Any feedback and constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, especially for characterization. Thank you for reading.
The world was a difficult place.
And it was cold and unforgiving, she realized, as she wandered through the slums with what little strength she had. Even those within the dank and dirty portions of Meltokio held no mercy or pity for her. Everyone had to worry for themselves in such harsh conditions. They couldn't afford to take in a barely-clothed young woman who just happened to stumble upon this city.
She knew nothing. Her eyes welled up with tears. Absolutely nothing. She had nowhere to go, no clue where she was. No semblance of any hope within her.
When she'd woken up at the summit of a mountain with no memory whatsoever, she only had instinct to guide her. On her own, she climbed down the steep, rocky terrain, breaking her sandal and scraping her elbows and knees.
At the bottom, she thought she'd find solace in the grand, gleaming castle town further to the north. Instead, she only found rejection and wandered into the slums.
So she stayed through the night in the deepest corner of the poorest place in the world, hungry and lonely. This place...this huge town crowded with people rich and poor...if no one recognized her, then where was she to go? It was the closest place to the mountain...
Perhaps it was time to leave.
The difficulty lay in sneaking out through the entrance to the castle walls without attracting too much attention.
Lloyd's jaw fell slack.
He knew that the people of Mizuho held the best credibility when seeking out information and finding out anything all over the world. He also knew that the angels in Welgaia were not the friendliest to those outside of their race and country. But as an aristocrat, that was the extent he knew. The nobles - although they spent their days socializing and making merry with those in political power - had little to do with actual politics. They were...happy where they were. There was no reason to worry over such things as the growing threat of Welgaia.
Until now, at least. It wasn't as if Lloyd Irving was deliberately ignorant and liked it that way. He simply just wasn't aware that he wasn't aware. He was the happy sort of person who was kind, but blinded by those around him.
To have such information pushed upon him now alarmed him more than it did for the others in the room. "Well...we have to do something! How can I help? I can fight, too!" As always, the Irving heir jumped to conclusions. After all, he was well-versed in the art of swordplay, utilizing two blades. It was for fitness, really, but he enjoyed the art as well.
Zelos shook his head, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder as the king spoke, evenly and clearly. "No, no, no. We have our knights. And the Papal Knights of the Pope have grown stronger with the power and the funding we have behind the church. However, all we need is additional...donations, so to say."
"We can do that, easy!" shrugged the redheaded noble.
Sheena frowned, but didn't say anything. She and Lloyd were thinking the same thing. Was money really all that needed to be given? Surely there was something more the aristocrats could do. Lloyd protested once more, "Yeah, money isn't a problem. But...where'd this all come from? Why weren't we told earlier that something like this could happen? I thought - "
"Things will be fine," insisted the king, "There is no need for worry. The Pope has assured us that with more money, everything will settle itself and the Welgaian threat will be pushed down."
Lloyd turned to Sheena and Zelos, eyes questioning them. Did they think the same? At first, Zelos seemed skeptical, almost too serious, before covering it up with a grin. "He's right. Just give 'em some time. They'll figure it out."
Sheena, on the other hand, merely averted her gaze and crossed her arms over her ample chest.
After a moment, Lloyd reached up and ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh. "...Well, yeah, I'll give you all you need then. Just...let me know if there's anything else I can do. I want to help if this country's in danger."
"You care so much, Lloyd." Zelos grinned, reaching out to playfully pinch his companions cheeks. "You're so cute!"
"Ow - stop that!"
Before another word was said, the messenger from Mizuho stepped forward, speaking clearly and deliberately. "Your Majesty, it's best if everyone is ready. Lloyd is right. Money might not be enough. These are angels we're talking about! Not just other men, not even elves! They might - "
"Enough." A new voice bellowed through the hall of the castle, and the current occupants turned to the newcomer. The Pope stood tall, his eyebrows furrowed. "We need the extra funds to prepare the Papal Knights to infiltrate through Sylvarant, and that is all. There is no need to worry the entire country over a silly little uprising."
Sheena Fujibayashi was visibly aggravated by this as her fists clenched and she turned to the Pope fully. "W-What? It's not just a silly - !"
"Mizuho received the information we needed. We need nothing else. You've done your duty."
The king cleared his throat. "Yes, he is right. We have what we need. There is no need for mass panic."
Meanwhile, Lloyd thought, and thought. Thinking wasn't his favorite thing to do. He wasn't particularly good at it. But when he tried, he put his entire heart into it. He trusted Sheena's judgment more than the Pope's. Perhaps that went against everything in the Teachings of the Goddess, but Lloyd was one who followed instinct more than orders or lessons. Perhaps he was just born into the wrong society. Finally, he spoke. "...Wait, why are we going into Sylvarant then? Can't we just go talk to Welgaia and ask them to stop? Won't we just make both countries mad?" He scratched his chin in thought.
For a long moment, the entire room was silent.
"Well!" exclaimed Zelos, clapping a hand against Lloyd's back and breaking his concentration, "I think it's about time that Lloyd and I prepared for the princess's party!" He sent a wink to Princess Hilda, who giggled at the two gentlemen. "We'll be taking our leave now. Sheena, shall we escort you out?"
Zelos didn't wait for an answer from the Mizuho native, for he saw how terribly the female ninja seethed at the lack of seriousness the nobility of Meltokio held. He simply grabbed her elbow and curled his arm around Lloyd's neck, dragging the both of them from the hall.
"I will see you three tonight, of course! Do not make me wait!" giggled the Princess as they exited, leaving the king and the Pope to stare steadily after them.
