Chapter Text
Reveria,
It is a land of peace, magic... And of dreams.
I used to look down on Reveria from the clouds, but now I... I looked up to that very same sky.
The moon lives behind the dream-filled haze of night.
Reverians refer to the moon as 'Lunares'. When the curtain of shadow falls, Lunares bathes all of Reveria in pools of its shimmering, silver light.
At the break of dawn, I will call out for a new hero.
A hero who tosses and turns in an uneasy dream...
The hero will choose between a sword or a wand. Perhaps between a needle and axe. Or the rod over the bow.
The hero may forge legendary weapons, wield in epic battles, or brew magic potions.
The choices are many...
Maybe this hero will sew. Or saw. Perhaps the hero will sew and saw whilst on a seesaw.
....
Ha! ... Sorry... I thought that was kinda funny... All of this grand speech weighs on me after a while...
Anyway, I think I see first light of the sunrise! Let's find out if our hero is ready to awaken.
I thinks its about time for your story to begin.
(~)
My mind pulled me from a strange dream with a start. I gave out a little squeak as I found myself on my floor, having rolled off head first. “Owie…” I whined softly, pushing myself off the ground and rubbing my nose.
I heard Pam, my landlady, hurry up the steps almost immediately.
"Oh, my stars! Are you alright? What happened?" She asked as she opened the door.
"I fell out of bed..." I replied softly as I looked up at her with a sweetly pouty expression.
"Oh good... I thought one of those stones fell up here, I was so worried you had gotten hurt or something.. You must've had quite an intense dream to have rolled out of bed like that."
"Yeah... Maybe... I think so.."
Pam set her hand on her cheek and stared at me with the most worrisome expression "You poor dear, was it scary?" She asked.
I gave a small shrug, a little embarrassed by her babying me, whilst she continued "Whenever I have nightmares or the like, I can't go to sleep for weeks. Ah, don't get me started!”
She smiled to me suddenly "I'm glad you're alright. And to hear that you've gotten yourself a Life now too. Have you checked your mail? I don't think you've gotten your letter from the king yet. Not that I peeked..." She went on.
“Ah… okay.” I nodded, but I knew she was lying, and carefully stood myself up.
She laughed some, "I don't mean to be nosy, you know that. It just goes with the Life of being a landlady, I suppose. Go ahead and check the box for anything dearie." She replied, leaving the attic room I lived in. I gave a nod and fixed myself up.
I was so hopeful.. but at the same time I was so scared.
'Alright.. Yui… Just… let’s get that letter.' I thought to myself, hurrying outside, just barely catching a glimpse of the mailman run by.
I looked over the railing down to Pam as she waved to me with the happiest look "Over here dearie! It’s right here in the mailbox. I saw the royal seal on the envelope!" She called up to me.
I nodded a tiny bit, walking down the steps. I jumped down the last couple steps and quickly opened the mailbox and got out the letter.
'Dear Yui,
Once you have received your license, I would request your presence at the Royal Court.
King Erik of Castele.'
Pam smiled to me "That letter marks the beginning of your new Life here. Oh, this is exciting! To start a new Life! How wonderful! It makes me think back to when--" She stopped herself with a small gasp, making me laugh some, "I need to get ahold of myself. And you need to get your license and meet the king!" She ordered.
"And... How do I do that?" I asked softly. I felt so stupid with that question, my cheeks probably became rather red.
She gave a little chuckle, "Just pop into the Guild Office and pick up your license. You know where that is, right?"
"Yes..." I murmured.
"Good, now get going!" She shooed me away, but not before giving me some candy.
"Thanks." I nodded, putting the sweet item into my pouch, hurrying off to the Guild. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt my nerves begin to spark, oh goodness! This was nerve racking I wanted to do so much with my new Life. A Life of a Paladin… Oh why did I choose that? Too late now… I have to commit…
I made my way to the Guild Master and waved some. He placed his hands on his hips, giving me a look, "Well, lassie. You sure did take your sweet time getting here, huh? You're Yui, right?"
I nodded silently.
He pulled out a card and placed it in front of me, "Here's your Novice License. Don't lose it. I do not want to have to do that paperwork again."
I simply nodded, looking at the card. I was now officially a Paladin.
Novice Paladin. But still a Paladin.
I was pulled away from my internal nervousness by the masters next statement, "Read this since you're here. It'll explain everything. And pay attention." I nodded once more, obediently. He handed me a booklet to let me read over.
(~)
I finished reading after a few moments and handed it back to him.
"Your license is the start, so don't keep the king waiting any more." He stated, about to say something more when we both heard someone outside shouting.
"Get out of the way!"
"I don't want any trouble! Just let me fly by here!"
"I gots a better idea, little butterfly. Howzabouts we play a game? Dis a game called 'you ain't goin' anywherez'."
"Just leave me alone!"
I didn't like how it sounded at all, so, before the Guild Master could make any comment, I hurried myself out of the building and to the square.
Of course, I found the source of the shouting rather quickly.
“Oh no..” I whispered, hurrying over. It was Pierre and Butch. And for some reason they were picking on a beautiful little butterfly. Pierre hadn't noticed me, staring at the butterfly.
"Now, don't worry. We won't hurt you... Much."
It was weird to say the least, as there were many mysterious things in Reveria, but it shocked me when the butterfly spoke back.
"Please! Just let me go!"
"Think you can just flutter away after whut you just said?" Butch questioned.
