The next few days pass by without anything special happening. I bond with Sakura and Hinoka more, I am beginning to enjoy their company, not to where I would consider them my sisters, but more as friends. The younger princess continued to show me around the castle, pointing out things she thinks are beautiful. "This is a painting of an old, abandoned tower." She points towards a frame one day, it barely seems like a tower, since it is so overgrown with plants. "Originally the people wanted it gone so they could have the land for trees and flowers, but Mother had it repurposed and now it houses a variety of plants and animals that call it home."
Hinoka, on the other hand, actually takes me outside the castle… under the supervision of several guards. It turns out the red-haired woman was a Pegasus Knight, and she trains just so she could assist in 'rescuing' me. She even shows me a small map, a flight tour she tells me, for when I have completely recovered. "I actually draw one up every year, things keep changing, so this is the… fifteenth version, I think?"
I can only spend a handful of minutes at a time with Ryoma, he too, is nice to be around, though his duties tend to take up most of his days. He promises to take a day off for me and spend time his favorite way… with a training sword in hand and striking wooden dummies, he would even provide some light training for me, which I am grateful for, I have quite a bit of pent-up energy and no way to release it. Thinking of pent-up energy however, it has also been a while since I have picked up a certain genre of book and, well… took some time for myself. How am I to bring something like that up? My cheeks flush just at the thought of it. "Hey, Hinoka, I don't suppose you have a book with erotic material in it, do you?"
Takumi avoids me like I carry some sort of lethal disease, always making some sort of excuse the second I enter a room he is in. He absolutely refuses to even bother spending time with me. Fine with me, but that does not mean I avoid him, however. I find out that he enjoys training and I sneak over to the training yard a few times to watch him practice archery. His bow is certainly something else, it seems to produce its own string and arrows, glowing a pretty blue. And his skills with it are outstanding, bullseye after bullseye, standing, moving, jumping, it does not matter because every shot landed true. I shiver at the thought of being on the receiving end of his arrows.
On the fourth day, the high priestess finally gives me the okay to move as I please, "As long as you don't engage in actual combat, you should be fine." Gods, that is the best sentence I have heard all week. The second Ryoma is off for the day, I practically drag him to the training yard. He smiles at my enthusiasm, clearly eager to spend time with me. I would rather spar with Xander, but that is not an option, so Ryoma would have to do. It seems he expects me to be just grasping the basics, but I quickly correct that certain train of thought when I have him on the ground within a minute of our first match. I have this cocky smirk on my face while the wooden sword points at him and my foot is on his sword arm. I pull my sword back, remove my foot, and offer my hand.
"I suppose I should have guessed you had training already." He says and takes my offered hand, I nearly stumble and fall when he uses me to get up, "Good, then I won't have to hold back then."
He might say that, but he is still holding back. It is actually quite alarming how much effort he isn't putting into his strikes. Ironically, it seems he is putting more effort into making sure he does not use as much… huh. "Xander trained me." I answer his unspoken question. "Every morning he was there, hours before the sun even rose." Which usually included Flora or Felicia using ice magic to wake me up.
"I see…" he frowns at the statement, "Well… I suppose he did a decent enough job," he hesitantly acknowledges before adding under his breath, "Not that makes it the Nohrians any better."
The sparring matches end with us equal, but Ryoma is trying to say he has a mere one match win over me, and only because he insists that the first round does not count. "You just don't want me being equal to you, right?" It comes out teasing, surprisingly. I am actually beginning to enjoy my time with him.
He chuckles, "Initial rounds never count, they're there for the warm-up." Xander would have counted them, he always did, "Do you think a bandit or wolf would prance around and give you time to warm up?" He says at one point. "I commend Gunter for his excellence, but this idea of 'practice' rounds will need to end". Ryoma then speaks up, breaking me from my memories, "Now, I worked up an appetite from that, I hope you did as well?"
My stomach answers for me and my cheeks slightly flushes from embarrassment, "Yes."
He laughs, "Well, let's see what's on the menu for tonight."
