Village of Hansel, The Thearid Home, Present day.
Rebecca slammed the door to Anaria and Roy's home as she entered. The hard impact caused made many of the bottles on the shelves to rattle. Luckily none had fallen and shattered. An anvil's weight of guilt caused her to slump over. "What is wrong with me?" she mumbled. "First you…" she choked on the words. "You hurt one of your own. Then you let your friend run off alone. Finally, you go about swinging doors like a tempered child." She cupped her hands over her face and ran them back and through her hair. Focus… Easier voiced than done…
"Are you ok?"
"Yes, of course I am," answered Rebecca. She suddenly blinked rapidly as she realized the voice didn't come from her own mind. She looked up to find Anaria staring back at her. "I-I'm sorry." She felt the anvil's weight grow twofold as she took in the elven girl's soft features. Anaria's eyes said more than her voice, such somberness and care in those amethysts.
"It's ok. You must be tired; you should get some rest." Her voice was like a whisper.
"No, I told the commander that I would keep watch here until Alzac got better…Then I have to uh…I'm babbling, sorry."
"No. I understand," said Anaria as she drew closer. "You feel overburdened, everyone does sometimes. But I can help with that."
"Oh no," stammered Rebecca. "You've already used to much of your aura helping Alzac I wouldn't—"
"Please?" insisted Anaria.
Rebecca began to understand why Xeto had grown so fond of this girl. It was impossible to say no to her. The way her innocence shifted one's doubt was beyond surprising. "Wait. I'm not injured physically. How could your aura help with that?"
"Simple," she answered. "Here, sit down." Anaria pointed at a nearby seat.
Rebecca did as she was instructed.
Anaria took a seat beside her. "Now I want you to think about something soothing. A happy memory even."
Rebecca felt as if her tongue was stuck. "A happy memory? Goddess, this is pretty pathetic huh? A knightess of the kingdom, falling ill to foul thoughts."
"Of course not. Your mind is a part of you, it can fall victim to anxiety just like your skin can be cut by iron." She leaned in and gave her a smile. "Everything will be just fine." She put out an open palm and closed her eyes. With an exhale, warm orange particles formed above and around her palm. It glowed like a newly lit candle; it was even warm as well. The particles joined together to form a bright crystal.
A celestial crystal. Rebecca had many wounds healed by celestial aurors in the past. But never had she seen a celestial crystal so beautiful as this.
Anaria opened her eyes slowly. "Now I want you to look at this crystal and think of a pleasant memory. Focus and relax."
The task was beyond easy as Rebecca was quickly lost in its glistening radiance. The sound around her seem to fade ever so slowly. All she could hear was the rain tapping gently outside. It was soothing. Her eyelids felt heavy, she gave in as everything went dark. She saw her eldest brother Liophus looking back at her with a smile. He quickly vanished as Xeto appeared before her, behind him was the demon from the inn…She quickly snapped her eyes open.
The rain had stopped, and birds chirped a lovely song just outside of the small home.
Rebecca rubbed her eyes and squinted as sunlight flooded in through the windows. Wait, what happened? Her mouth agape as she breathed louder.
"Ah, you're awake," said a man's voice. It came from a blob in front of her.
The multicolored blob quickly took a recognizable form as she rubbed at her eyes one more time.
It was Roy, he looked back at her with a smile.
"What happened, how is there sunlight?" Rebecca quickly leaned up.
"Whoa there, lass. I take it you had a good night's rest?" Roy raised an eyebrow.
"Night's rest?" Rebecca thought back. It had been only seconds since Anaria helped her with…relaxing. She breathed in. The anvil was gone, seconds ago her mind was filled with thoughts that seemed to be gnawing her from the inside, yet now there were none. Save the newfound confusion, her thoughts seem to have aligned themselves, each waiting patiently to be voiced. The first of which was… "What happened?"
Roy sat in another chair across the room. "Celestial aura. Quite the gift isn't it?"
"I've never—"
"Never blinked and made all the bad thoughts go away?" said Roy. "Yes, me neither. Nightmares were a myth for me growing up after Anaria figured out how to sooth the mind."
Rebecca blinked rapidly; she must have still been dreaming. No matter how much she did, the setting before her didn't change. "That's amazing. I've seen tens even dozens of celestials pull off marvelous feats. But never have I seen something like her."
