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The gang was all there, at least almost there. There was Lex, her childhood friend, Ayra, his sleek and dangerous wife, Lex's future children, her future children who were already grown, her future sorrowful niece she never met, her neice's loyal knight, and his sister with a major temper, oh and Lord Arvis in his prime, before he got married.
Okay, some were missing. Make that a lot missing. Father wasn't there, a whole bunch others.
But most of all, the trio was broken. It'd always been her, Lex, and Azelle getting into trouble. And it just wasn't the same without Azelle telling them it was a bad idea.
She liked Askr, more or less. Despite the constant wars, it was kind of more peaceful than Jugdral, somehow. Maybe it was all the time they took to have festivals. Jugdral should try that sometime. The Be Sad About Our Fate And Our Cruel Gods festival just wasn't cutting it. She needed bunnies and pirates!
And most of all, she needed Azelle to tell her this wasn't such a good idea, and then go along with it anyways. It just wasn't the same without him here.
*
Every day the summoner would come, and try to bring more heroes in. The summoner's weapon, a strange contraption could work once, but after the first time, it would take these things called 'orbs' to work. the Summoner was always slightly worried about the state of her orbs, and had to ponder them quite often. And that was when Kiran wasn't looking under every rug and chair and in the library, as if she might find more of these 'orbs.'
So, all Tailtiu had to do was catch the summoner before she went on the wild orb hunt, with a lot of muttering about how 'there wouldn't be enough.' Tailtiu didn't get it, but that was fine. Kiran knew all about the magic orb-powered gun that brought heroes in and that was cool.
Except, there was quite a line to see Kiran, in all her big white robes and constant worried state.
The summoner liked Reinhardt so much she never sent any of him back. Which meant there was about thirty Reinhardts at any given time hanging around Askr. At this point he really was a pillar of society, and half the army.
And, he was from a time later, but still, Friege represent! Tailtiu had to be proud there were such strong knights running around Askr from her homeland.
Kiran was surrounded by about thirty Reinhardts, each politely waiting their turn to make a request. He sort of looked like a butler, in his dark vestments.
"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Tailtiu said teasingly.
Kiran smiled. "Ah, this is just Reinhardt requesting I bring Ishtore back to make his liege less sorrowful. Between the number of Reinhardts, I get this request about thirty times a day."
"Wow, he's dedicated! No wonder he's so famous."
Tailtiu leaned forward with a smile. Her hands were clasped behind her back as she did.
"Do you think I could make a tii~ny little request?"
"I can try. I can't guarantee I can summon anyone, though. It's an...inexact science."
"Okay, so! CanYouGoFindAzelle?! He's Lord Arvis's brother, so he has the same hair, about this high--" she held up her hand to show that Azelle had grown taller than her, even with her big purple ponytail. "Always clean and spotless and making good choices. Unlike Lex and I who sneak in to steal flowers or decide to jump off buildings to see if magic can make you fly."
Both Reinhardt and Kiran gave her quite the look at that.
"It didn't work. Maybe I should've tried wind magic instead. We had to get patched up really good by the clerics," Tailtiu said.
A blink, a beat. Quite a few more alarmed looks her way as more of the Reinhardts heard what she said.
"I'll try, but no promises. I only have enough for one summon today."
A red, a try...Tailtiu clasped her hands and tried to manage the hope, the excitement--and another Hana. Tailtiu bit down her frustration.
"It was worth a try. Thanks anyways," Tailtiu said. She tried to force one final smile before she went back to training. But, the rows of fire tomes was just another reminder that Azelle wasn't there.
*
Another day without Azelle. Tailitiu was pacing, and full of things to say to him...and he just wasn't there to hear it.
Back in the day, she and Lex and Azelle were never too far apart. Then she went off chasing after Father Claud and got summoned and separated. Lex showed up a little ways, and she was sure that Azelle would be with him, but he wasn't.
Like, she wanted to tell him all about her future kids. It was her first thought, really. That Azelle would really like them. Tine was so adorable and Arthur was such a talented and protective kid. They'd been through way too much; the future they came from was pretty sad, though Tailitiu had hope her fate could be averted.
Plus, it was hard to be sad in Askr when every day people were dressing up as bunnies and stuff. They never seemed to mind when wars invaded their parties. They'd just take their carrot wands or sparkly flower swords and beat back the invaders.
So, she got in line and tried again. Yet again, she had to wait past many, many Reinhardts all patiently waiting their turn.
"Reinhardt! You're here to bother Kiran again?"
