Ys: A Blossoming Flower
Author's Note: This one-shot fanfiction story takes place in an alternate universe.
On a clear and peaceful early Friday evening, the crisp autumn air had swirled throughout the entirety of Lance Village, carrying the scent of woodsmoke, roasting apples, and baked meats. The annual Lance Autumn Night Festival was in full swing as golden tree lanterns had hung throughout the many trees of the village while large banners of gold had decorated a few houses, fluttering in the breeze of the evening air as the villagers had took the time and opportunity to enjoy the various festivities of the celebration itself. One year had passed since Adol Christin, the brave and courageous red-haired adventurer had fought and vanquished the malevolent dark forces of evil that threatened not only Lance Village, but the entire world as well. One year since he had saved a young and petite maiden named Lilia from the clutches of a deadly illness, unintentionally capturing her pure and innocent heart in the process.
Said maiden, Lilia had currently stood underneath a decorated tree, her long maroon hair braided into a elegant ponytail and secured with a pristine white ribbon. Red eyeshadow highlighted her bright blue eyes, and her lips, painted a matching red, curved into a small yet hopeful smile. She wore a formal blue sleeveless knee-length evening gown dress adorned with white embroidered flowers, white fingerless opera gloves which had showed her red manicured fingernails, and white strapped sandals which had displayed her red pedicured dainty toes. She was the picture of youthful beauty, drawing admiring glances from many of the young men moving about during the festival, but her current gaze was fixed on the village entrance, anxiously awaiting and hoping for the return of the man she had loved and cherished the most with her own heart.
Since Adol's departure, Lilia had transformed. No longer content to being the damsel in distress, she had dedicated herself to becoming a strong and capable woman. She trained tirelessly with the village guards, who at first was surprised to see Lilia wanting to learn how to fight, but in due time, they eventually came to accept her request, with Lilia herself mastering self-defense techniques and surprising everyone with her natural aptitude. She learned to wield a hardened wooden bo staff, not only for sweeping, but also for striking as well, twirling it with a surprising agility. Despite her self-defense training being very hard and arduous, Lilia had continued to work endlessly as she remembered on what Adol had gone through to save her and the rest of the village from last year. Rather than being a potential liability, she wanted to be worthy of Adol, not just someone he needed to save, but someone who could stand alongside him in his various adventures.
Lilia's self-defense training had not only improved her physical capabilities, but also her natural beauty and kindness as well, to which many attracted young men had soon attempted to court her in the hopes of gaining her love, but Lilia had politely declined each proposal, her heart stubbornly clinging to the memory of the brave and courageous red-haired hero. The various rumors which had spread about Adol returning to Lance Village for the festival one month prior to the event had fueled her anticipation, making her feel both giddy and terrified. What if he had forgotten her? What if he had moved on?
Suddenly, a ripple of excitement had passed throughout the crowd. An unknown figure, tall and clad in familiar armor, had slowly emerged from the path leading to the village. A gasp escaped Lilia's lips. It was him. Adol Christin, the adventurer she had longed to see, was back.
Upon entering into the village through its entrance while some of the villagers had looked on with both shock and delight, Adol had held and maintained a tired yet happy smile on his face as he was satisfied to know that he had finally came back to Lance Village from his latest adventure and upon looking around, he saw Lilia who was standing a short distance away from him, causing Lilia to make and hold a surprised yet emotional expression on her face as she saw Adol with her own eyes.
"Adol!" Lilia cried as her voice choked with personal emotion, to which she had swiftly ran over straight towards him so that she could then leap forward and greatly hug him, enabling Adol to quickly hug her back as well while the villagers had all cheered in both celebration and happiness upon seeing Adol return during the festival.
"Lilia!" Adol said as he held her tight in his hug. "It's good to see you again".
"You too Adol. I was wondering on whether or not you were actually gonna come and show up for the festival" Lilia said while having tears of happiness pour down her face.
