Disregarding Ozin's orders to rest, June went outside to stay alone.
It had been two weeks since they first departed, and she could tell that everyone hadn't been the same since. The pain of Maxy's death haunted her every night after they came back to Donton Valley, and it hadn't been the first time she woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and crying. She blamed herself and believed she was fully responsible for Maxy, and the guilt weighed upon her became heavier each day. Even if it took unimaginable pain just to stand up, even if she was at her wit's end, how should she be excused for something she could've prevented?
Before they treated her, she had several broken tendons and ligaments in her knees. Aside from the endless amount of bruises and cuts on her injury list, she had been prone to internal bleeding of her organs. Much of this had already been treated and healed, but they hurt nonetheless.
When she came to, she was already laid aloft a bed back at Donton Valley, inside Ozin's older brother's house. She had immediately asked him how they managed to escape before the ultimate implosion. It became increasingly apparent that the higher-ups of the magical council had foreseen a huge part of this. With the help of the Talisman of Wisdom, they excavated a path straight out of the crust, arriving at the foot of the mountain. At that point, no one had any more strength left to retaliate or run, only slowly waiting for death to come. That's what would have happened, if not for Alister, the head of the council, who respectfully issued an order to retrieve the Talisman of Wisdom three days after they set off. It had shocked even Ozin to see the entire Sorrow Mountain surrounded by royal soldiers and upper-rank hermits, with the intent to besiege the caves. After confirming the death of Demonlord, they went in and slaughtered nearly the entire demon race, with remnants of them buried beneath the collapsed mountain. After June and her accomplices were rescued and treated, the remaining hermits waited for the mountain's end. The implosion was carefully observed as 'a toppling pillar from heaven, over the clouds'. It was the loudest sound ever recorded in Alpine history, with civilians all the way from Northern Villages taking notice of it.
June had never seen Ozin so particularly angry before. As soon as he recovered, he stormed off to Vastichæn, not even bothering to explain what happened. He hadn't returned yet since. Ellie had briefly mentioned something about 'confiscating the Talisman from you' one night during dinner, but she didn't pay much attention. She didn't want to recall anything related to those terrible memories anyway. Speaking of whom, Ellie had gotten along with Sammy better each day and instead hadn't been talking with June much. She couldn't blame her though, as she spent most of the time to herself, locked in her bedroom. Another reason she's like this is highly due to her disparity of culture. From what she knew, Germans weren't exactly the most welcomed people in this realm, and there had always been discrimination happening, and it wasn't without history.
Alpinos can live up to 20,000 years in German terms, and hermits can live even longer. While mankind has developed rapidly in the last few centuries, it would have only been a few months at most for these people to realise the growth in civilization and technology. The term 'German' referred to people from Original Earth as Alpine Earth mostly stayed in touch with countries in central and Western Europe, where people have Germanic roots. This slowly evolved into a bad habit which is still present today. Although people like Ozin, who frequently travels between the realms, understood this misconception better than most.
A leaf fell onto her head, disrupting her train of thought. The house was built near the edge of a steep slope, with a dirt road set in front, overlooking the rest of Donton Valley. A damp pond lay just below the hillside, reached by trekking down a muddy path overgrown with long grass and weeds. A large willow tree stood tall on the banks with its branches brushing against the ripples of water.
Suddenly, a gentle jolt shot through her body, making her flinch. Healing with magic was just too good to be true without drawbacks. Sometimes, very rarely, the magic residue inside would contact a nerve, causing an uncomfortable tingling sensation, though it hardly mattered to her, as she was half-filled with magic already.
Unfortunately, not all of it was beneficial.
About a year ago, she was a kid living in Norway, just like any other. Until the earth she lived on rejected her. She and everyone living along the coast of Denmosgäkfjord, and she was left scarred for life. 8 months later it was revealed that she had contracted a curse from the Alpine Realm, which had gotten into her body through a wound. It wasn't chronic, but will most likely stay with her for the rest of her life.
