Phew, was a little close to the wire with this one, but here we are. Not much to say here, but I hope you enjoy.
Beta: Zaru
Winter was beautiful. Few who had experienced it, truly experienced it, could easily deny that.
Oceans of white that set the fields aglitter in even the faintest of sunlight, swirling frost that danced on the playful breeze. Mirrors of ice that captured the beauty of the sky above and reflected it back, with an ease the greatest of artists would struggle to match.
Winter was dangerous. Few who had experienced it, truly experienced it, could easily deny that.
Those oceans of white could claim you just as easily as the oceans that surrounded their lands, that frost could bite so deeply it could gnaw on your bones. When those mirrors cracked to reveal the watery worlds beneath, one false step would drag you into a world from which few ever returned.
He imagined that if Winter had taken shape to walk among mortals like him, Winter would look just like her.
Or perhaps not. Winter had been around a lot longer than some shy lass who looked barely his daughters age.
The lass was gazing patiently, politely at him, as if waiting on his words.
As if she hadn't bared her fury at a vague facsimile of a human like him, and bestowed upon it a fate that made him glad it had never been alive.
"And where," he began, cautiously, "Did you learn to do things like that, lass?"
To think, she'd seemed so frail and delicate. Magic was the great equalizer in that sense.
"Oh." Came the lyrical, if faintly puzzled sounding whisper. "Haru-sama suggested I aim at the weak-points." The way she spoke hinted that this 'suggestion' may as well have been a god's decree.
He could only assume this 'Haru-sama' (odd name for a lad, but who was he to judge?) was the young, sleepy-looking Thief who had dropped off this pretty young lass for her evaluation.
Considering that the poor straw dummy had less been 'struck' so much as 'systematically and ruthlessly crippled', he could easily see a Thief's influence at work.
She'd fired on the the target with arrow-length icicles that she'd woven out into the air and then directed them just like, well, arrows.
Into the head, taking one eye but missing the other (though still gouging the skull in a clearly fatal manner), one through the throat, and several where joints should be.
The one below the tattered rope that served to imitate a belt was just cruel, he felt.
Her aim still needed a little work, but that she'd fired on it half a dozen times, without the slightest hint of exhaustion, certainly spoke to her potential.
Wizard Sarai had the distinct impression that teaching this 'Yukio' [Magic Missile] would be a waste of her time at best. At worst, her attempting to use it would slow her down, since conventional Mages, and in fact, most spell-casters, needed chants to cast spells.
Considering that the lass could freeze things when startled, as his beard had nearly discovered when he first appeared for her evaluation, Yukio didn't even need concentration.
Sarai was unfamiliar with the races of Zipangu himself, but it wasn't hard to surmise that these 'Yuki-Onna' were most likely descended from Ice Elementals, or something of that nature.
Magic was not so much something she did, so much as something she was. The power of winter was her birthright, and the more she wielded it, the more of it she would be able to bring to bear.
Perhaps, he mused, it was more apt to consider Yukio less of an inexperienced spell-caster, and moreso a nascent force of nature.
One last little test, then, merely to confirm a theory of his and make instructing her easier.
The lass had passed, of course. In terms of combat experience she was more or less on par with a trainee, meaning almost none. In terms of power and ability, however, she was equivalent to a reservist Mage with a year or two under his belt.
"Lass, go on and shut your eyes for me." Sarai continued his instruction as her eyes fluttered shut obediently, lifting one of his hands. "Now, I'm going to cast a spell, and I want you to explain any sensations you might feel because of it."
Not wasting any time, a short incantation and a tracing of his hand through the air brought a trio of blackish purple orbs into existence, dancing in the air.
[Shadow Echo]. A mid-upper level spell of the Darsh, or Shadow school of magic. Not particularly harmful by itself, but total paralysis on the battlefield opened one up to many things that were harmful.
A worried frown on her face as her features tightened, Yukio shied away, lifting one hand to shield her face.
