Further into Sharmarli, the Holy City…

Flourishing markets. Luxurious inns. Bustling streets. The Trade District reminds me of my city back in my world, especially downtown. Truly, it’s the place to be!

We’re sitting with Eris on a little bench on the side of the street, watching the crowds go by. This spot isn’t really much of a quiet place, but at least we don’t have a crowd of people hassling us. I must’ve scared them all away!

Oh well. Good riddance! Those people may have been concerned for her, some of them possibly fans or ex-fans… but they were giving poor Eris so much grief. And I just had to tell them to fuck off! Either way, I’m glad we’re past all of that ugliness.

Good grief. Been a while since I had to raise my voice like that. But hey! It’s all for a good cause. I don’t mind it at all.

Gotta say, I wasn’t expecting that kind of anxiety from a Bard! They’re usually in their element while singing and dancing for a crowd, as graceful and professional as one can ever be. And I’m sure Eris, famous as she is in this world of Nisha, does live performances regularly. Y’know, concerts and autograph signings and all that. Maybe even handshakes! Anna’s room back on the Isle does have a few posters of Eris on tour, so there’s that!

Hmm. Fuck me. I’m thinking that maybe it was the type of attention she was getting that unnerved her so badly. I mean… fucking hell! Those people gathered around us at the docks were all judging her, eyes prying into her like one would a doll. Demanding answers like she fucking owes them. It just ain’t right, y’know?

Sheesh. The nerve of those bastards! The more I think about it… the more it pisses me off! But at least it’s over.

“Sorry about earlier, Anna. Arisa…” Eris says to us nervously, the gaze of her eyes downcast on her feet and the floor. “I don’t know what came over me just now. I’m sorry you had to shout at them, Arisa! I…”

“Don’t worry about it at all,” Anna answers warmly, glancing at me momentarily as she flashes a sweet, demure smile. “Arisa’s good at what she does!”

“Best in the business,” I answer, smiling back. “I aim to please!”

“Ah. I wasn’t expecting someone dressed like that to be so fiery and fierce, though…”

“Dressed like…?”

“Well, umm…”

She’s looking at me, sizing me up from top to toe. Looking at my hood, my gown, my gloves… and… my legs, her gaze going all the way down to my feet and the high heels propping them up. And she’s… blushing!? Just a little.

Huh. Okay. I guess I really do give off an aura of sexy serenity, like a proper lady and a regal princess Healer of the highest calibre. At least till I open my mouth!

“Oh. Heh. I know, right?” I say with a cheeky grin, wagging my finger playfully. “Hey, what can I say? Looks can be deceiving! Hope I didn’t disappoint ya. I swear, I can be a proper lady if I try hard enough!”

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“You didn’t disappoint me, Arisa. I’m thankful that you and Anna were there for me just now. Ah! If Anna’s your Paladin, and she has you by her side every day…”

“Yup! She’s one lucky Paladin. And I’m the luckiest Healer on Nisha to have her with me!”

“I know how that feels. I had someone like that in my life once – my Manager,” Eris muses out loud, smiling wistfully as she gazes into the sunny and snowy skies above the Holy City. “He’s brave and kind, just like you and Anna. But then…”

“Oh, right. Anna told me that you’ve retired from showbiz,” I remark thoughtfully, cupping my chin as I recall the finer details of our little talk at the Chantry courtyard. “She said she heard the news from your Studio.”

“It’s true,” Eris answers forlornly, nodding gently. “How long has it been? Four months? Longer, maybe? I’ve lost count. It feels like forever since Lady Nhaka called me to her side.”

“Why did Miss Mezalune do that?” Anna asks in turn. “Umm… if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. It was an arrangement between her and my Studio. I had no say in it at all! They told me it was for my own safety.”

“That’s so annoyingly vague,” I remark with a slight frown. “Sheesh. Do you remember anything before that, though? It might lead to a reason why.”

“Sometimes I try to remember why any of this happened… and my mind’s… blank. I hate that feeling. I really, really do. I…”

Momentarily, I glance at Anna. She’s got a slight frown on her face, a forlorn look in her eyes while she looks at Eris concernedly. And she’s looking very tense. Feeling what she’s feeling, maybe – that feeling of emptiness when you forget everything before. They’re kindred spirits like that, and I empathise. I really do.

“It’s like you’ve forgotten something,” I remark thoughtfully. “That right?”

“Yes indeed!” Eris exclaims, her eyes lighting up. “It does feel like there’s an empty space between what I know of my life in the Studio and the day I was called to Lady Nhaka’s side. I’m sure it holds the reason for… everything! And yet, I…”

Good grief. She’s visibly tense, her body shivering in place like she’s got the chills. There are tears in her eyes, just a little bit. But she’s holding it all in with all she’s got. Even if it hurts.

“It’s the reason why I… don’t do what I do anymore. I try to, every day, but I… can’t.”

“Eris…” Anna says quietly, placing a hand gently on Eris’ shoulder to comfort her. “Arisa and I… we’re here for you.”

“Thank you, Anna. I appreciate it. And I appreciate your company. I wouldn’t have felt that urge to sing again if it weren't for you. It’s why I asked you that question! Knowing that you’re my fan, I felt a spark of inspiration… and I went for it! And I’m glad I did.”

“Really? Oh my! I’m glad I could help!”

“Yes! What can I say? Fans like you are my muse!” Eris adds happily, only to bow her head solemnly. “Ah. It felt good to sing again. I should do that more often, huh?”

“You should!” Anna answers, nodding enthusiastically. “It was a lot of fun until…”

“Till I had my fun!” I interject with a cheeky grin. “Hey, we all gotta take turns. Right, Eris?”

“Yeah, we did,” Eris says lukewarmly as she blinks and rubs away the tears in her eyes. “Ah. Singing aside… this isn’t playing out how I wanted it…”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“I was supposed to bring you and Arisa to Lady Nhaka post-haste and give you both a tour of the city along the way! Ah! I was supposed to be professional… and here I am, wallowing in anxiety and self-pity…”

“Did you just say… ‘tour’, Eris!? I’d love to take the tour, please!” Anna exclaims cheerfully, pumping her fist into the air enthusiastically. “So would my Healer, Arisa!”

“Yeah! We’ve still got a whole day ahead of us,” I add with just as much enthusiasm, nodding vigorously. “We’d love to have you show us around on the way to the Palace of Lights!”

“Ah! In that case…”

With a smile on her face, with the grace of an angel in flight, Eris gets up from the bench, faces us and bows dutifully, her hand on her heart.

“Shall we, Anna and Arisa? Let me show you ladies the wonderful wonders of the Holy City!”