Slowly, she rolled up her leg sleeve. She hadn't looked at it since they escaped Sorrow Mountain. After Ozin had informed her of the curse, she didn't think she would become that obsessed with it. That turned out to be wrong. Perhaps it was her self-consciousness, that could be quick to judge, but she stared over it almost daily. It was a bright red vein spread along her skin like vines. It was horrid to look at, but it also made her feel cold and bitter. What would soon become of me?
She almost sighed with relief when she saw it—gone. Ironically, she started laughing. Perhaps Ozin was wrong about me. She thought, unable to contain her sheer excitement. Even when so many people stood by my side, I had always been walking down this path alone. Deep down, she knew this wasn't the end of it, and her anxiety would never be put to rest. But for now, it was hidden by her desperate craving and desire for some good news. It doesn't have to be better. Just please stay the way it is.
Lying down on the cool, wet grassy field, she collated the world's reflection into her emerald green eyes. She had grown a few inches since her birthday the year before, but she wished she would be a bit chubbier, given the circumstances. Curtly speaking, she had always been the slimmest for her age, and it had nothing to do with her diet whenever.
On that day she wore a silk sleeve top, skirt and long socks. The Donton Valley region was very sophisticated when it came to clothing, turning underrated patterns and combining them into convoluted messes designs. Not even Ozin was proud of that feat. Nevertheless, he managed to wager his time to make clothes for them. Therefore, she could gladly wear clothes that she's familiar with. From her hairstyle to what she wears, she preferred to keep herself simple yet captivating when meeting the eye. Though Osten often commented the clothes she favoured were very ahead of her time. From her hairstyle to what she wears, she preferred to keep herself simple yet captivating when meeting the eye. Besides that, she's secretive about her thoughts, keeping them inside. To others, it was never fully apparent what she wanted for herself. It was all under the surface, overshadowed by her empathetic personality. Her parents always commented that she was overly caring for others rather than herself, which she dismissed because it wasn't that big of a deal.
It had gotten very dark when she returned to the house. The Alpine Realm had a much shorter nychthemeron chart than Original Earth, and so even after several months, the Norwegian youth hadn't gotten used to the flow of time. Very often, she could lie awake on her bed at 2 o'clock, in the dark; and other times, she wouldn't be up until 12, which would already be the afternoon. The same could be said for Benjamin and Sam.
The sloped path back to the house could get slippery at night. You could easily slip if you weren't careful. Moreover, June had lost her footing once and fell face flat in the dirt. It was only afterwards did she realised that one of her molars had fallen out, and blood was trickling down her mouth. Fortunately, it was only a baby tooth and had been one of her last, but she still couldn't avoid getting a swollen cheek for an entire week. Talking about carelessness. Cautiousness had never been her forte, compared to Sam, who preferred to avoid all unnecessary trouble and gnaw on chocolate bars every day. But unlike her brother, she wasn't into eating sweets, so she never got cavities and always had white, healthy teeth.
The living room was empty when she walked in. Everyone was either asleep or in their rooms. The chandelier-shaped light was always turned on at night, reminding her of the low-hung light bulbs in a cellar. Normally, if she returned extremely late at night, she would shower and then go to bed from exhaustion. But tonight was a different story. Her estranged heart had been screaming at her for a very long time, the bandwidth that had kept her distanced from her family for so long, that refused to elaborate, was breaking apart. Right then, something suddenly clicked inside her mind, like being poured on the head with an ice-cold bucket of water while sleeping. She finally understood why.
Meanwhile, in the darkness of the sea, in a place where all wishes to be, under the polarizing streetlights, beneath the scuttling footsteps of the crowd, laid something that malicious, it couldn't be seen.
***
(July of 1934, the hospital wing)
'Hey Steven, is Switzerland real?' asked Sam.
'Of course. I grew up there,' answered Steven.
Sam fell silent, and that silence was terrifying, coming from a child of his age. It was the same kind of silence your parents would respond with if you said something you weren't supposed to say.
'What is it like?'
Steven sighed. 'It's beautiful, no doubt. But for me, I can only say I like it there.'
