Deraveux sat up in bed excitedly as a familiar figure stepped into his room, ducking its head slightly to avoid the low doorframe. The Elvaan man was never really in any danger of bumping his head, but the modest Lower Jeuno home had been built with Humes in mind. The fact than a small Elvaan family now lived here didn't speak worlds of their financial situation, but they were happy enough; close ceilings was a small price to pay for the unparalleled location – Right next to the edge of the great Market Bridge that ran the length of this spoke of the city, overlooking the meeting point of the Bastore Sea and the Sea of Shu'Meyo. They made do, they lived peaceably, and from time to time they had visitors such as this one.
"Verence!" the boy cried happily. "You found the cure, right? You must have! I feel better already, and they say tomorrow I can go outside again!" He took another breath to continue, but was stilled by the Dragoon's upraised hand.
"No," he smiled. "Not I. It was actually Diamondelle who found the cure. She would have come to tell you herself, but she has..." He slight pause as he swallowed, as if finding something distasteful suddenly caught in his throat. Verence cleared it, then continued, "Well, urgent business came up. She's unfortunately going to be very busy for quite a while, but she did ask me to come check on you."
"Check on me?" Deraveux laughed. "Whatever for? She knew I was going to get better the moment you started looking for the cure!"
She may not have, but Deraveux certainly did. Why the two adventurers had suddenly taken so much interest in him – first the healer, then the dragon knight – he'd never be quite certain. But for a boy his age, he couldn't possibly think of anything more exciting than an adventurer, not king nor wizard nor even a Ducal Guard. When he'd come down with that mysterious illness, Deraveux worried if he'd ever get to play keep-away with his friends on the Port Jeuno cobblestones again. When Verence of San d'Oria himself had come and promised to help make him better, keep-away suddenly didn't seem quite so important anymore. Two high-ranking San d'Orian adventurers visiting him, a Lower Jeuno kid! Not even rocket-powered chocobos could top that. His thoughts scattered as Verence, silent for a moment, spoke again.
"Well," he began. "I suppose she wanted to know how fast you'd recovered. And recovered you have, certainly. I'm no doctor, but I'm amazed they've not let you outside already."
Deraveux beamed, not noticing how carefully the words directed towards him were chosen. "It's because I'm made of stern stuff! My father says so!"
"So you are," grinned Verence. "So you are." He paused, considering something for a moment. "Deraveux, should you be interested... And should your parents allow, of course... Have you any interest in fishing?"
"Fishing?" The boy's eyes lit up. "I caught a herring once, Nosteau, but Francois says I'm a liar. I bet I could do it again! Then I'd show him!" One small fist clenched and waved excitedly, as if taunting the face of Francois himself. A low chuckle turned his excitement into a plaintive wail. "I did! I so did!"
"And I'll wager it was a fine herring," assured the taller of the two. "I was actually wondering if perhaps you wouldn't..." The dragoon paused again, clearing his throat lightly. Was Verence sick too? "...Wouldn't like to help me keep a promise to a very dear friend. We'd work around your parents' preferences of course, and I cannot promise regular lessons. But there's a rod in it for you, and a sea full of fish. What say you?" The smile to match the words was hesitant; the reply was anything but.
"Yes! I say yes! And when the ocean's run out of fish, we can start on the rivers!" The resultant laughter was the first whole-hearted sound Verence had made so far. The warmth in that laughter made Deraveux grin even wider, despite himself. "When may we start? Not today, certainly, and tomorrow I need to go check on my favorite spot and make sure Hollis hasn't stolen it while I was away, but how soon after that?"
"Well now, that's up to your parents, now isn't it? Lay back now, and I will discuss matters with them. No cause to spoil your last day of rest."
Deraveux uttered a loud "Awwwww," voicing exactly what he thought of his last day of rest, but did as he was told. First he got better, almost all at once, now just a few days later he was going to get fishing lessons! He was just beginning to wonder the best way to brag to all his friends when a thought struck him.
"Verence?"
"Yes?"
"When will Diamondelle come to visit?"
The visitor froze, halfway out the door already, head awkwardly ducked to avoid a lintel it would not have struck anyways. He turned slowly, straightening, and spoke quietly. "Not for a long time, Deraveux. The promise, the one I mentioned, was actually to Diamondelle. Perhaps if we are diligent in its keeping we will see her again, no?"
"Yes! And I can thank her for finding the cure then, too!"
"That you can, Deraveux. That you can." Verence turned and left, low doorframe forgotten as he stepped outside. Deraveux lay back and closed his eyes, plans for the future rapidly fading into dreams of fish and open sea and two smiling adventurers on a grand journey. He didn't know where they were going, but he didn't care either. He had promises to keep.
