The Year That Had Passed

[Eyup. Sorry for the bad schedule. Reason for it? Uhhh, I don't have a schedule? Anyway enjoy the chap since it might take some time for the next few ones. I Might just rewrite a smidge from vol. 1, nothing major just some minor details.]

Many things had happened and events transpired during Mitsuna's one year at the castle with her family.

She enjoyed tea and biscuits with her brother while he talked about politics.

-Since Mitsuna wasn't going to become the heir she really didn't listen much.-

She got beaten up by her mother.

-Since it was considered training no one went to the authorities.-

She spent some time drawing blueprints and playing psychological games with her father.

-Mitsuna did find her father's playful reactions quite funny.-

And she even got acquainted with the knights.

This story is about that very same first interaction.

...

"It's morning." Mitsuna said with a yawn.

As usual, she waited for her mother, who soon appeared at her door.

"Morning Monkey!"

'Just how many nicknames is she going to give me?'

"Morning Mum."

"Well? What are you waiting for? A hug? Let's get to training." Aryamis said as she held her arm while trying to flex her muscles.

"..."

Getting up from her bed, Mitsuna ignored her mother's antics and started making her way outside.

"H- Honey!? Don't ignore your mother like that! Of course, we can eat first if you like!"

Getting a quick glass of milk from the kitchen, Mitsuna didn't eat anything else since she was afraid she would throw up like last time, or the time before that, or...

The training was the usual, muscle, stamina and sword.

It wasn't that difficult to follow or complete but Aryamis gave a minuscule amount of time for each exercise.

'Demonic as always mother.'

After a few hours, Mitsuna laid on the ground taking deep breaths.

'Maybe I should train the way I breathe at some point? Maybe that w-'

"Pumpkin let's go eat something."

"...Yes mum." Mitsuna said while taking breaths in between speaking, losing her train of thought.

Heading to the dining area, Mitsuna sat down and enjoyed her evening.

The table was filled with food, her brother's comments on a rumour he heard about an illegal science guild that was in the process of recruiting and being formed as well as her parents' flirting and jokes while they completely ignored her brother.

It was the same as always, Jameson kept giving ideas about how to further the countries power and influence while keeping it neutral while Midithyr waved his hand and told him to let the nobles handle it while he kept flirting with Aryamis.

Mitsuna didn't really get the best environment to grow up but she liked it. Her family's interactions were funny so she was pleased with just sitting back and enjoying the show with a light smile.

After eating, she made her way outside.

At this point, she had already read most of the books in the castle. Those she could reach that is.

Waddling around, she soon saw a pile of black cloth and white metal in an area she hasn't visited yet.

Hopping over the four-meter tall black metal fence, she noticed that the ground had no grass and was instead just like a sandbox. A dusty and hard desert-like sandbox.

Nearing the pile, Mitsuna couldn't see anyone around so she crouched down to take a closer look.

Seeing a mask on the ground that she had previously seen being worn by the royal guard looking knights, Mitsuna picked it up and examined it.

It looked like a mixture of fox and eagle. It was the best description she could give. It covered part of the nose and upper face.

Placing it on her face, Mitsuna felt proud, although she did not know why.

Looking back at the pile, she lifted the black cloth, wanting to do a little cosplay.

The moment she did, she saw a handsome face with bright red hair. The man was barely conscious but still made eye contact.

Yelping in surprise, Mitsuna fell back and the cloth-covered the man's face again.

As soon as she yelped, the guards got up with vigour and saluted.

This sudden action also surprised Mitsuna since they moved faster than she could react, resulting in an "Ahh!".

A moment later, she heard a voice from behind the wall of knights.

"You lot. What are you doin'? Was I a bit too lenient to leave you conscious?"

Mitsuna could see some of the knights' shiver for a moment before separating into two lines.

One on Mitsuna's right and another on her left, giving her a good view of the one who spoke.

It was a 'familiar' person. Mitsuna only recognized them due to the armour.

It was the knight captain, at least that was her hypothesis.

"Ah. Young lady Mitsuna. What might bring you here on this day?" his demeanour instantly changed as he saluted and bowed slightly.

Even though his demeanour changed a whole 70 degrees at most, his face stayed the same if you don't count the slight glint of surprise in his eyes.

He was a tall and lean man with long pink hair that was braided into a bun at the end. His eyes were yellow as they took the attention away from the scar on his cheek and left eyebrow.

"Hello. I was looking around and saw a pile of metal and cloth so I got curious." Mitsuna answered with a slightly awkward smile.

Taking the mask off her face, she handed it to the knight who was missing one.

"Here."

"Thank you, my lady."

"Mhm. Cool mask."

