Before Liberl's Crown Prince realized it, another full year had passed since he returned home at Grancel Castle. He caused quite a ruckus, especially for a certain Duke. Now, it is S1197. A precocious year. While it wouldn't be until S1202 at the earliest when Sky officially begins with Estelle and Joshua becoming Junior Bracers, which by extension requires a person to be sixteen years old to join the Bracer Guild, the real story doesn't actually start then. A certain event takes place a few years prior to Estelle and Joshua becoming Junior Bracers.
Let's have a little look, shall we?
Eastward from Grancel City.
Rolent, one of Liberl's five major cities.
From here branched off to what's called the Elize Highway. While the main road was safe with monster-repellent orbal lighting placed at certain intervals on each side of the road, many monsters still lurked around if one wandered off the path too much. Despite that, the route was rather scenic. If one continued onward toward the southwest, they would arrive at a branch. North from this branch opened up into a field where a sole two-story house stood, surrounded by a sea of trees.
This was the Bright House. Home to none other than Cassius Bright.
The lights were currently turned on. It was approaching evening. The smell of roasted stew hung in the air. A sole figure could be seen at a dining table with dishes prepared. The figure seemed to be a girl around eleven years old. Her hair was tied into twin tails. Seeing the food before her untouched, the girl hopped down from her seat, and stretched.
"Mmm...", The girl uttered, letting her voice streak across the rather cozy cottage-like home. Nearby, a lit fireplace could be seen. It released both warmth and light to the girl. It was winter yet again, and presently nighttime, so it made sense for the fireplace to be lit.
"Man, when is Dad going to be home? Schera's gone around the country for training too. I'm so bored. This sucks!", The girl uttered, slightly annoyed that she is still alone by herself like this. Before the girl realized it, another year passed by in a blink of an eye after the declaration of Liberl's Crown Prince return. She too was present at the scene. It came and went, just like any other. She was now back at her home here in Rolent. She seemed to be waiting for someone to arrive. Who else could this be but Estelle Bright?
As if pondering what to do next, Estelle's eyes lit up, and stretched her arms forward in a certain motion. "Oh I know! Maybe I should practice some more with my staff before he comes back? It is dark out now, but it should be fine, even for a little---?", Estelle tried to ask, only to get interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Hey Estelle, I'm home! Did you watch the house like a good little girl while I was away?", A voice said, calling out to her while the door proceeded to open. Hearing this voice, Estelle smiled and greeted him.
"Daddy! You're finally back.", Estelle said, smiling at him. This figure was a man. He had brown hair, and seemed to be middle-aged. Perhaps a little older than that. A thin mustache could be seen over his lips. This was the same man who appeared at the garden terrace a year ago alongside Estelle. This man was, of course, Cassius Bright.
And yet, the moment Estelle arrived in front of Cassius, her eyes were drawn toward something that Cassius appeared to be carrying. It was a figure of sorts wrapped away beneath a white cloth, surrounding the figure. Seeing Estelle arrive, Cassius smiled.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Estelle.", Cassius said, causing Estelle to giggle.
"I sure did watch the house while you were gone! You didn't run into any trouble fighting those bad monsters, did you?", Estelle asked.
"Nope. As you can see, I'm as fit as a fiddle!", Cassius said, doing a funny pose. But his eyes returned to normal. "But that's beside the point. I brought you a present."
"A present? Is it a new fishing pole? Maybe some sneakers? Or perhaps it is related to my training!?", Estelle excitedly responded. Her eyes sparkled hearing this. And yet, once Estelle said that, Cassius only sighed.
"Where did I go wrong raising you, Estelle...", Cassius said with a sigh. "You know, for a girl your age, you'd enjoy something like accessories, or clothes."
"I mean yeah, I like pretty clothes. But they get dirty when I train. I enjoy accessories too, but they break too easily when you play outside.", Estelle answered, tilting her head back at him in confusion. "Anyway, what's with the big blanket? Is THAT my present?"
"Haha, aren't you a sharp one?", Cassius asked. "Why don't you come here and have a look?"
