Two days later, morning at the docks of Sharmarli, the Holy City…

We made it. Been a while, but here we are! Fresh off the boat. The holy spires from the Palace of Lights are brighter than ever out on the distant horizon, radiant even in the backdrop of the bright morning sun and snowy skies.

That’s where we’re headed – the Palace of Lights! Nestled deep within the ever-beating heart of the city… it’s quite the place to be! It’s said that one can live there for a century and never eat the same meal twice. Whether that’s true or not, I guess no one truly knows except the Oracle, Lady Nhaka Mezalune. And that’s who we’re gonna meet!

But first… we gotta get outta here! These docks are crowded to all hell and back. Lots of folks and ships coming and going at this time of day. And all other hours of the day too, really. Even past midnight. People say the Holy City never sleeps.

It’s all good, though. Anna and I have a system, kinda… we’re holding hands! So long as I don’t let go, the all-consuming crowds of Humans and Elves have no sway over me. Right now, I’m the eye of the storm, the centre of the universe… and I got this!

Good grief. We’re going through the crowds, scanning our surroundings as we make our way past seaside cafes and market stalls alike, skilfully navigating through the crowds. And as we make our way outta the docks…

“Woah!” I exclaim as I stop dead in my tracks, having spotted a rather familiar-looking young Elf lady with long brown hair and icy teal eyes in the distance, holding up a cute little chalkboard as she stands alone by the entrance of the docks. “Is that who I think it is?”

“Huh? Is something the matter, Arisa?” Anna asks with a look of concern on her face, having also stopped because we were holding hands. “What are you looking at?”

“Over there!” I exclaim, pointing at that Elf. “She looks very much like Eris Aintree, right?”

“Oh my! Why, she does! By Rinnah, I…”

She’s dressed from head to toe in the holy ensemble of the Sacred Shield – the personal army of the Oracle that protects the Holy City and the surrounding lands. It’s a fashionable mix of cloth and plate armour of white and black and silver, complete with thigh-high plate greaves and matching black stockings. And upon further inspection... that little chalkboard she’s holding up has our names written neatly on it!

It’s not quite how I remember her as she was in the previous timeline. The Demon Cult had done a number on her, as part of their fucked up desire to bend her to their will to serve as the Voice of the Demon Lord. They had dressed her in robes of black and purple, the colours of midnight stained in the bloody red of sacrifices made to the Demons they worshipped, the gaze of her eyes strained and delirious as she spoke for them and their Lord.

But not here. She’s looking good, and she’s safe and sound. Not kidnapped, nor brainwashed! But wait! If that’s Eris… isn’t she supposed to be a Bard? Why is she dressed in the colours of the Sacred Shield, plate armour and all? I’d ask, but… as we stop and stare, it’s her turn to notice us gawking, and she waves enthusiastically at us, beckoning us over.

“Arisa, she’s…”

“Let’s head over and say hello,” I offer with a smile as Anna blushes at me, hand squarely pressed on her cheek. “She’s looking for us, after all!”

“But I…”

“Something wrong?”

“I’m just, umm…”

“Starstruck, eh?” I whisper slyly into Anna’s ear, causing her cheeks to flare up in the brightest shades of red I’ve ever seen. “Don’t worry. It’s all good. Take my hand again, won’t ya? We’ll get through this together. I promise she won’t bite! If she does… I swear I’ll bite back twice as hard to keep ya safe!”

“That’s not very reassuring…” Anna answers with a slight frown, before revealing a small, cheeky smile. “I don’t want anyone biting anyone over me! Even you, Arisa.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Hey, I’m just saying that I’ve got your back no matter what! Anyway, shall we?”

“We shall!”

With renewed confidence, we make our way over to Eris, Anna cautiously bringing up from the rear while I lead the way as confidently as I can. As we walk up to her, those icy teal eyes light up like birthday candles, and she puts away that little chalkboard of hers.

“Lady Arisa Ishii and Lady Anna Silverlight, I presume?”

“Yup. That’s us! I’m Arisa,” I answer confidently, pointing a thumb at myself with a smile and a playful swagger. “Nice to meet ya.”

“Ah! You fit the description from Lady Nhaka!” Eris answers happily. “That hairdo of yours is very distinctive, so she told me to watch for it.”

“Woah. Did Lady Mezalune send you to pick us up?”

“Yes! She said foresaw the day of your arrival, down to the hour!”

“Huh, okay. I see.”

“Oh! And I presume that’s Lady Anna Silverlight? Lady Mezalune said you would arrive as a pair, as Healer and Paladin. Don’t mind me – I have to be really, really sure!”

“Umm…” Anna answers sheepishly, hand placed squarely upon her cheek. “Yes!”

