"So… We look at life like a doughnut. Alright. So that means it's like… the pastry part is like the outer crust… And the inner part is like the inner core?" Barrett asked as he sat on his bed, next to his blind friend.
"That sounds okay…" Nale responded, rubbing his chin.
"That sounds more like the earth." Amy put in her input from the other side of his small room.
"She has a point." Nale concurred. "So… Perhaps we can make these doughnuts our personification of a 'personal earth.' An earth, or slate, of what we make of it. Does that sound good, amigo?"
"Wait, personal earth?" Barrett was confused.
"Yes, so… All the sprinkles, or sugar, or whatever you want to be on it can symbolize the good things in life. The cream or jelly center can as well… And the unfortunate raisin can be like the bad things."
"… I don't get it." Barrett said.
"Think about it." Nale grinned.
"Hey, why don't you two THINK about doing something to help us?" Amy nagged. "YOU'RE the one moving out of here, Barrett. Why don't you pack something?"
"What so you're asking us?" Barrett asked as he watched Amy packing his clothes into a box. "A guy who can't see anything, and a guy who barely remembers what day it is?"
"Yes you're right, how silly of me." Amy rolled her eyes. "Do something you lazy bums!"
Mystic sighed as she gathered up the nick-knacks from around the room. Barrett had decided that it was time for him to move back home to Comodo with his sister, and retire from being a Knight. Of course it seemed kind of silly, since he was only in his early twenties, and had barely been a Knight for six years. But Nale could see where he was coming from. All the things Barrett had gone through must have been tiring on his body and his mind. An extended vacation was completely understandable, if not retiring. So, the group had agreed to help the two move out before they left towards their next destination. Mystic was glad to help, while Jinx and Cloud were much more reluctant. They wanted to hurry up and leave, both out of annoyance and anxiousness to get the adventure going.
Jinx and Cloud grunted as they were lugging a large desk out of the room. It was early in the morning and each of them was full of calmness and energy that would see them through the rest of the day. Jinx and Cloud had gotten the desk to the door; Cloud stepping backwards out of it, only to find out the desk was too large. It hit the doorframe and slipped out of his fingers making him drop it. Jinx looked around it, yelling at the Novice. The two bickered for a while before trying to get it through the door again. Once again, it didn't work. They both tried forcing it. Nothing. It was stuck. After some time, they had agreed to turn the desk on its side. So Jinx backed back into the doorway so that Cloud could help him. On his way, though, Jinx bumped into Mystic, who was collecting old odds and ends. This put her off balance, and the sapphire blue vase she was holding slipped from her grasp. She tried to save it, but it fell to the floor with a crash, shattering it into pieces.
"Awww man!" Barrett groaned. He had just finished inspecting the scratches left of the doorframe from the desk when he heard the vase crash. He walked over to it and got onto his knees, almost crying.
"I'm sorry Mr. Wingfoot!" Mystic apologized hastily. "I didn't mean to, honest! It was an accident!"
"That was Mom's old vase…" Barrett sighed. "She's gonna kill me."
Barrett went about sweeping up the shards of ceramic as Mystic went to put what was left over the fireplace into a box. Amy shook her head as she watched the four of them. Aside from Nale, who was lying on the bed because he couldn't offer to help, nobody but her seemed to act his or her age. At least that was her opinion. She watched Nale, as he seemed calm while everyone was yelling at each other. Jinx and Cloud would bicker from the room out to the front of the inn and back again, and it seemed to her that Nale took no notice. She envied the Bard for that. But without his eyes, Amy couldn't tell if he was being calm, or was asleep, or if Nale was just zoned out. She pitied him as well, knowing how badly he had wanted to help. Once she'd finished packing up Barrett's clothes, she moved to the bed and sat down, drawing Nale's attention towards her direction.
"Bored?" She asked with a little smile.
"You don't know the half of it, dudette." Nale sighed.
"I'm really sorry, but if you get up and move around…" Amy began to explain.
"I know, I know. Cloud can't be my eyes, so I'm at a loss." Nale finished for her.
