Chapter 4

She couldn't tell how she got there, but somehow Edea ended up infront of her mother's room inside the healing tower. Somewhere between Central Command and here her anger vanished, at least most of it. She felt the strong urge to hug her mother and was glad she got here.

Mahzer Lee was sitting on a chair infront of a huge window, framed by afternoon's golden sunlight. Maybe it was just the illumination, but to Edea her mother looked healthier than usual.

"Edea. I didn't expect you to come back so soon." A wide smile spread across the woman's face when she noticed her visitor. She stood up to hug her daughter.

"I just felt like it." Edea tried to avoid her mother's glance of appraisal, but Mahzer had never been one to be fooled easily.

"Tell me what happened. Why do you look so sad? Has your father been too strict?"

"No. Well, he tries to get rid of all the sweets in Central Command, but he will never find my secret hiding places."

"Than what is it?", her mother continued asking.

"You know how much I hate to be lied to. Especially if it's a friend lying into my face. He has always been shameless and bad-mannered, but this time he really capped it all off."

"Oh, so this is about a boy?" Edea got scared of the way her mother's eyes were suddenly shining.

"He's just a friend", she hurried to say.

"As far as I know, friends don't lie to friends without reason. Please let me give you to advices, dear daughter. The first one is that you have to listen to him if he tries to explain himself, even if you don't want to hear any excuses. You are so much like your father in some ways, Edea. And I know that both of you can be stubborn and hotheaded sometimes, especially if somebody angered you. Much could have been prevented if your father had talked to you about the crystals earlier, so don't forget how important it can be to put your pride aside and listen."

"What's the second advice?", Edea asked.

"I suggest we both go for some shopping now. I feel better than usual, and a bit of fresh air cannot be too bad. Besides, I heard that new clothes and shoes are supposed to be the best medicine against lovesickness."

"I am not lovesick", Edea protested. "Nevertheless I'd love to go shopping." Coming here really helps, she thought, handing her mother a light blue coat.

It was late in the evening when she entered Central Command and went for her room, packed with several bags and and boxes. On her way back a few monsters had dared attacking her, but she easily repelled them. She felt more exhausted from going shopping than fighting, though.

Yawning, she walked into her room, only to find someone sitting on her bed.

Get out of here, she wanted to yell, but then she remembered her mother's words. So instead of throwing him out, she said nothing while putting all the bags and boxes to the ground.

"How was your date?", Ringabel asked. She could hear how he failed at trying to sound indifferent. He had changed clothes; instead of armor he now wore his casual outfit.

"There was no date", she answered. "I visited my mother." She took off her coat and carelessly threw it on the floor. Her boots soon followed. After stretching her back, she began to untie her bow and run her fingers through her hair. She felt too tired to argue with Ringabel.

"That's good to hear." He turned his gaze away from her and looked out of the window. She stayed standing in the middle of her room, indecisively. "Edea, I am deeply sorry for not telling you the truth. When I returned to this world, I wanted to figure out if I belonged here, or if I was making a fool out of myself, being driven by desperation of not knowing who I am now. I meant to see it for myself instead of having somebody tell me whether it was the right decision or not."

"Why did you come back in the first place?" Edea slowly moved over to her bed, seating herself at the very end of it. Hearing Ringabel sounding honestly sad made her anger instantly disappear.

"I am not Alternis Dim anymore." He locked eyes with her. "I couldn't fill that role back in the world where I was born. Losing my memories, travelling through Luxendarc as a totally different person and fighting Ouroboros changed me. It was simply impossible to try being the Dark Knight again. Everytime I made a joke or complimented beautiful women, everyone would look at me as if I had a second set of eyes growing out of my forehead. Tell me, how can I call a world in which I could not be myself home? When I realized how a monstrous mistake leaving this world was, I didn't think there was any chance of returning here. I went to see Sage Yulyana for some advice. He offered to delete my memories of me being Ringabel, but I refused. Getting the chance to become different than the Dark Knight who was lacking a sense of humor honestly was the best thing that could have happened to me. Luckily the sage knew a way to open a small portal through worlds and dimensions, although it was not simple."

"I'm glad you came back", she confessed. "But why returning to Central Command? This was the home of Alternis Dim. Shouldn't you go to Florem where the skirts are shorter and more fun to chase?"

"I told you once before, I stopped flirting with women long ago. There is only one girl worth the efforts." He winked at her, being the old pervert again.

"Idiot", she murmured and tried to hide the smile that unwantedly came to her lips.

"Do you know why I feel it was the right thing to come back? It's because you knew who I was. The moment you saw my face, you didn't hesitate to call me Ringabel though I could have been Alternis, as well. I feel like I am truly myself in your presence, please excuse the clichée, but it is true."

I knew it was you because Alternis would never call me fat, she thought, but the look in his pale eyes silenced her. He had philandered and wooed around her several times before, but never had he looked at her like this. His eyelids were half closed, yet his eyes somehow were able to pin her down. He leaned closer, close enough she was able to feel his warm breath tickling over her cheek. Then he paused as if wondering if he really should do whatever he was about to do. The small moment of hesitation was enough for Edea to break her motionlessness.

"Ringabel", she whispered. "It's bad manners, staying at a lady's room around bedtime. Besides, I am tired to death and want to sleep. You should better go now."

"Good night,then." He abruptly pulled away and stood up from her bed. "And sweat dreams."

"You too", she said while watching him leaving her room. What was that?, she thought, heart racing, and buried her face into her pillow.