Kingdom of Hallos, City of Beswind, Present day.
Xeto wiped his brow for the hundredth time. The overly regal palace was unlike nothing he'd seen before. He and the others were asked to wait as Rebecca fetched General Taloz from his quarters.
The large room was immense, so much so that if two people stood at opposite ends, they would nearly appear as ants to one another. The floors were made of shined marble. The beautiful surface reflected the light of the chandelier above. Curtains that covered windows gilded with gold.
Roy whistled. "This must be a ball room of sorts, eh?" He stretched his arms out as he rotated slowly in circles. "What I wouldn't give to have a lady's hand in a ball room like this.
Xeto's eyes wandered to the most beautiful piece in the room…Anaria.
She seemed lost in the gorgeous scenery as well.
She must not want to speak with me…why would she? I'm nothing but a vessel of anger.
Roy's hand landed on Xeto's shoulder. "Aye, lad. Why not say something?" He motioned towards Anaria who was too far to catch any words of their conversation.
Xeto's head ached as his hands trembled lightly. He broke away from his friend. "I don't believe she wants to talk with me." His soul lessening with every word. "All I've done is bring her despair."
"Whoa there." Roy put an arm around Xeto, pulling him aside. "She made the decision to join me when I decided to chase after you. Not because of me, but because she cares about you. We both do."
Xeto gave a nod of false acceptance. "I brought you both into pile of problems and put you in danger."
Roy blew raspberries. "You weren't the one that brought the dead up, you weren't the one that put a knife to her throat, and you weren't the one that sent that demon to the village."
His friend's words continued to pass him over.
"Your only one man, lad."
"The Lionslayer was a monster, you agree with me, right? I had to deny her from seeing it, but doing so made her upset. She was happy in Elegliss, I should have just cam alone. She makes bonds with others only to have me shatter. But it isn't my fault. I needed to know what they knew about Roxas. That man, Adulfus, he wasn't a good person, not to be trusted. I only wish that—"
"That what?" intruded Roy. "That she would understand? Just do as you did with me. Speak to her. You must have forgotten that my little sylph is the kindest person in the world." He rubbed his knuckles against Xeto's scalp.
Xeto broke free from his hold. "Its not that simple."
"Isn't it? This whole adventure from Hansel to Beswind. It's brought the hardest times I've ever been faced with." He rubbed his chin with an overly large smile. "But it has also brought the best times as well. I got to see my greatest friend again. And even better than that, I had a woman on each arm back in the cortigiana." He bit his lip. "Once this is all over, I'll be heading back to the Gold Feline to warm the beds of Kis and Diala."
Xeto smiled, the comment was the first to have broken through. "You think it'll all end here?"
"Of course!" Roy answered in a grandiose fashion, arms wide. "And you have to talk with Anaria once this is over. No one treats my little sylph like a stranger. Better yet." He shoved Xeto towards her. "Do so now!"
Xeto stumbled towards her, catching her attention.
She titled her head.
So beautiful… "Anaria—I uh…" He turned back to Roy who gave him a nonchalant shrug before walking away. His cheeks grew warmer with ever dry swallow. "I wanted to talk to you about…" His mind raced to find the correct words but to no avail. His eyes widened when he saw it, the most unsuspected occurrence.
She gifted him a smile before beckoning him to follow her to the center of the room. "I wanted to speak to with you too."
Xeto gulped hard as he found himself praying to Kailarah that could find the right words.