Morning at the Chantry courtyard…

Dew glistens coldly upon leaves and grass. Elizabeth and Ascalon rest close by, enchantments and honed metal alike sparkling shiny under the warmth of the morning sun. We just got done running laps around the place. I’d say how many, but I kinda lost count!

Damn, that’s good! Being here after what feels like forever, feels like a vacation. I breathe it all in, drinking the air like booze. Even if I’m sweating all over, and my arms and legs are a little sore from all that running.

Lady Iris said to honour the Order’s traditions. I’ve been doing just that, spending time with Anna again. Well… y’know, ‘again’ in that sense. Gotta say, it’s been a hot minute since I ever had to run for a reason not related to something (usually a Monster of some kind) trying to kill and eat me, not always necessarily in that order. Can’t say I miss that too much! But do miss being here, just hanging out.

I used to hate exercise. Wasn’t too keen to get sweaty. I’d make all kinds of excuses to stay out of the sun. Especially so, before I became President of the Student Council. Even after that happened, best I’d do for the Council and Photography Club (they’re really, really persistent!) was to play-act a little for the school paper. Couple of shots looking good on camera to show off that St Elicia school spirit, nothing more! And I’d head straight for the vending machines for soda (usually orange, but sometimes I accidentally press lemon-lime, unfortunately) right after.

Not anymore, though! I’ve come to enjoy a bit of exercise every now and then. Don’t knock it till you try it, so they say. Sure, my limbs get tired and I end up sweating all over. But I feel amazing afterwards when I’m relaxing under the shade, breath clean and my muscles burning hot. In those moments, it just feels like all’s well and right with the world.

Oh well. One can daydream, right? Wonder if Anna feels the same way too while she rests by my side under the cool shade of an ancient tree as old as the Chantry itself, branches far like the heavens. Like me, she’s also sweating from our little workout session, but I’m pretty sure she’d easily get up and do another couple of sets without falling over if she had to. Despite that petite stature of hers, she’s really, really tough! I’ve seen it with my own two eyes – when she focuses herself and swings Ascalon with all her might… oh boy! I’d hate to be in the way.

Outside of fighting and killing, though? Anna’s so gentle and demure. Friendly and kind, almost to a fault. She’s got all this brute strength, but Lady Iris taught her right. Taught to always be mindful of herself and her surroundings, and to only use that strength of hers to help others in need. That’s what Anna told me in the previous timeline, when I asked her about how she can just lift and swing a huge fucking claymore without breaking her arms. And that hasn’t changed at all.

“Umm… how are you feeling, Arisa?” Anna asks me with a gentle smile, placing a hand upon her cheek as she tries her best to keep her eyes on me. “Coin for your thoughts?”

“I’m good. Thanks for asking,” I answer serenely. “Just a little overwhelmed, is all.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“Returning here after what felt like forever just got me all mellow and thinking hard on things, Anna. Damn. I miss this place so fucking much.”

“We can come here every morning and exercise to our hearts’ content! Umm… if that’s what you’d like, I mean!”

“I’d love to. I’m glad to be here again with you, Anna.”

“Miss Ishii. Umm… no. Miss Arisa… no, sorry! Umm… Arisa…”

I remain silent, my gaze upon Anna’s eyes as they stare out into the flora of spring all around us, so cool and pretty in the glow of the morning sun. She’s cute when she’s nervous, I’ll admit. Wish I had that kinda charm going for me, but maybe I do in my own way. How else could I have won that election in St Elicia’s? It was all meant to be a big joke by my buddies, after all. Even I don’t know how it turned out the way it did, to be honest.

“Something wrong?” I ask gently. “You look a little… pale.”

Meekly, Anna nods.

“Would you like to talk about it?” I ask warmly, placing a hand on her shoulder as I give her the best smile I can muster. “I’m here for ya.”

“Umm… we said we’d be friends again, right?” Anna stammers, hand pressing hard upon her cheek as she tenses up. “But then… umm…”

I remain silent, eyes upon her as she continues to look away. I’d say something, but even I’m at a loss for words right now. What I’m doing is kinda heavy-handed and shitty, foisting a year’s worth of memories from another timeline onto her. Fucking hell.

“It’s not you… it’s me! It’s my sacred Oath as a Paladin to serve and protect you, my Healer! But then… umm…. you’re already so powerful, and I’m still…”

“The best Paladin in Nisha. Honest to Rinnah.”

“I’ve yet to master my spells...”

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“Because Lady Iris wanted us to get good at magic together,” I state sincerely, staring wistfully down towards my lap. “Of course, it’s a little different now… but that’s okay! It’ll be on me to show you the ropes! And I will!”

“It’s not just that…” Anna adds despondently. “You have all these memories of me, with me. But I’m still…”

“My Paladin. That’s who and what you are to me. Now and forever,” I say warmly, placing my other hand on her other shoulder, looking her in the eye as she weakly returns my gaze. “And uh… if it helps any… I’m sorry if I’ve weirded you out with all this crazy talk. It’s a lot to take in so short a time… and I’m sorry to force all this on you so quickly.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to be what you want me to be… but I just feel so unsure of myself sometimes, Arisa. Do you ever… umm…”

“Every day, Anna,” I answer solemnly, bowing my head. “Some days are harder than others.”

“But you endure. You keep at it… right? No matter.”

“It’s what I do.”

“Arisa…”

She’s got her eyes fully on me and me alone now, unwavering but still a little forlorn. They’re green like emeralds, green like elysian fields. Wordlessly, we gaze quietly into each other’s eyes, as if time itself stopped in its tracks for just the two of us.

