This chapter features the songs Black and blue by CFO$ Long Hawke, Centuries by Fall Out Boy, and Rise by State of Mine.
"Rogue!"
Rogue looked up from where he had been training with Sting, seeing Yukino looking flushed and excited. "What is it?"
"We received word that an elf was seen in Magnolia. They say she has navy blue hair and brilliant green eyes."
"What?!"
"She's in town performing with a group of travelling musicians."
Rogue looked at Sting as he spoke.
"Let's go to Magnolia!"
It was October 21 of X792, one year since the defeat of the Hellcry Devils and the day Ayva Stryt was able to restore her soul. One year since Ayva had disappeared, the body of her dead brother along with her. One year since Ayva had journeyed to the ruins of Lilvelone and set her brother to rest for good. One year since she had left Rogue, the man she had barely started a relationship with. One year and now she was back.
Ayva had left the Stonevale Rangers and set about travelling Fiore and even went to Bosco, searching for any sign that her people may yet live- even as slaves. But, as she suspected, she was the last of the Eranosian people. During her travels, she met a group of travelling musicians who had given her a fire to sleep by one night they made camp. They had talked, even sang a few songs together, and really got along well. Ayva accepted their offer to travel with them back to Magnolia, where they were all from, and perform one last time before she set out on her own again. While she traveled with this group of merry musicians called Masters of Twilight, she learned a great deal about herself and the world around her.
"Ayva, are you ready?"
Ayva looked at the one who spoke, a middle aged man named Dun Bolt. "Ya, whenever you are. Where are Zaliama, Bemmo, and Meirdik?"
"They're getting the rest of the equipment ready. We're on in five."
"Understood."
It was nearing the end of the performance and Ayva stepped forward on the stage.
"Hello, Magnolia! We are so grateful for the opportunity to perform for you. Now, while we have a few more songs to perform for you, I have a small favor to ask of you." Ayva looked at the crowd. "You see, my friends here are natives of Magnolia and are returning home after a long journey. I was hoping you could help me welcome them back!" She smiled as the crowd cheered and she looked at Dun and the others. "Ready when you are."
The music started and Ayva took the mic in her hand, waiting for her part.
"Black and blue I crawl along, the wreckage of what now is gone. Back to you to fight another day. I'll go on and on and on and on. I'm facing a demon inside created with every last part of me. The pain will fade and I'll go on and on and on and on! I'm facing a demon inside created with every last part of me. The pain will fade and I'll go on and on and on and on! Black and blue I crawl to you. Black and blue I crawl to you. Black and blue I crawl along, the wreckage of what now is gone. Back to you to fight another day. I'll go on and on and on and on. I'm facing a demon inside created with every last part of me. The pain will fade and I'll go on and on and on and on! I'm facing a demon inside created with every last part of me. The pain will fade and I'll go on and on and on and on! Black and blue I crawl to you. Black and blue I crawl to you."
The crowd cheered and the Masters of Twilight started the next song, Ayva joining in when her part began.
"Some legends are told, some turn to dust or to gold. But you will remember me, remember me for centuries. Just one mistake is all it will take. We'll go down in history. Remember me for centuries, remember me for centuries."
Out in the crowd, Rogue and the others had just arrived, their eyes wide as they looked up at the stage.
"It's her..!" Yukino said, smiling with teary eyes.
"I can't believe it!" Sting stared in awe at Ayva, seeing a side of her he had never seen before. "She looks so different!"
"Some legends are told, some turn to dust or to gold. But you will remember me, remember me for centuries. Just one mistake is all it will take. We'll go down in history. Remember me for centuries, remember me for centuries."
Rogue looked up to see a young woman dressed in jeans, black flats, and a black tank top with pointed ears, longer navy blue hair than the year before, and brilliant green eyes singing her heart out with her companions. "Ayva..."
The song came to an end and Ayva smiled. "You guys have been so wonderful today! Thank you! Here's our last song, alright?"
Rogue and the others watched and listened as Ayva and the Masters of Twilight began their final song, their eyes fixated on Ayva as she started to sing.
