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The Sunrise Watchers ClubPresea stifled a tiny yawn and buried herself deeper into the embrace of the soft, sun-warmed grass, feeling the short blades tickle the skin that wasn't covered by her dusty travelling clothes. Despite the shade afforded by the large tree beside her, the unrelenting summer heat was combining successfully with her fatigue from the day's hard trek in lulling the small girl into a drowsy state. Holding back another persistent yawn, Presea rubbed at her eyes and looked around in an attempt to stay awake – although she was consciously aware that the effort was failing.
A small distance away from the gently sloping hill where they had set up camp, she could see the vast golden sea of crops that marked the boundaries of the farming plains just south of Sybak. The light breeze periodically passed though the tall ranks of wheat and corn and Presea watched, captivated, as they tumbled and shimmered, framed by the burning sun setting behind them. There was something about the scene that provoked an unusual feeling in the small girl, but no matter how long her gaze remained fixed on the fields she just couldn't fathom what it was. It felt as though the image was triggering imperceptible memories of Ozette from when she was young, but Presea couldn't decide whether that knowledge comforted or saddened her.
"Prese-aaa!"
The small girl jumped in surprise at the sound of Colette's voice, only then realising how lost in her thoughts she had been. Looking around, Presea brushed strands of windswept hair from her eyes as her friend approached, carrying a small flask in each hand. The young Chosen looked as tired, dirty and burnt from the sun as Presea felt, but she still managed a bright smile as she flopped down on the grass beside her.
"Ooh, that's better," she giggled, stretching her legs out in front of her before handing one of the flasks over. "Hehe, we've been walking for so long I thought my legs were going to fall off."
Presea found herself smiling as she sat up to take the proffered flask. It wasn't as if she had been feeling negative or anything, but the sudden presence of Colette seemed to raise her spirits regardless. The pair had spent a lot of time together while travelling, and the small girl found she had had numerous pleasant experiences, not just conversing with the young Chosen, but also simply being in her company.
"I do not think I have ever heard of a person's legs falling off from overuse," she replied, removing the stopper from the flask. "But I understand your meaning. I am also feeling very fatigued."
She took a mouthful of the cool, refreshing water, and closed her eyes as the liquid soothed her parched throat. Summer was deeply unpleasant at times, and the small girl was already looking forward to the autumn months when everything would be that little bit cooler.
Colette shielded her eyes with a hand as she glanced at the rolling hills on the horizon. "Yeah. We must be nearly back by now. I hope the Rheairds haven't inconvenienced anyone at the academy."
Presea followed her friend's gaze, watching a handful of thin, charcoal grey clouds float slowly across the amber sky. She wasn't particularly relishing the prospect of returning to Sybak again, but it was a required destination. The Rheairds' mana system had developed some kind of problem whilst they were travelling over the town, and Raine had suggested leaving the crafts in the care of the academy to repaired. Since then, they had spent the available time pursuing a number of errands that could be achieved on foot, but the journey of regeneration wasn't going to wait forever.
Her gaze fell back to the shimmering fields. "The farmland over there is just south of Sybak," she replied, squinting her eyes against the bright sunlight. "I would estimate that we should be there within another half days travel,"
Colette smiled brightly, and took a sip from her flask. "Not far now then. You know, we've been travelling so much with the Rheairds lately, it's been really fun just actually walking somewhere for a change."
Presea cocked her head at the cheerful optimism in her friend's voice. Colette's incredible ability to maintain a positive outlook on everything was very confusing at times, but the small girl always found it deeply inspiring. Since the time she spent in Colette's company increased, Presea had made several attempts at adopting the young Chosen's attitude but, despite hoping desperately that it would rub off, she had found the task difficult to achieve. One day though, she decided firmly, glancing across at her friend. One day I'll be able to laugh and smile at everything too.
She blinked, realising that Colette was watching her. The smile on her face was warm and gentle, and instantly made Presea want to return it.
"Are you okay? You kind of looked all…distant for a moment."
Presea felt her cheeks flush at being caught out and looked down at the ground beside her. "Ah…no, I was just thinking about something…but it doesn't matter."
She fiddled with the prickly grass for a few moments, consciously aware of Colette's eyes on her, and the young Chosen giggled suddenly.
"Heh, I think we both need a bath when we get back. We're filthy!"
Presea glanced down at herself; taking in her appearance for a few moments before returning her gaze to Colette. Like hers, the young Chosen's clothes were marked with countless grass and dirt stains, and small spots of mud had dried in her hair and on her face.
As she thought about their passage through the woodland earlier – and what had caused the stains – Presea was surprised to find herself smiling broadly. The memory of Colette grabbing her hand to go jumping in puddles with her was still fresh in the small girl's mind, and continued to discharge a warm, beautiful feeling within her.
"The puddles were muddy," she stated unnecessarily, and giggled.
"Hehe, yeah, but you had fun though, right?" Colette took another sip from her flask before shuffling closer, and Presea's found her breath catching strangely in her throat as their gaze met. The young Chosen's eyes were tainted green from the light, and glittered strangely; for a moment seeming so deep and bottomless that looking into them made Presea feel pleasantly dizzy. It was not something that had ever, to her knowledge, attracted her attention before, but it now dawned on the small girl that Colette had very pleasant eyes.
"I did," she replied eventually, and looked up to return the young Chosen's smile. "I enjoyed the experience."
Colette averted her gaze, her expression looking almost shy as she rubbed at a dry patch of mud on her trousers. "I'm…glad," she mumbled softly. "I…I always have fun with you Presea, and it makes me really happy to know that you have fun with me too."
Presea cocked her head to one side as she analysed her friend's words. The compliment had been strange, but for some reason the small girl blushed regardless, overcome by a desire to return the sentiment.
