Month of Horsebow Moon - Dreamscapes and Visions
Chapter 20
I bolted upright the next morning with a strangled gasp. "DEER!"
My abrupt wake up call managed to scare the life out of a groggy Manuela. The professor winced and groaned as my eyes frantically scanned the room. The ship and high seas turned to stone and wood work as I quickly realized I was back in the infirmary.
"Uhggg!" I heard Manuela groan from the counter as my body still tried to come to terms with where I was at.
"Do you have to yell so loud? This is an infirmary not the school yard. Oh my head..."
I rubbed my eyes and blinked. The rolled waves and the salty tang of the sea air had seemed so real. Everything else was hazy, hard to define. I definitely remembered someone was with me last night, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out whose face was surrounded in darkness. Or were they? The high seas had seemed so real. The night sky shimmering and the constellation of The Stag shimmered so brightly in the forefront of my memory that I began to doubt myself.
As I attempted to recall what had occurred last night, I felt a sudden lancing pain stab my left eye. I groaned, leaning over to grasp my eye as it started to thunder relentlessly with an uncontrollable pain. The groggy hazy of sleep disappeared instantly along with the rest of my thoughts as I stared down at the white sheets of the hospital wing in absolute agony.
"Hmm, let's see how you're feeling today. Come on let me see that hand." Manuela's voice clipped as she staggered over to sit down in the chair next to me.
I glanced over at her, my head swimming, to feel a strong sense of Deja vu. The sensation of someone sitting next to me feeling strangely familiar and I recalled a book. Unable to focus on the feeling as pain shot through my eye, I held out my hand as requested.
"What did you expect sitting up so suddenly like that? Honestly, you behave so recklessly." The infirmary lead checked my heartbeat and then pushed her hands to either side of my face before moving to my forehead. "Your fever broke at least. I would recommend that you stay here for the rest of the day and we can assess if you can attend class tomorrow."
Another wave of pain lanced through my eye, my head throbbing hard enough to make my stomach cramp. A flood of images overlaid with the reality in front of me, assaulting my senses as my fingertips went numb.
I barely had time to concentrate on what I was seeing as the images flicked in front of my eye. Claude lit a bedside candle in a darkened room. Next was an image of the golden deer brewing some strange concoction, measuring out powders and beakers. Claude's stressed face faded to reveal Dimitri dueling with Professor Byleth, the two gleaming with sweat as his lance was repelled by Byleth's Sword of the Creator. The sword pulsed red, overtaking my vision to change to Edelgard's crimson cape. The Black Eagle house leader nodded to her second as Hubert passed her a dark cloak. The pair donned their hoods and snuck out towards the town. Another image bubbled to the top, one where Navan, my burly mentor, panicking as he burst into my room to find me unresponsive in my bed. The image progressed as Navan carried me into the infirmary while Raphael ate an entire rope of breakfast sausage. Not to be outdone, Caspar stuffed an entire stack of pancakes into his mouth while Linhardt turned away looking green.
The image changed yet again, a rapid flickering from image to image made it hard to concentrate. This time I saw Sylvain eagerly kissing a chamber maid behind the stables while Ingrid groomed her Pegasus. A little ways away my class's gentle healer, Marianne, was brushing her own horse who chewed on a bright green apple.
The images flew fast and hard, as each one flicked through my consciousness as if determined to be seen first. The last image to rush past my eye was a tall knight in all black mounted on a steed with ruby red eyes. The skull mask twisted up to end in horns, lending a demonic look to the whole visage. The knight appeared to be speaking to an individual dressed in a black cloak wearing a sharp, full, face mask crowned with a long red plume of an exotic bird.
I went to get up, confused and disoriented by the sudden flood of images. The dark knight gestured up at the monastery as I reached out my hand in order ward him away. My body protested adamantly at even the slight movement and I was forced to sit back down.
"Really, what is so important that you feel the need to bolt upright so soon after waking up? You are sick missy, so it would be nice if you acted like it." Manuela scowled as she clicked her tongue at my antics. The professor's fierce morning breath, still reeking of booze, permeated the air. The rancid odor did my stomach no favors.
