Butterfly's wings;

> starter for @luneirika

This Academy is a strange place, Vanessa decides one day. Half the occupants disappear one day only to return a month later claiming they were sucked into a book. 

And now, the majority of them say they fought real battles with monsters in their dreams. Vanessa can’t bring herself to fully believe this latest occurrence. Where are their battle wounds? Why do some of the monastery staff not even remember enduring such a thing? 

She brushes it all aside, happy to focus on her own lessons during the unexpected quiet. Hard to make friendships when most everyone is off doing Fale knows what! 

Her brief respite ends, bringing with it a wave of students and staff returning to real life. Pegasus knight continues sticking with her routine--studying in the library after class, then dinner, followed by a nighttime flight with Titania--despite the influx of people. An opportunity will present itself when it’s good and ready; no need to upend her whole life for it. 

And in due course said opportunity arises. She’s returning to her dorm from the library when she spots Lady Eirika among the crowd. 

liegebound​:

   “ If you are certain, then allow me to be of help. ”  Kent nods, nary a complaint on his tongue from that point onward as he gives her a boost. When she tells him it shall be just a moment longer, he takes her at her word and dutifully remains strong, trusting in her and being more than willing to give her his patience.

It wouldn’t do to freak out or move too much, not when she is relying upon him for balance and height, and soon enough, their efforts are rewarded with success. The task is handled with efficiency and care, the arrow still in-tact despite how deeply and securely it had embedded itself, and though he makes no comment on it, he is glad for it nevertheless.

“ Right away. ”  At her directive, he lets her down, ensuring she finds her footing before stepping back and returning to a more appropriate distance for a conversation between strangers. Though they had successfully completed a task together and she had just offered her name, it would be deeply inappropriate to treat her otherwise.  

“ And my name is Kent. It is a pleasure to meet you as well! ”  A lack of an indoor voice seeps out as his greeting rings out, and he bows his head, hand clenched in a fist against where his heart lies. He is quickly back up again to standing tall.  “ I thank you for being willing to find a way to retrieve that arrow. I know many would have simply let it be.

“ If the idea is amenable to you, might I aid you in cleaning the rest of this section? I have finished fetching buckets for a while longer, and I think it a sorry state of affairs that you were left to clean up this area of the arena all alone… ”

Every other area had at least two people tending to it, after all. Perhaps this was just the fault of a chore not many were content to be saddled with though.

She blinks at the sudden change in volume, but does not falter. Shouting is often the only way to communicate in the skies, when words can easily be carried away by wind and wings. Odd that he’d loudly proclaim his greeting in such a fashion, but perhaps he’s used to speaking in such a way. He doesn’t strike her a wyvern rider; still, who is she to judge? 

Idle hands can’t remain that way for long. Vanessa reaches for a damp rag, mindful to avoid half-dried paint staining the cloth. “It was no trouble,” she replies, wringing out the excess water. His offer is not unwelcome. It would be nice to have some help. They might finish in time for her to take an evening flight on Titania. 

“If you’re willing, then yes, I am amenable.” Only then does she come to the same conclusion as him--nearly every other area had a team of people working to keep it clean. She hadn’t bothered asking anyone for fear of seeming needy, or bossy, or worse, them laughing at some private joke she’s never a part of. 

garden of hearts

Reason and Faith band together to put on this month’s special seminar: the history of tasseomancy! You will be learning the “magic” behind divination and how the old masters used the remains of tea leaves and coffee grounds to predict future events. Just in time for the moon of love, you will all be divining your romantic futures from a delicious cup of white rose tea. [Grants Reason or Faith +1]

The aroma of tea captures the soul, she thinks⁠— It’s one that runs through castle walls, inviting warmth to all who find themselves in its path. It brings peace. It is gentle. There is little else she can ask for. 

An entire seminar dedicated to such wondrous things stole her interest, for she did wonder what might present itself. She is already content with her love life, happily with someone she cherishes. Still, certainly there is more within that she can unearth. It isn’t as if Elice knows what the future might hold, after all.

Elice runs her finger atop the cup, tapping its handle as she eyes the white rose tea awaiting for her. The session, held in the monastery’s gardens, is decorated in a way that is sure to intrigue anyone who might have otherwise been wary. The white chair she sits in isn’t without company— A circular table holds enough tea for both herself and Vanessa. She will happily spend more time with any of her classmates, especially outside the normal classroom walls.

