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Diamant was hopeless from the first moment he saw her.
The crown prince was no stranger to fighting. He was on the forefront of the battlefield for most, if not all, of the skirmishes involving their neighboring country Elusia. He would swing his mighty sword across the fray, unearthing the terrain below in a show of power. Being a commander of the Brodian army meant that he could show no mercy to their foes. He fought proudly for his country. He was the heart of the army and shining hope for his kingdom.
This did not mean he did not have his doubts. He was far too aware of what these increased attacks on their border soldiers meant. The Elusians were growing resentful, each fight more vicious than the last. They were building up more support in their rebellion against the kingdom, the hushed words of an uprising from the captured soldiers in the Brodian jails. He knew that his country was only aggravating them further. Yet his father would not listen, as he only cared for boldly advancing his territory into Elusian lands. As much as Diamant cared for his father, he knew King Morion was not the benevolent leader he thought he knew. Politics and power could change a man so drastically, and Diamant saw it firsthand.
He had been fighting in the army since the early age of eighteen, as a mere foot soldier. King Morion believed in climbing up the ranks to prove one’s worth, nobility included. For seven years, he had proved himself to be a worthy fighter and became the general commander of the army in no time. But it had been a long seven years. He knew his father’s singular focus on expanding their territory was bringing needless bloodshed. The Brodian people grew to view Elusians with such a visceral hatred that reached even his little brother Alcryst, who Diamant had never known to show such intense emotion. It would take more than just inheriting the throne to change the influence King Morion had on their people. In order to bring a new era, he needed to do something different, as opposed to force as his predecessors did. He rummaged around the library of the castle, carrying history books that piled higher than his head. His retainers would accompany him sometimes while he read book after book of wars and conflict. He studied hard for countless nights, drafting methods to restore peace with the neighboring kingdom. It would take much more effort to get the Elusian nobility to trust them. If he could even meet them.
He only heard whispers of the Elusian crown princess. She never showed her face on the battlefield, yet the people spoke reverently of her. He heard her name from villagers and soldiers alike. Many said she would come like the heavens and strike down the kingdom with bolts of lightning. Others said she would storm the castle with a burst of vengeful flames. Some, that she would bring the viscous winds of Elusian winter across the border.
The tales were rather fanatical, he thought. Still, it only showed how fondly they thought of their princess. He supposed the Brodian people talked about him the same way. He wished briefly to see just what kind of person would garner such devotion from their citizens. But these were not peaceful times, and there was no way he could possibly meet the neighboring princess except on the battlefield. Not until he became king and started the long, arduous process of repairing relations with the kingdom. He knew how tough a battle that would be, how much trust he had to rebuild, but he was determined. He also was slightly afraid of the princess striking him down with a fireball, but he would handle that much later. For now, however, he played the role of the crown prince, and enemy of Elusia. At least for now, he had time to prepare.
His assumptions were quickly proven wrong. Time, he learned very soon after, waited for no one.
There had been word sent from Firene Castle, that the Divine Dragon was headed to Brodia to meet the King and seek out the Emblem Rings. Alcryst had been sent to the border already as a waiting party, but Diamant couldn’t help but pace the front steps of the castle. Did this mean that the Divine Dragon was preparing for war? There was talk around the castle that the followers of the Fell Dragon were trying to resurrect him. It had been well over a thousand years since the last war, and while Brodia was not weak, Diamant wasn’t sure they could handle a war with the Fell Dragon, his followers, and Elusia.
It seemed his plans for peace were on hold. First, he had to protect his country.
His brother came in rushing, Divine Dragon in tow. They were already exhausted from their previous fight on the Grand Crossing against the second princess of Elusia. Diamant’s suspicions were confirmed, and their father brought out the ring entrusted to Brodia. He was more troubled by the news that the crown princess was coming to lead the assault on Brodia Castle herself. The fantastical tales came to mind once more, and he had a fleeting thought that perhaps they were true and this was his day of reckoning, to answer for all the sins of his father and kingdom.
Before his thoughts could race any further, a Brodian soldier rushed to them, informing them of an Elusian wyvern rider that flew past the border and was on the way to the castle now. He felt the sinking of his stomach grow deep. There was no mistaking it, it could only be one person.
“It’s dodging all our archers’ attacks!” The soldier cried out. From his side, Diamant heard the Divine Dragon gasp softly. He took a steadying breath and clutched the ring tighter in his palm.
She’s here.
The only warning they had was the shrill shriek of a black wyvern flying from above. He looked up to see the princess pierce the orange painted sky and land gracefully in the courtyard amidst the chaos of soldiers scrambling for battle. She jumped off her mounted saddle, her wyvern steady at her side and baring fangs at any who dared to approach. She dusted off her dark dress adorned with silk roses and walked forward towards the group, the dress’s train swaying with every step she took. While her headpiece covered most of her face, Diamant felt those bright eyes lock onto his and saw a villainous smile form on her lips.
He felt his heart stop.
She announced herself proudly, heels clacking against stone as she walked. His head was swimming, fighting to stay calm as she continued to make eye contact with him, her bewitching presence keeping him still where he stood.
“I will now take your lives, your souls,” she paused, eyes flickering to the gold band in his hand. “And the rings.”
She ended with a bow, and Diamant knew that was the end of him.
-
The second instance he saw her was on even worse terms. She was kneeling in the snow, hands gripping the magic tome across her chest as the Divine Dragon’s army surrounded her. Her fascinator was knocked aside, her dark hair curtained around her face being the only shield from the falling snow. She hung her head low, like a prisoner waiting for the guillotine. Diamant thought back to the Elusian captives back in the cells and could not hold back a shiver.
Ivy was sent to stall them in the blizzard as her father King Hyacinth marched on towards the cathedral without her. She looked grim, clutching her magic tome tightly as she stared deep into the piling snow, no rings in sight. He had left her to die out here, as bait while his father was being taken away by the Elusian army. He was almost swayed, but there were other pressing matters at hand. Namely the growing concern of his father dying at the hands of the enemy as they battled out in the storm.
The fight was soon over, and Diamant longed to rush headfirst to the cathedral. He stopped short when he noticed Ivy kneeling in front of the Divine Dragon. He saw her figure trembling in the snow as she begged for death. A rush of emotions overcame him as he looked down at her. Rationally, he knew that she was not the direct cause of his father’s disappearance. She was not the one who fired a bow straight into his chest. But the darkness of his heart was encroaching on his rational mind. Here was the woman who was the center of Elusia. Surely, they could use her as a hostage, to bargain for his father’s life. He glanced at Alcryst, silently fuming by his side. He saw the hate in his eyes and knew that his little brother would not even spare a second thought to kill the princess. His hands twitched for his sword. Would that really be the right answer?
Alear cut through his thoughts with an authoritative voice. “I will not kill you.”
Diamant’s hands stilled. The Divine Dragon looked to him for confirmation, an agreement of some sort. All he could do was nod. Surprised at his own diplomacy amid the storm of emotions he was experiencing, Diamant did not wish for her death either. Ivy looked up at them with wide eyes, an emotion shining in her dark eyes that Diamant could not place. She gathered herself up and stood tall in the piling snow.
