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It was a rather warm day in the cold Eternian north, perfect weather for a light coat and long pants.
Edea Lee took a break from her duties as acting Grand Marshal to enjoy it, after all days like these only came about once every so often, and they deserved to be enjoyed. In truth she rather enjoyed the climate of Florem, Not too hot, like Ancheim, and it never seemed to get as cold as it did in Eternia. Still this was her home.
And today would be the start of an experience she never saw coming.
“Ah! Edea!” A gruff voice called out to her through the snowy streets.
“Hm?” She turned around, a familiar handy man coming towards her. “Datz!” she ran over to him, “What brings you here?”
“Ah, just a supply stop… Zatz and the Proprietress are getting food as we speak.” He laughed, large form losing all the intimidating stature it might have had.
“So… So Ringabel is here too?”
“Aye… He hasn’t left Grandship yet…” A look of unease settled on the usually happy man’s face.
Edea frowned, that wasn’t a good sign. “Is… something wrong with Ringabel?”
“He’s not sick or anything.” Datz muttered, scratching his head. “But… Since everyone else left Grandship… He hasn’t set a foot on dry land. If it weren’t for the Proprietress I doubt he’d even eat!” The man looked even more sullen, “... Grandship isn’t long for this world, either. The hull ‘ll break soon, no amount of repairs will fix her.”
She reacted as if she’d been hit. “Th- Then why does he insist on keeping her in the air?”
“I don’t know… He doesn’t like to talk much anymore.”
“Mrgrgr!” She rolled up the sleeves of her coat. “Where’s Grandship, I’ll go talk some sense into that nitwit--”
“--I don’t think fightin’ is what he needs right now.” Datz cut in, “I think he needs a friend most of all.” He scratched his head again, “We set her down a little ways outside the city, a straight shot from the gates.”
She breathed out, cooling the anger his words had somehow quelled within her. With a sigh Edea set out to Grandship, and to talk some sense into her comrade.
True to his word it wasn’t much of a walk to Grandship, just far enough away that he wouldn’t draw the attention of any city-goers. She looked at the massive vessel, six months had passed since she’d last stepped foot on it, and now…
She climbed up to the deck entrance, and was greeted by the very man she was looking for.
Well, not really greeted, he hadn’t even noticed her. Ringabel was standing about center of the deck, staring down at his hands.
A strange chill went down Edea’s spine.
Ringabel looked a bit worse for wear. His usually perfect pompadour was now just straight hair, sloppily pulled back behind his face with a blue lace ribbon, a tuft of bangs hanging down into his face. His clothes were nothing fancy either, almost something Tiz would wear rather than him.
She steeled herself, moving closer. “Ringabel?”
He took in a sharp breath, looking up at the sky for a moment, “E- Edea?”
She laughed, “Uh, Yeah, I’m right behind you.”
He gave a puzzled noise, turning his head. His facial expression changed a myriad of times in mere seconds, Edea was too unfamiliar with the inner workings of human emotion to even begin to guess what they all were.
“Edea!” He changed posture almost immediately, gently flicking his bangs, a wide smile on his face. “How lovely of you to come visit! I wish I had known, I would have cleaned the place up a bit.” He started walking towards her. “I’m afraid the Proprietress is out and my cooking is nowhere as good as hers is so-”
“Ringabel…” She stared at him, “Were you… were you planning on coming to visit me?”
He stopped dead in his tracks, “Well…” He shifted again, lightly tapping his chin, “I would certainly have planned on visiting, but I have important business in Ancheim, you see and I-”
“That’s a load of bull, Ringabel!” She shouted, frowning at him, “I think Datz would have mentioned it to me if you did.”
“I don’t tell Datz everything , you know.” He attempted to defend, “It’s not like I’m avoiding you or-”
“You haven’t been to see Agnès or Tiz either.” She said quietly. “We were all really worried about you. And now I find out from Datz that Grandship is falling apart?”
He looked away, frowning deeply.
“You can’t stay here anymore. Grandship can’t take it much longer. And besides… This is where your fr-”
“ You are my friends… They were…” His voice was strained as he spoke, “They were acquaintances.”
“Acquaintances or not… It’s not right for you to stay here. Datz says you haven’t been eating…”
He snapped up, looking almost offended, “Yes I have! Why just last week the Proprietress made me the loveliest-”
“That was last week, what did you have for Breakfast today, or dinner yesterday?”
“Well… Well for lunch I had-”
“Mrgrgr! I’m trying to get you to realize that this isn’t helping you, Ringabel! You need to snap out of it! What happened, happened. And there’s nothing you can do about it! But…” She sighed. “I don’t really want to admit it… But I miss you. It’s so lonely in Central Command without you.”
He looked at her. “Well then…” After a quiet moment, he walked to her, kneeling down. “I, Alternis Di-”
“Ringabel.” She interrupted, “We both know you’re not that man anymore.”
For a moment he looked like his old self again, "I, Ringabel, will gladly help you, acting Grand Marshal Edea Lee in re-making the Eternian Duchy."
"Do you promise to stay by my side, as well?"
"Yes," He nodded, "Always."
She grinned down at him, “Then it’s settled! I’ll have a house commissioned for you right away!”
“Actually I’d-”
“Staying in the room next to mine is not an option.”
“Oh…” He looked away, his plan shot down before it got the chance to soar.
“I better be going! The builder might be leaving town soon. Make sure you get Datz, Zatz and the Proprietress home to Eisenberg, safely, and be back as quickly as you can.” She pointed at him, “Remember, you promised me you’d be by my side!”
And with that, Edea was off.
He stood there for a moment before throwing a wood-splintering punch to the guard rail.
“ You need to snap out of it! ” How?
“ What happened, happened .” But it could have been prevented!
“ It’s so lonely in Central Command without you. ” Without me? I’ve never been at your Central Command, save when we ventured there to wake the Earth Crystal!
“ We both know you’re not that man anymore .” Then who am I?!
He cradled his bleeding knuckles, a deep frown on his face.
“Ringabel” was a construct of a dying man who no longer wished to remember his pain and suffering…
“Alternis” was a tortured soul who found a great strength in his pain, yet had no one close to him save his commander and the love of his life…
If Ringabel was fake, yet he wasn’t Alternis… then who was he?
--
Datz was no doubt distressed over the suddenly broken guard rail. “How did this happen?”
Ringabel laughed, “Edea and I had a brutally passionate make-out session when she dropped by, it certainly wasn’t my fault she insisted it get kinky.” He lightly flicked his bangs, letting out a chuckle.
The larger man sighed, knowing that Ringabel was lying, but also knowing he wouldn’t get the truth.
“Oh, by the way, I’m taking you, Zatz and the Proprietress to Hartschild, I’ve decided it’s high time to stop wandering about and settle down in Eternia.”
“I’m not sure the Proprietress will like that with your habit of skipping meals…” He sighed.
“Well she doesn’t have a say in this matter. No matter how long she’s lived here, I’m the driver and I say it’s her stop.” He knew he would certainly need to fight her on that, but after he explained his reasons, surely she wouldn’t be too mad at him.
He had been wrong. He had been so so amazingly WRONG. The Proprietress was furious at him, not just for his snap decision to dump her from Grandship, but also that he had lied to Datz about the guard rail.
“We’re not stupid, you know! You’re the only one who could have done it, and I think I know enough about your relationship with sweet Edea to know that a ‘passionate make-out session’ is off the table.” The plump aging woman stared at him, “And why are your knuckles wrapped? Did you hurt yourself again? It’s from punching that guard rail, I bet.”
