Anjina glances over at the wriggling and giggling pile seated at the vanity. She smiled faintly and her eyes eased into a gentle look of maternity. The anxiety digging its claws into her heart caused by Ryunise’s horrible coma was enough to bleed out death’s calling card. The minute her daughter opened her eyes, it all seemingly melted like a breath of frost on a spring morning. Anjina had seen her fair share of those in comas, a case of Dark Sleep herself, but it was strikingly dissimilar when it’s someone you know; as if you were dropped in another world looking at yourself through a window. You could feel it all, you could feel the helpless sorrow, blame, wanting to scream and cry, yet at the same time feel alien to it and never doing it. It was intimate like Gods or Goddess’ presence coming into you and pushing back your personality, except there was no prayer, magic, or name that could save you or anyone.

The two had a great relationship before, but now it’s different. Was Ryunise always this much of a fire-spitter? The wit, the sarcasm, the honesty in her big, green eyes? This air that she wore like a wealthy woman of wisdom. She’s but ten in body, yet why is it also like being in the presence of an adult?

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a handsome hottie there!” Anjina crowed.

“At the CHURCH, Mama?!” Ryunise interjected.

“Oh, come on! Everyone knows girls visit very often to stare at the heart-throbbing clergymen and guards!”

“What?! I’m ten!”

“It’s never too early start, dear.”

“TEN! Don’t you think that’s a little young to be ogling?” Ryunise gawked.

“Oh, don’t be such a pebble in the mud and keep your eyes peeled for your future husband!” Anjina giggled.

“…I feel like you just made fun of my height. Did you make fun of my height?!” Ryunise shook her fist a little.

“Huh? I did?” Her mother was innocent.

“The saying is ‘stick in the mud,’ but you just said rock!”

“Pebble, Nise, pebble! Hmm…right! You are a stump in the mud then!” Anjina point a finger to the ceiling as if finalizing a point, “Short, sturdy, and reliable!!”

“What the hell, Mama!?”

“Your tea and croissant, My Lady,” A maid bowed to Anjina.

Ryunise tried to perk her head over the shoulder of the make-up applier. The croissant was fluffy, buoyant, crisped and highly fragrant. The married layers of butter and wheat was divine, even holy, and it made her stomach pay a fanatic snarl. Anjina thanked her and received both plates.

“I’m hungry. Can I have breakfast yet?” Ryunise asked.

“When you’re finished, dear. And agree to being prettied up!” Anjina smiled.

“I just want minimal--!”

Her voice was suddenly robbed. It died into nothingness at the sounds of the fresh, delectable, scrumptious bread crunching apart, layer by matrixed layer, and the warm breath of fresh baked owning the entire floor. It could rule the world thrice over if it wanted to.

“What was that, my Nise?” Anjina smiled. For the finishing blow, she took a rounded knife of honey butter and very slowly melted a butter-full new world.

“…my mother is a savage,” Ryunise rued in total defeat.

“That’s right. Okay, she’s all yours!”

After much fussing and primping, the maids could finally breath in relief and wiped their brows. Ryunise wasn’t done up too much, but her skin was very smooth. Ryunise could have sworn that was from scrubbing and smarting with some kind of sandpaper. After it was left dewy, moisturized, and powdered light and even. Her eyelashes were coaxed out, bolden, and the ends angled like wings curled at the tips. Her full mouth stained a raspberry and high cheeks sprinkled faintly in strawberry sorbet.

She was only able to gnash on the other half of her mother’s croissant before she was herded off in a red cape down the stairs. In the foyer the sounds of men and orders barked thundered the frosty morning. The mansion’s day guards were doing their warm-ups in the backyard. Normally Ryunise would go and greet them, but not today. It would be a good two hours carriage ride to get to Regina two towns over.

“Ah, Fa--!” Ryunise started when the front doors were opened for her, but quickly recovers, “P…Papa!”

Marcaes Emerodelle turned from speaking to the head butler and coachman. As usual he was polite, but registered no emotion nor light on his face, his language, and in his demeanor. But at the sound of her voice and appearance, the sun came through his soul and shot through his whole body. He went from being a hallowed doll to a doting, bubbling dad and father.

“Ryunise! My daughter!” Marcaes suddenly appeared at her side and his hands scoops her up high into the air, “My little lace! You look so cute and tiny!”

Ryunise twitched heavily inside but bore with it. She smiled and gave a small squeak, “Good morning, Papa!”

“Good morning, my princess!”

“What are you doing here? Doesn’t Papa have work?” Ryunise lightly kicked her dangling feet. She was so not used to being carried, but seeing his dejected face clenched this heart of not hers.

