Chapter Text
I sat quietly in the basement, curled in a hall as I listened to the mayhem happening above me. I didn’t know what was happening but papa told me to hide here, where no one could find me. I put my hands over my mouth and looked up at the ceiling vent that went to the next floor as someone fell on it, descending my room into darkness.
If I stayed quiet, papa would come for me. He’d take me somewhere safe. I didn’t know what started this or why it was happening. He’d sent the troupe off just before he hid me too… Laplace was worried sick for me. He had begged papa to let him take me with him but papa was adamant I stayed.
After a long while, the sounds stopped and the body was moved from the grate. I looked up and quickly scrambled further into the shadows as someone peered down.
“There’s a basement!” The man called out. I was terrified now. My violet eyes darted around in fear as I tried to find a place to run. I got to my feet and looked around before I quickly moved off to find a place to hide. My long silvery-white hair bounced behind me as I got to a cross-section. I peeked up as I saw a door open at the stairs to my right and I immediately ran forward. I heard footsteps follow me and I squeaked as I got to a dead end. I looked around panicked and unsure what to do.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I panic-paced against the back wall, hoping for a way out. I turned around and saw a group of soldiers blocking off the door and staring at me.
“She’s… just a kid…” one whispered out. I swallowed hard and put my back to the wall, my heart pounding in fear. A man pushed through them and he looked at me perplexed before down at my clothes. My sleeves were much longer than my arms and were practically dragging on the ground but it was tight around my body. Tear had made it for me and given it to me today. My pants were tight around me
The man slowly came over and I whimpered as I tried to get away from him.
“Hey… what’s your name…?” He asked me softly as he crouched down. I looked at him and swallowed hard.
“I don’t have one…” I whispered out. He nodded as he slowly came over. I tried to find a way to escape. “I’m not ready for a name yet.”
“How old are you?” He asked softly.
“Six.” I sniffed as I watched him carefully.
“How did you get here?” He asked. I looked at him and breathed shakily, my heart beating faster as he got closer.
“Papa told me to hide here.” I whispered out. He nodded and stopped directly in front of me.
“You did good hiding. It’s safe now.” He told me. I swallowed hard and looked at him.
“Who… who are you?” I whispered out.
“I’m Leon…” he told me gently. “Let’s get you out of here.” He told me as he gently held out his hand to me. I looked at it and breathed shakily. “You’re an elf, right?” He slowly smiled at me. I looked up at him and nodded. I looked back to his hand before gently taking it. He smiled as he held my hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of it. “Well I am a hero… and I am here, to save you.” I looked into his eyes and breathed in shakily.
“Where’s my papa…?” I whispered out.
“Does your papa have a name?” He asked softly as he walked me out of the basement and to the courtyard. I looked around, searching for my papa.
“I… I don’t know.” I admitted. He breathed in at that.
“Do you know someone who might know him?” He asked softly. I nodded.
“Papa sent them away. I don’t know where they are.” I looked up at him. He nodded. “I don’t see him.” I sniffed and started to cry as I looked around. He shushed me gently as he knelt down and rubbed my back gently. I looked around, scared.
Where was papa…? Did… did he leave me here? Was he ok? Was he hurt?
“What does your papa look like?” He asked softly. I looked up at Leon and sniffed.
“Papa’s an elf, like me…” I sniffed. “He has some scars on his face and people always say he looks scary.” I choked out. He nodded as he rubbed my back. “His hair is like mine… his eyes are red.” I choked out. He paused at that and he looked off in the distance. “Have you seen my papa?” I choked out.
“I’m so sorry…” he whispered out before he pulled me into his arms. My eyes widened at that as more tears began to fall. “I have seen him… but he’s not coming back.” He whispered to me. “I saw him flee the capital…” his voice broke at that and I felt tears on my shoulder. My vision immediately blurred with tears and I broke into a full-on sob.
Papa… abandoned me. He left me for dead… was I not enough? Did he not love me? Did I fail him? I choked on a sob as I held onto Leon, my entire world breaking. He held me tight and kept rubbing my back.
