Sora no Ato: Chapter 11
Ties to the Past: Fiesta des Lumiéres
Soon after Aisha returned to Seize, she and Noël headed over to the church to see Yumina. Aisha brought along a small box of the same delicacies she gave at her welcome lunch to give to Yumina.
Mishio was playing in the churchyard and was the first to see them. ``Noël-onēchan,'' Mishio cried, running over. ``Look at this new dress Yumina-onēchan made for me.'' She spun around so Noël could see. Then, before Noël could comment, she looked up at Aisha. ``And you must be Aisha ...san. Noël-onēchan told me you were coming and how nice you are.''
``Yes, I am,'' Aisha replied. ``Are you Mishio?''
``Yup. Did she tell you about me too?''
Noël smiled, happy her two friends looked to be getting along well.
``Yes. Noël told me about you in her letters. She said you did a very good job on your box, together with her.''
``Yup. We fixed it good.'' She smiled up at Noël. ``She's my friend.''
``Thank you for being her friend,'' Aisha said, unconsciously stepping closer to Noël. She reached over to ruffle Mishio's hair and continued more solemnly, ``Thank you for taking care of my precious Noël.''
``Of course.'' Mishio smiled up at her and Noël. ``That's what friends do for each other.''
Noël's blush, which had started with Aisha's words, deepened at this, but she did nod and smile back at Mishio. This was a lesson they had both learned over the box.
Mishio continued on, bubbling happily. ``Will you be my friend too ...Aisha-onēchan?''
``Of course. I would love to.'' Aisha and Noël glanced at each other. Yes, Mishio was as friendly and happy as Noël's letters had said.
Noël realized that as fun and important as finding a new friend was for Mishio, she was still proud of her new dress. ``Thank you Mishio. I'm glad you and Aisha are friends. You look really nice in your new dress. Yumina's a good seamstress. Isn't she?''
``Yup, and she likes making clothes too.''
``She does a good job,'' Aisha added.
``Is she around?'' Noël asked. ``We came over to see her.''
``Yup. She's working on another outfit.'' Mishio smiled at Yumina's interest in needlework.
``Do you want to come see her with us?''
``No thanks. I want to go over and show Kanata-onēchan my dress,'' Mishio answered.
``I think she's still at the Fortress,'' Noel said, ``and I don't think she's too busy to look at your dress. She'll be happy to see it.'' Kanata was almost always happy, so this was pretty much a sure thing, though Noël didn't mention that part. ``But be careful. Don't keep Kanata from her duties too long.''
``I will. I won't'' Mishio turned to leave. ``Bye-bye, Noël-onēchan, Aisha-onēchan.''
``Goodbye Mishio,'' Aisha and Noël answered as they watched her run off, both enjoying her cheerful energy and friendship.
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They knocked at the side-door of the church, and before long Yumina opened the door. Her eyes grew wide on seeing Aisha. She knew Aisha was visiting, and had met her up at the fortress, but she was surprised that Aisha would come here to visit what she would likely call a ``church of blasphemous gods.'' Yumina recovered quickly. ``Welcome back,'' she greeted them in Roman.
``Thank you,'' said Aisha. Her face alight with joy at the friendly greeting. ``I wanted to come back here to see my friends, and to say thank you to those who saved me.''
``But I...'' Yumina trailed off. She wanted to deny she had done anythings special, that she merely served the Myriad Gods, but she realized that this was not the time to argue theology with Aisha. For that matter, Noël's expression told her to just accept the thanks.
Aisha smiled at her self-restraint. ``And you're doing something else for me as well.'' This merely confused Yumina, so she continued, ``You're continuing to teach Noël Roman. Thank you. She's getting good. Thank you.''
Noël wanted to deny this, but Yumina and Aisha's looks wouldn't let her, so she simply countered, ``Your Helvetian is becoming good too, Aisha.''
