God Ah's Larghissimo: Act II-Temperantia
Once more TJ was surrounded by a teeming darkness-and suddenly a piercing light removed it all and brought him to a familiar location. It was that place he had once been where Lady Amae met with the young lady Orpha, and the Child of Light. This time they were not here, but in their stead there was a familiar man and a wisp of light that reminded him of the child.
The first was a tall, slender man with spiky shoulder-length black hair, sharp crimson eyes and a snaggletooth that hung from the top half of his mouth. He wore a silver circlet, a matching choker with a blue gem, and a long coat. The coat was navy blue with the pieces of cloth at the back hanging down to his feet-it had an ornate silver design that extended from the hems of it across it's entirety, and silver chains that held it together. He wore black pants with a matching design and low cut boots.
But it was not the outfit that drew TJ's attention most-it was his features. The half shuttered eyes and the colour of the irises, the white streaks in his black hair, even the snaggletooth-they were the same features that Gula and Avaritia had, and that TJ obtained! Was that Asmodeus?! If his appearance was any indication it had to be him, but what was he doing with Amae and the Child of Light?
"Tell me Father, what is it that you intend for me to learn from Humanity? They are little else above slightly more evolved animals. I have little reason to take up the journey and grace them with my presence," He sighed under his breath. "I understand that you have a fascination with them, as does Amae, but I do not share your sympathies."
...Father? TJ found himself all sorts of confused at this juncture. Did the way he address that wisp mean that it was indeed, their parent? Even though he did not understand the circumstances he could not believe it.
As Amae turned to the wisp a sudden feeling overcame him-one of great power, and one that implied that the being before him was one that should be neither underestimated, nor misunderstood. It was nothing like the Child of Light. It exerted power constantly, and its very presence seemed to dwarf TJ's existence. He found himself at a complete loss, and his train of thought instantly came to a sudden and grinding halt. What was that thing before them?!
"There are many lessons Amae has learned that you too, must see for yourself to come to know. You understand, do you not?" The wisp asked.
The voice was commanding, but sounded neither male nor female. It seemed even in Amae's thoughts, there was no distinct gender to it, and going by sound alone TJ could not fathom which it was either. The tone did not betray this fact in the slightest, and he felt even more doubt in his heart at the sound of it.
"I do not. Humanity is nothing more than a group of lesser beings who rely on the resources of Midgard to survive. Unlike many of the other creatures upon it, they hunt and gather to survive, and have risen above the ecosystems that were in place prior to their arrival. If there is anything that can be learned from them, I suspect that it is that they pose a threat to Midgard as it is."
"Adonai, you and Amae are both beings that reign over the nine worlds, but I have you examining only one of them. That which has a myriad of creatures upon it that exist both in harmony, and in chaos. Your existences govern these very things. Amae governs over life-she created man in that image and populated the world with plants and creatures to inhabit it. You govern over death-those that have fallen to the hands of another, their soul is collected and released once more to be born anew. You must decide when the time is ripe for people and collect their souls to continue the cycle, but you also must decide when to initiate Ragnarok, and why."
Adonai crossed his arms. "Are you saying that you have doubts in my judgement? I may have come into being after my sister, but the fact remains that you had created me, and the knowledge you have instilled in me far surpasses that of Humanity. As you said, we reign over the nine worlds-the Midgardians, the Jotun, nor the Svartalfar have greater knowledge than we. This journey is one that I strongly believe is unnecessary."
"You are letting your pride get the better of you, Adonai. I do not doubt your judgement, but I believe once you have completed this journey, you will.
"To an immortal such as yourself, death and reincarnation may seem a small price to pay, but the end times are not to be taken lightly. I have no more words for you. Be on your way."
Adonai knit his eyebrows as Amae turned to him. "Let us go Adonai. I do understand your reason for hesitation, but I strongly believe that you will develop a greater affinity for the Midgardians once you have seen the world for yourself. Humans are a very fascinating species. Come, let us be on our way." She told him before she smiled brightly.
"Remember Amae, that you must not reveal yourself to Humanity in your current form. They may know of us, but they may not know that we are among their numbers. We must monitor them, but not directly influence them or it may change their world dramatically."
