Author's Note: Hey there, everybody! I hope you all are doing well. I've been wanting to get back to writing for quite a bit since I've last posted, but I recently got hooked on Fire Emblem Engage since its release. Between that, work, and other stuff throughout the week, I haven't managed to find an appropriate time to just sit and write. However, that all changed today!
This entry may be a bit shorter than previous ones, but perhaps it will be a breath of fresh air from the longer chapters I've posted recently. I really hope you all have as much fun reading this entry as I did coming up with it and writing it! Have a great day, you all!
FireEmblemMaster101: Thanks for the tips! I feel I'm doing pretty well in the weapon-upgrading department, so no worries there. Also, totally agree that the animations, cinematic cutscenes, and the music are amazing!
Fashion Disaster
"Wahh! L-Look out!"
"Ah?!" Fjorm gasped in surprise at the sudden warning before reflexively leaping out of the way of whatever danger was coming towards her from behind. In doing so, the Nifl princess managed to avoid a full-on collision with what appeared to be a tall, moving mountain of laundry coming down the hallway she was walking through. As the strange sight passed Fjorm, she managed to see an individual with rose-colored hair behind the mountain of clothing. "F-Felicia?"
"Wh-whoa!" The Nohrian maid struggled to regain her balance as she threw a quick apologetic look over her shoulder. "S-sorry, Princess Fjorm! Are y-you ok?"
Fjorm nodded. "Yes, I'm fine." She then stepped forward with a look of concern. "Um, do you need any assistance? I could give you a hand if you'd like."
"N-no, no! I'm fine! Really, I'm-whoa!" Fjorm watched as Felicia nearly pitched forward with the basket of laundry, causing one article of clothing to fall from the top of the pile onto the stone floor, unbeknownst to the struggling maid. "I…I can manage! Besides, Jakob would scold me if I got help from a princess. N-no offense!" With a strained expression, Felicia readjusted her grip on the laundry basket before saying, "Well, I have to g-go, before I drop anything! Bye, Princess Fjorm!"
"Ah, Felicia, wait!" Fjorm called, noticing the stray article of clothing left on the floor. But Felicia was already on the move, carried away down the hall by the momentum of the laundry in her hands. Rushing toward the dropped item, Fjorm began to pursue the runaway maid. "Felicia! You dropped…this…"
Fjorm paused as she took a look at what she was holding before recognizing a familiar streak of gold on the otherwise white clothing item. Eyes wide, Fjorm slowly unfolded the article to get a better look before gasping aloud upon recognizing what she was holding.
Kiran's favorite cloak.
Fjorm stood in the middle of the hallway, motionless, as she stared at the hooded cloak in her hands. As she gaped, she recalled an earlier conversation with the summoner not long ago, insisting that he get his cloak properly washed and mended (much to Kiran's chagrin). Now, here it was, in her hands.
Bringing it closer to her, Fjorm studied the cloak closer, noting its slightly heavy weight and catching the faint scent of lavender from it, likely from its recent washing. Turning it over in her hands, Fjorm noted how the cloak was also recently mended as well as washed, recognizing an outline of stitching at the hem.
As she continued to admire the cloak, Fjorm found herself intensely scrutinizing the inside of the cloak, specifically the opening for one of the sleeves. After a few seconds, Fjorm curiously reached forward with one of her hands…
…and placed her arm through the sleeve.
"A-ah?!"
Fjorm jolted, as if waking from a trance. "Wh-what am I doing?" She murmured to herself, her cheeks rouging in embarrassment despite being alone in the hallway. As if to confirm that, Fjorm whipped her head around to make sure no one witnessed what she was doing. Breathing a shaky sigh of relief, Fjorm returned her attention to her traitorous arm, still residing comfortably within the sleeve of Kiran's cloak.
She…shouldn't be doing this, she thought to herself. This was Kiran's cloak! And here she was, about to wear it when she should be returning it to Felicia, or even to Kiran himself. What would people think if they saw what she was doing? The Nifl princess shuddered at the thought of Sharena or Ylgr catching her in the act. Or worse, Kiran.
Shaking her head, Fjorm began to pull her arm out of the sleeve…before stopping once more. It then occurred to Fjorm how…comfortable the cloak felt, even it was just her arm. Against her better judgment, Fjorm slowly eased her arm back into the sleeve, until her hand poked out of the end of the sleeve. Fjorm gulped as she stared at her arm before tossing a cursory glance around her once more, seeing and hearing no one in the hallway. Returning her attention to her arm, Fjorm's heart pounded in her chest, her cheeks warming even more as she contemplated what she was about to do.
Shutting her eyes and saying a silent apology to Kiran, Fjorm made her choice.
"O-oh…"
Blinking, Fjorm attempted to steady her breathing as she came to terms with the feeling of fully wearing Kiran's cloak. With both arms now in the sleeves and even the hood pulled over her head, Fjorm was enveloped in a comforting warmth. She couldn't explain it, but she felt…safe. Secure. With a nervous smile, Fjorm pulled the edges of the cloak closer around her, that sense of comfort increasing as the article enclosed itself around her. Was this why Kiran hardly ever parted with his cloak? Fjorm chuckled softly as her eyes closed, reveling in the sensation of the cloak.
"Aha! Found you, Kiran!"
"Huh?!"
Her eyes snapping open in panic, Fjorm involuntarily whirled around to the direction the voice was coming from, her mind desperately attempting to come up with an explanation to what she was doing. However, instead of facing the summoner, Fjorm was instead met with the surprised expression of a different tactician.
