Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Her hair seemed ablaze at the light of sunset. Striking cascades of red with mesmerizing blue underlights, dancing in the breeze of twilight, each strand whispering a different tale. Her eyes, deep, piercing scarlet, reflected the sharpness of the sword resting beside her, yet softened when she looked at those in need. The noble spirit of a warrior, the kindness of a human, the beauty of a woman.

She was a knight, the embodiment of chivalry and honor. Yet her strength lay not only in her muscles, but in her commitment to justice and her gentle heart. She led with the grace of a Queen, inspiring those who followed her, and her every movement was a testament to her knightly vow.

Yet underneath all that armor and responsibilities, also lies a naivety and cuteness that would make anyone swoon. She would blush at the simplest of compliments, fluster at the attempt of anything more than a friendly comment, cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink.

In her, Nerissa found a perfect blend of strength and vulnerability, a leader, a protector, a friend. And in loving her, she even discovered a new side of herself. Getting lost in that sweet scarlet, wishing not to be anywhere else in the world.

The tavern was alive with the sounds of victory. Laughter and song filled the air, mingling with the tingling scent of mead and feast. The knights, weary from battle but invigorated by triumph, reveled in the celebration of the night.

In the center of it all stood Elizabeth, slightly nudged to stand by her closest companions and give a speech, her sole presence commanding respect by the knights on the surrounding tables. Her eyes, sharp and clear, scanned the room, ensuring that every individual, knight or not, felt seen and valued. Her speech spoke of her commitment to the King and the price she’s willing to pay, as well as rejoicing once more in the victory and commanding every warrior to lay down and relax for the night.

“To Elizabeth!” The two knights who had nudged her bellowed, standing from both sides of the redhead, each of them bearing a pair of ears and a tail, raising their drinks up high with impeccable smiles. The room roars with the chorus of agreement, and Elizabeth, ever humble, raises her own tankard with a small smile playing on her lips.

Nerissa watches quietly from the outside, the sound muffled by the window she was seeing through, sighing a mix of longing and resignation. She wanted to foolishly convince herself that she was content enough to observe her from afar, admiring the way the flickering candlelight would cast a soft glow on Elizabeth’s face, highlighting the beauty that had her entrapped in place.

The redhead’s smile was radiant, a genuine laughter got across the closed window, and something about it twisted something deep inside Nerissa’s chest.

She looks so happy without me there, Nerissa thinks, her fingers clenching on aged wood. Maybe she really is better off…

“Well, if it isn’t my wife,” a voice comes from around the corner. Nerissa immediately jumps into the bushes as a reaction, too lost in thought to even stop and think that the voice was quite familiar, only realizing who it was when she looks up. Uncanny golden eyes stare down at her with a mix of amusement and curiosity. She could recognize that gaze with her eyes closed.

“My wife!” Nerissa squeals with a lighter mood, struggling to get out of the mess she got into. After an awkward half a minute of tugging her cloak away from the roots and thorns, she turns to face Shiori Novella, a fellow member of her guild and friend. “What are you doing here?”

“Came to celebrate like everyone else,” Shiori replies. “You fought in the frontline too, no? Why aren’t you inside?”

Nerissa takes a moment to formulate a reply. “I’ve been enjoying the fresh air, you know how busy it gets after a fight,” she tells the smoothest lie she could gather. But Shiori looks straight through her, a smirk tilting her eyes upwards.

“Uh-huh, and it has nothing to do with a certain hot knight lady inside,” her fellow sorceress replies with a statement that makes Nerissa’s heart drop. Her smile falters until she realizes she wouldn’t be able to hide anything from this woman, and instead decides to look away. Shiori weighs her reaction, breathes out a sigh, her demeanor softening. “You haven’t made up yet?”

Nerissa’s breath comes out fogging up on the cold night, she delays her answer.

“Uhm…” she says, “I apologized, and she said she forgave me, but I don't think she'd like to see me right now.”

In the past week, Nerissa could count with her fingers how many times they had exchanged words outside of a greeting. Their closest social circle was interconnected with each other's, so they would see one another quite often. They were able to stay amicable enough to not make things uncomfortable, but Elizabeth still would rather not talk to her at all. And that hurts.

“Well,” Shiori starts, pausing until Nerissa glances at her, “if it makes you feel better, she's been asking where you are.”

Her eyebrows shoot upwards with surprise. “She has?”

“Yeah, I guess she does want you around.” Shiori looks away, scratching her cheek. “I think, at least. It's hard to read that woman.”

You're one to talk, Nerissa thinks with a smile. She sing-songs, “Did you also want me around, Shiorin?”

Shiori deadpans. “That pointy hat of yours isn't subtle at all, eventually she'll notice you here and be pissed at you.” Then she adds, “Also, it's freezing out here and you'll get sick if you don't come in.”

“So you did miss me,” Nerissa purrs, which makes Shiori roll her eyes. Internally, it makes her happy that she worries about her, but Nerissa still hesitates to agree. “What if I ruin the mood or something?”

“I doubt that'd be the case if she's asking about you. Go talk to her properly this time.”

“What if she doesn't want to talk?” One thing was asking her whereabouts, another was her desire to talk to her. She bites her bottom lip, but Shiori only sighs at her melodrama.

“Girl, you won't know until you try.” She points with her chin at the window. “Now grow a pair and go to her. You always find a way with words either way.”

Nerissa pauses to think. She considers it, takes a deep breath. A mixture of anxiety and hope tickles her stomach.

“Fine. I'll go in. But if she kicks me out I'm blaming you.”

Shiori laughs wholeheartedly at that, walks a few steps forward and pokes the space between Nerissa's eyebrows.

“You'll be fine,” she confidently tells her.

Her comfort gets a smile out of the taller girl. “Okay. I love you, Shiorin.”

“Yeah, whatever. Me too.”

Then she leaves without waiting for her.

She takes her time to walk towards the tavern door, a few knights lingering outside, not acknowledging her in the slightest. In hindsight, maybe she should have thought of what to say before pushing the door open, but by then it was too late.

It doesn't take her long to spot Elizabeth amongst the crowd. She was sitting in one of the few tables alongside two people, a small fiery one with twin tails and a friendly grin, and a taller ginger one with a laugh Nerissa could hear from where she stood. The cloaks they wore distinguished them from the other knights, since those were symbols of their hero status. Shiori, Elizabeth and herself also wore identical ones.

The one facing the door was Kiara, the ginger phoenix. Her and Nerissa were on good terms and she considers her a close friend, but maybe having her calling over to her with a loud “Nerissa!” wasn't the best of outcomes, since that made the other two turn to her as well.

The noisy tavern became quieter the moment Elizabeth's scarlet eyes fell on her. The knight's expression shifted from surprise to something more guarded, which wasn't anything new to her now, but still stings a little.

When she approaches, Gonathan, the third knight sitting at Elizabeth's table, stands up and pulls the phoenix away, which leaves the two of them alone.

