Spoilers for Chapter 5
The wide blue sky and the immobile earth, two contrasting parts of a whole. Both beautiful and frightening.
"Agnès?" Edea called into the dark night as she stepped out of the warm, brightly lit tavern.
The vestal lifted her head at the sound of her name, smiling gently at the other woman as Edea joined her on the deck of the giant airship they now tentatively called home. Agnès had been praying, hands clasped tightly in front of her as she begged for forgiveness from all the souls who had been lost because of her travels. It was something she thought of often, but...
She had never imagined there would be other worlds out there, and the thought that she now held the fate of the souls in this world as well was heavy. Her shoulders had never felt so small. The weight was almost unbearable.
Her shoulder was now being bumped as Edea leaned close against her, arms over the worn, patched railing that lined Grandship's deck. The simple touch of the woman's arm against her own is... grounding.
"What're you doing out here, all by yourself?" Edea asked, tilting her head toward the taller woman.
How to explain that the air in the tavern; warm, comfortable, full of laughter and light, had been stifling with her current thoughts? She felt as if she didn't belong, that she had no business being cared for by others. Her thoughts had grown this dark only once before, after Olivia's painful death in her helpless arms. She had wanted to protect the others from those who would seek to kill her; now it felt that she should protect the others from herself and her actions.
If awakening the crystal did not seem to work, then what would? How long would this need to go on?!
It was a long moment before Agnès spoke, but Edea was patient for once.
"I … needed some air to think," she confessed. It is not a lie, but not entirely the truth. She finds that she cannot say either.
Edea seemed to accept this. "We were getting a little carried away, weren't we? You're probably tired." She continued on, but Agnès was thinking of the new world again, with its new crystals to awaken.
But no new faces. There had been debate on which crystal to awaken first. Now that they had Grandship, they were not restricted to the clean inner seas, did not need to avoid the high winds of Eternia, but there were still things they had to do. Not to move forward in their goal, but because it was simply the right thing to do. Some people had caused such horrific scars to the world.
Agnès had pleaded to return to Florem first, that perhaps Olivia may be able to assist this time if they needed to awaken all the crystals again. And though her friends had acquiesced, her prayers to the crystals had not been answered. 'Killed in an earthquake,' the Matriarch had said with regret. 'And now we are without a Vestal', as though that were more important than the death of Olivia, Agnès's oldest friend.
They had not awakened the Water Crystal immediately, for Agnès had retreated to her room in Grandship's inn, gathering the courage needed. Only Airy had complained, intent on awakening the crystals as soon as they could. She'd get it right this time, she promised. This time.
"Agnès!"
Edea's voice pierced the darkness in her thoughts - and her heart. Agnès lifted her head to meet the concerned gaze of her best friend. Edea's eyes were wide, concerned.
"Oh," And Agnès felt foolish. She had gotten lost in her thoughts - she still had a terrible sense of direction, didn't she? "I'm sorry, Edea. I was simply.."
"Hey," Edea interrupted, and with a gentle grip on Agnès's shoulders, turned the taller woman around so that they could fully face one another. Agnès was somewhat bewildered, but truly did not mind being handled so long was just Edea or one of the boys. "Don't apologise," Edea was smiling even as she scolded. "But don't forget we're here for you. You don't have to think all alone."
The smile that Agnès gave her was warm. "I know. Thank you. I truly mean it. I could not have gotten so far without you or the others. I owe you all so much." And she flushed slightly, because she still found it so strange to be so open with another person. For so long, she had thought herself alone, that it was her duty to protect others without accepting their protection. But now… she had friends she loved dearly, who had travelled to the ends of the world and beyond to the boundaries of a new world, just for her.
Agnès's hands were slipping down Edea's arm until she was able to grasp the Eternian's hands in her own. Edea's hands were very small, belying the strength within, but they were warm even though the gloves they both wore. The smiles on both of their faces was sincere.
"Then I thank you. For being here for me. You, and Tiz, and Ringabel and Airy… all of those we've met on our journey."
Edea's fingers squeezed hers gently. "We should thank you too! You're the one doing the hard work to cleanse the darkness, Agnès. And…" She pauses, her eyes flitting down to the side for a moment before she met the vestal's gaze again. "I speak for the boys as well when I say we intend to stay with you until the very end."
Despite where their travels may take them. Through multiple worlds and beyond. They would face countless deaths of people they loved dearly, would endure an unknown amount of pain, for her. The words are unspoken, but communicated just the same though their hearts.
Agnès felt warmth blossom in her chest, and she giggled. "I truly have the most wonderful friends." Her face felt warm in the still air.
The Wind Crystal would be awakened next, she decided. She knew what she had to do, and she would do it with these people at her side.
Edea nods. "We could avoid Eternia a little longer," and Agnès knew she was still reluctant to face her father, a task that did not seem any easier the second time around. "But… this time, we're going to take our time and eat all the sweets we can!"
The vestal nodded. "Yes, that sounds acceptable." They would awaken the crystals, of course. That was her duty - their duty. But she would not sacrifice the well-being of her friends in order to so. Breaks were necessary. It kept their spirits alive.
Edea laughed as Agnès agreed. "Then it's settled! We'll go marching right into the Drunken Pig and eat parfaits the rest of the night,"
"Wait, now-" Agnès probably should have expected Edea's infamous sweet tooth to surface, but what she did not expect was the way that the younger girl leaned forward and pressed a fluttering kiss to the very tip of Agnès's nose.
The vestal squeaked and lifted a hand to touch it. Edea's face was very bright, even in the dim light of the stars and the torches surrounding them.
"That… tickled." Agnès managed to say a few moments later, finally lowering her hand. Her face felt very warm, but she was smiling.
That made Edea giggle again. "Well, sorry. I'll do better next time."
And she did.
