So my excuse is . . . I started playing Mass Effect.
All of it. All three games.
BUT, here were are! Finally! :D
No action, though. Sorry.
Obligatory Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Awakenings
Yu awoke to the sound of pounding rain and a heavy rumble of thunder, a cascading crash that was so near it shook the foundation of wherever he lay. It wasn't until it faded to a muted rumble that he realized he was warm and quiet dry, evidently sheltered from the deluge outside. he opened his eyes, grimacing at the gummy feeling of his eyelashes, blinking rapidly until it cleared. Slowly, his vision adapted to the darkness, the gentle orange glow of several candles illuminating the rectangular hall he found himself in. The shadow-strewn light danced along walls of heavily wrought stone, the cracks deeply shadowed and running like lines of black ink on a gray canvas. Light just barley glanced off the flat, featureless ceiling overhead, flickering to and fro like a mischievous sprite.
Several beds lined the right wall, a small drawer set beside each one with a single well-used candle flickering on the worn tops. There weren't any windows he could see, making the room feel enclosed and cut off from the rest of the world even though he could still hear the rain and thunder outside quite well. It sounded like a monsoon out there . . .
Sitting up, he took the time to leisurely stretch his muscles, the blanket bunching at his waist. His limbs weren't constrained like they normally were, and he found that the reason why was because he wasn't wearing his armor anymore. Instead, he was wearing a soft shirt of some kind of fleecy material, comfortable and warm given the chilled air of the room.
He felt . . . surprisingly good and well-rested. Eager to move around, honestly. But where in the world was he? In Bailsborough? When? The last thing he remembered, they'd been in the forest.
Another memory flickered into existence as soon as he though that, of sharp thorns and gnashing needle teeth, and he inhaled sharply, body tensing on reflex.
That's right, they'd been attacked. But . . . ugh, it was hard to remember the details exactly. Just cracking branches, yelling, fighting, and then . . . it just got hazy, like a thick screen was placed over the memory. He'd been injured, he must have. Otherwise, he would remember what had happened! And where was everyone else?
"Mm . . ."
His eyes shot to the bed next to his own, a shadow he had failed to notice before stirring beneath the covers. Then, it abruptly sat up, and Yu felt his face relax into a relieved smile when he saw the familiar (and drowsy) face of Chie through the dim shade. She yawned expressively, all teeth and tongue that she didn't bother to cover up, head such a tousled mess that looked like she'd been in a fight rather than just sleeping in a bed. Her armor was gone, he noticed, replaced by a soft-looking gown that hung loosely from her frame. She . . . wouldn't be too happy about that when she noticed.
"Chie," he spoke quietly, partly to get her attention and partly just to savor the warmth of the name and it's occupant.
The girl immediately snapped to attention, almost flinging the sheet off as she spun around to face him, legs and all, "Narukami-kun?! Wait, what are you doing in my room? Wait, this isn't my room! Wait, where are we?!"
"Could ya maybe keep it down a tad, some of us are sleeping . . ."
The grumble warmed Yu's heart as he looked over to the bed on his other side, watching as another figure rose up from the sheets.
"Yosuke?" Chie questioned, looking more and more confused as the seconds ticked by. For Yu, he was just happy to know they were alright.
The brunette looked fine too, garbed in loose shirt made of the same soft material. He rubbed at his eyes, then ran a hand through his hair to work out some of the knots as he turned to face the two, "Yeah, Yosuke. Anyway, where are we? And what happened? Did we pass out on the road or something?"
Chie scoffed, "You might, but I wouldn't."
"No, we didn't," Yu said, supplying the information to them, "We were attacked, remember?"
"Attacked . . . ?" Yosuke gave a light start of realization, "You're right, we were! But . . . shit, I can't remember much about it. But . . . we won, right?"
"We must have, or we wouldn't be here," Chie said, looking around pointedly. Her eyes glimmered with worry, "I . . . I think we got hit by an attack or something, didn't we?"
"I . . . think so?" Yosuke didn't sound certain.
Yu straightened up, slipping into his 'leader' mode, "Whatever happened, we're clearly no longer in the forest. First things first, we need to find where everyone else is. Then we can find out what happened."
The other two nodded in unison, latching onto the verdict so they were no longer floundering in confusion. Chie stood up, determination glinting in her eyes. Yu didn't have to wonder who for.
And, as if some wayward wishing star had heard them, the door at the end of the hall swung open with a soft creak and a weary looking Rise trundled inside. Her armor was gone as well, a simple but comfortable looking dress of deep burgundy, an overskirt of black trussed up around her waist and a dark corset wound around her torso. She froze for a moment when her eyes landed on the three upright individuals in the room, but the moment of stunned surprise ended when she suddenly bolted for them.
"You're all awake! Oh my god!" When she was within arms reach, it seemed for a moment that she was going to fling herself onto Yu in a fit of pure happiness. But then she suddenly skidded to a stop and stepped back, arms still held out but hovering near him as if she were afraid to touch him, "Are you okay, Senpai? How do you all feel? Chie-chan, you shouldn't be walking!"
