Chapter Text
War. That was what Ichika Hoshino’s days were filled with. This world was run by four elemental kingdoms, the Dark kingdom in the south, the Wind kingdom in the west, the Aether kingdom in the east, then the Light kingdom up north. Ichika was gladly a knight in the Light kingdom. For years upon years, the kingdoms lived in harmony. Until, greed invaded their little world, leading to war.
Ichika slumps against her door with a heavy sigh, she was glad she even got excused to go home.
She looks down at the ground. “Huh? A letter..?”, Ichika mutters to herself, picking up the royalty stamped paper. “From the palace?”, Ichika thinks to herself, it wasn’t everyday she got letter from the palace itself, typically if she did, that meant she either was in serious trouble or she was getting promoted, but no way she was getting promoted, gods no, she was already rank 2 and rank 1 was already way past her capabilities. After hesitating for a long while, Ichika opens the envelope, revealing the letter within.
“Dear Hoshino Ichika, you have been appointed to guard the Queen until further notice. You’re expected to meet in her courtyard everyday at 7 am sharp. If you have any questions, please save them for tomorrow. Thank you”
Ichika rereads the letter once, twice, three times, and even a fourth time. Eventually, she realizes she's reading this all correctly.
“This – this must be a mistake… Asahina-senpai is the Queen’s guard right?” Ichika stammers in exasperation, “7am..? Maybe I could ask about it.. Ya.”
With that, Ichika continues on with her night, ending it off with some much needed sleep.
.
Her boots crunch through the Light kingdom’s endless snow. White puffs of air escape Ichika’s rapidly drying lips, the air cold and harsh. Shivers wracked through her body, despite her knight uniform being made for this type of weather, Ichika never found herself warm.
After a few turns, she arrives at the courtyard, which looks like a winter wonderland. The scent of white carnations filling Ichika’s nostrils, the flowery scent throwing her off considering not many floral plants grew in this harsh weather. Seeing no one there, Ichika wipes some snow off the cold stone bench and sits down.
“They said 7 am sharp… Am I too early?”, Ichika questions, checking her small pocket watch, which read “7:00 am”. Ichika sighs, her breath a hazy white from the cold, “I’m here at 7 sharp, and no one is even here…”
Just then, a soft, gentle voice, one that Ichika has heard many times before in her time as a knight, reaches Ichika’s ears. “Good morning, I apologize if you’ve been waiting a long time”, the Light kingdom’s Queen smiles, her expression warm enough to melt any snow that engulfs this kingdom’s endless snow.
Ichika stiffens, standing up quick enough to almost slip, “good morning, y-your majesty!”, she stutters, her cheeks turning a bit red, great, she’s totally humiliated herself, right in front of the Queen too.
The Queen softly laughs, sitting down in the spot next to where Ichika was sitting, prompting the knight to sit back down. “Please, Hoshino-san, just call me Kanade. No need for the formalities, especially when it’s just us.”, Kanade gives Ichika another smile. Kanade Yoisaki, she’s been Queen for years upon years, her reign apparently starting when she was only around 13 or 14 years old, after the previous King’s tragedy.
Ichika stammers a bit, before clearing her throat and pulling herself together. “Um, if that's what you want, Kanade-san… But, in return, please just call me Ichika, no need for anything like that”, Ichika sighs, relieved she finally got herself together, but also feeling like she sounded a bit bossy. A quiet silence sets over them, until Ichika speaks up.
“Say, Kanade-san, why did you, um, well, request me? To be your personal knight. Isn’t Asahina-senpai your personal knight? Did something happen to her?”, Ichika quickly questions, she had more questions than answers, which really bothered the navy haired knight. Kanade stares for a moment, processing her rapid questions.
After a moment too long of silence, Kanade speaks, “to answer your first question, I requested you since you’re the strongest after Mafuyu. As for your next one, you’re right, Mafuyu is my personal knight, but they decided to put her on the front lines of war, so she’s completely busy, and I don’t want to burn her out.” the Queen explains, it made sense to Ichika, Kanade was expected to have the strongest to protect her, so if that person is busy, obviously they’d move on to the next one.
Ichika nods, “I see… But, Kanade-san, I don’t think I’m cut out for this job”, her gaze falls to her lap.
The white-haired Queen tilts her head, “why not? Are you not..comfortable doing this job?” Kanade's tone emits concern and worry, her expression shifting in worry, her blue eyes softening in their gaze. That look immediately had Ichika stammering.
Ichika takes a deep breath, putting herself back together again, “It’s just, well –” Ichika swallows, before letting out a breath, “I… don’t exactly have magical capabilities like the rest of the knights. I’m the only one who can’t heal, or enhance their strength, nothing like that”, she finally forces the words, Ichika feels relieved, but now to see Kanade’s reaction to the truth.
She looks back up at her Queen, who was staring at her like a confused dog, “no powers? So you’re just –” Kanade doesn’t get to finish as Ichika nods and accidentally interrupts. “Ya, I’m just… Ichika Hoshino, a regular person.” Ichika chuckles a bit.
Kanade lets out a small hum, “still, the fact your rank 2 without anything supernatural is still impressive, so please don't underestimate yourself.” Kanade offers a smile. Ichika can’t help but return it.
Once Ichika’s questions were answered, she got some more information on what her job would be like. From early morning until noon, she would be by Kanade's side, attending meetings with her, the works. Afterwards, Ichika was expected to head back to the battlefield and continue fighting for her kingdom.
Ichika lightly grips her navy blue hair, “ah..that's overwhelming..”, she quietly groans, already trying to figure out how to get enough sleep to support such an insane schedule. Kanade gives her a guilty look, “I'm sure it is…is it too much?”, the Queen tilts her head.
The knight quickly shakes her head, “N-no! I can do it! It's only temporary after all!”
And so, the hardest month for Ichika Hoshino started.