The pleasant sound of robins singing their morning call usually brought a smile to Asta's face, now though he couldn't stand the high pitch ringing the songbird was causing in his ears. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to move his arms up to his ears to cover them from the aggravating sound but was instead wracked with pain. He placed them down on his sides and gritted his teeth to not yell out in frustration and despair.
Those birds sound worse than Vanessa's drunk singing. And why is my head aching! Not just my head, but my arms, my legs, my stomach. Asta's thoughts trailed off as flashes of the battle in the Capital's streets flashed by. Fighting against the mage controlling the undead, Leopold and Fuegoleon coming to his aid, Noelle protecting the young girl, the other mages appearing.
What happened after that? He asked himself. And where am I?
His songbird torturers left him at peace and Asta sighed with relief. Opening his eyes slowly, his vision was blurred, but he could make out a tidy room with stone walls, an open window, and a basic bed which he was laying on. The sheets were comfortable white cotton, and his pillow was very soft and had a pleasant aroma of dried herbs. He noticed that he wasn't wearing his regular clothing and uniform, instead of being dressed in a long white gown and bandages covering both arms and legs.
As his vision cleared, he could make out the twinkle of dust particles dancing in the morning sunlight. Following the golden beam shining from the window, he saw it land on a sleeping figure in a furnished chair next to his bedside. The light seemed to make the person's brunette locks shine as if made of strands of gold. It took Asta's sleep-addled mind a few seconds to recognise who it was, and after making the connection, a big smile spread across his face.
Mimosa! Asta thought with excitement at seeing someone he knew in this strange location. He was about to shout at her but noted that she appeared exhausted. The usually relaxed and graceful features of her face appeared more worn and stressed. Dark bags were under her eyes, and wrinkles seemed to be in the corners of her eyes. Gone was the constant youthful glow, she now seemed more pale than usual with a contrasting redness around her nose and eyes.
She looks so worn and tired. Maybe she's sick? He thought to himself and looked back at his bandaged arms, turning them over to see the wrappings. I suppose I am more than merely sick. How long have I been out?
Asta, while looking to his left, notices a small table by his bedside. On top were a decorative candle and a pitcher of water with wooden cups. Seeing the cool, hydrating liquid made him feel uncomfortably thirsty all of a sudden. His throat felt like sand as he salivated over the water, and despite the pain of the action, he inched over to the table and grasped one of the cups unsteadily. Asta's hand shook from this small effort, and he chooses to use both hands to control the cup when it was over his chest. Closing his eyes, he brought the cup to his lips and groaned in pleasure at the pleasing taste. Quickly gulping down the water, he sighed in contentment and placed the cup back at the table.
The need for hydration now averted he thinks back to why he was in this room in the first place. Closing his eyes, he tries to concentrate on the previous events. I was fighting with that Leopold guy, and boy was he fighting. We watched each other back and paired well together. He was like a mad, ferocious lion, roaring and charging in. What a cool guy.
But then, someone tried to attack in our blind spot, Noelle protected us, but another spell drained her spell's mana. So Leo and I both jumped at the leader...and we lost. His attack was too fast to see or dodge. I fell, and Leopold also did. I don't remember being in pain or feeling anything but shock at that moment. But why was I shocked, I mean I've been injured before and been surprised a few times by attacks I've not expected.
Blood...and wheezing...a kind of croaking cry...Noelle? No...she was fine...then it had to be...Leopold? A cold chill ran down Asta's spine at that thought. He froze and opened his eye wide as everything rushed back into his mind. The sight of the dying Leopold, the lifeblood leaking from a dozen wounds and filling his lungs. Him being incapacitated and unable to move, watching helplessly as a brother Knight lay next to him, dying.
He died. Because of me...he's gone because I wasn't thinking, I wasn't calm. I wasn't even trying to plan a step ahead. I was only reacting on instinct, taking risks, oblivious to the danger I put everyone around me in.
Asta's body is trembling with contained rage. He grinds his teeth and doesn't feel any pain as the bandages on his arms begin to turn red from reopened wounds. This unpleasant sight is what greets Mimosa when she opens her eyes.
Mimosa had been, for the previous three days, tirelessly focusing on her Magic Knight duties. She'd been essential in stabilising the injured Knights, with help from the Blue Rose Captian, and had been placed under the orders of the Medical Core to help the civilian population.
Mimosa threw herself into the work of sterilising open wounds, healing burnt tissue, sewing large gashes, and splinting broken bones. The mental strain of empathising with people who'd lost so much, while keeping her own anxieties under control, did take its toll. Mimosa would try her best to sleep and relax a spare room in the Capital she'd been given, but any sleep was filled with graphic nightmares. Flashes from the battle, of people screaming in pain and terror, and the vomit-inducing sights of the dead...feasting.
The first night she'd not had any rest in the Royal Castle, going back to the medical ward with red eyes and lacklustre enthusiasm. Owen, the head of the Medical Core, could see the change in Mimosa, but Charlotte confronted her before he could intervene.
