A Knight's Lilies

“Logistics - Important

Remember supply lines, keep troops prepared.

Assign at least one company to guard supply depots.

Pick the right tools and the right supplies before setting off onto any mission.

Without supply lines, all moves become risky moves.

Preferable to have a dedicated support staff and infrastructure to increase campaign effectiveness.

*Scrawled into margins with some doodles* My deskmates are weird.”

- Kyrie Moringstar, Academy of Arteria Student, “Class notes: Logistics and Management. “

Ary could tell that Sophie was more restored by the time they woke up. That alone made her efforts yesterday worth it in her eyes. Though whatever pain Sophie had transferred to desire in the heat of the moment had left Ary far more sore than she wanted to be this early in the morning. After exchanging some more affectionate headrubs and kisses before they parted for class.

Her first one at the mage’s tower had passed by relatively uneventfully. Though the text they had to read to better understand formula’s was a dense historical version that tested even the limits of her own patience. So much so that she was one of only a handful that remained awake enough to just barely comprehend the material. It didn’t help that her mind was still distracted, constantly flicking back to the still fresh memories of her recent intensive physical connection with Sophie.

Ary’s suffering only got magnified when Yana united with her after trading away Sophie for her. The fae laid into Ary for how hard the two had gone on for the night before.

It was embarrassing being scolded by a faerie residing in her pocket, but she took it in stride. For it meant that everyone was feeling livelier and for her, that was enough. At this point, all she wanted was to get a chance to check in with Sophia, to make sure Sophie's sister was still doing alright.

Ary let out a tired huff. Yesterday was a long day, huh?

The next class proved to be a welcome respite from the emotional turmoil of yesterday. Fana was more than delighted at seeing her, but Aubrey did shoot her a knowing look at how she hobbled into class. Ary could only hold back her choked gasp as the other girl kept poking her in the ribs, a sly little smirk on her face the entire time.

“Aubrey!” Fana hissed on her behalf, “Focus!”

Aubrey jokingly pouted and the three shared a stifled giggle as class continued.

The three of them spent their time relaxing as Professor Mckinley taught about the anatomy of some of the rarer plants found within Cyndralia. Today’s topic was focused on the dissection of the Starcrossed Stalk. Though it often came paired with the Starbloom Flowers that tended to grow into a decently thick shrubbery. Starcrossed Stalks or more commonly known as starstalks were actually a type of fern that enjoys the shade provided by the starbloom shrubs.

First recorded on the Traxian plains, they trace most of their lineage from other ferns and flora found dotted across the Starhollow mountains and to a lesser extent, the Highwalls. Starstalks were first named as such because people first thought they were actually the bottom half of the starblooms and were also vaguely shaped like stars. Many people believed they were planted upon the world by one of the High Pantheon, in the image of the Goddess. Only after people found them growing separately from starblooms did they finally receive a name of their own.

The relative rarity of the starstalks combined with a few proven health benefits have meant that there was an increasingly large market for Traxian starstalk tea. It was only when the heavy yet subtle set of something that smells vaguely like a dark chocolate when the class realized something was up. Professor Mckinely and a teacher’s assistant brought in little cups of warm tea. Ary tried not to let her excitement show too much but could feel her leg jittering in anticipation.

“Alright, now although this is a little treat. I still want you all to be learning. So take notes, write down what you taste, feel, and see if you can identify anything specifically distinct in its flavour profile. Okay? Then try to draw out what you know from other plants and see if you can make any predictions about health benefits that might be present.”

With their assignments handed down, the professor and the assistant went around with a platter around the class, distributing the drinks to the different groups.

“Ooh, this is a welcome surprise, thank you.” Fana took some cups from the assistant. The other student just gently gave her a wink.

Fana passed two small paper cups to the other two. Ary beamed at her before immediately getting stuck in. She sniffed the drink, getting a clearer scent of caramel and roasted nuttiness from it. Lingering over the cup, her skin told her that the steam coming from it was warm at most if not outright lukewarm. Drinkable.

Ary wasted no time and half the drink was in her mouth within a single gulp. Almost instantly, she could tell exactly why the fern might’ve been so valued. The tea was warming, toasty like a fire on a winter’s day. The flavour itself carried a strong bitter nuttiness that remained smooth with the faintest hint of caramel and earthiness. Pleasant, flavourful, and calming, she decided she liked it quite a bit. Though less than her orange tea.