"Barrett told me that you lost your sight trying to save us." The Kafra said.
"I did?" Nale raised an eyebrow. "Oh… yeah that's how it went way back when, wasn't it? History changed. I did do it to protect people, but you weren't there."
"I know." Amy sighed. "I wouldn't have wanted to be there, seeing that man cut out your eyes… What's it like?"
"Huh?" Nale was confused.
"Being blind." Amy clarified. "What is it like?"
"Well… dark." Nale chuckled. "Everything's dark, all the time. I can't see a thing. But all my other senses are starting to heighten, so it isn't too bad. It's like… compensating, you know? So I can hear and smell things a little better, and that's cool. But I can't see anything. I can't see the trees or the clouds. I can't even see you."
"Oh… I see. That must be hard." Amy responded.
"I'm sure you don't look a day over eighteen, Amy." Nale grinned. Had he had his eyes, he would have winked.
"Nale…" Amy blushed with a little giggle. "Lost your sight, but your charm's still in tact."
"Hey, that's something that isn't going anywhere any time soon." Nale chuckled. "Now shouldn't you be getting back to work, dudette?"
"Nah, I have tons of time now." Amy giggled.
In the meantime, Ayndi was a little distance away from a small cemetery. He was watching as Rosaline's Aunt's funeral took place. He watched very carefully, noticing things that weren't any different from before. Rosaline was alive, which was different. Before, the Dark Lord had killed her before the Prophecy was fulfilled. But someone was still missing. Rosaline's brother had not attended the funeral. Her brother, Artemis, had not shown. Ayndi figured that perhaps the young man was just out studying Dragons, as was his profession. But in the corner of his mind, he feared that a dreadful fate still had befallen Artemis. Perhaps it was something never to be changed. Perhaps his life was meant to be that far away from being truly happy. But it wasn't a horrible, unfair thing. Ayndi believed that maybe he deserved that, knowing what pain he'd caused in the past – a past that was altered.
As the funeral was drawing to a close, Ayndi decided to reveal himself. He had been in a tree, dressed in his black pants and shoes, and an old red undershirt, and an old brown leather jacket, lined with Lunatic fur around the collar. He leapt down from the tree, landing gracefully before sliding his hands casually into his pockets. He approached then just as some were leaving. Rosaline and her mother had stayed behind to dwell a little more as the coffin was lowered into the six-foot square hole and buried. Ayndi waited quietly by another tombstone as he watched the two. Rosaline's mother was weeping, and being a good daughter, she was trying to comfort her. After a good deal of time, the elderly woman turned to leave. Rosaline turned as well to see Ayndi, and she was a little confused by his sudden appearance, but approached him all the same.
"Ayndi, I never expected to see you here." Rosaline said, dressed in a black, flowing dress and black high-heel shoes. Her voice carried a sullen, grim tone.
"… You said your Aunt was being buried, I figured I would stop by." Ayndi responded calmly. "I suppose I was late."
"You didn't even know her… You don't even know any of us." Rosaline stated.
"… Respect for the dead." Ayndi simply responded.
"I didn't know her very well…" Rosaline said distantly as she looked back to the fresh grave. "But she always looked out for Mother and I, even from the distance. She did a lot of things for me, and got us out of trouble many times. She was a caring woman."
"She lived here in Al De Baran…" Ayndi said. "Usually a quiet woman, but she was never too shy to ask for help."
"Oh, so you knew her?" Rosaline asked, looking back at Ayndi.
"… I… I've seen her once or twice." Ayndi responded. "Still, I suppose one can only live for so long."
"Yes that's true…"
"… Hey." Ayndi spoke up after a moment of silence. "I think a drink would probably do us good, don't you?"
"Yes… I should at least join my family. You can come with me if you want." Rosaline responded.
"Right about now, I'd really like that…" Ayndi said with a small grin.