I ground my teeth in frustration as the images came to a lull, a strong sense of foreboding creeping into my gut. I coughed weakly as I tried to relax and make sense of it all. These images were not following the normal patterns, activating during the day when I had used no magic at all. The change in my condition worried me. However, I no longer felt like I was in absolute misery from being sick. My chest felt lighter already, while my coughs were not quite as painful or debilitating. As I went through the images I had just witnessed, I attempted to put together pieces from last night to no avail.
In the meantime, Manuela reported my fever had broke late last night and that my cough was sounding better as well.
I groaned softly into the palm of my hand as Manuela put a plate of breakfast in front of me. I peered at the food through the slits of my fingers, queasier than ever as someone knocked softly on the door.
"Oh Flayn, do you need something ?" Manuela inquired as she hovered by my bedside, the strong stench of unwashed clothes and liquor mixing with breakfast porridge as I struggled to find the nerve to remove my hand from my face.
"Ah, no, it is nothing. I am simply here to see Lilianna. I wished to see how she was doing with my own eyes." The elegant green curls on my friend cascaded off her shoulders as she executed a tiny curtsy whilst holding a small bouquet of lily flowers and forget-me-nots.
"Oh, I see. Well, her fever's gone so she shouldn't be contagious anymore. I suppose there is no harm in you visiting, just keep it down." Manuela realized she forgot to give me an eating utensil. The professor let out a heavy sigh and walked back over to the counter to grab it.
Manuela's comment about me not being allowed visitors caught me off guard. It did not match up with the mysterious figure I was fairly certain had visited me last night. I jerked my head up and peered painfully up at the infirmary lead. "Wait, I wasn't allowed visitors?"
The hungover instructor snorted, her heels clicking as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other. Several heel clicks later, a spoon was dropped unceremoniously onto my tray with a clatter that caused me to wince. "Of course not, I wouldn't want you infecting everyone else in Garreg Mach."
I nodded numbly, still not able to shake the feeling someone had sat with me last night. "Of...course."
"Uggghhh, I am going to go for a walk. Don't stay too long." Manuela cautioned as I doubled back over grabbing my eye.
Another image assaulted me with a fresh spike of pain. This time the image was of Byleth wielding the Sword of the Creator only to be parried by an ominous dark red scythe. Death approached the professor on a red eyed steed, riding her down in a narrow passageway of half fallen rubble and water. The professor fought for her life as the masked figure with a crimson feather plume issued orders to another group of soldiers in the background. The soldiers ran down another passageway, a split off from the main tunnel, and disappeared off into the darkness.
"Maybe I should stay…" Manuela's voice was distant and fuzzy as the vision released its hold on me.
I blinked, squinting teary eyed as the infirmary lead put her hand on the side of my face, tilting it towards her. "That's the eye you injured when you first arrived several months back, is it still bothering you? Oh my…"
"It's nothing…" I lied in protest as a painfilled tear leaked down the side of my face unbidden. Manuela brushed it away impatiently as she leaned in closer. The stench of stale ale on her breath was even stronger at point blank range. I tried not to breathe.
"I would think so, but oh, I have been instructed to not deal with it." The professor tilted my head back and forth again. "There does appear that there is something there, a flaw or something?"
My face squished uncomfortably between the doctor's hands as she tilted my eye towards the light.
"What was that?" Manuela leaned in and whispered into my ear. "We have noticed this before, directly after your little incident, but why is it activating like this now?"
"What is that supposed to even mean?" I hissed as I pulled away from her grasp irately, rubbing my eyes free of the painful tears.
Manuela clicked her tongue as she thought. "Well, the glow happens when crests are activated. The crest reflects in the affected person's eyes for normally a short duration, causing them to glow. However it's almost inconsequential, that is it's almost unnoticeable, unless you're watching for it. However yours isn't one that we know much about, so it's hard to say if this is normal or not. Anyway, I shouldn't be discussing this with you when you have a guest present."
Manuela stood up and sauntered over to her filing cabinet. The professor flipped a drawer open and reached for a file as Flayn cautiously approached my bed.
The mint green curls on my friend's shoulders swayed gently as she leaned down towards me with a inquisitive expression on her face. Her eyebrows furrowed as she peered at me while I attempted to hide my eye under the palm of my hand.
"I do not see…"
Another headache racked me, my vision adjusted itself with a rent of pain and suddenly it looked like I was seeing double. Flayn's voice rose with excitement as my head pounded, trying to take in the double world.
