“It is always haunting to find an area of pristine nature blooming where the scars of civilization once were. It reminds us that we are naught but a fragment of this world, grandiose in our aspirations but minute in our reach. Perhaps the only more eerie phenomena are corrupted lands or blighted territory. A land where no life roams and only decay holds its domain.”
- Patalan Socrin, Potomian Philosopher, “Dialectics On The State Of The World”
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Ary nibbled on the sandwich, the delicate blend of sweet, savory, and a hint of acidic sour tingled her taste buds. She cooed in happiness, pairing it with the rich aromatic but bittersweet orange black tea. Sophie was doing much the same, the elf looking rather content in Ary’s eyes.
She had gotten a tuna sandwich stuffed with cheese, onions, pickles, and lettuce with a dash of lemon. Sophie meanwhile, availed herself to a herby looking noodle dish that smelled like a delightful little garden. It was a hearty if not necessarily extravagant meal. But it was more than enough for Ary.
There was a quiet calm between them that made her feel wistful. She remembered joyous moments like these so long ago. Before she had met with Sophie and the others. Before even she had ever inherited this spirit of hers. Back beside the warmth of the hearth fire, under the tender caress of her mother, with a fresh dinner courtesy of papa. The memory was like her drink, bittersweet. Comforting yet distant and never quite enough to fully quench her thirst.
She wondered if she would ever see them again, or even ever learn of what happened to them. In theory the spirit wouldn’t have transferred provided that the bearer was alive and well. That was a harsh truth that the younger her barely could comprehend at the time. One that only served as fuel for the fire for the other members of Clan Frostfyre. The uncertainty and loneliness that had enveloped her in its entirety at the time was suffocating. It wasn’t until Sophie, Mila and the others appeared in her life that she managed to pull herself out of that mire.
She grinned, though it was a pained one. To dull her mind, she stole another bite of the sandwich. Concentrating on the flavors instead of her thoughts. But it was a futile endeavor, her mood failing to shift at all, her mind trapped in the regrets of the past.
“Ary, you alright?” Sophie asked, her voice piercing the fog that clouded Ary’s mind.
Ary paused mid bite, staring at her partner like a confused raccoon.
“Ary?” Sophie asked again, her brows wrinkled with concern.
“Ah, I’m fine. Just doing a little bit of… thinking.” She mumbled awkwardly, taking the moment to swallow the bite of food in her mouth.
Instead of being reassured, she saw Sophie deflate further, the girl’s shoulders sagging heavily. Worried, she set her sandwich down, pulling closer to meet Sophie’s gaze. She reached out and gently brushed at Sophie’s hand.
“I’m fine?” Ary tried to smile, unsure of how to appropriately respond.
Sophie glanced at her, a soft if slowly disappearing smile on her face.
“It’s about the ritual thing isn’t it? Or whatever the hells Yana and Eva told me about the dwarves… and you.” Sophie mumbled, her expression darkening with every word.
Ary froze. Her hand grew still just like the smile that had died on her face. She knew it was inevitable that she would have to tell Sophie about it. Perhaps even that at least one of the others would’ve told her about the gist of things. Or maybe that’d she’d simply figure out that something was wrong in general, she knew Sophie to be the perceptive sort, sometimes.
Still, she didn’t expect the question to have been posed so bluntly and suddenly. Nor did she expect to feel as guilty as she did at this moment. She had deliberately avoided telling Sophie for fear of worrying the girl even more. And now, she looks more worried than ever.
“You knew?” Ary whispered.
Sophie looked away, but reached out instead to hold onto Ary’s hands, catching her off guard. Yet, although she had expected a more vicelike grip, Sophie’s hold was timid, like she was afraid of breaking something. Ary could feel it, the question behind the motion. If she wished to dodge the topic, all she had to do was pull away. But seeing Sophie’s gaze briefly glance down towards the new necklace she wore, she knew that that wasn’t an option for her. Sophie deserved better.
“No. I was thinking about the past.” Ary answered once more.
This answer in turn surprised Sophie, the girl pulling back a bit though not releasing her grip.
“The.. past?” Sophie mumbled.