“This does look rather incredible,” she begins. “From the way this seminar was advertised, I find myself wondering why it isn’t offered more often..!” A laugh leaves the princess’s lips with a content smile. “Romance, they proposed.. Is there anything in particular you wish to see?”

@midoriwings

She never put much stock in things like magic or prophecy. Relying on immaterial methods when a perfectly real, practical solution lies within arm’s reach feels lazy. Like she’s taking the easy way out, and if she does that, then no one will respect her. 

And yet, her immunity to all the gossip bouncing off the monastery’s walls only lasts so long. Vanessa has exhausted every practical option she can think of--short of kicking down his door and confessing her feelings then and there. 

If her little crush never blooms into something more, she can at least content herself knowing she’s exhausted every option, no matter how logical or impractical. 

Vanessa sits stiffly in her own cushioned chair. Part of her wants to flee, pretend she didn’t slip into the garden at the last moment She may have, had one of her classmates not waved her over. 

“O-oh. Yes, they clearly spent a lot of time decorating.” Fingers wrap tightly around her teacup. Pale cheeks flush; admitting her secret out loud is far more difficult than she realized. 

(What would he say if he found out? Would he hate her?) 

salveden​:

A MENTAL FIST PUMP IS REWARDED at the sudden drop of realization in vanessa’s words.  new recruits.  field care.  midori had an idea of vanessa’s role in a possible war wherever her homeland was, but for these clues to reveal themselves causes pride to swell in her chest.  despite the strong feeling, she takes care to memorize the basics vanessa has familiarized herself with.  there’s a bit that she could elaborate on but saying it now might sound condescending.  so instead, midori nods and tilts her head to the side.  the silence that follows is not uncomfortable, per say, but it does tread the line of awkward.  midori stays silent though; vanessa had been the one to bring in the silence, it was hers to dispel.  though, of course, midori would help if needed, but for now, her companion seemed perfectly fine.

the thought of vanessa’s occupation comes back to priority in her head the moment that the question is heard. midori blinks, clueless only at first.   “   oh…  well…   ”   would it be too early in the friendship to drop a tragic memory into the conversation?  was this too casually?  would vanessa care?  midori sighs and averts her gaze to the ground,   “   it’s actually rather personal.  i think?  i’m not…   ”

she takes the moment to breathe; remind herself of her companion’s apparent and obvious compassion, before trying again in a more steady tone:   “   hmm, medicine was a common lesson taught in the village i grew up in.  it was a village of women and girls so the elders taught the girls medicine in hopes of us becoming trained nurses for the war.   ”   midori swallows, busies herself with uncurling the map from its rolled form, and continues,   “   a plague hit the village after i graduated from the beginning classes.  it struck the adults first and i… everyone lost friends to it.  i found a cure once i left the village but… the damage had already been done.  i left for good afterwards.   ”

they’re closer to the mouth of the forest now.  midori rolls up the map and steadies the weight of the travel case on her back.  sorrow is temporary, though, and little apothecary smiles up at vanessa with a newfound joy.   “   i joined the war to protect the people who can’t protect themselves.  heh, i think my teachers would be pretty proud of me, wouldn’t ya’ agree?  besides, now i’m the a well known prodigy and countries away learning more every day.  ‘m not famous or anything, but it somewhat counts.   ”

she stops at the entrance of the forest, twin ponytails of green locks swaying with the slightest cold breeze.  midori’s smile is still present when she turns fully to vanessa.   “   what about you?  i feel a bit, uh, embarrassed sharing all of that and continuing on without knowing much about you.   ”   little apothecary tilts her head,   “   you’re a war general, right?  or… were a war general.   ”

It’s actually personal. 

Feathers. Of course it’s personal—what was she thinking? There had to be a better way of asking, of getting to know Midori before casually dropping such a loaded question. Small wonder she’s so terrible at conversation. The finer points of society never made sense to her, all the rules about propriety and saying things without outright saying them. 

(She tried to learn. Etiquette books squirreled away in saddle bags, sticking close to him to learn how he spoke, sharp tongue and all.) 

Midori, thankfully, breaks Vanessa’s train of thought. Pegasus knight listens intently, though her eyes follow a butterfly lazily flapping about, its black wings adorned with vibrant red and white markings. 

