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It hurts. I hate this.
It was so cold. She tried moving around to find a warmer spot in the bed, but she couldn't move her body like she wanted to. She wanted to keep sleeping but the pain was forcing her awake.
"Ferdinand!"
She cried out in pain, reaching her hand out for the one she loved even more than books, but she could sense that he wasn't there. She saw her arm moving sluggishly, like it wasn't even a part of her. She could feel the mana in her body slowly hardening.
Her eyes were having difficulty focusing. She could hear movement in her bedroom.
Ah, there were still so many books to read. We didn't even fill the library half way yet. At least I'd gotten to enjoy being a librarian for a time after Letizia took over as Aub.
The curtains around her bed were drawn back and a woman stood there. Perhaps she heard her moving, or perhaps she'd heard her cry out. Either way, she was a beautiful older woman with a lovely face, emerald hair and dark green eyes.
"Milady, are you alright?"
"Effa?"
The woman shook her head.
"No, it's Lieseleta."
She knelt down next to Rozemyne's bed, helping her master sit up a bit.
Her mind, rising out of the fog of her sleep, started putting the pieces together. The memories came back of the woman, one of her longest serving retainers who she'd known since her time in the Royal Academy.
Ah, the green hair and eyes threw me off.
"Lieseleta?"
"Yes?"
"Please send for Ferdinand."
"Right away."
Lieseleta took a feystone from her belt. She whipped out her schtappe, tapped the stone with it lightly, and chanted Ordonannz as the stone morphed into a small bird.
"Contact the Royal Academy. Inform Lord Ferdinand that Lady Rozemyne doesn't have much time left."
As the bird flew away, Lieseleta picked up the light blue stuffed shumil that had fallen over on the bed. She sat it upright next to her master with a somber smile. Its dark blue counterpart sat on a nearby table, having been left behind.
The door to her room opened and several people entered her chambers. Rozemyne's eyes were having trouble focusing so she couldn't identify those who came in.
"How is Rozemyne?"
Ah, that familiar voice is Letizia.
Lieseleta stood up and turned to address the woman.
"Not well, Aub Alexandria. She doesn't have much time, and I'm not sure how quickly Ferdinand can return from the Royal Academy."
Ferdinand had been trying everything in his power the past few days to stave off whatever affliction had suddenly incapacitated her. He tried various potions and magic tools. He'd pored over every last bit of the Grutrissheit. Even a large dose of jureve had done nothing. He couldn't determine what was causing it, and as a last ditch effort he went to confront Erwarmen directly at the Garden of Beginnings.
Traveling to the Sovereignty, Ferdinand was stopped by Zent, who was adamant that there was nothing that they or even the gods could do. Dregarnuhr had already taken a part of Rozemyne's thread to save Ferdinand decades ago. They'd been blessed to have as much time together as they had.
Ferdinand presumably ignored those words and was doing everything in his power to break into the Garden of Beginnings even now.
He'd make an enemy of even the gods for my sake.
But he'd overestimated how much time she had left.
Lieseleta walked a few steps away, and there consulted with a powerful looking man with short dark hair. In Rozemyne blurred vision, she could almost picture them as Gunther and Effa, but those two had already climbed the towering stairway ahead of her. This man's hair was purple instead of blue, and while he no longer wore it long as he had in his youth, Rozemyne still recognized her trusted guard knight Matthias.
Rozemyne took a shallow breath before speaking again.
"Lieseleta?"
"Yes milady."
Rozemyne's eyes went to a small box on her bedside table containing a single stone.
"Please."
Lieseleta picked up the box reverently and passed it to her master. Rozemyne fumbled with the latch trying to open it, having lost much of the feeling in her fingers. Lieseleta reached over and opened it for her.
"Thank you."
Rozemyne turned the box over in her hand, letting the stone fall into her palm before grasping it with both hands tightly to her chest.
Ferdinand.
She'd already given back all the other names she'd held years ago, as a precaution. There was no way to tell when her thread would run out after her deal with Dregarnuhr and Ventuchte. She hadn't wanted her dear friends' lives to be cut short, especially with how essential many of them had become to the well-being of Alexandria.
Hartmut and Clarissa were very much against it, of course, but she convinced them that they were necessary for spreading the legend of Rozemyne if she were to pass away suddenly.
Besides, Hartmut remained one of the few remaining who knew about her other family, and he could make sure they were protected.
Only Ferdinand had still refused to take back his name.
He said our threads were tied more tightly than any others in all of Yurgenschmidt and promised that when my time came we'd go on together.
...But he isn't here with me now.
Rozemyne heard more people enter the room, at this point just shapes, colors, and shadows in her tear filled eyes. She thought of her and Ferdinand's children. Most of them were now married and even having children of their own. Many had raced back to Alexandria to say their last farewells. So many faces went through her mind. Theirs was a family truly blessed by the gods.
Yet, there was another part of her family which couldn't join them at the castle, here within the noble quarter. She had one last task to delegate before she went.
