[ she laughs, and dainsleif doesn't find offense in it. he is, frankly, confused as to her response. had it been that funny of a question? it's the impression, her brother would have been right, that she gave him. the former conversation on his dating experience, and now the remark on halfdan. it's not a stretch to assume she had been looking for a partner.
people look, and he has half the mind to pull her away. the attention isn't very welcoming, not when they talk about the topic. he doesn't do it, though. of course not.
at the very least, he keeps walking. ]
You mean Khaenri'ah. [ because if it had been between dainsleif or halfdan, both would have chosen their nation over her. ] And if it were anywhere else?
[ lumine blinks again, letting out another giggle afterward. ]
I mean in general, Khaenri'ah or anywhere else.
[ though she assumes he's going down this line of question after their previous conversations, her escort somehow trying to add two and two together, thinking it would end up in four. he really is a little serious for his own good, a trait that seems to be innate in many knights and soldiers she's met.
perhaps she's also teased him far too much that he's started to think she's serious about it. ]
In any case, I'm not interested in Halfdan in the way you're mistaking it to be. Does my desire to bring him along my travels need to have romantic undertone to it?
[ the amount of times the same thought will cross of his mind seems to be unlimited: that she's truly different from everyone he has ever met, that she's anomaly, that he cannot read or understand her thought process. it leaves dainsleif thinking, curious about her answer. i mean in general, she says, and dainsleif wonders, does she just expect her heart to be broken, no matter what?
this is not, at the end, a conversational topic he has much knowledge about. she had been right, after all. he hasn't quite dated anyone before, never felt the need to. what room does he have to partake in such a conversation? ]
Based on the questions you've asked me before and your statement about his duty to his nation, I thought that'd have been your intentions from the beginning.
[ again. her brother would've mentioned something of the kind. first impressions are a important thing. ]
What would you say your type is?
[ he's not interested. probably. just curious, really. ]
she's never one to have regrets, and yet, lumine's starting to go through her questions, her words, her declarations and opinions earlier and she regrets every single one of them. at least, those related to the knight captain and his experience—or lack thereof. it was amusing for a full minute and she learned more than enough about her escort, but that's until he's turned it around on her.
is he offended on behalf of halfdan when she declared that he's not her type? is that why they're still at it? ]
I don't know.
[ despite the shrug of her shoulders, it's an honest answer anyway. ]
But I know it's not Halfdan. [ and it has nothing to do with his person or whatever. lumine thinks he's a good guy, very considerate during the entire time he escorted her—but so were the royal mages and the other guards in the palace. ] ... Is it because he's your subordinate that you ask?
the question makes him think, of course. is it a sense of protectiveness, the reason he makes such inquiry? is it his natural curiosity? is it because he wants to understand her, bring down her walls?
eventually, he decides to be honest. ]
I'm curious about you. I haven't met anyone like you before.
[ someone so bold with her questions, who seems to care so little whether dainsleif is knight captain or not. she pokes, probes, teases, laughs at him. the world is vast, and khaenri'ah is just a nation underground. there is much even he does not know yet.
he turns to look at her, again. for a moment, it's hard to say what expression is on his face. ]
[ she doesn't know what she was expecting as a response from him, but it's certainly not that. not an admission from the knight captain of the royal guards that he's curious about her, that she's interesting, that she's a kind of person he's never met before. and not in a facetious way either, his expression looking as solemn as ever.
... damn. who knew he'd have the capability of pulling the rug from underneath her, enough for her cheeks to warm and grow bright? ]
What happened to your suspicion towards this girl who's suddenly hailed as your princess?
[ he's never voiced it out loud, no doubt his training as a knight and his character as a person keeping him from doing so. but the small shifts on his expression tell her as much. it's never once bothered her.
but he? shouldn't he be a little less honest and straightforward with her, as knight captain to khaenri'ah's elite guards? ]
How is one to pass judgment onto someone they don't know?
[ the suspicion remains, and he judges her still. but the natural wish to learn about something does not mean their immediate trust; at the end of the day, she has not done anything that would paint her a threat. he may not trust his king's decision to crown her princess, but as a guest of khaenri'ah and a visitor from the stars, she's just that. a twinkling star that has fallen onto the one land that does not have a sky.
learn and adapt. that, too, is a skill necessary for the knight captain. ]
You're an ordinary traveler from another world, and I have no interest in lands beyond Khaenri'ah. Isn't it natural for me to be curious about an outlier?
