Chapter Text
“Yunaka, what are you wearing?”
Ivy stared at the pink haired woman in front of her.
“Hmm? Oh, Princess Ivy! Didn’t see ya there.” Yunaka waved at the princess. “The Divine One got it for me, what do you think?”
“It’s a bit… uh, how do I put this? Revealing?”
“Pot, meet kettle,” Yunaka responded, hands on her hips.
Ivy frowned.
“I am simply yet to change since arriving here. Now, are you going to be unhelpful, or are you going to explain to me why you are wearing a swimsuit around the Somniel?”
Yunaka glanced down at the pink swimsuit she was wearing.
“As I said, it was a gift from the Divine One,” Yunaka explained. “She said I’d look nice in it, so I figured I’d wear it around the place. Ooo, you’ll probably get one as well, Ivy!”
“R-right…” Ivy wasn’t exactly sure how to take that. She shook her head. “Anyway, I shall leave you to your day. Goodbye, Yunaka.”
“See ya!” Yunaka waved as she walked off, heading to who knows where on the Somniel.
Ivy sighed. She had only been on the Somniel for less than an hour, and had elected to explore a bit before settling into her prepared quarters. She rubbed her temple and continued her exploration.
After some further walking, she discovered another new friend, surrounded by a small army of cats.
“No, you go over there,” Chloé muttered as she picked up two of the cats. “You two are going back inside now, then we’ll get the sheep out…”
“Did you require any assistance, Chloé?” Ivy asked as she approached. The pegasus knight looked up and shook her head.
“Oh, hello Ivy. No, I am ok, but thank you for the offer.” She moved the cats she was holding towards the nearby building and opened the door. She placed them inside and led a pair of sheep out. Ivy stared in confusion.
“Are these… all native to the Somniel?” she asked.
Chloé shook her head.
“Oh, no. The Divine One simply likes to adopt animals from battlefields,” she explained. “It’s quite sweet, honestly. All of these noble creatures get a second chance at life, here in paradise.”
“Right…” Ivy was still unsure of how to process all of this. “Have you seen the Divine One recently, by the way? I wanted to check on my quarters.”
“Oh, she’s taking a rest after the last battle, I believe. I think it’s Alfred’s turn to wake her, but I’m sure he would let you do it!” Chloé seemed excited at that.
“Thank you, Chloé. I shall go and talk to him.” Ivy nodded and made her way towards the top of the Sonniel, where the Divine Dragon slept.
On her way to the Divine One’s room, Ivy passed by Lapis, clutching an assortment of pebbles and small gems. Ivy could not help but be taken by their lustre.
“My, my. That is quite the assortment, Lapis. Wherever did you get these?” she asked. Lapis jumped at the sudden appearance of the princess.
“Oh, hey, Ivy.” The smaller girl took a second to recover. “The Divine One gave them to me as gifts. She gives them to all of us ladies, really.”
“Well, they are certainly beautiful,” Ivy commented, “where does she get them?”
“You’ll see her running around the Somniel a bunch. She just picks them up from seemingly nowhere,” Lapis explained.
Ivy blinked slowly.
“Come again? She just… picks them up from the floor?”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Lapis’ eyes suddenly went wide. “Sorry, Ivy, I’ve got to go. See ya!”
Lapis rushed off with her collection of shiny rocks and disappeared round a corner. Ivy watched her go with fascination and confusion.
She climbed the stairs towards the Divine One’s room, finding Prince Alfred sat outside, a small creature in his lap. He waved at Ivy as she approached.
“Heya Ivy, what are you up to?” he asked as he slowly pet the creature.
Ivy couldn’t help but stare at it, mesmerised by its face and inherent charm.
“Sorry, I got distracted.” She shook her head and looked at Alfred. “I was told you are to wake the Divine One up?”
Alfred nodded.
“Yep! I’m always glad to do it, though I’ve been told to tone the music down…” His face fell slightly.
“Would you mind if I took over your duties for today?” Ivy asked, “I have been wanting to thank the Divine One ever since she allowed me to come here, and to ask her for directions to my quarters.”
“Sure!” Alfred stood, the small creature in his lap protesting as he picked it up. “I’d recommend getting to know Sommie while you wait.”
Ivy nodded and took the creature from his hands. It appeared to be wearing a pair of feathery wings on its back, as well as a pair of darkened sunglasses.
“It has a peculiar fashion sense,” she remarked.
“The Divine One dressed him up like that; she claims that Sommie likes it.” He turned and waved. “Good luck, Ivy!”
Ivy gingerly placed Sommie on the railings. She made eye contact with the creature as it stared back at her, confused, but intrigued. She sighed.
“You really are adorable, you know that?” she said. Sommie let out a happy noise, which Ivy giggled at.
As time passed, Ivy looked out over the Somniel, watching as some of her new allies trained with each other, or the limited Emblems in their possession. She closed her eyes and quietly remembered her father, and Hortensia, now stuck back home with little hope of rescue.
Sommie’s little noises took her out of her stupor. She chuckled and stroked its head.
“Yes, I suppose you’re quite right, Sommie,” she whispered to him. “Shall we go and see the Divine One?”
Sommie let out a happy yapping sound as Ivy gently scooped him up and opened the door to the Divine One’s room.
“It is morning, Divine One,” Ivy called out.
Atop her stone bed, Alear stirred and opened her eyes. She blinked the sleep away and looked over at Ivy. She beamed.
“Hi, Ivy!” she called out, quickly swinging her legs over the bed. As she stood, Sommie wriggled free of Ivy’s grip and rushed over to Alear, who happily scooped the little spirit into her arms. “How are you, this morning?”
“I am well, Divine One,” Ivy said, a hint of awkwardness to her tone.
Alear frowned.
“Ivy, you’re safe here,” she reassured, offering a kind smile. “If you have anything you wish to say to me, then say it.”
“Why was Yunaka wearing a swimming costume? Why do you have so many animals? Why do you give all the women rocks?” Ivy burst out with each question before she could stop herself, slamming her hands over her mouth as she finished. “I am so sorry, Divine One. I’ll see myself out.”
As Ivy turned to leave, she felt a hand on her shoulder as Alear gently grabbed her. Ivy looked back to see a smiling Divine One.
“It’s ok, Ivy,” Alear said quietly. “Those are all perfectly good questions. To answer you, Yunaka wears a swimsuit around the Somniel because she looks nice in it and it’s comfortable for her. I have so many animals because I cannot stand to see them without a home. And I give all the women pretty rocks because I read a book somewhere that said women like pretty rocks.”
Ivy turned to face the object of her devotion. With how red Alear’s face was, it was hard to see her as anything other than human.
“That… that answers my questions, Divine One, thank you.” Ivy bowed. “I shall leave you be.”
“Wait, Ivy!” Alear called out. “Before you go…” She reached into her pocket, feeling around for something. She smiled as she pulled out a small pebble. “For you.”
Ivy took the small stone in her hand, gently running a thumb over its surface. She smiled.
“Thank you, Divine One,” she said as she hurried out of the room, turning her back quickly to hide her rapidly reddening face.
“I guess women do like pretty rocks,” she muttered to herself with a smile.