“If we meet again,” she spoke, bowing slightly to their group. “I pray it is not as enemies.”
She glanced at Diamant for a brief second and turned away, her figure quickly lost in the heavy snowstorm.
-
They met again in the Shadowy Moor, and Diamant finally understood how the tales of her majestic persona came about.
All hope was lost. His father was dead, the rings were gone, and they were severely outnumbered and outclassed by an enemy force they knew nothing about. It was all the Divine Dragon’s army could do to run away with their lives marginally intact. Diamant gritted back tears through the pouring rain. He could not falter now. He knew that war was merciless and cruel, and to be prepared for the worst when entering battle. But for it to be like this? Even he could not have been prepared for such events. He could not dwell on the fact that he had just lost his father. They had to get back to the Somniel and regroup before they suffered any more losses.
Alcryst was running beside him, tears streaming freely down his face. His regret deepened at the sight of his brother’s face. Why could they not have gotten there sooner? Why didn’t Diamant insisted further on his father staying home from that fight before he was kidnapped? So many questions on how he could have prevented these events, and yet none of them mattered anymore now that King Morion was dead. There was nothing more that he could do.
A horn sounded just east of where they were running, just past the thicket of trees. Diamant looked up to see reinforcements fly in multitudes towards them, corrupted beasts stomping not far behind. Diamant wanted to scream. Was this how his life was going to end?
They were surrounded just as they were close to the edge of the moor when he heard the familiar shriek of a wyvern.
She descended from the dark skies in a flurry of winds, thunder crashing onto enemies with a flick of her hand. Enemies obliterated to ash as streaks of lightning hit the ground. Diamant looked up at her in awe and saw gold rings gleaming in her hands, cradled carefully against her chest. She locked eyes with him once more, a small smile forming on her lips, before moving towards the Divine Dragon to speak with them.
-
Unceremoniously, she joined the army.
It couldn’t be helped, he thought. They were in the middle of war, and most of the current members of their army were not too fond of Elusia. He wondered how ostracizing that must have felt, but his worries were dispelled when he caught her acclimating to the Somniel rather quickly.
Too quickly, even. He saw her everywhere he went. The Somniel was by no means a small place. It was a vast land up the skies, and specifically a holy land for the Divine Dragon. Living in a place as sacred as this was mind boggling at times. The fact that Alear had managed to cart up their entire army including the shopkeepers was astounding. The grounds were spacious enough for everyone, and Diamant never had to worry about seeing someone more than once.
But now, the Somniel seemed like it couldn’t have been any smaller.
It never occurred to him how intimate the grounds were. It seemed to be the case that they were always in the same area no matter what time of day it was. Everywhere he went, he found his eyes following her figure. He would catch her in the mornings eating quietly by herself in the dining hall, and in the afternoons lovingly brushing off dirt from her wyvern in the stables. He saw her gazing out on the outlook during sunsets, and again in the evenings sitting with a book in one hand and a tiny fireball in the other. And when night fell and everyone had gone to their quarters to sleep, he saw her getting chastised by Prince Alfred for getting lost in the grounds. He dared not to speak to her, the awkwardness of their situation too much for him to handle alone.
One day on his way to the barracks, he had caught her talking to Alcryst. The two of them were standing by the farming grounds for some level of privacy. From the tone of his brother’s voice, he could tell the conversation was not going well. He sighed internally. This was going to be difficult if they were expected to fight on the same side. Internal conflicts served as distractions for real battle, and Diamant knew that Alcryst was going to need some time before he could warm up to the Elusian princess. He wondered if he would have to talk to him about giving space for forgiveness.
He understood why Alcryst harbored so much anger. Diamant felt that same anger too, but could not bring himself to single her out as the target of his resentment. He knew who the true enemy was, and most importantly he felt akin to her in most ways. He understood the pain of being the eldest child of a sovereign nation, as well as having to bear the burdens of their father’s mistakes. The culmination of that burden just so happened to be the death of his father at Diamant’s own hands.
He watched with abject horror as his father slumped onto the end of his sword, blood spraying onto both of them as his body slowly fell to the marble tiles below. His father was no longer possessed, demonic eyes no longer gleaming in the darkness. Diamant bite back tears as the light faded from his father’s eyes–
He clenched his fists, knuckles white with fury, and walked north into the training grounds. He needed to feel the weight of his sword, the fierce impact of a swing against a training dummy, anything to ground him before he lost himself in that memory.
-
Diamant knew his father was going to die eventually. King Morion had made it a point to remind him of it at every instance he could. His father said it was for a good reason, to prepare him to succeed the throne at any moment. But all it did was cause him grief and anxiety, trying to shield his father from the battlefield at all costs. But his father would not accept this, making it a point to involve himself in every gruesome skirmish he could. And of course, it was still Diamant’s responsibility to make sure nothing bad happened to their father. Once, after a particularly awful fight, he had asked his father if he could not join the frontlines for a while, just as Morion had sustained a broken arm. His father’s laugh bellowed throughout the grounds.
“How can I face my people if I don’t live up to our own creed? Strong of body, strong of heart! ”
He still heard that voice, as the flashing images of his father played out in his mind. Memories of gleaming red eyes, his mouth frothing, hands gripping a battle axe passed down from generation to generation.
He felt himself standing there once again, the rustic pews of the cathedral knocked aside from their fight. His sword in his hands, hands far too shaky to maintain a good grip. His father was across from him, not responsive with rational words. No longer was he a father, a king, or a war general. He was simply a Corrupted being now, an enemy to cut down.
He remembered saying something, the words in his memory too blurred by the intense emotions he felt. He recalled rushing headfirst, no thought of battle tactics or strategy in his mind. Just a man and his son fighting on the battlefield. He remembered the vivid splash of (blood? Did the Corrupted bleed?) before his father fell before him onto the cold tile. He stared down at his body one last time before walking away when a hand shot out and gripped his wrist. He knelt down immediately at his father’s side, who still managed to hold his hand with such ferocity even as he took his last breaths.
“ S-strong of body…Strong of heart…”
…!
This nights’ terrors had gotten the best of him. He awoke with a start, gasping for air and sweat clinging to his forehead. Disoriented, he looked around the room trying to figure out where he was. Yes, he was in his room, he had just gotten back from the training grounds and passed out as soon as he arrived.
He hadn’t been sleeping well for the past few nights, thoughts of the battle of the cathedral plaguing his dreams. He tossed the sheets aside and sat with his head in his hands. Diamant felt his heart racing dangerously fast, and tried to take a few deep breaths before grabbing his decanter of water. His eyes caught the same battle axe from his dreams leaning against the bedside table. He felt a rush of emotion as he imagined it soaked with blood as when he first got it off the battlefield, making him avert his eyes. He decided it was time for a walk and grabbed his cloak before leaving his room.
-
One night, he found her cowering in the corridors near the dining hall. He hadn’t meant to frighten her; it was just another night of restless sleep and walking the ground of the Somniel till dawn. Speaking in soft tones, he invited her inside the hall and onto the couches to sit and gather her thoughts. While the situation might have been tense between them, he could not look away from a person in need. Even if that person was the source of his current troubles.