"I am here to make a humble entreaty about Ishtore again," Reinhardt said.
Knowing Reinhardt, this was probably the 30th time today, between all of them running around Askr.
"Oh, you're definitely here to bother her. Me too!" Tailtiu said.
He smiled faintly. "Is that so?"
"It's just--Azelle isn't here. He's one of my best friends! All day I'm sad and wanting to talk to him. I know he's still out there somewhere. But he's on Jugdral and Tine and Arthur say it isn't safe."
Her smile faded.
"Why not write letters?" Reinhardt said. "Certainly I've written my share when I could not voice what I felt."
Tailitiu casped her hands, filled with glee. She moved so fast that her purple ponytail swung down her shoulder.
"That's a great idea! I'll get one of those messenger bird things and stick letters on them and put them through a portal! Then I'll tell Azelle to get his butt in here because I miss him so."
"I doubt Feh would appreciate that," Reinhardt said dryly.
She stuck out her tongue playfully. "I'll just make a paper bird and send it through the summoning circle."
"May your letter writing go better than mine," Reinhardt said.
"Perfectionist, eh?"
"I burned them in the end. Every single one," Reinhardt said.
"Ouch, mega-perfectionist then."
She stuck out her tongue, silly to the last.
"Azelle's used to me and Lex messing up and causing trouble. He won't mind some ink spots in the end. Thanks for the idea!"
With one last wave, she left the queue and ran out towards the marketplace.
*
First thing, get some nice stationery. The Annas, queens of capitalism that they were, gave her plenty of choices. There were ones with bunnies, with hearts, with festive flowers and plain and so many more. Tailtiu could've wasted her whole coin purse on cute stationery. It was only Tine interceding that made her keep anything.
Well, and she had to buy lunch, too!
(Really, if Azelle was here he'd tell her not to spend everything on cute stuff. Lex, however, would laugh and tell her 'do it.' As it always was with them.)
Then, it was just her, a desk in one of the vast libraries, not running into Fjorm, Luthier or any of the other library dwellers--and then, what to write? At the same time, she had so many things to say that she stared at a blank page with nothing but "The" fancily written on it.
She let out a groan and leaned back, fingers in her hair.
If Azelle was here, he'd talk her through it. Just like the fact that Azelle singlehandly made sure they passed every test, gently and carefully keeping the study group of her and Lex from running off and being dancers or thieves, or maybe joining a traveling troupe.
She tapped the quill on the corner, spilling inkspots all over the cute paper. Here, she'd thought of what to say to Azelle forever but now that she was to write it all down? Nothing.
Dear Azelle,
She stared at the blank page. There was just SO much to tell him. But now that she tried? It all came out weird.
Maybe Reinhardt had a point about burning all his letters, because she kinda wanted to pull an Arvis and crispy up this ink spot disaster herself.
*
A bench, a rocky training room, as Lex considered the axes. He was taller, boistrous with slicked back blue hair. His tunic was slightly dusty and torn. He'd definitely crossed with Ayra recently.
Tailtiu let out a groan and leaned back. To her sides were endless weapons. Tomes and all sorts of physical weapons so big she couldn't even lift them.
"Ughghh Lex how do you do it?"
"Do what? Marry a hot Isaachean swordswoman? Apparently, I gave her a sword. Pretty smooth, huh?"
Lex smiled at that.
"No, not that! How do you deal with Azelle being gone so well? I'm about ready to start climbing the walls. I want so bad for him to meet Tine and Arthur!"
"I know he'll get here eventually. He always does. He's dependable like that," Lex said.
Lex was so calm about this. Azelle wasn't here with them! And Tailtiu was tired of Azelle not being there. It was clawing out and eating away at her.
She huffed, and tossed her purple ponytail.
"And you're probably distracted with 'sparring' with Ayra like every ten minutes. And new fatherhood of future kids," Tailtiu said.
"Ayra certainly keeps me on my toes. And Larcei and Scáthach are great kids. I couldn't ask for any better. Though it would've been great if one of them had a talent for axes. Who am I going to give this brave ax to now? Bartre?"
"Guess you'll have to have a third one," Tailtiu said.
"With my luck, it'd be another sword user," Lex said.
Lex set the axe down, and patted her on the shoulder.
"Azelle will come. Just be patient."
"I've been patient though," she said, a little petulantly.
"Then get in line behind the thirty Reinhardts and pester Kiran daily, I guess," Lex said.
"I'll join in, and bring my kids along. I want him, too. I just know he'll get here. And probably bring Lady Edain with him."
