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Losing a dear one wasn't such an unfamiliar feeling for Saki.
It didn't feel strange seeing someone's life flash right before her eyes. And of course, being a princess whom everyone loved and cherished, it was common to see one, amongst the thousands, maybe even millions of people, lose their lives from this seemingly never-ending war that plagued the land in honor of their rulers. Countless knights and soldiers whom had charged so bravely into the enemy line, only to be slain and left to die, and so on. All that just for her and her brother. All that just for the land's survival.
Regardless of whatever shall come upon the kingdom, she was well-accustomed to witnessing such tearful occasions. Having to live such a cruel existence was enough of an indicator to see that she did indeed feel grief, for many, many times as her tears would run dry with each one of those bitter moments.
However, being the kind, gentle, well-known princess like her would always have at least a dear friend or more to confide in. To comfort her through those sorrowful days after seeing the ruined country torn apart with the world's most heinous war. A cheerful, caring brother who would do anything for a smile to bloom on her face and his dear friend, a head of the first line of defense that would offer her help and support at best, a young lady who would always help her with her matters, and of course, a brave knight whom had always admired her.
Hinomori Shiho, or as the townsfolk preferred to call her, the Viridescent Knight.
Though that young chevalier seemed so distant from Saki herself, she knew, that deep down, the girl truly loved her. And for some inexplicable reason, she loved the girl, too. The same goes for everyone else. How she wanted to hold onto those memories of their happiness, their joyful laughter and carefree nature, and she'd try her best to make them remain.
But of course, everything comes to an end. Everyone dear to her soon bid farewell to the world, one by one. Tsukasa, Shizuku, Ichika, Honami, they all had similar, yet separate fates; the end of their lives being crushed by the cruel hand of fate. Whether because of the never-ending war, or a deathly illness that ripped through their frail bodies, all of them were no longer among the living. As expected, having their lives end, without having to live in a world with such despair, left Saki in a state of profound grief.
And Shiho was there to witness it all, remaining beside the princess she served. As the girl cried and weeped in the knight's embrace, the knight who was the only ally she ever had, tried her best to comfort her, for she was the only one Saki had left. A chevalier, someone whom she felt sympathy towards. Someone she loved. Someone to lend a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand at best.
Someone who truly, truly loved her.
"Shiho-chan," the young girl breathed out, her voice hoarse with sobs. "Can I... ask you something?"
Turning around to face the blonde in her embrace, a hand came to stroke those strands of hair as she bitterly smiled. As if holding back hundreds, thousands, perhaps even millions of tears, and yet, her smile remained.
"Go ahead."
"Will you... stay with me... for as long as you're here?"
Shiho fell silent. Gazing upon her beloved princess's magnificent, rosy eyes with all the slight surprise and immense admiration whelming her little heart, all she could do was to let out a gentle laugh, her gloved fingers running themselves through her hair. Toying with the golden locks as she chuckled, she pulled the other closer, embracing her beneath the stars' hold as snow continued to fall from the skies.
"Of course, of course," the chevalier smiled. "I'll always be with you."
Hearing such sweet words, Saki sniffled so slightly, burying her head in the fabric of her childhood friend's cape. The cold gust of wind that blew upon the night sky, enveloping the two in its silvery sheets, brought a faint, yet joyful expression to her features. As she felt Shiho continue her acts of comfort, a small giggle silently emitted from her lips.
And with that, she idly thought; how would she survive without her?
Regardless, she was happy for the moment, and that's all that matters. Or at least, for Shiho.
Those once distant cries grew louder and louder, the castle's debris falling from above. Raining down upon the guards and the corpses, the enemy's line continued to advance towards the structure's insides, wreaking havoc as they set the land aflame. Amongst the sea of the roaring blaze, smoke, debris, and burnt flesh, holding the blade in her hand was the chevalier, blindly protecting the lady of her heart from any harm, though Saki could only watch from afar, the knight being aware of the wine-colored skies and the dying, disfigured citizens.
As her sword continues to clash with one of the intruders, against a background of flames that consumed the outskirts of the land, Shiho's blade landed another blow, slamming a nearby enemy's throat by its sharp edge. As if dancing along with the other's swipes, the girl withdrew her blade and slashed forward once more, her opponent being taken by surprise, falling onto the ground before she mercilessly charged through the lines of the rivaling kingdom's soldiers.