"Sorry to make you worry like that Lilia, but now I'm here to enjoy the festival with you and the rest of my friends. I have to say that you look very beautiful right now Lilia" Adol said as he and Lilia had released each other from their hug so that the two of them could then look at each other with cheerful expressions on their faces.
"Thank you for those kind words Adol. You must be real tired after journeying here from your last adventure. Come rest a bit at my home so that you can get settled in and prepared for the festival" Lilia said in a polite way while slightly blushing upon hearing Adol's words to her.
"Sure" Adol said as he nodded in agreement with Lilia on her idea.
After spending a few minutes resting and recovering his strength at Lilia's home, Adol had wasted no time in enjoying the celebration of the night and taking part within its various festivities, reacquainting himself with Lilia, her mother Banoa, Elder Cornell, and the rest of the villagers whom he had met and befriended from last year. During the festival, Lilia had explained to Adol about her self-defense training right after he had left and how she had vowed to no longer being a helpless little girl who needed others to save and defend her, which had caused Adol to be quite shocked yet amazed in knowing and realizing of Lilia's surprising endeavor.
Later on, Adol had told Lilia and a couple of interested villagers about his various adventures since leaving Lance Village, to which he had spoke about journeying to new lands, meeting various new friends and acquaintances, battling monstrous creatures, coming into conflict with and opposing those who had sought to achieve their cruel and selfish goals, exploring ancient ruins, and uncovering the forgotten lore of the world. Lilia listened alongside her fellow villagers as her eyes had widened with wonder, marveling at Adol's courage and the incredible things he had seen and done to the point that there was a part of her who had wanted to be with him during his future adventures.
As the festival had continued on throughout the night, Adol, Lilia, and the rest of the villagers had all enjoyed themselves and was quite happy to bask in the moment of true peace and happiness, but unfortunately for all of them, said scenario wouldn't last for too long as an unexpected threat would soon rear its ugly head.
A large gang of burly and menacing thieves, their faces heavily rough and intimidating while their eyes filled with malicious greed and cruelty, had unexpectedly stormed through the village entrance and into the village square, brandishing steel swords and wooden clubs which had shocked and horrified the villagers who didn't expect for this type of situation to occur so suddenly during the festival.
"Oh no!" Lilia cried as she and her mother Banoa had looked on in a worried state.
"This isn't good" Adol said as he made and held a serious expression on his face while slowly placing his right hand upon the hilt of his sheathed sword.
"What's going on?! What's the meaning of this?!" Elder Cornell said as he had immediately got in front of the frightened villagers while looking at the gang of thieves with a strict and stern expression on his face.
"It's quite simple really you decrepit old man! We've come to steal your village's precious treasures and any beautiful maidens who catch our eye! If you know what's best, you'll hand them over right now or else we'll raze and destroy this village in an instant!" the thief leader yelled in a threatening tone towards Elder Cornell and the rest of the villagers.
"Sorry to break it to you, but I won't allow you and your men to have your way!" Adol shouted as he immediately confronted the thieves while pulling out and holding his sword in a fighting stance so that he could help protect the villagers from the current threat.
As the thief leader saw Adol with his two eyes, he had made and held a surprised yet suspicious expression on his face as he instantly remembered something within his mind, to which he immediately decided to ask Adol a specific question.
"Wait just a minute. Red hair...green eyes...and silver armor...You're Adol Christin, aren't you?!" the thief leader said in an accusing manner while pointing his sword straight towards Adol.
"Indeed I am. Why are you asking?" Adol said as he had continued to look at the gang of thieves with a resolved and determined expression on his face.
"He he he. It seems that Lady Luck is with me and my comrades for tonight. Believe it or not Adol, there is a bounty out on your head in the criminal underworld and whoever brings it to the one who wants it gets a nice and satisfying reward in the end" the thief leader said.
"Someone wants me dead?! Just who exactly?!" Adol said as he, Lilia, and the rest of the villagers had looked on in a shocked state upon hearing that statement from the thief leader.
"Don't know and don't care. All I know is that you're a wanted man among criminals Adol and that my boys and I are gonna seize the opportunity and take your head for ourselves" the thief leader said as he and his comrades were getting ready to attack Adol where he currently stood from.
