Suikoden VII

Chapter Four: Part Six

Note: Sorry for the delay. I took on more hours at work and then I got sick. I'm still not 100% but I'm hoping to get back on track.

Don't forget to check out my AI-Suikoden images on deviantart.

—

Chapter Four: Part Six

Honigmilch

The Magic Guild

"Have you heard?"

Primrose looked up from the mountain of books in front of her. She was standing on the first floor of the Magic Guild's impressive five-story library. Though she had avoided arrest she was nonetheless being punished by Lady Norma. Though she was glad to be alive, it did hurt her ego that she had been left doing work that Guild trainees usually did. In this case, reorganizing their library.

But she didn't let her frustration show as Flissa approached. "Heard what?" she asked.

Flissa wore a grim expression. "Prince Vahan and Princess Philomena are officially going to battle against Princess Astraea."

Primrose felt a ping of discomfort inside of her, but she didn't let it show and continued to mask her emotions. "His Majesty seems determined to not allow her Royal Combat challenge to happen," she said neutrally.

"Lady Dawa hasn't returned to Potsfurt, either," Flissa continued. "His Majesty deployed Prince Brendan back to the city because of reports of Alliance ships just outside of Zelantan waters."

"Then Dawa has undoubtedly resumed her duty as Princess Astraea's assist." Primrose began shoving books onto the nearby bookshelf rather forcefully.

"Ah, excuse me?" one of the nondescript clerks hurried over to them. "As a reminder ladies, per royal degree we cannot refer to Astraea Reiser by her royal title anymore."

Primrose and Flissa looked at him in silence. He walked away without another word. Flissa glanced at Primrose again. "Lady Norma has decided not to act for now," she said. "But if His Majesty the King calls on the Magic Guild, then we're to mobilize."

Primrose paused as she was about shelve another book. After a moment she carefully slid it onto the shelf. "I'm not surprised. We serve the King, and if he calls on us to fight then we will fight."

"I don't have any personal claim in this conflict," Flissa said. "I came all the way here from Dunan because I respected the reputation of Zelant's Magic Guild and felt that my skills would be better served here than at the New Leaf Academy. But..." she shook her head. "Between this, and the conflict with the Bianca Alliance, my head is spinning."

"Are you thinking of fleeing back to Dunan?" Primrose asked her.

Flissa shook her head. "No. I want to see this all the way through. But I'm—struggling to make sense of this," she said. "But I'm a foreigner so maybe I don't get it. But you're a native Zelantan, Primrose. What do you think of all this?"

Primrose locked her jaw. Her mind flooded with overlapping words, sounding muffled in her ears. She had—many feelings about what was going on. Conflicting feelings. But it wasn't anything new to her.

I went to give Dawa support, and Prince Brendan arrested me on false charges to force Dawa into compliance. But then Lady Norma pulled rank and got me out of there, and Dawa escaped. Now she's supporting the Princess. She's put Astraea first...as she always has.

"What I think doesn't matter," Primrose said finally, looking at her. "We're soldiers, Flissa. It's not our jobs to have an opinion about the bureaucracy. We do not interfere in Royal Combat and we support the and head into battle by their will."