Different dark hues of blues and violets take over the orange sky as the stars shone brightly; little by little, people slowly disappear into their homes for the night. Few shops and bars have their lights opened to welcome those who don’t want their nights to end just yet.
While the others go on about their plans, only one remains in their far away flower shop, waiting in the dark. Flowers are secured inside, the door sign placed in closed. All that’s left is for the owner to start chanting a protection prayer around her store like she does ever so often. A faint yellow glow emitted within all sides of the rooms, then faded away shortly after. For a second, it was like a golden barrier surrounding the shop.
Right then and there, a familiar jingle of a bell rings as a cloaked figure quickly steps inside the dark flower shop.
“Quite later than usual, your grace.” IRyS locks the door.
“A lot of setbacks happened, my dear witch”, She removes the cloak, revealing the princess’ soft green luscious locks dressed in her royal nightgown. “Sorry for making you wait, IRyS”.
“Nah, it’s okay! So how’d you escape the castle this time?”
“Not exactly the best escape attempt…”, Fauna sighed. “Twas a hassle, I tell you! The patrols are getting unpredictable thanks to Kronii tightening the security lately. Not even Mumei could sneak inside my room nowadays! I couldn’t escape from the usual route so I’m just thankful they haven’t found out about the secret passageway”.
“There’s another hidden passage?” IRyS looks back at Fauna very confused.
“No you silly, it’s the same one you made in the castle years back!”
“...Oh”
Giggling at the witch’s embarrassed reaction, they both head upstairs into IRyS’ room and Fauna settles down on the bed to be then greeted by two heterochromatic cats. “Do Bloom and Gloom even sleep?”
With a snap, IRyS’ finger carries a small flame. Lighting up at least 3 candles as Fauna sets aside the now lukewarm tea (cooled down due to Fauna’s tardiness) on a small table. “Depends, those two always wait for me”.
‘Meow~’ as Bloom and Gloom slowly make their way towards Fauna’s leg.
“Cute~”
“Yes, until they slap your face at six in the morning”, the witch grumbles. “And they’re useful as an alarm clock, how marvelous!”, the princess laughs.
Fauna’s attention then was brought to the Purple Iris sitting its vase by the window; how beautifully it shines from the moonlight. Noticing it slowly wilting, Fauna gaze turns into a somber one. The flower still continues to show its beauty by the window, even if its time is slowly catching up. ‘I wonder…’ she shifts her gaze to IRyS. ‘Does she feel tired carrying around a façade?’
“Penny for your thoughts, Fauna?” She snaps out of her bubble to see IRyS sitting beside her, pouting in a joking manner.
‘Enough distractions Fauna’ she reprimanded herself. “I need you to decipher something for me.”
Reaching to her bag, Fauna places a set of ancient tomes and a letter containing various symbols in its contents. “From what I’ve received from the scholars, all said the same thing: this letter may hold the key evidence to whoever did that thing on that very day…”
“I can see why they can’t decipher it. We're dealing with someone who's capable of understanding something as complex as the Ancient Tongue”, she skims through the letter once more. Symbol by symbol. “Just hope and pray that whatever contents are in these tomes can help us, even for a bit… Though I’m quite worried”. Fauna lifts her face from the book, “Worried for what?”
“I’m surprised you brought all these tomes here. Not sure if I can hide them well from the daily inspector visits!”
“Ah!” Fauna gently smiles, “I’m taking it back if that’s what worries you.”
“You’re a life-saver, princess!” IRyS smirks back. “Now, we can start by researching from this book first…”
***
…
“...If this symbol is how it’s supposed to be translated then I don’t think this letter is about threatening to attack the kingdom, Fauna-”, IRyS slowly looks up, only to see a dozing Fauna alongside Bloom sleeping on her lap. She looked at the clock and- ‘Oh god! Has it truly been that long?! Already?!’ She swiftly set aside the tomes and journals and rushed to Fauna to gently wake her up. “Your grace, you need to wake up!”
“What happened?” Fauna slowly lifted her head from the books she used to rest on. “I gotta get you back to the castle ASAP! It’s already dawn!”