The sound of the guards' bodies hitting the battlefield's floor gained the attention of others, the swiftly advancing enemies flocking towards the dying men. That was, before they soon met the same fate as their fallen comrades, their corpses scattered in the large piece of land.
"Show... no mercy..." the chevalier snarled under her breath, before knocking another off its feet with her sword, revealing her modest, yet sharp gaze, as sharp as her own blade. "Now, to finish them off."
Without a second to spare, Shiho saw the others taking a closer look at her as she dashed at the enemy's formation. Engrossing herself amidst the smoke, her movements were absolutely quick, her tactics flawless, skillfully combatting with whoever was standing before her magnificent gaze. One, two, three, four, five, six... Countless soldiers laid themselves upon the bloodstained field in defeat, though not without receiving numerous wounds themselves. And yet, the Viridescent Knight knew no mercy, slaying whatever stood in her steps.
"Ah, there she is! That damned fool... Get her!"
"Right there! The Viridescent Knight is... that way! Kill her, I say!"
Shiho can barely hear what they shouted at her, the atmosphere feeling distant, as if she has gone into a frenzy of destruction. Each one of them spitting out a throat-slitting exclamation that could be heard by none except her, a group of seven, maybe more knights together. Instinctively, they headed in the direction the chevalier had gone, attempting to take their enemy down by their blades. Although, that plan didn't really seem to succeed. Only one successful blow on the chevalier's form before they fled into the depths of the battlefield, gone from her sight.
Perhaps she could calm herself down a little. At least, for now. She couldn't even get a glimpse of where they went, but a feeling of dread floated around her, as if something was about to occur.
Trusting her instincts, the knight ran, stumbling through the debris of the now crumbling castle. Just by seeing how the once bright and vividly shining chandeliers dropped onto the ceramic flooring with such force, shattering the tiles as she ran beneath it all, she knew that her instincts moments ago are to be trusted. Now, the only thing on her mind was to rescue Saki, her beloved princess whom was now held captive by the castle's ruins.
"Saki!" the gray-haired chevalier shouted as she ran closer to her dearest princess, continuing to yell out her name as she came closer to her. Never had she called that girl by her name before, and yet, despite being such a rare occurrence, Shiho found it appropriate in that moment, for all she needed was for Saki to hear her call. "I'm here, Saki! Are you-?"
And just as she reached the princess's dwelling, there she was, slumbering on the disheveled mattress, albeit uncomfortably. On her face was an expression of worry, etched along with the fear and anguish on it as well. It seems that something had whelmed her mind, perhaps a nightmare or a terrible vision that made her shudder with fear. Whether it's a horrid dream of Shiho's last moment with her or something much more, maybe the never-ending war that was seen from a close view, she only knew it made Saki feel anxious. It certainly made the young chevalier's heart sink with worry, for that sight was far too dreadful to even comprehend.
"You'll be alright, Saki," she shakily whispered to the sleeping princess, kissing her forehead as she gathered the slumbering girl in her arms. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Picking up the young girl and holding her in her grasp, she carefully dashed through the falling rubble, her breath raggedy and uneven as she ran. In her arms was Saki, who felt rather secure in her gallant savior's hold, resting as the entirety of the castle came to an end. At last, they both burst into the clearing, far from the ruins and the war's menace, safe and sound. Placing the princess down on the hard, solid surface of an alleyway's floor, Shiho sat still, staying beside the girl to witness her predicament. Trembling was the girl next to her, holding on so tightly to the Viridescent Knight's gloved hand before she wrapped herself around the older's arm.
"I'm here, Saki. I'm right here. I'll keep you safe," she cooed soothingly as she coddled the younger in her arms. "I promise."
As the two remained still in such a state, her heartbeat slowed, her breaths became smoother, and her chest stopped heaving so often. As she calmed down and let out a slight sigh, she suddenly felt the princess leaning her head onto her chest. Eyes still cast downwards, the knight breathed deeply of the other's presence.
"Shiho-chan... What's going on?"
Ah, it seems that she had failed at keeping her asleep.
"Hm? Is there something wrong?"
"Why... Why are we here? And the castle... what happened to it?"
