"We could choose your ring together when you get back." The boy told the girl as they walk towards the airship.
The girl, who was sporting long pigtails, laughed which made the boy blush like a tomato. "I'll be back before you know it." Without another word, the boy closed in their distance in a tight embrace. "I'd give anything to go with you, Frey."
"Oh, Lest. I'll just deliver these. Besides, you can't leave now."
Lest pouted, which gave Frey another reason to laugh.
"Fine. Take care, okay?" Lest told Frey as he stopped hugging her. Frey smiled and walked up the airship.
As the airship was taking off, she took one last look at her fiancé.
"Come back to me, okay?" Lest screamed, not caring about all the looks that he got form bystanders.
Blushing like crazy, Frey smiled and waved. Not risking saying anything as she might change her mind and just stay with him.
[Frey]
"Goodness, I'm so high up!" I should've brought Lest with me, but it's not like we could both leave right now anyways. Still, it's been far too long since we've been away from each other.
This ship is heading to the town of Selphia. That town is famous for its "god". And I am now trying to deliver this gift to her.
"I don't have much time … Excuse me, how close are we to Selphia?"
"Oh, we're almost there. Are you settin' out to do a bit o' sightseeing?" The captain answered.
"Y-yes … Something like that." I answered, managing a weak smile.
"It's a real nice town. Beautiful scenery, an' got a great atmosphere. You can feel the protection o' the god when you're standin' on them roads. You'll enjoy your stay for sure."
"… I hope so. " Somehow, this joyful captain's speech about Selphia had me thinking of Lest again. I shouldn't have been so stubborn and just dragged him with me. Selphia seems lovely. I'm sure the elders won't mind two generals out of town at the same time, … Gah! What am I thinking?!
*sigh*, after this delivery would be our wedding anyway. Yes, our wedding. I giggled excitedly and stopped myself before anyone else notice. At dire times such as this, I'm sure our wedding would at least cheer up the people back home.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Huh?!" A loud scream teared me away from my thoughts. The source were two armed men – soldiers!
"Heh-heh-heh … We're taking over this ship now! If you don't wanna get hurt, do what we say!" said a gangster-looking soldier.
"Got it?" asked the other one as he slowly approached me. "Just give us the thing and we'll let you go. That thing you're about to give to the Native Dragon!"
"H-how do you know about that …?" Oh my goodness, Lest and the others back home, I hope they're safe. If they know about this thing … no.
Satisfied with himself, the soldier answered, "well, you'd be surprised at what a little research will turn up."
The captain, whom I can no longer call a joyful fellow uttered, "how could you possibly …? … Wh-who are you?!"
Every one of us put our all into making this gift! There is no way I'd let these two blundering jerks take it!
" … This gift is very important. I won't just hand it over to a total stranger!"
It's all right. I've trained for emergencies like this. I might just be the brainy general while lest is the brawny one, but I sure know which way the edge of a sword goes!
"You wanna fight, huh? Fine! Let's do this!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
I equipped my broadsword as fast as I could. Fighting is not something I enjoy, but things will become worse if I let them take this gift.
"Hya!" *pant* Good, they're weak. Two hits each and they're passed out.
I wonder how they found out about this. Anyway, if someone's after it, I have to hurry…! Can't this ship go any faster.
"Hmph. Not so fast!"
"Wha -!"
[Lest]
"Lest! Come on!"
"Hyah!" *pant, pant* I can't believe it. As soon as I walked back from the terminal, soldiers wreaked havoc in our town. I hope Frey is alright.
"Make sure you kill every earthmate! Don't let anyone escape!"
Damn it! They want to kill us all off? There's not much of us to begin with, but … "ugh!"
"Lest!"
[Frey]
…!
…ake…up!
Wake up already!
"Finally…" A, soldier? Yes. These are soldiers.
"Phew. ... … So, what are we doing again?
"… Just shut up and watch. Now, then … it's time you tell us where that thing is hidden. Or else!"