[ is that, after all, not part of what being human is like? is khaenri'ah not a nation that flourishes with humans, made by humans, for humans? is that not what they admire?
he looks away, at last, and picks up his pace again. ]
[ ... she can't even refute that, much to her dismay. as much as she wants to, as much as it'll entertain her to watch his expression change once more, she simply can't. and it's quite frustrating to have him catch her off-guard twice now, though perhaps he deserves it after so much teasing her.
lumine simply shakes her head with an amused smile, sighing softly. ]
Is it natural for you to express your curiosity so openly? I might mistake it for something else.
[ the wink she gives him can be mistaken for suggestive too, and she giggles yet again when he finally looks away. that's the end of that, she supposes, and she hopes it'll be the actual end of that conversation for now. it's one thing to assume her reason for her travels as wanderlust; it's another to assume that it's to find a lover.
she can't wait for aether to wake up and hear all about it. ]
Oh? [ she trails after him, tempted to grab onto his arm. lumine refrains, however, simply walking next to him. ] Your favorite place in the city, perhaps?
[ is it natural? perhaps. is it common? not at all. but when has it been the last time dainsleif was given a chance to express such human curiosity? he knows khaenri'ah, knows its people. he was born there, raised there, never found much interest in travelling through nations touched by gods.
(not blessed, no. he'd never quite call it that.)
he does not answer her question, not for a lack of interest. it turns, as many things she does and says, the engines of his brain, and it becomes food for thought. there's a natural awkwardness in the way she winks at him, at the words she speaks, and that, too, makes him think. is curiosity and interest linked to something more familiar? isn't it simply something all humans feel?
curiouser and curiouser. ]
No, [ he eventually answers, pace once again measured. dainsleif does not offer her a look. she's not special yet for his favorite place in khaenri'ah, no. however, ] I'm taking you outside for a moment. The guards at Khaenri'ah's gate should allow you leave if you're accompanied by me.
he's quite fast on the uptake, isn't he, as he should be as the knight captain of khaenri'ah's elite guards; it would be disappointing if the king chose someone incapable to lead his own guards. but to adapt to her whimsies in such a short period of time, lumine has to say that that is quite impressive. not even aether's able to catch onto her little teasings so quickly.
she hums a quiet song from a distant world as she walks next to him, hands clasped behind her, gaze still flickering all around her. taking in all the sights, all the faces, everything that's supposedly hers by title. ]
Will they bar my way if I don't have you with me?
[ will they dare? is what she really wishes to ask, knowing that she'll get a look from him. still, the smile on her face is mild, a hint of amusement tugging it at the corners. ]
They will at the king's orders, most likely. [ a pause, and then: ] Would that stop you from finding a way out nonetheless?
[ after all, what do they know of what powers she wields? for the king and court mages to see fit to summon her and her brother, to crown her princess, surely she's one with tricks up her sleeves. it would be foolish to show her cards so early on.
khaenri'ah's gate is huge from the distance, and far bigger up close. the guards, as expected, spare him a look, then a nod, then spare his company a look themselves. no words are needed for the interaction to go as intended: the knight captain of the royal guard is one of the most trusted people in khaenri'ah, a man who would die for his nation and king if need be. for all that she is their guest, she has been requested and summoned, and it would make little sense to allow her to leave so soon.
but if dainsleif is her escort, assigned by the king himself, the guards know it'd be foolish to doubt his conviction. and so, the gates open. ]
Mind your step.
[ he offers her a hand out of habit, the stairs slightly steep. it's such a long way down too, couldn't their ancestors have made them easier to walk on? ]
[ the smile she wears curls at the corners, almost cat-like, and she presses a finger against her lips. ]
That's a secret, Captain.
[ the gate doesn't faze her in any way, not even as they move closer to it. perhaps the only thing she finds fascinating about it is the carvings on the stone, the eight-pointed star pattern of the kingdom once more prominent on each door. which makes her wonder what those symbols mean or represent, if they signify any connection at all to the stars.
is that why she and her twin brother were summoned? because of what their true nature is?
but that's a question for another time and for another person, her curiosity piqued by the opening of the gate. she takes his proffered hand, her fingers curling a little tighter around his as she carefully navigates her way down the stairs. ]
... Has anyone ever broken their neck going down here?