She didn't give them a chance to answer the flurry of questions, fluttering around the beds, eyes flying frantically over them as she went on, "Do any of you feel sick? Headaches? How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Whoa, hey, calm down Rise-chan!" Chie held up her hands in a placating manner, lips quirked into a small frown, "We're fine."
"Are you sure?" Rise was not convinced, eyes shining strangely in the candlelight, tone verging on desperate. Yu was struck with the realization that she was holding back tears, and clearly, whatever had gone wrong in that fight must have been worse than any of them remembered.
"Rise . . ." Yu began softly, rising from his seat. Rise's hands went up again as if to support him, but that same, almost subconscious fear held her back once again, like she were about to grab porcelain rather than a person. Smiling at her reassuringly, he gently took her hand in his own to show her everything was okay, "We're all alright, I promise. We're just a little confused."
Rise still looked worried, unsure, but her shoulders relaxed just a token as she murmured, " . . . Really? You don't . . . hurt or anything?"
Yosuke stood up as well, going for a disarming smile to allay her worries, "No, nothing at all. In fact, I feel pretty well-rested! So don't worry so much, Rise-san."
Rise gives Yu one last, searching look, but when she saw no trace of the hurt she seemed to have been expecting, her face abruptly crumpled and she flung her arms around Yu's waist. She cried into his chest, and Yu placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, feeling a measure of guilt for the part he'd played in causing her tears, however unintentionally. The others remained silent, sharing a puzzled and worried glance, eyes full of questions but giving voice to none.
She pulled back a few minutes later, wiping at her eyes and putting on a forced smile, "Sorry, Senpai . . . I'm just so glad you're okay! I'm not really acting like it though, am I . . . ?"
Yu shook his head in understanding, "You were worried. There's nothing to be ashamed of about that."
"Rise-san . . . what exactly happened?" Yosuke tentatively put the question out there, "How'd we get here? And where is here, exactly?"
Rise blinked, "You don't remember what happened?"
"We remember the fight," Yu clarified for her, "But some parts . . . are a little hazy."
"Especially the end," Chie added softly, brushing a wild strand of hair into place, only for it to quickly sprang back out.
A small furrow appeared between Rise's brow, a contemplative frown on her face as she mumbled, "Right, she said that might happen . . ."
"Who said what might happen?" Yosuke asked, crossing his arms.
"Um, well-"
Rise was cut off by the sound of the door opening, all heads turning as another voice spoke out, "Rise-chan, do you need any . . ."
Another bout of silence passed, then Chie was shouting, "Yukiko!"
The raven haired girl immediately snapped out of her daze, face breaking into a smile despite the tears that sprang into her eyes, "Chie!"
The black skirt of Yukiko's dress, similar to Rise's in design, rustled haphazardly over the stone as closed the distance between herself and her friend, exuberantly throwing her arms around Chie's shoulders and squeezing.
Chie returned it, sounding confused and a little flustered but relieved all the same, laughing, "W-whoa, easy there! Heh, never thought I'd say that to you."
Yukiko instantly pulled away, face filling with worry, "I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?"
Chie blinked, baffled, "What? No! No no no no, you didn't hurt me, I'm fine! Promise!"
Yukiko stared hard into her friend's face, trying to gauge if her friend was being as truthful as she sounded, when she finally nodded in acceptance. Yu had to raise an eyebrow at that. It wasn't like Yukiko to second-guess or disbelieve Chie unless something was really wrong. Like, really wrong.
What was wrong was the question here.
"Okay. That's good. Great! What about you, Narukami-kun? Yosuke-kun?"
Her eyes fixed on the two in question, and Yu gave her an affirmative nod, "We're okay. All of us."
"Same, but why is everyone treating us like we're made of glass?" Yosuke inquired, a touch of impatience coloring his voice, "Also, we still haven't been told where we are or what happened."
Yukiko's eyes widened, "You don't . . . ?"
Rise caught her eye with a shake of her head, and understanding dawned on Yukiko's face, as if some prior knowledge had come to the fore. That still didn't answer any of their questions, though.
Luckily, Rise seemed to realize that they were growing tired of being kept in the dark, "You guys said you remembered the fight, but not all of it, right?"
"Mostly," Chie stated.
"But I think we were . . ." Yosuke trailed off.
"Attacked, weren't we?" Yu asked more with certainty than genuine puzzlement, and the winces the girls gave affirmed his suspicions.
"Yeah . . . you were," Rise involuntarily shivered, "It was bad. Really bad. Those things practically ripped you to pieces, and you almost-!"
She choked on the words, hand going to her mouth as her eyes clouded with a dark memory. Yukiko's hair fell over her face as her head bowed, grimly silent and still.
Yu swallowed, recalling the memory of thorns he'd had upon waking. He still didn't quite remember what had gone down, but the grim faces before him told him that whatever the case, it had been enough to cause a genuine fear for their lives. He couldn't remember, but they clearly did.
Chie took a tentative step forward, gently grasping Yukiko's hand, "Was it . . . really that bad, Yukiko."
The girl nodded somberly, "It was. We really thought you were- . . . I really thought-!" she sniffed, a sharp sting of bitterness in her voice, "I couldn't even heal you . . . I couldn't do anything . . ."