She was the only one willing to call him out on his bullshit. And truth be told, without her he might’ve been dead months ago. She’d always remind him to eat and drink something, occasionally going as far as to have him sit down so she could make sure he was really doing so.
“I completely understand your anger, Proprietress, but you have to understand that this decision is also for your own good. After all, Grandship is falling to bits as we speak. It might barely make the trip back to Eternia for me.”
“That’s exactly my point.” she snapped, crossing her arms, that stern motherly look on her face, “I don’t know what happened to you, Ringabel, but you have so little concern for your own well-being these past few months.” Something in her eyes softened. “Promise me, that when I leave this ship you’ll eat three, large meals a day?”
He swallowed, trying to cure his newly dry throat. Was that it? “Of course! Anything for you, Proprietress.”
“You’re a good man, don’t let whatever you’re going through drag you down.” She turned around, producing a very large plate of steaming hot Florem-style food and a cup of pure black coffee.
He stared down at the food, horribly unhungry, yet he knew if he didn’t eat she’d give him another earful. He picked up his fork and started eating.
To him the food was bland and tasteless, but he knew that the Proprietress would rather be thrown off Grandship into the ocean than serve something unfit for human consumption. So he feigned that it was just as delicious as her meals had been years prior. Then he turned to the coffee, taking a sip and pulling back.
“There’s no caffeine in this…”
“You don’t need it.” She said, pulling out a dish towel and wiping the counter down in preparation for Datz and Zatz, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you being up at all hours of the night lately. I realize you need to pilot the ship, but I’ve seen you put her in auto-pilot before.”
He looked down at his yet finished food, so she’d noticed that had she? Perhaps he hadn’t been giving her enough credit.
“I’m not letting you leave until you finish the whole plate.” She said.
With a sigh he smiled up at her, “Proprietress… You’re like the mother I never knew.” He went back to eating the food she set out for him.
“I know.”
Arriving in Eisenberg in good time, Ringabel’s three constant companions in the last six months departed, Friendly hand shakes and pats on the back for Datz and Zatz, a hug for the Proprietress.
“Now, I’ve stocked the fridge with easy to make meals, just pull out a tray, put the stuff together and put it in the oven or on a stove, I’ve labeled which is which.” She pulled out a long knitted scarf, a deep blue with an inner aqua blue diamond pattern and slung it around his neck. “I realize you’ve lived in Eternia before but you’ve spent a lot of time in the milder climates, so keep wrapped up.”
Tears were nearly brought to his eyes at her pure concern for him. True she’d done nothing but fret for him lately, but this…
“Thank you.” He took her hand and lightly pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“Just take care of yourself now, Ringabel.” He nodded and waved her off, turning towards Grandship to set sail for Eternia. “Make sure to write me, you hear?”
He laughed, “I will.” A small fire lit within him once again. And when he reached the main deck on Grandship, he sat down, and began to write.
“12/25
In just this past month so much has happened.
I’m to join Edea in Grand Central starting as soon as I return to Eternia…
But surely a little side stop won’t hurt…
I have some questions I’d like to ask Lord DeRosso, given he’ll still allow me entry to Frostcoffin Castle.”
--
“Why have you come here?” The monotonous voice of Archduke Lester DeRosso echoed through the empty landscape.
“To seek counsel with you, Lord DeRosso, I have some questions to ask.” Ringabel pulled the scarf tighter around his neck. “Deny me entry if you will, but I’ll just come back tomorrow.”
There was a loud click, “There is no need, I assume you’ll know where to find me.”
He smiled, knowing DeRosso was watching him somehow, “Of course.”
There were fewer monsters roaming the halls of the castle now. Whether that was because of the Great Chasm closing or just because he’d stopped keeping so many Hell Beasts around was beyond Ringabel.
He made good time to the throne room, standing before the archduke of Eternia.
“Do you persist with using Ringabel or have you taken this world’s Alternis’s place at his untimely demise?”
He didn’t respond, merely pushing his bangs away from his face. “In another world we visited before shattering a crystal. Former council member Victor S. Court approached you for a sample of your DNA.”
The vampire lord raised an eyebrow, “And why would you need this?”
He pulled the scarf down, a very serious look on his face. “I failed to protect my Edea. But with the data your DNA can provide I might be able to find the secret to your immortality and regeneration, so that I’ll never have to worry about losing this Edea.”
DeRosso blinked, no emotion showing on his face. It almost seemed as if he was looking down on Ringabel, despite their shared stature.
“I see.” Was all he said.
Now the blonde haired man was a little nervous, but he couldn’t let that get to him now.
“You speak of matters from a world beyond this one. And you yourself come from a world before this one…” DeRosso continued, “You speak of ‘Your Edea’ and ‘This Edea’... Could you still be pining over your loss?”
The words stung, just a little, he would have been lying if he hadn’t expected a tongue lashing from DeRosso.
“You come to me, seeking to prevent what has already been prevented here.” The lord stepped away from his throne. “A repeat of your life shall never happen, so why are you trying to stop it?”
“Because I don’t want to even take the-”
“Edea is a strong woman, you know.” DeRosso stared him down, “She might not like the way you’re trying to save her.”
“That doesn't matter! She’s all I have left and I will not lose her!”
“And what if she loses you? Aren’t you aware such experiments as the ones you’re thinking of are highly dangerous?”
“Victor and I were both ranked top in intelligence, if he can do it,” Ringabel reached deep into his pocket, pulling out an asterisk he had squirreled away for sometime now. “So can I.”
The lord viewed it, “I see, you’re going to use the S. Court research… in conjunction with Victor’s own asterisk…”
“As I said at the gate. Deny me now and I shall simply come back tomorrow.”
“You say a Victor from another world brought this up to you?”
“Not to me specifically, but I was there for the event.”
“And what, exactly, did I have him do in return?”
Ringabel looked away for a moment, slightly worried if Lord DeRosso would request a battle for him, as well. “You had him fight alongside you. To test the depths of his despair.”
“Hm…” He crossed his arms. “I see no reason to put you to such a test. You gave me the answer I was looking for when you refused to answer what name you go by.” He raised his arms, “A man without a name is a man in such deep seeded despair there need be no proof.”
Was that meant to make him feel better? … Of course not. It was just another prod at him.
“So you’ll give it to me then?”
“I doubt there has ever been a man who sought the secret of life so doggedly while dogged by despair. Consider this my gift to a man ever on the edge of hopelessness, willing to while away his years in fruitless study… From a man no less hopeless, victim to an eternity of years fruitlessly whiled away.”
The exact words he’d said to Victor all those months and worlds ago.
“I am eternally grateful, Lord DeRosso.”
With a quick flick of his hand he was holding out a lock of his hair, “The nature of my immortality is… for lack of a better word, occult. I know not what secrets your modern medicine can tease from this lock of hair, but you’re welcome to try.”
Ringabel reached out, taking the lock in one hand and pulling out a handkerchief with the other, carefully tucking it away so he wouldn’t lose a single strand.
“Ah… One further thing.” Here it was… “Should my gift prove the seed for some new life… I would ask-”
“That I name the child Lilia, after your mother.”
The Lord cracked a small smile, “It seems I am like minded in all incarnations.” He raised a hand in parting, “May your work prove fruitful.”
He bowed, turning to leave Frostcoffin castle until his work was complete.
--
He made his way towards Central Command, lock of hair and Spirit Master Asterisk both tucked away in his pocket. Ringabel swore this chance to protect Edea would not go to waste.
Preparing to see Edea again he pushed all thoughts from his mind, save those good few that cheered him on. A lax smile settled easily on his face, though fake, it served to disguise well enough.
He pushed open the doors, “Edea, dear~! I’ve returned!'' The facade fit nicely, blanketing his emotions, and Edea would likely never catch on that anything was out of place.
