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⬅️ Previous capture (2023-01-29)
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Iris looked to her left, and then her right. The bench she was sitting on had both new and familiar faces. A couple of her classmates were there, though none of the ones she got along with. The rest, she didn't recognize, although they were all young, about her age. She clutched her legs with her claws and took a deep breath. There was no reason to be worried, surely. She'd been training for a year now, and there was no way she was going to-
"Iris Vulkan."
A deep, commanding voice called out her name. Immediately, she stood up and walked to the center of the large room, making sure to stand on one of the two black lines on the floor. The large, uniformed bear that called her name took one look at her and nodded, before looking back down at the piece of paper in his hand.
"Deneb Hayes."
Iris' head turned. Walking in her direction was... a fox girl. About her age, probably, and significantly shorter than her, only reaching up to about her chest, though as a dragon Iris was used to that. The fox girl had long hair and light blue fur, with icy white accents. Her clothes were surprisingly plain, in contrast to Iris' elegan skirt uniform. Maybe she was a commoner? Yeah, she didn't recognize the name Hayes, and she was familiar with pretty much all of the noble houses in the region. Definitely a commoner. Kind of weird, but not unheard of. Well, if her opponent wasn't trained in fencing, this was going to be easy.
Once the fox was standing on the other black line, the bear nodded approvingly.
"I trust that you both know the rules. Remember, this is not a competition. No tricks. You simply need to show your combat mastery."
They both nodded in unison, and drew their swords from their hilts. Iris readied her blade, and adopted the position that she had become so familiar with. The fox, however, was just loosely holding her sword, letting it hang down and drag along the floor, with her other hand stuck in her pocket, like she didn't care. She even had a bored expression on her face. Why would anyone go through all the trouble of applying for the royal guard if they weren't even going to try? Iris was feeling a little disconcerted, but it would probably be a quick fight anyways.
"Begin!"
As soon as the bear shouted the command, Iris saw the fox girl dashing for her at full speed. Of course, she had no trouble blocking her strike with her own sword, but she was surprised at how much force was behind it. Another strike followed, right after, and she blocked it as well. Then a third, and a fourth. This girl was definitely strong, but had no technique behind it. A well-aimed parry should do the trick. She twisted her wrist, getting into position, and-
Wait, where did she go?
Iris had just barely enough time to spin around and block the slash that came at her from behind. Their swords clashed, and the fox leapt backwards, lowering her sword again. They stared at each other for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. Okay, so she meant business. That much was clear.
But... was that a smirk on her face? And had she still not taken her hand out of her pocket?
This commoner, who clearly hadn't even taken formal lessons, was planning to come in and beat her without effort? Her, Iris Vulkan?
She pointed the tip of her blade forward and lunged at the insolent fox. She was trying her best to stay focused, but evidently put a little too much weight behind her swing, and almost lost her balance when the fox leaned her upper body to the side, dodging her attack like it was nothing. Thinking on her feet, she performed a graceful spinning slash, tracing a circle around herself, but once more, the fox leapt out of the way. Iris couldn't believe what was happening. Was she really going to lose against this... this fox? No, she couldn't let that happen.
Minutes passed, and they kept fighting, Iris' attacks getting increasingly more desperate. At least her opponent was getting worn down as well, sweating and breathing heavily. Their swords clashed again, and again, and again. Almost forgetting about her training, Iris kept lunging at the fox, putting more and more force behind her swings, and still each and every one of them was blocked. She just had to keep at it, and her guard would eventually break. Just a little more. Her attacks kept pushing her opponent back, forcing her to step backwards until she was almost at the edge of the small arena, and then...
With a mighty roar, Iris spread her wings open, and her blade was engulfed in flames. The final swing sliced right through the fox's weapon, breaking it clean in half, and making its owner fall over backwards. She did it. She had won.
... wait. She wasn't supposed to use magic.
Breathing heavily, Iris took a step back, and looked around her. Everyone was looking at her, including the large uniformed bear, who had a disapproving look on his face. This was awful. She had completely blown it.
Looking back down, she saw her opponent get back up onto her feet. She looked as calm as before on the surface, but she could see rage in her eyes. After taking a moment to catch their breaths, they both walked back to their designated positions and turned to face the bear. He cleared his throat, and his deep voice echoed through the training hall again.