“Lady Bloodflame,” she calls her. Elizabeth's expression doesn't change, but she offers her a smile anyways. “Well fought in today's battle.”

The knight nods. “Likewise, Lady Ravencroft.”

Once upon a time, before the incident happened, they used to be on first name basis. Right after it happened, Nerissa had apologized with the hope that things would go back to normal, but the moment they met face to face she knew that wouldn't be the case. Elizabeth's once warm gaze had turned ice cold when addressing her.

Her thoughts are abruptly interrupted by the loud cheers coming from the neighboring table. Elizabeth also glanced in their direction, but eventually shifted to Nerissa again.

“May you accompany me outside?” She asks, much to Nerissa's surprise. She nods before Elizabeth says anything else.

As they leave, Nerissa spots Shiori on the other end of the tavern, talking to two green haired women and the owner of the place, all three of them being heroes as well. Shiori doesn't notice her as they walk outside, but Nerissa silently thanks her for the emotional support.

Nerissa follows Elizabeth outside, and isn't at all surprised when she greets the knights she had seen before by name. Her posture was tense as they made a distance from the loudness, Nerissa noticing how the knight had her arms behind her back, walking with the confidence of royalty. Her face doesn't show much emotion, but her hooded eyes spoke volumes of how lost in thought she was.

“Lady Ravencroft,” she calls her once it was only them and the vast night sky. “I need to be honest with you. I acknowledge the effort you have made to mend our… friendship, and I feel the need to express what I didn't in our previous conversation,” she says calmly. “I believe it is best if you stop trying to fix things between the two of us. It isn't helping anybody.”

Nerissa blinks once, slowly. Her heart, once containing an ounce of hope, clenches in her chest. She opens her mouth, having so much to say, but lacking the words to do so. At the end of it, all she can say is one word.

“No.”

The knight comes to a halt, making Nerissa do the same. She turns around to face her in one swift turn, and Nerissa gets a chill on her back when she’s directly glared at by Elizabeth’s eyes, so fierce and unyielding, helding a depth that now was definitely judging her for what she just said.

“Why?” She asks between gritted teeth. “Why can't you just let it go? You have many others who would gladly take my place without second thought.”

“Because they aren’t you, Liz.”

“Do not call me Liz, witch.”

The venom in her voice made it clear that she was upset, but Nerissa could somehow tell that she wasn’t particularly angry. More so, she was hurt. And that made her feel guilty since she was the sole responsible of that pain. Her breath hitches, but she doesn’t back down. Instead, she takes a step closer, keeping her chin up.

“They aren’t you, Liz,” she repeats. Before Elizabeth could call her out again, she followed with, “You are special to me.”

She gets an unamused scoff as a reply.

“Everyone is special to you,” she says, “I know your games and they won't work on me, witch. You won’t lure me with your pretty words again.” She takes a small breath. “What do I gain from letting you in anyway? It is most likely that you'll move to the next person right after, and it is not my desire to become another of your… your trophies.”

Nerissa winces a little with Elizabeth’s response. It is true that she enjoyed making others feel good and loved with her compliments and, admittedly, she enjoyed testing the limits of people. But she hadn’t expected someone to call her out for it. And that someone being Elizabeth was a little extra painful, because the way she speaks lets her know that she means every word she says.

“That was never my intention,” Nerissa pleads, noticing how Elizabeth was avoiding eye contact then. “I fucked up, okay? I know that. I made a mistake, and like I said before, I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I really do want to make things right. Because I care about you.”

The knight glances over to her, crimson eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. “I'm not sure if I believe you. I let myself be vulnerable to you and you betrayed my trust, I cannot let that happen again. I have more important matters to attend to.”

Nerissa dares to take a step forward. “I understand. I don’t want to hurt you again, but I also don’t want you to be alone.”

The knight frowns.

“Alone? Why is that?”

“Because…” she starts, until she realizes she can’t say the reason. If she told Elizabeth that she loves her, she wouldn’t believe her. In fact, it might ruin their relationship altogether. So she bites her tongue and instead says, “Because you are beautiful, and no pretty girl should be all alone in the world. All I want is to be by your side, Lady Bloodflame.”

She accompanies her words with a sincere smile, contrasting her whimsical lines that usually would make Elizabeth fluster. Now, however, it’s different. She doesn’t look as guarded as a moment ago, but her reaction was far from the one she had grown used to.

“Again with your pretty words,” she breathes out. She still sounds annoyed, but not upset.

Nerissa’s smile widens, and she doesn’t retort with anything. Her eyes focus on Elizabeth for a quiet moment. She’s always liked her face. Even though she’s an experienced warrior, Nerissa couldn’t spot any scars on her face, only milky white skin that was now being framed by the light of moonlight. It’s a whiplash from the showcase of strength and determination that led armies during daylight, since now she could see a different side of herself. Contemplative, serene, almost like the night itself.

“What can I do to prove that I’m honest?” She softly asks. “I'll do anything.”

Elizabeth’s eyebrows shoot upwards, and it’s the most emotion Nerissa has seen on her face that night. She had also been studying her silently, so maybe she wasn’t expecting her to talk. The change of demeanor doesn’t last, since the knight shakes her head and becomes guarded again, though she was now definitely avoiding her eyes.

“It isn’t about proving anything right now. If you really mean what you say, then you may show it through your actions. Forgiveness comes about with time and consistency, after all…” She pauses. “For the time being, I have a role to fulfill, as do you.”

Nerissa is elated. She’s listening. She’s really listening. The realization filled her with a mix of hope and fear. She absorbs the weight of the knight’s words, and then she notices a very subtle change. It’s almost imperceptible, but she manages to see the fog that comes from Elizabeth’s lips when she sighs, her body relaxing.

“I am going back now. Feel free to accompany me if you so desire,” Elizabeth invites her. She waits for Nerissa to agree before turning toward the path they walked.

They don't talk on the way back, but Nerissa isn't turned off by that. When they re-enter the tavern, she walks towards Shiori and company once Elizabeth dismisses herself to talk with the knights again. She thought of sticking around to be with her a little longer, but she decided to give her sweet knight the space she wanted.

“How did it go?” Shiori asks her.

Nerissa withholds her answer and subtly glances to the side. Elizabeth was there joined by Fuwawa and Mococo, the ones closest to her. She quickly notices the smile on her face as she pets the top of their heads. She also notices how Shiori follows her eyes, though she couldn't see what kind of face she's making.

“It went well,” she replies, a smile tilting her lips upwards. She vows to herself then, that she’d do her utter best to not let Elizabeth down again.

The second floor of FaunaMart acted as an apartment that the heroes of Scarlet Wand used as a base. Each of them had a small bedroom comfortable enough to sleep soundly through the night, and that's all that matters.

After the party at the Jade Sword tavern, Shiori and Nerissa went back home. It was late by then, but Nerissa still wakes up fairly early out of habit. Despite her short sleep, she didn't feel all that tired, so she threw on some clothes and walked to the common room.