“I came to accompany you.”

“Papa is?”

“Yes, my little goddess drop,” He smiled brightly. The servants around them could only glance slightly to the side at the sunniness practically bouncing from him.

Oh gods.

“I can’t go by myself?” Ryunise blinked. At age ten young girls are able to leave their houses with the accompaniment of at least two maids or a guard.

“Sun petal, you don’t want to spend time with your Papa?” Marcaes began to pout.

“N-no, no! I’m just so worried for Papa!” She panicked, “I don’t want Papa to get in trouble!”

“Why would I get in trouble?”

“Right…Papa is Order Knight…”

“That’s exactly right! Now let’s be off!” He grinned.

He really is such a doting father on his daughter, she thought. I wonder if I ever had a father like him before? The more I spend my days, the more it feels like my memories are slipping away. Like sands in the waves; very much there, real, but becoming scattered and washing slowly into the deep, the unseen, the unknown.

“Captain Commander!” A voice shouted out, “Captain! Captain Commander Emerodelle!”

Ryunise blinked. She resigned to having her arms around her father’s head to keep her balance as he walked and moved. He wasn’t going to let her down anyway. There was a throng of ten men lining up between them and the house. Sweat was their chosen uniform in the morning light with gray cloud tank tops and long navy pants sucked into black leather boots. All did an open hand diagonal over their heart in impressive unison, closed in a fist, then bowed at the waist.

“Captain Commander Emerodelle, sir! Good morning!”

“Be eased, soldiers,” Marcaes spoke. His voice laxed into a monotone and civil touch, green eyes and body once again conservative. It was only betrayed by his arm holding Ryunise up securely, “Squad Leader Zline.”

“Captain Commander, sir!” The front middleman confirmed.

Jerrin Zladine, Ryunise mused. He was a curious man tanned a bitter caramel from the wastelands, the mahogany eyes of roaming nomads, and inflexible copper hair. Ryunise as a baby would frequently point to his head and shout “Grassy!” since his hair resembled to her of grass. At the beginning the hot-blooded teen would be ready to pop like a balloon at any given moment, but with Papa bear as her father he took out his fire on training and poor sparring partners, and then quickly rose to the top of the squad. If only to keep his sanity. Now he didn’t mind so much the name. Most days anyway.

Ryunise apparently likes to do it for sport. A lot.

Marcaes Emerodelle made it a point that it takes more than blood to make his household squadron. One must be ready to spill it as well. It’s an honor to be hand-picked by the Order Knight, and many had even applied. It wasn’t that the employment would be easy. He was one of the hardest to please, let alone keep up with. Becoming a guard for the fief, and even for his family, was like a badge of prestige itself. To be on his squad in Faella meant that you had the Order Knight’s trust.

Because of Marcaes Emerodelle’s special title Cobalt Nobelle he could technically have the pick of any man of any house all the way to Arch Duke to be recruited into the fiefdom guard, and there would be no body limit, and no questions. Cobalt Nobelle is a certain, highly sought-after title that grants instant noble status, a large fief, and unlike other bestowed titles this one was hereditary. Others must end with the receiver. This was given only by the King and only during times of war. Sir Shondra Faella Emerodelle was one of two out of millions during the Great Sapphire War to obtain it.

“Aren’t you also going to greet my berry dot?” Marcaes collectedly reminded him.

“Good morning, Lady Ryunise!” Jerrin repeated the hand greetings of respect and bowed.

“…yo. Be eased, Grassy,” She wanted to try it. And her sharp eye definitely caught a satisfying twitch at the eye.

“Yo?” Marcaes blinked once up at her.

“My usual greeting to the Squad Leader,” She smiled easily.

Ryunise could feel the gazes of the officers. She knew it was always a wonder to see their Captain Commander and the Order Knight of Rakoul in rare form. Very few can boast they’ve ever seen him be a human; a human just like everyone else they were borne to be, who feels, cares, and has a warm heart. No other force in the world could have the power his family has with him.

“Squad Leader Zladine,” Her father said, “I trust you to maintain a proper relationship with my daughter.”

The officers sweated slightly, and it wasn’t because of the morning sun.

“Yes, sir!” The man immediately affirmed.

“Good. Carry on as discussed.”

“Yes, sir!” All rallied together and bowed again, “Have a safe trip, Captain Commander and Lady Ryunise!”

The men formed two rows evenly along the path leading up to the waiting coach. At their bow Marcaes carried his daughter and smoothly ducked, seated, and settled Ryunise in his lap. The men put their fists on their heart and watched their departure.