This is based off of a game called "Fantasy Life". I don't own the game, only Elaide. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Four: The Psychic
Elaide P.O.V.
I fling open my bedroom door, the city breeze hitting my face. I lace my fingers around the wooden rail of the porch, letting the wind blow around my jacket.
After delivering the egg to the old man, he was beyond thankful. He paid us graciously, weighing my satchel down with Dosh. Of course, being myself, I went to the market to spend it. I saved some for the future, obviously, but I worked hard to get that egg. I think I deserved to reward myself. I decided on purchasing a new outfit. My blouse and skirt were starting to look pretty worn- they were hand-me-downs, after all. I had purchased a dueling outfit, consisting of an orange shirt, brown jacket, and a vibrant red scarf. I bought a green plaid highland skirt to pair with it, as well. With some of the remaining money I hadn't set aside, I purchased a pair of brown lace up boots, perfect for traveling.
I turn and trail down the wooden stairs of the building, each plank cased with rot. The boards creak with every step. I land on the cobblestone, free of the hazardously rickety wood. I yawn and look around.
The normally busy streets are unusually barren. I begin to wonder what's wrong, but then quickly remember that the carnival is in town. I immediately sprout an idea.
"Hey, Butterfly?" I inquire, grabbing the attention of my companion. "D'you wanna go check out the carnival?" She shimmers, getting visibly excited.
"Of course! I love festivals!" she nearly shouts in my ear. In her rush of adrenaline, she attempts to drag me by the hand. Of course, being an insect, she doesn't get far. She sighs defeatedly, landing on my scarf. As she does so, I feel the charm that the elderly man gifted me dig into my chest. After hearing his revealing story, I feel too attached to it to throw it out.
The walk to the circus burns the flesh on my shins. A long bandage wraps around my legs, covering the bloodied scrapes and gashes I had acquired while escaping the Napdragon. My legs had been battered from the fall, jagged cuts running down my skin. Luckily, Pam gave me enough gauze to disguise the blood seeping out of each slash. The material is successful, still maintaining it's pearly white color.
A large purple and gold tent stands erected in the center of the Shopping District, drawing in citizens from all walks of life. The surrounding roads are silent, but cheers of joy and excitement erupt from the canvas. A small cluster of children and their parents herd around a lone jester, handing out decorative balloons. Each one is hand painted with incredible detail, displaying the royal family seal.
I pass by them, coming to a halt in front of the lavender sash. I fling open the heavy curtain. A large, extravagant chandelier hangs above the stage, casting a festive glow throughout the oversized tent. Carpeted seats line the walls in a stair-like formation, all facing a grand wooden platform. A gorgeous woman stands centerfold on the stage. Her body is draped in oriental fabrics, her luscious black hair hanging down in loose waves. Her strawberry lips part in the center, letting a melodious tune flow out. Masked men dance around the tent, greeting and exciting the patrons.
I take a step back, trying to digest the magnificent scene in front of me.
Butterfly shines gleefully as I slide into a seat. The rows are packed with a diverse range of people, from Castele natives to citizens from the far off regions of Port Puerto and Al Maajik. One family in particular sits in front of us, bathed in rich desert garb. They all chitter amusedly amongst themselves, but the child especially looks ecstatic, bouncing on his mother's lap. Butterfly does the same beside me, hovering, flapping her wings in harmony with the singer's rythym. The performer's voice is perfectly crisp, able to fluctuate her tone without flaw.
"I wish I could sing like that." Butterfly chirps dreamily. She belts out a few lines. "How'd I do?"
I laugh, attempting not to disturb the people around us. A few of them turn their heads to look at us, irritation on their faces. Butterfly apologizes sheepishly, and they all look back at the stage, muttering. The singer spills out a few more notes before taking a rest. She lopes off the platform, the viewers applauding her in an uproar of delight. She walks through the exit, leaving the adoring crowd behind. Their sights are now set on the masked men, currently dragging props onto the stage.
"I guess they're setting up for the next act." I glance at the group of men and women shuffling out of the tent. "We should go get lunch while we wait."
Butterfly agrees and lands on my jacket sleeve. I leap out of my seat onto the carpeted ground, merging with the mass of frenzied escapists. I push my way through them, managing to leave through the curtains. The sun warms my face as the crowd disperses, leaving my golden companion and I to absorb it's rays.
"Alfredo's Bistro sounds nice?" Butterfly suggests, eyes wide. I shrug and look in its direction. The restaurant in question sits in a row of small businesses, which cover an entire block of the Shopping District. The bistro is a quaint building, its sign wet from a fresh retouch of paint. The outside looks cozy, potted ivy growing off the windowsills. I walk up to it, wrenching open its wooden door. A bell greets us as we enter, alerting the man at the front counter.
"Hello!" he greets in a bellowing voice. "Welcome to Alfredo's Bistro! Let me show you to your table." He walks me over to a lone corner table, stools placed on either side. "I'll check back in a few minutes to take your order." He dips his head and goes to collect the dishes from another customer. I sit down, and Butterfly flies over to perch on the other side of the table. She peeks at the menu.