The morning sun filters through the open windows, casting a warm glow across the wooden floor. Nerissa rubs one of her eyes, feeling refreshed by the soft gust sneaking in.

She hears the sound of porcelain clinking, and side glances at a dinner table standing next to the staircase that led to the store downstairs. Fauna is there, pouring tea into her cup, her movements graceful as ever.

“Good morning, darling,” Nerissa purrs with a hoarse morning voice. She strolls over to the kirin, humming. “Is that chamomile?”

Fauna giggles lightly behind her fingers, charmed by Nerissa's greeting. “Indeed it is,” she says. “Would you like some as well?”

Nerissa nods and Fauna hands her a steamy cup, matching the same warmth of the air surrounding the woman. She settles into a chair next to Fauna's before taking a sip.

Across the room, Cecilia sits on a worn out couch, her mechanical arms resting on a tea table nearby. Shiori sits cross legged on the floor in front of it, an open toolbox to her left and a bottle of lubricant to her right, various tools spreading through the surface. Cecilia observed the other oiling the joints of her elbow, offering some advice to a clearly confused Shiori.

“Hold still, Cici,” Shiori muttered, picking up a screwdriver. “I don't want to accidentally break something.”

Cecilia snorts in reply, eyes twinkling with amusement. “I'm sturdier than I look, don't— ouch!”

“I warned you.”

Her hand contorts when Shiori tightens a screw on her wrist.

Nerissa watches them with a fond smile, resting her chin on her palm. “What are you two up to?” she called out. Cecilia and Shiori perk up at that, apparently not noticing she had left her room.

“Maintenance,” Cecilia replies, Shiori back to focusing on her task. “My elbows keep getting sore, and it’s long overdue, so…”

“And I was bored,” Shiori adds with a childish grin. With those eyes of hers, it is a bit creepy, but Nerissa’s heart swoons at her cuteness.

As time passed, Shiori was now attending to one of Cecilia’s legs while she did the other. Fauna was pouring herself a third cup, chatting away with the other two while Nerissa drank her second. Her mind is far from the conversation, thinking of the night prior. It was inevitable at the end of the day, since Elizabeth lived rent free in her thoughts most days. The words they exchanged during their conversation echoes in her head, but a pivotal piece is louder than the others. Forgiveness comes about with time and consistency. As much as she tried to decipher what that meant, the concept was elusive to her.

Fauna’s gentle voice broke through her overcast mind. “Nerissa?”

“Hm?”

“You’ve been awfully quiet, is everything alright?”

Nerissa blinks, bringing herself to the present. She looked at Fauna, and her usual playful demeanor turned kinder. Looking ready to comfort her if she was sad about anything.

“It’s Elizabeth,” she says, not bothering to hide her worries. “We talked last night.”

“Oh yeah!” Shiori sprung, “I forgot to ask about the juicy details.”

It was common knowledge for the members of the Scarlet Wand that Nerissa had some kind of crush on the knight, though Cecilia and Fauna probably don’t know the depth of those feelings.

“How did it go?” The kirin asks with curiosity, her eyes softening with understanding.

Nerissa breathes out a sight, putting her empty cup down and tracing her fingers through the rim. “I apologized again and this time she said something in the lines of ‘forgiveness takes time and consistency’. I have no idea what that means.”

“Hmh.” Cecilia reattaches one of her legs before turning to Nerissa. “It means that she doesn’t want the problem to end with an apology. She wants you to show that you mean it.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” she groans. Cecilia shrugs in response.

Fauna reaches out, placing an encouraging hand over Nerissa’s arm. “I am sure she will see it. Just keep being yourself and all will be well.”

Nerissa was almost comforted until the moment Shiori snickers.

“Yeah, that won’t work,” she confidently says. “The red one is the straightest person I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a ton of people. She’s all about loyalty and commitment, and Rissa, my girl, I love you but you’re a bit of a loose woman.” She ends with an unapologetic giggle.

She is too shocked to even speak.

“Excuse me?!”

“How many wives do you have again?” Cecilia teases.

She doesn’t even get time to be offended again since Shiori says, “If you want her back then show you’re serious. Stop playing around with other women.”

“That’s kind of hard to imagine.”

Nerissa ignored Cecilia’s comment and simply stared at the table. Last night, Elizabeth told her that she didn’t want to be a trophy, it had been her words, and they had hurt then yet now it felt like it came back like a sucker punch.

After a moment of silence, she nods. “Okay. I will.”

It might be something she regrets later, but right now she doesn't want to be logical about it, if you could call that logical. When she looks around the room, she’s a tad amused by the range of expressions she sees on her friends. Shiori was staring at her wide-eyed, while Cici had her mouth agasp. Fauna next to her seemed the most normal out of the three of them, her reaction had been a blinding smile. It infects her, and soon enough Nerissa is also smiling, feeling slightly better about her brash choice.

She sits back on her chair and hums.

“What else do you think I should change about myself?” she asks, “What would you say is my biggest flaw?”

All three of them replied in unison, without hesitation. “Needy.”

She’s taken aback by the unanimity of the reply, but again, she doesn’t have time to react before Shiori adds, “And horny, but I don’t think that’s curable.”

“Excuse me?!” She shrills louder this time.

“I mean, you do have horns,” Cecilia adds.

“I like to think of them as ice cream cones.”

Bewildered, Nerissa is unable to say anything.

Fauna, who's hand is still on her arm, squeezes her a little, which makes her turn her attention to her. “What we mean— or at least, what I mean by needy is that you crave attention and seek validation from multiple sources. Someone disliking you is something that weighs in your mind negatively, and that might give Elizabeth the wrong idea.”

Then Shiori, ever blunt, adds, “You need to show her you're not just looking for someone to fill the void.”

Even though she's still a bit lost, Nerissa absorbs their words, feeling a mix of emotions. She says “I see” and takes another sip of her now lukewarm tea.

“You'll be okay, probably,” Shiori says, putting the tools back in the box. Her eyes glint with mischief. “I'm sure she at least feels something when you follow her like a lost puppy.”

Nerissa felt her face flush with embarrassment. “I do not!” she protested, though the heat in her face betrayed her.

Fauna giggled airily. “You very much do. It's quite adorable.”

Trying to avoid the subject, Nerissa tries to take another sip from her empty cup. Fauna isn't done talking, though. “Oh, Gura left a while before you woke up to run some errands at the colosseum.”

Nerissa arches an eyebrow. Cecilia, catching on, added, “If I recall correctly, the Jade Sword girls usually train in the colosseum during the morning. They're probably still there.”

Fauna's eyes sparkle with mischief. “Why don't you go check on Gura, Nerissa? I'm sure she'd appreciate the company.”

The thought of watching Elizabeth train with the other knights is enticing, and without thinking much about it, she stands up. She casually says, “That’s a great idea. I'll go see how she's doing.”

