Satzu one-shots + incorrects

The healer and her knight

Sana basks in the serene yet lonely ambience of her room, carefully stirring the jasmine tea on the table.

Korea had never felt this freezing in a while. Despite the whole kingdom setting up heat lamps along the surfaces, it won't ever suffice to the coldness consuming Sana's heart.

"Has it been weeks...months...since I last saw her?" Sana wonders wistfully against her curtained window, staring at the lifeless training ground which used to be filled with clanks of swords clashing against each other, along with livening shouts of encouragement that they are the strongest, honourable, and noble knights of the kingdom.

And of course, there's one voice that's very distinct to Sana, a voice that belonged to someone none other than all her knightly glory, General Chou Tzuyu.

The general would smile at her from afar, the familiar glint in her eyes that never fails to sweep Sana off her feet. Only then she realised that it was a mere imagination when a sudden gust of wind halts her daydreaming. Hopeless would be the word you'd use to describe Sana, but what else could she do?

At times like this, Sana wishes she was like them— out in the dangerous but thrilling world, fighting alongside Tzuyu but instead she's perched inside her premises because that's what a healer does, right? Waking up every day to drown herself in worries, and easing back with the same set of worries still etched in her mind. It's a tedious cycle at this point.

It kills Sana; that she has to get accustomed to several meditations just to sway off the thoughts about what's already happening outside at the moment. She pretends she's calmed and contained, masked by soft hums emanated by her lips, but in truth she's terrified.

She was no believer of a god of any sort, but now, she prays and prays, "Please, may she be safe. Let her come home."

To me...is how Sana's prayer should've ended, yet it sounds rather unbecoming—she crosses out the words immediately as she bows before the sacred altar, harnessing its spiritual presence. The day then ends yet again with Sana preparing her bed, patting the pillows to soften up as she falls down to the sheets.

God knows what dreams she'll have just to harbour this emptiness lingering in her bones.

- - - - -

Sana was only fifteen when she first stepped into the kingdom. She had just come from the housewarming gathering hosted by the royal family, in honour to welcome their elven family that set foot on their land.

Clinging onto her mother's dress, they stumble upon the training ground of the kingdom's knights. Sana watched with intent, sword against another sword, fist against fist, shield against shield—she was awed at how swift and brawny they were as they trained with all their might.

"Mama, that tall man over there. Why isn't he training?" Sana pokes her mother's arm as her mother bends to her eye level.

"That's the general, sweetie. He's the one in charge of training these recruits, so he's trained enough to help others train now."

Sana's gaze lingered a little longer as it fell sight on two girls that were parrying each other at one corner of the field, "Mama, look! I didn't know girls could train to be a knight. I want to join too!"

Perhaps that desire was short-lived for Sana. The look on her mother's face says enough, though she immediately masks it with a gentle smile. She aches for her daughter, that she has little to no choice but to heed their calling as healers.

In her most promising tone, Sana's mother traces a stray strand along the girl's face, "My darling, our duty is to maintain abundance for the kingdom. It may not be as gallant as being a knight, but I promise you that it weighs the same glory."