Yumina laughed at this interaction. ``You two are so cute together. But I shouldn't keep you standing out here. Come on in and let me get you something to drink.'' Yumina fell into her accustomed mothering role even though she was younger than Aisha. Years of practice with the orphans made it a habit.
They soon joined her happy laughter and agreed to her invitation.
Yumina led them to her work room where they sat around a small table next to Yumina's needlework. She served them each a glass of the cider the church had been given. They enjoyed this together with some of the delicacies Aisha brought while they renewed their acquaintance and chatted over what each had been doing since they last saw each other.
ooo OOO ooo
Aisha took the opportunity to sit down one day with Kanata and Noël to talk about the fossil of the Angel of Destruction which remained in the lake by Seize. Kanata had seen it when she fell in the lake on her first day in Seize as she tried to retrieve the bell Rio usually wore around her neck. Seeing this fossil which her grandmother had told her of was one of the reasons Aisha first came to Seize, though her broken leg then made it imprudent to go see it last time she was here. Now that she was healed, perhaps she could finally go see the fossil.
``I'd be happy to go with you to show you where I saw it,'' said Kanata. ``But I'm not sure I should fall in again to get a good look. Rio scolded me for doing that last time.''
Noël grinned at this, and explained, ``She was worried about you.''
``I wouldn't want to worry Miss Rio,'' said Aisha. ``And I also wouldn't want her to scold me.''
All three laughed at this, then fell to discussing where the fossil was and how they might get there without worrying Rio. It wasn't very far from town—Kanata had no trouble walking there after hearing Rio's bell. On the other hand, the lake at that point was surrounded by some pretty steep cliffs. The river passed through a steep gorge at Seize, and it was also here that men in olden times had built a dam across the river, both to control its flooding from the spring melt and big summer storms as well as to provide a steady supply of water to the fields in this area. Noël pointed out that one interpretation of the legends could point to using the dam to drown the Daemon of Destruction and quench its fires. Certainly its skeleton had ended up under the waters of the lake.
But how to get from the cliff-tops down to see the skeleton, and do so safely? That was the question. Aisha knew how to rappel down, even if she had not had good luck with this before. Kanata and Kureha had found her after she had been injured falling from a broken rope, and that lead to all of her adventures here in Seize, especially meeting Noël.
``Oh,'' Noël exclaimed as an idea came to her. ``Takemikazuchi's weight reduction system will let him climb down those cliffs. He easily climbed those above the fortress that day.'' All knew that she referred to the day they all headed out in Takemikazuchi to stop Colonel Hopkins.
``We should ask permission from Filicia, but yes, I think that would work,'' Aisha said. ``Kanata, would there be a small beach at the bottom where we could stop, get out, and look around?''
``I think so. There was one that I rested on and where Rio came to rescue me. But I don't remember how close it was to the skeleton. I ...wasn't paying as much attention to it when I swam to find a place to get out of the water.''
They laughed, and Noël answered, ``That should be good. Let's go ask Filicia.''
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Filicia was happy to give them permission, but insisted that they scout out the area beforehand instead of just plunging over the edge in Takemikazuchi. ``In fact, let's make this a training exercise and see if Rio or Kureha would also like to come along.'' She implicitly included herself in the adventure.
When asked at dinner that evening, Kureha declined, citing the lack of a sixth seat in Takemikazuchi and also her own need to keep working on her medical studies. Rio would join them. She thought this interesting, and a good variation on their standard training regimen. This time they wouldn't practice gunnery, so having Kureha, their gunner, stay behind would not be a problem.
A couple days later, all was ready and all the girls gathered at Takemikazuchi. Kureha wished them well as they boarded and headed out. Aisha sat in Kureha's gunner's position as that let her use the gun-sight to get a good view of the skeleton.
Noël drove them to a spot across the river from where Kanata fell in so they could have a better look and plan their descent.
``Is that the spot?'' Filicia asked her as they all got out to take a look.
``I think so. You see that place where the path is broken away?'' Kanata pointed to a footpath halfway down the opposite cliffs. ``That's where I fell from.''
