"Prince Alcryst, you're back!"
"Yes. I've brought a few guests," the young Prince announced. "The Divine Dragons and the Firene Prince and Princess."
"Wait, who!? They're awake? And the Firene royals-" the guard stumbled on his words. "Hey, open up the gates!"
"Everything alright out there?" A familiar voice asked. "Oh, Alcryst! Welcome back!"
"Y-yes. I've brought some guests. I hope father won't mind," he replied.
"I see that. Welcome to Brodia then. I am Diamant, crown prince of the Kingdom. I'm glad Alcryst brought you all here safely. If you're with him, then I'm sure you're more than welcome to come in," the young man stated.
The group followed the older prince in, making their way deeper into the castle. It was then that they came across the King himself.
"Father, you shouldn't be out and about when the Elusian army is at our throats," Diamant scolded his father as they arrived. He turned back to face the group. "Sorry, but I'll be right back."
"I'll be fine, Diamant! This old man can deal with a few invaders all on his own. I have to keep the edge sharp somehow," King Morion said with a hearty chuckle. "Now then, how can I help you?"
The king turned to face the group. His eyes widened when he realized just who had showed up at his doorstep.
"Divine Ones! I never thought I would see the day you two woke up! I recall my time as a young man visiting Queen Lumera and checking in on the Somniel. It was my duty as the prince back then to guide you two through Brodia should you have woken up in time. But a lot of time has passed and I'm just an old man now," he laughed.
Just then, Diamant returned.
"I believe you're here for these?" He asked with an Emblem ring in one hand, and an Emblem bracelet in the other.
"Emblem Roy," Alear said fondly.
"Veronica as well," Aleah added.
The two looked at each other and understood what they needed to do.
"Thank you, Diamant," Alear nodded as he received the ring.
"Rise up, Emblem of Binding," he said calmly.
"Heed our summons, Emblem of Heroes," Aleah said at the same time.
The usual blue flash of light indicated the successful summon as both Roy and Veronica returned to their awakened state.
With both Emblems present alongside the Brodian royalty, it was about time they explained themselves. Luckily, they were already quite receptive to them and didn't need much convincing to accept their circumstances.
"How intriguing," King Morion nodded, his hand on his chin. "So was it Sombron's doing or do you two have some sort of power? And to hear that I fell against Hyacinth… Well, I certainly hope my death was a warrior's one!"
"Father, please. We can't let the future repeat itself. Who's to say that your death wasn't part of why we lost? Maybe it caused Alcryst or myself to lose our edge a little," Diamant argued. He obviously wasn't keen on seeing his father die.
"Diamant, we are a kingdom of warriors. A king cannot lead his people to war while standing in the back," his father responded. "But… if my sons so wish, we will allow them to come to us. I'm more than confident in Brodia's defensive capabilities."
"We'll be there too," Alear spoke up. "Back then, it was just me and my naive self. I had always thought I could do more than I was capable of. But now? With Aleah and our experience of the coming battles, I believe we'll fare well against the Elusian army."
"I'll take your word for it then, Divine One," King Morion nodded. "Alcryst, Diamant," he turned to his sons.
"Y-yes, sir!" Alcryst panicked.
"I want the two of you to accompany the Divine Dragons in their pursuit of the Emblems. If the balance of the world rests on their shoulders, I will do what I must to help them. As much as I would like to go myself, I'm sure you two would want me to stay here with our people," Morion explained.
"You'd be right about that one," Diamant admitted. "Very well. I suppose it'll be nice to get out of here for a while. I can only-"
The prince's sentence was interrupted when a gate soldier rushed in. "We have enemies marching on our position! They're nearly here!" He reported.
Alear shook his head and sighed. "Guess she couldn't do it then."
"What's happening? Do you know?" Alcryst asked him.
"Princess Ivy is here. I guess she wasn't able to call off the attack. I suppose that means that her father's control over Elusia is still a threat," he answered. "Come on then, let's meet them."
As the Elusian soldiers marched into Brodian territory, it didn't take long for Alear to spot the first princess. Sat atop her wyvern, Ivy was looking much better than he had expected. Even if she couldn't show it, the girl was happy to see him.
