"Her Majesty said that only red and white are the truths I needed to believed... Does that mean I can believe you, little brother?"
Alicia mumbled softly to herself, her gaze fixed on the slumbering young man before her.
This is supposed their first reunion ever since he left the holy land along with his mother and grandfather at the age of six, due being relately unknown circumstance of his well-being.
But thanks to her accidental use of third level lighting magic against him, supposedly their memorable reunion had been plagued by guilt and uncertainty.
Hastily, she had escorted him to the medical ward, where the nurse and academy's head doctor had swiftly attended to him, alleviating most of his severe injuries.
Yet right now, he remained unconscious, a tangible reminder of her mistake.
Despite the healing, she couldn't shake off the weight of responsibility for breaking her own promised to him by causing him harm with her magic.
"I have promise to taking care of him yet, I made a blunder when I used that magic against him." She admitted to herself, her voice barely above a whisper.
Suddenly, a shimmering light materialized nearby, catching Alicia's attention.
From within, emerged a tiny woman with red hair clad in black mage clothing and a witch hat which were big than her tiny head. A pair of ethereal, mystical wings, was gradually forming a familiar grin of a small fairy.
"Alicia~ I heard some interesting news. Is it true that you almost killed a first year student? You should've have waited me when you're going to do something fun... My, Is it him?"
The little fairy's voice rang out, filled with mischievous curiosity, as her eyes settled on the sleeping man.
The grin on this little fairy's face widened as she hovering over the unconscious figure before her, observing his facial features as her head tilting sideways in amusement.
"Yuni... Where exactly did you go?" Alicia grumbled, frustration was evident in her tone as she addressed the enigmatic familiar.
"Hmm~ Why are you trying to change the subject all of a sudden?" Yuni retorted, her voice filled with playful curiosity.
"More importantly, is this really him? My~ My~ My~! You got yourself a big game, Alicia. Do I say, he looks quite handsome. Did you have fun making him beg for his life?" Yuni inquired, as she couldn't help but curious of a juicy story behind the young man.
"Wha-what?!! No~! I just accidentally hit him with a third level spell during the evaluation test." Alicia protested, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"And do you think I'm type to torture my opponents?"
"Well, you kinda torture me all the time." Yuni remarked with a mischievous grin.
"You're special, Yuni. Just like how I've faced everyone so far. This or that, is quite different~!" Alicia retorted, trying to deflect Yuni's teasing.
"Hmm~ as much as you compliment about me, I can practically tell there's unique sarcasm in your words just now." Yuni observed, her eyes twinkle with amusement as she flew just above the sleeping young man, scrutinizing him from every angle.
"What's his name?"
"Ashfallen. Corrin Ashfallen."
"Ashfallen. I heard of a noble family with that particular last name, rumored has it that once contributed in the holy land. Is he related to that family, perhaps?" Yuni speculated, her interest piqued by the renowned surname.
"Yes. He is." Alicia confessed. Her brows furrowing in thought as she pondered over Corrin's forgotten background.
Honestly, despite growing up with him, there were too many things she didn't know about him which left her feelings unsettled.
As he possessed the colors that the White Queen mentioned she could trust and believed, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt creeping in.
In particular, when she get a glimpse behind his pink mask were nothing but a deep void. There's was nothing to see or hidden about him.
Every time they meet each other, there were times he say something very mature belied his age. Like she was talking to an older him or something.
"Have we ever meet this guy before during our adventures?"
"Well...no, although I did encountered him a couple of times along the way here if you include this morning, so I don't think you ever met him since you were supposed inside the doll house." Alicia responded, her tone contemplating.
"Hmm~ I see..." Yuni nodding to herself then suddenly, she flew closer to Alicia's face, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"By the way, Master. Why are you here?" She inquired, her tone teasing.
"Huh? Why, of course to take him here since he was injured." Alicia explained, her voice tinged with confusion.
"Hmm~ but you could've just asked the teacher for that. There's no need for you to move... I heard from others that you were also supposedly to help out in the other evaluation test for the mage department students, yet you've spent your time wasted here~ suspicious~" Yuni remarked, her eyes narrowed as she scrutinized her master intently. "Not to mention that his from the knight department..."
"T-that's just because I felt responsible for him. I almost killed him, you know? Isn't this just a simple courtesy." Alicia retorted defensively, her cheeks were flushing with embarrassment. "And besides.... what's wrong for me in staying here." She muttered.
