HELLO EVERYBODY! I'm back after my week long vacation with my new story! I managed to get five chapters written while I was gone, so I will be slowly releasing them over time according to an update schedule. I'm not too sure what that schedule will be atm since I have yet to start my new job and get a steady schedule, but I can hopefully figure it out soon enough.
So I hope you guys enjoy this next part of Soo's story, I've got a lot of twists and turns planned out so make sure y'all keep up with the updates. And as always there is a playlist for this story linked on my profile, so you can listen to the different tracks for each chapter.
Words: 3,075
Updated: 07.31.18
Appassionata - Scarlet Heart Ryeo
My days after being freed from my five month long hospital stay followed an easy outline prescribed by the doctor at the request of the king. I was to be eased into physical activity to gain back strength in my muscles and placed on a meal plan to build me back up to a healthy weight. I was also to continue seeing my assigned therapist to keep working on recovering mentally from my experiences following the invasion of Goryeo. This was to carry on for weeks until I was within the weight range for a girl of my size and build.
After the third week of my diet and strength building, I was given clearance to join the latest batch of Kingsglaive recruits for training as long as I was eased into the routine and continued with the prescribed diet.
It was my second week in training and it was already a bit intimidating to be attending magic theory and basic training with other recruits when most were physically ten years older. I had already stood out on the first day with my crownsguard escourt since I was technically a ward of the Crown at the current moment. And then my Goryean features in a sea of Galahdian tattoos and braids didn't help.
It helped that there was that mutual understanding between my fellow recruits and I that we were all considered outsiders in Insomnia, but I was still an outsider among them on a number of levels besides race.
I climbed out of bed with a sigh, ready to face another day of magic theory lectures and basic combat training. My walk from my bed to the bathroom was short, coming to a stop in front of the sink and washing my face before brushing my teeth.
I walked back to my bedroom to dress in the simple clothes provided to me by my assigned agent, an easy combo of black leggings and a white long sleeved t-shirt with a hunter green spring jacket over it. I padded out of my bedroom and into the kitchen, attempting to make some breakfast out of the food provided for me.
I stuck close to safety, making some oatmeal and toast with a type of nut butter for my breakfast. I flicked on the kettle to make my morning tea, pulling out one of the disposable paper cups from the cupboard so I could take it with me to the training centre.
While waiting for the water to boil, I turned on my phone, flicking through my apps as I ate my oatmeal and toast. I clicked on the message thread I had going with Noctis, seeing the notification I had from five minutes ago.
Hey, Prom and I were wondering if you wanted to hang out at the arcade after you're done with training for the day. He's really excited to meet you, like you have no idea. It'll be my treat :)
I smiled fondly at the younger boy's use of an emoticon, shaking my head lightly as I checked my calendar before replying.
Hi, just saw your message now. Unfortunately, I have a meeting with my immigration and social services lawyers after training today. We're still trying to find my next of kin so I'm not a ward of the crown for the next year :(
I sent off the message and set my phone down on the counter, taking a bite out of my toast as I waited for a response. The kettle clicked quietly in the silent kitchen, prompting me to walk over to it and pick out a tea bag and submerse it in hot water to steep.
Walking back to my breakfast, Noctis had left me another reply.
You're so boring and responsible. You're a bit like Iggy in that sense.
I huffed out a laugh, quickly typing out a response.
Well maybe if you stopped by the citadel more often, you could visit me regularly. Also, get off your phone, I know your homeroom has started and you shouldn't be texting me.
His reply was instant.
Okay mom :D
My chuckles increased as I typed.
Ttyl, have a good day and say hi to Prompto for me! :)
I slipped my phone into my jacket pocket, scarfing down the remains of my breakfast before placing the dishes in the sink. I fished the tea bag out of my to go cup and tossed it in the trash, fixing my tea with sugar and milk. I dug in the cupboard for a lid and snapped it on before carrying it over to the front hall.
Setting the cup on the small table next to the shoe rack, I stuffed my feet into my boots and tied the laces tightly. Swiping up my keys, temporary ID and to-go cup, I shoved my keys and ID into my coat pocket before making my way through the quiet halls of the citadel apartments.
I nodded silently at the few Crownsguard and Kingsglaive that were on duty in the halls, receiving a nod in return at most, and a blink at least. I scuttled through the halls to the servants' side entrance where the plain black car was waiting to take me to the Kingsglaive headquarters.
I dozed for the short drive through downtown Insomnia to the Kingsglaive headquarters, my head bumping lightly against the window. Insomnia was truly a city that never slept, the streets only just transitioning from the nightlife of bar hoppers and partiers to people heading off to their nine to five jobs.
The car came to a stop outside the training centre, letting me slip out onto the curb with a quiet thanks to the driver. I silently blended in with the other recruits slowly filing into the building for another day of magic theory and basic combat lessons.