"Well, go on girl. Explain." Came the impatient grunt.
"Forgive me… The heat… It is most unpleasant…"
"Heat, is it? You don't say, hmm..." The orbs vanished, and so did the tension in the Yuki-Onna's shoulders, Yukio giving a soft exhale of relief. "And this?"
With the faintest whisper on the wind, this spell, of the Darsh school once more, brought the old Wizard's own shadow looming out of the ground to embrace him, washing over him like water, and causing the world around him to dim slightly.
[Shadow Armor]. The first defensive spell learned in that particular school of magic, a spell that interposed one's own shadow between themselves and an attack.
Yukio's response was to tilt her head to one side, a faint, curious smile tugging at her lips. Slender hands lifted themselves seemingly of their own accord, presenting a demeanor similar to one warming herself by a campfire.
"Ahh… How nice."
"Hoh, in what way?" Sarai asked, despite feeling confident he already knew the answer.
"It is… Cool. Comforting." Yukio explained, somewhat hesitantly.
"That so, huh? Well, that tells me all I need to know, go ahead and open your eyes." Sarai instructed, though not before dispelling his magic once more.
Glacial blue eyes regarded him closely, expectantly.
"It is simple enough, lass. That first incantation produced no heat, nor did the second one chill the air." Yukio blinked in confusion as he explained. "Having you close your eyes forced you to rely on other senses, and so what you were sensing was the magic itself, rather than anything physical." He allowed himself a small smile as realization began to dawn in his erstwhile students eyes.
"Anyone who can sense magic will sense if in their own way. For a Yuki-Onna like you, feeling it in the fluctuation of temperature makes a certain kind of sense. Offensive magic is unpleasantly warm, while kinder spells seem nice and cool." Sarai concluded, pleased to see the Yuki-Onna nod in understanding.
"I see... "
"As for the results of your evaluation…" His heart gave a little twinge as she stiffened in concern, even if he was used to seeing that worry displayed among his students, dealing with it was no more pleasant than it had ever been.
"You pass."
Another soft exhale, the Yuki-Onna gently placing one hand over her heart.
"Though, don't think it ends there. I'll have you attend some smaller lessons when you have the time, teach you what a Mage is expected to know out in the field."
" I would be… Grateful… Thank you." Yukio gave a small bow, a gentle smile on her face.
Sarai waved her away with a grunt.
"We'll talk later. Go see your party and get some rest, lass."
Yukio gave another bow and turned on her heel with a whisper of cloth.
"Ah, and las- Yukio?"
"... Yes?"
"Welcome to the Guild."
She'd passed. She'd passed.
She wouldn't have to separate from them- him for any significant length of time.
She wouldn't have to risk being left behind, she wouldn't have to be all alone, she wouldn't have to-
With a suddenness that made her heart skip a beat, the world fell away before a pair of rich hazel eyes.
Shimmering with a warmth that despite her heritage, Yukio only wished to draw closer to.
She blinked in confusion when the warmth gave way to clear concern and a trace of confusion, belatedly realizing that he'd just spoken to her.
"... Yukio?" Ah, he said her name. How wonderful.
"Yes, Haru-sama?"
"... You alright?"
... Much better now that he asked.
"... Yes."
"Did you…?"
"Oh… I passed."
Haruhiro let slip a relieved sigh before smiling once more, the poor woman feeling her heartbeat quicken as the warmth returned with a vengeance.
"That's great, Yukio. Well done."
"Thank you." She must have been making quite the face herself, because Haruhiro's gaze wavered as he turned away, scratching his head bashfully.
"Yay! Good work Yukio!" Yukio jumped a little at Tio's enthusiastic cheer, having not actually realized that all three of her companions were there.
That must have been easily apparent, because Tio averted her gaze as well, one rich brown hand failing to conceal the edges of a sly grin.
"Yes, well done, Yukio." Centorea joined in from Haruhiro's other side, an approving smile on her face.