Silence.
“Edea?” His heart quickened, was something wrong?
Ringabel walked through the halls, entering the council chamber.
A small pop went off right next to his ear and he jumped, readying to strike.
“Welcome home!” Edea shouted with a smile. “I was wondering what was taking you so long.”
“Ah, The Proprietress kept me a few days in Hartschild, nothing to worry about.” A lie that felt like a dose of poison to himself, but he couldn’t tell her about DeRosso.
“Oh I see. She did get pretty attached to you, didn’t she?” She touched her chin swaying from side to side. “I’m glad she’s doing well.”
“Very well!” He laughed, “Why when I told her my decision to drop them all off in Eisenberg I nearly thought she’d throw me off Grandship herself!”
They both shared that moment, laughing together before Edea pushed him out of the room. “I should show you to your home, though it's not quite ready yet, so you get your pick of first floor rooms here in Central until it’s done.”
“Ahaha…” That would suit him just fine. Victor’s old lab was on the first floor, after all.
They exited the doors and she turned him a sharp 90 degrees, walking along a path until they reached a small stone building undergoing construction,
“Ahh… This will actually be very nice!” He nodded approvingly.
“When it's done I’ll have all your old things moved in there, but enough about this, I’m sure you’re tired from your trip.” She slapped his shoulder, “Go pick out a guest room on the first floor, I’ve actually got some things to attend to myself.”
And she was gone, jogging back to Central Command.
He stood there for a moment.
“ I’ll have all of your old things moved in there. ” If I’m not Alternis then they’re not my old things, are they?
He frowned, flexing the hand he’d punched out the guard rail with not too long ago.
It seemed he wasn’t the only one having trouble separating past from present.
He turned, setting his destination for Victor’s lab. He would start preparations tonight. Ringabel sighed as he trekked back to Command, his plans burning a hole in his brain. He and Victor may have ranked the same when it came to intelligence, but Victor had been working at this almost his whole life. What could he finish in hopefully the next year or so that Victor could not?
He pulled the blue lace ribbon out of his hair, biting it between his teeth to pull all his hair together again. Perhaps he should just go back to his old style…
Arriving in the lab not long after he found it very well kept, if not a little dusty. This was what he was hoping for. He started out by getting all the research notes in order, every single one of them was done by Victor . He grit his teeth slightly, that was good, at least, Victor would be further along in his research, but what he had planned required Vincent’s research notes. Surely Victor kept a copy of them somewhere around here.
His search efforts redoubled he looked for a hidden compartment. After all it didn’t seem like Victor to throw away good research, no matter how much he hated it.
Somewhere… Somewhere far away from Victoria, in the fear she might find it and think he was going to do it to her again, and away from the door, it wouldn’t be good to have just any walk-in spot a hidden panel.
So that left the far corner of the room. He wandered over inspecting every inch until he saw it, it looked like a very tiny crack in the brick, but DeRosa had used the same trick to disguise his underground lab in Florem. He reached out, taking great care to only remove what was necessary. It would do him no good if anyone found out he was working with illegal research, or just what he was working on in general.
He had been right in assuming Victor would keep his father's work, and he was all the better for it. It didn't take too long for him to familiarize himself with the S. Court's work, changing into the Spirit Master asterisk to begin work.
As soon as he began everything started to fall into a pattern, meals rarely eaten and sleep a rarer commodity. Were Edea around him more often she'd notice his tired eyes and hollow smile, every day that facade he wore for her became a heavier burden, each day he only felt further from himself.
It wasn't until he spent night and day in the lab that Edea began to suspect something wrong.
"Ringabel?" She called through the doors. "You haven't come out to eat yet." No answer. "Ringabel?" She called louder. "Hehe... Come on out, you're- You're just messing with me, right? C- Come on... We can go do something fun! We could train or... Or build a snowman or something, just come out, please!"
Still no answer.
"Mrgrgr! Fine if you won't open the door then I'll just break it down!" The Templar readied herself, slamming her shoulder into the door again and again until the lock burst open. She stumbled a few steps, getting her bearings, only to nearly scream. There he was, passed out on the floor, surrounded by papers. "RINGABEL!"
--
Ringabel awoke in a completely white environment. For a moment he thought he was dead, and a genuine panic overcame him. He couldn't die, not now, he wasn't done with his work! "He's moving!" a sweet voice called, a familiar voice, one he hadn't heard in so long.
"Agn....ès...?"
"Really? That's great!" and that was... That was Tiz.
He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the surroundings. He was in the Central Healing Tower... Why would he be there? There was a gap in his memory, he remembered being close to a breakthrough and then... And then his head hurt and... He must've passed out.
"Edea, Ringabel is awake!" Agnès shouted.
"Mrgrgr! He should have stayed passed out!" He let out a huff of a laugh, she tried to sound mad, but the relief in her voice was impossible to miss.
He groaned, trying to raise his hands, move his head, something. He had to get back to the lab, he was so close to completing his work.
"No." Agnès held one of his hands by his side. "You shouldn't move, you're still weak from passing out like that." She hadn't changed a bit, it seemed. "It would be unacceptable for you to overexert yourself again." Not even a little.
“I’m… fine.” He rasped out, ugh, the familiar feeling of coming out of a White Magic Chamber, he hated it so much.
“The doctors said you hadn’t been eating or sleeping, Ringabel.” Tiz explained, “and we found your research notes too…”
He gulped, not just to wet it but because he knew exactly what was coming next. They all knew he meant to unlock the secrets of immortality.
“You know it is not wise to try and… and ‘mess’ with the order of things.” Agnès said quietly, “And to use Vincent S. Court’s research to do it-!”
“Please…” Ringabel rasped again, “I’m… so close…”
“That doesn’t matter!” That was Edea, “You of all people know that his research was illegal and wrong! Do you want to create another Victoria?!” He was almost sure if he wasn’t bed ridden she’d be giving him the beating of a lifetime.
“DeRosso…”
“Just because he gave you his ‘permission’ doesn’t mean you can go doing whatever you want!” He could hear heavy footsteps approaching his bed, and Edea entered his view. “You almost worked yourself to death , Ringabel! Have some concern for your own well being!”
He had no response to that, all he could do was avoid her eyes and the sting of guilt they would give him.
“Edea…” A hand pulled her back, and he assumed it to be Tiz’s since he spoke. “Shouting at him won’t help.”
“‘M.. sorry.” He apologized, Ringabel didn’t have the energy to fight back, in fact… He was still so tired… He closed his eyes, drifting away into another dreamless sleep.
--
When he woke next , a familiar staff was lingering in the corner of his eye. "Sage..."
"Ringabel, my dear boy, you gave all of us quite a fright." He let out a gentle laugh, "Though you seem almost back to full health."
To test what Sage Yulyana had said he flexed his fingers, he at least had the energy to move them again, and with that small victory he moved his arm, then his legs, until he was sitting up on the bed. Sage looked no different, though not surprising from the pseudo-immortal. "You're looking amazing as ever."
He laughed, "You could be doing better."
"Yes..." He smiled, cracking his back before returning Yulyana's smile, "So what brings you to Eternia, Sage?"
"You have!"
"What?" He was honestly confused about that.
Yulyana laughed again, "Agnès and the others have decided it might be best for you to get away for a while, so they asked me to take you to Yulyana Woods!"
They were trying to take him away from his research! They didn't understand he only did what he did to keep Edea safe! He just wanted to make sure she didn't- Oh great crystals, he sounded exactly like Victor, didn't he?
"Now, do you mind explaining why you were experimenting with eternal life?"
