Remnants of the Sky
By Zell's Girl
Rating: PG-13
----------------------------
Chapter Twelve: Believe
----------------------------
I believe this in the depths of my soul—I did not know love until I knew you. This is one of the greatest gifts you could give me. I know that as you read this, we have already parted ways. But, even if years have past since I wrote these words, I swear that even now, I love you.
Now, Always, Forever.
Do you believe in happy endings?
-----------------------------------
The moon was full and bright above. Fireflies fluttered about outside the window, streaming beams of light all about the sky. The familiar cobblestone streets of Vinay Del Zexay were empty of any human activity. The night was up for the taking.
Despite this, Borus Redrum sat alone in his study. Clenched in one hand was a glass of twenty-year-old kirschwasser, and in the other was his pen. Borus had plenty of paperwork to do this fine night. Borus had started writing after dinner, and had continued working for many hours.
Borus sipped his brandy as he continued to document the recent conflicts with the Republic of Tinto. This paperwork was essential to the upcoming decision on whether or whether not to declare war. At the moment, the council was taking the diplomatic approach, but making to progress whatsoever.
Page after page was filled with text. Hour after hour went by in a blur of ink. The night had begun to fade into morning as the young man completed his work. Borus stood from the oak desk and stretched his aching limbs.
The blonde knight soon caught sight of the sunrise outside the study window. The sun shone in a familiar state of gold as it rose over the roofs of the city's houses. A bright new day stood before the knight, but he couldn't help but feel if something was missing.
-----------------------------------
Can you feel us pushing against you? We move west this day. Move west, daughter of the spirits. Move with us. Float as a leaf. Come. Come west. We know you are leaving the sanctuary. Move with us, The wind pleaded.
I know not of whether I will go with you today, Yumi admitted, but worry not, wind, I will go with you when I can.
Move west, move west with us!
"Yumi?" Yuiri called frantically, "Yumi are you out here?"
Yumi's eyes shot open, her trance broken. The embers of the ceremonial fire died simultaneously. "Yes, I'm right here."
"You've been meditating all night, sister. Are you up for a last sunrise patrol, or maybe you should sleep up. Yes, you should catch some sleep. I'll make the rounds then fix up a goodbye breakfast." Yuiri said without the slightest pause.
Yumi asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"Yes, yes I'll be fine! I'll take one of the younger villagers with me."
"Okay then, I'll head home." Yumi rose from the ground and stretched her aching limbs. As Yuiri went from the seal site back towards the village, Yumi looked up at the golden sunrise. Today she would begin her journey out of the village; but she couldn't help but feel something was missing.
-----------------------------------
"Sir Redrum?" the young maid called from outside the study door.
"Come in."
The maid bowed quickly as she entered the room. "Sir Percival has just arrived. Do you wish to see him or should I turn him away?"
Percival had come to deliver the paperwork to the council building. But of course Borus would tag along and then they'd stop for drinks. It was all very routine these days. "I'll handle Sir Percival."
"Yes Sir." The girl bowed again and took a step out of the room.
"And Kara." He said to the girl.
She chirped, "Yes Sir Redrum?"
"For one, call me Borus. You've been working here far too long for all the formalities. Also, it is so beautiful out. Take the day off."
"Thank you so much Sir R—Borus!" Kara chimed, rushing out the door and down the stairs. A grin spanned Borus' face for a moment before he remembered Percival was waiting for him at the front door.
Borus grabbed the stack of papers and headed towards the door. Waiting for him at the threshold was a smirking Percival Fraulein.
"What?" Borus asked, staring at his comrade. The two men began the walk to the council building, which was about eight blocks away.
"Your maid just went running out of here and seemed quite a deal happier then when she greeted me. Did you ask her to tonight's ball?"
Borus laughed, "Of course not! She's my servant and she's only eighteen years old."
"Hey, you're twenty-eight. It's legal, at least. Maybe you just have a thing for younger women? How should I know? All I know is there's a ball tonight and it looks like Mr. Redrum is gonna be spending it alone at the punchbowl."
