(A/N, So sorry for the slight delay! This chapter had a big change in direction pretty late on this week. but i think you'll enjoy the changes. Happy reading!"
(Ayla's POV)
Talc and Theresa managed to catch up to us on the outskirts of Haven. Talc nodded to me as she passed by. I found myself wishing they'd be gone longer. Precious hours of not being with Theresa all wasted on a horse.
Once we entered the town, we pulled up the horses into the stables. I quickly dismounted Ceaser. Talc was helping Theresa off the horse. As tall as Theresa was, Talc still towered over her.
The dust had barely settled when Cassandra stormed up and yelled, "Bring the demon to the cells." As she shouted guards ran in, their metal armor clanking together. They quickly surrounded us.
Theresa cowered behind Talc.
The piercing "shink!" of Talc's metal claws cut through the air.
"Try me!" She warned.
"The only way she leaves here without chains is over my dead body." Cassandra challenged.
"Well, if you insist." Talc grinned wickedly.
I sighed, why must everything come to blows the moment it starts up again? Can't we just, ya know, ease into the fight. I guess I have to break that up... again.
"No! She stays with Talc and me. We are all tired and we can't be making such rash decisions in our current mental state. Lets go discuss this with the council." As much as I hated the thought of being a moment longer with her, the dungeons were no place for her. Would I be a bad person if I just put her under house arrest? Yeah probably... could I get away with it? maybe? Whatever, that wasn't the issue at the moment. I gritted my teeth and ushered her towards the Chantry.
We soon entered into the council chambers. Cullen, Liliana, and Josephine watched me with looks of concern. As soon as the door was shut, Lilianna quickly said, "Tell me what happened."
"After we left the village, we surrounded the rift and began to seal it as we have many times before." Cassandra started. "As the Herald's mark connected with the rift, she screamed in pain. She lost consciousness as the rift closed itself."
"The reaction the mark had with the rift is very unusual. I do not fully understand the intricacies . But the mark seemed to have connected with this rift on a deeper level. One previously unheard of." Solas clasped his hands behind his back and paced lightly.
"What do you mean at a deeper level?" I asked.
"You are already familiar with how you seal the average rift. You retie the strings together to reaffirm the bond and repatch the Veil. Imagine if the rift was an open shoe lace. The two strands loose and undulating in mismatched patterns. Your mark has the power to grab a hold of these strings and reaffirm their connection, essentially rebinding them with added strength. Somehow, your magic was able to connect to the origin of these strings thus accessing the Fade in a way no average mage could."
"Is that why it was painful and I passed out?" I asked.
"Yes, your body was supercharged with magical energies. It would have been possible to redirect that power, should you have been aware of what occurred. It would be fascinating to further test the theory."
His eye glinted with new fervor as he tried to solve some puzzle only he knew of. I felt like a lab rat about to be gutted.
"And this... person... standing here. Could she be the cause or the product of this unusual circumstance?" Lilliana spoke up. I was grateful for the redirect.
Lilliana turned and looked towards Theresa who was staring blankly at the floor.
"What is your name? Where are you from? You're clothes are very unique." She asked kindly.
I suddenly panicked. Her clothes! I looked her up and down. She was wearing her pale blue zip-up hoodie, acid-washed skinny jeans, and her beat-up sneakers. Even her glasses were made of plastic! I didn't even think twice about it! I could kick myself for my carelessness. "Normal" people here didn't dress like earthlings! To the group she must've looked like a demon playing a strange trick. Are there fashion demons here?
Not the point! I have to make her... not her! Quickly! Before they can take a closer look and start asking way too many questions.
"You look absolutely ridiculous." I snapped, trying to make myself calm down as I grabbed the closest thing I could find that resembled a blanket. It was a canvass cover that had been draped over an old coat of arms.
I threw it over her shoulders, a cloud of dust filling the air as I ended what had been a very long undisturbed stillness. Talc and Thersea both began to hack and cough as they inhaled it without warning. Varric covered his nose and took a step back while waving the dust away from his eyes.
