Precious Memories (FFXV Ravus Nox FleuretxOC fanfiction)

The Bud of Friendship Blooms

I am beginning to adapt to my new life in the Fenestala manor. Luna really gave me no trouble, she is such an angel. And Ravus of course, still cold towards me. However, he often checks me and asks if I need anything at all. I think of it as formalities, since I'm still new to their way of life here in Tenebrae. I also took some self-defense lessons with him, since I have to be prepared for anything. I don't really like this kind of thing, but if it's for Luna's safety I will try my best.

"Focus, Willfate. You can't be caught off guard while you're beside her."

Wooden swords clashed, the sound of it echoing throughout the whole room. As I tried to deflect Ravus' offensive barrage of hits. Dodging here and there, I tried my best to swing my wooden sword to tackle him. He is really fast and can accurately aim his sword even though he's only 12. As he deflected I saw an opening and dashed my way in front of him, striking straight to his chest. But he deflected it, countering again with a 3 hit to my right arm. I stumbled back, and I lost my footing, causing me to sprain my ankle and dropped.

"OW!"

I yelped as I rub my sprained ankle. Ravus just stood there and drew his sword, glaring down at me. He looked disappointed at my skill in combat.

"How can you protect my sister if you're weak? An advisor's duty is to serve their masters and protect them from harm! Do remember that lesson, advisor."

As I thought, I need to get stronger, I really let him down. I imagined what would happen if I let myself be weak like this. I tried to stand up, and hold my sword to the side.

"I'm still capable, let's do it again. I won't let you down this time, Prince Ravus"

He looked deeply into my eyes and positioned himself to strike. Clashes of swords echo the combat room for hours. Our wooden swords have many bruises and some wood chips fall to the floor. At a moment, we both stopped clashing and I tried to set my legs in a proper position. Both of us huffed, tired as sweat trickles down from our faces. Ravus looked at me with one of his eyebrows lifted.

"Not bad, you do have determination but your skills need to be sharpened. You are dismissed"

I nodded and as I was about to walk, I felt a sharp pain and stumbled unto the floor. Ravus, who was about to walk out of the room turned to look back at my fallen body. I noticed that my sprained ankle had swollen a lot. I hissed at the pain as I placed my hands on it.

"You do need training, but that doesn't mean you need to push yourself learning it. A good advisor always knows where to stop, so that they can recover fast."

Ravus kneeled in front of me and looked at my ankle. He turned around, his hands behind him.

"Here hop on, I will take you back to your quarters. I will treat your ankle there."

I was surprised that a crown prince is offering to piggyback me back to my room. I felt bad as my room is quite far from the combat room.

"N-no it's alright, Prince Ravus. I can walk to my room on my own." I tried to stand up but failed as the sharp pain shot through my body.

"The faster I can get you to your room, the faster the wounds can be treated. Hop on now."

I sighed and began to climb his back, I hope he doesn't mind my weight. He stood up and began walking out of the room, carrying me on his back. I grabbed unto his shoulders to maintain balance. The sensation of being carried by him is rather bashful. Viewing from his height is quite a pleasure, passing the garden full of Sylleblossoms at night is also blissful. As I looked at the garden, Ravus stopped his footing and stared at the garden. My curious tongue began to speak for itself.

"Are you alright, Prince Ravus?"

It's like he snapped out of his daydream and turned his head forwards.

"No worries, now let's continue. I was just admiring the Sylleblossoms, they just bloomed on the day you came. That's why I was checking on them back then."

I hummed in response, "They do look beautiful too even when the sun had already sunk"

We reached my room and Ravus put me down on the edge of my bed, getting some cool water to compress my swollen ankle. After that, he put some herbal oil on my ankle, so that it recovers fast. Lastly, he wrapped my ankle in bandages finishing it with the end of the remaining cloth tucked inside the layers.

"That should do it, it will heal in no time "

I looked at my ankle with an unbelievable expression. He handled my ankle with such care and took care of the swollen part like picking up a flower.

"Where did you learn how to do this? I have never seen a bandage handled so tidy."

"My father"

I looked at his face as he mentioned his father. His face turned gloomy, making me uneasy for asking that question. While still holding my injured ankle

"M-my apologies, Prince Ravus. I shouldn't have asked that I made you feel un-"

"No, it's alright. My father always took care of my injuries when I was little. Reminding his way to tie bandages always put me at ease. I lost him when Luna was just a few months old, the only lasting memories that I have is this, tying bandages."

His face began to wrinkle as he remembered those memories, I can feel that I myself can relate to him. Reaching my hand to his hand on my ankle and holding it.

"Memories like that are to cherish, to be remembered, to be loved, Prince Ravus. Your father showed his love through this act. Memory is indeed just a memory, but when it's the memory of your loved ones, it becomes more than that."

He looked up to my face and I smiled at him while saying

"It is a treasure you protect, that never ceases to disappear. As long as we always remember it in our hearts, prince Ravus ."

I let go of his hand, Ravus' face seemed to have lightened up. I showed him my wide smile as we stayed there in my room that night. He looked away from me as I smiled, covering his face with his hands. I could almost see him blushing behind it, I giggled at him. As the clock reaches midnight, Ravus was about to go to his own quarters when I stopped him at the door.

"Prince Ravus.....Thank you for doing this. I apologized for the inconvenience of this small accident"

He turned around staring at me, "No it is I who must thank you, you made my heart's burden lighter. Let us meet again tomorrow, Sweet dreams Alida"

"Back to you as well, Prince Ravus"

I bowed my head as he walked out of my room, his footsteps ringing in the hallway. As he walked away, my cheeks burned up, smiling to myself. That night, I have never felt so sweet and appreciated in my life. To think the crown prince thanked me for my words