A wave of sympathy washes over her. To witness such an awful event so young…they can’t be more than a handful of years apart. Vanessa can’t imagine shouldering such a burden while still fresh on the triumph of graduating training. “…I’m sorry for prying.” 

One hand waves as they enter the forest proper. Admittedly, she’s a little flattered at the title. War General. Perhaps one day. “Nothing like that,” Vanessa replies, relishing the cool shade offered by the trees. “A captain of Frelia’s Pegasus Knights. My sister’s the battalion commander. We did fight a war, though.” Her voice turns softer. “I do agree. You have to know what you’re fighting for—believe in it—to be an effective soldier.” 

Fame isn’t worth it. She keeps that particular thought to herself; Orson’s tragedy is a tale best left told by those who knew him best. 

liegebound​:

    Games to make combat exercises more palatable for those otherwise averse were always welcome, especially one such as this that clearly targeted multiple skillsets. Through this, not only will one’s aim be trained but so will their ability to dodge and identify their enemy even through low visibility conditions as would quickly arise from the mess of paint and arrows flying through the arena. The scarcity of one’s ammo taught resourcefulness and patience as well, management of one’s inventory always critical in war more than any other time…

…But with all of the fun done with, most of its players refused to rise up to also discipline themselves in having a sense of responsibility. They simply made their mess and expected others to clean up after them. Whilst it is true, the faculty and volunteers had gone on to do so as letting things be left as they were was an asinine thought, it was a course of action that greatly worried the cavalier even as he helped bring in more and more buckets of water for the cleaning crew, the sheer scale of the disaster left behind too much for anyone to handle without a steady supply.

“ Here you are, ”  he announces his presence to one of the nuns as he swaps out her orange-stained water for a fresh pail. He swaps out the one of the person next to her too, ready to bring these two back and exchange them again when he is stopped by a young woman— a volunteer, he presumes, based on the way the paint stains her hands.  

He follows her gesturing, spotting the arrow she had been cleaning around.  “ I see. That is one particularly tricky arrow… ”

Oh, how high up it was. Even though he has been told before that he is on the taller side himself, the arrow was still a good distance overhead of his own mop of hair. Not impossible to reach towards as he was, but still…

“ …Very well. So it must be done. ”

He goes over towards the wall, buckets still in hand before he sets them aside, next to her own, before he returns to directly beneath the problem arrow. He inspects it for a moment before reaching up, rising up off the soles of his feet to capture it, but the way it’s lodged proves to make it no simple endeavour even if he can grasp it.

“ …Well, it’s no poorly made arrow, of that I am certain. ”  He falls back flat onto his heels as he regards the arrow again.  “ It is firmly lodged in there, however. Applying more pressure could threaten to break it but would not solve the problem. It might be best to get towards it at a proper eye level then. ”

His gaze falls back on his newfound green-haired companion.

“ I can allow you to use my body as a stepstool, but if the idea discomforts you, making use of the buckets we have here is an option, though perhaps less sturdy. ”

She registers, somewhat unconsciously, that he’s a kindred spirit. Something in the cast of his mouth, the way his gaze analyzes the situation without so much as a flicker of annoyance. He’s responsible, like her, able to see what needs to be done and how to accomplish it. 

Vanessa shakes her head once, almost amused that he’d be so concerned over her discomfort. “I trust you more than I do these buckets,” comes her reply, throwing a dubious glance at the metal objects in question. Besides, they’d have to empty out the water before turning them over, resulting in more work in the long run. She’s never shirked from doing what needs to be done, despite the method required. 

At her assurance, Kent quickly bends his knees, fingers interlacing together to form a makeshift step stool. She eyes the arrow again, judging the distance before placing one boot atop his palms, her own hands coming rest on his shoulders. Gravity shifts as he hauls her upward, her other foot dangling off the ground. 

Waiting until he finds his balance, Vanessa settles into his hold, right hand gently lifting from his jacket. She reaches as far as she’s able, fingertips an inch or two shy of her goal even with the newfound height. Vanessa huffs, sending locks of hair fluttering. “Just a moment longer,” she murmurs, tip of her tongue poking out of her mouth in concentration. She rests both feet on his hands—she’ll apologize later, for causing any harm—and rises to her toes, fingers finally finding purchase against the cursed arrow. Muscles tense and she yanks with the strength borne from years of wielding a lance. The arrow comes free with a soft pop of still wet paint. Droplets land on her cheek, but she hardly flinches, too wrapped up in her petty victory. 