``So the fossil of the angel would be under the water there?'' Aisha asked, wanting to make sure.
``Yup.'' Kanata enjoyed being helpful.
``So you fell straight down from there into the water?'' Rio asked. ``Do you remember which direction the skeleton was?''
``Yup.'' Kanata nodded in answer to the first question, then tilted her head thinking. ``It was right ahead of me, but...'' She knew that really didn't help specify the direction.
``Which way were you walking?'' Asked Noël. ``...when you fell.''
``Um...'' Kanata thought back. ``I came from town, ...and the river was on my right when I tried to jump that gap.''
``You tried to jump across that?'' said Rio, incredulous. ``Were you determined to fall to your death that day?'' Even now, the thought of that was enough to scare her. ``My bell wasn't worth your life, silly.''
``I'm sorry, Rio-sempai.'' Kanata bowed her head in contrition. ``I knew it was precious to you, and I wanted to get it back for you.'' She looked back up at Rio. ``And the gap was smaller back then.''
``Still...'' said Rio, calming herself down and trying to let the past be past. She exchanged a knowing smile with Filicia who understood what was going through her head.
Aisha stared at the spot Kanata had pointed out for a while. ``You also described the skeleton as leaning up against a near-vertical wall, almost standing.'' Kanata nodded. ``That sounds more like those cliffs to the right of where you fell. There's a little beach to the left, and that doesn't look like it has a steep drop-off underwater like the other cliffs. Also, if you fell straight down going the direction you say, that looks like it would be right in front of you.''
Kanata nodded, a bit overwhelmed by the analysis.
``She's right,'' said Noël. She followed Aisha's deductions and found herself in complete agreement.
Filicia suppressed a laugh, amused at the girls interactions. ``Well, if we think that's where the skeleton is, do we know enough to safely navigate Takemikazuchi down there?''
``Yes,'' said Noël. ``No problem.''
``Then why don't we get back aboard and go over there while the sun is still high enough to give us good light.''
``Let's go!'' said Kanata, eager as always.
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They got back into Takemikazuchi and Noël drove him to the nearest bridge, across the river, and back to the cliffs above the skeleton.
They paused there momentarily and Filicia ordered, ``Everyone, check that the hatches are fastened tight and that you're secure in your seats. It's not that I doubt any of your restoration, Noël, but I feel it can't hurt to be extra careful when we can.''
Noël nodded. ``Safe is good,'' she agreed.
When everyone acknowledged they were safe and secure, Filicia said, ``Take us down, Noël.''
Noël twisted her driver's controls and Takemikazuchi headed over the edge and descended the cliff with the firm grip of a spider crawling down a wall. Inside, all the girls sat safe at their positions, effortlessly held there by Takemikazuchi's weight control. Noël quickly reached the small scree beach next to the skeleton. ``Is this the spot?'' she asked Kanata to confirm their deductions from across the river.
``I think so,'' said Kanata, opening the hatch and sticking her head out to look around. She still wasn't good at manipulating the view the display at her station could give her. ``Yup. That's where I fell.'' She pointed to the broken path above them, then realized the others couldn't see her gesture. She dropped back into the tank after another look. ``I think that's where the skeleton is. Look, Filicia.'' She pointed to the waterline shown on Filicia's display. ``Isn't that a piece of a wing sticking up out of the water there?''
``Yes,'' Filicia agreed. ``It does look like that.'' She echoed the image on her display to the others. ``Don't you think so too?''
Aisha nodded, her smile growing now that she was this close to her dream.
``Going in,'' Noël announced, and had Takemikazuchi take several steps into the water, then squatted down so that the hatches were only a little out of the water and turned on a spotlight. This placed enough of the gun-sight sensors below water that Aisha could see the images from them on her gunner's sight.
``Thank you, Noël,'' said Aisha. ``I can see it clearly now.''
