Sorry this chapter is short but it had to be done to properly break the story.
Dinner consisted of a salted meat stew and some wine Lawrence had tucked away.
"Holo, could I ask what was on the tree? I didn't' read it because it was for you, but curiosity…"
"Killed the cat."
"And Satisfaction brought it back." Holo smirked at his comeback.
"There may be hope for you yet. I already do not remember the exact words but they wished me well if I ever returned and then that they moved to a new location and…" her trailed off voice made Lawrence stop eating and look directly at her. "And that they love me."
A sinking feeling hit Lawrence. "Excuse me Holo."
"Where are you going?"
Lawrence went to the cart and grabbed some paper along with a chunk of charcoal from the fire.
"Holo, you may want to go to bed without me. I think I'm going to be awhile."
"Lawrence, you still have not told me where you are going."
The merchant froze, he wasn't sure why he cared so much but through a choked voice he said,
"I'm going to get a rubbing of that note so you can remember it clearly. It's the only message you've had from your family in more time than I have life. If nothing else you should be able to have it."
Holo's eyes widened at his statement. She had never seen him like this before. Even when he told her to run off with his money because he couldn't pay off his debt, or when she tried to leave him with a cart full of apples, had he seemed so… broken. He turned away and left for the tree, not even taking a light with him.
Holo soon retired to the cart, not having anything better to do. Her mind contorted with the emotions she felt. Her family now had an unknown location to her, their journey was complete, except for her debt, and she was torn at the heart with Lawrence's mortality.
Can't the world just cease for a day? She thought to herself.
"Holo?" came Lawrence's voice.
He was greeted by a very large, white tail tip.
"Do not scare me like that!" Holo yelled at him.
His stunned face calmed her back down, but she didn't apologize for her outburst.
As Lawrence climbed into the cart and into bed, he gained a bold moment after pulling the covers onto himself, as he pulled Holo against him.
"Did you get the rubbing?" she asked
"Yes, I got it quite easily actually"
"Good," she turned around to look at him, "Lawrence. Answer me honestly. What do I do now?" Her voice was soft yet stern, almost reminiscent
Lawrence knew what he had to say but he didn't want to because if she didn't choose the same option as he had, he would lose her forever.
"That would depend on what your heart wants," he said calmly to her, "you can go off on your own for another adventure. You could go off to find your family, or, if you want, we can see if Diana's story was real." he said penitently
"And what if it is not real? What then?"
Lawrence looked at the tip of her ears for a moment before looking her back in the eyes, "Seeing as how you are in front of me, oh wise goddess of the harvest, I choose to believe it's real. And it may be selfish but I don't want to leave you here alone."
"Lawrence, you'll throw your dream away"
"And what if you're my dream Holo?"
"Then you are a fool, though… even if you are a fool… You are still the only company I want to keep."
Holo felt his hand on the side of her head.
"I really must stop being comforted by you," was the last sentence between them for the night as they fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms.