Chapter 7 - Steps
"Tea's ready!" Felicia exclaimed, rushing into the room with a fresh tray. She saw her destination, a coffee table, only a few steps away. With the knowledge that she was so close to success, she cautiously moved her foot forward. Her eyes then caught a smiling Corrin, stepping left and right, each movement highlighted by a positive energy. Before an adoring smile appeared on Felicia's face, however, Corrin rotated around, replacing his position and disappearing behind Camilla's tall and enviable figure. "Corrin…" Distracted, Felicia stepped forward, unaware that her other foot was caught behind a fold in a rug. "Oop-" she began as she commenced her all-too-familiar demonstration of gravity.
"Whoa there," came a caring and attentive male voice.
"What the-" came a surprised and annoyed female voice, accompanied by the clatter of silver.
Felicia opened her eyes and saw the face of the silver-haired man who caught her and stopped her fall. She was lying in his arms, as if she were dipped during a ballroom dance. "Ummm..."
"Are you okay, lovely lady?" Laslow asked. He gently pulled her back up. Both of them were ignoring the red-haired girl next to them, who was trying to steady the tea tray that was suddenly caught in her arms.
"Jeez, lady!" Selena exclaimed, finally gaining control over the tray. She exhaled, then looked up and saw that she was being ignored. "Laslow, you-"
"Your hair is beautiful, by the way," Laslow said to Felicia, still gazing into her eyes. "It's as lovely as… well, that of my mother's, actually."
"Um, thank you, I guess," Felicia responded shyly.
"Hah, your personality is similar as well."
"Um, I have to go though. I need to deliver this tray- Whawhawhat?" Felicia stammered. "Where did the tray go?"
"Hellooo, right here." Selena held the tray out.
Felicia leaned towards Selena and observed her arm. "Wow. You have perfect form, Miss," she said, admiring Selena's posture and tray balancing technique.
Selena stared at Felicia for a second, confused by the unique compliment, then closed her eyes and beamed proudly. "Hah! You bet I do. And you could, too. Maybe you should join me in practice."
"Tray holding practice?"
"No, dummy, sparring practice. Why would we practice holding trays?"
"But… we were just talking about-"
Suddenly, Odin landed in between Selena and Felicia. He injected himself into the conversation and raised his fist into the air. "By the dark flames of my passion-infused fist, find yourself silence and take in the rapturous melodies produced by Prince Leo!"
Selena and Felicia stared at Odin with irritation and confusion, respectively. Odin remained unfazed. He swung his fist around and pointed to the center of the room, where Leo was playing the violin. Leo was standing on a rug next to a couch, where Elise was swaying and moving her hands in the air to the music. Xander was leaning on the back of the couch with a subtle smile, which was more emotion than he usually showed. There was a clear area on the other side of the couch, where Corrin was holding Camilla's right hand and gently directing her with his right hand on her left side as they moved together to the music.
"Corrin…" Felicia said again softly. Her words were quiet, but the expression on her face did not go unnoticed by Selena. She traced her gaze, then rolled her eyes.
"Just like Mother…" Selena muttered with a frown, thinking of past observations. Her frown turned more somber as she continued to recall past events.
On the dance floor, Corrin was softly talking to himself and glancing at his feet. "Slow, slow, quick quick," he chanted as his feet moved. "Slow, slow, quick quick." He looked back at Camilla and grinned. "Okay, I'm remembering things now."
Camilla had been wearing her adoring smile the entire time. She swayed her head slightly to swing her hair away from her face. "Relax, darling. Just enjoy moving freely."
They continued dancing quietly, save for a few times Corrin went back to narrating his steps. At some point, Leo transitioned into a faster-paced song. "One, two, three and four, five and six. One, two, three and four, five and six. Oh, haven't we danced to this song before? Wow, it's been so long since we last danced."
"Ohhh, Corrin, I'm sorry we haven't been able to," Camilla said with genuine regret. "I would have loved to have visited more. I should have asked for more times. But hmm, your dancing has improved." A sly smile appeared on Camilla. "Have you been cheating on me with other girls, hmm?"
"Cheating?" Corrin gave Camilla an inquisitive eyebrow raise. "I've practiced, yes. I just wanted to be able to keep up with you more. You seemed so advanced, I didn't want to hold you back if we ever danced again." Corrin released Camilla's left hand. He stepped backwards, then forwards. "One, two…" He gently pulled Camilla's hand towards him, then stepped his feet together.