Still savoring the drink and keeping a bit of it swirling around in her mouth, she made the mistake of looking up. Fana was equally delighted, but kept herself restrained to dainty sips. Aubrey had downed the cup in one go and now caught Ary’s eye. The troublesome girl spread her fingers in a v shape and stuck her tongue out, miming indecently lewd motions as her face took on a more sensual expression.

“Pfft.” Ary choked as she nearly spat her drink out, embarrassment and laughter overtaking her.

Fana slapped Aubrey across the back and the other girl fell forward into the v shape, a move that was still all too present with Ary’s mind. Defeated by her own immaturity and embarrassment, her muscles relaxed and she stopped trying to clench her lips shut, finally snickering and letting a little liquid dribble out at the sight.

“Gah. Damned earth.” Ary cursed as she wiped herself down.

“What? What?” Aubrey giggled, “Too familiar? Made you go all wobbly again?”

“Aubrey!” Fana let out an indignant snort.

“Tsssh.” Ary tried to brush it off.

“Aww, c’mon. You saw her, she walked in like someone after they got absol-ow!” Aubrey jumped as Fana bopped her on the head.

“Maybe, maybe not. Maybe don’t make me think about Aryana like that.” Fana chided.

Aubrey reared back and snorted, the three descending into fits of giggling, not noticing their amused professor standing over them.

“Ahem.” He coughed.

At once the three froze and gingerly turned to face him.

“First off, I’m glad you’re doing better.” He nodded at Ary.

“Thank you, professor.” She hurriedly replied.

“Now, I don’t recall any of the health properties being unrestrained laughter or funny business. So if you would?” He wagged his finger at them, a cheeky grin barely hidden.

“Yes, professor.” The three replied.

He shot them a doubtful look but moved to another group. The three held their breaths for a few seconds before giggling some more.

Watching the professor leave, Ary finally calmed enough to signal to Yana. From out of nowhere, Yana darted out from behind a plant and gracefully planted herself beside a cup, ready to be serviced. I’m just glad she’s more spoiled than mischievous, like the ones from old tales. Then again, I did find her down in the deeps. Not exactly where the faerie folk are rumored to ever be at. But I suppose my people wouldn’t have ever gone that far. Never did ask her why she was there…

Noticing the growing impatience from Yana, Ary wiped her questions away and sighed. Her new drink was now the property of someone else. She stealthily started tearing half the cup away, the paper proving tougher than normal paper. Aubrey and Fana watched with some marginal level of interest, the two having more or less gotten used to seeing the strange little faerie that constantly hovered around Ary.

The two had described Yana now as more like an oversized flying dustball. A more discreet appearance than the mote of light, but not by much. In their time spent together and with the opportunity to freely explore and test her own skills for the most part. Yana had managed to master which colours her form would reflect. It was a skill that the fae had described as useless for creatures that could live for unknown eons. There would be no point to change one’s magical output for such mundane purposes. But adapt Yana did, and now, after careful observation of the world around her. She decided to reflect various shades of grey until she looked like a dustball to those who could not perceive her true form.

At least that’s what they told her. Yana had, in a rhyme and withering gaze, explained that Ary and her were too connected for Ary to not perceive her true form. A shame, as she imagined what it would be like to see an oversized dustball. But a boon in that she could now see Yana’s entire being cringing from the initial hit of bitterness from the tea, the fae's tongue lolling out in a futile attempt to flick the taste away.

Yana glared at her, evidently suspecting her of setting up a trap. In another moment however, the fae’s expression changed, her nose wrinkling in confusion as the other notes within the tea were fully processed. She shot Ary a neutral expression, neither loving nor disliking the tea. That’s about as good as it gets for her, heheh.

By the time the professor clapped to get everyone’s attention once more, the four had finished their drinks. One by one, each group listed off a few identifiable traits of the tea. Ary felt a light sigh coming over her, if only more days were like this, then Sophie and Sophia both wouldn’t have to suffer, huh.

The rest of the day passed by without much issue. Generally being a more routine if still pleasant experience. It was when dinner came that Ary felt a modicum of dread. As a group, her, Sophie and the others tended to congregate around Griffin Hall for dinner. However, last week had seen the absence of both Sophie and Sophia for understandable reasons. She wondered if this week would be much the same. And if that’s the case, should I bring food to Sophia? She did help me out yesterday. Maybe getting Sophie to meet her with me could be good? Could also go wrong though. They both need time to heal from their own wounds.