"Let's go talk with her, shall we? I'm sure she's more than happy to see us," Aleah suggested.
"Stand down!" Ivy commanded her army. "Zelkov, Kagetsu, keep everyone in line for me please."
"Of course, Princess," Kagetsu answered.
"As you command," Zelkov nodded.
As the two parties approached one another, the Elusian Princess could feel her heart swell as she came face to face with the Divine Dragons.
"Princess Ivy," Aleah greeted with a wave.
"Hopefully you're doing well," Alear added.
"I cannot thank you enough," Ivy said as she bowed. "I wish I could have stopped my father, but Sombron's influence on Elusia is rooted too deep. My… My father is long gone. I wish I could have done something more… But for now, I will do what's best for my people."
"What will you do then?" He asked.
"I will return to Elusia for the time being. I will do whatever I can to gather whatever forces may be willing to oppose the return of Sombron, though I don't anticipate much support. The only ones I'm certain will be there with us are my sister and her retainers. I will also do my best to gather whatever Emblems I can get away with."
Alear nodded. "Have you explained everything to your soldiers yet?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "I've already told them that we weren't going to fight. The soldiers I command are a select few that understand the extent of the destruction that Sombron will bring to our world. I'm sure they'll cooperate with whatever you need them to do."
"Then we wish you the best of luck," Aleah said as she grabbed hold of her hands. "You have our blessings. Please, be safe, Princess Ivy."
"Do you really have to do this alone?" Alear asked.
"I'm not exactly alone. Kagetsu and Zelkov are more than capable. I wouldn't dare put anyone else in danger. I know I can move through Elusia with my retainers without any suspicion. I'll speak to my sister and do what I can," she told him.
"We'll be waiting for your arrival then," Alear assured her. "Wishing you the best."
"Thank you. Both of you. You have no idea just how much this means to me," she smiled. Turning to her soldiers, Ivy spoke up. "I'd like to ask that you all be on your best behavior. Kagetsu and Zelkov, come with me. It would be suspicious if I were to return alone. King Morion, I apologize for the sudden arrival, but I must ask a favor of you. Please keep my soldiers safe."
The man nodded. "If the Divine Dragons trust you, then I'm sure we can as well. I'll treat them well. You have my word."
"Thank you. I'll be going then," she nodded. Ivy turned to look at her retainers who nodded back at her. It was time they returned to Elusia.
As they left, the remaining Elusian forces were soon brought in by the Brodian soldiers. Per their king's orders, a feast was to be held. It wasn't often that the Brodians and Elusians got along. What better way to mark the occasion than to eat together?
Alear sighed. There was a lot on his mind. Was what they were doing the right thing? What if they couldn't really change fate? Would Ivy be okay? Would-
A hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality. "You alright?" His sister asked him. "You can tell me."
"I'll be fine. Just… thinking about the future," he admitted.
"We're doing what we can. I'm sure that what we do today will help bring a better tomorrow. We've already avoided a few mishaps, haven't we? Not to mention, we don't have to fight Ivy anymore," Aleah reminded him.
"Yeah, you're right. We'll roll with the punches. Whatever comes our way, so long as all of our allies are on board, I'm sure we'll figure it out."
-I-
"Back so soon?" A stern voice asked.
Ivy flinched as the message behind her father's words were clear. He was disappointed.
"Their forces were greater than we had expected," she said. "The Divine Dragons were both there to aid the Brodians."
"Oh? And what of them? Are they on their quest to collect all of these?" King Hyacinth asked as he held up Lyn's Emblem ring.
"I'm not sure. But I'm certain we must do what we can to stop them before it's too late. I would like to ask that we take our own Emblems to make up for any power imbalance that there may be. The sooner we attack, the better," she tried to convince her father. "Before they can recover from the attack, it would be best to have reinforcements and face the Brodians head on."
Ivy didn't show it, but her heart was racing. Having to lie to her own father was something she hated. If she knew it had to be done.
