Let's Imagine: The Familiar Stranger!

I turn my head and squint from the glare coming from my window. The panes glitter brilliantly in the light coming from outdoors as the sky turns a soft orange.

"Momoko, we're getting up! Don't be late!"

Aiyoma's voice is heard from downstairs. The air is basked in the scent of baked bread and eggs.

I get up from my bed and stretch my back, my nightgown falling down to my knees tints a smooth blue.

Drawing a circle in the air, a white rune appears and the dress disappears. I tap the rune and my normal attire is placed onto my body.

I walk over to the door and open it. It creaks as the smell of different foods is now abundant.

The subtle creaking down the steps stops as Aiyoma turns to smile at me. She tosses a pan under a small flame on a countertop. Its content makes a popping noise as I sit down at the table.

"Had a good night's sleep?"

I yawn and nod my head.

She walks over and slides two eggs onto toast already situated on a plate in front of me.

She's nice, strong, and able to cook? And she doesn't have a boyfriend?!

"Aiyoma,"

She hums while cleaning the pan with a brush turning away from me.

"Are you, uh, seeing anyone?"

A thump is heard, her hands shaken as she's taken by surprise.

"N-no… Being a knight keeps me very busy, unfortunately…"

"That's a shame. You'd surely make a guy happy."

She picks up the pan and continues to scrub. "I… Thank you for your kindness."

We finish breakfast and head out from the housing district. Despite the early morning, knights are seen bustling in the streets.

While most of them are adults, a few knights around my age can be seen running in formation behind a broad-knighted female.

"ANOTHER LAP AROUND THE ENTIRE DISTRICT! ARE WE READY CADETS?"

They throw their fists in the air. "YES MA'AM!"

"Seems like they wake up just as early as we did in Lanier."

Aiyoma looks towards the cadets.

"A knight's life is all about punctuality. We need to be ready for anything."

We continue walking down a road reaching another gate. This one has a blue veil surrounding it.

"Halt,"

A male wearing a silver helmet with chain-mail held out his hand.

"What's your reasoning for venturing to—"

He down to Aiyoma's armor, a red glint was seen in his eyes.

"Gah! I-I'm so sorry ma'am!"

He lifted his hand and the gate's veil opened revealing another part of the city.

Aiyoma bows and I follow after her.

Guess Aiyoma is well-known around here… Or maybe it's her rank that does all the talking.

The smooth brick road beneath us clicks at my boots, I look around and bask in the sights.

"… Woah."

This part of the city is much livelier, dancers parade the streets, confetti rains from the sky and the buildings have different colored streamers and parasols hanging from the rooftops.

"Is this all for us?"

Aiyoma nodded.

"The Rite of Passage is an event that's known to the entire empire of Phoenia and empires both friend and foe. Anyone who wants the chance of being a knight travels far and wide to participate, it's quite renowned."

"I'm guessing this is the Main District?"

"You're close, we call this the Capital District."

We walk on an upwards slope and the castle from last night stands in view. Its white walls and large exterior wouldn't allow me to avert my eyes. Banners of different colors whisp from the top of the fortified walls.

Walking forward, laughing and chatter fill the air, almost defeaning. Three long lines filled with people crowding towards the booth are presented to us as we make it closer to the castle's closed-off gates.

We get into line, and to my surprise, it's moving at a fast pace.

"This is where sign-ups are held. There's a registration fee, but since this is your first time participating you don't have to pay it."

"People have to do the Rite more than once?"

"Oh definitely. It takes quite the toll on the participants, if you aren't ready you could even die from exhaustion."

I gulp and look to the floor. Well, that only means I only have one shot at something like this. There's no waiting for the next round.

"HEY! YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT?"

A large crowd forms in the line next to us as two people are seen in the middle. My eyes are able to catch a man wearing a silk shirt with a short dark-green cape.

"I don't know what you're implying." The man throws his hair back mockingly. "A mere commoner can't talk to me that way anyway."

The sun shimmers on a long blade he pulls from his side.

"You'll pay with your life!"

He dashes to his opponent, but he's suddenly pushed back and clobbered to the floor.

My eyes widen as I catch a hint of red. I run from my spot in line as there's only one person to cause such a ruckus.

"… Momoko?" Aiyoma looks at me in confusion.

"I'll be right back! Don't worry!"

I move through the crowd and a girl with long red luscious hair stands. The nobleman's cheek bulged red as he lay motionless on the ground. The brick beneath them was shattered with his back being implanted into the earth.

"Next time you talk, back it up." The girl smirks and looks over at me.

"Yuumi?"

. . .

She walks over to me and smiles. "Nice to see you again!"

I look past her and unto the paralyzed nobleman and sigh.

"Still getting into fights it seems."

Yuumi laughs and points her thumb back. "He started it. Walked in front of me talking about it's his 'right' to be in front of a mere commoner."

She looked back at him and sneered. "Guess this 'commoner' just kicked your ass."

We walk back over to meet Aiyoma. Her eyes shine as she runs towards Yuumi.

"It's been too long!" Aiyoma throws her hands around Yuumi picking her up from the ground.

"Not… A hugger… Not…" Yuumi's face turns purple.

She's let down and gasps for air. "Good god… What're you, Hercules?"

I laugh and gesture for her to get in our line.

. . .

"Wait what? I thought this was the line to get some free food?"

Aiyoma and I give her a blank expression.

"So you… Didn't come here to sign-up for the Rites?"

Yuumi's eyes widen.

"I thought that was tomorrow!"

I put my hands up and turn to face the sky.

"You see Mikku, there are people even more oblivious than me."

Smiling in the light, a single tear drops from the corner of my eye.

"Who's Mikku? And who you calling oblivious?!"

We walk forward in line with the sign-up booth almost in view.

"That a pretty quick attack, you've gotten stronger."

Yuumi holds her nose up. "Heh, yep! Ever since that fight with that knight I've noticed that I'm a bit on the slow side. I got some training from a Brawler who helped me get faster."

"You can accept help from others who aren't your same class?"

Aiyoma walks forward.

"It's not that uncommon. If you lack a certain attribute you could train with a class that's more potent in it to raise your attributes."

Wait? If I want to train my Magic Proficiency, all I need to do is start training with a Mage? Good to know!

"However, in your case—training with a mage or sorceress would be quite difficult due to your lack of spells."

… And there goes that idea.

We finally reach the sign-up booth. A lady hands me and Yuumi one green crystal each.

"Please place your hand over the crystal."

We both obey and the gem shines brightly. Different symbols and lettering pour from our hands into the rock.

"What's it doing?"

"All it's doing is getting your attribute score, along with some additional information." The lady behind the booth smiles.

The crystal fades and returns to its regular color, however, the tip of the crystal was coated in black.

We hand the crystals back to the lass and she bows.

"Thank you! That's all we need from you for today. Please come back tomorrow as we prepare for your preliminaries. Good luck!"

I turn from the booth a young girl wearing blue clothing catches my eye.

"Hey Yuumi, doesn't she look famil—"

Yuumi strides over to the unfamiliar stranger gritting her teeth.

"HEY KNIGHT!"

The girl looked over with pupils that were a shallow pink. She turned her body to face us and bowed. Her light pink hair moving wistfully as it bounced with her movement.

"Why, isn't it a pleasure to meet you again?"

She looked at Yuumi and smiled.

. . .