A Knight's Lilies

"The second largest concentration of mages outside national armies comes not in the conglomeration of mages guilds, however big some of them might be. But in the different branches and holy orders connected directly to the Astralian church. Their own mage knights and templars are able to combine to field a highly skilled arcane formation able to rival even those of smaller nations. Though outside of combatants, the church also holds a high population of low level mages as well."

- Archivist Renauld Talash, Library Of Traxia, "Introduction Into The Astral Church: Arcane Components"

By the time Sophie managed to recount a hyper summarized and sanitized version of what few things she actually felt comfortable sharing, the afternoon had come in force and the ball's main event began in earnest. It was a relief to her that any ideas of cross examinations or questioning were seemingly put to an immediate halt as the call for the nobility echoed forth from a singular piano key.

A somber if still lively waltz emerged from the musicians gathered in the hall. Nobles young and old took to the stage with practiced precision, though one or two might trip on the hems of a dress or out of sheer nerves. Yet there was still a remarkable level of poise to it all. The conjunction of expectation and experience intermingling in a strange little display.

For many, it was an introduction into new social circles or to those they would have to grow closer to. For others it would be beneficial arrangements or to demonstrate the binding ties of a newfound alliance or the result of a political deal. Only the more adventurous of the nobility's youths took to the stage with naught but gusto and a chance to impress their peers.

There were, however, a select few who did not participate. The outliers of noble society or strangers like Sophie and the others. Those who were too pious or shy to like Lady Aletta. And those who simply had neither the courage nor the fortunate to have arranged for a partner or pairing beforehand.

The Lily Knights and Saints had mostly regrouped by this point. Most understood that they were not to interrupt this oddly intimate ritual of the court. And while some like Ary seemed all too fascinated by the spectacle before her. There was one whom Sophie cast her sights upon.

Despite Eva being dressed in what could politely be called, 'an elegant and fanciful riding uniform' as her main choice of attire. She still looked especially radiant to Sophie. Her buckles and belt had been polished before her. Her tall riding boots stood sharply at attention as she tried her best not to fidget. Her sleek brownish ochre colored trousers offered a canvas for her tight fitting blue green uniform to rest upon, her breast pocket sporting House Rosengart's floral sigil. The buttons of her coat were all neatly aligned and brilliantly presented. Only the girl herself seemed out of place, Eva looking uncharacteristically nervous.

Sophie chided herself for not having clocked onto things far earlier. The way that Eva kept speaking about gauging the court, about how she barely cared about their judgement despite herself needing to be presented at the court of nobles alongside Sophie. Eva didn't care because she had own objective in mind, a statement to make. With her temporary banishment now about to be at its end, she needed to make her stance and power known. To reinforce her position. It irked her even more to have thought nothing about those times Eva would disappear earlier in the day when they were hanging out at the ball's reception. And no wonder Princess Samantha just came to us. They planned all this, didn't they?

Sophie scooched over to her, hiding her face as she approached, taking care to masque her emotions. Pride. Heh, she did all this on her own, huh? Prepared and planned. Doubt. I suppose we've been walking separate paths for a while now. Understanding. Doesn't look like you need me much, anymore. She smiled mournfully.

"Eva." She made herself known.

"Sophie. Hey." Eva whispered back.

Though her collar was already immaculate, Sophie still reached for it, making a show of fussing over it.

"You look wonderful, Eva." She cooed softly.

"Heheh. Thanks." Eva mumbled, the girl's head dropping a bit from embarrassment at the sudden compliment.

"I mean it. You look like… you look like this is who you were meant to be." She mused.

"Oh? What's that supposed to mean? Hmm?" Eva teased.

Sophie chuckled, "I… I still remember back then. Helping you pick out dresses. You always looked so pretty and beautiful, and you knew it too. But it always felt like something was missing. Now I see it, you in a cool uniform, heh."

"Heheh."

"You're still pretty. But now you're also just a bit handsome, sharp. Quite commanding too. I like it." Sophie grinned lopsidedly.

Eva met her glance with one of her own.

"You think so?" Eva smirked coyly.

"Of course." Sophie giggled, "I know so."

Untying one stray knot in Eva's hair. Sophie felt oddly sad. They had been apart for so long and things had changed so much. Though Sophie had always been treated as the younger one considering the circumstances of her impromptu adoption by Eva. In this moment she felt almost like the elder one, about to send their prized sister or pupil off to a better life.

She thought about her own worries. About the knowledge that they would walk apart from now on. Eva would manage the affairs of the saints and Carrador. And while they would have one last moment of true unfettered cooperation in the coming encounter with the court, their own agendas would come racing back just as soon afterwards. For Sophie and The Lily Knights were bound for the Frostwinds, Eva would remain here in Carrador with the saints until her own journey back to the Academy. After that, their lives would be as they had been the past few months. Occasional meetings and dinners, perhaps some joint training or mission together. But otherwise, they were simply two students living different lives. It was a surreal feeling.