"I'll consider your suggestion. For now, prepare however you must. You may go," Hyacinth dismissed her.
"Understood," Ivy nodded before turning around. She had to find her sister.
She walked through the familiar halls of the castle she grew up in. Each step forward brought forth memories of old. All her life she had known peace and comfort within these walls. But now, all she felt was guilt. She knew she had to do this, but it didn't ease the pain. Betraying her father… It was hard.
Walking to the door of a familiar room, she knocked. It didn't take long for the inhabitant to respond. The usually cheerful voice of Hortensia was instead clearly worried. As her older sister, it pained Ivy to hear the girl so tense.
"Y-yes?"
"It's me," Ivy responded.
Her soft footsteps quickly approached the door before it flung upon, welcoming the elder Princess into her room. Kagetsu and Zelkov stood watch outside, gently closing the door as the two sisters spoke with one another.
As the door closed, Ivy was surprised by the tight huh she received from her little sister.
"You're safe!" Hortensia said as she held her.
"Of course I'm safe. I already told you, we wouldn't be fighting them," Ivy brushed the girl's hair out of her face.
"I know, it's just… They were pretty scary when we fought… I know you said not to worry about it, but I- I didn't know if we could really trust them," the younger girl admitted.
"It's alright. We'll be seeing them soon. Do you still have the Emblem ring that father gave you? I'd like to gather as many as we can before we leave."
Hortensia nodded, showing the thin gold band that housed the Princess Exalt. "Where will we go?"
"Back to Brodia. We'll have to leave father for now. I- I know how hard it will be, but he's gone too far. I'm not sure if the father we once knew is still there. At least, not while Sombron still walks this world," Ivy explained.
"I… I understand. I'll go speak with Goldmary and Rosado. Tell them to pack up whatever they need. Do… you think we can save father?"
Ivy sighed. "I don't know. I'm hoping as much as you are that we don't have to say goodbye to him, but I can't say for certain that we can do anything at this point."
"After so long…" Hortensia shook her head. Now wasn't the time to be sentimental.
She left the room, leaving her sister there as she went to speak with her retainers.
"Hey, you two free right now? Can we talk?" She asked.
"What's the matter?" Goldmary asked.
She closed the door behind her as she sighed. "We have to leave. I know it might be a bit sudden, but we have to get away from Elusia. I'm sure you're aware of the King's influence."
"Where will we go?"
"To a friend. I know we just had a fight, but we'll be safe with them," she answered vaguely.
"Brodia?" Rosado asked. He wasn't going to be fooled so easily.
"…Yes. When we left the other day, he called me back. He asked me to hand a letter to sis. And he even had the foresight to give a letter to me as well. I… If Ivy is able to put all of her faith in the Divine Dragons, I'm certain we can trust them. They admitted that they didn't want to hurt us after all."
"When do we leave?" He asked.
"You don't have a problem with this?" Hortensia asked incredulously.
He shook his head. "I have no reason to doubt both of the Princesses. If you've deemed them trustworthy, I'll go with you."
"And you, Goldmary?"
The other girl shook her head. "While I admit I am… reluctant to trust them so easily, if you truly believe that this is what's best for us, then I'll trust your judgment."
"Thanks, you two. We leave as soon as we can. Get whatever you need. We'll also be bringing as many Emblems we can get without attracting suspicion. I've already got one and I think Ivy's going to try to get more before we leave."
Sure enough, Ivy was already on the case. She already had the Ring of Genealogy from her previous mission. As she headed for Elusia's Emblems, she had just the emblem in mind. The Emblem of Acumen was a difficult Emblem to utilize. Even though the Kingdom was full of talented mages, very few possessed the ability that Soren required.
Although the Emblem was corrupted through the use of the Fell Dragon's power, it still demanded the most out of its user. Ivy was one of the few mages in Elusia capable of accessing the full potential of the Emblem. As such, when asked by the guards what she was there for, she lied.
"The King has asked me to retrieve the Emblem of Acumen," she told them. "Our next battle will require more than we currently have. As such, I've been given permission to use it."
