Above the Mirror

Birdsong and the wetness of wind brushed through silver and auburn, hair fluttering above the crystal waters of Spielglave. Both women sat upon one of the lower root-bridges, allowing their feet to dip beneath the coolness below.

Citrine allowed herself to get swept away for a moment, leaning against the heat of her partner. Both were stripped down to a more casual state now, armor stored at the inn to allow indulgence in the town's sanctuary.

This was nice.

It was midafternoon now, but not hot at all, the sun hidden behind a curtain of white-grey. The lightness of drizzles dotted their skin like phantoms as they just sat there, enjoying the company.

Ferris' head turned, a soft exhale escaping as she cradled her closer.

"…I can't believe they're actually coming with us," her words wisped in the air like the vapor of the lake. "To think they managed to procure a stagecoach too…"

"I can hardly believe it myself," Citrine replied, sweeping a ripple with her foot. "But then again, Larkspur's finally become the affluent he always dreamed of these past couple years thanks to those potions. Though, I am surprised at just how much they managed to wrangle together. I would have been fine simply traveling by foot."

"…You're not saying you'd like to go back on the offer, right?"

A smirk formed, and Citrine gently nudged the warrior. "I would never. Sentimentality aside, it cuts our trip down a fair amount. Makes the rest of the Arborweave a week instead of two. "

"Good." Ferris laughed, pulling her in a bit tighter to press a kiss against her temple. "And that's our Diadem, always calculating the advantages of a situation. Though, I think the privacy afforded by the cabin is the most to look forward to."

"…" A pause. The half-elf's ears flicked as a heated hand trailed to her thigh and began to rub absentmindedly. "M-maybe I should rethink things."

A laugh, and then a nuzzle. "Hey, that's just a jest, Rockelf. I wouldn't be so bold as to do anything with the others in tow. I swear."

"But you were considering it," Citrine pointed out, cheeks red as she attempted to maintain her focus on the waters beneath her feet. "One doesn't just say those things out of nowhere after all—"

A sudden tightness around her heart killed the end of the statement, forcing the half-elf to pause and grimace. That familiar sensation began to creep in again, lifeforce ebbing and flowing in her veins, though this time, the pain felt like it was laced in ice, cold and chilling.

She sucked in a breath, her body tensing up as a wave of dizziness passed over her.

"Citrine?" The woman beside her quickly took notice, worry lacing her tone as she held her close. "Something wrong?"

The half-elf's fingers curled into the fabric of Ferris' top, unsuccessfully managing to suppress it. "N-no. It's fine" she breathed, her words strained. "Just the curse."

The ogrelyn's expression darkened, wrapping her arms around the small woman. "Again?" She gave another kiss, this time to her forehead. "Have you really been dealing with all of this for the past five years?"

Citrine didn't respond immediately, thoughts recollecting as pain finally began to recede somewhat.

The answer to that was yes, but in truth, ever since they'd exchanged that kiss atop the hill and lay bare their feelings, it was getting worse. The last few days, it'd been more frequent, more intense, as if the curse took offense to her newfound sense of solace.

As if it was telling her she didn't deserve it.

"…" The half-elf shook her head, banishing such thoughts. It was probably just her imagination. There were moments like these in the past years as well, such as whenever she tried delving into the memories of her old party or passions she'd entertained before the quest. Just like those times, she'd make it through these ones.

"Yes," she finally answered, the word coming out a little hoarser than expected. "But now that you and the others are here, I think I'll manage. Strength in solidarity and all that."

Ferris didn't look entirely convinced, but relented anyway. "Well, that's good. But, I'm serious. If you think there's anything I can do—"

Citrine forced herself up for a kiss back despite the lingering ache, the touch of their lips cutting off whatever Ferris was going to say next. The ogrelyn's eyes went wide at the rare initiative, before melting and returning the affection, her embrace tightening slightly as she leaned into it.

*squeeze*

At least until the hurt returned in force, a spasm twisting the half-elf's smaller frame and forcing her to break off, her breathing becoming ragged.

"…"

The warrior's eyes narrowed in concern as she panted, although Citrine just smiled, trying to play it off as if she'd just gotten a little too into things. It was a terrible attempt, but it was enough to mollify Ferris, at least enough to not press the issue further.

