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Petra spotted Ashe first, crowded with the other old members of the Blue Lions as they followed after an indifferent Dimitri marching up the hill to Garreg Mach’s slightly worn-down bridge.
The memories of Ashe’s face nd the memories they’d made together had slightly faded about a year ago. It almost broke Petra’s heart to realise she would soon forget Ashe’s smile, yet it became one of many reasons to press on to the fated day they would all meet again. It was worth it to see from a distance how his warm smile still hadn’t faded, nor his good looks.
“Goodness, this place certainly is worse for wear, isn’t it?”
Petra blinked, snapped out of her thoughts. She looked at Dorothea, then to the old marketplace and up the stairs toward the main hall. “Yes, I suppose that is the truth. Shall we continue? I wish to see the old fishing pier.”
“Lead the way, Your Majesty,” Dorothea winked.
“Of course,” said Petra. She moved down the stairs and to the small shortcut that led straight to the large pond, where she spotted two familiar people standing on the pier, a tuft of neatly combed silver gray hair.
“Petra? Is something the matter? Do you…” Dorothea trailed off, quickly understanding where her gaze fell. “Oooh, I see,” Dorothea chuckled mischievously. “How about you two go catch up, while I go on ahead and distract my old flame?”
Petra smiled, grateful. “You have my gratitude, Dorothea. Be safe. We are not knowing if all the bandits are gone.”
A small fire then a tiny crackle of thunder appeared in Dorothea’s hand. “Don’t you worry about that. Besides, I’ll be in good company.”
Petra watched Dorothea strutting around the pond, then spied Sylvain’s eyes light up when Dorothea walked by. He called out to her, and she silently responded by glancing back with a wink. Sylvain flicked back to Ashe, said something to him, before running after Dorothea.
Petra followed the same path as Dorothea, watching Ashe awkwardly rub the back of his neck, standing alone as Sylvain disappeared around the corner. She stopped across from Ashe, who hadn't noticed her staring at how radiant he looked. Something tugged at her heartstrings, seeing the sunrise embrace Ashe from behind, just like the sunset did 5 years ago, on the evening before the Empire invaded.
Fortunately for her, Ashe took notice of her, and he, too, stood frozen in place, his jaw ajar. “...Petra? Is that you?” he calls out to her, as if his breath was almost taken away. Compelled by his voice, Petra approaches him.
“That is my name, yes. It is good to see you are alive and well, Ashe,” Petra said with a smile, standing alongside Ashe on the pier. She turns to him and tilts her head back to meet his eyes and get a better look at his face. He still retained that boyish charm that attracted her to him years ago, now grown into a much more handsome look over the last 5 years. Ultimately, she concludes that time has been kind to Ashe. “You are much taller now, and you are learning how to comb your hair!”
“I-I knew how to comb my hair!” Ashe protested. “I just… didn’t.”
Petra’s lips curled up into a smirk. “That is OK. Either way is a handsome look for you, I am thinking.”
Ashe blinked in surprise. “O-Oh. Really? You…”
“Yes?” Petra asked with the tilt of her head.
A small blush formed on Ashe’s face. “You look good, too. Great, even. Your hair, I mean. Having it mostly down but with some braided parts is a great look,” Ashe rambled quickly. “Uh…”
Petra grinned, though flattered and amused by his compliments, opted to save Ashe from his awkwardness. “Have you attained your dream of being a knight?”
Ashe’s expression turned down. “Ah. No, I didn’t. Not after Castle Gaspard ended up in the Dukedom’s territory. I became a scribe in Rowe territory for a little while, but I decided to quit and join the fight for the Kingdom. It took a lot of guts, especially since I’d be leaving my siblings behind again, but they assured me it was the right thing to do, so… here I am.”
Petra had heard of the Dukedom in her limited time in the Empire before she defected, now glad that her worries about his health were for all for naught. “I have understanding. If it is comforting to you, Ashe, you were always like a knight to me, even if you did not have the title. You are always doing your best to help many people, like in the battle against the bandits before. I also have a way to prove this truth again.”
“You do?” Ashe asked curiously.
Petra’s smile widened, acting upon an idea as it came to her. “Yes! Do you remember when I saved you from the water?” Perhaps if I am falling this time, you can be repaying me and save me like a knight,” she said mischievously, stepping backwards to the pier’s edge.
“Wait, Petra, look out!” Ashe exclaimed, stepping forward with his arms out almost instinctively. Simultaneously, Petra stepped forward and collided with Ashe, whose arms pulled her tightly against his chest, as though he was sure Petra was about to be harmed.
“Are you OK?”