"There's really nothing wrong but, you could have just left after taking him here or even just check on him later after you are done helping other first year mage students in their evaluation test. And yet, here you are sitting here as if waiting for the young man to wake up. You're even start nursing him while staring at him for no reason~" Yuni pointed out, her tone laced with amusement.
"Wait... you're just admitted that you were watching me this whole time." Alicia remarked.
"Tsk tsk~ don't change the subject now. Is there something special about this young man~?" Yuni didn't admit her confession as she prodded further, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"N-nothing..." Alicia stammered, her heart racing as she tried to conceal her true feelings as she didn't truly want this mischievous fairy to know what exactly going on about their childhood past.
"You're lying~" Yuni declared bluntly, her face inch closer to her eyes.
"W-why I would like?" Alicia retorted, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Reallyyyyy~~~" Yuni's face hovered inch closer from her eyes, her playful demeanor instensifying.
"Yes..." Alicia murmured, her resolve slowly crumbling under Yuni's persistent questioning.
"Honesstttt~~~?" Yuni kept prodding, looked onto her teasing eyes as if she trying to get glimpse into her mind.
"Y-yes, that I am quite a honest person, you annoying jinx! Were just childhood friends...! As a matter of fact, that we promised to take care each other!!!" Alicia exclaimed, her cheeks aflame with embarrassment as she pointed at the unconscious Corrin.
Her outburst echoed throughout the room, and in a split second of realization, she covered her mouth, hoping to contain the words she could not take it back.
But, its was too late, as the mischievous gleam in Yuni's eyes told her that her secret is out, and she was braced herself for the inevitable teasing and mockery that would follow.
"Pft hehehe~ I see, so that's the case but, why try to hide it? It's not like I haven't seen a bunch of men fawning over. Yet you fawning yourself over him.... don't tell me, did you finally develop a crush? On you childhood friend? Oh my, no wonder you're here hehehehe~. Is this the man who already break that crystal heart of yours? I see, I understand now that you into this type, eh? I can't blame you for that~" Yuni teased, her amusement was evident as she chuckled echoing in the room.
Although reluctant, Alicia sighing heavily as she finally gave in. There was no use in hiding things when this little fairy got curious.
"H-he has it..."
"Hmm~ he has what?" Yuni tilted her head, her curiosity piqued.
"The truth I can trust." Alicia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yuni's eyes widened in surprise at her revelation. "Does that mean you had already found it? What colors can you see inside of him?
"Pink.... A big and unfiltered color of intense pink." Alicia confessed, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"Wow, isn't he the perfect match then? A person who grew up with you had a perfect mixture of red and white." Yuni remarked, flying dancing around her
"Your childhood friend is in love with you, Alicia~" Yuni declared, her hands pointed at Alicia with mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"H-huh?!!! Why do you suddenly jump to that conclusions?"
"Come on, Alicia. Do you really need me to spell out what pink symbolized within a person's heart?"
"...."
Alicia averted her gaze, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and frustration had washed over her.
Even if what Yuni said was true, what she could do in this situation in the first place? Could a person who had just born into the world really evoke such intense emotions?
"So you finally reunited with him, and yet the first thing you did almost killed him. What were you thinking, Alicia?" Yuni's voice cut through the silence, her tone tinged with concern.
"Like I told you, it was an accident. In the first place, how can you just say that my childhood friend likes me? Does a person even exuded that such intense emotion of love despite being only a baby? Not to mention when I glimpse behind his mask there was nothing to see or hide as it nothing more than deep void, how can you say explain that?" Alicia countered, her voice laced with skepticism.
Yuni regarded her with a knowing look, her eyes filled with wisdom beyond her familiar form.
"Love can be such a peculiar place, Alicia. It came with sudden strikes like a lightning, unexpected yet intense. Sometimes, even just a small glimpse of a figure can actually filled the empty void to a whole. You cannot just predict or control it, as it was course of nature, reality or even fate itself."
"You, just made it up."
"Ah uhh~ seriously... remember when you told me about the White Queen said to you that the perfect pink is the only truth you need to believed to, no matter what."
"I know, but."
Ever since she grew up with him, she had been curious about how peculiar he could be.
Their first face encounter was when he just a three year old as introduced by his grandfather to her, where he was shy and timid. There were times in those brief conversation with him, where his vast knowledge belied to his age at that time.
Then, their first true reunion was aboard the floating ship, where he was greeting her for a moment then, outright avoiding at her. That he told her was a mistake with someone else. Not to mention that he also know her saviour's name.
Although, she hadn't sensed the truth within him, all of his actions weren't something someone in love with another much the one that grew up with would do.
