Gently, Lyra brushed her hand over the dark hair, smiling softly with a small sigh. Arash still looked like he was merely sleeping his injuries off. And yet, he didn't react to any stimulus at all. As if he was an unmoving puppet sometimes. Cleaning him and feeding him was…rather tough on the girls sometimes. If nothing else, his well defined muscles showed not a single sign of degrading, so silver linings. Still…the blind girl shook her head, patting him on the forehead a few times.
"We'll be right back, buddy. Wish you could be there to see it…buuuuut I guess I can tease you with it later."
Shaking her head, she stepped away from his bed and went down the stairs. Despite her attempt of a joke, she still felt a small gap in her heart. This was gonna be her dream day…and Arash was going to miss it. It was just a small detail, but it felt like it made all the difference, she thought as she put a hand against her chest. Still, he wouldn't want her to delay her own wedding just for his sake.
"Ready?"
She scoffed as she heard Kaguya ask that question, her arms crossed as she leaned against the doorway. Lyra smirked ever so slightly, shrugging as she walked past her friend.
"Not at all, but let's do this anyway."
"Really? After all that stress, you starting to chicken?"
Sensing the incredulous look, the Pallum showed Kaguya the middle finger.
"Who said that? I'm just a lil' bit nervous."
The door opened, and immediately, the stench of wet air hit her nostrils. She twitched with a groan before shaking her head, as the rain droplets hit the ground over and over again. Talk about ominous weather for what was meant to be the best day of her life. Well, Lyra would not let something silly as rain stop her though. So even if she got wet, not in a good way, she strolled through the streets to their venue, silently alongside Kaguya. It was a bit nerve wracking, with each step getting closer to her "final destination" so to say. In a way, she was glad when the woman next to her finally spoke up, distracting her from the million scenarios where the wedding would end in a terrible disaster.
"...Why me?"
It took a moment for the Pallum to realize what exactly Kaguya meant. Then she tilted her head, a smirk forming on her mouth. So insecure, it didn't fit the level seven whatsoever. How funny.
"What, too good for lil' Lyra?"
She could feel the weak glare on her person, before Kaguya let out a sigh and stared up at the sky.
"Be serious. I…" She clicked her tongue. "You know how I almost screwed up, with N-Nyx. How I hurt Haruhime. All this anger and hatred…it's still there. The moment I find the real Night Queen, I will try to murder her. So…Alise or Lion or even Lady Astraea would be better for this…How the hell do I fit as your best woman, your bridesmaid? I don't have a speck of lo-"
"Get down here."
Lyra didn't even wait for compliance. Tugging at her long hair, Kaguya yelped before she suffered from a strong finger flick to her forehead.
"Ow!"
Grabbing onto Kaguya's chin, she forced the woman to face the Pallum, as the latter frowned deeply.
"I don't give a crap about all that emotional nonsense. Heck, I don't blame you at all for feeling that way. It was your family that was utterly screwed over."
Kaguya tried to look away, but Lyra kept her in place. A small smile formed, as the Pallum patted her friend's cheek.
"You wanna know why you're my best woman?" When no answer came, she sighed before letting Kaguya straighten up her back. Putting her fists on her hips, she let out a laugh. "Cause you're my partner in crime, idiot! Not Alise, not Lion, not Arash. You. You're the only person who keeps up and accepts my rat business and trickery. We are on the same wavelength, you and I. Why the hell wouldn't you be my best woman?"
"You…" Kaguya looked away, but even with the rain drizzling down, Lyra could smell the slightest hint of salt in the air. The Pallum patted her friend's back, nodding at her.
"So chin up. I need my best woman to not be an angsty mess."
"Heh…cheeky brat." Wiping her eyes, Kaguya smirked back. "Let's get you into that stupid dress already."
Cackling, Lyra increased the pace. Music to her ears!
/
"Lion, if you pace around a moment more, I will cut your legs off."
The elf shot a glare at Kaguya, coming to a stop within guild grounds, who had her arms crossed without a hint of guilt. Ryuu rolled her eyes before leaning against the wall as well. Astraea chuckled, seated next to them.
"Now, now, it is an exciting day for everyone involved."