"Hartmut."
An older man with red hair approached, kneeling down and crossing his arms in front of him.
"Yes milady?"
With all those present, I have to be careful how I say this.
"Please continue to be of service to my family."
Hartmut lifted his head, gave a knowing smile, and nodded.
"Understood. I'll do everything within my power to fulfill the dearest wish of my goddess."
He got the message. Good. He'll continue to make sure they are taken care of.
Closing her eyes for the last time, Rozemyne clutched Ferdinand's name stone to her heart. As she felt her consciousness fading, she prayed to the gods one last time.
"I wish I could be with Ferdinand."
And so passed Rozemyne Tochter Linkberg Adotie Ehrenfest Aub Alexandria.
Beloved by Yurgenschmidt as the incarnation of the goddess Mestionora who bestowed Grutrissheit to Zent.
Beloved by Alexandria as their librarian Aub who brought knowledge and progress to their duchy.
Beloved by Ehrenfest as a dear sister of their archducal family and saint who restored the old ways.
Beloved by the Gutenbergs as their patron and muse.
Beloved by a humble commoner family as one who always strove to keep her promises.
And most beloved by one whose disappearance was simply explained as him being called directly to her side.
She slowly regained awareness of her surroundings.
Ah, why is there still pain? I thought I'd left that behind already.
She tried opening her eyes, but she still couldn't see anything, just darkness. She felt weighed down, as if she was buried under a pile of…
"Urano?"
She heard a muffled voice, then the sound of a door opening.
"URANO!"
She heard it louder this time. She could hear things being tossed about, and it felt as if the weight on her body was slowly being lifted. She could start to see points of light appearing at different corners of her vision. Eventually she felt someone grasping her arms firmly and pulling.
The room she was in was dark, a bit of sunlight coming in the open door from further out in the hallway. The lights were off it seemed, but her eyes could make out in front of her a young man with black hair and brown eyes.
Such a strange sight. I haven't seen anyone who looked like that in such a long time. But why is he crying?
The young man fell to the floor, pulled her to him closely, and hugged her.
"You idiot! You said it was a joke! Don't die under an avalanche of books, stupid."
She felt her shoulder getting wet.
He looks so familiar, but he's speaking a strange language. How is it I understand him?
Wait, isn't he...
"Shuu?"
He pushed her back a little and looked at her face, wiping the tears from his eyes. Her hair had come undone, likely when he pulled her free, and he brushed the loose bangs out of her face.
"Shuu, what happened? What are you doing?"
He pulled her in tight again.
"Don't ever scare me like that again, you idiot."
Ah, this feeling is familiar. Just like when He would hug me like this. Ah, I guess Shuu had feelings for me.
But why am I back in Japan? I thought I died?
But if I didn't die…
She stiffened suddenly at the mere thought.
No way.
Urano started to cry.
It can't be just a dream. It was too real. Yurgenschmidt was a real place. My life as Myne definitely happened. Growing up with my family in the lower city, making paper with Lutz, learning how to be a merchant from Benno, becoming an apprentice shrine maiden and meeting…
"Ferdinand…"
Shuu loosened his hold on her and leaned back.
Ah, I suppose that upset him. The last thing he'd want to hear would be another man's name, right?
"Who is…" Shuu had a scrutinizing look on his face, but suddenly twitched and raised his right hand to his head like he was in pain.
"Shuu?"
After a few seconds, he lowered his hand, he shook his head, and a vacant expression came over him. He started turning his head left and right, getting his bearings. He let her go and stood up, causing Urano to plop back onto the floor, her legs still half buried in her books.
"Myne…"
Eh? What did he say?
Shuu was looking around desperately, as if searching for someone. He stepped into the hallway and paused for a moment before mumbling.
"Is this the world from her memories?"
He started tapping his temple in an all too familiar way.
"...Ferdinand?"
Startled by hearing the voice behind him, he turned to look back at Urano. She was still laying on the floor, unable to drag herself out of the mess of her book room.
"Myne?"
The shock in his eyes was followed by realization. A light turned on above his head, literally, as power was restored to her house.
He reached down, pulling her clear of her books, then lifted her to her feet.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there at the end. Dregarnuhr, it seems, was playing her usual tricks to delay my return until the right moment."
It really is him.
"It's alright."
She smiled, tears forming in her eyes.
"You're here with me now, my god of darkness."
Shuu reached out his hands, one lifting her chin while the other ran through her raven hair.
"I'll always be with you, my goddess of light."
He leaned in close and their lips met. It didn't feel the same as when they had shared mana this way, but the passion and intensity was easily matched.
"Shuu, is everything alright? Is Urano okay?"
They quickly broke off their kiss, and Shuu paused for a moment. It seemed like he was pulling up memories from somewhere deep within before responding.
"Urano is fine, Ms Motosu. We'll be down shortly."
"Alright. Thankfully nothing was damaged down here, but I really wish Urano would secure those bookshelves. By the way, dinner is ready."