Ary abruptly froze, a hint of a scowl developing. Her breathing grew more erratic as her hands unconsciously clenched and unclenched themselves. Right, yesterday. It had been most pleasing to have helped the other two with their problems. But the nightmare that she had, where it was not her, both the reflection in the glass, and the figure behind that. She wanted to know what it meant, what purpose did a dream like that serve.

Whereas occasionally she would dream of death and the horrors of Melisgrad. Those she could put down as but the inklings of bad memories bubbling away in the cauldron of her mind. These recent ones though, they were of the world that was not hers. The world from which Eva had once described. Perhaps even the world in which the Vaettaugh hail from. The world of robots and bright lights.

“What ails you, dearest Aryana? You may share with me, the illustrious Yana.” The fae zipped up and attached herself to her nose, her rounded tiny eyes staring back up expectantly at Ary’s.

With a weakness for the cuter things in life, she had to pause to take in the sight. Unfortunately, unlike Sophie, Ary wasn’t quite sure she could smush the fae’s cheeks in the same way.

“Mmm, just thinking.” Ary replied.

“Thinking, blinking, at least none of you are drinking. But you all have problems, at least they don’t play dead like possums.” Yana huffed.

“Wha..? Possums?”

“Tis but a rhyme I made in a limited time.” Yana booped Ary’s nose, “But that’s not my point! It’s your heart that’s in disjoint.”

“Eh?”

“When you’re angry or confused, you frown like this.” Yana scrunched up her face, her nose sticking out like a little button. Ary refrained from letting out an ‘aww’ at the sight. “But now you’re doing this.” Yana switched her expression to something akin to a light scowl with her eyes narrowed.

“Pffft.” Ary couldn’t help herself, “That didn’t even rhyme.”

“Ugh.” Yana pouted and slapped at Ary’s face.

“Eheheh.”

“What I meant to say, if your brain isn’t just hay. Is that I can listen too, to the problems that uhh… make you feel like poo.” Yana chittered, a smugness at her own skills.

“Heh.” Ary let out a dry laugh, “Fair enough.”

She moved to pinch her nose and nearly poked the fae, Yana smacking at her fingers with feigned annoyance.

“Sorry.”

“Tis fine.”

“I just have a lot on my mind.”

Yana tilted her head, now leaning on the left side of Ary’s face. Wait a minute, does this mean I just look like I have a massive dustball on my face now? And when she rests on my head… oh spirits. Oh no.

Aghast at the implications of, Ary could feel an embarrassed blush come on at the mental image of herself with the disgused face startling the people around her. She let out a pained gasp of embarrassment before pinching her cheek. Stop it, you’re avoiding the problem.

She clicked her tongue, trying to buy herself some time.

“Bad dreams I guess. Nothing too serious. Just wondering if they meant anything.” She tried to brush it off, “Like making sense of your thoughts.”

Yana narrowed her eyes, the fae’s intuition ensuring that she did not believe Ary’s casual dismissal and looked the part. Defeated, Ary just sighed. “I dreamed of another world.”

This changed Yana’s playful motions instantly. In a flash, she straightened herself up and peel off of Ary’s face, settling instead into the pocket where she could listen without outside disturbances. An air of seriousness descended between the two of them, I wonder…

“Explain.” Yana demanded.

Ary nearly squeaked, surprised at how commanding the fae suddenly sounded.

“I.. don’t really know how?” She admitted.

It was the truth in her eyes. Whatever she saw, it was a bizarre world. So many lights, noises, and everything in between. Yet none of it had been recognizable save for the word robot. How odd.

“I guess it’s like… I saw myself, but not myself…” Ary tried.

Yana did not look impressed. Equally however, there was a sudden seriousness about the fae that worried Ary. Even when she had been hurt, Yana didn’t furrow her brows as much as she did now. Does she… could she know something?

“Hey! Aryana! What a coincidence!” A familiar voice called out.

“Ah!”

“Ack!”

Ary and Yana both made unpleasant noises. Ary jumped a little as the fae darted back into her pocket hiding spot, staring directly up at Ary. As if to say ‘we aren’t done yet’. Ary could only respond with a subtle nod, her heart rate having spiked from the surprise call out.

“W-what’s up?” Ary stammered out.

