Hello everyone! I know, I know. It's been 9 months plus since the last update. I've not expected the year 2021 to hit me this bad. Taking a part-time job alongside my full-time had also affected me horribly. I've since left the part-time job, hopefully, it'll help get my head back on the wonky track and actually have some of my life together.
Enough rambling from me. I hope you'll enjoy the chapter!
Charming and the Witch
Chapter 11: Open Doors
She shivered as she watched the sky grow dark.
Winter had arrived.
〜∗〜∗〜 Charming and The Witch 〜∗〜∗
"Hot. Behind you."
Roxas halted his chopping and pressed forward against the table for a fellow chef to hurry past him with a pot in their hands. For the past hour, the kitchen has been bustling with activity and smelled of the fragrance of a dozen spices. The far-busier-than-usual atmosphere confused him when he first arrived for lunch preparation until an elated Refia filled him in with a broad smile.
"Mistress is joining us for lunch!"
"She is?"
"Yup! This is so exciting! Here are the dishes Xaldin has set for today. We'll need more carrots, bell peppers, oh, a few eggs…"
And here he was, chopping up the last of the carrots and passing them to the correct station. With most dishes already cooked and all his tasks done, Roxas retreated to a secluded corner and allowed his thoughts to wander back to the previous night.
"Can we start over?"
The Mother of Witchcraft sat across him in stunned silence, wide-open eyes meeting his. "Pardon?"
"Well…" Roxas shifted his weight on the seat. "We started off on the wrong foot; having both my godmother and my life on the line. But we don't have to stay that way now. My godmother is safe, and I'm… staying here. So…" He sent her a pleading look. "Can we start over?"
Roxas noticed the slight furrow upon her brows as she contemplated the offer. He bit the inside of his cheek. Earlier that night, he had wanted — no, hoped — the witch would refuse his dinner offer so he could get out of this place. Now… He hopes she'll say the exact opposite.
At long last, the witch nodded. "Yes, I suppose we could."
Roxas let out a relieved sigh and a smile spread across his face. "I'm glad you agree."
Tiredness settled upon Roxas and he yawned, blinking to fight off sleep. The witch noticed his exhaustion and spoke, "I suggest we both retire to bed earlier tonight. We shall continue this tomorrow morning. Refia."
"Yes?" The spirit girl jumped to attention at the call of her name.
"Please escort Roxas Strife back to his chamber and have someone ready a hot bath and change of clothes. Has he eaten yet? No? Have someone bring dinner to his chamber as well. Kairi, if you'll please accompany me." Her tone was calm — confident — as she gave the orders and rose from the armchair. The witch was about to take her leave when she saw the flabbergasted look on Roxas's face. "Is there something the matter?"
"No! No!" Roxas sprang to his feet. "Everything's fine."
The witch raised an eyebrow at him as if to say she didn't quite buy his words but decided not to press further. "Very well, I wish you a restful sleep." With a parting nod, the witch headed towards the opened doors. The ghosts gathered outside frantically cleared the doorway for their mistress.
Roxas watched her go, and before she could pass the threshold, he yelled, "Wait!" The witch stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. "Yes?"
"Thank you, for saving my life."
Their eyes held for what felt like hours before she replied in a gentle voice, "You're welcome."
Without another word, she exited the room.
Right after, the spirits dispersed and Roxas felt like someone had lifted a thousand pounds off his shoulders. Refia soon floated to his side to accompany him back upstairs. From his walk to his room to the time he tucked into bed with a full stomach and clad in clean clothes, two words the witch had spoken before bidding goodnight echoed in his mind.
'Roxas.'
My name.
'Roxas Strife.'
She said my name.
"Roxas Strife!"
Roxas jolted backward when a hand shook his shoulder, almost knocking his skull against the wall. Refia also jumped at his response, withdrawing her hand to her chest. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you like that. I've called you a few times, but you didn't respond," the spirit explained frantically. "Are you hurt?"
"No, no. I'm fine, Refia. There's no need to worry." He reassured her and quickly came up with an excuse, "Last night must have taken a bigger toll on me than expected, so I spaced out."
"I see… Shall I request a vial of sleeping draft from Vexen? Perhaps an afternoon nap will help."
Roxas tensed at the mention of the potion and shook his head. "No. Thanks for the offer, but there's no need. I'll brew myself some tea later. Is the cooking finished? Are we moving to the sitting room?"
"Oh! Yes. Let's hurry on," Refia left with a slight bounce in her step, "We have to set the table beautifully for her Mistress."
Roxas followed swiftly after her, for just like everyone else, finding himself looking forward to dining with the elusive witch of the castle.
