January 24th

Alexandria's Castle

...

Her name is Freya Crescent, and she is a Burmecian Dragoon Knight.

Her pride is that she will be the salvation of others. Pride comes before the fall...

The Dragoon remembers the day she left home to search for Sir Fratley's whereabouts, and on that journey, she learned more about herself than she did in a lifetime. Five years seemed like an eternity. Away from friends, family, a shelter... She knew lots of new places, befriended new people, yet that was not enough. Nothing was enough to fill in the void left after Sir Fratley left.

His training lessons, at least, served for a purpose. To climb the highest mountains only to hear rumors of his victories, to walk at deepest valleys only to find his footsteps, to run through the fields only to be with his... Freya never found Fratley, this until Fratley found her, only to say something unbearable!

"Freya, you say?... I believe this is the first time we have met…"

"'I'm sorry, but I cannot remember you for the life of me…"

A few words were enough for Freya to be devastated. Sir Fratley was really good at taking me down on training, the Burmecian recalls, but I learned a lesson after every fight. What have I learned from Cleyra? That life is unfair and coincidences might happen?

After every defeat on training, Sir Fratley always had something new to say to his students and closed ones... 'The sly eagle doesn't kill at whim'; 'If a wall is too high to jump over, then learn to jump higher'; ''The road remains wide open while your dreams are alive. Only fear can block the way'; 'Let fear propel you forward. Do not look back. Do not let failure stifle you'; 'Honesty is a virtue. That's if you can manage to stay alive...'

And so they did. For the first time in years, Freya found a time to express her deepest feelings to the man she loved, unaware of his reaction, unafraid of being let down. By the moment Sir Fratley said he didn't remember anything, it was as if he denied everything. Everything... From childhood experiences, the first contact with books and any other strange object, the experience of growing up and perceiving how things change, how one's voice either softens or thickens, but who is Freya Crescent to know? All she cares and knows about are the fond moments she had together with Sir Fratley's company.

Confidences shared to one another, secrets unraveled to no one else, someone to poke fun at, someone to listen to her worries and fears, to cry on his shoulder and laugh at his face, those damned five years of pain and suffering! They meant nothing! NOTHING! Now, Freya would be happy simply knowing the man she loved lives...

But Sir Fratley is dead. So does Cleyra. And, to think all happened a while ago...

— You okay, Crescent? – Beatrix asked Freya, who has not blinked for a long while.

— …I am. – With her claws, the Burmecian feels a piece of kashmir tissue for the first time. Only a few of the greatest knights of Burmecia ever wore kashmir, and for a single Princess to have so many of them and not have used them at all... – It's just that... Had Garnet been here, would she mind if we borrowed her dresses?

— Of course not! – Steiner said immediately. – I refuse to follow this silly plan any longer!

— The Alexandrian troops surrounded this whole kingdom with a barricade, so I heard from an informant. – Beatrix explained the situation. – We dress ourselves as nobles fleeing to Treno who are being scouted by Pluto Knights.

— I can see some bit of logic in here, but I'm sorry, this plan is still silly, if not made in a very bad taste. – All Steiner did was complain, not only because the dress didn't fit.

— It's only a temporary disguise, pretty! – Said Blank, wearing a pink azalea dress.

— Oh, shut up! – Steiner felt his dignity slowly vanishing.

— We don't have much time to elaborate a better plan. – How Freya wished they had time, and another plan at hand. – What we have at hand is nothing but a matter of improvisation.

— Lady Freya... There is improvisation, and there is offense, which I don't agree with. – Steiner didn't know what was more offensive in his view of the world, if agreeing to wear one of Princess Garnet's dresses, or just wearing a woman's dress, independent of her status. – By all means, please take care of them.

— You speak as if we were not wearing Garnet's dresses, but Garnet herself. – Blank said, as he chose whose hat to cover his face and scars. – Yeah, that's right! You almost sound like her dad!

— Do I? – Steiner asked, looking in a mirror and wondering when it all went wrong with his life choices, and what's wrong with the world he lives in. – Even after I let go of Garnet, I'm still worried about her safety.