"Well done. You both performed admirably. However, I am sure I do not need to remind you that magic is strictly forbidden during the test. If you cannot contain your emotions during battle, you are not fit to be in the royal guard. Iris Vulkan, you are disqualified."
She could do nothing but tilt her head down in shame, putting her sword back in its sheath.
"Deneb Hayes, you are clearly strong and agile enough to be a soldier. However, that is not all it takes. You lack discipline and technique. If you had received the proper training, you would have been able to deal with this situation, instead of being overwhelmed and losing the fight. I am sorry to say, but you have not passed the test."
The fox simply let out a "hmph".
"Thank you both for coming today. You are dismissed, and I hope to see you again in next year's test, when you have both honed your skills further."
Iris looked to her side and exchanged an angry glance with the fox. This was all her fault. How could she be expected to keep her calm when this girl was practically taunting her the entire time? What was her family going to say? As she stepped down from the arena, she made a mental note of the name. Deneb Hayes. She was going to pay.
---
Iris opened the door of the old warehouse, stepped inside, and closed it behind her. She lifted her claw and conjured a flame to light up the area. It was dark outside, so she was the only light source. She walked around and lit up a few torches around the place, making it actually viable to see. Would she be at a disadvantage? Did foxes have night vision?
As she moved boxes and barrels around to make space, the events of last week kept playing in her head. That fox. Who did she think she was? Because of her, she'd have to wait another full year before applying to the royal guard again. Another year of having to put up with her family's well-intentioned, but hurtful comments. She wondered if she'd have to wait long for...
As if on cue, the door creaked open again, and the blue fox stepped through it. Iris lifted her head and their eyes locked onto each other.
"Alright, I'm here. What do you want?"
Iris stood up.
"Deneb Hayes. Surely you know what I want. I could have defeated you without magic, and you know it perfectly well. I want to prove it."
"Right. Well, unfortunately for you, princess..." That last word had so much sarcasm behind it. "My sword is kind of out of commission."
Without saying a word, Iris threw a sword at the fox. She lifted her left arm and caught it quickly, the right one still stuck in her pocket.
"Heh, should have figured. Oh, why the hell not. It's not like I have anything better to be doing."
They both walked to the center of the circle, the fox dragging the sword along the ground. She then turned her head.
"Ready?"
"When you are."
They both lunged at each other almost at the same time. Their blades clashed against each other, and the fox's surprising force pushed Iris back, putting her on the defensive. She had no trouble interrupting each swing with one of her own, but she was forced to walk back with each one.
"You. Are going to pay. For what you did. To my sword."
"Hah... if it truly is so important for you... why not take it to the blacksmith?"
"We don't all come from noble families, you know, princess? I can repair it myself no problem. I just don't have the money for materials."
With a well-executed parry, Iris forced her opponent back. They stared at each other for a moment, quiet. She really didn't have a clever response to that, so instead, she dashed, twisted around quickly, and tried attacking her from the side. Her swing got intercepted.
"That's why I wanted to get into the royal guard in the first place. I need a job."
"Well, at least you are good at fighting, I will grant you that."
The fox blinked, and then jumped backwards.
"... thanks, I guess."
The sound of steel clashing reverberated through the dimly lit warehouse, again and again and again. The fox was getting worn down again, but Iris still couldn't find any openings. She tried practically every trick and technique she had learned in class, but the girl seemed determined to not back down even a little. And all of that with one hand in her pocket. Was she really still taunting her? No, no, she couldn't use magic again. She had to stay calm. But this girl...
"Why... hah... are you still not... fighting properly?" They looked at each other right in the eyes, between their crossed swords, as they both struggled to push back against the other. "What are you... waiting for? Use... your other... hand! Give it your all!"
"I can't MOVE my other hand, asshole!"
... oh.
Iris blinked. That moment of lost focus was all it took for the shorter fox's strength to overwhelm her. With one final push, Iris' sword flew off her claw and landed on the floor by her side. The sheer force behind that swing kept the blade going and made it tear through Iris' crimson uniform, piercing her golden scales and making a shallow cut on her shoulder.
"Ah!!"
Panting heavily, the fox stood in front of her, looking at her shoulder. She could swear she saw a flash of regret and indecision in her eyes, but they were quickly replaced by the same indifference as before. She threw her sword on the ground as well, bouncing against the hard concrete.