"Oh! Yes! I am witness to the illumination!" Flayn voice filled with glee at whatever I was attempting to hide, the glow of my crest leaking out from under my fingers. I felt a cool hand touched mine, as my friend's hand gently attempted to guide my own away from my eye.
"May I please have a closer look? The glow is quite faint and I wish to see more."
I kept my hand positioned firmly over my eye, less because I was concerned that Flayn could see and more because it felt like my head was being rent in two.
The mirrored room faded to white mists again and I was shocked to see an image of, what could only be, a much younger me raced through a flower field. My hands were coated with heavy yellow pollen as I trailed them across the open flower buds with glee. In front of me was a female with long unruly green hair and pale skin. Her long robes of cream and gold drifted out in the winds as she stopped and smiled. A small basket of flowers swung on her elbow as she lifted the other to wave at someone in the distance.
The vision faded almost as quickly as it had come, but the splitting pain remained only to be mixed with a sad longing I did not quite comprehend.
"Can you please try to not shout it to the moon? Uggghh my head hurts…" Manuela rubbed her temple as she jotted down a note in the file. "Has this been something that's been reoccurring?"
"Yes…" I admitted reluctantly, closing both my eyes as the room still swam with double vision.
Manuela finished her notes and looked them over. "Silly girl why didn't you say something! Honestly we can't help you if you don't say anything."
"It happens almost any time I use magic. Professor Hanneman is aware. We think my crest activates when I use magic…"
Flayn frowned and looked around. She was able to locate a vase on the bedside table next to me and she moved to arrange the flowers in the vase. Taking the vase to the counter to fill it with water before placing it by my nightstand.
"Not in combat at all?" Manuela's tart voice registered in surprise as I shook my head.
"We are still testing, but no we do not think my life has to be in danger for it to work." I looked at Flayn as she arranged the flowers delicately so the forget-me-nots complimented the tender white Easter lilies. As I watched her pull a lily out and tuck it back in the back of the arrangement, I thought I was going to be sick. There were two of her, but there weren't two of her.
The images overlapped as Flayn turned and grabbed my hand. I felt a strong soothing healing aura radiating from her as she crouched down to face me. "You do not look well. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"-leann?" I whispered faintly, the split images overlapping for another second as my left eye once more pulsed with pain. The mirrored room faded back to white as I heard Flayn gasped softly.
"I do not know what you are attempting to imply. My name is Flayn..."
I mouthed her name softly back as my vision in both eyes went white. I tried to focus on my friend, my hand grabbed hers, as if I could anchor myself to the present as the vision broke through the white clouds. "Flayn...why are you on a beach? The surfs coming in, while you're patiently watching a fish cook over an open fire. There..there is a woman with long curling green hair. She has a fishing pole she's reeling in, while she laughs at you. Seteth...Seteth is chasing after you, around the fire as you grabbed the fish and run off with it..."
The vision began to fade back to a cloud of white as the little Flayn stood at my side, holding my hand as I grabbed my head in agony.
"How- how can you be seeing that?"
I shut my eyes and leaned forward as my friend's voice was a shocked whisper. She released my hand, the cool anchoring presence next to me disappearing in the flurry of ribbons and frills.
"I-I need to see my brother! Good day!"
Manuela looked up as Flayn hurried out the door looking panicked. "Huh? She seemed like she wanted to talk with you. What is it you two were whispering about just now?"
I opened my eyes to the ceiling wondering just what was happening to me.
Manuela sighed and left me alone while she went to report to Seteth and the archbishop.
Soon after Manuela returned with a click of her heels, Rhea and Seteth appeared following behind the haggard looking professor wearing various worried and concerned expressions.
By now my vision had returned to normal and I was staring out the windows at the clouds as they drifted through the sky. A sky patrol took off lapping around the watchtowers as the pain in my head throbbed and ebbed.
As soon as Rhea saw I was awake and conscious she made her way over to my bed, sitting down at the foot of it while I wrapped my arms around my knees in comfort. A long discussion later, the advisor and the archbishop spoke with me in length about the possible power of my crest and what troubles would be in store in my future if I choose to disclose what I learned from my visions.
It was gentle words of caution and nothing more, but it did nothing to quell the panic in my stomach that something was very wrong.
"You holiness, would you have me do? What if this happens while I am in class? Should I tell people I have a crest?"