After a long three hours of lessons on how to handle the elements correctly in theory and battle tactics training, I was allowed a break with my group of trainees. Of course I didn't really communicate with my fellow recruits due to an age gap, racial tensions, or a combination of both.
Despite both Galahdians and Goryeans being minorities in Insomnia, there was some friction between myself and my fellow recruits due to my close association with the Crown. I could tell that most thought I was just a noble's neice or something, that had a passing romantic fancy with becoming a Glaive, and most kept their distance from me. But a few of the younger recruits were definitely bristling over my presence, and it was only a matter of time before one of them snapped.
I sat alone in the cafeteria per usual for my lunch break, flicking through my phone as I nibbled at a mixed berry muffin that I had purchased with my tea and water. It was a little strange to be using technology after being without it for almost nine years, but it was easy to slip back into the routine of moving between social media platforms and catching up on the news.
I answered Noctis' text messages that I had missed earlier and opened the most recent photo Prompto had sent me of the prince, smiling down at the confused and bored expression on his face. I locked my phone before sliding it back in my pocket and continuing to pick at my muffin.
I was startled when one of my fellow recruits who was closer in age to me sat down across from me, his icy blue gaze latched onto mine in a glare. We sat in silence for a few heartbeats before I continued to pick at my muffin.
"Can I help you with something, Recruit Constans?" I asked politely, taking a sip of my tea and waiting for his answer.
"Yeah, I'd like for your spoiled ass to either take this seriously, or get the hell out. We don't have the space or time to be looking after a privileged princess like you." the young man replied, his tone incredibly bitter as he glared at me.
I sighed lightly, wrapping up the remainder of my muffin as I said calmly, "If you have an issue with me being here, I suggest you take it up with recruitment or our superiors. I have every right to serve Lucis and His Majesty as a Glaive after everything he's done for the refugees, same as you."
"You noblefolk have the Crownsguard for that service bullshit, so why don't you run along to daddy, and get a transfer." he spat out, determined to continue his one sided argument with me.
My own gaze narrowed, my lips thinning into a harsh line as I glared at the man.
"Let me make it clear to you, recruit. I have every right to be here, same as you. I owe the king a massive debt for taking me into the crown city after the fall of Goryeo, not unlike what happened with Galahd. So why don't you check yourself before opening your mouth to spew uneducated opinions and let me continue my training in peace."
The prick opened his big mouth in another attempt to argue with me but I grabbed my tea and stood up from my table to leave before I had to listen to anymore of his blathering.
I stepped into the locker room after the three hours of basic combat training we had to go through after lunch, sweaty and exhausted as hell. I gave a nod in acknowledgment to a few of the senior Glaives sitting on one of the benches in the room before heading for the women's shower.
I nearly plowed head first into the chest of Crowe as she led a few other Glaives through the locker room and chattered off to them. The older girl grabbed my upper arms to steady me, smiling warmly.
"Hey kiddo, fancy catching you here." she greeted me, a crooked smile on her face
"Yeah, long time no see." I said, giving a small smile of my own.
"You can say that again. I'm sure you remember Nyx." the man I recognized from my rescue nodded to me, getting a nod in return, "And this idiot is Libertus." Crowe continued, throwing a thumb over her shoulder at her other companion.
Libertus protested her minor verbal abuse, giving a nod to me when he finished.
"So, wouldn't have pegged you for the type to join the Glaive. You were a court lady to one of the princesses and were the granddaughter of the former first princess, right?" Nyx inquired, leaning against the locker to his right.
"Yeah but this is where His Majesty thinks I'm needed. There's no place for refugees in the Crownsguard and I want to learn to fight back so what those doctors did to me never happens to anyone else ever again." I replied, shifting my weight slightly.
"Hear hear." Libertus injected into the conversation, "So where you headed off to, missy?"
"Was just gonna grab a shower before leaving. I've got a meeting with my lawyers about immigration and trying to find a proper guardian so I don't remain a ward of the Crown until I turn eighteen." I told the three of them.
"Well, we'd better get going as well. We're being deployed in the next hour, so gotta head to get briefed. " Nyx said, pushing off the lockers to stand up straight.
I nodded in understanding, "Okay, see you later. Stay safe."
"We'll try our best." Crowe assured me with another grin.
I let the trio pass before continuing back to the showers, undressing in the little cubical outside the shower, folding my clothes neatly beside my spare shirt before turning the water on and washing up. The standard issue soap provided burned my skin slightly but quickly rinsed it off before turning the water off.
I swiped my towel off the hook before drying myself and dressing in my spare shirt and pants. Pulling my socks and boots back on, I threw my jacket over my arm and grabbed my towel before leaving the shower area.
Tossing my towel in the laundry hamper, I walked over to the large mirror on the wall to fix my hair. Pulling it out of the ponytail I had worn it in during training, I tried to finger comb my black tresses into submission before slipping my hair tie around my wrist and straightening my clothes.
