With a sigh, Jade entered one of the small resting areas of the airship, changed into his set of clean clothing, seated himself on a nearby bed, and began the arduous task of braiding his hair. Blood and grime made the usually trivial task somewhat more challenging and inefficient, but Jade welcomed the distraction.
Perhaps he was exhausted from his earlier workout, but his arms felt like lead at that point in time—if responsive at all. An amused smile crossed his face as he fumbled with tying his hair, and after ten minutes of failing to do the job properly, let his arms fall to his side and rested his hands on the thin foam mattress. He let out a heavy breath as he gave up on the task. Was age finally catching up to him? He often joked about it in the past, but he himself knew better, of course. As a soldier, endurance was of utmost importance, and his was something he took pride in, among other things. Though it was still his reputation in fonic artes that preceeded him, his spearmanship and prowess in the battlefield was not something to scoff at. While most fonists would opt out of the frontline and would rather stick to the rear, Jade made sure he was capable of handling himself in either environment, and it was one of the characteristics that made him an efficient and versatile commander.
As far as battle plans went, he supposed that the plan to rescue Saphir went well overall. Noelle volunteered to sneak them aboard her Albiore during a delivery to Belkend, which Jade readily accepted. Funnily, while the Kimlascans were purportedly concerned about her possible disappearance, they did not seem to mind the presence of additional cargo in their midst.
Saphir was also surprisingly obedient, more so than usual. Which helped when the expected trap was finally sprung, and Jade found himself facing off against what seemed to be a platoon of soldiers. Most were novices and fell easily to his spear, but there were those that gave him trouble and managed to land blows on him—the most significant being the scratch on his cheek and the blow across his stomach that left him somewhat winded amongst the multiple bruises he sustained.
A knock on the door broke through his train of thought. "May I come in?"
"You may."
The door creaked open to reveal Guy, who had a pensive expression on his face as he took in Jade's disheveled appearance.
"You're injured."
"Tell me something I don't know."
Without waiting for an invitation, Guy took a seat next to him. "Stay still."
Jade continued staring blankly at Guy as the other held up a hand next to his cheek. There was a slightly pinched look about Guy as he furrowed his brows in concentration. A familiar warmth began to wash over Jade's cut, only to quickly fade as Guy's hand fell to his side as he breathed heavily, as if he ran several laps around town.
A rueful smile crossed Guy's face. "Seems that I still can't extend my healing abilities beyond myself."
"I see." Jade shrugged noncommittally as he pulled out a bandage and placed it over his cut. "No matter. It'll heal."
"Yeah, but..." Guy paused, seemingly uncertain about whether to continue his statement or not.
Jade raised a brow at him. "But?"
"Mm... Thought I could be useful to others for once, y'know?" Refusing to meet Jade's eye, Guy leaned forward, folding his arms across his lap. "Ever since, it's always been me who was left alive, while everyone else died. I'm always the one being protected, always the one who watched as everyone fell around me."
"I thought I was able to come to terms with it—Mary's sacrifice—and that there was a reason to live beyond revenge. But when that situation happened again several months back..."
Unfolding his hands, he stared at them bitterly. "I... couldn't save them. My subjects..." He balled his hand into a fist, shaking slightly, "I thought I had the strength to do so. But it wasn't enough!"
"I would hardly call a one versus a hundred a fair battle," Jade said. "There is no reason for you to beat yourself up over it."
Guy faced Jade, an agitated look about him. "But you managed to fend off those soldiers at Belkend!"
Jade narrowed his eyes at Guy, who involuntarily inched backwards at the intensity of his gaze. "I was raised to be a soldier and have stained my hands with countless people's blood. There is no comparison to be made between Colonel Jade Curtiss, also known as the Necromancer, who has taken thousands of lives on the battlefield, and Count Gailardia Galan Gardios, former servant of House Fabre, who has bought countless apples for breakfast."