Ringabel started to answer, then he thought better of it, "DeRosso has already told you, hasn't he?"
"Yes, but I'd rather hear it in your own words." There was a look in the sage's eyes, it wasn't angry or accusatory like he imagined his friends had been before.
"I... I want to prevent Edea from dying... I want to make sure I can never break my promise to protect her again. And if this research can help someone regenerate faster than damage can be given... Then I'll never have to worry." He closed his eyes. "I want to prevent my world... From ever happening again."
"I see." Yulyana hummed, closing his eyes in quiet contemplation. "I think it would be best to humor Agnès and the others for a while. I'll see what I can do about them letting you continue your work."
"Master!" Some part of Ringabel was so overjoyed he could have burst, the other longed to just jump right back into his research.
"You're welcome. Now, tell me a little about your work."
He gladly obliged Him, explaining down to the smallest detail, he even knew where both Vincent and Victor went wrong. He shakily got to his feet, leaning on the sage as he continued talking about how all he needed was a person to test the machine on.
“You certainly have been busy haven’t you, Ringabel.”
“Well that’s why I’m here.” He laughed, “I worked night and day to catch up with the S. Courts and surpass them.” He limped along, “If I’m right, then a person can regenerate cells at a level beyond what anyone has ever seen before.”
“And this was all thanks to DeRosso’s DNA?”
“Yes! His DNA is the key to the whole thing.” Ringabel pulled his bangs out of his face. “It’s thanks to the regenerative power of his immortality that I found out how it’s possible to regenerate the immune system and cells of the body.”
They were brought to halt, a woman with long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, she was wearing haphazardly thrown on clothes, and her eyes were wide. “A- Ah- I’m so sorry!” She bowed, “Forgive me!”
“Oh no, my child, it’s fine.” Yulyana pardoned her, she stood there for a moment before hurrying away.
“Did she look… I don’t know… panicked to you?”
“This is the tower of Healing, it might be a relative of hers fell ill.”
“Mm…”
They left together, talking the whole way, in fact Ringabel was so caught up in talking he never even realized they somehow reached Yulyana Woods without flying.
“How did we?” Ringabel looked around in shock.
The old sage laughed, “You didn’t think I walked everywhere did you?”
“Er- I suppose not…” He glanced around the woods, nothing had changed at all in the little space. He took in a deep breath, the idea of all the clothes Yulyana made for beautiful curvy women exciting his worn mind.
“Come along, I want to show you my newest collection.”
“Oh, Master, while I’m here you just have to tell me how you come up with these ideas!” Ringabel eagerly walked behind Yulyana to the clothing room.
--
Ringabel stayed in Yulyana woods for close to a month, and it was probably the best month of his life! Beautiful women, beautiful clothes, and lessons from the great Master Yulyana.
Over the course of the month he seemed like he was going back to his usual self. He cut his hair back to its old length, and put it back in his old style. He would smile at himself in the mirror, pulling his new dark blue tunic to match the scarf the Proprietress gave him.
Every day he seemed stronger, and less bothered by his identity issue, it seemed that Ringabel was completely put to rights.
That is, until one day, “Sage! Sage Yulyana? Mr. Ringabel?” It was a voice unfamiliar to the both of them, male, and certainly not someone they would invite into the woods.
Ringabel exited the house, coming face to face with an Eternian messenger. “Is something wrong?”
“I have this message for you, Mr. Ringabel. It’s from the Central Healing Tower.” He dug around in his pocket, pulling out an officially stamped letter.
Ringabel’s heart jumped to his throat. “Edea!” He snatched the letter away and tore it open, hastily reading its contents.
“A child has been left in your care by the wishes of her mother. We have no name or file for this little girl, but it seems that she’s suffering from the disease that once infected Victoria F. Stein. The mother left us with a quickly penned letter attached.”
He flipped to the next page.
“Forgive me, Mr. Ringabel, I overheard you talking with your friend about your research. I can no longer afford my daughter’s treatments, nor am I able to take care of her. She’s been sick since she was born… She doesn’t even know who I am, she’s barely conscious... Your experiments are her only hope. She’s only four years old... Please… Keep her safe.” The page was marked with tears.
A lump appeared in his throat. “... Sage, I’m going back to Eternia. Someone needs me there right away.”
“I understand.” Yulyana nodded, “Allow me to escort you there.” He lightly tapped Ringabel’s shoulder, a light engulfed them both. A cold chill shot down his spine, they were in Eternia alright.
“Thank you.” He tugged on his shirt, walking quickly towards the Central Healing Tower. He couldn’t possibly leave that young girl alone, He remembered what it was like when he had no one.
By the time he was inside he was practically running. “”My name is Ringabel, I’ve received your message! Where’s the girl?”
Nurses swarmed around him, ushering Ringabel to a back room containing a large white magic chamber.
“Empty it! I’m taking her to my laboratory, I know how to save her life!” No one questioned him, scurrying around the machine to get it turned off. He pulled off his scarf, walking over to grab her once the chamber was opened.
Crystals, she was so small. And the disease was putting her young body under so much stress her hair was starting to lose its pigment. After the fluid was drained and the door opened he reached in and wrapped the young child up in the scarf.
“Don’t worry.” He whispered, brushing back her white bangs. “I’ll keep you safe.” He pressed a light kiss to her forehead. Girl now secure in his arms, he hurried out of the Central Healing Tower.
Ringabel ran as fast as he could, wishing he’d kept the Black or Red Mage asterisk so he could keep her warm with more than just a scarf.
He considered it a large blessing that there weren’t anymore monsters now that the chasm was closed. That made the trip to Central Command so much easier and faster. Not even bothering with the door he kicked it open causing a loud crash to be sent through the building.
He set his sights on Victor’s lab, heading straight there. Even if they got rid of his notes, he still had everything memorized. He glanced down at the girl, she stirred in his arms, waking up. “Don’t worry.” He said to her, “I’ll have you healed up in no time.”
He jogged to the doors of the lab, still off its hinges from when Edea broke it down.
“What’s going on?” He could hear guards shouting, “Are we under attack?”
He couldn’t stop to put their fears to rest, this girl was far more important than a few Eternian guards being put on high alert.
“Lilia…” He said the name under his breath as he rested her gently on the table by the large white magic chamber. He had to work quickly, moving swiftly through the place where he’d once spent every waking hour. He stood in front of the controls flicking a myriad of switches and turning dials.
He could hear the chamber turn on, but he had one more thing… He pulled out his handkerchief, removing a strand of DeRosso’s hair and placing it into a special compartment that would use the DNA to adjust the power and properties of the liquid inside.
He turned back to her, picking her up once again and putting her into the chamber as it started to fill. Ringabel wasn’t out of the woods yet, he still had to manage the power out-put and add more hair if such was necessary.
He returned to the control panel, tweaking as things went along.
“What’s going on he-- Ringabel?” That was Edea. “But you’re not supposed to be back from Yulyan- Why is the chamber running?!”
“Quiet down, Edea. Lilia needs to stay calm if this is to work.” He was completely focused. “And I frankly don’t care if this is illegal, it’s going to save her!”
If Edea continued talking he didn’t hear her, probably the first time he hadn’t hung onto her every word. A quick glance behind him proved that she had indeed gone, he sighed, making a few finishing touches before turning his full attention to the white magic chamber. A young girl suspended in a lightly pulsing liquid, so far everything seemed to be going according to plan.
“I see you were successful.” A dull monotonous voice that could only belong to the Archduke droned.
“All thanks to that lock of your hair, Lord DeRosso.” Ringabel didn’t even turn to greet him. “so many lives can be saved with this new breakthrough… I’ll never need to worry about losing anyone ever again…”
“Hm…”
The two of them watched as the chamber worked to fix her small body.
