Steel and Mana

Chapter 103 – Friends

"Stop moaning and start dressing up!" Echoed Sasha's slightly annoyed voice in their bedroom, followed by Luna's loud moans.

"I'm tiiiiiiiireeeeeeed!"

"It's almost noon! Get up, and let's go!"

The next disgruntled groan was followed by a thump as Sasha grabbed the bedsheet and unrolled her lazy friend from it, throwing her to the ground.

"If you don't get up, I am going to drag you to the bathroom." Sasha warned her, but Luna just remained lying there, snoring, right until the point when her Queen grabbed her ankle and began dragging her naked body through the room. "You are unbelievable!"

"I'm weary..." She mumbled, fighting hard to open her eyes, and not even the bump of entering the bathroom bothered her. "Sleepy... HYAAAAA?!"

Her scream echoed through the whole palace while Sasha stood there, an empty bucket in hand, watching the now-soaked little maid who was wide awake, sitting and shivering, her pink nipples standing at attention.

"They say a cold shower is healthy." Sasha explained with a stoic expression, a tinge of jealousy flickering within her amber-colored eyes.

Since Elliot left, she had been back with Louise, no longer able to snuggle with Leon at night. Yet here was Luna, clearly basking in yesterday's pleasure, making her unbelievably lazy. No wonder she made sure their maid had ample reasons to be up and active, planning multiple activities together so that when night came, she would be too tired to climb onto their husband. She wanted to include Yuri too in her activities, but for some reason, she always refused, saying she had already scheduled multiple meetings, which was rare, but she didn't seem to be lying.

"First things first, wash yourself; I can still see our husband's marks on you dripping out."

"Start with that... and not with the cold water... Hauh!" Luna grumbled under her breath before finally opening the shower and starting to wash up. Sasha felt lost for a moment as she watched her, biting her lower lips, eying her round buttocks, and the water trickling over her cheeks.

"No wonder he likes slapping and groping them... tsk..."

"Hm? You said something?" Luna asked, looking back over her shoulder, blinking her eyes questioningly while scrubbing her head.

"I am going to get the clothes ready! Don't tally for long!"

"Ooookaaaaay!"

Finally, after another hour, followed by two guards from Yuri's division, they were out of the palace and into the city. By now, the homes surrounding them belonged to the current ministers, their families, and all the multiple well-known people within the city. Although Sasha knew that was the plan from the start, it also developed naturally that the people living closer to the palace were more influential than those who lived further from it. Although the city's population was still rising and many outer buildings were yet to be occupied, the trend was already showing itself.

She brought this up with Leon one day, and even though he knew about it, there was nothing for them to do. In his words, people are not born equal. Stopping it from happening is like trying to fight the ocean with your bare fists. You can't. You can interfere with it and build structures that protect your shores from its waves, but you can't stop it. That is why everyone in Avalon has to go to school, so one day, by distinguishing themselves, they can also move closer to the inner city.

"The difference between Avalon's nobles and the Empire's are going to be based on achievement and not on an inherited rank." He told her, smiling, "Even though Merlin is the prime example of what I want from my Prime Minister... When he finally has a kid who turns out to be someone who is not up to the task, he won't inherit his father's role. The same is true with all the current roles of power under me. Your merits will grant you the position, not by being born into it."

"What if people begin saying the same about us?" Sasha asked the moment she heard her husband's words, which made him chuckle.

"The world is also unfair, my dear Sasha! Every rule has exceptions; we are that anomaly right now. Of course, we can't be complacent; in my old world, heads rolled when things got dicey. So, what we can do is raise our child to the best of our abilities and make him or her connect with the people of Avalon. After being born, our kid has to feel responsibility for the people. Only then will our bloodline be around for a long time, and will Avalon prosper. So that is why our child will attend the same school, just like all the other kids."

"Where are we going?" Luna asked, interrupting her thoughts, jolting Sasha out of her memories and back into the present.

"First, we are going to visit the school. Merlin asked me to come along because he was holding a lesson about the royal family, and he wanted the youngsters to hear from me about how we met—which also includes you!"