"I—" A sharp look from Jade promptly cut his sentence off. "Sorry."
"There is no need for an apology," Jade said as he trained his eyes on the steel doorway. "I am but an unsympathetic person by nature."
"Still, I shouldn't have dumped these all on you. Or anyone for that matter."
"Keeping it to yourself isn't exactly going to help you keep yourself in check in the long run." Jade's thoughts flickered towards the signing on the peace treaty back in Yulia City, where Guy had to raise some of his pressing concerns of all places.
Guy must have been thinking of the same thing, for his expression darkened momentarily, then gave way to a sheepish smile. "Right."
Before Jade or Guy could say anything more, the door flew open.
Jade lightly placed a hand over his forehead and shook his head in disapproval. "Your Majesty, has no one ever taught you that it is rude not to knock before entering?"
"And didn't I tell you to quit calling me by that name?" Peony said. "It's Franz, remember?"
Jade sighed. "That is besides the point."
Guy then excused himself from the room, perhaps noting the sudden rise of tension in the air, which was slowly becoming palpable.
For a while, Jade and Peony simply engaged each other's gazes, neither willing to back down. Peony was the first one to give in, shrugging helplessly as he took the space Guy vacated.
"You going to talk to Saphir before we arrive at his namesake?"
"Is that an order?"
Peony sighed. "Just a strongly worded request from your so-called liege. Especially since you promised back in Sheridan. The poor soul has been quiet since you left, but I could tell that he desperately wants to talk to you."
"I am not in the mood to deal with listening to the ramblings of a mental asylum escapee."
"Come on, Saphir isn't that terrible!"
"You're not the one he followed around like some Yulia-forsaken puppy back in the day."
"That's true," Peony said, "But why don't you give him a second chance? He hasn't bothered you since you both started working again, right?"
For that, Jade had no words. Why indeed? Was he that adverse to reminders of his past? No. He was just annoyed with Saphir as was his custom. Annoyed that he followed him despite the unwanted vibes he was giving off. Annoyed that he whined and whined instead of bearing pain quietly. Annoyed that he kept on clinging to the past instead of moving on. And most of all, annoyed that he still considered him a friend, when he made it as clear as day that he did not want anything to do with him.
Yet, when all was said and done, he still turned to him as a research partner. There was no denying the other's prowess with fon machines, and who was he to refuse when a valuable resource willingly offered himself for the cause? Still, it did not explain why he agreed to be his parole officer and research partner once more back in the day.
"We'll be landing shortly to rest for the day," Peony said, getting up from the bed. "Gailardia and I will be hunting for food while you and Saphir set up camp."
"Wouldn't I be better equipped to handle our food hunt? While I trust Guy in this respect, you can't tell the difference between a Great Rugnican death cap from a regular one."
"Very funny, Jade. That was a long time ago." Peony threw him a sour look, as if daring him to say that he was kidding. "No, you still look a bit pale, and you just fended off a whole troop of soldiers." He placed his hands on his hips as he turned to face Jade. "Plus, we don't have any matches, and you're the one who knows his way around fire artes. I trust you could start a fire without burning the whole island."
"Don't tempt me."
"You'll need to rest first if you hope to do that," Peony said, gesturing towards the bed. "I'll wake you up once we land."
"Must you act like a mother hen?" Jade shook his head in disapproval, though his limbs did feel like they wanted to sink into the bed. "Very well, in any case. I suppose these old bones could use some rest."
Peony grinned widely. "That's my Jade!"
Suppressing a shudder, Jade shot a pointed look at Peony. "Please don't use that disturbing name."
"Ehh, an eye for an eye," Peony said, his smile still plastered on his face.
"Weren't you taught not to play with fire?" Jade's eyes glittered dangerously as he smiled. "In any case, shall I teach you a lesson to that effect?"
"I'm not sticking around to find out." Still laughing, Peony made his hasty exit, leaving Jade to comply with his earlier order.
