Chapter 77

Riley stared at the icon in her magical overlay of a hare like herself, chained tightly to the ground.

Crippling Self Doubt- Active

"Thank you Captain Obvious," she said to herself, perched in her chair, staring out into the night.

It was clear from the illumined windows that they were not the only rangers who were early risers or restless sleepers. Memories of Ashenvale, of their early morning walks to the academy, contrasted in stark counterpoint to what she could see here.

Every house was quiet in the capitol city past four bells, but here, it was barely after two, and much of the small "town" was awake.

Some of it was, no doubt, due to training. Cid had pushed them to start early and finish early. Moving in the night was a ranger thing, an element of her new culture, and it wasn't so bad.

Riley liked the nights. There was a peace in the early mornings that existed nowhere else when nature itself rested, save for a few holdouts like herself and, it seemed, Ranger Central below.

She knew, however, as she reflected, that was not the only reason, as she stared out on the night, watching cloaked figures move stealthily from place to place. It was in the depths of the peace of the night that the nightmares could find you, that the memories wouldn't be silent, that your soul would grapple with all that happened and all that it had done.

"You're quiet," Tobias said, standing in front of the bed with all his gear laid out upon it as if contemplating the depths of its mysteries.

"How's it looking?" Riley deflected, sighing.

"It's all here, but I keep fearing I'll forget something. There's also the question of loadout. What do I want to carry? What do I want you to carry?" He scratched the back of his head before glancing over at her.

"We'll work out our method. Keep your sword and dagger on your belt," she proclaimed in a fit of wisdom.

"Obviously," he scoffed, "I'm thinking I'm going to keep it light for me, maybe see the quartermaster about a smaller pack. I'll stop in today before we deploy."

The reminder hit Riley like a winter wind as her attention again fell on the debuff in the upper righthand corner of her vision.

"I think that would be smart..." She mused, growing distracted with the window again.

"Riley," His words poked at her, phrased as a question, and felt like the lure for a snare.

There was too much to think about for her to want to talk, too much to consider.

"Breakfast? Want to go get food?" She asked, kicking the can.

"The Hidden Blade is open, and tea would be nice. Maybe some eggs, too...Ok, I'm sold," Tobias pulled his black ranger cloak off the bed and fastened it on, checking his weapons.

"Expecting mortal combat on the way? Has an angry rok sworn revenge for taking their eggs?" Riley teased.

"A good ranger is always prepared," they both said in unison, parroting Cid.

Moving down the stairs and finally out the door, a bracing mountain chill greeted them as frost sparkled in the crystal lamplight.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Mornings always smell so clean," Riley remarked, hopping at pace as the cold spoke distantly to her nerves through her fur.

Tobias drew his cloak closer as they walked, passing a few more cloaked and hooded figures as they trekked, finally arriving at the Hidden Blade.

It was a strange mix; the room was divided between those starting their day, mostly sat at tables, and the ones ending their day, mostly drunk at the bar.

The smell of eggs and bread competed with that of ale as tankards and plates moved about, accented by the few drinking the hot tea that Tobias adored.

Riley boggled at the scents, feeling her nose twitch as Tobias found a table.

"It's weird not seeing Cid here," she said, happy that he was, presumably, sleeping it off.

Tobias nodded as the waitress came by, "Hot Tea, breakfast for me, fruits and grasses for my companion, with a bowl of water."

"Right away, Sir." She smiled congenially before vanishing back towards the kitchen, returning a moment later with their drinks.

"You're quiet," Tobias poked again, taking a long sip.

"I've been talking," Riley said, bulwarking behind her verbal shield before drinking down some water.

"About everything, but what's been bothering you," Tobias parried.

"I'm still having trouble casting," she confessed before tilting her muzzle towards the floor.

"And we're deploying today, back to Ashenvale. We got our orders," Tobias said, finishing the thought.

"But that's not the whole of it. Every time we've succeeded, we've done it together. You passed your trial because I shared my magic. We got through training for the same reason. Now, we're both going back as rangers, and it feels... weird, " Riley's voice rode high on the magic as their food came.

"Oh sweet, sweet, comfort food," she said, nibbling on some tenganut.

"What's weird to me is that it bothers you that they see you as a person. Cid's word is as good as a gold piece here, and he says he trained you, so you're one of us. They even granted you your own gear requisition, so what's so hard about it? You're a good ranger, Riley, and you're right. We've made it this far working together," Tobias affirmed.

"Then maybe we should establish another contract, but for how long this time?" Riley puzzled.

"How's for good sound? Let's bond our magic," Tobias grinned devilishly before taking a sip.

Riley choked on her food, "For good? Even after what I did to Iskaros? I'm dangerous."

Tobias rolled his eyes, "You ripped into Cid yesterday for being unable to let go and move on, but you're just as guilty. This is, how do you say it, bull shit, that's right... It's bull shit, Riley. I've got the power to kill a good number of folks in this room, so do you, and so do a lot of people in here, no doubt. You act like one moment of weakness, caused by external factors of all things, suddenly makes you a bad person. Well guess what, you aren't, and Iskaros got what he deserved," he replied, chewing on his eggs meditatively.

"Getting magically hitched doesn't just solve the problem, though!" She retorted.

"Hitched?" Tobias looked up towards the left, pondering as he swallowed, "No, it does not, but you might understand just how I feel about you with that tight of a connection, and that might help."

"This is a big thing, Tobias. You don't make a major life decision for practical reasons alone or because you think it will help me," Riley countered, thrusting her paw toward him in pointed emphasis.

"Maybe not," Tobias paused. "But those aren't my only reasons. I've had a lot to think about these last few days. The truth is, you're right. I've made it this far because you were right by my side the whole way. I'm alive, I'm not wearing a copper torc, and I've become a Ranger, something I never thought I'd be, because you've been there, helping me, Riley. Is it so strange or odd a concept that I don't want to lose that or even take it further if I can? Cid said his connection to Zorna balanced him out. Well, with weak contracts and your outright freakishness, you've balanced me out already, so why not jump and see what it's like with a bonded connection? What we've built works."

"By the dead Gods, you're smooth..." Riley boggled, taking a deep breath, "You really feel that way?"

Tobias rolled his eyes, "You know I do. It's kinda scary to admit it, but I've known since that moment I saw you hurt. I wouldn't handle your loss half as well as Cid's been handling Zorna, and you've seen what a mess that's been."

"I know how you feel. I never thought I'd have a family or a chance to make a real mark on the world, but now I'm here. All I know is that I don't want to lose you, and I want to be there to help you face whatever is coming," she replied.

"So it's decided then. I have faith in you, Riley, even when you don't. Can you trust that?" Tobias asked.

Riley looked towards him and slowly bobbed her head, "I can trust that. Ok, Tobias, let's see where this goes."

Her front paws shook, and the debuff icon vanished, replaced with a prompt notification.

You have begun to resolve the conflict within yourself by trusting in the faith of another. You've begun to accept your power and your place within this new world.

Tobias chuckled, "So it's going to be a busy day. We'll see to Zorna, then surprise Cid, how's that sound? Maybe it will give the old man some hope."

Riley inwardly grinned, "I think I like it, but where's my ring?"

"Ring?" Tobias looked at her, confused.