Unwoven Destinies
Yuujiki
Chapter 3: Chapter # 2 - Reunion
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
No matter what, Sara was extremely unimpressed with Suzanne's decision for them to stick their necks out for those nobles — and these guys were nobles, no doubt. But this woman was a bleeding heart, and Sara, of all people, knew that very well. After Sara herself lost her parents at the tender age of ten, this very woman took her in and taught her how to fight for a living. Even now, she was watching out for everyone around her, like she did for that snot-nosed magician brat they were traveling with.
Now, though grudgingly, Sara had to admit the magician brat wasn't that much of a brat and wasn't a weakling either, with that silent casting of his. They all could have died if not for him. But he was still creepy with those dead eyes and that gloomy attitude of his.
She even felt bad for him when he got injured; dying here would suck. Fortunately, that white-haired kid had it handled.
After the fight ended and the rest of the low-lifes ran away, she hurried to catch up with Suzanne, who was still on guard. Good, who knows what these people are up to? Honestly, she was puzzled at why they didn't scatter around to save their lives. By now, she knew well enough that nobles only cared about themselves, and they wouldn't know just how hard life was for the people who didn't have the luck to be born without all the privileges they enjoyed.
"Did they actually fight like this? That's new, for sure" She thought as she looked around at the dead bodies from both parties.
But it's not like she is impressed with how desperately these guys fought or how they looked out for each other. Definitely. Yeah. Not at all. Let's just check on Suzanne and get back to Timothy and others.
"You saved our lives. You have my deepest gratitude. May I ask for your names?" A girl with dark blond hair asked Suzanne with a polite smile and a pleasant tone. Huh? The girl didn't look like she was the one to be the leader or spokesperson for that party. Yet the confidence in her tone and aura said otherwise. Looking around the party to see who was the leader and what was going on, Sara, among others, noticed a golden-blond girl wearing a particularly elaborate dress and a pricey coat. She has been looking at them with an uneasy expression. Did she think she was too important to talk to them? Shifting her gaze, Sara caught a glimpse of the very familiar face of the swordsman and immediately bristled. The guy stood next to the girl, who spoke up. Sara wouldn't forget that face in her life. Philemon Notos Greyrat looked like this, and his eldest son looked similar too, when they visited the village she used to live in. Useless scumbags didn't lift a finger to protect their own subjects. This guy looked just like them, if only younger. Was he, what, fourteen? Apparently, Suzanne noticed the resemblance as well, since a frown appeared on her face.
"Ah, my apologies. It seems the disguise was still in effect." As the girl slipped a surprisingly nondescript ring off her finger, her features notably shifted. The blond hair grew lighter, to the same shade of gold the rich girl in the back had. Her face became even more beautiful, and she appeared even younger now, closer to thirteen.
Sara felt rage boil within her as she realized what was going on. That girl just ordered the servant to die instead of her in case they were attacked! Before she could say anything, Suzanne took the initiative.
"My name is Suzanne of Counter Arrow, I am the vice-leader of the party. Pleasure to meet you, miss?" That Notos guy apparently felt indignant on her behalf, but the girl herself didn't seem bothered one bit. If anything, she seemed to catch the implication of their equal standing and was amused, not offended.
"My name is Ariel Anemoi Asura, pleased to make your acquaintance." The girl's entourage seemed uneasy at the response. The boy with Notos features even voiced it.
"Princess, are you sure that's wise?"
"If these people wished us harm, they wouldn't need to interfere just now, Luke. Don't be rude."
"But…" That's it. Even after being saved, those nobles seem to disregard them. His face, his attitude… Sara's vision was going red.
"There is no rudeness here. The scum just voiced his honest thoughts. That's the most honest I've ever seen of nobles. No pretending to have any decency or care about anyone but themselves." Not bothering to listen, Sara spat. She had enough of this shitshow. Suzanne frowned at her, but the words were already spoken.
"Why, you…" That Luke guy seemed almost taken aback with the bluntness. Almost, that is, as the indignancy and aggravation took over after a moment of shock, and he took a step closer.
"That's enough. Stand back. Pardon his attitude." That princess seemed to take no nonsense. Too bad that she was just as bad.
"Never mind. It's not like you are any better."
"That's enough, Sara" Seeing all those previously indignant people getting angrier, Suzanne cut in. That argument had no meaning, really; it was just Sara venting at hated nobles. This girl still had a lot of room to grow. Good grief. Even that white-haired kid — was he an albino? Was it even a boy or girl? Suzanne briefly wondered — despite being incredibly reluctant to leave Rudeus, a mystery in itself as well, came closer at the sight of the commotion. What a scene, really. One day, she might get in trouble with this attitude.