"Why does it matter?" Borus interrogated. "Why should you care?"
"Well," for once Percival seemed to be caught off guard, "it's more about you worrying Chris. You haven't been on a date in three years. She's beginning to think something's wrong."
"It's nothing to worry about." Borus told flatly.
"Did you think Yumi was 'the one' for you?" Percival asked Borus, stopping for a moment. "Is that what it is?"
"Does it matter?" Borus continue to walk. He clenched the stack of papers in an attempt to keep himself calm.
Percival protested, "Of course it does! She's gone, Borus."
"Gone?"
"Yes, she's gone, Borus. Gone. You know about the Alma Kinan village? There is a Runic Field outside of it or so Chris has told me. You can't just walk out of a Runic Field as you please."
"She left it before to come to Budehuc initially, didn't she?"
Percival sighed at his friend's reluctance to face fact. "It's been three years! Did it occur to you maybe she doesn't want to leave her people?"
"It's her choice to make, I suppose." Borus murmured.
"You are making a martyr of yourself. Don't you think that maybe she's adjusted back to her normal life and maybe wants you to be happy in your normal life too? I knew Yumi quite well, Borus, and I think that she'd want you to find happiness even if she happened to be uninvolved."
Borus sighed, "Perhaps you don't realize I'm perfectly happy with my lifestyle? I don't need a relationship. At least not in any time soon. There are much more important things in the world right now, Percival."
"True, true. What were the findings in your report?"
-----------------------------------
Yumi inspected her outfit in the full length mirror in her bedroom. It has been a while since Yumi had worn her traveling clothes but they still fit perfectly. She straightened her headband. She decided she looked perfectly fine for her first day of travels.
Yuiri knocked on the door. "Yumi, breakfast is ready!"
"Great! I'll be there in a second." She evened her dress and walked down the hallway. The area was filled with the wonderful aroma of pancakes and sausage.
Yumi walked into the kitchen and beheld what Yuiri had done. An entire feast was placed on the table, enough food to feed eight or nine people. There was a tall stack of flapjacks beside some venison sausage, a tray full muffins and pastries, a bowl stacked high with fruit, and a tall pitcher of grape juice.
"Spirits, Yuiri! This looks wonderful!" Yumi exclaimed, rubbing her hands together. Yuiri turned and smiled at her sister.
"Come on, sit! Eat! I have no guarantee you'll get good meals out there so you should just eat a weeks worth of food to make sure you get through!" Yuiri grinned and sat at her usual side of the table.
Being as utterly famished as she was, Yumi happily agreed. "Hee hee, okay!"
Yumi stacked her plate high with the assorted edibles. She decided she'd start with an oatmeal muffin, those being her personal favorite. Yuiri, on the other hand, didn't eat a thing and just watched her younger sister.
"Yumi, why are you leaving?"
"Hmm?" Yumi murmured, mouth filled with food.
Yuiri repeated, "Why are you leaving? Why did you bother with the time consuming and painful spiritual training to be granted exit? I didn't think you'd bother to finish considering how terrible it is supposed to be and just contently stay here at the village! It has been three years; I thought you'd have decided this place was better for you by now."
"I want to see the world."
"Can it be just that simple?" Yuiri bit into an apple, looking at her sister quizzically.
Yumi nodded. "It is a simple wish, sister."
Sure, seeing the world was a very important agenda to Yumi, but one of the main reasons she was leaving was to see Sir Borus. Surely he had made an effort to see her, to find her, to write to her or something. Or at least he would have waited, wouldn't he?
Yumi couldn't bear to think about Borus with anyone else. The thought was far from unrealistic though. It had been three years! In a conversation with Estella during her Fire Bringer days, she was told some males dated eight to ten women a year.
Yumi dismissed the thought. Even if Sir Borus had moved on, it would still be wonderful to see him. Regardless of circumstances, just to know things were going well for him would unload a huge burden from her heart.
"You are going to see Borus again, aren't you?" Yuiri inquired.