The guards didn't question her. Other than the fact that she was the crown Princess of Elusia, many Elusians liked her. These guards were no exception.
With the Emblem Bracelet in hand, she walked back. All the while, her heart was racing. Even if her calm, cool exterior gave her an air of authority, the Princess was on the verge of sweating. Thank goodness Elusia was a cold place.
It didn't take long for the two to get everything in order. Ivy didn't dare ask any other soldier about their loyalty. She couldn't risk getting found out. Not when she was able to obtain both an Emblem ring and bracelet.
"Ready?" She asked her younger sister. It was time they left home.
The girl nodded in response, steeling herself for whatever they would face. It was hard saying goodbye, but with the way things had changed, it was the only option.
"Let's go then."
-H-
As she rode her pegasus, Hortensia could feel herself growing more nervous the further they got from Elusia. She didn't want to admit it, but a part of her was still afraid of the Divine Dragons. The gap in their combat prowess was immense. It was something she knew she couldn't hope to beat anytime soon.
But she knew she had to trust her sister. Hortensia had long known Ivy's worship of the Divine Dragons. Even if it was taboo in Elusia, the crown Princess was a devout believer. As her sister, there was a lot she knew even if Ivy herself didn't know about it. But out of love and respect for her sister, she never once let it weigh on her. There had to be a reason she believed in them so much.
As the Brodian castle came into view, she knew she had to face her fears. If this was the path they were choosing, she would be beside the Divine Dragons everyday from now on. She steeled herself for another meeting with the very person who could have very easily wiped out her entire army.
The Elusians touched down in the middle of the Brodian castle courtyard with no complications. From out of the castle came both Brodian princes and the two Divine Dragons.
"Princess Ivy, Princess Hortensia, Brodia welcomes you," Diamant greeted. It would be unbecoming of him as the crown Prince to not greet royalty when they arrived.
"Thank you, Prince Diamant," Ivy responded. Even if their kingdoms weren't on the best terms, they all knew each other to some extent.
"Are you alright?"
Hortensia was snapped out of whatever concentration she was in at the sound of that voice. She hadn't even realized she was so tense.
"Sorry," Alear said. "I didn't mean to startle you like that. Did everything go well on your way out?" He asked.
It was strange. The man she had met on the battlefield was nowhere close to the person she was talking to at the moment. The ferociousness that he displayed when they fought was completely missing. It was… reassuring.
"Ah- yeah everything was fine. Oh! Um, here," she said as she took off the Emblem ring in her possession. "I'm sure you're better off with this than I am."
Alear raised an eyebrow at that. Even so, he took the ring in hand and chanted. "Reignite us, Emblem of Awakening!"
The flash of blue that followed was something Hortensia had never seen before. The eerie red that had once enveloped Emblem Lucina was no more. In its stead was a more ethereal blue.
"Here," Alear said, handing the ring back to the girl.
"Wait, don't you need it?" Hortensia asked.
Alear shook his head. "I only needed to purge the Fell Dragon magic from Lucina's Emblem ring. It would be best for you to utilize the ring and work together with her."
"Oh… alright," she said as she accepted the ring.
"Good to see you're doing well," Lucina said with a smile.
"Me?" Hortensia asked.
"Of course! It seems we've been put into a new timeline, huh? I'm a little familiar with those so I apologize if I seem nonchalant about it," Lucina admitted. Her time spent going back to stop another Fell Dragon from world domination seemed to be happening yet again.
"So this has happened before…" Hortensia mumbled.
Before she could say anything else, she felt a pair of arms around her and was quickly met by the long blue and red hair of the other Divine Dragon.
"I'm so glad you're all safe," Aleah said.
To say she was surprised was an understatement. Hortensia hadn't expected for the Divine Dragon to be so sentimental towards her. She didn't even really know her.
"Ah! Sorry… it's just- the Hortensia that I knew was really reserved. Seeing you just reminded me of her," Aleah admitted.
"It's alright. I'm still not sure what's going on, but it's clear to me that all of you mean it when you welcome us. I'm… glad that we can get along. To be honest, you all kind of scared me when we fought the other day," Hortensia sighed.
