On St Elicia’s and the big city…

“Saint Elicia!?” Anna exclaims, her eyes momentarily wide with surprise before calming down just as quickly. “Umm… Saint Elicia isn’t a Devata like Miss Alcadeias, right?”

“Not to my knowledge,” I answer thoughtfully, cupping my chin. “She’s Human, just like us.”

“Oh, silly me! You told me before that there aren’t any Dungeons or Monsters in your world…”

“Yeah. But she’s the stuff of legends, though!”

“How so?”

“Centuries ago, she was a patron of the Church whose clergy sailed east to spread the holy word of their holy God,” I answer with a smile. “She started the Academy to teach folks how to read and write… and when she passed on, her successors named it after her.”

“Ahh…”

“Yup. It’s the founding myth of my school! Part of my job as Student Council President involves memorising stuff like that. I’ve got plenty of that kind of trivia in me! Plenty to give.”

“Student Council… President?” Anna asks innocently, the words rolling off her tongue curiously like they’re exotic and alien. “Is that a noble title in your world?”

“Kinda? It’s more of an elected position.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“Enough of my fellow students decided I was the one for the job. They voted for it.”

“Ah! So, what do you do for your fellow students?”

“I take care of their interests and needs with the faculty. Oh, and I also keep things on campus running smoothly! It’s a little hectic at times.”

“And you’ve done well, I trust?”

“I’d like to think so. I gave it as good as I got it in me. It wasn’t my choice or what I wanted to do… but I warmed up to the job. Eventually!”

“You didn’t want to be… what was it called again? Student Council… umm…”

“President, yeah. Student Council President. I didn’t even want the damn job,” I answer with a silly grin. “The whole thing started as a joke between me and my friends.”

“Oh? How so?”

“They thought it’d be funny if someone like me became Student Council President… since it’s such a prim and proper role. Said that with my fancy hairdo alone, I’d get the job. So, they snuck my name into the list.”

“Oh my! And the teachers in your school allowed it?”

“Yeah. They must’ve thought it was hilarious. I’ve had some run-ins with them. Y’know… getting past the school gates on time, getting into the occasional fight… stuff like that!”

“That seems a little shallow of them…” Anna states concernedly. “But I think they wanted you to be better. Like what you are right now! As for your friends…”

“You’re gonna say they believe in me to lead them and St Elicia’s?”

“Yup!”

“Those guys!? Doubtful.”

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I raise my brow as Anna shakes her head.

“Maybe they’re just shy in admitting their feelings of admiration, Arisa. I felt that way… until after that ordeal with Miss Alcadeias and her blades. When I saw what you did to protect me, I didn’t want to hide my feelings for you any longer!”

“Good grief, Anna…” I say, smiling sheepishly as I scratch the back of my head. “That’s so mushy… and I fucking love it.”

“And I love you too, Arisa…” Anna adds sweetly as she leans in, gently pecking me on my cheek. “So, maybe they’re shy… just like I was!”

“Oh man, if you ever get to hang out with them… they’re gonna love you so damn much.”

“You think so?”

“I don’t see why not!”

“So, umm… how did you win this… ‘election’?” Anna asks innocently. “Ah, yes! That’s the word you used earlier, right?”

“It sure is!” I answer enthusiastically. “And I won it by… I’m not sure, to be honest. I just went with the flow of things. My friends helped me out with my campaign posters, and thanks to them, I looked really good! Oh, and I wrote speeches, made promises... the whole nine yards.”

“Ooh! You sound like you really got into it, huh?”

“Yeah, I really did, huh?” I say, my smile sheepish as ever. “Helped a ton that one of the other candidates pissed me off. Couldn’t stand her sneering comments about me…”

“Oh my…”

“It was the little push I needed to start working on my campaign to be elected! Spite and anger are indeed powerful forces to be reckoned with!”

“Love as well, right?”

“Yeah. Love as well, Anna. Annoyance got me started, but my friends and the students supporting me… that kept me going to the finish line, and the long road thereafter.”

“And you ruled your people wisely and kindly?” Anna asks sweetly, her eyes bright with admiration. “As Student Council President, I mean! And umm… oh my! That noble title of your world really does roll off the tongue…”

“Yeah. I like to think I did!” I answer with a cheeky grin. “And I think it made me a better person too. Made the less awesome parts of me a little more awesome.”

“Indeed! You can’t get into fights when you’re the one supposed to be the one keeping the peace, silly Arisa!”

“Yup. It’s all about leading by example. And you’re right – it’s been quite a while since I’ve gotten into a fistfight over something stupid. Been too busy with my duties!”

“If you performed your duties with the same dedication you’ve displayed in guiding me…” Anna muses sweetly, smiling demurely. “You must be an amazing Student Council President. The best there is!”

I can’t help but smile in turn, feeling the warmth in my cheeks as we gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes. Gotta say, it would be pretty inconvenient and annoying if the Mer-men showed up right now. But they haven’t! Credit where credit’s due.

But yeah. I’d like to think that I’ve done decently for myself and everyone, all things considered. Even if what I said was true about not wanting the job, I really did immerse myself in my new duties as Student Council President. Even if it meant less time for my old life up on the rooftop with friends who were more suited to my delinquent disposition. It was a chance for a new experience, and I took to it with the same gusto I had when I left my hometown to study in the big city. Because why the fuck not? You only live once, after all. So, might as well!

It’s why I’ve embraced this world of Nisha, fighting for it with everything I’ve got. Initial bit of existential dread and homesickness in the previous timeline notwithstanding, of course! As a Hero, I’d do the same for all the worlds out there in danger. It’s only right that I do!

“Helping others must be your calling in life,” Anna remarks warmly as she leans in again, embracing me tightly. “Be it in this world or yours… you give me that impression!”

“It really does feel that way, huh?” I remark with a wry grin, staring out into the vastness of the Silent Sea. “I’m just glad I’m doing my best. Like you said we oughta do, remember?”

“I do! But I also wonder sometimes…”

Once again, I gaze out into the quiet, ever-shifting waves of the Silent Sea.

“Who am I truly, Anna? I’m a Healer, a Hero… the Student Council President of St Elicia’s… and I’m…”

I’m not sure how else to put it, really. I’ve gone through so many experiences between worlds, between mine and Nisha, St Elicia’s Academy and the Order of Selene, the village and the big city, my delinquent friends on the rooftop and the Student Council… and now, one timeline to another. They’ve all changed me in some way, for better or worse.

Good grief. I’m not losing my mind or anything, but I gotta say, it’s a bit tricky to keep track of who I am, who I was… and in time, who I’ll be. Just a little bit.

“I know who you are. Remember what I said earlier?” Anna answers warmly as she moves in a little closer beside me, her arm around my shoulder. “You’re Arisa Ishii, and they’re all you, and you’re all of them combined. And to me… you’re everything.”

“Sheesh! You’re really getting good at sweet-talking me, eh?”

“What can I say?” Anna offers playfully as she kisses me on the cheek, once more. “I’m learning from the best!”

“Anna…”

The waves of the Silent Sea are as serene as ever, each gentle wave bringing us closer to the Holy City. It’s a peaceful journey, the first step onto a path once well-travelled.