Yumi shrugged. "I will work to within my best efforts to have reunions with those who I met in my time at Fire Bringer headquarters. If I arrive in Zexen territory, I will most definitely try to see the knights. They were all such nice people."
"Do you think that Sir Borus has waited for you?"
"Hm?"
"That if you return to him nothing will have changed at all and he will welcome you back into his loving arms? For all you know he could be married and have children by now."
Yumi took a deep breath, feeling sorry in advance for the lie she was about to tell. "Yuiri, going back to Borus is not even something I'd considered. The teachings say that such a relationship, like the one I had with Borus before, was wrong. I learned the errors of my ways from the teachings. I will not show any weakness if I see him again." Having lied to her sister and spoken so terribly of those treasured memories, Yumi slouched back into her chair.
Yuiri moved her head to one side. "I don't know whether that should reassure or upset me."
"Don't waste time with worrying, dear sister."
-----------------------------------
Borus moved the ladle about the punchbowl, making the liquid shift from side to side. Borus found himself rather bored, being as it was that all of his usual companions had dates and he was playing the role of the loner at the refreshment table.
"Are you going to get any punch or are you going to just play with it all day?" barked an unfamiliar socialite, who seemed rather angered by his actions.
Being that the former sanctum of his refreshment table had been invaded, the knight retreated to the balcony. The sky was dark and empty of any moon or stars. The clouds that had come during the afternoon threatened rain at any moment.
Borus' ears perked as noticed the ballroom went silent. He watched a familiar face take the stage. The chanteuse that worked at the club he and Percival usually attended grabbed the attention of every socialite in the hall.
Borus turned back out towards the land below as a familiar song began. He rested his arms against the banister and leaned so his shoulders were exactly parallel to his arms. He silently watched the lightning bugs fly about leaving patternless trails across the sky.
"Ah, I found you." Borus didn't bother to turn to see Chris as she approached him from behind. "You don't seem to being enjoying yourself."
"It's nothing, milady, I'm just thinking."
Chris moved beside her friend and mimicked his position. She turned her head slightly to get a clear look at his face. "Are you sure you are not depressed about anything?"
"Yes Chris, I'm absolutely fine."
Several seconds of uneasy silence went by.
"I've always loved this song." Borus whispered.
Chris nodded in agreement. "Yes, I remember you humming this back in our days at the academy. That seems like lifetimes ago, doesn't it?"
Borus sighed, "Yes, it most certainly does."
"You always used to retreat to the balcony at school formals, too. Some things never change."
Silence once again fell upon the knights for several minutes.
"Borus?"
"Yes?"
"How are you? You know, emotionally. You have seemed quite distant lately."
Borus smiled at his longtime friend and commander in a way he hadn't before. He seemed to have a look of contentment, shadowed with remorse and the slightest tinge of fear. "I've just been thinking a lot lately."
"About what?"
"The Fire Bringer days mostly."
"Oh."
"I wonder about what Yumi's up to sometimes. I miss her very much, you know. I just keep coming back to the thought of why I let her go so easily."
Chris shrugged, "You really didn't have much of a choice."
"But if it were you, I doubt you'd let someone you cared about just walk away, would you?" Borus asked. "How could I just stand idly by and watch her leave? I just thought everything would work itself out."
"Maybe things are better this way," Chris mused.
"May I ask you something, Chris?"
"Of course."
"Do you believe in happy endings?"
-----------------------------------
Yumi lifted her heavy bag onto her shoulders. Nightfall had already come and she had not left home yet. The day after the moon was full was the only day that the barrier around the village could be broken. If she didn't leave tonight, Yumi would have to wait another month to take her leave.
"Yumi, where do you intend to go exactly?" Yuiri asked her sister quietly.
"Well," Yumi started, "In Karaya village there is a festival to mark the start of the harvest every year in early August. Being it is late July, I thought I'd head there first. Then I think I will head towards Budehuc and see how Budehuc Castle is doing. Then I will travel towards Harmonia and see Crystal Valley like Bishop Sasarai suggested all that time ago."