"Yeah, so no maim threats here! We lookin' too good today to ruin it all!"
In demonstration, Alise twirled before strutting a pose, fist against her hip as she smirked with her leg extended outwards. The white dress fluttered for a moment. Kaguya and Ryuu shared a look, the former wearing a formal white kimono, while the latter wore formal robes, more commonly seen during important rituals in the forests of elves. At their captain's words, they both nodded, with reluctance though.
"Fine, fine."
"I will try-"
Before Ryuu could finish her sentence though, the door opened. It was a simple action. No lights became brighter, birds didn't suddenly start to sing. And yet…when Lyra stepped through the doors, everyone fell silent, unable to say anything.
First of all, she had replaced her usual shades with a blindfold, a pure white cloth that wrapped around her head, all hidden behind a veil. Her hair, usually kept free in the wind, was tied up to a small bun. Most eye catching of all was the dress however. Contrary to her usual "tomboy" look, it was rather moderate. It covered most of her body, the exception being the space between her forearm and her shoulders. The skirt wasn't overly long, so that nobody had to lift up part of it behind her. And yet, in this case, less was more, as the rest of the Astraea Familia just stared at the bride to be.
"Wow…"
"Lyra, you…"
Astraea stepped forward, as Alise and Lyra fought to finish an actual sentence. With wet eyes, she hugged her child, making sure her tears don't actually land on the dress.
"You look beautiful." She sniffed. "I truly am proud of you."
Ryuu didn't even realize when her own eyes were flowing. She tried to remain aloof, looking away, but Alise already had her hand on the elf's hair, ruffling it. To become so emotional was unlike her…then again…perhaps a part of her jaded soul expected them to end up like everyone else from the Astraea Familia. To eternally fight for justice, until the bitter end, to die against the unending tide of evil and cruelty of the world. Yet to see Lyra not in the clothes of an adventurer…but as a woman about to marry…it gave Ryuu hope.
That one day, none of them would have to fight anymore, when the day arrived that the world was a truly just and peaceful world. That one day…she would stand in such a dress herself.
Lyra let out a whistle, causing Ryuu to realize that she was unable to stop her tears at all. With a wry smile, the Pallum shook her head in exasperation.
"C'mon, no waterworks yet! I didn't even reach the altar yet!"
"...I'll be damned, the whites really are different," Kaguya muttered under her breath. Unfortunately, Lyra's ears were as sharp as always, as her grin widened and threatened to split her face apart.
"Told ya!"
"Knock knock, other party on the other side!"
The Astraea Familia turned to the door, with Alise letting out a giggle at the excited voice.
"We're all decent, c'mon in!"
Without hesitation, the door was kicked open, revealing Tiona letting out a holler, with her arm waving excitedly. In a cute white dress with a short skirt she made a twirl and dramatically bowed like a butler. It earned her a knuckle to the head, as she playfully yelped in pain. Kaguya let out a whistle as the second bride entered the room, veil covering her face as well, but unable to hide her smirk. Unlike Lyra, Tione didn't make any effort to hide her assets, or rather, her cleavage. But in comparison to her usual outfit, she did dress more moderately than an amazon usually did, as it covered her stomach and her arms. Not to mention her free flowing hair was tied up into a ponytail for once. Compared to Lyra, she also had a much longer skirt, causing her to lift it up, and having to have Tiona carry it a bit when the walk to the aisle would happen.
"Here I was afraid I'd be going up the aisle all alone!" Tione teased her fellow bride. Raising their fists, they bumped them against each other, with Lyra giving the amazon a once over.
"Tione, lookin' great!"
The room fell silent for a moment. Then Tione rolled her eyes before crossing her arms with a huff.
"Oh, bite me!"
Sharing a laugh, the others moved towards the door, with Tiona being the last. She waved at them before giving the two brides a little wink.
"We'll wait outside, don't take too long!"
The two of them gave each other a glance, shrugging at each other before carefully taking a seat. For a while, they enjoyed their silence, just staring up at the ceiling, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Eventually however, Tione let out a sigh.
"Y'know, I never thought this day would turn out like this."