It appeared the excitement in the kitchen had spread to the servants' quarters like wildfire. The room was much more cramped than usual. Roxas caught sight of Riku among the ghosts that were flying around the space speedily, laying out the large assortment of food and adjusting the plates and cutleries so none were crooked.
Roxas next spotted a chair placed at the head of the table where there used to be none. It was a simple armchair, not as plush as the one he sat in last night, but miles more comfortable-looking than the wooden seats in the sitting room.
There was no doubt who would occupy that spot.
"She's here, she's here! Quick!" A male spirit hissed, dashing from the threshold. "Places, everyone!"
All occupants did as they were told and rushed to float on either side of the long table in a neat line. Before Roxas could react, Axel entered the sitting room and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, our Mistress." The flame spirit floated aside and the Mother of Witchcraft strolled in, flanked by Kairi and Larxene.
"Mistress," all the servants greeted her with either a small curtsy or a head bow.
The witch raised a hand. "Rise. A good day to you all." She approached her designated seat, nodded in thanks to a spirit for pulling the armchair out, and settled down. "Sit, everyone. Let the luncheon begin."
Her eyes fell upon him as she addressed the room and Roxas tensed.
"Would you be joining us, Roxas Strife?" She asked with a slight cant of her head.
"Y-Yes."
She nodded once, then gestured to an empty spot beside Axel, who sat to her left. "Please take a seat. It would be best to dine while the food is still hot. Xaldin, I must commend you and your staff for a phenomenal job; the food looks divine."
After an audibly flustered Xaldin thanked his Mistress for her kind words, all the servants began to dig into the food and chatter filled the sitting room, albeit not as loud as usual.
Roxas filled his plate with some sauteed vegetables passed from down the table and was about to offer the dish to Axel when he realized the spirit wasn't in his seat, but stood at the witch's side, slicing a piece of meat on her plate into bite-size pieces.
The scene took Roxas aback, and he looked over to the witch to find her leaning back on the armchair, eyes closed.
Huh?
"Roxas." The call of his name snapped him out of his thought. It was Kairi, who sat across from him. " Could you pass those vegetables over?"
"Yes, of course," Roxas smiled apologetically and handed the dish over.
"It's done, Mistress." Roxas fixed his eyes back onto his plate, stabbing a piece of carrot as he strained his ears to eavesdrop on the low conversation.
"Thank you, Axel," the witch said.
"Would that be all? Shall I get you some roasted duck? Perhaps more potatoes?"
"There is no need. This is enough. Sit down and eat, Axel. Your food is getting cold."
"As you wish, Mistress." Axel sounded a tad disheartened before he sat back down beside him. Roxas chewed his food languidly, hoping the flame spirit didn't notice his tense shoulders. After a brief conversation with the spirits and another dish being passed around, Roxas felt it was safe to observe the witch without raising any suspicion. She had been awfully quiet since her conversation with Axel.
Keeping his head low and munching on his lunch, he moved his gaze towards the witch. Her eyes — blue with a ring of purple under the room's natural light — were focused on her meal. The veil hanging from her hat had been altered. Its length at the front was shortened to about an inch from her chin, short enough that it wouldn't be tainted yet long enough to conceal her lower face when she tilted her head down to eat. The new length exposed more of her dress-covered neck, allowing him to see the curve where her neck and shoulders met. The veil grew in length past her shoulders and down to her mid-back. He briefly wondered if her hair was long or short.
The observation was cut short when the witch wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. All conversation ceased and an uncomfortable silence filled the room as the ghosts turned their attention to their mistress.
"There is no need to stop your eating, everyone," the witch said. "I apologize for leaving the table early; I have plans for the afternoon. Continue to enjoy your meal. Thank you for the pleasant luncheon." With a small nod, she turned to leave, insisting Larxene to stay when the electric spirit made the move to follow her.
After the witch was gone from the sitting room, the excitement left along with her. The chatters reduced drastically, only the sound of cutlery scraping against plates filled the silence. Once the witch was out of view, Roxas's gaze drifted to her plate.
It wasn't empty.
"Mistress will not be joining us for dinner."
This time, Roxas was in the kitchen when Larxene showed up to deliver the news. The disappointment in the air was almost palpable as the staff went back to work. Roxas continued with chopping and slicing, the tasks usually kept him focused — so was his routine. But that night, he found himself distracted. He would pause whenever he heard the ghosts brought up the word 'Mistress', his eyes lingered longer on the tray and plates readied for the witch, he craned his neck to watch whenever a chef filled said plates with (so little) food, and stayed behind in the hallway as he watched Refia carried the tray away.
As he had expected, the servants' sitting room was less crowded than lunchtime, as if it was just another night. But Roxas could feel and see the difference. There was no game of dice held on another table. There was less laughter. And Luxord seems to drink more than usual.
