'The walls have ears.'
It was an old phrase. It urged one to be cautious with their words, lest they be overheard by others listening in.
Eric… supposed that there was some truth in that old adage.
…
Tradition's End was a hotbed for gossip, and, if one cared to listen, an excellent source of insight into other people's lives.
Perhaps it had something to do with the atmosphere of the cafe, but rumors and hearsay flowed like water within its walls.
Eric tried not to eavesdrop; he really did!
He wasn't particularly interested in the latest trends, and the intricacies of his customers' personal lives weren't his business anyways. However, the human mind was naturally curious, and it was impossible to completely block out all conversation.
As a result, he often ended up privy to things that he was never meant to hear.
…
'Do you think Sojiro would take me to the harvest festival if I asked him to?'
'Oh, please! You know he's only got eyes for Hana!
'C'mon… A girl can dream, right?'
…
'It's been months since we've gotten together like this! How are the kids?'
'A handful, as always. Sometimes it feels like I can't get a quiet moment to myself...'
'Ahaha, you say that now, but it'll be a bittersweet day when they finally leave the nest like mine did.'
…
'I had to shoo off some fairies again yesterday.'
'Oh yeah? What'd they do this time?'
'They were tryin' to fly off with my entire cart! Can you believe it!?'
…
'My new teacher's shoes are ugly.'
…
'You shoulda seen the three-headed youkai that was in town earlier!'
…
Normal.
They were always perfectly normal conversations. Ones of no real consequence to anybody besides those who partook.
While the details might have changed from day to day, it was always the same mundane topics that tended to crop up.
In a way, it was reassuring. If everything was normal, then there was nothing to worry about.
Recently though, there has been a noticeable shift in mood, and with it came a shift in topics…
…
'The old tree by the corner is withering away. Where's the rain?'
…
'Those two got into a fistfight again.'
'Again!? What got them into it this time?'
'I don't know, but they've been butting heads a lot lately.'
…
'Why are youkai still buying our food? Don't they eat enough already? They'd better save some for us!'
…
'Hakurei Shrine? Moriya Shrine? Bah, it's not like they're helping us anyway…'
…
'Is the village council doing nothing?'
…
Things seemed to be changing in the Village.
Things seemed to be changing, and he did not like the way it appeared to be going.
…
…
…
Eric… was exhausted.
His body felt like rusted machinery, each movement slow and grinding. He struggled to focus on the path ahead of him, the sensation of old television static encroaching on the edges of his mind. The bruises on his skin, the ones he hadn't yet managed to heal, ached.
He let out a sigh, heavy with resignation. It wasn't as though he could blame his sorry state on anyone else.
No, this was his own doing, every bit of it.
For the last week, he'd been running himself ragged, throwing every moment he could towards his training. When he wasn't working or studying magic fundamentals with Alice, he was tinkering on his own, looking for different ways to utilize what he'd learned.
An outside observer might have assumed that he'd had something to prove.
And… they'd have been right.
He had so much to catch up on; so much time to make up for. In only a single week under Alice's tutelage, he was already learning far more quickly, far more properly than he ever had in the past.
Imagine what he could have been capable of if he'd had a teacher like Alice right from the start!
…
'...If you are able, we could make this arrangement a daily one.' Alice had said.
Of course, he had jumped at the opportunity. It was a ridiculously good deal.
Not only would daily training have been the absolute quickest way to grow his ability, but it also meant that he would have gotten to see Alice every day. It was a chance to see his girlfriend every day.
How could he have possibly refused?
…
Eric had nearly reached Alice's house, and he was beyond thankful for that fact. Every part of his body was sending him the same message. 'REST.'
He'd definitely expected this first week to be the toughest. However, he may have underestimated just how arduous it would be.
It'd been a long while since he'd felt this drained, this… fatigued.
Eric simply hoped that Alice would understand if he was a bit more sluggish than usual.
~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~
Late.
Eric was late.
The thought wormed its way into her mind despite her best efforts to suppress it.
He was late, and there were a multitude of possible reasons, most of them Alice would rather not consider.
