He didn't want to call her odd, because the word didn't fit. It seemed mean, or snide; unfair. Because 'odd' implied that her personality was off-putting or undesirable, and the short period of time he had spent around her demonstrated that she was anything but. She just didn't seem to…know. She seemed like she was on the outside of a joke he and the rest of the world were in on. A joke so old, so forgotten, that he had no longer realized he was privy to it.
She was easily excited, completely fascinated, and intriguing to be around. Even the most mundane of things were like presents on Christmas; she snatched them up, beamed as she examined them, and demanded his attention as he'd explain how something worked. After she was educated enough to be satisfied, she'd put the item down, and continue on with her bright day until something else caught her attention.
Eric had met Ariel only two days prior, not even, and this was the slightest part of him that wished he hadn't. She hadn't been rude, or cruel, or boring, and it made it that much harder to not want to be around her. Her only fault wasn't even her fault – she was mute. She wasn't the girl who had saved him.
Eric knew he was supposed to be with the girl who dragged him up onto the beach that fateful day. The gods wouldn't have brought her to him in order for him to simply forget her, to just continue on with his life without thanking her, knowing her, finding her. He had only snippets of this mystery woman, the soft curve of her face, the redness of her hair, but, most importantly her voice.
When he saw Ariel the first time, it was like stumbling upon an old friend. It was that triggered reminiscence of someone you knew back in your youth, but hadn't seen for years. Their face was fuzzy in your mind, you couldn't place every bit of time you spent together, but one sight and you knew that they were in your life before. Eric remembered Ariel, and if nothing else, he'd never forget her now. She had filled up his life and brightened it wonderfully. She had burst on in and trampled through his solidarity. She helped him break down barriers he had grown too desensitized to notice anymore.
She had the mystery girl's essence, what vague traits he remembered, Ariel had captured him in the same way the mystery girl had, but they just weren't the same!
Eric had to prove his mystery girl was real, and out there, somewhere. No one believed him; they claimed she was a hallucination, a fantasy, but Eric knew these feeling couldn't be something he had manufactured on his own. She was out there, just out of his grasp. She had to be.
However, to his slight concern, he had been thinking less of her. Letting her go subconsciously, beginning to give up. He didn't want to, he wasn't ready to, he'd fight Grim to continue the search, despite his 'wise old heedings'. But the mystery girl consumed him less, the more time he spent with Ariel.
Their whole day on the town had been about her, how she danced so gracefully, yet with such enthusiasm, how she was so interested in the world around her Eric almost forgot that it hadn't changed since her arrival. Eric thought of what it'd be like to take her out sailing, on how he'd love to show her the winter palace inland, of how he had books to recommend and thousands of things to share with her.
She would be a fun date to events; someone who enjoyed engaging and dancing, who'd surely win the affection of his guests as quickly as she had won over his. Ariel was no mystery girl, but there was still something intriguing and fascinating about her.
He couldn't give up his search yet, not so soon. But, for the first time, Eric figured he'd be okay if he never found his mystery woman, and got to continue discovering Ariel.
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