Talc shot me a furious look as she sputtered. Really? Her eyes said.
"She must've fallen out of an entertainment troupe or something. Obviously." I hoped they'd believe it. I hoped there was such a thing as entertainment troupes in this world.
Theresa turned herself away and didn't respond. Her nose curled up at the old, moldy blanket that covered her.
Talc answered for her once they had stopped choking on the polluted air. "Her name is Theresa. She's just an ordinary girl that got sucked into this mess like the me and the Herald."
"This will not bode well with the Chantry, knowing that someone else has fallen through the Fade." Josephine brought her hand to her mouth in thought or to keep the dust out. It was hard to tell now.
"They already have limited patience with the Inquisition due to the 'Herald'."
"What do you suggest we do then Lady Josephine?" I asked.
"The wisest course of action would be to remove her from the Inquisition. With the Chantry keeping a close eye on our dealings, we dont need undue attention. There are few who sympathize with our cause as it is and we would already have our hands full with your safety, Herald. We could send her to city of Kirkwall possibly? I have many friends in Antiva or Orlais who could take her in. She would be well looked after."
"I say we send her to the Templars in Orlais. They can test if she is a demon. If she passes their thorough examination, she would be deemed be safe." Cassandra stated. "We can decide what to do with her then."
She looked vehemently at Talc who returned her sneer with interest.
"You're not sending her off to some far away place." Talc said, crossing her arms as if that settled the matter.
"Orlais is not so far, probably the closest." Cullen countered. "She would be going to the city of Val Royeaux."
"Val Royeaux." Talc said with a look of surprise. She and Theresa exchanged a look and a hint of a smile that I didn't quite understand but I certainly was suspicious of it.
"It's the capital city of Orlais. Both Mage and Templar alike have a strong presence there." Cullen stated.
"She'll need to be somewhere where she can be of use. We can't afford to take care of her. But, if she worked as a servant to a noble family somewhere she could earn a decent living." I said.
"A servant?!" Talc sputtered in disbelief, "'Of use?' How is a maid going to be useful to anyone here?"
She turned on me angrily, "How is a servant useful to us?"
She stressed "us" as forcefully as she could and she didn't mean the Inquisition.
I snorted in response. An emotional wreck had no business on the battlefield. I found myself stretched thin even at the best of times. Theresa... I had no confidence she would be able to handle it. The greater kindness would be to find a safe place for her to wait this war out.
I turned and looked at Theresa, "Can you wield a sword or a bow?"
She shook her head.
"We'll transport her with an armed escort." Cassandra spoke up, " I will be sure she reaches to the Templars there. Herald, if you will-"
"Hold on for one cotton-picking minute!" Talc blurted as she slammed a hand on the table. Everyone turned to her.
"First of all." Talc began, "Shes not going anywhere alone with you and your goons, Stabby McFee!" She pointed a finger at Cassandra.
She then turned her glare on Cullen and shot a poisonous look at me, "Secondly, You want to sell a perfectly innocent person into slavery to a city where even the Herald may be in danger? Now, I've dealt with Orlaisan nobility and I've been repeatedly assured they are all cut from the same pretentious, slave-beating cloth."
Cullen squared his shoulders, "I never said she would be a slave. Not all nobles treat their servants so poorly."
"Slap any label on it that you like." Talc fumed.
Cullen pressed on, "We would find someone suitable."
"Oh. Would you!? Golly gee! Aren't you the best? And pray tell, my good fellow," Talc mocked him, "how many faithful supporters of the cause can you honestly say there are if you can't even guarantee the Herald's safety? If the Herald is in danger, what makes you think her underlings will have an easier time?"
"Lady Talc, we simply do not have the time address this more thoroughly. " Lady Josephine countered gently.
"Well, your schedule is about to clear up!" Talc snapped. She seemed ready to punch Lady Josephine in the throat, "Shouldn't she get a say?!"
