TRAUMATIC MEMORIES OF DAYS GONE BY
“Wait right there, Aiz! What about your swimming lessons?”
Not this again…
Those were the young Aiz’s thoughts when Riveria began upbraiding her.
“Finn said I could practice fighting with him…”
“Did you forget you’re with me today? We can’t have you sinking like a stone forever, you know!”
It was about nine years before the present day, and Riveria had just stopped the seven-year-old Aiz from tiptoeing out of the manor, shortsword in hand.
“But swimming won’t help me in a battle…” Aiz pouted.
“Oh, it will. Let’s drop you in a pool of kelpies and see what happens, shall we?”
Aiz hadn’t always gotten on so swimmingly with the other members of Loki Familia—Riveria least of all. She was a rebellious child, only concerned with improving her skill with the blade, and perhaps that was why Riveria took it upon herself to act like the girl’s mother. Not a day went by when the high elf couldn’t be heard scolding the young girl over one fault or another.
“It’s all well and good to focus on your strengths,” she went on, “but it’s equally important to work on eliminating your weaknesses. Having a well-rounded education will serve you well in—”
And so on. Nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, until even the unexpressive Aiz was beginning to show signs of annoyance. Riveria’s sermon went on and on, with no end in sight, until…
“Okay, Grandma…”
The elf’s long ears twitched, and Riveria glowered at Aiz with a look as cold as ice.
“It looks like you need to learn just how frightening the waters can be, young lady,” she said, “…and hopefully pick up some manners in the process.”
“…And poor Aiz has been traumatized ever since!”
“Since what? What did Riveria do to her?!”
“You missed out on the most important part!!”
“Ah, well, ya see, she tied her arms and legs to this handy lump of adamantite we had lyin’ around, and then sploosh! Tossed her right in!”
“How was that supposed to teach her how to swim?!”
A few days after the matter at Meren was resolved, Loki had gathered Tione, Tiona, and Lefiya in the sitting room and was telling them all the story that explained why Aiz was so bad at swimming to this day.
Just then, Riveria, who happened to be passing by, popped her head through the open doorway.
“What’s that, Aiz? Still can’t swim? How about we have another one of our lessons, just like old times?”
“?!”
Aiz’s whole body seized up in shock, and she began shivering uncontrollably.
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