Hiraeth:
A homesickness for a home you can not return, a home which may never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past...
Athanasia as we know lived a normal life in Korea, what if she didn't, what if she was an...
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Previously on Hiraeth: She had her dinner on her balcony while she read over notes from the meeting. She sighed, "Everything goes according to plan."
The tensions are rising in the north, Asia decided to send scouts. The people of the north are preparing for war. Asia knew it was almost time to go, she had reviewed the army, standardized the learning system, and balanced the budget. Asia was drawing up war strategies in the war room when Claude and Felix walked in, "Blessings and Glory upon the Sun of the Empire," Asia said as she adjusted her maps and paperwork. Claude nodded and sat down in a chair, Felix standing behind him. They watched for a few minutes as Asia got out copies of the terrain they were going to be fighting in. She drew different procedures and wrote down notes. She looked up at the two and raised an eyebrow, "Can I help you, your majesty?" "When do you think you will be leaving?" Asia was surprised, why did he care? "As soon as possible, half of the forces are already there setting up camps and such. We should be ready to head out in a week." "I wasn't informed you were leaving." "I just received the letter from the troops, the standard is one week for deployment. I thought I had more time..." Asia started to talk to herself, she was running through papers and maps like candy. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, she grabbed a cup of Lippe tea and started drinking, still talking to herself. "What type of tea is that?" "Lippe tea, your majesty, it helps me focus, slightly bitter." Asia was writing letters at this point to the generals that she would need. "Would you two like a cup of tea?" Felix looked at Claude with puppy eyes. Sighing, Claude nodded. As Asia stood up and got the two a cup of tea, she remembered she had to tell Lucas to prepare the branches. "Here you go." Asia sat down and continued writing. Once she was done she sent them off with magic. Sighing and running a hand over her face, the two who were drinking tea looked at her. Asia hadn't slept in 24 hours and has been working since she woke up the day before. Her hair was down and her eyes aged. "You look awful," Claude said. "I feel awful," Asia said while smiling, "You should rest princess." Said Felix "Call me Asia, Felix. I guess you are right, I didn't sleep last night." Claude was getting annoyed being in Asia's presence. Practically sensing Claude's annoyance Asia asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you gentlemen?" Asia said while packing up all her documents. "Yes, will you need a parade for the military?" Felix asked. "No, the northerners have eyes and ears in the empire. I barely got the first deployment out quietly." Asia had finished packing and was about to leave, "If that is all, Blessings and Glory upon the Sun of the Empire. Goodnight Felix." With that Asia left.
As Asia left the palace, Lucas appeared beside her. "Is it almost time?" Asia nodded and turned to him, "When should we use the branch on me?" "The day before you leave, so you can sleep the whole night and process some things." Asia nodded and took Lucas' hand in hers. They walked up to her room and sat on her balcony. They watched the moon rise and cuddled as they fell asleep. Asia woke up at dawn as usual and noticed Lucas on her side. Deciding to work from home today, Asia grabbed her papers and went out onto her balcony. As she worked the sun rose and Lucas woke up. He looked around, after spotting her he got up and hugged her good morning. Lily knocked on the door, usually, Asia didn't answer and was already at work. When Asia answered Lily got worried, spotting Lucas she understood. Although she was protective of Asia, she knew they were responsible. "Good morning Lily, why don't you sit down for a minute. I have something to tell you." Once Lily sat down Asia continued, "I will be leaving in a week, the war has come. I plan to take the north so I might be gone for a long time." Asia was fifteen-and-a-half, she might be seventeen or older when she returned. "I'll send letters, you and Lucas can come to the camp to help out if you wish. I recently discovered something though." Casting a sound charm she continued, "As you know, this isn't my first life. The thing was that I died very mysteriously. I had similar symptoms as Claude from the effects of black magic. I had asked Lucas to check if I had black magic in my system, I do." Asia paused, Lily, looked shocked, "I erased some of my memories, I know that much. The novel Lovely Princess was only briefly mentioned in WMMAP, but if the storyline was true, I wouldn't be surprised I did. I know that Athanasia lingered after her death, the destruction of the empire might have been too much, so she-I erased the memories." Lily looked sad, "Is that why you wanted to take a vacation?" Asked Lucas. "Maybe, I think the more positive memories I have the easier the transition will be." They both nodded, "The black magic, is there a way to get rid of it?" "Yes, branches of the world tree can cure it. We have three branches, one for Claude, one for Jennette, and one for me. I will be using the branch the day before I set out." "Will it make it hard to travel?" "I might ride in a carriage if I'm feeling under the weather, but I should be fine." Lilys nodded. They sat like that until Lily decided to get some food for them, when Lily returned she said that Jennette was here to see her. Changing out of her sleepwear Asia wore the same outfit as when she first had tea with Jennette. A red blouse, brown vest, and navy pants. Asia told Jennette to come to her room as she was still eating with Lucas. "Good morning Jettie." "Morning Asia, Sir Lucas." Asia smiled and she gave Jettie a cup of tea. Handing her a silver spoon, "Here keep this, always use it. You never know when something is poisoned." Jettie smiled and used the spoon to put sugar in her tea. Seeing the spoon clean she started drinking, "I heard you were leaving." Said Jettie as she put her cup down. "Oh from who?" "Father was talking about it." Jettie looked upset when she said, "Talking". "Well yes, I will be leaving in a week with the troops for the north." "How long will you be?" "I do not know, it might take a couple of years." "Years?" Claude was only gone for half a year last time, he did not take the north. It would have taken a lot longer but it was still ripe for the picking. Asia and Jettie continued talking, and Lucas ate all of the cookies. Eventually, Jettie left with her newly acquired spoon. "Why do you tolerate that Chimera?" Asia hit Lucas' arm. "Because she is a good person, she is just being manipulated." Lucas continued eating his cookie. After working all day Asia went to bed and repeated the process for the rest of the week. Only going to the war room for meetings with the generals, and the generals going with her respectively. "Alright everything's in order, are you guys ready?" Asked Asia to the chosen generals. Clovis, Jason, and Aaron. The whole council got along pretty well, Asia insisted on team bonding exercises. It was fun breaking the noble facades and creating a fun group. The three nodded at the commander, "Of course, commander!" They took to calling her commander when they were being formal, Asia in private. Asia smiled, "Alright girls, go home and rest up tomorrow at dusk we set off." They said their goodbyes and Asia went to her palace, it was time for the branch. Asia walked into her room where Lily and Lucas were waiting. She smiled at them and changed(magically) into her nightgown. "Alright, let's do this." Lucas waited for her to relax to start the spell, it was simple. Lucas placed the branch onto the body and then pulled out the black magic. Asia was knocked out as she processed her memories. Once it was done she screamed and held her neck. She gasped for air and looked around her. After processing for a minute she looked over at the two, "Thank you, Lucas, can you stay?" Lily and Lucas nodded, Lily left after kissing the girl on the forehead and telling her goodnight. After Lily left Asia cried into Lucas' shoulder, "It hurt, and it still hurts." Lucas rubbed her back and reassured her things have changed, "You aren't that scared little girl anymore, you have fought dragons. You will make it through this. You have lived through it once, you have the skills to fight it now." Asia smiled and they hugged till Asia fell asleep. Lucas, once she was asleep kissed her head, "I won't let anything happen to you." With that, he fell asleep.