"And…?" Eva whispered.

Snapped out of her thoughts, Sophie chuckled to herself for a moment before responding.

"I think he'll love it. I mean, I think he loves you regardless. Heh."

"That's a relief." Eva mumbled, her gaze darting to the ground and looking away, her initial jubilance briefly hidden by a strange despondent flicker.

"You'll be fine, Eva. I mean it." Sophie reassured her.

"Mmhmm."

But there would be no more room for encouragement. For an oddly recognizable gait grew just that much louder by the moment. While Eva stubbornly refused to look up, Sophie glanced upwards and found Prince Frederick just as sharply dressed if not that much more properly.

His dress coat was a striking black with the occasional purple streak and symbol of the royal family. His pants were a more whitish grey and freshly pressed, yet stylistically matching that of Eva's. Even his little buttons seemed to be tailor made for him, for though they enhanced the striking nature of his coat that much more, they were also identical to Eva's.

Frederick's own nerves did not escape Sophie however. The princeling had unconsciously slipped his left hand into his coat pocket with this right holding onto its hem. It was a movement that Sophie never cared to notice until Eva had pointed it out when they were younger. Not that it mattered. It was almost adorable in its own way how the two behaved now compared to the almost boisterous and carefree nature that they had been back then.

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Although his face was taut, a practiced mask for every royal to wear. When his eyes met hers, they softened and his brows mellowed. A small smile tickled the edges of his mouth, a gesture of friendliness when one could not simply call out to the other and interrupt the ball behind them. Sophie smiled back, an amused, if knowing nod directed at him. Though she had often gotten jealous of him when they were younger, the three of them were older now, and no permission was needed. Even if she felt a little pleased that he still sought to ask her regardless.

"Eyes up, Eva." Sophie leaned down and whispered, taking one last chance to tease her mistress by blowing some air at her ears.

Eva shrunk into her shoulders and almost yelped before holding it in. Instead choosing to softly hiss at Sophie for the attack. But then her gaze was directed forwards and Sophie could see the moment that Eva locked eyes with Frederick.

After all, what greater declaration of support and strength could a duke's daughter muster than the support of the royal family itself. And while there were still factions even between the Edelin brothers. Tonight, the two would show the court where the younger prince's affections lie and that there would be no objection from the king. A tacit confirmation of his courtship for all to see.

Frederick beamed a smile at the two of them. Sophie offered another nod. Though she couldn't see Eva's face, she guessed the girl was likely absolutely delighted.

With practiced motion, Frederick pulled his hand out of his pocket and tucked it behind his back. He then leaned down in a half bow before extending his right hand towards Eva.

"My fair lady, would you permit me your company?" He asked.

Eva giggled like a mischievous child, turning around once more as if to also seek permission from Sophie. Amused but mostly just happy, she gave Eva an encouraging squeeze on the shoulder.

"I would be delighted by your company." Eva replied with as much dignity as she could muster.

Hand in hand, the two searched each other for something. An unspoken conversation occurring within arm's reach of Sophie. But she was content, Eva seemed happy and that was about the end of it as far as she was concerned. The heroine and her prince, heh.

The duo both shot Sophie a thankful look, one that she returned. And then they stepped forward together onto the ballroom floor.

A few inattentive nobles grumbled or gasped at the sight. A child so soon released from outright banishment already courted so directly by the prince. Yet as she looked around the room, it would seem their friendship wasn't as much a surprise as she thought it might have been. Some disdainful looks, some curious, most just passing it off as yet another noble coupling to join the floor. Though even the most ignorant of their number would register the intimacy the two shared. If Eva's restoration as a child of Carrador wasn't already certain before, it was now.

Off they went, their legs moving in lockstep as a strange melancholic calm settled over Sophie. She had always fantasized about the moment their relationship would evolve to the next stage to be one filled with action and adventure. Potentially the two of them tackling an arduous quest together like the cave where they encountered Sigrid. Yet, there was nothing of the sort here. Just the musical notes and graceful swaying of the dancers. It felt both right and wrong.

She sighed under her breath before turning towards her own partner in crime. Ary sat with a slight forward lean, the girl's hands gripped onto the handles of her wheelchair, mesmerized by the waltz in front of her. Where Eva perfectly straddled the line between overly handsome and being pretty, Ary didn't mind leaning firmly into the latter. Her dress's neckline dipped low enough to offer some skin, but hid just as much to leave more to the imagination. And although parts of it were a little too wrinkly or just messy enough to suggest that it wasn't something tailored specifically for her, it didn't matter. For Sophie, she still looked stunningly radiant.