Roxas sat silently in his seat, pushing a piece of broccoli around his plate as he observed the room. The Mother of Witchcraft caused this, he concluded, certain. Her presence (and the lack thereof) caused this major shift in the entire castle staff's mood. But why?
He scanned around and frowned when he couldn't find Axel. He hadn't seen him since lunch. Turned back to the table, Roxas saw a pair of female ghosts sitting side-by-side across from him to his right. Perhaps they could provide him with more answers than Axel? Thinking back to his failed attempts with Kairi and Luxord, he knew the chance was low. But it wouldn't hurt to try.
"Excuse me," he waved and gave the two ghosts a bashful smile when he got their attention. "I'm sorry to bother, but I was wondering if you both could answer a few questions for me."
The ghosts gave each other a confused look before nodding back to him. "Sure, Mr. Strife. What would you like to ask?"
"Call me Roxas. Please, there's no need for formality. I was thinking… Did the witch always join you all for meals before I came?"
The ghost sitting closest to him turned to her companion, and the two mumbled among themselves, too low for Roxas to catch anything. With a slight frown, the ghost turned back to him and answered, "We wouldn't say always… Her Mistress joined us before but… Not anymore."
"Because I arrived?"
The other female ghost shook her head. "Long before you arrived, dear."
"Oh? Why did she stop?"
The ghosts shared a knowing look before giving him an apologetic frown. "I'm afraid we couldn't say, Roxas."
Roxas sighed internally. Another dead end. "I see… Whatever it was, you all were truly excited when she decided to join us for lunch today."
A smile graced the ghosts' faces. "Yes, it was great to see her again."
"A shame she didn't join us for dinner."
"We agree, but we also understand if Her Mistress wouldn't want to."
Roxas noted the dejected tone in the ghost voice and said, "I'm sure she'll come again. Some time has passed since she last joined for a meal, right? She's probably taking one step at a time to adjust to this new routine."
The two ghosts listened to his assumption quietly, then let out a soft, melodic giggle. "I hope you're right, Roxas. We really do."
Roxas thanked them for their help and finished up his dinner. Much later, when Roxas laid upon his bed, fresh from a bath, he replayed the events of the day in his head. It had been… interesting, to say the least, even though he received more questions than answers.
When he recalled the genuine smile on the two female ghosts' faces, he was certain of one thing: the castle spirits love their mistress. If his assumptions were correct, the Mother of Witchcraft loves them too or at least cares about them, despite not spending time with them (anymore).
So, the next question was: What drove the witch away?
Roxas knew Axel was right. The only way he could get answers was from the Mistress's own mouth. It may be easier now that they both agreed to lay aside their hostility and start over, but Roxas struggled regardless. How should I approach her? Should I head to her bedchamber personally? Or should I ask Refia, Kairi, Axel, or (urgh) Larxene to meet up with her? Am I allowed to go to her bedchamber? It is a personal space after all… Perhaps her study is the better choice? Then, should I go personally or ask another spirit? Wait, what if her study is still off-limits? Aargh!
He didn't remember befriending someone was this hard.
Roxas chewed his meat pasty languidly, so deep in thought that he didn't notice the sudden hush in the sitting room nor that someone had sat down at the table across from him until they spoke, "Sleepless night?"
Roxas looked up at the speaker and stopped mid-chew. "Witch."
The Mother of Witchcraft blinked, her gaze indifferent as she stared back. "Strife."
Oh damn! Roxas coughed and quickly washed down his breakfast with his tea. If he had called someone that back in town, there'd be enough scoldings and withering glares to last a lifetime. "I— I apologize. That sounded rude. I didn't mean to—"
The witch waved a gloved hand dismissively. "No offense taken. I do not expect you to call me 'Mistress', thus what else could you address me other than 'witch'?"
"I could… call you by your name?" Roxas suggested and the witch's hand froze midair, her shoulders tensed.
The witch's eyes met his, holding his gaze. On the surface, she looked calm and collected, but he could see his question had troubled her. Her brows furrowed slightly and something wavered in her eyes. The silence stretched on what felt like an eternity before he noticed a movement at her veil. She opened her lips to speak. She must have decided to give him the answer he desires and—
"'Witch' is adequate," she provided.
Roxas felt his hope plummeted into the pit of his stomach as she cast her eyes away and sat back straight in her seat. Why not? It's just a name. Why does she prefer to be called a 'witch'?
"Why—" Roxas cut himself off when Larxene approached the table to serve the witch breakfast, knowing better than to push the conversation any further.
They ate their meal in relative silence. Roxas took notice of her breakfast comprising two bread slices with drizzled honey, scrambled egg, and a cup of red tea. She really doesn't eat much. He thought, serving himself some fruits.
