"This is our secret place." The woman with beautiful purple hair and stunning green eyes smiles. "Our garden of glass." She holds out her hand for Eli to take.
The view is breathtaking. The garden is so beautiful and green, with many different colored flowers, mostly lilies. Even the mysterious woman makes Eli's heart skip a beat. Eli places her hand in the other woman's. She takes the other woman in her arms. She feels warm all over and she can't help but smile. "Tell me your name." Eli whispers into her ear. Instead, she feels a hand cup her cheek and is met with those wonderful green eyes again. As Eli stares back she can't help but get lost in those eyes. She can see the other woman's face getting closer, Eli doesn't fight it.
She closes her eyes and right when she thinks she will feel the other woman's lips, she wakes up from her deep slumber.
Eli sits up and gasps for air. She holds her hand over her cheek. All the warmth she felt was gone. She can't help but feel empty and cold.
It takes her a little bit but Eli gets up and begins her morning routine. She notices that her roommate and sister, Umi, has already woken up and left. Eli pays no mind and starts to freshen up. After fixing her long blonde hair into a tight ponytail, she opens her closet and finds her uniform hanging. It consists of a long-sleeved black jacket with two rows of gold buttons on the front and red details including the shoulder epaulets. Three red stripes are at the sleeves of the jacket, symbolizing that it is a Royal Guard Uniform. A gold chord passes diagonally over the right shoulder and along with that, she has to wear a pair of white gloves and a red standard belt. The pants that go with it are black and she has to wear knee high black boots.
Eli slips on her pants and puts on her boots before putting on her jacket. She fixes her uniform nicely and dusts off the Minami family crest that is pinned onto the left side of her jacket. There's also a peaked cap and cape that goes along with the rest of the uniform but it's not required unless you leave the kingdom. Eli then picks up her katana and fixes it to sit on her left hip. She takes one last look in the mirror and sighs. She wants to see that woman again.
"Eli?" A familiar voice calls. Eli turns around and spots Umi, in the same uniform and with her weapon on her hip. "Did you have a that dream again? I can see it in the way you're walking." She catches up to the blonde and pats her back. Eli can only sigh in response. "C'mon, maybe a nice breakfast will cheer you up."
Eli absentmindedly follows Umi out of their quarters. As she follows behind Umi, she gazes up at the castle.
The Minami Kingdom. Known as one of the biggest and most influential kingdoms throughout the land of Otonokizaka. That's where Eli and Umi reside, giving their lives to serve the Royal Family. The two young girls play a vital role in the future of this kingdom.
Eli is from the Ayase family, known for their excellent swordsmanship and archery. Eli's father is the current commander of the Royal Guard. As for Umi, she is the last of the Sonoda family. When Umi was young, her mother died due to illness and when she was 7, her father died in the line of duty. Eli's father and Umi's father were very close, so there was no way that Umi would be left alone on the streets. She was adopted into Eli's family and they grew up together.
As girls in the Ayase family, they were not forced to undergo harsh training to become knights. But Eli wanted to be like her father and make him proud so she followed his foot steps. As for Umi, she looked for any way to pay back the Ayase family and become useful. So Eli and Umi were trained from a young age to become knights, like many in the Ayase family before them. Now at the age of 17 and 16, Eli and Umi were acknowledged as knights of the Royal Guard. They spend everyday working hard for the Minami family. Their most important job, is to protect the princess, Kotori. Their job isn't that hard, because the princess never leaves the kingdom but they know not to take it lightly.
"Eli." Umi waves her hand in front of Eli's face.
"Huh?" Eli mutters. Umi points in front of Eli. She had a plate of food in front of her.
"Eat while it's still warm, we've got to get to the princess soon." Umi starts eating her food. Eli nods and begins eating too. She can't help but think about her dream again.
Every couple of days she dreams of the beautiful woman with purple hair and green eyes. It makes Eli irritated because she's never even met her.
Both girls head to the tallest tower in the castle. That's where Kotori's room is. Umi is the first to the door and she knocks, "Excuse me, Princess. It's Sonoda and Ayase." Inside the princess's room, we hear a thud. "Princess?!" Umi yells and opens the door. Eli rushes in behind Umi.