"Your will shall be done." Amae answered as she curtsied. "Shall we go, Adonai?"
"I suppose. Show me the way." He answered as he closed his eyes and approached.
She spread her wings and he did also, eight beautiful feathered appendages emerged from behind him, and by Amae's shadow the same could be seen.
The two shot skyward and as they did there was a strange ripple across what TJ thought was the sky. As they rose ever higher they pierced what seemed like a veil and appeared above the crown of the World Tree.
This surprised him greatly. In this time period, Asgard was completely uninhabited. Where the capital city was further in time, there was grass and trees, and even a river that ran through to another portion of the world. What now belonged to the Cerebians was also once nature-it seemed that sometime afterwards they came and settled in. The event must have taken place long after Amae created the other Cerebians, but seeing it now was hard to fathom.
As for Adonai, TJ had all sorts of mixed feelings about it. If that strange being of light created Amae and Adonai, who created it? For that matter, who created him? As he looked at Adonai from the corner of Amae's eye, he could not help but wonder what their relationship was. Avaritia considered him a sibling, but Gula hated him with an unrelenting intensity for supposedly having Luxuria sealed within him and also integrating Avaritia. Was it possible he integrated Luxuria before he regained his memories? That aside, the only thing the two had in common was their hatred for Adonis.
The children of Adonis were the Seven Sinners and Adonis, according to Avaritia. They existed during the time of Amae and her Keruz, including Valkyrie Leigha which was Peorth's ancestor and the first in her clan. They came to be before the Cerebians, and even more so before Asgard was inhabited by them. But at that time also, Adonis existed because he was defeated by Valkyrie Leigha in the Agasuric War. Does that mean TJ too, existed at that time period? But when exactly and how?
If what Gula had told him was true, Amae had used the Heart of Yggdrasil to save him. Perhaps that was how it was embedded in his chest-it was the only means to save him after Adonis' defeat by the hands of Leigha. But what was his relationship with Amae? Was it because he was the Abellan that she chose to save him?
But it also raised the question of why he and Adonis shared a single body.
And leaving that aside who on Midgard was Adonai if TJ and his siblings were the children of Asmodeus?!
All the questions he asked threw him for a loop. He was reluctant to put them at the back of his mind due to a lack of answers, but at this juncture what choice did he have? He did not have enough information, memories, or knowledge to figure out exactly what went on that lead to the current day. Nonetheless, it was possible the events he would see in this memory and that which which would follow it would give him some semblance of an idea.
As the two travelled further and further across the world, they were surrounded by a bright light before they too, turned into spheres-something Amae had done prior.
In a bright flash of light they had moved from Asgard to Midgard and descended upon the city of Elifius. The two spheres approached and came to a halt on the outskirts of the city and remained there for a brief period.
"If Father wishes us to disguise ourselves, what do you suggest we do? There is little in my repertoire I could use for such a task, unless you wish for our presence to be hidden entirely," Adonai said.
"Fear not. I have devised a method in which we can take up the appearance of Humans so we may come into contact with them."
Amae turned to a caravan that was leaving the city and eyed some of the travellers curiously. After a few brief moments the sphere of light she became took form and grew appendages before it dimmed. She took her form as a goddess again before she clasped her hands together. A golden ring appeared above her head and expanded before it descended upon her. Once it had reached the ground it vanished, and she had a completely new appearance-one that matched one of the female travellers with the caravan, and also the appearance she had in the previous memory. Unlike it though, she wore a white tunic and a black skirt along with a pair of leather shoes. The tunic had various markings upon the front, and over it was a fur vest.
"You suggest we disguise ourselves as Humans?"
"It is the most effective way. Come, it is your turn."
He sighed before he took form and looked at her with unease. "If only to see this mission through, then I shall abide by your word. I pray that Father is certain about this."
Amae beamed. "You must have more faith in him, Adonai."
He smiled slightly as a chuckle escaped his lips and he tilted his head in her direction. "If anything I would sooner trust your word over Father's."
Though unsure, TJ could not help but feel that his pupils looked awfully similar to hearts. Was he imagining things? Perhaps it was just a trick of the light from Amae's eyes.
