Hey guys! Dark here!
So I've been busy the last two months and that's why I haven't posted anything for a while. Thankfully school is almost over and I'll have more time to write.
Also, Persona 5 was released a while ago and it has taken over my life. Side note: I don't own a PS4 but I did buy the game and am living vicariously through others on YouTube. So there's that.
Also, a song on the P5 OST is the same title as the chapter. That song is so good. I decided to use that for the chapter title.
As per usual, I don't own anything.
Enjoy!
Claudus saw the human girl – Echo – staring at a painting of his wife. The mere sight of it perplexed him as he thought the girl didn't pay much attention to his wife. More or less, the human knew the queen died long ago, but hadn't said much about it.
Earlier in the day, Claudus was with Lion-O and Tygra in the war room. He was teaching them about battle tactics and observing their environment. Tygra, as usual, paid close attention to his lesson. Lion-O, to Claudus' surprise, was listening too. He was surprised by the sudden change in attitude. Usually, Lion-O did pay attention to his lessons, but it seemed like his mind was somewhere else. Before, he assumed that he didn't care that much about being king. This angered him but didn't express it.
Things got worse after the human stumbled into their kingdom. It had been only 3 months since her arrival and she's all Lion-O could talk about. Claudus would be lying if he said he wasn't curious about the girl. Everything about her was alien. To her skin, her hair, her eyes, everything about her was different. Jaga had told him to be patient with the girl as she had no recollection of her past. And while he did sympathize with her, there was something about her that didn't feel right.
If he had to guess why Lion-O wasn't focusing on his lessons, it would have to be the presence of the girl. At first, Claudus wondered if Lion-O harbored feelings towards her. After listening to him talk about her on occasions, he realized his son was only curious about her. They got closer together as friends. While Claudus approved of their friendship, he did wish Lion-O wouldn't focus his thoughts on her and the technology he brings back.
Although, he was curious about Echo. Who was she? And why is she here?
Later that same day, Claudus had finished a meeting with the council and was on his way back to his room to sign documents when he saw Echo looking at the painting of his late wife.
The girl didn't sense his presence. She continued to stare at Leona.
"What was she like?"
Claudus' heart skipped a beat. So, she did notice his presence.
Clearing his throat, he sauntered over to stand next to her.
"What do you mean?" He asked. The human knew very little about Leona, other than she was the Queen and died giving birth to Lion-O. Why was she showing interest all of a sudden?
"I see this painting all the time but never looked at it carefully," Echo spoke softly. "She's beautiful. I can see the kindness in her eyes."
Hearing her words, Claudus gazed at the painting. Leona was indeed beautiful. Dare he say, the most beautiful women ever to walk Thundera and Third Earth. It made him sound like a hopeless romantic, but he didn't care. He truly did love Leona for everything she was. Her kindness, her generosity, her loving care for Tygra, her love for Lion-O while she was pregnant with him. Everything about her was lovely.
It was a shame she had to leave the world so soon. He kept a strong while the city mourned the loss of their queen. He hugged Tygra when he cried. When he was alone, tears would trickle down his cheeks. Even if he didn't make any noise, the tears were a testament of how he felt. Even though she was gone, she left him something he would forever love: Lion-O.
"She was… everything I wished for." Claudus said. "I had never met such a kind-hearted woman like her before."
Echo glanced at him before returning her attention back to the portrait. "Did she love Lion-O?"
That question nearly took the breath out of him. This human sure was strange with her questions.
"Of course, she did. She loved him and Tygra. She would speak to him through her belly. She even got to see him briefly before she… died. There was nothing but love for her sons."
Through the corner of his eyes, he saw the human smile faintly before it disappeared.
"There has to be something more than just passing by this painting all the time to grab your attention." Claudus knew there was something more to this. Echo wouldn't just gaze at the painting without having another motive.
For a moment, she didn't speak. "Lion-O and I were talking about my past. The topic of parents came up. I tried to remember my parents. But nothing came. He then told me about you and Leona. Even though he has no memory of her, he knew she loved him. I just wanted to know what she was like."
The human's past was a topic of discussion Claudus would have with Jaga on occasions. The Cleric had theorized that she would get her memories back at some point. Who knew when that would happen. The girl couldn't recall her real name. She couldn't remember… anything.
"You don't remember your parents, do you?"
Echo dropped her gaze to the ground. "No... I don't."
Emotions like this from a stranger made Claudus uncomfortable. He did sympathize with her feelings, but he didn't know how to comfort her. Let alone what to say.
After a moment of thinking, he spoke. "I'm sure your parents loved you. Even if you don't remember them, I'm sure they did."
He meant what he said. There are parents who do not care for their kids. But there are those who do. To this girl, she had a mother and a father who cared for her. Even if she was a stranger, he somehow knew she was loved.
Echo nodded, the corner of her lips tugging up. "Thank you."
She turned on her heels and walked away.
"Hand me that piece."
The tiny bolt floated in the air before landing on Lion-O's hand. "Thanks. I'm almost done with this."
Echo sat on his bed, staring at the scraps of metal on Lion-O's desk. It had been another day of them going to Jorma's and getting random stuff. When they got back to the palace, his father called him to have one of his lessons. He left, leaving Echo to her lonesome. When Lion-O was busy with his lessons, Echo would either stay in her room reading, read in the library, or go to the garden. She decided to stay in her room and read. After she was done reading, she exited her room and went to look for Lion-O. She figured he was in his room and went there.
She then saw the painting of the queen, Leona.
Seeing it brought her back to yesterday when she and Lion-O were coming up with more theories about her past. The topic of parents came up.
That memory was what made her stop and stare at the painting. Then Claudus came and they had a short talk.
What she got out of it was something she didn't expect. She knew her relation with Claudus was strained. He wasn't exactly being subtle about his suspicions about her. But he was kind to her, even reassuring her.
Still, she did want to know more about her parents. Her mom, specifically. What was she like? Did she love her?
"Echo?"
She looked back at Lion-O, who was staring at her with concern.
"Are you alright? I called your name a few times. Is something wrong?"
Echo looked down, not wanting for Lion-O to see her expression. "Just thinking about my mom."
Lion-O set down his tools and sat down next to her.
"What about her?"
"The usual. What does she look like, what her job was? If she loved me? I know it's no use trying to remember since I can't recall anything. I just want to know more about her. That's all."
As she said those words, she felt her heart clench. Why can't she remember the woman who gave her life? Why?
A hand rubbed her back in a circular motion. She looked up so see Lion-O rubbing her back.
"I'm sure you'll remember her soon. And I know this is going the extra mile, but I'm sure she loved you."
Claudus said those words. Now Lion-O was saying them. She might not remember her mom. But if both of them said she loved her, Echo believed them.
She smiled. "Thanks."
