Talk

The bard looked around the pub and added cautiously, "They were born in the same village and grew up with each other in mind. The boy's name was sacha. The girl always carried ornaments made and given by him as a child, with the dream of one day becoming his wife. But fate played tricks on them! The girl was chosen to be the Royal Maid and the boy left her. But in the end, there was a promise between them."

"What promise, if I may ask?" Weed asked, now curious.

"Sacha promised to show the girl the most beautiful design and view under the sky"

"I don't think it was kept then. The king must have a great number of beautiful and magnificent arts in his place"

"No, he kept it. Many years later, Sasha presented himself as a quest to the Royal Court. It was said that upon seeing her work, she was very moved, saying that she was the most beautiful creature under heaven"

"So what colossal art, for Freya's sake, did he present her? A woman does not easily appreciate an ordinary piece."

"True. Pay a visit to the maid of a lady who witnesses the day and hear the rest of the story. That's the most I can say because I heard it from someone else too"

"Is she still alive?"

"Yes" The bard told Volkner the way to the lady's maid's house.

Volkner went to visit her. She had retired, and when he mentioned King Sasha and the artist, she welcomed him with joy.

"His Highness was a very virtuous and gracious lord. So you want to hear about what happened back then?

"Yes ma'am"

"You've found the right person to ask. I personally served His Highness. She first resented Sasha when he visited the palace.

'Why, if I may ask?'

"It was his promise. When they were young, they'd made a promise, a promise that Sasha would gift His Highness the finest art under heaven. But when he appeared at the palace, he was carrying a sword, not a brush or a picture. In everyone's eyes, he looked like a good swordsman who was proficient with the sword. You should have seen how heartbroken his Highness was. It was indescribable! His Highness believed in Sacha so much that even if the world were turned upside down, he would be the same forever, and likewise, the promise between them was divine"

"…"

"That day, Johto Continent, which bordered Kanto, dispatched a band of assassins. They revealed a treacherous ambition to conquer our Kingdom, and Arceus only knows how shocked I was when assassins invaded and attacked Her and Her Highness in the garden.

"Those wicked scoundrels!"

"Yes, young traveler, you can say that again. Some Royal Knights were trapped, unable to keep them under control - and we were left to face death. At that very moment, the former King Sasha entered the garden. As you can see, right in the middle of the fight, His Highness warned him and ordered him to leave. But Sacha just smiled—"

"Did he smile in the midst of such a dangerous situation?"

"...and he said he would show her the most beautiful art he had ever drawn under the sky. To everyone's surprise, the moonlight shattered on Sacha's sword. His beauty was really impressive. He was singing a song as he sculpted the moonlight. I can't remember the lyrics word for word, but the title was Heart Sync. Hearing the song, His Highness was overflowing with tears. It really was the most beautiful statue Milady had ever seen. If Sasha had just inscribed his name on a rough board, his Highness would have taken it as the most beautiful sculpture in the world, but I tell you, the vision he was carving in the moonlight was literally heavenly. The assassins scattered at the inconceivable sight, and Sasha kept his promise. Many years have passed, but I still have that poignant memory."

Then, a mysterious flashback passed before Volkner's eyes.

* * *

carve

A boy is holding a small engraving brush in his hands

As the engraving knife slides up and down, a piece of wood is shaping the image into a shape.

It looks like he's drawing a maiden

A lovely little maiden

Through his art, the piece of wood is endowed with life

A girl, blushing to her ears, is looking at him

Boy's hand moving engraving brush and his serious look

The girl loves him, everything about him.

Soon the boy hands him the complete statue. Looks a lot like the girl.

"For now, all I can do is draw a piece of wood. But someday, I'll give you the most beautiful drawing in the world, on the most important wall in this kingdom! For everyone to appreciate how wonderful you are!"

"Thank you Sasha. I look forward to that day"

The boy and girl make a promise to each other, holding hands.

* * *

As the girl grows, she blossoms into beauty.

She caught the king's attention. She ended up becoming queen. But the girl is not happy at all.

Her Highness is still unhappy the day Sacha comes back to see her.

Sacha carried a sword, not an engraving brush.

Talking about a walk alone in the garden, His Highness gives way to the fit of passion and grabs a prickly rose. Her palm bleeds with ruby ​​red blood.

"Why did you forget our promise? Your promise was everything to me…"

His highness regretted the broken promise.

That night, the assassins storm the palace.

Continent of jhoto, a hostile neighbor as always, has sent assassins.

The Knights of the Kanto Kingdom fall one after another.

She and her Highness are afraid of their imminent and inevitable death.

Volkner holds his sword and the moonlight begins to dance.

"Are you ready partner?"

...