The (L/n) arrived on the scene as quickly as the news filtered through the small village. People were grouped outside, waiting to hear the news of the young knight. Those considered closest to the young Mannerheim were inside, those being her parents obviously as well as Mr. and Mrs. (L/n). And seated next to the door of the girl's room was of course the faithful (Y/n) (L/n).

The news of the severity of Alienor's injuries rattled you to your core, leading you to sprint to her home before your parents could stop you. The village doctor was currently with her doing everything in her power to duel death for the young girl. After three hours of the occasional bump or grunt, the door opened. You swear you had never moved so fast in your life as when you moved from your seat across the hall to stand next to the doctor.

(Y/n): Is she...

The older woman's greying blue hair shifted out of her face. A weight gently lifted off your shoulders as the doctor gave a smile. 

Doctor: She pulled through. She needs plenty of rest and recovery but we won't be losing her anytime soon.

(Y/n) : Then could I?

It was then the smile dropped. The doctor's har covered her eyes once more as she gazed further down the corridor toward the noisy foyer.

Doctor: She will make it, but she... just be gentle with her.

Nodding your head you turned to the door. It was left ajar from where the doctor exited but hadn't pulled it to her. A gulp filled your ears as your hand pressed onto the cool wood of the door and pushed it inward...

The room was dark except for lit candles here and there. The temperature was cool or at least it seemed so with the chill coursing down your spine. There she was... Alienor lay in her bed with a thick blanket up to her mid-stomach on her right side. From there it was a simple t-shirt but what caught your attention was her hair. It was still the same soft pink... but it was short now. It appeared recently cut to the middle of her neck, but even in the fading light, you could see strange burn-like marks. A heavy breath exhaled from your lips as you took gentle steps forward. As you made it to within arm's length of her, it was then she spoke in a hoarse voice.

Allie: Don't...

You didn't say anything as you pulled up the seat you assumed the doctor had used and lay next to her. An urge to comfort her in some way filled you as your hands lifted to take her hand into yours. She did struggle against the supposed comfort but her cold fingers lay unmotivated in your palms.

(Y/n): I'm sorry.

Allie: Why are you sorry? 

(Y/n): I... 

The girl let out a cough, shifting in her position to move onto her back, though her face still looked away from you. It was here you could see bandages in the flicking candlelight. 

Allie: Don't feel guilty for me getting hurt. We both knew what to expect-

(Y/n): Except you didn't just get hurt! Y-You... you weren't breathing, Allie. If it was for the doctor we wouldn't even be speaking right now.

Allie: Which is why you should feel happy. We can still talk like this because of her.

(Y/n): I am happy! I'm just... I'm happy, angry, sad, and... I'm a whole bunch of emotions right now. Tell me... Tell me what happened. Where were the other knights?

Allie remained quiet for a moment, seemingly pondering what to say before something dawned on you, and in your emotional state it blurted out.

(Y/n): They sent you alone didn't they?

Allie: No. That's not what the knight-

(Y/n): I should have expected it! Those petty nobles left you on your own and you got hurt! you could have died!

Your hands ripped away from the girl's, her fingers searching for your warmth slightly as you went about marching about the room in a growing fit of frustration.

Allie: (Y/n). They did not send me alone. I was with one of my seniors.

(Y/n): And where was he?

Allie: He... got distracted. We were patrolling and he got a message he needed to read and...

You didn't even know what to say. You were boiling over at the moment and trying to find a way to calm down.

(Y/n): You were left alone then you got attacked, right? Something went after you and nearly killed you!

Allie: (Y/n)...

(Y/n): Those nobles... no not just the nobles but the Silver Eagles! 

Allie: (Y/n).

(Y/n): And the Silva family! I knew something was up with those sick glares of theirs! All because we were commoners they-

Allie: (Y/n)!

Your eyes widened as you whipped your head to the loud voice of Alienor. Then your emotional state crashed to the ground. Alienor... Allie's face was bandaged all over. From ear to ear except for her mouth, a few patches of face here and there. and her left eye. Some of the bandages had signs of bleeding thorough while the ever-present burn marks were clear.

Allie: I said it's not their fault. Don't blame the knights for this. I wasn't targeted because I was a commoner. I was targeted because I was a knight. So, please-

She tried to keep up her lecture but she already seemed tired and in pain. A fit of coughing stopped her words as she fumbled backward. Your legs carried your before your brain could issue the order, arriving at her side to help her lay back properly.

(Y/n): I... I know. This is just... wrong. Of all the people why you? You didn't deserve this! If... If I had been in the knights then this wouldn't have happened!

Allie: You don't know that, (Y/n). We could have been in different groups, or assigned different patrols. Life doesn't always do what we wish it would. 

(Y/n): Hah... ok... ok... How... how bad are the injuries?

Alienor paused for a moment and lifted her hand to look at her fingers.

Allie: A lot of burn marks. I also suffered a few broken bones but I'm way too out of it to remember them. I really... shouldn't be moving but if you get any more emotional my bookshelves will be floating.

In almost disbelieve, the girl cracked a joke and pulled a smile. Despite not breathing mere hours ago...

(Y/n): I get the idea... Still... what about the Silver Eagles? They haven't been here at all.

Allie: They are probably out looking for the attackers.

(Y/n): Attackers? It was more than one.

Allie: It's all hazy... but I remember two or three people being there.

(Y/n): If... If I ever get my hands on those bastards.

Allie: Don't think like that... Let's just be happy we can still crack badly-timed jokes, ok?

You couldn't help but smile, nodding softly as your hands lifted to bring warmth to the girl's weak grip.