After my throat became sore and my eyes no longer produced tears, Leon was holding me in a tent, trying to help me eat. I don’t know why he was being so nice… why a hero like him took me in so readily, but I was growing attached. He had run the scary people out of the castle and was setting up to make it comfortable for me. He didn’t want to take me away from my home but he also knew I shouldn’t be alone either so he decided to stay and rebuild what had been lost.
I ended up falling asleep in his arms and he kept me close. Even if he didn’t know, I knew he cried for me while I slept. He would keep whispering apology after apology to me even though I could hear him. I don’t know why he thought he could apologize for my father's actions but… he tried.
It took several years before his rule was stabilized in my old home. By then, he’d practically become my guardian. He took care of me, he trained me. I was still really young but he taught me how to use a sword. I know he went easy on me but he genuinely wanted me to learn. But I still caught him sometimes apologizing at night to me, when he thought I was asleep.
He was afraid to name me… he said my magicules were unusually high for being an elf. He didn’t want to kill himself just by naming me. A few weeks later, that was when I met Guy.
Leon had invited him to see the kingdom. I watched from afar, curious about this new man with Leon. He felt really strong…
I saw them talking in the courtyard as I peeked around a corner, and Leon looked a little glummer than usual. Guy was just listening to him, completely relaxed. I wanted to cheer him up but I knew he probably didn’t want Guy to see me. Papa was like that. He never wanted any guests to see me. I only ever saw The Harlequins. He wanted me to be one of them until he ran off. I hadn’t seen them in a long time either.
I quickly ducked behind the corner as they both looked my way. I carefully peeked out again and saw Leon smiling at me as Guy watched me curiously. I darted off to get out of sight so I wouldn’t get in trouble. I found a new spot to watch from on the balcony and peeked down at them, careful not to alert them. Guy was laughing softly now as he rubbed the back of his head. I could sorta hear their conversation now.
“Yea… she’s pretty skittish.” Leon told him. “Not entirely sure why, she has been since I met her.” He sighed.
“She’s beautiful.” Guy chuckled. “I’ve never seen violet eyes on an elf before, and that’s saying something.”
“I know.” Leon sighed.
“What’s her name again?” Guy asked.
“She doesn’t have one…” Leon sighed. I watched them and breathed shakily. “Her magicules… are far greater than most A rank monsters I’ve run across, let alone an elf… I doubt I’d survive the naming process with her unique case.” Guy hummed as he nodded.
“So you want me to name her?” Guy asked. I tilted my head at that. Name me…? I’d get a name?
“I’d appreciate it but you have no reason to oblige.” Leon told him. I swallowed hard at that.
“Nonsense, I’ll gladly name her.” He chuckled at that. Leon looked at him and breathed in.
“What do you want in return?” Leon asked.
“Nothing out of your way… I’d appreciate you coming for tea every once in a while though.” Guy chuckled. “Maybe bring her on occasion as well, acclimate her to being around new people.” Leon narrowed his eyes at that, getting suspicious of him.
“You can’t have her.” Leon told him firmly. I blinked at that.
“Now that’s not for you to answer, now is it?” Guy chuckled. “That’s her choice… in time.” He smirked. “I’m a collector of sorts as you know… a unique elf… right up my alley.”
“She is just a child.” Leon scoffed.
“And she’ll age… as all mortals do.” Guy rolled his eyes. I looked at them perplexed by the conversation. I had no idea what they were implying but Leon seemed upset by it. “In time… she’ll make her choice.”
“One I won’t allow.” Leon growled. I narrowed my eyes at that. A choice I can’t make…? That was rude to keep me from doing.
“Just get her back here so I can do this.” Guy sighed.
“Girl!” Leon called out loudly. I stood up straight and looked down at them. Leon saw me and sighed. “Come on down here… our friend has a gift for you.”
“A name?” I asked softly. Leon looked at me before glaring at Guy who was smirking.
“You knew she was up there didn’t you?” Leon growled at him.
“Of course.” Guy chuckled. “Come on down.” He gestured me down to them. I nodded and went down the staircase before coming over to them. I looked up at Leon before looking at Guy. He crouched down and cupped my shoulder, looking me in the eye. “Your eyes are quite unique, did you know that?”
