Crimson red viscous stains, the slick metallic scent, the stillness of death, it all culminated in a rude awakening as Phoebe found herself panting and sweating on her makeshift bed. Her deep blue eyes were wide and her breathing was ragged.
"It's… it's just a nightmare…"
She forced herself to sit up. Looking around the wooden cabin she noticed the distinct lack of a certain someone that would usually be sleeping on the floor beside her.
'Kaeli…'
She attempted to move her legs but both could only twitch and spasm as she struggled to move them to the bedside. She winced in annoyance as she swung her upper body around which yanked both legs out of the straw mattress and onto the floor. Although both her feet hit the wooden surface, she didn't feel any pain.
"Tsk…"
She grabbed her wooden walking cane and put both her hands onto it to generate enough force to lift herself up. After many attempts of falling on her butt on the mattress, she managed to get up. Both her legs trembled like leaves as if they were about to give up at any moment. She clenched her teeth and steadied her limbs through sheer willpower alone. It had been a month since she gained those limbs, but it felt like it took an eternity to make them do what she wanted.
With a bit of struggle, she managed to exit the shack and step foot outside, where she was met with a familiar shrine maiden.
"Good morning." Setsuna, who was leaning against the wooden wall—stepped forward and glanced at the high elf with a faint smile across her face. "Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning. Yes, it's surprisingly not bad when you can sleep with some peace of mind."
"Is it too different from your previous lifestyle? I don't think anyone would even try to go up against a competent assassin like yourself."
"Very much so. There will always be some degree of danger, but at least here I can sleep with both eyes closed." She shifted her weight from one leg to the other while gripping the wooden cane tightly. "But I digress…" Unlike before, Phoebe averted her gaze towards the ground in front of her, as if she didn't seem comfortable enough to speak directly to the shrine maiden. "Young Lady Setsuna, why are you helping us? I thought Master Robert wouldn't allow you to interact with either of us."
"Must it really have a reason?" The young woman had a bittersweet smile. "You helped me when I was younger, I'm simply repaying the favor."
"This is far from just 'repaying' it." The high elf was unsure how to respond and simply glanced sideways towards the forest. "All the things I did were for my own benefit."
"And that is fine. Not many would help a child from the goodness of their heart, but even so—it doesn't change the fact that you've helped me."
"..." Phoebe breathed in deeply and finally mustered up some courage to look Setsuna in the eyes. "Thank you, Young Lady Setsuna."
She bowed as low as she could, but amidst doing so, the shrine maiden held her shoulder. Phoebe glanced up only to see her shaking her head.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you. Father seemed much happier when you were able to bring Leona to Nara."
"Master Robert did?"
"Yes. There is always a smile on his face whenever he speaks with her." Her expression softened—as she reminded herself of her youth. "I think he's enjoying himself more."
"I… see…"
Her eyes were cast down to her hands. She couldn't yet fully wrap her head around Setsuna's words. Could someone as tainted as her be as good as the young woman described?
"But, if you don't believe my words—then at least trust your own eyes."
Setsuna reached for Phoebe's shoulder and once she was touching her, the shrine maiden lifted her staff and tapped it on the ground.
The world around the high elf began to spin and turn. She was familiar with that sensation, yet a cold feeling started to grow in her stomach.
Uneasiness. Such a feeling was unfamiliar to the hardened killer as only during her first kill she had felt a similar thing.
In the blink of an eye, she found herself in front of a familiar shop. Her legs were about to give out before Setsuna quickly placed herself under her left arm. She held her waist alongside her staff.
"Young Lady…"
"Let me do this, at least." She reached for the sliding door with her left hand and slowly opened it. "Father, are you there?"
Footsteps approached the open door, but instead of her father, a familiar oni maid stood in front of the doorway with widened eyes.
"Lady Setsuna and Lady Phoebe, welcome." She bowed slightly before stepping beside the high elf in order to help her. "Let me assist you."
With the maid's help, Phoebe was able to climb the raised floor. They both shared a brief moment of relief as the high elf felt a sting of shame as she thanked her.
"Thank you, Tomoe."
"Please, make yourself at home." The maid then bowed slightly while pointing to the direction of the table with an open palm. "Master Robert is having lunch with our guests.