He discovered her fear of ghosts and had to stop himself from smiling at her. The most ethereal person he knew was afraid of spirits. It was charming to know that she had her moments of humanness. She clutched his arm and begged him not to tell anyone, and Diamant felt pity for a moment. Ivy hid this fear to retain her image as a strong and dutiful leader of Elusia, and deemed it unnecessary to feel fear to not tarnish her reputation.
He dug into his pocket for the stone he brought back from the mines. “It’s for courage,” he whispered, taking her hand and clasping it around the red stone. She looked at him with wide eyes, startled by the sudden gesture. She glanced down at the gem in her hands and pushed it back into his, shaking her head.
“Charity from Brodia will not help my royal image at all,” she said, pushing the stone further into his chest. Diamant guided Ivy’s hands back to her side with gentle hands.
“Then do not think of it as such. It’s just a simple gift from me to you.” He smiled, looking at the gem once more. It shone a lustrous red, gleaming in the moonlight. It matched her eyes, he thought.
He was not going to mention the significance of giving a gemstone to another person in Brodian customs. It certainly was a love tradition and seen as a process of wooing potential partners in Brodia. But the gem itself was truly meant to bring courage to those who needed it. And from where he was standing, she needed all the courage she could muster. He was certain she was not aware of such traditions in Brodia. And seeing her hold the stone so preciously close, he felt that he had done some good to her. Just one step closer to achieving that peace he desperately yearned for between Brodia and Elusia.
He was drawn away from his thoughts when he noticed her shifting uncomfortably. He supposed that was too forward for him to give a present when they had not talked before. He needed a different approach.
“If it truly bothers you, you don’t have to keep it.” he said, standing up slowly. “Goodnight.”
He made a few paces when he looked back and saw her still seated on the couch. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed Ivy smiling softly at the gemstone, holding it so preciously to her chest.
Diamant slept soundly through the night.
-
It felt like she was avoiding him.
It made sense, he felt like he had pushed some boundary of hers. Crossed an invisible line between the two of them, as acting monarchs of their respective kingdoms. One gemstone could not account for the countless lives lost in the bloodshed amidst their conflict. But he thought he had changed something that night. He had seen her secretive smile and thought they were on the path to becoming cordial. He had felt a weight lift off his shoulders that he had carried ages ago. He was being too presumptuous. Perhaps he had not changed a single thing, and they were still sworn enemies till one of them died.
But at least here, in the Somniel, while they fought in the Divine Dragon’s army, they were equals. They fought for the same cause, and that alone brought them all together regardless of status, Diamant thought. Maybe it was too magnanimous of him to think so, but his upbringing in Brodia taught him that titles meant nothing, only strength mattered. All his fellow members were strong, so in his mind they were all equals. Perhaps Ivy didn’t think the same. Maybe she was still acting in accordance with political guidelines. Which meant she had no reason to interact with the Prince of Brodia at all, at least not cordially. After all, she could possibly come at him with a poisoned dagger.
He was standing on the bridge across the fishing pond. In his night stroll he had walked from the barracks through the gardens and ended up beneath the cherry blossom tree towering before him. He stood facing the tree, leaning his weight onto the railing behind him. Perhaps counting the falling petals would make him feel more inclined to sleep. They swayed gently in the night breeze before falling in scattered bunches into the water below.
“Prince Diamant,” a voice called behind him. Startled, he got up from the ground in an instant. There stood Ivy, dressed in what looked like commonfolk Elusian clothing with a shawl wrapped around her. She stood with her arms crossed, eyebrows knitted together. No dagger, at least. He thought, brushing himself off to face her.
“Princess,” he greeted, inclining his head. Her eyebrows furrowed closer together, and she tapped her finger impatiently against her arm.
“I wanted to apologize earlier,” she started, then paused. She looked down at the ground, heaving a large sigh. “I failed to thank you, for your discretion and for the gemstone.”
Diamant was confused. He was convinced she hated him not a moment ago, and now she appeared before him to thank him for his effort to comfort her. He rubbed his eyes discreetly, making sure she was not a figment of his imagination. No, still there.
“No, it’s fine,” he replied, hand finding his way to a pocket. “Brodia has a lot of things to answer for, offering a gem is the least I can do.” He almost snorted. If a simple gem could stop a war, his lofty goals of restoring peace would be meaningless. She stared at him unfettered, arms crossing tighter against her chest.
“I suppose that’s true, Brodia has invaded our lands many times,” she said. “I often wonder how our people would have fared without constant bloodshed and suffering.”
Diamant winced. That was fair. “That’s why you don’t owe me any gratitude,” he replied, meeting her eyes steadily.
“But you helped me, from one person to another, in accordance with your values.” She stated, eyes flashing dark with an intensity he was not used to. “That’s why I wanted to thank you, in accordance with my values.”
Perhaps the equal footing he longed to stand on with her wasn’t as far off as he thought. “I accept your gratitude, Princess Ivy.”
She huffed in reply, though not in indignation. She turned her head towards the cherry blossom tree they were standing under, watching the pink flowers drift slowly in the wind. Diamant watched her as the petals fluttered by her face, standing in silent awe of her beauty. They were silent like that for a few moments, the silence only broken by the whispers of the night breeze through the trees and the crying of crickets in the bushes near them. He was caught off guard when she finally turned back to him and spoke.
“It’s rather easy for one person to give a simple thank you to another,” she chuckled sarcastically. “It’s the same with apologies. It is only complicated when kingdoms are involved.”
Diamant wholeheartedly agreed. He knew apologies coming from his kingdom would mean nothing in the long run, and he knew as much. It would take a great change for the people of Elusia to trust them again. And that would start with reversing his father’s influence on their people. But that change would take time, time he did not know if he had the luxury to have. Nor would it be easy to undo the amount of trauma both parties had inflicted on each other. He didn’t know how long she listened to him ramble as they stood there quietly under the moonlight.
“Sometimes,” he sighed. “I don’t know if I’m ready to be a king.”
There was a pause for too long, and Diamant quickly gathered his panicked thoughts and stumbled out an apology. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to unload like that–”
“I know exactly how you feel.”
Diamant looked at her in confusion. She spoke in a light tone, quieter than usual. “No, really, I understand. I am relieved to hear you have the same concerns as I do.”
She smiled softly at him, the same smile that burned in his vision those many nights ago, and he felt his heart stop and stutter.
Her eyes shone bright under the moonlight as she gazed at him. “I’m much more hopeful now in that future where you and I are king and queen.”
Oh.
Oh.
-
They talked much more often after that, much to Diamant’s joy and internal suffering. At least she wouldn’t scurry away from him after the battles were over, going to tend to his wounds personally.