Having recovered, Haruhiro stood up abruptly from the bench he'd apparently been seated upon this whole time -how was she to know- and brushed his legs off in a manner that seemed more habit than anything else.
"You must be worn out after all that. Ready for a break?" Haruhiro asked, casually assessing her as he spoke.
Yukio didn't respond right away, so of course he leaned a little closer.
"Yukio? You alright?" Haruhiro fretted, unaware that his proximity was making things more difficult.
"Guess you are tired. Here, sit down." Haruhiro gently caught her by the arm and directed her to the bench, his usual shyness overshadowed by his concern.
"I-I am well… Haru-sama." She protested, in a voice that only seemed to concern him further. "J-Just feeling a little faint, I think."
Haruhiro nodded with a soft frown, eyes scanning her with an intensity that set the poor Yuki-Onna's heart aflutter.
This time, not only Tio, but Centorea had averted their gazes.
Despite that, Yukio just knew they were both smiling.
She could hardly blame them.
Brittany's pub was almost empty at this time of day, a few hours before most adventurers returned from their work for the day.
Yukio, thankfully, had bounced back rather quickly after having time to sit, relax, and have a meal and a drink.
They'd reported her success to Brittany, and Yukio had reported that she'd be expected to report to the Mages Guild for supplementary lessons. They'd only be a few hours at a time, and she wasn't expected to rush provided she made an effort to complete them in a reasonable timeframe.
She didn't seem particularly bothered by it, so Haruhiro let the last of the tension slide from his shoulders unnoticed. By him, anyways. While they'd all been a bit worried after her poor reaction to the thought of separation -Tio having been informed in private- Haruhiro, it seemed, had borne those worries more heavily than the other two.
Another mark in his favor, that he'd likely never know of.
With one immediate concern out of the way and everyone comfortable, Haruhiro decided now was as good a time as any to get the last of the heavy topics out of the way.
"So…" Haruhiro began, waiting to make sure he had everyone's attention (unaware that he'd always had it)- "I think it's time we made a decision about our participation in the raid."
"I concur. What have you decided, Haru?" Centorea asked.
Haruhiro took a moment to meet everyone's eyes before he weighed in.
"I think we can do it. We still have almost a week and a half to brush up on our teamwork, but I'm already feeling pretty confident in it. I vote in favor."
The girls blinked in surprise, and a confused Haruhiro faltered.
"... Am I the only one?" Haruhiro laughed awkwardly, suddenly feeling very small.
"N-No… Excuse me, Haru." Centorea interjected rapidly. " I am sworn to your service, and thus had intended to abide by whatever decision you made. I simply did not expect a vote."
Shockingly, Yukio and Tio both nodded in immediate agreement.
"...Me?" Haruhiro asked, pointing hesitantly at himself. Sure, he was supposed to be Cerea's Master, even if he didn't quite know what that meant, but the other two…?
Three heads nodded in sync once more.
"You brought us together, Haru." Cerea began, after exchanging glances with Yukio and Tio. "It makes sense that you would lead us. After all, you've already demonstrated the skill to do so."
He had…? When exactly?
"Yep, if someone's gonna lead us it's definitely gotta be Haru!" Tio chirped, grinning for emphasis.
"... I believe so as well." Yukio offered in quiet accord.
Haruhiro blinked slowly, not quite looking at anyone.
Him? Why him? He wasn't a leader, Manato was a leader, and Haruhiro had been helpless when his friend had almost died.
Brought them together? He'd panicked and stumbled desperately through each encounter, it was luck and luck alone that had 'saved' them.
Unaware in his inner turmoil, the three concerned women reached another silent consensus as Haruhiro dropped his gaze towards his hands.
He nearly leapt out of his seat when a delicate hand slid in from the side to grasp both of his, a firm but gentle grip hinting at the strength within.
He twisted his head up to meet a pair of sky blue eyes and a smile both compassionate and full of firm conviction.
