CONSIDER: PART I

A couple of days has passed by since Athena started her miracle work. She continued to assist the healers in healing all the wounded soldiers and amazed everyone. Also, the commander and his son have returned since the barbarians have retreated seeing their numbers have not decreased at all.

"Is Master Lirius and Little Lady lovers?"

"It seems they might be, did you see last time how much the Master told her off. He was so worried for her at the same time the way they looked at each other shows they are indeed more than friends."

From a distance the three young leaders overheard the soldiers' conversation.

"Brother, do you think our little savior is really with the Master?" Ignis sadly asked.

Roderic pinched his brow in disbelief his brother just asked such an absurd question. "Even if they are, it is none of our concern. She is a proper lady and Lirius is a man, what's wrong if they are lovers. Why? Do you see anyone fit to be with the lady than the Master?"

"It's not like that brother, it's just- our little lady sure is amazing. Not only is she a powerful magic fighter, but to think she is amazing at alchemist as well. She really is amazing. There aren't a lot of people who are able to master other magic ability." Ignis continued to praise the girl.

Meanwhile in the Alchemist's tent, Athena continued sneezing and wondered if she had caught a cold.

"How about you Noct, what do you think of our little lady?" Ignis eagerly anticipated his response.

Both men were stunned for a moment, after hearing the man replied. It was something they would never expect from a cold-heart person. It was only a myth for people like him. They watched as the man walked ahead leaving the two dumbfound of what they just heard.

Ignis looked at his brother who was still in shock and shook him back to reality.

Ignis: Brother, have I damaged my ear from the last battle?

Roderic: I think I need to see a doctor too, I must be losing my mind.

Ignis: Brother, if I'm not mistaken, Noct really did say what I think he just said.

Roderic: That she is a Saintess…

Ignis: Brother, we all know Saintess doesn't exist, what the heck is he talking about.

Roderic sighed: Have you forgotten, a Saintess does exist and she is in our family.

Ignis: Ah- You mean Athena, but didn't everyone say she does not possess any power? She can even stand on her own, she is as fragile as a vase.

Roderic: Despite Athena not having any powers, she was blessed by His Holiness and acknowledged as a Saintess. Even if she does not have power, she still holds great status in society.

Ignis: Speaking of Athena, doesn't our little lady kind of look like her. Haven't you noticed that our little lady has the same eyes as her. Apart from their hair, it looked like they could be twins.

Roderic: I'm not sure, I haven't seen Athena for years. Plus, it's impossible for the little lady to be Athena. She is far different from her, to put it in one word, she has power.

Ignis: You're right, but wouldn't it be great if our little lady is indeed from the Empire. Just proves how powerful the Empire is.

Roderic: She'll just end up as another tool for the Empire.

Roderic watched the girl who was working hard with the Alchemist. Seeing her smile reminded him indeed of their cousin.

As the two brothers left and went in search of the man who left. Lirius steps forward after overhearing their conversation.

"Tina, are you alright?" He asked, as he entered the tent with an uneasy feeling of what he just heard.

"Lirius, your back? Were you able to gather some herbs?"

Lirius handed the basket to the girl. "Shouldn't you be resting now? You just went and helped the healers earlier." He spoke slightly angry in his tone as he saw the girl have not rested since he left.

Athena smiled as she grabbed hold of the basket. "It's fine, I'm much better than the first day I woke up. Also, I didn't push myself this far today."

Lirius sighed seeing his words aren't getting anywhere, "I still think you need to rest, if we're back home, you should be taking a nap by now. If Greyford was here, he would insist you to get some rest."

Thinking of Greyford made the girl consider things.

'Indeed if Greyford was here, he would have insisted for me to sleep and eat. He'll always remind me to take a break. I must really have worried Lirius then.'

"Lirius, let's go back to our tent. I'll take a nap, would you please accompany me?" Athena put the basket down as he grabbed hold of the man's arms.

"Sure." He replied please to hear what the girl just said.

When Athena and Lirius were heading back to their tent, their path crossed with the three young leaders.

Ignis ran towards them filled with delight, "Master, Little Lady how are you?"

"Commander Ignis, I am fine…" Athena replied.

"We just came from patrolling the area, where are you heading?" Ignis asked.

Lirius placed his arms around Athena's shoulder and looked at her ignoring the men in front of them. "We should get going, you need to get some rest."

Athen reached out her hands and wrapped it around Lirius's neck. It dumbfound everyone seeing the affection being shown by the two.

"I won't run away, so let's go, and get some rest."

As the two walked away, everyone started whispering with eyes wide open of what they were seeing.

"Damn it, I think the Master and the Little Lady are indeed a couple."

"Well, the way the Master takes care of the Little Lady really proves he cares for her a lot."

"Brother, did you see that?" Ignis said as he tugged his brother's clothes.

"I did, so can you stop pulling on my shirt." Roderic continued to watch the two walk away, "Is it just me or does the Master hate us?"

"What do you mean brother?" Ignis curiously asked back.

"Every time we come close to the Little Lady he always finds reason for her to leave at once." Roderic logically replied as he had been observing Lirius's manners towards them recently.

"Well, I know one thing for sure… The wolf really hates Noct the most." Ignis laughed seeing the wolf continue to glare at Noct despite they were far away. "Noct, I'm really curious as to why the wolf hates you so much?"

"He can smell who I am…" Noct replied as he headed the opposite way as he finally understood as to why the wolf continued to be on high alert towards him despite the girl not being around him sometimes. He realized that it was not because of what he did, but because of his presence.

"True, you do smell"

"…."

Ignis was confused and did not understand what Noct said nor what his brother meant, he chased after them yelling asking what they meant by smell. 'Didn't the three of us bathe last night.' He curiously thought as he continued to ran after them.