Protection
Blazing Sword || Awakening

"Lord Brother?" || "Um… Severa?"
a young woman riding a horse asked. || a young woman clutching a bow asked.

Raven, a mercenary with a || Severa, a mercenary with a
perpetual frown, turned towards her. || perpetual frown, turned towards her.
"Priscilla? What's wrong?" || "Oh, what is it now, Noire?"
he asked. || she asked.

"I'm… frightened," Priscilla said. || "I'm… frightened," Noire replied.
"This battle has been going on for || "This battle has been going on for
for so long now, and I feel exhausted. || for so long now, and I feel exhausted.
I feel that I might die any at moment." || I feel that I might die at any moment."

Raven sighed. "Priscilla, look. || Severa sighed. "Oh, come on!
You're capable with tomes; you're || You can use your bow fine; you're
strong enough to defend yourself. || strong enough to defend yourself.
What do you want me to do || What do you want me to do
about your tiredness?" || about your tiredness?"

Priscilla looked down awkwardly. || Noire shuffled her feet quietly.
"Um… If we could fight side-by-side, || "Um… If we could fight side-by-side,
with you watching out for me, || with you watching out for me,
I would feel so much better." || I would feel so much better."

Raven just stared blankly || Severa just stared blankly
at her for a moment. || at her for a moment.
"Priscilla, you want me to fight || "Really, Noire, you want me to
alongside you?" He sighed. "Still, || baby you? …Oh, fine, if I must—
you won't let this go, will you?" || but only since you're so weak."

Glancing around to make sure || Glancing around to make sure
that no enemy was approaching, || that no enemy was approaching,
Raven approached the valkyrie. || Severa approached the sniper.

"Well, let's go," he said curtly. "If all || "Let's go, then, already!" Severa said.
goes well, we'll be done soon. || "Let's just get this done with!
Let's go over there, where it seems || It looks like there's a lot of fighting
there's still fighting to do." || still to be done over there."
He took the reins of Priscilla's horse || She took Noire's arm and started to
and led it across the battlefield. || lead her across the battlefield.

"Wait, we're going back || "Wait, we're going back
into the fighting?" || into the fighting?"

"Look, if you're tired, I'm going || "What? I thought you wanted me
to help end the fighting quicker. || to help end the fighting quicker!
Do you want me to bring you || Do you want me to bring you
with me or leave you behind? || with me or leave you behind?
I can't do both." || I can't do both!"

Instead of answering, however, || Instead of answering, however,
Priscilla gasped and tore the reins || Noire gasped and shoved Severa
from Raven's hands, causing him to || harshly aside, causing her to stumble
stumble to the side. || awkwardly to the side.

"Priscilla? What's wrong?" || "Hey! What's your problem?"

His question was answered when || Her question was answered when
a javelin went whizzing by, || a javelin went whizzing by,
straight into the ground where Raven || straight into the ground where Severa
was standing a moment ago. || was standing a moment ago.

Priscilla's face hardened || "Blood and thunder!"
as she quickly pulled out an Elfire tome, || Noire yelled, brandishing her bow and
turning towards the cavalier who had || turning towards the cavalier who had
thrown the javelin. || thrown the javelin.

With a rush of protectiveness || With a rush of protectiveness
towards her brother, Priscilla summoned || towards her friend, Noire nocked an
a column of flame from her tome, || arrow in her bow with a flourish,
and it rushed towards the aggressor. || and loosed it towards the aggressor.

With that, the cavalier was || With that, the cavalier was
knocked firmly off her horse, || knocked firmly off her horse,
both of them falling to the ground || both of them falling to the ground
in a cloud of dust. || in a cloud of dust.

Priscilla took a deep breath, || Noire breathed out heavily,
trying to calm herself after || trying to calm herself after
that adrenaline rush. || that adrenaline rush.
She looked towards Raven, || She looked towards Severa,
who was staring back in surprise. || who was staring back in surprise.

After an awkward moment, || "And after all that talk about
Priscilla said, "Um… I suppose I || me protecting you!" Severa said.
ought to go with you, then. You || "You're definitely coming with me
must be just as tired as I am, || to fight everyone over there.
if you did not notice that cavalier. || You're not the only one who needs
I need to watch your back, || someone to watch over her.
not just you protect me." || Don't think so selfishly!"

Raven frowned, but grudgingly said, || "Oh," Noire said, "am I truly strong
"Fair enough. I suppose I'll concede || enough? If you really think so, I guess
we both need to protect each other." || we both need to protect each other."


Published December 20, 2015