Camilla, caught slightly off-guard at this new movement from Corrin, unlocked her gaze into Corrin's eyes for a moment and watched his movements. She brought her feet together as well, then saw Corrin lower himself. She followed with her own drop. Camilla then felt Corrin's arm wrap around her back. Camilla returned her gaze to Corrin and smiled, wrapped her left arm around Corrin's back and rested her hand on his shoulder. She then jumped into the air and folded her legs back, supported up by Corrin's arm and hip. Corrin spun around while holding Camilla up on his hip. Camilla's long, purple hair flowed in the air, revealing her glowing smile. Corrin completed a full rotation before lowering his arm slightly and allowing Camilla to land again. He never let go of Camilla's right hand, which was then lifted into the air. Camilla twirled under their hands and reset her position, grabbing hold of both of Corrin's hands again.
Corrin's smile was infectious. "Marvelous, Corrin!" Camilla praised, only enabling Corrin's grin to grow. "I can forgive you for practicing with others if it was all for me." Camilla stepped outwards and raised her right arm straight. She looked at Corrin and winked. She then let go of Corrin's right hand, spun to the left by herself, and returned inside Corrin's right arm. Corrin, with a slightly puzzled face, lifted his left arm up. Camilla immediately brought her arm under his left arm and around Corrin's back. She started to lean backwards. Corrin wrapped his hands around Camilla's back and dipped her. Camilla extended her left arm and froze in that position for a lengthy second.
Everything around Camilla was a blur. The only thing she could see was her arm and, when she returned her gaze on her dancing partner, the young, strong but gentle and innocent aura that Corrin emanated. He was looking back at her, glad that he was able to support Camilla and execute the moves she wanted with relative smoothness. Camilla didn't care about the execution. She was just happy that Corrin was engaged in their dance.
Elise's clapping returned Camilla from her reverie. "Camilla, Corrin, you two are amazing!" she exclaimed.
Corrin pulled Camilla back up and used one of his arms to wipe his forehead. "That dip was a different style, wasn't it?"
"That's what we were practicing before, Elise," Camilla said.
"I don't remember any dip, though!" Elise pointed out.
Camilla laughed. "I just had to end our dance with a dip," she said, one arm still around Corrin's shoulders. She turned to Elise. "Though maybe you'd have seen the dip if you didn't run out on our practices so much."
"Eheh, yeah, sorry. I get distracted." Elise suddenly ran behind Leo and pushed him forward. "I've been practicing singing with this one."
"Hey!" Leo protested, putting one foot forward and stopping Elise's push. She settled with hugging Leo from behind. "Yes, we've practiced. Why didn't you want to join in singing today?"
"If I sang, I wouldn't be able to enjoy your playing!" Elise pointed out.
Xander was rubbing his chin. "Leo, you started to adapt your playing to their movements, didn't you." He was pointing out rather than asking.
Leo merely shrugged. "Music and dance both follow a rhythm and both allow improvisation. Maybe instead of adapting to, we just fused."
At the side of the room, Selena nudged Laslow. "Hey, hey, what'd you think?"
"There were some technical… hiccups. I saw some hesitation in the Prince's movements. He is still an amateur. Lady Camilla, though, what a magnificent lady!" Laslow clapped his hands together. "I'd love to-oof!" Selena nudged Laslow again, though this time with a merciless strength. He cringed forward for a moment, then eyed Selena in protest. After a moment of groaning, he stood up straight and cleared his throat. "But despite the technicalities, I could see their feelings in each movement. I could feel it! ...Their feelings. Emotion turned into movement, simply wonderful."
"They could create an awe-inspiring attack move name together. The purple platinum piercer! The dreaded death dance!" Odin was rubbing his hands together in excitement.
"You two need to team up. Laslow creates a dance, and Odin names and interprets them," Selena suggested. She looked back at Camilla. "So wait, Laslow, you felt their feelings. What feelings were they?"
"Uh… You know. Feelings!"
"No, I don't know. That's why I was asking."
Odin put a hand on Selena's and Laslow's shoulders. "I understand perfectly. Some feelings cannot be put into words."
"Exactly!" Laslow agreed.
"That's why it's really difficult to come up with good names for these attack moves. It has to capture the essence of every motion!"