“You can set me down, now,” she says, pointing the arrow towards the stones below. Kent bends once more, helping her back onto solid stone. “Thank you.” Vanessa dumps the arrow into a nearby bucket of water, watching as a few pink bubbles rise to the surface. 

heavenlyknight​:

Initially, she had dismissed the talk of buried desert treasures as yet another joke that flew over her head. Sometimes—sometimes—she will admit that it stings being left out of the laughter and shared winks. Hearing everyone around her so casually talk of long lost jewels or magical boots makes her feel like she’s the only one not speaking the common language. 

As the days rolled on and her fellow students still whispered about more outlandish things, a stupid, incessant idea wiggled its way into her head. Could there be an item there that made her more beautiful? More capable? She wouldn’t seek out such an impossible item solely for him, of course. That would be impractical and selfish. 

Still. Maybe investigating would be worth it after all, if only so she can lay to rest the nagging feeling she’s missing part of the larger conversation. 

Decision made, Vanessa wasted no time following proper academy protocol. Students are strongly encouraged to be accompanied by a Serios Knight on away missions. Pegasus knight doubted she’ll encounter anything worse than a sunburn in the desert, but rules are rules. (And there is something to be said about being prepared.) 

She didn’t intend to approach one of the few Pegasus riders among the knights. A happy coincidence, she’ll later learn, though for now she approaches Erinys with a short dip of her chin. “Excuse me, Erinys? Do you have a moment? I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about the deserts in Sreng. I’d like to investigate them, and I need someone to accompany me.” 

“Hm?”

Pegasus knight turns, blinking at the younger girl. She has been a queen and a mother, but she will never quite shake the strange feeling that is being gazed upon as a superior. Her entire life had been spent looking up, so of course it would feel unnatural to do the opposite. 

“The rumors about… oh,” Erinys hums as the realization sets in, “yes, about the warrior. I would be happy to.”

Silesse’s frost will have left her ill prepared for a desert, but it isn’t like she could just say no. The girl before her may be a stranger, but if Erinys were to squint she might could mistake her for one of the late Queen Lahna’s knights or even her own daughter. It’s just the kind of resemblance that pulls on heartstrings, so she dips her chin in a final nod. 

“I will meet you in an hour, then, at the stables if you don’t mind.” A momentary pause. “I hope you aren’t opposed to traveling by pegasus.”

And Erinys is there as promised come time, armor donned and mount saddled. She smooths a gloved palm over her mare’s nose, smiling as Feathers pushes against her touch. One of her only remaining reminders of home here in Fodlan, for what kind of pegasus knight could abandon her best friend?

The sound of Vanessa’s approach turns both green and white heads alike, and greeting is offered in a fond wave.

“Are you ready, then? Through the skies it shouldn’t be all too long of a trip.”

One hour gives her plenty of time. Paring down her travel bag to only the strictest necessities is as natural as breathing—and she doubts they’ll need much more than water and light scarves to tie over their mouths while in the desert. She also includes an extra jar of the beeswax she uses to keep her lips from drying while in the air. 

Fingers flex as she slides on her glove, hurried steps echoing along the cobblestones. Vanessa dips her chin once. “I did not mean to be late. It won’t happen again.” Mentally she kicks herself; what a terrible start to their mission! 

Titania huffs in reply to the question, one hoof scraping against the floor in anticipation. A small smile graces Vanessa’s features. “Yes, I believe we’re quite ready.” 

——————————

Vanessa immediately decides she’s not cut out for desert life. Even flying among the clouds, the air feels too dry, too lifeless. She squints at the ground below, searching for an ideal place to land. 

“We need to land soon. Titania can’t fly for much longer.” Her pegasus’ sides heave, tips of her wings drooping. “Almost there, girl. Thank you,” knight murmurs, running a reassuring hand in the soft hair along Titania’s neck. 

A break in the clouds reveals a cluster of sand dunes. Relief floods through her. “There! We may be able to find some shade in the hills.” She glances over her shoulder at Erinys for confirmation, strands of green hair sticking to her face. 

