Chapter Text
Alm
Today Grandfather returned to the village with a girl our age - her name is Celica. He said she'd be living with us from now on.
I tried saying hi to her, but she shouted at me calling me some weird names before running off.
What's her problem?
Kliff
Ever since Celica came here Alm's grandfather is making us all train with practice swords, rather than just Alm or sometimes Gray.
Don't really get why, though. Who would we ever have to fight besides angry sheep?
Then again, I want to go see the world one day, and Gray said he and his dad met some scary people outside of Ram.
Gray
Life here got more lively since Celica showed up.
I thought she was a jerk at first, but after a while she calmed down and she's actually a nice girl.
She still gets angry if you touch her dagger, though.
…Why does she even have a dagger, anyway?
Who even trusts a child with a dagger?
Faye
It's so fun to have a girl friend who's a girl of my age!
Sure, playing with the boys is great (especially with Alm) but Celica is a really nice girl once you get to know her, and she loves it when I teach her stuff about the village.
I taught her how to make flower crowns today!
..now that I think about it, she was really curious about the animals, and she didn't know anything about sewing or cooking or… well, a lot of stuff we do here in Ram.
Are all the people from the city like this?
..Where is Celica from, anyway? Every time I or anyone else tried asking her, she gets awfully quiet…
Alm
Today we held a party for Celica's first year here at the village, and everyone partied like crazy!
There was a lot of food our families baked, Gray and Tobin got drunk while their parents yelled at them, and Faye's family made a new dress for Celica she wore the whole day.
I can't believe she has been with us for only a year. Now I don't know what I would do without her.
There's plenty I don't know about her, but I don't care about it anymore.
She's Celica, and she's my girlf best friend. That's all that matters to me.
Celica
A year passed so quickly. It feels like yesterday when Mycen- no, Grandpapa brought me here in Ram.
I felt so scared and angry back then, but slowly I remembered how to smile.
Alm is the sweetest boy friend (even if he's a dork), and Faye and everyone else are wonderful friends.
I wish I was a village girl like them, if it means I'd get to be with them.
But I know I have to inherit the throne one day, so I want to be the best Queen I can for their sake too.
…I wish Conrad was here with me. He would love this village.
Sometimes I wonder if his ghost is haunting the remains of the villa. It would be funny, in a twisted way.
I still dream about finding Ram on fire.
Tobin
Alm and Celica are spending more and more time together, like they're glued at the hip. Or, well, the hands.
We started betting on how long until they'd get married.
Faye won't join the bet, and we all know why.
Sure hope those two remember about us from time to time!
Mycen
Anthiese's cover was blown.
That sorry excuse of a knight called Slayde recognized her while attempting to pillage Ram, and while I managed to rescue the children, he got away. No doubt he's reporting to Desaix as we speak.
I have no choice but to send Celica to Nomah's care. The children will be heartbroken, but it has to be done for their safety.
From tomorrow I'll train all of them as best as possible. This incident proves I cannot take half measures with them.
Gods know Desaix's men will be back for the princess, and one day they'll have to fight their own battles without me protecting them.
I must keep Alm inside the village even harder. If rumors about him and his Brand reach our enemies, then all of Valentia is doomed.
Celica
Grandpapa left me on an island called Novis.
I feel a huge lump in my throat, just like when he took me out of the villa on fire.
Everything feels just like that day…
He talked to an old priest who said he’d take care of me from now on. His name is Nomah.
His pupils Mae, Boey, Genny and Silque seem nice, though. Especially Mae.
But.. is there even a point in spending time with them?
What if someone finds out I’m a princess and I have to leave everyone behind again?
I never asked for this! I don’t want to spend my whole life running away because of my father!
Alm
The village feels empty without Celica. Grandfather won’t tell us where he brought her.
And he still won’t let me leave the village. He keeps saying “I’m not ready.”
I guess he’s right. If I was, she would still be here.
But one day, I will leave and find her.
He started training all of us as hard as he could, no doubt if that creepy knight comes back.
Faye keeps practicing until she can barely move. Guess that encounter really shook her.
She keeps running off after training, either at her house or at the flower fields.
One time I found her looking at the flower crown she made with Celica on the verge of crying, but as soon as she noticed me she faked a huge smile and when I asked her if she was okay she just said “Yes, now that you’re here!”
Should I... say something? I don't know what to say.
Slayde
I should have known that Mycen would play me for a fool.
When I returned to that backwater village with a handful of men Desaix gave me, the dear little princess was nowhere in sight, and this time the peasants were prepared for me and ready to fight.
I had to make my men bravely secure my escape.
Clearly the old man took little Anthiese somewhere else, but where..?
But now that I think about it, that doesn’t matter to me.
I can simply tell Desaix the princess has been disposed of and enjoy a handsome reward for my “efforts”.
Celica
This was my first week in Novis.
Nomah started teaching me along with the other kids about Mother Mila.
Something about her truly inspires me.
I hope one day I can make Zofia a land where no one has to suffer, just like she wanted.
Nomah said she could see the future, so maybe she wants me to learn about her!
I started spending time with the other kids. They’re nice and fun to be around (especially Mae and Boey who keep bickering over the silliest stuff and it's really funny), and I found myself smiling for the first time since I came here.
But I still badly miss my friends at Ram. I want to see them again, more than anything else in the world. Alm most of all.
But for their own sake, maybe I shouldn’t.
I just put everyone around me in danger by existing.
When I have the strength to defend myself and everyone I love, I’ll go find him.
After all, we promised to see each other again, didn’t we?