"Master." Cerea's elegant tone commanded his attention, even if she spoke barely above a whisper. " This is not a decision we make lightly. I pledged my life to your service, and I am far from the only one with faith in your judgement."
They were smiling at him. They were all smiling at him.
… Why?
"So please, Haru. If you do not feel yourself worthy of the role, for now, it is enough to have faith that we believe you worthy." As she spoke, Cerea gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, her other hand over her heart.
Desperately, Haruhiro fought down his knee jerk reaction to avert his gaze. Something deep down told him that such an action could only cause harm.
Instead, he closed his eyes for a moment and took a long, slow breath, tightening his grip on the warm hand intertwined in his own.
The smiles directed at Haruhiro widened as his eyes slowly opened and met Centorea's without wavering, warm brown gazing deeply into clear blue.
"If that's what everyone wants, then okay." Haruhiro shifted his eyes to meet those of Yukio and Tio in turn, unaware that he'd left a slightly flustered Centaur in his wake, or that the steel in his eyes was having the same effect on everyone it fell upon.
"I'll lead you, but…" They hung on his every word. "Whenever possible, I want us to make decisions together. Leading you in the field doesn't put me above you, we're a team… A party."
The trio of women shared another set of warm smiles with each other before directing them at him.
"Understood, Haru."
"You bet!"
"... As you wish."
"Now, with that out of the way… What are your thoughts?" Haruhiro asked, pleased that they'd reached an understanding, but also fervently wishing the focus would shift before his nerves failed again.
"I believe we are ready. Individually I do not feel we lack the necessary ability, and when assessed as a whole my confidence only grows. Granted, this is not something I have experienced before, but I believe that at as long as we keep our heads, and stand together that we will prevail. We won't be alone in this undertaking, after all." Centorea stated clearly, confidence mixing with just a trace of eagerness.
He could imagine this was a battle worthy of a Knight, so no real surprises there.
Tio nudged Yukio gently, encouraging her to make her thoughts known next.
"I will follow Haru-sama's will… But I also… Do not wish to be afraid any longer. I wish to… Take a stand…" Yukio fidgeted, and her already quiet voice dropped further in volume. "T-Together with…"
All of you.
Some words didn't need to be spoken to be understood.
After a patient pause to ensure Yukio was finished, Tio spoke up with her usual sunny smile.
'I think we can do it! I said it before, but when a team comes together so quickly that's 'cause it's meant to be!" Tio declared, pumping both fists with girlish enthusiasm.
"... That's that then." Haruhiro spoke, making to rise from his seat, but slowly halting and lowering his gaze. It seemed he was still holding hands with Cerea, as he let his gaze drift back upwards to the fondly smiling Centaur.
As his gaze lowered once more, she gave his hand one last reassuring squeeze and released it, her smile widening as Haruhiro, almost unconsciously, flexed his hand as if squeezing, staring at it with an odd, but not displeased expression.
As he rose once more from his seat to go off and speak with Brittany, Centorea let her vision follow the absent minded smile of her Master and decided that this was a step in the right direction, in more ways than one.
Judging from the other two gazes that followed the young man's footsteps, she wasn't the only one.
The wind above him distorted from a massive blow that would might have taken his head clean off if he hadn't ducked underneath it.
The long weapon looped cleanly around his attackers head for another strike, and Haruhiro side-stepped, limbs vibrating from the force as [Swat] nudged the trajectory further towards that tiny gap between hit and miss.
Shifting his weight, Haruhiro attempted to close the distance, slipping past the lowered weapon to plunge his own towards his opponents chest. The difference in reach was too great for him to capitalize quickly enough, however, and his strike was firmly rebuffed, pushing him past and away.
Rather than recover from his stumble, Haruhiro went with the momentum, turning it into a short dash, past his foe. Reversing his motion sharply, Haruhiro whirled towards his opponents back, ready to pounce and find-
A somewhat slender, but still sturdy hoof, halted inches from his chest.