“She’s beautiful, don’t you think?” Ringabel asked idly.
“So young…”
“I think Lilia will suit her just fine.”
“Indeed.”
They continued to chat idly until the chamber stopped, Ringabel turned back to the panel, going through the process of draining the fluid in the tank. “From here it all looks successful.” He walked over to the chamber, opening it up and removing Lilia from it, most of her hair was still white, though some pigment had returned, her heart beat was normal and she wasn’t spasming like Victoria.
“A complete success.” DeRosso said, “A cheers to you, and many thanks. But.” a loud bang came from behind him, he spun only to see that the Lord had shot a hole into the control panel.
“Lord DeRosso! What is the meaning of this?”
He glanced over, “You didn’t really think I’d let you bequeath eternal life to just anyone, did you?” and with a flick of his wrist the chamber exploded in a bright flash.
Ringabel could hardly believe it… Months of hard work down the drain. There was no way he could ever rebuild a white magic chamber of that size-!
And all went black again.
His eyes flickered open to the ceilings of the Central Healing Tower for the third time that year. He pieced together what exactly had caused him to pass out. He moaned, all that work! Blown to pieces by Lord DeRosso after Lilia’s healing.
And now the girl was probably with him in Frostcoffin castle.
Or that’s what Ringabel thought before a small weight joined him on the bed, crawling over his torso and coming into view. “Papa?”
It was certainly Lilia who was staring at him. “What?”
“Cape man says that you’ll take care of me.”
Cape man? DeRosso? But why would-?
“Cape man says you Papa.”
That had poor Ringabel even more confused. DeRosso had told her…
She flopped on him, “Oof!” Well… It seemed there was probably no getting rid of her…
“Moma not coming back, is she?”
An arrow pierced his heart, and he wrapped his arms around her. “No… But I’ll be the best Papa.” Lilia squeaked when he squeezed her, giggling after and nuzzling into him.
“Ah!” A nurse walked over, “Mr. Ringabel, you’re awake. And I see the little girl has much improved as well.” She smiled at them both.
“Nurse,” He smiled back, “Send word to the acting Grand Marshal, The Wind Vestal and to the Mayor of Norende telling them to meet in the Council Chamber as soon as possible.
She bowed. “Of course.” And hurried off.
Ringabel rocked to the side, letting Lilia rest on the bed. “Do you remember much before I came along?”
She shook her head, a tiny frown on her tiny face. He held her tighter, not only had her mother been so frenzied to keep her safe but she didn't know what name her mother had given her...
Poor child. He thought, even he had known his name before his parents departed.
She nudged up against him, curling up.
“Do you… Do you mind if I call you Lilia, then?”
“Lil..a.”
“Lil-ia”
“Lil..ia.” After a moment she nodded. “Papa,” She said quietly, poking his stomach. “Liliia.”
He laughed, “No, I’m not Lilia, you’re Lilia.” He gently prodded her head.
She nuzzled into him again, going to sleep in his arms.
He patted her head, a soft smile on his face. “Good night, and the sweetest dreams to you, Lilia.”
The pair slept soundly until someone roused Ringabel from his rest.
“Ringabel! Ringabel! Wake up!”
He mustered a sleepy smile, “Waking to the voice of an angel? I must be in Heaven.”
“Mrgrgr!”
“Kidding, kidding.” He rubbed his eyes, looking down at the still sleeping child in his arms.
“You’ve got a lot to answer for! So get up!” Edea stomped her foot. “Right now!”
“Shhh. Lilia is still sleeping.” As careful as he could be he shifted her up, holding her tightly as he sat up. The gray haired child slumped on him, but he held her steady.
Edea softened a bit, “So that’s her, huh? The girl you saved?”
“Yes. Her name is Lilia.”
She reeled back, “So she’s Lord DeRosso’s-”
“Actually it seems that he has put her in my care… He told her I was her father.” He started walking, Edea at his side. “To Central Command.”
They walked in relative silence, each of them focused on Lilia. Edea had a lot of angry things to say to him, but they could wait until out of the earshot of a little girl.
He knew Edea had a lashing for him. After being ready to flay him when he started it wouldn’t be much of a stretch that she would roast him alive for actually completing it. Plus the damage DeRosso inflicted to Victor’s lab…
They would glance at each other occasionally, but not say anything, though that didn’t mean they weren’t having a conversation.
What do we do with her?
Take care of her, obviously.
Why call Agnès and Tiz?
I don’t know. I thought they might like to know about her.
Yeah… You’re right, they would.
The pair walked into Central Command and towards Edea’s room to lay Lilia down on her bed while they went to a different room to talk, probably very loudly…. and painfully.
He brushed her hair out of her eyes, placing a soft kiss on her forehead before turning and walking into the council room to accept his fate.
As soon as he closed the doors Edea started shouting, "Mrgrgr! How dare you, Ringabel! Barging in like that and scaring most of the guards! And then you go and continue illegal experiments, I should have you arrested!"
“I saved her life, and besides, Lord DeRosso has already destroyed all the research I’ve done.” He gave a small shrug, frowning.
“Still! Still! That research almost killed you, Ringabel!” She stomped on the ground. "It was stupid and dangerous! What were you even trying to do?"
He couldn't look at her. He couldn't bear it, "I was... I was just trying to..."
"Trying to what? Stay young forever? That's so stupid!"
"I was trying to protect you!" he shouted back. "I broke my promise once, I never want it to happen again! Whether I'm Alternis or not the matter still stands that I've injured my commander and you died in my arms! I can never allow you to die again! You're all I have left!" he clutched the sides of his head, "You're all I have left...."
a stunned silence fell over Edea, she stared at him with wide eyes.
A loud childish voice broke the silence, "Mommy!"
They both looked over at Lilia who ran over and grabbed onto Edea's leg.
"M- Mommy?" She looked down at the little girl before glaring at Ringabel, raising a fist, "Mrgrgr-!"
He waved his hands frantically, "It wasn't me!" He looked at Lilia, "Who told you she was your... 'mommy'?”
"Cape man!"
“DeRosso.” He said flatly.
“ DeRosso-! ” Edea tried not to scream the name since Lilia was currently attached to her but she was very angry.
He chuckled, covering his mouth to hide it. After a moment he pat Lilia’s head, “Come on, let’s leave ‘Mommy’ alone.” And like that she let go, “Lilia will stay with me in my home, now that it's completed.” He said as the pair started walking out of the room, “This was a good talk…”
“We’re not done here, Ringabel!”
He patted Lilia’s head, “Mommy is very silly isn’t she?”
The young girl nodded, “Silly!” She held her hand up to him, and he took it, escorting her to their home.
“You can sleep in the bed tonight, Lilia.”
She shook her head, “Wanna sleep with Papa.”
He laughed, “But you should get your own bed!” She changed from holding his hand to just being latched to his lower arm. “Would you try to sleep in a bed? For Papa? If you don’t like it I promise I’ll come stay with you.”
“Okay…” They entered the stone house and she glanced around, “Empty…”
“It is, isn’t it?” He had never realized how empty it was before… Then again he’d always been so consumed with his research. “I’m sure between the two of us we’ll have that fixed in no time!” He beamed down at her.
She let go of his hand and went speeding through the house, as soon as she was in one room she seemed to be running out of another.
“She certainly has DeRosso’s speed…” He remarked under his breath, walking over. “Lilia, come here, we should try to find you something you can wear for tonight.” And there she was, back at his side, looking up at him, “This way.” He pointed and took her to the bedroom.
Eventually they found a large shirt of his for her to wear, it almost swallowed her completely, it engulfed her arms many times over and went all the way down to her knees.
“There, you’re all ready for bed now.”
“Don wanna sleep!” She chirped, raising her arms over her head. “I wanna play!” And she was off again.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Is this fatherhood? He mused in his thoughts as he got to his feet. Maybe this will all be for the better.
“WHEEEEE!”
Eventually. He sighed mentally following after her.
She eventually tired herself out, still insisting that she sleep with Ringabel, and who was he to deny such a cute face?
So they fell asleep curled up to each other, with Ringabel holding her protectively.
--
The time spent waiting for Tiz and Angès to arrive was also time spent getting Lilia better acquainted with her new surroundings, where she could and couldn’t go without an adult and such. As well as getting Ringabel and Lilia some better furnishings, making their house into a home.
Lilia continued to insist on not sleeping alone, and he didn’t mind after a while, because with her he didn’t have any nightmares. And the pain of his past lessened day by day.
“Lilia, this is very important.” Edea said to her one day, “If a man ever disrespects you you have all the right in the world to punch him in the nose.”
The little gray haired girl tilted her head, “What does… disre.. disrepect mean?”
“Dis-re-spect.” The acting Grand Marshal sounded it out for her, “It means if someone is ever mean to you you should punch them.”
Ringabel put a hand over his heart, “Edea, don’t teach our daughter violence. You should be teaching her love, not war!”
A glare quickly shut him up, but his point still hung in the air.
Edea sighed, looking at Lilia again, “Alright, so maybe not all the time. Like… Like…” She turned around and pulled Ringabel to her side, “ Papa says some things that make… make Mommy angry, but Papa knows when to draw the line and stop. There are people out there who don’t know when to stop, and sometimes you have to show them in another way that they’ve gone too far.”
“Okay…” Lilia nodded, lightly biting her index finger. She seemed to be taking all of it in, then she tugged on Edea’s pant leg, “Fly?”
“Huh?”
Ringabel smiled, moving past Edea to pick the young girl up and hold her high in the air. “You’re flying, Lilia!”
She giggled, waving her arms. “Flying! Flying!”
He laughed with her, moving her high above his head and running around the room, making a bad imitation noise of an airship.
Edea watched them both, wondering where the strict and serious Alternis had gone along with where the carefree and womanizing Ringabel had gone. Because this was neither of those two men.
She stood there, puzzled about how he’d changed so much, was it Lilia who helped him get over whatever had possessed him from the moment their journey ended? She sighed, maybe she could forgive his experiments, after all this was the most genuinely happy she’d ever seen him.
Eventually Ringabel and Lilia retired to their house, leaving Edea to think over this new situation.
He wasn’t the same as the Alternis she grew up with, then again… No Alternis had ever been the same in all the worlds they visited. Some were crazy with grief, others angry, a few happy as could be. She frowned, wondering what set Ringabel apart from the others. Come to think of it… She didn’t really know about him did she? Sure she knew Alternis, She knew her Alternis, but she didn’t know him.
He had asked her out on a date once… In complete earnest… Her Alternis had always just assumed she’d be willing to go with him.
Edea crossed her arms, giving a small huff before returning to her room to think it over the whole night.
The next day she’d barely gotten any sleep, but she’d figured out some things. Things she had to remedy. It wasn’t entirely Ringabel’s fault that he’d done what he did. In a way it had been her fault too, supplying him with all the tools and not realizing he was using them.
She waited for Lilia and her ‘papa’ to enter Central Command.
“Mommy!” She ran over and gave her a big hug.
“Hey there!” She lifted the gray haired child up to hug her better. “Did you sleep well?”
She nodded, “Uhhuh! Papa did too!” She wrapped her arms around Edea’s neck, “What about you, Mommy?”
Edea smiled, “I slept just fine, Lilia.” Then she looked at Ringabel, sending out a silent message, I need to talk to you.
He nodded, Alright, let’s leave Lilia with the guards for a bit, then.
Edea turned and walked into the hall, “Mommy and Papa need to have a short talk, do you think you could play with Mr. Guard for a while?”
She nodded, “Uhhuh.”
Edea set her down at the guard’s side and he looked down at her with a smile. She walked back into the room, closing the door behind her. “Ringabel… I’ve been thinking.”
“If you’re going to apologize, it’s not necessary.” He raised a hand.
“No, it is.” She walked over, training her eyes on the ground. “I realized last night that I’ve never really gotten to know you. I mean we’ve traveled together so long but after I found out you’re Alternis I just expected you to be the same as him…” She looked into his eyes, “But you’re not. You are not the Alternis I grew up with. And when we met up again, I told you you weren’t ‘that man anymore’ even though you never were that man.”
He smiled a bit. “Would you like to know my full story, Edea?”
“Only if you really want to tell it.”
And so he spoke to her of his own world, of how he saved Tiz and pursued his Edea to win her back and save her from the horror that was Airy. He told her about Egil and the lava. Qada’s never ending poisoning and Victor’s full healing. And the events that led him to this world.
She tried to laugh, “Well… It makes sense why you would lose your memory, then…. Who would… Who would want to remember all that?”
He smiled, “I do. Now, at least. Ringabel may be fake, and Alternis may be gone but…” He looked over her shoulder to the door, “Lilia’s Papa is here to stay.”
“You can… Go back to using Alternis.” She said quietly, “Everyone will understand… And I’m sor-”
“I told you you don’t have to say sorry.” He smiled at her, “Besides, I’m rather fond of ‘Ringabel’ now, perhaps… I’ll just become Ringabel Dim.”
“Ringabel Dim…” She repeated, then laughed, “Well, it’s got a dim ring to it.”
He chuckled. “It does, doesn’t it…” Ringabel tapped his foot lightly, “I should get going. I have to restock the fridge since Lilia and I are running low on food.”
"Do you need some money? I can lend you some."
"No, actually. Honestly, I have more pg than I know what to do with." He gave her his best mock puzzled look, "Someone keeps slipping a rather hefty amount into my mail slot every few days, you see. It's quite odd ."
"You mean he's paying you?"
"I like to think of it as a hefty apology for destroying my research." He shrugged, "I could already support Lilia on my own."
She laughed, "Well get going," she slapped his shoulder. "Oh, by the way, I got word from Tiz and Agnès, they'll be here within the week."
"Wonderful! I'll tell Lilia we're having company over." He turned and started to leave.
"And my parents are being released from the Central Healing Tower soon..." She shifted, "I was thinking about taking everyone for a little celebration in Yulyana woods."
He gulped, to be faced with Grand Marshal Lee after so long. His commander, his savior, and the man he helped cripple. "I've no objections..." Then he exited, "Come here, Lilia, it's time to go shopping."
--
True to their word, Tiz and Agnès arrived within the week, many hugs were had and a large feast was prepared.
"So, Tiz, how are things shaping up in Norende?" Ringabel asked, smiling.
"Perfectly fine! Egil is a big help too, even though he has Knight School everyday he still manages to make it between Caldisla and Norende everyday." Tiz looked more or less the same as he always did, despite having something that seemed to weigh heavily on him, it could be seen in his eyes if one looked close enough. "And Agnès comes by sometimes to help out as well."
"Ooooh~?" He smiled wider at Agnès, "Is that so?"
The Wind Vestal blushed, "W- Well, it's only right I pay back all I owe Tiz for protecting me for those three years we all traveled together." She hadn't changed a bit either, save the fancy vestal garb and heavy cloak to protect her from the cold air.
"Ringabel, leave her alone, besides, shouldn't you be going to get her? I mean they did travel all this way to meet her."