"What, the piss poor weather?" Lyra asked, throwing her thumb at the ceiling, as they heard the rattling of the rooftop due to the many rain drops hitting. They were lucky that the winds cooperated, but people would definitely get drenched if they didn't have Undine Cloth at hand. Tione giggled lightly as she shook her head.
"That's what we got the tent for. But I meant…" She shrugged, pointing at herself and then at Lyra. "Well, never thought I'd share the position of wife with someone else. The old me would've tried to assassinate you before this point."
Lyra let out a skeptical grunt. Not that she doubted the killing part, but assassination implied Tione had enough stealth skills to sneak up on the Pallum, which was less than likely.
"You'd have tried." She crossed her arms with a hum. "But yeah…kinda weird, to be honest."
"Good kind of weird though." Tione lowered her head, pressing her lips together. "Y'know, I always thought I was fated to lose to you."
If Lyra had the capacity to blink, she would have. Instead her mouth was half open in surprise before she forced it shut.
"Really?"
Tione rolled her shoulders with a wistful face.
"Yeah, captain didn't exactly make it a secret he was looking for a Pallum wife, for his 'legend'. He knew what I felt for him, but he also made it clear what he was looking for. In a way, I'm thankful he was being so upfront with that."
"But you didn't give up," Lyra pointed out. Tione smirked at her at that.
"Nope. Cause you didn't push me away. You allowed my advances and even encouraged them. Sometimes…I wouldn't have gone for my actions if it weren't for you."
"I'm not that noble, y'know?" Lyra shook her head, clenching her fist. "...I love Finn for a long time now. And…I wanted him to be happy, with someone that could give him everything. And for a time…I thought to myself that it couldn't be me."
"You serious?"
Lyra in return pointed at the blindfold she was wearing.
"I'm blind, Tione. I won't ever get to see him grow old, or how my kids would look like." She rested the back of her head against the wall behind her. "So…I guess I played along with you, because I wanted him to have someone that loved him as much as I do."
An awkward silence filled between them, as they made their confessions, truths they were ignorant of until now. To imagine the other was hiding such insecurities…Tione let out a chuckle, shaking her head.
"Guess we were both pushing each other up, ey?" She crossed her arms. "So what changed?"
Lyra mulled it over in her mind, as she pressed her lips together. When did her thoughts change? Since Solaris joined the Hestia Familia, and they had a young new hope in their presence? Was it when Bell and Kojiro arrived, with them a big chaotic storm of change and growth? So many reasons she could come up with…but in the end, if she had to pick one reason specifically…She cackled, raising her hand mockingly.
"Oh, just some things. Like Lion getting it on already. No way I'm losing to a prude like that."
"Hehehehaha! Hear, hear!"
It took a while for the two of them to calm down their laughter. Then they heard it. The bell in the distance. The signal that the guests and the groom were all ready for them. Both of them nodded at each other, taking a deep breath.
"...Thanks for being here. I'd be freaking out if I was alone."
"Same to you." Tione bumped her fist against Lyra's. "May the best bride get the first kiss!"
"Shall we get the show started?!"
"After you~!"
/
Bell tugged at his collar, being careful not to create any wrinkles in his nice white suit. He didn't even want to know how much it cost. He could only thank Lyra, Tione and Finn for financing this all from their own finances. It made him feel bad, but considering they did this for every guest in order to have a fitting dress code for all, he couldn't exactly complain. Still, he gulped as he looked around, the air rather moist to breathe, and not only because of the rain outside.
"That's a lot of people…" He muttered under his breath.
The massive tent, made out of Undine Cloth to prevent the weight of the water from the skies to crush the entire place, was able to hold many Familia and officials all at once. The Loki Familia alone had enough people to fill up an entire manor after all. It wasn't like the entirety of Orario was in here, but there were enough to make it feel a bit cramped. He sometimes lost sight of Haruhime even, only to spot her with Takemikazuchi Familia instead. With Ryuu and the other girls tending to Lyra's needs, he felt oddly alone in the crowd…
"Three famous people tying the knot? It is cause for much attention."
