That morning, Catherine slowly opened her eyes. The dormitory room was filled with the soft light of the rising sun. She stretched her body, let out a small yawn, and sat on the edge of her bed. The past few days had been quite taxing after the long mission in the Kingdom of Esverita, and a peaceful morning like this felt like a blessing.
After getting ready, she stepped out of her room. The cool morning breeze greeted her as she exited the dormitory building of the flying castle. Ahead of her, in the seating area at the front of the building, she saw a familiar figure. Virginia, as usual, was sitting there lost in thought. Her hair fluttered in the wind, and her gaze was fixed somewhere far away, as if pondering something deeply.
"Good morning, Virginia," Catherine greeted warmly as she walked toward her friend.
Virginia turned slowly, her previously blank face softening with a small smile. "Good morning, Catherine," she replied softly. "You're up quite early today."
Catherine chuckled lightly and sat beside her. "Yeah, I think my body's had enough of resting after that tough mission. What about you? You seem to have been here for a while."
Virginia shrugged. "I just wanted to enjoy the morning air. It feels like it's been ages since we've had time like this. No battles, no chaos—just peace."
Catherine nodded in agreement, inhaling the fresh morning air. "I agree. Days like this are so rare. It almost feels strange not to hear an alarm or receive sudden orders."
Virginia gave a faint smile, her gaze returning to the horizon. "Sometimes I think… living like this should be normal. But every time we finish one mission, another is already waiting. I don't know if we'll ever truly be free."
Catherine turned to her, observing her friend's expression. "You're overthinking again, Virginia. You know, this is the perfect time not to think about anything. Try to enjoy it. We deserve this after everything we've been through."
Virginia chuckled softly—a rare sound that Catherine cherished. "You're right, as always. But I can't help it. I always feel like there's something… missing. Something unresolved."
"That's because you're too hard on yourself," Catherine said with a slightly comforting tone. "You always want everything to be perfect. But sometimes, we just have to accept that we've done our best, and that's enough."
Virginia looked at Catherine, her dark eyes softer than before. "You always know what to say, Catherine. Thank you."
Catherine grinned widely. "That's what friends are for, right? Besides, you do the same for me all the time."
They fell silent for a moment, enjoying the comfortable stillness between them. The morning breeze continued to blow, carrying a fresh scent and a rare sense of tranquility.
"So, what are your plans for today?" Catherine finally asked, breaking the silence.
Virginia thought for a moment before answering. "I'm not sure yet. Maybe I'll try reading or writing something. What about you?"
Catherine leaned back against the chair, gazing at the sky. "Me? I might just wander around the castle. Or… I'll go bother the Navigator a bit. He's probably busy planning the next steps."
Virginia laughed lightly, more freely this time. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear about your plans."
Catherine shrugged, her smile unchanging. "We'll see."
The cool morning air and the peaceful atmosphere provided a perfect backdrop for their light conversation. However, their attention soon shifted when they saw Luna approaching from another direction.
Luna looked slightly downcast. Her steps were slow, and her eyes occasionally glanced at the ground as if burdened by heavy thoughts. When she noticed Catherine and Virginia, she gave a small smile and waved.
"Good morning, you two," Luna greeted, her voice softer than usual.
"Good morning, Luna," Catherine replied with a smile. "It's unusual not to find you at the main headquarters. Aren't you usually there whenever the flying castle is in motion?"
Luna seemed startled by the question. She paused briefly before answering awkwardly. "A-ah, the Navigator is overseeing the castle's movement. So, I thought it'd be fine if I stepped away for a bit…"
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she mentioned the Navigator's name. Catherine raised an eyebrow, noticing Luna's change in expression, while Virginia narrowed her eyes, starting to feel suspicious.
"That's not like you, Luna," Virginia said in a flat yet attentive tone. "Normally, you'd stay by the Navigator's side at the main headquarters. Did something happen there?"
Luna hesitated for a moment. Her face turned even redder, and she awkwardly looked away. "N-no, nothing happened," she replied quickly—too quickly.
Virginia's suspicion deepened. She crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly, giving Luna a sharp look. "Really? Because your reaction suggests otherwise."
"I-I'm serious! Nothing's going on," Luna stammered, her voice sounding nervous. "The Navigator… he's… he's just busy with his duties. That's all."