As he chewed on a raspberry, enjoying the tart-sweet flavor on his tongue, his thoughts traveled back to his previous predicament. Nervousness overcame him. The witch is sitting right in front of him. He doesn't need to ponder how to meet up with her anymore. Now he just needs to talk to her. But… TALK ABOUT WHAT? I haven't thought so far yet! I'm not ready!
"Roxas Strife." He jolted, almost choking on the fruit. Swallowing it, he looked at the witch, who had called his name. "Y-yes?"
"Do you have plans for the rest of the morning?"
"No, not at all. Why do you ask?"
"I have something to show you," the witch said, dabbing her mouth clean with her napkin, then stood. "If you would follow me." The Mother of Witchcraft hardly gave him a glance before exiting the servants' sitting room.
Roxas leaped to his feet, downed the remaining tea in a single gulp, and roughly wiped his mouth clean. He rushed out to follow the witch, not wanting to lose her in the massive castle, nor to anger her by falling behind. He kept in mind to thank whoever cleaned up their dirty dishes later.
The walk was silent, not to his surprise. Roxas followed behind the witch at a respectable distance as they traveled down the first floor West Wing. He had not set foot in that very same hallway since the night of his arrival, running away from Larxene, Demyx, and the ice spirit (what's his name? Vexen?) respectively. He pushed the memory away with a frown. There was no need to relive that night's stressful event.
He, however, remembered all the doors and windows in the hallway were locked during his frantic search for Aerith. What does she want to show me?
Soon, they stopped in front of a pair of closed double doors. The witch slipped a key into the lock and turned — CLICK. Slipped the key back into a hidden pocket, the witch laid each hand on the door handle and gave him a sideways glance. When their eyes met, she quickly turned her gaze away, her fingers flexing on the handles.
Then, without a word, she pushed the doors open.
A bright light shone from within, blinding him temporarily, and he blinked repeatedly to adjust. Slowly, the brightness faded, and the blurry colored blobs sharpened. Once everything was clear, he let out a gasp of wonder.
He took a step forward, and then another, and another, until he wasn't walking anymore but jogging into the room. I… I can't believe it. He skidded to a stop when he reached the center and twirled on the spot, taking in the surrounding sight with a big, silly grin on his face.
This is amazing! A library!
The Vallenhart Castle's library was easily twice (no. thrice. no. larger!) the size of the local library back in Twilight Town. Four separate spiral staircases were located around the room, allowing readers to traverse to the second-floor walkway to access even more books. A fireplace and two towering bay windows took up most of the far wall, letting sunlight into the room. The rays shone upon the colorful book spines, which almost filled the countless bookshelves to their full capacity. A giant crystal chandelier hung above him from the high ceiling, its gleam dulled by the years of dust.
Roxas stopped his twirl and looked towards the fireplace, which was larger than average to warm up the massive library. Above the fireplace hung an enormous portrait of the castle's former occupants: King Vanitas Vallenhart and Queen Silvana Rosewood Vallenhart. The queen sat upon a gold-gilded burgundy-red armchair while her husband stood to her right, a loving, protective hand rested gently on her left shoulder. The King's right hand was raised to his hip level, presumably to hold his scepter, but the artist either opted it out at the last moment or under the King's order. Regardless of that awkward hand posture, the artwork was remarkable, highly detailed, and simply… breathtaking. Relief filled him to see it had not been stolen or vandalized in the past five years.
"Do… you like it?" A hesitant voice asked from behind, and he turned to face the witch. A flush crept across his cheeks; he had forgotten he wasn't alone from all the wonderment and excitement.
"The portrait? It's magnificent. Look at those—"
"No," she cut him off. "I meant the library."
"Oh! Yes!" He grinned, feeling exhilaration overtake him once again. "I've never seen so many books in my life!" He threw both arms wide open and gestured to the wondrous room with a spin. "Just think of all the books that can only be found here. Rare encyclopedia. Out-of-print volumes. Limited-print autobiographies. Books from outside Soligtus. And oh! Cookbooks! Maybe I can find Ignis Scientia's first-edition book here." The more he listed out, the more excited he became, and the urge to dash off to the nearest bookshelf was growing stronger by the seconds.
"You could, but before that." A gentle pat on his shoulder shifted his attention back to the witch, who was heading towards a set of tables and chairs he had missed beforehand. "I would like to introduce someone to you."
Intrigued, Roxas followed her in the next heartbeat.
"Zexion," the witch greeted a vacant side chair. Roxas sent her a confused look until the space between the chair and desk shimmered and soon revealed a young man who looked roughly a year or two older than him. Roxas felt his jaw drop. Zexion sports a rather unique hairstyle. His steel-blue messy bangs completely cover the right side of his face, reaching an inch or so past his chin. On his left side, a few long strands of hair fell over his face, but his bright aqua-colored eye was visible.