Setsuna gently led Phoebe to the table they were at which prompted her father to look at her with a surprised expression that was quickly replaced with his usual nonchalant self.
"Hey." The sage snapped his finger and one nearby chair floated alongside the ground before adjusting itself near the table. "Have a seat, I was hoping to save this discussion for dinner, but might as well have it now since all parties involved are here."
Leona turned with a raised eyebrow as she asked.
"What conversation?"
"About your return."
Once everyone had a meal, Robert started to lay down the foundation of the topic at hand.
"Leona must be successful in her role of ruling Arcadia." He then glanced at Phoebe. "I want you to support her after you recover."
"You wouldn't even need to ask." The high elf had a serious expression on her face, but it softened as she turned to Leona. "If not for her, I wouldn't have been able to finally put an end to those terrible feelings I had towards my sister."
The tactician had a faint smile on her face as she asked.
"Were you able to settle things with her?"
The high elf nodded.
"Thanks to you." But her cheerful expression soon turned dark. "If it wasn't for you—I would have drawn my blade back then and then-"
Before she could continue, Setsuna put a hand on her left shoulder and shook her head while advising her.
"Don't even mention it. It was something that didn't come to pass—so you shouldn't feel guilty of it."
"I know but… if my mother were to see it. I'm sure she would've been disappointed in me."
"All that matters is that you didn't cross that line, Phoebe." Leona spoke with conviction as the high elf looked at her. "The time we spent together taught me just how much loyalty and affection you are capable of." She stood up and bowed her head slightly which prompted Krieg to do the same. "Thank you, for leading us to Nara, Phoebe."
"Leona…"
The high elf lowered her head and closed her eyes.
All she did up to that point was for the sake of her revenge. The boiling feeling of hatred from the bottom of her heart was now gone and while it left an empty hole in her heart, it made her shoulders feel all the more lighter.
'A blade without purpose is nothing but a mindless tool. I refuse to be a tool any longer.'
She opened her eyes and forced herself to stand up, which prompted Setsuna to also do the same in order to keep her from falling over. The high elf raised her hand and shook her head.
"Let me do this, young lady."
The shrine maiden nodded and returned to her seat.
With trembling legs, Phoebe mustered all the strength she had on her legs to kneel down towards Leona and with her head low, she uttered.
"I, Phoebe Hawkeye, swear loyalty to you, Leona Crossford—future queen of Arcadia. My blade is yours to command."
Everyone around the table aside from Robert was shocked. High elves were known for being a prideful race—even more so when it came to servitude. They wouldn't bow down to anyone unless they deemed said person to be worthy of their skills and yet, Phoebe was doing exactly that—to a human nonetheless.
In turn, Leona walked around the table and knelt in front of her. Upon placing her hand on her shoulder—she said.
"Lift your head, Phoebe." With a caring and comforting smile, she continued. "Thank you, my friend. Your trust, your conviction, I won't squander it."
With Leona's help, the high elf stood up and returned to her seat. Both Setsuna and Yuna were looking at the tactician in awe.
The two sisters could feel there was something different about her. Those few days she spent in Sylphia's care had an obvious effect on the former naive noblewoman.
"This is a perfect resolution." Robert stated as he nodded while having both arms crossed. "Tomoe."
Upon hearing her name, the oni maid approached the table.
"Yes? Master Robert."
"I'll leave the shop to you and Ren."
"Understood."
With that, he stood up and turned at both Leona and Krieg.
"Come outside. We'll continue our talk there."
They exchanged a few glances amongst themselves before eventually agreeing with a short nod.
"Father."
As the trio were making their way out of the shop, Setsuna stood up but was stopped by Robert's open palm as he gestured to her to wait there.
"I'll return shortly."
She nodded in response with Yuna staring at both of them in confusion. The younger shrine maiden scuttled closer to her sister and whispered.
"What is dad doing?"
Setsuna smiled quietly to herself as she answered her sister's question.
"Moving forward."
"Huh?"
Outside, Leona and Krieg stood out amongst the Narian crowd. The tall knight and blonde beauty was an unusual sight, even more so considering how the tactician looked with a missing arm while holding an exquisite looking platinum staff.