Bell very much did not scream, no matter how much Solaris in his mind cackled at his supposed girlish sound. He barely managed to catch his glass in time, only to shoot Kojiro a glare, causing his teacher to let out an amused chuckle. It was weird to see him dressed in a white version of his usual clothes, but it fit the dress code he supposed. Anyway, after downing his drink, he passed it on to a nearby guild worker, before scratching the back of his head as he took in the copious amount of murmurs and talks that took place between all the guests.
"Yeah, I guess so…It's kinda overwhelming."
Part of Bell was surprised no fights broke out yet with so many personalities in the same vicinity. For example, Bete was oddly subdued, though maybe it could be chalked up to his nasty burn scars that covered his body and even face. But then there was someone like the infamous Allen from the Freya Familia, someone sometimes known as 'Bete but even worse'. Apparently the Freya Familia knew how to hold back when it came to weddings?
Kojiro rubbed his chin thoughtfully with a hum.
"Hm, I do not have much experience with this, so I cannot say if this is a regular thing." He showed Bell a small smile. "When your wedding arrives, I hope it will be on a smaller scale."
It took a moment for the young man to process the words before his face turned into a glowing red. He tried to laugh it off, but his voice was strained as he averted his eyes.
"C-Cmon, it's a bit early for that, don't you think?"
"Better early than the rush in the last days," Kojiro pointed out, causing Bell to freeze.
"...Fair enough." Pressing his lips together, Bell figured he would prefer a smaller gathering. Maybe it was the farmer in him, but such a big event was a bit too much, even if it was a classic story book situation. He wouldn't figure out the details now but…if there was one thing he needed to decide on…Nervously, he played with his sleeves, clearing his throat awkwardly. "...Would you be my best man when the day comes?"
"My, what an honor." Kojiro blinked for a moment before his features softened and he bowed at him. "Young master, I would graciously accept."
Bell tried not to let out a giddy sound. But just to imagine it, Kojiro right there at his side, at the altar…well, how could he not grin happily? Kojiro chuckled at his expression before crossing his arms.
"Let us hope that you will be just as confident as our groom today."
Glancing over to the altar, Bell tilted his head. With Gareth at his side, the Braver must have adjusted his collar for the twentieth time already. The dwarf slapped the Pallum over the head, giving him a flat look.
"Finn looks a bit nervous…" Bell muttered with slight amusement. Kojiro raised an eyebrow at his student.
"He is about to watch two beautiful women walk up to him at the same time." He let out a dramatic sigh. "I fear for his heart in the next few days, haha."
"W-W-W-what do you mean by that?!" Bell stammered, trying not to think about what Kojiro was implying. He thanked his inner Solaris for beating the dirty thoughts with a burning broom for some reason, shooing them away. Thankfully, Gareth let out a whistle, clapping his hands together a few times.
"Alright, everyone! Enough chitchat, it's time to get the show going! Take ya seats!" His voice boomed over the area. Immediately, everyone took out a piece of paper they were given before walking into the tent. To say that Bell was shoved around and pushed around a few times was an understatement. Turned out when dozens of people moved at once, it became quite chaotic. At some point Ottar of all people pulled him out of the crowd by the collar and flung him over to the front. With a blushing face, he reached his seat at last. To his surprise, he was not next to Ryuu at all. Then again, she had to be with Lyra at the moment. Ignoring the ache in his heart, he nodded at Haruhime instead before turning to his right…and couldn't help but blink in surprise, receiving blinking eyes in return.
"Ah."
"Aiz?" Bell let out a small laugh as he saw the blonde next to him. He glanced at the white tips of hers, repressing the urge to frown when he saw that it had spread more since the last time he saw her. He looked back into her eyes, scratching the back of his head. "Huh, didn't think the seating arrangement would be like that."
"...Yes…"
Blinking at the quiet tone of hers, he narrowed his eyes, causing Aiz to look away. He was about to reach out for her hand, before stopping himself. That was a bit inappropriate, wasn't it? Instead, he settled for giving her a concerned look.
"Are you alright?"
Aiz took a deep breath before forcing a small smile on her face.
"Just…exhausted."
