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It's Day 5 - AU day!
So like every year @darkhymns and I decided to collab. This is my drawing and you can read her story here;
https://archiveofourown.org/works/39613884
A Cruxis AU we've been planning for awhile!
Crystal
Art for Colloyd week! @colloydweek
Free Day / Colloyd Day by Lil-Samuu
Rating: G
Summary: Written for last year's Colloyd Week 2022, for Day 7: Free Day / Colloyd Day! Lloyd and Colette are spending their vacation in Altamira and enjoy their last day there!
-
Colette gave a quiet, excited squeak and nudged Lloyd's arm, pointing over to the spot on a nearby tree where she'd spotted a squirrel. He looked over in that direction and squeezed her other hand, letting her know that he'd seen it too.
It was the last day of their vacation and they'd decided to sit on the porch of their cabin watching the wildlife around them. They had already packed, something they both were able to do very quickly and efficiently because of how much of their lives they had spent travelling, and had the rest of the morning and afternoon to enjoy in the comfortable, shady spot on the porch swing.
They'd spent a lot of time sitting there or by a window in the cabin, looking out at the various wildlife that was roaming in the wooded area the cabin was built in. It was one of quite a few, along with a hotel and little resort area, that Regal's company had built to compliment the Altamira resort. She and Lloyd had had a very busy couple of months, working on commissions and helping Regal and some of his Altamira theme park team with some mascot stuff. Their wedding anniversary had been coming up and Regal had insisted that they should have a stay at one of the cabins to relax after all the hard work they'd done and as an anniversary present from him...
Read the rest of the fic on FF.net!
Finally got around to playing the short Colloyd Dating Sim, ‘Eve of the Festival’, which you can download from a link in this post right here, and went a little overboard with the screenshots (which is why I’m making a separate post for it)!😅 This was so cute!
Colloyd Week Day 6: Quote
"Please, dream some good dreams for me, Lloyd.“
Colloyd Week 2022
Day 6: Quote Day; “Please, dream some good dreams for me, Lloyd.”
Colloyd Week 2022 Day 1: Soulmates
Raine sat at her room’s window, tracing the night sky with her eyes and picking out all the constellations she’d been admiring since her youth. She’d marveled at Tethe’alla’s sea of stars every night since they first arrived, curious to see if it would look the same as Sylvarant’s; though it remained grand all the same, witnessing it from within Heimdall added a nostalgic charm that commanded her attention and awe.
She was here because of Lloyd; Lloyd, who had always defended her, whether he knew her as an elf or a half-elf. The same Lloyd who, come daybreak, would be off to fight his own father, despite wanting to talk to him, to find some way of saving his life.
“You must prepare yourself for the possibility that there isn’t.”
She sighed, her fingers tightening around her mug. Her words had been cold, and though Lloyd had said her bluntness was always for his benefit, she couldn’t help but muse to herself that some assurance might have done him some good. In the worst case scenario, Lloyd would have to take Kratos’s life; he was more than aware of that. Would he do it? Could he do it?
She brought her cup to her lips, but before they touched a soft knock cut through the silence. “Come in.”
The door creaked open and a curtain of golden hair peeked around it. Colette’s eyes shimmered in the glow of the room’s lamp, hesitation filling them. “I’m not disturbing you, am I, Professor?”
Raine sat the mug down onto the table. “Of course not. Is something the matter?”
Colette’s fingers clasped together, her lower lip tucking itself between her teeth. Raine watched her gaze flitter over to the bed, and she smiled as she gestured over to it. “Would you like a seat?”
Colette’s face flushed timidly and she nodded. The two made themselves over to the bed, taking a seat beside each other. Raine waited patiently for her to begin; she knew her to be much more reserved about her worries than the rest of the party, so she felt no need to rush her.
“Do you think…I mean-” Colette shifted awkwardly, the tip of her shoe twisting against the wooden floor. “If someone can take a soul, can a person also give it?”
Raine’s eyes went wide, her fingers lacing together. The question was so out of left field that she hardly had a response for it. She remained silent briefly before turning to Colette. “Where is this coming from?”
“When Martel took over my body, Mithos looked so happy.” Colette’s eyebrows furrowed, her voice soft. “He finally had his sister back after over 4,000 years. And then, when she was saying goodbye, I could see the pain in his eyes. I was just wondering if there would have been a way to help Martel, for her to be able to stay. Um, you know, without losing myself.” The last bit came out as an afterthought, her expression lightening along with it.
Raine sighed through a smile, resting her hand on Colette’s shoulder. “Martel is gone. As much as Mithos may have wanted to bring her back, and as much as you may have wanted to help her, a dead person must be allowed to remain at peace.”
“I understand. It’s just so unfair that someone who loved the world so much should have died the way she did. Someone who would have sacrificed herself for the world.” Her gaze dropped, swallowing to regain composure in her slowly shaking voice. “For a moment, when Martel was inside me, I almost thought that maybe I-”
“Colette.”
Raine’s fingers tightened against Colette’s shoulder, drawing the young girl’s attention. That same sadness that bordered on hopelessness that Raine had seen in her eyes many times over the journey had returned, and remedying that pain was now her first priority. She opened her mouth to speak, but her previous conversation with Lloyd jumped front and center in her mind.
Before her was one of her party members, a student of hers, asking for her advice. She took a small breath, resolving to herself that even if her cold responses could be for the better, maybe a bit of the warmth that Lloyd always seemed to show to Colette would help more than anything else she could offer.
“If you had allowed Martel to remain in control of your body, all you would have accomplished is hurting all of us. Martel would still be dismayed at the way Mithos had been acting, and Mithos would still have seen us as enemies who needed to be destroyed. Saving you was the most important thing at that moment. But,” she paused, waiting to see that glimmer of curiosity begin to bloom in Colette’s eyes, “I think it means something that you were able to accept Martel’s soul.”
Colette’s head cocked slightly to the side. “What do you mean?”
“I believe that the reason the ritual of the Chosen went on for so long was because Mithos never found one that was compatible with Martel. You, however, were. There must be something special about you, something in common with Martel that allowed her soul to inhabit your body.”
Colette’s fingers tightened around themselves, that gentle pull at the corner of her lips a welcomed sign. “Do you really think so?”
Raine nodded. “Even if Martel is gone, I believe that you’re similar enough to her that you can carry on what she stood for. You love this world and want to save it, just as she did. I don’t think you have to worry about giving your soul to her. In fact, it seems like she’s given her soul to you.”
For a split second, Raine was worried that the shiver of Colette’s fingers, paired with the moisture in her eyes, meant her words hadn’t been as warm as she’d hoped. However, as those shaky hands wiped away her tears, Colette’s smile was an assurance that she had performed her duties as a teacher well enough.