On a normal day, he would have shown up sometime between two and three o'clock in the afternoon. At least, that was what the clocks on her walls would tell her. Now, here it was passing four o'clock without a knock at her door or a man on her porch.
More than likely he was fine. It stood to reason that his work could have run late, or that he'd had some errands to run before making the trip out through the Forest to reach her house.
Any number of mundane explanations were possible, yet that did little to quell her growing unease.
Slowly, the thorny tendrils of anxiety crept their way into her chest, wrapping themselves tightly around her heart. Worry hung heavily upon her mind, growing to dominate her thoughts.
Surely… Surely he was fine, right?
Alice hugged Shanghai tightly, drawing comfort from the doll's presence.
He… couldn't have gotten attacked again, right?
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, trying to clear away the overbearingly morbid thought.
No… She… She was being unreasonable.
Eric was capable of both flight and raising a barrier to defend himself. He… He wouldn't let himself get into that sort of situation. Not again. Not after what had sent both of them to Eientei…
It… It was entirely possible that he had decided to take the day off. In fact, it was far more than possible. It was more likely than any other reasonable prospect.
A day off…
He had agreed to it, but…
Perhaps making the training daily was a bit of an overstep on her part. If yesterday was of any indication, then he was beginning to wear himself thin, tiring more and more quickly with every consecutive day.
Everybody had their limits, and seven days in a row might have been Eric's.
Yes, it was perfectly reasonable that he would have wanted a day off; a chance to allow his body and mind to rest. It was… a healthy choice.
A good one.
The knot that had wound itself up within her chest began to loosen, and Alice felt her body relax once more.
…
But…
If Eric taking the time to rest and recover was a good thing… then why did she feel just the slightest bit hollow?
Where the coil of unease had once been, an empty well of loneliness was beginning to take form.
It was… ridiculous; she knew how unreasonable it was to expect, to desire, his presence daily.
Just… After only a week of such a thing… Alice had already begun to acclimate to it, willingly integrating it into her routine.
Her… heart had as well.
Consistent companionship… It was… nice.
More than nice… it made her happy.
And the more time that she spent with him, the more she wanted.
After lacking for so long, was it selfish to continue to want more? To feel disappointed when there was a day where it was missing?
Was it unreasonable to feel lonely when she had seen him just yesterday?
*Knock-knock-knock*
Alice had no time to ponder these questions as a rapping at her door roused her from her conflicted musings.
Her heart immediately leapt at the chance that it was, in fact, Eric, showing up late after all. She… would have liked to think that she recognized his knocks by now, but he was so inconsistent with his knocking style that she had yet to identify a pattern.
Regardless, Alice had raised herself from her seat and began stepping towards the door before she'd fully realized it.
A small squad of dolls assembled behind her, just in case. Visitors, besides Eric or Marisa, were rare, and their intentions were never obvious.
Always better to be safe rather than sorry…
…
Opening the door had been a mixed bag of sensations.
On one hand, the wave of heat that assaulted her as soon as the threshold had been unsealed was oppressive and an all-around unpleasant experience.
On the other hand…
"Hello, Alice." Eric greeted, an admittedly weak smile straining his features.
It was as if a plug had been pulled. All of the uncertainty that had been swirling around inside of her drained away. Replacing it was sweet relief and simple contentment.
"You're late," Alice taunted, tone far more playful than it was derisive. It was an inflection that was still unfamiliar to her, but one that had found its way into her voice more often lately.
"Ahaha… Yeah, sorry about that. Work ran late today…"
Not only was he alright, but he was here. Everything was as it should have been.
…
Or… perhaps it wasn't.
As soon as she welcomed him in, Alice could tell that something was off. In truth, it was quite obvious.
Eric looked terrible. It was as if he was struggling to stay on his feet. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and his movements were sluggish.
He was exhausted. Perhaps he really should have taken the day off…
"Eric… Are you alright?" She very likely knew what his response would be, but she saw fit to ask anyway.
He attempted a reassuring smile, but it ended up brittle. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… a little tired. Sorry about that."
Of course he would say that he's fine when he clearly isn't…
Alice gave him a knowing look.
The brittle smile cracked. Eric sighed. "Okay… I might be a little bit more than tired…"
He glanced around uncertainly.