"That's not your fault, Yukiko!" Chie cut in, other hand coming up to grab her friend's shoulder comfortingly.
"She's right," Yu said, "I understand how you both must have felt, but no one's to blame for it. No one."
"Yeah, and . . ." Yosuke rubbed the back of his neck, looking as if he still hadn't quite come to terms with the revelation. It was evident in his voice, "And something must have gone right, right? We're standing here, aren't we?"
Rise nodded, "Yeah you are, and I am so grateful for that, believe me. I just wish we could have done more . . ."
"You've done enough, bairn'a. The both of you have, if I'm to believe the initiates."
Yu's gaze snapped to the door as another figure stepped inside, but this one was far more regal than the simply dressed occupants of the otherwise empty room. Even though the light was dim, he could make out a distinctly feminine shape that carried itself with grace and sophistication, perhaps even a touch of haughtiness if the tight posture was anything to go by. The frail candlelight seemed to dance across the glorious cloak that hung from her slim shoulders, a garb covered with paper-thin feathers of gold all painstakingly arranged to flow into one another like the wings of a great bird. The gleam they gave off was strangely metallic in nature, like each feather was made of actual gold, but they rippled and folded just like any other cloak he'd seen, as light as air. Magic could very well be at play there. Small glints of red would appear with every ripple of the cloth, coming from miniature rubies strewn across the fabric like tiny pearls of blood. The cloak covered almost her entire body, so it was hard to make out much else save for the broad leather belt cinched around her waist, the buckle studded with three large moonstones and strangely comfy looking pants. He could just make out what looked like a half-disk of heavy bronze emblazoned with a sun dangling from the belt by a black strap, but it kept dipping back into the confines of her cloak just out of sight to truly see what was on it. On her head was a circlet with tines that resembled flames that had been frozen in gold, all twining around one another expertly. Two tines in particular both curved up near the front of the circlet, their sharp points curving away from one another as they came to gird a faceted ruby the size of a dollar coin fitted to the very front. Her face was sharply-lined and smooth, with sun-kissed skin that looked warm to the touch and black hair that was pulled back into a neatly plaited bun, the braid of which curved down the right side of her face before disappearing behind her head. A beauty by anyone's definition.
The only other thing that stood out about her were her long, slender ears that tapered out into points.
. . . And she also looked exactly like Yukiko.
"Ylvaria-san!" Yukiko shouted in surprise, snapping to attention as if her commanding officer had just walked into the room. Clearly, they already knew each other.
"Ylvaria-san . . ." Chie echoed, staring unblinking at the carbon-copy of her friend.
Except the ears . . .
"It never get's any less weird, does it?" Yosuke asked, Yu assumed to himself. He wasn't going to answer anyway if that wasn't the case. He was too busy looking at the ears.
The woman, 'Ylvaria', he guessed, held up a hand, a bell of laughter in her voice as said, "At ease, soldier! I'm just here to check on my patients. But you've clearly been doing that for me."
Both girls looked slightly embarrassed at that, but Ylvaria didn't look angry. Granted, Yu wasn't looking very hard at her face right now.
The woman smiled, "See, I told you they would be fine."
"Can you double-check, just to make sure?" Rise asked her pleadingly.
"We'll stay out of your way," Yukiko quickly put in, kneading her hands together worriedly.
"I don't have to check them over to see that they're fine," she replied calmly, but there was a twinkle of understanding in her eyes as she spoke, "Their wounds are all healed and the poison's been expunged from their systems. They'll be okay, I promise."
"Poison?" Yosuke's eyes widened.
Ylvaria looked at him, answering him directly, "Yes, poison. To be more precise, splinter drake venom, a powerful toxin which would have paralyzed all your major organs and asphyxiated your brains."
There was a beat of mildly horrified silence before Ylvaria continued, "Oh, you didn't actually want a clinical description, did you?"
"But they are okay, right?" Rise insisted.
Ylvaria nodded patiently, "Yes, they're okay."
Both Yukiko and Rise finally seemed to take the truth to heart, because they both gave a relieved sigh, relaxing from their tense postures.
After a moment of silence, Ylvaria cleared her throat, "Okay, let's start with a few names. Mine is Ylvaria Ilumvanvi, First of the Ilumvanvi House. What about you?"
"You don't know our names?" Yosuke asked, a little incredulously, "I would have thought everyone would have told you by now."
Chie was still staring.
So was Yu.
"Well, I do know your names, I just thought it would be a good ice-breaker," Ylvaria answered bluntly. A wondering look appeared in her eyes, questioning to herself, "Hm, or is the custom of exchanging names different in your world?"
Yukiko looked at them, voice soft, "Ylvaria-san's the one who saved you in the forest."
"She also kept watch over you while you slept," Rise added.
"Watched us while we slept?" Yosuke echoed, face flushing a little, "Uh . . ."
By this point, Chie had finally gotten a hold of her shock enough to speak, though she still seemed a little over-awed, "You saved us? How? Oh, and, uh, my name's Chie Satonaka. Nice to meet you . . . again? Wow, this is weird . . ."
She said that last part under her breath, but Ylvaria's ears twitched up in interest anyway. Yu only noticed because he was looking.