He was getting used to acknowledging that he was in love with her. Denying reality made it more painful to cope, but at least now he was honest. It was hard to accept that he was in love with a woman who would someday rule the kingdom of Elusia, a country that Brodia’s people despised. If he was to represent his people under his own rule, he could not be caught fraternizing with the “enemy,” so to speak. Nevertheless, it was difficult to view her as an enemy when he knew her personally. Before, it was simple to keep his distance when he was not aware of her awkward charms, secretive smiles, quiet laughs whenever she tended to her wyvern, and so forth. Yet, after knowing her on an intimate level, he could not stay away from her. He was well aware of the political challenges he would have to face were he to speak of his affections for her. Therefore, he decided to not speak about them at all. Diamant did not want to place that pressure onto Ivy, for he knew how damaging it would be for any rumors to circulate of how the future king of Brodia, a kingdom well known for terrorizing Elusia’s people, was vying for the affections of the future queen. His affections for her would appear to be manipulative and fake, truly coercive in regards to his goals of achieving peace. That was the last thing he wanted her to deal with. But it was a true love, one that he had no qualms about to smother and lock away. He just knew that he was in love, and it was that simple. And yet it wasn’t simple enough to just be in love, not with his royal status. There was no way that she, personally witnessing the crimes his country had committed against hers, would ever love him back. He scoffed at the idea of Ivy returning his affections.
He made sure to keep a respectful distance away from her when they would chat, or catch each other in the Somniel doing various activities. He was not sure if he was imagining it, but he felt as if she would anticipate his activities around the sacred grounds and meet him there. The timing was too coincidental sometimes, but he dared not take that as a sign of anything. Regardless, they began to talk more easily, even going so far as to spar with one another. (She had offered to switch magic tomes for him when he relayed his fear of fire, and he found the gesture quite sweet.) They hadn’t caught each other at night again, however. Diamant was finally sleeping well again, no nightmares to plague his dreams as often as they did before. However, he would be lying if he said he did not miss it, catching her wandering the grounds at night, illuminated by the moonlight. He wondered if he should consult Jade about writing poems. He found himself wanting to spend more and more time together, regardless if his affection was reciprocated or not.
He wasn’t sure if the Divine Dragon was just that omnipotent, or really had no clue, but they assigned the two of them to tend the stables together. Which meant that Diamant had his first close encounter with a wyvern.
“Oh, come on, she doesn’t bite,” Ivy chuckled, pushing Diamant closer to the flying beast. Diamant heard a low grumble from the wyvern, aptly named Evergreen, and felt his heart jumping out of his chest. By Gods this was terrifying. He wondered distantly how Alcryst had the nerve to go head first into combat against these creatures.
After a very brief petting session where he decided wyverns weren’t all that bad, he asked what Ivy had planned to do next after their chores were over. She smiled at him mischievously and suddenly Diamant felt ten degrees warmer.
“Would you like to go wyvern riding with me, Prince Diamant?”
-
They were on their way to Solm Palace when they heard the news of the youngest Elusian princess holding the Queen hostage.
Ivy’s face paled. “Hortensia…” She excused herself from the group and walked away quickly. Alear was prepared to follow her when Diamant stopped them, assuring them that he would go and check on her.
She had not gone far from the campsite. He found her seated on a large rock on the edge of an oasis pool. She was staring at the stars forlornly and made no indication she felt Diamant sitting next to her. He did not say a word, knowing that sometimes silence is the best comfort a person can give to another. Even if he wanted to talk, he did not know what words to say at that moment. He stared at the stars with her, trying to count the constellations he saw. Time passed for a while, both of them kicking their feet in the shallow depth of the oasis.
“How is your relationship with Prince Alcryst?” She asked. Diamant was not expecting that. He replied after a beat.
“We get along well enough,” he answered, not sure what else to say. Ivy barked out a laugh and kicked her feet more forcefully.
“I didn’t even have to ask,” she said. “Anyone could tell just by looking at the two of you.” She took off her fascinator and laid it next to her on the rock. “If people were to look at Hortensia and I, they wouldn’t be able to tell we were sisters.” Diamant turned to look at her, confused by the statement.
“Does that mean you two are not close?” he asked, treading lightly on the topic. He did not know much of Ivy’s situation at all, perhaps that was why she felt it easier to speak to him on the topic. If she wanted him to be a pillar of support, then he would do his best to listen.
Ivy cast her eyes downward, looking into the pool. “We were pitted against each other in the royal court for as long as I can remember.” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Everyone in the palace did everything they could to separate us and make us antagonize each other.”
Diamant frowned at that statement. Ivy sensed his mounting confusion and chuckled at him.
“Hortensia and I are half siblings,” she explained. “We have different mothers.”
Ah, well that explained most of it, he thought. “Was there conflict in who decided to ascend to the throne?”
“There were factions,” she replied. “One that supported Her Majesty, my mother, and another that supported Her Highness, Hortensia’s mother.” Her lips formed a thin line. “You can imagine the internal struggle for yourself.”
“My mother continually agonized her mother, right up until she died.” She continued, face grimaced at the memory. “She died while Hortensia was very young, leaving her at the mercy of the royal court alone.”
“I remember her myself, actually.” Ivy sighed. “A wonderful woman, too bright for our nobility. They trampled on her kindness, really.” She crossed her arms tightly. “I can’t begin to imagine what kind of resentment she has for me now, to have left her alone in that environment for so long.”
Diamant put a hand on her shoulder. “Surely she doesn’t resent you,” he said.
“I’m sure she does,” Ivy countered. “She worked so hard to emulate her mother, her love and charm breaking through all that hate,” she paused, kicking a stone into the pool. “She skipped grades in the academy to catch up to me, to prove she could be better than me. Better than this.”
Diamant thought of Alcryst picking up a bow for the first time. It had been the day after Diamant refused to let him join in on his training, stating that his weak body could not manage it. He did not want Alcryst collapsing like their mother died, as he inherited her weak constitution. He remembered all the times he found his brother silently fuming through his own training, trying hard to get his body to keep up. He removed his hand from Ivy’s shoulder, causing her to look at him.
“It sounds to me as if she worked so hard to be on equal standing with you,” he said smiling. “Not to put you down, but to prove herself to you.” He leaned back against his hands. “I think she just wanted to be with you.”
He swore, for a moment, he saw something glistening in her eyes before she turned away, looking towards the night sky once again. She cleared her throat and swiped at her eyes not so subtly. Diamant did not comment. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and saw Alear waving at them to come back. Ivy followed his gaze and waved back weakly to the Divine Dragon.
He got up and offered his hand to Ivy to take, which she did. She looked up at him with determined eyes, shining with that fierceness that he loved so much. “I suppose we shall see very soon,” she said, getting up with his support and walking away.
Later, Diamant and the group witnessed Hortensia launching herself into Ivy’s arms crying profusely at Solm’s Palace. He caught her eye for a quick moment and they smiled at each other.
-
It was getting harder and harder to spend time with Ivy, as her sister had come back like a hurricane and demanded all of her attention. It was nice to see the two sisters get along so well, as well as people gravitating to Ivy now that they saw her in a better light due to Hortensia’s influence.
Even Alcryst started to warm up to her, Diamant noticed. He saw his brother become the short end of the stick for Ivy’s teasing, a welcome sight in comparison to the open hostility shown before. If his brother could have a change of heart, who would say that the people of Brodia could not also? He was glad to see that his dream was not as far off as he thought.
