Chapter Text
"Ugh... huh?"
His head hurt. Opening his eyes only to be blinded by the already dimmed moonlight passing through the remains of broken stained glass that hung from the shattered pillars of the castle ruins, Tsukasa slowly regained senses of his body, and boy, he felt pain rack his entire system.
"Gnk! Agh..."
He curled his fingers and toes, relieved that he still has control over his limbs. Albeit painful, he struggled to shove off some of the rubble on top his torso and casted it over to the side.
*CRASH!*
A deep, rumbling echo resonated through the desolate ruins. The surrounding area seems to stir with the wind's howling, and Tsukasa was not sure if he was hearing dreadful voices of monsters nearby.
He finally managed to sit upright, but his head throbbed.
"Ah! Ngh, why does my head hurt so much...?"
He placed a palm onto his temple. Blood trickled down towards his hands, staining the already sullied sleeves of his armor and outfit. It was unsightly, but Tsukasa figured that he was bleeding due to the pain he felt.
Tearing off a piece of cloth from his cape, Tsukasa wrapped it around his head to stop the bleeding as much as he can. Taking a deep breath, he tried to analyze what was happening.
"..."
He can't.
He doesn't even know where he is, what happened that led to the circumstances he's in, and who to seek out for help.
He only knows his name, and that's it. Tsukasa Tenma, and nothing else comes to his mind.
"I need to get out of here."
He propped himself to stand up, but a sharp pain rocked his knees, causing him to stumble forward and slide down the hill of rubble he dug himself out of.
"Ah! OW!"
He rolled downhill until he was leveled to the floor. The sound of his tumble echoed once more into the halls of the ruins.
"Is someone there?! Hello?!"
A voice... It sounded like a lady.
Despite the pain, Tsukasa managed to elicit a cry for help.
"O-over... Over here!"
"Prince Tsukasa?! Thank goodness, you're alive!"
Footsteps grew louder towards Tsukasa's direction. Not long after, someone was standing beside him. They knelt down, and Tsukasa's eyes widened upon the sight of another person.
It wasn't just anyone, it was a lady dressed in ornate armor. Her silky, azure hair dropped down nearly caressing his cheeks, and her eyes were mature yet gentle, filled with concern for the man she locked her gaze with.
A bow was straddled on her back, alongside a few other close quarters weapons such as a short sword and dagger.
"Oh, I'm so relieved you're still alive! At the very least, there still will be hope."
Tsukasa frowned. Did she just call him a prince?
"Ah, but you're in horrible shape! I'll patch you up, if I have the permission to do so. Can you stand?"
Why does she have to ask me permission? Tsukasa thought to himself.
"I... I think I can stand... Please, a little assistance."
The azure haired lady hoisted the injured prince gently until he could stand up. He had a limp on one leg, so the lady put his arm around her to serve as a human crutch.
"Come now. We must vacate this place at once."
"Wait, please."
The azure haired lady stopped and looked at Tsukasa.
"Hm? What is it?"
"Who... Who are you? And why am I here? What's happening?"
"Hold on, Prince Tsukasa, you don't remember who I am, or what just happened?!"
"No... Should I be remembering something?"
She examined his face and noticed the drops of blood trickling from his temple.
"Ah... You've hit your head pretty badly. I understand, you've lost your memory."
Tsukasa nodded. He wasn't sure if he really did, but seeing as he had absolutely no idea what is going on, then it's safe to say the amnesia case is the most plausible theory.
"All I remember is my name... Tsukasa Tenma."
"Then allow me to introduce myself once we've made it out and settled in my nearby camp."
He remained silent, allowing himself to be escorted out by the knightess. She was referring to him as a prince... but why? Perhaps this was his castle and they lost in a war?
His thoughts dissolved as they finally made their way out to the open clearing, and he wasn't sure if it was better that he had just stayed inside the ruins. The skies were tinged with a crimson hue like blood had spilt through the atmosphere. He couldn't even tell if it was daytime or nightfall as the light of the sun, nor any celestial bodies, were absent.
Nevertheless, he couldn't ask questions as the azure knightess continued to walk, and he had to follow suit as she was his only support.
"Here we are..."
She had led them into a small clearing within a forested area. A tent was pitched up, and there was an extinguished campfire a few meters outside. The knightess took out some coal from a knapsack lying beside the tent and set it ablaze, lighting up the campfire and providing some sort of comfort.
"..."
Tsukasa watched the flickering flames. Warm light... This feeling was tingly, and he couldn't explain why.
"My prince?"
His thoughts were interrupted as the knightess approached her, carrying medical salves and bandages.
"Ah. Thank you."
He subjected himself to her, and she treated all wounds that were visible on his body and head.
"Hmhm, thankfully, you didn't seem to get hurt badly. What a miracle, especially after..."
Her words trailed of, not finishing her sentence.
"Nevermind. You need to get some rest."
"Well, before I do, I'd like to know what's going on... and your name, dear knightess."
"Oh, I guess I did forget to introduce myself. Pardon me~."
She laughed daintily with a wink. She brushed off a few strands of her hair and tilted over to Tsukasa's direction with a smile.
"Nice to meet you again, my prince. My name is Shizuku Hinomori, Knights' Captain of the now fallen Phoenix's Crest Kingdom."
Fallen... Kingdom? Those words struck something within Tsukasa. Whichever ruins he was lying down in, that was a part of his kingdom, meaning his people and possibly his royal family is dead, and he couldn't even remember how it all happened. He tucked away these thoughts and focused on his present company instead.
"Knights' Captain... I see. You must be very skilled and battle-worn to earn such a title, Lady Shizuku."
The knightess named Shizuku blushed when Tsukasa addressed her formally.
"Oh, please! No need to call me 'Lady', my prince. I'm not worthy of being addressed with such nobility from royalty such as yourself."
"I'm not even sure if I still hold grounds to be called 'Royalty' myself, Lady Shizuku."
Tsukasa let out a small, bitter laugh.
"I don't even know who I am, or who I was. If it is as you say that I was a prince of a now ruined kingdom, then it means there's a fault within me that had failed to defend my land. Thus, I cannot accept that I be referred to as a prince anymore."
"Oh, is that so..."
Shizuku's head hung slightly, a bit discouraged and dismayed to see Tsukasa's pain-filled expression. He saw this, and quickly shifted his mood.
"Ah, but if it makes you feel any better, you can still address me as such if you're used to that! I apologize for being such a downer."
"Mmm, it's alright. I want to address you on how you wish to be addressed, my pri-, um..."
Tsukasa inched closer to Shizuku and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Just Tsukasa is fine, and I'll call you Shizuku from now on."
"Just our first names... like friends?"
"Yeah, exactly like that. You wouldn't mind, right Shizuku?"
"O-oh! Um..."
Shizuku was trying to hide her face with the locks of her hair. She can feel her cheeks flush red, but thankfully, Tsukasa did not seem to notice."
"Y-yes, that would be perfect, my Tsukasa~."
"M-my Tsukasa?!"
"Eep! I'm sorry, I got mixed up with saying 'my prince' and your name! Apologies, Tsukasa."
Tsukasa let out a hearty laugh.
"Ha ha ha! It's no big deal, my friend."
He laughed even more. Shizuku's ears perked up, hearing the same, rich laughter that had always been the trademark of the kingdom's cheerful prince.
She couldn't help but smile and laugh along.
He hasn't changed, even while his memories are lost and shattered.
...
I must protect him with my life, for he does not know what scourge has occurred within our lands.