“WHAT?!” scaring the black and white cats from her lap. “I didn’t even realize I fell asleep, I’m sorry IRyS” Fauna then stood up and placed back the tomes she brought into her shoulder bag. They rush downstairs as IRyS opens a locked backdoor. “It’s alright, we can still make it back to the castle with my broom!”.
“Your broom? Wait, I thought-”
“Thought that I denounced magic to lay low, yes I still do. HOWEVER! I only intend to use it in situations like this, considering if your family realizes you’ve been sneaking out late at night to visit a witch who’s supposedly brought the incident into the kingdom and had already been executed but is still alive, running a nice little flower shop in a small village.” IRyS gets in position with her broom. “Now then, I know it’s your first time riding the broom. It’s uncomfortable at first, but just hold me tightly once we float above the ground, Fauna”.
As her broom slowly lifts above the ground, Fauna whimpers in fear, hugging IRyS very, VERY tightly.
“How will you combat the fact that people may see you flying up in the sky?” Shutting her eyes and placing her head against IRyS’ back as she can feel the weight of gravity trying to pull her down.
“Oh your highness…” She looks up at IRyS, “Illusion magic is my game!” as she smiles widely with full confidence, as if her voice didn’t radiate with it. Fauna could only chuckle at that.
High up in the sky, IRyS flew against the cold breeze. Luckily Fauna brought her cloak with her but it wasn’t enough to combat the wind with her thin, white nightgown dress. With the sky shifting from the darkest hues of blue into the lighter color, it was easy for fauna to see a few villages passed by. To be marveled by such a view with this magic.
“You have to teach me how to fly with a broom one day, IRyS”, she could hear her chuckle under her breath.
“Oh, you could ask Bae! She might know a thing or two”. IRyS then realizes her mistake- “I mean-!”
“Oh~? How so?” Fauna teased. Even if she was behind IRyS, she could see her ears getting redder and couldn’t help but laugh at that. “You took the captain on a ride on your broom~? hmm~”
“I- Umm…” IRyS was terribly flustered, her mind in total chaos! “She just w-wanted to know what it felt like flying around the city, that’s all!” And a barrage of teasing came after.
“Did she hug you as tightly as possible just like what I’m doing now~?”, was enough to make the maroon haired girl struggle with her words.
“Uuuuu~ So the rumors of you two being in a relationship were really true after all!”, the princess laughed. “S-So?! She’s very cute and funny to tease!”, she laughed even harder. “Fauna please! I beg you, mercy!” Tears of shame comically hang at the edge of IRyS’ diamond eyes.
“She’s just like you! Cat and mouse, being similar and all! Both of you were truly a pair, huh?”
…
…
…
“IRyS?”fauna called but nothing. Just total silence.
She called her name again but no reply. Scared of overstepping her boundaries, the princess panicked. Thinking maybe she had made the witch mad from all the teasing. “I-IRyS?”
“If only…” IRyS heavily sighed. A painful feeling clawed both of their hearts. Of course the princess should’ve known. Fauna remembered… How that day forever changed the two greatly. Remembering how Baelz had to recover physically and mentally despite being rewarded for the capture of the witch, with Kronii taking over her captain duties in the meantime. While IRyS…
“...I-Is she alright Fauna? Please, tell me she’s okay?!” the pure desperation on the witch’s face. Ragged breathing and wheezing as tears wouldn’t stop falling off her face. “I d-didn’t mean to use a spell against her! I-I’m so sorry… gods I- Just tell me that whatever I did to Bae wasn’t truly severe and that she’s okay, Fauna! Please tell me she’s alright just PLEASE!’
The guilt gnawed at her.
“...Do you resent me, from all that?” The princess whispers…
“...What?”
Not realizing what Fauna had blurted out, she had to quickly backtracked. She wasn’t ready to ask about this, not even thinking of holding this conversation at all. “N-No! Nevermind what I just said! Err- Right! About the letter-”
“What made you think I’d resent you?” IRyS stopped her broom, suspending both of them mid-air from still taking in the shocking question she just heard. “Fauna? What’s wrong, tell me.”
“Nothing! Really, it’s fine! Anyways, did you decipher the letter I gave you?” To no avail, her questions weren’t enough to steer away from this conversation at all.“I’m not answering that until you answer my question, Fauna. What’s wrong?”