The three girls chuckle to themselves as Nerissa goes grab her cloak from her room, realizing too late how she was proving their point about being needy. She shakes the thought away and says her farewells before going downstairs.

“Go get ‘em, tiger!” Shiori shouts behind her.

Nerissa walks briskly through the bustling streets of Libestal, many citizens looking in her direction for the cloak she wears but Nerissa pays no mind, her mind racing. She was at the entrance of the colosseum when she spotted a familiar figure heading in her direction. Short stature, a tail helping her balance the boxes she's carrying, silvery hair with dyed blue strips glistening in the sunlight. That's Gura.

“Gura!” Nerissa called out, and the shark girl's head popped from the side. She looks surprised to see her.

“Nerissa? What are you doing here?”

She tries to sound casual, but her voice betrays her with eagerness. “Oh, nothing! I just thought I'd check on you. By the way, have you seen Elizabeth?”

Gura raises an eyebrow, a knowing smile forming on her lips seconds later. “Elizabeth? Yeah, she's in the arena training with the Amber Coin and Cerulean Cup peeps last time I checked.”

Nerissa's heart leaps. “Really? That's great! Thanks, Gura.”

Gura chuckles. “No biggie. Are you going?”

“Oh, uh, no! I'm just here to see if Nanamu will stop by FaunaMart later.”

The shark girl snorts, and Nerissa realizes her mistake. She didn't know Amber Coin was there until a second ago. She ignores the little fact and exchanges farewells with Gura before heading inside,

She manages to slip into the stairs leading to the shadowy cavea without being spotted, eyes scanning the mostly empty seats. The arena below, in contrast, was alive with the sound of clashing swords and shouts of the knights training. When she makes her way to peek to who was below she spots Kiara and Gonathan sparring with wooden swords. The battle is fierce, but Nerissa’s eyes are driven to a familiar voice.

Two people were sitting on the front row, and it felt like she had summoned the girl, since Nanamu was the voice she heard. The feathered girl was chatting animatedly with none other than the Queen of Evergreen, Raora. The way Nanamu gestures wildly makes her assume she was telling the Queen about an adventure of hers.

“Fancy seeing you here,” Nerissa intonates, reaching where the two girls were. They immediately turn around, surprise flickering across their faces.

“Nerissa!” “Oh, hi.” They reply at the same time.

The Queen offers her a welcoming and fluffy smile, “What brings you here?”

This time, she had prepared a proper excuse, “I was in the area and decided to drop by, since Gura told me you were here.”

“That’s so nice of you,” the cat lady says with a giddy giggle.

Nanamu, instead, tilts her head to the side and says, “Elizabeth should be coming out soon if that’s what you came for.”

The semblance of a smug grin starts forming on her face as Nerissa keeps her eyes on her for a moment before looking away with an “Anyway, can I sit with you?”

Raora replies with amusement, picking up on her elusiveness. “Of course.”

Paying no mind, Nerissa settled in beside Nanamu, though her eyes were fixated on the arena below. The feathered one had been right, since no long after she takes a seat, Elizabeth emerges from the quarters. When she comes into the light, Nerissa sees that the knight is only wearing a simple shirt, loose pants and light shoes. Her hair is tied up, a stark contrast from her usual clothes and flowing locks. The steel sword under her arm gleamed under the morning sun, and she wields it with the same confidence as her usual blade.

Nerissa’s breath hitched for a moment. Elizabeth’s grace was still evident even with her training attire. The subtle elegance in her every move, the coolness she maintained, it was so… so…

“She’s hot,” Nanamu puts her thoughts into words. She can only nod in agreement.

Due to her focus, she’s easily startled by the loud squeal Raora lets out a second before standing from her seat, feline ears perked up when she notices the person coming out from the shadows.

“Tam!” Raora called out, her voice filled with joy.

Opposite to Elizabeth’s elegance, Tam exited with a steel sword of her own over her shoulder, her manners more relaxed than the knight’s. Even from a distance, Nerissa could see how her handsomeness expelled an incredible amount of confidence.

Nanamu next to Nerissa didn’t react to the Queen’s enthusiasm, simply clapping amusedly at the knights below, thriving in their violence. Nerissa found it quite fitting, but her eyes still stray to Raora and how her eyes were glittering.

She remembered a time not long ago when Raora and Tam couldn’t stand each other, she had seen their arguments first hand, but seeing them as they are now it’s hard to believe they ever were enemies. Seeing them now, so close and supportive, gave her a little ounce of hope. Perhaps, with time, she and Elizabeth could find the way back to each other as well.

The knight and the Queen of Libestal walk to the center of the arena, where Nerissa had seen Kiara and Gonathan fight. They assumed positions a few meters away from each other, and in a moment the spar began. Nerissa had only seen Elizabeth fight like this once before, though just like then, the feeling around it felt different from when they were in battle against the Stains. So when the steel words clash and she gets a glimpse of the knight’s skill, a new emotion starts boiling at the pit of her stomach.

The two women face off, striking, dodging and clashing. At first sight, it seemed like an even battle, each move countered with deadly accuracy. Elizabeth’s strength and Tam’s dexterity were matching each other seamlessly, making it seem as if they were dancing through the blur of speed and power.

But then, Elizabeth makes a swift dodge, sidestepping one of Tam’s attacks with fluid ease. In one smooth motion, she counter-attacked, her sword barely missing its mark, Tam stumbled but quickly regained footing, ready to continue. However, Elizabeth took the small window and disarmed Tam with a deft twist of her wrist, sending the sword clattering to the ground.

The entire ordeal felt less than a few minutes, but it was more than enough to showcase just how good of a swordsman Elizabeth truly is. As dust settled and the two opponents shook hands, Nerissa thinks that she shouldn’t be as surprised by the fact that Elizabeth’s face is clear of any scars.

Suddenly, Raora’s voice rang out, louder than previously. “Good job, Tam!”

It had been loud enough that it overpowered over the arena, although barely. Tam turned at the mention of her name, and it took her a moment to spot all three of them up there, eyes widening at the energetic support she was receiving from her fellow Queen. She watches Tam waving back at Raora, but her eyes are waylaid by the scarlet bearing one next to her, realizing that Elizabeth was staring straight at her.

Nerissa feels a jolt of shock at the sudden attention, realizing that she had come completely unannounced. But to her relief, Elizabeth didn’t look upset. Instead, there was a hint of curiosity and perhaps even a softening in her stern face. She offers a tentative wave to the knight, who returns it with a respectful nod before looking back at Tam.

It was such an insignificant exchange right before the two below resume positions for a second round, but given their circumstances, it already felt like a victory. A day prior, Elizabeth would’ve probably ignored her the moment she laid eyes on her. Nerissa grins to herself when the knight disarms her opponent a second time.

“Oh?” Nanamu hoots, leaning significantly closer to Nerissa, her voice low and almost as if thought out loud. Which was probably the intention. “She’s showing off.” Nerissa smiles.

