Chapter Text
A girl stood in the wide open grass field of her estate, beneath an azure sunny sky. She had irises with a soft magenta hue, and short black hair parted by a rhinestone-embedded hair clip. She wore a fashionable white blouse and red dress skirt, with a small-brimmed straw hat, and brown boots for the outdoors. She exuded the persona of a polite, refined young noble, who enjoyed fine arts while indulging in sweets in her pastime.
A loud crack echoed across the hills, frightening nearby flocks of birds as they scattered from the noise. A lone upright clay disc stood upon a table, untouched amidst a sea of other clay fragments.
She sighed, lowering the rifle from her shoulder, and pulled back the bolt. A smoking brass casing ejected onto the ground. She shoved the bolt forward to chamber another bullet -- the refined metals clinked together satisfyingly as they locked perfectly into place.
She drew a breath of fresh air through her nose, then raised her weapon once more. As the narrow gunsight settled on the target, she smoothly exhaled, and gently squeezed the trigger.
The thunderous shot hammered her shoulder. In the distance, the disc exploded into a shower of fragments. A grin of satisfaction grew on her face as she cycled the bolt.
She heard a muffled voice call from behind. She removed her earplugs and turned to see her butler.
“Lady Kashiwagi, your guest has arrived.”
Further behind him, she saw an entourage of servants accompanying a familiar beautiful figure in a white dress approaching them. She handed him the weighty firearm, then turned to greet her friend who was already running up to meet her.
The friend jumped into a hug before she could open her mouth.
“Nagisa, it’s been forever! I missed you sooo much!”
She chuckled. “I missed you too Tsubame, but it’s only been two months since we last met!”
Tsubame grabbed her by the shoulders with a look of exaggerated shock. “Two months apart is a very long time, how could you say that?! We’ve both been so busy, I was looking forward to seeing you all week!”
She wore a pristine white summer sundress that flowed with her movements, and a large straw hat adorned by an adorable sunflower; its vibrant yellow petals perfectly matched both her hair and eyes, as well as her beaming personality. If Nagisa could describe her, Tsubame wielded a level of beauty and charm equivalent to what she herself had in power.
A sweet fragrance arose from Tsubame. Nagisa on the other hand…
Tsubame whiffed. “...You reek of gunpowder.”
“Sorry. I was testing the new rifle and smokeless ammunition commissioned by the Royal Armament. We just received the first batch this morning, I couldn’t wait to try it for myself.”
“Prototypes? Is that safe?”
“It’s already gone through extensive testing and trials; its quality is beyond a doubt.”
Tsubame frowned, turning her chin up. “Hmph. Are you so fond of your toys that you’d rather play with them instead of your best friend?”
She then felt her hand being taken, and looked down to see Nagisa bow down to kiss it softly, catching her by surprise.
“Forgive me, dear.” Nagisa spoke in dramatic fashion. “I would never dream of upsetting my lady.”
She snatched back her hand, giggling. “You rascal! I am not such an easy woman!”
“Then will tea and dessert please you?”
“Only if you don’t keep me waiting any longer. Now, hurry up, the day is short!”
The two girls shared a marble table on the balcony of the mansion, overlooking the seaside city of Victoria Bay. Sunlight from the warm autumn sun glistened off the city’s brilliant red and golden architecture, while massive merchant fleets gathered at the sprawling harbor, with more sailing to and from the oceanic horizon. It is Volaria’s largest port, considered to be its heart where influence and riches flow all over the world.
Further down the coast lay the industrial sector abound with shipyards, drydocks, and factories. It was located downwind from the city so prevailing winds may carry its fumes away from the populace. It is this industrial beast which manufactures the muscle of Volaria’s strength and might.
Most of the mansions sat on the lower hills facing downtown, avoiding the sight of the utilitarian factories spewing oil and black soot. On the contrary, the Kashiwagis built their estate atop the tallest vantage point with the industrial sector in plain view -- for those shipyards and factories belonged to none other than Kashiwagi Heavy Industries.
It is this view where the family estate overlooked their proud domain, and where Nagisa Kashiwagi enjoys her daily morning tea.
Tsubame heaved a blissful sigh, stretching her arms. “This is wonderful…it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to relax together like this; we’ve been so preoccupied with work.”
“I know, I almost wish we didn’t have to go back to school.”
The taste of dread filled their mouths as they lamented the end of their break nearing far too quickly.
Nagisa perked up. “That reminds me, the airplane designer Mikado mentioned will be enrolling this semester; that’s going to be interesting.”
