Of all the mortifying things Caeldori had done in her lifetime, this was easily at the top of the list. Having to bail out her mother and aunt from a jail cell.
She'd been having a perfectly peaceful night before this. With their enemies running away, the young woman was given a chance to unwind. Sitting in her room with a full kettle of tea, a stack of books, lazing about in nothing other than home wear. For the first time in months, she'd been able to relax without wanting her weapon within arm's reach.
That was, until her Grandmother had arrived. The expression her elder wore told her right away, her solitude would have to be put on hold for the time being.
She explained why they were headed to the Sheriff's Office. Something about Morgan attempting a party trick, which caused a building to catch fire. When the Deputies arrived to take her into custody, Severa had knocked out several of them before they were both detained.
"At least it's a pleasant night for a walk." Cordelia lamented, looking to the bright side in the surrounding darkness.
"It was more pleasant when I was inside, next to the fireplace." Caeldori grumbled, tugging on the sleeve of her coat. For a long time she'd been wearing this myrmidon's vest, it was the closest thing she had to the outfit of Hoshido.
"We'll make sure to return in time for you to continue reading, dear." Cordelia mused, looking upon her grand-child with some pessimism. Caeldori really was a reflection of how she had once looked. The tone of her hair was more vibrant, crows feet and laugh lines hadn't begun to claim her visage.
She'd gone through more than most people had in several lifetimes. Perhaps that's why she felt so old, though in reality she was only thirty.
Meanwhile, Caeldori continued to internally fume over how unbelievable this whole situation was. She could never get used to how absolutely childish her elders were, in spite of all they'd been through. Both of them were supposed to be women of noble bearing, holding posts of great authority, and had accomplished feats that would earn anyone immeasurable respect.
Frankly, however, she was surprised either of them lived long enough for her to be conceived.
"You've looked more and more troubled as we go." Cordelia observed, not liking the negative energy that was pouring out of her granddaughter. "Is there something we need to discuss?"
"What's there to say, other than I'm the daughter of a fool." Caeldori bit, sulking deeper and deeper into the cobblestone. "Days pass, and I question how I'm even related to her. Where did she get such brash and bullheaded tendencies?"
"Me. And your grandfather." Cordelia spoke honestly. The younger of the duo snorted through her nose, but that didn't seem to dissuade the elder. "Both he and I were quite volatile when we were younger. Myself, especially."
"I don't believe you." Caeldori replied. "You're nothing like mother or Aunt Morgan. You're calm, poised. Reasonable."
"We all change over time. And you take after her quite a bit, young one." Cordelia mused, ruffling the shorter flier's hair. Caeldori pouted, ducking her head away and shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket.
"She's so miserable." Caeldori complained, taking her chance to air out all of her grievances. "Every day of her life, she's never happy. And she takes it out on everyone around her. It's as if she doesn't even understand what it means to enjoy herself. Or maybe… maybe she can't be happy around me."
Cordelia shook her head. "There's many things about your mother's past that haunt her, even now."
"A past that to this day she refuses to tell me about." Caeldori remarked bitterly. No matter how much she pushed, dug or begged, her mother never spoke a word about her past. Just vague stories about what she had done in this world before she came. Nothing of substance, nothing she could recall.
"She talks about it to very few people. Even I've never known the full extent of her childhood." Cordelia informed, not wanting to have the girl feel excluded from knowledge. But her interjection seemed to only incense Caeldori even further.
It was enough to end the conversation for the rest of their walk.
When they arrived at the city jail, a constable took them through the building. Each cell seemed to have at least one ne'er-do-well inside, though most had more than a few. The place was run down, seemingly ignored. Money didn't need to be spent on criminals, after all. Judging from the temperament of the guards, it wasn't spent on them either.
Eventually they found Severa and Morgan's enclosure. The former laying down on a bench, staring up at the ceiling with a laser's focus. The latter was waiting expectantly at the bars, cheering happily as she saw their door opened up.
The cost of their release was hefty, to say the least. Morgan whined about how her act of arson was a freak accident, and she didn't want to 'torch the joint' as she colorfully put it. Meanwhile, some of the constables all shirked away from Severa as they left the building. Each one looked bruised, in body or ego.
Once they were finally out of sight, Cordelia began to lecture her children about how irresponsible they were. The veteran laid it on extremely thick, making both of them almost melt into puddles of shame beneath her seemingly endless barrage. Both women swore to not cause such a scene again, and promised to pay her back for this whole fiasco.