She held out a hand and the same event that she had experienced occurred with her sibling. His spiky black hair was tamed and tied back, his eyes were bigger and much less menacing. He had a beard also. He wore a light tan tunic and woolen pants along with sandals, and carried a wood-chopping axe on his back.
"I suppose this will suffice. Now what means do we have to enter the Human's Instance Dungeon?"
Amae laughed gently-even in a human form with a matching voice, the sound still held some of her gentle nature. "This is not an Instance Dungeon. I believe that it is called a 'stronghold'. Humans build these to keep out beasts and other Humans from attacking their homes."
The two began to walk and Adonai gave her a puzzled glance. "They need to defend themselves from their own kind? For what reason? Are they not satisfied by hunting beasts?"
"Some prefer greater territory or wish to exert their strength I suppose...but in that regard I am still very unsure Perhaps it is an instinct?" The goddess placed a finger to her chin thoughtfully while her sibling shrugged. "Nevertheless, it is in these strongholds that many Humans gather! They have a variety of useful goods and foodstuffs that they sell and trade."
"They...what?"
As they entered the city Amae explained the desire for material goods and bartering for said items, both necessary and desired. Afterwards she had gotten on to the topic of adventurers and how they do most of the hunting which they exchange for currency, items, and other goods.
"So these 'adventurers' are hunters you say? Are not all Humans capable of doing such a task? I see very little difference between them." Adonai replied as the two made their way through the bustling streets of Elifius.
As one would expect, there were a myriad of people hailing from all over the realm. Many trained in a variety of trades, from adventuring to farming and everything in between. The city served as host to just about every career imaginable.
"It is a career. Adventurers take up requests from those who are not trained to do so and they fulfill these for payment. They are a very fascinating group." Amae explained as she eyed a stall that hawked various baubles promising protection from danger and strengthening charms.
"And what makes these adventurers stand out from any other Human?" Adonai asked as he raised an eyebrow.
Amae placed a finger to her lips. "You must not forget that we are disguised. Using words like "Human" or any mentions of our divinity may reveal us. Nevertheless, the easiest way to find them would be mindful of their outfits and if they carry weapons. There is a pair now." She pointed to a pair of young men walking side-by-side and laughing together. One of the two carried a broadsword and the other a pair of knuckles at his waist. "Do you see those? That is how they defeat their adversaries."
"I am not completely unfamiliar with the concept, Amae." Adonai gave her a blank gaze.
"They have been using makeshift weapons since the beginning of time. All that had changed is the form and the materials, but I have little doubt they are more effective than they once were." He shrugged.
"I suppose those unusual outfits are meant to protect them from wounds?" His eyes seemed to shift from one adventurer to the next, but he looked bored nonetheless. There was hardly a time where he did not, so Amae had the feeling that he was enjoying himself somewhat. "Such a fragile and meaningless means to protect oneself from the inevitable end. I will never be able to truly fathom why they struggle so. Does the hare don a shell in a vain attempt to protect itself from the snake that would devour it?
He eyed a lovely silver spear on another adventurer's back and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I must confess though their reasons are questionable, their method of creation could serve as a point of interest. Other than that, they are of little intrigue."
The goddess checked for a possible clue as to the answer of her brother's interest but could not quite navigate the city yet. "Would you like to find a place that could show you that?"
He pursed his lips. "Not worthy of the time. What would you suggest is fascinating in this stronghold, Amae?"
Her eyes wandered from one side of the street to the other as she pondered his question. There were a group of adventurers sitting outside a small shop eating what looked like a cooked foodstuff. She was unsure of the method, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves so she was intrigued. Though the two did not need to eat, they could if they so desired. All the more reason to since their bodies currently looked and acted like that of a Human's.
She caught a glimpse of a pastry shop and eyed the bread solemnly for a few moments before she took Adonai's hand and pulled him into the store.
Behind the counter a young lady with blonde hair tied in a ponytail by a flower hairband and bright blue eyes waved at them. She wore a dark blue tunic and a white apron over it.
"Hello there. How can I help you today?" She asked with a shopkeeper's grace.
