Mildly irritated, highly distracted and to some degree indignant, Murmur Zella Flonne-Astraea, also known as the Erina, tugged impotently at her tuning rods.
Somewhere behind her, in the bustle of merchants and scholars, she could still feel the presence of a famous knight; charismatic and handsome, adored by the crowd, he was celebrated at every turn with praises and adulation. The banquet, on this most illustrious human Capital world, Gliese, had been called for him; and his smooth, grinning voice announced it to be the hour in which they should begin; her left eyebrow twitched, faintly, hearing the satisfaction in his tone and knowing precisely to what it was due.
Already well-aware of their highly important location, however... In the grand reception hall of the majestic castle Altirk, and well aware of the pressure, of the heroic man behind her, and the hour, (growing ever more acutely so, in fact, as the cheers began to swell.) Erina sneered, frowning, tensing her grip on the ancient lute. For a moment, she and the strings seemed to bend as one; under similar pressure and similar in consternation. The Lute sang, as the strings strained, and she huffed under her breath, laying the instrument down at last...
As if on cue, it seemed, the Castle Chamberlain took the stage; raising his hands to call for silence.
The rabble was doused, instantly, and the small, red-faced, ever jovial man cleared his throat.
"It is a most fortunate night, for the crown people of Gliese, is it not... We, who are gathered here, perhaps the most fortunate of all!" the rotund, almost priestly figure clasped his hands, appraising the crowd with evident delight. "This night, a blessing of our great King, whose grace sees us gather here in his halls, to celebrate the return of a conquering hero!"
A cheer from the great throng, crying out and raising their glass. Murmur shut her eyes, almost sighing, but smiling faintly and to some degree pleased.
"There is more still to celebrate, fair folk... Tonight we will hear the voice of the True Goddess, who is the highest beauty incarnate, and the ballads she is to sing for us will lift our glorious planetary alliance higher yet, in its age of great fortune!"
The people cheered again, uproarious in their joy and anticipation. Murmur winced, clutching her lute, but smiled, brightly, for the throng, standing to address them and turning to face them. Their reverent silence was immediately palpable.
"Yes, we thank you, fair crown folk... Your Hero, Oswald Vanadis, and I are deeply honored by your devotion." She raised her lute to her chest, eyes bright and shimmering, the beaming vision of the true Goddess herself. Amid whispers and awestruck quiet, bowing slightly, she went on. "My song is shortly to begin, only wait for me to visit the sacred garden, that my prayers might be heard."
A brief moment of appreciative nodding, murmurs back and forth. She turned to the stage, to the Chamberlain, who looked mildly perplexed, but was instantly agreeable; for this made perfect sense to him, to the King, and everyone else in the room.
"Of course, most naturally..." The priest beamed, burying any signs of encroaching nerves or anxiety; clutching at a heavy pendant on a chain about his neck. "Please, dear idol. Send your prayers to the true Gods of old Earth, we are blessed by your faith. Good Folk, return to your drink and company!"
"Another round, I should think." Vanadis the Hero called, from the heart of the throng. A cry of ringing endorsement answered him, and the crowd parted in loud, smitten awe as he made his way to Erina; his ornate, quantum plate gleaming in the flickering light of the castle halls. "We will be no longer than a half rounds time."
"Ah...!" The Chamberlain exclaimed, among the furor, halfway abject; suddenly somewhat put out. "Are you... To accompany her, great Hero?"
"As is my mandate." Vanadis replied, coolly and readily. Murmer shot him a quick look, eyes bright and expressive, halfways delighted and halfway displeased; which he met, grinning.
"It is so, of course..." The priest muttered, clearly concerned. "And yet, no man has ever set foot among the sacred oaks... Can this be countenanced?"
Erina serenely plucked a chord on her lute, instantly silencing the room again as Vanadis reached her side. Almost by reflex, she drew herself close to him, despite the simmering tensions yet humming between them. "It must be countenanced, you see. Even in these hallowed halls, on our capital world, as humans, one cannot be certain of what awaits a young maiden in the dark of night...."
"S-Still..." the Chamberlain mounted what even he must have known to be a futile defense, in light of her clear implications.
"Were I to be accosted, and my maidenhood taken, my powers would be lost." She went on, fabricating every word; speaking calmly, evenly, and without hesitation. Tilting her head, shimmering locks of brilliant, vibrant hair fell over her left shoulder; luminous and mesmerizing, as if to accentuate her point.
The king, his royal majesty of the house of Altirk, sole and rightful sovereign of the planetary Alliance of Man, lord of Gliese, twitched; his eyes narrowing, wordlessly, as he sat up on his throne, overlooking the spectacle. The entire dias, the whole royal family, including their bound witches, and even the young crown prince all looked a bit spooked.
Especially when, amidst the muttering, His grace's personal witch, the first royal weapon of the King, rose, silently, from her position kneeling beside him; the assembled merchants and nobility fell at once into complete silence.