“Thank you, Professor. I…I didn’t think of it like that.” She sniffed, gazing up at the ceiling. “Martel spent all that time seeing Mithos change, but she never gave up on him. She always believed he could change back to who he used to be. I think that’s a really beautiful thing.”
A thought struck Raine, a sheepish smile trying to pry itself through the look of calm she’d worked so hard to master. She shook her head; it was so out of character for her, so misplaced in her normally resolute state of mind. “She sounds like Lloyd, doesn’t she?”
Colette blinked; the mention of Lloyd’s name eased the somber look in her eyes. “She does?”
“Has Lloyd ever once given up on saving you, or making sure you’re okay?”
A light flush rose through Colette’s cheeks, her smile growing bashful. “You’re right. He’s always been there for me when I need him, and he always tries to take care of me.”
Raine gave Colette’s shoulder another squeeze before releasing her hold, leaning back on her palms. “I don’t believe you can give away your soul, but instead, you can give parts of yourself to others that they can hold onto.”
Colette nodded, her eyes tranquil and her hands no longer tense. “Thank you for listening, Professor.”
“Why don’t you get some rest now? Tomorrow’s going to be an important day.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Colette rose to her feet, and just as her hand rested on the doorknob she came to a halt. “...Professor, do you think Lloyd is still awake?”
“At this hour he should be sleeping, though I wouldn’t be shocked if he was having a hard time doing so.”
Colette nodded, and a familiar look etched itself onto her face. “Do you think he’d want to talk? You know, if he can’t sleep.”
Raine opened her mouth, wanting to tell her that rest should be Lloyd’s top priority, but then, Colette had always been what Lloyd cared about most. Just as she had been able to ease what was on Colette’s mind, perhaps Colette could do the same for him.
“Just don’t keep him awake too long.”
Colette’s smile was giddy and meek. “I won’t. Good night, Professor.”
With that she left the room, and Raine looked back at her mug, still resting where she’d left it. Had she been warm enough? Eluded some of those cold words that had previously managed to get through to Lloyd all the same? She fell back onto her bed, replaying Colette’s final grin before she left. Her teeth had briefly nibbled on her lip, and her eyes were calm and earnest. A gentle pep had lifted her steps as she’d left the room; she’d practically floated out of the room, her angelic wings nowhere to be found.
Raine grinned. She’d be just fine. And, she reminded herself, so would Lloyd.
xxxxx
“Do you mind…if I come along with you?”
“What?”
She turned to him, admiring the way his hair wafted in the night air; his brown eyes, always so gentle when looking at her, now widened at her request.
“I want to continue to be by your side, just like I’ve been up until now.”
Somehow, in her heart, she knew he wouldn’t refuse her. Not out of hubris, but because she’d known him too long, recognized the way his body relaxed around her and gravitated towards her, to know that being together meant the world to him. And in truth, she meant it when she said she wanted to be by his side. No one else she’d ever met could make her feel important when she felt small and meaningless, or make her believe she had a place in the world when that very world had demanded her sacrifice.
Lloyd blinked once, then twice, before his lips curled upward. “...all right. We’ll go together.” He nodded at her, his grin widening. “Let’s go explore the new world together.”
Her chest swelled, her body barely able to contain her elation. “Okay!” She rocked side to side in her seat, dreaming of the future they’d be able to share once their task was done; a future he’d given her. In her jubilant swaying, the necklace around her neck jingled. She took it in her hand, running a thumb across the gold material, then in circles along the gem resting in the center. Here she was, alive and present, because of it. Because of Lloyd.
“Is something wrong with the necklace?”
Her thumb never stopped, even as she looked at him. His eyes were locked onto the necklace, scanning it for any damage or need for repair. “No, it’s fine. I was just admiring it. It looks so pretty. You did an amazing job on it, Lloyd.”
His fingers touched the back of his head, redness painting his cheeks. “I’m glad you think so. I wanted it to be special, so I put my heart and soul into making it the best I could.”
Colette’s thumb stopped, her heart nearly following suit. “You…really?”
“Yeah. The whole time I was making it, all I could think about was wanting to bring you back.” He smiled at her, then down at the necklace. “I wasn’t sure what I was gonna do if it didn’t work, so I’m glad it did.”
“Lloyd, I…”
What could she say? Her heart had detached itself from the rest of her internal organs, boarded a tiny Rheaird, and was now speeding through her chest and stomach, crashing into her vocal cords along the way. She admired the way he looked at her, the fervidness in his eyes; he always looked at her that way when they were alone. A soothing peace filled her lungs, as if the very air she breathed was filled with that same warmth he exuded.
Lloyd smiled softly, his eyebrows arching. “Are you alright, Colette? Your face is looking a little red.” Suddenly that softness vanished, replaced with a firm gaze and a tense jaw. “You’re not hurt or anything from what happened with Martel, are you?”
Between her formerly decaying humanity and her near-crystallization, both of which she’d kept hidden from him for as long as possible, it was no wonder suspicion tinted his voice, but she shook her head. “I’m fine, I promise. I was just thinking about how you’re always there for me. Sometimes I don’t know how I can repay you for all you’ve done.”
Lloyd exhaled gently, his face relaxing once more. “There’s nothing to repay, you dork. I swore I’d always protect you no matter what.” His hand found hers, his fingers wrapping themselves around her palm; it was so much bigger than hers, and so warm. “And if something does happen, I’ll make sure to save you, as many times as it takes.”
Colette had thought herself a devout girl, but the tightening of his hand around hers showed her there were new lessons to be learned. She swallowed; her face felt hot, but she felt no need to hide it. Even if he didn’t want anything from her, she wanted to give him something, anything. More than just friendship, or devotion; more than her soul. Her body shivered, her fingertips touching his and feeling bubbles floating in her stomach.
What could she give him, to only him?
In slow motion her shaky hands found his cheeks. His eyes widened once more, though he made no effort to move away or stop her.
“Colette…”
She watched him say her name, watched the curve of his lips and the tiny cameo of his tongue. Was he ever as entranced by the sound of his name in her mouth as she was of her name in his? Was the world around him all the brighter being by her side? Where did this protective nature of his come from, the same nature that pulled her close and never wanted to let go?
His lips were soft, softer than she could’ve imagined. Her inhale was shaky; the moment was so tender, and she feared that even the tiniest movement could shatter the warmth. When his arms went around her, pressing her further into him, a small noise echoed from her throat. A low hum was his response, and she melted into him. This form of adrenaline was foreign to her, but was addicting in a way that, should temptation overcome her, she wouldn’t be able to resist.
As their kiss gently broke away, she wondered if she’d given him the same thing.
“Colette, that was-”
She placed a finger over his mouth, shaking her head. “When we leave to begin our next journey, I want to do that again. I…the way I feel now, I want to believe you feel it, too.” She moved her hand away, wrapping her arms around his torso. “You make me feel safe and protected, so I want to make you feel l…lo…” Her voice betrayed her, her throat tightening as she tried to get the words out.