Shiho let out a heavy sigh, scratching the nape of her neck with her free hand as she began to stroke Saki's blonde locks with the other. Her gaze traveled from the alleyway's walls to the snow-covered ground below, before turning to face the young girl once again.
"I don't think the castle's safe anymore," she said with a frown, patting the princess's head. "There's too many of them. I... can't fend them off. Apologies for interrupting your rest."
"... It's okay, Shiho-chan. At least we're all safe now, and you... you're here with me."
Behind that simple expression on the blonde's face was a glint of sorrow in her eyes, hidden by the soft smile on her very face. Many horrid thoughts ran through her mind at that moment, even if she tried to ward them off by cherishing Shiho's own presence. A horrible image of their final seconds together flashed through her mind, fingers now clutching on the white fabric tighter. She didn't want to lose another one of her precious friends. She couldn't bear to witness the chevalier's loss of life, she couldn't bear to know what it would have been like. She couldn't even imagine how she'd live without her.
Hell, just the thought of that made Saki even more terrified of whatever the next few hours would hold.
There's no way she can endure this kind of threat. She's already experienced so much, and she cannot stand to lose another one of her friends. And while Shiho herself was equally as heartbroken, she was forced to regain a sense of calm in such situations, for that's what she was meant to do, that's what she was trained for. After all, what matters most to her is her dear princess's comfort and wellbeing, whether she knew it or not, and nothing else.
For all the smiles they've shared, for all the loving glances they've exchanged, for all the years they've been on each other's sides, she couldn't stand the thought of losing her.
"Saki," she uttered, noticing how the other's grip on her arm grew stronger. "Are you okay?"
"... Mhm. It's just that–"
A sudden noise interrupted their heartfelt thoughts, the sound of a bow's string being released. Alerted by the abrupt change in silence, the knight's eyes shot towards the source of the sound, an arm protectively wrapping around Saki's form. Just as she did, the blonde's eyes widened in panic, holding the chevalier close. As expected, an arrow landed on the alley's wall. That part of the wall in particular, the one to which the princess once had her body lean on it, was now replaced by nothing but a solitary arrow, a sign that they weren't safe, after all.
"Ah, missed a shot. What a shame," a knight with an unfamiliar face said, staring so intently at the two. Perhaps he was one from the rivaling kingdom? "Guess we'll just have to take you two down ourselves, yeah?"
Lightly clapping his hands, the group of archers and swordsmen began advancing towards them, their weaponry drawn to their forms. Those same faces she saw in this town they used as a battlefield, those faces that have spotted her and tried to harm her back at the beginning of that war-torn time, and the same clothes she saw them wearing when they attempted to capture her earlier that day.
That group of young knights that the chevalier regarded as her enemies.
"You!" Shiho glared at the man standing before her, furiously narrowing her eyes as she stood, Saki still securely in her arms. "You're-!"
He laughed, turning to the other archers and swordsmen who gathered around, gesturing as he ordered them to finish off the princess. That once menacingly happy expression on his face faded into an ominous one, an angered, yet calculating gaze that did nothing to make Shiho back down.
Soon enough, arrows rained down from all sides of her, only for them to land on the stone-carved floor. As the others drew their blade, charging at the Viridescent Knight and the princess they wished to vanquish, their swords soon flew from their grasp, the chevalier's agility being too much for them to handle as their lives started to flash before their eyes. Now, only three of the knights remained, albeit not being seen by Shiho's attentive eyes. If she saw them, she knew they'd already been beaten by now, their lives lost to her hands. However, it seemed that their comrades' constant combatting had succeeded in overwhelming Shiho's defences, even if it didn't manage to take her out as easily as they had hoped.
"You really thought you could defeat us, huh?" Teasingly looking down upon the young knight, he chided, crossing his arms in disapproval.
"... Shut it, you filthy pest."
"Oh? The Viridescent Knight's anger has finally reached its peak? How interesting. I can't wait to see what happens next–"
Before the man could finish his sentence, the chevalier leaped forward, going for the man's throat, making use of her blade to end his life before he could finish hers. But of course, with all the weariness she harbored in her body, it felt as if it forced her to slow down, panted breaths escaping the girl's mouth. Falling to her knees, she coughed ever so slightly on the land blanketed in white, a horrified, worried look in Saki's eyes.