"Go ahead and try. Like I said before, I won't allow you and your men to have your way!" Adol shouted as he had prepared himself for his potential battle against the gang of thieves.
As Lilia saw that Adol was very resolved to fight and battle against the gang of thieves in order to help protect both her and the villagers, she had soon made and held a worried yet determined expression on her face as she knew and realized that she couldn't allow Adol to take on the odds against him and that she had wanted to finally prove her worth towards him as a fellow warrior of justice against those who dared to prey on and attack the innocent.
Not wasting a second, Lilia had swiftly saw a broomstick leaning on the wall of a nearby house and had quickly ran over to it so that she could instantly grab it and immediately twirl it real fast in the air before holding it like a bo staff in a fighting stance.
"Hang on just a minute! If you're planning on unfairly attacking Adol like the dirty cowards that you are, then you'll have to deal with me also!" Lilia shouted as she quickly stood alongside Adol.
"Lilia, what are you doing?!" Adol cried as he, Banora, Elder Cornell, and the rest of the villagers had looked on in a shocked and surprised way upon seeing Lilia's unexpected action.
"Adol, I know that you're concerned about me, but I can't allow these jerks to ruin the festival. I've trained very hard to no longer be a helpless little girl and I want to prove myself in being someone who's able to not only defend myself, but others as well. Please Adol, let met help you!" Lilia said as she looked at Adol with a resolved and determined expression on her face.
When Adol had heard that statement from Lilia and saw the resolved and determined expression that was on her face, he had soon made and held a surprised yet impressed smile on his face once more as he had nodded in agreement with Lilia on her request and had allowed her to stand alongside him during their confrontation against the gang of thieves.
"Lilia!" cried Banoa in seeing her daughter prepare to take on the gang of thieves alongside Adol.
"Don't worry about me Mom. I promise you that I'll be okay. I won't let these hooligans or any other threat hurt you and the rest of the village" Lilia said as she looked back at her mother with an assured and confident smile on her face.
As Banoa saw that Lilia was very resolved and determined to help save her village from the current threat, she had soon made and held a worried yet proud smile on her face as she knew and realized that her daughter was slowly growing and maturing from a young and petite little girl into a strong and beautiful woman.
Some villagers, who had seen and witnessed Adol and Lilia's resolve to fight and battle against the gang of thieves, had wasted no time in arming themselves with their own weapons whether it be normal or makeshift as they too were determined to defend and protect their home while also wanting to help repay the debt to Adol for coming to their aid from last year.
As the thief leader had look at Lilia with a predatory gaze in his eyes, he had quickly remembered a flashback within his mind, in that a month prior to the festival, the thief leader had secretly scouted the village from outside its location, targeting it for a future attack alongside his comrades and during his devious observation, he had found himself unexpectedly seeing Lilia outside the village as she had collected a couple of apples for her mother, all while singing a beautiful song to herself. The thief leader had found himself being attracted and mesmerized by both Lilia's beauty and singing, to which he soon became obsessed with making her his wife and having his despicable way with her.
"He he he. Your courage is indeed quite admirable young lass. You'll make a fine and perfect wife for me" the thief leader said as he continued to look at Lilia with a predatory gaze in his eyes.
"In your dreams you disgusting man!" Lilia yelled as she looked at the thief leader with an angered expression on her face.
"Ha ha ha! Defiant to the very end I see. Very well then. You'll regret defying me in the first place my dear. Attack!" the thief leader yelled as he commanded his comrades to charge and attack Adol, Lilia, and the armed villagers. Upon seeing their enemies charging straight towards them, Adol, Lilia, and the armed villagers had swiftly wasted no time in rushing and attacking their opponents while Banoa, Elder Cornell, and the rest of the unarmed villagers had quickly proceeded in getting to safety from the current battle.