Lloyd answered her by easing himself back, smiling in spite of her confusion and lack of articulation. He held his palm out to her, coaxing her fingertip to press against it. Nostalgia and affection pumped through Colette’s veins, and the corners of her eyes felt hot as she dragged her finger across his gloved hand, spelling out everything she couldn’t say just yet.
When she finished, he leaned into her once more. Maybe the words to express what he’d given her didn’t exist. She didn’t need them, though; his heartbeat against her chest, the craftsman hands that held her close, and the taste of the mouth that made her name sound like music were enough. If she could give this feeling back to him, over and over, then she would devote herself to this service for as long as she remained by his side.
Desert Readings
"Friendship fortunes are very popular right now," she told the boy in red.
...But she hadn't thought the boy would keep coming back to get her readings - and always with the same person in mind.
Fandom: Tales of Symphonia Characters/Pairing: Lloyd Irving/Colette Brunel, Genis Sage, Fortune Teller Rating: G Word Count: 8494 Mirror Link: AO3 Notes: Written for Colloyd Week 2022, Day 1: Soulmates! So I decided to go back to the origin of this prompt in the game itself, and then it spiraled a bit out of control. Lloyd just really, really likes fortune-telling. (Especially when it's free).
--
Her fortune-telling business was quite slow today.
Despite the unbearable heat outside, the inside of her tent was cool and dark, with only the dusky glass lamps hanging overhead to shed any light. She took a long breath, seated herself on the plush cushions arranged comfortably on the floor, and decided that it was high time for her break.
Maybe I need a décor change, she mused to herself, even though she had already set up the potted plants in the corners and added some drapes along the sides. There was also the scent of myrrh from her new incense pot, relaxing her shoulders and easing the aches on her feet. She looked to her table, covered in thick cloth, embroidered with the constellations across its surface. Was her crystal ball not selling her skills well enough? I guess the two extra mini-crystal balls next to it makes it look a little tacky…
But few people had been coming by her tent lately, and most who did only asked for sobering things; on the whereabouts of loved ones, or if the Desians might attack today, just as they had the week before…
But at best, she could predict when first love would bloom, or if one’s job prospects were in the stars, or if the oasis will dry up during the scorching heatwave. The Desians were always so hazy in her readings, and there was only so much of the truth that she could reasonably stretch without feeling complete guilt, after all.
She was ready to close shop, perhaps dip her feet in the nearby oasis or shop at the Desert Rose for dinner, when she heard words just outside of her tent flap. They were low, a bit fragmented, but they drifted into her tent with ease.
“Is the fortune teller here? It doesn’t say so on the map…”
“It literally has a sign saying so right there, stupid.”
“Oh.”
Young voices. And they were looking for her? Well, if she had prospective customers, she couldn’t take her break just yet.
Already she was on her feet once the tent flap finally parted. With the lamps overhead, the lighting would deliver just the right amount of shadows over her cheeks, and the glow of her crystal ball would draw in the eye. Her fingers hovered just over the surface as she gave a faint smile towards the front.
“Welcome to the House of Fortune,” she intoned, bowing her head slightly. “What would you like me to divine for you?”
There were two boys that walked through the flap of her tent; one of them was dressed all in red that was so striking, like the reflection of the setting sun in the oasis, the other an elven child, whose eyes scanned along the walls. No red clothing on him, but he had long silver hair, just faintly covering his pointed ears.
“Ah, she’s not here, I guess,” spoke the child. He sighed, all while the boy in red gaped around her place of business like a fish. She would have spoken out further to them, to see if they would actually talk to her instead of just loitering around the place, when that same boy finally noticed her, and rushed forward.
“Hey, can you tell me where Colette – where the Chosen is right now?”
The boy in red… Wait. She had seen him before. Not through her eyes, but through another’s. When someone else had gone into her tent and shyly asked her questions…
“Uh, hello?”
She blinked. It was unlike her to just drift off like that. Even with the strength of her readings, she was usually in complete control…
“Of course,” she said quickly, regaining her composure. “If you want me to divine for you…” She held onto the word before she let reality hit. “It’ll be a hundred Gald.”
The protests were expected, not that she needed a crystal ball to tell her that.
“Seriously?! That’s expensive!”
She frowned. “Did you say something?”
A sputter, then a nervous scratch at his cheek. “Ah, n-no, I…” He shook his head. “I mean, it’s fine! I’ll pay, I’ll pay.”
The elf next to him rolled his eyes. “You know we don’t have that much…”
“Genis, shut up!
With a few mutters, and apparently confused which pocket of his had what he needed, he pulled out a few coins to deposit on the table. Along with some lint. And…a few hammer nails?
“W-wait, those are mine!” He took said nails and put them back in his pocket. The child called Genis tiredly placed a hand over his face.
This boy wasn’t the oddest customer she ever had, but he was close.
But with her payment received, she placed her hands on the crystal ball (also quickly taking the money in case he changed his mind) and closed her eyes. “Yes… I can see her!”
She didn’t have to open her eyes to know the boy in red was watching in anticipation. She could hear the shifting of his boots in the carpet, crunching the fine sand that was powdered over it.
“Really? Is she alright?”
“Right now, she is heading for the oasis, once destroyed by the powerful Efreet in a rage. She walks the sands, intent on her journey.”
Opening her eyes, she could see his face was in complete awe, believing every word. The child next to him held a certain suspicion but was no less interested, asking, “Is that true?”
“There’s no doubt,” she said with a nod. “The Chosen’s companion said so.”
A beat passed. One could almost hear the gears shift in both of their heads.
“What?! So you didn’t predict anything then?” The older boy spoke in such a huffy tone, that she had to stop herself from smirking at the sight. “That’s cheating!”
“You only asked me if I knew where she was,” she said with a shrug. “Information doesn’t come free, and you have what you wanted now, yes?”
“Agh… I guess.”
“Hey, we should go then.” The elf child pulled at the boy’s sleeve. “Or we won’t catch up.”
It wouldn’t be the first time a customer left her tent, feeling somewhat ripped off. But she couldn’t help their feelings. Divination took a toll on her energy, and she saw no reason to expend it uselessly when she already knew the answer to their question.
But as both got ready the leave, the elven child already slipping through the flap, she couldn’t help but…wonder, a bit. The boy in red. Yes, she had seen him before. Once, through the crystal glass when a soft voice asked to his whereabouts. In that reading, no detail had been missed, from the sweep of his hair to those ridiculous ribbons trailing from his collar. And of course, all that outlandish red.
Before he could go, she couldn’t help but call out.
“Is your name Lloyd?”
If just speaking didn’t catch his attention, she knew saying his name would. She watched him stop in mid-step, then shift his boots to face her fully with a wide-eyed stare. But that look was soon replaced with a frown. “You just know my name because of the wanted poster they have in town.” He crossed his arms. “You can’t trick me twice in a row!”
She gave another shrug. He was half-right at least. It was hard to miss the chicken scratch that served as a wanted poster from the Desians. It did capture his likeness in a way…
“But I don’t need a poster to know that you have a dog named Noishe, who’s staying at the stable.” She paused, recalling information from another time. “And that you’ve just been exiled.”
Lloyd’s surprise soon got the best of him, already uncrossing his arms. “Wait… so you really can do all that fortune teller stuff!”
She nodded, wondering why she was compelled to keep talking to him. Maybe this day had been such a bore and she was looking for entertainment any way she could.
“I can, and if you’re still not convinced, I’ll offer you a free friendship fortune.” She placed a hand on her hip, surprised at her own sense of charity. “They’re very popular right now.”
“Friendship fortune?” Lloyd was clearly not too bright, but he stayed interested. He looked at the crystal ball, as if hoping he could see in it as well as she did. “If it won’t take too long, then I guess I’ll give it a try. What is it exactly?”
“It’s simple. You focus your mind on someone, and I will divine what he or she thinks of you. You can do this for a friend of yours, or even a parent.” Still, she would have her limits. “Only one per day.”
“Aw, just one? Hmm…” Lloyd placed a hand on his chin, giving this certain fortune all his brainpower. “I…I think I have someone.”
The fortune teller placed her hands on the crystal ball. “Their name?”
She could already hear it before he spoke, was already focusing on the person before he gave his answer. “Her name is Colette.”
The Chosen – Colette – was bright within her vision. Lloyd had already been thinking of her, must have been thinking of her for a long time. From the tumble of her blonde hair to the stark white of her overcoat. In Lloyd’s mind, she was smiling, her eyes a bright blue.
She was almost overwhelmed by his feelings, but continued to focus. From Lloyd’s mind to Colette, she searched through the girl’s heart to find that boy in red. “She thinks so highly of you and admires your bravery more than most. Her care for you is gentle and if you keep your friendship, the two of you will forge a life-long bond.”
The image faded, letting her take a deep breath. But Lloyd was still staring, eyes flicking back to her and the crystal ball. “She…she does?” He cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair, shifting away any stray sand. “Me and Colette are just friends but… I guess she does say I’m cool and all, hehe...”
The boy was grinning, the sight bringing her some familiarity. Yes, she had seen something much like this when…
A voice suddenly shouted from beyond the tent. “Lloyd! What’s taking so long?!”
“Oh, shoot.” Lloyd broke from his daydreams with a flinch, then gave a hasty wave. “Uh, gotta go! But thanks for telling me all that! Is it okay if I can come back and ask for more of those friendship things? If, uh, they’re still free…”
Maybe such a comment should have annoyed her (which it still did) but her curiosity over this boy and the Chosen had her reconsider. Besides, if he was going after the Chosen in her travels, there was little chance he’d come back anyway…
“You can, but only one per day. And just for one person.”
“Just one…” Lloyd thought on it, then gave a firm nod. “Can it also be someone like-”
“Lloyd!”
“Agh! Okay, okay! I’m coming!” After another wave, and a quick, “See you later!” he rushed out of the tent, with only the upturned sand and the wrinkled carpets showing his departure.
Yeah, there was no way she’d see him again. But at least she got a 100 Gald out of it.
--
One morning, after she had fixed up her tent to be a little more spacious, and changed her myrrh for sandalwood, a loud voice burst through her test flap, nearly making her knock her incense pot to the ground.
“Hey!” shouted Lloyd, apparently having never been taught to use his inside voice. “I’m back!”
“What in the name of Martel is-!” She rounded on him, needing to take a moment to absorb all that red that he still very much wore. “…Lloyd?”
“You remember me! …Oh, I forgot to ask for your name though.”
“D-Don’t worry about it, really.” She took a deep breath to calm her heart, then went to her place behind the table. “I’m guessing you’re here for a friendship fortune?”
Lloyd nodded ecstatically. “Yep! They’re still free, right?”
Doing all she could to not mutter at him for being a cheapskate, she nodded. “But only one.” Then maybe you can pay for a real reading next…
It’d been weeks since she’d seen the boy last. His poster still hung in the plaza, though sand and wind had worn it down slightly. Word traveled of the Chosen journeying all over Sylvarant, and she was sure he had gone after her. Though she hadn’t exactly bothered to divine if he did…
Lloyd looked at the crystal ball with increasing curiosity, still wearing that same bright red that made him stick out in the desert like an out of place tomato. As he stared, she expected him to say a different name this time, for one’s life is full of many people and many feelings. But he didn’t take too much time to think, already the name on his tongue.
“Colette,” he said.
She raised her eyebrow. “You asked for her last time.”
“I-I know!” Lloyd flicked away some specks of sand at his ear. “Am I not allowed to ask for the same person?”
“No, you can, if that’s what you want to do. Are you still looking for her?” She wondered then if he had just been hopping along the dunes for her within the past few weeks.
“Ah, no, she’s in Triet, too. Just, um…” His boots scuffed against the carpet. “Just, it’s been a while since the last time I was here and…I want to know if she still feels that way about me.”
His lovesickness for the Chosen was almost sweet, in a way.
So she went ahead with her reading, hands placed on the crystal. “Focus on her in your mind,” she said. “So I can see what’s in her heart.”
Yet she didn’t even need to tell him. Lloyd was already thinking of Colette, from the moment he had barged into the tent, eager for another fortune. The light of the Chosen’s hair, even the echo of her voice, it was all made clear to the fortune teller from his heart, and from there, it was only natural to see what the girl hid in her own.
“She has a lot of faith in you,” she said. “Your bond grows stronger by the day.”
Bright-eyed as ever, Lloyd clenched his fist and gave a small punch in the air. “Yes! I bet it’s because I’ve been training more…”
“Will that be all?” The fortune teller put on a bored air, even though she did her best to hide away her smirk at Lloyd’s reaction. “If you want, you could know the feelings of everyone in your group.”
“Huh? Oh, oh right!” For a second, she saw him consider it, mumbling to himself as he did so. “I guess I could figure out what Kratos’ deal is…”
But soon after, he shook his head, denying himself the opportunity for another reading (and for her to get paid). “That’s okay. I just really wanted to know about Colette…A lot’s happened since then, and I guess I got a little worried…”
She wasn’t really here to listen to him ramble on, so she tried to move things along. “Well, I can tell you that her feelings for you are particularly very bright. They’re bright enough that they give me a headache.” That, and Lloyd’s earlier shouting hadn’t helped. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“You think so?” asked Lloyd as if she had all the knowledge of the stars – and, in some ways she did. But she wasn’t about to go and give this teenage boy some love advice about his crush!
“I’m sure. Now is there anything else you want?”