Aleah shook her head. "I told him not to-… Sorry about him. I know he means well, but sometimes he doesn't know the best way to get his point across. His journey was harsher than mine. He's been through a lot," she said with an understanding smile, looking at him as he spoke with Ivy.
"You two care about each other a lot, huh?" Hortensia noticed.
"Yeah, you could say that. It's not just him, we also have a younger sister, but she's with our mother on the Somniel," Aleah told her.
"Wait, there's another Divine Dragon?" Hortensia asked. If they had a sibling that must've meant…
"No, it's just us two and our mother. Our history is… troubled to say the least. I'm sure Alear would be willing to explain it if you asked him."
"Ah, I don't want to pry. If it isn't something you want to talk about, that's fine."
"No it's not something I'm overly conscious about, but it would be best if-"
"You're a fell dragon!?" Ivy's voice cut her off, as if on cue.
"…if he told you all at the same time," Aleah finished.
"Huh…?" Hortensia could barely even register what her sister just said.
"Yup. We may be the current Divine Dragons, but he's actually a fell dragon. The child of the very same one that took over your home," Aleah explained.
"But… how? You two look so… vibrant? So full of life," Hortensia was at a loss for words. "I guess it might not make sense, but you don't look evil I guess?"
"Have you ever seen Queen Lumera? Our mother has a distinct hair color that we share to some extent," Aleah said.
Hortensia shook her head. "No. As Elusia worships Sombron, we never had a reason to."
"As a fell dragon, his hair was originally all red. It was our mother's influence that changed it," Aleah smiled warmly.
"But a fell dragon and divine dragon… is that even possible? Aren't they mortal enemies?"
"Ah! Sorry, Queen Lumera isn't his biological mother. He truly is Sombron's child, but he abandoned him and his other siblings. It was Queen Lumera who found him all those years ago. She was the reason he was able to break free from the curse of being that fell dragon's child. When Sombron learned of his betrayal, he tried to kill him. It was Queen Lumera who imparted her power to restore his body, turning him from pure fell dragons to a half divine, half fell dragon hybrid."
When she looked around, Aleah was surprised to see she had garnered an audience. All of the Elusians had been listening in alongside their new Brodian allies. Nevertheless, she continued.
"My own life however differed from his. In the world I was from, I was born Lumera's daughter. I never had any influence or exposure to the fell dragons, but the world was on the brink of its end with Sombron's very existence. When he and I clashed, we both died, plunging the world into chaos. Without me or mother, the kingdoms fell apart. It wasn't until Alear came to save what was left that we first met. I'm not sure what the case is now, but perhaps mother may have the answer we're looking for."
"I wasn't able to defeat Sombron," Alear spoke up. "It's something that will follow me until the day I truly pass. I had my own shortcomings as the divine dragon. The role I had to fill when my mother sacrificed her life to save me was a difficult one. And I wish I could say differently, but I wasn't able to fulfill that role. Even if my past may haunt me, I'm so grateful I could have another chance to make up for my shortcomings."
"And this time, we'll win, right?" Hortensia asked.
"Yeah," Alear said. "We will. It's why we're here now, isn't it? We'll do everything we can with what we know now. We'll avoid the mistakes we made in the past."
"Well said," Aleah nodded before clapping her hands together. "Now then, shall we check on the Somniel before King Hyacinth catches on to what happened?"
"Traveling to holy grounds? Oh how I've longed for this day," Ivy admitted. "Please, let us go then. I admit I've always wanted to visit you on the Somniel but never had the opportunity to."
"Maybe we can set aside any Emblems that don't wish to partake in the war for now? Soren comes to mind."
"And you'd be correct," the man said. Having been awoken by Aleah prior to her talk with Hortensia, Soren had been his usual quiet self the entire time they had talked. "I'll spend some time on my own. So long as I can't be stolen, right? The Somniel is more than fit for that."
-L-
Even as the moon shone brightly over the Somniel, the Queen of Lythos sat with her daughter. She had just finished making dinner for the girl when the Somniel suddenly became more lively.