Night had fallen by the time Jade woke up, and judging by the lack of movement, it seemed that they finally landed and that his companions already went on their way to do their assigned tasks. Slightly annoyed that Peony did not bother waking him up, he trudged out of the aircraft. After sparing a quick glance at a nearby small patch of woods, he made his way towards the nearest figure he could see on the moonlit field.
Much to Jade's dismay, it was Saphir. He was frowning at some wood gathered by his feet, clearly unsure of how to start a fire. Sighing, Jade began murmuring a spell under his breath and flicked his finger towards the firewood. Saphir did a double take as the wood lit up, flames licking his shoes as he hurriedly jumped back to stamp it out. He scowled behind him, only to meet Jade's piercing red gaze, causing his scowl to fade quickly. Cowed by Jade's look, Saphir averted his gaze and sat on a nearby log, folding his arms across his lap and leaning forward towards the fire.
For a while, the two simply stared blankly into the fire, until Saphir broke the silence that hung over them. "Jade? Why are you here?"
"His Majesty told me that you wanted to talk to me. So talk."
"I..." Saphir trailed off, surprise still etched on his face.
"Is it too much to expect coherence from a cockroach?"
"Can you turn off the snark for the moment and wait for a while?" Saphir glared at him. "I'm trying to gather my thoughts!"
Jade blinked in surprise at Saphir's outburst, a notable first in his history of outbursts. Saphir calling him out on his snark was certainly something celebration-worthy, as Jade was under the impression that Saphir took his caustic remarks to heart.
"Finally! You never took me seriously."
"You never acted like you deserved it."
Saphir's ears turned pink at the accusation, and for a moment, Jade thought he would rise to the bait. "Maybe you're right."
"Oh?" Jade raised a brow in response, his expression giving no hint of his surprise. Saphir? Acknowledging something other than his supposed genius? Was Auldrant flat as a mad scientist once proposed?
"I... didn't really know how to stand up for myself back in the day. It didn't help that I was that snivelling fool always on your heels, worshiping the very ground you stood on."
"...Who are you and what have you done to Saphir?" Indeed, what happened to that ego the size of Mt. Roneal?
"I've had a lot of time to think about things and... I guess I changed." Saphir lifted his gaze towards Jade. His gaze was unsteady, but his tone was surprisingly even. "You once told me that people change and... I guess it took me a decade longer to do so. And to accept that as a fact of life. Among other things."
"'Among other things'?"
"I..." Saphir faltered, and upon realizing what he said, tore his eyes away from Jade, suddenly interested in the dancing fire before him. "Will you promise not to get mad?"
"I cannot."
"Right." Saphir grinned feebly. "Very well then. I might as well risk it." Getting up from his seat, he shuffled towards Jade, nearly tripping over a rock as he did so. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment as he regained his bearings, taking care not to stumble again. Hesitating for a moment once his eyes met Jade's, he visibly gulped as he raised a gloved hand to Jade's cheek. Tentatively tucking away a strand of Jade's hair, he tiptoed to press his lips against Jade's, who received it stoically.
Moments later, Saphir broke off, his expression that of astonishment. "...You didn't hit me."
Jade folded his arms and smiled serenely. "Do you want me to?"
"Yes—I mean, no!" Saphir's cheeks flushed once more, and Jade could have sworn he heard Saphir mutter something like, "hit on me," but he had no time to ponder it as Saphir spoke out loud once more. Still, Saphir ought to notice his lack of enthusiasm regarding the matter.
"...There's someone else, isn't there?"
And notice he did. "Excuse me?"
"Peony."
Jade burst into a laugh. Ridiculous. Beyond ridiculous. "We don't see each other that way. Besides, he's still busy pining for Nephry. Idiotic as he might be, he is not about to mistake me for my sister."
"Even so... You... really look like her right now."
"I'm not a woman, no matter how much I look like one."
"But does Peony know that?"