“Oh, nah, I’m good.” Another bright grin, he waved to the fortune teller before hightailing it out of the tent, nearly knocking aside a small dresser in his dash. “Thanks again! See ya later!”
There it was. That promise, and with it, her exhaustion. He was going to keep coming back?
She was beginning to very much regret offering these friendship fortunes…
--
It was obvious that Lloyd and his group had most definitely lingered at Triet those first few weeks, for he visited her each time he could, with always the name of Colette ready on his lips, her image first and foremost in his mind.
Thankfully, it was typically a very quick visit, done so he could be reassured of the Chosen’s feelings, as if the breeze would push it the opposite way. Sometimes she’d see him carrying a bag full of purchased food from the market, trying to sneak in a fortune in the middle of errands. Or, she’d see him panting from the heat, clearly wanting some shade from the sun, but also wanting a fortune told since he happened to be nearby.
“She has a lot of faith still,” she would say, hoping he’d be satisfied. “It grows and grows by the day.”
She breathed a sigh of relief when his visits started to lessen, but only because she knew he had finally left town. Still, once every few weeks, he’d come back again, always out of the blue, and always by himself. Perhaps he made sure no one followed close behind.
It was always sudden, always unexpected. Sometimes there was no rhyme or reason to his visits, for shouldn’t he and the Chosen should have traveled the whole of Sylvarant by now? She wondered if they were going in a big circle, always heading towards the middle of the desert for a strange reason.
One of these times stood out to her most, however. It was when Lloyd, once again, burst into her tent (while she was peacefully munching on her lunch), but he was more panicked this time instead of eager.
“Can I have my friendship fortune?!” he half-shouted, all but narrowly avoiding a collision-course into the overhanging lanterns.
She had to take a minute to gather herself, and to also finish chewing her bite of peppered fish. “Is it-”
“Yes!”
Of course. “Can this wait?”
“But I need to know right now!” Lloyd was hopping on his feet, tense enough that she thought he would spring towards the crystal ball himself if she wasn’t going to do it for him.
“Okay, okay. Just give me a minute and start focusing on her in the meantime.”
“Way ahead of you!” Lloyd answered quickly. Yeah, she could believe that for sure.
So, beyond that initial weirdness, everything was routine. Lloyd concentrated as if his life depended on it, and she was bombarded with more images of the Chosen, though there was a particular image of her eating a meal over a campfire…
“She thinks highly of you,” the fortune teller concluded. “She believes that you always do your best.”
There was a mixture of emotions on Lloyd’s face; at first, he seemed relieved, even happy. His shoulders relaxed and he breathed a small sigh – but then he blinked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her again. “Wait. Is that better…or worse?”
The fact that he could somehow tell the difference just from what she said was a bit uncanny. “Are you not satisfied with your reading?”
“No, no, it’s just…you said that stuff about her thinking highly of me the first time...”
Or maybe Lloyd just had a very good memory.
“Hm… I suppose it is just slightly,” she answered. “I get the sense that she’s…disappointed? Not enough to waver her care for you, but-”
That had been a mistake to mention. Lloyd’s whine was loud enough to echo inside her tent.
“Damn it! Because I accidentally used bell peppers with the rice today!” Lloyd groaned. “I’m so stupid!”
A question popped into her mind immediately. “…Did you give her food poisoning, or…?”
“What?! No way! Just, bell peppers aren’t her favorite and I forgot to take it out of her dish. And it was my turn to make dinner today...”
She almost couldn’t believe it, but was she really hearing how a meal lessened their bond between each other?
“How do I make her like me again?” Lloyd rushed to the table, as if she was hiding the answers nearby (or in her lunch bowl, where the leftover fish was still sitting). “Is there a way to fix this?”
“Okay, slow down. And don’t lean on this so hard!” She held up a hand to shoo him away from the table. “If the source of her negativity is simply because of your cooking…then why don’t you simply make her food that she would like?”
And just like that, the panic left him. “Really? I can do that!” With that, Lloyd started thinking aloud, muttering out what sounded like a grocery list, counting it out on his fingers. “Some apple slices, maybe peaches for a salad…she really likes strawberries too… Do they even sell those here though…?”
The fortune teller cleared her throat.
Lloyd started, blinking up at her like an owl that did not live anywhere near the desert. “Uh, what is it?”
“If you don’t want any more fortunes, then will you please leave?”
At the very least, he was kind enough to follow on that order. With a few waves and stumbles, Lloyd left the tent so that she could finally go back to her cold lunch. A cold meal all while she lived in the middle of a hot desert…The irony.
And when Lloyd visited the next day, asking for Colette’s feelings again, she reassured him with, “She has high faith in you again, as a person and in your capabilities.”
“Yes! I put my all into that fruit salad!” he said with pride.
She never thought food would be so powerful to affect her own readings…
--
The next time Lloyd would return to Triet, three months had already passed by.
Sightings of the Desians appeared less and less in the area, though a certain boy’s wanted poster remained pinned on the notice board. Gossip of the Chosen’s Journey of Regeneration traveled far, brought by those on their own pilgrimages, hailing from Asgard, from Izoold, even all the way from Palmacosta. It was said that the Chosen had gone to pray at the seals, and soon, salvation would be at hand.
It was late evening when she heard the rustling of heavy cloth, followed by a soft voice.
“Hey… Are you still doing those fortunes?”
Having been ready to leave, she was surprised when Lloyd poked his head through the tent flap. At this hour, while most would have gone to bed, she’d sometimes get a few curious customers; those who were usually quiet and hurt, those who wanted no one to know they were seeking her help.
It didn’t make sense to see Lloyd go to her like this, when before he’d rush in, unmindful to anyone hearing him shouting from a long distance away.
For most, she would simply turn them away, to come back in the morning, especially if it was another “free” fortune to perform.
But she had never seen the boy – who was still dressed in red, of course – look so lost before.
“I only have time for one.” She gestured him inside. “And close that please. It gets very cold at night here.”
“R-right.” Lloyd pulled the tent flap shut, then walked towards her. He pressed his hand against the back of his neck, rubbed it in even motions. “Sorry, I forgot to say hello before. It’s been a while.”
“It has,” she agreed, then decided to learn what she could. “Are you still traveling with the Chosen?”
“Yeah!” And at that, Lloyd went quiet again, eyes drifting to the sands, as if trying to count every grain that had snuck its way to the carpets atop it. “Yeah…”
It made her uneasy to see him act this way that she almost wished he would loudly ask her for another reading. She had to stand before the table, trying to get his attention once more with a wave. “Picture her in your mind for me.”
Lloyd hesitated, no longer leaping at the chance to think of the Chosen, no longer as eager to hear what she had to say. But he had gone into her tent, so he must have wanted to know, in some way.