There were rare moments where she dropped the happy-go-lucky attitude. Nothing would bring the witch’s smile down to the ground, not even threats would get to her.
And it was truly the scariest moment for Fauna right now.
“You can always tell me your problems like you normally do back in the flower shop, Fauna. Just please, if this was bothering you this whole time-”
“Sometimes whenever I visit you… whenever you smile, I often see how it never reaches your eyes…”
IRyS remains quiet, giving the green haired girl her time to find the words she needed. Fauna then takes a deep breath. She had to bring this issue up now before it continues to hurt the both of them for as long as time goes on.
“I just wanted to clear your name, IRyS.”
The witch looked back, staring at the princess with a painful expression. “All these late night meetings, deciphering letters, finding evidence to whoever have planned it and used you as a scapegoat… I don’t want you to live your life being known as the great evil that plagued the kingdom for generations to speak! I don’t want you to restrict yourself in not being the person you are IRyS! All that knowledge and skills of all kinds of magic should be used to help people, not to be frowned upon and to belittle it! I don’t want you to wear that façade until you grow weary and old, to not be your true self!”, She grimaces.
“Fauna-!”
“I just don’t want you to live in guilt.” Was all she needed to say.
Blue and Violet eyes stared at Golden ambers for the longest time, then slowly their gazes broke apart. Avoiding it rather. IRyS resumes the flight back to the castle, as Fauna notices the orange tint on the sky.
The ride back home was never this uncomfortable.
The silence was deafening, but it gave them some time to think about what just happened. It wasn’t the greatest time to open up bottled feelings, but it was a start.
“The letter… it didn’t mention anything about threatening the kingdom…” IRyS broke the silence.
“...Then what was it all about?” Fauna replied. “It was more about some sort of planning, but it bothers me that this letter was sent to a government official.”
“So that means we’re dealing with not just rogues but people in higher positions as well… So that’s why-”
“They easily had the power to put me as a scapegoat…” The pieces are placed. The two knew that this was certainly not just simply someone starting a revolution against the kingdom.
“This needs more personal investigation than I thought it would need…”
“If that’s the case, then clearing my name as your goal princess would mean this will be a long battle.”
Fauna winced a bit afterwards, but there was no ill intention when IRyS said that statement. It was more… genuine than she expected. “"I'm sorry IRyS... for the outburst back there”. Her head hangs low as she sees the main villages surrounded by the borders of her kingdom. She grips the witch’s clothes tightly, fearing both the height and the comments IRyS may say.
“...I have never resented you Fauna. Not even once.” Golden eyes widened and she could feel them tearing up. “I’ll…", briefly stopped, finding the words to speak. "I’ll open up to you one day. Just like how you’ve opened up to me from time to time.” Taking deep breaths to calm herself down, the small tension in the air is not helping her get the words out easily. “It’ll take time for me, but knowing you. You’d be patient with me, right?”, IRyS felt Fauna nodding gently behind her back.
Shortly after, with the witch’s strong illusion spell still in effect, the guards nor the butlers and maids noticed that their beloved princess was on a broom with a witch on her room’s balcony. “Thank you, IRyS”. With the assistance of the witch, the princess slowly gets off the magical broom and onto the concrete. Her legs shook from fear and they both giggled at the sight.
“How would you rate the broom ride, princess? Minus the emotional talks of course.” The witch smiled, this time her smile reached her eyes.
“Would rate it ‘totally will ride again/10!", Earning a hearty laugh from the two.
“See you soon, Fauna. And stay cautious!" IRyS exclaimed. "I daresay the letter may have attracted some unwanted attention and has placed a target on your back. Do make sure have your beloved bodyguard by your side~”, the princess blushed. A payback from what happened in the air.
“I will”
And with that, the witch flew off with such speed. ‘I really want to ride a broom now… Maybe I should ask the captain if I get the chance’, she thought to herself. While admiring the sunrise peeking above the clouds, her bodyguard would then greet her at the perfect timing.
“Your grace, you’re up earlier than usual”.
“The weather is nice today, Kronii. Would you like to join me for a cup of tea?”