Angel Tears

Chapter Two: The Beginning of a New Life

-

Her eyelids lifted ever so often throughout the days of her healing. She saw different scenes like a still-life painting. People surrounding her. People carrying her. People bandaging her wounds. People feeding her. People keeping watch at her bedside.

All the pictures were too fast for her mind to process and she could only be awake for a small amount of time. Then she would go back to the world where darkness blanketed her, where she was never the Chosen from Sylvarant and where there was no Lloyd to make her promises of tomorrow and break them just yesterday. Everything was perfect in the empty world with no thought what-so-ever.

However, in this sick, cruel game of Martel's called life, she found herself staring at a cream coloured wall one morning. No one was in the room but her as she sat up with a great deal of difficulty. Her arms were wobbling from the weight she put on them and the world spun from the action she just preformed.

An old woman came in and cried softly, "Oh dear, you should still be resting, judging from your wounds and your fall."

The woman had gray hair in a bun and gray eyes. She wore a white robe and a golden belt weaved of cotton. Her face were lined with wrinkles that told a tale of many hardships and relief. Colette noticed in astonishment and through the fuzziness at the corners of her eyes, that this old woman had pointed ears.

"Here, dear," she said as she placed a bowl of warm broth in Colette's hands. "My name is Nellius Arian, but you can call me Nell like everyone else."

"I'm sorry," Colette voice cracked from the lack of use as she returned to her old self. "I didn't mean to be a burden to you all."

Nell smiled and replied, "You were no burden, you were a great talk in the village."

She smiled too and introduced herself, "I'm Colette Bru-."

"Pardon? I'm sorry, my ears weren't as good as they were before," Nell said.

Colette realized that if she said her full name, everyone would probably recognize her as a hero of this generation who helped save the two worlds. So instead she just gave Nell her first name, "Colette. I'm Colette."

"Well then, Colette's such a pretty name," Nell commented. "Now you better drink up before it grows cold."

"Yes ma'am," she said and then carefully sipped the hot drink.

-

In the next few days, Nell had been kind to her and soon Colette started to heal much faster from the care and devotion of the old woman that was like another grandmother to the Chosen. Nell also gave her a white robe to change into. They enjoyed each other's company very much, and soon Colette discovered that this place was-

"Exire," Colette repeated what Nell just said.

"Yes, my child. The floating haven for us half-elves," Nell said.

Colette knew where Exire was. It was in Tethe'alla's part of the world, floating in the sky cast in mist and mystery. The group had come on Exire once or twice to form a pact with Maxwell, the guardian spirit of Beginning. The whole floating village was inhabinated with half-elves... who all dispised humans.

"Then you all must hate me," Colette said, casting a sad look upon the covers.

"Of course not," a new voice said.

A half-elf man came into the room, also dressed in robes, but instead of Nell's white, his was pale blue bound also by a golden belt. He had long bluish-green hair tied back with only a strip of it that hugged to his face. His eyes was also the same colour as his hair, and he was quite tall. He had his arms folded together in front of his chest in a relaxed position as he stared intently at her.

Colette recognized this man. Her mouth was half opened, prepared to speak. but before she could, he spoke first, "Nellius, could I please have a word with our guest?"

"Certainly, my lord," the woman said, placing her sewing off to the side and exited the room.

"Lord Yuan," Colette said, her eyes wide and confused.

"Hello, Chosen of Sylvarant," the former member of Cruxis acknowledged. "You are probably wondering why I am here."

She nodded, "Yes please."

He sat down and begun, "After the world was put back together, I was left wondering what was there left to do. We could have helped you others make the world much more comfortable for half-elves, however I still felt guilty for betraying Mithos's trust. As a result, I decided that I, and the rest of the Renegades, should nurture and help the growth of Mithos's world."

"Exire," Colette whispered.

"Yes, Exire," Yuan nodded in response. "This growing village was cast into the sky by Mithos with the help of the Summon Spirit, Maxwell, to keep half-elves from the reach of humans and elves. Certainly you already know this, since Maxwell is now in the hand of your Summoner friend, Sheena from Mizuho."

Her eyes glazed over as she nodded. Sheena... yes, her Summoner friend. The one who formed pacts with the Summon Spirits to reconnect the two worlds. The one who was of much more use to Lloyd than her. What did Colette do? Grow a pair of wings and still trip over her own two feet!

Her eyes gathered tears when she remembered the kiss between her beloved and her friend. How could she be so naive to think that Lloyd would love her and only her!

"Chosen?"

"Please don't call me that anymore," she looked up at him. "I'm only Colette now."

"I see," he stated. "I assume you would like to go home as soon as possible-"

"No!" she said, afraid to face the others.

He perked an eyebrow up at her with a questioning and amusing look.

"It's just that-... I-... I can't say," she finished stupidly while squirming in the bed.

"I see," he said again. "Then I suppose you could stay here if you are uncomfortable going back."

"Really!" she asked cheerfully, looking at him with hopeful eyes. Who could say "no" to that? "Do you think the others will allow me."

"I am now the Lord of Exire. What I say is the way," Yuan told her, his face and voice neutral, not boasting at all. "Besides, they are anxious to meet and befriend you."

"Not all of them... right?"

"They will learn to then."

"Do you suppose..." she trailed off.

"Hm?"

"Do you think I could get a place of my own, I hate taking up so much room and food that belongs to Nell," she asked.

