Eden is nothing like I remember it, mom.
Of course, the last time I set foot in the city was before Ragnarok - back when Adamantoise and Behemoths and all sorts of Pulse fauna were running rampant. There wasn't much time to marvel at the city back then, but now there's time to take in the sights, to breathe somewhat more easily and appreciate what I couldn't before.
Not that Eden is the same as it was before. I remember the one time dad took me to Eden, long before I became a fal'cie. You weren't home at the time, visiting a sick friend, and dad… just didn't know what to do with me, I guess. I'll probably never know what gave him the idea, but I remember clearly standing on the view platform after disembarking the airship from Palumpolem. The whole city stretched out below us: floating islands connected by impossible stretches of metal and concrete, each dotted with what looked like giant clusters of crystals…
You probably realize that those crystal clusters that I thought I saw were actually giant steel-and-glass buildings, but at the time… I thought they were magical. I was so excited that I couldn't sit still, even after dad and I boarded a bus to venture into the heart of the city… There were so many airships, mom, so many people! I'd never imagined that so much could exist high among the clouds…
Not that the city flies like it used to anymore. When Orphan was destroyed, so too was the magic that powered the city. In the time since then, President Rygdea and dad have managed to find some way to levitate the city, but while Eden continues to exist several kilometers off the ground, it's now stationary. A shadow of its former self.
It doesn't stop the buildings from being remarkable, though. Despite the scars of battle that many of the structures bear, they shine in the light as brightly as I remember from my childhood. Families walk together down the wide sidewalks still, faces content if not entirely gleeful, and it serves as a reminder that, no matter what awful things happen in the world, time continues to move on regardless…
The Paradise Inn is small by Eden standards, a skinny stack of ten floors wedged between a larger commercial tower and a span of smaller residential apartment complexes. From the outside, it doesn't look anything like its name implies: unlike its neighbors, the building is constructed of concrete and a few sparse windows on the upper levels.
The path to the inn's front doors is steep, but as we approach, I can see that the lower level has an entirely glass front. Despite the glare from the light reflecting on it, I can see through the glass enough to make out several small tables with chairs. There's also a vending machine, and a table that looks like it might have a coffee maker. It might not be fancy, but it'll serve as home for the next nine days during the court hearing and deliberations.
Lightning's the first to reach the door, and it slides open automatically to allow her through. Sarah and the baby, followed closely by Snow and most of our luggage, enter the building next.
When I step through the doors, I feel a sense of relief: air conditioning. I'd never realized how hot Eden was in summer, even so early in the day. Exposed to the cooler air of the lobby, I can feel where sweat has plastered my clothes to my body unpleasantly, and the ache in my legs becomes more pronounced. I just want to check in as quickly as possible so I can go to my room, grab a shower or at the very least, a change of clothes and a chair.
Noel seems as relieved as I am to be in the lobby, tugging uncomfortably at the collar of his shirt. We walk cautiously around a small bookcase filled with graphic novels and a sign proclaiming "For Temporary Loan." To the right of the book case is a small elevator, but the left opens up into a small dining area with the tables and chairs I'd seen from outside. A small, four-foot tall wall topped with potted bamboo separates the eating area from the lobby's counter where Lightning is standing.
"We booked a few rooms. Reservation under Farron." Lightning tells the older woman on the other side of the counter.
The attendant looks uncomfortable but tries to smile genially as she searches the inn's computer for the record. It's not hard to understand her trepidation: Lightning can be scary enough when she's in a good mood, and the long walk from the ship, coupled with the number of side-streets, back alleys and stairs we've had to climb to get here have left her in an even darker mood than usual.
"Here it is: Miss Claire Farron. You've booked three rooms for nine days, yes?"
Lightning levels a look at the attendant, then nods tersely.
"You'll be on the fourth floor. Here are the keys… And the elevator is right across the hall." The attendant smiles and bows her head deeply. "Thank you for choosing the Paradise Inn!"
Lightning accepts the keys from the attendant and hands one to Snow and another to Noel. Her face is unreadable as she turns her focus to me and asks simply: "Do you want to share a room with me, or would you rather share with Noel?"
