.
"I tried to sneak up and hug someone from behind... I'll have to try harder next time!"
.
.
"I love you, Mama!"
Smiling, Maygen replied in kind to her daughter, and watched her skip off to continue whatever task she had been assigned. The brunette sighed, asking Cordelia beside her, "Isn't she wonderful?"
"Yes..." The pegasus knight leaned against her lance in a surprisingly relaxed manner. She inquired slowly, "But, doesn't it get rather... excessive?"
"Hm? What, her saying "I love you"?" Laughing, the dark mage admitted, "I'm not sure I'll get enough of it."
Cordelia frowned. "Even though she just came by a few minutes ago and said the same?"
"I used to do that with my father," admitted the brunette. She smiled wryly at the thought. "He was more of your opinion, of course. Said he already knew, and that I shouldn't say it as often or it would lose its meaning."
Eyeing her expression, Cordelia ventured, "But you're of a differing opinion, I take it?"
"It's certainly not the most annoying habit to have," Maygen argued, returning her focus to the levin swords she had been charging. "And sometimes, you can't help but say it."
The redhead sighed, seeming regretful.
"It's not even a little annoying?"
"Not in the slightest."
"Huh." Cordelia shifted her weight, murmuring, "You've more patience than I, then. I can't imagine how my older self managed Severa's more... interesting traits."
It wasn't difficult to gather what she meant. The dark-haired girl was proud, difficult to please, and constantly seeking attention from the others. But everyone has their flaws, Maygen thought, and aloud she asked, "But you still love her, don't you?"
"What?" The redhead almost looked offended by the question. "Of course I do! She's my daughter!"
"Then the rest doesn't matter, does it?"
Cordelia frowned. "I wouldn't quite put it like that... but I understand your sentiment."
Smiling warmly, the dark mage concluded with a simple, "That's how I feel."
Repeatedly telling someone that a cup was blue didn't change the intensity of its color, so she didn't understand why love would be any different. Even if every minute was filled with an "I love you," the feeling behind those words wouldn't diminish with repetition. If anything, it could only snowball. It didn't matter how annoyed she might feel, or overwhelmed, or how hopeless their fight against destiny seemed.
"Mama!"
There she is. Maygen grinned. She'd had a feeling her daughter was going to pass by again. She left the tent to grab something earlier, and appeared to have forgotten it when she saw me.
The ginger-haired girl bounced as she came up to her, eyes bright as stars even as she tucked her hands behind her. She stammered, "I-I love you, Mama! Er, I know I already said that, but -"
"I love you too, Valri," replied Maygen, unable to keep her smile from growing. She had to blink a few times to dissuade tears from forming because of how much this simple gesture made Valri's entire face light up.
This time, she was rewarded with a hug. And although she had to gasp that she was having trouble breathing, her tears weren't the result of pain so much as a bittersweet joy.
.
Glad there are some people who don't mind reading things written around OCs! Personally, I find it fun. Especially if it's an entire cast of Feroxi! Not gonna lie, I have, like, enough characters to write a Regna Ferox sitcom. Been considering it, but there are other things I'd want to put out first. To test the waters, I guess? I dunno. Readers, share your thoughts!
-Dragon