Satisfied, Vanessa tugs on Titania’s reins, signaling for a decent. She swears she hears a thankful sigh coming from her mount, though it could also be the wind whistling in her ears. Titania rides the currents in lazy circles, wings idly flapping until she finds a spot to land. Puffs of sand cloud around her hooves, and Vanessa makes a note to give Titania a well-deserved bath upon their return to the monastery. 

Pegasus knight dismounts, wiping sweat off her forehead with the back of a glove. She digs around the saddlebag for a waterskin, offering it to her beloved pegasus, who drinks greedily. 

> starter for: @liegebound

There’s a new recreational game taking Fodlan by storm! Originally meant to help improve children’s aiming skills in a safe but realistic recreation of a battle, the game of Paint Bolts has found a surprisingly large following among others of all age groups. To play, you just need a bow and at least one opponent. Everyone is given two things: a quiver of arrows/bolts tipped with a plump, soft cloth that has been dipped in its own unique color, and a clean set of white clothes. Your goal is to navigate the playing field shooting as many others as possible with your colored arrows. Extra points are awarded for hitting areas that would be strikes to the vitals with real arrows, but the biggest priority is getting your color all over the other players while keeping your own clothes clean. The more colorful your opponent and cleaner you are, the better chance you have of winning. Just remember you have a limited set of arrows/bolts, so you better make each one count. No hits, even if your clothes are still stark white, is still a score of 0!

Paint drips along the wall from an errant bolt stuck between a crack in the stones. An incredibly lucky shot, no matter the intended target. 

Vanessa stares at the bright pink trail, unimpressed. Whoever thought of this game clearly didn’t bother thinking about how much cleanup it involves. Beleaguered faculty—some with wayward splotches of paint on their clothes—had kindly but firmly asked for volunteers to help aid the cleaning effort. She hadn’t thought twice about setting aside her book in favor of spending the rest of her afternoon hunched over a bucket of soapy water. 

She plops said bucket at her feet, claiming this stretch of wall as her own. A few other students and faculty have done the same, quietly ridding their sections of all Paint Bolt evidence. Water quickly soaks through her rag, and then she’s applying it to the offensively pink streak with ruthless efficiency. 

Cleaning, she’d learned some years ago, was a task she enjoyed. Putting things back in order made her feel accomplished, even if others deemed her strange for thinking so. 

Tiny droplets of paint litter her hands by the time she’s done. The rag falls back into the bucket, water turning that garish pink. All that’s left is to dislodge the arrow a good arm’s length above her head. 

She should have thought to bring a step stool. 

Midsommer 2022

For her next letter home, she should include a pressed flower or two. Prove to her family she's truly enjoying herself in this new land.

"Hm?"

The other woman is vaguely familiar; Vanessa recalls seeing her around the Knight's hall. "Oh, thank you." She accepts the flower crown, gently placing it atop her head.

"Ah, Vanessa! There you are!

What do you think of this? I wish to teach little Aegir of the benefits of meditation, and felt like this small pillow was an excellent way of getting him started. He can practice with it until he grows old enough to kneel on the floor.

I've seen many aggressive and disorderly wyverns in my day, so my hope is that he can become disciplined as he matures."

Midsommer 2022 (still accepting!)

"Oh, Prince Ryoma! I was on my way to find you."

Vanessa adjusts her grip on the bundle in her arms, metal buckles clinking softly together. She never expected to care for a wyvern, of all creatures, but little Aegir proves to be the (grumpy) exception.

"...Meditation?" Green eyes blink once, then twice. "You want to teach a wyvern how to meditate?" She knows the creatures are incredibly intelligent, able to understand more than simple one word commands, but this seems a little...much.

She studies Ryoma a moment longer, trying to determine if this is a joke flying right over her head. He appears completely serious. Optimistic, actually, that this plan will go exactly how he envisions it.

"It appears we had similar ideas. I found a training saddle for him. The merchant showed me how to lengthen the straps to accommodate Aegir's growth spurts."

The festivities were all around the main area and as Sakura paced into the crowd, she soon found herself in the middle of food and beverage of any kind, almost as if she was dragged into it: walking back and forth, she eventually ended up bumping into what she thought it was a stall –but instead was a person.

!!

The aforementioned person just dropped all the food on the floor. What a tragicomic imagine.

“I’m so sorry!!” she immediately stooped to the ground, trying to clear out the mess she made. “Please, let me repay everything!”

Midsommer 2022 (still accepting!)