"We are curious about your foodstuffs!" The goddess answered, her eyes sparkling. The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow as she solemnly appraised her.
Adonai picked up a bun. "This is a foodstuff you say? So this is a location that produces them, and these...beings, 'eat' them?" He raised the bun to his mouth and the shopkeeper's eyes darted to him.
"Take a bite out of that and you are buying it mister!"
"Buying it...you say? How does one...buy?"
"We already went over that," Amae added hurriedly.
The shopkeeper knit her eyebrows. "You two are not from around these parts are you? Though I suppose a foreigner or two is not such an unusual sight around Elifius," She laughed.
She took a paper bag from the other side of the counter and put a couple loaves of breads and buns inside of it as the two divine beings watched with keen curiosity. "Just this once, I will give them to you on the house!"
She waved a finger at Adonai. "But the next time you visit, I expect you to buy twice the amount I have given you today, understood?" She handed the bag to a baffled looking Amae. Following that she turned back to Adonai. "You can keep that one. Please come again!" She pushed them out and returned to her station.
Amae looked down to the bag and then to her brother who solemnly took a bite out of the bun he picked up. "That was...a surprise."
He slowly turned his head to meet her gaze, but his expression remained unchanging. "Quite." As he swallowed there was a slight pause. "Tell me, Amae, what does 'on the house' mean exactly?"
She blinked. "I...I do not know."
He looked back to the shopkeeper who seemed to be writing something down with a quill and ink. His lips curled into a smile as his eyes focused on her. "Humans are certainly…fascinating."
The goddess' entire demeanour brightened. Any more than that and she would likely begin to shine, which she was wont to do with her usual appearance. "I agree whole-heartedly! Would you like to see more?"
His expression immediately returned to the usual bored scowl. "No, I am rather satisfied. I shall return to the heavens now. Do as you will, Amae." He performed a heel-face turn and immediately made his way towards the entrance that they used to come in.
Thoughts of calling out to him as he skulked off came to mind for a moment, but she opted out for letting him go. It was unlike him to show any particular interest in anything, even his own given task. The fact that he showed the slightest reaction to her was fascinating to the goddess.
The matter aside, it seemed she had some semblance of an idea on the inner workings of Humanity, but she still had much to learn, including the ways they speak.
After a brief walk through Elifius Amae exited the city and made her way out of the sight of Humans so she could take off without drawing attention.
Adonai's previous question about the making and forging of weapons and armour still . From what she had heard, they uses minerals, animal leather and plants to form a variety of armour and weapons. She was rather curious how Humanity could turn a rock into chainmail or plate without the use of magic.
As far as minerals go, adventurers suggested that if she was to seek them out the best place to begin would be Midgard's Desert. Supposedly there were many caves and various mineral deposits in it and made it a popular location for potential miners.
With that thought in mind, perhaps she could find the answer to her question? There was one certain way to find out, and she had time to spare. God Ah had no particular tasks for her to do.
She picked up a bun and took a bite of it before she smiled with delight. She read that it was 'honeyed milk bread' in the shop window and found the taste wonderful. Perhaps she would return again, preferably with currency to uphold her promise with the shopkeeper.
With that thought in mind and bun in hand she set out once more.
She touched down near a small desert city and stole a glimpse at a traveller who wore a desert cloak, gladiator sandals and a dress that covered the entirety of her body. After she vanished from sight Amae immediately took up the same outfit while retaining her previous physical aspects, then examined herself in a mirror of light she created.
The disguise was perfect-maintaining it would be little challenge to her. Finding her way around the stronghold, however, would prove the greater challenge.
Though it was much smaller in comparison to the stronghold 'Elifius' navigating one's way around it would still prove a challenge. There was still much and more she was as of yet to learn of humanity, and many of the symbols they used for communication were one of those very things. Perhaps it would be in her best interest to ask a citizen?
She saw an elderly man strolling down the dusty path and greeted him. "Excuse me, could you direct me to the nearest metal-shaping facility?" She asked politely.