"Eh?! I will have to talk before the class?!"

"Is that a problem?" With a slight smirk, she couldn't help but ask, looking down at Luna's panicked expression, "It should be fine, isn't it? It is not like you are being told to entertain them with something more extreme."

"I wouldn't!" She protested, but then again, she couldn't help herself, adding, "Well if I am ordered to do... That is another... thing... hauh..."

"Keep it together!" Sasha exclaimed, gently knocking on her head, "This is why I didn't even try to invite Yuri for today. Her mouth would poison the children's minds! Don't shame our husband, got it?"

"Y-yeah, got it! Ugh... I hate speeches... I hate being back to school. I was so happy when I finally got out..."

"Please, suffer through it, okay? It isn't a big deal. Avalon's history is still short, so their classes are short; endure it! And make it entertaining, not just a recount of a list or something. They are kids; if you are boring, they won't listen."

"I am not an interesting girl. The only exciting thing that happens to me is the nights I spend with Leon... Don't look at me like that! I am not stupid; I won't mention it in class!" She added quickly, rolling her eyes and receiving another knock on the top of her head.

"Talk about your experience in the Capital, silly! Show them that life there is much different than here, telling them some weird laws and how the nobles can do anything to the people."

"Wouldn't that scare them? Turn them against us?"

"Luna, have you ever read Leon's Laws?" Sasha asked, stopping and putting her hands on her slim waist. At that moment, she looked like an annoyed older sister, questioning her sibling who was caught red-handed stealing from her.

"That thick book? I read the notes he first wrote, not the expanded version; it is too dry! It is more than 500 pages long, for the Gods' sake!"

"Huh, even a bookworm like you meets their match sometimes, huh?" Sasha murmured, letting out a low whistle and making their guards chuckle while also keeping their eyes on the people passing by. Of course, anyone who walked by recognized them at one glance but was too afraid to disrupt them. One glance from the pair of eyes that saw death too many times was enough for the people to turn their heads away.

"It's dry." Luna answered with a shrug, "Not my thing. So, are you going to tell me or not?"

"Haah, since the event of the saboteurs, he and Merlin have constantly refined the laws; I think we are at the third edition by now. As his wife, you should really read it. Even Yuri knows a few of it!"

"I don't believe you!" Luna countered at once, but then, looking at the two bodyguards, their smiles told the whole story. Even if they were mostly silent, trained to be 'invisible,' they knew a lot, and they knew Sasha wasn't lying. "No way..."

"Yes, and it is taught in school. Leon made sure that it is clearly stated that we are duty-bound to protect the people of Avalon and their lives. Plus, as Avalonians, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that we all can live in peace and prosperity. So, no, we won't exploit our citizens, unlike in other cities of the Empire. I thought about asking Yuri to come and share her story..." Sasha added, glancing at her guards, who, a few years ago, were bandits, killers, and people who would have been hanging from a tree if captured. Yet, here they were, their own special force, living within the palace and now guarding them. "But her history is not something kids should hear... not yet, at least."

"Yeah... that is true." Luna agreed, thinking about it, "By the way, did you notice it? She has been going somewhere in the past few days. I tried asking, but she deflected like a pro! What do you think?"

"I don't know..." Sasha whispered, biting her nail, "But I did notice, too. She said it was just some errands, but... I don't buy it." While speaking, she couldn't help but look at her bodyguards once again, but their expressions told her they were also in the dark, and Yuri didn't share anything with them either.

"Maybe we should track her down! Yesterday, she was out late and came back after midnight. Hmm... well, at least I had Leon to myself—OWIE!"

"Stop it." Sasha added with a snort while Luna was rubbing her butt, which was stinging with pain because of the twisting pinch it just received. "Gloat before me once again, and I will tell Louise you may be also pregnant."

"You wouldn't!" She cried even louder, going white in the face, "And, and, and, when my monthly comes, you would be in trouble!"

"I would simply say I am suspicious of it, but I could be wrong. It would be enough for her, I know it~" She answered her maid with an evil grin, but deep inside, she was already thinking about her words. Following Yuri... That would be impossible... but she could try and catch her.