Passersby offered cursory glances their way—something that Leona was largely unaccustomed to after spending months away from interacting with crowds.
'Even back then I wasn't very fond of this sort of attention.'
She chuckled to herself as she followed Robert with Krieg right beside her.
"So, Leona." Robert started to speak without looking back at her. "Let me ask you again. What is your plan going back to Arcadia?"
"It should be obvious by now. I must stop that madman from ruining a century of work that brought us peace."
"Even if his ideals are founded within a logical reason?"
"No reason stands above the lives of others."
Robert closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders after letting out a calm sigh.
"Good, good… don't be blinded by hatred." He turned around which prompted both Leona and Krieg to stop. "Leona, I must admit. I envy you."
"Huh…?" His admission felt out of place, but the regret in his eyes told a different story. "Why are you saying this?"
"Because it might be the last time we'll see each other and I find the way you wear your heart on your sleeve to be… peculiar."
"Peculiar… huh? Why do you sound so convinced that we won't see each other again?"
"The void. Both my efforts as well as Sylphia's will anchor us here and when the time comes for you to face it—I will probably not be in this world anymore."
"You speak as if you know it as a fact."
"When you have lived as many lives as I have, you'll start to see the signs." He took a deep breath and looked up at the bright blue sky. "Nevertheless, for it to happen—you must succeed." He then lowered his head and looked at her in the eyes. "Be not afraid to use anything and everything at your disposal, Leona."
"I might not be a grandmaster strategist, but my title as a tactician isn't just for show either, Robert."
"Haha, you have truly grown, Leona."
He turned around and kept walking towards the harbor, where both Leona and Krieg stopped by the pier overlooking the quiet docks. Workers were loading the fishing ships with supplies and tools. On a nearby stand, a loud fisherman boasted his catch to the townsfolk that were appraising his catch.
"Life here seems… peaceful." Krieg commented as he noticed a few kids running around playing tag. "Despite being so close to the nest of death angels."
"Sometimes, ignorance is a kind of mercy."
Robert commented as he kept leading both of them to the end of the pier. Upon reaching the end, they were greeted by a refreshing salty breeze from the ocean. The crashing waves against the wooden poles and the cawing of seagulls filled the air with a sense of peace that felt almost homey to Leona.
She took a deep breath and looked upon the horizon. The vast blue expanse made her feel small in comparison, but deep down in her heart she knew just how monumental her future steps needed to be in order to fulfill not only her personal goal to unify Arcadia's myriad of races but also to protect the world—her world.
"Robert, speak frankly with me." Leona said while still gazing upon the horizon. "Do you truly wish to part from this world?"
"I wouldn't want anything less." He answered while also facing the same direction as her, although his eyes were up in the clear blue sky. "I have lived far more than a human should."
"Even if you have your daughters now?"
For a brief moment he turned to her with a serious expression on his face.
"What are you implying?"
"Don't you think it's unfair to leave them by themselves?"
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It felt unusual to see the sage in such a contemplative mood as his usual wit would result in quick no-nonsense answers, but this time he found himself struggling to answer such a simple question.
He shifted his weight and let out a quiet sigh before opening his eyes and looking down at the waves crashing at the wooden pier.
"No parent should ever live long enough to bury their own children, Leona."
"...have you gone through such an experience before?"
"More than I would have liked."
Leona closed her eyes and relaxed her shoulders upon exhaling. She then turned to him with her staff gripped tightly in her grasp.
"I know it's not much, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry."
After that they kept gazing upon the sea with Krieg quietly waiting behind both of them with his arms resting slightly behind his back.
His eyes weren't on the scenery but Leona herself. He couldn't help but feel how her father would've been proud of her coming this far.
'You have grown so much in so little time, Leona…' He had a faint smile on his face as he closed his eyes. 'Your conviction, your pride, your efforts, I've witnessed it all and yet…' He opened his eyes once again and noticed her smile. 'You still manage to impress me nonetheless.'
He lifted his left hand and placed it on top of Arondight's pommel.
'No matter what challenge awaits us, I will be your sword and your shield.'