"Thank you, Kyrana. I appreciate your help," Quilliene spoke to her long time friend.
"Of course, your majesty," The woman said kindly, smiling at her before they reached the steps.
"How have you been holding up so far?" The queen asked as she slowly ascended the staircase.
"It's been strange, your majesty - but as you can see, I've already fit in quite nicely. I have been here only a week and I've already slapped Raemith three times," Kyrana replied, chuckling slightly as she finished her sentence.
"Indeed… I am glad to see you are doing rather well." Reaching the top of the steps, Quilliene spoke again. "Is this your first time seeing my room? I mean, it is nothing special, but I usually have major conversations there."
The guard hummed. "No, strangely enough, I have not seen your room yet, your majesty."
A sigh came from the queen. "Thank you again, Kyrana, for intervening. If you had not, I would have been standing there looking like a… Well, an idiot."
"I've dealt with morons for years, your majesty. I have four brothers, and just to make it all the better, I am the youngest. I suppose you could say I know how to deal with bickering men." Kyrana smiled at her again as they stopped.
They were in front of her room, and Quilliene looked up as someone passed by. "Neo. Where are you going?"
"Where the hells do you think?" He snapped, opening his bedroom door and slamming it behind him.
Kyrana seemed to grit her teeth as Quilliene flinched. "Well," The guard captain mused. "Seems like Raemith got too close to setting him off. Is he always that sarcastic?"
"Yes, he is as sarcastic as he is sweet," Quilliene sighed. "He does not like talking about his past, and Raemith must have gotten too close to such."
The queen's thoughts wandered to Neo and how he was, wanting to go to his door and ask if he was alright before deciding it was best to leave him be and shuffle her way inside her room. Kyrana helped her on, and along the way, seemed to be pondering something. Her eyes kept darting to Quilliene, looking her up and down before she let her sit on the bed and rest. Kyrana stepped back to stand by the door, back flat as a board, as she looked at the queen.
"I'm worried about him," Her majesty sighed, staring out the window at the garden below. "I let him down today so easily. I would blame my injuries and the fact that my mana is low, but… It was more than that."
"Aren't you supposed to be taking medications the doctor gave you, your majesty?" Kyrana asked. "I'm sure it will help with the pain and your mana restoration."
There was a pause, and she hugged her arms. "Perhaps," She spoke. "I just do not feel like taking them is all. I do not need to take medications prescribed to me when I can simply heal in days with magick. That is good enough."
Quilliene turned her averted gaze to Kyrana, only to see the woman gazing at her with her lips parted slightly. Apparently realising she was staring, her eyes widened and she quickly turned her head to the side. The guard captain's cheeks, of what was visible through her straight dark hair, were starting to turn red.
"Are you alright?" Quilliene questioned. "You seem flushed. Do you need to sit?" She patted the bed next to her.
Kyrana raised her head again. "Oh - no, I'm- My apologies, your majesty, I'm fine." She shuffled back and forth.
"Oh?" The queen tilted her head. "You seemed to have a bit of a red hue just now… Do you mind me asking why?"
The guard captain bit her lip nervously. "I was blushing, your majesty."
Quilliene raised both her eyebrows. "What exactly… made you blush?"
"Well, um," Kyrana hesitated, eyes flicking around the room, back to Quilliene. "J-Just... us, alone… in this room. Together. I, um…"
"What do you mean?" The queen slowly stood up, holding herself aloft by one of the pillars that surrounded her bed. "Kyrana… do you mean to say… That you are interested in me?"
"No!" The guard answered quickly, raising her head in one sudden movement. "Well, I mean… That would be impossible. Demons cannot have relation-ships with those who control them."
"That does not mean you do not still have feelings," Quilliene leaned on the pillar.
Kyrana looked down, then back up. Her mouth was open, struggling to speak, but unable to. Her face was further flushed before she took a breath. "I'm sorry, your majesty. I shouldn't have-" She turned around and grabbed the knob, turning it as she opened the door.
"Kyra, wait!" The queen called.
Alas, she was already gone, bumping into Neo on the way out. He watched her leave in pure confusion, looking back at Quilliene as she hiked up her skirt and came forward. The bodyguard jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, his other shoulder holding the male pixie while the female fluttered around him.
"What happened?" Neo asked. "Did you two have a war with red paint or something?"
"No!" Quilliene hissed. "Something just happened, that is all. Be right back," She started moving past him.
"Eh, Liene!" He followed after her, taking her hand lightly. "You could fall. Let me help you, at least."
She looked at his grasp, before nodding with a sigh. "Alright, I suppose."