He had the urge to ask about what. But he also knew that just before the ceremony, it was bad timing overall. So instead…he tried to pretend he didn't see her attempt of brushing him off, no matter how much it bothered him. With a light laugh, he flexed his fingers, remembering the efforts they had to go through.
"Haha, tell me about it…I wouldn't change a thing, but helping them out was pretty tiring."
"Hm." Aiz took a deep breath. "It…doesn't feel real. All this. Evilus is still out there, as is the Night Queen, and the…" She bit her lip. "I wonder how people can…do this without getting distracted."
Bell wondered about it as well. But…in a way, he always expected darkness to be there. If one were too afraid to act on their desires and wishes because of it however…Bell let out a small chuckle.
"I guess they just really love each other that much, to overcome any worry they have, no matter what."
"Love…" Aiz muttered, before glancing at him, with an expression he couldn't quite place. "Would you do the same, if given the chance? With Ryuu?"
Feeling heat rise up in his face, he wondered why everyone kept asking about his love life like this. It did not help that this time, his mental Solaris forsook him and allowed the image of Ryuu in a wedding dress to surface in his mind. Clearing his throat, he let out an awkward laugh, trying to not be affected by the weird look he received from Aiz.
"I-I'm not quite mature enough yet but…yeah, I'd like that. Even if there are forces out there trying to stop us…I'd try to give Ryuu the best I can."
"I see…"
Bell blinked. As Aiz uttered those words, she didn't look at him at all. Instead, she just stared at the altar. Not at her captain or anyone else. As if she was observing a place out of her reach, beyond her touch. With such…longing in her eyes.
He felt his heart beat faster. No, she shouldn't look like this. No matter what she was staring at…she shouldn't act like it was impossible for her to reach, whatever it was. So before he knew it, he scratched his right cheek.
"I might be getting a bit too nosy but…Don't worry. I'm sure you will get your chance yourself."
"Huh?"
Aiz turned to him, returning to reality. Bell felt goosebumps, embarrassed at his audacity…but he already started, might as well go through with whatever assumption he had! Clearing his throat, he tried to maintain eye contact with those confused, beautiful eyes of hers.
"Err, maybe I'm getting this wrong but…I believe you are capable of reaching that place yourself too. Being happy and at peace, promising yourself to someone else." Gods, he hoped he wasn't completely off the mark here or else he would shrivel up in a hole right now. He tried to put on his most reassuring smile. "You deserve love too, after all. N-Not that I know who you love or if you do, hahahaha…"
"Do I…" She muttered, staring at him. He felt a shiver down his spine as his heart warmed from her gaze alone. He waited for her to say something, as her mouth moved a few times. Yet no words came out. Only her staring remained.
"...Aiz?" He asked gently.
"...I-"
Whatever she was going to say, whatever she wanted to reveal from the depths of her heart, she didn't get to say it as the bell rang. Both of them flinched, and focused on the front instead…unable to forget the moment they were about to share, worrying in the back of their minds that they had just lost an opportunity.
/
Nobody knew who the disguised woman was. Even her face was completely shrouded in mystery by the hood and scarf she was wearing. It would've made for a comical sight…if even by covering her body, she radiated an aura that demanded attention. Then she spoke up, her voice soothing and alluring alike, as it easily spread throughout the tent and even reached the outside through the rain.
"Dearly beloved. Adventurers and citizens of Orario. Today, we have gathered, not to find glory, not to fend off the darkness…but to partake in the greatest emotion mortals can possess in this realm."
She paused dramatically, before letting out a soft giggle, her smile imaginable even through her disguise as she put a hand on her chest.
"Love. The promise of eternity, dedicated to each other. Not only that, we are all witness to a joyous miracle. The sharing of vows not between two souls, but three."
She nodded once at the groom, who couldn't hold back his own grin.
"Braver. Tiresias. Jormungandr. Brave warriors that have defied the expectations of the divine over and over again, risking mind, body and soul…and at last, they are now here to collect their just rewards from the heavens." She looked up with a wistful sigh. "Do not think of the rain as rejection, but tears of joy, a sign that your bond is fated to be."
"Even the ground itself has stilled for you, for none are fair beyond measure than the groom and the brides. Thus, without further ado…let us witness the women that take this next step in their life together."
