"What?" I replied, stunned.
"Like I said, help me escape this place, just once!" Ronan pleaded, this was becoming like a usual routine now.
"But Ronan," I tried to reason; "there's a reason you can't go outside the city, much less the castle. You're one of the biggest targets to Kaze'aze, idiot!"
"I hate this place." He muttered, looking off into the distance longingly, "It's like a jail to me. Why can't I go exploring? Elesis gets to!" He spat in distaste, I was already loosing this argument.
"No means no. Besides, Elesis gave up her freedom for you, she barely goes out anymore, and you should respect that. Being engaged to a girly boy like you must be quite a pain." I sighed, it was true after all. Unlike most arranged marriages Elesis and Ronan were very much in love with each other which is why the hot headed tomboy Elesis had tried her best to become more ladylike and given up on missions.
"What do you mean a pain? After all, you were also one of the bride candidates for me, Arme." He teased, making me blush. I couldn't stand this. "Just help me, only this one time?" He pleaded, his eyes bore into me for an answer.
I thought for a moment. I mean, since I could get in big trouble if he was ever harmed, but still! Since it is just outside the city I suppose…
"Fine. Have it your way!" I scoffed, then teased, "It's not like they're going to let you anyways."
"Yeahh! Thanks Arme!" Ronan had apparently not heard the last part for he bounced around with joy and hugged me, then ran down the hallway to wherever. If Elesis had been here she would be quite annoyed with her fiancée hugging other girls. I chuckled at the thought. But even if Ronan did make her mad, she would forgive him, it would be the same the other way around as well. They were such a loving couple.
I strolled down the long hallway to talk to the Knight Master who was in charge of giving me missions. Perhaps If I ask her nicely she would let me take Ronan with me, since I am his personal guard. I would surely keep him safe wherever I went. I was glad the Knight Master wasn't too strict; the last thing I ever wanted to try was to sneak out.
When I reached her room, I was already prepared with the excuses I would give her: Ronan would be coming with me to become more knowledgeable about doing missions and Kaze'aze. Of course, not to be in danger or anything, but, since Elesis was going out for missions he should have the equal privileges. Right, I was ready for this.
"Hello, Knight Master?" I peeked in, a little cautious.
"Yes Arme, come in." She was sitting at her messy, paper-covered desk, dressed in red, as usual, too busy with her paperwork to look up.
"I was wondering if I could take Ronan with me on my next mission." I suggested hopefully. If this didn't work I would just have to tell Ronan that he couldn't go.
She slowly put her pen down, making a heavy clacking sound in the silence. "Why do you think he should be going on a mission? After all, you know he is being targeted by Kaze'aze." She sighed. She had already been fed up with Ronan asking her this every day.
"I thought that it is unfair for Ronan, since Elesis is always going on missions. And he will become more knowledgeable about real combat and Kaze'aze." I continued, and gulped when Knight Master eyed me with a smirking face.
"And so Ronan will stop asking you to take him?" She laughed as a bright blush formed on my pale face. How embarrassing, the Knight Master could see right through me.
"Anyways, could he come with me?" I asked again, trying to forget that my lying completely didn't work.
"Yes, I suppose it will help Ronan in some ways." She smiled, knowing that I was being partly serious here "But Arme, I'm more worried about you."
I shifted uncomfortably and asked, "What is it about me that worry you?"
"You can't always look after Ronan, Arme." She sighed, I knew what was coming. "It's been a year since Elesis was elected as the bride candidate, you should have just gone home to your mage guild. Arme, I know you had feelings for Ronan but-"
I quickly cut her off, "I am simply living how I want, Knight Master." I didn't want to listen to her so I quickly bowed and left. I could see out of the corner of my eye her open her mouth to stop me, but she slowly closed it. My mind knew she was right, but my heart ached to stay here. I didn't know what to do. I could barely see anything as I stumbled down the long corridors.
"Arme," I spun around to a soft voice but the only thing I could make out a blob of deep crimson; Elesis. "Hey, are you crying?" She asked, stunned. I was supposed to be the mature one, this was the first time she saw me like this.
"Ah, I'm fine." I smiled at her after wiping my tears but she didn't buy it.
"Arme…" She sighed, placing her hands on her hips, "If you have any problems feel free to tell me, okay?" She grinned and patted my back. It was then, after I had wiped my tears that I saw the elaborate dress the former tomboy was wearing. And it was pink!
"Nice dress," I commented, a little shocked.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go find something to do." She laughed, shaking her head. Elesis was becoming more ladylike every time I'd see her. I suppose her past self would have never accepted this side of her personality!
Since us both had some free time on our hands we decided to spar. Of course, Elesis wasn't really supposed to be sparring but they never said it was forbidden.
"So, how's your life?" Elesis asked casually as she swung her sword at my head. Most would find the casualness quite disturbing in this situation but we're like this all the time.
"Well, I'm actually going on a mission tomorrow." I replied teleporting a few meters back and firing some fireballs. "With Ronan," I added.
"Ow," She gasped as one grazed her. "You were always better at me in battle, though I hate to admit it." She muttered rubbing the burn on her arm. "Hmm, so Ronan finally talked you into it!" She dashed forward, not a smart move.
I fired a small bolt of electricity which caught her in mid-air and hopefully didn't fry her too much.
The red haired knight dropped onto the ground and become motionless. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…
"Elesis!" I ran over to her and knelt by her side.
"My god, you fried me!" She gasped, coughing a little.