Sam nodded. It occurred to Steven that, perhaps a hint of sadness flashed past his brown eyes. Sometimes it surprised him how much a kid knew about things, and what they could say shocked him. We've been neighbours for years, Sam. But even so… Steven shifted uncomfortably. This must be the first time I've been alone with you. Oh, how must the trauma have changed you! Where… how… would you ever find rest?
'Why are you being so nice to us?' Sam asked suddenly. 'It wasn't… always like this. From what I… have known.' He struggled to find words, which were still incomplete in his vocabulary.
Steven froze. It wasn't always like this. 'What do you mean?'
'You said so,' replied Sam, who stared down at his feet. 'You said you would take us to Switzerland and become our caretaker. So why? Why do you help us? What makes us so special? You could have just left us behind and…' his voice was trembling now. 'We don't deserve it.'
At this point, the intuition was clear. Steven drew a deep breath. 'Not everything will be the same. Things will happen, and there's nothing we can do about it. It's not your fault.' He saw Sammy's hand reach out and lock tightly with his sister's, who was sleeping tightly with an IV attached to her right wrist. 'Everything will be alright. I will make sure of it. Such pessimistic thoughts are unnecessary for you.' His heart loosened a little when Sam smiled. It was deliberate, but reassuring. 'As for my reasons…' he began, but quickly changed his mind. 'It's a bit personal, and I'm sure you're not that comfortable with me yet, so give me some ready-time, should I tell you. For now, just interpret it as doing myself a favour, all right?' He smiled back.
But Sam wasn't listening. He had fallen asleep. Sammy and Juni (their pet names), the two siblings looked much alike, although the countless surgeries and medical drugs had taken a toll on the latter's health. Her skin lost its glare, and the fat of her cheeks had greatly declined, causing her to look older than she was.
For the first time in his life, a new emotion in Steven Hodgetts began to develop, and it debuted from taking care of these children: solicitude. Steven Hodgetts was the single descendant of an English and Finnish family that dedicated their life to the Navy. Aside from occasional interactions with their cousins and siblings, Steven grew up in Switzerland, in a family that isolated themselves from other relations. To him, driving towards his ambitions and achieving what he was told to do was more important than anything else. As a result, he didn't socialize with many people during his childhood, and his inner feelings and thoughts were well put aside and discouraged. At the age of fifteen, World War I broke out and he was forced to leave Switzerland and travel to England. With his father gone out to sea and his mother serving in war, he was the only one present in their residence. Without interruptions, he could spend many hours at a time doing nothing but lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. It only occurred to him then how little time he had known his parents. Even when absent at work, they would still lock themselves in their bedroom and only appear during meals. He never received actual love from his parents, and their connections were forever distant. Lost. Still, after so long, even his desire to be loved diminished, and that single flame that burnt in his heart, was put out.
Two years later, he once again had to move away. That day was overcast, and slivers of rain fell against his slumped shoulders—and his parents' grave. Not many people attended the funeral, although besides a war veteran—most likely his father's comrade—he couldn't recognise anyone. All of them gradually brought bouquets and left. The rain had grown harder, and while he brought an umbrella, it took a while until he realised his suit was wet…
He didn't even cry.
Bitterly, his present self laughed. Looking at the sleeping siblings urged him to tear up, so he had to look at the wall. 'Don't let despair overtake your sanity,' he whispered, trembling. 'Recall those happy memories when you were loved. Cherish yourself, because, those people that gave you love really existed; cherish yourself, because, as long as you are, they won't be forgotten.' He said those words for Sammy, for Juni, and himself. This was one of his habits—to practice talking to nothing when he was alone. It helped him concentrate and fill some emptiness.
'...Steven…'
That made him jump. 'Yes?' he asked, a little loudly.
'Is Switzerland real?'
Steven pressed his hand against his heart. 'Yes. 100%.'
The ward fell silent once again. A silence of approval. He didn't notice it then, but had he looked closer, he would have discovered the teardrops running down those thinned cheeks, down the dozen strands of blonde hair, and wetting the pillow.