What? "…Who are you?" I asked them. Wait, who am I? I was about to ask when the bossy soldier answered my first question.
"HUH?!"
I was taken aback by his intensity, but I continued anyway.
"I … who am I …?"
Why can't I remember who I am? The two soldiers continued arguing whilst I try to remember anything I could.
"Um, excuse me …"
"Huh?" The bossy among the two answered.
"Err, who are you …?" I asked him again.
"Hey, are you trying to play dumb with us?!"
"No … um … I, I really don't know –"
He cut me off before I could finish, "I'll ask you again. Where the hell is that thing you were holding?!"
I don't understand any of this, especially why he's yelling at me.
"I swear; I don't know what you're talking about!"
"You …!"
"Sir, sir!" The other soldier called.
"What is it? I thought I told you to shut up!"
He looked a bit scared but he continued anyway, "sir! It might be amnesia, sir!"
"What …?" The bossy soldier said, his mouth hanging open before he added, "are you saying a little blow to the head like that caused amnesia?!"
"Sir! I don't know, sir! But maybe?"
"Hmmm …"
They continued talking about me. Funny how they seem to know more about me than what I know about myself.
" …Um." I hesitated.
"…What?"
" … Perhaps, um … it IS amnesia?" I told the bossy soldier.
"How can you lose your damned memory so easily?!"
Yes, how could I? Now I feel like crying.
"You shouldn't cry over spilled milk, sir."
"I KNOW THAT! Dammit … … No. Wait a minute. How do we know you're not just playing us like fools? This could be a trick. A dirty, rotten ploy!"
"Huh?!" I really am confused now. And not remembering anything is not helping.
"Oh, good point, sir!" the other soldier said. I can't believe it. He was the one who suggested that I might have amnesia in the first place!
"All right." The scary one said. *Gulp* "Take this fool over there and we'll see if a little spot of threatening brings out the truth."
*Gasp*! The railing? What on earth?
"Understood, sir!" The other replied as he grabbed my arm.
"What?! Hhey! Stop …!"
Keep calm, maybe I could stop them. I smiled weakly, "Um … Wh-what exactly do you intend to do to me?"
"Well, I'm going to … …" Now, he looked more confused than me.
"… Uh, sir?"
"What is it?"
"How do threats work again?" If I wasn't the one he was trying to threaten, I might have laughed at this buffoon. My knees betrayed me, though.
"YOU! JUST USE THE ALTITUDE, DAMMIT!"
"How?"
"Do I have to explain everything?! Threaten to kick this fool off the ship!"
Whoa! Just as I thought. But they won't do that, I think. They need something from me, right?
"Um, like this?"
Oops.
I could never be more wrong. My feet lifted off the ground as I fell.
"H-huh? WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" I couldn't do anything else aside from screaming.
Is this how I'll die? Nameless?
[Lest]
"Lest, wake up!"
"Where are we?" I'm still a little dizzy. I tried to look around but I felt a sharp pain. "Urgh."
"You've been injured." Ragna, my best friend told me. And like any good friend, he smirked at me. "Of course you're injured. You practically threw yourself at them. Tsk, Frey might come back to find out she's a widow."
I tried to punch him, but I could barely lift my arm. "We're not yet married." I answered. Frey, I hope she's alright. Ragna must've sensed how worried I am.
"She'll be fine. She can fight. And besides, the Native Dragon is at Selphia. She'll keep her safe."
He's right.
"Anyways, we're in the hidden village. That stupid king ordered every earthmate be killed. Dang it!"
"Where are the others?" I asked.
He turned pale, and maybe so did I.
"Are they …?" I couldn't say it.
"I don't know. What I do know is, we're the only ones here."
This village is our fortress and refuge. Frey used to say that we ought to just live here, but the elders will not listen to her.
"Cheer up. We're tough." Ragna said. I think he is trying to convince himself, not me. "Here, eat up."
Despite all these emotions, and worry that is filling me I still ate up. I need to recover fast and set things right.