...
....
......

"You are improving day by day." Mikan said with a warm smile, pouring out tea for Yuri, who was holding a lute in her hand and finishing a simple song. "You have a natural talent for it!"

"Thanks."

"What is it? Bad memories?"

"Yeah..." Yuri answered, slowly putting the instrument down and taking the tea from her. "That silly melody I was trying to play... I think I remember hearing it somewhere. I don't know where or when, but it makes me feel... stuffy."

"Maybe it is an old feeling that you repressed?" She asked, gently stroking her back as the two sat inside Mikan's chambers at the back of the temple. It was late at night, their usual daily session of talking about Yuri's past and working on it by learning music, something that came up randomly. One night, Yuri noticed the instruments in her room, picked up the lute, and began strumming without thinking. Since then, it has been how they would talk.

"Who knows. I used a lot of things growing up, so it could be something I heard while I was knocked out."

Mikan knew full well that when Yuri began speaking, it was best to just listen so she did not interrupt. Letting Yuri retell memories that started popping up from nowhere seemed to be the best method of helping her, as every time she spilled them out, she always looked relieved. This was the same now, too, and after more than an hour of talking, it was time to end their midnight chat.

"Thanks again, Mikki."

"I told you, it's what I do!" She said while smiling at her and hugging Yuri, even letting her grab her boobs while doing so, already used to her antics. When she was acting like this, at least Mikan could tell that Yuri was starting to recover. As for how long that would last, she couldn't tell, but she was ready for it, even if it took years to happen.

Heading back home, Yuri felt that her chest was slightly lighter. She didn't understand it but chalked it up to Mikan's unique aura. She wasn't sure she could if she had to talk this openly about her past to Leon. Previously, she did so because she thought it was not a big deal, and who cares what happens next. But... after Leon showed her that he cared, she no longer could bring herself to tell him everything, especially not about her life and the things she did with men and women alike. She felt she couldn't face him if he knew everything. It was amongst these thoughts when she arrived back at the palace, and while strolling through the garden, she bumped into Sasha, who stood there as if waiting for her.

"Yuri..."

"Hm?" She stopped after being spoken to, tilting her head and watching Sasha silently. By then, she knew it was not a coincidence that they had met. She was waiting for her. "Louise won't be happy if you catch you sneaking away."

"I know. But I want to ask, what's wrong. You have been out every night... Are you..."

"Do you think I am fooling around?" Yuri asked, shrugging and interrupting Sasha, but before she could continue and get angry, Sasha said something that Yuri was not expecting.

"What? No! Why would I? I trust you. I... I just wanted to ask if I can help... Or if it is me. I am not dumb, but I noticed how you look at me sometimes. I... I know I was harsh in the past; I get that. But I want to make it right. I didn't trust you then... Sorry..."

"..."

"I want you to feel at home here. So, if something is bothering you, we can talk, okay? I... want to make it work."

"Stupid..." Yuri whispered, surprising Sasha, especially when she crossed the distance between them with one quick step and hugged her tightly. "You are alright. I... I have some troubles, yes, but I'm working on it."

"Um... but... if..." Sasha mumbled, getting embarrassed but happy at the same time. She hugged her back firmly, trying to think about what to say.

"It's fine..." Yuri continued, enjoying her sweet scent. Closing her eyes, she remembered an old friend she had tried to forget many times. Although she couldn't recall her face anymore, right now, hugging Sasha, she felt she was back in those days again. "Come girl, let's get back to your cell, or your jailor will scream at you like a banshee!"

"Ugh... don't even bring her up!"

"Ahahaha~ A few more months, stay strong, hm? I see a little bump has already been growing!" She added while letting her go and rubbing her tummy, "Hehehe~ I am curious if it will be a boy or a girl!"

"Whichever it is... I just hope he or she will be happy."

"Don't worry!" Yuri chortled, holding her hand while walking back towards Louise's chamber, "I will protect the kiddo as if she were mine. You can trust me on that. Nobody will be able to hurt her, not while I draw breath!"