Vanessa keeps to herself as she takes in the festivities. Her little plush pegasus--Anja--remains in hand, a quiet companion to share her experience with.

A growling stomach soon draws her away from the main attractions. She's never been able to turn down good food, and the monastery clearly prides itself on keeping its students and staff well fed.

She tucks Anja into a jacket pocket, holding far more food than she probably needs. Can she be blamed for wanting to try everything?

The beef skewer never makes it past her lips.

Boots fight for balance, arms dropping her feast in an attempt to steady the other girl. She drops to the ground, dirt probably soiling the knees of her robe.

salveden​:

AT THAT MOMENT, WITHIN THE INFIRMARY’S WALLS, midori had frowned at vanessa’s inquiry.  not in distaste and never in annoyance, but something so obvious in her tone must have had an underlying meaning.  was she suggesting to join her on the trip?  or was she just being concerned for a fellow student of the monastery?  midori glanced up from the crate of packages, her hands dirty with blotches of ink and dust.

“   oh… well,   ”   she remembers looking away, face alight with heat at the reminder of the academy’s ruling; she had almost forgotten that she was a student here, not a soldier-healer.  silence fills the space of her throat until finally, she said,    “   i usually go alone on these forages anyway.  company can sometimes be a distraction.   ”   which, while true, was never a reason she left others behind on foraging trips.  having someone beside her made her feel better; someone she could relay information too, someone to protect and inform and be near.  still, she learned solitude at a young age, and even now, it would never leave her entirely.

midori shook her head with a sigh and continued folding containers of substances neatly beneath torn, yet thick cloths.  vanessa didn’t say anything else until midori was done with her clean-up and had half the intention to leave the infirmary tent, sure that there are other crates to organize and restock.  then, it had been a possibility: the thought of an invitation.

so today, when midori sees vanessa by the gates of the monastery, satchel held in careful hands and determination set pretty in her expression, the apothecary quickens her step in delighted excitement.  from what she knows, vanessa was also a soldier in war, maybe of a higher position in rank though.  this much is proved somewhat accurate when vanessa immediately readies herself at the sight of midori approaching.

“   hi!  good morning!   ”   apothecary says with a smile; a nod is given to vanessa’s later statement.   “   even if we don’t find anything today, we still have tomorrow to try again.   ”   a lesson taught by her caretaker first, herself second, and her father third.  midori still wears a small remnant of her smile when she pulls out a hand-drawn map, with scraps of paper pinned to the parchment, all with the neat handwriting of a scholar.  she steps closer to vanessa and begins to point out the route:

“   we’ll go along the path i made two days ago, seeing as though the pathway might be inaccurate if we waited a day or two more.  from the mouth of the woods, we’ll take constant detours and only go back if we don’t find enough to report about.  for today, i’ll only take notes on the surrounding flora.  tomorrow, i’ll write reports on fauna and rework the maps that night.   ”

and with that, midori rolls the map up and descends the slight hill outside of the gates, beckoning vanessa with a wave.   “   it’ll take a few minutes to get there so,   ”   pale brown eyes narrow when she smiles, now,   “   what’s your basic knowledge on flora?  i don’t want to assume how much you know from appearances alone.  besides, in order to be a good teacher, one must know a pupil’s current mind!   ”

had they even agreed to discuss learning habits during the trip?  midori didn’t remember and lowkey, didn’t care enough to try and remember.  to have company on a trip meant conversation, and midori never distracted herself with off-the-topic questions when formulating plans silently.   (   no matter how busy, kaze had made time for these discussions, too.  once, he had said that talking to you on these trips was like speaking to another him, a younger him.  you didn’t believe him and frankly, still don’t, but the thought is a nice one.  maybe you will think the same of vanessa.  some day.   )

your turn ! say ‘aah’ , @midoriwings​ !!

Vanessa returns the smile, suitably impressed with Midori’s easy confidence. She listens without interrupting, head tilted as she looks at the hand-crafted map. Careful notes cover the parchment. Far more than she realized goes into foraging—not that she assumed it an easy job, by any stretch. 

Satchel bangs against her hip as they walk. Midori certainly came prepared, judging by her oversized bag. Vanessa thinks she even hears glass clicking softly inside. Jars, most likely, for whatever they find out there. 