[ as lightfooted as she is, she can't imagine walking down this staircase and not spraining or breaking something in the process. ]
[ the answer doesn't surprise him. after all — it'd be foolish to show her cards so soon, but what's hidden between the lines is that no, of course that wouldn't stop her. she's a force to be reckoned with, a bird that does not belong in a cage. he'd watch her fly, eventually, spread out her wings and ride the wind like it's hers to do with as she will.
the thought itself almost makes him smile. almost.
his own fingers, bigger and longer, curl against her own with care. he does not note on the softness of her skin, or the warmth of the touch, if only because his gloves do not allow him so — but the thought, inevitably, crosses his mind. ]
... Yes. [ of course there had been accidents. with all the sand around to begin with, someone would be bound to slip and fall. broken necks, broken legs, broken bones. not deaths, at the very least. maybe it's why no one has done anything about it just yet. ]
Is that a concern you have yourself, or are you simply curious?
[ hidden, too, is the continuation: he wouldn't allow harm to come to her, even if she trips and falls. he'd catch her even at his own expense. ]
[ ... it would be easier to just fly down, wouldn't it? finally spread her wings and touch down on solid ground once more, leaving him to fend for himself on the staircase? what a tempting idea. ]
It's a valid concern, isn't it?
[ not just for herself, but for anyone who would like to traverse this path to ... well, wherever they're going. it's treacherous, to say the least, each step is well-worn, smoothed out by time and the number of feet that's climbed up and down. and one wrong step can send them plunging several meters down.
something that she almost finds herself getting into, her heel missing the worn-out edge of the next step and sliding into the void. the only thing that keeps her in one piece is dainsleif's hand, tightly held as if it's a lifeline. ]
... See? [ her brows furrow as she tries to slow down her suddenly racing pulse, letting out a huff. ] Very valid.
it is a valid concern to have, and a complaint many have brought up with the king and queen. no one has died, yet, so there's no need to do much about the stairs. alongside two other arguments: one, maintenance on stairs that are built on stone and sand are harder to reconstruct in its entirety, and they have already worked the stones in their surroundings to add khaenri'ahn architecture. two, not many come and go from khaenri'ah to begin with, anyways.
it is only expected that his reflexes are quick. she trips, and the first wrong movement of her body is enough for dainsleif's arm to find its way around her waist, holding her in place. he does not let go of her hand; if anything, his grip on it tightens, and he does not realize the strength he's using to hold onto her.
had it been a bad idea to ask her to come outside? he'd never forgive himself if she were to be harmed, no matter the reason.
he sighs, then. hard. ]
Indeed. Perhaps you should use your authority as princess to convince the king and queen to do something about these stairs. [ hire rhinedottir to replace the sand on the stairs with synthetic grass for all he cares, really.
he pulls her up slowly, setting her back on her feet. his hands don't let go of her. ] Are you hurt?
[ are they really going to wait until someone bashes their head on the ground??
good, well-paved roads are often a sign of a flourishing nation. they allow for easier travel between places, aiding citizens, explorers and merchants alike as they go about their day. surely, these stairs are a path that many use to travel to and from khaenri'ah, and if it's currently a safety hazard, then people might as well not visit.
it takes her a full minute to steady her footing again on the staircase and to compose herself, allowing her heartbeat to slow down. she doesn't even realize the grip he has on her hand or the arm around her waist. ]
I'm fine. My foot just slipped.
[ one more breath as she closes her eyes, a deep inhale and exhale. ]
[ that, whether he wants or not, gives him pause. the knight captain of khaenri'ah's royal guard is softening up. great.
it is not weird that people refer to him by his title, he had said before. it is not weird that some people closer to him call him by his name. parents, close friends. why is it that his name on her tongue has such an effect on him? why does it, mundane as it is, make his mind lose focus on what's really important?
she almost got hurt. there's no time to dwell on the way his name had sounded with her voice.
dainsleif lets go of her entirely, suddenly too aware of his touch on her. couldn't the king have summoned someone else? he clears his throat, exerts himself to find composure. this isn't like him. ]
We should turn back. It's only a matter of time until you hurt yourself, and I doubt the king will be pleased to know it has happened under my watch.
[ it is, ultimately, an excuse. his own selfishness is just eating at him, for once. this, too, isn't like him. ]
[ whatever existential crisis he's currently having goes unnoticed by her, mostly because she herself is going through a crisis of her own.
it isn't just the sudden chill that seems to have dropped down her spine—is it fear? she doesn't know, she's never feared getting hurt or even dying before—but also the fact that she's finally realized the arm around her waist, the hand tightly holding hers. his touch burns despite the layers of clothes between them, and she only finds that she's able to breathe again when he's finally let her go.
the sound of him clearing his throat also lets her gather her composure, releasing whatever breath she's been holding and softening the tensed muscles in her shoulders.
lumine wants to make an excuse that it's the height (or is it depth?) of the staircase, that air is probably thin where they are. but that's bullshit, and even she knows it. sometimes, being too self-aware has its own pitfalls.
at his suggestion, she presses her lips together, looking up at him. ]
It's fine. [ she's fine, he saved her, she's uninjured. and if she falls again, she can summon her wings. ] I'm sturdier than I look. Besides, what the king doesn't know won't hurt him.