Satisfied with my appearance, I slipped quietly out of the locker room and headed for the exit of the headquarters where the crown provided car would be waiting to take me to my meeting.
The car ride was short, the business district only a five minute drive from the Glaive headquarters. I slipped out onto the sidewalk with a small nod of thanks to the driver before heading into the building my lawyers worked in.
I walked past the front desk and called the elevator, waiting patiently for it to arrive.
The ride to the tenth floor was swift and I stepped out into the hushed murmur of people working.
I hurried over to my lawyer's office, seeing both my social services and immigration lawyers settling down for the meeting.
"Good afternoon Miss Lorica. Ms. Acilia." I offered with a bright smile as I walked in.
"Ah there you are, dear. On time like always." Miss Lorica said happily, gesturing for me to sit down.
"How was training today, sweetie?" Ms. Acilia asked as she sorted out her files.
"It's going along quite well, I think my unit will undergo the ceremony within the week if we all keep moving forward at the pace we have been."
"Splendid news. Now, shall we discuss what we arranged the meeting for?"
"Now that your immigration status has been updated and your Insomnian records match up, you're back to your original status of dual citizenship with Lucis and Goryeo. So you'll be issued a new ID in a few days via mail."
"Okay and where are we with the guardian hunt?"
"That's proving to be a little trickier, deary. Your father had very few living relatives at the time of his death and he was disowned by his parents previous to adopting you. We managed to locate his father, his mother died a few years back, but due to Aetius being disowned on the basis of a racist viewpoint, we're very reluctant to place you with your paternal grandfather." Miss Lorica said, flipping through a file briefly before closing it, "But Giovi isn't the type of man to die without naming an heir, so we're trying to locate the individual he chose to see if they'll be an appropriate guardian for you."
I nodded in understanding, "And how long do you think finding them will take?"
"A few weeks at most. It'll just take a bit of time to sort through the family records and track down any recent changes to the line of succession." she answered, giving me a slightly apologetic look.
"Alright, thank you for keeping me updated on the process. And thank you for taking on my case, Ms. Acilia."
"It's no trouble, don't be afraid to contact me if anybody gives you any problems over your immigration status and whatnot."
"Definitely. Thanks again."
"I'll give you a call if I have anything new about your family."
"Thanks, I'll see you later, Miss Lorica."
I slipped out of the office quietly, making my way to the elevators at an easy pace.
I stepped into the elevator and waited for the machine to descend, only to hear my phone chime it's standard tune from my pocket. I pulled it free, hitting the answer button and putting it to my ear.
"Hello, Soo-Min speaking." I answered politely.
"Hey Soo, it's Noct." came the deep tones that I was only just beginning to associate with my childhood friend.
"Hey, how's it going?" I straightened up as I spoke, happy to hear his voice over the line.
"Not too bad, just walking home actually. It's really weird not seeing you as much now, even though we spent years apart. I kinda miss being able to talk with you whenever." He admitted freely, and I could hear the smile in his tone.
"Careful, you're starting to sound like you're pining. Don't wanna give anyone listening the wrong idea." I teased lightly, getting an awkward laugh in response before continuing, "Clearly we've spoiled you too much while I was in the hospital. I'm sorry I couldn't hang today, I had a pre-scheduled meeting with my lawyers."
"Nah, it's cool. How did that go, by the way?" Noctis questioned, his voice at ease once again as we continued to talk.
"Well my immigration lawyer managed to get my dual citizenship reissued to me, so now I'm no longer a refugee." I told him, stepping to the side as people came and went from the elevator as it stopped at another floor.
"That's great. And social services?" he continued, genuinely interested in what was happening in my life.
"A little less good news. They managed to track down my father's family but they're really hesitant to place me with them since they disowned my father for marrying my mother. So they're going through the family records to try and find out who was named heir, and see if they'll be a good fit." I admitted, lowering my voice to avoid attracting attention to myself.
"Well any news is good news, or so Ignis tells me."
I snort in amusement, stepping out of the elevator and exiting the building.
"So, I have no obligations lined up after training tomorrow. I could meet up with you and Prompto after you guys get out of school?" I say, looking for the citadel car parked along the curb.
"Sounds great, we could go to the arcade for a bit and then maybe hit up the Crow's Nest after?" Noctis replied as I hurried over to the black car.
"Sure, sounds fine to me. Where should I meet you guys?" I asked while I opened the door and sat in the backseat, nodding to the driver before he started the car.
"Outside the school gates I guess. I'll text you the address later. See you then?" Noctis said with a small yawn.
"Yep, sounds good. I'll talk to you later." I confirmed, waiting for the younger boy to hang up before turning off my phone and dropping it into my pocket as the car sped back to the citadel for the evening.
As always, please review/fave/follow on your way out! See y'all next time!