“Is she now?” she purrs back. The second battle was over in the blink of an eye, and the way Elizabeth moved was clearly more determined than before, and it’s a bit funny if that’s the case.

It went forth and back like that for a while until Elizabeth moved to train with one of the hound knights. Nerissa quickly learned that the woman had not only a ridiculous amount of strength, but of stamina as well. Eventually, when noon was up high, the knights started retreating.

Nerissa was debating whether she should go talk to Elizabeth or if that’d be too much, since she had come unannounced and she had noticed her. Yet before she was able to come to a conclusion, Nanamu grabs her by the arm.

“Let’s go, I know a shortcut,” were her last words.

Whenever Nerissa's presence was felt, Elizabeth’s heart was a battlefield, torn between the lingering pain of betrayal and a love she couldn’t deny. She walks out of the colosseum with her guildmates and with the intention of going to the bathhouse and relaxing, but the sight of Nerissa standing by the exit was enough to stir a hurricane of emotions in her heart. She did notice her presence earlier that day, sitting on the cavea with her eyes connecting with hers, but now that she was at a tangible distance, the conflict only intensifies.

She just couldn’t stop the feeling she gets whenever she admires the maiden’s beauty. A tall, elegant figure with flowing raven hair cascading down to her hips that was just as mesmerizing as her slitted crimson eyes, holding a depth that Elizabeth couldn’t help but to find captivating. Her clear skin glows under the sunlight as she speaks to Nanamu of the Amber Coin and Tam Gandr of the Cerulean Cup. Despite everything, Nerissa’s sole presence still held the power to make Elizabeth’s heart skip a beat or two.

Only seconds before, Elizabeth had been lightheartedly chatting with Mococo and Calli. Her protectee, with her bubbly energy, was recounting a particular clumsy move she made during her training, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“If that dummy had been a real opponent, I’d be a dead pup…” she says with a crestfallen expression.

Elizabeth couldn’t hold back a chuckle, ruffling Mococo’s hair with a special affection. “Fret not, fair puppy. Even the best of us have off days. Besides, you recovered quite incredibly right after.”

Calli next to her smirked, one of her eyes closed and an easygoing smirk tilting one side of her lips upwards. “Just make sure you don’t trip like that during an actual battle, alright?”

Mococo gives a decisive nod before saying, “I’ll keep training my agility until then! Bau bau!”

They share a laugh, echoing in the colosseum’s hall. For a moment, Elizabeth had forgotten the physical exhaustion of training for four hours straight, but the moment they stepped outside and her eyes met Nerissa’s, the easiness in her heart fades away in an instant.

Whenever she saw her, she couldn’t help but to experience again the pain of rejection of a love that had been once pure and unguarded. Ever since, that trust she had built towards the witch had been completely shattered.

She approaches Nerissa in a cautious manner, her eyes never leaving her silhouette even when the woman turned to look at her. Her mind races with an odd insecurity, knowing that she was facing one of the only weaknesses she bears. She steels herself to what was to come, forgetting that she was currently accompanied by two people.

Calli is the one who senses the tension in the air, becoming quiet for a moment before she nudges Mococo. “Come, Mococo. Let’s give them some space.”

The pup seems to not catch on, a clueless feeling to her voice when she glances at Elizabeth. “But…”

Elizabeth manages to look away from Nerissa, who was now standing a few steps away, unusually silent. “I’ll be fine, Mococo. Go on ahead.”

She receives a nod on reply, and a reassuring smile from Calli before leading the other away. Only once they are out of sight, Elizabeth’s attention goes back to the witch. Her smile fades then. The ones who had been next to the witch had also vanished sometime within that time frame.

A moment of silence is exchanged until Nerissa breaks the barrier. “I came to watch you train,” she softly says.

Elizabeth’s heart aches at the genuinity in her voice. But she can’t give in. “I noticed,” she replies. Then she hesitates, but manages to add, “Why come all the way here, though? You are far from your living quarters.”

“I simply wanted to see you. There’s no ulterior motive, Lady Bloodflame.”

She’s wary. Ignoring the affection making the flame on her chest flicker, words get caught in her throat. Again, the lingering hurt of bitter memories.

Due to her being unresponsive, Nerissa follows with, “...It was incredible to have the opportunity to see you fight outside of combat. I’m used to battling next to you, it was truly marvelous.”

“Thank you,” she manages to say, voice barely over a whisper. She again hesitates, she adds, “I’m… glad you came to watch.”

Nerissa’s reaction had been immediate. A sweet smile, the one that Elizabeth has always loved, made the woman’s eyes curl upwards. It was such a pure expression of happiness, contrasting the usual devilish smirk she wore most of the time when interacting with others. It single handedly manages to soften Elizabeth’s heart, though she would never admit that out loud.

“May I come again, if that’s the case?” She wonders.

Elizabeth is quiet for a moment, a few seconds go past. “Do as you wish, Lady Ravencroft.”

“Then I shall.” After a pause she asks, “If I may be self-indulgent for a moment, might I invite you to share our lunch together? Just us two.”

The invitation surprises her, Elizabeth’s heart jumping and her flame flickering once more. Feeling a bit awkward, she drifts her eyes away from the warm crimson.

“I truly appreciate the offer, but I regret to inform you that I have an arrangement with my guildmates.” Feeling the need to further explain, she adds, “As a trust building exercise, we often go to the bathhouse after training, followed by sharing our meal…”

“Ah, don’t worry, I understand.” Nerissa leans to the side, trying to catch her eyes. Once they are back on her, she says, “May we spend some time together in the near future?”

With her lips furrowing, she dares to say, “At sundown I shall be available.”

She’s embarrassed when she hears Nerissa giggle. “That’s good! Shall we meet at the Amber Coin gardens?”

Elizabeth nods. “We shall.”

“I promise I won’t disappear this time.”

She understands that this was an attempt to alleviate her nerves, but it doesn’t quite do the trick. Elizabeth simply nods again, looking away and in direction to her guildhouse.

“I shall be excused for now, then.”

Nerissa takes a step back, her hands behind her and a smile on her face. “Okay. Goodbye, Elizabeth.”

This time, she doesn’t have the heart to correct her. So instead, she nods and walks forward to summon her steed. She looks back a last time before parting ways.

Not long after, Elizabeth sits in the bathhouse, the warm steam enveloping her muscles as they relax after the arduous training. Her guildmates talk about their morning, Elizabeth replying when prompted, but she was still only half-listening. Calli retells Mococo’s story with a tingle of amusement; the puppy returns with embarrassment, Amelia laughs at the reaction and adds a bit into the banter with her usual playful self. Fuwawa had already left by then to help prepare lunch, so it was just the four of them there.

“Liz,” the familiar voice of Calli makes her look up from the fog. She sits in front of her, concern frames her face. “You’ve been awfully quiet since you came back.”

Elizabeth withholds her reply, meeting Calli’s gaze briefly before glancing away. “Just thinking,” she says, voice steady but distant.