[ dw she won't tattle on him. in any case, she starts walking down the staircase once more. ]
[ stubborn. but isn't he already getting used to that?
dainsleif does not attempt to convince her otherwise, it would have no point. once again, he finds himself following her whims with no will or strength to fight them. that will, eventually, be food for thought when he lays in bed to sleep that same night.
still — there's a small, faint smile that surfaces on his face. it's barely noticeable. ]
How many secrets do you intend on keeping from the king?
[ ultimately, as he follows behind her (ever so careful to watch her steps, ever so ready to catch her if she falls, again), the question is voiced in a tone of jest. this, too, he would not fault her for. a nation that is not hers, a nation she does not know. it's the same dance and song, and slowly, he's becoming more lenient in keeping her secrets against his own king.
[ she doesn't wait for him to follow her, her gait steady and purposeful but careful. still, she does pay attention to the footsteps that trail behind her, heavier than her own but not with a hint of any kind of reluctance in them. lumine only supposes that he's either getting used to it (unsurprising) or he's indulging her whims (surprising).
either way, he has no choice if he wants to abide by the order given by his king. he could also just drag her back up to the gates, forcing her to remain within the walls of the kingdom. but she also has a feeling he won't do that.
his question, though asked in jest, gets her to look at him over her shoulder. ]
That depends. How many secrets does he intend to keep from me?
[ the reason why she's here, the reason for her title—all of those are unknowns at the moment, information that she's not privy to when she should be. no one wishes to tell her, no one wants to answer her questions.
is she to offer her head on a platter when the time comes? who knows? ]
Saying I would bring strength and hope to the kingdom is a bit too vague for my tastes.
Would you follow a king that shows all of his cards upon first meeting?
[ a question for a question, for dainsleif does not have the answer to her own. her assessment about him had been right: he is a man married to his job, a man with a heavy sense of duty. he serves the king, but finds, ultimately, that he serves khaenri'ah first and foremost. there are many things even he himself does not know; after all, wouldn't he have the answer to her most important question, otherwise?
at the very least, the last couple of steps do not cause any accidents. the sand is soft underneath his feet, and with boots as long as their own, he does not have to worry about sand getting in. ]
We go up from here. Let me know if your legs are sore. It will be a long climb.
If your king wishes for me to believe in him, then is it not fair to ask the same from him?
[ to trust her enough to reveal what her purpose is in this nation. saying that she would supposedly bring some kind of hope to a group of people who don't even know her feels like a salve to a third-degree burn—a temporary palliative to ease one's mind and turn one's attention away. just like the crownless title offered to her.
it's adding insult to the injury of being dragged down from the skies.
lumine doesn't voice out that thought, her footsteps filling in the silence that's fallen upon her. she simply wonders if she should find another way to wake up her brother and perhaps lead him out of this world. ]
[ it's a good answer-question, he thinks. it brings that one-pixel smile to his face for a moment, before it disappears into the unknown. dainsleif allows the conversation to die there, for there is nothing else he could add to it.
it will be, after all, his king's decision whether he will open up to his supposed princess or not. he would give him advice if asked for, but otherwise, dainsleif is, despite all, just a knight. ]
... [ a pause, because he might have voiced the words he did, but now finds himself speechless. he clears his throat for a moment. ] Yes. It would do you well to save energy for the walk back.
[ she can't tell if he's serious about that or not, but chances are that he is. which is admittedly a surprise to hear since, other than that one instance earlier on the steps, he's adamant about keeping his distance from her. possibly to keep himself from getting infected by actual emotions, who knows.
well, she'll save that little offer for later, just in case she does get tired and her legs decide to give in. plus it'll give her more ammo to tease him with later on. always a win, in her opinion. ]
Where are we going anyway?
[ he still hasn't told her anything just like his king. it almost makes her wonder if everyone in khaenri'ah has a tendency to hide secrets more than the normal person. ]
Don't tell me you're leading me to my demise under the guise of acting on your king's orders.
