Shifting Tides

His Words

"What just happened....?" Celia was in a daze and staggered backwards before feeling herself being supported by someone.

"Jeez. Please don't worry me like that again, Celia..." Tears were flowing in Shina's eyes. She had been worried sick seeing her guard getting so hurt.

Celia just smiled and brought her eyes back in front of her. The boy's back was still in front of her. The translucent golden wings exploded into a flurry of feathers.

The boy fell onto his knees. The golden warmth around him dissipated as he collapsed onto the dusty ground.

"He's...asleep again." Shina just exasperated as she look at the boy. What grabbed both of the girls' attention was that flowers were growing and blooming as quickly as they blinked.

"What is it with this boy and those Lilacs.."

Celia didn't know what to think or do anymore. All that echoed in her mind were the boy's words.

"A true knight's duty is to protect what they hold dear until the very end."

"You are a true knight."

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The sunlight pouring into the room was quite refreshing. The bed was comfy and the blanket was warm. The boy finally arose from his slumber.

It was a week after the attack. The castle defenses have been tightened and a thorough sweep with Celia as the head guard had been done. It was to find any cracks or leaks in the kingdom's security.

Of course, the boy had no way of knowing all of that. He was in a deep slumber when all of it had happened.

The boy pushed himself up so he could rest his back on the wall. He looked to the window and his eyes rest itself onto the clear fields in the horizon.

Earth wouldn't have such an open green field, he thought to himself. The 'pioneers' on earth were quite adamant on advancing the human race to the point where fields like these would be turned into industrial zones.

He was grateful for the second chance at life but he was unsure if he could survive in a world that is not earth. No information, no connections, no survival tools. He had nothing to go on with.

As he thought of this, he had not realized that someone had entered the room he was in. That was just how much he thought about the predicament he was in.

It was Celia's afternoon break, so she headed towards her room to take a breather. She had opened the door to find the boy wide awake looking out onto the horizon.

"To protect what you hold dear. " Those words still resonated within her. Her worries had gone away and gave way for her resolve to strengthen.

"Good afternoon, young boy." He was greeted warmly and only realized that someone was talking to him after a few seconds had passed. He was surprised but glad that the people here used a similar language.

"...Good afternoon." She was greeted with a weak smile. Celia was glad to find that the boy was well enough to smile.

The sound of a stomach crying made the boy chuckle in embarrassment. Celia smiled gently and took out some of the bread she had on her. The boy hesitantly accepts the bread and eats it albeit very slowly. She let the boy took their time as a sign of gratitude for his actions from a week ago.

"Do you have a name?" She asked after he had eaten a bit of the bread.

"Adam." He didn't say much. It wasn't because he had no energy. He was just not used to socializing in general. He was the quiet kid during his time on earth.

"I see. Nice to meet you, Adam." Celia had definitely noticed the lost gaze the boy was giving. It seemed like it was his first time seeing her. She didn't want to pry further as her intuition tells her that it'll cause more confusion to arise.

She straightened her back and fixed her posture.

"My name is Celia, Captain of the Royal Knights." She was a knight. She was probably the strongest individual in the kingdom he was in. Celia saw that Adam's hands were trembling enough for him to accidentally let go of the bread. He must have been afraid that he was in trouble for something.

Celia caught the bread and gave it back to him all while caressing the boy's head. She smiled as she told him that it was fine. That she would keep him safe during his stay here. She chose to let him stay until the castle guards were less tense so he could sneak out.

"Thank you, Miss Celia.."

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"He's finally awake?" Shina was surprised to hear the news that Celia had reported after her break.

"Yes..but he doesn't seem to remember the events of that attack. Not only that, his demeanor is different as well." She hid nothing from her princess. It was for Adam's sake. She wanted to repay him even if he had no memory of the event.

"He... doesn't remember? How odd."

"I believe that the spell he used carried along some negative effects in exchange for the power."

"I trust you, Miss Celia. We should consider how to accommodate him for now." Celia just smiles as she listen to her princess's wishes to help Adam.

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"Was that time displacement spell even necessary?"

"Neither of them would have survived if I had not displaced his mind to reflect that of his later years."

"Would it not create dillusions to arise from it? The girls would come to expect the boy to be able to reproduce such a feat."

"They are not that naive. They would surely have realized that there is a gap in his memory."

"You are still too trusting of that granddaughter of yours."

"It matters not. That boy will learn how to control those powers soon enough."