She wasn't sure why that made her slightly uneasy. She knew Azelle used to have a thing for her. Lex used to tease him about it.
"I'm surprised you aren't asking about that Father Claud guy. He was all you talked about for a while there."
Huh. She hadn't thought about him in a while.
"He'll get here eventually."
"The honeymoon's over with you and him, huh?" Lex said knowingly.
She shrugged.
"I guess it was just a silly little crush. I really haven't thought about him. He was kinda cold and it fizzled, even though he had pretty hair," Tailtiu said.
But, Azelle was so much more. Like there was a constant glaring reminder that he wasn't there. She'd never forget about
*
Then, one day, one beautiful day, Kiran opened the gates. The thirty Reinhardts had made their request, but no Ishtore arrived yet again.
But, on a red stone. A familiar figure, deep red hair and a shy smile. The most beautiful smile she'd seen. And his soft fringe of red hair, the way he held a tome to his chest...
It was all so perfect, it made her heart hurt by just how happy she was to see him.
"I am Azelle of House Velthomer. Though my magic cannot compare to my brother's, it is at your disposal."
He'd barely said his greetings when Tailtiu shot off like an arrow and landed on him in the fiercest and most grateful hug she ever gave. It was more a tackle, and Azelle fell to the ground. He sputtered and gasped as she hugged him tight.
"Sounds like fun," Lex said. He hopped on along. Tailtiu laughed, as Azelle made an oof sound as another body hit his.
"Is this a Jugdral thing? A Friege thing?" Kiran said.
"Absolutely not," Reinhardt said. The other twenty-nine Reinhardts nodded in agreement.
Azelle sputtered. "What in blazes?"
"Azelle! You're finally here!"
"What are you talking about finally? We've only been apart for a couple weeks. You went off with that...Claude person and I went searching to find Lady Edain."
"Time must go differently. Because I've been here for years just waiting for you to arrive. I missed you so much!"
"Mother, is everything all right?"
Tine looked concerned, and Arthur looked about ready to fight someone. Though, that was his default look.
"Oh, by the way, these are my kids!"
All happiness drained from Azelle's face.
"You...married? To Father Claud, I presume..."
She didn't get why his voice was so sad. How could anyone be sad when meeting such cute kids as these?
"Apparently I did!"
"Apparently?" Azelle looked to Lex. "I don't get it. Is she married or not?"
"It's the future. Nobody knows," Lex said.
"Mother, is everything all right?"
Tine looked worried.
"She looks a lot like you," Azelle said softly.
Tailtiu smiled big. "Both kids followed after me apparently."
She gestured to Tine and Arthur, who had come running to the summoning circle at the sudden outbursts. They were good kids, really.
"These are the kids from the future. Aren't they adorable?"
"Father Claud is a lucky man," Azelle said. His voice was very tight. She'd never heard him like this.
Tailtiu tilted her head.
"I actually haven't seen Father Claud in a while. I hope he's okay. Though, he seemed to be getting around okay without me there to protect him."
It kind of wasn't working with him anyways. He always seemed annoyed with her.
Sure, his hair was nice and fluffy, but it got boring constantly having him be stodgy and irritated with her. And kinda made her long for old times with Azelle and Lex.
"No idea who I marry in the future, but I sure get some cute kids out of it."
"Whoever he is is going to be a lucky man."
"Who knows, it could be you," Tailtiu said.
This brought a huge blush out of it. Just like old times, when she and Lex would tease Azelle.
Tailtiu giggled. "There's the Azelle I know and love. I missed you so much! We've got so much to catch up on!"
Lex had finally gotten up as well. And it was just like old times. Well, except for her future children, Lex's sword wife and future children, and their audience of thirty unimpressed Reinhardts. But basically the same.
"It's been a while, Azelle. I need to introduce you to some important people," Lex said.
Azelle smiled. "Well, go ahead. I'll just half to catch my breath first. Because you both about killed me there."
"Oh, come on. We've done much worse over the years. Much worse," Lex said.
And she remembered. The time they accidentally trained and hit a bee's nest. The time they tried to fly. The time they went running through the throne room after a stray cat and got a lecture from Lord Arvis.
And so many more times. Surely they'd get into so much more trouble here in Askr. Even more now that they'd made so many more friends, some even from the future.
"But first, we should go for snacks," Tailtiu said.
This elicited a laugh, and she couldn't help but smile. It'd been so long since she'd heard Azelle laugh. Now that they were reunited, she'd make sure to be twice as silly to hear him laughing and see him smiling once again.