A huge bird-like skeleton lay against the cliff in front of them. It looked as if the angel had spread out its wings and leaned back against the cliff to rest, though only its bones now remained. The head was missing—all versions of the legend agreed that the head was lost when the angel died—and the bottom of the skeleton disappeared into the dark depths so she couldn't tell what kind of legs and tail it might have had. The wings and chest seemed more like a gigantic bird than those pictures which showed angels as being closer to giant humans with wings.
Kanata pulled her head back in from the hatch and looked over at the image on Filicia's screen. ``Yup, that's what I saw back then. Isn't it great to finally get a chance to see this yourself, Aisha?''
``Yes, it is,'' Aisha answered. ``To be able to see this fossil from grandmother's stories.'' She smiled back. ``And thanks to Noël, we have a much better look at it than she could, and an easier one as well.''
Rio grinned over at Filicia and added, ``Not to mention a safer one, too.'' Rio knew how important the girls' safety was to her.
This brought a laugh from Filicia at her own foibles, and soon everyone joined in. Filicia didn't much mind being teased about her caring nature, and they all knew this.
``Aisha, please feel free to use your controls to point the spotlight and view where you want to,'' said Filicia.
``Thank you. ...Umm, how do I?''
``Here, Aisha,'' said Noël as she turned around. ``This joystick controls the view and this one''—she entered a couple commands and pointed to a second joystick—``this one aims the spotlight.''
Aisha spent a while looking over the skeleton. ``And to think,'' she commented, ``These brought on the apocalypse, so long ago.''
``And made the world what it is today,'' added Rio.
``But we're safe now, aren't we?'' asked Kanata, a little concerned as she had only a vague understanding of the apocalypse.
``Yes, Kanata, we're safe. Don't worry,'' Filicia answered. ``After all, this is only a skeleton, not a full daemon.'' She glanced at Aisha. ``Or not a full angel, depending on what tradition you follow.''
``Yes,'' Noël answered. ``None of its weapons are here and functional. There aren't even all the parts of them, and the head which mounted the main weapon and controls is gone.'' She consulted the screen in front of her. ``The instruments also don't detect any harmful residues remaining here.'' She smiled up at Aisha, as if to tell her that she was also looking out for her and wanted her to be safe.
``Thank you, Noël,'' said Filicia. She appreciated her verification of this, not to mention the special care she showed for Aisha.
Aisha smiled at Filicia's recognition of the differences in the stories told by their differing religions. Which was true? Possible a mix, possibly neither. She smiled back at Noël, both for her reassurance, and also because she found that Noël mattered more to her than any religious beliefs.
Aisha took one last look over the skeleton, then turned to Filicia. ``Thank you for helping me see this. I never imagined that I would be able to see this fossil so closely, or so well. This is better than anything my grandmother would have been able to do.'' Her eyes included the others, but especially Noël, in these thanks.
``You're welcome,'' said Filicia. ``I'm glad to see you happy and healed here.''
Noël nodded, in fullest agreement with Filicia.
``But,'' said Rio, opening a compartment near her, ``before we leave, why don't we take a picture or two so you can keep this memory with you.'' She pulled out a camera.
``Thank you, Miss Rio.'' While Aisha would always remember this, pictures would be a nice memento.
Rio handed the camera to Noël to take the pictures, as she had an uncanny feel for technology and knew best how to operate the camera. Noël took a couple photos of the gun-sight picture and then stuck her head out the hatch to take a couple more directly.
``Noël,'' Rio called to her as she was outside taking photos, ``save a little film for a picture of the two of you as well.''
``Thank you, Miss Rio,'' said Aisha, touched by her consideration. Noël's cheeks colored slightly, and her smile said this touched her as well.
They finished the pictures, then all climbed back into Takemikazuchi and closed the hatches. Filicia checked that they were secure, then asked Noël to take them up the cliff and back to the fortress.
Once back, Aisha again thanked them all for helping her finally see the fossil of her grandmother's stories. They also finished off the roll of film with a picture of Noël and Aisha, and then with one of all of them together at the fortress. Noël was able to set a timer on the camera so that they could all be in the picture together.
ooo OOO ooo
Not long after, the six girls sat together around the table, sharing dinner. Aisha had helped with the preparations and so tonight's potatoes were done in Roman fashion. Rio had found she liked this style and smiled as she realized that this would be far from the last time she would have them this way. ``These are really tasty,'' she said, as she took a second helping. ``Thank you, Aisha. They're fit to serve an emperor.''
``Thank you, Miss Rio,'' she replied. ``You don't need to exaggerate...'' She trailed off noticing that Rio was shaking her head at her, smiling.
``I'm not exaggerating, Aisha,'' she kindly countered. ``When I was visiting Emperor Franz Leopold after my tour declaring the peace, his own chef made this very dish for us. Yours tastes just as good.''
Aisha colored and bowed to her. ``Thank you, Your Highness. I am deeply honored.''
``Aisha, please. I'm just Rio here. Please keep calling me that like everyone else does.'' Rio shook her head again. ``I'm still trying to get used to ...my new position, and I'd like to do so slowly.'' She realized that perhaps she also shouldn't emphasize her new status as well, though perhaps it did mean she was becoming more comfortable with it. Her mentioning the Emperor's own chef probably emphasized her position and prompted Aisha's slip.
``Of course, Miss Rio. I'm sorry.'' Aisha's blush deepened in embarrassment at her mistake. But it was an easy one to make.
Kanata began to giggle, and soon all were laughing together at this fun. Perhaps she is what we need in an Empress, thought Aisha, especially given what Noël's told me of her. But it will be hard to fill Empress Maria's shoes, even for someone as nice as she.
They continued eating, laughing and talking as friends will. As dinner wound down, Filicia looked up and commented, ``It's getting to be that time of year again.''
Kanata and Noël caught her meaning, but Rio and Kureha looked thoughtful as they ran through the calendar in their heads. ``Fiesta des Lumiéres is coming soon. Is that what you mean, Filicia?'' Kanata asked.
This earned her a smile from Filicia. ``Yes, that's what I was thinking of.'' She looked at Rio. ``Would you mind participating again this year?''
Rio pulled herself back from the memories of last year's Fiesta which Kanata's comment had prompted. ``No,'' She shook her head quietly. ``I wouldn't mind ...as long as we keep it low-key like last year.''
This earned her a smile from Filicia and the others.
``And, Filicia,'' she interjected with a smile, ``as long as you promise to be careful with knives.''
``Of course, Rio.'' Filicia rubbed her hand where she had sliced the skin off while woolgathering as she was making a lantern for the festival last year.
Noël was the first to recognize Aisha's confused expression. Realizing she likely had never heard of Fiesta des Lumiéres before, she began explaining it to her. The rest of the girls chimed in, describing variations in different parts of the country—such as Kanata's hometown where it was called Obon—or telling of last year's Fiesta here, including the story behind Rio's ``knives'' comment. Aisha learned you didn't have to believe in ghosts or returning spirits to participate and honor or thank those family and special people who had gone before. Rio explained that the Central Helvetian Church disapproved of ``folk rituals'' like this, but perhaps the do so because there is little way to turn them into being profitable for the church. Filicia explained that it was perfectly acceptable to only participate to the degree which one felt comfortable. Not everyone in town participated, and that was just fine. So Aisha agreed to take part alongside Noël.
ooo OOO ooo
Filicia and Rio went out again this year and bought the sticks and paper to make lanterns to float down the river at the festival. Noël and Aisha did not join the others around the table making their own lanterns. Noël was not making a lantern herself and Ashia followed her lead. Noël still had too many dead on her conscience to be drawn to doing something that might draw the attention of some ghost who might not be as understanding as Aisha or Mishio.
