"No!"

I woke up from bed with my hand extended forwards to stop them. I found myself reaching for the ceiling of my bed.

Those nightmares again. Once that I've been having recently. And frequently.

I was feeling very warm-

knock* *knock* *knock*

"Princess Weiss?"

Advisor Iago. I was already up and…decent. "C-come in!"

The advisor opened the door. "Good morning, Princess Weiss."

I nodded. "Good morning, Advisor."

"You'll be glad to know I gave you an extra thirty minutes of rest today."

"Really? I'm sorry."

"Not to worry, Princess. You'll need it for Captain Hans' sparring practice you promised him today."

It was today? "I almost forgot!" I quickly removed the sheets from my bed and ran behind the dressing screen to get out of my night clothes and into my guard outfit.

"My apologies, Princess, but I checked on you during the time that you were dreaming. Are you doing alright?"

"Yes, Iago-" I was out of my night clothes "-just that same nightmare again." into my day clothes.

"Hum…do tell, for the twentieth time." Another entry for the dream journal he keeps for me.

I finished putting on my uniform and started donning my cuirass. "It was strange…It's like all the dreams I had the last time, combined into one dream." While I was donning my greaves and gauntlets, I told him how I was carrying a sword and other weapons, wearing all sorts of colors, fighting alongside or against my brothers and sisters, and everything else that happened in that dream.

A few hastily sounded scribbles from the advisor. "That's the fifth time you've had that dream. You must have added another blanket too much in your sleep. It could've been that."

He was right. I was really warm when I woke up from it. An afterthought now-I was in my armor, and my sword was on my waist.

"You look so cold in that armor-don't forget your boots."

Boots. I don't feel right wearing them or any form of shoe, but I obliged the Advisor by having my feet in them. "I'll be fine, Advisor. You have me for the rest of the week after today and this training."

"Take care, Princess Weiss. I think you'll enjoy what I have to share this week."

And I was off, but not without making sure my boots were snug.

。。。

Third floor.

Right out of the bedchamber. ""Good morning, Princess Weiss.""

"Good morning, Margaret. Elm." They follow after Iago, to clean up my bedroom.

Down a set of stairs, into the second floor's personal study area.

"Good morning, Princess Weiss!"

"Good morning, Julian." He has command over the study area, but he's often found looking through the books when he's alone.

Out of the study area. Down the hallway, overlooking the courtyard.

"Good morning, Princess."

Two people. The greeting came from the Head Maid. "Good morning, Head Maid Thora, Chamberlain Theo."

"Did you rest well?" the chamberlain asked.

I nodded, not mentioning the nightmare I had. "Is Captain Hans here?"

"Captain Hans will be meeting you in the courtyard, shortly. We've had a matter for him to attend to, so you're not exactly late."

I laughed. "Thank you. Both of you."

It's the little things such as greeting them, remembering their names or positions, checking on them, and helping out in small ways that allow something like that to happen. It might me be though, but I think those two would look well together.

I hastened my footsteps to the next set of stairs and made my way to the courtyard.

。。。

The courtyard of the Northern Fortress. A good hour after Captain Hans was finished with the errand the Head Maid and Chamberlain had him handle.

"Haaah!"

tok*

"Hhngh!"

slap*

"Oof!"

thud*

This early morning was personal training from Captain Hans. We had warmed up in that hour, but I was still feeling cold. I was on the ground for a third time. Block-!

"Dead."

Too late. Captain's wooden axe was breathing just before my neck.

"When you are on the ground, quickly recover!"

I closed my eyes and bowed my head. "Yes, sir!"

"Did that wake up you, Princess?" His tone lightened up.

I nodded and stood back up. "A little-"

"Attention!"

I stood to attention. His guard tone came back.

"You have been a Sergeant of the City Guard nearly two years, and yet you still have not made full use of what's available! Get some water from the fountain, and then face me again!"

"Yes, sir!" I stood up and backed away from our sparring area and to the fountain. While keeping an eye on Captain and my surroundings, I pulled my gourd and drew water with it from the fountain. I drank and refilled again.

I was refreshed and aware. Return to the sparring area.

"Good. 'Be aware of your surroundings. Ready?"

I pointed my sword at him and nodded. "I'm ready."

"Now, come at me with the intent to kill! Begin!"

We resumed sparring.

Keep Captain guessing. Start with a basic motion that tightens the movements, and warms up my body.

clack* *clack* *clack* *tock*

"It's getting boring. Give me something interesting."

Suddenly, a dream started playing, one that had me fighting Hoshidan ninja. While I couldn't emulate their speed, the second one of them ended up close to me, I knew where they would need to land in order to maintain their balance.

Press an attack with blades locked. Sweeping kick and under swing.

Captain manages to dodge it by pushing back, but barely. "Caught in me that, but keep pressing!"

Another dream started to play. A brawl in a tavern, chaos ensuing. I was without a weapon, and I found myself using items other than my sword to fight. I could imagine swinging a chair around and using the remaining parts after breaking it to knock out my opponents!

Use the water from my flask to bring him off balance!

splash*

Press the attack and push him down.

Right on his butt. Gourd in the right hand. Sword in the left hand, and blade at his neck. "Dead!"

"Underhanded!"

With a free hand, Captain grabbed my blade and tried to take it away from me, but I pulled it and myself back from his reach.

He stood up. "That little trick of yours only works once! Use your surroundings more!"

Even if it was an underhanded win, the motivation behind it would be enough, but Captain's anger from my actions would heighten.

Another dream started to play. This time, a strange abomination towering over my being was fighting me. While it had power, I had speed. Getting around it and hitting it so many times would be enough to defeat it!

But this wasn't a dream, and I needed to end it in one blow.

Use Captain's rage to my advantage. Time the dodge-

Hiyah!

Dodge! Heelkick to back!

"Oof!"

He's off balance! Tip of the sword touching the left side of his back! "Dead."

He held his hands up in arrest. "Impressive! Well done."

The first word meant nothing, but the second and third words meant that sparring was over. Sword sheathed.

"It took you three times to get back at me. That's an improvement over five."

"Yes, sir."

"Let me see your sword hand."

I showed him my left hand he grabbed it by the arm, and pulled himself up.

"Curl it into a fist." I did as told. He shook it a few times. "This hand is becoming more and more of a hand that I can rely on." His eyes shifted away from me. "What do you think, Old Man?"

"She's grown a lot in your station, Hans. Added onto it, even."

That voice. Gunter. Never a moment he wasn't in his armor, ever since I was stationed here.

"Gunter! You're back!"

Captain let go of my arm and smiled. I went over to Gunter and I hugged him. "How was Windmire?"

"After some long talks at Castle Krakenburg, it's good to be in the company of familiar faces. I rode on ahead to bring you good news."

I stopped embracing Gunter and stood a few steps back. "Camilla's coming?" One of my sisters. She's been keeping a special eye on me ever since I was stationed here.

Gunter nodded. "She has some news to share once she arrives."

"Sergeant Weiss!"

I went over to Captain and stood to attention. "Captain!"

"You have served as a Sergeant of the City Guard for some time. How would you feel with a higher level of duty placed upon you?"

As Gunter stood beside Captain, I looked at both of them. "...You're promoting me?"

Captain shrugged. "Don't be too alarmed, Princess. Five years ago, I was surprised when he stepped down as Captain and exchanged positions with me. 'Old Man is getting up there in age."

Gunter was looking older. It was a hard thing to think that he might just pass away. "I'll do my best, then, Captain. Gunter."

Captain nodded. "To your duties, then, Sergeant. Dismissed."

"Yes, sir!" I saluted Captain and Gunter, and I was off to the town.