"Uh… right," Laslow said. "But on the other side, that's why there is dance. It is to express what you cannot with words." Suddenly, Laslow lifted his arm in the air and angled his hand, while sliding back one of his feet. "That is why I dance," he said, striking a pose. Selena and Odin looked at him, Selena with some confusion, and Odin with admiration. Finally, Laslow remembered that other people were around to look at him. He relaxed his posture and looked down.
"Right…" Selena looked at Laslow, who was still looking at the ground. "Well, I don't want to discourage you from your dancing, Laslow," Selena said. She smirked. "In fact, maybe you should dance more, so that you'll stop using all those flirty lines. Failing flirty lines!"
"Hmph. I honor Mother with each girl I talk to!" Laslow said, standing up straight and proud. He maintained the pose, waiting for a reply. When none appeared, he glanced at Selena, who had her head down. "...Uh, Selena?"
"I'm sorry." Selena tensed her arms and looked up at Laslow with determination. "You be you. Always be you."
Laslow was caught off guard by Selena's acceptance. Eventually, he smiled and put his hand on Selena's shoulder. "You, too."
As the two of them exchanged dialogue, Odin looked at Camilla and Corrin and rubbed his chin. "If only our good masters could be themselves, too."
"Hey, what do you mean?" Selena asked, a little defensive now that the conversation was about her master. "I don't know much about the boy, but Lady Camilla is a sincere person!"
"They bind themselves with invisible chains. Perhaps it takes an epic eye of acuity to see, one such as my own right eye. The left one, too, though that, that one's name is-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all have our secrets," Selena said, waving her hand dismissively.
Felicia had been quietly waiting from the side of the room. She finally walked up to Corrin and Camilla when there seemed to be a lull in their conversation. "Um, Master Corrin, you… your dancing looked really nice," she said timidly, her eyes looking at the ground.
"Felicia!" Corrin exclaimed. "Well, I couldn't have done it without you." He turned to Camilla. "I probably practiced maybe a hundred times with Felicia to get the steps right."
"Oh, did you?" Camilla asked. "What a lucky girl."
Felicia looked up with shock at Corrin's thanks. "I… probably because I could never get it right. Flora was probably a lot better."
Corrin thought for a moment. "Actually, I think you got the steps faster. I know you… eheh… could improve just a liiiiittle bit with your dish handling..."
"Master Corrin!" Felicia protested, a red tint appearing on her cheeks.
"But you were really good at dancing. And martial arts. Flora helped me get the steps down, but you actually helped me form new moves."
"Master Corrin… Thank you. But I… I just had a good practice partner, that's all," Felicia said. She was looking at the ground again and swaying back and forth, though this time a smile was on her face.
"Doo da doo doo," Peri sang as she casually hopped across the dark street in the rainy night. The wind seemed to be picking up in strength and noise level. One particularly strong gust of wind howled past Peri and made her clutch her cloak tightly. "Stupid wind," Peri muttered.
Then, the gust of wind spoke. "Hey." It had a male voice.
Peri stopped in her tracks and turned around. "Eh?" she asked, contemplating the potential catharsis that stabbing the air could produce.
She saw the back of a person wearing a dark-colored, hooded cloak that fluttered in the wind. The person raised a dagger in the air, letting the blade dangle between his fingers. "You dropped something," he said.
Peri suddenly checked her belongings and realized that her dagger was gone. She pointed a demanding finger at the man. "Hey! I need that to stab things!" She started marching towards the man, when he turned around and revealed his face. She stopped for a moment. "Whoa, Niles, what are you doing here?"
Niles tossed the dagger to Peri, who caught it and sheathed it back in her cloak. "Probably the same thing you're doing here. Fraternizing with the populace."
"Oh, cool! Maybe we know the same people! So then, you want to go check out this berserker guy with me? He's bigger, maybe more muscular than Xander! So I hear."
Niles smirked. "Big guys aren't my type."
"Oh, yeah, I guess some people can't take on the big fellas. Me, well, they all bleed." Peri waved Niles on. "Let's go!"
Niles scanned Peri's carefree demeanor. She was smiling as she invited Niles to apparently go stab some giant, powerful person. "Nothing really gets you at all."
"Hmm?"
"Nothing. Anyway, the keeper's hours are up, and no one is at the desk. It'd be good for sneaking around, but you're not the most subtle person."
"Hey! What do you mean by that?"
Niles shrugged. "I meant no obvious offense. Just you're very energetic and noticeable."