"I'm sorry. I'll heal you," I sighed, relieved and used cure on the crispy Elesis.
"I'm quite jealous of you, you know that?"Elesis laughed after I was finished healing, propping herself up with her elbows. "You're so talented at combat, you can go on missions, and you don't have to always be pretending someone you're not. I mean, I'm trying my best to be a lady but it's just not me…" She sighed, blowing on her bangs.
"I'm sure you'll get used to it," I smiled, "You have Ronan, right?"
Elesis beamed back at me with new found strength. "Yeah!"
She had Ronan. I was jealous of her as she was of me, but I could never tell Elesis that. As much as I loved Ronan, I loved Elesis. They were both important.
We decided to go up to my room before anyone came into the sparring grounds, we had learned from the many scolds we received that we could never spar for too long. When we got there I prepared a potion and continued the healing since burns were especially annoying to fully heal. We didn't want anyone to know we had been sparring once again. Elesis had been so obsessed over sparring, we even invited Ronan once but the girly boy was much better than we had imagined, that was when Elesis would beg me to spar almost every day. I giggled at the thought of her stomping down the halls dragging me along.
"What's so funny?"She asked, laughing herself, "Or have you finally gone mental?"
"No, I was just remembering how you used to storm down the halls that they almost considered replacing you with me, even when Ronan had already picked. You were like a pain back then! Now you're baking cookies and cakes, wearing frilly dresses, attending important meetings and actually brushing your hair!" I laughed, rolling around on the bed.
"Yeah, I guess love can change people…"Elesis smiled and simply stared out the window. I stopped, normally she would have token this as a chance to start a pillow fight.
"I guess you're right." I smiled and sat up again.
"I'm not the only one who changed you know," Elesis smirked, she had thought of the perfect way to get back at me. "Remember when you first came here as a bride candidate you were as cold as ice! You scared everyone off and when I challenged you, you didn't go easy on me one bit!" She laughed out loud as I smiled, it was true after all. "And you always acted so snotty, you were punctual for everything, miss perfect!" She stopped as if she had an idea, "Oh, and then you met Ronan and your face was completely red! Love at first sight?" She snickered, "They called you the defrosting ice queen!"
"And what about you, hmm? You would always pick fights with him!" I exclaimed, blushing a little receiving a smug smile from said knight.
"Honestly, I wonder why he picked me in the end. You were perfect, and after a while you opened up to us and became nice. I wonder why?" Elesis muttered, "Stupid Ronan."
Ronan was quite stupid; I was definitely the better lady at the time. Well, he loved me of course but only as a best friend, which is why he would tell me everything. I remember the time when he told me he had given Elesis a rose and received a kick in the face; he was such a sweet boy. He told me her passion towards fighting; he thought it was so cool. He always thought she was the strongest! If I ever asked him what exactly he liked about Elesis he simply said "I like everything!" He was always worried that Elesis didn't like him but it was the total opposite. I knew since I was also Elesis' best friend at the time. She would always say he did embarrassing things but when she calmed down she would talk about how he was always so kind and adventurous. She said she always admired his kind heart and bravery, he always said the things that could cure Elesis, the words she could never say. I knew they had fallen for each other as well as I knew I had fallen for Ronan but I couldn't bring myself to come between the two. The idiot had been me.
"I think I know what Ronan liked about you,"I spoke, breaking the silence.
"What?" Elesis asked, she seemed excited, she really wanted to know.
"Everything." I laughed, getting a confused look from Elesis.
"Well, that is good!" She giggled, blushing a little. "He told you didn't he?"
"Well, I was his best friend." I chuckled receiving a suspicious glare from Elesis.
"You didn't tell him what I like about him, did you?" She gasped suddenly snapping up into a standing position, her face now completely red as a tomato.
"No, I didn't!" I put my hands up, shaking them as a sign of 'no way'.
"Good." She sighed, sitting back down.
"But he did ask me loads of times." I continued, "He would always say, 'What do you think Elesis likes about me, Arme?' and such."
"He's so sweet!"Elesis buried her face in my pillow, embarrassed. 'yeah, sweet' I thought sarcastically in my head. Honestly, he was quite a pain these days for me.
"I think the potion is done." I walked over and inspected the currently heating vial with the swirling dark red liquid. It was just before boiling, the perfect time to drink it. "Here," I handed it to Elesis who chugged it down.
"Thanks." She smiled, "I think it's about time I head back…" then added, "I'll see you again soon! And good luck on the mission tomorrow!"
"Yeah, see you." I waved as she exited my room, leaving me to my thoughts. I plopped down on the bed putting my arms up to cover my eyes.
When had my life become like this? I was always the dutiful one and if I was my original self I would have wasted no time here and simply left after Ronan had chosen Elesis. Of course life here was wonderful as well; I could read many books and even research about Kaze'aze and if I had any time to spare I could visit my two best friends. But life my place at the guild was high than my job here. I would teach the beginners and go on higher class missions in groups, even travel to the Ellia continent! Elena would never stop telling me I was wasting my talents, she wanted me to come home and study magic officially once more, I could even meet Lire again if I went back. Why would I care for someone who already has someone to love? Perhaps it was because Ronan was such a troublemaker, or because Elesis needed someone to consult, or even because I didn't have to live under all the rules and obligations they had back at the guild. But whatever reason it was, I had no regrets; Elesis and Ronan were both so happy, so how could I ever rip them apart?