Talc turned to Theresa, "Well?!"
Theresa already had tears in her eyes.
We aren't even in a life threatening situation and she is already dissolving. Despite my anger... I did feel pity towards her. She just wasn't cut out for this world.
"Please don't send me away. I don't want to be a slave!" She bawled, "I want to stay with Brook- with Talc!"
Now that nearly made my heart stop. She nearly said Brooklyn's name! Had anyone heard that?! I looked around, hoping my panic didn't show. Everyone just seemed uncomfortable with her sobbing.
"She can't use a weapon" I blurted, "She's clearly not in a fit state to deal with the stresses of this war. Please Talc you must see reason here!" I said trying to diffuse the situation.
"If you're so worried about her ability to fight, then I'll train her!" Talc blurted
The room broke into chaos as Cassandra made it unmistakably clear that Talc was to do no such thing and Talc was...well, Talc.
"I find it odd." Solas' smooth voice floated in over the chaos, "That you should be so attached to this girl so suddenly, Talc." He walked up beside her from where he and Varric had been lurking by the door. The room quieted as he approached. His quiet grace and composure a silent censure on our coarse behavior.
"You've never met her before and yet you are so fiercely loyal. You did not like any of us so suddenly."
"Hmph. Speak for yourself, Chuckles." Varric threw his nose in the air, "She liked me just fine."
A round of murmuring agreement rippled through the room.
"It is strange, isn't it?" Talc agreed quietly after the room had settled down. She looked at me as a wicked grin spread across her face. "You know, I think maybe it's because she looks like someone I know. From a school."
My heart lept into my throat. She wouldn't dare...
"It's almost like I know her from another place...another world even." She glared at me.
Your move. It was as clear to me as if she had said it to my face. Fall in line, or face the consequences.
Varric snapped his fingers, "Ah! Like two souls bound by destiny! By Andraste, I thought only I could make up such stories. Who knew they could be true?"
He turned to me, "Do you feel anything since it was you who pulled her from the Fade?"
I clenched my fist, "I'm feeling a lot of things at the moment."
More murmuring went around the room.
Talc's eyes narrowed. She opened her mouth a little and dared me to stop her. I only had two choices. Keep Theresa with us and my secret stays safe... or send Theresa off and with it... the outcome was not something I wished to imagine. There really wasn't a choice though...
"Fine!" I finally snapped, "For now, allow Talc to keep an eye on her. I trust Talc to guard her and ensure her safety. That should be the end of this." I encouraged the others
My angry and burning eyes bore into Talc's. I would not forget how she manipulated me just now. There will be words later for sure. She nodded as Theresa clung to her arm, sobbing with relief.
"As you see fit, Herald." Cassandra seemed unhappy but sincere.
"Now that this is settled, we should retire for the evening. We had a long journey and we need our rest."
Talc nodded as she took a hold of Theresa's shoulder and began walking out.
"There are other matters to discuss, Herald. But it can wait until morning. Everyone go rest and get food." Josephine said.
"Until tomorrow then. Good night everyone." I looked everyone in the eye giving a quick nod before following Talc outside.
Thankfully the others swiftly returned to their cabins. Probably just as exhausted as I was. I wished I could rest, But no, I have a blackmailing Qunari to throw down with.
I let out a swift breath of air through my nose. I wasn't even sure what to do with Theresa now. Talc had forced me into a situation I wanted to avoid. And for what? Constant proof that Theresa was alive and well?
I had a world out to kill me, a Nightmare with a twisted fascination with me, and an ancient dark magister like Corypheus to deal with. But at this moment, I feared one blond girl more then anything else. The sooner we get to Orlais the sooner I can be free from one more worry. I hope.
Brooklyn wouldn't back out of her guardianship. Knowing her, she would want to keep her within her sights at all times. And she knew it would drive me crazy. But its like she doesn't care. Logic dictates that we keep only those who can help support the cause. All others, for their own safety, should flee!