The Chamberlain, for his part, was now sweating; feeling the eyes of the entire hall, as sharply as the displeasure of his king. He bowed, low, in abject terror. And, For a moment, could hardly even speak. "Forgive me, my lady... Great hero, if you would..."
Almost as quickly as it had ceased, conversation in the hall began anew, drinks poured and shared. Murmur attached herself properly to the Hero's arm, with the tension between them now coiled taut as a spring; leaving the great hall behind, they wandered out into the castle corridors, away from the seat of incalculable power.
A picture of majestic serenity, and regal formality, they wandered together, until all prying eyes had left them, and there were no servants, cooks, or maids left to watch.
"That wasn't true, was it, Erina." Vanadis chuckled, when they were safely out into the brisk night air. "Or are our powers truly predicated on your virginity?"
"Want to test it?" She glanced sidelong into his eyes, snickering, and released his arm. "Is that what you're saying?"
He blinked, and his eyes narrowed faintly at her, glimmering. "If I did?"
She was briefly silent, leaving the atmosphere between them heavy with meaning. Erina set her lute down, and took a seat against a great stone monolith, almost giggling. "I imagine we would. If I wasn't furious with you."
"Indeed." He answered, somewhat reticent but sneering. "You've been irritating me, the past few days."
"Don't pretend I've no reason to be annoyed." She muttered, glaring hotly away.
"What reason, then." Vanadis challenged, taking another step closer. "If you really have one, for being so annoying."
"You cavort with other women! As if I wasn't right there, beside you." She hissed, almost snorting. Glancing haughtily up at him, she sniffed. "Inexcusable."
"Cavorting, really..." The Hero laughed, taking another step closer. "Wouldn't you think I'd venture to do something like that... Behind your back?"
"I don't see why you would." She frowned severely, radiant even in her intense displeasure. Standing, she rose up into him. "When you're already entitled to me."
His eyes glinted, flashing. "Is that a fact..."
She fidgeted, but didn't avert her gaze, proudly and defiantly staring back into his face.
"As it should be." She managed, at last, to answer, faintly red but doubtless; somewhat smug.
"That's not clear." He answered, dryly, face contorted into half a grin before staring away.
She stepped slightly closer, close enough that her breast bumped his plate; huffing under her breath, insistent and eyes burning. "Do you have other designs, Van?"
He was briefly silent, and she capitalized on his hesitation; smiling charmingly, eyes glimmering and catching his strained gaze. "Doubts, perhaps...?" She whispered, feigning some insecurity and mixing it with the genuine article.
He scoffed, meeting her eyes properly and standing tall. His ornate armor shifted, and she exhaled, setting both hands on his chest and pressing herself to him; caught between teasing and exhilaration. "Never once, Erina."
"And you would never act independent of my will..." She led on, almost whispering, goading him gleefully and rising to her tip toes.
"Of course not." He set his forehead against hers, twitching faintly but still grinning. "Our lives are bound by the strings of fate."
She nodded, eyes drifting gracefully shut, settling back onto her feet. "Hold me, then." Erina insisted, snickering, shoving lightly against his immovable armored frame.
"Anything else, fair maiden...?" He snickered, flatly; taking her into his arms, embracing her.
But she merely sighed, delighted and indignant, as the cold steel encompassed her, squeezing her soft body. Slyly, her arms threaded, and wound their way around his neck, finding their place, there, almost automatically.
"You can do whatever else you wish, of course." She offered, quietly and teasing, almost cruelly; voice high and soft, tinged with just enough sincerity to reverberate through him. Erina pressed her face to his collar, tenderly, at his neck...
He grit his teeth, holding her tighter, still; suddenly quite tense. "Don't tempt me with such vile words, Erina."
She giggled, haughtily, trapped in his arms but glancing up; over his shoulder, whispering at his neck. "What's this? Maybe you aren't as steadfast as you think..."
Vanadis felt his eyes narrow, loosing his grip; suddenly keenly aware of the fact that he had been keeping her pressed against him. She refused to budge, however, only drawing slightly back to look at his face, smug and adoring, keenly delighting in his struggle.
"Indeed, Erina..." The hero managed to find himself again, righting himself; grinning smoothly and meeting her eyes, artificially injecting his words with a predatory undertone. "What if I wasn't?"
The Erina, royal trobaritz by warrant and title, blinked, eyes widening, but crucially didn't pull back. Vanadis let the atmosphere linger, against his better judgment, eyes narrowing at her. Heat and tension burned between them, intense like fire and tight as bondage cord. Flushed, she glanced away, unable to keep his gaze; exhaling and suddenly somewhat winded. "Ask... Ask yourself that..."
He chuckled, softly, at last; glancing up at the stars. Contrite, he shrugged, allowing the fiery mood to dissipate with some degree of relief. "Instead, I wonder how long we've been gone from the feast."
She paused, and smiled, collecting herself. Righting herself against him, she shut her eyes and laughed brightly. "That's right. It's time to sing your praises."
Vanadis turned slightly back, glancing over towards the castle and the great hall. "Looking forward to it?" He wondered, dryly.
"As ever." She snickered, covering her mouth, thrilled, with one hand.