A/N: I decided to do a continuation of The Night Before. If you haven't read that, then I suggest you do before hand. Link to The Night Before
Two years had passed since the defeat of Vandesdelca and the New Order of Lorelei. Luke's coming of age ceremony had begun, and his closest friends were nowhere to be found. Though they were invited, everybody knew that they would choose to gather at Tataroo Valley rather than gather around the Scion of Lorelei's grave.
Toue lei zue kro ryou toue zue
Tear sang her heart out, wishing more than anybody that Luke would come back.
Kro ryou zue toue ryou lei neu ryou zue
Guy closed his eyes, remembering both times that he had lost loved ones on Hod.
Va lei zue toue neu toue ryou toue kro
Anise thanked Lorelei and Yulia Jue for giving her and Florian the strength to rebuild the Order in honor of Ion.
Ryuo lei kro ryuo zue lei va zue lei
Jade solemnly stared ahead, cursing himself for creating the horrible technology that had caused Van to make this mess. At the same time, he was grateful that his technology ended up saving the world from the Score of Destruction.
Va neu va lei va neu va zue lei
Mieu hummed along, remembering how much his Master secretly loved when Tear sang her hymns.
Kro ryou kro neu toue lei kro ryo zeu lei va
Natalia wept freely, mourning her beloved friends and the future that she had hoped to build with them, and especially the one that she had planned with Asch.
Lei va neu kro toue lei lei
Tear finished her hymn, and everybody remained silent for a few moments. Jade finally sighed, "We should head back; the valley is dangerous at night." Pushing his glasses up, he turned and strode back towards where Noelle was waiting with the Albiore. One by one, the others followed; leaving Tear and Natalia behind momentarily to gaze upon the ruins of Eldrant. Natalia gently laid a hand on Tear's shoulder before also turning to return to the Albiore. Tear took that as a sign to return as well. She collected Mieu in her arms and followed Princess Natalia to join their friends. Looking over her shoulder, she had to do a double take when she saw the figure approaching them from the ruins. The long hair, the sword strapped across his lower back, the way he carried himself. She gasped, it had to be him. Tear ran to close the distance between her and the figure.
"Why are you here?" She asked him, not trusting herself to say more than that. She heard the footsteps of the others as they came to see what had caused her to gasp.
The man before her chuckled, his red hair covering his eyes. "This place has a nice view of Hod. Besides, I promised, didn't I?" He opened his arms to Tear, and she fell into his embrace.
Natalia made it to them first, and upon realizing that Luke had returned, smiled faintly. At least one of the Duke's sons had been able to return. "Welcome back, Luke." Her voice was close to breaking as she reminded herself that she will never see Asch again, and that the letter she had received last year at her own coming of age ceremony was still real.
One year and six months prior
The entire city of Baticul was decked out in banners. Doors were covered in ribbons of the Princess's favorite color of Aqua. Emperor Peony IX and Colonel Jade Curtiss of the Third Division of the Malkuth Imperial Forces, and Lord Gailardia Galan Gardios from the Malkuth Empire were visiting; as well and Fon Master Florian, Fon Master Guard Anise Tatlin and Locrian Sargent Tear Grants of the Order of Lorelei. Shops closed down and the entire Kingdom was celebrating the coming of age of Princess Natalia luzu Kimlasca-Landvaldeer.
In the palace gardens, Natalia's close friends and family gathered to give her gifts for her birthday. Peony had given her a portrait of the Rappig that he had named after her. Jade had given her a new Capacity Core. Florian and Anise had given her a new bow that was similar to the ones that the now-disbanded Oracle Knights had used. Tear presented her with a book on the history of Yulia City. Guy had brought her a necklace that he had designed himself and was made in Sheridan.
A guard approached the group and cleared his throat, "A miss Noir is her for you, Princess Natalia. She claims that she has a letter from an Asch."
Natalia almost knocked everybody over as she stood up and ran to the gate that she saw Noir standing at. Noir had removed her signature hat and wasn't smirking as usual. Seeing this, Natalia slowed and pondered what the letter from Asch could possibly contain. The little parchment envelope was in her gloved hands, and a black wax seal stood out against the rest of the envelope. Noir approached the Princess and presented the envelope to her. Natalia took it with shaking hands. She felt Guy and the others crowding around her, but at a respectable distance, as she broke the seal and pulled the letter out.
My dearest Princess Natalia,
I instructed Noir to deliver this upon your next birthday if needed. So before I begin the painful part, I wish the happiest of birthdays to you, my love.
If you are reading this, then I perished in Eldrant and can no longer keep my promise to you. It breaks my heart to know that you may have to read this. I wish that instead, I could be by your side, and asking your Father for permission to marry you once I myself come of age.
Please do not stop yourself from marrying or doing anything else that you saw us doing together after I returned home for good. I want you to live life to the fullest. Find somebody to change our country together with. Find somebody that you can live happily with while you raise the next heir to the throne and will make you happy in all of the ways I would have.
I have also included a written dissolution of our engagement for your father, so he cannot force you to marry Luke if he survived.
My only request is that you do not marry Luke in hopes of him turning out to be what you had hoped me to be. I don't want you to spend your life trying to make him into something he isn't. You would end up only being disappointed, and I don't want that for you.
Once again, happy birthday, my Princess,
Asch the Bloody
Asch the Bloody
God General and Commander of Special of Operations of the Oracle Knights
The Original Luke fon Fabre
Natalia's eyes widened in shock as she read through the letter. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized that Asch really was dead. Falling to her knees and sobbing, she dropped the letter and covered her face as she openly mourned Asch. She heard somebody pick up the envelope and felt Tear's comforting embrace. Hushed male voices began to break through to her, as King Ingobert and Emperor Peony discussed the contents of the letter and the dissolution of her engagement.
Guy's voice brought her out of her memories. "Natalia, look!" He pointed further into the valley, where another figure that the others hadn't yet seen was approaching. This figure was making slower progress than Luke had, and seemed to be struggling to walk completely upright.
Natalia looked from the figure, to Guy, and back to the figure. She wanted to hope, but she knew that hoping in regards to him since that night in Chesedonia had only hurt her. "Guy, will you come with me?" She asked over her shoulder. The Malkuth noble nodded in response. They slowly approached the now stumbling figure, leaving the others to continue the reunion with Luke. The closer they got, the harder it got for Natalia to run to the man. He had his hair, he was the right height and grunts he made as he fell sounded like him. She wanted it to be her beloved Asch, but she couldn't be sure until they were face to face.
Suddenly, the man collapsed and didn't try to get back up. Natalia and Guy broke into a run, hoping that it wasn't too late. The man was lying face down on the ground. Natalia rolled him over and gasped when she realized that it was him. "Asch," was all she could manage as she picked his torso up and held him close. She felt his eyelids flutter at the sound of her voice.
"My princess." He whispered in her ear before his body went limp. Natalia panicked before realizing he was still breathing.
"Guy, go get Noelle and try to get the Albiore as close as possible! We need to get him to a bed quickly. I'll try to help him with fonic artes here until you return. Have Jade send a message to my Father and Duke Fabre about the situation. Tell them we'll return to Baticul once Asch is strong enough."
"I'm on it!" Guy stood and ran at breakneck speed towards where they had left the Albiore. He couldn't believe that both Asch and Luke had returned. Luke was surprising, but Asch was flat out unbelievable. Asch had actually died before they had fought Van. They would have a lot of explaining to do back in Baticul.