"Aw. Well, I don't like how you put the word 'obvious' in there, but I'll just take your words as a compliment!"
Niles walked up to join Peri, but before she could resume walking, Niles had his hands on her shoulders and was guiding her forward. "Let's go somewhere other than the middle of the street."
"Oh, right," Peri agreed. "Secretive." She looked around for a good spot as Niles pushed her across the street. "How about under the awning there?"
They maintained their direction, which was taking them away from the awning. "I don't think we should be discussing things right at the front door of a building." They went to an alley between buildings.
"Ugh, there's still rain, and the wind is rushing through here!" Peri complained.
"It'll be brief."
"Fine, but I'm not happy. All right, so, what are you reaaaally here for?"
"Prince Leo told me to gather some information on any peculiar people moving through. If you don't count as a peculiar person, I suppose the berserker you mentioned and the warden I spotted do."
"That berserker guy, he just came from prison! Well, both of them did, but the government guy visited the prison to pick the berserker up."
"Hmm, that's an interesting tidbit."
Peri started to laugh, which made Niles give her a confused look. "Haha, I got more shadowy secret info than you! And Tabar said I'm not the spy sort."
"I had to leave earlier… Never mind. Did you learn the berserker's name?"
"Not yet! I was just about to check him out, when you appeared. I'm ready when you are, though!" Peri had balled her hands into fists, excited to do some spying. She looked at Niles with starry eyes.
"Well, how about this. You wait here while I-"
"I'm not waiting in the rain like this!"
"...You wait inside that tavern you're acquainted with. I'll go check on the inn's registry and maybe check on the big guy himself. We can follow them and learn more tomorrow."
"Okay!" Peri said. She started to walk away, but stopped herself. "Wait. I can trust you, right?"
"That's a great question."
"Hmm…" Peri crossed her arms as she studied Niles. She didn't take a long time to think. "Okay!" she said again, marching away.
"So you do trust me?"
"Well, I'll trust Prince Leo. And you can trust ole' pointy here to have some expectations, too!" Peri lifted up and displayed her dagger. "Oh, and thanks for returning it, too!"
Leo looked outside a window as he walked past. "Hmm, the clouds are building up. It's hard to see the moon now." He was walking with his siblings after they had all eaten dinner together.
"Ugh, Effie is probably still outside, training," Elise said. "I'm going to try to drag her inside. Night, everyone!" She waved as she ran off.
Xander was also looking outside. "It's probably raining in the outskirts right now." He stopped walking, then abruptly turned around. "I'm also going to take care of some business. Good night. Corrin, see you for training."
Corrin sighed. "See you for training."
"And remember to study for our lessons right after," Leo reminded Corrin.
"Right, right."
"My, my," Camilla said. "You practice with Xander. You study with Leo. Even Elise gets to see you when she heals you during practice. You never get to see little, old me." She wrapped her arm around Corrin.
"Hah! Except every moment Corrin's not in training. Though, I will agree with what you said about being old," Leo said with a smirk. He immediately jogged a few steps ahead to dodge Camilla's anticipated response.
Camilla smiled at Leo, then looked at another window they were passing. She stopped walking. "Forgive me, dear, hold on a moment," she said. She removed her arm from Corrin and sat herself down on a window seat. She looked up at Corrin, who was looking back at her with some confusion and concern. She gave him a reassuring wink, then removed her shoes, leaned back, and kicked her legs in the air. "They just needed some rest."
"Oh, okay," Corrin said, relaxing his expression. He took the moment to stretch his arms out, having been compressed by Camilla's embrace for so long during their walk. "Yeah, I guess dancing in those heels can be painful."
"Not at all, darling!" Camilla responded. "Nothing is painful when I'm with you," she explained, giving him another wink.
Corrin rolled his eyes. He was about to speak, when a gust of wind blew through the window. "Whew," he said, shuddering for a moment. When he looked at Camilla, he saw that she was tightly wrapping her coat around her. "Camilla…" He sat down next to Camilla and pulled her close to him.
"Oh, my!" Camilla said with surprise and approval.
"You're obviously cold," Corrin said, gently massaging her arm as he held her closer to his side. "It looks like there might be a storm just a ways from the castle," he observed.
Leo crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "Corrin, why do you spoil her? Always doing whatever she wants."