[ that's funny. dainsleif would have laughed if he weren't so stoic all the time. the corner of his eyes soften, at the very least, and lumine would be lucky to notice it. ]
You will see. Be patient.
[ he isn't about to ruin the surprise, and hates it that he considers it, and wants it to be a surprise. he clears his throat, again, finding himself uncomfortable in his own body. he needs a cold shower, and time to spare to sort out his thoughts.
the path up isn't so arduous. there are elevators they've built themselves, architecture native to khaenri'ah with inscriptions in their tongue. if lumine asks, dainsleif's answer is vague for the most part. workshops, he says, but does not mention what for.
it is only when there is a cold breeze gentle on his skin that he turns to look at her, again. ]
Come.
[ there will be a moment later that dainsleif will second-guess his impulsiveness. the wind announces the end of the tunnel, and he's sure sumeru's desert is no news for her; but if he's lucky (and by his king, he hopes he is), the sundown and the way the stars are plenty on the sky above them, and the hint of northern lights into the distance might just be. khaenri'ah is a nation that thrives underground, but he finds that moments like these are much more appreciated by them than those who take the skies for granted. stars, after all, are a pattern in his clothes, and khaenri'ah's kingdom is called the eclipse dynasty for a reason.
there's a charm to it all, no trees to cover the skies. it's easy to feel small under its size, but he finds it comforting. ]
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people look, and he has half the mind to pull her away. the attention isn't very welcoming, not when they talk about the topic. he doesn't do it, though. of course not.
at the very least, he keeps walking. ]
You mean Khaenri'ah. [ because if it had been between dainsleif or halfdan, both would have chosen their nation over her. ] And if it were anywhere else?
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I mean in general, Khaenri'ah or anywhere else.
[ though she assumes he's going down this line of question after their previous conversations, her escort somehow trying to add two and two together, thinking it would end up in four. he really is a little serious for his own good, a trait that seems to be innate in many knights and soldiers she's met.
perhaps she's also teased him far too much that he's started to think she's serious about it. ]
In any case, I'm not interested in Halfdan in the way you're mistaking it to be. Does my desire to bring him along my travels need to have romantic undertone to it?
[ can't she just ask him just because??? ]
He's also not my type.
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this is not, at the end, a conversational topic he has much knowledge about. she had been right, after all. he hasn't quite dated anyone before, never felt the need to. what room does he have to partake in such a conversation? ]
Based on the questions you've asked me before and your statement about his duty to his nation, I thought that'd have been your intentions from the beginning.
[ again. her brother would've mentioned something of the kind. first impressions are a important thing. ]
What would you say your type is?
[ he's not interested. probably. just curious, really. ]
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she's never one to have regrets, and yet, lumine's starting to go through her questions, her words, her declarations and opinions earlier and she regrets every single one of them. at least, those related to the knight captain and his experience—or lack thereof. it was amusing for a full minute and she learned more than enough about her escort, but that's until he's turned it around on her.
is he offended on behalf of halfdan when she declared that he's not her type? is that why they're still at it? ]
I don't know.
[ despite the shrug of her shoulders, it's an honest answer anyway. ]
But I know it's not Halfdan. [ and it has nothing to do with his person or whatever. lumine thinks he's a good guy, very considerate during the entire time he escorted her—but so were the royal mages and the other guards in the palace. ] ... Is it because he's your subordinate that you ask?
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the question makes him think, of course. is it a sense of protectiveness, the reason he makes such inquiry? is it his natural curiosity? is it because he wants to understand her, bring down her walls?
eventually, he decides to be honest. ]
I'm curious about you. I haven't met anyone like you before.
[ someone so bold with her questions, who seems to care so little whether dainsleif is knight captain or not. she pokes, probes, teases, laughs at him. the world is vast, and khaenri'ah is just a nation underground. there is much even he does not know yet.
he turns to look at her, again. for a moment, it's hard to say what expression is on his face. ]
I think you're interest. That's all.
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... damn. who knew he'd have the capability of pulling the rug from underneath her, enough for her cheeks to warm and grow bright? ]
What happened to your suspicion towards this girl who's suddenly hailed as your princess?
[ he's never voiced it out loud, no doubt his training as a knight and his character as a person keeping him from doing so. but the small shifts on his expression tell her as much. it's never once bothered her.
but he? shouldn't he be a little less honest and straightforward with her, as knight captain to khaenri'ah's elite guards? ]
I'm just an ordinary traveler.