It was her new friend Mishio who drew Noël more into the Fiesta. For at her urging, Noël and Aisha came over to Yumina's church to help her and the other orphans make their lanterns. She found Mishio's simple sincerity irresistible: ``You helped me with mother's box, of course you can help us with the lanterns. There's no problem.'' Aisha came along too, not only to be with Noël, but also because Mishio begged her to come too. In the short while she had been here, she too had found a friend in Mishio. Of course Yumina welcomed them and their help, as did the old priest.
As they sat around the tables with the orphans, assembling the wooden frames and decorating the paper for lanterns Mishio came over. Her work with Noël on her box showed in the skill with which she had assembled her lantern frame.
``Noël-onēchan?''
``Yes?''
``Could you help me?'' When Noël smiled back in answer, Mishio continued. ``I want to make a grownup's lantern this year. I want to make one that has real names, not a kid's drawings. I don't know how to write my parents' names. Can you help?''
``Of course,'' she said, ruffling Mishio's hair. ``This is what friends do for each other.'' They both smiled remembering how they learned that lesson together over Mishio's box. ``What are your parent's names?''
Mishio told her, and the two conferred with Aisha on spelling, as her father's name was Roman. That was not all unusual in the area around Bienenland, and Aisha obviously knew Roman best among all of them. When they reached a conclusion on spelling, Noël wrote the two names out neatly on a scrap of paper so Mishio could copy them to the actual lantern paper.
``This way, you'll have made the lantern yourself. That will make your parents proud of you: of the big girl you've become.'' When doubt crept into Mishio's eyes, Noël added, ``I know you can do it.''
Aisha smiled and put a hand on Mishio's shoulder. ``Your parents will know we helped. They will be glad you have good friends. They will be very glad you made their lantern yourself.''
Mishio nodded. ``Thank you,'' she said to both of them, then bent over her pen, carefully copying her parents' names.
ooo OOO ooo
In the evening, after sharing watermelon and enjoying the fireworks Kureha had picked up in Treize, they all took their lanterns and joined the townspeople heading town to the river together. Noël and Aisha joined Yumina's orphans there. Mishio talked them into helping her release her lantern.
While Mishio knelt in silent prayer, seeing her lantern and her parents off, Aisha watched the other lanterns drift past. She saw Rio's and smiled inwardly. It had to be hers, for who else would write, ``Mio Kazumiya, Iliya Arkadia, Maria Wittelsbach,'' on their lantern. She hoped that was for Empress Maria—and who else could it be—as she truly deserved to be honored, and if Rio thought so too and also felt a special tie to her, then that was a good sign for the future. Getting up after she finished releasing her lantern into the stream, Mishio told the two of them, ``Thank you. I told mom and dad not to worry because now I have Noël-onēchan and Aisha-onēchan as friends to look after me.''
``Mishio,'' they both said, pulling her into an embrace from both of them. ``Thank you.''
After a little, Seiya came over and asked, ``Me too?'' He had overcome his dislike for most soldiers. Noël and Aisha opened their arms and drew one more into their little family here.
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After letting their lanterns go to float away down the river, Filicia and Rio retreated up the bank. They stood, watching the younger members of their platoon talking and laughing with Yumina's orphans, as they had last year. The gentle glow of the lanterns, the quiet reverence of the evening, and the special sense it brought of connection and thanks to those who went before opened doors in their hearts which both had kept closed.
Filicia began, ``After you left, especially after we rescued Aisha, I realized how much I'd come to rely on you, how much you mean to me.'' She paused and looked Rio in the eye. ``I realized that for all of your helping, I've never told you that. And I knew that I had to someday.''
``Filicia.''
Filicia looked over at Kanata playing with the children. ``Kanata helped me realize I shouldn't keep that a secret. But she gave us more than just the playing of her trumpet which stopping the fighting there... She taught me life should be enjoyed, and we should be true to ourselves and not keep everything hidden.''
``She taught me that too, and much more, though I still don't know if she realizes it.''