She sidesteps a fallen branch while considering what she knows. “I do know some of the most common poisonous plants to avoid. I also know the most basic of field care. Moss for bleeding, aloe for burns. Ginger or mint are often used with new recruits who aren’t used to flying at high altitudes yet.” 

Travel conversation is not something she’s good at. The skies are not conducive for idle chatter. Either the wind or the wingbeats of pegasi drown out unnecessary words; Vanessa considers this another part of their lesson. She’s got to talk to make friends. 

cleversteel​:

A village missing a whole bunch of its kids…

It was so weird. (And all because of some ‘unicorn’?) Colm had to see it himself!

So…. when those Knights of Seiros guys went over to the village to investigate, he decided to tag along! From a distance. In his old gear. So he could run faster.

Okay, so he heard the name of the place and ran ahead. Same thing.

And yet, even as he watched with his incredible eyes, he wasn’t really sure what was going on. One day, there were kids. The next? Gone.

Rinse and repeat.

Then the knights arrived not too long after, and he realized he had to be a bit more cautious of whatever he was impulsively stealing. He’d never take from the kids (or their parents. They all looked too sad), but if a traveler was passing through and happened to have some pretty nice stuff…

And would you look at that! There seemed to be a merchant of sorts in the area (that was good news for folks like Colm), and it didn’t look like he’d been noticed…

He ducks past a couple of villagers, eyeing up the prize as he weaves his way towards the stash. A good distance away though (a distance that doesn’t suggest anything suspicious), he stops, hearing someone approach.

This is where you find a place to hide!

“Oh! Vanessa!” He tries to hide his sigh of relief when he sees it’s someone he knows. He wasn’t really close to the flier, but he knew her well enough to know that she knew that he wasn’t some awful villain or anything! (There’s no way she’s onto me.) “Didn’t expect to see you here!”

‘Here to help as well?’

Oh! So Vanessa came along with the Knights of Seiros! (That made a lot of sense.) If Colm remembered correctly, she used to be a knight in Frelia’s army before she joined Princess Eirika. In that case, it’s no wonder she’s a knight here in Fódlan, too!

“Of course!” he exclaims, laughing off any tension that might still be in him. “And I’m assuming you’re here with the knights?”

“I personally haven’t gotten any leads myself, but I know Frelia’s got a pretty good spy network. The prince led that, and you were pretty close to him, right?” It was something like that, at least. “When you do all that flying on your pegasus, it wouldn’t surprise me if you were used to seeing things from a different perspective!”

“Neither did I,” she replies, attention half on Colm. Plenty of villagers mill around, either out of curiosity or desperation for their help. It’s a long shot, but she wonders if one of the many anonymous faces hide a darker secret. 

Everything else he said is forgotten at the mention of her prince. Not her prince, really, but Frelia’s and she’s a Frelian so technically—

“Close? Well, I wouldn’t ever claim that, although I hope I served him well.” Vanessa bites her bottom lip. Of course she wishes they were close—but there are rules and protocols and he’s the prince. Are her cheeks turning red? Probably. One hand lightly presses to her right cheek, like she’s scratching an invisible itch. Yep, her skin feels warm. Just great. How did Colm know about all of that? Or was it just a lucky guess that she’s even dared to dream about joining Prince Innes’ spy network? 

She clears her throat. “Ahem. You do see more from the air than from the ground. But you see things from a different perspective, too, don’t you? Thieving has its own advantages.” There’s no trace of accusation or disgust in her tone. Vanessa’s all business, as usual, especially as she wills the blush on her face to fade. 

“Do these disappearances strike you as a ring of rouges? We can ask some of the villagers for their opinions.” Vanessa tilts her head in thought. “The Knights have divided us all into groups to cover the entire town. I’m sure they won’t mind an extra pair of hands.” 

>starter for: @heavenlyknight

Rumors of treasure in the deserts of Sreng have been spreading like wildfire in the Officer’s Academy recently, and it isn’t hard to imagine why. Every time the desert is brought up, more and more goodies are rumored to lie beneath the sands. Some claim that you could find mighty weapons from years ago, somehow perfectly preserved. One young student seems to think that there is a mysterious warrior with a “cool helmet” who would duel anyone who dares to disturb his home among the dusty ruins. Even the faculty have joined in on the speculation, eager at the possibility of uncovering supposed relics like “shoes that make you walk faster.” Either as a result of being enticed by the potential for treasure or out of eagerness to prove that the desert is indeed “deserted”, you decide to journey forth into the unknown. At the very least, the harsh conditions in the region should make for good exercise. [Grants Heavy Armor +1]

Initially, she had dismissed the talk of buried desert treasures as yet another joke that flew over her head. Sometimes—sometimes—she will admit that it stings being left out of the laughter and shared winks. Hearing everyone around her so casually talk of long lost jewels or magical boots makes her feel like she’s the only one not speaking the common language. 