It is steak and a plentiful variety of fruit and vegetables. This is probably the most expensive and tastiest meal yet. Everything is well cooked and reasonably spiced, not too much to overwhelm and not too little to miss. Yet somewhere in the back of my mind tells her that the steak would have been better if it is rarer, raw even. I shiver at the thought, that would not be the first time the dragon in me makes such an observation, but it does not make it any less unnerving when it does happen.
There are three empty seats around a smaller, more private table. Two has much more decorations than the rest, for the King and Queen I assume, the third is most likely for Takumi, considering there is an empty plate and glass in its place. "Won't he join us?" Sakura brings up, she is worrying. I could honestly care less where the Archer is.
"If he wants his meal fresh, he best get over here quickly." Hinoka says, irritated at his behaviour. "I swear, he's acting like a child."
"He'll come around, sister." Ryoma assures, it is calming but I can sense the underlying annoyance.
"It's been nearly a week! Almost eighteen years passed without our sister, she finally returns and he just… ignores her?" She breathes deeply, trying to get a handle on her emotions. "We can finally be a family again if he'd just join us…" She looks around at the others before landing her eyes on me, "I'm… sorry you had to see that."
"It's alright, I don't blame you." I try to sound forgiving, besides I am only being kept away from my family. "Trust Ryoma, it'll take time. I can wait." More like can't wait to get out.
"I…" Hinoka pauses, "You don't know how relieving it is to hear that from you." Oh, I do, the relief is practically pouring off of her like a fountain.
"Lord Ryoma, shall I put Lord Takumi's meal in preservation?" A servant asks as he re-fills the our drinks.
"Yes, it seems he won't be joining us," He nods before sighing, "again." The servant bows before hastily leaving the room.
"Hey, sister…" Hinoka starts, then a smirk forms, "I heard you floored Ryoma on your first round of sparring."
"It was a practice round." Despite the wording, he still smiles.
"Excuses…" I mutter and roll my eyes, which causes Sakura to giggle, then Hinoka joins in, I give in, then finally Ryoma laughs. In that one moment, life is great.
...Then it all comes crashing back down, the doors to the dining room practically fly open as a man rushes in, he has a scar over one of his eyes, his body is covered in Ninja clothing with a mask over the lower half of his face. "Saizo? What's wrong?" The good mood vanishes immediately, Ryoma changes from loving brother to a commander almost instantly.
"The Nohrian army, Lord Ryoma. They've arrived a day and a half earlier than predicted, Yukimura is preparing the defenses as we speak. We expect them to be in striking distance in no more than an hour."
"Gods…" The High Prince stands up. "Sisters, I need to leave, please…"
"I'm going with you." Hinoka interrupts, "I won't let them take Corrin away again."
"I-I can help, too." Sakura says, a steely determination in her voice.
Ryoma nods, "Saizo, escort Corrin to a safe zone, make sure she's well protected."
What? "I can fight, too. I'm not defenseless." Does he not trust me? Well, not that I would blame him, I am going to take the first opportunity I can get and run towards the Nohrians.
"I'm sorry, but the high priestess's orders are to keep you away from actual combat." He sighs. Oh right, I already forgot about the high priestess's words, "I know you'd make a great asset, but I'm doing what's best for your health." He nods, "Saizo…"
"At once, Lord Ryoma." I stand and let myself be led away, "Come, Lady Corrin." His grip is firm but not painful.
I feel like I am going to cry. My siblings are so close, but there are several dozen walls and guards between them and I, so now I feel so far away.
The scarred ninja takes me to my room, where there are already several guards on duty. "Guard Lady Corrin with your lives, Lord Ryoma's orders." He tells them before leaving.
"Yes sir." I am placed inside my room and the door closes.