"I'm now fairly certain that the Kimlascan army must have swapped your brain with a rappig's, as I don't recall your mind being this retarded the last time we were researching fomicry."
Saphir folded his arms and pouted indignantly. "My mental faculties are in tip-top shape, thank you very much!"
"Then act like they are."
A still silence fell over the two, punctuated by the crackling of flames as they both steeled themselves, waiting for someone to speak.
Saphir unfolded his arms, still staring at the ground. "Hey, Jade?"
"Hmm?"
Saphir stole a glance at Jade and swallowed as he looked away once more. "I want to be by your side."
"I thought I told you to keep your head, Saphir."
"I know you don't feel that way about me." Saphir trudged on, as if taking no notice of his biting remark. "But still. No matter what." Biting his lip, he shifted slightly on his feet while clutching his own arm. "I know I sound like I'm forcing myself on you. Maybe I am. But that's the way I feel right now." He took a deep breath and raised his eyes to meet Jade's. "I love you, Jade."
"I don't."
A hurt look flashed across Saphir's face, and he hung his head as he muttered, "I know."
"Though... it would be wrong of me to say that I hate you," Jade said, pausing as he glanced at the nearby wooded area once more. Without waiting for a reply, he headed towards the small forest, leaving a slack-jawed Saphir in his wake.
"How long have you been listening in?" Jade asked with a beatific smile as he popped in behind two retreating figures.
"No, we just happened to pass by," Peony said as he smiled unabashedly at Jade, while Guy had the shame to look guilty at being caught.
"I see. It just so happened that you both positioned yourselves behind a tree, conveniently within earshot of our beloved campsite," Jade's smile turned icy as he turned to Guy, who returned his smile with a discomfitted one of his own. "Now, Guy, if you would be so kind to explain..."
"His Majesty thought he saw something when we were returning. Of course, I couldn't leave him to go off on his own, so I followed, and—"
"I wouldn't expect any less in the way of sorry excuses." The lines around Jade's mouth deepened. "You are dismissed."
"Sorry, Jade!" Bowing deeply while clutching what seemed to be an armful of berries to his chest, Guy scurried off towards where Saphir stood, leaving Jade with a beaming Peony and a small trail of berries in his haste.
Jade turned to Peony. "How much did you hear?"
"Enough," Peony said, a grin still plastered on his face. "Excellent love confession, by the way."
"Is that so?" Jade said, his smile turning impish. "Flattering as that sounds, would you like some assistance in waking up?" Fonons glimmered around Jade's arm as he summoned his spear, eyeing it thoughtfully. "I shall gladly assist you in doing so..."
"Fine, fine." Peony raised his arms in surrender. "No love confessions, just Saphir... being Saphir."
Jade dissipated his spear, folding his arms as he continued smiling. "How long have you known?"
"A while." Peony shrugged noncomittally as he folded his arms behind his head. "Who knows? Maybe since we were kids? Saphir's always got it bad for you, y'know?"
Jade grimaced. "Saphir is an idiot."
"An idiot who knows what he wants. Which leaves you as...?"
"A man who has no time for this nonsense."
"Saphir seemed very serious about it, if you ask me."
Feeling a headache coming along, Jade removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "He has lost his mind while in Kimlascan captivity."
"You know, it would be easier if you just admitted you actually care for Saphir one way or another."
"This is rich coming from a person who once told me that he was a fool for believing I had feelings."
"Jade!" Peony's smile faded, his mouth drawn into a glower as he grabbed Jade's collar and pushed him back. "Can the snark for a moment and listen to me!"
Pain shot up Jade's back, his hair tie snagging on a low branch and snapping as he slammed against a nearby tree. "So you think you could figure it out when I, hailed as one of the greatest fonic geniuses in Auldrant, could not?"
Peony's grip tightened on his shirt. "Understanding feelings isn't like reading about advanced fonology!"
"Should it matter what kind of science it is if the one I'm talking to is an imbecile?"