"Let's just enjoy the scenery a little longer," Citrine suggested, her grip on Ferris loosening as she leaned back. "After all, we don't know when those three will be back."

"Right." Ferris sighed, the corners of her lips turning up. "We should make the most of our time alone."

***

"…I can't believe you roped me into this, voyeur." Durma's voice grumbled, upset clear in his tone.

"Oh, don't be so sour, best buddy! We're just keeping an eye on them," a dainty voice replied from right next to him, pressed into the morphed dwarf's side for a better vantage point. "Plus, they're simply adorable, don't you agree?"

Durma rolled his eyes, adjusting his grip on the tree branch the three currently stood upon. He was in a more beastly form now, that of a gryphon, Clunk weighing down his back while Larkspur clung to his feathered neck. The trio spied from a distance as their other two companions shared a tender moment upon the bridge.

"You're a bad influence on the lad here." Durma ruffled his wings, earning a stony protest from the golem. "I bet you he's never done something like this before in his existence."

"And that's why I said to bring him." The alchemist steadied himself deftly on the branch below. "If we're going to be making new memories, then we might as well start now! Gods, seeing those two together is so sweet that I'm starting to think I'm getting a toothache…"

"Probably just the sugar you call tea," Durma quipped, unable to pucker his current beak. "Now come on, twink, let's get back to the carriage and get things ready. I've seen about enough of this as I'm willing to bear."

"Hmph, fine. But I take offense to the tea comment. Aren't you the one who loves fruity stuff, Durma? It's everywhere with you: your ale, your pastries, and—"

A feathered backwing tapped him on the head. "Hush, I wasn't degrading your tastes, merely the unhealthiness of them. I'll take a good mead or tart over that stuff any day."

The dwarf readied to leap from his perch, waiting for the alchemist to clamber on once again.

"Ready, Larkspur?"

Larkspur gave a nod in response, sighing as he plopped himself behind Clunk. "Yes, yes, I'm ready, you old coot. Let's go before they see us."

Durma grunted and leapt, taking the three of them to the sky. They soared for a few seconds, admiring the canopy of the forest despite the greyness of the air. Storm clouds lay over the mountainous horizon, just barely peaking through the mist.

"Rain's coming," Durma noted. "We'd best leave soon."

"Agreed." Larkspur nodded. "The sooner we get underway to Nexuspoint, the sooner Citrine and Ferris can enjoy their time together. It's a good thing it's all enclosed so the noise—"

"Oi." The dwarf swerved, nearly causing the other two to fall off. "We're talking about the Adamantine and Diadem, not you. You saw how bashful they were just jesting about it."

Larkspur pouted. "Pft, I'm not that bad. And besides, I'm a changed man. I'm not about the chase anymore. True love and such, you know?"

"That so?" Durma raised a furry brow as he looked for an opening in the forest. "So Almond was right. That incubus really did sink his teeth into you."

Pink braids tossed around as the alchemist nearly choked on air. "W-wha—how did you—That's a secret! There's no way you could've known that! And who the heck is Almond?!"

A cough that came out more like a muffled screech. "Erm, never mind. Why don't we—"

Larkspur tugged on the dwarf's manefeathers, panicking the construct in front of him, as he refused to simply let the comment slide.

"Oh no you don't! Tell me exactly how you found out, you damn coot!"

"It really isn't important—"

"Nono, it is! Spit it out, geezer, especially since you had the nerve to call me a voyeur."

The wind whipped past their heads as awkward tension lingered, the trio circling downward to a promising location.

"So you know the squirrel you like to feed—"

Several feathers were torn from his body, forcing a screech from the dwarf as the alchemist threw a tantrum.

"Of course it was! Bloody squirrel! And after I thought we shared so many moments over hazelnuts! Stupid cute thing."

Clunk gave a knock to try dilute the salt between them, the sound echoing through the trees as Durma finally found a place land.

"Enough about that for now; peace treaties of nuts can wait."

They all braced themselves as the dwarf dived to the ground, a sense of seriousness returning.

"We have a carriage to prepare after all, and it's best we're readied for the storm."