I'd rather not share a room with anyone, but as a minor, I don't have much choice. Part of me wishes that it wasn't left to me to decide: I'd rather Lightning tell me to share a room with her, to cherish the coming days as much as possible since they may be our last as a family… For me to say it makes it seem more ominous, somehow, like I'm admitting that Lightning will lose to my father in court.
Even if it's probably true… I can't do it, not and pretend well enough to fool Lightning. She knows me too well for that.
"I'll room with Noel." I reply quickly. "If it's okay with you."
"Why wouldn't it be?" Lightning asks, shrugging too quickly, walking too suddenly to the elevator. She hefts her bag over her shoulder impatiently as she waits for the elevator to arrive, and even though she isn't looking at me directly, I can see a hint of hurt in the stiffness of her shoulders.
I should change my mind, should tell her that I'll share a room with her, but I can't bring myself to do it. The elevator doors open, but the car is barely large enough to squeeze three adults and their luggage, let alone all five of us. Lightning, Serah and Snow squeeze into the elevator, Serah cradling baby Noel carefully as the doors close them in. Noel and I stand waiting for the elevator to return for us.
"Are you sure about this?" Noel asks when the elevator whirs back down to the first floor. "I'm not gonna be offended if you'd rather spend a few nights with Lightning instead."
The elevator doors part and I walk into the car. Noel follows suit quickly, and I press the button for the fourth floor harder than strictly necessary. I don't respond to Noel's question. I can't.
"Looks like we're room 41." Noel murmurs, glancing at the key number.
When the elevator arrives on the fourth floor and lets us out, I turn instinctively to the right. Our room is marked with large, bronzed numerals, one of which is more than a little crooked. I watch as Noel slides the key into the lock and turns the knob.
Inside, the room is dark except for what light filters through heavy curtains across the window.
"Where's the light switch?" Noel grumbles, stumbling out of his heavy boots as he feels along the walls for a switch. A few seconds later, I hear the sound of a button being clicked and the room is flooded with light.
It's a really large room, easily twice the size of my room in New Bodhum, but it seems really empty despite the bag Noel drops from his shoulder to the floor. I pull off my shoes and set my own bag beside Noel's, walking deeper into the room.
There's a large bathroom close to the door that leads back out into the hall - it even has a tub, something that's considered a luxury on Pulse. Around the corner from the bathroom is the living area: a large bed rests against the wall shared with the bathroom, and across from that is a desk that spans the width of the room. There's an old-fashioned vid-screen on the far right of the desk, and a desk lamp with a chair, and a small refridgerator that's disappointingly empty when I open the door.
"It's roomier than I thought it'd be." Noel muses, dropping onto the bed.
"I guess." I reply, carefully peeking through the closed curtains. If nothing else, our room has a view of the air station where public transports can be most easily accessed. "I'm just glad to be out of the heat."
"Speaking of which…" Noel sits up and starts to shuck off his clothing. "I call first shot at the shower."
"Go for it."
Noel rummages through his bag quickly for a fresh change of clothes, then disappears into the bathroom. I hear the sound of the fan whirring through the closed door, then the sound of water pounding against the porcelain of the tub.
Sighing to myself, I throw myself at the bed, burying my face in the unyielding pillow. It's hard to believe that it's real, that I'm here and that in a little over a week, I might not be able to return to New Bodhum. I feel guilty that I'm not spending as much time with Lightning as I should be, but at the same time I'm relieved that I don't have to try so hard to deceive her because of it.
I half expect Lightning to knock on the door, to check on us, on me.
It doesn't come, and I know it won't.
To be continued...
Author's Note: I really want to apologize for the giant gap in posting chapters. Some of you might know that I lost both of my paternal grandparents early this year, which was difficult enough, but in late September my maternal grandmother died. She practically raised me from the time I was 6 months old until I was 13 years old, and the funeral arrangements fell on my last surviving grandfather (who also raised me), my aunt (who lives several states away) and me. Coupled with a severely trying semester at university, I've been battling a serious bout of depression and writer's block. I'll try to do better in the future, but I can use all the encouragement I can get right now. Please be understanding!
