And we continue with the story, Fio's quick wit saves the day...? Plus, Nowa pic!
Enjoy!
“Say, could you sing something for us?”
“Well, how about the musical dance of Queen’s Blade...”
He took in a lungful of air, and his vermillion lips started singing:
“In this world, there may be many amazing, legendary blades
Yet there’s but one that matters above all else
And that’s the one the Queen holds”
As men clapped in tune with the song, Nowa entrusted her body to the rhythm and swung her staff accordingly.
[My body is so light. Dancing to a song is so much fun!]
“There may be many named weapons
Yet there’s but one that matters to a master
And that’s the master’s own skills”
Nowa decided to pose, weapon held high. The cheers from the audience rose.
“Masters of the world, aim for the Queen’s Throne
She who is fit to become Queen, there’s but one
The Queen of the Blade is the Queen of the World
Dance beautifully, grip your blade
Dance beautifully, risk your life
Dance beautifully, in the field of battle.”
“Encore! Encore!”
As the men urged him, the boy turned to look at Nowa, who had finished her dance.
“Nowa wants to hear more of your songs too, Fio!”
Her eyes were shining. Fio wondered if she hadn’t forgotten by now why they had come here.
“Truth is, I don’t sing for free... but then again, you’re my benefactor.”
He winked at her, and began singing again.
***
“So, you really couldn't find a bard?”
Menace asked Devil Setra once again to make sure, while the retainers put fresh dishes on the table and bowed.
“Yeah, ‘scepters don’t lie’, y’know.”
“What a pity...”
The princess hung her head, crestfallen.
The Khan Oasis had once been a villa resort, and the fact it still stood was nothing short of a miracle. After the fall of the Amara dynasty, the quick desertification and the harsh environment had protected the land from looters.
Since the buildings and the treasury had remained safe, Menace was attempting to restore the oasis to its former glory. For that, she’d been "recruiting" the necessary personnel from the surrounding areas, and recently she’d come to believe she’d completed the first stage.
“I was looking forward to some dancing and singing soon, but...”
“Milady, it’s too bad, but you’ll gotta give up on it tonight... mh?”
“Oh my?”
Both tilted their heads at the same time. They could faintly hear the sound of a flute coming from somewhere they couldn’t place.
“I’ve never heard this melody~”
“Where is it coming from?”
The princess strained her ears trying to trace the melody, while Setra turned his neck round and round trying to figure out where it was coming from.
“Eh?”
“Ooh!?”
And they came to the same conclusion: a clear singing voice, overlapping the flute sound, was coming from the window.
The brunette stood up and moved to the balcony, followed by Devil Setra.
“Setra... You DID actually bring one, didn’t you?”
“Nope, wasn’t me.”
He narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the faraway figures.
He caught sight of an elf girl who danced by swinging her staff around, and the silver-haired girl he had left behind when he took Leina the previous night.
“It’s her... how did she get here?”
“There seems to be a singer amongst them, so please bring her, I want to hear her from up close~”
Paying no mind to Setra’s muttering, the princess issued an order.
“Eh, I’m feelin’ a bit tired.”
He replied, no motivation in his voice.
As a matter of fact, flying such vast distances every night to faithfully carry out her commands had considerably worn him out.
“Fiiiine. Then, I’ll ask Miss Leina.”
She promptly turned around, then told Leina--still eating--to bring the singer.
“I understand, Lady Menace.”
She bolted up, and walked outside the palace.
“Oh my? Now that is odd.”
Menace was perplexed. The flute sound was moving away along with Leina.
“...Does such a thing as musical underwear exist?”
“Don’t ask me, Milady.”
Devil Setra replied bluntly, and left the room to go rest.
“I hope I can hear a song before dawn~”
The full moon shone bright in the night sky, unopposed at the midnight hour.
***
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