A sharp crack echoed through the training grounds, the sound of a forceful impact cutting through the ambient noise. A slap. Hard. Unexpected.
Areion's head barely moved from the force, but the undeniable weight behind it resonated through his jaw, a dull throb spreading across his cheek. For a brief, stunned moment, everything was silent, as if time itself had momentarily ceased. Students training nearby froze mid-motion, their bodies rigid, some gasping audibly at the sudden eruption of violence. Others turned their heads instinctively, drawn to the inexplicable display, their eyes wide with shock and morbid curiosity.
Romona's eyes widened, her lithe body tensing on reflex, her hand instinctively moving to grip the hilt of the concealed dagger at her hip, ready to defend her charge. Even Vixen gasped, a sharp, ragged intake of breath, her feline ears twitching wildly as she stared at her older sister in utter shock and disbelief, a silent question etched on her youthful face.
Roxen's hand lingered in the air, her fingers trembling slightly from the force of the strike, the skin on her palm already reddening. Her breath was uneven, ragged, her lithe body taut with an emotion that went far beyond mere anger, a complex tapestry of conflicting feelings warring within her.
Then—her voice, raw and laced with something deeper, something akin to a painful, long-awaited recognition, broke through the stunned silence, shattering the fragile stillness.
"You f*cker…"
The words carried a heavy weight, imbued with a profound understanding that Areion himself did not yet comprehend, a cryptic accusation hanging heavy in the air, a silent question mark hovering over the scene.
Romona clenched her free fist, her muscles coiled, ready to spring into action. But before she could take a single step, Areion's hand shot out, his grip surprisingly strong, yet gentle enough to convey a silent command: [stay calm.] Areion's silver eyes, usually cool and detached, softened as they met Roxen's intense gaze, a flicker of something akin to understanding passing between them. "I was waiting," he said softly, his voice barely a whisper.
A small, sad smile touched Roxen's lips as she reached out, her fingers lightly caressing his reddened cheek. "Me too," she murmured, her voice laced with a mixture of regret and relief. "And… sorry for the slap."
"It's nothing," Areion replied, shaking his head slightly. "I deserved it."
Roxen shook her head vehemently, her pinkish-brown curls swaying. "No… It happened on instinct. I didn't even fully realize what I was doing." Areion reached out, his hand covering hers, giving it a gentle squeeze, a silent gesture of acceptance. Roxen closed her eyes for a fleeting moment, a wave of emotion washing over her face.
"But I did it in front of everyone," she continued, a hint of self-consciousness creeping into her voice. "You're probably furious with me."
"No, I'm not," he replied, shaking his head once more, his gaze unwavering. "Actually, it was all my fault from the very beginning. I should have accepted at least this much."
She shook her head violently, her eyes widening. "Nah, nah, nah. Don't try to shoulder the weight of my sins." She took both his hands in hers, her grip surprisingly firm. "It was all my fault. Only if I hadn't…" she trailed off, her voice cracking with emotion. "I-I mean, if I hadn't pinched it, we would probably still be… there… still safe…" The sudden reminder of the "pinch" caused a faint blush to rise on Areion's cheeks before quickly fading away, leaving his expression neutral once more.
Romona, still standing rigidly between them, her gaze darting back and forth between Areion and Roxen, her brow furrowed in utter confusion. She wasn't the only one lost in the cryptic exchange. Vixen, her feline ears twitching nervously, looked from her sister to the prince and back again, unsure of what to do: should she intervene? Let them talk? Offer some sort of apology to Areion for her sister's outburst?
Roxen continued, her voice gaining a hint of hopeful inquiry. "So… you aren't mad?"
He shook his head once, a small, genuine smile gracing his lips for the first time that morning. "No. We both are responsible for everything."
She nodded slowly, a relieved smile finally blossoming on her face, a smile that looked much more comfortable and genuine than the forced pleasantries she usually displayed. "Hey, Shivu!" she exclaimed, her voice regaining its usual playful tone.
"Yeah?" Areion replied, his gaze softening as he looked at her.
Roxen's gaze flicked towards the two bewildered spectators, Romona and Vixen. "Should we… talk somewhere else?" Romona's cheeks flushed a delicate pink at the implication of the question. "Ohh why not I'm itching."
Romona's eyes widened slightly, as if she wasn't entirely sure she had heard correctly. Finally, she stepped forward, cutting through the apparent intimacy of their conversation. "Hey, hey, wait…" Both Areion and Roxen turned to her, a mixture of surprise and mild annoyance on their faces. Roxen let out a soft sigh. "Oh, yeah. You came with her and…" She looked at her younger sister, whom she had almost completely forgotten in the heat of the moment, and slapped a palm to her forehead in self-reproach. "Well, I guess your not the only forgetful one in the family." She then pulled Vixen into a warm, affectionate hug.
