"So, what now, Mizuki?" (Alto)
I raise my eyebrows.
What now? That's a good question...
I glance around the room, pursing my lips thoughtfully as I consider any pressing matters I have left to address. I honestly thought that this meeting would take longer, but even I wasn't expecting everyone to be this nonchalant about me nearly murdering Jorah. Maybe...I was overreacting a little bit? I mean, it really is just Jorah...
I sigh internally.
Either way, there's nothing to be done about it right now, and I've got plenty else on my plate. Tomorrow is when Zara and I are supposed to start visiting the demi-human tribes and establishing diplomatic relations with them. Before then, there's stuff I want to settle up here with the others before we part ways. Plus, there's whatever Eden-related drama Alara might need my help with now.
I rub the back of my neck and meet Alto's gaze once again.
"Hmm...well, I'm not entirely sure. I planned to talk with Alyse at some point this afternoon and help her get settled here in Eden before I leave. Plus, I figured that you and I could have one last research session together." (Mizuki)
Alto's eyes light up.
"Yes, that sounds lovely." (Alto)
I give her a small smile and nod, then turn towards the others on the opposing couch.
"Alara, Zara...is there anything else that either of you need me for today or want to discuss?" (Mizuki)
Alara shakes her head.
"Not that I can think of right now." (Alara)
I nod.
"Actually, I have a request. Could you send me back to my village when we're done here?" (Zara)
I raise my eyebrows.
"Uhm...sure. Something wrong?" (Mizuki)
Zara shakes her head.
"No, I just have things I'd like to take care of before we start our trip together." (Zara)
I shrug nonchalantly.
"Alright, that's fine with me. If you want, I can just send you no-" (Mizuki)
"Wait!" (Alara)
Zara and I turn our heads towards Alara in surprise at her sudden outburst. Seeing our confused gazes, she turns slightly red and cuts her eyes at Zara sheepishly, struggling to maintain eye contact.
"Uhm...sorry. It's just...can you at least wait until tonight to leave? I was hoping we could...you know..." (Alara)
While I practice my best WTF face, Zara stares at Alara in silence for a couple moments. Then, Zara gives Alara a small smile. She turns to me with a calm, questioning gaze.
"Would sending me tonight be okay?" (Zara)
I give Alara a curious look, as she looks back at me hopefully. Clearly, she wants something from Zara. I've noticed Alara really loosening up around Zara in recent weeks, but...are they really that close?
Eventually, I give Zara a small smile and shrug.
"I don't see why not. Just get word to me when you're ready to leave." (Mizuki)
Zara nods appreciatively, and Alara breaks out into a huge smile, standing from the couch in excitement.
"Great, let's go!" (Alara)
Alara suddenly freezes, slowly turning towards me with an apprehensive expression.
"Uhm...if that's okay?" (Alara)
I give her a bewildered look for several moments, finding her behavior stranger by the minute. However, after a while, I decide that it's probably just Alara being standardly awkward around friends...I've seen plenty of that from her since she moved in with us. If it was anything more serious, I'm sure I'd have heard about it from the others.
I gesture at the door nonchalantly.
"Be my guest. If you and Zara don't have anything else to discuss with me, that is." (Mizuki)
Alara gives me a beaming grin and shakes her head, then immediately moves towards the door. Zara nods at me, then goes to follow. However, she pauses for a moment before turning and walking over to Alyse instead, who looks up at her with a questioning expression.
Zara extends her hand forward.
"Thank you for a wonderful fight. You're exceptional, and I learned a lot." (Zara)
Alyse's eyes widen in surprise. Then, she seems to decide something and her lips twist into an amused smile as she clasps Zara's hand.
"Me too. Let's do it again one day...when you've improved. In the meantime, let me know if there's anything I can do for a fellow lover of the sword." (Alyse)
Zara's lip twitches briefly, but she merely nods her acknowledgement. Just when I think she's about to depart, though, she gives Alyse a knowing smile.
Zara leans over and whispers into Alyse's ear. I raise my eyebrows at the sight.
Well, that's a rather interesting development. What's Zara saying to her?
Alyse's expression is first confused, but after a moment, her pupils constrict in shock and she gives Zara an incredulous look.
"That's...rather shameless of you." (Alyse)
Okay...now I'm definitely curious.
Zara shrugs and moves to walk towards Alara by the door, who looks just as confused as me. Zara looks over her shoulder at Alyse nonchalantly before leaving.
"It was just a suggestion, one that I think is in your best interests. At the very least, it doesn't hurt to try. That said, it's your decision...feel free to ignore me." (Zara)
With that, Zara takes Alara by the arm, and the pair exit the family room without another word, leaving me, Alto, Nina, and Alyse alone. I move my rather perplexed gaze to Alyse.
"So, uhh...wanna tell us what all that was about? " (Mizuki)
Alyse, shaken from her thoughtful state, directs a startled look at me.
"Oh...uhm...nothing, really." (Alyse)
Seriously?
I give her a deadpan stare, and she shifts her eyes around uncomfortably for several moments. Eventually, she lets out a defeated sigh, her voice barely a whisper.
"She was just giving me some friendly advice about what my role in Eden should be." (Alyse)
I raise my eyebrows curiously.
Career advice? From Zara? What would she...
My eyes widen slightly in realization. Based on what I know of Zara's personality, and Alyse's and Alara's histories, I piece together some of what must be going on.
So that's how it is.