As the days rolled on and her fellow students still whispered about more outlandish things, a stupid, incessant idea wiggled its way into her head. Could there be an item there that made her more beautiful? More capable? She wouldn’t seek out such an impossible item solely for him, of course. That would be impractical and selfish. 

Still. Maybe investigating would be worth it after all, if only so she can lay to rest the nagging feeling she’s missing part of the larger conversation. 

Decision made, Vanessa wasted no time following proper academy protocol. Students are strongly encouraged to be accompanied by a Serios Knight on away missions. Pegasus knight doubted she’ll encounter anything worse than a sunburn in the desert, but rules are rules. (And there is something to be said about being prepared.) 

cynthero​:

she can’t help but beam with excitement. this was her time to prove herself! for real, it was her chance to prove that she could behave herself and be helpful. there’s not even an ounce of hesitation in vanessa’s voice. she just asked her! to help! without first telling her to be careful or avoid tripping or not burn anything … it was just a question! a simple ask for a bowl and that was easy enough. that was something that cynthia could do with her eyes closed, though she doesn’t think she will try to do that this time ‘cause that’s reckless.

and cynthia is an adult now, so she doesn’t pull stupid stunts like that.

oh, she didn’t even realize that she’d spaced out. “oh, got it!” she grins, lightly jabbing the other girl in the side. she saw that little look! ah, young love—it’s too early for her to pry or offer her own expert tutelage. she’d learned from the best and celica was well on her way to getting married. or, well. actually, maybe she was already married. she’d forgotten to ask, but she really should check in next time that she saw her or her fiance. scurrying off, cynthia opens and closes a handful of the bottommost cabinets and finds nothing before her attention eventually shifts up higher. “now, why would they do that?”

heh, probably to keep it out of the children’s hands.

and she, was not a child anymore.

heh.

clambering up onto one counter, cynthia produces a large mixing bowl from one of the higher shelves. “and vanessa said she needed water, sugar and yeast, bup, bup, buhhhhh! where is that, oh, here—” plates and dishes clatter. “water, check! flour! check! yeast, why do you get yeast? haha, because it rhymes … get it, it rhymes with feast and that’s what a pizza is!” a pause. “i think.” she doesn’t actually know what a pizza is. strolling up back to the other pegasus knight, she hands off the bowl with all the ingredients in tow. the bag of flour and the little jar of yeast are floating in the water, though.

“tah dah! what’s next?”

She ignores the jab to her side—that’s playful, right? What people do when they’re teasing someone else? Muscles tense regardless, body prepping for an attack out of instinct. By the gods, she needs to relax. 

Inhaling deeply through her nose, followed by a slow exhale, Vanessa loosens up enough to return her attention to the cookbook. Next to the pizza dough recipe is one for sauce. She makes a mental list of ingredients before heading towards the food storage. 

“Tomatoes, onions, garlic, salt, oregano…,” she mutters, rifling through the rapidly depleted stock of tomatoes. The kitchen must not have anticipated such an eagerness for this new dish. Should she ask to help gather more after she’s completed her task? It’s only right to replace what she’s used. In that case, picking herbs from the garden would also be a good idea. Satisfied with her decision, she finds the rest of her sauce makings, returning to their cooking station mere seconds before Cynthia arrives. 

A brief pause passes. “Cynthia,” Vanessa states calmly, trying incredibly hard not to stare in disbelief. “Why are both the flour and yeast in the water bowl?” Already, the edges of the packages are starting to shred, bits of paper starting to dot the water. 

How wasteful… 

Depositing her own ingredients onto the counter, she firmly yet kindly takes the ruined bowl from Cynthia’s arms. “Let’s have you chop some tomatoes for now.” Vanessa starts to walk away, then stops, back still facing Cynthia. Green-haired knight shakes her head once and continues walking, passing the flour/yeast/water mixture to a passing dishwasher.