He spent more time with the rest of the nobles in their group. Jogging with Alfred, tea time with Celine, hanging out with Timerra and Fogado in the capital city, even gaining some mutual understanding and respect with the Divine Dragon. That surprised him the most, to find out that his deity was as human as Diamant was.
It was when he was spending time with the Solm siblings that he noticed her standing at the wayside stall, picking at wares to buy. Hortensia was nowhere to be seen, but Ivy’s retainer Zelkov was right by her side. She was consulting him about something serious, from what he could see. They were shifting through all of the merchant’s wares, trying to find something, but Diamant could not just walk over and see.
“Hey, Diamant?” Fogado asked, waving his hand in the prince’s face. “What’s up? You were distracted for a bit.” Diamant brushed off his concern, citing that it was just a little too hot outside.
As it was, because they were in the capital city of Solm yet again. There was another skirmish outside of the kingdom, and Alear had decided that their army needed a break before moving on to the next objective. Everyone had split off into their own groups and wandered the desert city. Diamant had not dressed the part of a desert native, and his armor clung uncomfortably to his skin.
“Well yeah, of course you are!” Timerra exclaimed, jumping up into his space. “We need to get you a campfire ready outfit for tonight.” She pulled them over to a clothing stall in the market and held up various pieces of clothing. “Hmm, you don’t look too good in yellow, huh,” she pouted.
Diamant almost took offense to that. He thought he looked fantastic in his Brodian regalia, a deep crimson robe with gold threading on its exterior. Then again, its main color was red, not yellow. He sighed and allowed himself to be pulled into comparing various fabrics with Timerra and Fogado, who took more interest in this than usual. The two of them picked out several clothes from a myriad of colors, it started to make Diamant feel nauseous.
“I got to make sure my man looks snazzy!” Fogado grinned at him, pulling out an orange and white tunic. “It’s a special night tonight, we’re celebrating getting these rings back!”
Diamant never wanted to crawl into a hole more than he did then. He looked back towards the stall where Ivy and Zelkov were and found them to be gone. He sighed, letting the siblings fuss over him like they wanted to. He at least hoped he could sit with Ivy tonight at the campfire.
Night came, and Diamant once again felt his heart stop dead in his chest. There stood Ivy, a little away from where he entered, standing with the other women in what appeared to be Solm cultural wear. Her fascinator was gone, simply replaced by a sheer black veil to go with the flowing skirt ensemble. The cropped blouse was accentuated by golden jewels he had never seen before. Her anklets adorned with brightly shining bells jingled with every step she took. Her pale skin was almost glowing in the moonlight, and by Gods did she take his breath away. She finally caught his look and smiled at him before walking away with the others. He managed a weak wave before she turned away, and heard Fogado snort behind him. He turned quickly to scowl at the Solm prince before he sat down on the blanket, ignoring the growing laughter at his expense.
-
Diamant couldn’t sleep once again.
It was not nightmares this time, notably. He hadn’t had as many for a while now, none of them so bad that he could not fall back asleep again. No, he was awake for a different reason. His affection for Ivy was growing more intense by the day. In his waking hours he imagined a life with her by his side, ruling over their kingdoms with harmony and peace. At night, he dreamt of a more intimate life with her, showering her in affections he could only dare to dream of in the cover of night. He wished for nothing more than a life of happiness with the woman he chose to fall in love with.
He didn’t know if he could be satisfied with just loving her from a distance anymore, and that scared him more than anything. He knew firsthand how terrible the relations were between Brodia and Elusia, and while they had talked briefly of his plan of peace, he wasn’t sure if taking Elusia’s future queen away from the people for a political (and love) marriage would be the best course of action. He was certain this would cause inner conflict, especially within the courts of Elusia. This might even bolster the faction that wished to bring her younger sister to the throne. Was Hortensia even ready to lead their kingdom? He didn’t want to throw that onto such a young child. He knew that Ivy lived her life with pride and determination that she would rule over Elusia. He couldn’t just take that away from her with such a selfish notion of love. Love would be letting her rule over the kingdom, letting her decide what Elusia stood for. Love was not anchoring her to his side, he decided. It was about her dreams.
But what about his own dreams? He was getting ahead of himself, he already knew the answer in his heart. There was no way she could love him back, especially after all that his kingdom had put them through. There was too much to answer for, and love was not going to be enough to bridge the gap between them. The crimes his army had committed in the name of territory expansion and power were too cruel. Too many people shed blood and died in the name of the Brodian Kingdom. She had to know this, and the fact that she tolerated him thus far meant that she was willing to do anything for her kingdom to prosper. She tolerated him as a friend, as an equal in their army to defeat an even bigger evil threatening their way of life. And if after this, they all survived and won the war, their everyday interactions would cease. No more would they be equals in a war, nor would they recline together after battles. They would not train together, or sit together and talk about the future. They would not share deep secrets they were afraid to let anyone else hear. They would simply go back to being neighboring monarchs of their kingdoms. They would have nothing to do with each other anymore. His dream was simple enough, he just wanted peace for himself, their kingdoms, and for the entire world. If his peace lied with her, then so be it. It was a peace he would protect from afar. No one would disrupt it, not even himself.
He leaned against the balcony railing and observed the grounds from the terrace above. This was his favorite place in the Somniel. It was high enough to make him feel nostalgic of the steep mountaintops of Brodia. He looked over the grounds, the distant splashing of the fountain drowning out his thoughts. He closed his eyes, enjoying the peace the quiet night gave him. Soon, he heard steps coming towards him from his left. He opened his eyes to see Ivy ascending the stairs to join him, and he couldn’t help but look fondly at her. He might as well enjoy her presence while he can, no matter how fleeting the moment.
“Prince Diamant,” she greeted, smiling at him in that soft way that made his brain feel like mush. He smiled back at her and leaned away from the railing. She moved closer to him, and the words he started to form stopped. “I would like to show you something.”
She raised her hands to her chest and lifted an ornate necklace made of a shining metal. Its design was interlocking chains coming together to frame a red gemstone in the center. The red stone shone brilliantly even in the dim light. The craftsmanship of this necklace must be sought after, he could not find a better jeweler in all of Brodia that could compete with such skill. His eyes drifted back to the stone in the center and suddenly it clicked.
“Is that,” he started, trying to get his words out. “Is that the gemstone I gave you?”
Her smile widened as she clasped her hands in front of her. “The very same,” she replied. “I decided to make it into something I can wear every day.”
“It’s stunning,” he said. He was being honest; it was such a beautiful piece of jewelry and was amazed at the sheer talent Ivy possessed.
“We don’t have materials like this in Elusia,” she continued, holding the gemstone. “But we do have skills in artisanship. Perhaps this is a symbol of the way forward for us—Brodian resourcefulness, Elusian talent.”
Diamant felt like he was dreaming. Ivy was discussing a future of peace with him, a future of trade and commerce and peace. The very same goal that motivated him to be king, was now shared by a woman he now trusted with his life. He felt as if she was holding his heart in her hands, metaphorically and literally.