Rhea's calm voice was undisturbed, a reassuring sanctuary, as I let out a little bit of my panic. "That is up to you my child, but life may be easier if you keep quiet."
She set her hand on my knee softly as I heavily sighed, burying my head into the blankets around my knees. "I don't know what's going on! Why is this happening now?"
"Hush, child it will be alright." Rhea's voice spoke to reassure me as her hand moved up to my hair. She stoked the top of my head soothingly as I muttered.
"If I asked to keep it a secret a bit longer would that cause you any problems? I...just want to know what is happening to me..."
"It would not. I can make sure your professors know about it and if you are not feeling well you will be able to excuse yourself without any questions asked. It is a small price to pay if it helps you feel comfortable here." The soft stokes on my head helped lull the pain, but it did not change the implications I was having.
The archbishop's voice dropped as Seteth returned from speaking with Manuela. "While there are none with your exact gift among us anymore to guild you, I think you will benefit greatly if you choose to train your new found talents. That could perhaps help with these sudden attacks."
"How..? How do I train something like this?" I looked up from the blankets to peer helplessly up at the archbishop as she turned to Seteth.
"I will speak with professor Hanneman. I am sure he will have some ideas." Seteth crossed his arms as I had another deep feeling of unease ripple through me. "Seteth have you seen Flayn recently?"
My question had Seteth's immediate attention and he went on guard almost instantly. "No, what is this about?"
My fists clenched into the blankets around me, reluctant to disclose what I had just seen and done. "I think...I think she somehow managed to trigger one of my ...attacks."
I looked away from Seteth and back to Rhea. The archbishop was posed with beauty and elegance as her long green hair drifted divinely around her shoulders and cascaded down her back, white Easter lilies decorated her regalia as the white and gold robe brought back memories. It reminded me of the flower field and I felt another intense bout of longing and loss. No longer wishing to look at either of them, I looked away, back out into the blue morning sky. "Both your grace and Seteth tend to trigger them as well. Why? Why is that?"
"Ummm…" Seteth's response was hesitant as the advisor looked to Rhea for leadership. The archbishop nodded as she folded her hands together and Seteth cleared his throat. "That would be due to our unique blood, it is perhaps resonating with yours and that is causing your crest to activate."
"That is very possible." Rhea interjected and took over answering my question. "We possess purer bloodlines then most, so it would not be all that far fetched to say that you're trying to synchronize with us."
I bit my lip and rolled the blanket between my fingers, unsure of the explanation and what it implied exactly.
Seteth's voice was tense as I turned back to face my visitors. "What image did you manage to see?"
I felt my eyebrows furrow as I recalled the shocked look on Flayn's face right before she ran off. "Flayn left to go find you right after the incident occurred, I assumed she would tell you. She looked quite upset..."
A clear wave of worry brought the Advisor out of his stern shell. "I must find her then, tell me was it anything traumatic or worrisome?"
I shook my head lightly as I shifted the hold on my knees. "No...it was….a peaceful day at the beach. A pretty woman that looked a lot like Flayn was fishing on the coastline while you chased her around the sand yelling at her to not eat undercooked fish."
The worry lines on the advisors face softened just a bit, as if he could easily recall the memory I had just seen. "Ah, that sounds like a typical afternoon in Flayn's childhood. Anything else?"
I searched around in my memory, but found nothing else worth reporting. "The woman was laughing and Flayn was carrying around some kind of fish? It had bite marks on it."
Seteth's mouth twitched into an earnest smile, clearly whatever I was describing was a nice memory for him. "Yes, that sounds about right. Flayn loved to cook the fish we caught on the beach. I can see no harm in you seeing such a vision. However, I must be off to locate Flayn. From what you have told me, she was distressed and I must figure out why. Please let me know if you need anything from me while I attempt to locate her, your grace."
Rhea dismissed her advisor with a wave of her hand. "I will be able to survive for a time, go look for Flayn. I am sure she is in need of you."
Seteth bowed and left exited the infirmary with a dramatic swish of his cape.
Once we could no longer hear Seteth's footsteps, Rhea turned back to me. "Tell me Lilianna, what kind of spell were you attempting to perform in the back of that wagon?"
I scratched the side of my nose nervously. "It was a type of scrying spell. I was searching for something, and perhaps it was a bit too advanced, or maybe I was just a bit too hasty..."
