19. Red

The first thing Sophia noticed when she woke up in the inn in Peterny was how noisy it was outside. This early in the morning there was usually a bit of a racket as shops were set up but today it sounded three times worse. She yawned and stretched, then looking around the room, discovered she was alone. She quickly got dressed and made her way downstairs where the others were already having breakfast.

Mirage was the first to greet her. "Well good morning. Did you sleep well?"

Albel spoke up before she could reply. "How could anyone sleep with all the damn racket outside."

Nel looked like she wanted to throw her plate at the swordsman. "The festival of Irisa is very important to our people. You just don't understand because you Glyphian's don't celebrate anything."

Albel rose from the table. "What is there to celebrate? Should we welcome the freezing winter or perhaps thank the god of starvation?" with that he left, half his food still untouched.

"Albel!" Sophia called after him. But it was too late, he was already gone. She was going to go out after him but Cliff stopped her.

"Aw just let him go. No point getting him worked up all over again. He'll probably be like this all day."

Fayt grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the empty seat next to him. "He'll be back don't worry. Here I fixed you a plate." Sophia nodded and began picking at her food. The others returned to their conversations but she couldn't help looking over at the empty seat Albel left.

A few hours later they had began wandering the market, taking in the sights and sounds of the festival. The first thing she noticed upon leaving the inn was there were large canopies erected all over the street. When she asked about that Nel told her it normally rained on this day so the canopies were necessary to allow the festival to continue. Even though Sophia didn't see a cloud in the sky she took Nel's word for it.

At this point in the day Nel told them the main attraction was the market. Here people from all over the countryside would bring their wears and it was a great time to see items not often offered.

Sophia was looking over an item at a shop when yet another girl passed her by wearing a ring of bright red flowers around her wrist. Curious she asked Nel what it was all about. "Nel I see a lot of girls wearing those red flower bracelets. Do they mean anything?"

Nel continued to flip though the book she was thinking about buying. "Well yes. They represent the binding bracelet that Apris gave Irisa when they wed. Today, men give the woman they would like to be with a bracelet and if she excepts they start dating."

"Oh how sweet."

Nel began rummaging through her purse for money to pay for the book. "The festival of Irisa celebrates the most powerful of Apris's wives. So a gift presented to a love one today is especially meaningful." She pulled out her money and looked up at Sophia. Then something seemed to catch her eye behind Sophia's shoulder. Sophia turned to see what it was and found Albel some ways away, leaning against a wall looking miserable.

"I think I'm going to steer clear of him today." Nel said paying for her book. "I don't want to agitate him further or have him do the same to me."

Sophia nodded. "Well I'm going to go and try to cheer him up."

Nel looked the girl over. "You have a big heart Sophia, and I don't really think Albel 'the wicked' deserves your kindness. Just try not to let him hurt you ok."

Sophia waved goodbye " Oh don't worry I think I can handle Albel just fine."

Nel watched the girl approach the swordsman. "I hope you can."

Albel stood away from the crowd just watching as one fool after another crossed his path. Before the war, when he was just a child, his father had brought him here on the festival. Back then he'd been in Awa at spectacle of the city. All the people were dressed so finely and there were performers and entertainers on every corner. He actually had fun playing the games and being treated to candy. Now he was no longer a child and when he looked around with the eyes of an adult he only saw people trying to make money and the senseless destruction of flowers better left in the ground.

"Hey, why so glum"

Sophia stood before him. She was looking up at him smiling, rocking on her heels, hand clasped behind her back. She looked quite happy and it almost made him want to smile. Almost but not quite. Instead he simply closed his eyes and chose not to look at her. "I suppose you find all this enjoyable don't you?"

Sophia moved next to him and leaned against the same wall as him. "I think it's wonderful. All the sites and sounds, people forgetting their troubles for a day and just having fun. Boys confessing their affection to the girl they like." Albel grunted and she looked up at him. His eyes were still closed and he looked no happier. "Don't you find it even the slightest bit sweet?"

He opened his eyes a bit and looked down at her without much expression. "It's ridiculous and sentimental. I simply don't understand what it is with these people and flowers. If you are to give a woman a gift it should last, not die and fade away."

Sophia giggled and bumped him slightly with her hip. "Or buy her something she can use right?"

Albel pushed away from the wall and started walking away. "I don't need to be made fun of."

Sophia rushed over to him grabbing his hand. "Don't be like that. I was just teasing a bit you know I love my gift." She said referring to the traveling cloak he had bought her a few weeks ago. He huffed and looked around a bit but didn't pull away from her. She took that as a good sign and started pulling him in the direction of the food venders. "Come on, you skipped breakfast and I know you're hungry." He protested a bit and she grabbed his other hand and pulled him harder. "Please it will be my treat."

She got them some fried foods, which seemed to be the most popular treat here. While she really didn't know what it was it sure was good. When they finished eating she managed to convince him to wander the bazaar with her. They had browsed over most of the booths not really seeing anything of interest. At one both she stopped to purchase some hair ties and when she turned back around she couldn't find Albel. After searching for a few moments he found her and they continued their walk.

Somehow he had managed to steer her away from the city and out onto the plains. She noticed but didn't really feel like arguing. After all he had spent most of the day with her in the city and if he wanted to get away for awhile she wouldn't stop him.

Once they were out in the opened and no longer under the protection of the canopies she noticed just how windy it had gotten. The sun was no longer shining and was now covered by thick gray clouds. "I guess it really is going to rain today." She said looking up into the sky.

Albel didn't bother and kept walking. "It rains every festival."

