Worrying thoughts (2)

"I beg your pardon?"

He looked at the two maids as if he was hearing things.

"We want to ask you if you would be willing to cast a union field spell with L-Lady Arsu…"

Emma's voice weakened as she mentioned Arsu.

"Me and Iruha? What for?"

"Ta help out with ta snow problem."

Kara explains her idea to Agaram.

"Ah I see. You wish to try and blow away all the snow with wind magic. I see the intention but I don't think it's a good idea."

"A-Are you still not over Lady Arsu's rejection?"

"Rejection?"

For a moment, Agaram looks puzzled at their words but soon shakes it off.

"No. If we were to cast a spell of such a scale, odds are it would damage the surrounding area especially near the forest."

"I-is that so?"

"Aye. A sudden influx of snow would not end well for the forest. Not to mention the wind that has to carry all that snow would devastate it too."

"I guess we really can't solve this with magic huh?"

"Not necessarily Lady Kashina. If we lessen the output and just do a regular field spell, it would lessen the amount that we would have to manually move."

"That's great ta hear! Let's go with that then."

With their plan having somewhat succeeded, a bright smile blossomed on Kara's face.

"I will join you after I finish doing the inventory on the herbs. Give me a moment."

"Please, take your time Sir Agaram. We'll tell Lady Arsu as well."

"Right, Iruha…you went to her first."

Agaram bit his lips, seemingly hesitant to talk about her.

"If possible, you should get her to do this. I have a couple other duties to tend to after all."

'Looks like he's still not over it.'

It was really odd to think that Agaram was at one point in love with Arsu. What happened between them was their own problem, but it would be a lie to say that what happened did spark Emma's curiosity.

"I will tell her your suggestion regarding the snow. But can you tell me what happened between you two?"

"Nothing happened."

It was a short and direct answer leaving no room for follow-up questions. Him turning back towards the shelves was enough of a signal to not pry further.

"Understood. We'll see you later, Sir Agaram."

"Aye. Take care Lady Mythea, Lady Kashina."

With their goodbyes, the two maids leave Agaram to his duties as they go back to Arsu.

****

A little while later after relaying to Arsu what Agaram said, they're now by the entrance to the garden which was filled with snow.

Arsu looks around the snow filled garden, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. She starts giving off a light green glow before opening her eyes again.

"Wind stream!"

With her casting complete, jets of wind come from her body gradually picking up the snow and pushing it forward. The wind followed the movements of her hands as she carries the snow off to the side, somewhat clearing the garden.

"Haa… Haa…"

With the snow now by the wayside and just a bit left on the path, Arsu let's the spell fade and catches her breath.

"There… we go… that was way more difficult than I thought."

As she was trying not to hurt the environment, Arsu had to control the output of her magic which required a lot more concentration.

But seeing how everyone is smiling while looking at the results, Arsu thought that it was worth it.

"Thanks a bunch Lady Arsu."

"Indeed, with this our work should be done much faster."

The two maids bowed their heads towards Arsu with the rest of the servants following. It was a foreign sight for Arsu.

Especially when she was in active duty, far from being praised she was an object of fear. Her job was a necessity during those times but it was still unpleasant. Now here she is receiving gratitude for something as simple as moving some snow.

She was a little conflicted at first but a smile creeped it's way onto her face.

"Call me again when you need something like this done."

"Of course Lady Arsu. Please rest well."

With their goodbyes said, Arsu went back to her quarters with a pep in her step while the rest of the servants shoveled the remaining snow.

****

"Alright, think we're done here."

Kara looked at the now snow free garden with a satisfied smile. She took a look at her watch and grinned as she read the time.

'All done with the clean up and it's only eight.'

What originally should have taken everyone a couple of hours now took just one thanks to Arsu. It was their idea but that being known was unimportant. 

"I think so too. Shall we go wake up Princess Mira?"

"You think she'll wanna wake up early this time?"

"Well she has been waking up earlier for the past few days, so it's entirely possible."

"Wonder what happened for her ta suddenly be an early bird."

"There's really only one major that happened recently."

"Hmm? Oh yeah, Princess Aurelia comin' back."

As it was the only big change that had happened, the two connected it to the girl's sudden behavioral improvement. 

"Well that's a good thing right?"

"If not then what is? But it really is an odd sight to see her up so early."

"I know right? Her eyes always seem tired when she wakes up early too."

"Perhaps she's just not used to it yet. I'll go and inform the kitchen, will you go and wake her up?"

"Sure thing Lady Em."

With their actions decided, the two leave the garden and start to do their actual work of taking care of a princess.

****

"Princess Mira? Are you awake?"

Kara knocks on the girl's door once and waits for a response. 

No response.

"Princess?"

Once again nothing. Kara lets out a sigh and moves to open the door to the girl's room. Opening someone's door without their permission was considered rude everywhere but as it was part of her duties to help the girl in the morning, these things were unavoidable at times. And with the girl's lazy behavior, it somewhat became a necessity.

Though things have been changing ever so slightly recently. The changes were all in a good direction, the girl was finally interested in her studies, she was sticking to the schedules that were made for her. She was finally acting like her title. Even her tendency to disappear had somewhat lessened. It lightened everyone's mood. But they all had a gut feeling that this would not last.