As the doors closed behind them, Zelos finally relinquished his hold upon his companions. In the next instant, Sheena shoved away from him in anger. "How could you?" Somehow, she couldn't control her emotions around the redheaded imbecile. "I knew you were an idiot, but you can't just let this roll off your shoulders! I wouldn't have come all the way over here if it wasn't important that everyone prepares for an attack at any moment!" She whirled around to face Lloyd. "Don't you think so? Doesn't this all seem weird to you?"
Lloyd shifted his weight to one side as he nodded, not as perturbed as the ninja, but equally concerned. "Yeah. I mean, I'm willing to help with money if that's all they need, but I don't know if the Papal Knights can handle it on their own. Especially if they're moving through Sylvarant. I don't know much about it, but I don't think Sylvarant did anything...did they?"
Zelos shook his head, crossing his arms. "Stop it, both of you. The king only wants our money. Why are we thinking about it too much? Let's just give him what he wants and be done with it. If something bad happens to them, then fine, let them deal with it. Has nothing to do with me." He turned on his heel and strode off without another word, not angry, but not as jolly as he usually was.
"That stupid - ugh!" Sheena threw her hands up in the air, before taking a deep breath, glancing apologetically to Lloyd. "...Sorry. I wish we could've seen each other again under better circumstances."
Lloyd smiled genuinely, making the ninja stiffen and blush. "Don't worry about it! I'm glad you're here. Thanks for helping us out with the whole...info thing."
"Don't worry about it." She smiled. "I'm...glad to help. Anyway, I know you've been training on your own. Maybe it's best if at least one of the nobles is prepared, right?"
He shoved his hands in his pockets with a nod. "Yeah, I'll practice harder now that I know what's sort of going on. You'll be staying for a while, right?"
"Ah...y-yeah. Why?" She glanced away.
"Tonight's Princess Hilda's birthday! Stay for the party, okay? It's stuffy and everyone can be kind of stuck-up, but I could use a friend there."
Her heart dropped. "Ah...oh. Yeah, yeah, I'll be there. See you."
It was unfortunate that the marketplace was right beside the exit to the city, for it only served as a reminder to the young girl of her severe hunger.
...But it was bad to steal. She didn't remember anything about her past, or even her name or anything. But she did know that. And despite her growling stomach and her headache and malnourishment, she would not steal.
However, she couldn't stop staring at all of the beautiful food in the baskets and on the tables. The bread and the fruits looked fresh and tantalizing. Her mouth watered, and she swallowed shamefully. Why couldn't she bring herself to just turn around and leave...?
"Huh? Are you hungry, ma'am?"
The young woman blinked her wide blue eyes, and turned to the little girl who tugged at her soiled brown wrap-around skirt. This girl...was nicely dressed. Not particularly as richly as some others in this town, but dressed well enough to live comfortably. She was so young, but she had kind eyes, she decided.
"Ah...a little, but I'll be okay." The woman's voice was raspy from lack of use, but sweet and soft, and apologetic in nature.
The little girl merely shook her head and held out an apple. A delicious, plump apple, red as blood and, perhaps, wonderfully juicy when bitten. The woman's stomach growled in respone and she blushed in embarrassment.
"You can have one. Mommy says that the dirty people don't have much to eat, so..."
"I...I couldn't - I don't want to burden - !"
"Stay away from her!"
The blue-eyed young lady only blinked once before the little girl was yanked quickly out of reach by an adult woman - her mother, perhaps? And one instant later, guards surrounded her on all sides. "W-Wha - ?"
"She was trying to steal from my baby! That peasant!"
One guard, tall and menacing, approached with clanking armor and armed with a large axe. Weak enough all ready, the blonde girl fell to her knees onto the stone ground and stared up in fear. Why...why were people like this? "What are you doing out of the slums? Stealing is forbidden, especially for you people!" He spat in her direction and she flinched away, cheeks burning with fear and the shame of drawing in such a large crowd.
They...they were all staring. Laughing. Scowling. They were calling her names, saying she was dirty, like filth and slime and lower than an insect. It was frightening. Why were people so frightening? Why...?
The guard lurched forward and roughly yanked on her arm, making her weak body stand on two shaking legs. "You're going to be thrown into the dungeon! And we'll decide what to do with you then!" Tears rolled down her cheeks. His grip was bruising...
"P-Please stop...it hurts..."
And as soon as it begun, it ended. A firm hand, clean and strong, placed itself on the hand that gripped her arm tightly. "Hey! She's a lady!"
"But...Sir Irving - !"
"No buts! Uhh...she's...she's with me!"
The blonde finally gained the strength to look up. Her blue eyes took him in. Someone very rich? Brown hair, with a white coat, and a red scarf that hung behind him in two long straps. He...had the same innocent and kind look that the little girl held moments before.
Even in the midst of all of this, she wished that everyone had those kinds of eyes.
Lloyd stared down at the dirt-covered, bruised, shaking girl with concern. People who lived in the slums rarely left. He was never faced with poverty. He never ventured into those parts of town because of rumors that it simply wasn't safe.
And yet, just like this, his eyes were open. How was he this blind for so long? Were all people treated like this?
"...With you, Sir?"
"Y-Yeah!" He smiled encouragingly at the young girl. "I sent her down to get me some stuff! For uhh...lunch! I was going to make sandwiches, but my butler was busy."
"...Forgive the intrusion, Sir." The knight released her, and she felt her muscles fail her. She was just so tired. Before she could crumple to the ground, unconscious, Lloyd reached out to catch her, hefting her up into his arms.
"Look what you did," he admonished the guards as he adjusted her body to cradle against him, "You wore her out! Tch, don't let me catch you treating anyone like this again or I'll tell the king! Or...something!" He swallowed thickly, before adjusting his hold again and walking off toward the main stairs.
She was light. Much too light. The girls that lived around him were always so wellfed and clean and taken care of.
Lloyd knew he had a party to get ready for, but...he felt that today was a day for change. And he was optimistic about it.