Lumera felt their presence as soon as they arrived on the Somniel. As she walked out from the cafe terrace, she was greeted by many familiar faces, and a few new ones.
She leaned on the nearby pillar, waving at them with a smile. "Hello," she greeted.
"Mother," Alear smiled back. "Hope we didn't get lonely while we were away."
"Of course not. Veyle is still here with me after all," she said as she looked over her shoulder. Behind her, the young fell dragon was sitting at a table in the cafe, eating a meal prepared by Lumera herself.
"We thank you for having us," Diamant said with a bow. Behind him, Amber bowed as well.
Alcryst quickly followed his brother's example. "Y-yes, thank you so much!" Citrinne and Lapis stood beside him, joining in.
Lumera nodded. It had been a while since she had seen the Brodian royals. She was glad to see them well.
"Q-Queen Lumera," Ivy said nervously. "It's an honor to finally meet you."
"You must be the Princess of Elusia," Lumera said. "And the younger princess as well. Your retainers seem like a lively bunch."
Hortensia blinked in surprise. The Divine Dragon Queen knew them? Even when their country worshiped her mortal enemy?
As for her retainers, Rosado winked and nodded, offering the Queen a wave whereas Goldmary followed suit with Hortensia's surprise.
Zelkov was his usual reserved self while Kagetsu bowed before the queen.
"Oh come now, even if Elusia worships a different being, I won't condemn them. We have the freedom to do as we please in Elyos. I will treat you the same as those that worship us Divine Dragons no matter who you are," she assured them.
"Thank you, Queen Lumera. Words cannot describe how ecstatic I am to have met you all. If not for your children, I would likely still be doing my father's dirty work," Ivy bowed. "I appreciate the chance to oppose the Fell Dragon Sombron. After the ruin he has caused my country, I would like to do whatever I can to return it to some sense of normalcy."
"We're glad to have you. Alear has told us about all of you, you know. He still speaks fondly of the time you spent together. I'm sure he's explained his situation already, yes?" Lumera asked.
Ivy nodded. "Before we left Brodia to come here, he and Aleah explained their past. It gives me hope that we'll be able to stop Sombron without any sacrifices this time."
"Hey, mom? What were our circumstances in this world? In our own worlds, we were two sides of the same coin. We never asked how we came to be, laying here in the Somniel," Aleah asked.
"Well, I found you first, Aleah. A few months before my first encounter with your brother. You had been clearly hurt, but when I approached you, I didn't sense any animosity. Even if you were a fell dragon, you were the purest soul I had seen in years. I took you in and eventually, Alear made his way to me after he had been wounded in battle. I asked if we could meet again, and he said yes. He would often stop by after his assignments given by Sombron. You two became quickly acquainted. That was when I realized that the two of you were twins."
Aleah was surprised by this. Even if she had been Lumera's daughter in her own world, it seemed Alear's background held more sway.
"Alear had been the one to slay Sombron. But the fell dragon followed him. He tried to protect you, but it wasn't enough. The two of you were wounded before I could stop him… I almost lost the two of you that day. I wouldn't know where I'd be if I had. The time we spent together was more important to me than anything I had ever done in my life. I never had children of my own. Being with you two was the best thing to happen to me."
"And we'll stay with you as long as we can," Alear nodded. "But we know that Sombron is back now. We can't afford any losses to him. If we do, we may never see our world again. And next time, we might not get any more chances."
"And we will do whatever we can to make it happen," Lumera confirmed. She clapped her hands together. "Now then, enough of this gloominess. How about we get you all something to eat? I'm sure your journey across Elusia has been a long one. We have lodging as well so whenever you're ready, just ask."
"Thank you so much, Queen Lumera. We're incredibly grateful for your generosity," Ivy smiled. "And you're correct. Having to abandon our home for now has left us drained. Please, pardon our intrusion."
It didn't take long before Alear and Aleah got behind the kitchen to help their mother cook for their guests. Even though the stewards had insisted that they do the cooking, Lumera wanted everyone to feel as welcome as possible.