"What? What did I say?!" The butterfly responded, quite scared by their statures.
"I... Don't remember now. But I think it was insultin'." Butch replied.
"I was just responding to your comment about putting me in a display case. That wasn't very nice." Butterfly countered,
"I'm not some regular old butterfly you can turn into a brooch or a hatpin!"
Pierre chuckled, "You probably shouldn't give us such ideas. We are quite aware of how special a talking butterfly is."
"Yeah!" Butch piped up again, "We're gonna be eatin' good tonight!"
The butterfly was unnerved by the comment, "What?! But... Butterfly wings really aren't very filling, you know. And their high in trans fats!"
Pierre snorted and rolled his eyes, "Don't be dumb. We're not going to eat you. We just wanna sell you off and make some Dosh! With said Dosh, we could purchase a grand feast!"
The butterfly was even more nervous by this, "No! You can't do that!" She looked around quite a bit, spotting me watching the scene. "You there! Friend! Tell these guys, uh... Y'know, why they can't... Do that."
"A-ah… R-right!" I nodded, ready to fight the two. Of course the butterfly objected me fighting, but she seemed to be digging herself into a deeper grave with the two.
"I really don't like where this situation is going.. Hey! Actually, I think I could really use your help.." The butterfly told me.
I swallowed down my breath and hurried over, taking stand in front of the butterfly.
"My friend, please just go along your business and leave us to deal with this quarrelsome insect." Pierre stated, staring down at me. Butch blinked and turned to his brother "A squirrels been shipwrecked?!"
"Butch... Please talk less in front of others.." Pierre sighed, turning back to me, "And you! Nosy.... Observer type! I'll ask you once again to leave. This does not concern you. A man must be free to enrich himself as he sees fit. Either through work, art, or the acquisition of Dosh!" He stated.
Butch nodded, "Speakin' of aquisitioning Dosh. If you're just gonna watch, you should pay the admission." He stated, moving towards me, saying some other stupid thing, and Pierre followed up with telling him to empty out my pockets.
"Ah.. But..." I tried to speak, tensing up as the male felt through my pockets and pouch.
He became shocked at something and looked at Pierre "This kid is walkin' around with no Dosh!"
"WHAT?! I am incredulous. Incredulous, I say I am!"
I became flustered as they stared at me more.
Pierre squinted some "How do you expect to get by without some Dosh lining your pockets? This Doshless hobo and the chatty butterfly deserve each other's company."
"Oh! Lookit dis!" Butch suddenly exclaimed, taking out the candy Pam gave me.
"I knew you had something!"
"Ain't no Dosh! Its candy!"
".... I'm starting to feel sorry for this kid.." Pierre muttered, "it's better than nothing. Hand it over."
I was so flustered and obedient, I simply nodded and handed him the candy, watching them leave. I felt so bad I lost my candy...
"Thanks for getting those guys off my back." The butterfly spoke up to me, "I'm doing research on all of the Life choices here in Reveria, so I've been asking a lot of questions. Those two were being so rude, so I asked: 'Which life did you two select? Lemme guess... Nimrod? Or was it Nincompoop?' I guess they didn't care too much for that. Ha!" She laughed, "Maybe I should've kept quiet, but I just couldn't help myself! Anyways, I owe you one, Thanks again! I'm off to the castle."
I watched her flutter away, quite confused with that experience. But I had to get to the castle too, so I had to sorta follow her.
I gave a small sigh and hurried on my way I couldn't keep King Erik waiting any more. I ran up the front steps and made my way into the castle hall and to the courtroom doors, only to be stopped for my choice of attire.
I became teary eyed, to which the Paladins in front of me responded with "Don't worry! Just come back with something nice and we can let you in." I simply nodded, jumping at a familiar voice shouting below.
"Oh.." I breathed softly, turning around and looking over the edge.
"Please keep your voice down... Butterfly.."
"Not again.."
I hurried down the steps and to the minister and the butterfly I had become acquainted with. She greeted me kindly, seemingly smiling to me.
(~)
"He's prejudice against butterflies! Can you believe that? They probably didn't let you in cause of your clothes, huh?"
"I don't look that bad..." I muttered shyly.
She seemed to be going on a tangent and I was about to sneak passed to find something nice before she told me to hold still. I didn't know what to think as she fluttered closer to me, going under my chin and just above my collar bone.
"Ah..." I tensed some.
"There! You've heard of a bow tie. Well here's the worlds first buttertie!"
"This... This could work."
"Of course it will! Come on, let's get going!"
I nodded a tiny bit, becoming stiffer as I headed back up to the courtroom.
"There we are!" "That's better! You look so much better now." "Very formal and pretty." "Mhm. Go ahead inside." I felt relieved, and a bit baffled, but I did so anyways.
(~)
"And... Buttertie off!" The butterfly removed itself from my neck and fluttered in front of me.
"That was great! I got to see the king, thanks to you! You played it pretty smooth in there. Nicely done." I gave a smile and nodded.
"Well, I guess this is where we part ways. Good luck in your new Life, Yui! You look great!" She stated. Begging to float away before stopping.
"You... Seem a little naked around the neck.. If it gets cold, that's not gonna be comfortable... Its almost like you could-"
"Yes."
"H-huh?"
I smiled to the beautiful little butterfly, "I would love for you to accompany me."
"Ah... Ri-right!... Okay, well I'll stay your buttertie for as long as you want me around."
"That's alright with me." I nodded.