Jude and Celsius walked on the dirt path, making their way under the shade of the trees and listening to the wind blow through their hair. Shadow hadn't made an appearance yet, and the pair came to an unspoken conclusion that the spirit of Darkness had taken it upon himself to guide Maxwell away from them. Fortunately, he had a habit of staying out of sight and out of detection, so Celsius didn't worry too much.
Jude, however, was worried half to death. But for whatever reason he may have at the moment he chose to stay silent. Logically speaking, there wasn't anything to fear for Shadow. He was an adept at hiding and sneaking, he was stronger than he let on, and he could easily distract Maxwell with a layer of darkness. Not only that, but spirits can't technically die. At worst, he could get depowered. Yet the fear was there, festering inside of Jude like a scurrying rat in a burlap sack.
"Celsius, where does this road go to?" he asked, desperate for something to get his mind off of his friend.
Celsius put a hand on her hip and looked around, a thoughtful frown on her face. "Sharilton, I think. We're heading in that direction and I can definitely sense an awful lot of wind mana."
Jude furrowed his brow. "Sharilton, Sharilton..." He put a finger to his temple, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to recall the name. "Oh! That's the place with the windmills!"
"Yep," Celsius nodded. "We're getting pretty close."
"Are we?" Jude blinked. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, listening. He could definitely sense people, lots of them. They milled about in a market, talking and bargaining. Many, many people.
It was a bit overwhelming. Almost on instinct, he tried to slow his breathing and focus on the souls. Their lives fluttered around him, their memories and hearts. And as he listened, he could hear them. He could hear their souls and he felt useless to comply.
Jude!
The voice again. It seemed closer somehow, seemed clearer and more... confident? For whatever reason, Jude strained to listen closer. There was something there, something familiar. Someone? Someone he knew and he desperately wanted to recognize. In his mind's eye, he could see the man again. White hair and sky-blue eyes. He looked shocked, like he couldn't wrap his mind around something.
Jude... Can... Can you see me...?
Jude frowned "Yes... But, who are you...?"
Who am I-? J-Jude... he frowned, the light dimming in his eyes. It's me. It's me! The man's soul took a step toward him, desperate It's me, Lu-!
"JUDE!" Celsius shouted. Jude's eyes snapped open.
"What-what is it?"
The ice spirit snorted, crossing her arms across her chest. "You were just kind of standing there for a few moments. It freaked me out."
"Oh. Sorry." Jude frowned.
Celsius sighed. "Whatever. Just try not to freak me out like that." She turned around "Now come on, we're almost there."
Celsius was surprised by Jude's reaction to a city. He seemed shocked and awed by being around so many people, even though he tried to act calm. The boy was excited and there was no keeping that soft smile off his face. Celsius laughed softly to herself.
Although, it did make sense. After four years being practically by himself in the spirit world, only trying to interact with people through their souls, it must've been a bit odd being physically around them. There was a bit of a hop in Jude's steps as he walked through the Sharilton market place, a light in his eyes that had been absent for far too long.
For a little bit, the two of them just milled about. Jude petted piratically every animal he saw that could be petted. Cats, dogs, horses. He even managed to pet a pigeon or two. However, the pair got plenty of strange looks. While Celsius walked around with blue hair, one red eye, and a odd fin-structure coming out of her face, Jude's apparel made him look like royalty. The boy made a mental note to himself that he didn't like being the center of attention and to change his wardrobe later if at all possible.
Besides feel self-conscious, Jude had the time of his life. There was still something... missing, though. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew it was something. There were the windmills, the streets, the clear sky and the pleasant breeze... The sound of people chattering...
Oh.
That was it. There were always people with him when he was here before. Jude frowned, trying to recall who they were, what they looked like, what their names were... Anything. The boy stared at his feet, lost in his thoughts. Celsius brought him back to the present with a hand set lightly on his shoulder, a kind smile often foreign to her set on her lips. "Don't force the memories, Jude. They'll come to you."
Jude sighed "Yeah." He hoped so. So desperately he longed to remember those people he could practically taste it.
The day was coming to an end and the sun was beginning to set on the small town. The orange of day seeped into the ground like droplets of rain, allowing darkness to settle in on the town. Celsius and Jude once again began to mill about, admiring the tranquility of the night market place. An owl hooted somewhere, it's voice echoing about like a whisper. The murmurs of people out late were heard, and the wind hummed through the building. Stars began to peer through, shining brighter than Jude could make himself recall.
One more step and Jude's knees buckled from under him. "Jude?" Celsius was right there by him almost instantly. "What's wrong?"
A growling sound was heard from his stomach. "Uh... I think I'm hungry?" he laughed sheepishly, embarrassed by how overdramatic he probably seemed.
Celsius chuckled. "Well, that's better than what I expected. There's an inn in town, let's go eat there. Then we could get some sleep." As the spirit of ice helped Jude up, she couldn't help but think.
He needs to eat...?
The lobby of the inn was horrendous.
Jude and Celsius blinked in the doorway, trying to figure out how they were in the same town. Several men were drunkenly leaning on eachother, spilling what smelled like beer all over the floor. There was a group of three huddled in the corner, cursing at eachother while mulling over their cards. Celsius came to the conclusion they were gambling. There was one woman with her head in her hands, swearing at 'that cheating bastard' under her breath. The poor man behind the counter looked so tired and irritated.
The entire place was a wave of white noise with the shouts and crashes of people drunkenly slipping, falling on eachother. People swore and pushed and the entirety of the place was just plain obnoxious.