But despite his cold demeanor, there was something strange and unsettling about him. Throughout the whole flight, he did his best to pleased her when he allowed himself to laid his head on her lap till he quickly slipped away.
As he make a distance away from her, exuding an intense pinkness that almost completely engulfed the room.
Even back when he appeared so cold while dispatched those group of terrorist, when their eyes meet, the only thing she saw within him was the vast expanse of pinkness that threatened to consume her heart.
Even at the gym, every time they crossed paths, the aura he exuded was always filled with that uncontrollable energy of pink.
And now, that pinkness seemed to spread out like ripples, enveloping an entire area whenever she was near him just like he did in the past.
Alicia couldn't help but wonder if it's her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Honestly, she also found herself increasingly difficult to act normal whenever she was near him.
"If he's truly in love with me, why are his actions the opposite of what's inside of him?" Alicia pondered silently, her mind swirling with confusion.
And is love really the meaning behind the White Queen's words be as it might just be some other emotion she confused with him.
"How did the accident happen in the first place?" Yuni's voice broke through her thoughts, her curiosity was evident.
"Well, when I was caught him with ice trap spell. suddenly, he broke through the entrapment as he lunged at me with a powerful martial move. Then..."
Yuni's eyes widened, looked at her skeptically. "Are you serious?"
"....Yes."
"Can you even see this guy?" Yuni pressed further, her disbelief palpable.
"Yes." Alicia firmly replied, though a faint of doubt lingered in her mind.
Even at a glance, one could even tell that he was weak, but back at the floating ship and the gym, the strength he exuded were clearly wasn't something a weak person could possibly do.
The sword skills, his attack with underlying purpose, combat awareness, fluid movements, and even his gaze of death and oppressing presence were all of it concludes that he was clearly a master....
That even forced her limiter by natural instinct which that happened just a while ago was the result of it.
Sizzle....! Sizzle....!
Suddenly, a sizzling spark crackled in the air as fiery portal opened behind them, Yuni's wide grin become wider in excitement.
From within the portal, emerged a ethereal figure dressed in a magician's outfit, her long elegent pink hair were like Alicia's.
"Big Sister." Alicia greeted, recognize her older sister exiting the portal.
"When in holy land, you must call me headmaster but anyway, Is Yuni here?" the headmaster inquired.
"Ye–" Alicia begun, but her voice was cut off abruptly as Yuni quickly flew off towards the headmaster.
"Hehe~ Present!" Yuni raised her hand like as if she were a good student, her grin with delight.
"Ara Ara~ How's your check up?" The headmaster chuckled, her voice tinged with amusement as she inquired Yuni.
"Is something wrong, Bi–headmaster?" Alicia inquired, her brows furrowed with concern.
"Nothing much. It's just what happened to you that time when your familiar got hurt by your limiter, I want to know her status." The headmaster explained. "Oh yeah, Alicia. Dorothy was looking for you so please visit the student council office."
"But..." Alicia want to say something, her gaze at sleeping Corrin.
"Don't worry I watch over him." The headmaster reassures. "Let Yuni stay with me."
"Then excuse me." Alicia bow her head as she left the room.
In the hallway, Alicia sighed heavily, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her shoulders.
Despite the strange occurrence and revelations, nothing much had transpired in the end. With a resigned shrug, she turned around as she prepared to leave the medical ward.
Before departing, she cast one last subtle glance at the door where Corrin was confined, the image of sleeping figure on the bed emerged in her mind.
"Do you really love me, little brother?" She murmured softly, her words barely audible in the quiet hallway.
(But why, though?)
(You were just baby that time, and you just met me through our childhood yet, why are you so infatuated to me?)
In the end, Alicia couldn't understand the meaning behind the color that she saw and her feelings that make her drawn towards it.
.....
I have never thought upon waking up could be such a nightmare.
As my eyes fluttered open, only to be greeted by a pair of blue sparkly eyes looming inches from my face.
"Hi~~~~" came with a cheery voice, sending chills down my spine.
(Holy mother of God.....WTF!)
Prompting myself back up, I squinted at the warmly grin woman that sitted beside me.
"Headmaster Sakura?!!" I couldn't help but grumbled in surprise.
"Ara Ara~? I think this is the first time we meet, so how you know my first name?" Sakura's voice was laced with amusement as she tilted her head to the side, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and mischief.
Shit....!
And once again, I stumble an encounter on top of being exposed myself to one of the heroines. One which were very important of the whole narrative.
And that moment I knew very well...
I fucked up again....