"Gods…" I go to my bed and curl up, tears beginning to moisten the sheets. I need to do something, but what? I could not possibly fight my way out. My Dragonstone glows with my sorrow, the internal roaring returns and I grip the sheets. I feel a change and the sheets rip, I grit my teeth and part of the mattress comes out when I remove my hand, wait, it looks more like a claw right now. I probably could not but that does not mean I am not going to try. The high priestess told me I probably would not be able to maintain my dragon form for long, but I will push myself, anything to be with my family again… and if that damn wound opens up again, so be it!
I spend a few minutes steadying my breath and focusing on the anger and frustration about the situation I am in. Thanks to Hinoka, I have the route to the outside made out in a mental map. One continuous run, that is all I need. Once I shift, there is no turning back, I will not know exactly how it will work, but I guess with that scar I will probably at least yell in pain. Another breath, "I can do this. I have to." The Dragonstone glows intensely as I focus on the roaring. The light becomes brighter and brighter, before it just an intense flash and it fades. I roar and the room trembles, my draconic form is taking the majority of the room's space. My senses are at an all-time high, I can even sense a few Ninjas that are on guard with the soldiers outside the door. The guards have their weapons out and more were coming in, they knew I am trying something and are trying to get the man-power to stop me.
They can try.
I rear my horns and charge, the stone easily giving way to my enhanced strength. Blood spatters on the walls, the scent of it is intoxicating, my maw salivates and I have to stop an urge to just rip the flesh off of them. 'More!' Bones shatter, the sound is like music, it makes me feel all giddy inside. I should be worrying about these things, but the dragon does not care if they just died, all that matters is leaving. I fold my wings in and dash down the path I know will take me outside. It is a tight fit, but I make it work. Guards dive out of the way, clearly unsuited for a dragon charging through the hallways, a few unlucky ones were crushed under my hand-like feet. The scent of blood pushes me faster, my own blood pulses, calling for more death, all this meat and blood will go to waste. I push the thought aside, getting to my family is the top priority.
I exit without incident and make a split-second decision to leap off the side of the outer wall, I know I am too heavy to fly, but even a short glide can make the difference. I spread my wings and jump, falling faster than I have anticipated, but it is worth it, I clear a section of a city, it is a ruined market, the stench of death hangs heavily in the air. I stop, I do not know why, I need to move, but my body refuses to listen, and instead brings me to a spot where a statue once stood, a sword so far in the stone that only its hilt is visible, were it not for my superior sight, I would easily mistake it for a piece of rubble. It is calling to me. I easily make the jump and pull the sword out with my front left hand-foot. My body snaps out of the trance and listens to my reasoning again, I grip the sword tightly and continue my run.
Thankfully, whatever caused the destruction also has fractured a portion of the nearby wall. I run out and am finally free… then pain strikes me hard and I let out a stifled roar. No, not now. I can smell both armies in the distance, not enough to make out individuals but enough to know there are a lot of people there. Taking a breath, I force myself to move, my run is lopsided and unstable, holding a sword does not help, though the burning pain is the main culprit. It is not on the level as it initially had been, but it is getting there. If I was in human form, the run would have have taken at least twenty minutes, but my dragon's bounds got me there in ten. I can smell them and see them! Xander! Leo! Camilla! Elise! A small section of the Hoshidan army is in my way. I would trample over all of them if it means being back with them.
People shout and I hear Hinoka all but scream my name, Sakura is next. I ignore them and to their surprise, I run past a thin part of the Hoshidan army, not even bothering to send a glance their way. My breath is getting short and weaker, just a little more! Xander is clashing blades with Ryoma and Camilla is about to engage Hinoka, so I run towards Leo and Elise instead. Can I even speak in this form? I try to force words out, but it comes out as a weak growl. 'Damn it . ' The pain doubles and I twist my front left leg, sending me crashing and sliding on the ground. Leo has Brynhildr out, clearly wary of the dragon lumbering their way, not that I can blame him. Then a glow envelopes me and I am human again. Gods, it feels like I am dying.
"Big sister!" I hear Elise yell as the sounds of the battle fade into nothingness. I cannot even hear the small group that is no more than an arrow's flight away. I cannot move, the pain is too much. Tears flow freely from my face to the ground. It hurt when I feel arms pick me up, it hurts when even the grass brushes my skin. Gods, everything hurts me. Except my heart, I am back with my family. Despite the pain I manage to smile.