One thief had charged straight towards Lilia and attempted to attack her with a raised wooden club, but Lilia, without hesitation had quickly thrusted the handle of her broomstick into the stomach of the thief with a direct impact, sending him staggering back as he had instantly dropped his club to the ground so that he could then clutch his aching belly in pain. Before he could recover, Lilia delivered a swift right kick to his chest, knocking him to the ground while leaving a sandal-shaped footprint on his chest. Lilia then jumped on his stomach with her right foot like a stepping stone, causing him much pain as she crushed his stomach with the weight of her foot so that she could leap off it in order to help aid Adol and the armed villagers out while the thief had held his bruised stomach in pain as he attempted to regain his breath, with said stomach having a sandal-shaped footprint on it as another mark of both pain and humiliation.
The thief leader, enraged that Lilia could easily fight back against his comrades and that she wasn't a scared and frightened girl he could easily control and have his way with, had wasted no time in charging towards her, his sword raised in the air as he had attempted to attack and strike down Lilia where she stood from. Lilia, seeing the thief leader attempting to assault her, was quite ready and prepared for him and from there, Lilia had used her swift agility to dodge his strong yet sluggish sword strikes with ease, one of the many achievements that she had obtained within her self-defense training. Upon seeing a direct opening during the assault, Lilia had swiftly lifted her right leg up and quickly kicked the thief leader squarely in the groin with her right foot, causing him to let out a howl of pain as he had dropped his sword and clutched his now swollen and throbbing groin with his hands, hopping up and down in a complete state of excruciating pain and agony. With a triumphant grin on her face, Lilia had quickly swung the handle of her broomstick in a fast side strike, connecting with the thief leader's face and making a direct hit against him, causing him to fall to the ground and crash very hard with a huge bruise forming on his right cheek and blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.
Adol, witnessing Lilia's unexpected prowess in battle, had looked on in a surprised yet impressed way as he saw and realized that Lilia wasn't the same girl he remembered from last year and through this, he fought with renewed determination as he and Lilia had worked together to battle and defeat the gang of thieves who had attempted to attack and strike them down where they stood from. The armed villagers, inspired by the duo's resolved courage, had fought together with surprising ferocity and intensity, battling and defeating their fair share of enemies who had also attempted to attack and strike them down as well while Banoa, Elder Cornell, and the rest of the unarmed villagers had looked on from their safe location in an amazed state upon seeing their defenders take down their opponents.
Realizing that he and his comrades were clearly outmatched and had no chance of winning, the thief leader, who had managed to get back up from the ground while painfully groaning and continuing to hold his swollen and throbbing groin, signaled a retreat. The gang of thieves, their bravado and arrogance gone after a humiliating defeat, had soon ran away via the village entrance, cowardly fleeing into the darkness of the night.
Upon seeing the gang of thieves run away after their humiliating defeat, Adol, Lilia, and the entire village had soon cheered in triumphant victory as all of them were quite happy and relieved to know that the unexpected threat of the night was now over and that they would be able to once again enjoy the peace and tranquility of the festival.
"We did it Adol! We won!" Lilia cried as she looked at Adol with a happy smile on her face.
"Indeed we have Lilia! I have to say and admit that you did quite well during the fight and that your self-defense training had really paid off! Well done Lilia!" Adol said as he looked at Lilia with an impressed expression on his face, to which Lilia had soon held and maintained a satisfied smile on her face in hearing that statement from Adol.
"Lilia, I'm so proud of you! You fought bravely to help Adol and the rest of the villagers out against those no-good thieves! If your father was still alive, he would also be proud of you as well!" Banoa said as she quickly ran over to Lilia so that she could hug her greatly, to which Lilia had did the same thing for her mother as well.
"Indeed he would Mom. I'm so sorry to make you worry like that from earlier on, but as I had said before, I won't allow any threat to hurt you and the rest of the village" Lilia said as she nodded in agreement with her mother on her statement as the two of them had soon released each other from their hug.
"I'm quite happy to see and know that the threat of the night is now over. Let's continue on with the festival so that we can enjoy ourselves and have much fun while we still can" Elder Cornell said as he approached Adol, Lilia, and Banoa with a relieved smile on his face.
