Beyond Phantasia

I sat on the bench, lost in thought. A headache was kicking in, pounding at my temples like an unwelcome reminder. I rubbed my eyes, trying to clear my head, but it wasn’t helping. Why did it have to be this complicated? It felt like another battlefield — no winners, only losses.

I got up.

“Let’s clear my mind,” I murmured to myself, still lost in thought.

Tap.

I continued to walk.

Tap. Tap.

The breeze is nice today.

“Well aren’t you just rude!” A voice said. “Excuse me!”

Zoning back in, I turned toward the voice.

A small talking bird. Great. Just what I needed.

“Oh my!” The bird exclaimed.

That’s when I noticed Aurelia standing nearby, silently. Her ears were tinged with a slight redness. Odd.

“Your socrilium?” I asked, studying the creature.

She nodded.

“I-I am Viviel, who now acts as Lady Aurelia’s interpreter!” the small talking bird sheepishly chirped, fluttering down on Aurelia’s shoulder.

“Interpreter?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

The bird puffed up its feathers importantly, nodding in a strange, bird-like way. “Yes, yes! As Aurelia is unable to properly—.” it began to chirp before Aurelia swiftly grabbed the bird, cutting it off mid-sentence.

I blinked in confusion as they seemed to exchange... something. Aurelia’s eyes narrowed slightly as the bird flapped its wings once, almost sheepishly, and settled into her hand, quiet now.

“Ahem. Pardon my rudeness, Sir Handso—Lucien. In short, Aurelia would like to express her gratitude for your support during the Trials and today’s events!”

Aurelia nodded in agreement before bowing slightly.

“Thank Novian and the others. You all did the heavy lifting,” I replied. “I only played a small part in it.”

Once again they exchange glances before turning back to me.

“No, your skills in commanding and targeting the vitals played a crucial role,” Viviel insisted.

“Then you're welcome," I said. “Also what do you mean by today’s event?”

“Well, if you insist, it’s because Aurelia n—” Viviel started, but Aurelia cut her off again.

I watched the ongoing exchange, a smile creeping across my face before I burst into laughter. Yeah, I needed this. This was good.

“W-what’s so funny?” Viviel asked.

“Nothing,” I said slowly, pausing to gather my thoughts. “Just… thanks. I needed that. Look, I’m going to go train, but we’ll hang out tomorrow since I still have to help out at the library. You’ll be there right?”

“W-w-w-ell, of course, Sir Lucien!” Viviel stammered. “You have a good rest of your day!”

“You too,” I replied, waving goodbye as I left.

“She’s strong.” Urumi said, waking up from its nap.

“Stronger than you?” I asked.

“Never. The day someone is stronger than me is the day I’m dead. So, never.” Urumi Yawned.

“Are you always this sleepy?”

“Do I need to remind you who used up most of my power?”

“Haha…” I exclaimed. “That’s my bad.”

<><><><><>

Aurelia’s POV

I stood silently, observing Lucien as he sat on the bench, lost in thought. I could sense the weight on his shoulders, the tension in his posture.

As I stood there, Viviel, fluttered awake from her nap. She often acted on her own, and today was no different. The little creature hopped closer to Lucien.

“Oh my! Oh my! Lady Aurelia! It’s that handsome fox of a boy!” She chirped.

Viviel stop it! You’re embarrassing me, and you can’t be saying that in public!

“Hmph! You need to thank him anyway! Follow me, my lady,” Viviel said, fluttering her way toward the boy.

Viviel!

I followed after her as she poked Lucien.

Tap.

He continued to walk.

Tap. Tap.

“Well aren’t you just rude!” Viviel said. “Excuse me!”

The boy turned his head toward us.

“Oh my!” The Vivel exclaimed.

He’s breathtaking, Aurelia! He would make a great first friend and possibly… a spouse. Viviel chirped.

Viviel! Stop it! You know that’s not possible. I conveyed to her in my head. And…that’s also very embarrassing.

But you are open to it then?

I—No. We haven’t even known each other for that long.

“Your socrilium?” He asked.

I nodded.

“I-I am Viviel, who now acts as Lady Aurelia’s interpreter!” Viviel chirped, fluttering down onto my shoulder.

“Interpreter?” Lucien asked, raising an eyebrow.

When Viviel began to chirp at him, I felt a mix of amusement and concern. Would she be able to convey my gratitude properly? The moment she introduced herself as my interpreter, I felt a flutter of anxiety. I nodded, hoping Lucien would understand the importance of what we were trying to communicate.

Viviel puffed up her feathers, nodding in her usual bird-like way. “Yes, yes! As Aurelia is unable to properly—” she began to chirp before I swiftly grabbed her, cutting her off mid-sentence.

Viviel! You’re going to embarrass me! No one knows I don’t speak the human language that well, and as Princess Mierum, I need to show no flaws or weaknesses.

Understood my lady. No more misslips! Vivel replied.

When Viviel started to explain and then got cut off by me, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. I wished I could express my thoughts more directly. But I trusted Viviel; she was my voice. I know she means no harm, but she’s always so honest.

“Ahem. Pardon my rudeness, Sir Handso—Lucien. In short, Aurelia would like to express her gratitude for your support during the Trials and today’s events!”

I nodded in agreement before bowing slightly.

“Thank Novian and the others. You all did the heavy lifting,” he replied. “I only played a small part in it.”

I exchanged with Viviel what I wanted to say.

“No, your skills in commanding and targeting the vitals played a crucial role,” Viviel insisted.

“Then you're welcome," Lucien said. “Also what do you mean by today’s event?”

“Well, if you insist, it’s because Aurelia n—” Viviel started, but I cut her off again.

Okay no more Viviel. I don’t know how much more I can take.

That’s when Lucien started to laugh.

“W-what’s so funny?” Viviel asked.

“Nothing,” Lucien said. “Just… thanks. I needed that. Look, I’m going to go train, but we’ll hang out tomorrow since I still have to help out at the library. You’ll be there right?”

“W-w-w-ell, of course, Sir Lucien!” Viviel stammered. “You have a good rest of your day!”

When he mentioned training and asked if we would hang out tomorrow, I felt a spark of somesort. Yes, I wanted to see him again, to continue building this friendship, even if I didn’t have the right words to express it myself.

“W-w-w-ell, of course, Sir Lucien!” Viviel stammered in response, and I shared a silent smile with her, feeling grateful for her presence in this moment.

And just like that he left.

"We did it, Lady Aurelia. You did it — this is one step closer to acquiring what is called a friend," Viviel chirped excitedly.

I smiled.