Loving priestess ♡

A familiar voice jolts him out of his thoughts, the young king quickly spinning on his heel to allow Sakura to grab him. He missed all of his family terribly whenever he was away from them, but both of his darling younger sisters seemed to sting the most to be apart from.

"Hello Sakura, I'm glad to still see you here," He didn't think that he had left for that long, but perhaps that didn't seem to be the case. Ah well. He had done what he needed to do back home, and he was back now! Didn't matter too much as long as he was here.

“I’m not completely sure, but I feel something… unclear about those flames, as if they were made of magic or came from a unknown spell” she pondered aloud, sharing her thoughts with Corrin, in the hope to strike some more useful ideas from him. “It feels like this land is burning out of normality and I sense more dangerousness in that…” she lowered her voice, as if she didn’t want to anger the mysterious flames, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt stressed: not only people were endangered, but also the entire field was put in a very risky position. Then, something crossed her mind.

“What if we… could purify this flames with healing magic?” it was a strange idea, almost illogical that something like that could be purify, but what if those flames were actually made of evil magic? The thought of it became clearer and clearer in her mind as she spoke, searching looking for confirmation in the gaze of Corrin.

Newly named and freshly tended to, Hasu lets out one last coo before flying off her shoulder and back up to the rafters. Mitama watches it silently for a moment before turning her attention back to the princess.

"A schedule?" Ugh. The last thing she wants is to repeatedly deprive herself of rest by giving herself more labour to suffer through. The birds are not that bad, but their appeal is nothing compared to the delight of staying in bed and letting the hours roll by while doing nothing.

But, unfortunately, greater than her desire to sleep is her aversion to the idea of disappointing. So, after a moment of silence, Mitama nods and does her best to smile. "I imagine I would like that quite a bit. Thank you for making time for me."

Who knows, if she persists long enough, perhaps she might even learn how to find that bird again. Only time will tell but, for now, she is happy at least for a new memory worth revisiting. "I am grateful, Lady Sakura."

As it achieved the sound of its name, the little bird departed from Mitama’s shoulder and flew nearby its peers, happily cooing as it probably enjoyed the hard work the two girls put to clean the place and to make everything perfect and functional for them.

“I’m glad they’re enjoying the freshly clean hatchery” she giggled, before returning her attention to the pink-haired girl, listening to her brief sign of gratitude –she has always been so simple and soft in every word or that was what Sakura thought of Mitama, a girl of not too many words, but with a good heart. She smiled at her as she accepted the suggestion and thanked her for being able to do all of that together, like two friends would do, like a family would do.

“Hasu will be grateful for your help, I’m sure of it” she glanced at the rows of nestles, eyeing the bird that chose Mitama as a faithful partner. “Next time I’ll make a little décor for it, so this way we could easily recognize it among the others” she lastly added, before glancing one last smile at Mitama.

“I am the one grateful for your presence Mitama. I’ll be looking forward to our next task!” she eagerly said, hands clasping together as she drew closer to her, one last smile. “You are amazing Mitama, never forget it. What you did here, was something incredibly important, especially for them” and she turned to point the birds seemingly watching the couple from afar. “You have a good heart, like I always thought” and she let a soft giggle depart from her lips, as she lastly cupped Mitama’s hands in hers.

Azama would be proud of her.

Emma really could believe it either way.

Naturally, when the Hoshidan Princess suggests the Sky Knight in training help her with rice, the latter nods with fervor and a smile. “Yeah! Let’s get that rice cooking,” she readily agrees, head pivoting left and right searching for it. There it is—she takes a couple steps down along the counter, lifting the bowl of soaking mochigome and carefully carrying it with both hands, following Sakura’s footsteps. “And while it steams, I can practice my moves with the hammer! That way, by the time it’s done, I’ll be worthy of your trust.”

Delicately, she places the bowl of rice down on the counter in front of her so that Sakura can prepare it to be steamed. She returns to her earlier compliment, which still sticks with the girl.

“This sounds like a good plan!” she chirped as she picked the bowl from the counter, pouring it inside the steamer and putting everything on the boiling water, mentally setting a timer as to not let the rice steam cook too much –otherwise, the consistency of the dough would be a bit too...sticky and soft. As she turned to face the petite brunette, she returned to the previous argument, the compliment didn’t go unattended by her, apparently and Sakura was absolutely pleased by her cute reaction.

“I bet that both Ryoma and Hinoka would love to see you in action!” she blurted as she happily trotted towards the counter where the mortar was placed, “Plus, Sky Knights were actually my favourite heroes, I always admire the elegance and the simplicity with which they manage to tame beautiful creatures like kinshi and then to fly among the clouds to protect our people…” she had a dreamy look while she picked up the mortar, though not losing the attention needed to place the instrument in the correct place to begin the crushing of the future dough.