Over the next few hours, people came in and out to see the girl. Alienor's strength was slowly returning, but it was a miracle if she could summon the stamina to sit up. You meanwhile had yet to leave her side except for a bathroom break. Your hands are inseparable after a proper wash. As the last group of elderly villagers flowed out, Alienor let out a noise that seemed in between a sigh and a noise of question.

Allie: Huh...

(Y/n): What's wrong?

Allie: The uh... the eagles never came by. not even my senior.

The recollection brought your nerves back to the edge, a scowl filling your features before Alienor weakly shooed it away with a squeeze of her hand. 

(Y/n): Where is the decency... You're on their team. They should visit you!

Allie: They are probably just busy is all. I'm sure someone will arrive soon!

Her undaunted belief weakened you softly. Your body slumped forward softly, tired constantly being alert to rest against the bed next to her warm shoulder.

Allie: Yeah when I get out of this bed I'll have to start training again. I'll be super rusty and the doctor said It will be a miracle If I can keep being a knight. 

(Y/n): What do you mean...

Allie: My injuries are pretty severe in some areas. It's not like I won't walk or anything like that but from the fractures and breaks as well as the burns... it is a whole lot of recovery.

The girl shook softly, but you remained undaunted in providing her warmth.

Allie: Yeah the Silver Eagles don't tolerate weak links and since I'm not exactly loaded like the rest of them I will have to work harder. Hah~ They already joked about how I was a good paperweight. You know cause uh... paper. But uh...

Alienor didn't seem to know where to go with her words, her body trembling more and more.

Allie: This is my fault isn't it? 

It was then it dawned on you what the trembling was from. The girl, despite being in terrible pain, was on the verge of tears. Your head lifted to see her staring up at her right hand, burn marks prevalent on the top of her hand of which she glared at softly. You managed to coo the hand back into a resting position as you gave the best awkward hug you could.

(Y/n): Don't think about that. This... this is the eagle's fault. They couldn't even make you feel at home let alone protect you! They don't deserve your sadness. If I was a knight I would just have to kick all their butts to make it up to you...

Allie can't... be a knight anymore can she? Well, she should but with her injuries... Are you making her feel worse? It's not a guaranteed thing but it will take so long. and knowing the Eagles from her stories they would replace a commoner like her in a heartbeat. But what can you do? You're not a knight? You're not even good enough to be her scholar. but... huh... 

(Y/n): I... I'll do that.

Allie: Huh?

(Y/n): I'll become a knight.

Allie: (Y/n). Don't. You don't want to become a knight. Do not do it for my sake.

(Y/n): No I want to do it! I... I never had a dream of my own so... let me take yours. 

Allie: What?

(Y/n): I will make your dream of being a knight mine and get into one of those groups. Then I will make sure you join! S-So if the Eagles replace you I can help you out and we would be together again! And if they try to stop me I can just use my gravity-

A hand lifted to hold your left cheek softly causing you to stop silent. Alienor stared at you with an unusually serious expression. Her lips were pressed into a line and her sakura-grey eye bore into your (E/c) ones. 

Allie: Do... Do you really want this? You never wanted to be a knight. Even after getting your magic, all figured out. If you become a magic knight it's not something you can break away from or forsake. And the consequences...

She gestured down with her eyes, showing off her battered body.

Allie: I don't want you to do this in a moment of excitement of chivalry. I need a friend. Not some knight who hates everything he is doing.

The words forced you to silence, your mind racing and your heart aching softly. Did... did you want this? You were confused and wrapped in a strange passionate whirlwind of foreign ideas and emotions. Your left hand lifted and covered the hand on your face, feeling the slightly warmer fingers curl softly.

(Y/n): I want to be a knight. I want to be one you can be proud of... so we can stand side by side like we used to.

Alienor took this moment to look over your face once more before chuckling. 

Allie: That's my (Y/n). I didn't want you doing something you hated for my sake. Now please uh... release my hand or I'm going to assume you're gonna try something lewd.

(Y/n): H-Huh? Try something lewd?! What are you...

Mr. Mannerhein: Try what now?!

The booming voice of her father came through the door, clearly not knowing what you said or the intent, but heard something involving his daughter and went full protection mode. Of course, this managed to fill the air with the lovely sound of the laughter of one Ms. Alienor Mannerheim.

And it was that split second choice in a mere moment of passionate confused emotions that led you to here. The boots you wore clapping down on the stone beneath you as you entered the coliseum. The traveling outfit clung to your slightly nervous form while a cloak clipped around your shoulders. Still, you managed to find chills coating your skin as you acknowledged you for the next several hours were simple "53". The chatter of the other applicants is what caught your attention first as you took the chance to move through the crowd to a semi-less crowded area to glance at the grimoire clipped your upper arm. The book was still blank for the most part aside from a few ideas you had strung along during your small bouts of actual training. The second thing that drew your attention was the number of birds flying around the other applicants. A single one sat perched next to our leather-clad foot seemingly trying to rest away from the sun. It was a rather strange sight especially as more people flooded into the building setting off the birds even more. Even the one by your foot seemed to fly off in the direction of some yelling. A sigh escaped your lips as you closed the book with one hand and returned it to its buckled position on your arm before standing up. The events would start soon so no point in resting now.

Father: Good luck bud. I know you will make us proud.

Mother: You can do it, honey!

Mannerheims: We wish you luck, (Y/n).

Allie: I'm still suspicious... but if you're going through with this I don't want you letting me down, alright? Good luck out there!

The words of your family and friend resonated through your frame and gave you the extra bit of courage to continue moving forward as the beginning of the Knight exams seemed to be kicking off. This... this was for Alienor. And you were going to show everyone here the extent of your training. You now took your first steps into the exam, bumping shoulders with a male you would come to know across a journey you didn't really want, whether you liked it or not...