After her pleasant exchange with the admirable Lady Elder, which was followed by a delicious tea and an evening walk, Leonora found herself plagued by the stirrings of a stubborn curiosity. What had the scholars of yore written about the duties of an Elder? How had these lords and ladies endured the burdens of their position? So she buried herself in tomes upon tomes of history in the hopes of finding the answers. The magic of a library could never be overstated.
Days passed, then a week. She was holed up in her house, a hostage to the acumen of politicians long dead. Though it was not the healthiest of habits, it had become the usual way of our little Lady Sage. Research binges, she called them. She would rise to eat, and sometimes shower, but otherwise poured herself over the pages as if her life depended on it. Skimming was out of the question; each word possessed an essence that must be sampled individually before the gravity of a clause could be appreciated. And each sentence opened to her a door to another world; so, in every book, she stood at a crossroad of universes, and she decided in those moments that she would travel every single path. Her wanderlust knew no limits.
Yet, living in Mysidia, one could not simply disappear and expect to be forgotten. The town was much too small and much too concerned with the ideal of family to overlook a single person's absence. On this particular occasion, the first to observe and investigate Lady Sage's mysterious disappearance was none other than her sweet and courteous neighbor, Iyas Fabron.
As he took a seat in her vicinity, the sofa cushion sighed under his weight. Leonora did not hear this; she was all too enveloped in her worlds of knowledge, sitting criss-cross before the pile of books lain on her table.
"Leonora," came his voice from far away.
"Iyas," said Leonora lightly, though she flinched and snapped her book shut. She took a good look at him. "Are... you alright?"
"I came to check up on you." He looked to her table, taking in the stacks of books that had always been there, and then the new stacks that had sprung up since last he visited. A sigh broke from his lips. "You haven't forgotten yourself, I hope."
"I hardly think one can forget oneself," she giggled. "I have eaten. I am clean. Thank you for your concern, but I am fine."
"I am pleased to find the Lady Sage in both good health and high spirits, then," chuckled Iyas. From his pocket, he drew a parchment folded the size of a palm and set it on the table. "I was asked to give this to you by Mu'in."
Leonora took the note and weighed it in her hand. "Now, I hope you don't start 'Lady Sage'-ing me. Our sweet Lady Elder was calling me that just the other day. I don't really know how to feel about it…"
"You feel awkward?" This sounded more a gentle criticism than a genuine question. "It's an honor, Leonora. You have learned two disciplines that disagree with one another, which is a feat Mysidian mages rarely accomplish. You will recall your history classes, I hope."
"But a Sage is not merely a mage learned in more than one discipline… A Sage is someone who has made significant contributions to the condition of humanity." She set the note on the table to toss Iyas a questioning glance. "Mysidia is eager to regain its lost pride, but I will not be a false idol, exalted to a position I have yet to deserve. Let me first make a difference in this world, like Tellah and the sages before him."
Iyas lowered his gaze. "I did not mean to upset you."
"And you haven't," she said quickly. "I only want to deserve the respect I have graciously received."
"Leonora… While your position on the matter is objectively true, and certainly rational, I cannot help but feel you have not thoroughly considered the will of the people."
Here, his countenance was so warm and tender, Leonora was a smile away from melting.
Iyas continued, "You cannot decide for yourself whether or not you deserve the respect of other people. In so doing, you dismiss the agency of these people who bestow their respect on you. I see your point is not divorced from logic, and is perfectly accurate in the factual sense of things; but I ask you to remember your heart, as one who has suffered with Mysidia during the Crystal Wars. The people know who their heroes are."
Her heart did remember. At eight years old, it observed the cold monotony of marching feet and the shrill cries of the wounded. At twelve, it learned of the lonely silence of families torn apart and loved ones long lost. After some time, Leonora lost count of the years. Mysidia was trapped in a timeless march of memories. The nation had been betrayed and exposed; its ideals had been dishonored; its Crystal had been lost twice in twenty years. The people needed to believe in the courage of their heroes. It was hope, and hope healed even the deepest of wounds.
Leonora nodded sternly. "I have been inconsiderate. I must not make a fuss of such an important gesture. Thank you, Iyas." Then, she sighed, plucking the note from the table. "Though I cannot say I am comfortable with it quite yet. I hope I grow accustomed to it very soon."
"It suits you very well, if I may say," chuckled Iyas. "I'm sure you'll get used to it."
"Thank you, Iyas. You're sweet."
The handwriting on the note matched Mu'in's exactly, as far as Leonora could recall. He was always so particular about the lengths of his P's that one could seldom mistake it. She might have pursued to read the note, perhaps, if Iyas had not been so longingly looking out the window. No doubt he wondered what Porom must be doing, or else he knew and recounted some other conversation he'd had with her.
"Porom was here to ask me to visit Troia," said Leonora. "We had a lovely time and she is very intelligent conversation. She's been worried about sending someone to Troia, but I think I've managed to convince her to wait until the Grand Feast."
"Yes, she's been very preoccupied with that this week as well. She's been bouncing between sending a gentle rejection and scoping out potential candidates." Iyas averted his eyes, lips twisted, shoulders slouched. Though he strove to maintain his posture, he seemed to be crumbling into himself, like a parchment in a fire. He spoke with all the gentleness of a doe's footsteps. "I suggested she send Gia, as Gia is Troian and has both knowledge of our magic and of Troian culture, but… I don't think Lady Elder heard me. She did not look up from her papers or issue a verbal response. And it's just as well. Teutas told me afterward that Gia is not very far along in her magical studies. She knows only Cure and Esuna at best."