There was no intruder but their fragile princess on the floor rubbing her head. "Ow..." She mutters. Both Eli and Umi let out a sigh of relief. Umi holds out her hand for Kotori.
"Princess, what happened? Did you hurt your head bad?" Umi asks. Kotori takes her hand and Umi helps her up.
"Um...I was...I just tripped! That's all." She laughs. Umi looks back at Eli but she just shrugs. "G-Good morning, Umi-chan, Eli-chan."
"P-Princess, there's no need for you to address us like that, surely we're not very imp-" Umi waves her hands frantically.
"Umi." Eli puts her hand on Umi's shoulder. "We have this same conversation everyday. And everyday I tell you the same thing. Whatever the princess wants, she will get." Eli winks at Kotori and she chuckles.
"Thank you, Eli-chan."
"Only for you, princess." Eli and Kotori laugh at Umi who just sighs.
"Ugh..." Umi mutters, "I have to make my rounds..." She gives us a small wave and exits Kotori's room.
"She's so cute...I love a girl in uniform." Kotori mutters. Eli looks at her and smirks. Kotori realizes she spoke out loud and her face reddens.
"I know Kotori-chan." She nods in approval. "But I'll spare you from the teasing today. Do you have a couple minutes?" Kotori nods her head and ushers Eli to sit down on her desk chair. "I had the dream again."
"Oh!" Kotori perks up. "The one with the garden and the pretty woman?"
"Yeah..." Eli's eyes move toward the window. She stands up and looks out at the blue sky. "I don't even know why I have these dreams. It makes me feel so warm inside but I can't have it and it sucks." She sighs.
A short pause and Kotori gasps. Eli turns back and sees Kotori rummaging through her night stand. "Aha!" She pulls out a letter. "Look at this!" Kotori hands the letter to Eli. It was decorated with hearts and glitter. Eli reads the letter aloud.
"You are invited to Nishikino Maki's 16th Birthday Party/Masquerade Ball." Eli says.
"What if you see your dream girl there?" Kotori says excitedly.
"Eh...She's probably not even real." She scratches her head. Kotori shrugs and walks in front of her mirror, checking on her outfit for the day.
"Would you like to come?" Kotori asks.
"Of course. I couldn't let my princess leave the castle by herself." Eli says proudly. She can't let her emotions get ahold of her duty. She's got to ditch the sad act and start being the knight she is.
"I like to ask anyway, you guys are my friends!"
"And also your knights."
"But my friends." Kotori turns around and gives Eli a warm smile. "I care about your well being as well as Umi-chan's."
"A party?" Umi stops and turns to Eli and Kotori. Umi returned from her rounds to walk Kotori to her study.
"Yeah! It'll be so much fun. Are you and Eli-chan going to wear masks too?" Kotori smiles at Umi. Eli knows that Umi can't resist Kotori's smile. She herself may not have realized it, but Eli for sure knows they both like each other.
"U-Uh...I have to wear protection!" Umi blurts out.
There's a long pause before Eli starts laughing, leaving both Umi and Kotori to be blushing messes. Eli laughs so hard that she holds her stomach, "Oh man...Umi, never change." She pats Umi on the back and continues walking. "Kotori-chan, Umi will dress up with you, and I'll just do my usual job. Umi needs a break, plus she can keep an eye on you better if she's with you the whole evening like that. Take her as like, your date or plus one."
"D-Date?!" They both blurt out. Eli chuckles.
"A-Absolutely not!" Umi yells. "It's our duty to protect the princess, we can't fool around." Eli turns around and shakes her head.
"What do you say, princess? Does that sound like a good plan?" Eli grins and gives Kotori a knowing look.
"That does actually. I would love to see Umi-chan dance!" Kotori winks at Eli and Umi turns to her in shock.
"Whatever the princess wants, she gets!" Eli laughs. Umi's face turns red in embarrassment.
"It's next week, I can help you pick out an outfit!" Kotori latches onto Umi's arm and she faints. She falls to the ground with a big thud. "Umi-chan?!"
"Oh dear." Is all Eli can say.