"Oh, poor girl... You'll never be able to keep up with me and my comrades' actions, will you?"
Taunting and jeering at the exhausted knight before him, he then turned to catch a glimpse of the panicked princess, his hand taking hold of the sword his fallen comrade had wielded.
"I'm sure you won't mind if I just take her instead. Isn't that right... Hinomori?"
"...!"
A jolt ran down her spine as she heard his words. Was it how he called her name? Or was it from the thought of Saki being taken away from her too much for her heart's delight? Regardless, she forced herself to stand up, just for her arms to be held back by the two knights whom had hidden themselves from her gaze. Her face was filled with nothing but fear and desperation, even though she wouldn't let herself show it for the sake of Saki, her throat now choking on words and unshed tears.
"Let... go!"
Shaking and thrashing, she cried out, her heart lodged in her throat. The chevalier forced herself to scream and shout in their grasp, but her treacherous wrists were soon met with a firm grip.
"Shiho-chan!"
"Now, princess, I suppose we can end this quickly, no?" asked the young man who had taken control of her, peering down at her in amusement. "I think it wouldn't be fun if I just let you try to escape from me, right? Guess I'm just gonna have to finish you off right here and now. As for you, Viridescent Knight, you can try and fight as much as you'd like, but I doubt you'll be able to make it against me, no matter what."
The man finally drew his blade, gleaming with the night sky's stars. Those clouds of smoke from earlier has been slowly dissipating, although the land was still in shambles, the rivaling kingdom still making its attempt to claim the region. Meanwhile, as the chevalier and the princess witnessed the boy's declaration, their eyes reflected upon one another, an unspoken feeling of hatred and fear by his presence.
That was, before Shiho managed to free herself from her captors' grasps, taking back her blade and rushing to Saki's side so to protect her beloved princess. An arm wrapped around the blonde's figure, the chevalier's breath coming out in short gasps as it hitched, her eyes seeing Saki in agony and loosely clinging onto her with every ounce of strength she had in her body.
Unfortunately for them, the man was now moving towards the princess and chevalier, his agile gait ungodly quick, prompting the two of them to push themselves back to prevent him from reaching her. Backing away onto the wall behind them were they...
Before Shiho decided to run away with the young girl in her arms once again.
"Get back here! We're not finished yet!"
"No can do. I won't let you get her that easily!"
For the nth time she fled with Saki by her side, now with a faint, nearly inaudible laugh escaping her lips as she ignored the people who gawked at them as they ran past. How she freely grinned as the younger smiled as well, feeling as if they were but a pair of heroes in a fairytale they have read countless times, back when the two were still young and carefree. A princess and her knight running away from an evil enemy, and how they would return safely to their castle with their peers and have a feast in honor of how they defeated such an awful villain in their tale.
Back then, Saki would convince her dear friend to reenact her own similar stories as well, with her being the princess and Shiho being the knight, the hero of the story they lived in. Dreaming of being such a glorious, brave chevalier was she in her younger years, something she had never stopped wishing for that day. Sometimes, the two of them would end up in some ordinary situation, but with their minds clouded in the vast imagination of a child, a scenario that most people would see as a normal one would turn out into another one of their childish fantasies.
And now, there they were, happily smiling as Shiho rushed to the surprisingly intact castle. It's a relief that it wasn't destroyed by those pesky intruders and is now still standing so tall amongst the country's land. How she wanted to joyfully have a toast with Saki and everyone in the castle who she had once been very close with, maybe even invite the townsfolk for a little party in gratitude of their survival.
From her grasp, that wish felt so close, as if she could reach it with her very hand...
"There she is! Fire!"
Yet so far.
An arrow forced its way through the air, piercing the chevalier's leg from behind. All she could do was let out a hiss, before another one came after her left shoulder. How close it was to her neck irritated her so much. How she wanted to draw her sword to end the lives of those terrible, villainous knights. And so, Saki carefully settled her feet on the ground, watching Shiho draw her iron blade.
Cracking his knuckles, the man lunged forward, an iron fist slamming against Shiho's stomach, hitting her hard enough for her to feel a searing pain in her insides. A sickly sensation rushed to her throat, as if she was about to choke on some vile fluid. Saki couldn't even move as she saw her dear friend being violently torn apart with a single blow, the chevalier's chest heaving up and down as her sword dropped to the ground.