"Hmm?" Corrin looked at Leo. "What do you mean? I'm just doing what I want. I want all of you to be comfortable, and Camilla looked a little cold. I don't want that."
"Hah!" Camilla couldn't help but blurt out a surprised laugh. "Corrin, you are just so charming! Leo, you really complement each other. The innocent Corrin and the cautious Leo. You'd make an excellent team." Camilla had lifted her legs up slowly in front of Corrin's face, then rested them over Corrin's lap.
"Well, Leo would make any team great," Corrin said, paying little heed to Camilla's aesthetic movements. "I don't think I'd contribute much." He had rested his free hand on Camilla's leg. "Jeez, Camilla, your legs are freezing," he muttered.
Leo sighed. "Corrin, you're just a complimenting machine."
Camilla wrapped her arm over Corrin's shoulder and squeezed him closer. "See, Leo, this is how you can earn more hugs."
"That's why I don't give compliments."
"Oh dear, Leo, if I weren't holding something really important right now…" Camilla squeezed Corrin again, who was moving to pry her hand off of his shoulder and achieve a little more space.
"It's noisy here."
The new voice made Camilla unconsciously tighten her embrace and made Leo jump in surprise. "Father," Camilla said. She slid her legs off of Corrin and stood up from the window seat. Corrin quickly joined her standing up, and the three of them bowed to Garon.
"We were taking a break, but we were just returning to our rooms," Corrin explained.
Garon was dressed in his usual fur-lined, black royal robes, black and gold chest piece armor, and his black crown. Iago was behind him, wearing similar attire. His golden mask and halo almost made him look like the king, were it not for his more subservient pose and less overwhelming presence when next to Garon.
Garon examined the three royal children. "Hmph. It is late. Leo, you have your meeting in the morning."
"Of course, Father," Leo said, bowing his head as he spoke. "As Corrin mentioned, we were all returning to our rooms."
"Be quick."
"Right. Good night, Father," Leo said.
"We will make haste. Sorry, Father!" Corrin added.
"Good night, Father," Camilla also said. The three bowed again, and started to walk away.
Iago whispered something into Garon's ear. "Wait," Garon demanded, his one word echoing down the hallway and stopping the three. They turned around and waited for his command. "Camilla."
"Yes, Father?" Camilla asked, stepping forward and getting down on one knee. She bowed her head as she waited for further words.
"Princess Camilla, I don't see much skin," Iago said. Camilla looked up and shot him an angry glare.
"Iago!" Corrin exclaimed. He was about to take a step forward, when Leo caught his shirt and stopped him. Corrin turned briefly to look at Leo, who responded by shaking his head.
"Leo. You may go."
Leo glanced at Camilla and Corrin. He gave Corrin a quick, apologetic look, then bowed to Garon. "Of course, Father." He turned and walked away.
"Corrin, you may also go."
"Worry not, Father. I will be patient and wait for Camilla."
Camilla's eyes widened at Corrin's words, and her body tensed up in fear.
"Unless you do not want me to hear secret information." Corrin dropped to one knee as well and bowed his head. "I apologize if this is the case, and I will excuse myself."
There were a few seconds of silence. "Hmph," Garon said. He turned his cold stare to Camilla. "Your clothes," Garon began, "I don't remember approving them."
"Father, I had no assignments with others or outside the castle today-"
"Ah, but Princess, there are always guests in the castle," Iago pointed out. "You must always look the part."
Camilla glared at Iago again, before returning a passive look back at Garon. "And this outfit satisfied the requirements outlined by Father and Mother. I checked the list and the details. Of course, I would not want to go against Father's wishes."
There was a long, nerve-wracking silence. Camilla's heartbeat became a drum in her ear, almost blocking the sounds of wind and rain building up outside the castle. She didn't turn her head, but she wondered how Corrin was doing behind her.
"Hmph," Garon said again. "Very well. Return to your rooms. Both of you."
"Good night, Father," Camilla said, bowing her head before standing up. She extended her arm around Corrin and gently pushed him forward. When they had walked a significant distance, Camilla exhaled. "I'm sorry, Corrin. I made you go through that."
"No, Camilla, everyone was out late to celebrate my presence. I'm to blame."
"We all wanted this, Corrin."
"Okay, then, let's agree that everyone's to blame, equally!" Corrin proposed.
Camilla giggled and pulled Corrin in close to her again. "Sure, darling."