Immediately, to my surprise and Anna’s, Eris closes in and takes Anna’s hands into hers, shaking them excitedly while the dagger-like points of her elvish ears twitch wildly with all the enthusiasm in the world.

“Miss Aintree! I…”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you after all this time, Lady Anna!” Eris exclaims with girlish glee, her enthusiasm completely unfazed by Anna’s look of shock and shyness as her entire body tenses up. “I’ve heard so much about you from my Manager and Lady Iris!”

“You know my Mom, Miss Aintree!? Oh my! Umm…”

“I do, very much so! Lady Iris tells my Manager that you really enjoy my songs! And that, oh! You’re my biggest fan!”

“I am, Miss Aintree!” Anna exclaims passionately, nodding enthusiastically. “Umm… I’ve been listening to your songs ever since… forever! Every one of them!”

“Please, just call me Eris! Or ‘Miss Eris’, if you must! Actually, I insist on the former! I’m not too fond of pomp and circumstance or being formal. My Manager doesn’t like it… but I can’t help it!”

“Hey, you and me both,” I add cheekily, prompting Eris to smile at me. “Feel free to call me Arisa, then!”

“I shall, Arisa! What about you, Anna? Won’t you please indulge me?”

“Okay, Eris!” Anna exclaims enthusiastically. “I’ll keep that in mind. Oh, and umm… it’s an honour to meet you!”

“The honour’s all mine!” Eris answers cheerfully, clapping her hands joyfully. “It’s truly an honour to meet my biggest fan! I’m so glad we’ve finally met!”

“Me too, Eris! Me too!”

“Ah! Anna! If you’re my biggest fan, who has listened to each and every one of my songs…” Eris adds playfully with a cheeky wink. “Which one’s your favourite!?”

“If I had to choose, I’d say…” Anna ponders out loud, cupping her chin thoughtfully. “Dreaming of You… and Moonlight Shadows! And I really, really had to choose among them… the latter! But it’s close!”

“Moonlight shadows, dancing in the night…”

“Whispered secrets, hidden from sight…”

Good grief. They’re singing! And I gotta say, their combined excitement is infectious! I can’t help but smile as I watch them go at it together as a duet. I’d join in, but I don’t know the lyrics, and honestly, I’m perfectly content to watch and listen. It’s what I do, if I can help it!

Oh! But is it just me… or are there bruises on Eris’ neck!? And scars on her forehead! Before I can make sense of this, before I can say anything else, I can’t help but notice the handful of onlookers who’ve got the same idea as me just moments ago, drawn over by all that singing. They’re stopping and staring, watching and talking to each other, their gawking eyes all on Eris as they surround us in a nigh-impenetrable ring of Humans and Elves…

“Oh my! Is that Eris Aintree…?”

“That famous Bard, right!?”

“Yes! I used to like her songs… not so much these days.”

“Wait, I thought she moved away from Sharmarli?”

“I think so! There was an announcement from her Studio last year.”

“Really? Oh yeah, I remember that! But if so, how is she…?”

“Anna, Arisa…” Eris utters worriedly, frowning deeply upon noticing the rapidly growing crowd surrounding us. “I…”

She’s nervous. Well, ‘nervous’ would be an understatement. She’s completely tense, petrified even, eyes wide with worry and fear… as if the eyes of the crowd could devour her whole.

“We should get out of here,” Anna offers upon noticing Eris’ distress, looking me in the eye. “Lead the way, Arisa. I’ll keep her safe.”

“Sounds good to me,” I say, nodding affirmatively before turning to the crowd with Elizabeth held up high as I raise my voice. “Alright, show’s over. We’re going. Outta the way, please.”

“Huh!? Who the hell are you?”

“We’re friends of hers. Excuse us, won’t ya?”

“Yeah, and I’m totally the Oracle. What do you think you’re doing to her?”

“We’re taking her to safety. She’s not feeling well.”

“Huh? Hey, you can’t just take her away from us like that!”

“Yes, we can. You’re all making her very uncomfortable,” I answer curtly. “Give us some space, please. We’re leaving.”

“No way! We haven’t seen or heard from her in ages… we want to know what happened to her, and why she’s…”

“Okay, I tried to be polite. Let me be crystal fucking clear – I said ‘please’ when I, in fact, meant ‘now’!” I yell, raising Elizabeth up high, its angelic, bladed wings glowing in fiery shades of white and blue. “Get the fuck outta the way, right now! Last warning, idiots!”

“But...”

“Shut up!”

“Aaah!”

The crowd listens, albeit grudgingly. They get outta my way as I come through with my burning staff, clearing a path for Anna to lead Eris away from the crowd and the docks… to anywhere else but here. Somewhere quiet to catch our breath, hopefully.