It really was amazing. In the short time that Caeldori knew her grandmother, the woman lived up to every story she'd been told of her as a child. Kind, wise and fair. Someone to look up too, someone to aspire to be.
Compared to her, both Severa and Morgan felt lacking.
...No. No that wasn't true. In spite of their flaws, all of them had traits that made them amazing people. Not just them, but her father. The Duke and the Duchess, who'd had now been evacuated south for recovery. Each of them was… exceptional.
Compared to each of them, she felt lacking.
The next day, Caeldori dove headfirst back into the city with a new companion in tow.
Last night's events were still a thorn in her side, one that she wanted removed from her psyche. Thankfully, it was payday, and she was soon flush with a month's worth of coins to go spend as she saw fit. What better way to forget a soured night of relaxation than to relax via impulse shopping?
Though from how it looked, Gwen didn't see it that way. Being forced to cart the foreigner to every bookstore, trinket shop and candy shack was not how she planned to spend her day. She had other plans, actually. With other people. Doing other things.
But no, instead she was here. Sitting at a cafe, surrounded by bags filled with her friend's recent purchases, demanding that Naga give her some good points for this.
"So, you gonna tell me what's crawled up yer arse?" The hayseed asked, putting her feet up on the table. Caeldori frowned, slapping at the woman's toe in an unsuccessful effort to remove them.
"Is it so wrong that I wanted to spend a day out with a friend?" She replied, batting her eyelashes innocently in a bout of willful ignorance. Something that spurred her guide to roll her eyes.
"Cael, you tried tuh kidnap me." Gwen corrected, picking at her teeth with a finger. "Yer lucky my date said he'd wait until tonight. I almost lost a free meal cuz of you!"
"If the only reason you're looking forward to a date is the food, then it's not worth going on the date." Caeldori said, giving her friend's foot another smack. This time, she actually moved her feet, planting them on top of an empty chair.
"Hey, I'm lookin' forwards tuh what comes after too." Gwen reminded, wearing the smarmiest of grins. She laughed out loud as the more prude of the two rolled their eyes. "Hey, lemmie have my own fun. We finally won, I'm gonna relax the way I know how."
"Yes, yes. Enjoy your headlong dive into hedonism." Caeldori allowed, dismissing the whole affair.
"Do you judge everyone this much?" The spearwoman grumbled.
"Absolutely. Especially when they know better."
Gwen groaned, tired of constantly being rated by Caeldori. She held everyone around her to such a high standard, it was almost exhausting to be in her company. She was less 'girlfriend' and more 'haughty aunt' half the time.
"What about you, then? Not plannin' anythin' with Percy?" Gwen teased, opting to counter-attack the woman's barrage. "Don't wear him out so fast, he's new tuh relationships that ain't in a book."
The flier flushed with embarrassment at the idea, fidgeting in her chair. "Will you stop making everything a double entendre?"
"Soon as you stop makin' it so fun." Gwen answered, happy to now have one up in the conversation. Much to Cordelia's obvious distaste.
"Ugh… you're just like m-" She began, stopping herself right as she said 'Mother'. "Like Miss Severa."
"Normally I'd say that's a compliment…" The spearwoman said carefully, catching onto the negative tone. Now she was able to get an idea as to why Caeldori was particularly crotchety today.
The flier huffed, taking her cup and swirling the dark brown drink within. "Yes, yes. Everyone's so enthralled with the great Major Volkner. I swear, people think she's so perfect. As if she could turn the tide of a battle all on her own."
"Hasn't she done that twice now?" Gwen reminded, which made Caeldori sulk even more as she drank her cocoa. Storm clouds were almost hovering around the redhead, her mood becoming near subterranean as she was yet again reminded of her mother's grand achievements.
Seeing as she succeeded in making the topic unavoidable, Caeldori decided to admit what had her knickers in such a twist.
So, she bared it all. The events of the nights prior, her mother's constant bullheaded antics, always being barred from the frontline, constantly being treated like a junior. For a solid ten minutes, Caeldori released every grievance she seemed to have ever had against their 'glorious leader' onto Gwendolyn's unexpected head.
At the end of it all, the native sat there, dazed and confused.
"So… you're angry that she's tryin' tuh keep you safe?"