"T-thank you Colette," she replied hastily, and looked up at the overhanging branches of the tree beside them. "I do enjoy being in your company."
"Heh, that's good." Colette paused to stifle a tiny yawn, and Presea felt herself stiffen in surprise as the young Chosen suddenly leant against her, resting her head on the small girl's shoulder. The reaction was slight however; Presea had found that recently she relaxed much more quickly than she used to, and was starting to find the contact pleasant rather than just confusing.
"It's so beautiful," Colette mumbled, nodding slightly towards the horizon.
Presea followed her friend's gaze; taking in the way everything was tinted by the orange light of evening. The horizon was hazy from the intensity of the setting sun, but the small girl could make out a solitary sparrowhawk gliding effortlessly on the high air currents; it's cries echoing lonely through the air. The fields below danced in response to the sound as another gust of wind tore through them, and the strange feelings Presea felt earlier returned.
"It is," she acknowledged. "But…at the same time I find it also…sad."
"You do?" Colette lifted her head to look at Presea, confusion on her face. "Why?"
Presea held her friend's gaze for a moment, finding a strange comfort in it, before turning back to the horizon. The thin clouds were passing over the sun now, like curtains closing across a window.
"When the sun sets," she began; trying to choose her words carefully, "the day ends. It becomes something you cannot get back, no matter how hard you try. Experiences people feel, and the moments we share…they are fleeting and cannot be relieved again, like the day."
Her hand had dropped absently over her Exsphere while she was speaking and Presea shook her head sadly, aware of Colette's gaze upon her. "I apologise," she whispered. "It is just…since my Exsphere…well, since then time has become very important to me. The setting of the sun feels like a reminder that…things always end."
"I'd never really thought about it like that," Colette replied softly, her gaze fixed on the horizon in thought. "But the sun always comes up again too. When you think about it, it's also a reminder that things begin, right?"
Presea considered her friend's words, and found herself smiling despite herself. "Yes," she nodded. "I guess that is true too." A strange ache formed suddenly in her chest, and she turned to Colette, the earlier smile now feeling heavy. "That…that sounded like something Alicia would have said."
"Oh," Colette fell silent for a moment, before returning her head to Presea's shoulder in an act of sympathy. "You…you must really miss her."
Presea swallowed, feeling a lump form in her throat as she nodded. "Yes, but it…it is not just that. Vharley…Rodyle…both are dead, and yet I still feel so…" she paused for a moment to consider the word, "…lost."
"Lost?"
Presea nodded. The aching in her stomach felt as though it had intensified with the admission, but the close contact with Colette helped alleviate some of the sorrow she felt. "Affirmative. I thought that, with their deaths, I could move on…but it feels as though nothing has changed."
She paused then, realising that her eyes were beginning to grow damp. The small girl closed them instinctively before any tears had a chance to fall, and swallowed.
"Alicia is…still gone," she continued. "My chest still hurts when I think of her…"
She trailed off there, and bit her lip fiercely when she noticed it had begun to tremble. Colette rarely became emotional like this, she told herself and became determined that she wouldn't either.
The Chosen had shifted position slightly in order to wrap an arm around Presea's shoulders. The contact was warm and comforting, and the small girl leaned into the embrace with less hesitance than she would have done some time ago.
"It's okay," her friend whispered soothingly, and gently stroked Presea's hair with her free hand. "It'll be okay. I don't think…well, I'm not sure those feelings will ever go away completely. The pain may fade in time, but you loved your sister, and I think you'll always miss her."
Colette's words made sense, but as Presea allowed them to sink in, a question rose angrily to the surface of her thoughts.
"Then…what was the purpose?" she asked, failing to keep the bitterness from her voice. "Their deaths…have no meaning."
Colette dropped her free hand to clasp Presea's, and she gave it a quick squeeze. "Well…perhaps in doing what you did…it means that you can begin to move on…move on and heal." The Chosen smiled sadly. "I'm sorry. I haven't any idea what it must feel like, so I'm probably no help at all."
"N-no, please do not apologise." Presea shook her head vigorously, alarmed at the doubt in her friend's voice. She scrubbed at her eyes and gave what she hoped was a smile of gratitude. "You have helped Colette. I am…sorry for lowering the mood. I will think about what you have said…about Alicia…and sunsets."
Colette sat up and returned the smile. "Just take your time, okay? Remember, what we said before? We're friends, so tell me if you ever feel down and I'll try to help, okay?"
Presea nodded, an overwhelming amount of affection for her friend suddenly welling up within her.
"Affirmative," she replied. "Thank you, Colette."
"Heh, no problem." The young Chosen watched the sun for a few moments before grinning. "Tell you what, how about we get up early tomorrow in time for the sunrise? We can watch a new day start together – just me and you – I guarantee it'll make you feel better."
"Ah…I…" Presea paused, feeling giddy. The suggestion delighted her but she didn't want her friend to go to so much trouble. "It sounds nice Colette…you…you wouldn't mind?"
"Of course not!" Colette gave Presea's hand an excited squeeze. "Hehe, It's going to be so much fun! And if you're ever sad then we'll do it again and again until you feel better."
Presea considered the young Chosen for a second before looking back at the shimmering fields of corn. Somehow, beautiful as it was, the scene didn't captivate her any more – at least, not as much as her friend did now. Returning her gaze to Colette, Presea smiled before resting her forehead gently against the young Chosen's shoulder.
"I really do like being in your company," she whispered quietly, as if scared of being overheard.
Colette didn't say anything, but the way she wrapped her arms tightly around Presea in an embrace confirmed that she felt the same.
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A/N: Hehe, well two down and eight to go. If you made it this far then be a lovely person and leave a review – would love to know what you think. Cheers again and I'll see ya all next time!