— Me too. – Beatrix shared the same feelings as Steiner. The Princess was like a member of the family for both. – But don't worry about Garnet, she's safe.

— Yes. With Master Vivi, and... Zidane. – The knight recalled the steadfast relationship he had with the happy-go-lucky thief. – So many things happened on this journey. The Princess saw the world outside these walls, she fell in love with a doofus, and I met a nice little guy who happens to be a skilled magician. I learned to think for myself instead of blindly following orders... Those were simpler times.

— Those were not simple times at all. You all were trying too hard to be innocent and hide your pain from one another. – Said Freya, interrupting Steiner's heartfelt moment.

— Yes, not everything was as good as it sounds. Vivi discovered he was a tool made for war, Garnet's mother already showed signs of being a dysfunctional wreck, and I... I had to go through a lot to realize my Queen's mind was not doing fine. But yeah, Vivi and Zidane will take care of the Princess, as much as she will take care of herself. As for us... All that remains is to go to Lindblum before it's late.

— It's quiet outside, in a sinister way. – Freya raised her ears. — Wonder if Marcus and Cinna are alright?

— They are the best! Don't you worry! – Blank too was disturbed by the serenity, but he believed his comrades were fine.

— ...Love is found in the east and west, but when love is at home, it's the best! Love, love... the cure for every evil, the air that supports the eagle!... – The Burmecian sang to herself, while brushing her long milk white hair.

— Nice song. – Blank liked it.

— It is a poem from a dear friend. He sang it to me on a typical Thursday's afternoon after training. He also played it on flute.

— Hmm... Sir Fratley, I suppose? – Beatrix asked. It didn't take that long for her to fit inside a soft silk dress that shimmers.

— Yes. – That name brings Freya back to the past. So does wrapping ribbons on her hair. – It was one of his hidden qualities. He was a shy person, but as a Dragoon, he felt assured of his actions and saying. It was as if Fratley became a new and improved version of himself whenever he was on duty. I too felt that way.

— I wish I'd known this Sir Fratley. He seems like a good guy. – Steiner said, ignoring the humiliation he felt for himself.

— Sir Fratley was more of a guru than a Dragoon. – Freya opened the curtains and stared at the orange skies of Alexandria, where narrows and terns flew alongside white doves. Such a majestic view, to leave anyone out of breath. – He helped me through some bad times. His life advice, they were usually very good. You'd probably enjoy talking to Fratley for hours.

— Was he at Cleyra? – Beatrix felt guilty for a brief moment.

— Yes, but we barely talked to each other. If we had the chance to... – Freya went back to her previous meditative self, although she could not stop laughing at herself.

— Why are you laughing? – There was no joke to laugh at for Beatrix.

— Funny, isn't it? – No joke, except Freya's. – You spend five years of your life searching for the man you once thought you loved so deeply and then he returns one day, with no past memories at all.

— You loved him?

— No more. He's dead. His philosophies and ideals died together with Cleyra. – Freya can still see a burning tree at the horizon. There'll be no sleep tonight. – With Lindblum safe, though, I can fulfill Sir Fratley's dream. This time, I won't fail.

— Alright, I think we're done with our little disguises. – Blank said, striking a pose and feeling weird. It's temporary, he told himself. – So you know, I was quiet all along because my female impression really sucks and all.

— Thanks, but I don't want to hear that ever again. – Beatrix isn't a lady used to wearing dresses, but she finds it rather cushy and elegant.

— And I don't want to do this ever again. – Steiner flushed.

— Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... Lady Steinerina! – Blank yelled, so the entire world could hear it.

— I prefer 'Steinerella'. – Freya giggled. Beatrix as well, briefly.

— This is so ridiculous... – Adelberta Steiner felt ashamed of himself. – Let's move on, shall we?

— Right. Let's move on from this misery. – Freya could not resist bringing up a smirk every time she saw Steiner, and how uncanny he looked with makeup. Oh, that's not makeup, he's still flushed, thought the Burmecian.