Chapter Text
Five hundred years ago, a shrine maiden prayed for her brother's safe return.
In the hillside temple she safekept, in the innermost shrine, she had knelt on both knees for hours. The morning's sermon had long since ended, leaving her surrounded with empty benches. Even so, she whispered prayers for her brother's return. He was a warrior, and their foes were dire.
The foreigners outnumbered them, with strong magics and stronger steel. Only their devotion to their homes kept them standing. Strategic savvy was their shield, mastery of the mystical their sword, and their heroes their spirit. She was not among them. This shrine maiden was not violent. Her magics were too weak for war. But she was devoted. Devotion was of some use. It had to be.
Every night that he was gone for, she channeled lights along the road to the city. Every day that he was gone for, she prayed. Five days late and counting, but not a moment had passed without his sister's strength reaching through the heavens to support him, be it with the meekness of mice or the strength of gods. If there was any chance that greater wills would hear her prayers and aid her people, then she would clench it with all her might, as her hands clasped together in prayer.
“He would not want to see you stress yourself like this.” The village chief wearily said at the end of that morning’s sermon, the light of the open door behind him - soon to vanish. “Please, rest. The Hollow God must have heard you by now.”
She’d keep trying. So, rebuked by silence, he let her be. For all the maiden did to help while the soldiers were gone, her only request was an undisturbed meditation. So undisturbed it would remain.
Until a strange little creature flew onto the open window sill.
Its flapping wings broke the stillness, until they were louder than the maiden’s troubled thoughts. Just another sparrow passing by, she’d figured. Leave it be. But instead it flew closer. Its flapping wings rustled her long brown hair as it encircled her. Now it perched atop the altar, all the better to look closely at.
It was as big as a sparrow, yet nothing of the sort. Its white belly was almost chubby compared to its broad battish wings. Its dragon head had a small mouth – when resting, it looked like it was smiling. Grey skin lined with a pink curse commandment marked it as a domesticated Void. It was safe, as she felt from its big endearing eyes that took one look at the frowning maiden and then swelled up with joyous excitement, excitement it released in a great hearty coo.
"Kuu!"
Or something of the sort.
"Huh?"
Flapping its wings, it darted back to the window, wagging its head to beckon her. Stirring her sleepy legs to wake, she looked outside to follow its gaze. There, on the dirt road in the green meadow. Their faces were but specks at this distance. But the banner they waved made her heart stop, until it restarted with a sharp gasp.
Her prayers had been answered.
In the peaceful city streets, passersby nearly tripped themselves as the temple doors were flung open with a thunderous crack. Before the doors banged against their sides, the gentle maiden leapt out and cleared the temple steps in a single lunge. As her feet touched the ground, she sprinted down the hill, dress fluttering behind her, sandals kicking dust in her wake, stopping for no one. Without a word, without hesitation, and with the flying creature struggling to keep up with her. Down the streets. Through the alleys. Over bridges. As fast as she could. She was running through the current that was word of mouth of what she had seen as she left behind womenfolk gossiping excitedly, messengers running opposite her towards the lord, and stewards decreeing preparations for a feast.
"The Night Blade have returned!"
The maiden reached the main plaza just in time to see the battalion march down towards it. Some were mounted, others walked tiredly besides starving steeds, and others were close to collapse. The defiant few had marched out - the victorious fewer had returned. Each familiar face was hope. Shieldbearer Sato, bearer of the Bulwark. The ever-smiling Yagami, master of the whip-snake Meuniel. And Kuro, the Forgemaster of Voids, whose constructions had been invaluable. Every man marched in pace, because their leader still marched. The shrine maiden’s eyes darted to the head of the column, and her heart stopped when she saw him. A swordsman with a long brown ponytail, walking besides his horse with his shoulders held back, and a katana sheathed in a saya as black as night.
Kuon.
Kuon was alive.
Kuon was home.
Before he could even tether his horse, his sister all but jumped onto her brother’s back in an ambush, holding him tightly. Swordsmen and maidens both fawned mirthfully at the sight, then watched closely, for they all knew she was just moments away from thumping his back with her fists.
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump.
The soldiers chortled, and Sato waved on Kuon's behalf for the unit to disperse. Some of them stayed with stifled laughter to watch their fearless leader get berated.
"Linne." Kuon winced. "Hello."
"You're late again." She pouted.
"Tragically, I am."
"Again."
"Tragically.”
However hard she thumped, she hurt his heart the most. "Forgive me. I knew I was making you worry."
"And you did it anyway."
"Have mercy on your brother, my lady," Sato called out, "the enemy army was thrice what was anticipated. We are thankful to have survived."
"Thrice?"
Now that Linne took time to look, and now that Kuon did not have a battalion to guide, her brother’s eyes were far too weary. Still handsome, still strong and tall, but only his smile was truly indomitable. His posture had crumpled under her weight. His knees weren’t steady. And now that Linne thought to hear it, he had fought to suppress pained grunts under her thumps. She started to massage his back, and felt the crust of new cuts through his cloth.
"What were you thinking, getting into such a bad spot? Doesn't that mean I should thump you harder?"
"You probably should." He winced. While pinching his shoulders, Linne looked into his shut eyes and forced smile and tried to keep a dour frown. She tried, but her own knees started to quiver.
Instead, she tucked his weary head close to her warm bosom.
"Never mind. Rest now."
Swaying him gently, with a soft grip on his hair, she rocked him to and fro. Onlookers must be joking about how their strong leader now looked so coddled and pampered - let them.