She found the Chosen waiting in his heart, blonde hair cascading down her back, and…another strange light that extended from her back. It was hazy, hard to understand, and some part of that light caused a bit of pain. She couldn’t focus on the girl for very long, but she found those feelings before they could whisk away.
“She has so much faith in you. That hasn’t changed. In fact, it has only grown stronger. She knows what you do will be right.”
Yet, instead of being reassured, of being deliriously happy like he had always been on other days, she saw pain flash across his eyes. He gritted his teeth, clenched his hands, looking to the floor.
“But…why would she still think that?” He turned away, spoke more to himself than to her, struggling with what she soon realized to be guilt. “After messing up so much and what she’s going through… and how I didn’t even notice…?”
It was tempting to pry. She could see into his heart if she wanted to, see exactly what had happened on the journey to make him say such things. Perhaps the journey was, in reality, a failure. Maybe the world wouldn’t be saved after all.
But the boy didn’t seem concerned about the world now – only about the Chosen named Colette.
“If she still managed to keep her faith in you,” she said. “Then maybe you should have a little faith in yourself too.”
She wasn’t sure where such words came from. But they felt true to her, at that moment.
Going by his expression, Lloyd hadn’t expected such words from her either. He faced her, the worry in his eyes so plain. She remembered they once had a light to them; the kind that she recognized in many travelers. Those excited to see the world, perhaps even to change it. But…perhaps reality had faded that light in him, just a bit.
He clasped his hand, his thumb brushing against the blue stone affixed there. Exspheres were rare to see on people, especially those as young as he was. Unless they were mercenaries. Or Desians.
“Maybe… but…” He kept looking away, seeing something that she couldn’t. A future she was unable to predict, or a past where so many details had been missed. “Even when I make a mistake?”
She pondered on that. A hand on her chin, showing Lloyd she was giving his question her full attention. “Do you remember when you fed her those bell peppers?”
A flush of embarrassment crossed his face, which, at the very least, brushed away his look of despair. “Y-yeah, but I made sure not to give her those anymore! She’s right, they taste too bitter, and if you don’t cook them enough, they’re tough to chew-”
“Yes, thank you,” she said, holding up her hand. “But that wasn’t my point. You gave her those bell peppers as a mistake, remember?”
Lloyd nodded.
“You fixed your mistake, earning her trust, strengthening her bond with you.” She paused, to let the meaning of her words settle. “Why don’t you just fix whatever new mistake you made?”
She knew it was more complicated than that. This wasn’t another cooking mishap. Instead, it was something that had shaken Lloyd to his core, perhaps his very belief in things. It was always said that the journey of the Chosen is fraught with peril, but maybe that wasn’t limited to the monsters and bandits one would meet along the way…
“I’m not sure I can,” Lloyd said, closing his eyes. “I…I’ve made her go through so much, thinking she could do everything. And already she’s…” He shook his head. “N-never mind. Just. I don’t know what I should do.”
The fortune teller was no advice giver. She only divined what she could, never seeking out further than she needed to. Not everything in this world needed to be known.
Even so, she told him, “It seems she likes what you do already. Maybe all you need to do is to stay by her side.”
Lloyd stared again. It didn’t dispel the worry, not completely, but his eyes weren’t as fatigued as before. “Stay by her…”
By then, she couldn’t resist. She yawned, one hand brought up to her mouth. Lloyd saw and stammered.
“Ah, sorry for keeping you up! I just… couldn’t think of where else to go. I forgot it was late.”
“It’s fine,” she reassured. “Anything for a loyal customer.” Who still doesn’t pay me, she thought, but wisely kept that to herself.
Lloyd looked a bit lighter than before, the first hint of a smile touching his lips. “Thank you. I’ll head off now. We were just staying here for the night, so, I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be back.” He scratched the back of his head. “Huh, I’ve been coming here a lot now that I think of it!”
“You have,” she said. She didn’t plan on saying much besides a farewell, but then more words left her. “Take care of yourself and the Chosen.” She paused. “Of Colette, I mean.”
After all, he had only ever thought of her as Colette every time he came to see her.
“Yeah…” he said, voice soft, thinking again of that girl he so obviously loved. He gave one last smile, still tired but with a bit more hope than before. “Good night.”
Another nod, and Lloyd quickly slipped through the tent flap into the night. She saw the stars peek through, so many of them forming patterns and fates, before they were shut away again once he left her tent completely.
--
Lloyd was gone for nearly half a year.
There had been whispers about the Chosen and her entourage. They hadn’t been seen in any towns or cities for a long time. There were rumors that bandits had come to slit the Chosen’s throat, or that she had finally succumbed in one of her trials, no longer seen as a worthy savior of the world. There had even been rumors of her own group turning on her, leaving her body to waste away in a forest and steal her precious crystal, the blessing of Cruxis that denoted who she was.
That last one, the fortune teller could not believe. Nothing in Lloyd’s heart ever told her of such a thing. And if she had perished, he would have died along with her.
The most obvious answer was that the Chosen had simply failed. And when the Tower of Salvation vanished from the skies, no longer stretching all the way up to the heavens, it seemed this was so. The world would continue to decline. The few crops they could grow were already struggling, and even the oasis had already lowered by a few inches.
Soon enough, her fortune-telling business was booming.
She had many people then, coming to her for help. They asked her after the disappearance of the tower, after the destruction of Palmacosta half a world away, on what awaited them next.
But the future for her was uncertain, a mist that she could not part through, no matter what. For so many people, she could not offer a clear answer. Nothing, except…how a boy in red was at the center of it all, along with a girl with wings. “They will change our fate,” she would say.
“But how?” her customers would ask.
This, she did not know. But there was one thing she could glean from her divinations at the very least, one thing that she kept to herself.
That she would one day see Lloyd. That he – and the Chosen – weren’t gone at all.
--
One like her could tell things were different. Fortune telling utilized mana, for all living creatures were filled with it. By manipulating the mana currents, one could see into its travels, finding the answer usually hidden away. From whoever one loved the most, to whether the harvest back in Iselia would flourish. Yet, with the little mana Sylvarant had left, it had been difficult, expending much of her energy to even try to find the simplest of answers.
But then, one day, she felt it. The mana had become more abundant. She didn’t even need to use the crystal ball anymore – already she could divine without it. The stars in the sky completed pictures that she had always felt were half-missing, and the two moons cast the sand dunes in silver. Perhaps the air changed, no longer with scorching heat. In fact, in one such vision, she could see snow blanket the sand, and freeze over the oasis. This, she warned others of, though with a lightness in her step.
She had already known Lloyd would see her on a certain day. It was as easy as shutting her eyes and finding him, traveling through the air on a metal bird, and rushing through the marketplace once he landed.
There was no surprise at all when he arrived at her tent.
“Lloyd,” she called out, before he even fully opened the tent flap. She saw him pause, letting in streaks of sunlight to drape across the carpet, to hit against the glass of her hanging lanterns. “It’s good to see you again.”