"Okay. I win. I'm better. Are you- hah- happy now?"
They both stood in silence, regaining their breaths. Iris held her shoulder with one claw.
"Your hand. Is it..."
"It's an old injury. What the hell do you care?"
"Is that why you could not find a job? If you truly are as good at smithing as you say..."
"Hah. Okay, well, you're sharper than I gave you credit for. Yes, that's why I needed to get into the royal army so bad. No blacksmith in this city will hire me."
Iris looked down, ashamed of herself. She wasn't being taunted.
"Very well. Yes, you win. I can recognize when I am defeated. I will train harder, and at the exam next year we shall see who has improved the most."
The fox mumbled to herself. "If I'm even here next year..."
She turned and took a step towards the door, before stopping in place, hesitating. Iris looked up at her.
"What else do you want?"
Turning around again, she took a few steps towards Iris, and lifted her paw to place it on her shoulder.
"Stay still."
A blue glow lit up their faces, though not as bright as the red flames around them. Suddenly, a chill ran through Iris' spine. The stinging pain in her shoulder slowly faded away, and her scales reformed, closing the wound. The fox then took another step back and turned for the door again.
"Ice magic...?"
"Don't get the wrong idea. I don't wanna be thrown in jail for hurting a noble. I know how things work around here."
Without another word, she vanished, leaving the door open. Iris sat there alone for a bit longer, lost in thought.
---
A knock on her door. Iris turned around to see who it was, but it was already opening by the time she could say anything. Another golden dragon stepped through, a bit taller than her, and walked into her room without hesitation, before leaving a white envelope on her desk.
"Mail for you."
"Ugh, Robin, you could at least have waited for a response."
The dragon laughed and patted her back.
"I figured you would be studying. You need to train hard for the next test, or am I wrong?"
She sighed. "Whatever you say. Come on, leave me alone."
With a shrug, the other dragon disappeared through the door again. Curious, she picked up the envelope, tore it open with one claw, and took out the letter inside it.
'To Her Highness Princess Vulkan,'
Sigh. She knew Iris wasn't actually part of the royal family, right? One never knew with commoners.
'I figure you probably have something to do with the last job offer I got at the blacksmith. Thanks, but I don't need someone's help with pulling strings like nobles do. I can take care of myself.'
Heh. Well, at least she said thanks.
'I don't want to be indebted to someone like you, so here's my proposal. You clearly need more training to get into the royal guard, so what do you say we meet up once a week from now on and train together? I could use some sparring practice of my own. If you find some time in your tight schedule of fancy dinners, send me a letter back and we can figure out a time.
Don't wait too long. This offer isn't forever.
Deneb Hayes'
Well, that was unexpected, but not really unwelcome. She needed every chance she could get to train further. She couldn't let herself fail the exam again. Then again, with her of all people...?
Iris put her claws behind her head, looking up at the ceiling. She had some thinking to do.
---
"Here, I brought another sword for you."
"No need. I repaired mine."
Iris put away the sword she was holding. "Oh. Very well." She glanced down at the sheath by Deneb's waist. "... do you think I could see it?"
"Sure." She took it out and handed it to Iris. "It's nothing special, though."
The dragon gripped the sword firmly and examined the blade. It was nothing like the ones she was used to handling. The handle was simple and practical, unlike the ornate and complicated one of her own sword, and the blade was thick and had lots of small chips and imperfections all over. She expected a fox to use something more like a rapier, something that could take advantage of her small size.
"Its condition is not... great."
"I don't care. This sword is important to me. I'm not getting rid of it."
"Oh, I see." She handed the blade back to Deneb. "I... apologize for breaking it. I did not know."
"Do mine ears deceive me? Is Her Highness apologizing? This is new."
"Hey, there is no need to be so condescending about it! Whatever problem you may have with nobles, leave me out of it, will you?"
"Okay, okay, that's fair. Sorry." They both stood up and got into position to start sparring. "Also, I haven't properly thanked you for the recommendation to the blacksmith. So... yeah, thanks."
They briefly exchanged a smile, and got right to their training. Now that they were both trying to practice rather than win, they found a good rhythm together very quickly. Iris' carefully coreographed moves kept finding tiny openings in Deneb's guard, and the latter's quick dodges and strong strikes never gave Iris a chance to get comfortable. Every once in a while, they stopped to take a breather and exchange some tips.