He expressed as much to her, that the necklace was a symbol of their shared goal. “It is both of our kingdoms intertwined,” he said, looking fondly at her. “I promise you that Brodia will champion peace under my rule.” He grabbed her hand and pulled it close to his chest. “I swear to you,” he said as he pulled her fingers to his lips, lightly pressing them together.
He dared not look at her, his heart beating thunderously in his chest as he let go of her hand and let his own fall to his side. He did not see the light blush spreading across her face. She turned away to face the railing and held the gemstone gently in her hands.
“This gem really has made me braver,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at him. “Where else would I have gotten the courage to reimagine our entire relationship?”
As friends, you idiot, she meant as friends. “Yes, I’m glad,” he said, holding out his hand once again. “Let’s shake on it as leaders and friends. A new era of peace begins right here.”
He saw an emotion flash across her eyes again in a split second, but he couldn’t place it. It was soon replaced by that gentle smile he loved so dearly. She grasped his hand and shook firmly.
Finally, he could see over the horizon. The dawn of a new day between two kingdoms.
-
Alcryst noticed almost immediately.
Diamant should have figured out his little brother, while flighty and meek as he seemed, was very perceptive and observing others. It’s not that he meant to hide it, not at all. He was proud of the fact that he gave the gemstone to Ivy. He just supposed that he had more time to think of an excuse to his fellow Brodians before they took notice of such a brilliant stone hanging from her neck. It turned out he had no time at all.
He had finally gotten back into the habit of fishing, even pulling along Alcryst that morning for a little spot of fun. He had been avoiding this activity since King Morion’s death. His father loved to take Alcryst and Diamant on fishing trips when they were younger, and he made a competition each time to see who would catch the most fish. He smiled a little at the memory, glancing over at his brother to his left. Diamant knew Alcryst missed their father as much as he did, and he knew checking in wasn’t enough. He figured he wasn’t spending enough time with his brother besides training and meals, so fishing was the next best hobby. They both stood on the docks, fishing rods in hand and listened to the background noises of the pond and the nature around them. It was a peaceful and uneventful morning. He would not have wanted it any other way.
Ivy and Hortensia walked by, greeting them and saying hello. Hortensia immediately started ganging up on Alcryst, much to the older two’s delight. It was nice to see the younger brother get out of his shell and have fun. He was in the middle of going back and forth with the sister when suddenly his eyes locked onto the necklace Ivy was wearing.
“Princess,” he began, staring intently at the red stone. “What is it that you’re wearing?”
Ivy clasped the stone in her hand and smiled at him. “It’s a stone your brother gave me, I had just made it into a necklace, you see.” She leaned over and showed the necklace off to him. “It’s a gem that’s supposed to give one courage.”
Alcryst cut his eyes at Diamant for a beat too long. “I see,” he replied. “It looks beautiful on you, Princess Ivy. My brother seems to have chosen well.” Diamant lightly coughed, trying to get his attention elsewhere.
“I think something’s pulling your line, Alcryst,” he said, nodding to the fishing rod in his hands. The side eye that Alcryst was giving him was so intense that Hortensia, being the prying eye that she was, noticed as well. She narrowed her eyes at the two of them while she clung to her sister’s side. She loudly declared that she was hungry and with an indulgent chuckle from Ivy, the two set off towards the dining hall.
Silence hung between the two brothers for a few moments. He debated if he should just jump into the pond now and drown himself there. After a few more minutes of internal strife, Alcryst broke the silence.
“So,” he started, casting his fishing rod once again into the water. Alcryst didn’t continue, letting the silence between them start once again. Diamant started to feel sweaty even in the cool morning breeze. He wondered briefly if Evergreen would consider eating him as a snack. Maybe he would taste too gamey for her liking.
“Does she know?” he finally asked, looking at his older brother meaningfully.
“...no,”
A sigh. Alcryst looked back towards the pond and shook his head.
“You can be really thick-headed sometimes, Diamant.”
-
Alcryst, bless his heart, had managed to use discretion and told the Brodian members of their group to not say anything to the Princess. He appreciated his retainers’ loyalty to keep his secret, but that did not stop the smug looks from Amber and Citrinne all week. Jade even came up to him and asked to use his story in one of the books that she was writing. Anonymously of course, she stressed. Lapis was the only one who did not tease him, offering sympathetic smiles whenever they met.
Hortensia, on the other hand, must have gotten some clue or another from Alcryst or an outside source. She would not stop scowling at him whenever they met, steering Ivy away from him at all costs. It seemed she did not want to fight for her sister’s attention, and was trying to get rid of the competition. It was fine, really.
It gave him more time to think about Ivy. The constant push and pull of her presence was bolstering the creativity of his imagination. He dreamt of inviting her back to Brodia, to view the beautiful canyon scenery from the rugged mountaintops. He imagined her walking through his castle’s library, sharing books that they would want to read side by side. He envisioned a future where he could walk through the gates of Elusia Castle and not be accosted by angry citizens. One where he could accompany her to the frozen lakes of the east, watching shooting stars by the lakebed. He imagined them huddled for warmth beside a small fire, whispering things of no particular importance as the embers smoldered through the night. He called her by her name, without any titles or formalities in these daydreams. She would smile at him and call him by his given name as well. He thought of a world where he did not have to worry about nobility and politics, just him and his love.
He consulted Alfred most of the time. He found their sparring sessions and workout routines to be helpful when he needed to clear his mind. The prince of Firene had a knack for knowing when people were in need of advice, it seemed. So it was that the two of them would talk about various things Diamant was troubled by after a long day of exercise.
That particular day, he decided to address the situation directly. “I’m in love with someone,” he said, opening his flask of water with more trouble than needed. Why were his hands so sweaty?
Alfred looked at him solemnly, “Look Prince Diamant, I’m flattered, but,” he started, and Diamant felt his face burned bright at the implication.
“I-I wasn’t,” he stammered, flailing his hands around his body for emphasis that no, he wasn’t sending advances towards his best friend. Alfred laughed good naturedly and continued polishing his training spear.
“I’m just kidding,” he giggled, “But man, the look on your face!”
Diamant threw his water flask in the prince’s direction and received louder laughter in response.
The conversation flowed into a serious tone, after that. Alfred listened intently, nodding his head along at instances and humming in response to sentences where Diamant started to ask redundant questions to himself. For all of his playfulness and naivety, Alfred was a good friend and trusted ally. Diamant would never have thought he would find his close friend in such a lighthearted person, but he did always enjoy Alfred’s infectious laughter whenever he told jokes. Alfred’s frown started to deepen while Diamant was close to the end of his rambling.
“Well, this sounds really serious,” he finally spoke after a bout of silence. “You must really love this person, huh,”
Diamant nodded. Alfred let out a low whistle and started to tap his fingers against the spear in rhythmic fashion. “I don’t think it’s a crime to love someone, though,” he mumbled.
Diamant wanted to snort. It was, especially for him. A prince from a war-mongering kingdom that harbored affection towards the princess of the kingdom they were against. Alfred’s eyes flashed indignantly as he put his spear down forcefully.