"Elise… Home." I whisper before falling unconscious.
It is nighttime when I wake again and it feels like waking up to the high priestess and Sakura all over again, but it isn't, I am back with them, gods I am back! A constant burning pain reminds me that I have pushed myself way too far, I did not even realize I am crying until the tears roll next to my mouth.
"Big sister!" Elise exclaims. "Hold still. I got ya." I feel warmth pass through me, somehow the magic feels more effective when my little sister is the one to heal me.
"Elise…" I smile through the pain. "I'm so happy to see you again." The cot I am in is serviceable, though I would like to be in my bed again.
"Me too. We were sooo worried. Xander and Leo too, even though they tried to hide it." She bounces in place with her incredibly long hair moving in sync, "It was difficult to stay still while big brother rallied our forces." She pauses and gasps, as if she just remembering something, "You can turn into a dragon!?" Her eyes are as wide as saucers.
"Yea, your big sister can transform into a dragon," I point towards the necklace's stone, "and that's my Dragonstone."
"Coooool." She giggles, "Oh! Don't tell him I said this, but Leo was shaking when you were charging towards us. I never seen him so scared in my life!"
"Don't worry I won't tell." I nod, everything in the world feels right again, "but what about you? Were you scared of a big scary dragon?" I mock roar for emphasis.
She rolls her eyes, "Pfft, as if." It is clearly a lie and I do not need enhanced senses to figure that out.
"That's our brave princess!" I cheer on anyway.
"Oh! My darling Yasei." Camilla enters and all I need to do is look in her eyes to see just how much she misses me. Leo and Xander follow in afterwards, Leo's hair is a mess and his armor is filthy. Xander looks like he has missed days worth of sleep, but still somehow manages to stand tall and look menacing.
"Light hugs, sister, she still hurts pretty badly." Elise may be the youngest, but as the most experienced healer, she has the most say-so when it comes to medical attention.
"Of course." She lightly grips me, "I'll give you a more appropriate hug after you recover." She smiles at me.
"Sister… it's good to see you." Leo says while keeping his composure.
"Leo… if you want a hug, all you have to do is come over here." I smile and Elise giggles.
"Seeing you well is comfort enough." He confidently states.
"Liar." He raises an eyebrow at my accusation, "Shifting into a dragon is not the only I can do now." I will tell them. I want to tell them everything, every tiny detail, how much I miss them.
"Oh? What else! Ooo, I got it… you can breathe fire?" Elise asks.
Wait, I don't even know the answer to that question, "I have not had time to try, but I can… how do I put this, smell emotions…?" An awkward silence comes and goes, "It's like, not actually smelling but, if say, someone speaks something true it 'smells' sweet or pleasant, like flowers. If they lie it comes out sour instead."
"Interesting…" Leo's attention is completely on me.
"Curiosity is a scent that seems to constantly change, something I can never place."
"I understand." He nods.
"Liar." I smile.
"No, I meant… ugh." He pinches the bridge of his nose. "I understand the concept of what you are trying to explain, though I don't understand exactly what's happening. Better?"
"Like a bundle of roses." My sisters and I giggle in near unison.
"Sister…" Xander greets. "It's wonderful you are back, when Hans returned alone… gods, I thought the worst." He grimaces.
"Our poor Xander, he probably has had two or three nights of sleep the whole time. And all of them came from him collapsing with exhaustion." Camilla frowns.
"Actually, one of those might have been from a Sleep Staff, but we obviously don't have one of those…" Elise shies away.
I look at him, "How long was I gone?"
The atmosphere turns serious, "Twenty days." He looks over the room, "What happened?"