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[ the suspicion remains, and he judges her still. but the natural wish to learn about something does not mean their immediate trust; at the end of the day, she has not done anything that would paint her a threat. he may not trust his king's decision to crown her princess, but as a guest of khaenri'ah and a visitor from the stars, she's just that. a twinkling star that has fallen onto the one land that does not have a sky.
learn and adapt. that, too, is a skill necessary for the knight captain. ]
You're an ordinary traveler from another world, and I have no interest in lands beyond Khaenri'ah. Isn't it natural for me to be curious about an outlier?
[ is that, after all, not part of what being human is like? is khaenri'ah not a nation that flourishes with humans, made by humans, for humans? is that not what they admire?
he looks away, at last, and picks up his pace again. ]
Come. There's one last place I wish to show you.
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lumine simply shakes her head with an amused smile, sighing softly. ]
Is it natural for you to express your curiosity so openly? I might mistake it for something else.
[ the wink she gives him can be mistaken for suggestive too, and she giggles yet again when he finally looks away. that's the end of that, she supposes, and she hopes it'll be the actual end of that conversation for now. it's one thing to assume her reason for her travels as wanderlust; it's another to assume that it's to find a lover.
she can't wait for aether to wake up and hear all about it. ]
Oh? [ she trails after him, tempted to grab onto his arm. lumine refrains, however, simply walking next to him. ] Your favorite place in the city, perhaps?
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(not blessed, no. he'd never quite call it that.)
he does not answer her question, not for a lack of interest. it turns, as many things she does and says, the engines of his brain, and it becomes food for thought. there's a natural awkwardness in the way she winks at him, at the words she speaks, and that, too, makes him think. is curiosity and interest linked to something more familiar? isn't it simply something all humans feel?
curiouser and curiouser. ]
No, [ he eventually answers, pace once again measured. dainsleif does not offer her a look. she's not special yet for his favorite place in khaenri'ah, no. however, ] I'm taking you outside for a moment. The guards at Khaenri'ah's gate should allow you leave if you're accompanied by me.
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he's quite fast on the uptake, isn't he, as he should be as the knight captain of khaenri'ah's elite guards; it would be disappointing if the king chose someone incapable to lead his own guards. but to adapt to her whimsies in such a short period of time, lumine has to say that that is quite impressive. not even aether's able to catch onto her little teasings so quickly.
she hums a quiet song from a distant world as she walks next to him, hands clasped behind her, gaze still flickering all around her. taking in all the sights, all the faces, everything that's supposedly hers by title. ]
Will they bar my way if I don't have you with me?
[ will they dare? is what she really wishes to ask, knowing that she'll get a look from him. still, the smile on her face is mild, a hint of amusement tugging it at the corners. ]
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[ after all, what do they know of what powers she wields? for the king and court mages to see fit to summon her and her brother, to crown her princess, surely she's one with tricks up her sleeves. it would be foolish to show her cards so early on.
khaenri'ah's gate is huge from the distance, and far bigger up close. the guards, as expected, spare him a look, then a nod, then spare his company a look themselves. no words are needed for the interaction to go as intended: the knight captain of the royal guard is one of the most trusted people in khaenri'ah, a man who would die for his nation and king if need be. for all that she is their guest, she has been requested and summoned, and it would make little sense to allow her to leave so soon.
but if dainsleif is her escort, assigned by the king himself, the guards know it'd be foolish to doubt his conviction. and so, the gates open. ]
Mind your step.
[ he offers her a hand out of habit, the stairs slightly steep. it's such a long way down too, couldn't their ancestors have made them easier to walk on? ]
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That's a secret, Captain.
[ the gate doesn't faze her in any way, not even as they move closer to it. perhaps the only thing she finds fascinating about it is the carvings on the stone, the eight-pointed star pattern of the kingdom once more prominent on each door. which makes her wonder what those symbols mean or represent, if they signify any connection at all to the stars.
is that why she and her twin brother were summoned? because of what their true nature is?
but that's a question for another time and for another person, her curiosity piqued by the opening of the gate. she takes his proffered hand, her fingers curling a little tighter around his as she carefully navigates her way down the stairs. ]
... Has anyone ever broken their neck going down here?
[ as lightfooted as she is, she can't imagine walking down this staircase and not spraining or breaking something in the process. ]
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the thought itself almost makes him smile. almost.
his own fingers, bigger and longer, curl against her own with care. he does not note on the softness of her skin, or the warmth of the touch, if only because his gloves do not allow him so — but the thought, inevitably, crosses his mind. ]
... Yes. [ of course there had been accidents. with all the sand around to begin with, someone would be bound to slip and fall. broken necks, broken legs, broken bones. not deaths, at the very least. maybe it's why no one has done anything about it just yet. ]
Is that a concern you have yourself, or are you simply curious?