After Cassius said that, he slowly unraveled the white cloth. It soon revealed a black-haired boy sleeping. He seemed to be wrought with injuries. Estelle opened her mouth wide in shock.
"Whaaa...?", Estelle tried to say, but was unable to find any words.
"Well, here you are.", Cassius said, ignoring Estelle's shock that was written all over her face. "Quite a handsome boy, dont'cha think?"
"W-Why is my present A BOY!?", Estelle exclaimed, and jumped back. Her eyes then regained some composure before she squinted at Cassius. "You aren't two-timing mom now, are you, Daddy?"
The moment Estelle asked that, Cassius paused right in his tracks and just stared at Estelle.
"Now where'd you pick up words like that...?", Cassius tried to ask, only to have realized it himself. "It must have been Scherazard. That precocious girl..."
"Yeah. So?", Estelle responded back at him, still acting like she wasn't in the wrong.
"Oh she'll be getting an earful from me later. For now, keep your voice down. Or you'll wake him up.", Cassius said, looking back at the boy now. Seeing him do this, Estelle approached him with a surprised look in his eyes.
"Wake him up? You mean he isn't dead?", Estelle asked while looking at him.
"I've already treated his wounds. His life isn't in danger anymore. In the meantime though, he will need his rest. I will go put him in one of our spare beds. Could you boil a kettle of water for me, Estelle?", Cassius asked.
"Okie-dokie! I already made us dinner for the night, but we can heat it up later. If this boy wakes up, we can include him too!", Estelle happily responded before Cassius saw him scurry off to the kitchen.
Several moments later, deeper into the night...
The scene changed. It was no longer them being on the first floor. Estelle and Cassius could now be seen on the second floor where a few bedrooms resided. There was Estelle's room, Cassius's room, and a couple of guest rooms whenever they had guests over. Cassius brought the boy to one of them. The black-haired boy could now be seen sleeping peacefully.
Estelle observed the boy near the bed.
"He sure is a sound sleeper, isn't he? Looks like my age too. I haven't really seen black hair like this before either...", Estelle uttered, keeping her voice quiet.
"It definitely is a nice shade of black hair, isn't it? I heard he has amber eyes to go with it.", Cassius responded.
Hearing that, Estelle then looked back at Cassius.
"It's time to fess up, Daddy. Just who is this boy? Why did you bring him to our home?", Estelle asked, wanting to get to the bottom of what is happening before her. "He's injured too."
"Well, simple, really. I encountered him while working.", Cassius said, explaining the situation to Estelle.
"You mean Bracer work?"
"That's right. In fact, I don't even know his name.", Cassius said, nodding his head at her. It was then the two saw the boy's eyelids flutter a bit, beginning to stir awake. "Quiet now. It looks like he's waking up!"
Hearing that, Estelle turned around again, and saw the black-haired boy slowly open his eyes. Estelle's eyes shot up, observing the color of the boy's eyes before her.
"Wow! His eyes really are made of amber!", Estelle exclaimed. The boy just rested in place, still dazed. He ignored Estelle saying that.
"...Where am I?", The boy suddenly asked.
"Awake now, aren't 'cha?", Cassius said, looking at the boy alongside Estelle. "Welcome to my humble abode. It isn't much, but your safety is guaranteed. So please, focus on resting."
Hearing Cassius say that, the boy just looked at him.
"What are you trying to pull...?", The boy asked.
"Huh?", Estelle asked back, only to be confused by what the boy said. The boy ignored her altogether, and exclaimed at Cassius.
"You must be out of your mind. Why didn't you leave me there to die...?", The boy asked, and curled up a bit.
"Who knows?", Cassius simply said, shrugging his shoulders. "That is not a question I can answer for you. It was merely, happenstance. You can treat it as such.
"Don't you screw with me, Cassius Bright! Do you have any idea what you are getting yourself involved in!?", The boy retorted out of anger.
"Hey!", Estelle said, suddenly barging in between the two. "You're shouting quite a lot for someone who is supposed to be dead you know.", Estelle continued. It was then the boy's eyes realized Cassius wasn't alone.
"And who are you supposed to be?", The boy asked.
"I'm Estelle.", Estelle said, puffing her chest out in pride. "Estelle Bright!"