"I won't just survive. Oh you will see me thrive; can't write my story. I'm beyond the archetype. I won't just conform, no matter how you shake my core. Because my roots, they run deep. Oh, oh, oh. Oh ye of so little faith, don't doubt it. Victory is in my veins, I know it, and I will not negotiate. I'll fight it, I will transform when the fire's at my feet again and the vultures all start circling. They're whispering, 'You're out of time' but still I rise. This is no mistake, no accident, when you think the final nail is in, think again. Don't be surprised, I will still rise. I must stay conscious through the madness and chaos so I call on my angels. They say... oh ye of so little faith, don't doubt it. Victory is in your veins, you know it and you will not negotiate. Just fight it and be transformed because when the fire's at my feet again and the vultures all start circling. They're whispering, 'You're out of time' but still I rise this is no mistake no accident when you think the final nail is in, think again. Don't be surprised, I will still rise. Don't doubt it, oh, oh, oh. You know it, oh, oh, oh. Just fight it, oh, oh, oh. Don't be surprised, I will still rise."
Ayva stood at the front of the stage, sweating and panting but feeling happy. It was the last performance she would be putting on with the Masters of Twilight before going off on her own again, but it was some of the most fun she had had in a long time.
"Thank you, Magnolia!"
As the crowd cheered, Ayva and the others stepped backstage and started packing up their gear.
Meanwhile, Rogue and the others were waiting until the crowd dispersed a bit before approaching the stage.
Ayva stepped out onto the stage, going over to grab a few more of the items left on stage when someone called out to her. Looking up, she was met with a teary eyed Yukino as she threw her arms around her. "Y-Yukino?"
"Ayva, we missed you!"
Ayva hugged, then stepped back and looked at her. "What are you doing here?"
"We heard that there was an elf with navy blue hair and brilliant green eyes performing in Magnolia with a group of travelling musicians and we just had to come to see if it was you!"
Ayva smiled, hugging her again. "It's so good to see you." Then, thinking a moment on what she said, she looked at her again. "'We'?"
"Hey, Shifter! Been awhile!"
Ayva looked over and smiled as Sting came up to the front of the stage. "Sting, you're here too?"
Sting nodded, pulling Rogue forward. "And so is he."
Ayva's eyes widened when she saw Rogue and she hopped down from the stage, coming to a stand in front of him.
Rogue looked down at Ayva, blushing. "That was quite the performance." He said, silently kicking himself for not saying something more along the lines of how much he missed her or why she left without saying goodbye.
Ayva managed a smile, wondering if leaving without saying goodbye the year before ruined their relationship before it could really take off. "Thanks. I met them in a town called Bellfort, in Bosco just east of the border line. They were on their way back to Magnolia and offered me a spot with them back to Fiore. We've gotten pretty close the last few months."
"So, what have you been up to?" Sting asked.
"Well, after Bickslow restored my soul, I used the teleportation crystal Elyon had in his pocket to take us to Lilvelone. I gave him a funeral, then set out to see if I could find any other Eranosians."
"Did you find anyone else?" Yukino asked.
Ayva sighed and shook her head. "No. I really am the last of my people." She looked between them. "Say, why don't we all have dinner tonight? My treat. I was going to take the others out since it's my last night with them. You're welcome to join, if you would like."
"We'd love to, right, Rogue?" Sting asked, nudging his partner.
"Sure."
Ayva sensed there was some tensions between her and Rogue, which she expected would probably happen after she left things as she did. "Great, then let us just finish up here and we can meet you at the Lunar Blossom on the west end of town? Let's say, in an hour?"
"Sounds great! We'll see you then, Ayva!"
Ayva smiled and hurried to help the others finish up cleaning while Yukino, Sting, and Rogue made their way through town.
"I can't believe it's really her." Yukino said. "She seems so different than last time we saw her."
"She seems so much happier and lively, too." Sting added. "Maybe it's because she has her soul back."
"You think it's as simple as that?" Yukino asked.
"Probably." Sting shrugged. "It makes the most sense to me."
"What do you think, Rogue?"
Rogue was lost in thought as they walked through town, heading west to the restaurant Ayva suggested. 'She's back, but what did she mean by going out on her own again?'