Kel had never known what "homesick" felt like. She had heard a few of the elders mention the term before, but she could never understand why they would leave Cassardis in the first place if they loved the village so much. But as her quest as Arisen forced her away from home, she suddenly and intimately understood the feeling.
Kel had just spent her first day in Gran Soren. She had to admit that the city itself was impressive. Women wore bright dresses while men sauntered about in well-tailored vests. The people were polite, if a bit reserved, and the food, although lacking her typical hand-fished fare, was decent enough. She didn't, however, like the monotonous grey stone that crowded her vision nor did she quite enjoy the suspicious glares of the guards as she roamed about with her pawns. Thankfully, the innkeeper didn't seem to mind her company and had gladly offered her a bed for the night.
As her thoughts wandered towards pawns, she looked up from the table she was sitting at and saw Tacitus, standing ever at the ready, near the head of her bed. Apparently, pawns didn't need food or sleep like she did, despite the fact that they had spent a grueling day escorting a hydra head to the city. Tacitus had given her a few other tidbits to mull over as well, especially when it came to the pawn guild and alternate realities, although Kel had quickly halted that line of conversation before her head began swimming. She was perfectly content to believe whatever lies she wanted in order to justify the random appearance of the other pawns in her party.
Sensing her gaze, the redheaded pawn looked over, green eyes steady as they met her brown ones. Something in her expression must have warranted his presence for a moment later he was quietly slipping into the chair across from her.
"Are you alright, Arisen?" he asked.
At the very least, she had the comfort of his voice, a sound she often heard as they traveled during the day.
"I'm fine, Tacitus. There's no need to worry," she replied smoothly.
"I am not familiar with the expression you are wearing right now," Tacitus said, narrowing his eyes at his Arisen. "I did not know that I should associate it with contentment."
Kel let out a small laugh. "No, it's not contentment. Let me try again. I'm homesick."
"Homesick," Tacitus ventured, testing the word on his tongue. He suddenly grew nervous. "Are you ill? Should I call for our healer?"
"No, I'm not physically sick," Kel hurried to explain. "I just miss my home is all. Don't you ever miss the Rift?"
"No."
"Right," Kel offered dumbly.
"I have, however," continued Tacitus, "been informed that humans form emotional bonds with the city in which they were born. Is it this bond that is causing you discomfort?"
Kel raised a shoulder.
"In a sense. I miss seeing Quina and Adaro and the rest of my friends. I miss the feeling of sand between my toes and the warmth of the sun on my back. I miss the smell of the ocean, churned up after a storm. I just miss Cassardis."
"I see," said Tacitus, turning over the new information in his mind. "I was not aware that this bond was based so strongly on physical feelings."
"But the feelings have an emotional aspect to them, too," started Kel. As Tacitus stared at her blankly, she knew that her answer would require more than a simple explanation. Instead she gave a dismissive wave of her hand.
"It's not that important," she concluded. "I'll be fine in a few days."
"Is there anything I can do?" Tacitus asked, a look very akin to concern shrouded behind his green eyes.
"No," Kel sighed wistfully. "No there isn't. I'm going to head off to bed now. You can go…wherever it is you go when I sleep if you want to. Just find a pawn on the street and tell them to keep an eye on the inn for me, please."
Tacitus pushed himself up from the table and walked with Kel to her bed.
"You cannot enter into a contract with more than two other pawns at a time, Arisen," Tacitus informed Kel as she sat on her bed.
Kel huffed in annoyance. She was tired; she didn't want to have to worry about rules right now, especially when they were as trivial as this.
"Fine, fine. Just go on. I'll be fine," she said as she peeled the boots from her feet.
"Of course, Arisen," replied Tacitus before he bowed and strode out of the inn.
After Tacitus had left, Kel slipped into her nightclothes. She was grateful that she had kept her tattered fishing clothes; she would've never fallen asleep in armor.
And yet despite the familiarity of her brine-encrusted clothes, Kel still ached for home before she finally managed to fall into a fitful sleep.
Author's Note: Hurray for a completely random update! My apologies if any of the info here is wrong; I haven't played this game in ages. Thanks to all who have alerted/faved this and thanks to you for reading! Ultra-special thanks to Gin for reviewing Chapter 1! I admit, I internally squeed for a solid minute. I'll try to update as soon as I can!