LIONHEARTED.

" time ? " he repeats and looks around for an opening, hoping to gauge the hour from the light on the horizon. halfway towards a shabby-looking window, someone among the lupo pipes out a quarter past six.

richard stops, glances back over his shoulder at the crowd, then turns to gauge Indigo's opinion. is it too late ? the last rays of the sun can still be seen.

" if only i were familiar with this city, i'd have them delivered on your behalf…" especially while a thrum of energy mixes in with the need to dash about runs through him. it would kill two birds with one stone. yet, no summoning comes complete with a mental map of its location.

" what will you do, indigo? i'll assist you in any way i can."

        “No way, she’s waking up?” — “Already? That’s too soon! I’m not done!”

But Indigo stirs back to consciousness regardless, the world first blurry before it steadily comes into focus as she slowly opens her eyes. Above her, one of the behatted Lupos hovers with bandages destined for her gently throbbing forehead. It’s probably a bad idea, but Indigo pulls herself upright—or tries to, as a wave of dizziness almost turns the world black again.

        “Hey, hold still there, will ya?” the medicalupo says, and he pushes Indigo back onto the couch that serves as a makeshift sickbed. The “explosive sounds” of Emperor’s new single spill into the room from somewhere nearby. Does that mean one of the packages has found its rightful owner already?

        ‘ Why… what happened? ’  Indigo asks while the “medic” plasters more and more bandages and bandaids on her forehead. Somehow, this doesn’t strike her as quite a normal procedure. Or as if that person knows what they’re doing. Then again, she’s not a medical operator, either, so this might just be beyond her expertise.

        “Look, missy.” It’s a familiar voice from somewhere nearby. Is it that Luigi-guy? “You got hit by a stray arrow before. Total accident, I swear!”

        “Well, not really—” medicalupo interjects before Luigi shushes him into silence.

        “Anyway, we didn’t know you were just delivering the new LP, okay? It was all a misunderstanding. So can you… calm down your friend? He’s, uh…”

        ‘ Ah, Saber! ’  Indigo sits up once more, a little wobbly under the weight of too many bandaids to count. Fortunately, she doesn’t have to search the entire place (some kind of hideout from the looks of it) to find him, as he’s hovering nearby. Luigi seems a little nervous next to him, but no one seems to be hurt.

        ‘ Are you alright? ’  With a nasty sound, a mini-mountain of bandaids detaches itself from Indigo’s forehead and lands in her lap.

ONCE HE WAS CERTAIN indigo would be attended to, richard could only wait——wait and converse with his retinue in a vantage spot to give the medics their space.  yet, what would otherwise have depicted an image of someone waiting out the procedure was instantaneously betrayed by how his eyes flashed whenever he caught a drifting gaze.

but, finally, the anticipation comes to an end.

❛   indigo ?  ❜    richard questions as he cuts between the gathered lupos, stopping short at the edge of the couch.  brows furrow at how the bandaids suddenly call quits and free themselves from their job.    ❛  that is something i should be asking you—are you well ? ❜

his attention zeroes in upon the wound marring indigo’s forehead, still ruddy and fresh—his lips purse, clearly unimpressed.  but there are natural signs of improvement, which suffices as one step forward, and spares the rest of the mafia another sharp look.  

it remains strange—concerning—that there are no potent salves or healing elixirs in this land.  the dabbing of a witch’s potion or a few enchanted words would have solved this in the blink of an eye.  richard sighs, pressing more essential matters.

❛  no, first, We must apologize.  ❜    he immediately bows in indigo’s direction, ignoring how the others jump back, somewhat confused by the term used.  they had already done their side of explaining !  someone behind saber, unsure of what transpires, also happens to bow.    ❛  as a knight bound by honor, i am deeply ashamed for the injury Our negligence had caused.   ❜

Perhaps Indigo’s worries had been unfounded. The bolts and arrows hiss with quiet ferocity towards their target, but where they should strike and burrow into armour or flesh, they merely ricochet and uselessly clatter to the ground, before a wall of water repels their reinforcements. A strong defence matched by protective Arts the likes only an elite operator would wield — how come no one aboard Rhodes Island ever mentioned Saber before?

        ‘ Eh? Uhm, servant? ’  It must be what they call operators in his branch office, though it certainly is an odd choice. Unfortunately, this is hardly the place to discuss the differences between the various branches.  ‘ Why, yes, these are my Arts, although I didn’t mean to use them like this— ’

        “ Cut it out then! ” Another voice chimes in, originating right next to Indigo and Saber, where the man called Luigi remains frozen in place, involuntarily holding on to the boxes still awaiting delivery. “ I don’t wanna be here when those things go off! Nevermind what the boss says, we’ve all been sticking to the Rat King’s rules! There’s no need to blow us up, you hear me?! ”

        ‘ Ah. Why, this is all a misunderstanding! These aren’t explosives— ’

        “ It says EXPLOSIVE S right there on the box! ”

        ‘ Eh? No, that’s… ’ Indigo picks up the topmost package, revealing the entirety of the text printed on the cardboard and continuing all the way to the box’s bottom side: EXPLOSIVE SOUNDS.