"I'm angry because she keeps coddling me!" The woman protests, slamming both hands against the table. "I'm one of the best fighters in the battalion! I would even bet that I'm better than her! And yet she holds me back, time after time, refusing to even let me prove it!"
Caeldori sagged back into her chair, folding her arms over her chest and growling. "How many people did we lose during the battle? How many of them could I have saved if I was simply allowed to be there."
"How many times you might've gotten killed, too." Her partner pointed out, to which Caeldori only scoffed.
"Please, these amateurs couldn't lay a finger on me."
"Uh huh. I'm sure that's what Vincent thought." Gwen reminded her, the grizzled image of the boy's mangled body vivid in both of their minds. His death was even more pogient to Gwen, seeing as she'd sent him to get help.
Of course, he had. Unfortunately dying in the process.
The soldier sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Cael… look. Take it from someone's killed people, it's… it ain't fun."
"I know it isn't fun! But it's not fair, it's fair for me to send other people into what may be the last fight of their lives without being able to go with them." She continued to protest. "I'm supposed to be a leader. How can I lead in good conscience if I can't even help?"
Gwen shook her head, but didn't respond. This conversation was going to go nowhere, and Caeldori was clearly primed to not give an inch on this topic.
Besides, they still had the rest of the day to spend. May as well spend it happy.
Later that day, Caeldori found herself in the drill room. Practicing her naginata technique on the various dummies and targets that littered the place.
Ever since they'd returned, this part of the castle had seen very few guests. Most soldiers were off celebrating still, spending time in a pub or with their families. Gwen herself had gone off to her own date, reminding Caeldori once again to take a load off. An idea that was still resting in her mind, until she decided to come practice instead.
Even if the Valentians were gone, no one knew when they would return. It could be months, it could be in only weeks. When they did return, she would be prepared. This time the flier wouldn't be relegated to the rear, running messages and acting as glorified moral support. She'd be in the thick of it, proving once and for all what she was capable of.
And if she was going to do that, she needed to train.
With every strike, Caeldori thought back to every moment she spent in the field for the past few months. From helping train so many fresh faces, to marching through the forest and flying over the ash-covered landscape.
It was so much different than fighting in Valla. There, they'd done little to alter the world. The carnage of battle often disappeared once the Vallites were slain, though they often had to collect and bury their own casualties
Here, they were tearing apart the very earth. Craters scarred the grasslands, stretches of forest were torched by the efforts of mages, homes were plowed over and destroyed by both armies. Everything they did had a lasting, often devastating effect. And that was without considering the legions of dead after each clash.
Her mother's world was so very violent. No wonder she was just as brutal and harsh. In her shoes, Caeldori wasn't sure she would have turned out much different.
Growing up, her father had gone to great lengths to ensure she was ready for whatever she may encounter. In her deeprealm she had educators, drill instructors, and caretakers. Each one to prepare her for her future. It's why when she joined her parents, she'd risen sharply through the ranks of Corrin's army. It's why in Corrin's army, she was one of the most respected soldiers present.
But not here. No one knew here, no one cared. Here, she was always compared to her superior. And her superior made her look like an ameteur.
Gods, even thinking about her mother made her furious. She could even hear her voice rattling in her thoughts...
"So this is where you've been hiding."
...That was too real to be a thought.
Caeldori removed the blade of her weapon from a scarecrow's chest, turning around to see her mother pace in. The woman was wearing her old Nohrian mercenary kit, though lacking the arm shield. Judging from the look of things, it was recently patched up as well.
"Where's your armor?" Caeldori asked, having gotten used to seeing her parent clad in gold and white.
"Blacksmith's giving it a look-over." Severa answered, rubbing her wrist as she stopped before her daughter. "Where've you been? I was looking for you this morning, but your father said you up and left."
Caledori shrugged noncommittally, not in the mood to chit-chat about how she'd spent her day. Instead, she walked over to the weapon rack, setting her spear back down.
"I needed to stretch my legs. Why, was I needed for something?" The younger asked.
"Well, your Grandmother and I went to get our nails done." Severa explained. "We were hoping that you would've tagged along."
"Maybe next time." Caeldori quickly answered, stowing away her gear and moving with haste towards the room's exit.
"Not so fast!" Severa called from behind, something that made Caeldori tense with dread as she froze. She turned around to see her senior move over to the weapon rack, then grab two practice swords. Severa then threw one over, which her daughter snatched from the air by the wooden blade.