"You don't have to be shy with me, Chie," Ylvaria reassured her, her gaze warm and strangely fond, "I'm your friend too, even if we've only just met."
Chie shifted from foot to foot, a soft blush coloring her cheeks, "Y-yeah, I guess you're right about that, huh?"
"And to answer you're question, I did save you. I would be an awful cleric if I didn't," Ylvaria responded.
Cleric? Another name he'd heard of before, but only in the mythos of video game lore. They were healers, weren't they? Appropriate. Also, weren't they usually faithful to a deity of some sort?j
She didn't elaborate on what it meant right now, however, instead glancing in Yosuke's direction, "And you?"
Rise had to nudge Yosuke in the ribs to get him going, "A-ah, Yosuke Hanamura!"
Yu knew the attention had then been turned on him, but instead of an introduction, all that came out of his mouth was, "She is an elf."
Silence, again, as everyone stared at him.
"Snrk," Ylvaria snickered only once before she suddenly descended into a fit of full-scale laughter, hearty peals of sound that filled the once-solemn room with warmth.
"T-that's so funny!" she stuttered between laughs, "Yukiko said the exact same thing! Is that h-how you say hello to people?"
Chie's mouth was hanging open, "She has . . . laughing fits."
". . . at the weirdest things, too," Yosuke commented, "I guess she really is Yukiko-san's counterpart."
It was definitely a Yukiko laugh, too. But the sound of it was more comforting to him than strange. After all, it meant that despite any differences, there were still things that were integrally similar.
He couldn't help the smile when he noticed Yukiko's reddened face, "It's not that weird, is it?"
Chie immediately shook her head, "No, it's not weird at all. It's just you. Well, both of you, I guess."
The corners of Rise's mouth twitched up, a touch of relief in her voice as she spoke, "That was definitely a Senpai thing to say, though. You really are alright . . ."
By now, Ylvaria had composed herself, though a quiet snigger would still work it's way out, "I'm sorry, I should expect things like that by now. Anyway, you're Yu Narukami, yes?"
"I thought you wanted an ice-breaker," Yu said back, smiling.
"Yes, but I think we've been here long enough, haven't we? Ylvaria then glanced at the door, where Yu noticed a young woman wearing a dark brown robe was hovering. A bundle of clothes were tucked in her arms, and she hurried forward when Ylvaria gestured for her to enter.
"You'll probably want to get dressed and moving, so I asked the priests if they could spare some clothes for you," she said as the young lady deposited the bundles on one of the beds.
"Priests?" Yosuke questioned.
"You're inside the temple of Elohira, the goddess Bailsborough is faithful to," Ylvaria explained to them, "It was the only place with supplies for medicinal practice."
"So we are in Bailsborough," Yu said, nodding.
"We're in a temple?" Chie asked, looking up at the stone ceiling.
"Mhm," Ylvaria responded with a nod, "Anyway, get dressed. You'll probably want to see the rest of your friends, too."
Yu's ears perked up at this. So everyone was here as well. That was good news.
"And don't worry, Chie, I specifically asked for a tunic and pants," Ylvaria added, "If you're anything like Cahira, I know you wouldn't appreciate a dress."
"Oh sweet, thanks!" Chie answered with a smile. Then she frowned, "Wait, who?"
(*)
Dressing was quick, though a little awkward given the fact that there were no separate changing rooms for them. It ultimately amounted to Yukiko and Rise forming a wall between them and keeping their backs to each other under a halo of awkward silence. Thankfully, the undershirt and pants were easy to pull on, along with the plain tunic he'd been given, so it was over in only a few minutes. The leather shoes he'd been given would take some getting used to, however.
Now they were following Ylvaria out into the hall, the room they were in apparently being on the very dead end of said hall. The floor very gradually sloped upwards, so minuscule it was hardly noticeable, the stone walls adorned with green draperies depicting gold leaves and vines. Candelabras were interspersed between them, lighting their path well enough as they walked, as well as the occasional chest of drawers.
"Oh my god . . ." he heard Chie mumble for perhaps the eighth time, staring ahead with an almost listless gaze. But beneath it, he could easily discern a glimmer of excitement.
She was, after all, going to meet her own counterpart soon.
Yukiko, who was glued to the other girl's side, smiled a bit, "It feels weird, doesn't it?"
"Oh my god . . . I'm gonna meet her," Chie continued, "What do I even say?"
"A 'hello' would be a good place to start," Ylvaria commented blithely, smiling.
"You don't have to worry Chie-senpai," Rise added comfortingly, "Cahira-san's comes of a bit . . . strong at times, but she's nice."
Yosuke quietly scoffed, "A Chie who's nice . . . that'll be the day."
The remark was enough to earn him a brief scowl from Chie, "I'm plenty nice, I'm just mean to you because most of the time you deserve it."
"Ha, so you admit there are times where I don't!" Yosuke called out.
"Just like you admitted there are times where you do!" Chie snapped back.
He heard Ylvaria chuckle, but she made no move to stop the escalating argument.
Intervention time, "Chie, I think it would be for the best if you didn't put Yosuke back in the clinic."