"Your attacks are certainly strong, but very predictable. Although, if you tried swinging from this side instead..."
"No, see, I know you've been taught that you need to parry here, but if you just dodge the swing, you can get behind them and..."
They continued their training together, both of them losing track of time, until the loud sound of a bell interrupted it, resonating between the building's walls and making the old-looking windows shake a bit. Deneb looked up, surprised.
"... oh! Is it that late already?"
"Time flies when you are having fun, does it not?"
"Yeah, it- I mean, okay, I dunno if I'd call it fun. It was okay. You're not bad at this at all."
"Heh, same to you."
They both sheathed their swords.
"I gotta leave now, though. I have to pick up Sirius."
"Huh? Your sibling?"
"Oh yeah, I never told you about him. He's my little brother. I'd be fine just wandering from town to town by myself, but with him, we kind of had to settle down here."
"Ah, I see. Is that why you were so desperate for a job? How about-" ... your parents? Iris caught how invasive that question was just before asking it out loud. "... um, well anyways. Would you like to meet again next week? I think we made a lot of progress."
"Sounds good." Deneb was already walking towards the door. "Same place, same time?"
"Of course!"
---
The next few months flew by without either of them realizing. Every week, they met up and trained together for a few hours, then went about their separate ways. Even though they didn't have a lot in common, Iris found herself not just respecting her rival, but liking her as a person. On top of the usual banter during fights, they also took the opportunity to talk about themselves and their lives. She found that the words came to her naturally while sparring, and Deneb was a good listener; she knew when a topic was too sensitive for her sarcastic jabs, and she seemed to at least show some sympathy for her problems. At the very least, if Deneb only saw her as a spoiled noble brat, she kept it to herself.
Today was a little unusual. Rather than meeting up at the abandoned warehouse as usual, Deneb had asked her to meet in a clearing just outside the city, only giving her an enigmatic "you'll see" as an explanation. That was kind of weird, but then again, that fox had caught her off guard so many times by now that she had learned to expect the unexpected. She was certainly... unusual for a commoner. Or maybe that wasn't all that unusual? It's not like there were any commoners at school with her.
Finally reaching the agreed location, she spotted the light blue fox sitting on a rock, who quickly stood up and walked closer when she waved at her.
"There you are. Took your time."
"I do not come to the outskirts often, that's all. Why did you want to meet up here?"
"Well. I was thinking we could make things a little more..." She lifted her sword up in front of her chest, and as she gripped the handle tightly, a light blue glow emanated from her paw, and the blade was quickly covered in a similarly-coloured aura, with tiny ice crystals floating off from it. "... interesting."
"Oh. You want to fight with magic today, do you?"
"If you're game. I didn't want you setting the warehouse on fire."
"Heh, right. But you know the exam does not allow magic, right? I wonder how useful that would be as training..."
Deneb pointed her sword up at her, with a smirk on her face. "What's the matter, princess? Scared?"
Iris smiled back. "In your dreams." After drawing her own sword, she lifted it up horizontally and ran her claw along the blade, covering it with a layer of red hot flames.
"That's what I like to hear. Ready?"
"Always."
Iris lifted her sword and took a quick stab at her opponent, who quickly raised her own blade and repelled the hit. When the two swords clashed, a sizzling sound could be heard over the noise of steel hitting steel. With a deft and surprisingly elegant turn of the wrist, Deneb pushed her rival's blade downwards.
"Watch where you point that thing, princess. You could hurt someone."
"Hah. You have been picking up a few tricks."
Deneb raised her own sword, preparing to make a stabbing motion as well. Iris immediately recognized the movement and raised her guard, ready to counterattack, and was caught completely by surprise when the fox instead moved to the side with a graceful twirl, and struck right through Iris' dead angle, stopping the blade just as it made contact with her cheek.
"More than a few."
Iris couldn't help but smile, even with the ice-cold steel pressed against her face. After a moment, Deneb pulled her sword back and let it hang down as usual, grinning back at her rival.
"Well, you are a lot less predictable, that's for sure."
