When I came to, I was on the shore of a beach, soaking wet.
I stood up. I was back in Auldurant…I was back home…
I stared straight ahead. The Tataroo Valley was directly in front of me. I could walk past there and then find a ship to get back to Baticul where I lived. After all, the valley did have a nice view of Hod.
Victoria, everyone…thanks…
Tear sang her fonic hymn and placed her hand on her chest. The moon shined brightly.
"You didn't come…" Natalia said. "I believe your appearance was requested at the coming of age ceremony."
Tear frowned. "I will not attend a ceremony in front of Luke's grave." She still believed that he would return. After all, she had seen it in the fonstone just a week ago.
"That's why the two of you came here, isn't it?" Anise asked.
"Let the others laugh and sing songs at his grave," Guy said, "he said he'd be back and so I won't be joining them."
Jade pushed his glasses up. "The valley is dangerous at night…"
Tear got up and turned to leave when she suddenly saw something out of the corner of her eye. She stared straight ahead.
I walked forwards.
Tear ran up to me, a look of curiosity on her face. "Why…are you here?" she asked.
I smiled. "This place has a nice view of Hod. And I promised someone…"
Tears eyes became misty. She sniffled back her tears and ran towards me, into my arms.
It's mid-morning the next day, and Tear and I are sitting underneath a tree near Baticul.
She smiles and says nothing; she just places her head against my shoulder.
"All right you two love birds, that's enough!" Anise runs towards us, followed by everyone else.
"You only came back yesterday and you've spending the entire morning sitting here."
"A-anise, how can you be so rude?" Natalia frowns.
Guy grins. "Yeah, can't you see that the two of them need some alone time together?
Anise looks at them with narrowed eyes. "Then how come the two of you came here, too?"
Guy grins nervously.
"I'm kind of curious to hear what happened after you released Lorelei, Luke" Jade tells me.
"Yeah!" Anise shouts. "Tell us!"
I look at Tear who still has her eyes closed, a smile on her face.
"Okay, I guess I can tell you," I say. "It all started with a song…."