I give Alyse a small, knowing smile, and her expression only becomes more puzzled as a result.
"I see. Well, for what it's worth, Alara really isn't the same person she used to be. Despite how much of an asshole she used to be, if you give her a chance, you two just might get along." (Mizuki)
Alyse's snap open in surprise, seemingly caught off guard by the deduction. However, after a moment, her eyes become thoughtful, and she gives me a skeptical look.
"You sure about that? No offense, but I've known her for millennia, and you've known her, what? A couple months? I'm not sure you're aware just how deeply venomous she can be." (Alyse)
I can't help but smirk at that one.
"Really? I don't? You remember that she tried to kill me within days of meeting me, right? For no reason other than being a human with Nina's favor?" (Mizuki)
Alyse's expression freezes, and she remains silent as I stare at her expectantly. Eventually, I shrug.
"But...perhaps you're right. I can't deny that you have much more history with her than I do. Maybe you understand the person she is better than I do. However, I think there's also an argument to be made that my briefer history with her makes my view of her present self is a little bit more...objective. I've seen her at her worst, but I haven't spent millennia watching her reinforce my worst conclusions about her. You won't really know which of us is right unless you give her a chance.
"Either way, I want you to do what you think is going to be fulfilling for you, not what you think I or others want you to do. I'd recommend giving Alara a chance, and seeing if you could enjoy working with her as much as Zara seems to think you would. However, if you do that and it turns out that your worst expectations are met, then I'll also be the first person to tell you to do something different with your time. You won't be a slave to your first decision." (Mizuki)
Alyse stares back at me with a surprised expression for several moments in silence. Then, she lets out a long sigh as her eyes shift away from me, her face hinting at conflicted feelings beneath. After a few seconds, she nods at me cordially.
"I hear what you're saying...I promise that I'll give it some serious thought. Also..." (Alyse)
She glances between me and Alto, her expression becoming almost...embarrassed.
"Thanks...for making me feel so welcome here. It feels...good. And I'm sorry again about getting carried away with Zara." (Alyse)
I smile at her.
"Great, I'm glad to hear all of that, especially that you feel welcome. That's important to me." (Mizuki)
Alyse's eyes seem to shimmer with an unknown emotion as she gives me a flustered smile, but I can tell that she's at a loss for further words. It's something I can relate to...I've never really been good with drawn out heart-to-hearts like this. I said what I wanted to, I meant it, and now the aftermath just feels awkward.
I clear my throat and stand from the couch, avoiding Nina's annoyed glare as I disturb her comfy position cuddled next to me. Alyse is watching me with a mix of curiosity and anxiety, and she quickly stands from her couch as well. I nod at her awkwardly.
"Ehem...uhm, speaking of welcoming you...it's time for your gift." (Mizuki)
Alyse's face twists in confusion.
"My gift?" (Alyse)
I nod, giving her a smug grin.
"That's right. Regardless of whether you decide to work with Alara directly or not, you're still joining my inner circle, so to speak. Or, have I misunderstood the nature of your intentions?" (Mizuki)
Alyse's eyes snap open wide, her voice becoming frantic as she waves her hands wildly.
"NO! I mean, yes! Wait...no...I mean, no, you haven't misunderstood, and yes, that's what I want! I'd like to be like Alto!" (Alyse)
I bite my lip, stifling the urge to laugh as Alyse grows more flustered. Out of the corner of my eye, though, I see Alto giving me a disapproving glare, so I just sigh internally at the lost opportunity. I gesture dismissively at Alyse.
"Relax, I get it. In that case, everyone gets a special gift from me. I don't plan on making you the exception to that tradition...you're a part of the group now. Oh, but just to be clear, there's only one Alto...no offense." (Mizuki)
Alyse nods fervently, and I can't help but smile at the earnest reaction.
I feel a tug on my wrist, and look over to see Alto looking at me with a mix of curiosity and surprise.
"Mizuki, this gift...are you going to give her that?" (Alto)
I raise my eyebrow at her. Out of the corner of my eye, I also see Alyse watching us closely with a curious expression.
[Do you mean a spell ring?] (Mizuki)
Alto nods subtly, clearly recognizing the reason for my telepathic message.
Ah, so that is what she means. I can understand why she'd be confused by that possibility. After all, I went out of my way recently to make sure that the spell rings' existences stay hidden from others. I even singled out Alyse, explicitly telling Cara not to reveal their existence to her sister, even though I'd already offered Alyse a position in our group. So, Alto must be wondering why I'm changing my mind so easily.
Well, I'm not, actually.
I don't distrust Alyse, but I can't say that I trust her implicitly either. For the time being, especially until she finds herself a purpose among us, I want the spell rings to remain a secret from her.
So, I spent part of the night mulling over what I could give Alyse to make her feel welcome. I was kind of at a loss, originally. After all, as an elven noble, there's not much on Azura she couldn't acquire for herself.
Fortunately, during some helpful pillow talk with Ilina last night, she suggested that I try to make something unique for Alyse. She said that it didn't have to be expensive or grand, as long as it had a personal flair. The problem was, Alyse is kind of a loner, and I don't really have much personal history with her to draw on. Short of Alto's hand in marriage, I had no clue what she might want. All I even knew about her was the love of combat she shared with Zara.
And that's when I got the perfect idea for a gift for her...
I smile at Alto and shake my head.
"No. At least, not yet. Instead, I'm going to make something different for her...something new." (Mizuki)