"Right." He stood at full height, "If you would wait for just a moment." He left the room, returning a little while later with the small silver haired Lilia. "I now present young Lilia."
She hid behind his legs, peeking nervously at Agnès and Tiz.
Agnès held a hand over her mouth, "Oh my!"
"Hi Lilia." Tiz waved.
Ringabel stepped to the side patting her back lightly, "Go on. They're good friends of Mommy and Papa's. You don't have to be scared."
With his reassurance she inched closer to the new pair. "h- Hello..."
Agnès got face to face with her, "Hello, my name is Agnès."
"... Pretty." She reached out and lightly grabbed the cloak. "'S like cape mans..."
Tiz looked at Ringabel and Edea, "Cape man?"
"It's what she calls DeRosso." Ringabel provided.
“Interesting name…”
“Fitting name.”
The four friends chatted and caught up over what had been going on in each other's lives since Ringabel’s meltdown not too long ago. He made light hearted jokes about it, playing it off as a minor thing when everyone else knew it was the opposite.
“Oh, By the way, I’ve decided that I’m going to keep my last name, So you can all call me Mr. Dim.” He had a completely serious look on his face for about five seconds, “Of course, I’m joking, just Ringabel is still perfectly fine.
“Ringabel… Dim?” Agnès tested the name, “It sounds… very you.”
“Yeah, It does.” Tiz nodded. “So uh… Why does Lilia call you ‘Papa?”
His face contorted for a moment, “Well… That’s what DeRosso told her my name was, she hasn’t really been willing to leave my side since. She was sick almost from the moment of her birth, so she was kept contained in the Central Healing Tower… According to the letter I got from her mother and what little she can remember, she’d spent most of her life in a white magic healing chamber…”
“That’s horrible.” Agnès glanced at the young girl, smiling and laughing with Edea as she braided her hair.
“She’s a strong girl.” He commented, getting on one knee, “Lilia,” He called, holding his arms out, “Fly?”
She gasped lightly tugging Edea’s hand away from her hair, “Fly!” Edea let go and Lilia went running to Ringabel, who lifted her high into the air. She giggled, “Flying!”
He started to run around, making his little fake airship noise as Edea approached Agnès and Tiz. “So, My parents are getting out of the Central Healing Tower in two days, and I was thinking… Why don’t we all take a trip to Yulyana Woods? I mean Father will be taking back over the title of Grand Marshal and Mom’s made a full recovery… plus it’s been almost four and a half years since we all met, that’s something to celebrate, too.”
The two of them clammed up, remembering their last meeting with this Braev.
“Er…”
“Mm…”
“Guys?” Edea looked at them, “I promise he’s not angry at you. I explained everything to him. We can all put that behind us! Work towards a better future!” There it was, that good old Idealist nature. “If we change the Duchy and the Orthodoxy from the inside we can prevent what happened to us from ever happening again.”
With a small sigh the pair shared a glance, then looked at Edea.
“Alright.”
“I... Don’t see why not.”
"then it's settled! I'll have guest rooms prepared right away and we'll depart in two days." Edea clapped, then gave a small wink, "Besides this will be a good time for you two to get to know Lilia."
Agnès brightened a bit, "That is very true. I would be honored to stay." She gave a bow.
"If Angès is staying, then I'll stay." Tiz reasoned, rubbing the back of his head, "Egil can handle being on his own for a while, plus Karl will keep an eye on him."
It was settled, and they would all agree later that two days had never gone by so quickly.
Edea clapped, waiting like a child on her Birthday outside the Central Healing Tower for her parents.
“My, Edea, It’s rare to see you this happy.” Ringabel gave a small shrug, having opted to join her while Tiz, Angès, and Lilia went ahead.
“Father and Mother have made full recoveries! Why wouldn’t I be happy?” She giggled, giving him a thumbs up.
He sighed, admiring the smile upon her lips. She truly was a beautiful woman.
“Hm? Something wrong, Ringabel?”
He laughed, “Oh, nothing. Just admiring that angelic smile of yours.”
She sighed, “You never really change, do you?”
“I like to think I’ve changed a little!” He defended. “I certainly feel like I’ve changed.”
“Yeah. I know. Lilia has gotten you to mature a lot.”
He placed a hand over his heart, a mock-shocked look on his face. “Edea! Was that…? Was that a compliment?”
She smacked his arm, quickly turning her attention back to the doors as a couple left, “Mom! Dad!” She ran over, hugging them both tightly.
“Edea.” Mahzer Lee wrapped her arms around her daugher, and Braev wrapped his arms around her.
Ringabel approached, giving a bow. “Mrs. Lee, Grand Marshal.”
“Alternis.” Mahzer greeted.
“Ah, actually I go by Ringabel, now.”
“Just Ringabel?”
“Well, Ringabel Dim.”
Mahzer nodded, “You seem for the better.”
“And you too, Mrs. Lee.” He gave another bow.
She cleared her throat, “Mahzer, if you please.” The elder woman gave him a soft smile.
“Er… Mahzer…”
Braev chuckled, “There’s no need to look so surprised, even though you may not be the Alternis we raised, you are still a member of this family.”
Ringabel felt a small shock go through his system and he looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ahaha…” He licked his lips, “We should be going, we don’t want to keep Sage Yulyana, Angès, and Tiz waiting.”
“Yeah! We’ve got the airship all ready for the journey!” Edea turned away, throwing her fist into the air. “Let’s go!”
And the Lee family was off, exiting the city and beginning their journey to Yulyana woods.
On a direct path it only took two days, two glorious days where nothing could dampen Edea’s mood. The smile on her face seemed permanent, and Ringabel loved it. She’d never smiled like that at him, But maybe it was good, if she had this wouldn’t have been a special moment.
What’s more Mahzer was on him like a hawk, making sure he took breaks from flying every once and a while. Pulling him away, keeping him fed. It was like what the Proprietress used to do.
He settled easily into this new home, it even seemed that these months of recovery had done Braev very well. All the anger and pain of 15 years seemed to have melted away to the virtuous templar that just barely pulled at Ringabel’s memory.
They arrived in Yulyana Woods to the sound of joyous laughter. And upon crossing the bridge to the elderly Sage's home found him with young Lilia riding on his back.
"Papa!" The girl's eyes brightened considerably at the sight of him.
"Hohoho, welcome all of you." Sage Yulyana greeted, "Ringabel, you certainly seem better."
He smiled, gently flicking his bangs, "You won't find me in that state ever again."
"Down! Down!" Lilia insisted, and was obliged. Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground she ran over to her Papa, hugging his legs.
"Who's this?" Mahzer asked, kneeling down next to her.
Ringabel pat Lilia's head, "This is Lilia."
"She's adorable, she reminds me a little of Edea when she was this young."
"Ah..." Agnès approached the elder Lee's. "I beg your pardon... But... I must apologize for what I've done!"
Mahzer stood up, and took Braev's side. "Agnès Oblige, Vestal of Wind..." Braev crossed his arms, "You owe me no apology. Edea has spoken to me many times of the good you did, and I see now the error in the actions I took."
"The fault lies on both of us, then. As we both blindly went through with the directives that we believed would best help the world without hearing each other." She held out her hand, "I sincerely hope the Orthodoxy and the Duchy may now put their differences to rest."
"Agreed." Braev took her hand, giving it a firm shake.
Yulyana smiled on, "It warms this old man's heart to see such a thing occur in my time."
"Indeed." A deep monotonous voice cut in, appearing next to Yulyana, "An age old fight finally brought to an end."
"Ah, DeRosso." Yulyana nodded at him, "Took you long enough."
He glanced down at his friend of 1,800 years, "I was dusting off my paintings."
