Awake At Last

“I’m afraid I haven’t, Dame Medrauta.”

Medrauta nodded. She had already expected such an answer. After all, the word “Paladin” had gradually disappeared from the minds of the people as centuries passed by until only a handful of select individuals could recall their existence.

Now, Medrauta became one of those few. The memories she regained were not particularly significant to the nature of the “Oath” she wished to uncover, but they were precious memories nevertheless. Memories of her mother’s bedtime stories and the warmth of her childhood.

Before, they were stories she could only hazily recall, but now they came to her easily. Fantastical stories of knights bravely defending innocents and tearing apart droves of witchspawn as they stood alone against the tide. At least, that was what she had once thought those stories were about. Only now did she recall that they were tales not of knights, but of Paladins.

No. Of a Paladin. As a child, Medrauta hadn’t thought too deeply about her mother’s stories, taking them merely as entertainment and an inspiration for her own desires. However, she now understood that they were not mere tales, but great deeds that her mother had accomplished during her time. Of course, her mother had never explicitly mentioned her involvement within these stories, nor had she ever revealed her identity as the last Paladin. At least, not until that fateful night.

Medrauta’s head throbbed again as images flashed through her mind, but she ignored the pain. The crimson of flames and blood. The silver of steel, and utter despair. During those moments, she had heard it clearly when Merlynne addressed Morgana as the last Paladin.

“But I know someone who might.” Scarlet said, interrupting Medrauta’s train of thought.

“...Really? Who?”

Scarlet smirked. “Princess Gwenhwyfar. Unfortunately, she is currently being held at the very top of the Spire.”

“Very funny.” Medrauta rolled her eyes. “How do you know that’s where she is, though? Last I checked, no one could track her down. Not even the Imperial Scouts.”

“We ran into one of Amelia’s other Sworn. Her name was Volutia, a noblewoman who attended the Imperial Academy with me. I never thought she would be a traitor to her own nation, but I suppose even I can be wrong sometimes.”

“Lady Scarlet admitting she was wrong? The world must be coming to an end.” Medrauta laughed.

“Oh, but it is, isn’t it? I’m not sure what Amelia hopes to accomplish at the peak of her Spire, but it likely isn’t anything good. Perhaps it might even spell armageddon for the rest of us.”

Medrauta pursed her lips, considering the statement. Based on the words of the prophecy, she was pretty sure Amelia’s goal was the revival of the Witch Queen, something that would obviously be catastrophic for the empire and the four nations that bordered it.

“...Y’know, you might be right,” she said.

Scarlet merely smiled. “I know I am. In any case, we’ve drifted from the original topic quite significantly, haven’t we? I may not have heard of your mother, but I have been familiar with the subject of Paladins and their Oaths even before encountering the shield towers. Of course, its contents were a great help in clearing up a few questions I had, but they are no mystery to me.”

“Then you’ll help me?” Medrauta asked hopefully.

She’d spent the past thirty minutes attempting to convince Scarlet to tutor her in the art of manipulating mana to no avail, forcing Medrauta to reveal her newly discovered lineage when all seemed lost. After learning of Medrauta’s identity as the daughter of a Paladin, Scarlet’s attitude seemed to shift to a more optimistic one, and now it seemed as though the noblewoman just might accept.

Scarlet shook her head. “No. I cannot.”

“Why!?” Medrauta exclaimed in frustration.

“To begin with, there is nothing I can teach you. While shield towers are capable of amplifying mana, that is not their original purpose. Oaths function in a vastly different way. In fact, I’m surprised you haven’t accidentally managed to awaken yours already.”

“Accidentally awaken mine...? What do you mean?”

“I’m not too sure on the specifics, but a Paladin’s Oath is awakened when they find their true purpose and desire. With how fierce your loyalty burns for Lady Viviane, I would have thought you’d awakened your Oath already.”

Is that really how it works...? Or have I just been... No. That can’t be it. I’d sacrifice myself for Vivi in a heartbeat. Medrauta frowned. “I’m sure there must be another condition.”

“Perhaps.” Scarlet shrugged. “If you wish for information regarding the Paladins themselves or the abilities that an Oath bestowed, then I can certainly offer you my assistance, but in terms of actually awakening your Oath, I’m afraid there is nothing I can do.”

“...Alright. Thanks, Lady Scarlet. And uh, sorry for wasting your time, I guess.”