The doors opened, and everyone tried their very best not to gasp in shock. The brides walking in. Tione's arm hooked around her twin's, with Alise lifting the long skirt up from behind. Lyra's arm hooked around Kaguya's, as both slowly walked down the aisle, both having a beautiful arrangement of colorful flowers in their hands. Sniffing and hiccuping could be heard in the tent, but it just added to the experience as soft strings were played. It felt like a moment in eternity, the brides walking slowly towards their beloved, who awaited them with tears in his eyes.
Soon enough however, they reached him. Kaguya took her place on the opposite side of Gareth. The rest of the girls took their places further away, to not fill up the altar any more than they had to, taking on the bouquets temporarily.
"O husband to be. Unveil their faces to the world."
Following the 'order', Finn carefully lifted the veils as if they were made out of glass. Facing their expressions, tear stained but smiles brighter than the sun itself, the trio couldn't help themselves as a laugh escaped them.
"So, lover boy. How we lookin'?" Lyra asked, her voice strained with effort to maintain composure.
"Like the cutest and most dazzling of them all."
Tione giggled at Finn's whisper, holding her own cheek.
"Sweet talk will get you everywhere, cap-tain~!"
Nodding in approval, the "pastor" in charge motioned with her head towards the side.
"O wives to be. Accept your rings and, and confirm your vows."
Carefully, Astraea herself offered the box with the rings within them. With a steady hand, Finn accepted the rings, and put them onto the fingers of his women, slowly slipping them on. Then, with that deed done, the mysterious shrouded woman continued.
"Finn Deimne. Do you take these women as your rightful wives, to be with them through sickness and health, without even death doing you part?"
"I do."
"Tione Hiryute. Do you accept this man as your husband, and the woman at your side as your ally in this sanctioned bond, to stay together for all eternity?"
"I do."
"Lyra Astraea." "Do you accept the very same burden, to share your happiness and sadness, your fortune and misfortune, with the man and woman before you, no matter what comes from the damned and the divine?"
"I do."
"Then, without any objections…I shall no longer keep you apart." She bowed, taking a few steps away. "You may now kiss the brides."
Without hesitation, Lyra leapt into his arms, completely going off script. People gasped, but Finn reacted quickly enough, catching her and spinning around with her as their lips mashed against each other. Then, without delay, he let go of her, letting her spin away, only for Tione to crush him into a hug herself, not wanting to be one upped at all.
Once their lips separated as well, Finn grabbed both of his wives' hands and raised them up, as if toasting for victory. That was the moment when the entire tent exploded into thunderous applause, deafening the rain outside.
"Wooooooooo! Way to go, captain!"
"Braver! Braver! Braver!"
"Don't forget the lucky wives! You go, Lyra!"
"TIOOOOONEEEEE! YOU MADE IT!"
"Oi, lovebirds, catch!"
Kaguya threw the flowers at the women, who caught them with a smirk. Then, nodding at each other, they both threw them up into the air. Many women rose to their feet, like sharks smelling blood at the surface. Yet only to the trained eye did they realize that the bouquet that Lyra threw had an odd trajectory to it.
Almost casually, Ryuu snapped her hand up and caught it, her eyes rolling in the progress.
"Hmph. You didn't need to rig it like that, silly…"
"Anything for family~!"
Bell felt his face burning as Welf hollered and threw his arm around his neck, especially when Ryuu gave him an open and pointed wink.
Meanwhile Tione had no such plans, leaving it up to fate. The women of the Loki Familia especially were stepping over each other, causing the flowers to bounce several times, until they at last landed in the lap of someone who expected it the least.
Lefiya stared blankly at the flowers she had in her hands. Her brain took a moment to process it, even as cheering exploded around her. Then she exploded in red as her head looked around frantically like a lost animal in a crowd.
"...Eh? Eh?! Eeeeeeeh?!"
To say it managed to set the mood for the after wedding was an understatement. Alcohol was brought out with laughter, as they celebrated a successful wedding without any interruptions whatsoever.
/
…
…
…
Seals glowed across the flesh with red might.
"Arise."
