Asher Baker's Point of View

The first time I met Lily-sama I saw nothing but a flawless hero. Something pulled out of legends of old... bright and sparkly... however there exists nothing as a flawless hero. Heroes in legends always have flaws, be it lust, nativity, arrogance, distrust, alcohol problems or so on. For Lily-sama it was loneliness. Not lust, but loneliness. It wasn't something I understood properly back then, because it was something more complicated than a normal child would know.

I first realized Lily-sama's weakness during the siege where she spoke to her brother. The scene was awkward, like an adult teaching a child rather than two children talking... but her brother moved away. He couldn't accept the cold and cruel words she spoke and he left her standing there alone... and Lily stared into the distance while left behind... as if she was waiting for someone to appear at her side... and then she turned as if she remembered she was alone.

I decided to be there. I decided to be someone by her side that wouldn't leave her.

But she didn't accept me.

Neither did she reject me.

She never even considered it.

She merely turned away nervously and refused to recognize my existence by her side. She didn't look down on me.

Still, I wanted to be by her side and make sure she would never stand alone... 

---*---

When I met her again for the first time she hadn't changed. She was admirable and bright and... still tried to stand alone. Even Magdalin-sama was kept at a certain distance, only, Magdalin-sama seemed to accept it... no, I think she was overprotective of Lily-sama...

At first I just tried to make her recognize me, but I quickly saw that things were... a bit different than I had first expected. It wasn't just me she kept at a distance and refused to recognize.

It was not just the knights either.

She looks people in the eyes, but she doesn't want them to get close. Furthermore, she avoids things she doesn't feel comfortable with. It took me a short while after we met again before I finally understood that Lily-sama was likely suffering from combat fatigue.

However, how do you deal with that? If you don't fully know the reason for why someone is acting like that, do you confront them directly, indirectly, or do you wait for them to come to you? Should you trigger it or should you protect her from everything that reminds her of the things she hate?

I wanted to take the middle path. To let her slowly get used to accepting people close. Magdalin-sama wanted to protect her. 

From what I understood from Magdalin-sama, the Tepet heir was the same as Magdalin-sama. As a war veteran at this age he probably recognized it the same way I did. Though, likely a while earlier.

---*---

Today has been an incredibly day.

When I heard that Lily-sama had refused to come out, I thought that she was simply mentally exhausted from her chronic nightmares. Magdalin, however, insisted that the Tepet heir had said something.

I doubted it. He may be stressed, but House Tepet would never provocate someone with combat fatigue. It was against everything their house did.

Still, no matter what happened I am happy. For the first time she acknowledge someone at her side. Not just me, but she even acknowledged Vitis at her side, even if she felt uncomfortable with him. It wasn't a miracle that fixed everything. She was incredibly uncomfortable, I even think she looked a bit paler than usual, but she still went through with it.

Despite being awkward she faced everyone that approached her. Be it people that tried to plan out the march, or Arven that challenged her to a duel. She was so stiff as she walked away from the duel, and she got that look like she was alone again. Of course I was by her side as fast as possible and reminded her again that I would be by her side.

She got side tracked for a little while, but I suppose even Lily-sama is a girl with a fancy for a few cute things.

She returned to her bundles of maps and went into a completely focused state instead. This was also the first time I've seen her in this state since I was kid.

Wait-

Is she in planning mode?

"Asher. Does anyone know this area?"

She pointed at an area a bit south east of the pass where we were supposed to meet up with the Tepet army. 

"...I think Felix used to live in the Plymfell Swamplands... Should I find him?" I ask curiously while considering what she wants in such a hostile area.

"Do we have someone that are familiar with mountains too?" 

...She couldn't- no, she was seriously considering crossing the mountains... and not through them.

"We do, Peony Roselia grew up around the Bloodwing Redoubt in the northern mountains so he should be able to guide us through if we cou- ... if we can get through the Plymfell Swamplands."

Getting through the Plymfell Swamplands was... not something people would consider doable. Not just because people would get stuck or get lost... but because the area was heavily infested with magic beasts, and many of them specialize in illusions and poisons.

"...I see. Get Felix, Peony and Vitis."

I pause for a moment.

"Vitis too?" She'd only been introduced to Vitis briefly, so I was surprised she requested him.

"He's the one sticking to Peony, isn't he? He's the one that knows him best, so he should be able to fix any misunderstandings," she spoke somewhat irritably. Should I push, or not?

I decide against pushing the matter and instead head off to fetch the three.

---*---

As expected Vitis is forcing Peony into spending time with other people. This time by using a game of dice as the excuse.

"Vitis, Peony, it seems like Celeste-sama wants to discuss some plans with you." Vitis looks up from his dice game and then to Peony with... a certain amount of hesitance.

"As our lord wishes," Vitis then replies with a smile.

"Good, do any of you know where Felix is?"

Darius might be the most sneaky, but Felix is the one that actually blends in without actually doing a lot. He's the quiet observer that just enjoys the energy. Furthermore, apparently he's got a pretty shady past too... in the black market. 

While Vitis took a glance around Peony gave a nod towards another group of people.

I give a nod and head off for the other group of people where I fetch Felix and pull him away from their game of dice.

However, by the time we come back to the wagon to Lily-sama, the air is... quite cold.

Vitis looks a bit confused, Peony is his usual self, and Lily-sama is like a hissing cat... aimed at Peony... Peony is... not sociable... but what in the world did he say to irritate her?

Felix looks at the situation, clearly accepts the truth and then decides to ignore it. He just decides to watch.

"I brought Felix, Celeste-sama."

She turns her eyes to Felix like a cat on the hunt. Felix notices but doesn't really seem to know what to do about it.

"You grew up in the Plymfell Swamplands, yes?"

"Yes, Celeste-sama?"

She gave a satisfied nod, and then here comes the next question. The question I did not want to hear.

"Can we pass through it to the artificial mountains behind it?"

I glance to Felix who seems to think about it. Actually considering it. 

"If Darius helps out with sound magic, then we should be able to do it."

I press my lips together for a moment at the thought of crossing through that kind of environment.

"Darius...?" Lily-sama asks somewhat curiously.

"The guy that was talking with Helena after you left..." I knew she'd noticed him, because she turned back to look at him when he began talking with Helena.. but I really didn't expect what I saw next. That unclouded expression of irritation and... clicks her tongue.

...

She may have begun to acknowledge people, but I suppose that also comes with actually facing people she doesn't like...

"Very well. Let's start plotting a course through the swamp. After that I'll start some rearrangements for the change."

Vitis looks to me for a moment with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

---*---

The next morning we announce a change of course. By the time we reach the Plymfell Swamplands, the wagons take another course and head north to the meeting area. From that point on we are to walk with our own things, provisions included.

Furthermore, Lily-sama puts me, Vitis, Peony, Felix and Darius in a small vanguard group together with Arven, Spence, Mike and Rudder. Mike and Rudder are two quite calm guys. She asked for the two most average guys I could find, and they fit that description quite well.

Lily-sama... as much as I would never doubt your actions, this does not seem like a good idea... this mix of guys is... not very good... things will explode, and yet... I get the feeling that the explosion is exactly what she is going for.