Snow White with the Red Hair: The Valkyrie

Their Colors

Zen had asked a couple handmaids to help get Akari cleaned up with the supervision of Obi. They'd taken her to a room to be washed. She stood behind a divider while Obi stood on the other side, leaning against the wall.

"So. You agreed to the Master's terms."

"Does that surprise you?"

"A little. From what I've heard, you had plenty of chances to escape. Yet you accepted like you didn't have any strength or power to have your own way. Why is that? What is the motive?"

He was sly. She could see that he was trying to make her slip; to reveal her true intentions. But she wouldn't succumb to his trickery.

"There is no motive. I still honor my capture."

The handmaids washed her body down, sure to scrub off the blackened paint across her skin. She felt so exposed without the black shrouding her features.

"Why must you always ask me such ridiculous questions? I tell the truth. No one has ever taught me how to lie."

"Alright." And just like that, he dropped the subject. "I believe you."

Those three words were enough to make her frown. Was it truly that easy? It couldn't be. He must have been thinking of something far more complex than she could interpret. And yet...

She peeked through the small cracks in the divider. He was staring outside through the window on the wall in front of him. He had a small smile on his face, seemingly unbothered. His amber eyes coruscated a sort of light; one of empathy. Perhaps... perhaps he had gone through something similar to her situation before. And now he was one of Prince Zen's most trusted aides. It made her... curious.

She wasn't sure whether or not this curiosity would make her suffer.

"Just like that?"

"Yep."

"But... why?"

He sighed, closing his eyes with that smirk still tugging at his lips.

"Because you have enough people who wouldn't believe you no matter what you said. So while everyone is having their doubts about you, I won't. I want to be your friend and someone you look to when you need guidance or a sense of compassion."

She could've sworn she felt a chill run down her spine. The people in this castle had such a strange effect on her. All of their words... she suddenly took them into consideration, as they suddenly mattered.

"But... compassion is for the weak." She remarked as the maids had started to dress her.

"You're wrong." His response was gentle, yet firm. His eyes opened now, unveiling his amber irises that beheld the beauty of the outside with such gratitude. "Compassion is for people who have the strength to forgive and let go. It's for people who are able to not want vengeance; to become the better person."

"I have never thought of that in such a way. I must confess, your way of thinking is... foreign to me. You are all so positive and embrace the idea of compassion, while I, on the other hand, only know how to slaughter and steal."

"I know you have the potential to change. Which is why I'm not giving up on you." Akari peeked through the crack in the divider again. Obi's smile had fallen and he was twirling a spade around his fingers. He seemed to be in a spiral of thoughts. But then, he hid his spade away; that same smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth again. "How are you holding up back there?"

She snapped out of it.

"I feel absolutely absurd. A dress with a robe thrown overtop? Not to mention this sash and these idiotic shoes? This is a ridiculous and degrading look for any female to wear."

She had been dressed in white and light blue garments; ones that restricted her free movement.

Akari stepped out from behind the divider, showing Obi her outfit. He whistled, raising an eyebrow rather amused.

"Wow. Didn't think you had it in you, princess." He was so focused on her outfit that he became almost completely captivated when he saw her face. Now that all the dark paint had been washed from her features, he could truly take in the look of her natural beauty. If it weren't for her horns, he would've actually mistaken her for a princess.

"I feel uncomfortable. I do not know who could wear such a thing." She ripped her skirt apart.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you doing?"

"Getting rid of these unnecessary attachments." She continued tearing her clothing apart until she was left with nearly only her undergarments. She went to rip off more cloth when Obi took hold of her wrists.

"Hey, hey, hey, I think that's enough."

"I suppose you are right. Now I must repair the material." She used a long section of cloth and tied it around her waist. Now her hands glowed a bright blue color. She drew a rune in front of her before pushing it forward. In that moment, her clothes transformed into a leotard; one that kept her newly adopted colors of white and light blue. The long cloth she tied around her waist became a silk belt. White boots and fingerless gloves also travelled up her arms and legs. New white tribal paintings decorated her skin and she breathed a sigh of relief. "There. Much better."

"I'm not sure how the Master would react to this sudden change."

"Your Master asked that I dress like a soldier who has been here for years. With such being said, I do imagine that I would have earned the right to wear any attire I see fit to my duties."

"Yeah, but—"

"I have accepted your colors. I have held up to this portion of the bargain. Do not press the subject of that awful ensemble on me."

"Okay, okay. Come on. The Master is in his quarters waiting for us."

Obi lead Akari through the castle. She wasn't usually one for sightseeing, but she had never seen so much white in one place. The palace was so polished and clean.

"Hey... what's holding you up back there?"

"Hm?"

Upon calling her attention back, she realized that she had nearly fallen behind. She jogged and caught up to him, slowing down when she was by his side.

"This place is too bright." She commented, listening as Obi chuckled. "What is so funny?"

"That's what I thought when I first got here. But you get used to it. Clarines is a good place to be."

They arrived at Prince Zen's quarters, where he constantly did mind-numbing paperwork. Obi opened the door, holding it open for Akari as she stepped inside. Mitsuhide looked up from the book he was reading while Kiki merely glared at her. Zen was staring out the window; eyeing her in the reflection of the glass. Obi stepped in behind her, closing the door before placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I have accepted your colors." She said plainly.

There was a moment of silence. The prince took a deep breath through his nose.

"Indeed you have." Another moment of silence. "I want to go into town today."

"But Zen... what about, uh... what's your name again?" Mitsuhide turned to the valkyrie.

"I do not—" She stopped herself, remembering the name Shirayuki had gifted her. "Akari. It is Akari."

"What about Akari?" He acknowledged this then continued on with his question.

"She'll come with us."

"Zen, I don't think that's a good idea. She has two large horns on her head and pointy ears sticking out from her abnormally colored hair." Kiki's voice was firm. She seemed slightly annoyed to be taking Akari with them.

"Then... she'll wear something to hide them."

"If I may..." The Castanic's hands glowed white. "I am able to provide a simple solution to your predicament." She drew a small rune. It sparked a shinier glow before dissipating. A beam of white slid down her body, making all her abnormalities... disappear. Her horns were gone, her pointed ears were normal and rounded out, her crimson eyes were a blackened charcoal, and her red streaked ebony hair was now simply ebony. "I am able to cloak my 'abnormalities' with magic. It is as though I do not even have them to begin with. So... when are we departing?"