Yet still, she looked at him with puppy dog eyes, like she was still ten years old. Always, Ryoma would acquiesce to her requests, with or without that look in her eyes. Regardless, he hummed as if considering it, as if it wasn't an automatic yes.

"The ingredients will likely be very expensive, especially with the import fees from Hoshido," he said, rubbing his chin, considering. Of course, he'd happily spend every penny he had on this.

"I suppose I could," he said with a sigh, though his smile hadn't vanished. Anything for his siblings, he thought. "I'll be back as soon as I can with ingredients." He wanted to ruffle her hair, but perhaps that could come a bit later.

For now, Ryoma had the market to run to. The stalls were busy today, possibly because everyone had the same idea. As he looked around at each stall, it seemed things were flying off the stands. He hoped he could find something.

At each stall, Ryoma emptied more and more of his purse on overpriced ingredients. If he hadn't been homesick already, he certainly was now. He missed a time when such ingredients were readily available, without extortionate prices. He missed the easier summer days, and the carefree moments he could enjoy with his family.

This would be one of those days, even if he hadn't a penny left to his name.

She roamed and rummaged around the kitchen for about ten minutes before finding out all the utensils she needed for the preparations: firstly, the wooden mortar and the mallet, essential for mashing the dough, then few more items that the petite priestess deemed to be useful for the making of this sweet, that was, more bowls to move the rice around and some wooden ladle to make sure everything mixed properly together.

By the times she prepared all the tools on the main counter, neatly placed and ordered, the water was starting to boil and that meant that she could place the bamboo steamer with the wet rice inside, over the pot to steam cook, which was the best method to use to make the rice softer and more malleable. The first step was complete, the rice just needed ten or fifteen minutes to properly cook and as she was calculating the time to wait, a pleasant surprise appeared at the door.

“Welcome back!” she chirped as she greeted him with a smile, heading to help him over with the bags, while she already peeked inside, “You got a lot of ingredients, how nice!” she giggled, placing the bag on the counter, not so distant from the mallet. “I've put the rice to steam cook, in the meantime we can choose who’s gonna do what” she nodded as she placed herself near the wooden mortar, “You know better than  me that there are two roles and that I am happy to do whether you prefer” she lastly said, as she patiently waited from him to choose his role for now, perfectly aware of the fact that they could even change tools if they wanted.

What the princess describes is not that different from the task they do now. Yet, the very thought stings in a way that she presumes neither of them would have anticipated. He enjoyed it, she claims. Her father found the idea of taking care of something enjoyable?

So was it just taking care of Mitama that was the problem?

In all honesty, she does not really feel like naming the bird that has settled on her shoulder again. She would much rather take the information she has received today and go off to ponder what she thinks about it. The only thing that stops her is that she does not want to be rude to Lady Sakura, who does not deserve it simply for being the unknowing bearer of unwelcome news.

So, instead, Mitama forces up a laugh and puts down the last set of bowls before carefully and slowly raising up a hand to gently pat the bird. "I think you would likely be able to come up with something better than anything I suggest."

The name she suggested was actually pretty cute for a pigeon and even the little guy seemed to enjoyed it, as it chirped soon after it heard the name pronounced by the young girl. “I think that it likes it!” Sakura replied in excitement, wondering what she actually hid behind the meaning of that choice. “Is that a particular reason why you chose that name?” she was curious, but of course she didn’t want to prick too much in what it might be private for the pink-haired girl.

“And since we’re practically done here, I think that we can… perhaps schedule a routine for taking care of the hatchery, if you’d like?” she was hesitant, knowing that it might be a coincidence for the two of them to be here together, but in her heart, Sakura believed that Mitama enjoyed her time together with her and even if it wasn’t exactly an incredible task, it was easy and cozy, especially if you liked taking care of animals.

“Is everything alright??”  he asks, trying to be quiet. The way she got cut-off bothers him, but when it's her who can see his sight and not the other way around, he just has to trust on instinct and anything she's willing to relay.

“I don't know where you are now, but there was a sitting room I was in. If you didn't see it through the mirror when I entered it, it wasn't that far from where I left you. It's a dead-end room with only windows that lead out, but you're not going to use them.

“Check the plants in the room instead. There's one where when you step on the floor tile it's on, you'll get warped. That's how I got where I am now.”

Meanwhile, the sound of the door that had chased Sakura into the wardrobe stops rattling. A woman's voice can be heard on the other side, slightly muffled.

“No, not that room, dear. If you want to freshen up, then it's...”