Celsius pushed her way through the people to the counter, dragging the very disoriented Jude behind her. They finally made it to their destination and Celsius dragged Jude into one of the seats, literally kicking out a guy and sitting beside him. Jude apologized quietly and noticed the man was too drunk to care.
"Hey guy!" Celsius snapped. Jude cast her a look that made her sigh "Excuse me, sir?"
"Yes, how can I help you?" the steward asked.
"Yeah we want some food." Celsius waved him off.
Jude rolled his eyes "If you don't mind, can we please get something to eat?"
"Yeah, sure." the man looked so relieved to have some polite conversation "What would you like?"
"I want some coffee and a muffin." Celsius said, looking over a spontaneous bar fight that sprang up. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled "Punch him in the face!"
Jude huffed, clearly suppressing annoyance for his companion. "Some water and..." he frowned "Do you serve mabo curry?" the steward nodded "Then that, please."
The man busied himself with delivering the orders to the kitchen and staying in there for an excessively long time in order to stay away from everyone else for as long as possible.
"Why mabo curry?" Celsius blinked, leaning her back on the counter.
Jude shrugged "I don't really know." He thought of that white-haired man again. Did it have something to do with him? Perhaps.
After a while, the man came back out with their orders.
"Thank you." Jude said.
"Thanks." Celsius bit into her muffin. Jude didn't even know Celsius liked muffins.
The boy ate a spoonful of his meal. The rest of the inn's lobby became a blur of white noise as his mind wandered. It didn't taste right. It didn't taste bad, but it seemed different in a way he didn't like. What was it... What was it...
Elle-Style.
Yeah, that was the type he liked. Elle-Style Mabo Curry. The words seemed a bit strange to him, but they were still familiar. What or who was Elle? He couldn't remember, and he felt his heart grow heavy. How many things like that can he not remember? If he was human before, right? That meant he had parents who he couldn't remember. He had friends and likes and dislikes. What was his past life like?
Who was he?
Jude, are you okay?
Fine.
You look really upset...
I know.
All right... About Elle, do you know if she's okay?
So Elle's a person?
You don't even remember Elle? Goddam it, Jude. What happened to you?
I don't know... I wish I did... I really wish...
"Jude, you're shaking." Celsius's voice called him back to reality again.
"Yeah, sorry." he said. He felt used to talking with that man's soul, though he never had a personal discussion with a soul before. The two sat in silence, Celsius glancing at him so often with her back turned to the counter and to the people who spat at eachother and then immediately shook hands and shared drunken grins.
"Um, excuse me sir." The steward said. "The price of your and your friend's meal comes to about 500 gald..."
Jude blinked. "Gald?"
"Oh crap, forgot about money." Celsius snorted.
A kind stranger made his way over and handed the steward the requested amount of currency, plus some extra. "I'll pay for them."
"Oh. Thank you then, and have a good night." the steward nodded.
The old man tilted his hat "To you too."
Jude studied the stranger closely. "Um, thank you."
"Not a problem." the man smiled. "If you don't have any money, you and your friend could stay with me at my friend's house."
"Oh we don't want to intrude..." Jude frowned. What kind of person invites someone over to their friend's house?
"Yeah we do." Celsius got her feet. "Come on, you need to sleep."
"But-" Jude started to protest.
"Then off we go!" the old gentleman said.
"No seriously this is really rude-" the boy tried to get his opinion in again.
"Who cares! Free housing!" Celsius interrupted, clearly not caring.
"Celsius!" Jude gasped. He sighed. "I guess I lose this one..." he looked up at the nice stranger. "Thank you so much Mr...?"
"Ilbert. Rowen Ilbert." The lighting reflected off of the man's glasses, concealing the look of hurt and concern.
Jude smiled brightly. "Thank you, Mr. Ilbert."
"It's not a problem."
It's no problem at all, Jude.
And thus there's a Rowen! Huzzah! And our white-haired silent protagonist just seems to accept the fact Jude has no idea who he is.
OR DOES HE?
For Celsius's character, I'm basing her off the Tales of Symphonia version, not the Xillia. I think the Symphonia version is more fun to write. I thought that needed clarification.
In anycase... Bonus skit?
"All Grown Up."
Celsius: -flat expression- "What are you doing, old man?"
Rowen: -smile- "Just offering two poor travelers a place to stay the night, Ms. Celsius."
Celsius: ... "You know he doesn't remember you, right?"
Rowen: -serious- "Yes, I noticed. Ms. Celsius, I haven't seen Jude in four years. What happened to him?"
Celsius: "No clue. I didn't even find him until Shadow told me about him."
Rowen: -sad sigh- "The poor boy..."
Celsius: -annoyed face- "He's technically an adult. He's in his twenties at this point."
Rowen: -!- "Goodness, you are right! My little Jude all grown up!" -sob-
Celsius: -annoyed- "You sound like a doting grandfather."
"Kitty of Darkness"
Jude: -sad-
Rowen: "Is something wrong, Jude?"
Jude: "Oh? Nothing, I guess. Just worried about my friend Shadow..."
Rowen: -kindly smile- "I'm sure he is fine."
Jude: "Yeah, I'm sure he is. I just hope he's not crying..."
Rowen: ! "Crying?"
Jude: "Yeah, he gets really sad when he's all by himself. I hope he's not too upset..."
Rowen: "He sounds rather... sensitive."
Jude: "Yeah. He kind of is. Not much of a talker either." -box hops- "But he's such a cute cat!"
Rowen: -box sinks- ((The Spirit of Darkness is a lonely, over-sensitive, timid, kitty...?))