The knight captain glanced at the knight who received his mask, then turned back to Mitsuna.

"Lady Mitsuna, would you like to overlook the knights' training today?"

"May I?"

"Of course. We hold them a few times a week so you may stop by whenever in the future as well."

"I'll make a note of that. I do not have much else to do after my daily training with mother dearest after all."

"I am sure the knights would be thrilled." the captain said with a light smile as he looked and the surrounding knights and frowned.

"Well?! Get back to your mock battle partner and start fightin' you piglets!"

'Another complete turn of character.'

"My Lady, if you would follow me."

Following the captain, she was led to a bench near a sparring location.

"Michael, Gabriel! Get over here!"

Sitting down next to Mitsuna while placing one leg over the other and leaning back, the captain spoke.

"Those two are the most talented out of the bunch. Although, you should pay attention since you might learn something. Although I doubt piglets like these have much to teach."

"I will pay attention." Mitsuna said eagerly.

'Hmm. The princess sure is an interesting one.'

"Knight-Captain?"

"Yes?"

"Although I did promise to pay attention, may we speak during the match?"

"Well, who would I be if I said no?"

"The knight captain?"

"It was rhetorical."

"And my response was a joke."

"Heh. So what do you want to ask?"

Giving a signal with the snap of his fingers, the two knights started their match.

Sparks flew almost instantly, yey Mitsuna did not look surprised.

"Where is that feather on your helmet from."

"That? It's from an extinct race of phoenixes. The Aurora Flame clan."

"Why is it extinct?"

"They tried to attack your mother's clan."

A bit of blood was drawn from Michaels side yet they showed no signs of stopping.

"If you work as a captain for us, how much free time do you have and how do you use it?"

"Why ask that?"

"If I know how much a captain's work hours are, I can make changes to the regular workers and my brother so they could have a bit more free time."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"Tweaking the schedules."

Cloth was torn in the barrage of attacks. Wind blew around harshly.

'They are really good at this.' Mitsuna thought.

"Well, I do as much work as I want honestly. I have a rather high position although I believe even the maids in the castle work however long they wish despite being of lower position. And I spend most of my free time at home."

"Do you have a family?"

"Yep. A great wifey and a son. Although my boy is adopted he is a real prodigy when it comes to the sword, almost like he has my own blood in him."

"Last question then. What is the strongest enemy you have fought?"

"Hmm. That would be the Aurora Flame clan head. Real tough cookie. Although I have seen a stronger enemy."

"Who was it?"

"A Stone Walker."

Mitsuna's eyes suddenly got cloudy.

"Believe it or not but your father actually sent me to that Sanctuary that appeared a few years back. The World-Class. I reached the last floor, or at least I think I did and there I found a truly horrifying battle taking place between 2 extremely strong beings and that 'thing'. I still get shivers. Luckily I was hiding behind a stone tree and fled after the creature took a glance in my direction."

Not receiving an answer, the captain pouted slightly.

"Well, it Was extremely strong and could turn anything to stone with just a glance. I don't think I would have stood a chance back then."

Still not receiving an answer, the captain looked towards Mitsuna.

"Lady Mitsuna."

She was staring forward.

Looking ahead, the captain saw that nothing was moving. Everything was grey.

Leaning forward, he looked Mitsuna in the eyes and the moment he did...

Before he could notice, Mitsuna was standing on the bench and staring at him in the eyes.

Flinching back, he noticed her eyes.

They had a grey glitch effect almost like television static. Every few nanoseconds a few dots of colour could be seen before being taken over by grey a moment after.

'Wh-'

"(%+£Entity: Achillie Quntrason The II.#@=)"

'How d-'

"÷;‡In which geographical coordinates reside the ruins of the World Class Sanctuary 'Dungeon of Fireflies'? Answer or be terminated.†›¢"

Before he could ask anything else or even think, he realized that colour had returned, Mitsuna was standing up and starting to walk away as sweat trickled down his forehead.

"Young Lady? Do you still wish to hear the answer to your last question?"

"But you answered it didn't you? The Aurora Flame clan head, right?"

"ah... right. Forgive me."

"It's fine. I'll come again when your knights are training. Bye."

Captain Achillie sat down and rested his face on his hands.

Chills.

'Her mouth never moved. Who spoke?'

He still felt fear when he remembered the echoing voice in his head that appeared when colour returned to the world.

'Connection Terminated.'

This was one of the last interactions Achillie had with Mitsuna.

There were few cases where a similar situation happened to Mitsuna and it seemed to stem from talks about the past most of the time, although extremely rarely and nearly no one would be around during those times.

Mitsuna herself had yet to realize anything wrong.