Her voice recedes, two sets of footsteps following in her wake. Leif's voice comes through the mirror again:

Peeking from the thin closet crack, the petite priestess eventually noticed the couple leaving the room as they possibly realized it was a dead end room and as she heard the main door closing, she slowly opened a closet door to check if the outside was really free and out of danger: no sign of people, it was safe. She carefully placed a feet outside, then she left the wardrobe with a soft thud on the ground. Now that she was safely outside, she double checked the room and Leif’s voice echoed once again from the mirror in her apron.

You know magic, right?

A glimmer flashed through her mind and before she could answer him, she finally found the plants he had described earlier; they almost seemed fake, but the lush green of the leaves was deceiving. “Yes, I’ll check on them” she replied as she kept the mirror in her hands and then she walked towards the corner of the room where the plants were, already feeling a little dizzy and teased.

“I sense something…” she kept on talking, hoping to keep the connection with Leif alive this way and as she walked closer to the plants, she noticed a strange tile just beneath one of them, the very same tile Leif mentioned few moments ago. “I’ll take a look now” and saying so, the petite priestess put the mirror back in her apron and gently dragged the vase, discovering a smaller tile which unnaturally shone of a brilliant light. Curious yet careful, Sakura slowly press the tile with one of her feet and suddenly, a warp of Glitter and sparkles swirled all around her and before you know it, she found herself in another room, but finally she was no longer alone.

“Leif!!” she was so happy she couldn’t contain her voice, running towards him with open arms and joyous heart, “I’m so glad you’re okay” she chirped, bowing her head in sign of gratitude, “But…” she stopped for a moment, observing the surroundings, “Where are we now?” she looked perplexed, then returned her gaze on him. “And most importantly, have you discovered something useful here?”

His voice was so reassuring, she remembered it so clearly that it was impossible for the forget, not even in a million years: she was so deeply in love with him and aside the terrible happenings, she would always love her brother, no matter what.

She glanced at his suit, he was absolutely right. “We definitely matched even without knowing it beforehand!” she giggled, a soft breath of relief that everything seemed to be at their correct place: happiness, reunion, family, closeness, all words that echoed in her mind as she twirl to make him admire her dress –she was so proud of it!

Then her attention returned on the sweets. “Oh, I’d like to try the one topped with candied cherry, it seems so good!” she chirped and soon after, she found a rose in front of her nose. “It’s beautiful, but let me beutify this moment even more..” and she pulled an orchid from her bouquet, placing it in his wonderful band belt. “There, now we’re even more matchy!” she lastly giggled, ready to savour the delicious treat.

His gentleness was something that did not pass unobserved by Sakura, who immediately tried to help him out with the pieces of glasses, but of course the velocity and speed of reaction of the young man definitely outmatched the petite priestess, who simply put a forgiving smile as to show off how she truly felt. She was utterly used to help other and seeing how much care and attention he was putting into a mistake - that most possibly was caused by her – definitely made Sakura feel overwhelmed by emotions, positive emotions indeed.

After observing the arrival of another servant who happened to come to his aid, she noticed the hesitation of the young man, but eventually she welcomed him with a warm smile as he accepted her request and offered her a beautiful hyacinth to accompany her bouquet.

“I’ll be your lead, do not worry!” she enthusiastically replied as she took his hands with hers and began to move, slowly, following the rhythm of the melody as the music gentle caressed her memories back to when she was a little kid trying to learn each movement from her mother. It was like a lullaby, slow and sweet, taking her back to the night she heard it from the very first time.

“It is so beautiful, but what makes it like this, it’s both you and me, dancing at the same pace” she was daydreaming, remembering back the castle, the nobles, her family, her world. “Thanks for bringing me back to my past. It’s…nice, sometimes” she said it casually, almost aware of the fact he might not understand what she meant with that phrase, but a token of gratitude was an universal way to say thank you and to make it understandable for him as well.

The pleasant feeling Sakura felt every time she met him was somewhat indescribable: he was to her eyes a sturdy knight, a brave fighter and seeing him with such elegance and refined clothes certainly made the petite priestess stare in awe, also grateful for him for having let the sweet all for herself, even though Sakura wasn’t the type of person to not share a sweet.

“Oh, for me?” she said quite incredulous, but she kindly accepted the flower, adding it to her bouquet. “And you also leave the sweet... aren’t you the brave knight everyone wished to meet?” she giggled, softly embarrassed by the phrase she just said, but perhaps the bold colour of her dress gave her the courage to say so. “But I prefer sharing sweets and in this special occasion, also sharing flowers” she lastly said as she remove one of the orchids from the bouquet and gently tucked it jacket pocket.

