Then, her eyes shot open.
The ceiling stared back at her, engulfed in the darkness of night. She gasped for air as she sat up on the bed, clutching her knees. The room was covered in shades of indigo and black, not a single ray of light to be found. The clock on her bedside cabinet ticked softly, the only sound in the room apart from Kanari's own ragged breathing.
Hot tears trailed down her face as she rocked back and forth, fleeting notes of panic still ringing in her heart. She placed her head on her knees and let out a strangled sob. She desperately wished Kokomi was here. Kokomi used to wake her up when she had her nightmares. They'd sit in together, the silence between them conveying everything. Now, she had no one.
She screamed into her knees, the thick sheets muffling the sound. 
What is wrong with me?
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Kanari's alarm clock went off at 5 o'clock sharp, as it always did. She sighed as she walked over to shut it. She'd been awake for hours, working away at her desk. After the nightmare, she tried to go back to sleep. She really did, but she couldn't banish the fiery scene she saw each time she closed her eyes from her mind. It was utterly maddening.
She wondered briefly what the king's reaction to her finishing a fortnight's worth of paperwork would be. A small smile appeared on her face as she remembered the awestruck expression he'd displayed when she beat him at chess over three weeks ago. Shaking the light blue haired man from her thoughts, she began her morning routine.
As she was tying her hair, a knock sounded on her door. She finished tightening her bun, loose strands still somehow escaping and framing her face, and went to open the door. 
Who could be here at this hour? She thought as she turned the brass doorknob. Her eyes widened as she saw who was standing on the other side of the door. 
"Your Highness!" Kanari exclaimed softly. "I wasn't expecting you at this early hour. To what do I owe the honor?"
"I'm terribly sorry for bothering you, but may I come in?" Asked Princess Ayaka.
"Of course," replied Kanari, stepping back. Once Ayaka walked inside, Kanari shut the door with a gentle click. "Was there anything you needed to discuss with me?" 
"It's not really important, if I'm being honest." The princess gave Kanari a small smile. "I wanted to give you a personal welcome to the family, that's all."
"Family?" 
"Oh, excuse me if I offended you in any way. It's just that the royal advisor is always so close to the king, and you're no exception. In fact, I think my brother likes you even more than the previous advisor!"
Kanari looked down at her feet, unsure of how to respond. Such a declaration left her rather flustered. "I'm honored, Your Highness."
"You don't have to refer to me as 'Your Highness' when we're alone, you know," Ayaka remarked, the smile never leaving her face. 
"Oh?"
"You can just call me Ayaka if you want."
They stood in awkward silence, both not really knowing how to be casual with each other. To an observer, it might've been a rather amusing scene. The two most powerful women in Inazuma treading eggshells around one another, ever so similar in nature.
"If I'm being completely honest with you," said Ayaka, breaking the silence, "I wanted to talk to someone more casually. I have Thoma and my brother, I suppose, but Ayato is always so busy. I guess I feel a little lonely."
Kanari looked at the princess in complete understanding. She knew the exact same feeling of wanting more than just one or two people you could truly talk to. The knights were a social bunch, so she was acquainted with many of her fellow guards, but did she really know them? As introverted as she was, she was grateful for Kokomi, Gorou, and Sara. She couldn't bear the thought of being disconnected from everyone again.
"I understand what you mean," replied Kanari, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "When I first joined the knights, everyone knew me, but then again, they didn't. Everything got better once I made a couple of friends, though."
"No wonder you were so worried about them." Ayaka returned her smile. "Everyone views me as the Shirasagi Himegimi, so they're usually too scared to be more casual with me.
"Though I suppose it might also be because I'm not quite sure how to make friends. I was taught how to socialize with nobility, but not how to talk to normal people. I— Are there even any rules to this?"
"Maybe? Maybe not? I'm probably just as inexperienced as you are," chuckled Kanari.
The two shared a small laugh together, the ice between them melting away. 
"You seem like quite a natural, though," Kanari remarked, clasping her hands behind her back.
Ayaka giggled. "I assure you, I'm not."
A peaceful silence settled between them as they exchanged grins. In that moment, a thousand words were exchanged through eyes alone. What a strange corner of the world this was. How lucky Kanari was, to meet someone she could relate to so easily.
"I must go now," said Ayaka, finally, "but if you ever want to talk to me, please inform Thoma. You can also write a letter and give it to him if you'd like. I assure you he won't pry, so you can write anything you want."
"I'll keep that in mind," responded Kanari, walking over to open the door for Ayaka. "Have a good day, Ayaka."
The princess's eyes brightened at that final word, and she gave a small wave as she walked out the door.
"You as well," she said, curtsying.
Kanari mimicked her, before closing the door. A content smile appeared on her face as she stood there, thinking about everything that happened. Her hand still on the doorknob, she closed her eyes. For the first time that day, she did not see a trace of fire in her mind. Perhaps things would get better after all. 
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END OF CHAPTER 10