***
(June of 1935, three weeks after the Sorrow Mountain incident)
Unexpectedly, she ran into Ben that day out of mealtimes, for the first time in three weeks.
She was planning to trek down the same path to the pond, like every single afternoon. However, when she opened the front door, he was already there, holding a paper bag full of groceries in each hand.
'W-what is…?' gasped June. 'Did you buy… How?'
'Eloise's magic… Ellie,' replied Ben briefly, who looked a bit underwhelmed. 'What's wrong?' He looked past her shoulder. 'It's half past three. I should get going.' And then he went into the house without another word.
Stunned, she returned to her bedroom, forgetting to shut the front door. Something felt off. Of course, it's been 3 weeks and the world has moved on without me. She pondered against the wall. Ben said something, and I didn't quite understand it. That's all. It's normal for me to easily mishear things. Instinctively, she began chewing on her fingernails. It happened when she felt puzzled or unsure how to process her emotions. It's been quite a long day for him. As for Ellie's magic… It disguised him as an Alpino to avoid commotion during shopping. Yes… that's exactly right… She flopped onto the bed mattress. Something inside her heart was struggling to escape, but she didn't know what would happen if it did. It felt like the beginning of an unstoppable tide. As a girl, she was prone to feeling insecure occasionally, but this was different. It was somehow—stronger, more ferocious. And the more she pondered, the harder it became to contain.
Knock. Knock.
Startled, she sat up from her bed. Her heart rate began to speed up, and she grabbed the edge of the pillow with a sweaty hand.
Knock. Knock.
The knocking on her door resumed. Usually, she locked herself inside and no one came to disturb her at all. Usually. She never thought much.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
'Who goes there?' she asked reluctantly. 'Who goes there'? What kind of question is that? I'm making it sound like I'm being robbed. Normally, she would just compromise and unlock it for whoever was there. No big deal. But… she couldn't. She feared that, if she were to open that door, her heart would explode from anxiety. Thinking back, she had once again revisited the cold, dark chamber that was Sorrow Mountain in her dreams last night. It was the same every time. The death of Maxy Scarlet over and over again, and every time, it was some inconspicuous factor preventing her from saving her. The Talisman of Wisdom was heavier than a block of lead, mocking her powerlessness. The result was always inevitable—Maxy bleeding out on her lap.
'It's me, June,' answered Ben's voice. He sounded on the verge of crying. 'I just… wanted to talk to you.'
A string snapped in her mind. Frustrated, she grabbed the end of the pillow and hurled it across the room. It collided with the wardrobe, followed by a loud CRASH! The pillow landed slumped against the bed leg. In reality, she was just pretending she was okay when she wasn't. She acted like she wanted to be alone and incoherent. The real culprit that played with her heart was—her uncertainty. At times, she truly doubted what was right and wrong, and made irrational decisions disregarding anything else.
'What could there possibly be to talk about?' Ben heard her say wearily. On the other side, she was leaning against the door, while sitting flat on the ground.
'It's about your birthday,' he said quickly. 'I just thought… I might ask you if… there's something that you'd want.' He sighed deeply.
'Nothing. I haven't thought about it yet,' lied June. 'It's getting late. You should leave. I'm delaying your study schedule.'
There was a brief silence between the two. As much as she refused to talk, it also pained her to continue the cover-up act. Her empathy was too great for this sort of deed. Eventually, it evolved to the point where she would rather make sacrifices to her dismay than witness someone hurt for her own sake. A storm was slowly brewing inside her, swelling up to uncontrollable heights, and breaking like a fork of lightning.
'You're hiding yourself, June,' he replied patiently. 'There must be something upon your mind right now, surely. It's been three weeks. There must be something I can do to help you. Even if it's -'
'Forget it!' she yelled angrily. Instant regret. 'There's nothing that can be done for me. NOTHING COULD EVER CHANGE FOR ME!' She whipped around and fisted the door. Twice. Her uncertainty had reached a peak, and with nowhere else to go, it transcended into anger and sorrow and breached all at once. 'I just can't do this anymore. I just want to run away, to a faraway place. A place where no one could ever reach me. It took ten minutes to lose what ten years I have gained, and even though I survived, what matters? I've only ever wanted what was best for others, and yet I've only felt pain and loss.'