Amelia, sitting next to Calli, splashes a bit of water with the flicker of a finger, directly hitting Elizabeth’s face. She doesn’t have time to protest before the blonde says, “What are you thinking about? You know you can be honest with us.”

Instead of answering, Elizabeth brushes the drops away from her cheek. After all, she had always been the strong one, the unyielding knight who never showed weakness. It is true that her fellow heroes knew more about her than the common knight or citizen, but she still doesn’t want to disclose more than enough.

“It’s nothing of true relevance,” she says, trying to dismiss their concerns.

Mococo, sitting right next to her, touches her arm. When she looks at her, she’s met with wide, earnest sky blue eyes. “Is it about Nerissa?” she asks innocently, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Her heart clenches, her flame sizzles at the contact with the water. She’s never spoke openly about it, but somehow many people figured it out on their own. Princess Bijou was the first, and Elizabeth assumes she spread the rumor. She still wouldn’t say it out loud, but now that it was in the air she breathes out. “Yes,” she admits quietly.

Calli gets up, walks up to Elizabeth and sits next to her, a serious expression on her face. “I understand how you feel, and I am really worried about you. I don’t really know what happened between the two of you, but she made you change, and it wasn’t positive.” She elaborates, “You became more guarded, and even more distant than before. I think I speak for all the girls when I say we don’t want that for you.”

Before she could reply, Amelia leans forward, her playful demeanor giving way to seriousness. “It’s okay to be cautious, but honestly, I do think it’s worth giving her a second chance. She really cares.”

Next, Mococo reaches out to touch Elizabeth’s arm again. “I just want you to be happy, Elizabeth. No matter what, I will always be by your side! Bau bau!”

Elizabeth’s eyes linger on her for a few seconds, feeling a surge of gratitude for their support. Ever since they were brought to this world, they have always had each other’s back, even after she had closed herself off. It was hard for her to let people in, this was common knowledge, but then she looks at Mococo and her heart softens. The fuzzy one has always been like a little sister to her, someone she felt a deep protective bond with. It’s miles different from what she felt for Nerissa. With Mococo, there was a purity, an innocence that made Elizabeth want to shield her from this world’s harshness. With Nerissa, it was more complicated, filled with passion and pain.

She brings her arm up, lets it fall on top of Mococo’s hair, and lets herself be comforted by the bubbly giggle of the girl. Elizabeth turns to Calli and Amelia, quietly watching her reactions. Calli’s words echo her own fears, while Amelia’s insistence tugged at the part that longed for the connection she once felt. And Mococo’s desire for her happiness truly reminds her of what truly mattered to her the most.

She breathes out a sigh, relieving some of her tension. “Thank you,” she lets out, her voice filled with subtle emotion. “I appreciate your support, in the end this shall be a decision I will have to make by and for myself. Yet knowing I will always have a place to fall back to will always be precious to me.”

Calli nodded, not acting weirdly at her odd unguarded feelings being displayed. Instead, she smiles. “More than a team, we’re family. We look out for each other and we’ll be here, got it?”

“Ditto!” Amelia echoes.

Elizabeth scoffs. “Understood.”

The mood is lighter afterwards, resuming their chatter with the steam swirling around them. She’s still quiet, but the others seemed to be more content with the results of their conversation. She breathes out a sigh, remembering that she was to meet Nerissa later that day. The anticipation filled her with fear, but she refrains from telling the girls about it. Eventually, she decides it is time to get out of the water, being the first one to stand.

“Shall we head out before any of us becomes ill?” She asked, showing them a small smile.

After lunch, the day passes rapidly for Elizabeth, who had busied herself by walking around town. Given that it was one of the odd days where she had nothing of importance to do, she decides to go around and help citizens with mundane tasks, finding purpose in the routine. The simple acts of kindness kept her occupied, moving through bustling streets. That is, until she stumbles upon Tam and Gonathan.

Those two had been training in the colosseum while Elizabeth had been there, and after much insistence she had agreed to battle against Tam, though the results were most likely not of the Queen’s liking. Her and Elizabeth have been at odds since the beginning, although it isn’t as bad as it once was, now mostly reduced to friendly banter between their guilds. The problem is that Elizabeth was not in such a mood to banter.

“Red thing!” Tam called out after spotting her within the crowd, her voice carrying over the noise of the marketplace. “Fancy seeing you here. What brings the mighty knight to these humble streets?”

She could ask the same to her, who is of royal status, but disregarding that, Elizabeth doesn’t amuse. “I am helping out where I can.”

Gonathan, Amelia’s husband, stops her eyes from darting away by staring directly at her. Ever sympathetic, she asks, “You seem off. Is everything alright?”

Tam arches an eyebrow at her guildmate’s comment, looking in between the two of them with curiosity. Elizabeth kept her eyes on the short knight, maintaining her composure. She had always held a sort of respect towards him, not only because he was betrothed to her guildmate, but also because he is also the strongest knight Elizabeth has ever met, even stronger than herself.

She waves off their concerns. “I am alright. There’s a lot on my mind, that’s all.”

“Are you sure?” Gonathan insists. Elizabeth nods, and Tam lets a hand fall on his shoulder.

“Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, us Cerulean Cup are full of empathy,” she says cooly.

Elizabeth would cringe, but she can detect genuinity when she perceives it, so she simply bows her head down with a “Thank you.”

They part ways soon after, and as she walks down the street alone, she considers their invitation. Tam’s relationship with Raora and Gonathan’s relationship with Amelia were undoubtedly good sources of insight, though she would wait a while until she brought herself to ask. But not now.

Because when Elizabeth looks up, she’s faced with the beginning of sunset.

The air is cool during the evening. Her eyes are glued to the sky as she walks in direction to the gardens in an attempt to distract herself. The clouds were tinted with warm hues of the setting sun, casting a golden glow over the city. The sky was beginning to turn a deep blue, the color of twilight, one she often associated with Nerissa.

It was something about its fleeting feeling, of almost magical quality, much like Nerissa’s presence in her life, Strings in her heart are pulled by a mix of anticipation and fear as she neared the garden gates, though she put her whole willpower into maintaining a straight face.

As she walks under the white arc, the beauty of a twilight casted garden surrounded her. The flowers seemed to glow in the fading light, dancing to the soft breeze crossing across the streets, a gentle rustle that made the leaves of trees and bushes whistle a melodic tune. It provided a soothing backdrop.

She explores the garden with her eyes, which are eventually led to a familiar silhouette not too far from where she stood. Nerissa is already here, standing by a fountain, and a halo seemed to form over her head in the twilight gleam. A soft gasp escapes her.

She’s so beautiful…

She had always been drawn to Nerissa, ever since the first time she saw her. She had been the first person she spoke to when they arrived to this unfamiliar world, and right from the beginning she had felt a pull in her heart that led to where she was. Now it isn’t any different, her body moving on its own, walking closer to her, her heart pounding with each step. Then Nerissa turns to her, noticing her just now, and in her eyes she remembers the rejection. She stops walking a few steps away from each other.