"Yes, ma'am."
Shuu held onto Urano tightly, while she hugged him back.
"But how am I here? I'd thought I'd died when I was reborn as Myne."
"It was a strange set of circumstances. When I was racing back to Alexandria from the Royal Academy, I used the teleport circle from the dormitory. However, during the transit I could feel your pull on me. The next thing I knew, I was standing before Dregarnuhr, Ventuchte, and Sterrat in the realm of the gods."
Those three again?
"They explained that while we two were still bound, I had the opportunity to save you. They wanted to do something for you in return for what you'd done for Yurgenschmidt. They were able to connect you back to Urano's thread on another world's fabric, and said it was now my job to keep you safe here. Regretfully, it seems, I was reborn in this world without my memories intact. At least, until just now."
It began to make sense. During her time as Urano, she had been too absorbed in her books to notice. Now that she had a lifetime of experiences, she knew what to look for. Shuu had always been there, caring for and protecting her all this time subconsciously.
Our time on Yurgenschmidt ran out, so instead they gave me back this time in Japan.
Shuu carefully walked Urano down the hall, holding her tightly, as they approached the stairs.
"Urano!"
Her mother was at the bottom of the stairs, looking distraught. She had her cellphone out and looked like she was about to call 119.
"What was that loud noise? When the earthquake started, Shuu ran upstairs to make sure you were alright. What happened?"
Shuu shrugged his shoulders.
"As usual, she was buried in her books." Shuu said with a chuckle.
Urano pouted.
"That's not funny Shuu."
He reached a hand up and pinched her puffed up cheeks.
They descended the stairs before he let Urano go. Her mother took her head in her hands and carefully started to look her over, looking her in the eyes, tilting her head this way and that.
"Well, I'm glad you're alright. Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No mom, just a few bruises. Mostly on my ego though."
"Well, if you're feeling alright come on and sit down. I just finished making dinner. I made your favorites tonight. You should eat it before it gets cold."
Urano gave a small nod and headed for the table. She, her mother, and Shuu all sat down together and began to eat.
The food was so nostalgic that her eyes got wet just from looking at it. There was fresh white rice, miso soup with tofu and wakame seaweed, garnished with plenty of scallions. There was yellow teriyaki, and meat and potato stew with hijiki. There were also pickled vegetables. She inhaled deeply to enjoy the smell of her mother's cooking, then quietly clasped her hands before lowering her head reverently.
"Itadakimasu." Urano's heart was filled with so much warmth and gratitude that it hurt. The moment she dexterously used her chopsticks to bring a bite of food to her mouth, tears escaped her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
Urano chewed slowly, savoring the flavor from beginning to end. The gentle flavor filled her mouth from corner to corner. While they had done much over the years to try and replicate the flavors of Japanese cooking in Alexandria, even going so far as to track down and breed a form of pseudo-rice, nothing could compare. The feelings of nostalgia for her mother's cooking, her overwhelming joy to eat it again, and the best thing…this time it wasn't just in a memory.
What did I say that time?
"It tastes great, Mom."
"Oh my, it's not often you praise my cooking. Is there a book you want or something?" Her mom, widening her eyes in surprise at her daughter's praise, laughed. Those eyes overflowing with love.
"It really is that good, Ms Motosu."
Shuu had the same intense look on his face that Ferdinand had whenever he was enjoying his consommé, savoring each flavor.
"Well, now I know something is strange. First Urano decides to eat with us, and now Shuu is complimenting my food. Are you sure you didn't hit your head too hard? Should we go to the hospital to get it checked out?"
"No, mom. I'm fine."
As Urano continued her meal, tears filled her eyes. She cleaned her plate, leaving nothing behind. She then clasped her hands and said "Thank you for the food" with a reverently bowed head.
Finally lifting her head, she looked her mother in the eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
Urano's mother looked up. With big tears falling out of her eyes, Urano bowed her head again.
"I'm sorry for worrying you. You take such good care of me, you always let me do what I want to do, but I nearly died before I could pay you back at all. I'm sorry. Thank you."
Shuu reached out and took her hand in his. These were the words she'd wanted to tell her mother all this time. The feelings she never was able to express, that had flowed out that time they had first looked into her memories together.
"You don't have to pay me back for anything. All I want is for you to be happy, Urano."
Urano nodded.
"I know, mom."
She looked over to Shuu and smiled.
"I think I finally found my happiness."
Shuu's eyes shone brightly, and he got a serious look on his face.
"Ms Motosu."
He turned and bowed at her mother.
"Please permit me to marry your daughter."
"Eh?"
C'mon, don't scare my mom like that.
"Are you sure, Shuu? My little girl doesn't see anything outside of her books. I know you've had a crush on her forever, but I doubt she's noticed."
What, mom knew? Was I really that oblivious?
"It's okay mom. I finally noticed."
"Eh? What?"
Urano looked from her mother back to Shuu and their eyes met.
"He's always been, and always will be, family to me."