All of the changes were because of circumstances beyond their control. The girl's interest in studies was because her sister, Aurelia, was dragging her to the library everyday which could also factor into why she was waking up early. Her sticking to the schedule was because there was not much on it because of the snowstorm making it really hard for her teachers to get here.

The snowstorm was both a blessing and a curse. It was giving them a glimpse of what was possible while giving them the anxiety that this was a fleeting moment. Of course, there was a chance that even after the snowstorm things would remain the same, but it was an uncertain future.

'I really hope she'll stay like this.'

As Kara was going to open the door, the girl's voice came from the inside.

"Was that you Kara? Come in."

'Looks like she's awake this time.'

With permission to open the door, Kara enters the girl's room. The girl was sitting on top of her bed with a tired look in her eyes as she was still not used to waking up so early.

"Good morning Princess."

Kara bowed as she greeted the girl.

"Good morning Kara."

A short and quick response. Her voice however was slightly off. There was no drowsiness in it, almost as if she had been awake for some time, though she let out a big yawn that seems to indicate otherwise.

"Let's get you dressed Princess."

The girl nodded her head and stood up from the bed. Kara helped the girl out of her dark blue night gown and helped her put on a purple dress adorned with deep black threads across her waist and its hem.

After helping her on with the new dress the girl moved toward the dresser and sat down in front of its mirror with her eyes closed. This had been the routine regardless of whether it was Kara or Emma who was tasked to help the girl in the morning that day. The girl was getting used to it now.

As Kara silently combed and fixed the girl's bed hair, she felt pleasure in the simple task. There was just something soothing about doing this that always put Kara's heart at ease. Before Princess Aurelia came back this routine was usually done long after the laundry had been done so the removed nightwear would have to be washed the next day.

After a few minutes of combing the girl's hair, Kara steps back and smiles satisfied with her work.

"There. All ready for the day Princess."

The girl turned to face Kara.

"Thank you Kara."

"It was my pleasure Princess. Shall we head down to the dining hall? Lady Emma has already gone ahead and should have asked for the staff to get ready."

"Yeah…"

There was a smile on her face but the girl sounded slightly tired still, though Kara brushed it off as the girl was still not used to her early mornings.

"Wonderful Princess."

Kara picked up the previous night's nightwear in her arms and led the girl towards the dining hall.

****

Reaching the dining hall, Kara opens the door to usher the girl inside.

Inside, Emma was talking to the kitchen staff before noticing the girl's entrance.

"Princess Mira! Good morning."

Emma bowed her head towards the girl which she promptly returned.

"Can you handle the rest, Lady Emma? I have to drop these off with the laundry team."

"No problem Kara. Go on ahead."

"Thank you Lady Emma. Well Princess, please have a nice meal."

With another bow Kara leaves the girl in Emma's capable hands.

Kara saw two very welcome faces as she walked the halls. The maid was in the exact same situation as hers with clothes from the previous night in her hands as she escorted her princess to the dining hall to enjoy breakfast.

"Princess Aurelia, Karliah, Good morning you two."

"Morning Kara."

"Good morning Lady Kashina. Is Mira already in the dining hall?"

The two returned her greeting in their own ways.

"Yes Princess. We arrived just a bit earlier this time."

"That's great. It means Mira and I can have a long breakfast together. I can head there myself so, Lady Karliah, you can go with Lady Kashina here and head to the laundry room."

"As you wish Princess."

Free from the duty of escorting their respective princesses, Kara and Karliah head to the laundry room with their hands full.

"You look like you're in a good mood, Kara. Did something happen?"

"Does it show? Well we did find a way ta deal with ta snow problem so we don' have ta spend more time on it."

"Really? What'd you guys do?"

Kara explained the idea that they had as they made their way to the laundry room. In the process she naturally let out Arsu and Agaram's relationship.

"That's great. Why didn't you guys do that before?"

"Well we just thought of it. And even if we thought of it earlier, I don' think that we would do it."

"Why's that?"

"Bunch of reason. Mainly we wanted ta show that we could do it without magic."

"Is that so? Will we do that now regularly then?"

"I don' know. Maybe?"

"I hope we do. Does that mean you're free for the next hour though?"

"I'm free for two actually. Why? Got somethin' ya wanna do?"

"Oh yeah. With the weather clearing up for a bit, Princess Aurelia is gonna start practicing magic again so I was wondering if you'd wanna help."

"I mean sure but what would I help with?"

"It'll just be a light sparring session to show the Princess."

"Sparrin' huh? So we'll just throw a few spells at each other? I'm down, but are we gonna do that today?"

"Ideally yes. Is there a problem? You said that you were going to be free for a bit."

"Yeah but if I'm free, so will Princess Mira. If we're gonna show Princess Aurelia, Princess Mira's gonna wanna watch."

"I don't see the problem here."

"You know how she hasn't had her awakening yet?"

"Yeah."

"I don' want ta show her me using magic."

"Why? She knows that you're a dual element mage even without you saying it. Your hair is orange Kara. You can't really hide it."

"I know but I don' want her ta be more aware of it. She's ta only one in ta palace that ain't a mage but I don' want her ta think bout it."

"Oh."

To be surrounded by mages when one's not a mage themselves. They could only imagine how the girl feels about her situation.