“I’m serious!” he exclaimed, “It’s not like we can choose why or how we fall in love with someone, so why would it be wrong for you,” Alfred looked sheepish for a second. “Maybe my Emblem is rubbing off on me,”
“But I think what matters the most is what you choose to do with your love,” he continued, picking up his water flask. “You sound resigned to ignore it, but is that really what you want to do?”
No, Diamant thought, he wanted to run over to her and kneel down and beg her for forgiveness. Tell her that he would do anything to make things right between them, even if it meant giving up his own life.
“I don’t think love is enough to make up for the things I’ve done,” he finally said, “Not enough for what my country has done.”
Alfred stayed silent for a moment, and for a moment Diamant thought he spoke too much, before the prince looked at him intently.
“But it’s how love powers you to fix those mistakes you made, right?” Alfred smiled at him, “I think that’s what matters more, if your love has enough power to influence your decisions for the future. I think as long as you have the willpower to commit to those changes, love can power you through anything!”
Diamant smiled as he took a small drink from his flask. It was a very Alfred-like answer. Pure, naive, and full of hope. He fully believed in the goodness of everyone.
“I doubt it will be as easy as you say,” he sighed, “It will be an arduous process of restoration and change before I can even begin to sort out these feelings.”
“Then just enjoy your time with Princess Ivy now,” Alfred replied, rocking back and forth on the stone tile. “I don’t see anything wrong with spending time with a precious friend while you have the chance.”
“And who knows, maybe she’s thinking about this the same way you are?” Alfred’s eyebrows waggled suggestively at the thought. “Wouldn’t that be funny?”
Diamant looked around for something to throw while Alfred yelped and instinctively covered his face. He sighed once more before turning around to gather his things. No, he decided, it would not be funny. It would be torturous to know that she wanted to forgive him after all that happened. It would not be fair to her people.
He looked down at the gathering clouds beneath the Somniel and saw them darkening. He prayed that the storm would be over soon, the one brewing below and the one in his heart.
-
Of course, fate had a cruel way of showing how unjust the reality of the world was.
The fight at the Florra port came with unexpected twists. Coming face to face with the Corrupted Hyacinth was alarming on many levels. Ivy cried out, being held back by both Hortensia and Alear. The enemy knew no mercy, even using the face of the father she loved dearly.
“You would have me fight my own father,” she gritted out, blinking back unshed tears. “Why me?”
The enemy commander, Veyle, stepped forward with a chuckle. “For vengeance, of course. Think of it as payback for Destinea Cathedral.”
Ivy’s eyes blazed with righteous fury as she mounted her wyvern and stormed through the fiery battlefield. Diamant could hardly keep up, flanking her to make sure she was not surrounded on all sides as she tore onward through the port. He was having a hard time himself, with fire surrounding him on all sides. He felt himself grow weak at times, breath short as he tried to calm himself down from the mounting panic of the rising flames. A flurry of arrows shot by, taking down an enemy to his right that he had not noticed. Alcryst appeared at his side and nodded at him before running ahead with the rest of their army. Hortensia appeared shortly after him with a flick of her healing staff, and he felt his nerves ease up and breathing pattern regulated. He expressed his thanks and she huffed in annoyance before her eyes snapped ahead. Diamant followed her gaze and saw that Ivy was getting very close to her father. Before he could react, he felt a rush of light envelop him and felt himself warped right beside Ivy. covering her left side. He whipped his head back and saw the younger sister lower her staff before flying over to the other members of the army to heal and support.
Diamant saw the others steadily advancing, and turned his head back to Ivy, who was now closing in on her father. She stopped to speak to him, and suddenly Diamant was transported back to that fateful night in Destinea Cathedral, and instead of King Hyacinth stood his father, less human and more demonic. She said a few words not unlike his own from back then, and he felt his heart seize at the thought of Ivy having to kill her father at her own hands. But, he thought as he glanced back, seeing Hortensia move slightly closer to the rest of the army, better her than anyone else. Diamant turned back to the scene in front of him and fought the rest of the enemies trying to flank Ivy’s blind sides. He swung his axe from the ground in an arc that hit all that dared to approach. He continued cutting enemies down until he was momentarily blinded by a flash of light. He looked over and saw Ivy’s hair and clothes transformed into brilliant green and blue. She had finally used her Emblem, it seemed. He saw her ready a glowing tome raise her arms towards her father. Diamant felt movement at his side and saw that the Divine Dragon and their army had finally caught up. In a flash of magical power, Hyacinth was brought down. He stumbled to the ground as he started to disappear, saying his final words of goodbye to both his daughters.
“Elusia is yours to lead…” he coughed wetly, gasping for air, “and yours to save.”
Diamant’s eyes never left her, and he watched her tears flow freely as she stood tall in the battlefield. Her father’s figure crumbled and disappeared before her eyes. She wiped her tears with her free hand just as Hortensia flew to her side.
A sudden flurry of attacks caught his eye from the left and he saw Veyle starting to advance towards them. Diamant picked up his axe and willed his Emblem to aid him. The battle was not over.
-
The ship ride to Elusia was rough. Diamant was not sure how to approach her, if he even had the capacity to speak to her about anything that had just happened. He supposed he could level with her on losing a father, but perhaps it was too soon. It was a sensitive topic for both of them, as eldest children of the throne. He knew that she probably also had the talk of when her time as successor would appear, and at the expense of her father’s death. But it was never truly enough to prepare you when it happened. All he could think about then was all the things he left unsaid, the things he had yet to learn from his father, the mountain of pressure now piled onto his shoulders. And the regret of leaving the grieving kingdom behind to fight a war no one was prepared for.
He wondered if she felt the same way he did then. If that was the case, she needed a friend in solidarity. Someone to share the pain with. Someone who understood. But he did not get the chance to approach her during the evening, as those close to her went to give their regards, and so time passed on and everyone went to their respective quarters.
Diamant found himself unable to sleep that night. The nightmares of the fight at Destinea plagued him once again. He figured as time passed the nightmares would cease in vivid imagery. But it seemed that was not the case, he thought bitterly as he rose from the bed. It seemed like he wasn’t going back to sleep anytime soon. He got dressed and grabbed his cloak hanging off the desk chair.
He wandered out of the sleeping quarters and onto the ship deck. The cold salty breeze of the night air hit him with a force he did not expect. Good thing he brought his cloak. He walked out further on the deck and realized belatedly that he was not alone. There stood Ivy at the bow of the ship, hands clutching the rails as she looked out beyond the dark sea. He walked slowly so as to not startle her, as she appeared to be deep in thought. He joined her side and leaned his arms against the rail, trying to peer beyond the dark waters. He said nothing, giving her the space to talk if she felt like it.
“I had not expected it to turn out like this,” she said. She brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “I didn’t think I would be the one to do it.”
Diamant still said nothing, but shuffled closer to her and leaned against her side, shoulder to shoulder at the bow. She sighed and leaned more into him.