Roy chuckled. "Well of course you haven't, my little sylph is the one and only." His eyes, just like Anaria's, spoke louder than his words. The solid admiration was practically beaming from his gaze, accompanied by a large grin. "So how about we get something to eat and you can tell me about what you have snared up here." He tapped his head with one finger.
She returned him a smile as her cheeks flushed. "Thank you, that sounds lovely."
"Well, being lovely comes naturally to me." He gave her wink.
~0~
The rain started to fall once more, though it was nothing compared to the storm that cradled the night. Birds continued to chirp alongside the cicadas that were hidden within the greenery.
Rebecca tapped her foot on the little stone that decorated the porch of the Thearid home. "…And even though I told him I was his aid, his partner…he left. I should go after him." The thought circled in her mind.
"Ah, well don't worry yourself," said Roy as he placed down his horn of hot cream on the table between them, steam visible as day in the cold air. The sweet aroma filled the area. "Besides he ordered you to ride back with the kasaber did he not? If Xeto was set on leaving he would've done regardless of whomever tried stopping him." He rubbed at his hairless chin. "Actually, Anaria would have been the only able to sway him."
"Why's that?" She took hold of her horn, though it seemed the content inside was cool to the touch.
He chuckled. "Come now, a blind man could see that Xeto has more sensitive feelings for my sister."
"Oh," she replied before taking a prolonged sip of her drink. It was cold and sweet but the combination left a bitter taste on her tongue. Perhaps it was her uneasiness that dulled the flavor. She looked the archer in the eye. "Why does it seem like you're not worried?"
He bit his lip. "Does it seem that way?" His voice was somber. "It's the way I am. I don't present my emotions openly like others." He looked away and towards the other homes.
The idea of every possible threat that could across her commander never left her mind, though Rebecca found herself with a smile. "You would make a great soldier then." This must have been the side-effects of Anaria's aura.
Roy locked his palms. "You think so? Perhaps. But if I must admit, I am worried. My breastplate won't stop shaking from my heart pounding at it like a blacksmith." He shook his head. "I would leave this minute if I had the means. But as the gods would have it, most of the horses were killed during that sudden demon attack. If any others survived, they must have fled into the forest. With the Zuland raids, the undead it was hard to focus on anything." A frown formed on his lips only to be quickly replaced by a thin smile. "Speaking of…do you think you'll find out how or why the dead somehow came back?"
His concern joined her pool of questions of which had no answers. The thought gnawed at her, causing horripilation on her nape. "The commander and I have been on countless missions to purge demons. Never had we seen people return from solitude." Never had we seen demons vanish into the wind either…or even demons used as weapons for the kingdoms.
"I see," he mumbled. "After what happened two years ago, Xeto reserved a hatred for Zuland. Though I'm sure you know of it by now."
"I don't," she answered as she lowered her head. More than two years she had spent with the commander and he never unveiled his past. Times she considered herself more than just his peon. Though maybe she was wron—
"I'm sure he would've, given more time. The Commander is a reserved person." Roy cut into her thoughts to cradle her doubts once more. His eye remained on her. "I was worried for him when he left to become a knight, same as now. But seeing how much he's done, and the friends he's chosen…" He stood. "I can lay my worries to rest, just as I'm going to do now."
On cue came the sound of clopping at her rear. She turned to find two large stallions being guided by an elderly man.
"Great job, Waden," said Roy.
"It's the least I could do," answered the man. His aged face made it look as he was distressed, though this was countered by the smile partially hidden under his mustache.
Roy extended his arm to her. "Our respite has ended, dear maiden."
Rebecca took his hand and found her footing. "Thank you." Her cheeks felt warm.
Roy pointed at the horses. "We can find a wagon to carry your friend back. Anaria says he's recovered enough to be moved. I'll take the other horse and ride out north, with the rain as heavy as it was last night, I doubt Xeto would've gotten far."
Rebecca pouted.
Roy chuckled. "Aye, don't give that look. I promise you that I'll bring back your commander." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "This way you can obey his orders and warn your man in charge about what's happened here. Sound plan?"
She gave him a nod. "Yes. Let's begin." The archer and the healer of this small village were a remarkable duo. She had only spent a manner of days here and she felt her spirit lifted by them in only a way her commander could do. It had been such a long time since her last interaction with non-soldiers. And leaving now felt like she was leaving behind long-lasted friends. She shook away the thought with help of Anaria. She would complete her task as soldier so she may see them again. This newfound assurance reignited her memories of the vows she took, vows she would follow until her final day.