He chuckled at her request. "You are looking for the blacksmith, correct? We have an armor smith and a weapon smith. You can find both right over there." He answered as he pointed in its direction. "The sign with the armour emblem is what you are looking for."
"Your assistance is greatly appreciated! Goodbye." She answered as she set out towards the shop.
"Kids these days."
She arrived at the shop and rapped on the door three times.
The voice of a young girl chimed, "Come in! The door is open!" Without a doubt the voice was Kera's.
If the sound that echoed from within the shop was any indication, she was doing some sort of metal work.
Amae pushed the door open and walked inside where the girl stood at an anvil and hammered away. "Welcome to Ezra's." She said as she raised the piece of armour she finished shaping before setting it to cool. "You must have come a long way, but I can assure you, you will not find better armour in all of the Desert region!"
There was a twinkle in the goddess' eye. "Is that so? I am very interested in the process of this armour crafting. Would you be so kind as to show me?"
Kera looked nonplussed. "You want to...see the process?" She rubbed the back of her neck gently as she chuckled under her breath. "I have never had a customer who was interested in such a thing...but I suppose I could oblige you."
"Your efforts are greatly appreciated."
Kera began by looking over a list of orders penned in a hand that may or may not have been hers.
"Well this should suffice." She said as she rummaged through a crate full of a variety of metals. She brought a couple over to a furnace and cautiously placed them inside.
"It will take a fair amount of time before we can melt and mold the metal. Are there any questions you would like to ask?" She leaned on the counter and crossed her arms.
"I am rather curious about you and your situation." Amae answered as she clasped her hands at her waist.
She knit her eyebrows slightly. "My story is not one of interest, nor something the bards would think of singing. I am but a common village girl." The goddess did not blink nor show even a hint of backing down on her request. Kera let out a defeated chuckle. "If you are that curious then I suppose a little will not hurt any.
"As I had said, my life was one of little interest. I was born here, in Elfaderah, an only child.
"My family was once ordinary, consisting of my mother, my father and I. When I was young they had a falling out and soon after she wound up leaving the two of us.
"As I grew older I took an interest in my father's work." She chuckled gently as she looked at the armor she just forged and her eyes shuttered. "He always used to tell me the smithery was no place for a child. Go out and play. It might have been my own stubbornness or that I thought he was goading me, but I had spent years insisting that I could do it if I tried.
"I practiced in secret every now and then. There were...a lot of failures, and he wound up finding them. He was not pleased with the result. We had a falling out over it.
"I suppose that was when I met him...a nomad from a land far, far away. He carried an unusual musical instrument-he would sing and dance and all the while tell tales of heroes from across Midgard." She smiled as she closed her eyes. "Great men who had slain fearsome creatures like giant boars and packs of wolves, some had even taken place in our very own desert. Giant sand worms and their brood, fearsome ancient axe beaks and their kin...such stories were enchanting.
"His tales had lifted my spirits, and when we spoke he told me that a hunter is little without the plate on his torso and the sword in his hand.
My fervor and desire to take up my father's trade burned stronger than ever, and I saw my father about it again. We had fought for days...weeks, even months over the matter until he finally yielded. He warned me that the forge was no place for a woman and he had no intention of putting me in it, but he did once upon a time." She looked forlornly out to the world outside. "I am my father's only child, and due to the fact he did not have a son, he had no one to follow in his trade when he became too old to do it. He had told me that my mother was vehement against having me take up the trade, but he was adamant on having his kin continue the family tradition, and due to that their separation was sealed. My mother swore that when she had established a life for herself in Elifius, she would return and take me with her. I had not seen her since then.
"Nevertheless, though my father resigned and my wish was granted, there was still a lingering regret in my heart that I could not put words to. As I learned and improved as an armour smith, the songs of the bard that day flooded back to me." She beamed. "I can still hear the songs he sang.
"It took me a while to realize it, but deep down a small part of me yearned for that memory, that time, and the sounds. Of his instrument, his voice...and to experience it for myself...
"I had asked my father if I could receive a small payment for armour I made and sold and he had told me I was getting to that age, so he would oblige." She turned her focus to the furnace and took the metals out before pouring them into a mold. "I had poured my heart and soul into all that I had forged, and even more so into convincing customers to consider purchasing what I had made. It had went well...and with that, I had eventually bought my own instrument with what I had earned.