I saw Talc and Theresa walking slowly down the cobblestone. Talc seemed attentive and made sure the wobbly girl didn't fall. She was probably still recovering from her emotional high. They slowed to a stop by Talc's cabin.
As I caught up to them. Talc was introducing Theresa to Taran.
"This is my friend, Taran." Talc was saying.
Taran's eyes seemed to water over with pure ecstasy at being called Talc's friend.
"Yes! I am Master's friend! Hello!" She bowed vigorously
Theresa was being stand offish and didn't respond. She put her head down and said nothing.
Taran was too elated being Talc's friend that she didn't notice the slight.
UGH. I always hated Theresa's random bouts of silent treatment!
I came up to the group and nudged Talc to get her attention.
"We need to talk." I told her when she turned to look at me.
The look on her face told me she had been waiting for me.
She turned to Taran.
"Taran, take Reece to the inn and get her something to eat. Then get her settled in my cabin."
Taran bowed and turned to Reece. "Come my Lady. I will take care of you."
Theresa looked over at Talc who nodded encouragingly.
"Oh and take this gross thing off." Talc pulled the sheet off Reece's shoulders and tossed it on the ground.
I sputtered in protest but Taran had already whisked Reece away.
"She needs to get new clothes!" I mustered as much authority as I could and put my hands on my hips
"There will be trouble if-"
"If people find out who you are." Talc mocked me with a high-pitched voice, "You're a broken record." she sighed
"I don't know how you can stand her." I muttered.
"She's not as bad as you build her up to be. She's fun once you get passed the quirks." Talc chided.
She didn't like when I bad-mouthed Theresa. Her reasoning was always the same. If you feed the mutts, don't get upset when they get attached to you. I dont know how many times she said this to me. I scoffed. I guess I had no one to blame but myself. I had brought Theresa into our circle of friendship.
I don't know what made me angrier. That Talc was Theresa's friend or that she spoke well of Theresa.
"I can't believe you threatened to tell everyone our secret!" I huffed. "And Theresa's barely been here a day and she almost spilled the beans! Since you won't let her go, now we have to keep her quiet!"
Talc rolled her eyes. "Please. No one even cared. Calm down."
"She'll get us all killed! She almost blabbed your name and She's going to blab to everyone what my name really is! They'll know I'm human!"
"That's a lot to pull from just a name." Talc said, entirely unconcerned.
A thrill of anger spread through me.
"Be more worried!"
Talc gave an exasperated sigh as a few servants walked around us. She waved one over.
A young boy ran over and bowed. "yes, my lady?"
"Hey brat, my name is Brooklyn. What's yours?"
"Avery, Lady Brooklyn."
"Nice. Who am I?"
The boy looked confused. "You are...Lady Brooklyn."
"What am I?"
He paused, more guarded.
"It's not a trick question. No one is going to beat you."
He didn't seem so sure.
"You are a Qunari, Lady Brooklyn." He swallowed a ball of nervousness as he cringed.
"That's all. Off with you. Shoo." Talc waved him away. He left quickly looking very confused and very relieved.
"See?" She said smugly
My mouth hung open, "You are insane! Do you have any idea what it is that you're risking? Every single little detail is one more hint that something is not right. That we are not what we seem! And all I can see is you not caring one little bit! How can you live in this world for as long as we have and not know a single thing?"
"Right because I've had SO MUCH information to go on! Thanks for nothing!" Talc shot back ,"Where have you been the last few months!? I've been asking for help and information since The Beginning! You've done nothing but try to keep me in the dark. Don't act like I'M the problem here!"
"You want to know what is I'm so afraid of?! Sure! I'm afraid of Solas and he finally stopped sniffing around! But now your stupidity has gone beyond Solas! Everything we say or do gets reported to someone! Have you considered all the powers that have a stake in these events? Everything you do makes us look suspicious!"
