"Very good, Ms. Schnee. Continue practicing until I return."
She left the room, leaving me to stand here to listen to my own voice. I took a moment to take a deep breath. Calm down, Weiss. It's just a normal day of practice with your normal drill sergeant of an instructor.
This room makes me feel so… alone. So trapped. It's so excessively spacious to just leave it empty. High ceiling. Marble tiled floors. Massive ornate windows. No lighting with only the peeking sun through said windows. I can see the dust floating around me. Thankfully, I have little to no allergies. I sighed. I just love talking, don't I?
My throat warmed up as I practiced my enunciation. Low. High. High. Low. Louder. Softly. At least the room provided some decent acoustics. My lungs were getting a strict workout. My legs were just about asleep. Straighten yourself, Weiss. You're slipping up. Posture is everything. Yadda yadda yadda…
Oh Weiss, you're so refined. Oh how are you so talented at such a young age? She's so young and mature! I wish I had a child like yours. Her voice is so beautiful! Graceful! Elegant!
Empty words for empty promises. They're all trying to get on my family's good side. Their social fu could use some work. I saw straight through them the moment the words came out of those holes they call mouths.
Practice makes perfect, Weiss… You can do better, Weiss… There's always room for improvement, Weiss…
Every day since the day I could walk…
It's so tiring… And dare I say, Annoying? Afraid not. This is simply normal for me. I've come to realize this when my father never visits his little girl.
My sister, Winter, on the other hand… She's fine, I suppose. I can completely relate to her predicament.
But for mine? I don't believe I like it. I may be a bit biased for a ten year old.
Low. High. Low. High. Higher. Higher. Higher….
I held it as long as I could before I stopped for breath. It's a good start…
I opened my eyes, away from the concentration of practice. I was in the company of dust in the air. I sighed again. That makes it what? The twentieth time I've sighed today? A rough estimate. I just want the day to be over…
I closed my eyes to take another deep breath. My lungs need a moment for respite. Overworking would just make me lose my progress. And… out…
I opened my eyes-
And saw someone.
Not my instructor.
But… a child. Like me?
They had their backs to me. They were standing in the shade that the sun couldn't reach from the windows. I stood there and watched them. My heart beat raced. Was it an assassin? How low are my father's enemies to hire child assassins? I suppose it's poetic for a child to murder a child…
No, Weiss! Now's not the time for philosophy! Run!
But… I couldn't.
I stood stiff still in my plain white dress, watching, staring at the child. Where did they come from?
Wait… why am I so quick to judge them to be an assassin?
Perhaps because of the endless family members' deaths and several attempts at my life at the age of ten?
That would definitely do it.
I ignored my reasoning and took in who my potential reaper could be.
A child. My age even. Blond hair? I could only see their back. Their hands were intertwined behind them. Wouldn't that make it harder to pull out a knife? No no no. Calm down. He didn't do anything yet… I think they're a him. They were wearing a white hooded vest over a yellow shirt. Brown shorts and black sandals I believe. And… is that a red scarf? It was and it wrapped around his neck. Its ends were long enough to reach his waist and…
He wasn't doing anything. He just stood there in the shadows and I stood here in the light. I heard nothing but silence.
A brief moment passed until something happened.
He turned his head. I flinched. I felt my fears wash over me, paralyzing me from moving anymore.
Blue. They were blue. Deep blue eyes. They looked so clear as we met eye to eye. I gulped. Not because they showed what I feared, but because they showed what I didn't expect. Not murderous intent or sadistic glee, but innocence and curiosity…
I felt… envious. I bet he didn't have to be just a pretty doll all day…
He turned to face me and tilted his head. I didn't feel as anxious anymore. There… was nothing to fear out of him after all. But now is the question…
How did he get in here? Where did he come from?
Gathering my composure, I asked him.
He just… stood there and blinked. He had a soft frown… and then he smiled. It was warm.
I felt annoyed.