``I doubt she does, and she's so lovable about it.'' Filicia paused and swallowed a lump in her throat. ``I've never really told you of my past before coming here, have I?''
``No. I know you lost the rest of your platoon at Bienenland, and that Iliya rescued you there, but...''
``I should... I shouldn't hide my past from you.'' The look in Filicia's eyes grew distant. ``My platoon the size of this one here, though our tank was merely one of the current Arachne models. I was the loader and about Kanata's age. Captain Yukiko and Lieutenant Olga taught me so much.'' She went on to tell of the others in the platoon, of their personalities, and of the fun times they had together. ``But then came the battles of Bienenland. Our tank was hit there. Captain Yukiko had ordered me out to cover Lieutenant Anna, our trumpeter, as she sent back a signal from us, so I happened to be thrown free when our tank was hit and crashed over. Then the ammunition exploded before anyone could escape. ...I was the only survivor. Not even Lieutenant Anna made it. Why me? Why was I spared?''
As she was telling this part, Filicia had unconsciously taken Rio's hand for support and comfort. Rio returned her grasp, concentrating on listening, letting her subconscious offer strength and support. ``We can never know that answer,'' she replied, then continued in a quiet voice. ``But I'm very glad you made it.''
Filicia squeezed Rio's hand in thanks then continued, ``But I might not have, even after that.'' She told of her injured trek across the battlefield and falling into the old-world underground, of her discovery of the old-world soldier there and her conversation with him—or was that conversation only a hallucination—and of her fear and loneliness isolated underground. ``That was where Princess Iliya found and rescued me. She played that song, the same one Kanata did. That's how I heard her and it gave me the courage to call out for help. That's how she was able to find me and pull me out, and that's why I'm here alive today.'' Filicia looked down the river where the lanterns were disappearing. ``After that, Princess Iliya kept me attached to her unit for a while so she could look after me. She also arranged a leave for me and then my assignment to that training camp where we met.''
``Big-sis...'' This time it was Rio who held on to Filicia's hand for comfort and strength as she felt again the pain of losing Iliya. Even though she had heard some of this story before, the greater detail and the intimacy of Filicia's sharing made her feel the pain once more. She continued in a whisper, ``You also saved Filicia, didn't you? Just like you saved Kanata, like you've helped all of us.''
Rio stared at the river of departing lanterns, but her eyes did not see them, rather they were the eyes of memory seeing her sister and their times together.
Filicia left Rio to her memories for a while, then continued her explanation. ``For the most part, I don't think about—I try not to think about—that time: the loss, the pain, the despair. But ...your sister saved me, and I wanted to make sure I told you the full story, not just the short version I told when we celebrated her birthday.'' She looked over at Rio. ``You know, more and more, you remind me of her.'' She smiled at her. ``Though you try to hide it, you really do care for others like she did. You also inspire people to follow you the same way she did.''
``Filicia.'' Rio blushed, embarrassed by the praise and the comparison. She took back her hand. ``I'm not that...''
``You're too humble. Look how the girls admire you. And it seems to me the Royal Guard wasn't just following you because your father told them to.''
``But...''
``And see how Aisha respects you as well. Can you try to believe that you might be better than you think? That maybe your friends see more clearly here? Please.''
``But...'' Rio began, then paused noticing Filicia's expression beginning to show the strong will that lay behind her normal gentle caring. ``All right,'' she quietly agreed. ``I'll try.'' For she saw that this would be an argument that Filicia would never let her win.
``Thank you, Rio.'' Filicia smiled back, recognizing how much an effort this would be for her.
They stayed like this, continuing to watch their juniors enjoying life, celebrating its continuity. The river gave this continuity form, flowing over the skeleton of the daemon from the ancient past, flowing past them and their juniors in the present here, and continuing on quietly, peacefully carrying the lanterns of their dearly departed into the unknown land of the future. The calm surface of the river downstream gave them hope that the future might too be peaceful. And their juniors joy reinforced the meaning given to their own lives.