"You're by far the most suspicious person in the group!" Talc cried in exasperation, "Everyone already knows you keep a million secrets because you're shifty as hell! Everyone notices your weird relationship with Solas! You already made Cassandra look like a fool once because you're a liar! You think Varric is following you because you're so virtuous? Get over yourself! It's because you reek of a scandal and nothing sells like a good scandal. They don't trust you. If not for me, no one would! You think you're being careful? HA! If I weren't soothing everything over behind your back, making excuses for your freakish behavior, there would be no Inquisition because you'd be in a dungeon, you ungrateful swine!"
All her words stung like a thousand needles to my heart. She was a lot closer to the group than I was. She heard the things they talked about when I wasn't around.
Was all of that really the case? Was her brash and straight-forward approach better than my wall? Was I about to make my greatest fear come true by running away from them? I had to get her to understand. Right now.
I took a deep breath, "It's not just Solas...I'm also afraid of the Templars. You've heard about Templars. Do you even realize what it is the Templars can do?" I asked pleadingly.
She squared her jaw and gave me a look that called me an idiot.
"No of course not because you don't care about anything in this world. They have the power to make us tranquil... Lyn..." I couldn't fully hide the fear in my voice, "Do you... can you, understand what that means?"
"Why don't you share with the class, Herald, since I'm the stupid one." She hissed bitterly
"In this world, tranquility means being literally cut off from the Fade. It's severing any kind of connection that you had to something greater than yourself. I may not have used magic for very long. But it's like a fuel, an energy that pulses through me and the thought of that tiny little bit of magic being stripped from me. Is just... I shudder to think of it"
A shudder went through Talc's body. The veins in her neck stood out in stark relief. Her lips pressed together in a tight line. Her eyes seemed about to bulge out of her skull. She was having a rage seizure. I'd seen her have them before, but this was the first time I was on the receiving end of one. I stumbled back as she reached towards me like she was going to strangle me, but she stopped herself short and curled her fingers into claws before she could grab me. She took several quick breathes.
"All this..." She breathed harshly, forcing her hands to the ground with great effort, " All this because you want to keep doing magic tricks?" she spat vehemently.
She was disgusted with me. I could see it in her eyes. She just didn't understand yet. I had to make her.
"If that were all, I could understand why you wouldn't really care what happens." I pressed on quickly, "But when you are made tranquil, you literally lose all concept of emotion. I would lose the very essence of who I am. All of my emotions, my dreams, my thoughts, they would no longer be mine. I would become so single-minded in any task that I'd basically become this functioning corpse. I would wander about doing anything anyone ordered me to just because I couldn't think for myself."
The look of disgust vanished. It was replaced by a very stressed and stoney face.
I sobered a minute, "I guess this is where you are lucky you're not a mage. I don't actually know if tranquility could work on you. But I mean, we both did come from the Fade.. kind of... so maybe it would be just the same for you as it would be for me."
She crossed her arms. Not defiantly. She was listening with her head bowed.
"You're my best friend. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing you... NOT you... anymore. To see your dead face. To see you without the ability to smile, laugh, work, or even just get angry at me for throwing a snowball in your face. When something like your very existence is at stake, can you blame me for taking everything to heart. People and especially templars won't understand. 'I come from another world.' They will here that and automatically think demon possession. Kill it! Kill it with Fiyah!"
When I had said my peace. We stood silently for a moment. I dreaded everything that would come out of her mouth.
"You really are an idiot." she finally sighed heavily. She looked up at me and gave me a small, tired, slanted grin. I returned it, daring to hope the atmosphere was getting lighter.
"That's why you wont side with the Templars no matter how bad the Mages are. All this time I was going to force you to side with the Templars. I thought it would be best. I wanted to keep you safe. Honestly, all your plans sound like suicide. But I guess there really is no good option in this game." She cupped an elbow in one hand and supported her face with her other hand, a strained look on her face.