Chie pursed her lips together, but finally relented with a grumble, "Fine."
By this point, they'd reached the end of the hall, emerging through an archway that opened out into a large central chamber about forty feet deep and thirty feet tall. It was still dim, though there were many more candles readily available in this room than any of the others, perfuming the air with heady mix of incense and smoke. The opening they stood in was positioned in the back corner of the room, and to his left he could make out a similar archway leading to other parts of the temple. Most of the ceiling was flat stone save for one portion above their heads that was domed and entirely made of thick glass, the large window stylized with frosted whorls resembling vines. The sky outside was a deep gray, not quite night but not quite day either. Early morning, perhaps? It didn't help that it was still raining.
A large set of double-doors was set into the center of the wall opposite where they stood, bordered by thick cords of intertwined vines that grew up through the stone floor. Three rows of pews were situated in front of it, all arranged so they faced the main centerpiece of the chamber; a great tree that grew from a patch of earth untouched by any stone. The wood was thick and sturdy looking, with boughs that were thick with green leaves untouched by any blight. Strangely, the floor beneath it was completely free of any fallen foliage, as if the tree had never suffered the loss of a single leaf. Another bizarre feature was that the branches of the tree seemed to split apart halfway up, growing out and arching in a way that left a visible spot of empty space between the boughs. It seemed out of place in the manmade building, but it was clearly an object of reverence. It's tallest branches brushed against the domed window, as if reaching for the silvered raindrops that continuously splattered the glass. Yu blinked when he noticed that some of the droplets seemed to be falling through anyway, pattering against the green leaves in a gentle cadence. It was strange because it looked like there were no cracks in the glass at all . . .
It definitely had the look and feel of a fantasy church, that was for sure. Some of the pews were even occupied, peasants with bowed heads and clasped hands, murmuring softly in prayer, the echoing quality of the chamber making their voices sound like the whisper of rustling leaves. 'The Temple of Elohira' . . .
"Whoa . . ." Chie murmured as if she were afraid to disturb the quiet tranquility of the place.
"No kidding . . ." Yosuke breathed, staring up into the branches.
"Ylvaria-san, is anyone still here?" Yukiko asked.
"One," Ylvaria replied softly, raising a slender hand and gesturing to the back (or rather, front) of the building. At first, he couldn't see what she meant. Then he noticed the lone figure sitting against the far wall, back an inch or so from the stone and ramrod straight, legs crossed and hands laid in their lap so one hand rested over the other, palms up. Something else rested across their lap as well, something long and thin. A staff?
Ylvaria went ahead, skirting the pews and the supplicants seated upon them with nary a sound. They followed, Yu occasionally glancing at the people but mostly keeping his eyes on the person they were going to.
As they got closer, features became apparent through the limited lighting, of a more feminine form and short cut hair, and Yu noticed Chie begin to awkwardly lag behind.
No one won any points for guessing why.
"Still right where I left you, I see," Ylvaria greeted, voice warm and tender in it's quietness.
The other's lips twitched up into a smile, "I knew you weren't going to be long. Besides, didn't I tell you they'd be up?"
Her voice was jovial, a touch louder than it needed to be, and every bit as familiar as he'd expected.
The woman sitting on the floor rose up with nothing more than the strength of her own legs, whisking her staff back into her hand with ease. She spun it once, then braced it on the floor like a cane, placing her other hand on her hip as she turned to face them in full.
They finally get to meet Chie's counterpart, who's name Ylvaria had lovingly told them; Cahira Simorn.
Her face was just like his friend's, with a familiarly warm smile and an energetic sparkle in her brown eyes. Her hair was just as short, but one piece of hair had been uniquely pulled apart from the rest and coiled into a neat little braid, a length of green twine laced through the strands. A vest of forest green leather was strapped around her torso, mithral studs lining the front and metallic thread lacing the edges of the material. Strips of white material were wrapped from the palms of her hands all the way up to her elbows, resembling bandages, and a pair of elegant bracers of green leather was over it, tiny plates of silver branching off to create a glimmering pattern along the cuff. Two rings were on the ring fingers of each hand, one a band of gold and the other a seamless loop of malachite. Two pieces of black cloth were tied around her waist, overlapping in such a way as to create a skirt-like design with a pair of flexible pants beneath that, the legs of which traveled all the way down to the soles of her feet, wrapping around the underside and leaving only her heel and toes visible. She was wearing sandals, strangely enough, the straps of which went all the way up to her knee in an exquisitely crafted display of intertwining mithral and green leather. A small gold brooch hung from her neck, carved in the shape of a crescent moon and with a set of small pearls running the length of it. Her wooden staff was as tall as she was, the ends shod in a silvery-white metal with a thin strip curving gracefully down the length of it. Runes were carved into the tips, and he felt like the air grew colder around the weapon the closer he drew to it.
"So, how was your nap?" she asked them, grinning.
Yu blinked. It was still strange meeting exact look-alikes of the people you held dear, but honestly . . . the genuine shock of it had worn off. So he answered her clearly and without pause, "It was good, but we also worried people, so that makes it not as good."