"And since then I have begun my practice, both as a bard and an armour crafter, much to Father's dismay." She laughed heartily as she began to hammer away at the object. "To the day I still do it as a hobby. I often use it to play songs for the choir at the temple and to earn some money to buy food for the children at the orphanage."
Kera's eyes turned to Amae as she stopped hammering. "Can you keep a secret, Nomad?" The goddess nodded solemnly and Kera grinned. "Someday, I too would like to go out there into the world. To meet the heroes spoken of in legend and song, to see the entirety of Midgard and to meet my mother again, wherever she may be now. I fear for my father's well-being in my absence, but I will return here. It is where I was born, and where I plan to die. That fact will never change."
She cooled the product and removed it shortly after from the steaming water, before setting it on the front desk. "I suppose my story ran on a little long Nomad. But you are a good listener." She smiled. "If you are interested in my music or my smithing, I will gladly oblige you."
Amae blinked. "Please, let me hear your songs. I do not have coin to purchase your work, but if you would indulge me just a little longer you will have my thanks."
"Consider it done Nomad," She placed her hammer behind the desk and vanished into the corridor at the back of the house. She returned briefly after with her instrument and sat down against the counter. "I do not do it often for audiences outside of the usual citizens so please do not be too critical of my performance." She said as she knit her eyebrows and looked up to the goddess.
Amae smiled as Kera gently strummed her weapon and sang a song. She closed her eyes and listened solemnly as the song went on, letting herself be swept up in the sound of Kera's voice and her instrument that accompanied it. Even TJ was taken aback by her performance, and found himself lost amidst the sound.
There was so much beauty in the world, Amae thought. If only Adonai could see it as I do now.
The Asgardian Duet: The Second Act-Temperance
TJ found himself in the body of his past self once more and staring into the face of an upset Peorth. Her eyes were red and puffy and it looked like she had recently finished crying. She wore a black dress, gloves, a small hat with a veil and a purple flower resting on the left side of it.
"TJ, I have a very important duty that I need you to do." She shook her head rapidly and clenched her fists, her head lowered as her lips trembled. "No, only you can do it!"
He knit his eyebrows. "Pe-Pe?" He asked with a worried tone.
"Freya...Freya she...she wouldn't wake up! They performed this unusual ritual on she and I and then I gained her power...but something happened to her! They wouldn't let me see her at all and then they brought in another girl that they said was my cousin and...and..." Her fists began to tremble as tears fell onto the colourful carpet before them. "They...performed the ritual again. I'm not sure but...I could feel Freya's presence after the first one...her voice, her powers, all of it became mine and it was too much for me...they said they'd save her with that other girl, but after the ritual my powers vanished, and so did Freya! I can't hear her anymore...
"I don't know what happened to her...I don't! They won't tell me anything and it's not fair..." She looked to him and sniffled but steeled her resolve. It was evident in her eyes, a strength far beyond her years. "TJ, I need you to find that girl. She might be the only one who can still save my sister, and you're the only one that can manage this. I believe in you with all my heart TJ, so please, help me!"
His response was but a single solemn nod. There was not an ounce of doubt in his heart, and to see Peorth in such a state was reason enough for him to act without question.
Though her expression was still pained a small amount of relief came over it as she wiped away her tears. "Thank you TJ! Thank you!"
As she made her way through the room TJ got a chance to glance over it. It was everything he could imagine it to be-a lovely canopy bed with transparent blue curtains, a wall with a picture of the entire royal family upon it, a desk fit for a princess and a comfortable chair to accompany it. A bookshelf with a variety of books ranging from politics to royal etiquette, and even a love seat for her to spend some quality time with her parent.
She stopped at the desk and slid open the drawer before drawing a piece of paper. "I borrowed a registry of the citizens of the halidom and took this map from my mother's study. I'm not sure about the exact location but I think that my aunt lives right here." She pointed to a small group of houses in sector B. "I can't sense her presence anymore because I lost my powers but...you can TJ. Let what I taught you be your guide, and I'm sure it'll lead you to Freya's presence."