"When do you think you will return?"
"Perhaps five or six months. I know that is a rather great deal of time but I think I will be able to see many things in that span of time."
"Would you do two very important things for me, Yumi?" Yumi nodded. "When you go to Harmonia, will you please tell Sir Dios that I miss him and pray he is well?"
"I don't mind at all. I will make sure to send Sir Dios your regards. What else do you need me to do?"
Yuiri paused for several seconds before finding the courage to ask for her second favor. "Forgive me."
"For what, dear sister?"
Yuiri knelt down and reached under her bed. She pulled out a small oak chest from beneath it and placed it atop her bed. Opening the box, she pulled out a neatly folded paper. Yuiri placed the note in her sister's hands and quickly turned away and walked down the hall.
"What is this?" Yumi stared at the piece of paper for a second before she unfolded it. Her eyes widened and soon filled with tears as she read the words her knight had written several years before.
With this story told, there is one thing left to be asked:
Do you believe in happy endings?
Believe.
-----------------------------------
The End
Author's Notes:
An ending! Gahhhhhhhhhhhh it's finally over! I've been working on this for a long time and I can happily say I've finished! I'm still editing the old chapters because I'm going to submit them to some RPG sites and such. Lemme just say a few things before I sign off on this fic for good.
I loved writing this story. It was like an extension of my head. I wrote feverishly and with more passion for the story then I'd ever felt before.
I wrote this and I tried to integrate the Budehuc lifestyle into it. Many in-game characters made cameos. I did that to make the story feel real to the game. Making things convincing and believable is a must!
I want to that all the people who reviewed. All of you. I love you all so much!
And lastly and not leastly (hee hee, leastly), I want to thank Al Kristopher, my beta dude. Without him I'd have twice as many errors then usual in my stuff. He didn't look over this chapter since I wanted to surprise him, so pardon any mistakes I've made.
Well, that's about it. Did you like this story? I hope so. I loved writing it and I am so happy I finally finished.
Love,
Kate
By Zell's Girl
Rating: PG-13
----------------------------
Chapter Twelve: Believe
----------------------------
I believe this in the depths of my soul—I did not know love until I knew you. This is one of the greatest gifts you could give me. I know that as you read this, we have already parted ways. But, even if years have past since I wrote these words, I swear that even now, I love you.
Now, Always, Forever.
Do you believe in happy endings?
-----------------------------------
The moon was full and bright above. Fireflies fluttered about outside the window, streaming beams of light all about the sky. The familiar cobblestone streets of Vinay Del Zexay were empty of any human activity. The night was up for the taking.
Despite this, Borus Redrum sat alone in his study. Clenched in one hand was a glass of twenty-year-old kirschwasser, and in the other was his pen. Borus had plenty of paperwork to do this fine night. Borus had started writing after dinner, and had continued working for many hours.
Borus sipped his brandy as he continued to document the recent conflicts with the Republic of Tinto. This paperwork was essential to the upcoming decision on whether or whether not to declare war. At the moment, the council was taking the diplomatic approach, but making to progress whatsoever.
Page after page was filled with text. Hour after hour went by in a blur of ink. The night had begun to fade into morning as the young man completed his work. Borus stood from the oak desk and stretched his aching limbs.
The blonde knight soon caught sight of the sunrise outside the study window. The sun shone in a familiar state of gold as it rose over the roofs of the city's houses. A bright new day stood before the knight, but he couldn't help but feel if something was missing.
-----------------------------------
Can you feel us pushing against you? We move west this day. Move west, daughter of the spirits. Move with us. Float as a leaf. Come. Come west. We know you are leaving the sanctuary. Move with us, The wind pleaded.
I know not of whether I will go with you today, Yumi admitted, but worry not, wind, I will go with you when I can.
Move west, move west with us!
"Yumi?" Yuiri called frantically, "Yumi are you out here?"
Yumi's eyes shot open, her trance broken. The embers of the ceremonial fire died simultaneously. "Yes, I'm right here."