“Elizabeth,” Nerissa greets her, her voice soft and filled with emotion.

Elizabeth nods, her voice cautious and distant. “Lady Ravencroft.”

Without any other word exchanged, the two of them stood there for a moment. The silence spoke more than words ever could, and the enigmatic mood hanging in the air didn’t soothe Elizabeth’s nerves in the slightest. Her mind races, thinking of all the things she’d like to say, but unsure of where to begin. Even the sky above seemed to hold its breath as if waiting for what would happen this evening.

Eventually, she manages to break the silence. “How was the rest of your day?” she asks, voice steady and slightly curious.

Nerissa musters a smile, a tiny bit of mischief in her eyes. “Just a slow day at FaunaMart. Though Gura mixed up the orders and got scolded by Fauna, it was pretty funny to see her with her tail between her legs.”

She tells the tale airily, in a supposed attempt to alleviate the tension. Elizabeth takes a mental note of this effort, feeling a pang of guilt when she realizes how much effort Nerissa was trying to put into making her comfortable.

“Sounds eventful,” she says, eyes looking away from Nerissa and to the interior of the garden. “The night is young and the weather is lovely. Shall we take a look around?”

Nerissa’s face lights up at the invite. “I would love that,” she replies.

When they start walking, they do so at an arm’s length. Nerissa held her hands up front while Elizabeth had them behind her back and underneath her cloak, walking with her chin up and eyes up front. The silence isn’t quite as uncomfortable as before, if anything, Elizabeth found it almost… contemplative. Her mind was drifting back to the night prior, when they walked much like this, away from Calli’s tavern with the intention to finally put an end to things. In a way, it had been a spur of the moment decision, which is why she didn’t know how to react when Nerissa had simply replied with a firm “No.”

The feelings she bears thanks to her insistence are troubling to say the least. A mix of hope and yearning and endearing. She is still fearful of the effect Nerissa had on her, and she doesn’t know whether that would ever change.

“I’m glad you agreed to come to the gardens with me,” Nerissa says, breaking the silence. Elizabeth’s eyes drift to her profile, observing how her devilish demeanor had been subdued for the time being. Her mischievous and flirty comments were nowhere to be seen, which Elizabeth found strange. At the same time, it reflected some of the commitment Nerissa was trying to show.

She answers, “It was due to my schedule being empty today.” But, noticing the drop of Nerissa’s shoulders, she adds, “Seeing you in the colosseum today was… undoubtedly a surprise.”

“A good surprise?” Nerissa asks.

“A positive surprise.”

Nerissa lets out a soft scoff of amusement, turning to her with brightened eyes.

“I noticed you were trying really hard to win against Queen Tam even though you’re obviously stronger,” she says. “Almost as if you were trying to show off.”

At the suggestion, Elizabeth’s composure breaks a little. She flusters, her cheeks turn a faint shade of pink. “That wasn’t the case,” she protested with a firm tone, though she knew it was true.

Nerissa chuckles softly, the melodic sound making Elizabeth’s fire grow a little hotter. Then, emboldened by the moment, the witch tries to test her luck. “You know, you look hot in your training clothes, really easy on the eyes,” she says, her voice regaining that kittenish tone.

Those sweet words. Before, they would’ve made her turn scarlet on the face with something as simple as that, but now it was more like biting into a bitter fruit. “Dont,” she says.

Nerissa’s face falls, quickly apologizing. “Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.” Still, Elizabeth’s attention goes back to the path forward. “Consider it a compliment.”

“Alright.”

With that, the awkward silence is back, even heavier than before. The sky was dark by the time they started reaching the entrance once more, having walked all the way around the garden. Calli’s words echo in her mind again, thinking about how she doesn’t feel particularly better during this outing. It was their first time alone together in a long while, and the connection she felt at first was barely there anymore. She could confess that she found Nerissa attractive, but truly, is there anything else more to it?

With each step, she thinks of what would be better for her. She has her guildmates, her sisters in arms, she didn’t need anyone else other than them. They all have a duty they have to fulfill, but they don’t have to do so together. What if they went back to their previous lives and never saw each other again? That was always a possibility. Would she even remember her? What would be the point then?

“Elizabeth,” her name is called. They were a few meters off from where they started, and Nerissa had stopped walking a few steps ago. The tone of her voice was firm, different from before, and that prompted Elizabeth to stop and listen. “I want you to know how serious I am about mending things. I really want to be your friend, I don’t want us to be strangers. Is there any chance of that happening?”

Elizabeth looked at her, stared directly into her eyes, trying to find any lies underneath the crimson sea. The genuinity and almost anguish she perceived stirred something in the back of her head, pleas breaking through her defenses. It lets her be honest.

“I’m not sure,” was her reply.

Nerissa looks at her with a glimpse of a wince, and this time Elizabeth doesn’t look away, wanting to see her full reaction.

“I understand,” the witch says softly, nodding and accepting the uncertainty. Despite the defeat, Nerissa’s eyes look into hers with determination filling them. “I’ll prove you otherwise.”

Elizabeth blinks slowly, feeling how the flame in her chest had reacted to the statement. “Bold words,” she says.

“That’s just how much I like you, Lady Bloodflame,” she sings in a little tune, walking past her. “I’ll see you around.”

With such a cold farewell, Elizabeth should be at least a bit disappointed. She doesn’t move from where she is, watching Nerissa’s back as she walks towards the exit. Maybe out of shock or out of spite she doesn’t tell her farewells back, but nevertheless, while Nerissa leaves, Elizabeth remains.

It’s stupidly ridiculous how such simple words could alter her thoughts. The unyielding knight stood alone in the dark, her mind a battlefield, the enemy being also the one she was yearning after. Such a ridiculous situation. She looks up at the starry sky, vast and filled with uncertainty, much like the turmoil in her heart. At its center, the crescent moon smiles down at Elizabeth with the same glint Nerissa’s eyes have.

The sun hangs high in the sky, heating up the dust under her feet. Muffled sounds of knights drilling, conversation sounding distant. Elizabeth breathes out, focusing on the sunlight warming up her shoulders and back. Her eyes look at the person in front of her, finds a fiery phoenix smirking with a determined and competitive glint in her eyes. She holds a steel sword much like the one on her hands. Elizabeth raises her arm, changes her grip from left to right, feeling how the weight is different from her Thorn.

“Ready?” Kiara says, doing a flashy move when bringing her sword out of its sheath.

“Ready,” Elizabeth echoes.

They began with a respectful nod. An instant later, the first clash echoes through the grounds. Kiara is on her, and Elizabeth parries the first blow with precision, following with a swift strike that the phoenix dodges just as smoothly before attacking once more. Elizabeth takes a step back, adopting a defensive position by keeping her body low to the ground.