I grabbed my stomach as it rolled. Apparently I still wasn't quite over this sickness on top of whatever was going on with my crest.
"The crest you bear is extremely sensitive to magic spells, so you'll trigger it if you keep practicing magic." Rhea's voice was stern and I raised an eyebrow in reaction to her steadfast claim.
A second later, I gave up on asking Rhea what she knew about my crest as I bit my lip. A more panicked thought crossed my mind. "Then I'll need to drop my magic studies? I don't want to!"
I protested feeling something awful caught in the back of my throat. "My magic studies meant the world to father! I don't want his teachings to just go to waste! I want to continue learning!"
Rhea stifled a small laugh with the back of her hand. "It is good to see you are passionate about some aspects of your studies. If you choose to study magic or not, that is up to you. I will leave that decision in your hands. I am simply telling you that your crest, now that it is activating more regularly, will be hard to keep quiet while you study here. Perhaps after you graduate from the academy we can consider letting you follow the path of an academic on the subject and you can pick your magic studies back up then, if the thought of keeping it quiet now is a concern?"
My mind attempted to figure out what I wanted, and it still came back down to the question at the forefront of my mind. "Does that mean I can't use magic at all? That I can only study it?"
Rhea shook her head. "Only if you are in the most desperate of straights, if you wish to keep your crest a secret that is. You could always just admit that you are part of a lost house and that you possess a crest. That does seem to be the easier route is it not?"
I grimaced, my desire to practice magic conflicting with my wish to remain obscure during my time here at the monastery. The sudden thought of what Lorenz might do and how some of the others might react to me if they knew I possessed a crest was grounding thought. "I don't want anyone looking at me like I am a noble or some prize to be won just because I have a crest. I am rather happy being me now..."
"Ah, I can understand. Professor Hanneman has been reporting that you have been performing better this month than you have all term, and I can only assume that is because you are starting to finally settle in."
I nodded tensing and still attempting to weigh my options. "I am."
"That is good to hear, I do wonder how you will fare next month in the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. I will be delighted to see how far you have come." Rhea granted me a small smile as she got up off my bed. "Please, let me know if there is anything more I can do for you, and do not be concerned if you need to excuse yourself."
"I appreciate everything, your grace.. "
"Lady Rhea." She interrupted me as she held her hand up. "Or simply Rhea, if you prefer."
"La-lady Rhea, I appreciate your assistance, but…I think I am done running. I want to try to enjoy my time at the academy and see if I can fit in enough to call it home." I nodded and made the decision not to worry about my crest. If rumors started to crop up I could work to manipulate them. It was a better alternative than forgoing magic training all together, even if it did possess a certain risk. Perhaps I would work with Professor Hanneman and come up with a situation.
"I am sure you will fit in just fine." Rhea turned to leave and then paused. "Oh, and before I go I wanted to let you know your monthly allowance has increased. A reward for a job well done."
The next day I was released from the infirmary with strict orders from Manuela to take it easy. I still possessed a light cough, but other than that I was feeling much better. Navan visited after his morning work out and brought me up one of my spare uniforms, and I managed to walk out of the sick bay a little unsteady on my feet but otherwise fit for duty.
I made it back to my dorm room to shower and collect my books before morning classes started. A few new books had made their way onto my desk along with a note from Hanneman reminding me to visit him, as well as some upcoming due dates on a handful of assignments.
I flicked the note into my rubbish bin, having completed the homework assignments a few days ago. It was just a matter of locating them in the packet since I had been busy the last few days with Claude, Lorenz, Cereza, as well as my own interests.
Another quick look around my room revealed a bowl I could use to hold my flowers. I quickly cut the heads off the flowers Flayn had bought me, filling the bowl with floating flowerheads before showering. Once clean, my room already starting to smell like lilies, I made my way down to the dining hall.
The dining hall was deserted, morning classes having already started a bell ago. The cleaning crew was now washing tables and preparing for lunch, but I managed to beg some leftovers from one of the cooks before I went to class. I managed to join the rest of my classmates as the second bell rang. I quietly took a seat in the back row, in order to avoid making a scene.
As I slid into my seat I took out the passive packet of paperwork I was now destined to carry around with me. My eyes flicked over the mass of papers, and managed to locate my completed assignments. I pushed them to the edge of my desk in a crumpled heap and started working on new ones that caught my interest. The new understanding between me and my professors meant that I paid nothing but a passing interest in their lectures unless it intrigued me.