"Um, Alice… I hate to ask this of you, but… do you think we could take the day off?" A little twinkle of hope was in his voice, though, the more he spoke, the quieter he grew.
Uncertainty… Was he concerned that she would say no for the sake of progress?
She wasn't that harsh of a teacher. His wellbeing was a high priority, too.
"Of course. If you feel as though you need a day, then you can have a day."
Eric looked… almost shocked by her assertion. There was a question in his eyes, though he did not vocalize it.
She elected to clarify. "It would do no good to force training onto someone who is clearly not in adequate condition. In fact, such an act would be counterproductive and perhaps even dangerous."
"...You're not mad?"
Alice wore an incredulous look, even as she moved to sit down on her couch. "What sort of mentor do you take me for? Cruel and unyielding?"
"No! Um, I mean… I don't. Just… I don't like to disappoint, I guess…" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
She patted the seat next to her. "Come, sit with me. You look as if you're dead on your feet."
Eric let out a long, grateful sigh as he collapsed onto the couch, sinking into the cushions mere inches away from her.
…
"I think I love your couch, Alice." he mumbled, not long after making himself comfortable.
Alice scoffed lightly. "You act like you've been lost at sea and I've just thrown you a lifeline."
He chuckled, the most genuine sound she's heard him make today. "If it makes a difference, I felt dead on my feet, too."
"Well, we'll have to fix that, won't we?" She meant that genuinely.
"Yeah…" He yawned as he settled in further.
"I… believe that immediately implementing daily training was a tad overzealous of us."
"Mmm-hmm…" Eric hummed in agreement beside her.
Alice closed her eyes as she continued. "You once compared the cultivation of magical ability to that of training a muscle. That analogy continues to hold true. One cannot exercise every single day, otherwise they risk straining themselves. Proper rest is necessary."
Eric did not respond, save for a long, deep breath.
"I suggest that we incorporate recovery days, evenly spaced to ensure even growth. I would recommend a system comprising three days of training, then one day of rest. Of course, this is not a hard rule, and exceptions can be made. However, this would allow us to maintain a rapid pace of development, while giving you a chance to recuperate."
Still no response.
Alice opened her eyes and looked down at her hands.
"I… am willing to take suggestions as well, if you feel as though there is something left to be desired. How does all of that sound to y-"
All at once, there was a weight on her shoulder, and a tickle of hair at her neck.
She startled a bit, obviously not expecting the sudden contact. The mysterious presence shifted slightly before stilling once more.
Alice chanced a glance to the left.
…
He was asleep.
At some point during their admittedly one-sided conversation, sleep had overtaken him, and now he was leaning into her side, head nestled into the crook of her neck.
This gentle, casual contact was enough to make her breath catch in her throat. Warmth spread throughout her body, and her heart beat faster.
…Perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise. He was exhausted, and they were sitting right next to each other on the couch. It was merely chance that he'd happened to slump in her direction once sleep had taken hold.
Still… She wasn't complaining.
In fact…
Alice leaned into him as well, allowing her own head to rest upon his, cementing the sort of sideways half-cuddle.
Objectively, it wasn't the most comfortable position, but it wasn't uncomfortable either. It would have been better if it had been her bed instead of her couch but…
A particularly scarlet shade of red overtook her face.
Nope! She wouldn't even consider that thought!
…
Eric murmured in his sleep.
Alice decided, then and there, that she would stay like this until he woke up. Training and schedules could wait. They'd work out all the details later.
For now, she was more than content to indulge in this closeness; in a sort of intimacy that lingered far longer than a hug.
~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~
Eric really didn't want to wake up.
His body craved rest. More than once did his mind come to the edge of consciousness before diving back into the depths of oblivion.
It… didn't help that he was rather comfortable…
…
Eventually, one attempt at wakefulness did manage to bear fruit. His eyes slid open, and, slowly, Alice's living room came into focus.
His mental faculties gradually came back to him. Vaguely, he recalled succumbing to exhaustion.
He… really hadn't meant to fall asleep this time, but the combination of his own weariness and the comfort he derived from both Alice's couch and presence had made it inevitable.