She looked up to meet his eyes and laughed heartily. “Ashe, I am having a joke!”
“Oh. Sorry, I uh…” Ashe trailed off, his eyes meeting hers, but never pulling away. There’s a silence that blankets them, and Petra suddenly feels as though she might melt into his embrace.
“...Yes?”
“You… you look really pretty. You probably always have, now that I think about it…”
Her hand was placed over his heart, and she wondered how fast it was beating under his layers of clothes, if it was beating as fast as hers.
“Pardon my intrusion!” a voice suddenly interjected. Petra snapped her gaze to the offender, an amused Mercedes standing at the top of the stairs leading to the dining hall. Much to Petra’s disappointment, Ashe quickly loosened his embrace, Petra taking it as a sign to put some healthy distance between them. “I’m sorry for interrupting, but…” Mercedes trailed off, trying her best not to slyly grin at them. “The Professor’s calling for all of us to meet at our old classroom. Don’t be late, OK?”
Mercedes quickly retreated inside, and Petra motioned to the dorms, taking her first steps forth. “Shall we go?”
Ashe nods. “Of course. I still haven’t gotten to talk to everyone yet.”
“I have understanding. I have also not spoken to my old friends yet. Caspar being here was a surprise to me, but a cat distracted him before I could speak to him.”
“Really? Though I guess that makes some sense,” Ashe laughed. “I remember once I saw him try to pet some cats before scaring them off. Felix was rather cross with him afterwards.”
Their short time reminiscing was cut short when Petra approached a particular door at the lower dorms. Her room, to be exact. Making this walk in particular made her nostalgic. Memories and habits she hadn’t thought about in years flooded back to her.
Petra opened her room to find it rather barren. Most of her belongings she’d left behind were stripped away by the bandits that’d taken refuge here, all except for the carpet she’d brought with her to the academy, a gift from her family as a memento of home. A part of her wondered if the bandits thought it of so little value because it was from Brigid, and it almost saddened her. The fact that it remained overrode those feelings. “This room is mine. I have not cleaned it yet.”
“Well, would you like some help cleaning up?” Ashe offered. “It’s pretty dusty after not being used for so long.”
“I have appreciation for your offer, Ashe, but you will also have your room to clean, yes?”
Ashe’s shoulders slumped a little, evidently disappointed. “Oh. Well, I suppose I will. It’s not a big deal for me, but if that’s what you prefer, then I understand.”
There’s a silence that blankets them, now a little more awkward than before, as they stand around in Petra’s room. “Hey, Petra? I know we only just reunited, but I kinda realise I was already being too forward before, after I thought you were… you know. Gonna fall in. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
Petra turned to Ashe, whose hands were interlocked with each other, awkwardly fidgeting. She placed a hand over her heart and smiled gently. “Ashe, you are very sweet. If you are… will accept an apology from me for the same reason, I shall accept yours.”
Ashe rubbed the back of his head. “I don’t think there’s anything for you to apologise for, but… alright, I accept.”
A part of Petra wanted to tell him that she wanted a convenient excuse to embrace him again, like they did 5 years ago before they parted, but she held her tongue.
“I am relieved,” Petra began, walking out of her room and back into Garreg Mach’s fresh air, Ashe following after her. “Perhaps we can have dinner together when we have finished the monastery cleanup? Perhaps that is… being more appropriate. There are many things I wish to know from you, and things I wish to tell you.”
Ashe’s eyes widened. “Oh? OK, I think that sounds great. Hopefully, the dining hall will be stocked up enough for some fish sandwiches.”
“Yes, that is my favourite. How did you remember?”
“Well, I’m pretty sure we got it a lot when we ate together. I like it too.”
“Truly? In Brigid, there is a dish similar to fish sandwiches of Fodlan. It is reminding me of home the most with a Teutates Herring filling.”
“Is that right? You know, I tried it once with Airmid Pike, and it was kind of close to the same taste even without salt, so maybe if we catch some in the pond we can…”
Petra looked at Ashe as he rambled aloud and softly smiled. This was what she missed, being able to speak with Ashe about the most silly and mundane things like fish sandwiches without worrying about giving all her time to attaining her dream. During those days at the Academy, Ashe was someone she could let her guard down around and could sate her curiosity about the world around her. And now it was clear: her feelings for Ashe from so long ago still lingered, and perhaps, Ashe’s feelings for her lingered in the same way.
All she could fight now was fight. Fight for the spark that lit between them, however faint, would fester into something stronger with the Flame Spirit’s blessing. That one day, they’d blaze a trail to attain their dreams, side by side.
But for today, just today, Petra was content with how things were.