Shiori Novella One-shots

Shiori and the Ancient Novelite

Mental condition: 99%.

What day is it today?

Your eyelids are heavy, and your body is slow to obey your commands. You want to fall backwards and sleep. The temptation grows stronger and stronger, making you nearly lose your step. Something bumps into your leg. A small...knight? More little creatures run between your legs ahead into the girl's arm. You steady your breath and catch up to them, smiling in the process.

"I'm glad you're all here. Thank you."

You pat her head as she hugs the creatures and smiles. You can't rest yet.

After all, you finally remember why you've been waiting for this day.

~~~~~

She looks up at you, leaning into your head as much as she can without pulling away from the little knights.

"Do we really have to go?" she asks you, her cheeks puffed into a pout. "Just look at the little ones! They don't want us to go..."

You can only smile gently at her. She always tries to stay *juuuust* a little longer, to savor *juuuust* a little more time with each batch of the little novelknights.

You nod slowly, and she huffs in response.

"Fine... I suppose it wouldn't be fair if I stayed longer with these little ones, when I didn't with so many of the others..." she sighs, resignation tinting her otherwise cheerful demeanor.

She reluctantly lets go of her hold around the little knights, and stands up slowly, so as to not bump into and knock them over on accident. You watch as she stands completely and pats her dress down, making sure that all her interactions with the little knights don't cross *that* line.

The little knights gather around her legs and offer small, comforting pats on her legs, letting her know that it's ok, they understand and just appreciate being able to spend some time with her.

Your gaze turns melancholic. You remember when you were a little knight, just like them. It was so long ago. You've seen so many stories with the Princess already, but you're not sure how many you have left in you.

Seemingly sensing your own sadness and nostalgia, one of the little novelknights turns around and tilts its oversized head at you, the golden eye pulsating gently, evaluating you. It takes small tottering steps over to you, and waves a hand up at you.

Gently kneeling down, you rest an armored hand softly on its still hardening helm. Its ink hasn't dried yet. The little knight clumsily holds your hand in place for a moment with both of its own, before letting go and starting to clamber up your arm with surprising agility.

It soon makes itself comfortable on your shoulder, holding itself in place by wrapping both of its little pudgy arms around the top of your own helm.

Princess just watches with a warm smile, but you can see the sadness in her eyes. This is clearly bittersweet for her.

What is she remembering? Is she remembering you doing something similar when you were a little, freshly inked novelknight?

You don't know, but you slowly stand, ensuring that the little knight stays secure on your shoulder.

"You know, I think I have the perfect job for you after this next story. Wanna hear about it?"

You have a very good idea of what the job is, and... it's fine. It sounds nice, actually.

You've experienced the full chaos that is the Princess several times over, but you'll never get used to it. You'll never get tired of it, either.

You think for a moment before just tilting your head slowly, being careful of the little knight that has grown so attached to you so quickly.

If I could start over, you think to yourself, I'd do it all again, if it's with the Princess. After all, what's another story?