"Oops." Haruhiro said, halting his attack and lowering the slender wooden 'dagger' in his hand.
"Oops indeed." Centorea chuckled, lowering her hoof and turning slowly to face him with a thoughtful smile on her face.
"If I may, Haru." Centorea began, Haruhiro straightening up and watching her intently. "I believe the issue may be that you're a bit too familiar with fighting foes of somewhat… Similar shape."
Haruhiro decided he'd deny his first thought was her chest, if asked.
"Goblins or Orcs, with the occasional pit rat, correct?" Haruhiro nodded with her words.
"Putting aside that the vermin for now, Goblins and Orcs have the same number of limbs and a similar bodily structure to a human." Centorea explained. "One must be mindful of any potential weapons a foe may bring to bear that you might not possess, and thus, sparring with someone of a different body type, for example a Centaur such as I, will be good practice."
Looking oddly smug about something Haruhiro couldn't understand, Centorea's gallant voice rang with pride.
"Indeed, such experiences will promote flexibility in your tactics, which will serve you well in the future when we challenge more challenging foes, such as Dragons."
Yeah, okay, he could follow that kind of logic-
Wait, what was that about Dragons?
Noticing the fire in the Knight's eyes, Haruhiro felt a shiver go up his spine.
While Centorea was distracted with visions of heroically bearing down upon one of those legendary fiends, lance in hand (and a certain someone on her back), Haruhiro directed his gaze to another portion of the field, some distance away.
There, despite the mid-spring breeze and the sea of healthy green grass surrounding them on all sides, a snowball fight was currently being fought.
Adding to the bizarre nature of the spectacle was that the target of the admittedly one-sided pelting was girded in heavy half-plate, a large wooden shield working diligently to ward off the assault.
In contrast, the attacker was dressed in a loose, short robe that fluttered decadently in the breeze, even as her lovely eyes narrowed in focus.
No, it really was training, he swore.
Yukio and Tio were a bit too mismatched as sparring partners, Yukio, despite her lack of combat training, was swift and flexible, but Tio, cute and gentle though she may be, was still an Ogre. A poorly received blow, even with Tio's careful restraint, could snap the fragile Yuki-Onna in half.
So for now, Centorea had suggested target practice against a moving foe, and thus it was snowballs, rather than icicles, filling the air around Yukio and sailing towards Tio in volley after volley.
It was decent practice for the Crusader as well, Yukio's high rate of fire, and limited ability to fire from a variety of angles, was perhaps the closest they'd get to training defence against the multitude of archers they'd no doubt face in the upcoming raid.
That, and Yukio was still a bit timid, and afraid to direct any violence greater than this against her comrades. One step at a time, for now, in the several days they'd spent training and going on small incursions into the forest, she was mostly doing physical training to improve her somewhat lackluster stamina.
While the duo continued their training that a smiling Tio was no doubt viewing with the utmost gravity, a gentle tap on his shoulder garnered Haruhiro's attention once more.
"Ready for another round, Haru?" Centorea inquired softly.
"Yeah, let's do this." Haruhiro took some distance, dropping into a low stance and raising both hands in front of him, his empty hand leading while the other held the short branch serving as his 'dagger' in a reverse grip.
Setting herself with the sturdy tree branch she was using in place of her sword, Centorea offered a challenging smile.
At some unspoken signal, Haruhiro dashed forward, the lovely Knight meeting him partway.
That was one thing he'd noticed from his time with Cerea. While their running speeds were no reasonable comparison, it seemed like a Centaur like her wasn't built for sudden bursts of speed like he was, not from a dead halt. So despite the usual differences in speed, Haruhiro actually crossed the distance faster than Cerea could manage.
Not confident in parrying a blow in full swing, Haruhiro stepped right into the arc of Centorea's horizontal sweep, driving his weight behind his dagger before Cerea's longer weapon could build up any momentum.