She urged them to relax for once. She would handle the food with her children. Even Veyle went with them, doing whatever she could to help out. It was an endearing sight for their guests. To see the family of Divine Dragons cooking for them? It was most certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
With fresh ingredients both grown on the Somniel and received from their allies, the food that was served each day was always amazing. With the amount of people that knew how to cook, the dish variety was also always pleasant.
When they were set and done, the meal served was nothing that their Elusian guests had ever had. It was a warm welcome to them, showing that the hospitality being given was just the beginning.
As the night began to wind down, everyone was calm. None of the stress of travel, war, or family was on their minds anymore. As they sat around the cafe terrace, they all talked as if they had known each other forever. It was a strange feeling for them. Despite having rarely if ever interacting prior to their arrival on the Somniel, they were getting along just fine.
Even the Brodians and Elusians. Even if they had constantly been in conflict with one another throughout the course of many years, the individuals that made up their respective countries could get along just fine.
But as the night went on, it was time for many of them to get to bed. While Lumera showed the Firenese and Brodian royals to the spare rooms, Ivy stayed behind. She urged Hortensia to stay as well.
"You wanted to speak with us?" Alear asked as he and Aleah sat at the table with them.
Ivy nodded. "I just wanted to thank you. I know I've said it a lot already, but I am truly grateful for the kindness you've shown us. When Hortensia came back, I couldn't have been happier. I knew she had gone out to battle against Brodia, but I can never put my mind at ease unless I'm out there with her…"
"Sis… I can hold my own in a fight you know?" Hortensia pouted. "You know that. Not to mention, father had given me an Emblem ring. I was gonna be fine if it was anyone else."
"But it wasn't," Ivy sighed. "You're lucky that he showed you mercy considering he knew you even when you didn't exactly know him. You even told me that he could have killed you if he wanted."
"But I'm alright! He-"
"Hortensia, enough! I just don't want you being reckless against any more people," Ivy pleaded.
Hortensia looked down. "I'm sorry…"
"No, don't be. I know you're capable but I always… I'm worried. I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have shouted," Ivy shook her head.
"I can look after her as well," Alear piped up. "You two aren't alone anymore. You have plenty of allies here. You can rely on us sometimes too."
"Thank you… I can't keep track of how often I'll have to say that to you," she joked.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Hortensia raised an eyebrow. "I'm not weak anymore you know."
"Would you prefer it if we didn't?" Aleah asked.
"…No. It's fine… a-actually, I'd much prefer if you could look after me as well. If it's you, then I'm sure I'll be safe," she admitted.
They couldn't help but laugh. "Of course. So long as you're okay with it."
"I'm grateful to you all. It's hard for me to put it in words, but I've been so… scared since we left home. But talking with everyone, being able to feel calm for once… it's been nice," the young princess said before yawning.
"Let's get you guys to bed, it's getting pretty late," Aleah suggested.
As they walked to the rooms, they passed by their mother who was returning, having helped everyone settle in. She waved and smiled as they passed.
"Goodnight, mother," Alear waved back.
"Goodnight you all. Rosado and Kagetsu are waiting for you two girls to show you to your rooms so don't keep them waiting now," Lumera told them.
"Of course," Ivy nodded. "Goodnight Queen Lumera."
When they arrived, just as Lumera had said, their retainers sat out by the steps waiting for them. When they approached, they stood up.
"Thank you for escorting them back," Kagetsu said. "Please, don't let us keep you. If you'd like to get to sleep, we won't stop you."
"No problem," Alear replied. "Goodnight," he said as he turned to leave.
"Goodnight to you too!" Rosado responded.
As the two sisters settled into their room, Hortensia couldn't help but ask.
"Hey, sis? Why does Elusia worship Sombron in the first place?"
Ivy pondered her question. Considering she herself never idolized the fell king, she wasn't entirely sure. But the more she thought about what had been explained by the Divine Dragons, the more she could understand.