Upon hearing Elder Cornell's request, Adol, Lilia, and Banoa had nodded in agreement with him and from there, the festival had continued on as everyone had truly and undoubtedly enjoyed themselves, even more so after the ordeal with the gang of thieves.
Later on as the festival was slowly winding down, Adol and Lilia had sat together on a fallen tree log within a secluded location of the village as the two of them had looked at the clear and tranquil night sky, having a personal conversation with each other.
"So you're planning on leaving tomorrow Adol?" Lilia said as she looked at Adol with a concerned expression on her face.
"Yes I am Lilia and although I've truly enjoyed being here tonight with you and the rest of the villagers, I have to get back on my journey, especially since someone wants me dead and I plan on finding out who it is so that I won't allow them to impede my adventure while also making sure that you and the rest of the village isn't endangered because of me as well. It won't be easy and I'm quite certain that I'm gonna run straight into some unexpected and unwanted trouble along the way, but still though, I won't let that or anything else stop me, especially after everything that's already happened to me before in the past" Adol said as he looked at Lilia with a resolved and determined expression on his face.
Upon hearing that explanation from Adol during their personal conversation with each other, Lilia had made and held a worried yet determined expression on her face as she knew and realized that the time was now for her to make her long-awaited move towards Adol and that she had to capitalize on it while she still had the chance and opportunity to do so.
"I see. Well then Adol, if that be the case, I do suppose that it is in best interest that I come along with you so that I can help you out while also exploring the world at the same time as well" Lilia said as she talked and spoken in an assured and confident tone.
"You wish to come along with me?!" Adol said as he looked at Lilia with a shocked and surprised expression on his face upon hearing that statement from her.
"Yes I do. After hearing about what you've gone through since leaving here a year ago, I now wish to explore the world alongside with you and learn much there is to know about it while also improving myself at the same time as well" Lilia said.
"But Lilia, my journey is very dangerous and I tend to get involved in life or death situations against those who threaten the world. While it's true that you were able to fight and defeat the gang of thieves alongside me and the rest of the villagers from earlier on, those guys are nothing compared to the malicious threats that I've encountered before in the past and will again in the near future" Adol said as he looked at Lilia with a serious expression on his face.
"Even if that was so Adol, I won't yield or falter in the heat of the battle and that I'll gladly face and overcome these threats alongside with you. You can even help train me to become a much better warrior so that I can fight more stronger and better in due time" Lilia said as she looked at Adol with a resolute and unwavering expression on her face.
"But Lilia..." Adol tried to speak again but Lilia had unexpectedly stopped him.
"But nothing Adol! Like I said before, I no longer want to be a helpless little girl who needs others to protect her and I want to be alongside with you on your journey! I wish to do this so that I can not only blossom like a flower in displaying both my beauty and courage, but also because I don't want anything bad happening to you on account that I personally love you!" Lilia cried as she instantly stood up from the fallen tree log while looking at Adol with an emotional expression on her face.
"You...love me?" Adol said in a surprised tone upon hearing that statement from Lilia.
"Yes I do Adol. Ever since you came into my life when we first met...when you had helped saved me from my illness...and when you had fought bravely and courageously to save not only me, but also my village and the rest of the entire world from the evil threat of last year...I've always been in love with you Adol and wanted to truly confess it to you, but I've also been scared on whether or not you would undoubtedly accept it. Ever since your departure, I've always hoped and prayed that I would be able to see you again one day so that I could then tell you on how I really feel and tonight was indeed very special for me. Adol Christin...I personally love you with all of my heart and want to be with you now and forever" Lilia said as she had talked and spoken in a sincere and passionate way towards Adol while slowly beginning to have tears come down her face.
As Adol saw and realized that Lilia had finally confessed her personal love towards him, he was left completely speechless as he didn't expect to learn and know of such a thing in his own given time and state, but despite this, there was a part of him who was undoubtedly very happy in learning of Lilia's true feelings for him and that he had personally appreciated it, thus he had fully decided on what his next move should be within the moment itself.
