The hour was well past sundown, the day they returned. Something was wrong.
The day they returned from Lucemia, Daena was waiting, silent and still, save for the twitching of her tail, and hollowness in her sad green eyes.
“Matilda… She’s gone.” the cat-woman finally spoke after several minutes. Escad stumbled, caring little as his exhaustion, his wounds, and his grief claimed him.
Anli was in his room, bright blue eyes staring down at him when he woke several hours later. Everything had been a blur, and he succumbed to sleep. He still hurt from his wounds, now tended to and bandaged. It was well past dark; the dimming lantern on the table illuminated the blonde girl. For some reason, he focused on the freckles on her cheeks and shoulders. Why her freckles were the subject of his attention, the Holy Knight wasn’t sure.
Hey,” Anli’s voice was soft and quiet. “You doing okay? I mean, well, yeah.”
“As well as can be expected, given the circumstances.” he shrugged. While his nap was restful, he was still drained. Justice, revenge, love… None of it mattered. Nothing mattered. He was alive. Irwin was dead. Matilda was dead. The woman he loved was dead and gone and he failed.
Escad was shaking; Anli reached for him. Neither cared as he wept.
Three days later, the funeral began at sundown’s first hour. Gato Grottoes was silent that day, with only solemn prayers as the reigning sounds, followed by the faded winds.
The Holy Knight stared long into the night was the pyre burned.
“I loved her.” his words were quiet, and Anli had to strain her ears to hear them. The girl hugged herself, braced against the chill of the night.
A week after Lucemia’s fall and the deaths of Irwin and Matilda, Anli was headed home. The Holy Knight met her at the entrance of the city, well away from prying eyes. Unexpected, but not all a surprise.
“Came to see me off?” she asked with the first impish grin in days.
“Better than staying cooped up inside the Temple.” He shrugged again, arms crossed. Escad appeared to study her, more intently than he normally did. “Are you certain you have no need for an escort?”
Anli fidgeted. On happier occasions, she thoroughly enjoyed the company of the handsome knight. Enjoying shared misadventures, playful flirting (not entirely serious on her part), and even simple conversations. Enjoyed the fact that he was there, and the quiet support and company was enough.
But not now. Now he needed space, more than he needed her.
“I’ll be alright. I’ve made the trip by myself before, after all.” she finally replied. A quizzical eyebrow being raised was her only response from the Holy Knight. She gestured emphatically. “Really!”
A moment: odd and intimate. The girl huffed, and threw her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. He was stiff, arms awkwardly out to the side, before hands settling on her shoulders. Escad remained still, allowing her the hug: he needed it as well.
“I’ll…” Anli stammered, sheepishly, as she parted away, far too soon.
“I’ll still be here when you’re ready.”
The meaning behind her words were clear, even if she didn’t seem to realize the impact. Escad watched after her as she turned and left, thoughts quietly turning to the implications and the possibilities.
From a tumblr prompt from my long-time friend, FireEye. Prompt goes: Anli/Escad: “I’ll still be here when you’re ready.” This was from back in 2015.
Using my alternate GameTimeline!Canon, so no spoilers for Saintly Sword Romantic Story. Same base characterization for the Heroine (and Hero), but circumstances/timeline is closer to the game.