"Huh? Princess Fjorm?" Morgan said upon recognizing it wasn't Kiran inside the familiar cloak.
"Ah, u-um…" Fjorm feebly mumbled, relieved that it wasn't Kiran facing her, but nonetheless flustered at having been seen wearing the summoner's cloak. However, that sense of relief was short-lived as an impish grin crossed Morgan's face.
"Oho, I see~!" Morgan sang as she moved toward the stunned Nifl princess. "I didn't realize you and Kiran were already THAT close!"
"Wh-what?! I-I don't understand what you mean…" Fjorm yelped as she stared helplessly at the approaching tactician-in-training.
"Oh, I think you do!" Morgan countered with a triumphant expression. "I read it in a book that Sumia recommended. In it, the heroine and her lover were so in love, that the heroine began to where his clothes!" Giving Fjorm a once over, Morgan nodded to herself. "I never thought I'd see it happen in real life, though. If Sumia were here, she'd flip!"
Her face burning in renewed embarrassment, Fjorm shook her head furiously. "Th-that's wrong! I-I assure you, Morgan, this isn't what it looks like!"
"Oh?" Morgan hummed with a smile. "Then why are you wearing Kiran's cloak, hmmm?"
Fjorm faltered as her eyes darted away from Morgan's lightly accusing stare, one hand gripping the hem of Kiran's cloak. "It's…it's complicated…"
Morgan gave a deadpan stare before replying, "No, calculus is complicated." Her grin returning, she added, "That's Kiran's cloak. And I think you're just in denial."
Fearing she would faint if this mortifying conversation continued any longer, Fjorm said as sternly as she could, "Enough, Morgan! I assure you that this is all just a misunderstanding. There is nothing between Kiran and I, and that's that!"
There was a pause following Fjorm's bold statement, Morgan staring in surprise before slowly nodding. "Ok. I believe you." The young tactician said in a neutral tone. Once again, relief flooded Fjorm, her body relaxing in the face of Morgan's words.
However, just as before, it wasn't to last.
"In that case, can I wear Kiran's cloak?"
"Wh-what?!" Fjorm exclaimed as Morgan stared back at her with an enthusiastic expression.
"If what you said is true, then I want a turn wearing Kiran's cloak!" Her expression shifting into an adorable pout, Morgan continued, "Even though I'M Kiran's favorite apprentice, he hasn't let me try on his cloak! He swapped cloaks with the boy version of me, but he won't do the same for me; so unfair!" Replacing her pout with an excited smile, Morgan held out her hands. "So, come on! Let me have a try!"
"U-um…" Fjorm mumbled, unconsciously taking a step back from Morgan and pulling the cloak tightly around her ever so slightly. For some reason, the thought of another person…another girl…wearing Kiran's cloak made Fjorm uneasy. "I…I think we should just…return this to Kiran now…"
"Nuh uh, no way." Morgan frowned as she stood her ground. "I won't get another chance like this. Besides, you're already wearing it, so why can't I?" Holding her hand out again, Morgan gave Fjorm a pleading expression. "Pretty please? Just a quick try on!"
Fjorm hesitated, not moving an inch toward the expectant lass. Picking up on the princess' hesitancy, Morgan spoke again. "Or…" She began with a devious smirk. "I COULD go find Kiran to tell him that you have his cloak. I'm sure he'd be happy to know how well you're taking care of it!"
"Ah!"
Fjorm's eyes widened in shock at being so blatantly blackmailed by the young tactician. There was no way she could allow Morgan to tell Kiran what she had witnessed; who knows what embellishments the girl could make if given the chance? "F-fine…" Fjorm murmured, lightly scowling at Morgan's triumphant cheer. With a trembling hand, Fjorm grabbed the cloak and began to slowly slide it off her shoulder…
"I'm really, really sorry! So sorry!"
Fjorm paused as she heard a high-pitched voice approaching from the end of the hall behind her, which was then followed by another, familiar voice.
"For the fifth time, Felicia, it's alright. I'm not mad. I'm sure my cloak is around here somewhere."
Fjorm froze, her breath hitching in her throat. Unfortunately, that moment of hesitancy cost her dearly as the footsteps and voices rounded the corner of the hallway.
"Huh? Is that my…?"
"Oh, hi Kiran! Hi, Felicia!" Morgan waved cheerfully before cheekily adding, "Looking for your cloak? Fjorm found it!"
Fjorm wondered if it was possible for someone to die of humiliation.
Slowly turning, the princess came face to face with the stunned expressions of both Kiran and Felicia, the former staring with wide eyes while the latter stared with a hand covering her mouth in surprise. "I…" Fjorm attempted to speak, her face burning. "I…can explain…"
"…huh."
All eyes turned to Kiran as he broke the silence. After another moment, the summoner grinned before giving Fjorm a thumbs up.
"Not bad." Kiran commented casually. "Although, if you wanted to wear my cloak, Fjorm, all you had to do was ask!"
As Felicia and Morgan's giggles filled the hallway, Fjorm groaned as she pulled the hood of Kiran's cloak as far over her reddening face as it could go.
"Hey, maybe I could ask Alfonse to commission an identical cloak for you, Fjorm." From under the hood, Fjorm heard Morgan's chipper voice chime in.
"Ooh! Me too! I want one too, Kiran!"