Leonora rose to her feet and made her way to Iyas. Plopping beside him, she leaned her back against the cushion and rested her hand on his arm. Iyas let out a hefty sigh.
"I know it was a stupid idea. I could have thought it through a little more, rather than just blurting it out. I can be a tad thoughtless sometimes-"
"You are too hard on yourself, my friend…"
"-but, still, I don't think it warranted a cold silence. Sometimes, I wonder if Lady Elder even notices me. Pretending she didn't hear me? I'm not sure whether I feel relieved or heartbroken. It's been this way for a few months now."
Leonora squeezed his hand. "Maybe… Maybe you should shift your weight."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, since your relationship with Porom is at a standstill. I don't want you to jog in place, waiting."
Iyas smacked his lips. "You're one to talk. You waited two years, didn't you? And he almost kissed you that night."
The young Lady Sage shook her head. "But he didn't. And I think it means that he and I are on friendly terms, or that he's unsure."
She paused, looking to the borders in his white mage hood. Lovely, red triangles juxtaposed the golds between them, so bold and self-assured. She envied their confidence as she patted her friend's shoulder.
"He's a hot-blooded youth and I'm a flirty woman. We aren't children anymore. But I was drawn to him because of our childhood, and when I am with him, I feel overwhelmed with a sense of home, you know? And I remember all the fun we had together. Yet, he never made himself out to be my friend, and remained aloof these past two years… so I pined for the intimacy we used to have. I pined and pined, and kept myself quiet, and thought my feelings were unrequited. I-"
I love him, her heart sighed.
"I care for him very much," she hurried on, "and the feelings are so strong! But, because of his distance, I am sure he does not feel exactly that way. And knowing that makes me nervous, but also bold. Self-conscious yet self-assured. If he has no expectations of me, then I may act as I please, for I have no illusions with which to compete."
Another pause. Get to the point, woman.
"But it is painful. It is painful pining and I tread on feeble grounds," sighed Leonora. "I am certain he does not feel the same way as me, but I still feel for him, and it hurts all the more. I don't want you to feel that way, Iyas. You deserve much better than that."
Iyas shrugged. "What if he does feel the same, but he has kept his distance for exactly that reason? You two were teacher and student for a time."
Leonora shook her head. "It's possible, but I am not convinced. I want to see where being myself will lead with Palom, but I am also severely, sincerely doubtful. We know not what the future will bring, but… I have been disappointed many a time, and I do not want that for you."
"You did date Meera during your apprenticeship," Iyas agreed.
Another mage at the Hall of Prayers. Iyas had been very vocal about his distaste for the woman, but Leonora had fallen for that Black Magely intellect of which she boasted. Yes, Iyas remembered Leonora's other love interests in Mysidia, during this tutelage; and, in the silence, they remembered together, leaning against the sofa cushion, staring up at the ceiling, watching the memories play out in the shadows on the wood.
After some time, Iyas rolled his head to the left, looking squarely at Leonora. "It wouldn't hurt to give my heart a rest. She's my boss, and that's a more dangerous game than falling for a teacher who is two years younger than me."
"I am happy to hear that you are going to rest! Happy and excited." Leonora rose to her feet. "Shall I put on some tea? To increase the restfulness of this little hangout of ours. What do you say?"
"Actually," said Iyas, also rising to his feet, "I ought to check in with my parents at the smithy. I only meant to drop by, though you always provide such scintillating conversation."
Leonora giggled and waved her hand. "You are so sweet to me!"
After her friend's departure, Leonora again sat down to study her materials. It took ten minutes, scattered thoughts, and a yawn to remember Mu'in's note, which she had set on the table once again at some point or the other. Taking it into her hands, smoothing the creases, she read it over once, very slowly.
Please meet me at sunset by the pier. I have some urgent matters to discuss with you.
The orange lights streaming through the window snickered at Leonora, stretching the shadows around her long and deep. With a gasp, she sprung to her feet and rushed to the door. Shoes, shoes! Slipping on her shoes, stumbling over her toes, catching the knob of the door to break her fall at the very last minute-could she not go any slower! Just as she turned the knob and swung open the door did she bump into something again: a human being.
"What the Hell, Leonora!" Palom rubbed his forehead, sitting up after a fall on her porch. Leonora wordlessly, anxiously, scrambled to help him up. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"To, ah, meet someone." Leonora cleared her throat, but it did nothing to dispel her blush. "Have you need of something, Lord Elder?"
"Palom," he corrected dryly.
"Palom," she echoed, dryly. "Have you need of something, Palom?"
He blinked, not sure what to make of her tone. Though her face was as red as any Baronite apple, his was as pale as a ghost. "Oh, well, I mean. I was just-"
Leonora glanced to the west. Mysidian rooftops waxed from grey to black against the reddening skies.
"-just, uh, wondering if you were going to study at the library," he mumbled.
She stored the note in her sleeve thoughtfully. "Well, I do need to return some materials that I've already paged through. No use in prolonging another visit." Her eyes met his. "Yes, I think I shall go, once I have attended some other business at the pier. Why?"
"No reason," he said quickly. "Just, was passing by. Was wondering. That's all."
His eyes darted away, and it was then that Leonora noticed his hair was mussed. She remembered a time when he was in the habit of pulling fingers through the thick, brown locks in the middle of some hard-core thinking. She wondered, then, if he was mulling over some theory before her visit, and needed to bounce ideas off another human being. And who better to listen than his ex-apprentice?
It was nice to be the subject of someone's passing thought. A little warmth flickered to life in her heart. Leonora planted a kiss on his cheek.
"I'll be at the library soon," she said. "I won't be long. I'd hate to keep a friend waiting."