"At your service, Mistress," Zexion answered with a head bow.
"You may rise. I feel it would be best for you two to be acquainted, given the fact you both share a love for books. Zexion," the witch gestured a hand to Roxas, "this is Roxas Strife. Roxas Strife, Zex—"
"Are you human?"
Zexion's visible eye shot up at the sudden, unexpected question, blinked once, then reverted to his stoic demeanor. "No."
"But you look—"
"I am but another ghost in this castle, sir," Zexion interjected with a raise of a hand. "After all, was I not invisible earlier? If I am indeed human, would that be possible?"
Roxas opened his mouth to retort but shut it in the end as he shook his head. "No. No, it would not." A heavy sigh escaped him, then he gave Zexion a weak smile. "I apologize for blurting that out loud. I was… surprised. The name's Roxas Strife. Nice to meet you, Zexion." He held out a hand, which the spirit returned with a firm handshake.
"Well met, Roxas Strife." With that, they dropped their hand and Roxas felt even more perplexed.
Zexion wasn't translucent, nor whose whole being was composed of a single element or incomprehensible matter. No. Zexion looked human. His skin was a tawny-beige like he had been out in the sun. It was warm like red, human blood was running underneath. His hand was solid and soft at the same time like he was made up of human flesh.
Zexion looked, felt, and behaved just like another breathing, living human being.
Yet he wasn't.
Because he did materialize from thin air right before his own eyes.
And he couldn't argue or dismiss that.
"Well." That single word snapped Roxas out of his musing. "I will take my leave. Do show Roxas Strife around, Zexion."
"As you wish, Mistress," Zexion said with a bow.
She gave him a nod, then turned to Roxas. "I hope you will find the books you want to read."
"I… I'm sure I will. Thank you."
"It was no trouble." Her eyes crinkle at the corners from a smile then she took a step towards the door. "Enjoy your—"
"Would you like to join me for dinner tonight?" Roxas blurted out, effectively freezing the witch to the spot.
She stared back at him as if he had grown a second head and Roxas felt the heat of embarrassment flush to his face. "I mean… You didn't join us yesterday, and we also haven't found a time to sit down and talk. So, I'm thinking… maybe dinner with just the two of us? We could use the smaller dining room. It'll be much quieter than the servants' quarters. Does that… sound alright for you?"
The witch remained silent, wide-eyed. Roxas felt panic rise within him. "We don't have to talk if you don't want to." He explained. "We could just eat and nothing else. U-Um… We could even make this a once every two or three nights dinner plan. To, you know, take things slow."
The silence stretched on, and Roxas grew more anxious. "Per-Perhaps not, then? I apologize. I just thought—"
"No," she intervened. "I accept your offer."
Roxas's eyes widened. "You… You do?"
"Yes. However, as you suggested, we should take things slow. I would not lie; do not expect much conversation with me later."
"That's perfectly fine. I wouldn't force you to. I'm glad you have accepted my offer. It was… sudden, after all."
The witch let out a pondering hum. "Perhaps, but then, life is constantly surprising, is it not?" There was a hint of sadness in her tone, her eyes glazing over with memory. However, it was gone in the next heartbeat, as if what he saw was simply a trick of the light. "I will be late for lunch today. Let the others know they could start before me. Farewell."
Without another word, the witch left the library.
"I'll say," Zexion spoke, approaching Roxas with silent steps. "It has been a while since I saw someone cut off Mistress' sentences. Twice, even."
"Huh?" Roxas waited for further clarification, but his memories caught up to him, and he gasped. "Oh, Goddess. I did, didn't I? She must be displeased with me."
Zexion shook his head. "I wouldn't say that. If she was, she would have chastised you on the spot. Come." The spirit beckoned Roxas over. "Mistress told me to show you around, and so, I will. If you prefer nonfiction, you may find them in this section."
Roxas followed Zexion with a huge smile and a spring in his step, clearly having one of the best times of his life.
Aerith was having one of the worst times of her life. She does not doubt it. This is easily in the top five.
Aerith sat at the bar in one of the taverns in Radiant Garden, a glass of red wine in hand as she waited for her dinner to be served. She gave her glass a twirl before gulping its content. She sighed, dejected. No other wine would ever come close to the one Tifa made. How she longed for a sip. To taste those distinct fruit notes and velvety smoothness.
A couple of bottles she made were left, stashed away in a box back home, but Aerith could never bring herself to pop one open. It will simply not be the same. It'll never be the same…
Tears stung the back of her eyes and Aerith willed them away. No. She can't be weak. Especially not now. Roxas needs her. She needs to be strong. Her life should be better after leaving Midgar, and she'll not let this event keep her from her happiness!