With a jump back, Iris readied her sword once more, and this time, she leapt forward, spinning around in mid-air, letting her sword trace a spiral of flames around her as she raised it above her head, and struck down with all her might against Deneb's guard. The two blades once again sizzled together, small clouds of vapour rising from the point of contact.
"Ngh...!" Deneb struggled to contain the attack, her wrist shaking.
"Fortunately, you are not the only one who's learned."
"Don't get... too cocky..."
Her defense finally broke down, quickly moving back to avoid Iris' sword as it struck the ground and left a small charred circle on the grass. She took a few deep breaths.
"Hah... well... it's good to see you finally... make use of your weight. Always thought it was a waste for a dragon to do all those fancy moves without using her muscles."
"I guess court fencing is not really about putting weight behind your swings. Your style is much better for that."
"I don't think I really have a 'style'. I've just learned what works best in a real fight."
"Well, I thought so too at first. But I think it can be called a style even if it does not have a name, don't you think?"
"... hm. Don't really care."
"Also, you look exhausted already. Sure you would not prefer to stop the training for today?"
Deneb raised her blade again. "In your dreams."
---
Once more, they both lost track of time, lost in their fight. Their swords clashed again and again as the sun set and the sky slowly turned from icy light blue to fiery orange. Neither of them seemed to have any interest in letting up, only stopping for a few moments to make a comment before continuing their relentless battle.
Beads of sweat were running down Iris' forehead as she took a few steps backwards, blocking Deneb's swings, then forwards again, going on the offensive. She was getting tired, and the magic on her sword was quickly draining the last of her energy, but there was no way she was letting Deneb win this one.
Just then, when their swords collided and sizzled once more, a white flash blinded her, and for a split second, she saw... herself. Her own face, covered in golden scales, looking right back at her. Even though it was only an instant, it felt like it stretched on and on as unfamiliar thoughts and feelings flooded her head, overwhelming her. Pride. Determination. Bitterness. And most of all...
Fear.
She felt a wave of fear and insecurity washing over her, drowning her, suffocating her. Her breath caught in her throat.
And then, just as quickly as it came, it disappeared. When that instant passed, both of them saw the other's eyes open wide, and they both jumped backwards. They stood in silence, trying to regain their composure. After what felt like an eternity, Deneb was the first one to speak.
"... I think I'm more tired than I thought. You mind stopping for today?"
"Yes, good idea."
With a flick of their wrists, they both dispelled the magic that coated their swords, sheathed them, and sat down together on a nearby rock. Again, they sat in silence for minutes. Or was it hours? Probably not, but it felt like it. This time, Iris was the one to speak.
"Are you... scared of failing the exam again?"
"Hah." Deneb didn't even look at her. "Good one."
"I mean it. I... I am also a little scared, you know." She put her claw on Deneb's shoulder. "It's fine if-"
"Don't. Touch me."
She quickly removed her claw. "Sorry."
Another awkward silence followed.
"... I think I'm a little on edge from the fight. Don't take it personally."
"Right. I understand."
"Listen. I'll be honest with you. I can't fail this exam. The smithing job is good and it has nice hours, but as an apprentice it doesn't pay enough to feed two people. I need to enter the royal guard."
"Right, yes. Your brother." Iris looked up at the sky. "Isn't it late, by the way? Should you not be picking him up?"
"It's okay. He's..." She looked down. "He's with someone I trust."
Iris nodded in response, then turned her head.
"Why are you telling me all of this now, by the way?"
"Heh. Why? I dunno. I guess you've been chattering about your noble problems long enough. Listening to mine for once wouldn't kill you."
"No, of course not. But you've always been so quiet about them. What made you change your mind?"
Deneb let out a sigh and leaned back on the rock, still avoiding eye contact. "... I guess something tells me that you actually care."
Iris smiled to herself. "Of course I care. And you know what? We are absolutely going to ace that exam. I'm sure of it."
"Yeah, right. You sure seem sure of yourself."
"And you should be, too! Come on, no formal training and you can keep up with someone who has been doing court fencing for years."
"Hey, I've had training, just not formal."
"Yeah, and it is a real shame, too. Look how much you have improved in just a few months. Give it a couple more, and I know you'll be unstoppable."
"... you know what? Maybe you're right. I AM going to ace that exam."
"That's the spirit!"
"You, I'm not so sure about. I'm gonna need to train you some more."