“Mhmm. About my mom and dad. It was…” Ary smiled a little, “A long time ago.”
“O-oh. Sorry. I just-”
“I know. You weren’t wrong, just this very moment, it was different.” Ary giggled before letting out a heavy groan, “Ugh, I always wanted to talk to you about the ritual and what the seers told me too.” Ary admitted, “I didn’t want you to feel even more stressed.”
Sophie almost chuckled. Her hand finally letting go of Ary’s, instead, reaching over to caress her cheek instead, startling the girl.
“Sophie?” Ary squeaked.
“I know.” Sophie sighed, “I guessed as much.”
Ary looked away but sighed. It was a small mercy, that Sophie already understood the gist of the situation. It meant there would be less explaining to do. Hopefully.
She pulled away and took a big bit of her sandwich, chewing away until she could wash the remains away with a large gulp of tea.
“I don't know what they’ve told you. But I guess it’s most of it. Still…” Ary grunted, grabbing onto Sophie’s hands for comfort, “It’s like this…” She began.
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Ary didn’t know where the time had gone when she finished talking. She had kept her own emotions mostly in check, relaying everything she knew factually. Or so she hoped.
Helping her along, Sophie sat across from her. Mostly just dutifully listening while she distracted herself with her noodles. Oddly, the sight proved to be equal parts relaxing and stress inducing for Ary. Extraordinarily ordinary without enough shuffle to indicate unease or tension. At the same time, the restrained reaction was telling enough to show off Sophie’s growing concern.
Taking a deep breath, Ary watched Sophie’s reaction carefully. The elf just bobbed her head and finished off the last of her meal. Nervous, Ary munched on her own sandwich, the once warm meal now cold but thankfully maintaining relatively flavorful.
Sophie let out a deep sigh and Ary quickly swallowed her bite, wondering what emotions were about to spill out from the elf. That nothing forthcoming seemed to have arrived only unsettled Ary that much more. Leaving her worried that she had somehow done or said something wrong.
“Umm?” She muttered uncertainly.
Sophie shifted in her seat, a sorrowful sigh escaping from her.
“Ary.” Sophie murmured.
“That’s me, haha.” Ary tried but failed to sound playful. Her own worries likely added a dampener to the mood she wanted to inspire.
Sophie managed to offer a smile. A small sign that things were not as dire as they might’ve seemed within Ary’s mind.
“Ary.” Sophie repeated.
This time the pain in her voice was easier to discern. It meant that she was willingly letting her guard down. Though that offered little relief to Ary, who knew that she was the reason Sophie was so agitated.
“Yeah?” She weakly replied.
“Is…” Sophie asked, though pausing only after the first word.
Is? Ary found the unfinished question more maddening than if a challenging one had been posed to her.
Sophie shuffled a little more. Her concerns and desires battling themselves out in front of Ary’s eyes. Only after a few more moments did Sophie seem to collect herself, placing her arms on the table and looking to Ary for answers.
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“Is it something you’ve thought through?” She finally finished.
“What do you mean?" Ary queried, a little baffled, "You mean, about the ritual?”
“Yeah. About it. And what might happen to you.”
Ary straightened her back. This was what she wanted to avoid discussing. The fate of which disquieted her just as much as it might’ve done so for Sophie if not even more so. Yet the more she thought about, the more surprising it was that words were beginning to come to her mind. Her fears were given shape, and her affection for Sophie only continued to grow.
“I have. I know.” Ary preempted the next question that hung on Sophie’s lips, “Truth is, any academic sources I tried to find have little to say about such a situation. I’m fairly odd, it turns out.”
Sophie chuckled, “That you are.”
“But it’s as the others have told you. And I can feel the truth in both Yana and the Stoneseers words. I’m getting weaker. Maybe not by the day, or anything so… so… sad. But every time that something happens to you, and your power taps into the spirit's. It hurts.” She admitted.
Pain, sadness, regret, fear. All those emotions crossed Sophie’s darkening visage. The girl grew more withdrawn at the grim prospect that Ary had laid out. They both knew the end result, and they were both afraid of it.
