A Dance of Ice and Light

"Is it morning already?"

Kimi said to herself as she arose from her throne, still in her armor and then picking up her sword. She had at least had a very peaceful rest - which she knew that she'd need for the coming War of the Realm, and more immediately, for forging a temporary alliance with the Sorceress Queen who was was ruling in stewardship over the fiefdom of wheat fields and sunlight. Though within the latter matter, Kimi knew that seeing if she could get to know that radiant girl better was just as much a priority for her, therein. 

According to Kimi, the day was set, and so she then turned and checked on the ivory box with ruby inlay that she'd found the Sorcerers and Slayers cards in last night, who to her delight was still present, intact, and containing its enchanted contents. For a moment, Kimi couldn't help but think in her now well-rested, and more focused state, that just days prior, those cards and her participation in the competition held across Japan that was related to them - had seemed like another hobby in the greater sphere of fantasy entertainment to get into. Now, as was told to her and everyone else the day before - fantasy had indeed become reality! 

Kimi then took a breath and made her way down the short hallway from the throne room - the walls were ivory, and they had the same ruby inlay design as the box, with ruby pillars supporting the ceiling of the tower. To Kimi's delight - she'd found that just down the short hallway leading to and from the throne room, there was a private bathroom just for her! As she undid her armor and prepared to bathe in the ivory and ruby inlaid bathtub - she couldn't help but blush and giggle to herself, feeling privately embarrassed that she hadn't noticed that this room was there yesterday when she'd arrived. Then again, she had been feeling understandably overwhelmed and tired due to being suddenly whisked away into another world - and then told that a massive four-way war would take place, that would result in only a single survivor! Kimi the sighed, washing herself before polishing her armor and noticing that somehow, her school uniform had been washed, folded, and pressed - and was placed on an ivory chest of drawers near her. 

"Wow! This is seriously like the stellar hotel service that you get in Tokyo - maybe this place will be alright after all? At least for a while?"

Kimi said with a smile as she admired her school uniform, before getting back into her armor and taking her sword. Now that she was clean - the business of the day would have to commence!

Kimi made her way down the main stairs from the central tower, which connected to the stairwells that went to the left tower and the right tower, which served as battlements and otherwise fortified positions. Ivory with ruby inlay, and ruby pillars throughout - just as she had designed it! Kimi couldn't help but be impressed that both places that she'd designed had been created! as she made her way to the bottom of the central stairwell, she noticed how those assigned as Common Folk - with each of them holding a sword that was essentially identical to hers - save for the color of the grip, and the lack of pink and white etched and enchanted kanji on the wider, flat side of the blade - guarded the entryway and bowed to her, which made Kimi blush.

"Wait - I'm just Kimi - oh, right, I'm actually now Sakura the Slayer Queen. Even so, how are all of you, are you all doing alright, considering our more than unique situation?"

Kimi asked with genuine concern, as she really did care about these people who were seemingly all her age, judging by their looks. Their number was relatively evenly divided between being male and female as well, from what Kimi could see. Less than a moment later, one of them, a somewhat nervous looking boy with glasses spoke up with a tone of confidence that was mustered in the moment. 

"We're all in this together, and you seem like you know what you're doing from the looks of it - creating this fortress and it's huge connected armory, and you did win the prestigious competition after all. So, I'd say I'm feeling better than I did when we first got here!"

The boy said barely as Kimi smiled, before a girl who was about her height with neck length black hair that had red highlights spoke up with a soft smile.

"He's right! Look what you designed - and with your awesome armor and sword design, eve if we go down - we'll go down fighting hard and fighting well!"

The girl said with a rather inspiring resolve that made gave Kimi a warm sense of humility - they didn't Keven know her, and yet all of these people who only days prior were her pers in terms of age and interests - were now willing to follow her into a massive war!

The other Common Folk there smiled and nodded in encouraging agreement as well. Kimi couldn't believe it, and without a second thought, she hugged the girl who had just spoken up, soft tears rolling down Kimi's face, before she gently let the girl go, and then looked around at all of them.

"I don't know what to say - except thank you, seriously, thank you, all of you! I know that none of us knew this would happen, that we'd be here - but I promise that I'll do my best to lead us. I don't know how this will ultimately end, but if I 'win' in the terms that such a result was described to us yesterday, as cryptic as it was, I'll do whatever I can to repay your shared honorable kindness and steadfast loyalty!"