[ hidden, too, is the continuation: he wouldn't allow harm to come to her, even if she trips and falls. he'd catch her even at his own expense. ]
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It's a valid concern, isn't it?
[ not just for herself, but for anyone who would like to traverse this path to ... well, wherever they're going. it's treacherous, to say the least, each step is well-worn, smoothed out by time and the number of feet that's climbed up and down. and one wrong step can send them plunging several meters down.
something that she almost finds herself getting into, her heel missing the worn-out edge of the next step and sliding into the void. the only thing that keeps her in one piece is dainsleif's hand, tightly held as if it's a lifeline. ]
... See? [ her brows furrow as she tries to slow down her suddenly racing pulse, letting out a huff. ] Very valid.
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it is a valid concern to have, and a complaint many have brought up with the king and queen. no one has died, yet, so there's no need to do much about the stairs. alongside two other arguments: one, maintenance on stairs that are built on stone and sand are harder to reconstruct in its entirety, and they have already worked the stones in their surroundings to add khaenri'ahn architecture. two, not many come and go from khaenri'ah to begin with, anyways.
it is only expected that his reflexes are quick. she trips, and the first wrong movement of her body is enough for dainsleif's arm to find its way around her waist, holding her in place. he does not let go of her hand; if anything, his grip on it tightens, and he does not realize the strength he's using to hold onto her.
had it been a bad idea to ask her to come outside? he'd never forgive himself if she were to be harmed, no matter the reason.
he sighs, then. hard. ]
Indeed. Perhaps you should use your authority as princess to convince the king and queen to do something about these stairs. [ hire rhinedottir to replace the sand on the stairs with synthetic grass for all he cares, really.
he pulls her up slowly, setting her back on her feet. his hands don't let go of her. ] Are you hurt?
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good, well-paved roads are often a sign of a flourishing nation. they allow for easier travel between places, aiding citizens, explorers and merchants alike as they go about their day. surely, these stairs are a path that many use to travel to and from khaenri'ah, and if it's currently a safety hazard, then people might as well not visit.
it takes her a full minute to steady her footing again on the staircase and to compose herself, allowing her heartbeat to slow down. she doesn't even realize the grip he has on her hand or the arm around her waist. ]
I'm fine. My foot just slipped.
[ one more breath as she closes her eyes, a deep inhale and exhale. ]
Thank you, Dainsleif.
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it is not weird that people refer to him by his title, he had said before. it is not weird that some people closer to him call him by his name. parents, close friends. why is it that his name on her tongue has such an effect on him? why does it, mundane as it is, make his mind lose focus on what's really important?
she almost got hurt. there's no time to dwell on the way his name had sounded with her voice.
dainsleif lets go of her entirely, suddenly too aware of his touch on her. couldn't the king have summoned someone else? he clears his throat, exerts himself to find composure. this isn't like him. ]
We should turn back. It's only a matter of time until you hurt yourself, and I doubt the king will be pleased to know it has happened under my watch.
[ it is, ultimately, an excuse. his own selfishness is just eating at him, for once. this, too, isn't like him. ]
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it isn't just the sudden chill that seems to have dropped down her spine—is it fear? she doesn't know, she's never feared getting hurt or even dying before—but also the fact that she's finally realized the arm around her waist, the hand tightly holding hers. his touch burns despite the layers of clothes between them, and she only finds that she's able to breathe again when he's finally let her go.
the sound of him clearing his throat also lets her gather her composure, releasing whatever breath she's been holding and softening the tensed muscles in her shoulders.
lumine wants to make an excuse that it's the height (or is it depth?) of the staircase, that air is probably thin where they are. but that's bullshit, and even she knows it. sometimes, being too self-aware has its own pitfalls.
at his suggestion, she presses her lips together, looking up at him. ]
It's fine. [ she's fine, he saved her, she's uninjured. and if she falls again, she can summon her wings. ] I'm sturdier than I look. Besides, what the king doesn't know won't hurt him.
[ dw she won't tattle on him. in any case, she starts walking down the staircase once more. ]
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dainsleif does not attempt to convince her otherwise, it would have no point. once again, he finds himself following her whims with no will or strength to fight them. that will, eventually, be food for thought when he lays in bed to sleep that same night.
still — there's a small, faint smile that surfaces on his face. it's barely noticeable. ]
How many secrets do you intend on keeping from the king?