        “ Wat. ”

        ‘ It’s Emperor’s new sing—Ouch! ’  Indigo’s hand shoots to the spot on her forehead that had just become the unfortunate target for a rubber-tipped arrow that somehow slipped through the wall of water. For a moment, she merely stares at a streak of blood now smeared on her fingers before the oddly delayed response to the impact sends her to the floor — knocked out cold like the immediately dimming light of her staff.

IN THE WAKE OF the arrow's trajectory, richard finds a pair of men bickering and cursing over the loosened arrow.  an honest mistake, he can hear them argue over the thudding rush of blood in his ears.  the rest, however, goes unheard as something else peaks like a wave and becomes tangled in his pulse—something reserved for the battlefield and not the bowels of a foreign alley.

he should have seen the arrow.  and, if not him, then the ever-watchful gaze of his retinue.  it shouldn't have come to this point.  yet the blooming red on indigo's forehead is evidence of failure on all parties.  what are you doing ?

had she been his charge, everyone in an arc before richard would have breathed their last.  but she is not, is little more than a stranger.  still, richard draws a shutter over himself, forces his eyes away, unclenches his sword hand, and focuses on the unconscious indigo. 

❛   for harming my companion, i should have you all eliminated.  but as a show of mercy for what appears to be an accident, i need your best medic or anyone that can help,   ❜    he demands, hastily lifting indigo from the ground into a cradle.  richard then mutters an apology she cannot hear as footsteps flutter and gesturing hands urge him toward another road.

🌙 * ― 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 / accepting

020. the dark woods, filled with strange hanging symbols made of sticks . ( random ! )

A STIFF, DANK, GRIM air moves through like a solid presence, combing its thick fingers through the woods. a foreboding scent of rot soon follows the slow hush of trees and a manic rattle within their branches—hastily crafted wards made of roots and sticks kicked into motion. listen too closely, and they'll begin to resemble the shuffle of reanimated skeletons or wicked laughter. 

richard scrunches his nose and turns his eyes away from the treetops to the dimly lit path ahead, then his provisional companion. finally, he asks in an attempt at banter,  ❛ ah, remind me why we are traversing through these woods, alone and in the dead of night, once again ? ❜

of course, richard knows the exact reason: there are rumors of something—someone—that steals away those who wander too far into the dark woods. they're here to investigate the cause of the mysterious disappearances, though he already has a few wild guesses leaning toward the dead or supernatural. but, what does alucard think ?

a loud squelch-like sound rips his attention towards the thickets on their left, his expression hardening with the gravity. richard's sword hand has alighted over the handle of a borrowed blade, ready to act.

but the wood is silent thenceforth, save for the wind and symbols.

IT JUST COULDN'T BE HELPED. whenever he faces an inkling of wonder or curiosity, richard becomes pulled into its gravity—the tempting hollow of a secret passage, showing signs of previous activity, is doubtlessly part of that orbit. 

❛ hah, here i was thinking the same thing, ❜ he says, peeling away from the wall to unveil himself in the lamplight. 

he feels like a child again, charting through secret paths in and throughout castle walls to escape its overbearing weight and eyes, getting caught by guards or his mother, the queen. well, this situation couldn't be any more different, but the fond memories briefly soften his expression.

🌙 * ― 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 / accepting

011. a riding arena, with trained riders atop proud horses . ( random ! )

❛ IT'S QUITE THE SHAME i could not use one of william's steeds, ❜ he comments offhandedly, curbing his horse into a slow trot toward the assigned stable. though for good sportsmanship among the other riders, it's better that richard cannot. even among prestigious folk, his presence alone—as a heroic spirit existing of the saber class—places many at a vast disadvantage.

but a little fun and games won't hurt, right ? it's a faire regaling the ages ! it would be criminal not to participate in its programs, especially against professional and modern-day equestrians.

❛ but look at this shine ! isn't she a beauty ? the horses are well cared for, despite the mundane occasion, ❜ richard praises aloud, seemingly to no one, as he strokes its speckled brown coat with gentle affection. the steed sighs in contentment. ❛ ——yes, i understand that is expected. ah, you're not jealous, are you ? ❜

he throws a surprised glance beyond his shoulder, spotting a figure several steps away with a rather sour-looking expression. oops, did she hear his one-sided talk ?

❛ what about you—why the long face ? ❜ richard asks, directing the conversation toward the stranger. ❛ is your partner not to your liking ? aha, you must've marked poorly on the rider's course, then. ❜ the words are delivered brightly and full of energy, directly contrasting with their context.