Neo nodded, slipping his hand up to below her shoulder and gripping her arm loosely, positioning his hand in the middle of her back - just like last time. He felt as if he would be too close for comfort if he helped her in the way Kyrana had. Then, they started walking off down the hall, where Kyrana was briskly retreating from the scene.
"So you're going after her?" Neo asked.
"Yes," Quilliene answered. "Just get me there and I can talk to her myself." With that, as Kyrana was stopped by another guard who seemed to be reporting something, she called out. "Kyrana!"
The guard captain turned at the sound of her name, her face turning slightly red again when she saw the queen. Yet, when she noticed Neo was with her, she seemed to put on her professional posture. She turned to the young guard before her, lightly asking him to excuse her before turning and walking towards Quilliene.
"Yes, your majesty?" Kyrana asked, glancing at Neo - she was still awfully embarrassed.
Neo let go of Quilliene, letting out a soft sigh. "I'll just…" He murmured, pointing behind him before walking off.
Neo leaned against the wall as he watched Quilliene - he was close enough to see them clearly, but not hear them very well. The green skinned female pixie flew up in front of him, glancing at the one at his shoulder who was still holding his newly bandaged arm that Neo took care of.
"We never introduced ourselves," The female spoke. "I'm Aurya. He is Daileth."
"Good to know," He nodded. "I'm Neo."
Aurya looked over to where the bodyguard was gazing, seeing Quilliene. "You seem to care for her," She said softly.
"I'm just her bodyguard," Neo shrugged with his arm that was not currently in use. He then looked at Daileth. "How's your wing?"
"Better," The little one huffed. "It was only bent - thankfully not torn."
"I'm glad," He said, but he didn't smile as he looked back over to the queen.
Neo saw Kyrana nod over to him with a confused look on her face, then Quilliene shake her head and say something else. The guard captain seemed to hesitate before nodding, putting on her helmet and aiding her back across the hall to her room. Neo frowned, knowing very well the queen could have called him over for help when she was done and following after the two.
"Your girlfriend is getting stolen," Daileth, the pixie on his shoulder, chirped.
Neo looked at him sharply, confused. "My what?"
"Your girlfriend," The pixie pointed at Quilliene.
"She's not…" He mumbled, shaking his head as he realised he was being picked on. "Whatever."
As Quilliene reached her quarters with the help of Kyrana, she sighed gracious relief as she shuffled to her bed, nearly falling down as she sat on the edge of it. She thanked the guard captain gratefully with a heavy breath, who smiled and nodded. Neo remained outside the room, watching them as the female pixie flew off down the hall and Daileth stayed with him.
"Well," Kyrana smiled again. "I will leave you be, your majesty."
Alas, as she turned to leave, Quilliene called out. "Wait!" She stopped, looking back at her. "Um… Would you mind coming back over to my room tonight so that me and you could perhaps chat a bit more? I have no further duties due to my current state, and it can give you a small break."
"Oh…" The guard captain seemed to think for a moment. "Alright. I'll come by after seven? That is when my shift ends."
"Sounds perfect," The queen grinned.
"I'll… See you then," Kyrana returned the smile before leaving the room.
Neo watched her walk down the hall, before raising his eyebrow at Quilliene. "What was that about?"
Quilliene's cheeks turned a rosy colour. "Just… Want to talk to her about a few topics. That is all. Nothing you really need to concern yourself with."
The bodyguard shrugged. "As long as she isn't trying to kill you, I guess I don't care." He glanced at the clock in Quilliene's room. "It's only two. Do you have any other errands to run today?"
"No," She turned away, looking out the window. "Nothing at all."
Neo's eyes travelled to the back of Quilliene's head, a warm, butterfly-like feeling growing inside his stomach. The moment of pure silence allowed him to gaze at her, the shoulder length braids of hers practically glowing in the sunlight that dripped into the room. He paused, questioning why he felt that way. The only other time he had felt so attached, so attracted to someone was when he was with Fleur. Could it be that he…?
No. He denied himself to even think of it. He loved one person, and one person only. He couldn't just throw Fleur aside like a forgotten memory. He sighed, his eyes lingering on her for just a moment longer before he turned away. How could he even think something so utterly profound?
"I'll be in the other room if you need anything," He said in his usual tone before disappearing from her doorway.
Quilliene moved to sit at her desk with a little effort, writing down in the brown leather journal of hers about her most recent dream. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail, glasses settled onto her face as she closed the book and sighed, looking up at the ceiling.
Thoughts began to plague her mind, making her bite her lower lip. Me and Kyrana… We are just going to talk, that is all. Even with her practically admitting her feelings, it is… Not going to be any more awkward than we make it to be. Even so, if that is the case… What is with the gods damned butterflies I am feeling?