"You've been meditating all night, sister. Are you up for a last sunrise patrol, or maybe you should sleep up. Yes, you should catch some sleep. I'll make the rounds then fix up a goodbye breakfast." Yuiri said without the slightest pause.
Yumi asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"Yes, yes I'll be fine! I'll take one of the younger villagers with me."
"Okay then, I'll head home." Yumi rose from the ground and stretched her aching limbs. As Yuiri went from the seal site back towards the village, Yumi looked up at the golden sunrise. Today she would begin her journey out of the village; but she couldn't help but feel something was missing.
-----------------------------------
"Sir Redrum?" the young maid called from outside the study door.
"Come in."
The maid bowed quickly as she entered the room. "Sir Percival has just arrived. Do you wish to see him or should I turn him away?"
Percival had come to deliver the paperwork to the council building. But of course Borus would tag along and then they'd stop for drinks. It was all very routine these days. "I'll handle Sir Percival."
"Yes Sir." The girl bowed again and took a step out of the room.
"And Kara." He said to the girl.
She chirped, "Yes Sir Redrum?"
"For one, call me Borus. You've been working here far too long for all the formalities. Also, it is so beautiful out. Take the day off."
"Thank you so much Sir R—Borus!" Kara chimed, rushing out the door and down the stairs. A grin spanned Borus' face for a moment before he remembered Percival was waiting for him at the front door.
Borus grabbed the stack of papers and headed towards the door. Waiting for him at the threshold was a smirking Percival Fraulein.
"What?" Borus asked, staring at his comrade. The two men began the walk to the council building, which was about eight blocks away.
"Your maid just went running out of here and seemed quite a deal happier then when she greeted me. Did you ask her to tonight's ball?"
Borus laughed, "Of course not! She's my servant and she's only eighteen years old."
"Hey, you're twenty-eight. It's legal, at least. Maybe you just have a thing for younger women? How should I know? All I know is there's a ball tonight and it looks like Mr. Redrum is gonna be spending it alone at the punchbowl."
"Why does it matter?" Borus interrogated. "Why should you care?"
"Well," for once Percival seemed to be caught off guard, "it's more about you worrying Chris. You haven't been on a date in three years. She's beginning to think something's wrong."
"It's nothing to worry about." Borus told flatly.
"Did you think Yumi was 'the one' for you?" Percival asked Borus, stopping for a moment. "Is that what it is?"
"Does it matter?" Borus continue to walk. He clenched the stack of papers in an attempt to keep himself calm.
Percival protested, "Of course it does! She's gone, Borus."
"Gone?"
"Yes, she's gone, Borus. Gone. You know about the Alma Kinan village? There is a Runic Field outside of it or so Chris has told me. You can't just walk out of a Runic Field as you please."
"She left it before to come to Budehuc initially, didn't she?"
Percival sighed at his friend's reluctance to face fact. "It's been three years! Did it occur to you maybe she doesn't want to leave her people?"
"It's her choice to make, I suppose." Borus murmured.
"You are making a martyr of yourself. Don't you think that maybe she's adjusted back to her normal life and maybe wants you to be happy in your normal life too? I knew Yumi quite well, Borus, and I think that she'd want you to find happiness even if she happened to be uninvolved."
Borus sighed, "Perhaps you don't realize I'm perfectly happy with my lifestyle? I don't need a relationship. At least not in any time soon. There are much more important things in the world right now, Percival."
"True, true. What were the findings in your report?"
-----------------------------------
Yumi inspected her outfit in the full length mirror in her bedroom. It has been a while since Yumi had worn her traveling clothes but they still fit perfectly. She straightened her headband. She decided she looked perfectly fine for her first day of travels.
Yuiri knocked on the door. "Yumi, breakfast is ready!"
"Great! I'll be there in a second." She evened her dress and walked down the hallway. The area was filled with the wonderful aroma of pancakes and sausage.