'What's going on? You look as dead as those walking corpses from the other day.' Charlotte stated bluntly as Mimosa shuffled along the wooden floor, checking patients laying in small wooden bedframes.
'I'm doing my work. They need me here, I have ordered.' Mimosa croaked quietly, not putting much energy into her argument.
'Well I'm your superior, and I'm ordering you to take leave for the morning at least and get some sleep.' Charlotte barked, irritated at Mimosa's reluctance.
'I can't do that. I have to be useful, do something to help.' She said in a sad tone, stopping and meeting the gaze of the armoured woman. 'Don't you see, I was of no use other than support back during the attack on the city. Almost all the Magic Knights were specialised in Combat Magic, I don't have any useful spells to attack back at an opponent. My skills were useless!' She screamed, then covered her mouth with both hands, her face becoming scarlet with embarrassment.
Charlotte didn't react to Mimosa's outburst. 'Simply because you were able to become a Magic Knight, does not mean you're suited for the role. There are a few deplorable examples of Knights not upholding the standard we set for ourselves as protectors of the Clover Kingdom. As I recall, your parents left the Crimson Lions soon after being engaged to wed. I'd imagine you'll be pressured to do the same, but for now, do you truly believe you have a place among the Golden Dawn?'
Charlotte told this to Mimosa in a sour tone while her features showed more embarrassment at being called out on her anxieties. Seeming to relent on her giving Mimosa a stern lecture, Charlotte knelt down to her level with a more gentle expression. She placed a gloved right hand on the mage's wet cheek and wiped some tears away.
'It's more than your self-doubt, isn't it? You knew of your weaknesses before joining the Golden Dawn, but wanted to protect others right? So its something else that's causing extra strain, on top of experiencing the aftermath of battle firsthand.' Charlotte coxed, speaking softly so as not to be overheard by the other medical mages in the room.
Mimosa shook her head, now even redder because of what Charlotte seemed to be implying. She can't know, right? Of my feelings for Asta. What if she tells my parents? Or even worse, my brother?! Mimosa thinks, panicking over the implications and feeling more overwhelmed.
'I'm fine. Really I am! I'll go...and rest. I'll be back, though! And help!' She blurts, rushing past Charlotte and leaving the room. After a few seconds of pause from the other mages in the room, watching the retreating Vermillion, the leader of the Blue Roses claps her hands. 'Get back to work!' She shouts authoritatively.
Nobody wishes to anger a Magic Knight Captian, and they all carry on with their tasks. Owen sighs at the scene and shakes his head. 'Something is bothering that one more than usual. It's plaguing her mind, and she seems afraid of admitting what it is.' He thinks aloud, then approaches Charlotte.
'She's under a lot of pressure, I think. With the upcoming celebration, there will be more responsibility placed upon her. And including her duties to the Magic Knights, lack of sleep, and feeling obligated to be on medical duty...' He explains to the armoured woman, trying to come up with a rational explanation for Mimosa's uncharacteristic behaviour.
He'd been involved in cultivating her aptitude for medical magic, as a member of the Wizard King's staff. Owen has seen her grow from a clumsy young girl into the bright and genuine young lady she was today. He's also seen how growing up under the critical eye of her royal family, and the high standard expected of her had created damaged self-esteem. Despite the praise and positive re-enforcement Owen did give her encouragement towards becoming a mage in the Medical Core, she buckled under the pressure as a Royal to be in the Magic Knights. He didn't think it was a good fit for her, and it would put her into harms way without the spells needed for defence and offence. The work was generally more violent than Mimosa has yet to realise, and this was her first experience of what it meant to be part of the frontline of the Clover Kingdom's defence.
'It is not any of those, or at least not directly. I have a theory, but don't worry too much about Mimosa.' Charlotte said softly, staring as the doorway she had left through. 'I know you care about her, especially after what happened to your niece.' Charlotte turned to the greying medic with a pained look in her eyes. 'You taught her well. I and others of my quad wouldn't be here today without her devotion and your instruction.'
The solemn tone to her words made Owen look up with a sad smile, his eyes shining with tears as an old ache reasserted itself. 'Safa did what she knew was best for the Kingdom. Always too stubborn to run from a fight, and too kind-hearted to leave anyone behind.' He said with a choaked chuckle, not wanting to appear weak while on duty.
Charlotte nodded, having an easier time at controlling the emotional turmoil she felt at the memory of fallen Knights. 'She embodied the best of us, as Mimosa has the potential too.'
'Do me a favour.' Owen asked, wiping his eyes with his shirt's forearm. 'For old times sake. Look out for that girl, she's...a good person.' He finished simply.
Charlotte seemed to think on it for a moment before nodding, having made that decision long before this conversation.
I'm pleased that most of you have been enjoying the story so far. It's come as a bit of a surprise to me that i've been able to write so much and still have an idea for the future plot. And to answer a few questions, pairings with other characters are under considerationm and I do indend to write around two chapters per week. Even three if I have the time, but in that case I will break long chapters into shorter two parts.
Best Regards to all the readers, and I love responding to reviews whenever they're given.