"Did I somehow offend you?" Ariel had confidence in her charm, especially if she was controlling the flow of conversation. "Oh, it's fine, Fitts. If none of us is in need of healing, you go help your boy." The slightest insinuation of Rudeus being her brought red to their cheeks. "Oh, could he be?" At the sight of the white kid, Ariel immediately dismissed her with a smile. The kid just nodded, blushing, and ran back.
"You had your servant pose as you to die in your place. I bet you dragged the rest of them here to die, too." Sara was not letting it go. The accusation seemed to hit home. Ariel's eyes narrowed, and her smile was gone.
"She did that out of her own free will. Each and every person who died followed me here out of their own free will, too, aware of the risks. Don't insult them by saying otherwise, as if they are slaves or mindless dolls." Steel rang in Ariel's previously soft and pleasant voice with a sense of finality that left no room for further remarks from either her servants or Sara herself.
That much was the truth. Those people were not some disposable servants for her. They knew they were pawns in the political game, of course. But they also earnestly believed in Ariel's crusade, starting with making Silver Palace's court not a disgusting snakepit.
"You are still the benefactor who saved our lives, and I'm still going to reward you if you will have it, but you shouldn't just say whatever crosses your mind. Now, we shall drop the topic for a time."
"Agreed. We are still in a dangerous location. The rest of our party should arrive soon." Suzanne supported, effectively overruling Sara. The girl herself stormed away with an intense look, ostensibly to stand guard.
I slipped back to consciousness to the pleasant sensation of gentle hands in my hair. It's cold, and I feel like a good sleep is in order since my limbs feel so weak. Wait, just whose hands are those? The last thing I remember is blacking out after I joined that fight and that guy attacked me. He probably was a Sword God style saint or something.
I open my eyes and abruptly sit up, looking around. It looks like I wasn't moved; I'm still in this dreary forest. A person is sitting right beside me. A beautiful pale face with a bit of a startled expression, short white hair, and long ears. And amber-red eyes, looking a little puffy on the edges but gleaming with so much excitement and worry. I know these eyes. This face is familiar too, if only a little more mature than before but still rather childlike. Could it be?
"R-Rudy, you are awake! How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?" A flurry of questions, but they barely register. She called me Rudy. There was no way it wasn't her. Sylphiette, my childhood friend from Buena village. I found her. Or is it the other way around?
"Sylphie? Is that you? It's you, right?" That would be awkward if I mistook her for someone else. Instead of giving an answer, she leaped into me, wrapping her hands around my back and burying her face into my chest. I barely manage to keep sitting, almost falling back to the ground. The hug is so tight I can barely breathe, and she is trembling.
"Y-yes, it's me, Sylphiette… I thought you were going to leave me… hic… just when I finally found you again…hic."
With a tearful voice, she hugs me even tighter, grasping me like a lifeline. Ah, it seems I scared her quite a bit by getting wounded. Did she heal me? Was she that white-haired mage, then? My Sylphie is all grown up and so dependable now. It seems she is still a crybaby, but that's not a bad thing. Come to think of it, I've experienced a similar scene before. This feels so nostalgic that I could cry.
"I'm fine now, thanks to Sylphie. You really saved me there. Sorry to scare you so much…" I hugged her back, wrapping her back with my hands. Her body is smaller than mine and very lean. But she is so soft and warm. As she cries, sniffing, I keep gently caressing her soft snow-white hair. Her tears soak my undershirt and half-naked chest.
"I… I always, always tried so hard… I was… always waiting for you, and…" Seems like between our sudden reunion, the attack, and my injury, she is a bit overcome with emotions. A warmth creeps inside my chest at the thought, despite myself. It's terrible of me, but I'm kind of glad it all happened. Even if it's just her being a crybaby, it feels good to think that she cares.
My words seemed to comfort her a little, as after a few minutes she raised her face to look at me. It's all sticky with tears and snot, but her glistening eyes and cute features make up for that. Rather than being ugly, it's beautiful. Suddenly, I'm aware of just how close she is.
"I am so happy you're here with me… I'm so happy you're alive. I've always liked you so much, and… now I like you even more." All goes white in my head, so I don't even notice her emotional, determined expression change into a startled one, almost akin to panic. My breathing halted mid-breath. Something burned deep inside. I, she is happy with me? She likes someone like me?
My heart clenches and beats so fast that it might rip my chest open and jump out. I've never received a love confession before. Even more, the girl who I thought loved me just dumped me like the useless scum I am.