Sato had quietly excused himself to take Kuon's horse, but more importantly to chase away as many annoying onlookers from them as he could without making a scene himself. That was easy. Most gossiping maidens found the seriousness of Kuon's right-hand man equally amusing, indulging themselves in the distraction of teasing him.
"I'm so thankful you're home." She sighed sweetly.
With every moment Linne's fingers strummed through her brother's hair, the recent fear that they'd never do this again was brushed further away. Even if Kuon must eventually protest, he'd never break free alone, so she stopped for now.
"I'll rest all night, I promise you." Already his smile looked a little more innocent. "The Lord will want a debriefing...but that won't be long. Then I can enjoy a good feast."
"You'd better. I'll be helping make it."
"You're cooking too?" His eyes lit up and his stomach let out a long-suppressed grumble, for it knew it would soon be time to treat that.
"With your favourite dishes. But...We'd hoped to feed more mouths than this." Linne's head turned around to see any troopers she recognised or had missed.
"Where's Dazai?"
She had been looking first for a missing face, but it was easier to spot a casualty among the Night Blade by someone holding a weapon that was not theirs. Dazai had held a pair of twin sai forged from a Void; such were too valuable to leave behind or bury with the dead. Now a passing soldier carried them instead. She needn’t have asked.
"He fought well.” Kuon apologised. “We fight for him now, too.”
Linne believed him. But that wasn't enough. She had not known Dazai well, but she'd wanted to. He said there'd have been time to.
"Brother...When will this war end?"
"When I defeat the Licht Kreis' leader and send them running. Just watch. It's not far now, I'm not just saying that. I..." Kuon hadn’t intended it, but his tired eyes were drifting away to the battle he'd been fortunate to survive.
"I will pray you do." Linne's nod failed to hide her fear. Even she knew that this would likely take a long time. The weight pressed down on both their spirits.
"Kuu~"
One onlooker hadn't been chased away - the pet Void that had flown beside Linne. Circling above them both, it couldn't decide whose head of hair it wanted to settle on more, so it hopped down and quickly hopped back off each.
"You forged this Void yourself?” She asked, touched. “On the open road? For me?"
"I've improved, haven't I?"
With Kuon's nod, it fluttered by Linne, rubbing her cheek with its soft head.
Tiring out, the pet Void saw Linne's open hands, and gently settled into their warm embrace, feeling joy and love that only the human world could give.
"Did you name him already?"
"And take the joy away from you?" The smirk hid the softest tease.
"Hm..." Linne's ears attuned to the soft sleepy mewls the pet made while resting. "Kuu."
Kuon wasn't sure what he'd expected, but he could only nod in agreement.
"I don't think I expected anything else."
"Oh hush! It's a perfect name for him! He coos like a pigeon. And when you want to call him, you'll be saying something he understands."
"Exactly. He plays perfectly into your strengths."
"What does that mean?"
"That I hope you never get better at making up names."
"Why would you want that??"
"Did you know you look like a squirrel when you pout?"
Thump-thump-thump-thump--
"Kuu~!" Kuu fluttered around Linne's thumping fists until she stopped berating her brother again.
"This fellow makes it hard to be mad." She sighed.
Kuon resisted the obvious counterarguments. He felt like a winner anyway. "Glad you like him."
"How did you ever find time to craft a Void in your travels?"
"Our escape route took us near the Void Plains. As we braved the outskirts, this small Void stowed into our caravan, his teeth too small to even gnaw rice. I painted him, I gave him wings, and I attuned him to you. 'Kuu' is a swift and dedicated friend. Now that he is attuned to you and I, he will always know the path between us. From me to you, and from you to me. If ever I am late, Kuu will find you to say everything is alright. If ever you are lonely, Kuu will bring me any message you give, and keep you company until I return. And I will return. I'm sorry this war has been so long, sister. But I will do everything to return home to you. I promise."
Linne could only hug him tight until his sore muscles ached with love. Let him be speechless.
"I know you will. I'm glad you escaped."
"It was a bit more than an escape. Sure, they fielded enough to push us back - but they've made a big commitment. Their supply line is reaching its limit. If we can apply more pressure, then their leader will have to consider a peace treaty--"
"No more planning."
Linne squeezed a little tighter so he'd be quiet.
"Not until you rest."
Linne was not violent. She couldn't hurt a soul if she wanted to. Kuon carried that burden for her. Despite his skill with the blade, he was once the same. Virtue and love had driven him to use his skills for something beyond sport, to shield them in this war. He had found good reasons to do bad things. But it tore at him. Little by little, the scars of war chipped at each of the Night Blade. As their strength, as their hero, as their strongest swordsman, Kuon was in the most peril. But Linne wouldn't let him falter. She hated the Licht Kreis for everything they had put them through. This 'Adelheid' had taken so much from them all. Take as she might, her hate was not stronger than Linne's love. So long as she could support her brother, she would let him remember the peaceful days they once had. She’d remind him there were many peaceful days yet to come. She dared to help him believe in a coming era of peace so long and full of wonders that this horrid war and its horrid foe would be but a blink in time.
No matter what, Linne promised this for her protector.
Over five hundred years had passed since that soft embrace. Linne was still around, keeping the temple lit in her own way. Kuu was still in the palm of her hands, always watching, still smiling.
But if she let him fly, he’d not know where to go. For her brother was long gone. She had not seen him since those days. She may never see him again.