Sophia ran to catch up with him. "It's strange though, that it always rains on this day."

They stopped at the bridge and Albel folded his elbows on the railing. "It's only the weather, don't go reading into it."

Sophia lifted herself up onto the railing and sat on the edge. "It's just odd that it rains on the same day every year. There has to be some meaning to it. I should have asked Nel to tell me the story." She looked up at the clouds kicking her feet a little. "Unless you know the story?"

"Its just stupid religious garble."

"Oh come on please!" she said leaning in closer to him. "I just want to understand. Even if you think it's silly I still want to know."

"I don't remember, I was told a long time ago."

"Then tell me what you do remember."

Albel sighed and looked down into the water flowing below the bridge. " It's something about the fact that they can't be together. It's too cloudy now but on the next sunny day, if you look at the sky you can see the two smaller moons during the day. They are Apris's other wives and they get to be with him. But, Irisa only comes out at night with the stars. Apris shines during the day and Irisa shines at night, they bring balance to the world. Apirs gave Irisa a binding bracelet of red flowers on this day so she would always be connected to him, even if they can't be together."

Sophia listened intently to the story Albel told. There was probably more to it but Albel wasn't much for religion so it was no surprise that he didn't go into much detail. "So why does it rain?"

Albel looked over at her still leaning on the bridge. "You want the truth or what the story says?"

"Both."

"Well if you believe the story, it's because she is sad and makes it rain to express that."

"And the truth."

Albel stood up strait and started digging around in his pocket for something. "The truth is it's the start of the rainy season. For the next three months it's going to rain more often that not." He pulled an object from his pocket and reached for her hand.

She didn't protest or say a word, she just watched as he fixed the clasp on a thin bracelet on her left wrist. The bracelet was on a gold chain and had numerous little red stones attached to the links. The stones weren't clear like rubies but a solid red and each stone had smooth angles that made them look very natural. When she finally found her voice it was only in a soft whisper. "Albel it's beautiful."

"It's no big deal, I'm just making a point, tomorrow those stupid flowers will have wilted and fallen apart. This you can keep well after our journey together has ended."

She looked down at the bracelet, running the fingers of her right hand over the smooth stones. Then she looked up at him confused. "You say that like once this is over well never see each other again."

"Don't be foolish, we live on different planets, when would we see each other. You'll leave with those fools and then there will be nothing but memories left."

As he said that the sky opened up and started poring down rain. They kept looking at each other not really noticing the weather.

"I could always come back or I could even stay here."

He shook his head, the rain wetting his hair making it press to the sides of his face. "And what about your family and friends?" he gestured up to the sky with his good hand. "You'd give up your whole life just to keep me company? Don't be foolish."

She looked away from him contemplating the situation. If they even survived the fight with the creator what was she going to do? She really hadn't given it much thought. "I have to think about it but I'm sure there's a way around all that."

She looked back up at him catching his eyes. He could see determination in her and knew she wasn't going to give up without a fight. He knew this was all going to end badly. He watched as the raindrops slid down her face and knew that was the path her tears would take when she was forced to leave.

He didn't really know what had come over him but before he knew it he had brought his hands up to cradle her face. Her hair was soaking wet and clung to her cheeks. He used his thumbs to push her hair back and tilted her face up to meet his. He brought his lips down on hers, tasting the raindrops on her skin. He felt her hands cover his as she returned his kiss.

He slowly pulled away from her, his hands dropping from her face and coming to rest in her lap. Her hands still griped his and he could feel how cold she was. Suddenly a loud clap of thunder rang out through the air. Sophia was startled and almost lost her balance on the railing. Albel pulled her off the rail and to her feet before that could happen.

"Come on, you'll catch a cold out here if we don't get moving."

She nodded as the rain started poring down harder. His hand was still holding hers as together they ran back to town.

A/N

Well first there is no story about Irisa and Apris in SO3. I simply made this up. If there is some reference to this or something that contradicts this in the game, I haven't found it. But I did use a few references from the game Dictionary for an idea.

Maiden of Irisa (Myth/Tradition) A perennial that represents Irisa, goddess of moon and wind, it is also used as a charm to pray for a safe journey. The Maiden of Irisa produces highly nutritious fruits with plenty of moisture all year round that have wetted the throats of many a traveler. Can there be any doubt that it is a true gift from the goddess?

Apris (Myth/Tradition) The central god of the Church of Apris, the most widely followed religion on the continent of Gaitt. The star Elicoor is said to be the physical manifestation of Apris. The teachings say now that Apris has set his own body on fire and became Elicoor, he can no longer return to the ground, but by sending the Emissary of Apris, he is still able to lead the people.

Church of Apris (Organization) A polytheistic religion honoring Apris, the Sun God, as its central and most powerful god. Almost all inhabitants of the Sacred Kingdom of Aquaria, and roughly half of the humans living on Elicoor II adhere to the worship of Apris.

Irisa (Myth/Tradition) This major goddess of the Church of Apris is the eldest of three sisters represented by the moons. These three goddesses are also the wives of Apris, the Sun God. Elicoor II has three moons of various sizes, named Irisa, Erinia, and Palmira, and the Church teaches that these moons are the triplet wives of Apris, the Sun God. Usually when a planet such as Elicoor II has multiple large moons, the ebb and flow of the tides has a major effect, but in the case of Elicoor II, the gravitational effects of the two smaller moons are precisely offset by the gravity of the largest moon, Irisa, and in an arrangement so rare as to be miraculous, the three moons revolve around the planet in a synchronized orbit such that the center of the gravity of the three is located inside the planet itself.