“How’d you already know it was me?” he asked. Not much of him had changed; same red outfit, same sweep of brown hair, and he still wore that Exsphere on his hand. But there was something content in his smile then. He looked…older. Just a bit. But it gave him a small air of maturity that had been missing once before.
“I’m a fortune teller, remember?” she said with a wink. “And I know you’ve come seeking my help again.”
Lloyd chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “I guess I do that a lot.” A pause. He looked again at his surroundings, eyes landing on the crystal ball she didn’t touch, on the small picture frames she had placed to the side. “It just felt right to come back, you know?”
She nodded. “It’s good to have a place to return to,” she told him. “So, do you want another friendship fortune?”
However, she could already tell the hesitance in his face, even as the one he thought about was so clearly in his mind. Just a second or two until he shook his head. “I probably shouldn’t. I don’t even know who I-”
“Now, that’s a lie.”
Lloyd blinked, raised his head a bit. “Huh?”
The fortune teller smiled. The crystal before her remained dark. But she didn’t need it anymore. “Oh, don’t be so embarrassed. Don’t try to hide your feelings. Someone already likes you.”
Perhaps she was enjoying this a bit much, seeing how the red creeped up his cheeks, how he tried to look away, even when he couldn’t stop smiling.
“She is close to you and is always thinking of you. Her feelings for you are like a delicate flower. Through tender care and love, it could bloom into a beautiful, powerful bond.” A moment, her smile growing wider. “In fact, I think it already has.”
Lloyd’s blush had spread so much, it reached the tip of his ears. He coughed. “W-well… Um, me and Colette have gone through a lot together since I was last here…”
“I know,” she said, then laughed happily. She hadn’t felt this light in ages. “You two are total soulmates!”
“Really?” Lloyd also couldn’t stop his grin, no matter what else could be said. The boy was flying high. “That’s… that’s great!”
She saw him think on something, already guessing to his feelings. “You probably shouldn’t make her wait too long.”
“How’d you know? Wait, that’s a dumb question.” Lloyd, still grinning so goofily that it must have made his cheeks ache, nodded again. “Oh right! I did come here for another reason!”
“Oh?” the fortune teller questioned. She hadn’t considered that.
Lloyd walked up to her, then deposited a small sack of coins on her table, right next to the crystal ball. Was that…money?
“Just all that I felt I owed you for giving me all those fortunes,” he told her. “Um, I kinda forgot how much a regular fortune usually costs? So, I just guessed! But if I’m short, I’ll pay more!”
She held up her hand, wondering at this kid in red. “I already said those fortunes were free.” With that, she then swiftly snatched the coin bag. “But I’ll accept it, as a little bonus.”
“Hehe…” Lloyd grinned again. No longer a full blush, but the tip of his cheeks still held some of that red. “I’m gonna be traveling around for a bit, but when I pass through town, I’ll drop by! Oh, and I’ll bring Colette!” He nodded, excited at the idea. “I think… you only met her once, right?”
It had been on a hot, scorching day, with a pensive voice calling out from the front of her tent. The mana had been weak then, so she hadn’t known right away who it was…
“I have,” she said. “I’d be happy to see her again.”
--
.
.
.
“…Highly unlikely… Should be moving on…”
“A small visit… It is harmless…”
The voices drifted from the front of her tent, though none came in. Even so, she could sense someone else there – someone whose silence reached out to her, before they finally found their words with a shifting of the tent flap.
“Excuse me, is this where the fortune teller is?”
There were three of them. One was a man with hard-set eyes and lips set firmly, carrying the weight of a sword around his waist. He glanced around her tent, as if suspecting a hidden shadow to jump out from the fringed pillows at any moment. Already she could see that this was not someone who would be open to her fortunes, for his eyes held something far-off, as if reliving a memory, so there was little use for the future at all.
The second was a woman – an elf. She caught a glance at her ears, hidden beneath brilliant silver hair. In her right hand, she carried a staff, topped with a red sphere. Her clothes were a bit of an oddity, her robe oversized for her frame. She also wore thick-soled boots, making deep footprints in the open-sand sections of her floor. Her eyes held something more inquisitive than her male companion, eyeing a certain candelabra that was shoved off to the side. She appeared more interested in examining the insides of the tent instead of seeking any fortune readings herself.
But the person who had spoken to her was a young girl. Her blonde hair tumbled past her shoulders, reaching the middle of her back. She wore an overcoat of white, interlined with blue – and a curious jewel that was fixed in gold bands just above her collarbone.
“It is. Welcome to the House of Fortune,” she said. “What would you like me to divine for you?”
The distrust she felt from the swordsman was immediate. Those eyes became sharp, swiveling to her once she spoke. But the girl in front of her only grew more interested, clasping her hands together, her fingers fidgeting.
“Um, hello! I wanted to ask a few questions if that’s okay.” A shaky giggle left her. “They might be a little silly…”
The fortune teller shook her head. “Every question is fine to ask… as long as one is willing to pay.” A little blunt, but the number of times she’d read out fortunes and her customers would try to weasel out from giving her any Gald was far too many. “It’s 100 Gald a reading.”
The swordsman was already interrupting their transaction, much to her annoyance. “We do not have a high amount of funds to spend frivolously, Chosen.”
“Ah, I know,” spoke the girl, her shoulders lowering in disappointment. “I’m sorry.”
“Admittedly, it is a bit expensive, but can’t we make an exception?” The elf woman turned to face the swordsman, fingers tapping along the wooden handle of her staff. “Gels typically cost more than this anyway. We can afford it.”
“We still must save what we can for the inn tonight before we head for the Triet Ruins.”
The girl in front of her continued to look exceedingly guilty, her head bowed, her clasped hands now lowered. But the fortune teller had heard a particular word that the man had just said. Chosen. Chosen. The strange crystal she wore, and the conversations she had heard around town earlier that day…
Wait…the Chosen?
“You’re…the Chosen of Regeneration!” she said, grabbing everyone’s attention. The girl looked up, the woman turned, and the man stopped in mid-sentence to raise an eyebrow.
She then quickly cleared her throat, realizing how she shouldn’t really be sounding surprised, given her occupation. “I mean… since you’re the Chosen, I can’t charge you, of course! After all, I’ve divined your arrival and knew you would seek my aid.”
“Oh, really? You did?” The Chosen smiled, bouncing on her toes as a smile lit her face. It struck her just how young she was… Younger than she thought the one who would save their world would be.
“Did you not just ask for payment?” The swordsman asked, irking her quickly. Of course he wouldn’t have missed that earlier mistake of hers.
“I was simply explaining the usual payment for my services, should you want a reading. Or for you, miss.” She turned to the elf woman to make clear her meaning. “Only the Chosen will receive her readings for free.”
