Robyn stepped out of the meeting room, her mind spinning. The meeting had taken hours, and while she was grateful Alfonse was so thorough, she found these meetings mentally exhausting. Now that the Summoner had organized the training groups for the day, she was free to head to the Summoning Ruins. Robyn had only one precious orb left, so they were going to have to go orb hunting soon. Pushing open the castle doors, she stepped down the familiar cobblestone path that gave way to a grassy field. For a moment, she wished she could let down her hood so she could feel the breeze in her hair, but Alfonse's advice to conceal her unusual appearance from the others rang in her ears. If the other heroes were to see her, and word got out to Embla, she'd be more of a target than she already was. That.. and the questions. It was an unspoken rule among the heroes not to ask their mysterious Summoner about her past. Any attempts were dodged or deflected, and they'd given up asking. The questions were too painful, and as the Summoner crossed the field and began to walk uphill, she tried to quell the sharp pain in her chest. While she did dedicate a lot of time to the army, she also spent hours upon hours trying to figure out how to get home.
I've gone over every possibility so far.. she mused. If I don't find an answer soon, that probably means-
..No. She was not going to think about that. Mist rose up around her as the grass turned to stone, and she continued to walk up the path as the mist thickened. When she reached the top, she stopped and glanced behind her, just as she always had when she went to summon. It never ceased to amaze her how cut off from the world she felt when up here, especially with the mist pooling around her like a protective wall. Sighing, Robyn turned her eyes to the stone slab that rested at the end, the hole carved in the middle patiently waiting for its orb. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a single, precious orb, and her Briedablik. When she wasn't summoning, it turned into a deep purple book for some reason, allowing her to store hand drawn maps or notes about other worlds. Placing the orb into the artifact, the ground in front of her glowed, revealing five balls of light, shining in various colors. This time there was two blue, two red, and a single grey orb.
Odd one out it is. Robyn decided, touching it lightly with her fingertip.
The Breidablik glowed, seeming to approve of her choice as she aimed at the hole in the stone slab.
Sometimes I wonder if this thing has a mind of its own. she mused, and fired.
The orb shot into the gap, fixing itself into place. Robyn shielded her eyes from the brilliant flash. When the light cleared, a tall figure was left standing in the middle of the Summoning Ruins. While most heroes wore heavy armor or mages cloaks, he was dressed in a blue, white and brown outfit with puffy sleeves. A fur wrap was secured tightly around his waist, but that wasn't what held Robyn's attention. The man's long silver hair was tied up in a long ponytail, spiked in the back while the rest fell down his back, wild and wind blown, but beautiful all the same. When he swung around and locked eyes with her, Robyn's breath hitched in her throat at the intensity in his reddish, amber eyes. At once the eyes narrowed, and the grip on his bow tightened as he hesitated, unsure of whether or not to attack. Robyn slowly approached, speaking gently as to not appear a threat.
"It's alright." she murmured. "I'm not here to hurt you."
"W-where am I?!" he demanded. "And where's Hoshido?!"
"You're in the kingdom of Askr. My name is Robyn, the Summoner of Heroes. We're in the middle of a massive war. We.. we need your help."
He raised an eyebrow, suspicion still glittering in his gaze. The eyes lowered, and he mumbled
"I was so close to proving myself to him as his equal.."
Sympathy flooded over her as she observed the troubled man.
"You could prove yourself here."
He froze at this, and Robyn couldn't tell if her words had soothed or angered him as she pressed on.
"Embla won't just invade us. They'll invade other worlds and take control of their heroes, forcing them into a contract to fight for them, including yours."
His eyes widened briefly, then hardened.
"So they're a threat to Hoshido too." he murmured. Straightening up, he fixed her with a steely gaze. "Need me? Alright, I'll help. I'm Takumi, second prince of Hoshido, and wielder of the Fujin Yumi."
"N-nice to meet you, Takumi. I'll show you to the castle."
Takumi nodded, and fell into step beside her. He was quiet at first, and she noticed he was trying to subtly sneak glances under her hood. Every hero did. In the Order of Heroes, the summoner's hidden appearance was a hot topic when they thought she wasn't listening. But the magic kept her face hidden from his prying eyes, and with a faint huff of defeat, he made an attempt at conversation.
"So.. tell me about this war."
Trying her best not to overwhelm him with details like she had been, Robyn answered the onslaught of questions about Askr, Alfonse, and of course their enemy Embla. And Veronica, who was still dead set on killing them all. As they stopped in front of the castle, she heard Takumi's breath catch in his throat as he stared up at the massive castle looming over him. Robyn shared the sentiment, knowing how intimidating the building looked at first glance. While she wouldn't admit it to the others, she still got lost in it sometimes.
"The castle is bigger than I expected." Takumi remarked as she pushed open the doors. "Just how many heroes are in this.. Order of Heroes?"
"Only a handful." Robyn replied as they walked in, their shoes clicking pleasantly on the purple crystal floor. "I was only summoned here recently myself."
"So you're not from here either."
When she glanced at him, she noticed he was scrutinizing her carefully, and Robyn would have traded her cloak to know what he was thinking.