The culprits of interruption proved to be the familiar figure of Elaria with her cocksure grin and the ever stoic dark elven protector stuck beside her. Ary was both relieved and annoyed. She had just about mustered enough courage and clarity to talk openly with Yana. She took solace in the fact that whatever revelation or tough conversation that had been about to happen was now for later.

“You have plans with Sophie or are you heading to Griffin Hall?” Elaria casually slid next to her before asking.

G-Griffin Hall.” Ary answered, slowly recovering from the shock of the surprise.

“Perfect! Let’s go then! Cause i’m feeling pretty hungry right about now.” Elaria grinned.

“Haaah.” Ary let out a deep sigh, “Yeah… let’s go.”

Ary glanced into her pocket to find Yana pursing her lips and staring back. I don’t think I’m going to get out of this one that easily.

"Besides, the others are waiting."

"Oh." Oh? The others are there?

“Guess who I found on the way here just lurking around.” Elaria cheerfully announced. This is a few more than expected.

Ary wanted to wince, every fiber of her being cringing at the attention being heaped upon her. Her legs had begun the movement, her arms looking ready to continue it. But as her eyes swept across the long table, she stopped. Sat at the table were Sophie, Mila, Miraevie, Alodie and even Sophia was sitting off near the end away from everyone but there. They all looked happy to see her. Her heart wobbled at the sight, her lips upturned to hide the small quiver of feeling that blossomed within her.

There was something so surreal at the assembled cast that her only thought was that if her other friends were here, she’d surely melt from such a reception. Sacrificing her doubts and pushing the matter of her nightmares away, she eagerly bobbed her head in acknowledgement and plooped herself beside Sophie.

“Aryana, hey!” Alodie beamed, a ray of joy wherever she went.

“Aryana.” Miraevie acknowledged her.

“Hey!” Ary beamed back at her, whatever was in her mind, not smiling as widely back to Alodie was not an option. “You guys had a good day so far?”

“Yeah! Today was nice. Though Sophie made a bit of a silly mistake in class.” Alodie giggled.

Miraevie just directed her gaze to Sophie, who, upon realizing who was looking directly at her, paused her conversation with Mila and wilted a little.

“What did you do?” Ary asked.

Sophie sank a little more into her seat, much to everyone’s amusement.

“She got volunteered to write something and forgot your little faerie was with her.” Miraevie snickered.

Ary looked to Yana first, who just shrugged. Not my problem, the fae seemed to say.

“Ahahah, she walked up to the front of class, and this massive dustball just floated out of her pant pocket. Looked like part of her butt.” Alodie chortled.

Sophie was flushed red as a tomato, hiding her face in her hands. “Stars above, no.” She protested to no avail.

“Dust butt, dust butt!” Alodie chanted before bursting into another fit of giggles.

“Ary, save me.” Sophie burrowed herself in her bosom.

Surprised but amused, Ary stroked her hair and leaned into it. “There, there.” She gave Sophie a few pats, “I’ll love you even if you're a dust butt.”

“Ary!” Sophie wailed indignantly.

The table burst into a few laughs and Ary swore she heard even Sophia snigger a little. Looking over though, Sophia just offered the tiniest of nods before returning to her food. Still not opening up but that’s no surprise after what she’s been through. I’m just glad she feels well enough to even come here.

Ary rubbed her dust butt a little more affectionately, ensuring that her message of love and appreciation had gotten across.Sophie mumbled something into her shoulder but remained in the pose. She spied the glint of something in Mila’s eyes, the inquisitor just watching the two with what Ary could only hope was friendly scowl on her face. Whatever the case, she made sure to shoot a smile at Mila.

The two of them had only barely travelled together when one thing or another separated them. She did know that Mila had been with Sophie before Melton and respected that the two had both gone through similar things to each other and could heal Sophie when she could not. With a strangely serene expression on her face, she motioned for Mila’s attention and mouthed the words that made herself just a little jealous, ‘thank you for being there for her’. Though it pained her a little, seeing the girl’s expression light up even a little brightened her own mood.

Ary closed her eyes and nuzzled Sophie’s neck, making the half elf squeak much to everyone’s delight. She took a whiff of Sophie’s scent and lingered in it. Yeah, I guess… I guess that’s just something else I can’t do anything about. Sighing, she was aware of her likely pensive expression and hid it with a smile, forcing her mind to focus on something more whimsical. Her eyes walked their way down to Sophie’s bum and she grinned. Heh, dust butt.