They sat together in the shade of a tree, a distance away from the picnic where some of their more excitable friends were creating a fuss. Wolfram was arguing with someone over who would fill Yuuri's plate and a distinctly dry version of Conrad's voice mocked him whenever it wasn't drowned out by the plaintive demands of the princess Greta's double.
It was their first meeting. He'd introduced himself first as Yuuri's friend, but she knew him for the Sage before he could say the words -- his voice was young, but his core was ancient in a way her limited senses recognized easily.
"You've met Shibuya already, haven't you? You think highly of him?"
Julia smiled. "Yes, of course. It's easy to care for him." The young man under discussion suddenly became audible, his voice a nervous octave above the others; although no idea what the source of his distress was, she imagined Wolf waving a canteen of hot soup over his lap, and stifled a laugh. "You've known him for longer than I have, so I imagine you must understand."
He seemed perfectly at ease, his voice a grin as he responded, "I'm only curious. No one's ever been able to ask the opinions of a soul on its reincarnation before, after all. It must be my lucky day."
"My lucky day," she corrected.
No doubt he recognized what she meant by that. Quieter, he continued his questioning: "If it became necessary, for his survival... would you die for him?"
She reminded himself that he had the right to ask -- it was important, for the good of Shin Makoku. "I..." Julia folded her hands neatly in her lap, to hide their tremor. I love being here. It was so close to everything she'd ever wanted. But she knew her answer, and somehow it made her laugh. Everything she had ever wanted was thanks to him, after all. "What's once more? I already have, before."
She couldn't see, but she could hear the young man beside her shift, his clothing rustling and giving him away: leaning back more, or looking up. "So have I," he said.
Julia smiled, and shifted closer, reaching out to settle an arm around his shoulders. He was far beyond her in years and in wisdom, and she could not presume to understand him -- but she thought she might sympathize.
OMG Maou, IC Murata and Julia: Moon Rising
It was their first meeting. He'd introduced himself first as Yuuri's friend, but she knew him for the Sage before he could say the words -- his voice was young, but his core was ancient in a way her limited senses recognized easily.
"You've met Shibuya already, haven't you? You think highly of him?"
Julia smiled. "Yes, of course. It's easy to care for him." The young man under discussion suddenly became audible, his voice a nervous octave above the others; although no idea what the source of his distress was, she imagined Wolf waving a canteen of hot soup over his lap, and stifled a laugh. "You've known him for longer than I have, so I imagine you must understand."
He seemed perfectly at ease, his voice a grin as he responded, "I'm only curious. No one's ever been able to ask the opinions of a soul on its reincarnation before, after all. It must be my lucky day."
"My lucky day," she corrected.
No doubt he recognized what she meant by that. Quieter, he continued his questioning: "If it became necessary, for his survival... would you die for him?"
She reminded himself that he had the right to ask -- it was important, for the good of Shin Makoku. "I..." Julia folded her hands neatly in her lap, to hide their tremor. I love being here. It was so close to everything she'd ever wanted. But she knew her answer, and somehow it made her laugh. Everything she had ever wanted was thanks to him, after all. "What's once more? I already have, before."
She couldn't see, but she could hear the young man beside her shift, his clothing rustling and giving him away: leaning back more, or looking up. "So have I," he said.
Julia smiled, and shifted closer, reaching out to settle an arm around his shoulders. He was far beyond her in years and in wisdom, and she could not presume to understand him -- but she thought she might sympathize.