She had been gone for some time - it had been many months since she went out on her journey to follow the Blossomgalesā¦ It took her to the far corners of the world, and seeing it with her own two violet eyes made her happy. She saw places she knew and places she didnāt, but she was living.Ā
She had a communicator she received from Pascal so she could keep in contact with everyone, but it was nothing when compared to the joy she found in hearing their voices. She loved their laughs and how they said her name as if she were the most precious treasure of all.Ā
They were her friends, but she truly considered them her family and she missed them dearly - though there was one who truly was her family. Her father. And going without seeing him for months gave her a feeling of loneliness in her heart like nothing else - but it also made excitement bloom within her as she neared her home.
When she at long last made it to the Lhant gates, she paused. It had been so long that the air had chilled, and the skies had grown grey as if threatening to snow at any moment. She inhaled deeply and when she released it her breath left her lips as a wispy white plume.Ā
She stayed put at the gates, allowing her homecoming to seep in to every corner of her heart. Her lilac eyes, as their focus wandered over the town, caught hold of a very familiar (and very beloved) figure at the bottom of the stairs.Ā
She hadnāt told him she would be returning this particular day, so she knew it had to be a coincidence, but it brought a smile to her lips regardless. She was truly home again.Ā
āAsbel!ā She called out, running through the gates and to the top of the stairs. Without a momentās pause she leapt down the stairs and only halted her haste when she was right in front of him, her breath still coming out in little white puffs.Ā āAsbel, Iām home!ā
Asbel looked at the papers before himĀ absentmindedly. Ā He has been at it for hours but seemed like every time he finished one assignment then five more would take its place. Ā At this point all Asbel wanted to do was collapse where he was. Ā
While Asbel has gotten better over time with staying in one place and focus on his work, he still needed time to go on even just a stroll around Lhant. Ā He hated being locked away in a room for too long. Ā Rather than signing papers, Asbel always felt better about going out and being actively proactive with helping others, but he knew his job was an important one and what he was doing would make a difference for his people now and in the future.Ā
However, even knowing that didnāt change the fact that he was restless.Ā
It didnāt help that he was also alone. Ā Sure, he had his mom and Fredric, but it wasnāt the same. Ā He missed all his friends. Ā Richard was busy running the country, Pascal and Captain Malik in Fendel making words of improvements, Hubert doing his military thing, Cheria with her Relief Aid, and then there was Sophie who was traversing the world following the Blossomgales.Ā
Everyone was off doing something pretty amazing while he was stuck signing some papers and longing companionship once again. Ā
Even if their travels together seemed to result in a save the world situation which became rather dire and almost loosing everyone he cared about, the travels the seven of them shared together was some of the best and fun times of his life despite the craziness and the dangers. Ā There were plenty of good times amongst the bad.
Asbel turned around from his seat and stared up at the sky. Ā Even if everyone was miles away, he knew that everyone was still looking up at this same sky so even if they werenāt here with him now, they truly werenāt that far away.Ā
And hey, if Asbel worked hard, then he, Richard and Sophie can all go on that journey they talked about together. Ā Just the three of them--well four of them, if you include Lambda. Ā He was part of the friendship pact too now after all.Ā
With renewed vigor, Asbel was ready to get back to work. Ā He had a long way to go as a Lord in order to qualify going on a break and traveling the world again. Ā His mom even specifically said unless Richard himself summoned him and the world wasnāt in a crisis where it was about to end, he was not allowed to go farther than Lhant Hill.Ā
And thatās when it happened. Ā
Just as Asbel was about to pick up another packet to go over, he heard a familiar voice.
Asbel immediately got up from his seat and ran for the door. Ā Swinging the office door open much louder than he meant to and judging by the sound he might have broke a hinge from the sheer amount of force he used, but he couldnāt be bothered to really exam the state of the door at this given moment.
Beating Fredric and any one of the maids in the manor, Asbel swung the front door open.Ā
ā Sophie, ā Asbel smiled. Ā Sophie was finally home. Ā It was so hard letting her go off and traveling the world on her own, but Asbel knew she was a big girl and there were things she needed to experience for herself. (Not to mention the last time Asbel trailed Sophie for her travels, when he got back he sure got an earful from his mother.)
