Grancrest oneshots

Strain

3rd pov (A/N it's implied a lot throughout the anime that using the crests for more than the Lord themself takes a lot of energy? Magic? something? Also, potential SPOILERS for episode 17, 20 and 21.)

Theo has always known his crest was different from the other lords, with the fact that he forged it himself and was not born with it, but that also means his body was not built the same way the other Lords are. He learns to hide it, the exhaustion, the aches, the injuries from overstraining his crest, especially as his flag grows more and more popular, and he finds an almost ironic amusement in what he says to Milza. How can he not, when he's hiding things even from his own mage, his beloved Siluca, in order to protect her? He knows if she knew, she would not let him take part in most of the battles, but he has to, he refuses to sit out and just let the people do it themselves, he wants to be there, to fight with them.

It's after the moment with Marrine and Alexis, after he's alone in his tent, resting, Siluca staying up with her father to go over strategy, that he lets himself slump over, knees giving under him, hand rising to grasp at his chest as he pants, shaking from the effort it had taken him to remain standing and acting casual. He knows there are guards around his tent, since he is now the new Emperor, even without the Grand crest, so he must be protected. He rises on unsteady feet, stumbling to his bed and trying to catch his breath. He waits until his breathing is at least no longer short before he starts working on his clothes, getting everything off and taking a moment to rest, before changing into his night clothes. Of course sleep takes him quickly, with how exhausted and worn out he is, fraying at the edges and trying his hardest to not let anything show.

He barely wakes when he's shaken later, blinking blearily and sitting up without thought, rubbing at his eyes, feeling almost as exhausted as when he laid down, though it's just the slightest bit easier to move. He listens as Irvin reports to him, tugging on the socks and boots, but can't be bothered to pull his entire outfit back on, plus he trusts his people, knows they wouldn't harm him, so there's no reason to bother wearing everything, even despite what Irvin just told him. Aishela had tried to kill Siluca? He doesn't believe it, not with everything he knows about her and especially not in the way she chose to go about it.

He heads to the tent, yawning as he enters, flinching a bit at the lamp light, completely missing the concerned looks he's given by most of the people in the tent, since he's still partially asleep, so he's a bit slumped, limbs heavy and in his night clothes it's hard not to notice he looks a bit thin, the crest pulling on some of his body's energy in order to keep it going.

"Theo, are you ok?"

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I was -" He yawns, slumping a bit more, resting his forehead on Siluca's neck when she rests her hands on his chest, almost desperate to tell her the truth, but who knows whether he'll need to use his crest in the upcoming battles, there's no point in taking an advantage from them that might go from a rising battle cry to a last resort.

"Are you certain? You seem rather tired from everything that's happened recently."

The words wake him up more, several moments of blinking letting him realize he's not got his mask on, waking him up more and finally noting Aishela strapped to a chair over Siluca's shoulder, bringing everything Irvin told him to the forefront of his mind.

"Ah, sorry. I wasn't completely awake yet. Alright, let's figure this out."

"I planned to kill Siluca and then after, I was going to kill Theo as well."

"But, why?"

"Because those were my orders."

"From who?"

"Siluca, can you come closer? Take a look at my left breast."

She hesitates, but approaches slowly, gently tugging the shirt down, before she freezes. Theo would come closer, but he's never overly disrespected a woman before, he's not going to start now, so he keeps his head turned a bit away.