He'd learned his lesson in their first spar, when a full-on blow that he 'blocked' sent him rolling end over end. For at least the reason of avoiding the panicked apology that had followed Centorea's victory, if nothing else.
Sliding his dagger up the wooden sword, Haruhiro brought it down sharply at an angle, aiming to brush it against the Centaurs slender wrists. A real blade, should it connect, would rob at least one hand of its function.
It was not to be, however, as Cerea foiled his aim by pulling her sword in towards herself, then shoving sharply with the hilt of her weapon.
Rather than a futile attempt to match strength, Haruhiro allowed himself to be forced back by locking his blade against hers, leaning back just enough to avoid the quick swipe directed at him before immediately closing in.
Another useful feature of sparring with Cerea, or Tio, for Haruhiro was that both had longer reach than he did, even before you factored in their significantly longer weapons.
While the differences between the two beauties and Orcs were night and day, and he'd never make the comparison, especially out loud, it was a fact that every Orc he'd ever face was stronger, had better reach, and was likely more heavily armed. Honestly, considering the difference in mass, an unarmed Orc likely outmatched him in raw brute force.
After several more swift exchanges, Haruhiro saw the opening he was looking for.
The tree branch thrust at him like a spear, and Haruhiro's [Swat] looped out in a high arc, so rather than directing the blow away from himself, Cerea's weapon was carried along and forced over his head, putting Haruhiro on the outside edge.
Leaping forward, Haruhiro passed along Cerea's flank, and, unable to turn with him, the Centaur shifted her weight and knocked against him, staggering Haruhiro and destroying his balance.
In theory.
Instead, Haruhiro had passed his dagger off to his other hand as he moved, and his now empty right hand caught on to Cerea's belt. Rather than stumble, the Thief was kept upright by the Centaurs own mass, and allowed himself to be carried along as Cerea had instantly turned to capitalize on his weakness. A mighty push of the legs, and Haruhiro swung himself into the air, a maneuver that would have sent them both tumbling.
Would have, had Centorea not possessed the stability of four limbs on the ground.
Rather, the match ended with Haruhiro saddled on Cerea's back, one hand still grasping her belt, and the other resting a slender length of wood against the smooth skin of her neck.
Centorea lifted her hands in surrender, Haruhiro unable to see the proud smile on her face.
"Well done, Haru."
"Thanks. Surprised that worked, actually."
Blonde hair whipping about, Centorea shook her head in calm denial.
"I am not." She admitted. "You are nimble enough to pull off such a maneuver, and in truth it is difficult to defend my back from such tactics if I cannot unseat my opponent."
"That makes sense, I suppose, defending your back is hard for anyone I imagine." Haruhiro responded quietly, sliding of Centorea's back. "Well, guess, I'll just do it for you."
Centorea let out a little 'eep' at the nonchalant promise.
"I-Indeed! Yes, I will leave it you! Y-You have my gratitude, Master." The Centaur stammered.
Haruhiro fidgeted a bit and looked away, courage spent as he mumbled a response.
As her rapidly beating heart slowed, Centorea watched her Master shuffle awkwardly and let slip a quiet sigh.
One step at a time, she supposed.
They finished off the days practice by switching partners, Centorea and Tio engaging in a thunderous clash, while Yukio and Haruhiro played what was essentially tag. The only difference was that Yukio was using snowballs, and Haruhiro had to close the distance without being hit to tap her with his hand.
Just like that, the day of the raid drew closer and closer.
"You guys made a decision yet?"
"We put it to a vote yesterday, so we've signed on as well." Manato said, swirling the ale in his cup.
He and Haruhiro were currently sitting together in Sherry's Tavern - a popular location for the reservists- sharing a drink after dinner.
Haruhiro wasn't sure what Moguzo or Ranta were off doing, but he was aware that his own party had become Yume's party for at least the last few hours, Yume having kidnapped the girls to join her in doing Yume things.
