Paean
DISCLAIMER: Legend of Mana, Seiken Densetsu © Square-Enix. This story is mine.
(grow up and blow away – you uproot and then you plant again.)
The question was simply where to go from here.
Alexandra pushed her glasses up on her nose and shifted her suitcase in her hand, looking around. There was supposed to be a caravan coming around here; she'd take it and get away. As far as she could—she couldn't turn back anymore.
She had blood on her hands now, and that stain would never really be washed out.
She knew what it would be easiest for her to do—work in or operate a jewelry shop, or at least help people with minerals and types of stone. She'd learned well what to do to masquerade as an ordinary human, and she knew just as well what every one of her people knew about stones and jewels. It was instinctive and learned, and it was all she really had.
…Maybe in time she could branch off. Alexandra was sure that if she set up shop anywhere near to here she'd be found, and she wasn't sure she could trust that blond girl to keep Blackpearl, Elazul, and the lot of them from coming down on her heels.
She wasn't sure she deserved not to be harassed, but—
Well, she couldn't go too far from the reaches of the Bejeweled City if she was going to sneak in from time to time and check on Florina.
She was definitely doing that. Every chance she got. Blackpearl might have the best interests of their race at heart, but who aside from that weird blond girl actually gave much of a damn about Florina's welfare?
…Alexandra might be able to give it a rest if it looked like things were going well, but even so.
"Headed somewhere?"
She jumped a little, nearly dropped her glasses, and whirled around: there was someone else waiting for the caravan now. A dirty-blond cat girl dressed in purple, also carrying bags.
Alexandra smiled a little. "…Yeah, there's been some trouble where I come from, and I thought I'd take a break from it for a while. Give tempers a chance to cool."
The cat girl smiled back, wryly. "What a coincidence—I'm taking a vacation for pretty similar reasons. Guess all Fa'Diel has been a pretty fun place lately."
"You couldn't say it hasn't been exciting… it's not exactly my favorite kind of exciting, but…"
"Cutting and going when things are still bad?" The cat girl sighed. "Pretty smart of you. All the worst seems to be over where I'm from, but… I just want a break from the bad memories for a little while."
"I know what you mean."
Both of them were silent for a while.
"Say—" Alexandra started, then stopped herself. "I… do you think it's really possible to start over and put all the bad things behind you for a while?"
The cat girl turned back towards her. "Possible? Yeah, I'd think so. I doubt it's easy, but—in this world, you can do whatever you want and get whatever you want if you just wish hard and try harder."
Alexandra thought about that. It sounded very true and very wise.
She held out her hand. "I hope your vacation goes well."
The cat girl took it. "Thanks, and I hope your new start is a good one. I'm Daena, by the way."
As they shook, she considered her options, then smiled. "Alexandra. But I'd rather you call me Alex."
