--DISCONTINUED--
As the former heiress of the Yashiro Commission, Rin's past in Inazuma is . . . complex, to say the least. She was the true Shirasagi Himegimi, before her sister, Ayaka, took over that role in her stead. But when she left the nation...
"You wish to save your darling silver-haired sister?"
I'm not like before!
"Even if you wanted to defy my mercy. . ."
M-my head . . .!
"You're too weak."
NO! I'LL PROTECT THEM! I SWEAR!! I'LL NEVER, I'LL NEVER--
I'LL NEVER ABANDON THEM!!
"Rin!"
I burst up from my bed, my blurred sight slowly focusing on the Cicin Mage that was frantically calling out my name.
"Rin, wake up, we're going to be late!"
I slid onto the floor and she held my arm gently. The mage whimpered at my failing knees, struggling to keep me on my feet.
"Don't push yourself, miss!" she gulped. "You're still recovering."
I smiled weakly and gave her a slow nod. "Thank you for your concern, Alyona, but don't worry about me. I'll be fine--uahh!"
Grasping the medicine bottle on the cart, I barely stopped myself from toppling over.
"Are you alright?!" Alyona gasped. The black Cicin mask covered her eyes, yet I could still sense a sort of hesitance.
How unladylike of me, I thought, narrowing my eyes in dismay. At this rate, it'll be an eternity before I can reach my goal.
How can I get out when I'm still ailing?
Alyona helped me up, and began to quickly untangle the strands of my hair and use a ribbon to stuff it into the decent shape of a puffy bread roll.
"Alyona," I said, sitting rather feebly on the floor as she secured the long lengths of my lavender locks. "You should take care of yourself. At this rate, you're going to be late to the morning drills, and Lady Signora shows no mercy."
The Cicin mage shook her head. "Though we are all of equal status, it's clear that you're a very special asset to the Fatui. That's why you are allowed to keep your face. And if any punishment should come to you, this entire cadet squad will be executed immediately."
"There is no way I will let my peers be killed! At the very least, I will bear the weight of Lady Signora's judgement with you."
"We are wasting time with this discussion," Alyona argued. "Miss Rin needn't concern herself with disposable tools. It won't be long before you arise from this lowly regiment anyhow."
I sighed. There was no arguing with someone such as Alyona. She was a trusted friend of mine, two years older than me but acting as if she served me.
Clasping the final button on my dress, Alyona knelt down and presented me with my spear. I picked it up shakily and infused it with what meager energy I had left.
My pale green Vision twinkled, and a thin branch, though rather dead-looking, spiraled up the shaft and burst into three sakura blossoms.
"Thank you for your kindness, Alyona," I beamed, and lifted the thin veil separating the infirmary, exiting quietly.
I found it useful for my polearm to function as a walking stick as I hurried to the training grounds where the rest of the Fatui cadets were practicing their morning drills.
As soldiers always had to be in peak physical condition, the morning drills began at 5:00 in the morning, when the snow was still falling and the searing cold could burn flesh. Before there was even breakfast, the first exercise was running two miles without rest, charging through the perpetual winter relentlessly. However, this was not an issue for me, as my Vision, like all others, was warm and cozy. Merely touching it was enough to shoo away frostbite.
But apparently, that was already over. The soldiers were standing in ten large lines, awaiting Her Grace, Lady Signora's, new orders.
I stepped with as much confidence as I could muster to the center between two lines, and flinched as Lady Signora's footsteps came to an ominous halt.
Slowly but surely, I bowed down on the snow and exclaimed, "Your Grace!"
Her piercing blue eyes rested on my frail form, hunched down in the snow.
"Rin . . ." she muttered, sounding bored and enraged at the same time. "You have skipped the starting phase of today's morning drill. Are you aware of the consequences for this dwindling imprudence?"
"Indeed I am, Your Grace."
I spared a short moment to gaze up at the Fatui Harbinger, a breathtaking contrast against the still Snezhnaya backdrop.
Lady Signora possessed a striking appearance, with curled platinum hair and eyes the color of pale sapphires. The mask she wore only enhanced her intimidating and dramatic features, set beautifully into the colors of playing cards.
I heard a hard sigh and was whipped back to reality. Her Grace's face was twisted in pity and disdain. With a strong stride forward, she frowned the kind of frown that made every cadet, no matter how determined, shake like rattles in their boots.
But I did not even move a muscle. Even as she approached me with an expression of pure contempt, I looked up calmly with the faintest hint of a smile.
Do you know why?
Signora sneered. "Rin, step forth. Let us participate in a duel to the death."
"Your Grace," I started. "there is no way I can possibly beat you."
Well, that was a blatant lie.
You see, there was a reason I did not fear Lady Signora like the others did.
It was because if I did not hold back, if I did not act like I feared and revered her helplessly, I could kill her with certain ease.
Sure, it would be quite a hassle to take care of her, and I wouldn't come out completely unscathed, yet the years of experience I'd built up, the amount of ambition, passion, and devotion . . . it was enough.
I smirked as the bruises on my arms and legs began to heal.
Dendro was the element of healing, aid, and wisdom. No matter what, flowers will bloom, be it in the happy spring or on the soil of a graveyard. The blizzards may hide the terrain of felicity, but one day, without fault . . . I will prevail on the behalf of my home.
I'll show you exactly how a princess acts in the face of an enemy!
