I do not own Chrono Trigger. Thank you to Garnithor for reviewing my story, you have made me happy. This chapter is here because Esaku yanked me over and said, "You are showing them my village." ...Don't argue with the Battle Captain. --;
Two and a half weeks after he'd left her there, Esaku showed up at the infirmary as she was leaving with Raulewn. Lyn immediately stopped, prompting the Grimalkin to ask what was wrong. "It's… my Master," Lyn answered, not taking her eyes from the Outlaw.
"Ah-ouu…" Raulewn hummed, nodding. "So, you've come to take your healer back?"
Esaku looked at Raulewn, somewhat surprised. "I have," he answered.
"Share a meal with us? It's been fairly a hard day," the feline offered.
Lyn didn't understand Esaku's reaction to the friendly offer. For his part, the Outlaw was further surprised. It appeared his slave had been accepted by the healer-mages far better than he had expected. "Yes, we will do that. Thank you for the offer."
When they reached the mess hall, Lyn automatically followed Raulewn to the pot of stew that was made for the mages. Esaku nodded to himself, pleased, making a mental note to explain to the girl just why that stew was mage-only on the battlefield. During the meal, he watched as the healers spoke among each other, most of it going over Lyn's head. When Raulewn announced that Lyn was going home with her master, there was even genuine disappointment, though a majority of it was simply mourning the loss of a healer.
"It's time to go," Esaku said, standing. "We have a ship to catch."
The journey to the ship was mercifully easy, and Esaku seemed in a good mood as they set sail. He asked how Lyn had spent her weeks, and went over more of the language with her. He also explained about the stew, which was made with the same herbs that were concentrated in the ethers that were used in the field to restore magic energy.
Wrinkling her brow, Lyn looked up at Esaku from her place on the floor. "So… I was allowed to use something that restores the, ah, magic of Mazoku?" she asked, using her native tongue to make sure she got it right.
"Yes, exactly. Did it work?" Esaku said, taking a bit of a purple fruit.
Lyn nodded slowly, not sure she liked the implications. "Does… that mean…" She closed her eyes, hesitant to finish the question. "My tech… uses magic?"
Esaku gave a little caw, shaking his head. "I can't answer. The only other techs I have seen are nothing like magic. They are simply skills which Humans have studied." He shrugged a little and had more of his fruit.
Curling up slightly, Lyn rested her head on her knees and let the conversation die. She didn't want to think about it now. She didn't want her tech to be so close to the Mazoku magic, to be something that was innate and not learned. She just wanted to be Human, normal.
They had to stop by Maou Castle, to pick up Luke, who seemed happy to see them. From there it was a short journey to the clan's home, a nice little town to the north, in what Lyn considered a 'normal' forest, with the same kinds of trees she was used too. Once again, she was surprised by how much it resembled a Human village. The houses were wooden, with gardens and washing and laundry. The children were mostly Diablos, but they laughed and played and were scolded by their mothers. It was… ordinary.
A couple of days after arriving, Esaku told Lyn to come with him. Luke was busy playing with Ethrurrion's son, so they left the boys under the watchful eye of the Diablos' mother. Walking down the dirt path, Lyn this time was noticing how… natural the town was. The streets wandered and curved, taking detours around trees that would have been cut down in Algetty.
"Where are we going, Master?" Lyn asked, as they reached what seemed to be the town center. Four or five wooden buildings surrounded a dirt 'square', with a well in the middle.
"To the jeweler. I promised you a reward, did I not?"
That was true, though Lyn had more or less forgotten what he'd said weeks ago. It seemed odd to her, however, especially now that she knew he was talking about jewelry. Jewelry was not something she would have expected being given to a slave.
Esaku went to a building and knocked sharply. After waiting for a moment or two, he simply opened the door and walked in, Lyn following. A Diablos limped into the entry hall, smiling. "Ah, Esaku! I'd heard you were back in town. Good to see you, good to see you. What brings you visiting, and is that a new slave?"
"Yes, and she's part of why I'm here, Mawr. I thought you might have some necklaces that would work."
The feline nodded, turning and leading them to his workshop. "My daughter's been taking after me. You could probably buy some of her learning work, unless you're wanting something fancier."
Esaku hesitated just a moment, but then decided that, with the status loss and commiserate pay loss, he didn't really have the resources to do that. And anyway, as useful as the girl was, she hadn't earned anything like that, really. "Your daughter's work will be fine. If it's anything like her father's, I know she will have a bright future."
Mawr smiled proudly, but tried to remain modest. "If you say so, Esaku." He pulled out a tray filled with a wide selection of ornaments, most of which still needed to be attached to something to make a necklace. "Here's what she's done so far."
Lyn gasped a little at the sight of the pretty polished stones set in the midst of gold or silver wires, twisted into fanciful shapes. They were not the delicate things Sera had sometimes worn, and while the craftsmanship was clumsy, it was clear that these were meant to be more solid. She started to reach for them, but pulled back, suddenly mindful of the two Mazoku.
"Have you never seen jewelry before?" Esaku asked jokingly. Looking over the pendants, he noticed a silver one in particular. Two thumb-sized stones were connected by silver wires, which bent into a slight chevron. It was maybe the size of a woman's palm, but what really caught his attention was the color of the stones. One was blue, one was huelin, the healer-mage colors. "This one," he said, pointing at it.
Lyn hadn't answered her Master's jesting question, deciding that if it was important, he'd ask again. Looking at the ornament, she smiled a little. "It's beautiful," she murmured.
Mawr and Esaku bartered back and forth for a little while before the Outlaw passed over a couple of coins. Mawr took the pendant, quickly attached a cord to either corner, and gave it to Esaku, who promptly told Lyn to turn around. She did so, and Esaku quickly tied the cords around her neck so that the metal hung over her breastbone.
A couple more weeks passed, with Lyn continuing to study Medinian. She was getting better at it, though she was still falling into her own language far too often as far as Esaku was concerned. Lyn, for her own part, was almost happy, content to spend her time with those she had been taught were 'monsters'.
So, yeah, transition. Next chapter, things get moving. It'll be up on Saturday; I've changed to a twice-weekly updating schedule. Please reveiw?