“Is this how you felt?” she asked, turning towards him, “at the Cathedral, I mean.” Diamant looked at her carefully, noting her sunken face and red rimmed eyes. He nodded and stared back towards the sea.
“At first, I thought it wasn’t fair,” he admitted, hands gripping the railing tightly. “Sometimes, I lie awake at night and still don’t think it was fair. But I would rather it be me ending his life than anyone else in our army.” He looked back at her with a wry smile. “I don’t think I would have forgiven myself If I let Alcryst do it.”
She looked at him intensely. “I would never have let Hortensia approach him either,” she replied, eyes flitting with emotions. “I would rather have died myself.”
He barked out a laugh. That, he could agree with. She smiled at his outburst of laughter and turned to face him fully, hands letting go of the railing.
“I feel as though,” she said, eyes searching for something on his face, “that whenever I am in emotional distress, you come swiftly to my aid.”
“That’s what friends are for, right?” he chuckled, “to be there when you need them.”
He turned away once again before he could see her face, which fell for a second before returning to casual indifference. “Yes,” she replied, “friends, indeed.”
Before he could ask what she meant, she had pushed her way in front of him on the bow so that she could stand in front of Diamant with him crowding the space directly behind her. His arms were still holding onto the railing, and were now dangerously close to embracing Ivy to his chest. He froze, mind stuttering to a halt.
Um . “Princess?” he tried, not daring to move a muscle. She didn’t reply, only leaned back against his chest with her arms wrapped around herself. He swore internally, he was so much close r to her than ever before. He tried to calm himself by focusing on the noises of the night around him. The splashing of the water, the whistling of the breeze, Ivy calling his name. Hm?
Diamant snapped back to reality. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch what you said, Princess.” She huffed at him and leaned more of her weight into him, while Diamant screamed in internal agony at the feeling of her softness on his body.
“I said friends do this often, don’t they?” she said, shivering slightly before continuing. “Comfort one another with casual physical affection. I wanted to try it myself.”
What, exactly, was casual about this? Luckily her shaking distracted him from any more panicked thoughts as he took off his cloak and wrapped it around her bare shoulders. He had noticed she was dressed in rather thin sleepwear before, but figured she was used to the Elusian winds. He felt satisfied with his job, and resumed his light hold of her at the railing. He looked down at the woman in his arms and noticed the light flush of her cheeks deepening at the gesture. He smiled, allowing himself that moment of confidence to hold her gently against his chest with no qualms. Friends were allowed that much, he reasoned, his heart screaming otherwise.
“Yes, I suppose they do,” he replied, resting his head on top of hers. She hummed lightly in response and drew the cloak and his arms closer around her. And instead of panicking at the intimacy of the action, he allowed himself to be in the moment. He did not know how long it would last, and let himself be indulgent for a moment in time. A moment of peace.
He could have lost her that night, he thought with a grimace. She could have easily lost herself against their enemies and thrown herself into battle with even more reckless abandon than what she did. Any of those enemy commanders would have been able to swoop in and deal a devastating blow to herself and her steed. Diamant was no fool, he understood why. He knew what it was like to be engulfed in flames of vengeance, the single-minded focus to destroy those who harmed family and loved ones. He had encountered those same thoughts before, many months ago in Destinea Cathedral. It was only thanks to the Divine Dragon and his little brother who supported him that he was able to pull himself together. But Ivy— she was used to doing things alone. Perhaps it was the way she was raised, he mused. She had not waited for anyone in battle, and simply ran ahead with one purpose in mind. He was lucky enough that he was able to move with her in time, thanks to Hortensia. If he was any slower…
He dared not think about that. He could no longer imagine a world without her in it.
“Hey, Ivy,” he said, forgoing any title. If she gave any indication she was bothered, he did not hear any. She hummed in response, waiting for him to speak again.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said, resting his cheek against the top of her head. He felt a soft smile spread across her face.
“I’m glad you’re here too, Diamant.”
-
So much happened in the span of those few months. Diamant could barely keep up with what was going on. Losing their army commander and dear friend the Divine Dragon, morale was quickly lost and there was no hope of winning the war against the Fell Dragon. And then miraculously, the Divine Dragon had come back thanks to the Emblems granting their thousand-year wish. And then suddenly, they were thrown into battle after battle against foes they had faced before and multitudes of Corrupted beings. It was almost too much.
But their army had seen the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel now, and they were gaining momentum to make up for time lost grieving their heavy losses. There was no time for rest for anyone. And suddenly, there they were, against the culmination of all evil. The Fell Dragon stood before them, in his demonic beast form. He was larger than any foe they had ever faced, and yet… They stood strong, united together in the belief that they would conquer. Diamant felt his resolve strengthening. He was ready to throw his life away for the sake of the world. He only hoped that Brodia would endure long after he was gone.
He glanced at Ivy one last time before getting into battle formation. He prayed that at least she would survive the battle and restore peace to Elusia.
He steadied his heart and willed his Emblem to come forth one last time. It was do or die.
-
Of course, they won the war.
They had suffered no casualties, thank the Gods. Diamant looked over to Ivy and smiled, happy that she was alive to see her nation restored under her power. He looked at Alcryst to his left and felt a happiness that was unshakeable.
Perhaps things were going to be alright.
Of course, they had to celebrate right away. They decided to send news to their respective kingdoms that the war was now over and everyone to gather at the newly repaired Holy Castle in the land of Lythos. They had to crown the Divine Dragon as the new God of the continent of Elyos. Everyone was more than happy to prepare the coronation ceremony, happiness and cheer spreading through the land at the thought of the battles finally over.
That morning, Diamant stood away from his fellow monarchs as they busied themselves with preparing Alear for the celebrations. He took a moment to think of all that had happened and was glad that he was able to leave the war alive with his life and his love. He glanced back at his friends, who were digging through numerous sacred robes to try and find a gown that matched Alear’s complexion. He chuckled and turned back towards the terrace balcony. He supposed they could handle it.
Diamant almost didn’t hear the footsteps behind him amid the chatter and noise. He shifted over to see that Ivy had joined him at his side, not a trace of worry on her face. She sighed contentedly as she leaned against his side in a familiar fashion.
“I am truly glad that it is over,” she said, brushing a lock of hair back. “Now, we can all finally rest.”
Diamant chuckled good naturedly at her. “Perhaps you can rest,” he replied, “But I have internal matters to resolve in my Kingdom, such as nonaggression treaties and establishing methods of reparation.”
“You say that as if you are doing this alone,” she said, glancing at him suspiciously. “You do know that I will assist you in any way I can, correct?”
Diamant did not reply, instead closing his eyes and listening to the sound of the birds chirping, their friends behind them chatting loudly, and the bustling of the courtyard below them. He focused on all these things and decided he would fight for the right thing. To protect this peace in this world of his. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a hand grab his own. He looked down to see Ivy with a dark blush on her face, gripping his hand tightly.
“Diamant,” she began, interlacing their fingers. “We are in this together, right?”
He squeezed her hand in response, which made Ivy’s face bloom with a bright smile he had never seen before. He smiled back at her, genuinely feeling like nothing else mattered in the moment.
They were going to be alright.
—