Chapter 3: What's really going on
"She's gone already..." Guy mused as he stood in the snow, with Van beside him.
"There's no doubt about it, she left hours ago," came Van's reply.
"Think we could maybe catch up with her before she reaches Yulia City?"
"Not a chance. Those transports are faster than you think. Tear is probably halfway there already."
Guy sighed, regretting his hasty decision to come and rescue Tear since it had all been for nothing. Without a word, he turned and began to walk back toward the city. Van trailed behind, looking somewhat unsettled about something.
As they walked, Guy ran over the events of the last few weeks in his head. Sometimes he still couldn't believe that Van was really here. He never had divulged the details that would explain why he was here, and not floating around as dispersed fonons. However, no one had asked, and if Tear knew, she hadn't told either.
Hopefully, one day they would know. For now, there were more important matters to worry about. Guy quickened his pace, wanting to reach the city quickly.
After all, it was nearly dawn, and very cold.
Back at Yulia City that evening, Tear huddled in her bed, trying to shake off the effects of the near-frostbite she'd almost received. It was by no means cold in the room, but she felt the need to make herself warmer than need be.
At least until she got another assignment from her grandfather.
Which happened right then. The same man who had brought her assignment before knocked at her door. Tear glanced at her clock. It had been less than a day since she'd arrived, was she really supposed to leave already?
"Come in," she called.
He entered, bowing in apology. "Sorry to disturb you, Miss Grants, but I've been instructed to inform you of your next assignment, which you are to leave for at once."
"Now? You can't be serious. I've only just arrived this morning."
"Teodoro's orders. You are to do the same work you did yesterday, at Mt. Zaleho."
Tear gasped, too shocked for words. She only nodded in reply before the man left. Then, sadly leaving the shelter of her blankets, she went to pack her bag again...this time, leaving out the blanket.
About an hour later, Tear was once again on the Yulia City ferry, headed for a much different location. Laying on her stomach on her bed, she cuddled her plushies to her. They were her only friends these days...since she was nearly always alone.
Her fontop trilled. She had a message. Tear twisted to get it from the table next to her bed, opened it, and placed it on the bed before her. The trill was an invite to a message room, with all her friends.
Everyone was glad to hear that Tear was safe after her journey to Mt. Roneal, but doubly outraged to know that she was being sent to the volcano so soon after.
Luke especially. Something like this had happened before the festival, when Tear had been sent to run errands in Chesedonia and Keterburg in succession, and nearly got sick. He hadn't been happy to hear that later on.
"Oh, Luke..." Tear said quietly to herself as she typed responses. "I'll be all right. As long as I know you still care...I'll be fine..."
So the conversation progressed, lightening Tear's heart a little. Dist was apparently getting drunk for some reason, which caused Jade to insult him bitingly, and everyone else laughed along until Natalia arrived. Then the laughter ground to a halt.
St. Binah had been attacked.
"What?!" Luke exploded at his desk. "Why doesn't anyone tell me these things?"
Worry about Tear was forgotten for the moment. Natalia informed everyone, via the message room, that St. Binah had been attacked by angry villagers who were against the town harboring replicas.
"Replicas...not this again..." Luke groaned, flopping back in his chair as the others discussed this new problem. Apparently, there were still people who felt that replicas were a waste and a nuisance, and should be killed.
Several people knew about his own existence. Would these angry people hunt him down one day too?
The fontop trilled, signaling a message from Tear. He hadn't typed anything for a while, was he ok?
Luke straightened, and typed that he needed to go, so he could think. Then he shut his fontop down.
"I'm sorry, Tear," he whispered. "I just have to...figure this out...and I don't want you to worry about me."
Going over to his bed and sitting on the edge, Luke gave himself up to the thoughts twisting in a storm though his mind, trying to understand some of them. It was a long while before he could fall asleep.
Tear could only begin to imagine what Luke was going through when he said goodnight and left the conversation. Probably something similar to the night she met Van again.
That was a scene as vivid as her confession to Luke.
How she had stood on a balcony at the palace, enjoying the winter view of the city, when he suddenly appeared. With a festival gift for her. She looked down at the group of plushies beside her on the bed, and picked up the rappig with a ribbon around its neck. Van had given her that one. Cuddling it to her, she remembered how shocked she had been to see him. To know he was really alive.
And she had disbelieved the rumors. Denied her own brother. When he no longer had any evil intentions.
In short, Tear had felt horrible.
Luke might feel worse than I did... she thought to herself. I wish I could help you...
Without realizing it, Tear was drifting back into her memories of the little time they had spent together. The walk in the snow, the ridiculous mistletoe game, when she overheard Luke almost confirm what she felt, and when he confirmed it himself...
"NO!" Tear sat up, shaking herself mentally. Unfortunately, her yell was loud enough to attract a soldier, who entered her room to see if she was all right.
"Oh...yes, perfectly fine. I thought I saw something move in my bed, but it's nothing."
"Right," replied the soldier. "We'll be at Mt. Zaleho in ten minutes, so prepare yourself for departure, Miss Grants."
"Of course," Tear answered, and he left.
That's why it's getting warmer in here...
Half an hour later, Tear stood at the base of the volcano. The heat was already intense enough, and she was still in the open air. Sighing in dread of what would await her here- besides maybe suffering a case of heatstroke- she began to look around for a safe place to sleep for the rest of the night.
Meanwhile, in Baticul, the red-haired swordsman slept uneasily, sprawled across his messy bed.
One image haunted his dreams.
One spoken sentence was echoed like a distant refrain.
Tear...be safe...so I can come back
to you...
I intended to get a chapter up sooner, but stuff came up... I did make one, though! Oh, and I know everyone's confused about Van being alive, but it will be explained soon, I promise. Thanks for all the nice reviews! I should get another chapter up soon.