"Um.." Robyn's gaze darted to the side uneasily. Why do I get the feeling he doesn't trust me? "There should be a clear orb in your pocket now. All summoned heroes have them."
Looking intrigued, he rooted around his pocket, producing a clear orb.
"It's how I can send heroes home." she added. "So you should keep a close eye on it."
"So the Briedablik you spoke of before also uses orbs to summon heroes here?" Takumi inquired.
"Yes." Robyn answered "Its a divine artifact only I seem to be able to wield. I'll have to collect more orbs, however. I used my last one today."
"Interesting."
The prince fell silent as they continued their tour of the castle, and his eyes swept over the other heroes as they talked about various topics. His amber eyes narrowed distrustfully as they cast curious glanced at them, and he turned his head away sharply. Robyn frowned, but chose to say nothing.
"Robyn!!"
An excited call stopped the pair in their tracks as Sharena came racing towards them, her brother Alfonse trailing behind with an exasperated expression.
"Slow down!" he scolded. "What if you crashed into someone?"
"Sorry!" Sharena panted as she skidded to a halt in front of Takumi. "I just had to meet the new hero! Hiiiii! I'm Sharena, princess of Askr. What's your name?"
"U-uh.."
Robyn stifled a giggle at the blush on the very clearly flustered Hoshidan prince's face. Poor Takumi looked like he had no idea how to handle the peppy princess. Collecting himself, he raised himself to his full height and met her gaze squarely.
"I'm Takumi. Second prince of Hoshido. You summoned me here to help with your war, correct?" he stated bluntly.
"Straight to the point I see." Alfonse replied, his tone respectful. "Yes, I am Alfonse, prince of Askr. And this is my sister, Sharena."
"We're heading to the mess hall." the princess put in. "Won't you join us? You can meet the other heroes!"
"No thanks." Takumi deadpanned, unfazed by the hopeful look in her eyes. "We're allies, and I'll respect that. But I can't trust someone I just met, especially in an unknown world."
The prince and princess exchanged uneasy glances, before Sharena mumbled awkwardly
"I.. see. Well, alright then. We'll be going now."
They walked away quickly, leaving the two alone again. Robyn found herself playing with the sleeve of her cloak, her mind replaying the harshly spoken words, jolting when he spoke up again.
"Are you just going to stand there?"
"Ah.. right sorry! I'll show you to your room." Robyn answered hastily, turning her feet towards the stairs.
Instinctively, she turned down the hallway towards her room. She'd chosen it because that particular corner of the castle was quiet. Not many heroes inhabited it, so it allowed her to let her hair down without fear of being seen. Pausing outside her door, she hesitated. Was it a good idea to give him a room so close to her own?
But he might appreciate the quiet…
"Something wrong?"
"Um.. no."
Making her decision quickly, she led him three doors down to the room on the very end of the hall, opening the door for him. With a small nod, Takumi stepped inside, his eyes sweeping the room. A bed lay in the far corner to the left, a large window on the wall beside it. All the room were furnished, this one having a medium sized desk, a fire place, and a storage bin to put his belongings. Robyn noticed he did not have a bookshelf like her room did. She snuck a glance at the prince's expression as he investigated the room, a look of satisfaction on his face. As he stopped in front of the window, overlooking the castle, he hesitated.
What is he thinking..? Robyn wondered curiously, tilting her head slightly.
"Do.. do you ever miss your home?" he asked suddenly, turning to face her.
Robyn flinched, and was extremely grateful for the hood that concealed the look of heartbreak that must have crossed her face in that moment.
"I.. I guess.." she mumbled, trying to keep her emotions out of her voice.
Takumi's eyes seemed to pierce through her, and in sudden a desperation to be alone, she swiftly regained her composure and blurted out
"Right um.. I'll leave you to it. Oh.. and if you want fresh air at night, the windows push open. G-goodnight."
"Very well then. If you need me, I'll respond."
As soon as Takumi closed the door, Robyn darted back to her own room, shutting the door quickly. Unable to hold it in any longer, she ripped off her hood and collapsed against the door.
"It's okay.. it's okay.." she whispered.
It's not okay. her thoughts echoed back.
A sob escaped Robyn's lips as she sagged against the door, covering her face with her hands in a feeble attempt to muffle her cries.
Do.. do you ever miss your home?
Takumi's words echoed.
Yes! I do miss my home.. I miss it so much..
Takumi's eyes raised as the Summoner shot out of his room, seeming a bit upset. He frowned as he sat on the bed, pondering over the day's bizarre events. It had started out as a seemingly ordinary day before he was ripped out of his world, unexpectedly summoned by Robyn. Sighing, he let down his hair and tugged off his fur wrap, placing them and his bow into the storage bin and laying down in bed.
There must be more to Robyn than she's letting on.. he mused. No one hides their face unless they have something to hide.. I should keep my guard up..
Closing his eyes, Takumi fell into a restless sleep.
"Geez, you're always up so early. Doesn't being an early riser ever bother you?" Ricken asked, yawning.
They were on their way to the mess hall for an early morning meal before heading to the Training Tower. With the looming battle against Embla rapidly approaching, she knew there was no time to waste.