Fury painted Peony's features for a moment, with fiery blue and cold red meeting as the two locked gazes.
"I..." Sighing resignedly, Peony let his arms fall to his side, his grim features stark in the moonlight that seeped through the trees. "It's all messed up, Jade."
He cast his eyes upon the ground, covering his face with a shaky hand. "Every time I look at you, I don't know who I'm seeing anymore. I... keep seeing Nephry, instead of my smart, cold-hearted childhood friend..."
"I was really scared, y'know." Balling his hand into a fist, he lifted his gaze heavenward. "When you took on all those soldiers on your own. I know I've sent you to dangerous places countless times, but... this felt different for some reason, and, urgh... Damn it!" He slammed his fist against another nearby tree, causing some leaves to flutter as they fell. "I... in a way, I guess I'm jealous of Saphir. He's so certain about what he wants and what he sees, and here I am, unable to tell the difference between you and Nephry..."
"Now, I'm truly convinced that you must have hit your head sometime during that battle we had this morning." Jade said, taking in Peony's pained expression with disinterest. So, Saphir actually had a point. An idiot could easily read the mind of another idiot, it would seem. "Else, you are stressed. Hyperbolic as it sounds, you have, in fact, lost almost everything precious to you. It is understandable if such has messed with your normal thought processes for the moment. Though I expect that once this is over, you should regain some sort of semblance of human intelligence."
Peony let out a weak chuckle. "I really shouldn't expect any sympathy from you, huh?"
"Isn't that a given?"
"Right, right." After letting out another small laugh, his gaze flickered past Jade's shoulder. "Your hair..."
Jade folded his arms and raised a brow, ignoring his disheveled hair. "I wonder whose fault it was."
"Wait a minute." Frowning slightly, Peony ran a hand through his pockets. "Here." He fished something out of his pocket and held out a small, polished object towards Jade. "Use this."
In the dim light, Jade could make out a bit of blue, and upon seeing its shape, he frowned. "...I thought I told you to throw that out."
"Must've forgotten." Peony shrugged indifferently. "Anyway, take it."
"No." Jade pushed up his glasses and averted his gaze from the all-too familiar cylindrical hair piece resting on Peony's palm. Upala. The precious stone he was named after—a stone of hope.
"And what are you going to use to keep your hair braided? The last time I checked, you left everything with Noelle and Ginji back in Sheridan. Use this for now, and throw it out once you're done or do whatever you want with it." Peony's tone was flippant, but his smile did not reach all the way to his eyes as he said the last statement. "I'll braid your hair for you."
"If you must." Jade sighed in defeat and grudgingly allowed Peony to braid his hair.
"You call this a braid?" Peony said disapprovingly as he expertly weaved through Jade's hair.
"I don't have time to keep up with the latest trends in fashion, as I'm a very busy man."
"I wouldn't call it a 'trend' as it is looking like a decent human being." Peony said as he continued with his task. "And done."
Jade did not need to look and would not admit it, but Peony probably did a better job on his hair than the sorry excuse he did earlier that day.
"Now, that's more like it." Satisfied, Peony took a step back and nodded as he admired his handiwork. "Also, once we're done eating, take a break for the rest of the trip—sleep through it if you must. No planning and strategizing until we reach Ortion Cavern."
"Is this another one of your strongly worded requests, Your Majesty?"
"No. It's an order. As a concerned... friend."
"How delightfully ironic." An amused smile escaped Jade. "But very well. I shall humor you for a bit. Pray tell, what will you do in case something comes up while I'm asleep?"
"The three of us will come up with something," Peony said cheerfully, a tone Jade found none too reassuring. "Seriously, though, we'll call you if we're unable to handle it. That fair enough?"
"I suppose so."
"Anyway, let's go back. Saphir must be getting all worked up since you left him hanging."
Jade suppressed a groan. "Don't remind me." Regardless, he followed Peony out of the forest, towards where the others waited.