The boy then took hold of his own blade, running towards the princess as he lifted the sword in his grasp. How bright it gleamed beneath the smoke-filled skies, and how sharp it seemed to her very eyes. All that was but an unpleasant vision for Saki.
Well, at least she can finally reunite with her friends and family in the afterlife, she thought, seeing the blade swing closer to her very form.
"Sa... ki!"
The chevalier weakly shouted, mustering all her remaining strength in her to get up and take back her sword. As clouds of dust started to form themselves on the ground beneath her feet, she ran towards the blonde girl, her voice hoarse with fear. Yet, the desperation that she harbored in her heart was beyond compare. She didn't want to lose anyone again. Being such a skillful, talented knight who wasn't able to protect even her closest of friends was but a terrible disgrace, to say the least. Even if she only had little strength left in her.
That moment, Shiho stood before the young girl, arms wrapping around Saki's waist. And as soon as the man lowered the edge of the sword to slash the princess's neck, it hit the back of the gray-haired chevalier's cape, now torn with a scarlet shade. Crimson stains dying the bluish fabric of her cape, covering her back. Enraged, the man continued his onslaught, and yet, the chevalier was able to block his blows, the pain throbbing at her body in pulses.
"Shiho-chan!"
"Saki..." the girl wheezed out, tightly holding the other's hand as she spoke. "Don't go. Please. Let me... stay with you."
The princess, whom she held so dearly, now remained still behind the chevalier as she witnessed the battle between the two. The splatter of red dirtied the hem of her dress, along with the dust of the town's streets. Those brilliant shades of rosy pink were now but a teary gaze, as she watched her dear friend and their enemy fight with nothing but hatred and violence in their souls, the Viridescent Knight's desire to protect the princess burning so brightly inside of her aching heart. The hope for her own safety quickly disappearing, for that knight had always feared the day Saki could lose her own life, for it would shatter the remaining happiness she had, ridding her of the only person who truly understood her.
At this point, her whole life revolved around her. Those days of childish dreams, those nights of mourning and grieving for the family and friends they have lost; it mattered so much to her. And as long as she had such a precious person to rely on, nothing in the world could break her heart.
Not even the loss of her own life.
Now, amidst the streets, she stood so deep in thought, her forearms covered in scars and her knees deeply bruised from the countless times she had fallen onto the hard surface of the road. Her cheek scraped by the blade's edge, dark red stains smudging the side of her features. The knight's brave facade slowly falling to the ground, her legs now wobbly, her gloved hand dyed by her own crimson blood. Despite all that, however, her viridescent eyes shone so brightly beneath the stars' light. Perhaps this was why one would refer to her as the Viridescent Knight, for it would be no less a sign of passion in her heart than her own sharp gaze, no?
"Didn't I already tell you... that I won't let you do anything... to her?"
Words accompanied by huffs and panted breaths, the sword in her hand, pointed to the man's distant figure, trembling along with her stature. Smiling so proudly upon the man's angered expression, Shiho laughed, although it wasn't long before a painful cough overtook the chevalier's form.
"Now, don't get too cocky, Hinomori. You don't want to end up like those other guys who had the temerity to dare fighting me with such a weak condition."
"Heh," the chevalier smirked, inching herself closer to the man kneeling before her. "Guess I was right from the start. I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd finish you off."
"Oh, really?"
Shiho nodded, as if she was proud for her victory. Fortunately for her, now she can return to the palace with Saki after such a horrid, yet euphoric session of bloodiness. How she wanted to take her mind off of things as she gazed so fondly at the princess later on, even the mere thought of such an act made her smile. It's a good thing that she didn't lose her life here.
At least, not until the man caught her off guard as he stood up once again, grabbing his sword so to stab it into Shiho's stomach. Her blood staining his blade, spattering onto the tips of his fingers. A loud, maniacal laugh escaped his mouth, echoing through the now silent streets, soon followed by a blood-curdling cry that shook the princess's heart. For all the men, women and children had abandoned the streets in the middle of the night, resting in their humble abode after the day's war.
Truly a terrible predicament to behold.
"Shiho-chan!"
"Saki..."