She is heading home tomorrow. The heavy snowfall had kept her in the capital for three more days, but the road would finally be cleared for travel by the next mid-morning. The townsfolk will surely ask her regarding Roxas's absence. His friends. The restaurant and library where he worked. And the eager-to-gossip crowd, of course.
She needs a convincing story. And she needs one fast.
"Here you are." A formal male voice broke her train of thought and a bowl of hearty meat stew was placed before her. "Our special beef stew. Shall I refill your glass?"
Aerith glanced over to her glass and found it was indeed empty. The stress must be getting to her more than she realized. "Ah. Yes." She handed the glass over to the bartender. "A full-bodied, dry red, please."
"Oh? You know your wines?" The man asked, scanning a shelf nearby for Aerith's order.
Aerith cracked a small smile. "Lived with a bartender before. I'm bound to pick up a thing or two."
"Really?" the bartender said, opening a bottle of red, then pouring it into a new, clean glass. "Where are they now?"
Aerith's smile dropped immediately, and the bartender noticed as he put her drink down on the bar. He knew that look on her face; he had seen it on so many patrons of his for the past five years. "I am sorry," he offered.
"Don't be," Aerith said with a forced smile. "With the war… It was inevitable."
The bartender simply nodded without another word.
Aerith picked up her new wine and sipped, wishing the dry flavor could suppress the urge to sob. Thankfully, it did, but the somber air still hung over the bar.
Aerith soon dug into her dinner, while the bartender attended to another customer before going back to wiping glasses dry. The bar where she sat was quiet. A few groups of patrons sat at the oakwood tables spread throughout the tavern. Most of them were drinking, while a handful was having dinner like her. The chatters were relatively tame, but from her experience, it'll be rowdy in another two hours or three.
BANG!
The entrance door slammed open, hammering back against the wall. The whole tavern went silent, all eyes turned to the commotion. A young girl with long red hair stood by the doorway with a hand stretched out, a look of shock on her face.
Everyone stared at her. She stared back at everyone. No one said a thing until the bartender let out a sigh. The teen jumped, startled at the simple sound, and immediately flushed pink with embarrassment. "O-Oops." She uttered meekly.
"Oops is right, Strelitzia." The bartender gave her an unamused look and beckoned her over. "Close the door and come in, dear. The heat is escaping."
Strelitzia closed the door as she was told with cheeks still visibly pink. The door shut so gently the heavy wood hardly made a sound.
She approached the bar and flopped down on the seat beside Aerith's.
"What are you doing here, Strelitzia?" The bartender asked, offering a glass of what seemed like juice to the teen girl. "Isn't your curfew coming up?"
Strelitzia accepted the drink, gulped down half of it in a matter of seconds, then put it down with a satisfied, "Ahhh." Her lips soon formed an angry pout. "It's all because of meany, grumpy, old Herbert again. All I've done today are just lessons, lessons, lessons. I feel like my head's going to explode!"
"Now now. You know those lessons are important."
"I do, Mr. Alred. But I'm only human and I need rest," Strelitzia said, still pouting as she sipped her drink. Then, with a softer voice, she uttered, "I miss Lauriam…"
The bartender's eyes softened. "I know, dear. I know. You can come over whenever you need to, but you're on your own if your parents found you here."
A grin spread across Strelitzia's face. "No worries. They haven't found the escape route brother made yet. They all think I'm currently sulking in my room."
"If no one told them of your grand entrance earlier, that is." Strelitzia gasped at his words.
"You're right!" She spun in her seat to face the other patrons in the tavern. "Everyone, please don't tell anyone that I'm here tonight, alright?" Without waiting for their answer, she turned over to meet Aerith's eyes. "Please? Miss?"
Aerith felt her heart clenched at the mild panic and pleading look on the girl's face. Her expression reminded her of Roxas on that day five years ago. When he had pleaded if what she had said was true. When she told him that…
Aerith smiled back at the girl. "Don't worry," she reassured. "I'm not local and I'll be heading back to Twilight Town tomorrow. Your little secret stays here."
A genuine smile spread across Strelitzia's face. "Thank you so much, miss! Mr. Alred." She turned back to the bartender, all her worries forgotten. "Could I have some rainbow grape juice?"
"All that sugar before bedtime? No."
"Awwww. Don't be like meany old Herbert. Please? Pretty pleaseee?"
"No," Alred repeated firmly.
Strelitzia pouted in a huff and sipped her remaining juice, knowing the bartender won't be giving her a refill.
Aerith almost chuckled at the girl's cute expression. All of a sudden, something clicked inside her head. Meany. Grumpy. Those remind me of... Oh Goddess! Cid! Cid Highwind!