Iris let out a chuckle. "Oh, how gracious of you. I humbly accept your offer."
They both smiled and sat in silence for a bit longer, looking into the sunset.
---
"Deneb Hayes."
The months had zoomed by, and the day had finally come again. The blue-furred fox rose from her seat and stood on one of the black lines, near the middle of the arena.
"Iris Vulkan."
They were together again. No surprise there. The captain probably just wanted to see how much they had improved together. Iris stood up as well and walked to the other black line, then turned to face the imposing-looking bear that was supervising the exam.
"I am sure I do not need to repeat the rules to either of you." Okay, that stung a little. "This is not a competition. You simply need to show your combat mastery." They both nodded, drew their swords, faced each other again, and shared a complicit smile.
"Begin!"
The air was immediately filled with the sound of clashing steel. Like clockwork, the two moved around the arena, quickly alternating between attack and defense. Each of them retained their unique style, but it was immediately obvious how much they had learned from each other; so much so, that the captain couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, impressed.
The battle continued for a few more minutes. Iris and Deneb danced around each other's moves, as if each of them knew perfectly well what the other was going to do. In some sense, they did, even though the fight was not rehearsed; they could feel each other's intentions, read the smallest twitches, and their bodies would react before their brains realized it. In the end, though very close, Iris managed to catch Deneb's blade near the hilt, grabbed her own sword with both claws, and, with a powerful upwards swipe, sent her opponent's blade flying, landing at the captain's feet. Deneb glanced over, let out a sigh, and extended her now free hand forward with a grin on her face. With a little flourish, Iris put her sword back in her sheath and shook her rival's hand.
"Showoff."
"What of it?"
They both turned to face the captain, who was walking towards them, holding Deneb's sword. He handed it back to her, stoic as always, not a hint of emotion on his face.
"You have both improved greatly in the last year, that much is obvious."
But...?
"Deneb Hayes, you have come a long way from the unrefined display you showed a year ago. You could still use some polishing, but I believe that, in time, you could make an excellent soldier. The royal guard would be happy to welcome you."
Deneb stood there, unfazed. These two weren't related, were they?
"Iris Vulkan, surely you are aware that your family's name can only carry you so far. We do not give anyone a special treatment because of who they are."
... oh no.
"That said, you have shown better mastery of the sword than either of your older siblings did, back when they stood where you do now. If this is how much progress you can make on your own in a year, I look forward to seeing what you can achieve under my training. Welcome to the royal guard."
... oh YES.
"You will both be sent your respective letters next month to indicate when and where you will get started. That is all."
Iris returned to her seat, trying her best to not let her giddiness show through.
---
As soon as they walked out of the building, Iris threw her arms around Deneb in a big hug, lifting her off the ground.
"We did it! We did it!!"
"Woah woah, hey, what did we say about touching?"
Still smiling, she put the fox back down on the ground. "Heh, sorry."
"That's alright. I'm glad too, yknow. This is a huge weight off my shoulders."
"You were still scared? Come on, I knew we could do it!"
"I knew we'd give them a good show, for sure. Couldn't trust those stuck-up nobles to know talent when they see it, though."
"Again with the nobles?"
"No, no, don't take it personally. You're not like them, I know that now. Hell, you're even starting to sound like a normal person by now."
"That's... okay, fine, you have your reasons. I won't ask more about it."
"Maybe someday I'll tell you. Now, it's celebration time. I'm going out for ice cream. It's been a while."
"Ooooh, can I come?"
Deneb looked to her side and slightly up at Iris, a confused look on her face. "You?"
"Oh, uh, was that so weird to say?"
"... listen, I'm flattered, but I'm not into girls."
"What- nononono! Me neither! That isn't what I meant! I just, since I also passed the exam, I wanted to celebrate, and-"
"Well, shouldn't you do that with your family? I'm taking Sirius with me."
She let out a sigh. "My family already expected me to pass the first exam. I doubt they will want to celebrate much. They certainly didn't when Atlas and Robin passed their exams."
"Wow, what? Really? That... sucks. What kind of family is that?"
"I mean, noble families are kind of like that."
"Okay. You know what? You're coming with me and Sirius. I'll introduce you to him."
"Really? I don't want to intrude, though-"
"That wasn't a suggestion. You're coming."
Iris looked down at her friend, smiling.
"... alright!"