Tio's meeting with Yume had lasted long enough for them to make eye contact before they had become friends for life. Each possessing a bright-eyed, girlish enthusiasm and an infectiously friendly demeanor, they'd immediately swept up the girls of both parties (save Mary, who had made a cunning exit more worthy of a Thief than a Priest), and charged off to who knows where.
Two more kindred spirits had been discovered, as both Yukio and Shihoru had been dragged off with unspoken pleas for mercy directed towards their respective leaders.
Haruhiro and Manato, however, were kindred spirits as well, averting their gazes in perfect sync as the shy girls of the parties were dragged away to an uncertain fate. They weren't really worried about them, after all.
Both Tio and Yume shared a keen-eyed compassion underneath their cheerful demeanors.
"Be nice to have some friendly faces among the raid team, I'm a little worried about how the other parties will react to the girls." Haruhiro admitted. As far as he knew, his was the only party in Altana not solely comprised of humans.
"Had the same thought. We'll try to stick close, okay? A few friendly faces should help put them at ease, though I doubt anyone is going to make too big a fuss. Bigger things to worry about and all that." Manato mused. "Well, I was going to suggest our parties team up for the raid anyways, so this way is more convenient, really."
"Guess so. Thanks, we'll be counting on you."
Saying that, Haruhiro extended his mug, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Offering his usual easy grin, Manato tapped his own mug against Haruhiro's in toast.
"We'll be in your care, then."
He hadn't quite figured it out yet, but looking up at the night sky had always put Haruhiro at ease.
Something about those pinpricks of light twinkling at him across an ocean of black made his worries, of which he had many, seem so small and insignificant.
Taking a long, slow exhale as he leaned against the wall, an odd sense of satisfaction fell across him.
He'd never told anyone, but by the time he'd encountered Cerea in the woods, Haruhiro had already given up.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say he'd resigned himself. His original party hadn't really 'chosen' each other so much as they'd been the leftovers that had huddled together out of fear and desperation It was only when Manato stepped forward that they became anything like a 'party'.
That had been fun while it lasted, he supposed (though 'fun' was really just for lack of a better word), but he'd never been able to shake that sense of distance, that nagging sense of being just a step out of time with everyone else around him. The bizarre feeling of disconnection, as if this was all a dream, and any day now he'd wake up to a life he no longer remembered.
Then he'd managed to rescue Centorea in a fight that he still struggled to believe he'd won, and something had fallen into place. Maybe it was the way she looked at him, that feeling that when Cerea looked at him, he was the only thing she was seeing. For perhaps the first time, something felt real, and Haruhiro came alive.
They'd fought side by side with Renji and his party, and saved Yukio, and for the briefest of instants, Haruhiro felt like he'd done some real good.
Meeting Tio wasn't nearly as hectic, but he couldn't help but smile everytime he thought of that first meeting. He sincerely doubted that anyone could see a smile like hers and not feel anything.
Perhaps at last, his thoughts had settled, just a little. It wasn't quite a lack of confidence, though it was still present, that had put Haruhiro on the back foot when the girls revealed that they'd chosen him to lead them.
No, it was their gratitude that had confused him.
A soft chuckle slipped out.
...Too high of a hurdle for now, huh?
One day, maybe he'd tell them the truth.
That he'd been the one who was saved.
That-
"Are you listening?" A testy sounding voice pressed him.
Haruhiro jumped at the sudden sound, gaining distance and dropping his hand towards his dagger on instinct.
The dagger that was on his belt, removed since he was getting ready for bed.
An impatient looking girl was staring at him with one eyebrow cocked.
Hair in a black bob cut, the red-eyed girl stood some distance away, hands tucked behind her back.
"No… Sorry, what did you say, Choko?"
They both froze.
… Choko?
How did he know that?
Did he know her? From before Grimgar? No way, right? That was too much of a coincidence.
"So I do know you. Huh." Choko said, the brief surprise vanishing in favor of a bored look.
