{-Koyana-}
That was it. The climactic, emotional reunion she’d been hoping for had happened… and she hated to acknowledge that a part of her knew this was how it would’ve played out.
Tandi apologized the whole way back, as if it was anything that had to do with her. No matter what either of the siblings tried to tell her, she didn’t seem to listen—or maybe she was also trying to find a kind of explanation for the actions with little luck.
Koyana had, reluctantly, been the one to recount the events to them. She knew Demery would’ve made it brief and harsh; it looked like Tandi was still trying to make sense of it. So, the momentary happiness Koyana might’ve felt by seeing that they were all there was ruined by the story she had to tell.
When she finished, no one said anything for a couple of moments.
“I think… Day was expecting at least a part of that,” Aither said, slowly. “After all, we may tell them about the flood, and we may urge them out, but some would rather stay where they are then to say goodbye to everything they knew…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry it had to end like that. But there’s still one important part: do any of you believe what they say about the curse, or think their means are justified?”
“Of course I don’t,” Demery grumbled. “It’s all just a part of their excuse to make themselves feel better about what they did.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of hard to argue anything else at this point…” Koyana muttered.
“I can understand if some people would rather have something to blame,” Olle remarked. “But there’s a point where things just go too far. This has definitely gone beyond the point of any sane person following along.”
Evelina solemnly nodded her agreement.
Jimar shrugged. “I never believed them. I knew it was a bunch of meaningless nonsense the moment I heard about it.”
“People have gotten hurt,” Tandi whispered after a bit, “because they used their own judgment to determine what was right and wrong. Then, when faced with the consequences of their actions, they don’t so much as seem to acknowledge the damage they might have caused…”
Aither looked relieved at their answers. “It looks like you’ve all come to an understanding, which is good. I’ve done everything I needed to, so I’ll probably be going soon—there’s still a lot that needs to get done. Do the rest of you have any plans?”
It seemed it was something that none of them were quite ready to consider yet.
First, it was Jimar that glanced at Tandi. “You don’t have to go back there. You’ve done a lot for them already, if you want to leave, I don’t think they’re going to stop you.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I’ve got to be able to help my family. If I don’t stay with Master Tyrus, then I’m going to have to find another noble to work under, and I’m a little too old to be changing masters…”
“Suit yourself.” Then he smirked. “I’m just going to have to visit you.”
“Why—”
“I left because I didn’t believe in what they chose to do. I’ve spent years wandering around, with practically only myself for company. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret leaving. But I do regret not keeping in touch with you.”
Tandi blushed. “I’d… like that.”
Aither grinned and turned to Demery and Koyana. “What about you?”
“Well, I’m definitely not going back to them,” Demery responded bitterly. “They’ve never bothered to care for us this long, I don’t think they’re going to start now.”
Koyana, for a moment, wondered if she wanted to say anything at all. Then, quietly, she admitted, “I don’t want to go back to our grandparents either. I know they might end up being a little better, but…”
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She’d always tried to think of something that could make her willing to stay; she’d force some kind of care into their actions, alter their words so maybe it wasn’t so bad. Now, though, she couldn’t get herself to do it. She thought of being back there, of her and Demery doing their errands, finding excuses for them when they truly didn’t care. Before, when Ms. Siavax or one of the others would’ve tried to tell them they could leave, either one of them would come up with something about it not being time. Koyana had a feeling neither of them would say something like that now.
Unfortunately, Demery said exactly what she didn’t want to. “We have to. We don’t have anywhere else to go or enough money to find a place.”
“We’ve got a spare room,” Olle offered.
“A spare room that hasn’t been touched since we moved in,” Evelina whispered. “They need a better place to stay than that…”
When Koyana heard it, there were no such restrictions. “You’d really let us stay with you?”
“Tyrus and Feldr were friends, and it wasn’t their friendship that created any possible ‘curse’ any of us might have.” Olle shrugged. “It’s a peaceful place with a lot of good people. They accepted us even when they knew exactly what had happened. I think they’d be more than willing to welcome you two in, too.”
Then Koyana turned to her brother and gave him a hopeful look. A part of her expected to see a desire thrown aside by a sense of obligation but, thankfully, she found none.
“When I used to say ‘we’ll see what Orestis has planned,’ I used it as an excuse,” Demery said. “Now I have a feeling that there’s more behind this than something we’re just supposed to complete and move on from. I think, if you’re willing to have us, then there’s no reason to deny the offer.”
“But we really don’t have that kind of room,” Evelina repeated. “They deserve something better than one of them sleeping on the couch or having to share a room.”
“How about we see how it goes?” Koyana suggested. “We can stay a while—and we’ll help out, too! Then we can try thinking of what more long-term plans are going to look like. But trust me, I’d rather sleep on the floor and be with you guys than anywhere near our grandparents right now…”
Demery nodded. “It’s worth giving it a try.”
“You know, this is surprisingly fulfilling,” Aither remarked. “It’s nice being able to see you’ve all learned something new from this whole thing. Makes all the anxiety worth it… almost.”
Koyana smiled. “Don’t say that! You’re the best Fos I’ve ever met.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the only Fos you have and ever will meet.”
“Maybe, but my point still stands! Nothing would’ve changed if you hadn’t come.”
Aither looked like he might’ve said something else but, after a moment, simply nodded and smiled back. “I hope you’ll all be able to be happy and safe in the times to come…”
“You’re making it sound like you’re not going to be,” Evelina pointed out.
He must’ve actually considered what he said, because he paused and let out a bit of nervous laughter. “I guess it does, doesn’t it? Well, these next few months are going to be particularly busy for all of the Fos. This is our last chance to make a difference—soon enough, everything that’s been brewing for centuries is going to show itself. The Fos need to make sure that we can help everyone we can before then, and then we’re going to have to make sure we’re ready for what’s to come. I don’t think there’s any one of us that expects this to go by smoothly…”
A collective silence kept them in a pensive state, one where each was trying to grasp for some kind of explanation for the words.
“It’s nothing any of you need to worry about anymore, though,” he said quickly, though perhaps a bit too late. “You’re all out of it. Now all you have to worry about is what you want your own future to look like, not the struggle you were unknowingly involved in.”
“Is it by any chance against your Fos rule stuff to keep in touch with people you’ve helped before?” Koyana asked, partially surprising herself. It had just been a thought—she didn’t expect to actually ask it out loud.
“Technically no? I mean, Zokel really didn’t need to stay all those nights with that girl, but no one ever stopped him, so…”
“Do you think you can visit us, then, or something? If you want. It just… sounds like things are going to be getting kind of scary, and maybe having some unrelated people to relax with will help…”
For a moment, he didn’t move or say anything. Then he nodded. “I don’t think I’ll be able to visit you in person, but maybe through dreams every now and again. I’ve got to warn you, though, doing this doesn’t mean you’re going to be told anything else about what’s going on. That really is something you shouldn’t get involved in.”
Olle, a bit more hesitantly than she’d been, asked, “Are you allowed to tell us what the outcome of this mysterious event is going to be?”
“One of two things,” Aither began, slowly, like he didn’t really know if he should. “Either the world as we know it is going to collapse on itself, or most of us are going to make it through to see a bright and relatively carefree future. It’s fifty-fifty at this point…”
Koyana refused to let all of this end on such a note. “But when it’s over, can we actually meet all of the other Fos? And Danai? Will she not be busy anymore then?”
Aither’s smile faltered, but it was back so quickly she hardly acknowledged it. “Well, there’s a lot more Fos than you might think, but… yes. I think they’d love to be able to meet with you—and I’m sure Day would love it, too…”