“Then…” Sophie's voice was raspy, the pitiful sound making Ary tremble.
Sophie looked so weak and vulnerable. A fairly rare occurrence, one made even more so by how strong she had become. Ary was proud of that. But she’s still Sophie. She cares. Maybe even more than I can imagine. And I'm hurting her. I'm responsible.
“Yeah. The chances aren’t good either way. Maybe there’s another solution, long forgotten, Myndiri even. Until then however…” She paused, giving Sophie all the time that she needed to process the words.
“This might be the only way, huh.”
“Yeah.” Ary pretended to be confident.
Their hands interlocked, the meal forgotten. They had often sought the comfort of each other regularly, but this felt different. So close, yet strangely so distant at the same time. Both afraid of losing the other. Both in different ways.
“Then, your tribe?” Sophie asked.
“They seem to be the only way, yes. Though I’m under no illusion that Galen’s doing this for me. Bastard hates my guts.” Ary snickered a little.
Sophie grinned, “I can tell.”
The two shared a smile, their hands caressing each other. Another moment taken out of time, a pleasant reprieve from the decidedly less pleasant facts being presented.
“Do you trust them with this?” Sophie spoke once more.
Ary shook her head, “No. But I believe that Galen wants this power.”
“And you're still planning to meet with them? Even if you can’t trust him? If he wants that power he could just leave you for dead.”
“What else can I do?” Ary grunted, “Besides, I don’t plan on going alone.”
Sophie tutted to herself, a dissatisfied click of the tongue. Is she... no... she's jealous?
“Sophie.” Ary chided.
The girl looked away, “I could be there. I’m your firekeeper, aren’t I?”
Ary’s eyes widened, surprised at the title being brought up after so long. Though it was something that had hurt her before, from Sophie, it was almost like a comforting balm.
“You are. But you are more than that. More people need you than just me.”
“And I would-” Sophie hissed.
“Maybe.” Ary interrupted with a sad smile, “Sophie. I know you. I know how much it hurt you back then to sacrifice all those people. How much things like that still haunt you now. Whatever happened, Anna is still your friend. She was there… before me. She deserves to at least get to talk to you. One last time or not.”
“What?! And you don’t think I’d regret anything if you died?!” Sophie almost shouted, her rising voice only contained by Ary shrinking back from the anger.
“Of course not!” Ary squeaked, “I… I don’t want to imagine that possibility. Sorry.”
Sophie seemed to pause, Ary’s expression clearly eliciting something inside the elf. Cautiously, she retreated, slumping back into her seat with a dejected groan.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Ary managed to say.
“But I mean… the others might be there but you and I…” Sophie whined.
“Nothing you or the others can do would likely help. They’re just there to make sure the clan doesn’t try any funny business like stabbing me or something.” Ary attempted to lift the mood once more, “I’m not exactly good at fighting like you guys, eheh.”
Sophie rolled her eyes and sighed. This time there wasn’t the same despair or despondence behind her eyes, just a quiet, if strained acceptance of the situation. Ary felt the resonant pain lingering in the air. For her, hurting Sophie hurt her just as much.
“But I’ll be fine. They’ll keep me safe.”
Sophie snickered and got up from her seat. She dragged it closer to Ary and gently petted the girl. Ary unwittingly let out a soft coo of enjoyment inspite of the conversation they were just having.
“Sophie.” She grumbled jokingly.
“Mmm.” Sophie hummed, her pet slowly morphing into an attempt at hugging Ary.
One that she did not resist.
Leaning into the gesture, Ary looked up to find Sophie staring right back down at her.
“I know they will.” Sophie spoke after a moment, “I trust Hanabi and the others. Now Sophia too, since she’s staying.”
Ary nodded, happy that the same judgement had been reached.
“But it’s the thought of it, Ary. Surely you can understand?” Sophie growled.
Ary shrunk a little more, nodding.
“At least you know.” Sophie sighed, giving her hair one last tousle before stepping away from her, “Just… I don’t know. It makes me feel a little useless.”
“Yeah. But you’re not. I need you. So don’t you do anything stupid either.” Ary chided, trying to push the conversation away from the ritual.
