A messenger owl perches itself on Sharena’s arm the day of her birthday, holding four paper cards with drawings on one side and a handwritten note on the other side of each. Though they were left unsigned, the handwriting should look familiar to the blonde.
Today, the hero being introduced isn’t a hero at all— technically. It’s Sharena, the princess of the Askr Kingdom, though you wouldn’t guess she’s royalty with the way she acts like she’s everyone’s buddy all the time.
And I mean *all* the time. Young or old, royal or not, this girl weasels her way into everyone’s hearts whether they like it or not. It’d be harder to find her alone than not, pah! Doesn’t she know sometimes people don’t need a whole party of people around?
But I guess that’s just what makes her her. She even does her part to introduce every single hero to everyone, drawing and writing the blurbs herself. Unbelievable. All that effort and for what? Just to make people feel included? What about herself?
Well, I guess that’s why I’m doing this. But don’t you get any bright ideas, Sharena. I’m just sick and tired of seeing you make a fool out of yourself to make others happy without even trying to gain something yourself. Let this be a lesson in thinking things before you do them. And don’t think I’ll do this any other day either! This is your one moment. I’m never drawing anything ever again.
sharena cleans her area, throws away her trash, and, waving to the students at the table she had just risen from, makes her way out of the dining hall. her hair’s still a mess, unfortunately; she styles her braid — not as neatly as alfonse does, but she hadn’t seen him in the dining hall nor his dorm room — and runs her fingers through locks of blonde hair before tying the bottom strands with a white ribbon. on a day like this, she should have probably gotten dressed in something a bit more special but sharena doesn’t see the need for it. after all, it’s only her birthday! she still had things to d—
there’s a noise above her once she steps past the monastery’s entrance. fern eyes glance up to see an owl — not feh, she would’ve recognized the cute little thing — and she holds her arm out with a tilt of her head. as expect, the owl settles onto her arm, talons curling and uncurling in a fit to get comfortable.
“ aw, hiya there! ” sharena greets, allowing the messenger owl to drop the items into her open hand before flying away. there are slight marks on her sleeve but she simply wipes them away and turns her gaze to the cards. there’s four of them, neat and a decent size. a possible gift for her birthday most likely but, after quickly looking at each of them, she realizes the lack of a signature upon the parchment. sharena frowns slightly but pays it no mind. a name might be mentioned in the writing so there’s only one solution to her curiosity.
the askran princess retreats to her room, falling backwards on her bed and holding the cards up to her face. but the relaxation of her posture soon changes; words are taken in and she sits up, shoulders low and eyes narrowed. she holds each card with both hands, her thumb barely brushing against the top of the drawings. she immediately recognizes the handwriting, the voice emitting through the words is as familiar as she would know which hill in askr is her favorite.
sharena laughs, holding a hand to her face and turning the second card over to look back at the drawing. now those, she can’t recognize. but raigh. she knows raigh’s the one behind the writing and, by the confirmation on the parchment, the one who drew the pictures as well. ( sharena isn’t sure what to say about this feeling. the tightening of her chest, the burning at the base of her throat — she swallows it down and yet it does not disappear… )
by the third card, her vision has begun to blur. the black and white colors of the card melting before her eyes, swirling into something she can’t describe; sharena wipes her eyes and flips the card over.
the last card feels heavier even though she knows well that all of them weigh the same.
‘ I’m just sick and tired of seeing you make a fool out of yourself to make others happy without even trying to gain something yourself. ’
“ oh raigh, ” sharena whispers, turning her head to the side and holding the card against her leg. she shouldn’t be this emotional — this sentimental — over such a gift but bottling up emotions is only a timer before the top falls off. she laughs to herself as she wipes away her tears, wetting the fabric of her sleeves and and scratching a bit uncomfortably against the skin below her eyes. so, just for her birthday, just for this moment, she allows herself to indulge in the silence of her room. the comforting lack of noise and physical contact; she cries only for a few minutes. that much for herself.
the bell rings throughout the halls and sharena leaves her room, making sure to freshen up before her mirror and stack the cards carefully and in order. she keeps them in her hand, quickened steps fall soon into a stride — “ raigh! ” sharena shouts his name, as a warning and exclamation of joy, before she practically throws herself at him. she’s all out of tears now but her voice is still raspy and undeserving of its usual chirp. she and raigh don’t fall, thankfully, she keeps them upright and tightens the embrace, pressing her head against his shoulder. ( if he can’t see the tears pricking her eyes then it’s easier to pretend they’re not there. )
“ raigh, ” she mumbles, “ thank you. thank you so much. ” sharena pulls away, a bright smile upon her face and she laughs lightly as she waves the cards in front of him. “ would you believe me if i said this made me cry? ”
but the topic is changed immediately when she throws an arm around his shoulder and pulls him close. “ and you can draw? i didn’t know you could draw; it’s so cute! look at the hands you drew for me! ”