I nodded, "I really don't know what else to do. The only thing I know, is that I have to keep moving forward. I have one thought, one idea, and that is play through the game. I'm in this world now and I have to play by the rules and if I don't play by the rules someone will get hurt or worse. And now we have to Theresa to deal with. she cannot handle this world. We barely hold together ourselves. I've had my own mental breakdown and you expect the same from her? She's never been able to do that you can. I don't want to see her hurt or killed. There may be a war going on but there are places not affected by war. There are people good people who are still around who can do good things and who can help her. Keep her safe."
Talc had settled into a very relaxed pose. The mood was still somber. We were discussing serious things, after all, but I couldn't stop the happiness that seemed to be spreading into my chest. I had been holding on to these fears for so long. I wished I had told her about the Templars ages ago. Maybe I wouldn't have had to close her off if I had just been honest with her.
"You're my best friend, too." Talc spoke again, "Sorry, I've been so rough on you lately. I was just doing it to grind your nerves because I was fed up with you."
"Mission accomplished." I replied moodily, "It was my fault, though. I should've told you more. You had no way of knowing."
"I'll find Reece some clothes so you don't have nearly so much to whine about." She gave me a smirk, "Tranquility sounds like a solid Game Over. I won't let it any Templars do that to you. I'll die first before I let them get their hands on you."
And like that all was forgiven and forgotten. We were best friends again. I was beaming. I rushed to throw my arms around her and give her a bear hug. She returned it.
She's actually listening to me! My stomach had butterflies. We can get Theresa out of harms way and figure all of this out together!
"Now that we're on the same page-" I began excitedly
"I think we should split up." Talc cut me off.
"Wha?" that hit me like a ton of bricks.
"I think you might be right. One of us needs to play the game. That's how most fantasy stories go. Beat the game and go home. But the Spirits, people we've met, Blood mages. Everything is changing with us here. Dont say it isn't true. You could trap us here forever if you close that rift. There's a chance we may never get home if we cut off our only route back."
My brain was spinning. Split up? But we were making up. What just happened?
Blood mages? They're too powerful. They shouldn't be showing up. When did that happen? What had she been up to while I was busy playing the Herald?
My mouth hung open like a fish gasping for air on dry land. She pressed on.
"The point is we're not in a story. This is real and there are no rules for getting back. We shouldn't be putting all our eggs in one basket. We should play different strategies. I have my own ideas. I wont bore you with the details. Best if you don't know if you wanna stay safe from suspicion. And you're right. Reece needs protection. It's too hard to keep her safe with Cassandra around wanting to send her to the templars. Its hard enough explaining you away to everyone."
She gave me a wry smile which I returned in spite of myself.
"You'll be surrounded by the gaming party. You'll always be protected. You don't need a Qunari bodyguard. Reece does. If you want her to survive, she needs training in weapons and magic, not busing tables and folding laundry. How is being a maid giving her the best chance?"
"But it would mean getting her as far away as possible from danger." I said still a bit confused.
"You're my best friend." Talc gripped my hand. "But she's a friend too and she needs us. The three of us are the only real humans in this entire world. You know you're not alone. She has no idea. I get that your plan has merit, so I'll stay behind here at Haven and train her. When she's ready, we'll come find you and touch bases."
"How can you find us when I'M not even sure where we will be?" I blurted. I didn't mean to. There was just too much shock in my brain.
She held out her hand to me. Her palm facing the sky. She made a strange motion with her other hand and tapped her palm. It suddenly began to glow. I jumped back in shock. She closed the distance between us and threw an arm over my shoulder, blocking anyone that might watching us from behind. She held her palm out in front of my face.
The light flashed again when colors began to appear. The fuzzy lines made no sense. Slowly the lines became more and more crisp until the image of a map appeared! Why was there a map on her hand?! I look up at her with my mouth wide open. It just wasn't possible!
"It's a map of the world." She said. She released my shoulder with her other hand and used two fingers to zoom into the spot where we stood.