Was it… rude to fall asleep when someone was speaking with you, even if the soothing quality of their voice was a contributing factor?
I probably shouldn't make this a habit… What would Alice think if I passed out every time I came over?
Would she think him lazy?
…
What was he lying on, anyways?
It was comfortable… and warm.
Eric tried to shift his position, only to find that something else was, in turn, lying on his head. Out of the corner of his eye, strands of blonde hair drifted into view. Besides the ticking of clocks, he could hear only slow, steady breathing.
Then, a moment of perfect clarity.
He… Apparently he had fallen asleep on Alice… and now she was asleep as well?
He could feel his heart swell dangerously and the heat rise in his cheeks at the thought.
For now, Eric didn't dare disturb her.
…
The warm light of the setting sun filtered in through the curtains on her windows, bathing the room in a mellow orange glow.
He'd been out for… what… a couple of hours? At least?
He took a deep, invigorating breath.
As much as he wanted to remain here, it was probably about time to get up…
Gently, Eric nudged Alice's head with his own. It was an awkward movement, but enough to rouse her from sleep.
The steady rhythm of her breathing stuttered for a moment, before settling into a somewhat different tempo. She moved slightly and-
Was she snuggling in closer?
That… certainly seemed to be the case.
Eric shifted again before whispering, "Alice… are you awake?"
Immediately, her head shot up, leaving him free to move. He took the opportunity to slowly, languidly, remove himself from her shoulder.
Alice… looked flustered. For some reason, the sight only warmed him further.
"You… certainly seem to be lacking sleep," she chided, assembling her composure. "I was… surprised by your sudden slumbering."
He glanced away, sheepishly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to."
Then, he gave her his best smile. "On the bright side, you did make a really nice pillow..."
…
…Okay, that sounded better in my head…
If the way Alice had gone quiet was of any indication, then she didn't know how to respond to that.
To be fair… he wouldn't have known how to respond to that either.
…
…
…
Eric had no choice but to wonder…
…How had their conversation come to this?
"I… don't think I could even imagine you being creepy, Alice."
"I assure you that I am more than capable of it." She tilted her head slightly. "Would you like a demonstration?"
Eric had heard the rumors that Alice tended to scare off most people that came across her house. He knew that it was mostly unintentional, but that did ignite a certain curiosity within him.
What's it like when she tries to be frightening on purpose?
"Absolutely. Give it your best shot!"
"Very well…"
Alice extracted herself from her spot on the couch and moved to stand across from him. After a moment of contemplation, she took a deep breath and then sighed.
"Imagine, if you will, that you are a guest. You sought refuge here but have long since worn out your welcome."
Eric nodded, ready for anything.
In a blink, her posture went almost totally slack, shoulders slumped and head limply dipping forward. Her bangs shadowed her eyes. It was as if, in an instant, nearly all of the life had fled her body, leaving an empty shell, an uncanny facsimile of Alice behind.
This almost corpse-like being began to speak, hauntingly broken words devoid of emotion dripping out of her.
"Lost… Lost… in the woods? My… what a terrible fate…"
An airy, hollow laugh shook her frame.
"And… seeking refuge… here? Yes… surely it will be safe… Though, you seem to forget where you truly are..."
Another empty chuckle.
"And… what I truly am."
Then, all too suddenly, Alice's body contorted. Her arms raised themselves in an unnatural fashion as if suspended at the joints by invisible strings. Her head lolled to the side, making no effort to fully right itself, but turned in such a way that her gaze met Eric's.
She was a marionette, crudely puppeted by some greater, unseen force.
Her expression… Oh, the expression on her face was inspired.
Wide, hollow eyes without an ounce of soul. A grin that straddled the line between unsettling and completely deranged.
"I'm a witch, after all. Inhuman."
Several of her dolls slowly dragged themselves off of the high shelves, heads bowed in such a way that their hair covered their eyes.
"My dolls have been interested in you since you arrived."
She took a step forward, the small cloud of dolls moving as well.
"Won't you stay!? Won't you stay and keep them company!?" Unhinged desperation colored her voice.