“Oh, his application got accepted, did it??” Tsubame remarked. “I’m surprised he managed to find and recruit someone like that. I mean, who else our age is building their own flying machines and competing in races with them? It’s unbelievable!”
“It is, but I have my reservations.” Nagisa warned. “Speaking from experience, matters this complicated are never straightforward. Mikado’s plans are ambitious, and I have doubts whether this person has what it takes to meet those expectations. As remarkable as his achievements are so far, he’s still young and therefore inexperienced and untested; he has no reputation upholding him.”
Tsubame drew another sip of tea, before responding with a voice of optimism. “But aren’t we the same, Nagisa? I understand what you’re saying, but I think it’s also a testament to his own ambition and resourcefulness. We’ve been blessed with what we have while he had to fight to rise from the ground up; literally! That counts for something, and it’s certainly what Mikado is betting on.”
“I don’t disagree, but we’ve all worked hard to get to where we are, and I’ve seen for myself the levels of investments it takes to pursue projects of this scale. I’m just afraid Mikado’s taking too great a risk putting too much hope in this…especially with everything else he has to deal with.” Nagisa’s sentence trailed off; the implications of the words unspoken between them were enough.
“Then we’ll be there to lend them our support.” Tsubame resolved. “I heard Maki won’t be attending the upcoming semester.”
Nagisa idly stirred her teacup. “Unfortunately not. She has her hands full back at home.” She gazed forlornly beyond the sea’s horizon. “I hope she’s safe.”
Tsubame gave a bittersweet smile to comfort her friend’s aching, sharing a moment of sympathy between them. A cool gentle breeze picked up, lightly fluttering their hair and dresses. They enjoyed the sensation for a minute.
Tsubame finished another sip of her tea, then prodded Nagisa. “You went on that diplomatic trip and met the Imperata Heiress last season. Has anything come of it?”
Nagisa shook her head. “No, there hasn’t been any developments. But hopefully that also means things remain stable for the time being.”
“Princess Kaguya Shinomiya…” She muttered the name, as if trying to gleam answers from the syllables. “What kind of person is she like?”
Nagisa inclined her head in deep thought, recalling the moments she had together with the enigmatic princess:
The way she quietly carried her pride. How her thoughts hid behind her smile, unable to see past her veil when she could see through hers in return. How quickly that smile could change into a bone-chilling stare.
The warmth of the tropical sun on her skin vanished, and was replaced with a sensation that sent shivers down her spine.
Ice cold.
She remembered the knife she was shown, and thought it to be a suitable representation.
“When I met her, she showed me her personal dagger -- it was one the most beautiful pieces of ornate bladecraft I’ve ever laid my hands on.” She raised her hands as she went into detail. “It was small, but the engravings on it were incredibly fine and delicate. The blade face shone brilliantly like a mirror of pure platinum. Yet it was remarkably light!”
Nagisa gestured. “I’ve never felt metal like that before. That blade is no ordinary material, it’s too light to be steel. I actually don’t know what kind of alloy it could be! I imagine if we could build a ship made entirely of-”
“Nagisa! Nagisa, come back!” Tsubame interrupted her friend’s tangent.
She cleared her throat, embarrassed. “Ahem, I digress. What I mean is, Princess Kaguya is like that dagger. She appears unassuming at first glance when holstered in its sheath. But once you get closer, the blade beneath is revealed -- a beautiful, sharp, and dangerous rose, with much hidden beneath her petals and thorns. One can’t help but feel terrified yet enamored when engaging with her.”
Nagisa sighed with finality, as Tsubame drew a breath to process.
“Wow,” she exhaled. “She must really be a powerful and intimidating person if she made YOU feel that way. I can’t imagine meeting someone like that my age. I wonder what kind of nation the Imperata is to have someone like her as a princess.”
Another thought occurred to Tsubame. “Kaguya Shinomiya and Maki Shijo, two respective heiresses of their nations…do you think they would get along?”
The surprising question intrigued Nagisa, and she took a moment to think.
“I’ve only met Lady Shinomiya once. But from what I've been able to gather, I can tell they’re similar in many ways. The way they sense and perceive are frighteningly alike. They’re also both in similar positions, as respective heiresses to rivaling nations. Yet…”
She paused to reflect on her thoughts. Tsubame waited patiently.
“...Yet it’s because they’re so similar, I can’t imagine them ever getting along. They’re too steadfast in their convictions and duties to yield to the other in the slightest. Perhaps in a different, more peaceful world, they could have become friends.”
“But reality is not so kind, is it?” Tsubame nodded, finishing the solemn thought. “This conflict between the Imperata and the Shijos…I only wish there could be some resolution.”
