Scarlet's Awakening

"Hmmm." Scarlet cupped her chin and nodded. "You're right."

It's always been Scarlet who's getting rescued every time her life was in peril. And that continuous streak of being the damsel and distress has got to stop. Knowing what she's going to do now, Scarlet thanked Navy.

"Thanks, Navy. Keep doing the good work."

The two high-fived each other before walking out of the room together. Scarlet mind was already thinking about what ability from her skill she should use during training to develop her mastery towards using it.

Scarlet and Navy headed for the palace training grounds or the Arena, as what they call it here when suddenly, she heard something. Swish!

Scarlet smirked, not looking behind her as she continued to walk.

"Done being scolded" She teased, talking to the person walking behind her. She already felt his presence following behind her when she walked out of her room. Talon fell to his knees on to the ground, making Scarlet to suddenly halt in her steps.

"What are you doing?" She asked, looking at Talon's head before her feet. His bow was low and his forehead was nearly touching the floor. Scarlet couldn't see his face however the regret and repentance he was feeling was radiating off him.

"I wasn't able to protect my master again for the second time... My queen, please dispose this useless servant."

Scarlet watched Talon's pitiful back as he continued to bow down like that so disgracefully. The accident was all her fault. Talon had no involvement in it but he still blamed himself for not guarding her enough.

Scarlet squatted down so that she could reach Talon chin. She tilted his face upwards to meet her eyes and saw that there was so much guilt inside it.

She exhaled deeply, when Talon tried to look away. But Scarlet stopped him. She gripped his chin a little bit tighter this time. "Look at me." She commanded.

Not intending to defy her orders, Talon looked at her tantalizing black marble eyes.

"Do you see disappointed in my eyes when I look at you?"

Talon shook his head not breaking eye contact. "… No,"

"Resentment?"

Talon swallowed hard before answering. "…No, my queen." Shaking his head.

"How about your demise? Do you see it in my eyes... your impending death?"

Talon looked deeper into her eyes and his eyes widen in astonishment when he saw nothing, there was nothing inside her eyes except acceptance and forgiveness. Talon couldn't believe his master, for so many years, was capable of being compassionate and understanding for the first time he knew her, he couldn't produce a single word to answer her question.

"M-My queen, I-…" Talon struggled for words but Scarlet shook her head, telling him to say no more.

She wanted to show him that she had no intention of hurting or punishing him. As a person who knows what's right and what's wrong, she didn't want Talon to keep blaming himself. He wasn't there when the accident happen, Eigeel held him away from his duty so Scarlet thought that Eigeel rather deserved the punishment more than Talon.

Talon was still kneeling on the floor when Scarlet stood up on her feet. However, this time, Talon wasn't going to beg her for his death anymore. He already knows that the queen has made it clear to him that she wasn't blaming him for the incident, but Talon still felt that he deserved punishment for his negligence, even a little.

Seeing Talon's was unsatisfied that he wasn't punished, Scarlet couldn't help but heave a long frustrated sigh. The people in this world are really weird. She hated being punished when she was young. Remembering how Sister Therese was chasing her in the backyard of the old orphanage while Talon was begging for it from her which was really disturbing, if you think about it.

Suddenly thinking of an idea to solve her current predicament, Scarlet looked at Talon with a beaming face. "Speaking of punishment, I need you to accompany me to the arena."

That got Talon's attention. "May I ask why?"

"I've been asleep for too long and I think I'm getting rusty with my fighting skills. I want you to go with me there to train, become my sparring partner" she wasn't asking.

Without second thought, Talon agreed to her request since he can't no anyway.

"Then please go all out on this servant." Sounds like he's ready to be bruised.

Scarlet smiled happily. "Good," she said, sauntering towards the palace arena. "Go all out on me as well. I don't want to win so easily."

***

When they both arrive in the arena, there was already someone training in the middle of the grounds. It was a woman and Scarlet instantly recognized who she was from afar. Just looking at the trident she was swinging around effortlessly with and without using her hands, there was only one person in this kingdom and in her memory that fights like that. And that is Aqua.

Sensing their presence, Aqua turned towards them.

"Your majesty!" she exclaimed, surprised to see Scarlet there early in the morning.

"Hey, Aqua. Surprised to see you here." Scarlet smiled, eyeing the magnificent silver trident on her hand. "I see that you were training, I admire your diligence and dedication, honing your skills this early in the day."

Aqua immediately blush from her words. "I was just warming up, my queen. However, your words made me happy."

"Then I'm glad I made you happy at least." Scarlet chuckled.

"What brought you here, your majesty?" Aqua asked afterwards.

"Oh! Well, that was… I'm actually planning to train here as well. Now that my powers are back, I want to see if my skills are still as deadly as it used to be. Anyway, please, don't stop on my account. I can wait here and watch you until you finish."

"Ah! I wouldn't want the queen to wait. I was already finishing up when you arrived… You can use this place as you wish, my queen. Don't worry yourself about me."

Scarlet smiled, "Well then, thank you... Oh, by the way, I brought Talon here with me, I asked him to be my sparring partner for today."

An eyebrow rose up on Aqua's delicate and beautiful face. "… Is that so," Her tone was skeptical. "Well, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Will you let me stay and watch you sparring session, my queen? Don't worry. I will be quiet. You wouldn't notice that I'm here."

Scarlet beamed, "Of course! You can watch us spar as long as you want." she turned towards Talon then said with a smile, "I'm going to warm up first to see if I still have control over my powers. I will call you when I'm ready."

Talon nodded his head curtly and didn't say a word. Scarlet took it as a big yes and went to the middle of the grounds to warm-up.

Aqua silently took her place, standing beside Talon and murmured, "Hurt a single hair from the queen and I'll rip your heart out with my trident." She threatened with an impassive expression.

Talon shivered from the intensity of her threat. "Rest assured… You won't be ripping anyone's heart after this."

Aqua's eyes turned less tense than it was before. "Good. Just sayin..." she said nonchalantly before shrugging her shoulders.