Ringabel laughed, "Welcome, Lord DeRosso. I have someone who would like to see you again." He pat Lilia on the head, "Look who it is, Darling."
The young girl peeked out from behind his leg and gasped, a wide smile on her face. "Grandpa cape man!"
She joyously ran over and hugged him, DeRosso stared at Ringabel as a huge mischievous grin spread across his face. A silent pay back for telling her Edea was her mother, and while Ringabel didn't personally mind the almost-beating he'd gotten for it was too close.
"Hello... Lilia." The affection she was showing was an odd thing to him.
Ringabel laughed again, turning to Braev, "It really is good to see you well, sir."
"And you too, Alt- Ringabel." The Templar nodded, "I heard you haven't really been yourself."
"Ah... Yes... I take it you have also heard that Edea reinstated my position on the council?"
"Yes, and I agree with her decision completely." He clapped a large hand on his shoulder, "It will be good having you there."
"Papa, Papa!" Lilia ran over and tugged on Ringabel's pant leg, "Fly!"
He sighed a bit, "Not now, Lilia." She puffed her cheeks out before dashing away, making him turn to see where she was going.
She grabbed on to Edea, "Mommy! Fly!"
And without a moment's hesitation she lifted Lilia into the air.
Ringabel laughed slightly, before a chill shot down his spine.
He gulped, slowly turning back to see Braev glaring daggers at him. “W- Wait, you don’t understand she’s not our-” He was about to say daughter, but could he really say he didn’t see himself as her father? Or that Edea had taken well to being her mother?
“Papa?” He glanced back at Edea and Lilia, who was sitting on her mother’s shoulders.
He waved, then looked back at Braev, and, in a hushed voice said, “She’s not our biological daughter… Sir.”
The glare remained for a moment more before it was replaced with fatherly eyes, “I see.”
Ringabel walked over to Lilia and plucked her off Edea’s shoulders. “Are you having fun?”
“Yes!” She nodded enthusiastically, and he set her down allowing her to run free.
Yulyana nodded, “Lilia is a fine young girl. In fact, I’m sure she’ll make a finer young woman. Smart and quick witted like Ringabel and Edea, and also very pleasantly jig-” Two swords just barely missed the Sage’s head.
“Hohoho, Fatherhood certainly has changed you both.” He laughed as Ringabel and DeRosso retrieved their swords from the tree behind him.
The party lasted long into the night, Tiz pulled Yulyana and DeRosso away to speak for a moment as things started to quiet down, Lilia eventually became so tired she almost fell asleep standing up. She was tucked away in the bed as the adults continued to chat for a while longer.
“We shouldn’t spend the night here,” Edea said, tilting her head back and forth, “After all we should try to get back to Eternia as soon as possible to smooth over the last of the little bits and pieces of the Duchy’s values.”
Mahzer shook her head, “You’re just like your father, Edea…”
“But she does have a point.” Ringabel pointed out, “In such an important time in the Duchy’s history, The Grand Marshal and his council shouldn’t be away for long.”
“I agree with them.” Braev said, looking to his wife. “I’ve a lot to atone for, and with the help of the Wind Vestal, Ringabel and Edea, I feel we will be able to undo the damage that has occurred in this world.”
Edea gave her father a big hug. “Then it’s decided we start for Eternia tonight.”
“Well, It was very nice having you all here.” Yulyana said from behind them. “I wish you all safe travels on your journey home and a very good night.”
Ringabel nodded, “It was very nice being back here, Master.” He walked over and carefully removed Lilia from bed.
“Hhmm?” She gave a quiet confused noise.
“Shhh, We’re just going home, you can go back to sleep, Dear.”
And her head easily rested against his shoulder, going to sleep again.
The five Eternians made their way to their airship.
“I’ll take over driving for the way back.” Braev said, “You should rest from flying here.”
“I really don’t mind flying back,” Ringabel tried to argue. “I flew Grandship for four years, I can fly that for two more days.” He rubbed his daughters back lightly as she stirred in his arms.
“This is not an argument, I will be flying back.”
“Yes, sir.”
They all boarded, and Ringabel walked towards the beds, intending to lay Lilia down and get a little shut-eye himself.
“Wait!” Edea called out to him, “I’ll go with you.”
He waited, and started walking again when she was at his side. “This party really tired her out… I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this sleepy.” He gave a quiet laugh.
“Yeah, I’m glad she liked it, though.”
“Indeed.”
The rest of the night went by in a flash, with putting Lilia in bed and getting ready for bed themselves it seemed that they were asleep before they even hit the pillow.
And yet….
Thump. thupthupthupthup.
Ringabel woke to the sound of Lilia’s feet across the floor, not entirely uncommon. She was probably just going to the bathroom, if it had been a nightmare she would have woken him up directly.
He blinked, attempting to roll over. But his arm was trapped by something. He let out a confused noise, looking over as his eye adjusted to the darkness.
It was Edea, sleeping peacefully at his side. She was so beautiful, even with her hair all over her face.
How did she…? Her bed was the next one over, isn’t it? He thought to himself, studying her.
She snored very lightly, but it made him smile.
“Edea…” he breathed out, very lightly brushing her hair out of her face.
Thupthupthupthup.
Lilia ran back to the bed, climbing up onto it and shifting next to him.
“Lilia.” He whispered.
“Eep!” She squeaked, looking at him like a deer in the headlights.
He nodded with his head, “Why don’t you sleep between me and Mommy tonight?”
She smiled and crawled over him, settling into the space nicely. “Ni-ni, Papa.”
Ringabel pressed a light kiss to her forehead, “Night-night, Lilia.” She closed her eyes, and he looked at his two girls, both independent and strong.
He loved Edea with all his heart, and one day, Edea may share even a fraction of that love for him, but he was good with waiting. And he knew he’d never have to worry about losing her.
And Lilia… He’d certainly have to step it up to be an even better father for her.
He had a lot of work to do. He couldn’t possibly give up hope like he almost had all those months ago.
Not with these two lovely ladies to live for.
--
BONUS AFTER STORY!!
Many years have passed since that day, and Lilia matured into a strong, independent woman like her mother with all the smarts of her father.
It was not uncommon for her to find a cool mountain top to clear her head on. And even more so on the eve of an important day. This evening in particular was the eve of her 18th birthday.
She stared out at the Eternian countryside, careful to keep her hair out of her face. A sound behind her announced another’s approach. And she only knew one person who could get up a mountain silently.
“Hey Grandpa.” She didn’t even look back at Lord DeRosso. “Do you have something important to tell me?”
“I… just thought you might like some company, this is the night before you become a woman, you know.”
The gray haired beauty leaned back. “I know. Mom and Dad have reminded me over and over again.” She swung her legs back and forth.
They sat in silence for a while. “Lilia…” DeRosso broke the silence he had created. “I think it’s right for you to know… I am your father.”
she drew in a sharp breath, then sighed out, “I know.”
“What?”
She shrugged, “Old man Yulyana told me when I was 15, so I’ve known for a while now.” She glanced back at him, “I was waiting for you to tell me.”
A brief flash of emotion passed his face. “I see… So Yulyana beat me to the punch, yet again…”
They lapsed into silence for a little longer, before Lilia continued, “I guess it all made sense then, why Dad always had me write my name as Lilia D. Dim, The D stands for DeRosso. So I never questioned it, and here we are.” She smiled at the Lord. Lilia traced a soft pattern into the stone, “Will you teach me to be a vampire like you?” She asked.
“No.”
“Well then, I’ve decided!” She stood up, throwing a fist into the air. “I’m going to take Auntie Agnès' offer and become the Vestal of Earth!”
“Wait-!”