"Elusia is known as the Kingdom of Knowledge as you may know. As such, we value whatever makes our lives easier. The Fell Dragon Sombron is a powerful being. That's not to say that Elusia has no ethics, but we value our people above others, much like any other country. I'm not sure if this is truly the reason, but I believe it has to do with the belief that, by helping him, Sombron will allow them a place in whatever world he has planned," she guessed.
"But you aren't like that. How long have you worshiped the divine dragons?" Her sister asked.
"Ever since I was little, I've understood everything that Sombron stood for. The hurt that he caused people… I never agreed with his methods. Naturally, I turned to the ones that would oppose him directly. It's been a dream of mine to visit the Somniel ever since then. Whatever books I could get my hands on, as the Crown Princess of Elusia, I read them. I understood just who Queen Lumera was, and eventually learned of Alear and Aleah," she smiled as she laid in bed. Even just recalling that recollection of her past was a way to bring back that feeling of hope she had all those years ago.
"Well, good thing you're crown princess, huh?" Hortensia stated. "I know you can change our home. If there's anyone who can do it, it's you. I'll be right there by your side when you do it too."
"I appreciate it, Hortensia. And I promise, I'll do everything that I can to change the way our people see the world. I won't let you down," she assured her.
"When this is all over and done… Do you think we could travel a bit? Just the two of us? I want to see the world. All the places we could never go because Elusia has always been closed off to the rest of the world… I know we can do that now that we've broken away from home, but I want to do it when things are calm. When we don't have to worry about home anymore."
"Of course. It would be a good way to start building our alliances as well should I become queen at the end of all of this. Whatever you want to do… wherever you want to go? We can do it."
"Well… maybe if the divine dragons want to join us…?"
Ivy giggled. "I'm glad you're warming up to them already. I know it must have been scary to be on the receiving end of their fury, but they don't mean any harm. I'm sure they wouldn't be opposed to going with us. I'll ask them whenever I get the chance."
"Thanks… I don't know if I have the courage to ask them myself," she admitted.
"Anything for my little sister," Ivy nodded.
-A-
Veyle laid sound asleep beside Lumera when the two divine dragon twins returned to their room. It didn't take long for them to get to bed as well.
"I'm worried…" Aleah said as she sat in bed.
"About?" Alear asked. It wasn't often that Aleah seemed stressed about too much.
"Nel… where… Where could she and her brother be? We've been here the whole time but we still haven't found her."
"I'm worried as well. She may not have trusted me as much as she did you, but she was a good friend by the time we left. But… I'm sure she's out there somewhere. Gregory and Zelestia are with us now, so they have to be around somewhere too, right?"
Aleah sat there, pondering his words. It put her mind at ease.
"Yeah… I think you're right. I think we'll find them eventually. We have to. She promised me…" Aleah sighed. "Nevermind, it's alright. Goodnight, Alear."
"Goodnight," he responded.
But as the two siblings laid in bed, silence hanging in the air, Alear broke that silence not long after.
"Hey, Aleah?" Alear called out to her.
"Hm?" She rolled over in her bed to look over at him.
"I'm glad you've been here with me the whole time. I know our meeting was pure chance when we discovered the well, but a part of me feels like I've known you my entire life," he admitted.
"Well of course you've known me your entire life. We're the same after all," she reminded him, laughing. "Even if our births may have been of different parents, we're both nearly identical."
"I guess that's true, but our worlds were so different. It's just… I'm glad you've been there for me every day since we woke up. To be honest, I wanted to talk with you more when we first found your world, but I never had the chance to."
"Well, we're both here now. What did you want to talk about?" She asked.
He shook his head. "No, there's nothing now. These past few months? I think I've learned a lot about you. What mother said earlier before dinner really is true. You've got a pure soul."
She blushed at the praise. Leave it to her brother to embarrass her. What kind of brother would he be if he didn't?
"Go to bed," she said, turning away from him.
"Wait, what did I-" he said, confused. Everything he said, he meant.
"But thanks…" she continued, closing her eyes. "You've been there for me too. And… I'm happy to be your sister. Weird as it may be that my twin is pretty much myself, I wouldn't want anyone else."
Thank you for reading.