"... Maybe?"
"Maybe." The girl agreed.
Haruhiro waited, expecting Choko to say, well, something, but apparently that was all she'd wanted.
Before the awkwardness could drag on any further, another girl, this one unfamiliar, stepped down from the stairs, giving him a suspicious glance as she made her way over to Choko.
"Did you need something?"
"Ah, no?" Haruhiro mumbled, kind of glad for the distraction, even if it was a little rude.
"Let's go, Choko." The girl said, tugging on Choko's sleeve. Choko's intense gaze hadn't wavered from Haruhiro for a second until then, but then she gave a short huff and seemingly lost interest.
"Yeah, sure." She said, and turned on her heel without another word.
Thoroughly confused, Haruhiro could only stare at the spot they'd vanished, trying in vain to remember something, anything beyond that name.
"Choko, huh?"
"Haru-sama? Are you alright?" A soft voice that seemed to drift on the night breeze reached his ears, finding his eyes abruptly meeting a pair of deep blue regarding him with a faint glimmer of concern.
"Er, yeah." Haruhiro rubbed his head unconvincingly. "Sorry Yukio, just a little out of it, that's all."
Yukio watched him closely for another moment before she was satisfied, giving a small nod before composing her features into a tiny smile.
The clothes she was wearing weren't all that different from what she normally wore, a thinner robe, that still struggled to stay closed hugging her figure, and a simple cloth belt rather than her longer sash resting on her hips. Rather than the open-toed, ankle-high boots she wore as a substitute for her original footwear, Yukio was wearing a pair of delicate slip-on sandals.
"We have all finished getting ready." Yukio told him. "Will you be turning in soon, Haru-sama?"
"Yeah, right behind you." Haruhiro said, and Yukio gave a short, graceful bow and made her way back towards the stable.
Haruhiro had stepped outside to give the girls privacy to get changed, the girls having elected not to tell him that such an action, while appreciated in its intent, wasn't really necessary.
Unfortunately, the girls had also decided that telling him that at this early stage would only make Haruhiro nervous and self-conscious, and thus had resigned themselves to accepting his once again appreciated (but once again unnecessary!) consideration.
One step at a time, they supposed.
At least he'd grown accustomed to sleeping side-by-side with them, because that was something they certainly would have insisted upon.
The sleeping arrangements were carefully arranged, after all, and the delicate balance must be maintained.
Tio was first into the room (stall), being the one who stretched out the farthest when prone, and Centorea was next, due to Tio liking to be warm and more importantly liking to snuggle. Centorea was the obvious choice then, being the one with the highest resting temperature, and also possessing the sturdiness required to endure the embrace of a sleeping Ogre.
Tio, obviously, couldn't manage her strength as carefully as she usually did while asleep.
Then came Haruhiro, as putting him between Centorea and Yukio balanced the temperature to a comfortable degree (this had nothing to do with a certain Knight wishing to sleep beside her Master whenever possible), who was also the only one that Yukio could sleep comfortably beside for long periods.
The sole male of their party offered just enough heat to reassure the Yuki-Onna of another person's presence, while not being warm enough to disturb the cool temperatures that the delicate ice maiden required. Naturally, Yukio being on the outside edge, and closest to the door, helped balance that as well.
No, everything was in perfect harmony, so it was vital that Haruhiro remained in his proper place during the night.
Truly.
One after another, busy days and serene nights passed by for the Thief and his new party.
Just like that, the morning of the raid approached.
Bit of a quiet chapter, the last one we'll see for a while with the raid starting next chapter.
Yukio really does have an easier time of things as far as magic is concerned, so don't expect her to bust out any incantations. She just has to envision what she wants the ice and snow to do, and it will do it, provided she has the power to bend it to her will.
Anyways, expect the action to ramp up over these next few chapters, things are gonna get bloody for sure.
Feel free to leave your thoughts, and I'll see you all next time.