The silence was much longer this time. She could hear the sound of blood pumping in her ears. Every inch of her was trembling, despite being bathed in the warm, setting sunlight.
'I know how bad it gets,' Ben whispered, the hand on the door handle was shaking uncontrollably. 'The depth of trauma. Getting consumed by your own despair with no one there, by your side. It must've been so unfair for you. I'd know.' he gripped the handle tighter. 'Sam cried almost every night, and I haven't been doing great either. We missed you.' His hand let go of the handle and backed off a few steps. 'I'm so sorry that I upset you. I've been such an idiot. Wasn't there when you needed me the most. Thought I'd be able to understand you better than everyone else, but in the end, I failed.' No reply came from the other side, but Ben knew the message got through. 'If you think you're not ready yet… That's alright. I'll wait for you, patiently. Synph aside… Not everybody wants to be a hero, and I get that. Not everybody needs to bear the burden on their shoulders.'
'Take me back!' cried June, fat lumps of tears rolled down her face. 'Take me back to those vanquished happy memories… I want to go home!!! Even if it was just a single glance… a single glance at my family, friends, Norway… how scarce they have become! I didn't care… until I've lost it all! And when I realized… it was much too late… So why… why didn't I appreciate them better?'
'So that was your wish… To think you only wanted to go back to where you belong…' he whispered, then walked outside.
***
The recently emerged night sky was glittering with twinkling stars. No matter how hard I conceal myself… how much I pretend to be… standing strong, calm and collected, unwavering emotions… haven't I been feeling the same? This dreadful feeling inside… the lies… it all leads back to homesickness. Angrily, he slapped himself in the face. Despite being on the verge of losing my cool, why do I still lack the courage to accept the truth?
'So much for staying in control. You did a great job today, Ben. I'm proud.' said Ellie, the young Alpino girl, smiling. At some point, she appeared behind his back, joining his side. 'And must I add, the night sky sure is beautiful tonight, isn't it?'
'Ellie… it's you. I…' began Ben.
'Shhhhh! Be quiet. Lemme guess…' interrupted Ellie playfully. A finger to her chin. 'It's about her, isn't it?'
'I feel so helpless,' replied Ben, distressed. 'She's a year and a half younger than me, and yet she could do things I couldn't even imagine doing.'
'Such as?'
'Being truthful,' replied Ben. 'Having the courage to express her true feelings.'
'Is that hard to do for you?' asked Ellie intriguedly.
'Yes, because I've never managed to find someone who cared,' said Ben. 'But she's different. She cares. No matter how much I conceal myself, she could always see right through me, looking out for me. Small things like asking how I'm feeling today play a huge part in affecting me as a person.' He looked down at his curled fists and sighed. 'But I couldn't do the same for her. I just wanted to show that I care, too. But it didn't end the right way.'
Ellie didn't respond for a moment, and just smiled and shrugged. 'But you did care.'
'I did?'
'At the very least, you tried. And she would fully acknowledge that. I assure you,' With a slight effort, she pulled two lounge chairs over. 'We're all humans, Ben. It's easy to get someone to feel distraught, and it's just as easy to redeem. Sensitive people are even more so.'
'Nothing seems to be going right,' exclaimed Ben. 'Ozin's gone. June's gone. And everyone is distant. I just want to get this over with. And make her happy again.'
'I understand.'
More silence. Somewhere, in the valley, a light from a household flickered into darkness.
'Is this what it means?' asked Ben, who stared down at the lounge chairs, flabbergasted. 'Is this… what I need to do?'
Another smile from Elloise as a response—a genuine one this time. 'I guess it is.' She sent tiny blue fireworks out of her palm. 'Usually, when I choose to do this deed, I immediately go for the easier option. But that doesn't feel right, especially if I'm here with someone I care for.' Ben reddened and covered his face to hide his shame.