Scarlet shook her head. “Please do let me know when you’ve awakened your Oath, Dame Medrauta. I will have to factor it into our plans. Both that and Lady Viviane’s newfound abilities will be essential to our siege on the Spire.”

Medrauta nodded and bade Scarlet farewell, exiting the tent. As she stepped outside, Eris gave her a curious glance, tapping her lightly on the shoulder.

“Everything okay, Medrauta?”

Medrauta shrugged. “Went as well as it could’ve gone, I guess. What about you? Anyone too curious for their own good?”

Eris shook her head, grinning. “Nah. It seems like people know to stay away when there’s a knight posted right outside the tent. By the way, I never did get the chance to thank you.”

“Thank me?” Medrauta asked, the surprise evident in her voice. “What for?”

“Did you forget already? The whole thing with Lady Scarlet the other night...”

“Ah. That.”

“Yes. That.” Eris nodded, a scarlet blush creeping into her cheeks as she recalled how she’d embarrassingly revealed her insecurities to an eavesdropping Scarlet.

“Don’t sweat it, Eris. Honestly, I didn’t even do much, if anything. But if you ever need someone to hear you out again, I guess I’ll be around. And if the time ever comes, we’ll have to make sure Scarlet isn’t sneaking around again.” Medrauta grinned.

“Oh my,” Scarlet peeked through the tent’s entrance, an eyebrow elegantly raised. “To think you would so blatantly accuse me of such indecency, Dame Medrauta.”

“G-Geh! What the heck are you doing out here, Lady Scarlet!?” Medrauta exclaimed.

“This is my tent and I’m merely here to retrieve my knight. Is there truly anything to be surprised about?” Scarlet smirked. “Perhaps if you wish to conduct clandestine conversations, you might learn to lower your voice a little.”

“Guh!”

“Now then, I’m sure you’d like to check on Lady Viviane by now. Why don’t you run along and think about the things we spoke of? Eris and I have a few things to chat about ourselves. After all, I can’t have her running to you the next time she feels insecure about something.”

Without waiting for a response from her knight, Scarlet reached out and grabbed Eris’ hand, tugging her toward the tent.

“Good luck,” Medrauta whispered to Eris, smirking at the anxious look in her fellow knight’s eyes.

With Eris’ silent plea being swallowed up by the merciless leather flaps of the tent, Medrauta turned on her heel and headed toward the medical officer’s tent where Viviane still lay. Before leaving to ask for Scarlet’s aid, she had triple-checked to ensure that Viviane’s condition was stable. Given that no medical officer had rushed to Scarlet’s tent during their conversation, Medrauta could assume that Viviane’s condition hadn’t changed since.

Upon arriving, the silver-haired knight found the tent no busier than she’d left it. There were still several cots filled with injured soldiers, but the staff were working at a relatively relaxed pace. As far as Medrauta could tell, the soldiers within weren’t suffering from any life-threatening injuries. She nodded quick greetings to the soldiers who were awake and to the medical staff as she passed by, moving to Viviane’s cot in the rear.

The noblewoman’s chest rose and fell gently, a peaceful rhythm that matched the silent interior of the tent. Placing a stool next to the cot, Medrauta sat herself down and put her head against her lady’s chest, listening to her heartbeat. It thumped in an almost melodic fashion, bringing relief and joy to the knight.

Although the knots of worry in Medrauta’s chest were beginning to disentangle, she still couldn’t rest easy while Viviane remained unconscious. Everything about the noblewoman seemed to be fine, yet she still lay dormant for reasons unknown to either Medrauta or the medical staff.

Medrauta clasped Viviane’s hand tightly between her own, the warmth of her lady’s skin alleviating a bit of her concern, but only slightly. She hung her head low, closing her eyes and pressing her lips against the back of Viviane’s hand. “Oh, Vivi... Why is it that you won’t wake up?”

“...Medrauta?”

The response came as a complete surprise. Viviane’s eyes slid open slowly, her eyelashes fluttering beautifully like the parting wings of a golden butterfly. Though her voice was still slightly bleary, her eyes seemed awake and alert.

“V-Vivi!” Medrauta exclaimed. “You’re awake! I-Is everything okay!? Do you want me to get you anything!?”

Instead of answering Medrauta’s questions, Viviane simply smiled and reached a hand up toward her knight, running her slender fingers through Medrauta’s silver hair and caressing her face. The two held each other’s eyes for a moment, allowing a comfortable silence to hang in the air before Viviane spoke again.

“You’ve gone through so much, haven’t you, Medrauta?”