"Hans provoked the Hoshidans by violating a border treaty and murdering one of them. Jakob, Gunter, and I managed to route them and secure the fort, a handful of Hoshidan soldiers came in, Camilla drove them off. As Gunter and I were leaving Hans reappeared and causes him to fall into the Bottomless Canyon… and my memory is fractured from there. I did something to Hans and the next thing I actually remember is waking up inside Castle Shirasagi. I was told that a woman sacrificed herself to save me, I turned into a dragon, killed the murderer and was struck by a Wyrmslayer." I motion towards my stomach area. "I have nearly two weeks of missing memories."
"Hoshidan's work, no doubt." The Crown Prince scoffs.
"Normally I would agree, but considering this was her first time transforming, under severe stress from what I understand from this, it could have cause memory damage. Worst case is her mental health is irreversibly damaged. Best case is the aforementioned two weeks of missing memory." Leo said calmly, "Not that I am an expert of the effects of transforming, mind you. I'm equating this more to like being clubbed with a mace… really hard."
"That's Leo for us, giving us the cold hard facts no one else talks about." Elise pokes him.
"Excuse the sudden change in topic, but I do have a question for you, my dear Yasei." Camilla looks at me.
"You know I'll do whatever I can to answer your questions." Somehow though, I am worrying about what she about to ask.
She smiles, "Good. So, when you left the castle to get to the battlefield… did you leave bare?"
"Uh… pardon?"
"Were you naked?" She clarifies.
"I know what 'bare' means… you just caught me off guard. Of course not! I had this red dress with cherry blossom imprints on it. Why?"
"Well, when you transformed back into human…" Camilla's cheeks are now tinted red.
"In the middle of the battlefield, I might add," Elise says as her own face starts burning.
"You left yourself… exposed." Leo sighs.
A moment passes, then another before what they just said actually 'clicks', I squeak, "I was lying face down… naked!? Gods… and everyone saw me?" My face is probably redder than my eyes right now. "Th-the shift had to have ripped the clothes off, I swear I was clothed before I left!"
"Yes, everyone ceased fighting when you arrived as you did…" Xander adds.
"Not helping!"
"But it did give Leo and Elise time to extract you out safely." He finishes.
"I think I'm ready to go back to sleep…" I lie back down, covering my head with the blankets in an attempt to ward off the embarrassment.
"It is rather late." Leo comments.
"We're in a safe zone, so we'll camp here tomorrow too, if you aren't up for travel. After that however, we are going to be moving regardless." Xander announces.
"See you tomorrow, big sis!" Elise walks over and kisses the part of the blanket where my forehead is.
"You too!" I still refuse to pull down the blanket just yet. The three siblings left, yet Camilla stays behind, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. "Is something wrong, sister?" I pull the blanket down just enough to reveal my eyes.
"I didn't mean to embarrass you that badly, I was curious."
"It's all right. At least I know I'll have to have a custom set of armor made." I bite my lower lip. Gods, they have seen me naked. 'Scaled, lithe, ugly.'
"Actually, there is one more thing, darling." Camilla takes a seat on my cot, not that there is much space for her to sit and gently pulls the blanket down so she could see my entire face. My face reddens from the sudden closeness and my breath shortens, "Check under your bed, I left a present there for you…" She has a knowing smile on her face.
I feel unnerved, but reach under regardless. I feel a book, that is leather-bound, it has nicks on the edges and feels very well-used. I do not need to pull it out to know exactly which book it is. Camilla is the only one in the castle who knows this book even exists in my room.
"It took me a while to find it. But I just had a feeling that you would want it with you." Her tone is innocent enough, a far cry from the book under my bed. "Aren't you going to pull it out?"
I shakily sigh and pull the book out, 'A Knight to Remember'. My first explicit story. My face is beaming red again. "You didn't have to…" Gods, now I am cursing my senses, I can smell myself practically bathing the book. How many nights did this one book keep me company? My core is heating just in anticipation for tonight.
"Only for you… now, I shall head off to sleep…" Camilla gets up, "Would you like for me to tie the flap shut?"
I barely manage to squeak out, "Yes, please." My big sister giggles, leaves the tent, and ties it expertly. My fingers run over the cover again and I feel heat rising in me just looking it over.