More of his horrible cackles spilled out of his lips, hand gripping the sword's handle tight as he pulled it off of the Viridescent Knight's body. Feeling the immense amount of force ripping the blade from her abdomen as if it were a dagger, Shiho fell to her knees, choking, coughing and spewing blood all around. Her clothed, calloused hand reached to cover her mouth, staining it with nothing but her own blood, the other clutching at the fresh wound as she slouched on the cold, hard floor.
Seeing such a horrid sight before her eyes, Saki rushed to her side, supporting her frail body as best as she could. Shiho's breath was punctuated with what seemed like not-so-soft whimpers as her body shook with agony, bloodshot eyes squinting at the wound and the crimson liquid surrounding it.
"It's all over now," he bellowed, his eyes gleaming with glee as he kneeled down beside her, facing her bloody form. "I've finally finished my job. The Viridescent Knight's lost her life to my blade."
"Hey," the chevalier breathed out, her hands trembling as she held onto the shard of metal protruding from her torso. "What the hell are you saying?"
"Oh, that," he chuckled, "I never truly wanted to kill the princess, you know? I just wished for you to die by my hand."
"And... why is... that?"
"I prefer not to discuss such matters with you. How could I spill a secret to the one I desired to destroy the most, after all?"
Cursing under her breath, the gray-haired girl sighed, glaring as she watched the man's retreating back. That once clean, untouched sword of his was now covered in her own blood, dripping from the edge of the blade, staining the white snow. How she could taste her own blood in her mouth, the foul scent wafting in her nose, was beyond compare. The aching, throbbing pain on her stomach ceased to go away, one of her hands still on her bleeding form, a useless attempt of bringing herself back to her senses.
Adjusting her position was she, now laying herself down on Saki's lap, just like what she had wished to do for the past years. Though it did not alleviate the throbbing pain in her lower half, Shiho felt... satisfied. Perhaps it was because she could now rest so peacefully in the hands of her dearest princess, someone whom she truly loved. And yet, to that day, never has she uttered such words, bottling up her feelings for Saki for such a long, long time.
"Saki," she suddenly spoke, laughing despite the bitter taste of blood in her throat. "I did it. I finally did it. I protected... you," the girl gasped out, struggling to bring herself to properly breathe.
"Shut up, Shiho-chan," the older sobbed, arms wrapping around her neck. "You couldn't even protect yourself. And now... look at you."
"Ah, does that even... matter?"
"Of course... Of course it does!"
The blonde's tears dropped onto the chevalier's cheek, a weak, pathetic sob ringing out from her lips. "I've lost someone... that I love... again," she gasped out, her throat choked with emotion as she pulled the other closer to her, embracing her as she weeped beneath the moon's light. The dimly-lit streets were as barren and silent as ever, adding more to the growing sense of sadness and grief. Only the cold gust of wind blowing across the snow-covered ground came to distract her from the sad reality, yellowish strands of her swaying about in the wind.
"Ah, apologies... for what I did," her bloodied hand reached for the older's arm, stroking it so to calm her down. Another hand then reached to pat her cheek, an attempt to console the weeping princess. "But, please... Don't cry, Saki."
"I-I can't," she replied with a short, sombre laugh. "I'm so... so, so..."
"Sorry? There's no use of saying that anymore, but... if you're the one to say it..." Shiho grimaced, her heart breaking to see her beloved princess cry. "I... forgive you."
Hearing such words spill out so freely from the younger's mouth, she continued to sob in earnest, hugging the body of the nearly lifeless chevalier in her arms. And as the snow continued to fall, dropping onto Saki's blonde locks and face, Shiho fondly smiled, brushing off the snowflakes from her face as she chuckled. Moments like these would remind her of their childhood, where the two of them would play beneath the snow, gleefully laughing as they threw snowballs on one another's faces, only for them to brush off the stains right after.
They would catch snowflakes on their tongues and make snow angels. They would play chase around a frozen lake in the winter, joyfully stamping on ice, the cold biting at their legs but seeming to play with their own presence. Such wonderful memories they were, flooding back into her mind on this fateful day, the last few minutes before she was to depart from this world as her body gets cradled by the hands of the princess whom she truly loved. The very same snowflakes that showered down upon them when she was but a child, some of them now dropping onto the open wound as she continued her grimace of agony.