Cahira laughed, "With an attitude like that to being almost killed, I have to wonder why anyone does!" she side-eyed at Rise and Yukiko then, a twinkle appearing in her eyes, "And you two! Still sneaking off behind everyone's backs? Sheesh, you'd think Ylvaria was the assistant here!"
Both girls shifted awkwardly where they stood, but Ylvaria stepped in, "Come on, Cahira, they were just worried. Don't pretend you wouldn't be too if our situations were reversed."
"I know, I'm just teasing them!" The brown-haired woman replied. There was warmth in her tone and gaze, and Yu felt his heart jitter with happiness. He'd seen Yukiko and Chie give each other similar looks, and though it was probably pointless to feel such, it was nice to know that their friendship in this world was real as well.
Suddenly, out of nowhere and practically faster than he could blink, her staff snapped up into the air, coming to as just as sudden a stop right beneath Yosuke's chin. The boy jumped a good second after the staff was already there, a frightened squeak escaping his lips.
Then, with a very slight twitch of her wrist and a soft tap to the underside of his chin, Cahira admonished, "Eyes up here, Yosuke."
The boy silently nodded and she moved the staff away, and Yu released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Granted, it had all happened so fast he felt his head was spinning. He was still wary enough to give Yosuke a comforting pat on the back.
"W-wow, how did you move so quickly?" Chie asked, for a moment forgetting who she was talking.
"Quick answer? Lots and lots of practice," Cahira replied, leaning against her staff, "You're only as good as your training regiment, after all."
"Training?" Chie echoed, eyes sparking with sudden interest. Well, a different sort of interest, "You do that stuff too?"
"Every day!" Cahira leaned forward, curiosity looking piqued, "And what, per se, is your training?"
"O-oh, well, uh . . ." Chie rubbed the back of her head, unusually shy, though it may have to do with initiating a conversation with her own counterpart, "J-just the usual. You know, um . . . push-ups, jogging, crunches . . . and stuff."
Cahira quirked an eyebrow, lips pursing together thoughtfully. Then her hand suddenly lashed out like a viper, startling him all over again.
But Chie was also quick, arm going up on reflex and knocking the strike away from her face just in time. Her leg went up in it's usual 'attack' position, but no further, the confusion on her face plain for all to see, "What-?"
But Cahira was smiling, "Good reflexes! We have something to work with after all!"
"Uh . . ." Chie stared, then flushed as she realized she still hadn't moved and dropped her leg back to the floor.
"I don't want to spoil your fun," Ylvaria said, "But we should probably leave."
She gave a meaningful glance in the direction of the pews, and Yu looked to see that several of the temple-goers were glowering at them.
Cahira nodded, "Right. Well, to the inn we go."
Ylvaria followed her with the rest of them close behind, Rise whispering, "So what do you think, Chie-senpai?"
"It's . . . weird. It's like I'm talking to myself, only not really," Chie said after a brief moment of contemplation.
"I felt that way too. So did everyone else, I bet," Yukiko said, "It's weirder when the one you meet also isn't human. But it's also sort of exciting, getting to know one another."
Chie smiled at that, "Yeah, it kinda is. I can't wait to see what she does to train."
Meanwhile, Yosuke was muttering, "'She's nice'. Nice my ass! Why is it that I always have to fear for my life whenever I'm near you?"
Chie huffed, "Well, you were the one being pervy. Frankly, she was being a lot nicer about it than I would have been."
"My only saving grace . . ." Yosuke mumbled despondently.
If they were going to add on to that conversation, it ended when Cahira pulled the door open and a blast of cold, rain-swept wind greeted them. He gasped at the dramatic change in temperature, blinking away raindrops and bring and arm over his face to protect himself from the wind.
The cobblestone path beyond was reasonably protected by a roof of sturdily shingled wood, and he could see similar paths with the same coverage beyond. It was still very cold and wet, however.
Needless to say, he wasn't going to be falling into any puddles today.
The gray sky was definitely lighter than before, and he could figure the sun must be rising somewhere behind those clouds.
"This way," Ylvaria said, turning left, "Just keep to the paths."
They followed obediently, the girls bunching up their skirts into their hands while the rest just hand to deal with the water that splashed against their legs. Yu could only give cursory glances to his surroundings as he struggled to keep the wind out of his face. He did catch sight of numerous stone buildings, some looking like homes and others possible storefronts, all laced with ivy and other plant life. He could hear life within them, as there were few people out in the stormy weather save for the occasional straggler. At one point, he thought he could make out a heavy stone wall at the edge of the town border, the top of which was covered by another wooden roof. Occasionally, he could make out the shadows of strangers superimposed against the gray clouds, some standing stationary while others walked dutifully across it.
"What time is it?" he heard Yosuke ask.
"Early morning," Cahira replied quickly, looking completely unbothered by the rain as it splashed against her skin.
"It's the morning?" Chie echoed, crinkling her eyebrows together, "How long have we been out."
"Just the night," Ylvaria answered, "I promise, you haven't missed much."
Well, that was good to know.