"Of course," he replied with a gentle smile. "Since we Renegades have arrived, we began to expand the land and build more houses. We are even able to cultivate what little land we have also."

Colette smiled, eyes sparkling.

"What would the others say about this...?"

-

The air in Exire was fresh, pure and slightly cold. The land, consisting of little islands filled with three to four houses, were connected with strips of land that resembled bridges. There wasn't much room for children to play in, but the work needed to be done and the things that needed to be seen, preoccupied them. The houses were made from the stones ruins were written on, and they were covered with ivy, vines and even grape vines. They were round and small. Inside the houses were cozy, warm and homely.

Vegetaion were really enforced in this place to bring in much more fresher air than the place below them. Trees, flowers and herbs grew everywhere. On the more particulary larger islands, there were vegetable gardens and farm animals being grown and raised. Everwhere in this little haven for half-elves was blanked in a thin mist in the morning, that highlighted the sunrise beautifully. Exire has grown since the last Colette has been here.

"I would have allowed you to stay," Nell told her as she led them towards Colette's own little house.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to be a bother to you," she replied, holding onto the old woman's arm.

"You wouldn't have been a bother... Just please visit me often."

"Of course!" she answered cheerfully.

"Well, here we are, your home," Nell said, smiling.

Colette's new home was situated on it's own little island attached to only one bridge that was in front of it, no other houses stood on it but hers. Lord Yuin obviously considered giving her privacy. It was made from the same gray stone as the other houses and had the same round shape. The house had three windows and a door, of course. A grape vine trailed up the left side of the house, shadowed under a coniferous tree. Flowers grew along the bottom of her new home. A pond that also took up residence under the tree held salmon.

"So you'll never go hungry," Nell said, refering to the grapes and salmon.

Inside was a nice, small and resourceful kitchen that held a wood stove, an ice box, cabinets, counters, pots, pans, cooking utensils, eating utensils, plates, bowls, cups and a sink. A small loveseat stood inbetween two doors that led to two other rooms. A small dining table was also in this room that could sit four people.

"Good for little get-together's," her friend said, speaking of the table.

The entrance room led to two other rooms. Her room to the left held a strudy bed, night table, chair and closet. The right room was the bathroom, consisting of a sink, toilet, bath and a closet to store towels and other such odds and ends.

The whole house was comfortable and loveable. The furniture were all made of comfy wood. And everything smelled of comfort, wood and fresh air. Colette was satisfied and excited to start her new life. A life without, hopefully, betrayal.

"Lord Yuan ordered for some clothes in your size to be in your closet. Towels, a toothbrush and toothpaste are already in your washroom, " Nell said, getting a bit sad that she was to leave soon.

"Thank you for everything, Nell. I will visit you soon, and please come visit me as well," Colette said sadly.

"I will, child. I will. Now, I must get going, my grandchildren are coming later on today, must bake something up for them. I'll be seeing you, child," Nell said.

"Bye! Please come back soon," she said as she waved goodbye to the woman who helped her so much.

"I see you're already here."

Colette turned around to see Yuan land gracefully behind her before he retracted his transparent blue wings. With him were two other half-elves that carried bags of other things, Yuan, himself, carried a black chest trimmed in silver.

"Lord Yuan," Colette greeted, attempting to curtsy, but almost tripping instead.

"No need. And please, call me Yuan. We have no such use for titles," he said. "With me and my two companions, we have brought some things that belong to you and some things I would love to gift upon you."

She smiled when he handed her a bag of flour, potatos and cauliflower. He also gave her half-a-dozen eggs, a slab of pork and a bottle of milk. When she recieved all the food items, Yuin dismissed the other two half-elves with Colette giving her thanks profusely.

"I would like to give this to you in private," Yuan said, nodding his head towards the chest.

"Okay!" she said and they carried the other bags into her new house.

After Lord Yuan helped Chosen Colette put everything in their rightful places in the small kitchen, they took seat at the dining table with the chest in the middle facing her.

"I believe these are yours," he said and opened the chest.

In the chest were her weapons, the chakrams.

The Darkness Weapon: The Magan Evil Eye.

"It must have fallen from my belt," Colette said looking at the blinking eye at the center of a black, spiked disk.

"Incredible weapons. I have thought the Darkness Weapons were forever lost," Yuin told her.

"We found them all," Colette informed with a small smile.

"I see. They are quite powerful," he said with a nod as he closed the chest. He then produced a bag of coins onto the table as well. "These were found near you also. There are 500 gald."

Her smile widened as she took them, "Thank you so very much for returning these to me."

"You might have to work to get more money, or..."

"I could defeat more monsters in the Below Lands," she finished for him.

That was how the people of Exire refered to Sylvarant and Tethe'alla: the Below Lands.

Yuin smiled, "Yes, that's a possible way, but I was thinking of another."

"What is it?"

"You could work for me."

"That's still working... Really! I could actually work for you?"

"Yes... although I would understand if you preferred not to, given to our past together-"

"I would love too!" she exclaimed.

Yuan smiled in relief and said, "Good. You could help me with relations."

"...I-I'm sorry, but I don't know what you mean," she said in confusion, cocking her head to the side. How innocent she looked!

"You could help others to co-operate with each other, or with people from the Below Lands," he explained.

"Like being friends?"

"Exactly!"

With a huge smile she agreed, "I would love to help people become friends!"

-

the point