Hopefully, that was enough to save face (despite the man still looking at her suspiciously). The Chosen seemed to believe her, walking closer to the table.
“I can still pay you. I don’t want to make any trouble for you at all…” The girl again smiled her nervous smile. “I mean, if I wasn’t the Chosen, I would have to pay you anyway, right?”
“Well, yes, that’s right. But, you are the Chosen.” At least, she hoped she was, or she was losing out on her money for nothing.
The girl took a moment to answer. “Yes, I am,” she said, and something about the way she said such words sounded so sad. “Are a few questions okay?”
“You can ask as many as you like,” she reassured, even as her heart ached for the lost Gald she could have had. Well, it was for the sake of the world, after all…
And it had most definitely been more than a few questions. The kind that would run to 1000 Gald on her good days.
Even if she had divined it, she never would have guessed just how interested the girl was in her divinations. She asked all sorts of things; about the health of her grandmother and father, who stayed behind in the Village of Oracles, and if Bunz (a dog) was eating full meals. There were also many other mundane things she had asked; such as if the flowers in her father’s garden had grown in finally, and if the new pastor that was supposed to join the temple by her home was adjusting well. She even asked if the birds that had made their nest within one of the alcoves of that same temple were still alive, if the babies had yet learned how to fly.
When it came to telling fortunes, one can only a focus on a single aspect, or a single person. At least, when it came to her own abilities. A gaze into her crystal, finding a dog, a man, or flower bush all took the same amount of effort. It honestly got a bit tiring.
“Oh, I almost forgot to ask if Noishe is doing okay, too? Is he still scared of monsters?”
“Colette, it’s only been a week.” The elf woman was leaning on her staff, looking just as exhausted as the fortune teller felt. “I doubt Noishe is going to be suddenly brave by then.”
“Ah, you’re right… But, is he okay?”
The fortune teller did all she could to not sigh in front of the Chosen. “I will check…”
Noishe was a particular presence that she could find easily, for the shape of the dog shone so brightly in the Chosen’s mind. (Very bright, actually. She must have really liked dogs…) A green-furred canine walked along a sandy path, certainly not like any dog the fortune teller had ever seen, but she wouldn’t tell the Chosen that.
“Noishe is doing well. It looks like he is going on a walk, though he appears to feel a bit hot and…Oh.” Somehow, she could see other presences with Noishe. The bond must have been quite strong. “He’s with people. Two of them.”
The Chosen clasped her hands, her blue eyes bright with curiosity. “Someone with Noishe… Is… Is one of them Lloyd?”
The way the Chosen said the name was different from before. Suddenly, a burst of color, of red. Warm and inviting like a campfire.
She focused onto the boy who wore so much red, whose hair had a shade of brown that seemed familiar, though the fortune teller couldn’t quite put her finger on it… But Lloyd was walking with Noishe, alongside someone else who must have been a child, as they were two heads shorter than him.
“The one you call Lloyd… He is with Noishe now, and with another friend… There is sadness in his heart, but excitement too. He is also feeling hot…?” She didn’t really understand that certain part of her vision. The Chosen had said these people and dog were from Iselia, yet sometimes, she thought she saw the shape of sand dunes…
“Oh, maybe it’s a really hot day in Iselia? I guess it is summer…” The Chosen looked as if she had something else to say but a hand on her shoulder stopped her.
“We should be going now.” The swordsman didn’t look nearly as fatigued as the elf woman, though his voice betrayed some of his lack of energy. “Or we will miss our reservation at the inn.”
“Ah, that’s right…” The Chosen fidgeted, then asked, “Maybe one more question?”
How could this girl still have so many questions? But the swordsman simply nodded, though slowly. “One more.”
She wished she had a say in this, since she was doing all the work…
The Chosen turned back to the fortune teller. “Um, sorry, I know this is already a lot…” The apology in her tone felt too sincere to reject, so the fortune teller smiled anyway, trying to not let any frustration show.
“Don’t worry. What is your question then?”
The Chosen fidgeted with her hands once more, then held them together near her chest. “I want to know if…if the world will be saved.”
A question that had been on everyone’s minds lately, and yet, she didn’t expect the Chosen herself to ask it. But she supposed everyone could use some reassurance.
She placed her fingers on the crystal ball, closed her eyes, and searched for the answer. Sometimes, such answers weren’t as set in stone, the future always rife with change. But with this question, that she had been asked hundreds of times, she already knew the answer. The light within her vision was bright.
“Yes, the world will be saved.” She opened her eyes and smiled. “You will save our world, Chosen.”
The Chosen smiled back, but there was…something empty about it, like a tarp covering to shield away the coming rainstorm. Again, something that she couldn’t place. “That’s good then.”
The swordsman shifted, the soft clank of his sword echoing in the room. “Let’s be off.”
Finally. The fortune teller took a deep breath then, never so grateful to see her clients leave. The swordsman went first through the tent flap, followed by the elf woman who was holding back a yawn. The Chosen watched them go before she also went after them, still with that stiff smile, and those clasped hands.
There was something so sad in her, something that one would never expect to see in the savior of the world.
Then the fortune teller remembered something. She called out softly, “Wait, Chosen.”
The girl stopped, turning around with a confused look on her face. “Ah, yes? What is it?”
She had kept back this information from before, for it didn’t seem important. But she recalled how the Chosen had said his name, how bright he had been in the girl’s mind.
“When I divine people… I can sometimes see into their hearts, if their feelings are strong enough. I can see who they cherish. And just now, I felt something very strong from Lloyd.”
The girl remained where she was, though her expression hadn’t changed.
“In his heart, I saw you.” The fortune teller thought back to it, the feelings so clear now. “He is thinking of you. He wants to see you again. In fact…you could even say, you two are soulmates, with how strongly he feels for you.”
Never had she seen someone’s face turn so red before.
“Ah? I.. I don’t… Um…” The Chosen finally unclasped her hands, but only to wave at the air slightly. “But, he should forget about me! He should… forget…”
Even so, there was something so joyous on face, that the fortune teller felt she had made the right decision.
“Um, t-thank you! For telling me. I-I should go now.” The Chosen smiled wide, turned to leave again, and then caught her foot at the edge of the carpet laid out on the sand.
Arms flailing as if to fly, the Chosen fell face-first on the ground, kicking up sand in the air. The force of her fall shook the lights overhead, making the fortune teller wince.
“Colette?” called out someone from beyond the tent. “Are you coming?”
“Yeah! S-sorry, I’ll be right there, Professor!” The Chosen got up to her feet, dusted the sand from her clothes and hair but not fully. With a bit of a frazzled head, she waved goodbye to the fortune teller. “Thank you!” Then quickly left through the tent flap.
After all of her customers had finally gone, the fortune teller sat back on the cushions once more, her feet aching from standing for nearly an hour.
Still, she wondered about that boy in red, held so dearly in the Chosen’s heart.