"I'm not tired." Robyn replied simply, then frowned for a moment as the thought suddenly occurred to her.
No matter how early she'd wake up, she couldn't remember the last time she'd felt tired since joining the Order of Heroes. They reached the Mess Hall and settled together at one of the table as Flora smiled in greeting and set a blueberry Askr style tart in front of them. The berries were exclusive only to the Kingdom, and were a perfect balance of sweet with just a hint of sour, while under them was a layer of cream and a buttery shortbread crust. Robyn had one every morning without fail, and had yet to grow tired of them.
"These things are the best!" Ricken sighed blissfully as he leaned back in his seat.
Robyn hummed softly in agreement as Jakob poured their coffee, mulling over her World of Binding book, her quill darting over the parchment papers as she drew out a map.
"Hey!" Ricken hissed suddenly, starting her as he leaned closer. "Remember that new guy you summoned yesterday?"
"Takumi?" she answered absently, resuming her work.
"Yeah, him! Um.. not to make a big fuss over it or anything, but he's kind of staring at you."
Robyn was grateful for the hood that concealed her eyes as they darted up suddenly to see Takumi standing across the room, leaning against the wall. One arm was crossed over his chest while the other rested over his mouth. His eyes were indeed fixed on her in a look of deep pensiveness, making her feel uneasy. What could be possibly be thinking? To her relief, the awkward moment passed as Flora approached him with a steaming plate of omelette. They spoke quietly to each other, and Takumi held up a hand and shook his head, seeming to refuse. But Flora persisted, and looking reluctant, Takumi accepted the food and the maid walked away. The prince's eyes swept over the mess hall again before he went to sit by the fireplace at the far end of the room.
"Well that was weird. Yeesh.. talk about prickly. I'd hate to make that guy mad." Ricken remarked, and Robyn nodded as she watched Takumi pick half-heartedly at his food.
He looks lonely…
"Nya-ha-ha! Finally some enemies to kill!" Henry cheered.
They were standing outside the Training Tower with Ricken, Fredrick, Henry, Laslow, Gregor, Niles, and their new addition Takumi, who Robyn noticed was standing a short distance away while the others conversed.
"Gregor wish Gregor could have slept longer." the mercenary grumbled, but there was a good-natured gleam in his eyes as he added "How much you pay Gregor to get up this early?"
"Awe, you don't wanna train with good ol' meee? I'm told I'm irresistible.." Niles teased, earning a unanimous grimace from the group.
"Alright, let's head inside." Robyn said quickly before Niles creeped on anyone else.
"He's not even talking to me and I feel violated.." Ricken muttered to Henry, who just snickered and they walked inside.
The group walked swiftly up the stairs to the first stratum as Robyn gave the run down of how the tower worked. The other members were already familiar with it, except for Takumi, who listened intently, his eyes seeming to analyze everything.
I wonder what kind of fighter he is..? she pondered as they halted in front of the door to the first stratum, and she turned to face the group.
"Remember, the enemies and even the landscape here aren't real, just an illusion crafted by Askr's finest mages." she warned them. "Even injuries and death here will feel real, but do not falter. This is just a battle stimulation to prepare us for the real thing. Is everyone ready?"
The group nodded, and Takumi's eyes narrowed as the Summoner turned and pushed the door open. The walls and floor were a plain grey, an eerie silence settling over the room as their footsteps clicked softly on the floor. A single, raised tile rested in the middle.
Here we go.. Robyn thought as she stepped on the tile.
He's amazing! Robyn exclaimed silently as Takumi shot down another flyer with calculated precision.
The string of his legendary bow, the Fujin Yumi, glinted even in the false sunlight, his long silver hair swaying gently as he swiftly ducked and dodged several mage's attacks and launched himself into the air.
"Oh that's it!" the prince cried, unleashing a barrage of gleaming teal arrows.
"Wow! His arrows form by themselves!" Ricken paused to gasp in awe, not noticing as an axe fighter loomed behind him, their axe raised.
"Watch out!" Henry called, firing a spell just in time. "Nya-ha-ha!" he giggled as the boy yelped and jumped out of the way. "You almost got your head taken off!"
"T-that's not funny!" Ricken blustered, clutching the top of his hat for dear life.
The scenery flowed and faded back to grey as the last soldier faded away.
"That was wonderful!" Robyn praised the group, beaming with pride. "You're all natural soldiers, so I can't think of many things you have to improve on. Just keep it up and we'll be good to go for orb collecting tomorrow."
"Ricken could practice not getting his head chopped off- tee-hee!" Henry teased, earning a scoff from the younger mage.
"It's not my fault Takumi's such a good archer. I just wanted to take a quick look, that's all!"
While the prince said nothing, Robyn thought she caught a proud gleam in his eyes. As the other heroes dispersed to go train on their own, Robyn hesitantly approached him.
"Um.. you're really good. I think you're actually the best archer in the army."
"Thanks." he replied simply, walking away.
While his response was casual, Robyn didn't miss the faint pink dusting his cheeks and her heart rose.
Maybe.. we can be friends?