"A spar?" Caeldori questioned with concern. "A-are you sure? We still don't understand the extent of how mobile your sword-arm is."
"Then I'll fight one-handed." Severa deflected, swapping the grip of her weapon to her less dominant limb before pointing towards the sparing circle with the weapon. "No excuses. We've slacked enough on your fencing lessons as is."
Seeing as there was no way out of this situation, Caeldori reluctantly made her way onto the mono-colored blue mat. As her impromptu instructor stood before her, she took up a solid stance. Legs spread evenly, both hands gripping the hilt with just enough force.
Severa had been teaching her swordcraft for years now. It had been at her request at first; Caeldori desperately wanted to reach the same proficiency as her mother. The lessons had begun in her deeprealm, but had continued long after she left. Though, this was the first time they'd engaged in the activity since coming to Roseanne.
In the beginning she'd been ecstatic to be taught by someone as seasoned. No one could doubt that her mother was a master swordswoman. But as time went on, long after Anakos was felled, she began to truly understand the gulf that stood between their ability. Upon her arrival to Hoshido, Caeldori took on new teachers. Hinata and Hana, namely. Both showed her how to use a katana far better than most could ever dream.
Now would be her chance to prove her merits to her elder. Enough that she might finally allow her some autonomy in the field.
Severa took up an at-rest stance, beckoning with her empty hand for Caeldori to make the first move. The position left her wide open, which left plenty of opportunities.
The younger woman rushed forwards, going for an upwards slash along her mother's stomach. Severa jumped back, the senior's eyes fixed firmly on the tip of her assailant's weapon. Her sword arm didn't move, the blade still aimed groundwards. Something that only seemed to infuriate Caeldori further.
With a flurry of strikes, the flier threw attack after attack at her target. She changed her goal, aiming for the periphery in a bout to knock her opponent further and further off balance as they dodged. She kept pushing, onwards and onwards, up until they were at the very edge of the mat.
To which Severa, during Caeldori's final strike, jumped to her daughter's left, then harshly poked the girl in the back of the head with the butt of her sword hilt. Caeldori stumbled out of the circle, almost toppling over before righting herself.
Severa watched as Caeldori spun around, then glared bloody murder back at her mother. Severa's gaze remained analytical and silent, mouth curled into a soft frown.
"Well, don't just stare at me!" Caeldori protested. "Say something!"
"You're swinging too wide, it's making your moves easier to guess." Severa observed, taking her paces back to let her child return to the mat. Something which Caeldori did quickly, taking a readied stance once more.
"Well, I'm sorry your lessons haven't stuck." Caeldori shot back, digging her feet in.
Severa rolled her eyes, well aware it wasn't her lessons that was causing her daughter to make such rookie mistakes. But it was still her responsibility to help her all the same. "Go again. Ox guard, this time. Try and mix what I taught you with Hinata's style."
Caeldori took a breath, complying. She lifted her weapon up, sword overhead with the tip aimed in her mother's direction. The girl pulled on the knowledge from her childhood lessons, trying to find a way to hybridize the two cultures' distinct ways of fighting.
"Whenever you're ready." Severa assured, this time taking a Fool's guard. Her own weapon's point dug into the mat, going towards her opponent.
With a few more seconds passed, Caeldori ran forwards again. This time, the girl put force behind each strike. Attempting to physically knock her mother over, though the bout was going more of the same. Though now, Severa wasn't able to simply dodge her daughter's attacks. Near the end, she was being forced to block each one. Not a simple task when fighting one-handed.
It wasn't until Caeldori exhausted herself that the two broke apart. Severa took a breath, watching her daughter as she heaved while doubled over.
"You're getting really good." Severa praised, smiling with pure pride. "Not surprising, considering you've got such a fantastic mentor like myself."
Caeldori huffed, standing up straight again and taking the same stance once more. "If you really thought I was that good, you wouldn't hold back."
"Only time I don't hold back is when I'm going to kill someone, kiddo." Severa parried, resting her weapon on her shoulder and taking a few paces back. "Baby steps, Caeldori. Even at this level, you still have plenty of potential."
The comment was intended to be a compliment, but the sparks that flew behind Caeldori's eyes showed that she took it as anything but. Being coddled, even now when she was putting someone like her mother on the back-foot. That wasn't 'potential', that was expertise. Time and time again, she'd shown that. And yet her mother never looked at her as anything other than a mewling child.