"This is pretty nice." She remarks, reading over the beverages. "What are you planning on ordering?"
I rest my chin in my hands, indecisive. "I'll probably just get whatever's cheapest. I spent a lot on clothes. What about you?"
She glitters. "I want sugar water. Do you think they have some? Most places don't serve any." She sighs.
"I'm pretty sure they'll get you some sugar water." I assure her. "It's not that hard to make. It's just regular water with some crystallized sugar cane." I beckon to the waiter.
"Have you decided on your meal?" the apron clad man asks me, quill and pad in hand. I peruse the menu, eyes landing in the 'appetizers' section.
"I'll take the carrot stew." I finally pick, looking over at Butterfly. "And a glass of sugar water."
He writes something down. "So, carrot stew and... sugar water?" he questions, sounding unsure.
I nod. "Sugar water."
He momentarily stares at me, stroking the feathered pen. "O-okay. I'll be right back with your order." He saunters off to the kitchen. I turn over to Butterfly.
"See? Easy." I taunt. She giggles and shimmers joyfully. We sit, talking for awhile.
"So," Butterfly begins, "do you think you'll ever change your Life?"
I shake my head. "Probably not. I don't see the point. I enjoy being a Paladin, at least, for now. I feel like a combat Life suits me best. And Mustang says I'm pretty good at fighting with a sword, too."
Our conversation comes to a halt as the server comes to deliver our food. He sets down a small bowl filled with an orange liquid and a glass of slightly translucent water.
He bows his head. "Enjoy your meal."
As he walks off, I slide the drink over to Butterfly. She quickly flies up and lands on the rim. She lowers her proboscis into the sweetened liquid. I stare at my own dish. The bowl's contents look more like soup than stew. It resembles watered down carrot purée instead of an actual meal. I drag my spoon through the substance. Lifting it out of the lukewarm stew, I raise the utensil to my lips, reluctantly sipping at the fluid. It tastes like metal, as if the ladle and pot coating had chipped off into the mixture. I hesitantly swallow.
"What do you wanna do after this?" Butterfly inquires, still enjoying her water.
I set my spoon back down, pushing the bowl away. "I guess we'll try the carnival again. They've probably finished setting up by now."
We sit for awhile longer, waiting for Butterfly to finish drinking. I twirl my spoon around in the orange liquid, unwilling to eat any. She takes only a few minutes to drain the glass dry. She claims her position on my neck as I stand. Slapping some Dosh on the table, I set out the door, the dishes and utensils all astray.
The sun is now passed the center of the sky, signaling if being around one o'clock in the afternoon. The circus tent and festivities cast a long shadow across the beige cobblestone. Content visitors stand around in groups, conversing gleefully.
We make our way up to the main enterance, cheers from inside bringing us closer. A nearby glint catches the corner of my eye. A decorative sign hangs above another, smaller tent, standing short next to the aforementioned structure. Its indigo fabric relaxes lazily over the base frame, fringed at the bottom. Its flaps wave freely in the wind.
I beckon to Butterfly. "What's that?" I look up at the sign. A single bubble-like shape is painted on the chipped, wooden plank.
"I didn't see that earlier." Butterfly ponders. "Maybe they just put it up? I mean, there's a sign, but... it's not really explanatory." She flies closer to examine it. "Should we go inside?"
"Of course." I scoff playfully.
Butterfly takes no time to dash in ahead of me, leaving a trail of glitz behind. For the few days I've known her, I've often wondered what exactly the glitz is. The most reasonable conclusion I've come to is that it's the same thing that gives her the ability to talk. Magic, I guess.
I slink after her, pulling open the purple tapestry of a door. The air around me immediately becomes stagnant and dust-filled. The room is poorly lit by a lone lantern, sitting atop a cluttered desk. Occupying the desk is a middle aged woman, robes sheltering her body and sweeping down to the floor. Her complexion is pale, trumping even my pasty skin tone. Her hair is pulled up in a messy purple bun, shadowing most of her brooding face.
"A human and a butterfly enter my emporium." She narrates, staring at her desk, not looking up. "A strange pair. Are they perhaps... here for insight? Yearning for the future? Seeking satiation?" She beckons to us. "Come closer, and I will reveal to you all you've ever wanted."
I fearfully glance at Butterfly, but she seemingly hasn't noticed me. I calm my nerves, hesitantly moving towards the supposed psychic. I sit down on a wooden stool parked in front of the cloth blanketed table. Now that I'm closer, I can clearly see each individual trinket clustering the desktop. The majority of the space is taken up by amulets, a few of them resembling my own charm. In the center of it all is an iconic crystal ball. Its base is golden, intricately carved with the finest details, tarnished by years of use. A transparent sphere rests on top of it, slightly foggy, reminiscent of a window during a snowy winter morning. Butterfly precautiously sits on the tablecloth right in front of it, staring into its misty reflection.
