User:DeletedUser010919/Sandbox1
The Two-Faced Warrior
Euden What was that?! We'd better go check it out, Elly!
Elisanne Yes, Your Highness!
Aeleen No... If I fight you, I'll... Don't come any closer...
Fiend Grrrrrrrrrr!
Euden Watch out! It's—
Aeleen STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!
Fiend Graaaaaaaaah!
Euden Whoa. She made short work of that.
Aeleen Oh no! I...I did it again...
Euden Hey! You okay over there?
Aeleen Um... Y-y-you didn't see that, did you?
Euden We did, actually. We heard you scream, so we came running over and—
Aeleen I didn't intend for that to happen! I swear! I'm s-so sorry! I really didn't!
Euden Easy now. Honestly, I'm not even sure what you're apologizing for. My name's Euden, and this is Elisanne. Can you tell us exactly what happened?
Aeleen All right... My name is Aeleen. I used to wield a lance with a group of knights.
Elisanne Used to? What happened?
Aeleen Well, um... This is a pretty shameful story, so please don't laugh...
Euden We'd never do that.
Aeleen I...I got scared of fighting, so I ran away.
Euden You didn't look at all scared of it earlier.
Aeleen What you saw is the OTHER me. A terrible, violent me...
Elisanne Are you claiming to have multiple personalities?
Aeleen I don't know when or how it happened, but one day she was just taking control as I fought without me being aware of it. Once I realized that, I started to fear entering any battles where she might come to the surface...
Elisanne Hold. That sounded like...
Euden A fiend. It's going to get pretty hairy out here once the sun goes down. Aeleen, what do you say to spending the night in our castle?
Aeleen Really? I'd be delighted!A Desire to Help
Aeleen I'm just glad to make a contribution. I think your dream of making a country where everyone can be happy is a wonderful one. So I'll do whatever I can to help! I just wish I could fight. Then I'd be able to make myself even more useful.
Euden You're doing more than enough already. Don't worry about that.
Elisanne Indeed. Cleo was recently saying how much easier her work has become as a result of your continued presence.
Aeleen That's somewhat reassuring, I guess.
Euden Ha ha! Look, don't worry about i—
Elisanne Silence, everyone! Fiends draw near! They're close...
Fiend Grrrrrrrr!
Aeleen Eeek! Th-there's so many of them!
Euden You protect the stuff, Aeleen! Elly and I will handle these guys!
Aeleen *sigh* I should be fighting... But if I do, she'll come to the surface again... Wh-what should I do...?
Fiend Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
Euden Aeleen, watch out! ...Gah!
Aeleen Your Highness?!
Elisanne Your Highness! Haaah!
Aeleen Let me see that, Euden.
Euden Oh, I'm fine. It's nothi—
Aeleen A wound is a wound! Let me see it! I'm so sorry... This is all my fault... You should have ignored me. I'm nothing but a burden...
Euden You're not a burden—you're our friend. Don't say that about yourself again.
Aeleen I... All right, Your Highness.
Euden I'm taking that as a promise. ...Anyway, thanks. Should we head back?
Elisanne Yes, and with some haste—that may not be the last of the fiends.
Aeleen He called me a friend... I...I can't keep going on like this!
Euden Aeleen? Did you say something?
Aeleen N-no! It's nothing! Let's go!More Frightening Than Battle
Elisanne Practicing with your lance, Aeleen?
Aeleen Oh! Hello, Elisanne.
Elisanne I was under the impression you were afraid of combat. So imagine my surprise to find you training late into the night.
Aeleen I...I can't keep going on like I have been. I can't keep running from battles like some kind of coward.
Elisanne Is this because of the time His Highness took an injury while protecting you?
Aeleen If I'd been able to fight, that would never have happened... But I couldn't. I was too scared. ...No. That's not strictly true. I was scared of becoming someone else as a RESULT of fighting, so I hesitated. He didn't think twice about putting himself in harm's way to save ME, and I repaid his kindness with inaction.
Elisanne So you train now in order to overcome that weakness and be of use on the battlefield? I find that to be quite respectable. Also, your skills are impressive.
Aeleen Yes, but I don't think it's helping at all. This is how it's always been for me. I perform just fine when training, but during actual battles... So, um...do you have any advice on how I can overcome this fear? I've always been impressed by how confidently you fight.
Elisanne You seem to be assuming that I feel no fear while in combat, which could not be further from the truth.
Aeleen R-really?
Elisanne Indeed. It's just that I have something that I fear more. And so long as that possibility exists, I will continue to fight without hesitation.
Aeleen What are you referring to?
Elisanne ...Not being able to protect that which is important to me. I know how it feels to lose someone I care deeply for. It is...terrifying. That's why I intend to rescue her—and to ensure I never make such a mistake again.
Aeleen I see...
Elisanne So then. You ask how I have the strength to stand in battle, and now you have your answer. Everyone has their own way of overcoming fear, however, so I know not if this will be of any use to you.
Aeleen ...Will you spar with me, Elisanne?
Elisanne Oh?
Aeleen I feel the same as you. I'm scared of fighting, but now I'm even more scared of the prince being hurt. He called me a friend, and I don't want him to be hurt ever again.
Elisanne ...Very well. Take up your lance. We begin at once.One Small Step
Elisanne They must have been waiting to strike when we were few in number. Cravens!
Aeleen Your Highness! I'll... Wh-why? Why am I shaking? Even after all that training, am I still scared of losing control...?
Elisanne Aeleen! To your right!
Aeleen Wha—?! Your Highness! No...not again!
Euden Run back to the castle and get reinforcements! I'll hold them off!
Aeleen B-but...
Euden Please! Just go! ...Gaaaaah!
Bandit Bwaaaa ha ha! Ain't gonna be no reinforcements, boy! We'll be finishin' ya off right 'ere, so we will!
Aeleen Ngh... Gaaaaaaaaah!
Bandit Eeeeeeeek!
Aeleen Raaaaaaah! The next finger you lay on him will adorn my wall as a trophy! YAAAAAAAAH!
Bandit M-mercy... Mercy!
Elisanne Aeleen! ...That's enough.
Aeleen *pant* *pant*
Elisanne It's over.
Euden The bandits have fled.
Aeleen My other self...came out again...
Euden And it's a good thing! We'd have been in real trouble otherwise. We owe everything to your courage and skill. Thank you.
Aeleen I was frozen at first, but then I realized you were going to be hurt again. The moment that happened, my body just...acted. My other self seized control. *sigh* I haven't changed at all.
Elisanne That is untrue.
Aeleen What makes you say that?
Elisanne You heard my voice, did you not? At the end of combat? You ceased fighting even though your other self was still in control. It may seem like minor progress to you, but I definitely felt YOU standing before me, and not some other. You will overcome your fears, Aeleen. I am confident in this. Both your fear of battle, and of your other self.
Aeleen That means so much to me... Thank you! I won't give up!Be Yourself
Aeleen Today I made the cuisine of my homeland. I hope you enjoy it.
Euden It looks delicious.
Aeleen There's plenty more where that came from! You all fought hard today, so you need to eat and regain your strength.
Ranzal Don't leave yerself outta that, Aeleen! You kicked more tail than all of us strapped together.
Euden He's right. We've really grown to depend on you out there.
Aeleen B-but my other self keeps coming out...
Elisanne True, but I wager you've gotten rather better at controlling that. You have changed a great deal. I couldn't have imagined you willingly engaging in combat when first we met, and yet look at you now.
Aeleen It's because of what you said to me. It's not that battle doesn't scare me anymore... I'm just more afraid of not being able to protect my friends. But now I know how to turn that fear into strength. And I don't run away anymore.
Elisanne That's good to hear.
Aeleen But the next step is for me to be able to fight as myself instead of...my other. It's embarrassing to have people see me when I'm so violent!
Cleo I'm sure you'll gain that control in time. You're moving in the right direction. Just keep making slow, steady progress.
Ranzal Eh, it ain't no big deal if ya ask me. Yer FIGHTIN'. Yer SUPPOSED to be all crazy eyed and foamin' at the mouth. Hell, I'd kiss a fiend if it gave me the kinda strength you got out there!
Aeleen S-so you think I should stay as I am? Then in that case, I will!
Ranzal Ain't nothin' wrong with who ya are right now. In fact, why don't I take ya out on the town?! We'll find us some bandits, maybe get in a tavern brawl—it'll be great!
Aeleen Er, but it's still so embarrassing...
Euden Look, Aeleen, just be whoever you want to be. You're an asset to us either way.
Elisanne I quite agree. We'll accept you either way. Although come to think of it, you once said you were impressed by how confidently I fought, did you not? I could say the same to you right now. You must have more faith in yourself.
Aeleen Oh, thank you so much! As for you, Your Highness, I'm so grateful you called a coward like me your friend.
Euden I just told you the truth, Aeleen. There's no need to thank me.
Aeleen But that was what made me want to change in the first place. And now I can help you with your dream of making this a kingdom for everyone!
Euden Well, I'd love the help!