?!!??!?!!?!?

what? nooooooo. nononono no. that's NOT what he meant!!! argh!!! ahhhh!!!!!! NO!!! NO!!!!!!

try as he may to keep from squirming, there's no helping the uncomfortable grimace that pulls back his lips, or the way in which his cheeks suddenly flush with a heat that travels to the tips of his ears. "uh, that's...! ahem." shiro coughs, but it's too late. the damage has been done. there's no salvaging this. he's already feeling plenty awkward. "idon'tevenknowher!"

strange, isn't it? that he can easily stomach teasing from friends—it's different with them! they know him well enough to realize when to back off, and know which lines can and can't be crossed. but family? (one he's still getting to know?) that's a different story altogether. so here lies the uncomfortable truth to be stomached: that even after the war, they're still strangers with things to learn about the other, and woe be the smallest misstep that might lend itself to a blunder.

(not to mention, he gets the sense that his aunt might actually be serious about this.)

what else to do, then, but to deviate? parry the blow as one does in combat? harmless momentum. subtle enough not to offend. it's worked for him before—surely it'll do the trick again. "haha. maybe later? i mean, we're still hanging out!" for some reason, he hasn't got the heart to tell her that he's flat-out not interested. "...and your dress! that's a SUPER nice dress you've got on, auntie sakura. y'know what'd really go with it?"

To be truth, it was also fair that they both didn’t know each other that much, war put them in a condition where anything that you could call ‘daily’ wasn’t actually daily anymore and despite all the good efforts she tried to put into regaining forces after all that happened, mayhap others were different from her, different from her character, different from her spirit. She was quite the type of person that ignored signals from other people, of course in a innocent way, as she actually was pretty empathic, on the other hand; yet, the relationship between she and her nephew was still on progress and who knows that her attitude was perhaps too much for a young coming from the deeprealms.

Lost in her own obliviousness and in Shiro’s chatters, Sakura suddenly felt surprised in hearing him complimenting her for an outfit she wasn’t that sure and confident about: it was a simple dress, but in some way different from her usual safe picks. And even more, he surprised her with a gift, a flower from his bouquet! A dainty smile tugged Sakura’s lips as she picked the tulip and add it to her bouquet, but after that, she immediately thought she should do the same for him, to help him getting a better chance on that girl.

[ PHOTO-ARTIFEX ] - The ever-popular photo-artifex makes its annual return, allowing users to capture pictures in as little as a flash of light and a moment. Take home something to remember the event by!

Sakura was used to see many beauties among the several participants at the ball, but this year, the petite priestess found herself in awe as soon as she set her goldenish eyes on Edelgard; the gown she chose was absolutely stunning, enchanting on her silhouette and the orchids she was holding definitely complete her look in a gracious way. she couldn’t help but stare in amazement and eventually, their gaze met.

Immediately, Sakura lowered her gaze in embarrassment, but picking all the courage she had, she went straight towards the girl with her bouquet held tightly in her hands, her face still facing the ground, but she timidly rose it as she reached her figure. Their eyes met again.

“You look truly beautiful, Miss Edelgard” she blurted, her voice trembled a little, but she observed the flowers in her hands, pleased to have the same bouquet as her. “And we share the same bouquet, how lucky I am!” she giggled, stiffness slightly leaving her side, then her glance took over a familiar artifex she used to admire in the past event.

“Shall we..take a remembrance of this moment, together?” her cheeks coloured in soft red hues, while her fingers nervously wrapped around the bouquet stems.

Edelgard took great care in the way her hair draped neatly away from her eyes; in the way her dress blossomed at her feet and the flowers adorning its top opened in full bloom. When Sakura approached her in her own crimson attire, she welcomed the conversation. Surprise soon turned into gratitude.

"O-Oh? Thank you, Lady Sakura. That's very kind to say. Your own dress is quite lovely. Its reds suits you well." Looking down at their matching bouquets of orchids, the warmth of petite laughter bubbled past her lips and slipped into the air. "Orchids have a nice charm to them, wouldn't you agree? Given our flowers are the same, offering one of my own may not seem like much. Despite that, I'd still like to. After all, it's one more flower than you had before. Besides.."

Much like the images produced by the photo-artifex, they are gifts. Noticing Sakura's hesitation, Edelgard took a step forward and wore a bout of confidence— Her lips upturned into kind agreeance as she used her free hand to extend it forward in offering.

“Even if they’re similar, each orchid is unique and giving one away is also a great meaning of beauty and compassion” she explained, trying her best to sound professional and elf-confident, despite the petite look, “That said, I would kindly accept your gift and I will offer one of mine to show you my immense gratitude” she bowed her head and as she rose, she to remove a flower from her bouquet, hand stretching out towards the beautiful girl to exchange the gifts.

“Perhaps this could be a good pose for the photo-artifex!” she pondered quickly, staring at the contraption in front of them, “While many advances await us and go further, we, on the other hand,  can still stop and enjoy this moment –together” she lingered a moment, stared into Edelgard’s gaze and eventually she turned to stare at the artifex, ready to pose.

“Whenever you want, I'm ready!”