Well, it is time.
From the window, only the floating rivers are seen, and the water who once poured at the window meets your face. So does the wind. To go upstairs, almost vanishing in thin air... you moved so fast out of bed, without dropping or pulling anything on your way. That was quick, she said. You didn't even have time to even sit on a chair and eat your breakfast on that table. See her face. How much time do you have, if you could do this anytime? Payment only comes at the end of the week, while for others it never comes. She wants to be a Dragoon because it's fun.
Fun? An only week feels like a month for you. What about those five years? Yes, five years walking around the world, and I couldn't change anything at all. The things I left behind didn't change either. She will be alright, living in her own world, without caring about time.
— Don't tell me that you're going to prepare another bowl of yellow syrup and call it food, dad. – She said, frowning at me. What can I say? I can't even prepare an egg without witnessing its shell bursting. On my face. It used to be funny, I made her laugh all the times it happened. I didn't laugh, but knowing someone was happy was enough.
Now, it takes more than a dragon landing inside her mouth, or a good sleep with the blessing of Reis. Watch the dragon! I used to say, with a spoon coming in. Funny, a spoon... her first food was a tiny anchovy, found at the tip of your spear. The toothbrush spear, as she calls it by. That was her first food. It's a tradition of the Knights of Burmecia. Feed your baby for the first time with the tip of your spear, and he'll become a Knight too. In Alexandria, the Knights of Pluto wields swords, and here at Burmecia, the Dragoons wield spears.
Now, it takes more than a dragon landing inside her mouth, or a good sleep with the blessing of Reis. Watch the dragon! I used to say, with a spoon coming in. Funny, a spoon... her first food was a tiny anchovy, found at the tip of your spear. The toothbrush spear, as she calls it by. That was her first food. It's a tradition of the Knights of Burmecia. Feed your baby for the first time with the tip of your spear, and he'll become a Knight too. In Alexandria, the Knights of Pluto wields swords, and here at Burmecia, the Dragoons wield spears.
A change of outfits takes less time than a change of character, or job. I wear this tassel with a feather on its back upon my head once again, same for these green like mud clothes. Bandages wrapped on the soft spots belonging to your hands, gaiters wore on your feet, buckles wrapped around you, tightening your outfit, the only shield you ever shared, but the weapon... it's only a tool, but the man had to be taught. From training woods to flesh, I learned how to slash through barriers. Practice makes perfect, and within time, you learned how to hold this thing without breaking your arm, right?
— Dad, did you almost break your arm because of a toothbrush? – She laughed all day.
I, too, laughed, even knowing it wasn't funny at all. I did it because of her. My dear deserves the best life she can. The pieces within your skull healing, of old memories left in blank, and new ones arriving each day to fill in the cracks... I wish Freya was here to see how well I am doing. Freya Crescent... Nothing in this house reminds me of her. Why would the clothes worn and weapons maneuvered by a goddess be inside a house as common as this? She saved the world, didn't she? And I don't even get the credits for teaching her all I knew. I am known as Freya's love interest, the guy who got amnesia... how shameful, but that reputation I had is about to be over.
Past is the past, we live at the present.
— Leaving already, dad? – Well, won't you say anything? Like 'I'll come back' to Heather? Heather Crescent... that's her name. She'll be fine.
— Well, don't come near the fire, my dear. There are apples upon the table. Enjoy...
— And what if I am hungry? If I'm queasy about eating apples and just apples? Shannon taught me how to prepare tea. I can do it by myself. It won't hurt...
Shannon... that's the maid's name. Most of the time, she's here to take care of my little one. I trust her, one of the few people I do. One of the survivors from Cleyra. I was at Cleyra, and yet, couldn't do anything. I don't even know how I survived, none of them do. I was inside the cathedral when Odin's impact happened. He ain't my god, no such god would bully people with its power. People already do it to themselves. Nations are made of people.
''...They don't care who they destroy! Long as they have their stupid fight! And over what? Probably nothing! Like two bullies in a sandbox, fighting over a piece of turf!...''
I don't know who said these words, if a survivor of Cleyra (kind people, they would never), a survivor of Burmecia (they would, but how many left to say?), a survivor of Lindblum (good people, but when it comes to disaster...); or a survivor of Alexandria (they suffered as well). Well, what matters is that there's someone home to take care of Heather.
I think I remember Shannon, wasn't she a dancer? A beautiful dancer. The Cleyrans danced for eternal harvest, and to keep the sandstorm surrounding their home. A huge sandstorm, for a huge tree. They had the privilege of living upon a tree, without fearing any thunder. They lived above clouds, like angels. They never went to war, who to fight with sitars and harps? It's so sad seeing these people and not knowing who is from Burmecia or who used to be from Cleyra. We are the same, but so different from one another.I can't blame that I feel weird when I see a cleyran on her usual self, while in the rain. Rare thing to see. Peach dresses like autumn, flowers in the middle of cobblestone, while Burmecia lives in green like moss dresses, its fallow lands soaked by mud.
Shannon's country may be dead and dry like the desert who once surrounded it, but her traditions are still alive. She is alive, I know it. But Freya won't come back from knocks made at the front door. Even if she did, I won't be there to hear any of them, because I already left for these streets.