She approached the door and opened it ever so slightly to peek outside and immediately closed it, quickly and quietly. "The guards are still there." She sighed quietly. She looked around the room and ran over to her bed, shoving it aside with all her might, soon joined by TJ. "You can use this!" There was a vent big enough for him to fit inside. "I'm not sure where it'll lead, but I heard from the others one of the vents lead outside."
She looked to him solemnly before she stepped forward and embraced him. "Please come back to me safely. I can't bear to lose you too."
He patted her on the back before she let him go and he crawled into the vent.
His memory had shifted to another point in time where he was in Yuna's home and rummaging through the closet in search of questionable items. He sat amidst a storm of items, from clothes to various boxes but to no avail.
As he did Yuna walked by and gave him a puzzled look. "What're you lookin' for there?"
He turned to her as his searching came to a halt. "Game," He answered.
She crossed her arms as she mulled the answer over. With a look of realization she placed her fist into an open palm. "Oh! So yer' lookin' for somethin' to play with the princess are ya'?" She nodded confidently and with approval. "Maybe a game'll take her mind off of her sister's passing. Good thinkin'." She ruffled his hair before she stepped amidst him and the things and reached into the top of the closet to reclaim the folded checkers board. "Guess it's my fault you couldn't find it huh? Sorry about that!" She handed it off to him and his eyes twinkled.
"So you're off again huh? Before you go lemme' give you a bite to take on the road."
The two went downstairs and Yuna disappeared into the kitchen before she returned with a lunchbox nicely wrapped up and ready to go. TJ waited at the door with his mandolin in hand and she knelt down to tie it to the guitar's neck.
As he placed the guitar over his back tied to a leaf as large as him, his guardian gave him a light kiss on the forehead while he looked back with a flushed face. "Be careful out there kiddo. Watch out for those guards y'hear?"
He nodded once and she opened the door for him to depart while she waved him off.
TJ made his way through the city with some semblance of ease, just as Straw Hat had showed him in the past. It took him some time to get to Sector B, but with the whole kingdom in an uproar due to the passing of the one of the king's daughters he was less of a cause to be looked out for, and so more often than not, people thought him nothing more than a pauper. He opened the map that Peorth had given to him and attempted to discern where he was.
Thankfully for him, Peorth had scribbled all sorts of notes to help him understand where he was and how to read the map. She taught him a bit about reading and writing, so he could understand what he saw. It was somewhat difficult, as his past self spent a fair amount of time reviewing the information as he made his way through the city, but she had drawn a path that he could follow. Her notes mentioned landmarks, places to avoid and ways he could stay out of sight.
He eventually neared where the girl was said to live, and his senses suddenly awakened to the overwhelming presence of a powerful Cerebian. It certainly was Freya-he could tell by the mana and the way it fluctuated, but it was intense, which was unlike hers.
He followed it towards the group of houses and looked around cautiously from the safety of the alleyway. He was unsure which house it was exactly, as the presence seemed to surround him, but also rise up towards him. Just where was she?
He closed his eyes and tried to follow the trail without the use of sight. He began to walk by following his senses and approached one of the four houses Peorth marked off. He eyed the house, but the feeling that she was not within it did not subside. It seemed to be beyond where the house was, and with that thought in mind he made his way to the side of the house and scrambled over the fence before entering the backyard.
As he did, the feeling grew stronger and stronger. He was closer now, but still unsure of her location. He caught a glimpse of a shed and approached it cautiously-he pulled the door open and yet found nothing within. As he stepped inside his body shuddered due to the sudden change in heat, catching him off guard. He was closer, but not quite there yet.
He eyed the shed, noticing tools, paints, and various other goods one would expect to find within one, but many that he did not know the use of. He put himself in a prone position and felt ever closer to the presence and even more so to the cold. He got back to his feet and removed the worn-down carpet he stood on to find a trap door that lead further into the shed. It seemed to have a basement of sorts. Was it possible she was within that location?