In hindsight, her confession shouldn't be surprising. I was quite aware she had such feelings for me when we were younger. But if so, just why does it feel so sudden and intense?
No matter how overly dramatic it sounds, when Eris left me, following the pattern of everybody I cared about, frankly, my heart was broken. To not lose myself completely, I gathered the pieces and built a shell around it, hoping it would mend itself with time. The shell was rough, heavy, and solid, like stone. It was similarly cold. With the shell in place, I fell into a state of apathy, as no event around me could pierce the shell and get me to react. Only broken pieces and numb heartache remained. But at least I was able to do something rather than just sit there like a broken doll.
The shell just fell apart, smashed by this girl. If she were to say "sorry, I just was glad to see you, let's be friends", I would fall apart again. If she were to leave, disgusted and hating me like Eris did, I might actually commit suicide.
"I, I've always liked Sylphie. And I like Sylphie now, too."
I'm still a bit stunned when these words roll off my tongue. But as I think on it, my mind going in rapid circles, I realize they ring true. I like her. How could I not like this adorable girl? How can I not like her after she just saved me? How can I just reject her after that confession? I didn't know for sure if that was the love she was looking for. In fact, in all of those tangled feelings of mine, my love for her was probably a lot shallower than her love for me. But I couldn't just not say that and let her walk away, leaving me behind.
At my confession, Sylphie blushed, her long ears twitching in delight. A shy smile bloomed on her face. She looked at me almost dazedly, as if unsure if it all was really happening, but her expression was so hopeful I couldn't possibly turn away. I couldn't help it when I leaned closer to plant a kiss on her lips. She is so adorable! It might be all sudden and new, but I'll have to grow these feelings into the love she deserves. I swear it. I know I will, because I'm already starting to feel it.
The kiss wasn't particularly intimate, just our lips touching for a few seconds. But somehow, we're both breathless, panting heavily. Her gaze flicks for a split second, and all of a sudden, Sylphie becomes even redder without an apparent reason. What is it?
Under the different circumstances, I could blame it all on shyness or her imagining something embarrassing, but there is a little something bothering me in the back of my mind. Confused, I glanced the same way, too, and reason came to me. Suddenly, as we are torn away from our little world, I'm acutely aware of just how many people are around and how much did they see. My face gets very hot, too.
"We, we should save kissing for later" She mumbles, embarrassed. At least, she didn't seem to dislike it. Thank god. But I probably should ask for a permission next time, or she might hate me and leave. Well, probably not to that point, but I really don't want to make her unhappy.
"So, Sylphie. How have you been? Are you alright? Would you introduce me to your companions? They seem to rely on you a lot." Change of topic, that is. It sounds awkward, but what can I do, the mood is ruined now. Not to mention, I should have asked these questions before. We should probably get up, too. I'm suddenly aware, once again, that it's cold around here.
"Is that so? Ehehe… Well, they've heard of Rudy before." As Sylphie catches the implication of her own words, pink once more graces her cheeks. She scratcher it a little, but continues. Cute.
"This is the entourage of Ariel Anemoi Asura, the second Princess of Asura Kingdom. Or what's left of it, I guess." She is suddenly sorrowful as she is reminded of the battle that only came to an end with our intervention and heavy losses. Some of the fallen might have been her friends. The downcast, stricken look on her face is painful, but I've no room to complain. I'm the inconsiderate one here. Just how self-absorbed can I be? I'm the worst.
"I served Princess Ariel as a guardian mage for a time, now." Sylphie manages to suppress the grim thoughts and continues, not noticing my self-deprecating thoughts. I'll be there for her when the time for grief comes, but for now I should just stop. I shift my focus back to our conversation.
"Is this something you want to do?" I ask, worried. If today is anything to judge by, it can't be safe. "What's she like as a person? Is she good to you?"
"Her highness is a great friend and a good person." Sylphie offers, her voice having a distinct undertone of pride and admiration, and despite myself, I feel a pang of jealousy. I really am... No, stop that. So, Sylphie is of high opinion of that person? Duly noted.
But still, the Princess of Asura Kingdom? That's as noble as you can find; I've never met people with such a high profile. Except for Kishirika Kishirisu, but she definitely doesn't leave that kind of impression. And I've met Dragon God Orsted, too, but I would rather never meet him again. And there were Shirone princes, too. The king even offered me to stay as a court mage! Come to think of it, I did meet some incredible people. But Sylphie finding her way to the princess is still surprising, there must be some kind of story behind it.
