The re-do of a Hero’s tale…

Calendar on the wall confirms what Anna said just now. When I look out the window to the skies beyond, they’re bright and cheery. Uncorrupted. Pristine. Not at all how it was like when Anna and I headed into Arcadia. Not in the slightest.

Good grief. I may or may not have gone back to the start of my adventure in the world of Nisha, when I first met Anna so damn long ago. But if so, how? Magic from the Runestone, maybe? Honestly, I’ve no fucking idea.

“Miss Ishii?” Anna asks, a hand upon her cheek as I get out of bed. “Shall I help you out of those bandages?”

“Sure.”

Quietly, standing completely still and with my arms outstretched like I’m on a cross, I let Anna attend to me. My bandages fall to my feet in spirals of white and red, shimmering lightly in shades of white and gold – remnants of the Mana in the Heal spell woven into them.

“Oh my!” Anna exclaims joyfully. “Mom did such a good job!”

I nod in agreement. Lady Iris Escaflowne (or ‘Mom’ as Anna calls her!) is the Ecclesiarch of the Order of Selene, the sacred pact to whom all the paladins and healers of Nisha are sworn to. She’s a Healer beyond peer, raised Anna as her own, and most importantly of all… she’s my mentor. Taught me everything I know as a Healer. And I wanted to be a Healer. Just like her. Because damn, I thought I was a goner then and there… were it not for her.

Seemed only right to walk that same path, Hero or not. I’d like to pay it forward, I suppose. Protecting and caring for others reminds me of my duties with the Student Council. Kinda. Babysitting too. Sometimes. It is what it is.

“Oh, right!” Anna exclaims, her cheeks a bright red, one hand upon them as she gestures to my school uniform. “Would you like to…”

“Nah. I’m good,” I answer confidently, walking past her and towards the table in nothing more than frilly, slightly bloodied pink bloomers. “I’m famished, and I’ve kept you waiting long enough. Let’s eat!”

“Umm… but you’re…”

“Yup. Shall we?” I offer nonchalantly, without so much as a second thought, flashing a smile at Anna as she looks on nervously. “C’mon now.”

Honestly, I’m still in a bit of a daze. Food looks delicious, but despite my rather audacious claims, I can barely muster up the appetite to eat. Or, for that matter… the will to get dressed. Everything just feels… surreal. Like I’m dreaming, half-asleep.

“Umm… thank you for this meal, Rinnah…” Anna whispers, her eyes closed and her hands clasped in prayer as faint shades of red remain on her cheeks. “For this day… for ours, and for you…”

“May we find salvation…” I add, whispering softly with a wistful smile, finishing those words of grace. “May we embrace hope.”

Hmm. I feel a lot better now after saying these words. I’ve said prayers to another deity when I was up on the podium in front of everyone, but it was all mostly for show. Now, as a Healer in Nisha, it hits different. I’ve said these words so many damn times. So gently, so softly. Praying to Rinnah, as a Healer would. And they bring me comfort, even now.

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“Okay. Let’s eat!”

“Yay!”

My appetite’s back! But even so, I find myself slowing down to watch as Anna wolfs down her food. She’s fast with her fork and knife, but she somehow still goes about it very elegantly. Like a lady oughta, like how I oughta. I always have to watch myself when I’m in the colours of St Elicia’s, especially ever since I won that damn Student Council election. I do miss just hanging out with the boys up on the rooftop with the sun on our skin, just being me.

“Umm… Miss Ishii?”

“My friends call me Arisa!” I answer with a warm smile, eyeing the hand pressed against Anna’s cheek. “Will you?”

“Okay! Miss…”

Immediately, Anna coughs to clear her throat.

“Arisa!”

“Thank you, Anna.”

“Anyway, umm…” Anna asks, hand upon her cheek once again as she looks at my breakfast platter. “Are you alright? You haven’t touched your food at all…”

“Yeah. I'm fine. Just a little dazed is all.”

“You were talking about fighting the Demon Lord. And you were asking about today’s date, saying it was one year ago in the past. It’s a bit weird, if I may say so…”

“Is it not the past?”

“Umm… it’s today for me!” Anna exclaims enthusiastically. “Every day's a new day.”

“Well, damn...” I answer as I frown. “I think I might be from the future.”

“What!?”

“That’s right. I was here in this exact place, this exact moment, about one year ago. My Prophecy and me becoming a Healer. It all began here in this room, when I met you.”

“This is a little strange. Mom said…”

“Look, I can prove that I ain’t crazy! Just ask me anything!”

For a moment, Anna stares at me like I’m raving mad. And really, I probably sound and act the part. But maybe in all that madness, she sees that I wholeheartedly believe the words coming outta my mouth. You know, as any good nutcase oughta.

“Hmm. Alright…” Anna states hesitantly. “Umm… you said we’re best friends, right?”

“The best of the best!”

It’s true, Anna! In the previous timeline, we started out a little rocky, arguments and all… but we live and learn, right? And at the end of days, I’d give my life for you. As you did for me, in my darkest hour.

“Okay, umm… tell me what you know of me!”

“Hmm, let’s see…” I answer, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. “I know that you wield a huge fucking claymore called Ascalon, that you love sugar-cane milk and try to have a glass every other week even though Lady Iris forbids you… and that you’re a huge fan of that elven Bard from Sharmarli! Eris Aintree, right?”

“By Rinnah…”

“Hey now,” I state with a grin, shrugging my shoulders nonchalantly as Anna stares at me with eyes wide open, her mouth agape from all that I've just told her. “Told ya I ain’t bluffing.”

“Arisa, I’m honestly…”

“Amazed?”

“Yes! And it’s only now that I really notice that your eyes, they’re…”

Quietly, I turn to look into a nearby mirror set upon a simple dressing table. Upon its reflection, I stare into the colour of my eyes. They are as I’ve always known them to be – golden like the sun. And in this world of Nisha, like the eyes of a God.

“They’re the same, Anna. Far as I know.”

“Really? Umm… they’re different to me!” Anna answers as she watches me stare off into the distance. “You don’t have that same unease anymore when I found you in the forest.”

“You think so? Helps that I’m not bleeding out, I suppose.”

“Yes! And that confidence and energy you exude… it reminds me of Mom! Somewhat. You’re quite a bit more, umm… heated! Regardless, you weren’t like that at all yesterday…”

“She did teach me everything I know as a Healer.”

“I’m not sure what to make of this, Arisa. But if what you say is true, let’s be friends all over again!” Anna exclaims joyfully as she leaps out of her chair, standing up straight and extending a hand to me. “My name is Anna Silverlight!”

“And I’m Arisa Ishii!” I answer with all the enthusiasm in the world, standing up with just as much gusto and shaking that hand of hers. “Nice to meet ya!”