Every day, the wounds of Baldo’s disappearance healed bit by bit, and the promise of his eventual return only sped up that recovery. The other orphans were becoming more self-proficient in his absence, at least, and it seemed like everyone was ready to contribute to the struggling institution however they could. Whether it be Amadeo and the sales he made through his hunting endeavours, or Leonarda setting out under the watch of Claramond to do odd jobs, why, even Salvatore had apparently taken up a part-time job within a certain fabric store in Baska. Truly, it seemed like everyone was doing their part, and of course, Fia herself was pitching in as well with the funds she made from her occupation as a Rune Knight. Overall, one might’ve guessed this profession had no downsides at all, but really, that wasn’t the case at all. There was one thing people often failed to consider.
How it affected the ones they loved.
It was a dangerous job, of that there was no doubt, but almost all who undertook it understood that danger to some degree, and were willing to brave it and minimise it throughout their risks. But even if they felt confident in their abilities to avoid and endure any threat that came to them, there was no saying their loved ones would feel the same. Truth be told, there was no more difficult position than the spouse or lover of one of these brave knights, who had to watch their dearest person head out on deadly missions, unsure if they’d come back alive. As common as it was, this wasn’t actually something Fiammetta and Esperia had had to experience. At least, not until now.
News came in from Fia’s superiors, and had thrown all of the knights into a frenzy. The orders were clear and concise, requiring no further explanation. She and her colleagues were to perform an attack on the Phantom Lord headquarters, and destroy the guild once and for all. Naturally, Fia had taken up the task, alongside many allies of hers within the Rune Knights, but this decision had not been completely accepted by her lover, Esperia. Naturally, the girl was very worried, hurt even by the prospect of Fia going to Oak Town to carry out this mission. It wasn’t something the Barone girl brushed aside, certainly not, but ultimately, it become apparent that it was something she’d have to sort out later…
For now, Fia just had to do what she could, and that meant preparing for the trials ahead so she could be sure to return to Esperia’s side when it was all over. In the interest of doing just that, Fia found herself on the outskirts of Crocus, a usual training spot of hers given that it was rather difficult to hone her magic indoors, at least, not without causing some unwanted renovation in the process. After arriving at her workout spot, Fia removed her jacket, leaving just her sarashi underneath as she began her routine warm-ups. She’d already had most of her training session planned out, but little did she know, there would soon be far more to this simple bit of practice…
WC: 654
Total WC: 654/2550