"As you can see, she's my daughter.", Cassius also explained. "Didn't I tell you I had a daughter your age?"
"Now that you mention it...", The boy uttered, only to quickly go back to his previous thoughts. "W-Wait just a moment. Don't you dare try to change the sub---!?", The boy tried to say. SMACK!
All of a sudden, Estelle jumped up, and literally drop-kicked the boy, striking him with her feet.
"Quit yelling!", Estelle yelled at him.
"That's no way to treat someone who is injured...", The boy tried to speak back at her. And yet, that only caused a mark of anger to appear on Estelle's forehead.
"That isn't yelling I hear now, is it?", Estelle asked.
"Look, if you do that again, the wounds will---?", The boy asked a second time, only to get interrupted again by Estelle.
"Do I hear...Y-E-L-L-I-N-G?"?, Estelle retorted.
"Just forget about it...", The boy answered, letting out a defeated sigh.
"Haha. Let me offer you some advice. It is better not to argue with Estelle while you're in this house. Even I'm not a match for her.", Cassius said, shaking his head.
"Which, by the way, aren't you forgetting something?", Estelle suddenly asked the boy.
"Huh?"
"You know, your name? The thing that everyone calls you? I told you mine already. It's impolite if you don't say yours!", Estelle responded.
"It's the logical thing to do if you ask me.", Cassius also said in agreement. "It'll only be detrimental if you continue hiding it, you know."
"Fine...", The boy began to say. "My name is...", The boy continued. As he continued to speak, Estelle's smile bloomed.
Cue Trails in the Sky FC opening
Just kidding.
"It is Joshua. That is all.", The boy said, introducing himself as Joshua.
That's right. This was the first time Joshua Astray encountered Estelle Bright. It happens when they're both eleven years old. Five years prior to the story starting! It is December of S1197!
Hearing the boy finally introduce himself, Estelle smiled at him.
"Good! Nice to meet'cha, Joshua. Like Daddy said, please rest here until your wounds heal. In the meantime, I'll go and reheat dinner!", Estelle responded. But before she could leave the room Cassius stopped her.
"Just wait a minute, Estelle. Before you go do that, I actually have another present for you.", Cassius suddenly said, causing Estelle to swing her head back around.
"Another present?", Estelle asked. "...It isn't another boy, is it?"
"Oh heavens no. Come on, you can trust your old man, can't you?", Cassius responded, and sighed.
"What is it then?", Estelle asked out of curiosity.
After Estelle asked that, Cassius went into one of his shirt pockets, and pulled out a sealed letter. It had Liberl's official crest on it. The white falcon. Estelle's eyes were immediately drawn to the sealed letter.
"Is that a letter?"
"That's right. Things have calmed down again since that announcement a year ago. Liberl's Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess are to hold a birthday bash of sorts, even if it is a year late.", Cassius explained. Both of them were eleven years old now, just like Estelle and Joshua here. All four were of the same age! "And I just so happened to get an invitation, courtesy of Her Majesty. Being part of the army sure has its perks every now then, doesn't it?"
"Aren't you retired?", Estelle retorted back at him.
"Don't sweat the small details. It is addressed to you, Estelle. Take it.", Cassius said, handing the letter to Estelle.
"A birthday celebration for Liberl's Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess...", Joshua also uttered, only to have a certain appearance of a violet-haired boy appear in his mind. 'It can't be him, can it?'
It was then the thought registered inside Estelle's head, causing her to jump in glee.
"So Kloe really is having a birthday party! And I finally remembered who that boy was beside her! He came to play with us by that scary guy a long time ago!", Estelle happily exclaimed.
And yet, hearing that, Cassius Bright almost stumbled over.
"Did Estelle just call the Blood and Iron Chancellor a scary guy...?", Cassius retorted to himself, keeping his voice quiet enough where Estelle couldn't hear it. Shortly after, he coughed.
"Anyway, why don't you check the details while we have dinner?", Cassius asked, and looked back at Joshua. "You're more than welcome to join us, if you feel enough energy has returned."
"Okay!", Estelle happily responded.
"Alright.", Joshua also said, nodding his head.