Extracurricular Studies

[everdistant_utopia]

Character(s): Saber and you!
Location: The Library
Rating: PG
Open/Closed/Finished: Open
Summary: Feeling inadequate yet again and trying to catch up to others, Saber reflects on the wonders of the modern era, such as mass-produced books and widespread literacy.

This day found the girl who was once called the Once and Future King of Britain in the Garden's library. Though she had some passing familiarity with an era over a millennium into her future, she continued to find certain things about it marvellous. One of these was the proliferation of written texts.

They were a far cry from the comparatively unwieldy codices of her day, and far more accessible. Instead of being written by hand, these texts were mass-produced via printing press or, given the advanced technology of the Gardens, an even more efficient means. It meant that now, books were no longer reserved for the clergy or wealthy. Now, nearly anyone could own one.

On the other hand, the books of the Library were for all to peruse. Another aspect of the current era was that everyone seemed to be literate regardless of station, necessitating such places where anyone could read whatever was stored on its shelves. It had been something she could only dream for her own people during her rule, even as she rallied her armies to fend off invasions and civil unrest alike. The current era was hardly the paradise she envisioned for her country, but it was nevertheless an improvement if even the poorest person could read.

Fortunately for Saber, she'd received all the necessary schooling for a king, and was able to study the many books she had stacked in front of her. Without a Holy Grail to impart instant knowledge of the world she now found herself in, the petite blonde had to take command of her own learning. The academy itself existed for that very purpose, but she couldn't help but feel lacking, somehow. It was a good thing for the Library, indeed.

Comments

[shiest_sunbeam]

"L-Lady Saber? O-oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to disturb you, I... I thought I was the only one here." she said quickly, face reddening even more as time went by. She tried to speed up the process of picking up her books while trying not to make too much eye contact.

"Y-yes, I'm alright, just... being a bit clumsy is all."

[everdistant_utopia]

Saber couldn't help but smile slightly, a rare gentle smile. "It is all right...I am simply passing the time, as it were."

Which is what she had been doing, if she was to be completely honest with herself. She could train, but where she most needed to hone her skills was learning what she could about this new world.

The knight was able to carry an impressive stack, her diminutive size belying her strength. But rather than hand them back, she waited for Ronnae to indicate where she was going. Chivalry demanded it, after all.

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae looked at her for a few moment before realizing what the stoic female was waiting for. The act brought a crimson blush to her cheeks and Ronnae looked down a bit embarrassed, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Oh ah, well... I... Hadn't really picked a spot yet." she paused for a moment, holding her own stack close to her chest. "If... you don't mind, I could always sit wherever you were sitting as well? Maybe we could keep each other company while w-we study. I-if that's okay with you I m-mean!" she added hastily at the end.

[everdistant_utopia]

Saber managed to suppress a grin, but her smile betrayed her and left no trace of her usual stoic mask.

"I am seated over there," she said, nodding with her head toward the table with her own tower of books. "I would be most grateful for your company."

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae smiled in turn and nodded, taking quick steps as to not leave the Lady waiting on her for long. Once there, she settled in the seat besides her before quickly springing back up a bit embarrassed.

"Is um, anywhere fine Lady Saber? I do not know if you had any preference of where I sat, or if you had or were expecting any company."

[everdistant_utopia]

The blonde shook her head slightly. "No, I was not expecting anyone."

Setting the books down next to her own, she waited for Ronnae to be seated first, as was proper knightly custom. "In truth, I feel there is still much I need to learn on my own, so I thought it best that I study as much as I am able."

[shiest_sunbeam]

Well at least she had to make sure. She definitely didn't want to intrude on Lady Saber. Once she had confirmed, Ronnae settled once again besides her and scooted up, placing her second half of the books she was carrying on the side and looked over to Saber.

"It's admirable, but expected of you." she said with an admiring, sheepish smile. "I figured someone like you would want to know everything they can to better get settled and understand the situation as a tactician would..."

She paused and smiled a bit more warmly. "But you also seemed like the type who would have enjoyed this thoroughly, regardless of the situation..."

And then she was back to being red faced and embarrassed, quickly looking away and bowing her head slightly. "Err, I hope I'm n-not making offensive assumptions Lady Saber. I guess I got ahead of myself." Not to mention admitting that she had given a lot of thought on the woman.

[everdistant_utopia]

Once more Saber had to suppress a grin, but it was becoming more difficult, and her smile widened just slightly.

"You are very astute, my lady," she replied, her tone lilting softly. "It is the duty of a knight to observe his surroundings and make proper assessments."

But that was not the true reason, admittedly. If there was one thing she never seemed to escape, it was her own feelings of inadequacy.

"Still," she continued, "It is a rare thing for someone to make an effort to understand me."

Perhaps it was true that the King didn't understand those around her. But who had tried to understand the King?

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae smiled sheepishly, but after a moment she looked up at her curiously. "Really?" she asked, mildly confused. "I don't know why anyone wouldn't honestly. From what we spoke, you are an admirable, strong and chivalrous person who is befit of such..." A small blush rose on her cheeks but she didn't look away.

