>>6088924As you dispassionately swatted away at a gray seagull that was making a swipe for your rum, you couldn’t help but be reminded of your “cousin”, Bronte. Countess Blair Weaver’s eldest daughter, you’d grown up alongside Bronte and her two younger siblings in Castle Rusalka. Though you were not actually related by blood, the Weavers were the closest thing you had to a family besides your mother. Bronte in particular was someone you’d always enjoyed a close relationship with, akin to that of a little sister. Though she was of a far more serious nature than you were, she’d oftentimes found herself wrapped up in your antics. When you wanted to steal that wyvern from the stables and take it out for a ride, it was Bronte who distracted the guards. And when you’d challenged that bear to a fight, only to find a much larger mother bear lurking in the shadows, it was Bronte who’d scared the creatures away with her magic.
Granted in both of these instances, she had rightfully cautioned you against acting in the first place. But “little sisters” weren’t there to be taken seriously. They were there to clap and cheer for their cooler older brothers. And to occasionally cast supportive magic on them. And while Bronte was terrible at the first part, she excelled in the second. There was no denying that she was a woman of talent. Taking after her mother, she was an adept sorceress, having graduated the Garreg Mach Officer’s Academy at the same time you did. So gifted was she, that three years ago she received a rare offer. A chance to study magic in the famed and mysterious City of Illusions, Morfis. It was an opportunity few ever received, and one she could not feasibly pass up. She left Rusalka soon after, alongside a diplomat from Morfis, and hadn’t been seen since.
While you had not heard from Bronte in some time, you were not worried about her safety. You knew that she could handle herself just fine. And ultimately, her leaving was a good thing. A wry smile crept to your face as you thought about all those other fools making their way towards Morfis. They had no idea what was waiting for them in that strange, alien land. But that was where you had a leg up over them. You had Bronte, who’d spent three years living amongst the Morfans…Morfians…people of Morfis?
Bah, it didn’t matter. Bronte would fill you in on the correct term. Along with so much more. With her guidance and knowledge, you were sure to enjoy a great advantage in the competition for Princess Yulia’s hand. Finding your cousin would have to be a top priority for you. Doing so would make what was to come too easy.
>“Hahaha…stupid bastards wasting their time…you might as well turn back now. It’s all too obvious I’m going to win.” You chuckle darkly under your breath, perhaps drunker than you realized. The Bronte-colored seagull had ceased trying to steal your rum, taking perch next to you on the ship's railing. 