They walked in silence for a moment. Then, Corrin spoke again. "Um, Camilla, I'm just wondering. What… What was that about?"
Camilla sighed, then laughed bitterly. "I am a Princess of Nohr, and I must inspire others." She shook Corrin with her arm around his shoulder for a moment. "My clothes must appeal, for the glory of Nohr."
"Appeal?"
"Corrin, you are so innocent. Never change that." Camilla gazed off in front of them. "I have a certain uniform to conform to. Some of the clothes…" She looked at Corrin again. "Some you may think are repulsive."
"Camilla. You know I would never think you are repulsive, no matter what you wear. None of us would. You're our wonderful sister."
Camilla closed her eyes and smiled. "I do know that," she said. "And you know that I will always love you, too." She glanced at Corrin for a moment as they walked. "I must say, though, you're really becoming so strong. Just like Xander."
"Thanks! But what do you mean?"
"Standing up to Iago. Standing up to Father, even! Please, Corrin, I love you to death, but you scare me when you stand up to Father. You don't have to do that."
"We're family. You're family. Father is family, too. I'm not going to leave family behind." Corrin turned and stared straight into Camilla's eyes, communicating to the depths of her soul. "I'll never leave family behind."
Camilla was silent for a while. She couldn't let her eyes move away from Corrin. Corrin kept his face towards Camilla, though eventually, he started to blush and his eyes started to wander nervously.
"Um-"
Suddenly, Camilla pressed her lips on Corrin's forehead.
"Camilla!" Corrin protested, pushing her away.
Camilla was smiling, unfazed by Corrin's push. "Corrin, those words, Elise would kiss you after that. Leo might even drop his guard and hug you." She winked at Corrin. "And be glad that I didn't aim for your lips, because I considered that for a moment."
"Camilla!" Corrin repeated.
Camilla laughed cheerfully, all the tension from their encounter with Garon having melted away in Corrin's warm character. "Or, be disappointed that I didn't aim for your lips," she added with a mirthful smile. "But that can always be fixed."
Camilla could see the blush appear on Corrin's face as his mind registered her words. Before he could distance himself from her, Camilla jumped at Corrin and wrapped her arms around him.
"Corrin, carry me to my room!" she requested, holding onto Corrin tightly and allowing him to drag her behind him as he trudged forward.
"Camilla, no."
"But my feet ache, and the floor is cold."
"No."
"No one else is watching, there's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"No."
"But you were such a gentleman before!"
"No."
"You're practically carrying me now. Just… a little… higher…" Camilla pulled herself up and wrapped her legs around Corrin too, clinging to his back.
"You're going to break my back."
"My, but I'm light as a feather, you should say."
"No."
"Are you saying I'm heavy?"
"Yes."
"Oh, then I'd better hold on even tighter!"
"No."
"Milord Garon," Iago said, walking next to Garon.
Garon grunted his acknowledgment, not stopping to listen.
"Milord, the Princess Camilla was barefoot. It has given me an idea."
"Speak your perverted fantasies elsewhere," Garon said.
"I speak of an idea of a tool to serve mighty Nohr, Milord Garon. The young Prince Corrin, we can track him. We can place a hex on his feet, and with a magical device to augment an earth affinity, we can use him from afar."
"What of when he wears shoes? That would only be of use when he stops to rest and removes his shoes."
"Ah, but Milord, if you command him, he could go on the mission barefoot. He will follow your orders. We can put protective magic to weather the elements."
"Hmph. He could do with more handicaps to teach him a lesson. Very well, work on this project. And be quick, he leaves soon."
"As you wish, Milord."
A/N Corrin going barefoot always bothered me, so I wanted to give an explanation.
Thank you, Antex-The Legendary Zoroark for reviewing! Yeah, I guess it was obvious who it was.
Thanks, Temporal King! Look, another update really quickly! Keep up the good pressure-on-authors-to-keep-posting. But not overwhelming pressure. Good pressure. ...AKA your reviews and messages.
Lucas Vern, Yep! Not dead yet! And I still have ideas to refine, since jeez, only a few hours have passed with Chapter 6 and 7. Though the school year begins next week, so maybe I'll be back to being deader. Well, we'll see.
Everyone, thank you for reading, and please continue to follow and provide constructive criticism, or (constructive praise)!
...Oh, and there were totally two typos in Chapter 6! I fixed them, but let me know if there are any here in Chapter 7.