"So, uh, Miss... Fortune Teller," Butterfly leads, scrambling for words. "I guess we've come here for-"
"No, wait! Don't tell me!" The lady of mystery interrupts abruptly. She regathers her composure. "You've come here for a reading, I presume?" She chuckles. "Dearests, no need to look so shaken. I can tell. People come in here all the time to get a glance into their future. It's..." she snaps her fingers, "as easy as that. I can reveal to you your deepest wonders. And all for the measly price of ten Dosh.
Butterfly looks at me hopefully, and I defeatedly sigh. I reach into my satchel, grabbing some of my last spending money. I drop the coins into her readily open hand. She hungrily accepts it, tossing them into a basket behind her desk. She grazes the crystal ball with her hand.
"Sometimes I just get so lost in thought while staring at it." She muses, concentrating on the sphere. "It makes it easier to get predictions." She studies the globe intently, her eyes glossy with visions. The atmosphere becomes awkwardly quiet and still, the only disturbances being our jagged breaths.
The woman's face is pale, her head slightly nodding. She begins to emit a monotonous hum.
"A-ah," she muses. "I see- I see Lunares. Bright as usua- no, there's a large 'x' over it... oh, I see, it's beginning to darken now. Lunares is dark. Reveria is dark. There's a tower now. A tall golden tower. The only light is the dim rays cast from the top story. I can see inside it now. An extravagant parlor. The light is radiating from- from a woman. A beautiful woman, with celestial blonde hair down to her legs. She looks like-",
"The Goddess..." Butterfly breathes.
The psychic continues. "Yes. The Goddess, indeed. She's turning around now. She looks... distraught. O-oh! She's disappeared, taking the light with her. There's a woman behind her... on her knees. The parlor's gone now. She's kneeling in a wooded area, in front of a wooden cabin. I can see her clearly now. Her skin is fair, her hair a magnificent light chestnut. She's draped in a ratty green and black dress, coming down nearly to her ankles. Her neck is wrapped in a delicate lace choker. A few more women are in the back, cloaked in vagabond attire as well. Fire! I see fire now. It's everywhere. I- I can see words through the fire... 'f-find... find me... I'm here... follow the-",
She cuts off, snapping out of her daze.
"Follow the what?" I demand impatiently.
"I lost it." She replies abruptly. "I guess that's all the spirits want to reveal for now... but maybe I could pry more out of them, you know, at a cost..."
I roll my eyes and retighten my satchel. I stand up to take my leave, Butterfly reluctantly joining me. I pull my scarf in front of me.
"I guess I'll be on my way." I say as I watch the psychic grow a disgruntled look on her face. Her hands recede behind the desk.
"No worries. I'm sure you'll be back soon enough, your inner demons and intrigue clawing away at your thoughts, desperate to get the rest of the story. All common folk are like that. But, darling, do be cautious. You know what they say. Curiosity killed the cat." Her taunting eyes gaze eerily into my own.
I can feel my companion tugging at my jacket collar, trying to get my attention. I back out of the tent, the canvas door falling down heavily in front if me once we're safe outside.
"That was... an experience." I exhale, perplexed and slightly off put. Butterfly appears to be just as scattered as I. The orange afternoon magnifies the expression of wonder and yearning in her minuscule features. We begin to recite what the psychic had told us as we trot back to my aunt's house.
"She said that Lunares had an X over it, right?" Butterfly ponders out loud. "And the world was dark? I wish- I hope that was just a metaphor and not the actual future. And the celestial figure? That must be the Life Goddess! I mean, it has to be! Do you think that means we'll get to meet her? I do. That would be amazing! Could you imagine?"
Butterfly continues to ramble on about the Goddess, but I can't seem to focus on anything she's saying. I can't help but think about the second woman envisioned by the seer. Fair skin. Chestnut hair It had to be my mother. Why else would the psychic see her? Of course, I'm not a believer in future telling. She's probably just a scam, making up stories to draw in unsuspecting patrons' money. I make myself drop the topic in general as soon as we arrive at Pam's.
Opening the upstairs door, Butterfly bolts in ahead of me. I walk in after her, the cuts on my shins still prominent under my bandages. She lets out a dreamy sigh as I shut the door.
"Haven't you ever wanted to see a meteor shower?" She asks out of the blue.
I shrug. "It's not on my bucket list, but I wouldn't mind watching one once or twice, I suppose."
"I can only imagine what it would look like." She continues, disregarding my reply completely. "It just sounds so amazing. It's like the Goddess is raining down upon Reveria, almost."
I lay back on my mattress, not wishing to undress into my night clothes. I listen to Butterfly's excited voice drone on about meteors, slowly lulling me to sleep.
I'm so sorry that this is a month late! I've just had so many projects and tests lately that I haven't had any time to write. As I type this, I'm actually supposed to be studying for my math final. I can't say exactly when the next chapter's going to be out, but I can assure you that it'll be in the next month sometime. Updates will become much more frequent during the summer, as I'll have more time to write, so look forward to that. Anyway, sorry again. Bye for now~