I told him to leave.
He nodded, then he did.
Oh no, I didn't mean it!
I chased after him. The notion of practice escaped me as I walked after him. The notion of finding a guard or an adult eluded me as I tried to trail behind him. But somehow he's always so far away!
I turned a corner. He was at the end of the hall, rounding another corner. I went through a door. He was passing through another. Augh! He's being so frustrating!
Why am I chasing him? Why am I even bothering to follow? I should just stop, but… I can't help the feeling that I shouldn't.
Hallway. Corner. Door. Corner. Door. Hallway. Door.
Over and over I would always see his red scarf go around a corner or just pass through a door as it closes. Maybe if I'm lucky, it'll get caught on something.
Eventually I found myself at the gardens outside. I looked around and no one was about. Just what is my father paying them to not be here?- Wait. There he was. He was looking over a pond, staring at a fish. I think he has the attention span of one too.
I walked up to him as he kept staring. He didn't even notice me come up. That only made me more irritated.
"Hey!" I yelled from beside him. I couldn't help it. He led me all over the place. Anyone would be angry when they have to chase a person everywhere.
He looked up to see me with a tilted head. He looked at me with aloof yet curious eyes. He's acting like he's innocent. He might be, but that still doesn't excuse him from leading me on a wild goose chase.
"Just who are you?" I huffed at him, crossing my arms just to get the point across.
He stared. And stared. And stared.
While I huffed. And sighed. And tapped my foot.
He was testing my patience and I am a little girl with a temper problem.
And then,-
He chuckled. Silently. With a hand to his mouth.
I heard the air going in and out of his mouth as he 'laughed.'
I wasn't having any of it…
Wait. Why am I laughing too?
Stop it! It's not funny!
…
Okay. Maybe it was a little funny.
Even if it was annoying, it helped me get my mind off of the endless responsibilities I'll have later on…
I noticed a waving hand. I got the last laughs out to see him waving at me. He was smiling. It was warm.
Then… he gestured me over. I pointed to myself. He nodded.
Well… I couldn't say no, could I?
Yes, he could stab you in a moment's notice.
…
He didn't.
In fact, he didn't talk. Actually… he couldn't. His scarf…
I'm getting ahead of myself.
As we walked around the garden, I felt as though he could trust me with I think was a secret. Besides the fact on who was he.
He was a nice person. I believe. Always quiet, but somehow he was always smiling. He smiled at the plants. He smiled at the birds flying above. He smiled at me… It was a warm smile.
He was too nice, but he was just a child. I'm not one to talk however.
It was… pleasant to just walk with him, even if it was a one sided conversation. I talked and he nodded, yet it was enough for me. Maybe I just needed someone to confine to. My father couldn't be here. My sister couldn't. I didn't want to tell the staff or my instructor. Maybe I just needed someone my age to talk to. Maybe this boy was here because of that need. Nevertheless, it was calming. It was comforting. I talked, he listened. It felt like- no, it was the perfect escape from my reality, from my life.
I know I'm touching and go on this, but… I can't just leave this out.
His scarf… He showed me what was under it. A scar. It was… rough. Straight across the neck. I asked what happened.
He didn't tell me. He only wanted to show me. I guess it was enough to sate my curiosity. I asked why a scarf?
"Red is the color of a hero."
He said faintly. I felt the strain in his voice as he tried to get the words out. My throat throbbed at the sound of his voice. I gulped.
Those… were the first words he wanted to say to me? I looked at him astonished and bewildered.
He just smiled and chuckled quietly. Then he crossed his index fingers over his red scarf.
I guess he can't talk anymore.
I didn't know if I should laugh with him or pity him. I sensed a dichotomy between us. My voice verses his… He was always smiling with his damaged voice, while I was frowning with my perfect voice.
I didn't know if I should envy or feel sorry for him.
I looked back to the castle, how massive yet lonely it looked. My instructor must be looking for me right now. I need to head back.
"Hey, I-"
I turned back only to stumble back and a splash of red to attack my eyes, blinding me. I fell to the ground wiping my eyes of the red… I blinked as my eye sight returned. I felt something sticky on my hands. The blurs in my eyes went away little by little until I saw the blood in my hands…
Wait… Blood? From who? I don't feel hurt…
I looked up and my breath shuddered.
The boy… He was in front of me, laying down. He's covered in red. No no. Not his scarf. His-his…
His blood.
His eyes were closed. His clothes were ruined with red. He had a wry smile.
It was cold.
"Hold still!"
I gasped as a coarse voice shouted at me. A man. A man dressed in black with a massive knife. He went for me and-
He fell.
"Are you alright, sister?"
Winter? When did you get here? I managed to get out before my mind filled with questions.
"It does not matter. Are you hurt, Weiss?" She asked as she sheathed her sword and kneeled beside me. "Is this your blood?"
"N-no." I answered. "It was hi-"
Gone. He was gone. No… something wasn't gone.
His red scarf. It got caught on a bush… A white flower bush. I-I don't know what they are. I asked Winter.
"They are roses. Are you certain you're alright? I thought you would've recognize a rose when you see one." She tended to me, looking over me for nonexistent injuries. "Whose blood is this?"
"I…" I couldn't say. I didn't want to be branded as insane... But the boy. He seemed so real. His blood was here on me! His scarf-
Winter had snatched it from the white rose bush and was using it to wipe away the blood.
"No!" I swiped it off her hands into mine. Ignoring all reasoning, I held it close to me. I held onto it tightly.
"Weiss? What's wrong?" My sister was being to worry. I heard her composure failing to mask her worries. I didn't care. I can't let this scarf go.
"Whose scarf is this? Weiss!" Winter goaded me on, shaking me. Her sisterly instincts were taking over. She just wanted answers. "Weiss, it's okay! Everything is fine! You're shuddering! Someone come here and help!"
No… No, it's not fine. He's gone. He's gone forever. I don't care if he was a hallucination. I need him to come back. I need him to take me away from here. I want to see his warm smile again…
A hero…
I'm… being ridiculous. I tried calming down. I took a deep breath.
"Weiss? Weiss! I'm here." Winter held my hands in hers. The scarf was still in my hands. His scarf…
I tightened my grip on it. He… He was my only friend…
Friend? But we just met. But… I felt… relieved. I felt… free. I never thought I could feel so free…
I looked up. Winter was looking back. She sighed in relief.
"Weiss, it's okay. You're safe. Come, let's get inside."
I nodded. We got up and went inside. The red scarf was in one hand. Winter had the other.
I didn't want to look back.
I was back in the practice room. I showered and changed out of my blood ridden dress into a new white dress. I stood alone in the light as I breathed in and out. They told me to push away the incident from my memory, but…
I can't forget about him. I don't want to. I looked down at my hands.
The red scarf. I still have it. They told me to get rid of it, but I refused. They relented after a while. Winter went to talk to father about what happened. I doubt it'll be enough to warrant a visit, but… I can only hope.
I felt how soft it was between my fingers. I straightened my mouth and fluttered my eyes in grief. I gulped and sighed. He's gone, isn't he..? My feeling of freedom. My only friend…
Wait.
I closed my eyes… and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And I snapped them open to see-
Nothing.
There was no one in the shadows in front of me.
No white hooded vest. No brown shorts. No black sandals. No blond hair… No deep blue eyes… No intertwined hands behind a back… No back…
There was only a red scarf and it's in my hands.
Red is the color of a hero…
I breathed in…
And out.
I wrapped the scarf around my neck…
It felt warm. Just like his smile.
It's like he never left. It's like he's still here with me…
A hero, huh? A ten year old heiress can be a hero too…
I began to sing…
High. Low. High. Low…
I began to feel… free.
I smiled.
I felt warm.