"Lilia...I didn't know that you had held and maintained such emotional feelings for me. I thought that it was just personal admiration on your part, but now I see and know the entire truth. Remembering on when we first met from last year and seeing you in action tonight has caused me to realize that you are indeed a strong and beautiful woman and that you'd be more than willing to stand alongside with me in my journey, regardless of the potential dangerous threats that lie ahead. I'd be a complete fool to not accept your personal love right here and now and because of that, I would be more than willing and grateful to truly have you as a part of my life Lilia" Adol said as he got up from the fallen tree log while looking at Lilia in a kind and sincere way.
When Lilia saw that Adol would gladly and greatly accept her personal love towards him, she had made and held a tearful yet emotional smile on her face as she knew and realized that a hopeful dream of hers had finally come true in reality itself and it was something that she had wanted to achieve and attain for so long.
"Adol!" Lilia cried in an emotional yet happy tone as she swiftly ran over to and hugged Adol in a quick manner so that she could then unexpectedly kiss him while closing her eyes in a happy state, causing Adol to look on in a shocked and surprised way as he didn't expect for Lilia to initiate such a bold move, but in due time, Adol had slowly came to kiss Lilia back while hugging her himself and closing his own eyes as he had truly and undoubtedly enjoyed the kiss that Lilia had gave him.
After a few seconds of kissing in a passionate and romantic manner, Adol and Lilia had soon released each other from both the hug and kiss so that they could then look at one another while greatly blushing, realizing and understanding now that their personal relationship had significantly grew and evolved to the next level.
"So Adol...does this mean that we're a couple now?" Lilia said as she had continued to greatly blush.
"Indeed we are Lilia and I'm ready and prepared to enjoy it alongside with you" Adol said as he had continued to greatly blush.
From there, Lilia had nodded in agreement with Adol on his statement and had now looked forward to the future in being Adol's girlfriend within the continuation of his journey.
The next day from around the time of noon, Adol and Lilia were preparing to depart from Lance Village so that Lilia could accompany Adol on his personal journey, all while Banoa, Elder Cornell, and the rest of the villagers had gotten ready to say their good-byes to the new young couple.
Instead of being in her formal dress from last night, Lilia was now in her casual clothes which had consisted of a turquoise short-sleeve knee-length dress, a blue long sleeve lace shrug jacket, and a pair of brown strapped ballet flat shoes. Her long maroon hair was let loose instead of being braided, being neatly combed and flowing down behind her back while a hardened wooden bo staff was seen strapped on her back, alongside having a small brown travel pouch that hung from her right hip, being used for her personal accessories.
After learning that her daughter and Adol had officially became a couple, Banoa was personally happy and overjoyed in knowing that her daughter had finally confessed her personal feelings to the same man who had helped save her life from last year, but at the same time, she was also shocked to learn that her daughter had wanted to travel alongside Adol during his journey and although Banoa was reluctant at first in letting her daughter leave, she soon came to realize that her daughter was no longer the same little girl she loved and cared for and that she was a young woman who needed to grow and mature so that she would be able to take care of herself when need be. Lilia had promised her mother that she would be fine and that she would come back to visit her one day in the future, to which Banoa had understood Lilia and told her daughter to please take care of herself and come back to visit her when she had the chance and opportunity to do so. Banoa had also spoke to Adol and told him that although her daughter could now easily fight her own battles when need be, she still didn't want anything bad to happen to her and pleaded to Adol in having him watch over and protect Lilia, to which Adol had assured and promised Banoa that nothing bad would ever happen to Lilia on his watch.
After making their final preparations, Adol and Lilia had soon departed from Lance Village while bidding farewell to Banoa, Elder Cornell, and the rest of the villagers as the young couple had now embarked on continuing Adol's journey and while Adol himself had looked forward in resuming it with a new love by his side, Lilia had also looked forward to it as well as she was now able to be with the man she had truly and undoubtedly loved with her entire heart, a blossoming flower that was destined to grow and become much more stronger and beautiful in due time.
The End