The Rogue accompanied Rosaline to a reception of sorts. It was a party after the funeral, a common practice. In order for one's death to be complete, loved ones would have to move on and remember the good times. Of course, this never really happened. There would usually be someone who would dwell on a death for the rest of his or her own lives. But for those who had the privilege to take it lighter, would lift the grim mood with relaxation, drinking, and talking with friends. For Rosaline, it was both a lifting period, and a date. While she drank her own share of the alcoholic beverages offered, she slowly felt better. At the same time however, she learned more and more about the man who had accompanied her. Though she felt she knew so little. It seemed that he was hiding something, and no matter how much drinking he did, he seemed to remain sober enough to have his wits. Nothing seemed to slip off his tongue.
The reception went until just before sundown. Ayndi and Rosaline had stayed behind for a moment to help put things away and clean up. By the time they were done, everyone was gone, and people were ready to go home. Rosaline and Ayndi left to the quiet streets, where Ayndi had planned to see Barrett off. Rosaline had agreed to go with him, so they went towards the southern exit of town where Barrett had planned to leave. Both were very quiet as they went, walking past marble stone buildings painted an orangish-pink in the hue of the sunset. Ayndi was deafly silent, and Rosaline didn't say a word. Neither of them could find words to say to the other, as they were both, as far as Rosaline knew, nearly strangers. Everything was going fairly well as they walked in silence. That was until they passed by an alley.
As they passed, an arm came out from the shadows of the alley, taking Rosaline, as she was closest to it. She gave a little shriek as she was pulled suddenly into the shadows. Ayndi's attention snapped to this event, making him turn and back track to look into the alley. In it, a man was holding Rosaline up against the wall, pinning her by her shoulders. He wore large black sunglasses, his red hair flaring up like a flame on his head. He wore a white shirt, unbuttoned with the sleeves rolled up, and a pair of blue jeans, and a pair of brown shoes. He looked to be a Blacksmith, with a tool belt and fingerless leather gloves on. Rosaline was struggling to get away from him.
"Hey there, doll." The man grinned.
"Get off!" Rosaline shouted. "Ayndi! Help me!"
"You're not getting away again." The man said, pulling her from the wall, only to slam her back up against it.
"Let her go." Ayndi spoke sternly.
"Bite me." The man looked over at him. "She was my slave, and she escaped ages ago. It's high time I got her back, so buzz off."
"I'll ask you one more time kindly…" Ayndi said as he stepped towards the man. Ayndi was obviously taller, but didn't seem any stronger than the Blacksmith. "Let her go – or else."
"Or else what?" The man asked, letting Rosaline go. She could only stay back in fear against the wall as she watched the two men.
"You don't want to know… Farley." Ayndi spoke again, but made no attempt to call on a fight.
Farley seemed surprised that the Rogue knew his name, but that seemed to only fuel his rage. He clenched his hands into tight fists, throwing a punch at the Rogue. Ayndi didn't waste any time or play around. He quickly dodged to the side and leapt up, planting his feet on the wall for a brief moment before he pushed off with one foot. His momentum caused him to spin in mid-air, allowing him to lay a kick right on the side of Farley's head. The Blacksmith lost his footing, but caught himself before he could fall, quickly getting back up again. As quickly as he was back to his feet was he charging in for another attack. Ayndi would have none of it, stopping Farley in his tracks as he drew a dagger from the inside of his coat. At the time Farley stopped, the tip of the blade was barely brushing against the skin of his throat.
"Get out of here." Ayndi scowled as he began to walk towards Farley, making him step back.
"I won't let you get away with this!" Farley shouted.
"Seems like you are to me." Ayndi replied, pushing forwards suddenly, just to get Farley out of the alley. "Get lost."
Farley turned and ran from Ayndi. Ayndi just smirked, sliding his Main Gauge dagger back into his coat. He turned to the alley then, walking over to Rosaline, who hugged him thankfully. He was surprised and slightly uncomfortable. Ayndi had never come to terms with Rosaline's past death… Nor had he completely come to terms with his relationship with her at that moment in time. Everything had changed so quickly that the closeness he had known so long ago was something that was just that – long ago and distant. He froze until she pulled away. She seemed uncomfortable with the small, almost insignificant sign of affection as well. Nothing was said, neither of them moved. They didn't quite know what to do. Ayndi became impatient with the tension, and simple turned away and continued on without a word. Rosaline hurried to catch up.