Cid Highwind, a fellow friend of theirs residing in Traverse Town. Cid is, as he calls himself, a soon-to-be-famous engineer. He ran an accessory and book hybrid shop with his wife, Shera.
Roxas has met Cid and Shera before. He had tagged along during their visits multiple times in the past. The fact that the couple owned a bookshop is a plus since Roxas loves books and would spend most of his time perusing the shelves while the adults talk.
It would make sense if she tells the townsfolk that Roxas is in Traverse Town with their family friend. A couple of people knew of their friendship with Cid, so it would be nothing out of the ordinary.
Cid Highwind may be grumpy-looking and can be rather crude, but he is kindhearted. If she explains the situation to him, he'll surely help. The ever caring Shera would too.
Yes. Aerith felt awake, rejuvenated. Her heart drummed in her chest as she felt a grin spread across her face. Yes! That's it! I have to send a messenger chocobo to them. They're the only solution. Roxas will be safe!
Aerith turned to her dinner and began wolfing down the stew as fast as she could swallow, not caring how inelegant she might look. She needs to send the letter as soon as possible!
"GHOST!"
Aerith froze. A chill ran down her spine. Ghost? Why would there be ghosts here? Did the witch send them?!
Fear clutched her heart, squeezing it in a painful grip. Did something happen to Roxas?
Aerith sat still as a marble statue in her seat, not daring to turn to the source of the yell, fearing she would face one of those monsters in the castle. A hand fell upon her forearm and she jumped. Her head whipped to the hand so fast, she almost gave herself whiplash. However, instead of meeting a flaming monster or the veiled witch, she saw a worried Strelitzia.
The teen withdrew her hand. "Are you alright, miss? You're looking very pale."
"I… I…" She stuttered, looking around the tavern, and noticed nothing was amiss. The other patrons remained seated, talking, drinking, and eating as if nothing had happened. Maybe… Nothing really did? Aerith brought a hand to her head. A minor headache began to grow. "I thought I heard someone yell 'ghost'?"
"Oh!" Strelitzia nodded. "Someone did, but it's nothing to worry about."
Aerith furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"
"I forgot you weren't local," Alred said, approaching them. "A resident of ours tends to yell out things regarding ghosts. You see that brown-haired boy there? Slumped on the table?" Aerith's gaze followed where Alred pointed to and immediately spotted the young man he described. His freckled face was flushed red, and he was mumbling some incoherent sentences she could hardly pick up. The boy was clearly plastered.
"You see. Poor Callum went missing for almost two weeks about four years ago during the fall. He had gone out hunting and just didn't come home. A search party went out looking for him, but no luck. Everyone thought the wolves must have attacked and eaten him.
"Then, one noon, he suddenly showed up. No wounds, no missing limbs, nothing other than some sticks and leaves in his hair. But when we asked where had he been, he remembered nothing. Said he only remembered waking up in the woods before coming home," Alred explained. "Most people don't push him for more, don't want to stress him out. Thinking he must have gotten lost, slipped, and hit his head hard. We're just glad that he's back safely… Until one night, he got very drunk and spewed out gibberish about a scary place, ghosts, floating fireball, someone all black, you know the gist. He won't remember what he said after he sobered up. So no use trying to ask him for clarification."
"However," Alred leaned down and lowered his voice conspiratorially. "We have a theory: He was captured by the Mother of Witchcraft."
Aerith felt as if every drop of her blood had turned to ice. "W-What?"
"It is the only probable explanation. Where else would there be spirits other than those the witch had summoned in the castle? Missing for two weeks, the search party couldn't find him, yet he came back uninjured? He was imprisoned, we were sure."
"The search party didn't search the castle for him?"
Alred shook his head. "They have thought of it but didn't enter since it's restricted. Callum isn't exactly… brave when it comes to the supernatural either. So they didn't think he would approach the castle. Only the Goddess knows how he ended up there. It was a miracle he got out and came back."
"Did anyone go back to check for other prisoners?"
"No." Alred furrowed his brows. "Why should anyone? That place is pure evil. No one should ever go there, especially after what happened to Callum. I hope the folks in Twilight Town are telling their kids to avoid it as we do."
Aerith could only nod, rendered speechless by the information. That young man had been in the abandoned Vallenhart Castle. He had met those monsters, that witch, and must have thrown into the dungeon just like her poor Roxas too. But he somehow escaped, with no injuries too! That gave her hope that the witch won't torture her godson as she had feared.
However, would Roxas lose his memories too after he escapes? Would he remember her? Aerith looked back to Callum, imagining Roxas in his place, and remorse overcame her. If only she had set off the next morning instead…
Aerith let out a shaky sigh and pushed back the tears. She couldn't change the past. She has to continue onward.
