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A moonlit night. Crisp to the touch, the trees still not from a lack of breeze, but from bated breath.
Eshani opened the window, with dread in her heart and sorrow in her memory. She knew this night from the way her single flame lingered in the air.
A moment if any for an eclipse.
Her young daughter curled up in bed, nestled by bright bedsheets and all manner of soft things. Her breathing flowed in the rhythm of a tide, one Eshani yearned not to break.
“Love you.” She kissed her forehead, tucking a strand of wispy dark hair behind her ear.
She made for the window and glanced back once.
When the birds were free she would have her day.
Eshani teleported into a grove where hope died.
Her amour held hands with a lady who fondled him in one, and grasped a vial of pink liquid in the other.
“Cerigo, you don’t want this.” One step, after the other, her rush towards him hollow.
“Don’t tell him what he wants.” The lady’s grin veered on exceeding her face.
She uncorked the vial and slid it down Cerigo’s mouth, his opening without hesitation.
“Stop it!” Eshani seized an empty vial. Her hand shuddered, heat rising to crack the glass amidst the other lady’s cackling laughter.
“How romantic,” the air went humid from her words. “You made this mad dash all the way here just to save him. How cute, how touching. You know there’s no prizes for being a hero in a story that’s not yours?”
“What have you—“
Cerigo gasped, going to the ground, with her doing the same as she offered a hand.
He shivered and convulsed, his jaw clenched as he huffed out.
“Please, stay with me, I’m not leaving—“ She raised his mouth from meeting the grass.
Bones and joints cracked.
“Hey.” He gripped her forearm, his hand squeezing hard enough for his fingers to dig into her skin. “I did this for a reason— for my nephew. You are not, and I mean it, not to do anything reckless. Just get out of here.”
“Cerigo.” Her throat went warm, her voice wavering. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Go home already!” She worried he’d break her arm, squeezing it hard when he screamed for the birds to wake.
Not a single crow swirled.
Eshani yanked her arm from him and gave the other lady a single, solemn glance.
Her laughter echoed as she vanished home.
The next morning, she arose to find no plants dangling from her ceiling nor extra doors for the rooms tied to her bedroom.
And no sign of the crow lady sitting at the end of her bed.
She awoke to her old home, humble comforts, yet hesitated with every step. Each door opened, each wall seen, all things she feared would rewrite her memories.
In the hall stood a full length mirror. Eshani saw herself in it, still in the grass-stained red dress she wore last night. Her right calf lacked the ribbons wrapped around her left, the former drooping to the ground from a tear.
If she reached out… she found the cool of glass there.
The rest of the day passed as previous ones did. She savoured the extra time with her daughter, stolen moments she shouldn’t have.
If this change went on for the full duration of ten years… she shuddered to think of who she would be at that point. What would happen to Cerigo, to Cheyoria, and the rest of Helinda should the Chalice get stolen here too.
That night she found a small canister on her windowsill. She opened it, finding a gel scented of jasmine.
A handful of flowers got placed in haste and exchange.
She took a breath the next morning and pledged to deal with this reality. Her daughter and her trade needed tending to, and so she would let them flourish.
Nighttime brought exchanges of gifts on the windowsill. She contemplated sending a note, yet her hand did not dip on the page.
She left another gift that night.
The next morning, she glanced in the mirror again. She saw herself, her reflection bearing a red dress made of silk. It went to her ankles, and she flipped around and gasped.
Her reflection bore the Mark she once had— and indeed the dress she wore the day she met her fellows.
Eshani put a hand to the mirror. She closed her eyes as she pressed into it, finding the reassurance of glass.
“Cerigo, I hope you’re alive and doing well. I hope your nephew gets better, and that your family find the closure they deserve. They should be proud of you, as I am.
“Cheyoria, I love you. I always will as I always have. These extra days I have been given are a gift, and I need you to know— I’m sorry. I know I failed you and I know this is my chance to make things right. And if I don’t get to go home, to my timeline, at least I have you.”
Her tears pitter-patted onto the mirror and the floor. One, then another, a small few as the rest melted off. “I’m sorry. I know I’m doing my best, but I don’t belong here. This is not my timeline and this is not my home. Just let me return, to where I need to be.”
She let out another sob, grateful that no one was around to hear her.
“Dearest fair maiden, what brings you here?”
Eshani raised her head of a shot. The mirror bore Namon in its reflection, holding a hand towards her, of which she took.
“Tch, you always seem to know where to find me.”
He rubbed his fingers over her knuckles. “Maybe it’s not just me who’s predictable.”
She laughed, and laughed more when the words wouldn’t come out.
Namon’s face bore no such thing. “Come here.”
“Huh-“ She got pulled into his embrace, trying not to droop her head into his shoulder.
“Shh. I have you. I’m not going away.”
Eshani drooped her head, grimacing as her heart flooded out. “Curse you, why do you have to be so, missable?”
“I could ask the same of you.”