It was sundown when they had reached the southern exit of the city. Coincidentally, Ayndi and Rosaline had arrived at the very moment that Barrett and Amy were all packed up to go. Barrett had just finished setting a box in a small rental caravan, and turned to hop out. Nale, Jinx, Mystic, and Cloud were all there as well to see the two green-haired siblings off. There was an air of stillness for a moment, even as the two went to say their goodbyes. Not only were there second thoughts, but also Rosaline didn't even know anyone there. She was the most uncomfortable, especially since she was attacked moments before. She stayed quiet, and naturally close to Ayndi in a shy state. Ayndi couldn't help but notice that, grinning to himself.
"You sure about this, man?" Nale asked.
"Yeah." Barrett answered. "Being a Knight has been nothing but some sort of chore! It's a lot more hard work than I thought!"
"You're so lazy." Amy sighed.
"It's supposed to be hard work." Ayndi pointed out. "Maybe you're just too young to handle it."
"Hey, just because you're a crazy old man and I'm not doesn't mean that I can't handle being a Knight." Barrett shot at Ayndi.
"But… Ayndi doesn't look old." Rosaline spoke quietly.
"That's because I take care of myself… For the most part." Ayndi responded. "I'm actually getting into my mid-thirties."
"Hey, who's that?" Barrett asked. "You got a girlfriend?"
"Not at all!" Ayndi responded hastily. "She's a friend… Her name's Rosaline, she's only in town for a little while because she had to attend a funeral. She'll probably be going back to Morroc tomorrow."
"Well, introduce us." Amy said, her voice holding the same disliking for Ayndi as it always had.
"Ah well…" Ayndi rubbed the back of his head, shedding a baffled smile. "… I don't know you all. Introduce yourselves."
"Idiot…" Amy mumbled.
"Well, I'm Barrett!" Barrett grinned. "I'm sure you've heard of my exploits."
"I… I'm sorry, I haven't." Rosaline responded.
"Ah…" Barrett seemed disappointed.
"I'm Nale." Nale waved. "And the young ones with me are Jinx, Mystic, and Cloud."
"Hi." The three younger ones said.
"Hello, all of you." Rosaline greeted them.
"And I'm Amy." Barrett's sister greeted Rosaline with a smile.
"Rosaline... I remember you." Barrett said.
"What…?" Rosaline asked.
"Uh… umm…" Barrett struggled to think of an answer. "Ayndi… He… He mentioned you once! I just figured since he has no friends and all, that you had to be this girl, because you're the only real friend he's got!"
"Shut up." Ayndi grumbled.
"Barrett, cut it out you dope!" Amy shouted at him.
"Sorry." Barrett whined.
"Well, we shouldn't be keeping you for too long." Nale chimed in. "It'll be quite the trip to Comodo."
"A day and a half by cart." Barrett grinned. "It ought to be fun!"
"Hopefully you'll keep that optimism." Nale responded with a chuckle.
"I can get back to work once we get home." Amy said, looking to Barrett. "You'd better get a job too."
"Well, I should have some money piled up at home… somewhere." Barrett said, rubbing his chin.
"You should be going." Ayndi spoke.
Without any more hesitation, Amy and Barrett said their goodbyes, got into the cart, and set off towards the deserts to the south. Ayndi and Rosaline took their leave as well, returning to Rosaline's room at the inn. This left Jinx, Cloud, Mystic and Nale to contemplate their next move. Cloud took out the map, and examined it, while conversing with Nale. It didn't take long until a decision was made.
"Alright, we're going to Geffen next." Nale informed the two orphans. "You two up for it?"
"I'm up for it right now!" Jinx responded with excitement.
"Me too!" Mystic added.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Nale asked, rhetorically. "Let's get going, dudes and dudette."