Downed her wine and paid for her dinner, Aerith made a beeline to the post office, grateful that Moogles are such a hardworking race that the shop is open until midnight. As she penned the letter to Cid, Aerith was also grateful that her husband loved to drink. She was pretty sure she'll be needing his liquor stash after she gets home.
That's the end. I hope it is to your liking. I know I'm not a fast updater as I tried to get my life together. While waiting for an update, why not check out my beta-reader friend's original webcomic over at Webtoon called: Dandelion's Promise. She updates faster than me. XD
If you have spotted any grammatical errors, don't hesitate to inform me about them. I accept constructive criticism and ways to improve your reading experience.
I would like to thank the lovely people in the following for
Review: Ljstarlight, Chirithy564(Guest), Webb360, LeYenrz, Broncozfan623, StellarMage99, UltimateAvengers, SupperBiscuit, Ima Nonyme, PrometheusDark, Anon Omega(Guest), DPSS, sjsreader, Frostburn243, RoastedButter, TruSelf(Guest), Skuld(Guest), Alice-Ann Wonderland, Strategist Ghidorah, Rada(Guest), Izunavi, Pixel hat (guest), Arika Koski (guest) and 6 unnamed guest reviews.
Favorite: SanityRequiem, NamelessCane, WatcherOfStars, advanceshipping4ever, RoastedButter, Ljstarlight, Evernic, CrazyPINOY25, Greatwestern1522, LeYenrz, Webb360, Keep It Fresh to the Left, stealthclaw, Szejdol, The Rogue of Heroes, The Nigar, StellarMage99, Vigriff, UltimateAvengers, Broncozfan623, SupperBiscuit, Fantasysword92375, Ima Nonyme, PrometheusDark, EmperorSnorlax, EvanExodus, Yami Tensei, Frostburn243, danmcscuffles, SatoKasu4ever, The Knight Galahad, korsunskiye, Peaceful-Sea, cptdouglasjfalcon, Saiyakitsune, Leonidas701, Asia the Jester, Dark dragon slayer unlimited, ShrillKillerdog, Rapticon sr. the Goldenhearted, tic1 julio pellejero, Strategist Ghidorah, Spiderfan626, Alice-Ann Wonderland, LilCardboardBoxThatIsBig, Vanar, The XIIIth Hero, xander501, Izunavi, Court818, 1zayah, Diluna-Mi, barajasitzel9, PJWasHere, SethBloodFallen, emberstar21, and Nightcat77.
Alert/Follow: NamelessCane, The Knight Galahad, TheRoseAlchemist17, WatcherOfStars, advanceshipping4ever, relena soulheart, RoastedButter, Ljstarlight, Webb360, Evernic, Among us sussy baka, Half-Dragon Hero, CrazyPINOY25, Broncozfan623, LeYenrz, SniperWolf61, Dracoboy259, stealthclaw, Szejdol, The Nigar, StellarMage99, UltimateAvengers, SupperBiscuit, Fantasysword92375, Ima Nonyme, PrometheusDark, sojiinifix, ghostninja1320, EmperorSnorlax, EvanExodus, Yami Tensei, sjsreader, Frostburn243, danmcscuffles, korsunskiye, Peaceful-Sea, Beav26, cptdouglasjfalcon, Saiyakitsune, Leonidas701, Dark dragon slayer unlimited, ShrillKillerdog, Rapticon sr. the Goldenhearted, tic1 julio pellejero, Strategist Ghidorah, storyseeker7, seakaai, Spiderfan626, Alice-Ann Wonderland, LilCardboardBoxThatIsBig, Vanar, The XIIIth Hero, xander501, Izunavi, phoenixblade8, aRXy, 1zayah, Diluna-Mi, barajasitzel9, Shadowman11555, la-hija-de-Dios, DarkStorm98, emberstar21, and Nightcat77.
And of course, my friend who beta-read this story.
Finally, to respond to the guest reviewers:
Arika Koski: Thank you for the review! That's alright. Everyone has their own preferred pairings and I can see the appeal of Roxas x Namine. Thanks for dropping by despite this story being a Roxas x Xion though. :D
Guest: Thank you for the review! I'm glad the wolf attack scene worked out in this adaptation, and oh, they'll be interacting more now. Hmm yes, why does she hides her face? We'll have to wait and see. Thank you! May you and your family be safe from the virus too.
Pixel hat: Thank you for the review! Looks like my awful update timing has not improved one bit. Instead, it got worse. D: Oh, yes. I am aware of that tip. I did try it out and it helps at times. My issue is that I tend to keep backtracking and editing even though I really should separate the writing and editing phase. *sigh* Oh! You draw? Do you upload them anywhere so I could check them out?
Thank you for reading! Do drop a review, favorite or alert to share your love and thoughts. Don't be shy to PM me too! *heart*