'I'm delighted to hear that,' sighed Ben, his voice out of sync. 'Magic is such a craving clairvoyance.'
'It is,' said Ellie dreamily. 'And I'm certain you'll reach there someday. Perhaps inheriting.'
'How are you so sure?'
'Just a feeling… Oh crap!' she exclaimed, breaking out from a trance. 'It's half past six! I have school tomorrow!'
'Really,' asked Ben dully. 'What could there possibly be to learn, after living for 3,000 years?'
'Knowledge isn't everything,' replied Ellie, sitting back down. 'Our brains might be mature, but our hearts aren't. Our childhood is still as long as ever.'
'But surely,' began Ben, 'that gets compensated by your innate magic?'
'Unfortunately not,' she shook her head. 'There are high criteria to use magic. It takes lots of mental strength to tame magic, and since it isn't a part of our body, adapting to it requires time.' She stood up again and quickly turned around as if she was hiding something. 'I'm going to bed. It's been a real treat talking to you tonight, Ben.' She waved her hand at the lounge chair. It responded by sliding abruptly into the room and quickly went out of sight. 'I've always been a slow riser, so I do need some early routines. I hope you understa-'
'What happened to your hand?' gasped Ben. Very briefly, through the glass door, he saw the reflection of her left hand—bruised and bandaged—self-consciously clutched to her chest.
'Oh. Well…' she began reluctantly. 'I don't know. It just happened one day, and sometimes it itches like hell. Magic doesn't seem to be working.' And without another word, she slid the door shut and disappeared out of view.
***
June's internal conflict lasted one day and two nights, deprived of food and sleep. There would be moments when she suddenly sat up from her bed and bawled her eyes out. She could never release her anger onto others, yet she was just being ostentatious to everyone else.
It was the dread of hunger that finally forced her outside. Despite her persistent angst, she wasn't stupid enough to go on without food.
As she dragged both legs across the living room floor, she thought about how she would apologize to Ben, Sam, Ellie, and Ozin. The room was still and dark, with the only sound being the crickets chirping outside. It's been so long since she last saw Ozin's face, and craved to see him, even for one last time. I'm so sorry. She thought dizzily. How much have I made you worry? I don't even know. Getting weaker by the minute, it took much effort just to open the fridge, not to mention reach things.
There was: Half a bag of toast. Strawberry jam stored in an airtight container. An empty milk carton. Six jars of what looked like peanut butter. Orange juice. Plump purple Namberries and butter.
She made a simple sandwich and dug right in, not even bothered that it was cold. The first taste of gratification in three weeks. Despite being the slightest of things, she felt better than she'd ever felt recently. Starvation could really change a person's perspective.
Suddenly, the crickets stopped chirping abruptly. Startled, she turned around. All the stars seemed to disappear, and a blue, shining orb floated in the distance, above the many roofs in the valley. Intrigued, she treaded carefully into the living room, trying to be quiet. To her shock, the orb approached, almost in response to her walking. As it got closer, its mystical shape became more vivid and emitted increasingly wider illuminance.
'It's you,' she took a step back and drew a sharp breath. The orb had taken the shape of a cube, its vivid carvings radiated its symbolic teal hue. A single look at the Talisman of Wisdom was enough to send goosebumps up her arms. 'Why, you…' she paused. You? I'm referring to it as a person now. I'm out of my mind. Still, something about it seemed so realistic, so alive.
'What do you want from me?' she whispered. The night breeze was cold against her skin. She shivered. 'Why are you here?' But there was no reply, and the Talisman only hovered.
Creeeeaaaak!