"How are you, Vixy?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine affection.
Vixen looked up at her sister, her confusion and affection warring within her. "Ahm… I'm fine. I came to see you and show you my new friends." She gestured towards Areion and Romona with a hesitant hand. "But it looks like you already know one of them."
Roxen smiled knowingly and ruffled Vixen's hair playfully. Romona turned to Areion, her face a mask of pure, unadulterated confusion. "Your Highness… I don't understand anything…" She paused, then continued hesitantly, as if venturing into dangerous territory. "If you want… I'll be at a safe distance. Like… three arms' length. If you have something… private to discuss…" The word "private" seemed to catch in her throat, her face flushing even deeper. "I-I mean, so that I don't hear anything private."
Areion raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of amusement flickering in his silver eyes. He pursed his lips thoughtfully, a silent internal debate raging within him. [She's probably making up all sorts of scenarios in her head. But… I can't exactly tell her the truth. Sad, I guess I should leave things like this. It's more fun this way, anyway.]
He rested a hand on Vixen's shoulder, his gaze meeting Roxen's, a silent communication passing between them. Vixen's eyes followed his hand, then darted to Roxen, who was standing with an oddly neutral expression, almost a silent understanding that Prince Areion was not the threat she had always warned her about. She smiled brightly at her sister, a genuine, trusting smile.
Vixen tilted her head, her pinkish-brown curls swaying. "Yes? Want something?"
"I just want you to spend some time with mans- I mean roxen," Areion said, his gaze lingering on Romona as he spoke, as if he were pointing her out more than Vixen. "I'll be back. Okay"
Romona rolled her eyes, a mixture of exasperation and reluctant acceptance on her face. "Sure," she muttered, then took Vixen's arm, gently pulling her away. "Come here, Vixy. Let's give these two some space." Without looking back, she dragged the bewildered Vixen with her, leaving Roxen and Areion alone in the center of the bustling training grounds.
After a few seconds of slightly uncomfortable silence, Roxen pointed towards a building separated from the main complex, nestled between the training arena and a sprawling garden. On the stone board above the entrance, the word "Commons" was clearly etched in elegant lettering, fitting with the Order's austere aesthetic. "Let's go there," she suggested.
"Sure," Areion replied, settling comfortably into a nearby bench, his posture relaxed. Roxen, in contrast, seemed to be adjusting her uniform a little too much, a subtle nervousness betraying her outward composure. Is she nervous she wondered, not even sure herself.
After a minute of fidgeting, she finally took a look at the menu etched on a board next to the receiving counter, her voice regaining its usual confident tone. "What do you want to eat? Lamb? Chicken? Fish?"
"Just fresh fruits and honey or water for a drink," Areion replied, his request an unexpected departure from the usual preferences. It was a response she hadn't even considered she would hear, especially not from him.
She tried to play it off casually, a slight edge of surprise in her voice. "Okay… dude."
He rested his chin on his palm, his gaze sweeping over the other students training in the distance, his peripheral vision taking in her every move. "Just… don't think too much about it. I'm going to reveal everything eventually, anyway."
"Okay," she replied, a hint of curiosity mingling with her apprehension. With those words, she finally stood up from the bench and walked towards the counter to place their order. Areion's gaze followed her, taking in her changed features. [She's all changed. The tail, the ears, taller than before… but no, she's not quite like she used to be.]
A slight sting, a pang of something akin to regret, occurred in his heart. [If she's here, then the others must be safe too.]
After a few minutes of waiting, Roxen returned, carrying two plates and two drinks. The first plate, clearly intended for herself, was a full-course meal, piled high with cooked meat, devoid of any vegetables, accompanied by a steaming bowl of what looked like a meaty soup. On his plate, in stark contrast, were only sliced apples and a glass of water. He looked at the food, then at her, his silver eyes silently questioning the stark difference.
"Well, I'm broke," she replied with a shrug, a wry smile playing on her lips. "I didn't expect anything either way, but… really? Only meat? Nothing else? That's not like you… or, well, this body, I guess. It has needs?" As she spoke, her hair flickered, turning a shade of brown, mirroring her younger sister's, and her voice deepened slightly, taking on a rougher edge. "What exactly do you mean by 'this body,' huh? I like meat. Without veggies."
Areion was visibly taken aback by the sudden shift, his eyes widening in surprise. Her hair flickered again, returning to its normal pinkish-brown hue, and she held her hands up in front of her face, a sheepish grin spreading across her features. "No, no, it wasn't me. It was… Vixen."
He tilted his head in confusion, his brow furrowed, before a sudden, startling thought crossed his mind. His eyes widened in surprised realization. "Don't tell me it's… what I think it is."