However, Luna's expression shifted slightly as memories of the main headquarters surfaced. She couldn't shake the image of the Navigator and that mysterious girl—the way he handled the situation, his extraordinary confidence, even… something different in his demeanor. Her thoughts spiraled, and she unknowingly bit her lower lip.
Catherine observed Luna's changing expression with curiosity. "Hmm, it seems like you're thinking about something interesting, Luna," she teased. "Does this have to do with the Navigator?"
Luna quickly shook her head. "N-no! I was just… just thinking about… the next mission! Yes, that's all!"
Virginia sighed softly but didn't press further. She knew Luna wasn't the type to talk easily if she didn't want to. Still, this only made her more intrigued. "Alright, if you say so. But if there's something you want to share, you know we're always here, right?"
Luna nodded quickly. "Thank you, Virginia. I… I'll head to the tavern now. There's something I need to do."
"Sure, don't forget to eat something," Catherine added with a wave. "You look like you need some energy this morning."
Luna gave a small smile and then continued toward the tavern. After she disappeared from view, Catherine turned to Virginia. "What do you think is really going on?"
Virginia shook her head slightly, still pondering Luna's odd behavior. "I don't know. But I feel like something significant happened at the main headquarters. And I'm sure the Navigator has something to do with it."
"By the way, do you know where Thomas and Pierre are right now?" she asked, gently swinging her legs from her seat.
Virginia shrugged slightly before answering calmly. "Thomas is at the tavern, as usual. I'm sure he's enjoying a long breakfast there. As for Pierre…" she paused to think, "I saw him heading to the training hall earlier this morning."
Catherine furrowed her brow, turning her gaze back to Virginia. "The training hall? Is that a new facility?"
Virginia gave a small nod. "It seems so. I only noticed it this morning. Maybe the Navigator built it last night while we were all resting."
Catherine's excitement grew as she heard this. She stood up, dusted off her long skirt, and looked at Virginia with sparkling eyes. "How about we go there? I'm curious to see what the training hall looks like."
Virginia hesitated briefly but eventually agreed. "Alright, I think that's a good idea. Besides, we don't have any other plans this morning."
The two walked together toward the training hall, located on the western side of the flying castle. The building looked sturdy, with large wooden doors and iron ornaments on its sides. The faint sound of clashing metal echoed from inside, indicating that training was underway.
As they entered, they were greeted by the sight of Pierre practicing his sword swings. He stood with a strong posture, his eyes focused on the training dummy in front of him. His movements were swift yet powerful, demonstrating his skill in combat.
Pierre noticed their presence and paused, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. A friendly smile spread across his face. "Catherine, Virginia, what brings you here so early?" he asked warmly.
Catherine chuckled softly. "Curiosity, of course. Virginia said you were here, so we decided to take a look. And I must say, this place is impressive."
Virginia examined the room carefully. The equipment was comprehensive: training dummies, racks filled with practice weapons, and a spacious area for duels. "I didn't expect a facility like this on a flying castle. This place is really well-designed. Do you train here often, Pierre?"
Pierre nodded, exhaling lightly. "Training is an essential part of our preparation. After the mission in Esverita, I felt the need to improve my skills. We never know what challenges we'll face next."
Catherine smiled, her eyes full of respect for Pierre's dedication. "You're always so serious about everything, Pierre. No wonder you're always the first to protect us when things get tough."
Pierre blushed slightly at the compliment but simply shook his head. "I'm just doing my duty. Besides, Jeanne always taught us that our task is to protect those in need. That's a principle I've always held onto."
Virginia gave a small smile at his words. "You and Jeanne really share the same spirit. Sometimes I wonder what it feels like to live with such strong convictions."
Pierre looked at Virginia gently. "Everyone has their own way of serving their purpose. You have intelligence and calmness that always help us make the best decisions, Virginia. That's a great strength too."
Catherine crossed her arms, giving Pierre a teasing look. "Hey, you haven't complimented me, Pierre. Don't I have any strengths?"
Pierre laughed, his voice deep but warm. "Of course, you do, Catherine. Your energy and enthusiasm always lift our spirits. Without you, this journey would feel much quieter."
Catherine burst into laughter, satisfied with his answer. "Now, that's better! Thank you, Pierre."
Their light conversation continued, and the atmosphere became more relaxed. The training hall, which initially felt serious, turned into a place filled with laughter, strengthening the bond between them.
***