I had difficulty writing about him since in the lore, the only time when Strike Hawks and Gray Raven interact is through special missions... I had to compromise the setting in order for this to work.
Anyways, please enjoy!
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“Once upon a time, there was a princess that could not dream. She didn’t know the reason. She would watch her siblings over meals telling their adventures in dreamland, excited and anxious over the events during their sleep.”
Wanshi studied the data presented in his terminal that was sent by Babylonia the afternoon earlier. His eyes drooped and heavy as he let out a yawn. He wanted to sleep. He deserves it, he thought. He was able to guide survivors from the heavy attacks of Heterocreatures earlier with only three deaths… Sad, but commendable… but still, not enough.
His ears strained to the voice of a human telling a bedtime story to the children they saved.
“The princess listened, wondering if she could ever dream. Night came, and the words of her siblings echoed in her mind. She tossed and turned but to no avail. Sleep was not coming anytime soon. She was too invested in her siblings’ stories. This continued until daylight.”
A child, not older than seven, snuggled his bony body closer to the construct’s leg. His eyes were sunken and tired, latching onto the mechanical leg of the sniper medic. Wanshi watched as the other children slowly fell asleep. Their sleepy gaze and snores were infectious as he yawned once more.
“This is stupid.” The boy against his leg grumbled, “Why is the princess not dreaming?”
“Shh. Just listen.”
“The princess came to her parents, asking why she couldn’t dream. The queen sobbed while the king comforted his wife. She was dismissed. Her question wasn’t answered. She approached the maids and they excused themselves. She went to the guards, but they were suddenly alert. She was confused.”
Wanshi closed his eyes as he thought about the boy’s question. Why was the princess not dreaming? What was the purpose? As a former doctor, he also studied the reason why dreams occur. Scientifically, it would be explained, but tales are tales. The reason why the princess couldn’t dream might be magical and purely nonsensical.
“No one would answer her. Not even the royal doctor could help. But she was adamant. She wanted to know what it felt like to dream. Every day, she listens to her siblings intently, studying and coming to conclusions on how to dream. She tries every night to dream but only fails. The stories of her siblings only filled her mind all night. Then one day, she was finally able to dream. Not during sleep, but while she was awake.”
“Weird...” Wanshi patted the complaining boy.
The boy’s mouth was agape, eyes looking up at the eyes-closed construct, “what does that mean? ‘The end’?”
“She was so happy. She shared this exciting event with everyone, and they were ecstatic. The dreamless princess finally dreams! From then on, she would tell her stories during meals until she couldn’t tell anymore. The end.”
“It is what it is. It’s the end,” Wanshi picked up the boy and settled him near his friends, asleep in their bed.
“What?” The boy wiggled when Wanshi tucked him in, “that can’t be! Who made that stupid story?”
“Quiet. You’ll wake up the others,” he stretched, ruffling the boy’s hair before standing up.
The boy was clearly disappointed, the construct understood. Even he was wondering why the story ended like that.
“That sucked… Who even made that?”
“Sleep now.”
“I want to meet them! I want answers!”
Wanshi treaded carefully around the sleeping children and took the recording device, “hm, you can’t. They're busy.”
“Why not? At least tell me what the ending means.” He pouted, rubbing his eyes and nuzzling deeper into his pillow.
His yellow eyes fell on the half-asleep boy, his thumb stroking the device in his hand.
“The princess was daydreaming to dream. To tell stories.”
The boy yawned, “that doesn’t answer… the question…” He was finally asleep. Thank goodness.
Wanshi slowly left the tent, laying down on a crate beside where the children rested. Other constructs patrol the perimeter, looking for any sign of enemies. It was a still night.
As he lay on the crate, he closed his eyes and replayed the story, setting the recording device near his ear and putting in a minimum volume. He listened to the voice of the Commandant, telling him the story of one of their joint missions in the past that he secretly recorded.
I want to meet them! I want answers!
“Sorry, kid,” he mumbled, letting out another yawn.
“They no longer tell stories.”
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A little fun idea I incorporate in this drabble! In case you all are confused, Wanshi meant that the Commandant was like the princess.
The phrase "from then on, she would tell her stories during meals until she couldn’t tell anymore" figuratively described the Commandant. The Commandant that works for humanity until they can no longer work.