I distinctly recognized every land mass and town that appeared as she spread her fingers over the map of Thedas to bring Haven closer in view. I recognized the shape of Havens outer walls. The closer she got, I could see little gray dots zipping thought the streets.
Could she be using magic? No thats not possible. There was no map magic in Thedas. What was I seeing?!
Finally her fingers came to rest on the very spot we were standing. A little pixelated icon of my head floated close to an icon that resembled hers.
"See? I'll always find you." she chuckled.
"Is this magic? You can do magic? Did Foresight teach you this? How come Fortitude didn't say anything about this?" I practically yelled in astonishment.
I shook my head, "No, Focus! I don't want us to split up!"
"I don't really see an alternative." she said shaking her head gently as she closed her hand and the map disappeared, "I have to find a way home before you close the Rift. I can't do that with you and your party line in tow. Besides Reece -"
I grabbed at her wrist in desperation.
"You've always had a way with Reece! You're like a Reece-Whisperer! I know you can keep her quiet for me so I'll concede to all your plans. But that means you have to stick with me! No splitting off! I wont stick my nose into your theories on getting home IF you can assure me neither of you will get hurt!"
My outburst caught her by surprise. Her look of shock melted into a wide smile.
"I'll definitely put 'getting hurt' at the bottom of my to-do list." she laughed.
"Besides, if we split up, who else am I gonna annoy day in and day out?" I laughed. "I might even forget that pretty face that haunts my nightmares!"
"Please," she grinned, "You wish I was in your nightmares. But just in case you do manage to forget..." She reached into her clothes and pulled out a piece of paper.
My eyes went wide as she handed me the folded sheet. Unfolding it I gasped out loud. I instantly slammed it shut.
"Where could you have possibly gotten this? There's absolutely no way. Did you have this from the very beginning? We have to get rid of it! Now!" My panic was causing me to ramble.
"It's okay, it's okay." She soothed me. "Reece had it on her when she came through the game. For some reason, the game left her with all her things. That's probably one of my favorites." She said with a knowing smirk.
I glared at her knowing full well why she enjoyed it. I opened it again to really soak it in. It was a picture of Brooklyn, Theresa and I. It was on my birthday and someone took a picture at the exact moment Brooklyn and I smashed cake into each others faces. I had cake in my hair for the rest of the day.
Memories of another world.
I couldn't help the little burst of laughter, "Great minds, huh."
"I think a piece of cake was lodged up my nose for two days." she grinned.
After one last long look, I took the paper and passed it back to Brooklyn. It shook in the air as a hundred emotions passed through me at once, "Please... Please put it away. Dont... Don't let anyone see that. It all has to disappear."
The smile ran away from Talc's face as she took the picture from my hand. A sadness washed over her features but she quickly shook it off.
"No," she held the picture out to me, "I'll stay with you on the condition that you don't forget who you are and where you came from. You're not an elf. You're not Ayla. You're not the Herald. You can't get us home if you don't remember where it is. You can't save the people important to you if you forget who they are."
I saw the determined look in her eyes and knew I couldn't refuse her. I took the picture back and slipped it inside my shirt.
"What about you?" I asked as I made sure the photo was secure and wouldn't flutter out at some highly inopportune moment.
"No worries there. Reece came through with a whole book full of those pictures." She sang.
My head whipped up, "A WHOLE BOOK?!"
But Talc was sprinting away at top speed while giving me her best Wario cackle.
(Second A/N, cuz why not. Anyway I'm curious what you guys think of the polarizing opinions of these two. Talc refuses to accept where she is and hopes to return to a world she calls her own. Ayla on the other hand accepts the world, but refuses to fully live the life shes forced to. Now that Ayla's revealed more of her thoughts, do you sympathize with her more? Or do you think shes seeing ghosts behind every corner? Cya next week! And what would you do with a character like Reece? Would you keep her far away from danger? Or force her to tag along to keep close eye on her? Anyway thats enough questions, cya'll next week!)