The rain picked up at that moment, pounding relentlessly against the roof. Thankfully, it only took a few minutes to reach their destination, so they escaped with minimal soakage. Like the other buildings, the inn was made of stone, the outside bearing a pebbly edge as the uneven clumps of rock stuck out oddly and haphazardly. The windows were circular, an aesthetic design choice, though it could also be the way the stone was cobbled together that made it a bit difficult to go for anything else. Ivy crawled about halfway up it's exterior before petering away to thin tendrils, bushes lining the bottom of the building. Inside, he could hear the muted sounds of conversation, though it was nowhere near as noisy as the inn in Sedgeridge.
Cahira had the door again, ushering them all in with a cock of her head, and they hurriedly moved inside to escape the icy chill of the rain. Beyond was a room just as stone-made as the outside, but numerous torches and a large brazier at the room's heart ensured that, unlike the outside, everything was warm and toasty. The smoke was ventilated upwards by a v-shaped ceiling, pouring out through a thin slit where the two slates of stone would have met. There were several tables and numerous chairs spotted all across the room, occupied by several town-goers who were all demurely eating breakfast, speaking in softer voices and just in general exuding much less energy than the last inn he'd been in. He could a see a door set right at the very back of the room, perhaps leading to a kitchen or larder as two women emerged from it carrying trays of food and drink. Another door was set into the left wall, leading to who knows where.
The nice thing about this more laid-back atmosphere was that it made it quite easy to pick out familiar faces.
Naoto and Kanji were sitting in the back, plates of food in front of them, though neither seemed particularly engrossed in it as they were with the things in their hands. Naoto was looking at her crossbow with a crease of concentration steepled on her brow, running her fingers carefully along the strings and cable before dipping her fingers into a small tin jar beside her and repeating the motion over again. Kanji was . . . lifting weights, his eyebrows furrowed together and lips turned down into an attentive frown. Both were in clothes much like his own, foregoing armor in the more laidback environment. Nyras and Korval were next to them, and to his surprise, saw that they had taken off most of their protective gear too. Korval had traded his breast plate for a simple white shirt and leather jerkin, as well as a pair of pants and boots, though his hammer was still in grabbing distance should the need arise. Nyras, meanwhile, had relaxed enough to remove her hood and bracers, the blue robe she wore evidently comfortable enough to wear casually. Yu had to stifle a laugh when he saw that they were doing pretty much the exact same things as their younger counterparts. From their actions to their expressions, they mirrored each other in a way that was both funny and cute.
Rhysana was a little ways off in a corner all to herself, the bard lightly strumming her fingers over her harp and humming softly under her breath, looking like she didn't have a care in the world. She'd discarded her cloak, but otherwise had kept her colorful ensemble on. The music reminded him of every video game he'd ever played (few as they were) where he'd walk into an inn an there'd be a soft string instrument playing in the background as you gathered quests and rested up. It was actually weirdly nostalgic, but nice.
Tirin was near the back, throwing small knives at a dartboard hanging suspended on the wall, one that was clearly well-used judging from all the nicks and scratches marred into the wood. His goggles and bracers were gone, though the rest of his armor was still intact. Teddie was next to him, watching his knife-play with an unusual amount of focus he normally didn't have..
It only took a few seconds for all of them to turn and see who had entered, but a few seconds was all they needed before Yu and the others found themselves suddenly swarmed.
"SENSEI! YOSUKE! CHIE-CHAN!" Yu braced himself just in time as the bear threw himself at him and Yosuke, wrapping an arm around both their necks and hanging their like his life depended.
Yosuke stumbled a bit, nearly throwing all of them off balance with the way they were conjoined, but rightened himself just in time. Yu could see the beginnings of an annoyed scowl starting to form, but it melted as soon as he heard the earnest sniffling, "I-I was so worried . . ."
Yu felt his heart give a pang. Ylvaria said they'd only been down for the night, but that clearly meant nothing to the ones who'd still been awake.
He placed a hand on the boy's head, but before he could speak, new voices were cajoling in;
"Hey, you guys alright?" Kanji asked, shooting Teddie a disapproving look, "Ted, could ya give 'em some space?"
Teddie just held on tighter.
"Do you any of you feel woozy? Nauseous?" Naoto added in, focusing on each of them with a probing stare.
"Guys, they're fine," Rhysana swooped in behind them, placing a comforting hand on each of their shoulders. Her eyes twinkled as she looked at Rise and Yukiko, who both flushed, "Otherwise those two wouldn't have let them out of bed."
"We told ya Ylvaria would take care of 'em," Korval spoke up from where he sat, still lifting weights but wearing a partly amused smile.
"She's a very committed and diligent woman," Nyras added, leaning back in her seat as her fingers mechanically ran the length of her crossbow's strings.
"I could have told you that!" Cahira chimed in as she threw an arm around Ylvaria's shoulders, the golden feathers of her cloak tinkling like chimes as they rubbed against one another.
Yu could swear Ylvaria leaned into it as she chuckled, "Flatterer."
"Ei zimmar bekomen!" Tirin called out teasingly, a hand cupped around his mouth and a smirk on his lips.
Ylvaria lifted her head up haughtily, retorting, "Zuminde werd wir haben."
Cahira and Korval both snorted as Tirin pursed his lips into a pout, much to his confusion. Whatever had happened, Ylvaria looked quite proud of herself for it.