"Sylphie sure is incredible. Will you tell me all about it later? Oh, and come to think of it, Sylphie outranks me now, too..." Not that rank matters. Praise feels natural, too. As a person who worked for some… extravagant high nobles for years, I can emphasize with her efforts. Sylphie wouldn't have the leverage of being a second cousin to the princess, too, meaning she got in her position thanks to her own merits. It does look like they even went through the effort of changing her looks and adding sunglasses to her image, meaning they definitely wanted to keep her. Ah, could it be, this princess has some long ear fetish? Or is it crossdressing? I'd better hurry and go meet that princess person as soon as possible!
"No way! Rudy is the person who taught me; that's what counts, right?" Not really, but her being agitated on my behalf is nice.
"I'm glad you think so, but that's what counts for you and me. For the world, I'm just a random boy-mage, aren't I?" I hate to let her down like this.
"Of course. I should introduce you! Luke and Princess Ariel never believed me when I told them how amazing Rudy is!" A smug smile full of anticipation appears on her lips. This expression is cute, too.
Despite my previous encounters with all those people, this particular princess might have higher standards for the people who are to be introduced to her. For one, their clothing probably shouldn't be that tattered: the front of my robe is cut, ragged, and bloody.
Sylphie seems unconcerned about it, gently pulling me along with an excited smile. Then she blushes, noticing our joined hands, but doesn't let go. Now that I have been forced out of my apathy, the world around me sure has some bright colors. But it's the gentle shades of red and white that capture my attention the most. And they are the prettiest ones, for sure.
Picking up my staff, I tag along with Sylphie. It seems that while I was out, the rest of the Counter-Arrow party arrived. Timothy and Suzanne are discussing something with the golden-haired girl whom I assume to be the princess, the latter looking somewhat apologetic. As they notice our approach, Suzanne smirks at me with just her eyes. The woman definitely didn't miss a rise in my mood.
Two guys on both sides of the princess seem a little less friendly, but I guess that's a part of their job. A large middle-aged knight with a squire face and a goatee gives me a curt nod, not taking his eyes off me. A handsome boy who is around my age resembles Paul a lot in his features. He is probably related to the Notos Greyrat line. Ugh, that might be awkward then. He looks at me calculatingly, with a bit of suspicion, as if puzzled about something. But he doesn't seem hostile, so it'll be fine. Probably.
In the back lines, an older servant tends to the horses. Two girls around our age are sitting closely together, discussing something in a quiet voice.
The princess herself is beautiful. She has soft feminine features and a pleasant smile dances on her lips. Despite her young age, her body is forming nicely, too. That's only objectively speaking, of course. To me, there is only Sylphie!
"I understand. Please discuss my offer with your employer, Timothy." Somehow, the princess' voice has reassuring, enticing, and commanding vibes all at once. The regal, inspiring aura is there, too, despite the not-so-regal outfit and the whole scene taking place in the middle of nowhere. Timothy is obviously receptive to it, as he steps back with a nod and takes Suzanne with him, probably to discuss the said proposal.
"Ah, Sylphiette, welcome back to the worldly struggles of ours. It seems that horrible day had a pleasant surprise or two in it?" Friendly teasing slipped through the pleasant mask. Or is it a part of the mask?
"Yes, your highness. This is the person I told you about before, Rudy… Rudeus Greyrat, that is." Sylphie seems a little flustered about it. Come to think of it, she really prioritized me over the princess in the middle of the fight. It doesn't seem like Ariel blames her, though. That's good.
"Honored to meet you, your highness. My name is Rudeus Greyrat." I slightly bow in an Asuran manner, right hand to my chest.
"The honor is mine, sir Rudeus. You saved us from quite a predicament. I am Ariel Anemoi Asura, and you have my deepest gratitude." Sylphie to my left is glowing with pride at Ariel's recognition.
"You are flattering me, your highness, I did what a decent person should do in my place. Even more, now I know it would be a grave mistake if I left you to die. I wouldn't be able to bear it. Besides, I was saved today, too."
"Is that so? How graceful of you. Alas, it would seem the world lacks decent people these days. I insist you are to be rewarded accordingly for the service you rendered to me. Name your desire, and I will do my best to repay you." Let's see… I don't really need money or a title. Should I ask her to help me find Zenith? Will she even be of any help, and if so, would she spare resources for this? I don't know. But there is one thing I want to make sure of.
"I want Sylphie, then." Before I knew it, the words had slipped past my lips. Oh. The girl in question gasped. She was caught completely off-guard and now became completely flustered. Her cheeks glow bright red now, her hands covering her mouth.