I was scratching away at some old trade agreements between Enbarr and Garreg Mach when Professor Hanneman cleared his throat and started speaking about the upcoming month's schedules.
Putting my quill down, I rested my chin on the palm of my hand and tuned in.
"Now this might be skewing the ratio, but it has been decided that Professor Byleth will be participating in the battle of the Eagle and Lion next month. We believe that as a first time professor it would be a valuable experience for her and her students. However, Professor Manuela and I will be sitting out and watching from the sidelines. I have the utmost confidence you will be able to defeat them however, you must come up with some strategy to overcome this obstacle. As a result you are each due to come up with a strategy involving the entire class and submit the proposal so that we will review in class together next week. The best strategies will be debated and possibly implemented so do your best work. I would also like to remind you that advance certifications examinations are now available for you to start taking…"
I lost interest again as he started rambling on about overdue library books and the importance of not hoarding them in our rooms. I scratched away on the trade agreement essay, drafting my own proposal up to replace it then grew bored. Flicking ahead a few pages I found one that caught more of my interest. It was about supply and logistics, regarding what kind of supplies and forces would be required for a week-long escort journey to the capital city in the empire.
I started scratching off numbers and lists on a spare scrap of paper, flipping through several of my textbooks in front of me to find ideas to supplement my preexisting knowledge. My brain scrambled to figure out the puzzle.
"Well you have certainly been industrious today." Hilda smiled sweetly at me as she turned around in her seat during one of our breaks. "Look at you! There's books all over your desk now! What are you working on so diligently?"
I paused in my scribbling and looked up from my paper to check my text book, not paying my visitor much mind. "Supply and logistics homework for an escort mission involving a dignitary."
Hilda's pink eyes lit up in surprise. "Gosh, it looks so complicated! You must be really good at this kind of stuff."
"I have experience with it." I shifted my eyes to see her painting her nails at the edge of my desk. "What do you want Hilda?"
"Oh nothing really…" She held her hand out and admired the color. It was feminine pink hue that complimented both her hair and eyes. "I was just thinking about how to come up with a silly little plan to get someone to do my homework. You know that one for next month with the battle of the Eagle and Lions? I keep asking to sit out, I just am not of any use on the battlefield! So I am asking to skip the assignment, but professor Hanneman says I have too."
She pouted, her pretty pink lips quivering as I snorted in disbelief. "No, I am not doing your assignment for you Hilda. I have my own to work on. Question , why are you even here? You really seem to enjoy playing the elegant damsel-in-distress card, and you detest training to the point where you skirt it at every chance you get, so what's your reasoning?"
Hilda began painting the tips of her nails white, somehow making them more fashionable then just having pale pink ones. "Gosh you're so observant! It's almost like you can see right through me! It's kind of a family tradition though, us nobles all have to go to officers academy even if we don't really want to. I would be so much happier if I could just stay in my brother's castle and daze the day away like the pretty maiden that I am."
Ignatz turned around, hearing our conversation. "Well, you see Lilianna, Goneril territory stands right up against the Almyran territory as Fodlan's first line of defense. So Hilda's family is in charge of protecting us from Almyran invasions."
I felt my brows furrow, any chance of me doing logistics and supply for Hilda evaporating completely. "I see, so are attacks from Almyra frequent then?"
"Gosh my brother is sooo busy, he writes to me all the time about the invasions he has fought off. Though…" Hilda seemed to ponder the thought a second. "He hasn't written about anything really serious lately though. I wonder why that is? He says nowadays it's just small forces and bandits that have been causing trouble lately. Like when we intercepted your caravan Lilianna, real small fry, not really worth his time."
I cocked my head to the side in thought. I hadn't been aware it was a Goneril checkpoint I had passed getting into Fodlan, but the news did not surprise me.
"Gosh Hilda your brother sounds amazing!" Ignatz praised her as Hilda beamed proudly.
"Ya, my big brother is really great! He is totally undefeated when it comes to defending our border! Though, it is sad that he doesn't come visit me anymore, he is always up at the Locket patrolling." Hilda pouted daintily as Ignatz tried to console her.
"I am sure that's hard for you not seeing your brother anymore, perhaps you can go visit him sometime? Ask the Professors to take some time off?" The shy archer hesitantly adjusted his round glasses as he suggested a work around for Hilda.