Sophie was hesitant, then slowly nodded along to what Ary was saying.
“I won’t. I promise. But only if you also promise to be here when I get back.” Sophie whispered, no hint of sadness, anger, or any other emotion. Just a plain plea and request.
Ary pushed herself out of her chair and gave the elf a quick peck on the lips.
“I promise.” She vowed.
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After their talk at the library, the rest of the date was tainted by the unwelcome somberness that now followed the duo. Still, they tried their best to enjoy what little time was left in the city. With evening fast approaching and the skies dimming, they decided to bring an end to an otherwise enjoyable day. Library conversation notwithstanding.
Ary gently toyed with her new necklace, taking an interest in the intricately carved piece of jewelry and how delicate each part of the lily looked. Sophie was happy enough that Ary looked pleased by the purchase. The redhead had to occasionally stick her tongue out to tease Sophie so that the elf wouldn’t feel too smugly about it.
They walked hand in hand once more. Whatever worries Ary had now laid bare for the both of them to deal with together. Though the world outside had only gotten chiller by the time they began their journey back to the Academy docks. Ary found Sophie slowly growing more resolute than ever. She could feel a newfound sense of warmth emerging from Sophie. Borne out of care, love, concern, or desire, she wasn’t certain. But she was certain that whatever emotion it might herald was a positive one, and that was something she was more than happy to encourage.
She stole a few glances at Sophie. Admiring her and slowly closing the distance between them more and more until they were arm in arm. Sophie took no umbrage with it, the elf even squeezing her hand a little tighter in a display of affection. She smiled, therefore Ary also smiled.
That was how they boarded the ferry, arms interlocked and emotions mostly recovered. If Ary didn’t know better, she could almost pretend that this was how they were the whole date. Just a bundle of happy emotions and joy.
Her attention then shifted to the small ring that Sophie had given her which she now stored in her jacket pocket. Reaching into it, she ran her hands over the small orchid shaped trinket. She discovered a smooth but intricately carved piece of jewelry, much like her necklace. And though it wasn’t a lily to match with hers, nor one that would match with Sophie’s adventuring team name. It was still a precious gift, one she now regarded with great import. So it was that in her mind, she found a purpose for it that wasn’t meant for herself. Instead, she grasped it firmly and pulled it out, then waved her hand in front of the elf to catch her attention.
Not giving herself the chance to fumble her words or actions, she reached over for Sophie’s left hand to pull it closer. Curious, the elf simply let this happen, watching Ary raptly and making the girl fidget a little. But Ary took the moment to slip the ring out of its packaging and slide it cleanly onto Sophie’s palm.
“Huh? Isn’t that-?” Sophie mumbled, crestfallen.
“Mhmm.” Ary beamed, knowing that the elf was likely worried that her gift had been rejected.
“Oh… but didn’t I…”
“Mhmm. But I want you to wear it, for now. Until we can get one that’s matching.” Ary suggested.
“Wha?”
“I know you’ll remember me. With this though? Now you’ll doubly remember me!” Ary giggled.
Unsure if she should be amused or despondent, Sophie just gawked.
Pushing a little more out of mirth, Ary decided for her, and carefully wiggled it onto Sophie’s index finger. Taking the time to give it a quick blessing with a tiny kiss. She then turned to face the elf and plastered on the biggest smile she could muster.
“Pffft.” Sophie let out a bemused chuckle.
“For you.” Ary patted her chest, taking credit for giving Sophie’s gift as a gift back to the elf.
“Heheh, you silly little… heh.” Sophie laughed.
Unable to hold back, Ary joined in. The two laughing together, worries forgotten for the moment. Relishing in the uplifting mood, Ary leaned in and cuddled her, uncaring of any attention that the act might draw from others nearby.
This is it, Ary thought to herself, another wave of affection blossoming in her heart. Sophie gave her a kiss on the cheek, making her even giddier. This is a good date! She almost cackled, delighted by her own revelation. Her only pause was the next revelation she had. One molded more by a longing that she knew would go unfulfilled for a while. If only more days were like this, she sighed, leaning deeper onto Sophie’s arm, but this is good enough for now.