She found herself smiling just admiring the girl. A mountain tribal now student at Arteria's Academy and participant at a ball in Carrador's Palace of Kings. A resilient and glimmering light that always seemed to draw Sophie to her, even now. With a cheeky grin to herself, she shuffled over and sat down beside her, sliding her own arm to nudge Ary's.

Ary glanced over and met her eyes, a small expression of unbridled joy emerging onto the girl's face. Sophie felt her heart pound in her ears, drowning out the music around them. Something about the moment had her gripped in its entirety. Staring into Ary's eyes, she saw not just her own reflection, but also of someone waiting expectantly for her. Sophie could only smile back at her, unable to process all the emotions that she was currently feeling.

She wished she could be as graceful as Frederick. To be able to offer herself with the poise and elegance that Ary deserved.

Perhaps noticing her mental agony, Ary flashed her a toothy grin before bringing their hands together. Their palms resting gently upon each other as their fingers slowly interlocked. The girl gave her a small squeeze and all at once, Sophie felt the fog in her mind seem to clear.

"Ary…" She whispered.

The girl just chuckled and bobbed her head, her eyes never leaving Sophie's.

"I umm…"

Even with the clarity of her thoughts returning, her words were a different matter entirely. She found herself now fumbling whatever she had originally wanted to convey. Ary however, didn't seem to mind. The girl's smile only grew wider at Sophie's awkwardness.

"It's okay." Ary spoke after a moment, the hint of a giggle still in her voice, "I know we can't dance like them." She half heartedly gestured to her legs.

Caught off guard, Sophie almost snorted and resorted to letting out a snicker to avoid being overtly rude. Her feeble attempt to hide her amusement only made the redhead even happier.

"Pft."

"Better?" Ary smirked.

"Mmm, maybe a little." Sophie grinned.

"So? What is it? If you're not planning to ask me to a dance." Ary teased with a half bow in her wheelchair, mimicking Frederick's gestures.

"Heh." Sophie chuckled and gave her hand a squeeze, receiving a prompt squeeze in return.

She then tried to subtly draw the girl's attention back to the ballroom floor. More importantly towards the newfound couple that had joined the crowd.

"I just realized that things are changing everywhere." Sophie mumbled her thoughts out loud, "I think it's the first time I really understood the two of them. And… and I guess I just wanted to… I don't know, make sure to appreciate you more, Ary."

The girl didn't respond yet, though Sophie noticed the edge of her smile becoming more downturned. Though thankfully, it was because she adopted a more thoughtful expression instead of a disappointed one.

"I know that… the path I walk might be a strange and awful one. But you are the reason why I keep going, cheesy as that might sound. If I can make anyone's world a better place somehow, then I hope it'd be yours, at the very least. And I-"

"You do. Sophie. You already do." Ary interrupted, her lips forming a thin smile.

Sophie stammered out a few more syllables but they all seemed to lose their meaning as a quiet understanding was reached between the two. Their bond was one that, despite her own trepidations, needed no words to fully express.

With the dance floor commanding most of the court's attention the two of them leaned in and nuzzled each other. Their foreheads pressed together as a warm feeling was shared between them. Just as quickly as they had embraced the moment did the two of them pull back away. Quick enough that those who did not know them might be left wondering if they truly had seen the moment happen.

They did not even share a kiss beyond the brief physical contact. But enough had been shared and the quiet reassurance they passed between them only strengthened their connection.

"I love you." Ary broke the silence first.

"I love you too." Sophie replied without missing a beat.

For a quick second, the two explored each other with their eyes. Tempting gazes wandering across each other's bodies as the flurry of emotions goaded them onwards. Their gaze then settled back onto one another and a hushed giggle overtook both of them. It was a strange sensation and even stranger moment, one that Sophie couldn't quite put into words, but she liked it.

In the quietness that followed their declarations to each other, one that had passed through their lips time and time again yet still never losing its luster. Their hands grasped onto each other that much tighter in lieu of a kiss or other forms of affection. Their thumbs toying with each other even when there wasn't much more that they could do publicly without shattering the implicit rules of the court.

This moment was theirs to remember. Sophie even found herself flirting with thoughts of the future. Ary's expression of mirth simply watching the dancers at the ball was a sight that she wouldn't soon forget. To that end, she hoped that they would have the chance to attend another. And instead of the uncertain foray that had mired their experience during this one, she vowed to be more like Frederick. To be the noble who offered her hand for Ary to take before the two of them took to a dance. They had joked about it earlier, but now she was certain. Even with Ary's current situation, she would find a way for them to have fun, Ary deserved that much, at least.

Staring at her partner once more, she just smiled. She knew the trial would surely be heated afterwards, but for now, it was enough that they could enjoy this moment together. Because even if she couldn't earn back a place in the land that was once her home, she had Ary. Not just her, but friends and comrades too. For a lost soul like herself, she reasoned that maybe that was more than enough.