Yumi walked into the kitchen and beheld what Yuiri had done. An entire feast was placed on the table, enough food to feed eight or nine people. There was a tall stack of flapjacks beside some venison sausage, a tray full muffins and pastries, a bowl stacked high with fruit, and a tall pitcher of grape juice.
"Spirits, Yuiri! This looks wonderful!" Yumi exclaimed, rubbing her hands together. Yuiri turned and smiled at her sister.
"Come on, sit! Eat! I have no guarantee you'll get good meals out there so you should just eat a weeks worth of food to make sure you get through!" Yuiri grinned and sat at her usual side of the table.
Being as utterly famished as she was, Yumi happily agreed. "Hee hee, okay!"
Yumi stacked her plate high with the assorted edibles. She decided she'd start with an oatmeal muffin, those being her personal favorite. Yuiri, on the other hand, didn't eat a thing and just watched her younger sister.
"Yumi, why are you leaving?"
"Hmm?" Yumi murmured, mouth filled with food.
Yuiri repeated, "Why are you leaving? Why did you bother with the time consuming and painful spiritual training to be granted exit? I didn't think you'd bother to finish considering how terrible it is supposed to be and just contently stay here at the village! It has been three years; I thought you'd have decided this place was better for you by now."
"I want to see the world."
"Can it be just that simple?" Yuiri bit into an apple, looking at her sister quizzically.
Yumi nodded. "It is a simple wish, sister."
Sure, seeing the world was a very important agenda to Yumi, but one of the main reasons she was leaving was to see Sir Borus. Surely he had made an effort to see her, to find her, to write to her or something. Or at least he would have waited, wouldn't he?
Yumi couldn't bear to think about Borus with anyone else. The thought was far from unrealistic though. It had been three years! In a conversation with Estella during her Fire Bringer days, she was told some males dated eight to ten women a year.
Yumi dismissed the thought. Even if Sir Borus had moved on, it would still be wonderful to see him. Regardless of circumstances, just to know things were going well for him would unload a huge burden from her heart.
"You are going to see Borus again, aren't you?" Yuiri inquired.
Yumi shrugged. "I will work to within my best efforts to have reunions with those who I met in my time at Fire Bringer headquarters. If I arrive in Zexen territory, I will most definitely try to see the knights. They were all such nice people."
"Do you think that Sir Borus has waited for you?"
"Hm?"
"That if you return to him nothing will have changed at all and he will welcome you back into his loving arms? For all you know he could be married and have children by now."
Yumi took a deep breath, feeling sorry in advance for the lie she was about to tell. "Yuiri, going back to Borus is not even something I'd considered. The teachings say that such a relationship, like the one I had with Borus before, was wrong. I learned the errors of my ways from the teachings. I will not show any weakness if I see him again." Having lied to her sister and spoken so terribly of those treasured memories, Yumi slouched back into her chair.
Yuiri moved her head to one side. "I don't know whether that should reassure or upset me."
"Don't waste time with worrying, dear sister."
-----------------------------------
Borus moved the ladle about the punchbowl, making the liquid shift from side to side. Borus found himself rather bored, being as it was that all of his usual companions had dates and he was playing the role of the loner at the refreshment table.
"Are you going to get any punch or are you going to just play with it all day?" barked an unfamiliar socialite, who seemed rather angered by his actions.
Being that the former sanctum of his refreshment table had been invaded, the knight retreated to the balcony. The sky was dark and empty of any moon or stars. The clouds that had come during the afternoon threatened rain at any moment.
Borus' ears perked as noticed the ballroom went silent. He watched a familiar face take the stage. The chanteuse that worked at the club he and Percival usually attended grabbed the attention of every socialite in the hall.
Borus turned back out towards the land below as a familiar song began. He rested his arms against the banister and leaned so his shoulders were exactly parallel to his arms. He silently watched the lightning bugs fly about leaving patternless trails across the sky.
"Ah, I found you." Borus didn't bother to turn to see Chris as she approached him from behind. "You don't seem to being enjoying yourself."
"It's nothing, milady, I'm just thinking."