"Hey," she softly whispered, seeing a snowflake drop onto her bloodstained glove. "Do you remember... the last time it snowed... like this?"
"Huh?"
"I was talking about our childhood, not the last snowfall," the chevalier laughed, albeit showing a pained expression so faintly on her face. "Remember when we used to be a lot happier... back then, when we still had everyone?"
"Ah... Of course."
"Honami and Ichika... would help us make snowmen with them. And once we return to the palace, Onee-chan and Tsukasa-san... would serve us some snacks and warm tea. We... played hide-and-seek in the palace together, too, remember?"
Saki swallowed the lump in her throat, recalling those memories her beloved chevalier has uttered so openly beneath her grasp. Those days where they would play with one another, eat snacks together and enjoy each other's company... Those days will never, ever come back. And yet, Saki desperately wished for them to return. But of course, with the loss she had dealt ever since war plagued the land with all its bloodshed and harshness, there was no chance of it.
"We... had fun. Lots of fun. Now, look at us, Saki. I'll be leaving you. Alone. Just like... everyone else."
As the girl's now dirtied hand caressed the chevalier's cheek once more, Saki choked on the tears she had yet to let loose, before letting them fall so soundly on her dear friend's face. No matter how she tried to deny that statement of hers, Shiho was right. The Viridescent Knight, Hinomori Shiho, will leave her alone soon. Perhaps it's just a matter of time before she breathes her last in her arms.
"I don't want to go... on my own. I... don't want to be alone."
"You won't be alone," Shiho cooed, gently chortling as the aching feeling inside of her continued to torment her poor soul. "We'll always be together... I promise. I'll always remember you, Saki. And I beg of you, please..."
"Don't forget me."
Now, as the skies grew darker, the stars gleaming brighter and brighter with each passing second, shining down upon the two who shared such a warm embrace in the bitter cold. The snow didn't cease to fall, and the time never ceased to tick. With such a wonderful memory buried deep inside of her heart, Saki sniffled, lightly fluttering a kiss on Shiho's lips before receiving such a gentle smile from her, the gloved hand caressing the clothed arm of the blonde princess.
"... Thank you, Saki. I... love you."
And so, the chevalier's heartbeat came to a halt, her last words fading away along with her very life. As her eyes fluttered shut for one last time, drifting off into eternal slumber, her body grew cold in the warm embrace of the princess's arms, her form still cradled so dearly by Saki herself. Weeping was she in the still night, for her only friend left has departed into the vastness of the night, and never to return.
"You're welcome, Shiho-chan," she said in between gasps, her voice still shaky from her crying. "And... I love you, too."
Losing a dear one wasn't such an unfamiliar feeling for Saki.
But of course, that doesn't mean that with each loss of a loved one, the wound in her heart didn't scar even deeper and continue to destroy her.
And yet, there she stood in a black gown, staring upon the gravestone covered in snow with such solemnity. Her beloved chevalier's name was written on it, reminding her of such wonderful, bittersweet memories of both their childhood and their bitter parting. That day, where she and the knight embraced one another in the winter's evening, the snow falling on them as the stars shined so brightly above their intertwined forms.
"Shiho-chan," she muttered, tears starting to form on the edges of her eyes. "It's been a while since you've left, haven't it?"
Her voice grew shaky with the sadness she harbored in her heart, hands trembling as the viridescent rose in her grasp nearly fell to the ground.
"But... you don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine. I... promise."
Placing the greenish rose atop the grave, she faintly smiled, before weeping so silently beneath the falling snow. Holding back her voice, she couldn't help but to cry, all those memories suddenly flooding back into her mind, filling her heart with joy and sorrow. Nothing else was left in her thoughts except for the bittersweet times they had together, their days spent together, both young and free. All the good times. And yet, she remembered the day she breathed her last in her arms so vividly. The day where they recollected their childhood tales, bitter laughter echoing in the air before the chevalier passed away.
On this very day, she cried and weeped, not too dissimilar to the day she lost her. This time, however, no one was there to lend a shoulder to cry upon.
For the Viridescent Knight, Hinomori Shiho, is no longer standing by her side. Even if she was now residing in a better place, there the princess weeped, letting her tears fall so freely beneath the knight's gaze from above.