I, on the other hand, was still trying to piece together what I had learned about noble houses from my father and was racking my brain to see if the Locket had been in place when I had first crossed into Alymra.
"He sounds very like a very valiant and hardworking knight." I commented dryly as I leaned back and stretched.
Hilda missed the sarcasm in my voice as she took the opportunity to gush. "Oh he is! I could hardly compete with him."
I finished stretching and covered a light cough. Hilda promptly leaned away from me, scooting back towards her desk. I reached into my backpack and took a drink of water before replying. "Why would you want to compete with your brother? It sounds like with a little more effort you could really help aid him, rather than making him worry about you all the time."
"That is entirely too much like work. Look at these noodle arms, I would do nothing but get in his way." Hilda put a cap on her nail polish and showed me her nails. The pink and white gave off a very delicate look, but I was overall unimpressed.
"Hey, Lilianna if you want I could totally paint your nails sometime! You would just need to remove those pesky gloves!"
The bell marked the start of class again and I was saved having my nails painted as Hilda was forced to turn back around. Having earned a brief respite, I considered myself lucky I had escaped this round of doing her homework for her. I looked down at my elbow length gloves with a raised eyebrow, it didn't take my crest activating to tell me that I was probably going to have my nails painted in the near future.
Author's corner:
Hello again everyone! I hope you haven't been waiting too long! We left that last chapter on a sweet tender note, so I hope it wasn't too long a wait! So here's the scoop - I am having trouble parsing these next few chapters out into nice (more bite sized) pieces, and I realized that I had 16 pages to start with before I even started editing.
Well as of right now this is on page 14, and I have another 14 pages left on this 'chapter' so I split it up again and that's why this chapter took longer to get out. (So I have been trying to edit over 28 pages and wooohhhooo that's an undertaking to do in a week!)
Not to mention you guys who would have to suffer to read all that- like it would be a massive chapter with quite a bit going on, so ya, I'm splitting the chapters out. I'm releasing this one today - and it'll be a few days, probably Friday, I'll release the next one!
Anyway let's recap on this chapter - per your guys' guesses Lili remembers very little of her late night visitor. She does vaguely have an idea someone was there, but it seems like she was a bit too out of it to remember who, or what really occurred. (Which might explain why she's not angry with Claude xD)
Probably the most important parts here though is where we have more lore on her crest! Now we don't expressively know why Lili's crest is activating sporadically, it used to activate when she used magic. Now it seems like the rules are changing and activating for almost no reason at all.
There's only been one other time that's happened to her that is when she fought with the Blue Lions in the Black Tower, and even then she had been using magic heavily during that time. You also learn I am taking artist creative liberties and going with you can see crest powers activate through their eyes. There's some discussion on how Lili is going to handle her studies moving forward - if she will stay in magic classes or if she will lean away from them for a bit.
The answer - while not written here just yet - is she moves to advanced individualized classes with Professor Hanneman. The professor is delighted because he can study Lili's crest and what causes it to activate, as well as its properties. If you want more lore on her crest it is like Rhea says - its magic activated but it's cracked and acting spontaneously - so we will see how Lili handles that in the future.
For fun here's what an average day looks like for Lili:
5:00 - Wakes with the sun (To Navan yelling)
5:15 - 8:00 Training hall
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast in the dining hall (Sore and bruised she nurses her wounds here and sometimes naps)
9:00 - 10:00 Homeroom (Mostly spent sleeping)
10:00 - 12:00 - Magic Lessons
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch - normally spent on the go exploring the Monastery
1:00 - 3:00 Flight Lessons with Zu
3:00 - 5:00 Basic Lessons - reading, writing, arithmetic so on (Lili loves to skip these)
5:00 - 6:00 Dinner
6:00 Onward Varies
-Chores(Week long assignments for a week once a month: Sky watch, Kitchen Duty, Infirmary Duty, Library Duty are most common)
-Study Group Meetings(Every: Mon, Wen, Fri)
-Exploring the Monastery (This upsets Seteth greatly)
-Lost in her room reading up on crests and other topics of interest
-Plays games if its raining (opponents vary)
-Flying/Wyvern Care with Zu
So remember to follow if you don't want to miss a chapter release and if you're enjoying the story please leave a kudo/fav! I hope to see you all again very soon!