Kimi said with a renewed sense of confidence as they cheered for her, causing her to blush more as as she made her way into the interior of the fortress and thus into the armory area, where those Common Folk who were forging and smithing weapons bowed reverently to her. The smell of metal and smoke filled the air, with molds of her sword design being filled and forged, hammered and smithed, it was a beautifully efficient operation, to say the least. 

"You're in love with the Sorceress Queen who rules in stewardship of the fiefdom of wheat fields and the everlasting sunlight, are you not?"

Akio said to Kimi telepathically, swooping down from the center, frost and snow covered mountain, before safely slowing down and hovering before Kimi, the Common Folk in the armory having safely cleared the area as well to make room. 

"WHAT!? WE CAN SPEAK TELEPATHICALLY!?"

Kimi thought frantically as she looked at Akio in his wingless, double-mouthed dragon form, his ruby red and ivory white coloring looking striking.

"I'm sorry - I just - I'm still getting used to all of this. But yes - how'd you know though!?"

Kimi asked in thought, blushing as she smiled at Akio.

"Your stare of affection towards her was as conspicuous as the snow in a blizzard, and the flames in an armory's forge! Now, go forth to the fiefdom of wheat fields and everlasting sunlight, and communicate with my counterpart, Haruto. He'll ensure that you have safe entrance and exit, as long as you tell him that I sent you."

Akio replied in telepathic thought to Kimi, as Kimi then set off on her journey.

The fiefdom of wheat fields and everlasting sunlight was the nearest fiefdom to Kimi's, which was made evident to her as shed only tracked for fifteen minutes or so through slightly hilly rocky, snowy roads before the environment suddenly changed. Before her stood a very Medieval European looking fortress, with a long, perfectly rectangular rampart wall with rounded, evenly sized and spaced, golden defensive pegs jutting out near the top of the wall, with evenly spaced, massive, pressed golden lion faces in the center of the wall. The center of the wall was where the two main doors were. These doors were golden in color and gigantic in size, adorned with patterns of oak leaves and olive leaves. Within the wraparound rectangular wall structure - three, tall, shining white and gold rectangular towers were positioned within, with vertical slit windows on the three towers. 

Kimi stared in awe, then looking up as she saw the white and gold dragon who must've been Haruto, coming down powerfully but carefully before her. Kimi noticed that he was identical to Akio, save for Haruto being white and gold in color.

"Akio sent me - he - he said that I should tell you and well.....I want to speak with the Sorceress Queen here."

Kimi said telepathically to Haruto, naturally feeling a bit nervous, but comforted by how Akio has ushered her on this short quest. 

"You, Slayer Queen, wouldn't be here without his encouragement or permission - and I sense no darkness within you. You may proceed with my blessing - and yes - you may speak with the Sorceress Queen. After all, it was evident from your arrival here yesterday that your heart lightens when you gaze upon her."

Haruto responded telepathically, causing Kimi to blush all the more. 

The main doors to the fortress then opened as Haruto rose in the air to let Kimi pass. Within the walls and around the base of the towers, Common Folk were diligently working as goldsmiths and as wheat reapers and harvesters, bowing politely as Kimi passed, making her way towards the center tower, figuring that this girl most likely would place her throne room in the center, judging by how symmetrical her fiefdom was laid out. This assumption proved correct, as soon she was through the doors of the central tower, and she saw the girl, the Sorceress Queen on her throne - a tall, curvy throne, that was white and gold, with lions heads motifs on the front ends of the arms of the chairs. On all of the others sides of the throne, the same intertwined oak leaves and olive leaves patterns were also present. 

"Hi! I'm Kana - and it seems that you're one of the winners too! So, what brings you here?"

Kana said as she introduced herself, wearing her armor from the day before - while Kimi blushed and bowed to her, before looking up at Kana - feeling a sense of confident determination.

"Well - I'm here for two reasons: I want to forge a temporary alliance with you and your fiefdom, and I wanted to say that you're really pretty and I really like your original character design and your location design!"

Kimi almost blurted out - before smiling, giggling, blushing, and putting her hand over her mouth in infatuated embarrassment!

The pieces on this proverbial "chess board" of courtship and alliance building were now set!