NATIVE ISLANDS

It was a day like any other of us, Fran was slouched on the sofa as he saw Balthier suddenly enter the living room door, had a look of surprise as if waiting for something to come.

He pulled back a mahogany chair from the finely inlaid ebony table, some bronze inlay, threw the bag in leather on the table, then sat down to check the letters in the bag. Among the various letters and envelopes contained the bag the aviopirata extracted a finely decorated envelope whose grain was very fine, bearing the royal seal dalmasca.

Suddenly the boy's face lit up, he pulled a hunting knife out of his bag with the blade all decorated with exquisite engravings of strange animals intertwined with strange arabesques, and very gently detached the seal placed on the fold of the letter.

Fran, who was sitting upright, coming up close to the pirate wondering what that letter was, on the face of the huma a grin appeared and in a heap of euphoria explained to his companion that the invitation had been sent by the future queen dalmasca in person.

-What we have here ... an invitation from his majesty- said the boy with satisfaction.

-I did not think that Lady Ashe would have remembered ... a Don Giovanni like you- she answered in a tone of voice, without betraying the slightest emotion.

-Not to be like that ... I start thinking that yours is jealousy.- the pirate replied.

-... is a sentence that I have already heard several Balthier vows.- he answered in a tone the beautiful viera without fading too much.

Although he seemed very calm, Fran underneath could feel strong emotions that, in contrast to his nature of viera, he did not like to show. Now she was never used to Balthier's bully manner but everything had a limit at times.

It had not been a few times when Fran had shown herself to be slightly annoyed, it had happened more often when she met Princess Ashe. The taciturn viera saw with what eyes the young man looked at the princess, and this whenever he could.

But Fran was not only the calm and taciturn also violates her as every woman had a provocative and mischievous side, and more than once she found herself tearing her a little ... and making a tantrum.

But this only happened when she and Balthier were intimately enough or there were old friends with them, if ever the viera would never point out its most whimsical character.

In many ways, many called Fran the classic viera with unattainable beauty but at the same time they denounced her for her cold and perennially bored character ... and not snobby like her partner who was considered as eccentric as a buffoon.

He was the leading men ... but to those antics, Fran preferred to turn his nose elsewhere, it was good to say that he was still a child, too grown up quickly not to enjoy his childhood full of carefree.

It was a rather singular couple, well matched so often that someone wondered if there was a tender between the two, who careless of the voices let the others imagine what they wanted, until that had not prevented them to get along.

In short, a viera and a huma aviopirati, if they saw a few around so.

Fran went to sit on the chair next to the boy, crossing his long and sinuous legs while resting a hand on the back of the chair, while the other leaned against the table, observing the opening open the delicate envelope.

XII

To the dear Balthier and Fran,

for me it's a pleasure to write to you since the last time we saw each other and the opportunity in Lemures ... it's been a long time.

From a year to now ... when we said goodbye to Lyberia, I told you that Dalmasca would always have a debt to you and that the door for you would always be open to the detriment of those who may think wrong ...

In a few weeks I will be unofficially crowned Queen and I would like you to attend this event.

Dear friends ... it is a pleasure for me to invite you to the coronation and restoration ceremony of my kingdom.

Lady Ashe.

Ps: Balthier I hope you will keep a behavior suited to a gentleman for once, and not that classic way you have to do ...

XII

The last note of the letter did not like much to the avioprata that he considered offended, me Fran let out a smile on his lips, adding mischievously that the girl had understood how to take it.

-We are going Balthier ... that girl has never understood you with this so we go up to three-

-Why no one understands me ...- I puff the boy by putting the letter on the table.

"When will you decide to grow up?" The viera asked, raising an eyebrow.

-Do you think like Vaan ?! - Churches almost annoyed the boy.

-You and he are very similar ... both escaped from what is the reality, only you still continue to escape ... like her? - said the viera looking around for a moment as if he had sniffed something.

In the air you could hear a slight sweet smell, like vanilla or coconut, mixed with orange blossom ... the smell was barely perceptible but certainly unmistakable.

It was something strange, even the Mystes seemed different colder, Fran shot up while Balthier behind her asked her what he took.

Huma followed the look of the viera that seemed to indicate a direction, Balthier came out of his hiding place to see what was happening outside. Fran pointed to a slender and slender figure turned from behind, intent on staring at the sky in the eyes of the right-angled sight immediately to whom that figure belonged.

He had not seen her for so long, he did not seem to be true, but she was there, with his ethereal and weightless figure as if it were a step above all.

The boy approached slowly thinking that what he saw could be a hallucination played by Mystes but it was not so. Approaching the figure of the girl grew more and more thick, he found it quite changed.

Balthier fired one of his usual jokes.