Regardless, Yu decided now was a good time to speak and allay his teammates fears, "We're fine. Better than fine, honestly. But I am sorry if we had you worried."
Rise shook her head, "No, don't apologize! It wasn't your fault, and besides, you're all better now!"
"C-come on, you really think we would have stayed down?" Yosuke asked, trying to lighten the mood despite the bear still hanging off of his neck.
For a few moments, it seemed like no one would bite.
Then, "I don't know, senpai, you tend to go down pretty easily every time ya piss Chie-senpai off."
"Shut up, Kanji!"
Chie smiled in satisfaction, "You can't be mad at Kanji-kun for telling the truth."
"Why do I even bother?" Yosuke grumbled.
By now, smiles were being had, Yu included, and though he tried to hold on to his ire, Yosuke gave in to it too just a few seconds later.
Naoto, after a little while longer of deep inspection, finally relaxed and nodded, "
Rhysana was grinning by now, "Well, now that everyone's feeling better, how about you all sit down and eat a nice breakfast, hm? After all, you've got a long day ahead of you!"
Yu's ears perked up at that, and beside him, Yosuke asked, "What do you mean?"
Cahira took it up from there, "After you eat. Right now, I bet your pretty hungry, huh?"
Now that she said it, Yu was becoming highly aware of the hollow feeling in his stomach. Aside from the paltry breakfast and berries yesterday, he hadn't eaten anything substantial.
"That sounds like a good idea! Does this place have bacon, by any chance?" Chie asked, looking hopeful.
A look appeared on Cahira's face, one that was both pleased and conspiring at the same time, "Oh sure, but you may have to duel me for it.~"
Chie locked eyes with her counterpart, as slowly a confrontational smile appeared on her face, "Oh, it's on!"
"Of course Chie's counterpart is a carnivore," Yosuke sighed, not looking the least bit surprised as the two went off.
"Oh Chie . . ." Yukiko murmured, shaking her head fondly.
"It's always a competition, isn't it?" Ylvaria said to her, smiling.
"It is, but that's what makes them who they are," Yukiko replied, looking wistful, "I'd be worried if they weren't!"
The elf laughed, "I would be too. Now, let's go make sure they don't do anything too reckless." She glanced at Yu and Yosuke, "I'd suggest you eat something soon. Something warm."
Yu watched them go, amazed at how easily the two had spoken with the other. But then, if there was anyone who'd get along swimmingly with their counterpart, it'd be the polite and conscientious Yukiko. And if anything, it looked like Cahira and Chie were headed down that road, too.
He wondered if he'd get along so well with his own?
He felt Yosuke shift beside him as he lifted a hand and patted Teddie's back, saying, "Hey Ted, I think you can let go now. We're not going anywhere."
Teddie squeezed again, and Yu thought he wouldn't let go. But then he finally (and reluctantly) stepped back, wiping at his eyes but trying to smile all the same, "I-I'm so beary happy everyone's okay!"
"We told you they would be," said Tirin as he came out of absolutely nowhere, plunking an elbow on the other's head. Twirling his other hand in the air, he added, "You were the one who insisted on crying about it like a lost cub."
Teddie whined under it, pursing his lips childishly at the gloaming, "Because this bear isn't heartless, unlike a certain someone I could mention!"
Tirin clutched at his heart as if he were in pain, but he was smiling through the theatrics, "Oh, what barbed insults! And here I thought we were becoming friends."
"Tirin, let them have their moment and go play with your knives," Rhysana said.
"You know, usually when someone says that to me, it's a lot more fun," Tirin shot back mischievously, leaning over on Teddie's head with lips twitched into a half-smirk. The bear made a disapproving sound and tried to push him off but to no avail.
Rhysana swatted at Tirin's head, "Shoo!"
The rogue laughed but slipped away, off to cause who knows what havoc but leaving Teddie in peace. The bear rubbed his head, huffing, "Hmph, he's always such a meanie."
Those two . . . definitely a turn-around from Yukiko and Ylvaria's relationship, but Yu had to concede that it could definitely be worse.
"Hey, your food's gettin' cold!" Korval yelled, gesturing to the mostly full plates on the table beside him.
"We're comin'!" Kanji shouted back before turning around, "Senpai, they got these great little dough things with sugar on 'em. You should give that a try!"
"While we eat, it would be prudent to discuss today's plans as well," Naoto added, looking visibly more relaxed now that it was apparent they weren't about to collapse.
"What plans are those?" Yu asked, "Something to do with the 'long day' Rhysana-san mentioned?"
Naoto nodded, but it was Nyras who answered, "Yes it does. The storm we'll clear up in a few hours, and the Knight-Captain has agreed to let us use the training grounds."
Yu met Yosuke's eyes, surprise mirrored in each other's gaze, "You mean . . . ?"
"Yep!" Rhysana cut in with a smile, "Your martial training starts today!"
And the trianing montage begins next time!
Translations:
Bairn'a - child.
Ei zimmar bekomen! - Get a room!
Zuminde werd wir haben. - At least we'll have company.
See you next time. Hopefully without as long of a wait. :)