#alliberacio

His javeling took down a rose haired Eagle before his own downfall by a purple haired one. It had been an entertaining fight that she was sure of, her lungs that had been cheering his name alongside many others were proof of that.

A smile on her face as she continued. "I truly believed you would make it, a shame that wasn't the case! Still you did a wonderful job out there." It made her wonder how it would have been to experience it as one of his team members rather than someone cheering for a friend, perhaps it would have felt like old times that had never happened in the first place. "Next time you will do even better, i'm sure of it."

Despite the encouraging words she lifted a pinky towards him.

"If next time i join i would love to fight by your side and if not i'll keep on cheering for you." The Divine Dragon began the search of a promise for a year ahead. "Why don't we promise that we will work hard for next time, together? Do you like the sound of that?"

Bitten by defeat and yet soothed by the inspiriting knowledge that his allies would move on, such is the dichotomy of a loss that is not unwelcome. The way of the Hero-King where every sacrifice of his own is worth the pangs for someone else. That Ephraim and Yuri have proceeded to the next stage, their progression alone instills value in moment otherwise devoid of triumph. Marth's own place for now consigns itself humbly to the medical tents - and to the receiving end of a most pleasant visitor.

"Ah, Alear, not at all, the healers here are exceptionally talented. Within mere hours of admission I have felt rapidly improved." He smiles appreciatively at the girl, agreeable and serene with hands in his lap, nursing a juice box conveyed to him by a helpful young man. A taste as sweet as last year's one could easily note; the reparations for the injured and bed-bound were certainly never spared in quality.

Another sip, another quiet ear lent to the optimistic Elyosian woman. He is in good hands, not singly for the medics that have restored him from his wounds, but the pleasant conversation afterward that allows for the mind to linger on less heavy affairs. Distraction, after all, is but another facilitation and form of healing.

Upon his swallow, he divulges the words on his mind. "I appreciate your kind words. Though I would find it shameful to lose in a true battle, this one is curiously different. Every year of the Battle of Eagle and Lion brings with it cherished memories."

The reunion with Sara, the stalwart front raised alongside two allies, new faces encountered from nothing, all were worth the highest regard and distanced themselves from the shame. A mystery, but one that has been produced time and time again for those entered into this annual ceremony - both the losers and winners to come out of it. Naturally, it is an experience he would wish for the other monarch as well. But first he stirs.

"Rafal!" Divinity chirped as she cut their distance short. From a distance she could only see when a blow landed or seemed to, but the bandages on him said enough of the possible ache they caused.

Still, she wasn't here to remind him of bruises gained.

"Seeing you fight was exciting, i couldn't help but cheer for you." She admitted. Although he was a Black Eagle she cheered for him all the same, her house winning would of course be great but she preferred supporting her friends first. Clapping as if to tell she was proud of him, Alear kept on her rambles. "You did great! Next time i'm sure you will win and i will keep on cheering for you."

There was something she wanted to ask him, although it was simple the question was an important one.

"But i'm curious. Did you enjoy yourself?"

The Fell Heir's first showing on this field had been disastrous; an utter debacle in the eyes of anyone to honor it with attention, but particularly to Rafal himself. He brooded and paced, repelling the healers with or without intention, like approaching the dragon were no less than prodding a panther impounded in a cage. Dark eyes fended off every individual save for the impervious Divine One, proven time and time again to care little for the appearances Rafal put on display. Or, in this case, truly meant.

A sharp heel turned on her, his expression remaining sour but lightening - a fact only barely perceptible. "Spare me the pleasantries, Divine One, there is no need to coat your words. This day has not seen me even remotely at my best." After all, for her brother's absence Nel would now face her opponents alone. She would advance to the higher tiers of this competition without him.

There was nothing so noteworthy about his comparative tenure out in the medical tents, in these chaste civilian hubs barren of conflict and glory. By such a turn of events he had honored neither his twin nor himself, marking the outcome unsatisfactory on two fronts. Even so, Rafal knew he could burn brighter; Rafal could show himself stronger; he was capable of more.

One hand solidified into a fist before his swollen face, a bruised and battered countenance somewhat paled of its usual intimidating mien; the menacing baritone, however, was all but perfectly preserved. "Next time, I will excise any trace of this year's failure. Anyone who stands as my foe shall be crushed without mercy."

Lost in his triumphal thoughts of conviction and blood lust and yearning, her sudden inquiry inserted a pause between them. Did he enjoy it? What a simple question matched with an even simpler answer. Others may attempt to paint over their process of thought with delusions, finding value in valueless things through puerile veneers that dressed up reality; those spelling false enjoyment in defeat on the basis of teamwork and bonds forged.

"What are you reading?" A friendly smile asked while taking a seat next to him.

for the first time since he had entered this large hall full of delight and entertainment abound, someone had approached him. a brief bout of shock hit him, eyes not quite ready to leave the pages of his book to confirm reality. it only takes a few seconds to recover, purple meeting a mix of blue and red in a quick instant. a serene smile that seemed to ease the tension in his shoulders just because it was directed at him.

in so many words, his mind thinks up one statement for the girl before him. "wow, you sure are pretty, miss-" just as it's provided, the lad states it out loud, something like being awestruck. the gears in his mind ever so slowly coming to a halt realizing he had said that directly to this strangers face. "i- i mean. nothing interesting, really. it's a book that details different kinds of dances and steps, where they came from and why they're performed. i'm not a very good dancer but i wanted to at least have the basics down in case i wanted to join in. it's actually a pretty interesting topic of study, i had no idea dances held so much meaning behind them. like for example, the waltz everyone is performing today was invented in-"

oh. there he went again... rambling.