A noise came behind her, like a door opening. It made her jump, but she didn't turn around. She stood alone in the front yard, continuing to stare at the floating cube, mesmerized by its glow. She couldn't take her eyes off it, as if it would disappear. Despite her time spent with it being short-lived back at the mountain, looking at it took her back to those moments. The intense magic circulating through her veins and muscles, the irredeemable savageness and unrelenting power it displayed, and yet… she failed to live up to its expectations, and doomed Maxy Scarlet's life. How difficult would it be to find someone who could've wielded the Talisman better than her? Worthier than her? Was her Synph actually accurate in defining her capabilities? Seemed not. Looking back at it now, she discovered that a large part of her doubt was bound within its roots, predestined to be its proceeder, but unable to make up for this massive illegibility. This must be a mistake. She often told herself. Heck, this must be a joke. I can't even use normal magic. You chose wrong.
She cowered her head in guilt. Somewhere, far away, the sound of a chiming bell echoed through the night valley. It was officially midnight.
BONG!
She looked up again.
You Were Always
The One.
The Talisman disappeared. What's left was a sentence, large and bold, written in midair, still emitting its teal light. Her sparkling green eyes widened, as the words too, soon disappeared, leaving only the echoing of the chimes rocking the valley.
Dizziness hit her like a steam train, as she stumbled to the ground with her hands clapped to her mouth. Nausea made her vision swim like a mill, and she heard distant cries calling her name.
'June…'
''m alright,' she tried to say, but they came as faint mumbles.
'June…'
'Was always the one…' she repeated.
'June!'
Someone grabbed her by the arms and hauled from her sitting position. Benjamin Faley might have had sweaty hands, but they were strong.
'I'm sorry,' she whispered tearfully. 'I thought my ideals were right. I…I shouldn't have spoken to you that way.'
'Juni! Juni!' cried Sam, kneeling down on the wooden lounge. 'Is she…?'
'It's alright now,' reassured Ben. 'No one thinks it's your fault. Let's get together and be a family again. Plus, we can't keep Ozin waiting.'
'Ozin?'
Grinning, he took a step aside. Behind him stood Ellie, who was accompanied by no other than the old hermit himself—Ozin.
'You came back,' she cried with relief.
'Came back yesterday. It's been a while, I'd say,' he opened his short but large arms wide. 'I missed you, young lady.'
June allowed herself to fall into his embrace. His arms were soft and warm. 'I missed you too,' she sniffed. 'And don't call me "young lady" ever again.' They waited quietly as she sobbed freely for two minutes straight. It didn't bother her in the slightest that she was taller by a foot.
'I was told that it had been a hard time for you in these past two weeks,' said Ozin, not unkindly. 'Don't hide your sorrow anymore, okay? Whatever happens, we're all here for you. Promise me.' She nodded, with the lingering tears on her cheeks—and smiled.
'I get pretty awkward to others sometimes.' she mumbled.
'That wraps it up for today,' proclaimed Obyn playfully. 'It certainly looks strange to have five people standing outside, especially at this hour.'
'I suspect for things to turn out differently,' said Ellie lightly, 'but I guess the outcome remains the same…?'
'Huh?' asked June confusedly. 'Outcome?'
'It was my idea,' interrupted Sammy. His eyes fluttered nervously.
'Idea?'
'Yeah, well, so…' stuttered Ben (stuttering was a rare occurrence for him). 'The thing is… we were planning to have Ozin revealed tomorrow, since… well… you'd be surprised to see him and… that was the plan.' He quickly turned away to hide the redness of his face. 'It's not that big of a deal.'
'He's just glad to see you fine again,' Ellie added quickly. 'He's been having dilemmas of his own, guilty for upsetting you the other day.'
'Wait, he did?' said June and Ozin simultaneously.
'Anyway,' interrupted Ben awkwardly. 'It's getting late. We have a long day tomorrow.'
No more words were spoken that night, and they went back to their respectful rooms. Juno Haven slept peacefully that night, rid of the tormenting nightmares that brought her back to nearly a month ago when she battled Demonlord, wielding the Talisman of Wisdom. Oddly enough, although the Talisman appeared in front of her that night, she woke up the next morning with no memories of the events ever happening. Only a puzzling emptiness remained then. And even though those memories were delayed from returning, she couldn't help but wonder how long the stillness would last, before they'd need to dive deeper again, as deep as they could go.
But it mattered not. Not compared to a good night's rest.