A thing that Elizabeth has always enjoyed about practicing against others was to experience every fighting style she could familiarize with. Her approach was a more defensive one, conserving her energy for a decisive final blow while expertly shielding enemy attacks to wear her opponents down. Kiara’s was the opposite.

She, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of unpredictability. Most of her strikes seemed thrown at random, guiding herself by pure instinct and gut feeling. Her hits coming at unexpected angles kept Elizabeth on her toes, and even then, for a while the fight was evenly matched. Blow after blow, they matched each other’s rhythm, but eventually something had to change.

Kiara aims for a side attack Elizabeth was ready to receive, but then a flicker of the ginger’s eyes reveal her true intentions. In a split second decision, Elizabeth lowers her blade to shield a low blow. Not the most of knightly attacks, but she isn’t one to judge. The phoenix stumbles back, breathing roughly through her mouth. Elizabeth interprets that weakness as a sign, lunges forward with every intention to disarm her opponent, but she’s intercepted the second before contact is made.

Sparks ignite from where the blades connect, and Kiara pushes her backwards before attacking again. Her movement grew more fluid, her strikes more powerful, and it took Elizabeth by surprise. Did she misjudge her character?

Sweat drips down her forehead as she parries another blow, this one being way stronger than the ones prior. Her muscles were already straining, her breathing coming in a ragged gasp. Kiara seemed almost effortless in her attacks, even though she was exhausted a moment ago. Was that also a trick?

She gets distracted, and that’s her mistake. A second blow, just as strong, overpowered her strength and sent the sword flying from her hand. She’s too shocked to say anything, and at the end Elizabeth could only smile when the edge of Kiara’s sword brushes the skin under her chin.

“Well fought,” the ginger says amusedly, bringing her sword down.

Elizabeth still couldn’t believe she lost for being distracted like that. It isn’t common for her to be so careless, but that’s something she shall think about later. She holds her arm out, inviting a handshake that Kiara returns.

“Well fought,” she replies modestly. She couldn’t help but feel that there had been something off about the fight, but she doesn’t have a chance to ask, since Kiara is called over from somewhere else and a second later she’s gone.

Even though Elizabeth likes to think of herself as not prideful, failure was still a let down in her head. She moves the thought aside and reaches to pick up her sword before stretching, her mouth dry with the need of water. The moment she thinks about retreating to the shadow, her eyes wander in said direction, where she finds Nerissa sitting on the front row of the cavea. This time she’s alone.

It’s been a week since the time they met at the gardens. Not much has changed since then, other than Nerissa being around more. Though they still barely spent time alone. Whenever she came to observe her training, she did so alongside others. Nanamu and Shiori were her usual companions, but today she was on her own.

She disregards the thoughts and simply walks to the shadow. She fills a tankard with water, and by the time she’s taking a seat against the wall, Nerissa appears next to her. Elizabeth doesn’t have the energy to tell her to stay in the cavea when she isn’t fighting.

“That was quite a fight,” Nerissa remarks, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Elizabeth nodded. “Kiara is a formidable opponent.”

She takes another sip, enjoying the cold breeze of the morning.

“You do realize she was using magic, don’t you?” Nerissa says. Elizabeth frowns.

“Ridiculous,” she firmly says. “A knight does no relly in such petty tricks.”

“Should I remind you what I am?” Nerissa snickers. The knight looks up to the witch, who quickly says, “I’m a sorceress, not a witch. But I could see it. The magic.”

She points at her slitted pupils when she speaks, and the simple gesture is almost entrancing by itself. But in her tiredness, she could only focus on the most basic feelings. Like annoyance.

“Magic,” she muttered, the word leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

Nerissa studies her quietly before asking, “Are you upset about the unfair fight?”

She thinks for a moment, but the answer comes to her naturally. “No, not upset. It was still a good fight. Kiara is a worthy opponent, magic or not.”

Nerissa lets out a chuckle, and when the knight glances at her she has a smile playing on her lips. “You’re a better sport than most, you know. Not many would take it so well.”

Elizabeth isn’t all too flattered by the compliment, she simply brings her attention back to the tankard. “I have to be. There’s always another battle, another challenge. I’ll be ready for it next time.”

“I have no doubt you’ll be,” the other adds with that kittenish tone of hers.

Without having anything else to add, she leans further back against the cold stone wall. Nerissa remains beside her as Elizabeth scans the arena with discerning eyes, monitoring how everyone else was doing. And in doing so, she quickly spots her two young protectees practicing together. A mixture of pride and amusement tickles her flame.

Watching them was always a spectacle. Mococo, the nimble of the two, moved with a skill that belied her innocent and goofy demeanor outside of combat. Her flexibility and reflexes were nothing short of extraordinary, dodging and weaving through Fuwawa’s attacks with ease. Fuwawa wasn’t any weaker, though, if anything her strikes were precise and powerful, each one carrying a weight that was nearing superhuman. Her strength and Mococo’s agility set them apart, and their battles would usually go one way or another.

Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile as she watched them. The contrast between them was fascinating to say the least. It was clear that the two of them had immense potential, and in the time she’s had them under the radar, they’ve done nothing else but to exceed her expectations.

“You know,” Nerissa says, bringing Elizabeth’s attention back to her. Her expression is thoughtful, her eyes also following Mococo and Fuwawa’s combat. “You have the capability to learn magic as well.”

A frown tore her face. “Where did you get that idea from?”

Nerissa meets her gaze steadily. “How else would you explain the little flicker on your chest?”

She narrows her eyes. “How would you explain the horns on your head?”

The sorceress withholds her answer. The offended tone hadn’t gone in deaf ears after all, and Elizabeth cursed herself for letting the witch break through her defenses again. “Do you really hate magic that much?”

Deciding that enough was enough, Elizabeth stands up and picks up her sword back up. Nerissa doesn’t stop her, simply stands there while she watches her regather her things. “I don’t want to rely on witchcraft. I can achieve the same with enough training.”

Coincidentally, as she finishes her sentence, she hears steel hit the ground in a ring, noticing how Mococo was rolling in the opposite direction while Fuwawa stood there, undefeated. Elizabeth should go check on them.

“Elizabeth,” Nerissa calls her. Like a pull of a magnet, the sound of her voice stops her motion and makes her turn around. The woman had a look on her face that clearly said she wasn’t done talking. “I’m only trying to help you. The extra edge might save your life one day.”

Elizabeth stands, her resolve wavering. There’s a softness in her words that messes with her feelings. She sighs, her shoulders relax a little. If she was to be faced with vulnerability, she might as well do a bit of the same. “I’m sorry, Lady Ravencroft. I am not comfortable with the idea.”

Perhaps noticing the change in her behavior, Nerissa ends up nodding without much else to add. “I get it. But if you ever change your mind, I’ll be here to teach you the basics.”

She’s offered a gentle smile, and the flicker in Elizabeth’s flame exposes the reaction her body has against her. She turns around, facing away from her. Before she walks, she says, “Thank you.”

And with that, she departed.