He lifted the door and was blasted with a wave of cold air that nearly threw him off his feet. His answer was definite, and he only had to pursue it He took a couple steps down into the darkness and slipped on one of the steps, beginning a terrible and painful descent into the basement of the shed. He skid across the floor and came to a halt at the feet of the girl he sought out, who looked startled at his grand entrance. Rather mortified, at that.
"W-who are you? What are you doing here?" She asked as she crawled away.
TJ picked himself up from the ground as he wiped some blood away from the top of his head, his expression unchanging. Though his eyes had not adjusted to the darkness, he could see the ruby red eyes of the girl before him and the blue lines that ran across her body like veins-from her head to her arms and legs. Upon her forehead was a mark that resembled that of water-was that the proof of a God's Governor? He crawled towards her and she backed away as she shook her head.
"Do-don't come! You'll be frozen too, just like everything else!"
As she had said, much of the cellar she was in had completely frozen over and it seemed to slowly crawl ever upwards towards the ground floor and beyond.
He cocked his head and she sighed gently. "I was supposed to save Princess Freya and Peorth. I was supposed to act as a substitute so the current princess didn't have to carry the burden of being God's Governor of Water and Ice. I failed everyone, and now I've become this!" As his eyes further adjusted, he could see her better. Pale skin, her sky blue hair frozen in place like icicles and her arms covered in the substance also. She was a small wispy thing, the look of her a clear indication she was emaciated. Her legs and arms were shackled, giving her enough freedom to move around the area somewhat, but not to escape. "I have to stay here. I'm a danger to everyone. Mom was right! So please! Leave this place and forget you ever saw me!"
He blinked slowly. "No," He answered.
"Why not?!"
"Pe-Pe asked. I...will save you. Pe-Pe asked me." He crawled closer and she looked at him with confusion and apprehension in her eyes. He placed his hands to her cheeks and he could feel her skin, ice cold at the touch. He rested his forehead against hers and a both began to emit a gentle glow as wind surrounded them. The glow from the two grew brighter, and TJ's gem resonated along with it. After a couple of moments she closed her eyes and the ice began to recede as the Heart of Yggdrasil grew even brighter. When the ice had completely receded, her hair, skin and forehead all returned to normal, and she looked just like an ordinary girl.
"Huh...? What did you...?" She looked at her hands in disbelief before she looked to him.
He smiled at her for a moment. "Name?"
"My...name..." She shook her head gently. "I don't have one. I was called a disgrace and mom threw me away. She said that I was a harbinger of ill omens and she left me down here. It was the only way everyone would be safe from my powers...and they wouldn't have to know what happened to the princesses. I...have to stay here. But even so...for doing this...thank you."
He pursed his lips. "No name?" He pointed to himself. "TJ." Following that he pointed to her. "Coo." She reminded him of the blue bird he had seen in one of the castle's rooms. It likely belonged to one of the live-in servants, but it sat in a cage out of his reach, quietly chirping upon discovering him.
"Kooh?" She asked with disbelief as he nodded twice.
Peorth gave him a name and if she did not have one, then he would do the same for her.
She cracked a tiny smile as her cheeks flushed. "I can't believe you and Princess Peorth are so worried about someone like me. Even so...I'm happy. I'm super happy!" She exclaimed as she beamed. "Thank you TJ!"
He nodded solemnly before he took his guitar off and sat down with her, to remove the lunchbox hanging from his instrument. He unwrapped it, opened it up and held the food out for her to eat.
"Eh? Oh...no you don't have to do all this for me. It's...actually a little embarrassing." She said as she lowered her eyes. Being the more stubborn of the two, he did not relent and she eventually submitted to the wish.
When she was done she thanked him and smiled gently-a large difference from the expressionless face she had worn before. "Thank you for coming all this way TJ, but I'm worried about you. I dunno what'll happen if you get caught down here with me. They might take you away...and throw you in jail!" Little did she know.
He shook his head as he laid out the checkers set. "No more tears. No more being alone. Pe-Pe and Coo need to smile."
She closed her eyes as her lips curled into a bigger smile. As she looked up her cheeks flushed a deeper pink. "I am smiling. I haven't felt a happiness like this in years. So maybe...just a little longer." She said as she laid out her pieces across the board.