"Admittedly, I... well, you seemed like a very intriguing person and I have to say I thought a lot about what we spoke off."

Her words drifted a little and she idly looked to the books, stroking the spine of a random one. "It reminded me of the things I love about knights and paladins of my world. Well, at least the ones who uphold honor, justice and chivalry, like my papa and my uncle."

She turned back to look at Saber, a bit more of an excited smile. "Just knowing that you uphold the very same ideals makes me incredibly happy to have met you and I sorta, maybe, thought about you more as I tried to learn more about you without bother you in turn."

[everdistant_utopia]

Saber didn't make it a habit to talk about herself, and in recent history the only person she had truly opened up to in any real capacity had been Irisviel. Which is why it might have been somewhat strange she was doing to now. Or perhaps it wasn't...she couldn't help but feel drawn to those with a genuine respect for knighthood and chivalry.

On top of that, the young woman was gentle and earnest, not entirely unlike Iri in that regard but much more innocent, feminine in a different way. Rather like the picture of a perfect noble lady, in Arturia's own era.

"In truth, the blame for that is mine. My people would not accept a woman as ruler of Britain, so my father sent me to be raised by a knight shortly after I was born. And when I became king, I had no choice but to hide the truth of my sex, and kept all those around me at a necessary distance."

She smiled slightly as she studied the cover of one of her collected books; a study of the heraldry that had become popular a few hundred years after her reign. "It is a strange feeling, but not unwelcome. And I am most glad that there are those who value the path of chivalry and true knighthood."

[shiest_sunbeam]

A bright and warm smile rose on Ronnae's features as she listened. It was just like reading a peasant's story who rose against hardships and sacrificed much for the sake of those they wanted to protect. In that regard, Lady Saber even sacrificed her identity for her ideals and those where the type of people Ronnae admired greatly.

"My father would have loved meeting you," she start in a warm tone. "You truly are a chivalrous person, and it's clear that you didn't sacrifice all you did for selfish or misguided reasons. You cared, and still do, and the path that you paved certainly led to many followers far and wide at the many tales of your heroics, valor and honor."

[everdistant_utopia]

Admittedly, Ronnae's high praise was something the King of Knights deemed much more than she deserved. All her vaunted chivalry and the path of the benevolent king nevertheless failed to bring utopia to her people...and that was the whole point of her rule. She was, by her own standards, a failure.

But she kept these thoughts to herself; the king did not burden others with her troubles.

"Your father must be a knight of exceptional honour," she said, clearly impressed. "I would have been honoured to meet him."

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae beamed proudly and nodded, "He was one of a kind, and not just because he was my father mind you." she said with a cheerful smile. "He reached the highest rank of Blood Knights, which is are the knights of his people the Sin'Dorei. But then went on to join the Argent Crusade which are more of the world's knights and there he achieved the highest rank amongst the Paladins that one could achieve and was offered to join and follow the Knights of the Silver Hand which in turn was an elite group within the Argent Crusade."

Can you tell that she's really proud of her papa?

"He got in a lot of trouble with mama though," she mused a bit awkwardly. "He was always pretty selfless so he spent a lot of time on the field helping the people of Azeroth. Those in need and those who couldn't defend themselves. Mama thought he should be at home more.... I didn't mind, I always looked forward to hearing his stories about the field."

[everdistant_utopia]

To Saber's mind, he almost sounded like the only true friend she had as king: Sir Lancelot du Lac. And that was another source of endless agony for her that she buried to remain focused on her goals, both in her natural lifetime and their final battle as Servants.

"My own knights were similarly dedicated," she reflected. "It was difficult for their families, but I am confident they were proud of them. Certainly, I was."

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae nodded and smiled. "Well, the world certainly needed them that's for sure. If it wasn't for people like them, like your knights, like you? Who was going to give hope to the weary, the defenseless, the innocent?"

Which was one of the reasons she wanted to continue her journey as a warrior, to hopefully be able to do the same that Knights did for the people, and not the combat.

[everdistant_utopia]

Only rarely was her path of chivalry respected, but even then, it was rarely understood. Yet Ronnae clearly understood what their purpose had been, and what she had tasked the Round Table with.

"When I was told that I was the true heir to my kingdom, my country was besieged with chaos. There were invaders from across the ocean, and no longer a king to lead armies to repel them. I was told that it was within my power to stop it...and so I did."

Though she continued to regret her failures and the rule marked by them, at the time it was all she could do to bring peace to the land.

"After that, however... the dangers persisted, or new ones arose to take their place. I formed the Round Table to address those, and picked those knights trustworthy enough to protect the people."

[shiest_sunbeam]

"It must have been rough." Ronnae started with a knowing look before turning to look up in thought.

"It seems that there will always be something more to threaten the lives and stability of your world... It certainly was for Azeroth... But that wasn't going to deter those who wanted to protect from keeping on trying!" she added with a smile.

"And I know you weren't going to give up either no matter what. I can see that."