Her acting really is top-notch. If she ever did bring her puppet shows to the Village, then I'm sure she'd be popular…
"Hey, Alice."
"There's no way to fake human skin on a doll, you know. It just doesn't work! It has to be real!"
"Alice."
"Let me remake you… as a perfect doll!"
"As a- pfft!" That line had been the limit for Eric. He broke into a laugh.
~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~
The sight of Eric chortling forced Alice to end her little demonstration. She… couldn't help but feel a small streak of indignation.
How was it that he could laugh in the face of that which should have been horrifying?
"Did I say something funny that I am unaware of?" Alice prodded.
"No, no, it's not that." His chuckling slowed. "Sorry for laughing. You were really good! I could definitely see others fleeing in fear if you acted like that.
"Others… but not you?"
"Maybe it's because I know you, Alice, but it's really hard for me to see you as anything even remotely close to terrifying."
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Are you suggesting that I am incapable of scaring you?"
"No, it's just… Gods,, you're such a dork, Alice. I can't believe how hard you leaned into the 'creepy doll' cliche."
From anyone else, it would have come across as an insult. However, he had said it so fondly, so affectionately, that it was clear that he'd meant it as anything but.
Still… "You cannot deny that I matched the definition of creepy perfectly." The puppeteer let her pride speak on her behalf. "Others would have been sent running."
"Ha!" Eric laughed it off. "You're creepy in the same way that an abandoned cathedral is creepy."
That… puzzled Alice, causing her retort to die in her throat..
Eric continued. "Everyone sees the gothic architecture and the stained glass, and it's beautiful. Hauntingly beautiful..."
She blushed lightly at being called beautiful, even if it was indirectly… and for the sake of a metaphor.
"...but as soon as they get closer, they all get scared because they think that they see a ghost. They don't even bother trying to find out that the 'ghost' is actually just the caretaker trying to keep everything together." He smiled. "One who does sometimes act like a ghost in order to keep the troublemakers at bay."
"Pffft!" That got a reaction out of Alice. "What sort of metaphor is that?"
"Hey… I had to do some thinking on that one." He sounded disappointed, but he certainly did not look like it.
"I can see that," she teased. After another moment. "So, if everyone else is afraid of the 'ghost,' why is it that you were never scared away?"
"Well, I was never truly interested in the cathedral. I was more interested in the ghost inside."
"Oh?"
He took her hand in his and stroked it gently. "And instead of a ghost, what did I find?"
"I could only imagine."
"Instead, I found a sweet little lady. One who tries her best and deserves far more support than she gets."
He pulled her into a tender hug, one that she gladly returned.
The embrace made her feel warm. It made her feel safe. It was enough to simply bask in this sensation and have all else melt away.
But…she couldn't help herself. After a minute, she chuckled into his shoulder.
"That has to be the most roundabout way of complimenting someone that I've ever heard."
~~~~~~Author's Notes~~~~~~
Apologies for the slightly plotless update! I have been having some eye problems IRL that have made it hard to look at the computer screen for extended periods of time, so that has led to me not being able to make this chapter as substantial as I would have wanted it to be.
Stuff happens, I guess.
Instead, this is definitely a 'try to weave together a few different bits and pieces to make a semi-cohesive chapter' kind of chapter.
I had always intended to include more scenes of them acting like dorks in love. Sometimes it just feels like it needs to be when one of them is at the other's home with not much else going on.
That just so happened to be this chapter. Eric is struggling a bit to acclimate to the suddenly increased strain that he's putting his body under. Everybody needs rest at some point, and when there is rest, there is a chance to be sweet and fluffy.
Additionally, I hope y'all have a happy Halloween! That bit at the end with Alice trying (and succeeding!) to act creepy was just something extra for the season. Of course, Eric is unable to find her creepy, so he just calls her a big dork instead, lol.
He's not always great at metaphors, but I think Alice appreciated the sentiment anyway.
Thank you for reading! Review if you want! Have a good day!
~~~~~~Reviews~~~~~~
fajar867: Have you ever been so excited for a school field trip or a vacation that you've had EVERYTHING ready and in place the night before? I imagine that it's like that level of excitement, lol.