[ ultimately, as he follows behind her (ever so careful to watch her steps, ever so ready to catch her if she falls, again), the question is voiced in a tone of jest. this, too, he would not fault her for. a nation that is not hers, a nation she does not know. it's the same dance and song, and slowly, he's becoming more lenient in keeping her secrets against his own king.
has he always been this easy to tempt? ]
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either way, he has no choice if he wants to abide by the order given by his king. he could also just drag her back up to the gates, forcing her to remain within the walls of the kingdom. but she also has a feeling he won't do that.
his question, though asked in jest, gets her to look at him over her shoulder. ]
That depends. How many secrets does he intend to keep from me?
[ the reason why she's here, the reason for her title—all of those are unknowns at the moment, information that she's not privy to when she should be. no one wishes to tell her, no one wants to answer her questions.
is she to offer her head on a platter when the time comes? who knows? ]
Saying I would bring strength and hope to the kingdom is a bit too vague for my tastes.
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[ a question for a question, for dainsleif does not have the answer to her own. her assessment about him had been right: he is a man married to his job, a man with a heavy sense of duty. he serves the king, but finds, ultimately, that he serves khaenri'ah first and foremost. there are many things even he himself does not know; after all, wouldn't he have the answer to her most important question, otherwise?
at the very least, the last couple of steps do not cause any accidents. the sand is soft underneath his feet, and with boots as long as their own, he does not have to worry about sand getting in. ]
We go up from here. Let me know if your legs are sore. It will be a long climb.
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If your king wishes for me to believe in him, then is it not fair to ask the same from him?
[ to trust her enough to reveal what her purpose is in this nation. saying that she would supposedly bring some kind of hope to a group of people who don't even know her feels like a salve to a third-degree burn—a temporary palliative to ease one's mind and turn one's attention away. just like the crownless title offered to her.
it's adding insult to the injury of being dragged down from the skies.
lumine doesn't voice out that thought, her footsteps filling in the silence that's fallen upon her. she simply wonders if she should find another way to wake up her brother and perhaps lead him out of this world. ]
If I falter, will you carry me?
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it will be, after all, his king's decision whether he will open up to his supposed princess or not. he would give him advice if asked for, but otherwise, dainsleif is, despite all, just a knight. ]
... [ a pause, because he might have voiced the words he did, but now finds himself speechless. he clears his throat for a moment. ] Yes. It would do you well to save energy for the walk back.
[ he really did play himself here, did he not? ]
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well, she'll save that little offer for later, just in case she does get tired and her legs decide to give in. plus it'll give her more ammo to tease him with later on. always a win, in her opinion. ]
Where are we going anyway?
[ he still hasn't told her anything just like his king. it almost makes her wonder if everyone in khaenri'ah has a tendency to hide secrets more than the normal person. ]
Don't tell me you're leading me to my demise under the guise of acting on your king's orders.
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You will see. Be patient.
[ he isn't about to ruin the surprise, and hates it that he considers it, and wants it to be a surprise. he clears his throat, again, finding himself uncomfortable in his own body. he needs a cold shower, and time to spare to sort out his thoughts.
the path up isn't so arduous. there are elevators they've built themselves, architecture native to khaenri'ah with inscriptions in their tongue. if lumine asks, dainsleif's answer is vague for the most part. workshops, he says, but does not mention what for.
it is only when there is a cold breeze gentle on his skin that he turns to look at her, again. ]
Come.
[ there will be a moment later that dainsleif will second-guess his impulsiveness. the wind announces the end of the tunnel, and he's sure sumeru's desert is no news for her; but if he's lucky (and by his king, he hopes he is), the sundown and the way the stars are plenty on the sky above them, and the hint of northern lights into the distance might just be. khaenri'ah is a nation that thrives underground, but he finds that moments like these are much more appreciated by them than those who take the skies for granted. stars, after all, are a pattern in his clothes, and khaenri'ah's kingdom is called the eclipse dynasty for a reason.
there's a charm to it all, no trees to cover the skies. it's easy to feel small under its size, but he finds it comforting. ]
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ive been so busy n tired im so sorry......
dw about it! i've been sick too, so it's not just you
you said that and then i got such a nasty cold 🤝
everyone's just getting sick nowadays. feel better soon!
god. yeah. it took me out for a couple days but i'm better now thankfully!!
aaaa that's good to hear!! make sure to get lots of rest while recovering, liquids, etc