Chris moved beside her friend and mimicked his position. She turned her head slightly to get a clear look at his face. "Are you sure you are not depressed about anything?"
"Yes Chris, I'm absolutely fine."
Several seconds of uneasy silence went by.
"I've always loved this song." Borus whispered.
Chris nodded in agreement. "Yes, I remember you humming this back in our days at the academy. That seems like lifetimes ago, doesn't it?"
Borus sighed, "Yes, it most certainly does."
"You always used to retreat to the balcony at school formals, too. Some things never change."
Silence once again fell upon the knights for several minutes.
"Borus?"
"Yes?"
"How are you? You know, emotionally. You have seemed quite distant lately."
Borus smiled at his longtime friend and commander in a way he hadn't before. He seemed to have a look of contentment, shadowed with remorse and the slightest tinge of fear. "I've just been thinking a lot lately."
"About what?"
"The Fire Bringer days mostly."
"Oh."
"I wonder about what Yumi's up to sometimes. I miss her very much, you know. I just keep coming back to the thought of why I let her go so easily."
Chris shrugged, "You really didn't have much of a choice."
"But if it were you, I doubt you'd let someone you cared about just walk away, would you?" Borus asked. "How could I just stand idly by and watch her leave? I just thought everything would work itself out."
"Maybe things are better this way," Chris mused.
"May I ask you something, Chris?"
"Of course."
"Do you believe in happy endings?"
-----------------------------------
Yumi lifted her heavy bag onto her shoulders. Nightfall had already come and she had not left home yet. The day after the moon was full was the only day that the barrier around the village could be broken. If she didn't leave tonight, Yumi would have to wait another month to take her leave.
"Yumi, where do you intend to go exactly?" Yuiri asked her sister quietly.
"Well," Yumi started, "In Karaya village there is a festival to mark the start of the harvest every year in early August. Being it is late July, I thought I'd head there first. Then I think I will head towards Budehuc and see how Budehuc Castle is doing. Then I will travel towards Harmonia and see Crystal Valley like Bishop Sasarai suggested all that time ago."
"When do you think you will return?"
"Perhaps five or six months. I know that is a rather great deal of time but I think I will be able to see many things in that span of time."
"Would you do two very important things for me, Yumi?" Yumi nodded. "When you go to Harmonia, will you please tell Sir Dios that I miss him and pray he is well?"
"I don't mind at all. I will make sure to send Sir Dios your regards. What else do you need me to do?"
Yuiri paused for several seconds before finding the courage to ask for her second favor. "Forgive me."
"For what, dear sister?"
Yuiri knelt down and reached under her bed. She pulled out a small oak chest from beneath it and placed it atop her bed. Opening the box, she pulled out a neatly folded paper. Yuiri placed the note in her sister's hands and quickly turned away and walked down the hall.
"What is this?" Yumi stared at the piece of paper for a second before she unfolded it. Her eyes widened and soon filled with tears as she read the words her knight had written several years before.
With this story told, there is one thing left to be asked:
Do you believe in happy endings?
Believe.
-----------------------------------
The End
Author's Notes:
An ending! Gahhhhhhhhhhhh it's finally over! I've been working on this for a long time and I can happily say I've finished! I'm still editing the old chapters because I'm going to submit them to some RPG sites and such. Lemme just say a few things before I sign off on this fic for good.
I loved writing this story. It was like an extension of my head. I wrote feverishly and with more passion for the story then I'd ever felt before.
I wrote this and I tried to integrate the Budehuc lifestyle into it. Many in-game characters made cameos. I did that to make the story feel real to the game. Making things convincing and believable is a must!
I want to that all the people who reviewed. All of you. I love you all so much!
And lastly and not leastly (hee hee, leastly), I want to thank Al Kristopher, my beta dude. Without him I'd have twice as many errors then usual in my stuff. He didn't look over this chapter since I wanted to surprise him, so pardon any mistakes I've made.
Well, that's about it. Did you like this story? I hope so. I loved writing it and I am so happy I finally finished.
Love,
Kate