It was infuriating. And it was high time she finally made her mother eat these cheap sentiments.
WIth a rage-filled yell, the woman rushed forwards yet again with full force. Sensing the danger, Severa instinctively clutched her sword with both hands. This time from the onset, she was totally on the defensive. Constantly being pushed back, being kept on the heels of her feet with each attack.
"Why. Won't. You. FIGHT. BACK!?" Caeldori railed aloud as she kept swinging with now reckless abandon. Each blow was backed by months and months of pent up frustration. From the war, to her feeling alien in such a violent land, to the one woman who caused her to be in this situation. A constant, never ending barrage of positive and negative emotions for all she'd been subjected too through her time here.
Never ending, until she got what she asked for.
In the middle of assault, Severa jabbed her weapon into her daughter's ribs. As Caeldori exhaled, her mother then placed a foot behind her stance and swept inwards. The younger of the two fell, back slamming against the sparring mat with a stunning smack.
In the moments it took Caeldori to regain her senses, Severa already pointed her weapon at her daughter's chest. Looking down at her confused face with what looked to be… disappointment.
Severa shook her head, taking Caeldori's practice weapon from her hand and going over to the rack. As another pair of footsteps echoed in from the entrance.
"Selena, Caeldori…?" Subaki could be heard calling, before he stopped to see both of the women in his life present in the room. One still laying down on the floor, though was now propped up on her elbows as she stared at him. Behind the man, Cordelia was pitched against a wall, free of her armor but wearing her usual red blouse.
"There you two are." He said, going over to offer his daughter a hand up. The woman begrudgingly took it, being hefted onto her feet. "The comptroller needs you two. Something about a pay error."
Severa scowled, stowing the two weapons away before stomping towards the door. "I swear to Naga, if that cheapskate tries to short-change me, I'm gonna make him run for the hills."
"I highly doubt that's n-" He started to say, but at that point his wife was already long gone. Fearing for the worst, the man tore behind her, calling for the rageful soldier to slow down.
Cordelia stayed behind, looking at her grand-daughter with measured concern. "Are you hurt?"
"Does everyone think I'm so fragile?" Caeldori grumbled, arms over her chest and glaring in the opposite direction of where her grandmother stood.
"I was talking about your ego." Cordelia clarified, something which made Caeldori blush violently with embarrassment.
Cordelia took a breath, going to give the girl a pat on her back. "I was watching. There's few people I've seen make her so guarded."
"Still didn't even land a hit on her." Caeldori growled, before deflating. With her anger worked out of her system, now all she felt was a sense of utter defeat. Yet again she'd come up lacking compared to her parents. Yet again she stood in their shadows.
"You will. I know, so does she."
"Don't start coddling me as well." Caeldori complained.
"You know, I've known your mother for long enough to understand who she is." Cordelia observed, crouching down so she was head-level with the younger woman. "And the more I get to know you, the further I see just how similar you two are."
"I am nothing like her." Caeldori protested vehemently, much to her pride and shame.
"I said similar, dear. Not alike." Cordelia noted, moving to straighten her grand-daughter's bangs. "There's more than a few differences. You don't quite have her raw drive, for instance."
Caeldori's eyes were downcast, the comment feeling like another jab to her gut.
"You do have her heart, thought." Cordelia went on, smiling as she tilted her grand-daughter's head up to face her. "And for all that fearsome exterior, there's few people I've met who've cared as deeply about their fellow man as your mother… except maybe you."
Caeldori stood there, speechless. She thought back to all the stories she'd been told about her mother, the times she'd gone out of her way to save others. She was raised on those tales, the heroism of her parents.
Meanwhile Cordelia looked down at her spitting image, someone who reminded her so much of all the important people in her life. Severa's fierce compassion, Morgan's boundless talent, her husband's sharp wit and her own uncompromising ideals.
She was the best of all of them, tied up in a single package. Even if she didn't know it yet.
"You want to live a better life than your mother and I? Take care of the people who love you." Cordelia advised, nodding her head towards the door where the younger's parents had gone. Hoping that of all the people in her family, she would be the first one to live out her days without tragedy.
"Or don't." She finished, giving the girl a pat on the head. "It's your life."
A/N: Bonus points to people who guess what the inspiration for this chapter was.
A bit of a shorter installment, we're gonna be back to the 5K long chapters come next time. Until then, guys. Stay safe, stay healthy. God bless
o/