"sorry, i got a little carried away." with a sense of finality, morgan closed the book that had been left open. placing it gently to his side, he rummaged in his pockets for several moments, keeping silent. finally producing what he had been looking for, a brooch given to him by a guard. "i'm sure you were looking for something like this. i'm happy to exchange them if that's the case, but... i really should get back to my book, sorry." feelings of embarrassment bubbled inside him, the whole situation had left his control from the beginning. yikes.

I imagine you've heard every compliment there is... pardon me, Divine One, but sometimes I forget that you're the Divine Dragon Monarch, Queen Lumera's successor. You're down to earth and funny, and you have a giving heart despite everything you've gone through, I end up forgetting myself and thinking of you as a friend.

"I saw you standing here and since i had a paper and pencils in hand, i decided to take some time to drawing you." Her style was far from the real Nanna, but Alear thought she captured her likeness in a way, both were very cute. "Like always, you're very fun to draw." She smiled.

Delight danced in her eyes, as she took the portrait in her hand with a soft coo. Her likeliness was there, was it not? Down to the soft feather and green irises. Resting her hand on her cheek, she lingered a little longer in the feeling that swelled from within—all but tinting her with unadulterated affection. "...How darling! You have no idea how much I treasure each one of these pieces of yours."

"Did you know? I keep these drawings pinned to the wall to cheer me on. It reminds me that there are people like you, Alear, looking out for me..."

"...Taking your time to see me." She added a second beat, gently. Enough to hear a soft jingling of bells in her ears.

She tipped the parchment thoughtfully, tapping it faintly against her lips for good luck.

"Thank you."

Reds, yellows, blue— The colorful assortment of flowers in Céline's grasp is certain to liven up any room. Her strides quicken the closer she gets towards Alfred's door, peering up and down before entering. The doorknob turns akin to a weight pressing against her shoulders, both pushing her along and urging her to remain aware.

When she walks in, her first instinct is not to place down the flowers or waltz over towards the windows slightly veiled by golden curtains— No, it is to see her brother. The setting sun's rays reach his face, casting a warming shadow in an otherwise lonesome feeling space.

A breath. Then, she places down the flowers on a table alongside Alfred. Their scent envelopes the room as if they had always belonged there. He's begun to wear a smile these days that she is becoming so familiar with— One intended to wash away her worries. She knows this, wishing she could match it with her own. Céline cannot bring herself to vanquish the concern and knowledge placing itself on her heart.

She gently grabs his hand, placing her other one atop it: "Hello, Alfred. How are you faring? Mother and I chose these flowers for you. I hope you don't mind. I deemed it best I bring them now— While they are fresh and vibrant." Certainly it is not an issue, if the expression he shows to her and words of enthusiasm following speak for themselves.

Despite the blankets at his side while she remains elevated, the strained words arise with gratitude. Can she accept it so humbly? There are hours it feels as if she is on a boat at the nearest port, drifting away as she pulls at its anchor. She does not know when exactly she has become so scared of having happiness of her own. Or, rather, of questioning what it really means.

@alliberacio | when he was a child, he imagined what the divine dragons looked like. what they would be like, if he were to have the good fortune to meet them in his lifetime. the old scriptures described them as benevolent beings, though ones of great power and grace. they held powers unimaginable and, still, did not bear their teeth at those that did not deserve it. there was no finer example of this than queen lumera, who alongside her child, deftly dispatched the fell dragon that threatened the peace of elyos. pandreo never got the chance to meet her.

but, he did get to meet her child.

she wasn't—isn't, what he expects.

she looks human when they meet. normal, if you ignored the hair. a fun surprise that fogado elected to spring on him as if the person who stood before him in the sweltering heat of their queendom wasn't someone he'd spent most of his life hearing about only in stories and pulpit-thumping speeches. everything else that follows, though, makes her exactly the person he and his flock had waited for. it's an odd thing, being friends with a god. his god. pandreo might've had an easier time of it treating the fell dragon like his best friend after everything was said and done.

he—still doesn't really know how to talk to her. and, it wasn't really her fault or anything. it's just that he didn't know how to talk to her in a way that was supposed to come across as casual. every conversation to date, he'd tried to take a more formal tone. it wasn't like he could just stride on up to her and be like ' hey, how's it going, divine one? ' laidback as he might've been about a lot of other things, this was just the one thing that pandreo couldn't let go of.

"hey, divine one! we've got to stop running into each other like this!" he says, laughing entirely too loudly for it to sound natural. "no; i can't say something like that. it's disrespectful, but i can't ..." be too formal either at the risk of making things, well. awkward. they were friends, right? comrades in arms, and whatever? hands drag down his face. "don't howl; you can't howl—"

it's only as he's turning around that he realizes she was there at all.

@alliberacio

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   The carts were stationed in a perfect row before him, each holding a variety of flowers with their own vibrant colors. Each new flower piqued his interest with their magical colors and unique shapes. These were far from what he had seem from Magvel, a thought that brought a bout of homesickness. It was a long shot by far, but if he continued to the end, he might find a flower that reminded him of home. It was interesting to see what his home lacked, no doubt, but he couldn’t help but search for pieces of the kingdom he had to leave.

   Besides, the only reason he was partaking in such a frilly activity was to honor a tradition he hadn’t been able to keep up in many years. As he peered through the flowers, Ephraim thought back to those days that were so far away now. Back when He, Eirika, and Lyon would evade the watchful eyes of Seth to go to their special place. A meadow with flowers as far as the eye could see. They would spend hours there, making flower crowns for each other and talking of what they would do when they grew up. He hadn’t thought about those memories in so many years, he taken them for granted, like he always did. Now though... He would not be so selfish, he would make the best flower arrangement in their name. That is when a certain flower found his eye, a small blue flower with a golden center, ones just like back home. He began to quicken his pace towards the cart, he needed to get those flowers.