"You're back," Ardent greeted me once I returned to camp. He hadn't moved from his seated position but now had an additional book besides him. "Don't worry I didn't pry."
"I didn't expect you to," I replied respectfully.
He laughed, "The Master thief, Empress, Taylor Tiana. I was quite worried as to how she would interact with us but she's been rather pleasant, especially around you."
"I'm not sure if she's being pleasant or a bother most the time." Between teasing me, scaring me, yelling at me and now teaching me, I really couldn't narrow down how she felt. When I considered the past iterations she was a bit more open but I wasn't sure how far that stretched. For all I knew she could be acting. People in her field of work, like Faith, twining others around their fingers was just another day in the job.
Ardent stood up, "Well I'm off to bed. I'd like to be asleep before Earnest. The man can snore quite loudly." He walked closer to me and paused with a curious frown. "Rain were you perhaps using magic?"
I was surprised, "You can tell? Is it my mana?"
"No, it is the aftermath of failure. The scent of blood mixed with traces of mana. Your body must have gone through rejection, are you feeling okay?"
"More or less," I smiled wryly.
"Take it easy," he patted my head. "I would rather you not die before my colleagues and I can properly study you."
I wasn't sure how to respond to that one. On one hand it felt like he was being caring but I wasn't sure if it was coming more from a personal point of view or a research one.
"Goodnight Rain," he headed into the carriage.
"Goodnight…." I waited for him to close the door before I stretched. There was still quite a lot that needed to be done and I wanted the Hero and everyone else's equipment to be in tip top shape.
I doused the fire and cleaned up my work as midnight came around. The sky was clear despite the weather earlier and the stars shined down revealing a beautiful display. It was one of the few perks of sleeping outside. If it weren't for the insects I'd do it all the time. Thankfully with the Hero's supplies I had a plethora of goods to use as bug repellent.
With a yawn I settled myself down on top the carriage. Pina moved her head beside me for one final pat before curling herself beside the wooden boards. Just as I was about to fall asleep the creek of the carriage door threw me wide awake. I shuffled my bundled body to the side of the roof to get a closer look and to my surprise the Hero stepped out. She was wearing lighter clothing than usual and not a trace of armour. Like this she really did look like a normal girl. Although after what I had seen her do today I could no longer think of her as anything close to normal.
She let out a sigh and stared into the star speckled sky. Her hand rose as if grasping the tiny lights.
"It really is different here," there was a melancholy in her voice that resounded with my own. Homesickness.
I decided to call out to her, "Hero, are you looking for something?"
She jumped in fright and span towards me almost instantly, "R-Rain, what are you doing out here?"
"I'm always out here," I replied.
"Wait, you don't sleep inside the carriage?"
"No…." I was confused why she looked so shocked.
"But isn't it cold out here?"
"I have a lot of blankets and I do have a tent if it rains."
"Why don't you sleep inside though? I always thought you slept with Ronalt, Earnest and Ardent."
I shook my head and smiled at her confusion, "There's barely enough room to fit three beds in there and I'd rather sleep with more space than inside." I widened my arms.
She edged closer and climbed up to see where I was lying down, "It does look pretty comfortable…." Well I did put an effort in to make it that way. Almost the entire roof had been made into my bed. It was actually more comfortable than my mattress back home. Shows what money could buy you.
"The views the good part," I gestured towards the night sky.
"Oh wow," she smiled innocently as her eyes lit up. At that moment I remembered what I had done. Even after the Hero had spared their lives I took them. A guilty pang echoed in my chest.
I turned away from her, "It is getting late Hero. You should get some rest."
"Not yet," she began to climb closer. "Move over."
"Huh- ah, sure." Before I could stop her she was lying down beside me as we both stared into the stars.
For several minutes I didn't know what to do. Here I was feeling guilty at what I had done and there she was next to me completely oblivious. More so than Taylor my heart was beating uncomfortably having her next to me. If I reached over, not even half a metre away I could push her from the roof.
"You know I think I had a friend like you," the Hero's words shocked me from my thoughts. "He was always with me, watching over me, helping me even when I couldn't see him."
"I am here to serve you," I replied with hidden strain.
"No it's not just that," she smiled as if reminiscing. "Your dry personality. How you're realistic, sensible, and surprisingly emotive. It's the same."
"…." I hadn't realised the Hero was paying that much attention to me. "Your friend sounds interesting."
"The thing is… I can't remember him. Ever since I arrived here it feels like I'm forgetting him even more. I can remember other things about home… then again I really might just be slowly forgetting everything."
"Then don't," I replied bluntly and no sooner had I said it I regretted it. It wasn't my place to say anything.
"What do you mean?" she sounded almost angry.
"Ah-." Well it was too late to stop now. "What I mean is don't let that happen. Hold onto your memories and cherish them. If it's you it's possible."
A surprised laugh resounded next to me, "You really do sound like him." She paused and for a minute we both just stared straight forward. "Thank you."
"For what?" I asked. The way she said it, it didn't feel like it was a normal thank you.
"For just now and before," her tone was becoming mellow.
"Before?" my heart began to beat faster.
"I know you killed them." A chill spread towards me and I couldn't reply. "I saw you kill her, Faith that is. I went back to look for you and I saw you end her life…. I saw you throw up and I saw you keep moving."
I raised my body, "I over stepped my bounds. I'll accept any punishme-."
She cut me off as she rose and stared straight at me, "No! I… I didn't mention it to punish you. You did something I couldn't. Back there… in the cave. I saw what kind of person she was, what kind of people they were but, but I couldn't bring myself to do it." Her fist clenched tightly against her chest, "They were bad people and I knew that she was lying to me. I was afraid at what to do. I didn't want to kill them but I knew that they would keep doing bad things. So I clung to that small hope they really would change and I just left." She laughed painfully, "Some kind of Hero I am right?"
"You're wrong…," I sighed. "I killed them because I was afraid at what they'd do. I didn't have the faith to spare them. I took the easy way out."
"Still…," gently the Hero took my hand and squeezed it, "thank you for doing what I couldn't."
"Hopefully it won't happen again," I moved my hand away.
"But if it does… will you be there?" her eyes locked on to mine. I couldn't escape.
"I'll be there," I nodded slowly.
"Thank you," she smiled and then shook herself, "Wow I feel so much better after talking with you. Well I guess it's time for bed. Goodnight Rain."
"Goodnight Hero," I replied as she jumped off the carriage roof.
With a sudden spring she pulled her head back over, "I thought I told you to call me Lara." Seeing my reluctance she let out a cheeky smile, "It's an order."
I smiled in reply. I had no choice, "Goodnight Lara."
My heart felt oddly calm as I settled myself to bed. I was alone but at the same time for what felt like a really long time, I wasn't. The Hero-Lara, Taylor, Ardent, Earnest, Marley and even Ronalt, I had made a connection with them. I fell asleep without realising how much I was smiling.