“No.” I told him simply. He smiled at that. “Papa had red eyes, is that unique too?” I asked. He smiled.
“Yes, it is actually.” He chuckled. “Only ever met one elf with red eyes.” He told me. I smiled at that. “But I’m very old… so who knows if they’re the same person.” He glanced at Leon behind me and raised a brow. I looked back at Leon confused who was just watching us intently. I looked back at Guy and breathed in shakily. “So… a name for you.” He smiled at me. I swallowed hard as I looked at him. He leaned to my ear and I breathed shakily at how close he was. “My little Caliste.” He whispered softer than Leon could hear. I gasped in as I felt a rush flow through me and I immediately became lightheaded. He caught me carefully before a blast of magic shot from around me, instantly knocking me out.
I woke up sometime later in bed, the night having come and the moonlight was peeking in my window. I climbed out of bed and moved down the hallway, looking around before I found Leon in his office, doing paperwork. I peeked in on him and leaned my cheek on the door frame. He hadn’t noticed me yet. It looked like Guy had left.
I nuzzled the door frame before I moved off down the hall and looked around curiously as I made it to the courtyard. I breathed out shakily. It didn’t look any different… but something was new on the edge of the fountain. I slowly walked over before pausing at seeing a mask, like my old friends.
I ran over and picked it up, looking at it. It was a white mask with two eye holes and black pain decorating it to be a face. It had black diamonds around the eyes with two tears off to one side. It also had two eyebrows above the diamonds, one of them raised. I turned it over in my hands before seeing my papa’s handwriting on the back of a single word.
Pierrot.
I felt my heart flutter at the word and I breathed shakily as I pulled it close to my chest and held onto it. I don’t know how it got here… but I never wanted to let it go.
I looked around curiously before noticing a sparkle on the ground. I started following it as I held onto the mask. It kept moving every time I’d get near. I was so focused on catching it, I didn’t realize I was wandering out of the castle. I reached for it again at the treelike before Leon caught me in his arms, breathing shakily as he held me close.
“What are you doing out of the castle?” He asked worried as he made me look at him. I looked at him perplexed before I looked back to where the sparkle had been. It was gone now. He looked where I looked before back at me. “Caliste… you can’t do that… you scared me.” He told me. I looked up at him at that.
“I’m sorry Leon.” I whispered out. He sighed and gently brushed back my hair before he noticed the mask in my hands.
“Where… did you find this?” He asked cautiously. I looked at it before up at him.
“At the fountain in the courtyard.” I told him. “It has my papa’s handwriting on it.” I lifted it up to show him. “Pierrot.” I smiled. I saw a hint of panic run through his eyes and my smile slowly faded. “Leon…?” I asked softly worried.
“Let’s get back to the castle.” He told me as he guided me back. I looked back at the trees and swore I saw Laplace in the darkness but it was a momentary image that didn’t last. I looked back at the castle as he guided me back home. I glanced down at the mask in my hands and breathed in shakily.
“Papa left it for me… didn’t he?” I asked softly.
“I don’t think so.” He told me. “I think he made it for you, but I don’t think he’s the one who left it for you.”
“Then who did?” I asked softly as I looked up at him. He glanced down at me.
“I don’t know and that’s what worries me.” He told me. I nodded at that as I looked at the mask. I ran my fingers over it and breathed in deeply.
“Can I keep it?” I asked softly. He looked at me and breathed in shakily.
“Sure.” He finally got out as he got me back to my room. “Get some rest, we have an early day tomorrow.” I nodded and smiled at the mask.
“Thank you Leon.” I smiled at him. “For finding me a name.” He smiled back at that.
“Of course.” He gently stroked my cheek. “Get some rest.”
“Can I have a story…?” I asked softly as I moved to my bed and set my new mask down on the side table, climbing in my bed. He sighed and chuckled before coming over. “A happy one?” He smiled.
“Of course.” He chuckled as he got me cuddled in bed before sitting with me and stroking my hair. He began to tell his story and I listened closely, letting it drift me off to sleep.