“You’ve got a good heart, Arisa…” Anna says warmly as she smiles sweetly and demurely at me. “Even if I don’t share your memories of me from your timeline, I admit that I do feel some kind of umm… how do I say it?”

“Say it any way you’d like.”

“Connection!” Anna answers, nodding demurely. “You’re my Healer, and I’m your Paladin. But this feels like far more than that. Umm…”

“You’re in love with me?” I ask cheekily, cocking a brow. “I don’t mind! You’re pretty cute…”

“Huh!? Umm… that’s not what I meant!” Anna exclaims frantically as I burst into laughter, two hands on her cheeks, both blushing bright red. “I mean, umm… I mean…”

“Ohh… I get ya,” I answer playfully, cupping my chin as I smile slyly. “You think we’ve got some good affinity going. Something special between us!”

“Yes, yes! That’s exactly what I meant!”

“Yeah, I can work with that,” I say, nodding enthusiastically. “With this badass Healer by your side, you’ll be a worthy Paladin in no time!”

“Oh my!” Anna exclaims, her eyes lighting up with joy. “You think I can be as strong as you!?”

“I don’t see why not!”

“Umm… well… regardless of our history or what lies ahead...” Anna states, puffing up her chest. “I’m honoured to be your Paladin – your sword and shield and knight in shining armour!”

“Fuck yeah!”

With a smile, I reach forward to pat her gently on the head. Her hair, purple like lilac skies, is really soft and smooth. Silky! I should really ask her what she uses to get that texture going. It’s gotta be some kinda luxury conditioner from the Alchemists Guild in Sharmarli, I reckon. For a moment, she tries to shy away, only to ultimately submit to the all-encompassing power of my headpats. None can resist something like this, after all!

“Umm… how shall we get started?” Anna asks sweetly, her tone a mix of excitement and worry. “There’s so much to do, and so little time…”

“Let’s see…” I muse out loud. “We’ve got morning exercises to keep fit and strong. I think you’re already pretty good with Ascalon, so that leaves learning and mastering spells! Oh! Speaking of spells… what’ve you got right now, Anna?”

“Umm…”

Eagerly, after focusing deeply for a handful of seconds, Anna shows me a handful of silver radiance pulsating in the palm of her hand. Lukewarm with Mana, it’s got the makings of a Paladin’s Heal – quick and easy to cast amid the rigors of combat, but lacking the raw potency of a Healer’s Heal. It’s good for what it’s meant to do.

“Nice,” I say with a warm smile, nodding approvingly. “Anything else?”

“I also have this…” Anna adds, focusing deeply as a little orb of light manifests from her hand to levitate close by, brightening up the grass around us in shades of white and silver. “Candlelight!”

“Awesome! Okay, how about Sanctuary? You were working on the Libram of the First Saint yesterday, right? How’d that go?”

“Umm… I’m still working on that one. I know how to cast the spell… but I’m still lacking the Mana to do so…”

“I see. Don’t worry, I have an idea that might work!” I exclaim happily. “But first things first – are you good with using your Heal spell in combat? I couldn’t help but notice that you needed a bit of time to cast it.”

“Yeah…” Anna answers meekly. “Umm… it’s a little hard to focus sometimes.”

“We’ll work on it, then! First thing after lunch today!” I exclaim enthusiastically. “Then after that, we can try some Adventurer’s Guild missions. Y’know, to get good at using those spells in combat.”

“Sounds like a plan to me!”

Oh man! Just mentioning the Guild brings me back! Back in the previous timeline, when I was still new to all of this, I’d tag along with Anna to get some combat experience. Casting a spell while everything’s nice and quiet just ain’t quite the same as doing exactly that while something or someone’s actively trying to kill you. Grace under pressure, and all that.

It was good times! Learned plenty from all those experiences, like trusting each other and being on the same page while we’re in the thick of it. We had our awkward and clumsy moments, arguments too… but Anna and I got to where we were eventually, like two peas in a pod at the end of days in Arcadia. Shouldn’t be too hard this time round, though!

But uh… I do miss those days. They were simpler times, before my purpose as a summoned Hero was made clear. In the previous timeline, Lady Iris knew I had a Prophecy to fulfil, but she kept mum about it in that esoteric and sometimes annoying way that people in positions of power and authority like doing so damn much, for as long as she could, until the Oracle asked to see me when the time was right. She didn’t do it to mess with me, but rather, to let me live my life in Nisha with Anna as Healer and Paladin, easing into things day by day. Oh, bless her heart!

For all that time spent and lived, I was just another Adventurer with Anna, living my best life. Even if some nights back then, I woke up with tears in my eyes, realising I had been dreaming of my own world.

Meh. Perhaps ignorance is bliss. Knowing what I know, opening my big damn mouth… I may or may not have set things into motion far earlier than they’re meant to be. It may or may not be a good thing. Either way, I’ll just have to make do. Ain’t much else to it, really.

“Umm… Arisa?””

“Lunch is still an hour or so away…” Anna adds helpfully. “What shall we do in the meantime?”

“Hmm… fuck me. Didn’t plan for that! Uh…”

“What would you say to three laps around the courtyard!?” Anna offers enthusiastically, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “You were a little slow in keeping up just now. I noticed!”

“Heh. You think so?”

“Maybe!? Maybe not. But you can prove me wrong right now!”

“Sure! And if I catch ya…”

“Don’t finish that sentence! Because, umm… you won’t!”

Good grief. Anna’s one tough cookie! But then, so am I! And off we go! Round and round the courtyard again, living my best life with her in Nisha once more.