"Fu-fu, Sylphiette follows me out of her own free will. I'm indebted to her too, you know? But I'm sure she wants to be yours as well. Aren't you, Sylphie?" Before I could say anything, Ariel answered with a teasing smirk.
"I, I want to be with Rudy. But I also promised I'd protect you, Princess Ariel!" My heart skipped a beat at her declaration, but Sylphie is conflicted. I'd better fix my slip up soon. That's not what I meant. Yet. I didn't even put any thought into it. And even if I did, just what was that about taking Sylphie. We both aren't even adults in this world yet.
"I wouldn't try to force you to abandon Princess Ariel or anything! I, I just wanted to ask if her highness would be alright with us being together…" I hurriedly reassured Sylphie. I can't just say something like 'forget what I said', can I? The excuse is weak, and Ariel obviously knows it. But she doesn't seem to mind.
"Rudeus, I hold immense respect for the wielders of magical arts, and Sylphie told me quite a bit about your proficiency with them. Now I know she didn't exaggerate at all. In fact, I was thinking I should offer you to join Sylphie in my service." Ariel supplies just in time. Normally, that wouldn't be a bad offer, though I'd better think it through a little more. But I still have enough presence of mind to remember that I was going to look for Zenith.
"Umm… That would be a problem… I was looking for a person, you see… My mother, Zenith Greyrat, was one of the victims of the teleportation incident. She still wasn't found, so I was going to search the Northern territories for her." I'm conflicted. I want to stay with Sylphie, I really do. But how would I look into Paul's eyes and say "Sorry, I decided to stay with a girl, so I didn't look for my mother"? He might actually disown me this time. Not to mention, what if Zenith is never found because of me?
"S-so, in, that case, are you going to leave?" Seeing my internal turmoil, Sylphie worriedly asks. There is uneasiness in her tone, and it is so unbearably sad. Her ears hung low, and she looks down, not meeting my eyes. She doesn't protest, since looking for my mother sounds like a thing I absolutely must do. My heart clenches. I feel like I just kicked a puppy. As I struggle to come to some sort of decision, Ariel takes the initiative.
"Rudeus, did you have a solid plan or a lead on her location?"
"I had intentions of becoming famous, making it possible for her to contact me once she hears of it." I admitted tentatively. There just wasn't much of a plan. She seems to have expected this.
"In that case, should you join my cause, I might offer you a better alternative. While we can stick to your plan and make your whereabouts public knowledge, in case you join my cause, I would also be able to use the connections I have and those I'm going to establish once I get to the Ranoa Kingdom to look for her. And that way, you can stay with Sylphie in the meantime. I promise I won't obstruct you or hold it against you if the need to leave to pursue your search arises." So, she IS willing to spare her resources to help in my search, huh. But there are some things that are still bothering me. Just why is she here, of all places, and why does she keep trying to recruit me so hard? At best, I'm just a fairly capable mage to her. Unless?
"Your highness, come to think of it, you've just mentioned the Ranoa Kingdom, why are you even heading there? Are you perhaps going to be enrolled in Ranoa Magic University?" In this world, going abroad to study is a fairly common excuse for an exile, voluntary or otherwise. Shirone Kingdom exiling two of the princes in a similar way is a good example of this policy.
"It's as you think. I'm afraid I won't have the influence you'd expect from the royalty of Asura Kingdom for the first months." Ariel catches the implication of 'what are you even doing here' and doesn't try to deceive me or make false promises. That seals the deal.
"I see. I'm looking forward to working with you, then."
Sylphie is delighted. An overjoyed, relieved smile blooms on her face, but her eyes were a little wet. She really didn't want to part with me, did she? I feel my heart race again, and warmth is engulfing my chest.
"Pleased to have you, Rudeus. I'm afraid we will have to iron out the details later, if that's fine with you?"
"Yes, your highness."
To be completely honest, I was bound to agree as soon as she offered her connections, and even earlier if I didn't need to look for Zenith. In that case, I might even have asked to join myself. Belatedly, a realization dawned on me.
That woman directed the flow of our conversation to this, didn't she? That's some formidable communication skills she possesses. I didn't even notice it, and she somehow deduced some of my circumstances and was able to predict my and Sylphie's reactions to push the topic forward, catching the opportunity once it was before her. But that's still by no means a bad deal.
Somehow, I'm aware there is a lot more charisma in her, just waiting to be combined with her people skills and be unleashed on all the poor souls out there and bend them to her will. They wouldn't even mind.
Notes:
Thank you for reading. Any feedback, including but not limited to negative, is always appreciated.
Keep in mind that the story is mostly told from Rudeus' point of view, so there are misunderstandings and unnoticed details.