Nagisa rose from her seat and strode up to the balcony’s edge, looking at the ocean before them. “It’s my hope that Volaria’s involvement, although with self-fulfilling interests at heart, will act as a mediator between them to prevent escalation. Though, I doubt they will share the same sentiment.”
Tsubame shifted in her seat. “I still don’t really understand Mikado’s plans, and how making airplanes is supposed to help.” She gazed at the sky. “Maybe I just don’t see the full picture, or grasp the significance of this new potential of aviation.”
“Well, their country is ruled by Lumens. Perhaps he intends to rise to their level, so to speak.” Nagisa deduces.
“I hear they gained their power to fly when the moon shattered and fell to the ocean, as far as legend goes. You didn’t see any Lumens flying while you were there?”
Nagisa shook her head. “I didn’t see anyone fly, or possess wings of any kind. If they really were lumens in plain sight, I couldn’t tell them apart from normal people.”
“I wonder why they’re so secretive about themselves; not even Maki has revealed if she can fly or not.”
Nagisa turned from the balcony and paced toward her friend. “Though it is said their beauty is enchanting; if so, then there is no doubt the Imperata Heiress certainly is…” She straightens her posture and lowers in a gentlemen’s bow with a sly smile. “...as well as you, milady.”
“Oh stop it!” They laughed heartily. Tsubame then walked up to join Nagisa at the balcony, and leaned forward on the railing. “I do wonder what it’d be like to fly as a Lumen, to have such freedom.”
“Your uncle already taught you how to drive, surely you can learn to fly an airplane?” Nagisa asked.
“Haha! You really think so??”
A series of loud knocks interrupted their brewing discussion. A girl servant rushed through the door towards them with an urgent look.
The girls sprinted downstairs, the sound of their pattering footsteps echoing across the marble floor. They emerged into the spacious central hall, their chests rising and falling with trepid breaths. In the room before them were two peculiar uniformed men, standing tall at attention.
They wore signature sailor’s dress uniforms: navy-blue coats and white dress pants, adorned with gold brass buttons, neckerchiefs, and swords by their waists. One wore thick glasses, whose body had a chubby heft with a round belly held tightly by behind a belt.
The other was an older gentleman, taller and lean despite his age. His hair and short beard were gray, and his hardened skin wrinkled and tan from many harsh years under the sun. He looked at the two girls with keen eyes, his irises glimmering deep golden-brown like an autumn oak tree.
Tsubame’s eyes grew the size of dinner plates, and squealed. “UNCLE!!!” He braced with his arms held open as his niece charged and tackled him with a hug at full force.
He staggered from her embrace. “My darling! I hope you don’t mind, I’m afraid I still smell like sardines left to dry a week too long.”
She giggled. “I love it because it’s the first thing I smell when you return, Uncle Julius!”
He let out a throaty laugh and returned the hug. “Your sentiment fills this old man’s heart with joy.”
Nagisa chuckled at the display of reunion, and approached them. Julius turned to Nagisa and bowed in respect, along with his first mate. “My lady, it too brings me immense joy to see you in good health. You are growing ever more beautiful.”
She returned a smiling nod. “I am flattered. It’s wonderful to see you again, Captain Julius.” Nagisa acted mostly in jest to humor the honorable Captain; despite the formality, they have long known each other since childhood as he worked closely with her own father. However he remained principled and mannered in respect to the status of the families he served. Plus, a bearhug wasn’t really her style anyways.
In the midst of their reunion, Nagisa inquired. “I hadn’t expected you to return so soon. You were scheduled to return next month in autumn. What happened?”
Tsubame frowned. “Whatever it is can be discussed after a meal and some rest. You must be exhausted!”
“You are too kind my darling,” He puts his hand over his chest in thanks, then his face turns serious. “But I’m afraid this indeed is a pressing matter which presently demands our attention.”
Their discussion is interrupted by the sound of the large double doors opening, and they all turn to see the self-invited visitor who decided to make their appearance.
Nagisa’s blood ran cold, and her heart froze at the sight.
She was a girl exactly her age, wearing a black skirt dress. Her hair was long and silk black, skin of flawless complexion, and an immovable regal composure. Her footfalls against the stone floor reverberated through the hall like a grand piano, each note ringing suspensefully with intent among the captivated audience.
The air grew colder as she approached, then she halted before them. She glanced between each person, then looked at Nagisa. Their eyes met; time stopped as Nagisa stared into her unmistakable ruby red irises.
“Lady Kashiwagi.” Her voice shattered the silence. “It is good to see you again.”