Prishu

In the Royal Capital of the Island of Aneuf, Novestr, it is not an unusual sight for one of the highly prestigious and selective Royal Mages to hover over the city. Usually, they do it for training purposes or emergency matters that need to be attended to. After all, flying is a difficult skill that not many can learn, and is taxing to the body.

But there’s also some that would use that power for personal matters, and as Ui would learn that day, it wasn’t just her brother that did.

Ui’s time of relaxation enjoying musicians at the Riverside Amphitheater came to an abrupt end when one such mage landed beside her, loudly, in the middle of a concert. She was a slightly above-average height Uman with white, medium length, wavy hair, and Ui recognized her immediately.

“Imagine my surprise when I show up to your house and I’m told you, the Ui Lront, is outside without being forced to be.”

“Prishu…” Ui looked around, everyone was now looking at her. “Uh… hi.” And just like that, Ui’s private time was over.

Prishu’s voice resounded through the whole amphitheater. “You’re shivering, Ui, are you cold? It is a chilly season.” Prishu, who had chosen a cloak uniform from the Royal Mage Academy, removed her cloak and wrapped Ui in it, while Prishu remained with a uniform similar to Cro’s: a white buttoned shirt with dark grey pants, with subtle red and dark purple trims that Duke Bourin seemed to prefer.

“Can we… do this someplace else?” Ui, now wrapped in the warmth of Prishu’s cloak, realized she could no longer blend in with the crowds. The whole amphitheater show had come to a halt, and everyone, musicians included, were staring at the pair of girls interrupting the show. That was too much attention for Ui’s liking.

“Sure!” Prishu slid her arms under her and carried Ui, much like Cro did, but unlike Cro she accomplished it by enhancing her strength with magic instead. Also unlike Cro, she wasn’t very gentle and more importantly, Ui was completely unprepared.

She was getting ready to fly back into the skies when Ui barely stopped her. “Prishu… I… I really don’t like flying.”

“Oh, fine.” Prishu carried Ui out of the amphitheater, on foot.

“I can walk, you know Prishu?” Ui, still flustered, couldn't find the words to reject Prishu’s particular brand of kindness. Ui’s tone and expression seemed to be completely ignored by Prishu who kept talking.

“Imagine my surprise when I see a poster with a drawing of my best friend from school, suddenly being appointed as Royal Singer. Then imagine my surprise when I head to her house, and I find out that not only did she leave said house willingly, she was also not gallivanting all over the island. Then imagine my surprise when she wasn’t at the place where she loves getting food from, and she never let me know of any of this!”

“Did Cro not tell you?” Ui looked away. “About the singer situation?”

“That’s another thing, see Ui?” Prishu shook her head. “I walked up to him and he…” Prishu made a cold face devoid of any expression. “‘She didn’t tell you?’” She imitated Cro’s voice, deepening her tone as much as possible. “And then he turned around and ignored me! My classmate!” Ui couldn’t help but laugh. Cro’s image was too vivid in her mind, and her friend’s colorful impression far too accurate. “It’s not funny Ui! We’re supposed to be friends!”

“Do friends angrily carry you through town like this?” Ui couldn’t help noticing the citizens of Novestr staring at a Royal Mage carrying Ui, wrapped and immobilized by Prishu’s cloak, in her arms. But Prishu kept walking forward without slowing down or looking around her. Ui squirmed a little.

“If I let you go I’m afraid you’re going to run away, so you’re not allowed to get off.”

Ui noticed Prishu was walking incredibly fast. “Can you at least carry me somewhere nice, like the river, or the port, or a park?”

“Well, you refused to fly with me.” Prishu shook her head. “Only allowing it from her dear brother,” she muttered almost inaudibly.

Prishu stopped in front of a notice board, and pointed at a poster there.

Wanted. A criminal known as “Lullaby” or “Suinum”.

2,000 silver coins reward for any information.

Responsible for the illegal destruction of Uman mining equipment and other acts of vandalism. Contact local officials with any information.

That bounty was a lot more adequate, which made Ui grin secretly.

“Say Ui. This poster looks a bit like you, don’t you think?”

“N-no?” She didn’t want to look like that, at least.

“You’re not moonlighting as a notorious Udari rebel, are you Ui?”

“No! Of course not…” If there was someone she could lie to, it was Prishu… even if she was annoyingly sharp sometimes.

“Yeah… you wouldn’t.” Prishu started walking again. “Which is good because then I’d have to throw you in the dungeon, and you’d have to be interrogated by the Duke…”

“A dungeon?!”

It looked like the Umans weren’t giving up on trying to catch Lullaby. But even if the conversation was uncomfortable, Ui couldn’t imagine Prishu being the one to find out.

Prishu kept walking for a few minutes without saying anything. She was clearly still upset, but Ui didn’t know what to say. The distance Prishu had walked was starting to worry her, but more importantly, Ui thought back on their friendship, and her new assignment as Royal Singer. She realized, looking at Prishu’s determined face marching through the streets, that her friend deserved some honesty.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Prishu.” Ui had finally had enough of the silence.

Prishu did not stop, but she did grin. “Now we’re getting to the good part.”

“I just… don’t know if I want to be, you know? A Royal Singer is too much…” The longer Prishu carried her around town, scolding her, the harder it was for Ui to keep the truth from her.

Prishu scoffed. “You’re kidding, right? You, the Ui Lront, famous for singing more than talking?”

“It’s not the singing, it’s… that stage.”

“You were born for the stage.” Prishu shook her head. “Where’s the girl constantly reminding everyone that we need to ‘protect this land’, ‘nurture the land’, ‘get along with our neighbors’.” Prishu rolled her eyes. “Now you have a stage where you can show us how it's done.”

“Yeah but the Duke is…” Ui’s voice trailed, she didn’t know what to think, either.

But Prishu did not lower her voice. “A very handsome man? Yeah I know. And very smart. And very delicate sometimes, too. And guess what I’m working to do? To protect all of you. So I think I should have a say in your future.”

“Our future?!” Ui’s thoughts lingered on the Duke.

Prishu laughed. “No, Ui, all of our futures.“ Prishu’s voice eventually turned serious. “Ui, it’s peaceful times, and the Duke is all about that. If he saw something in you, the least you can do is do your best.”

Ui dug deep, reaching for her most honest feelings. “It’s not only that, it’s…”

Suddenly, Prishu spotted a trio of Royal Mages flying overhead, and quickly let Ui back down. “You worry too much, Ui. Don’t!” Prishu’s eyes and smile reached Ui, who was still wrapped in the warmth of Prishu’s cloak. “Time’s up, I gotta go back to my teacher.” She winked at Ui and launched into flight once more.

Ui was hoping to get inspiration for new songs that day, but the Royal Mage Prishu, with other plans, dropped her on the opposite side of town. Even if she headed back immediately, she wouldn’t have made it in time to catch the rest of the show.

Resigned, Ui walked back home instead.