"I want... I can..... I have to......"

As I entered the bed, the rush of everything that had happened today finally hit my body, making it harder and harder to keep my eyes open. The warmth from the blanket I had gotten as a present only contributed to this as well. The last thing I could make out before fading out of consciousness was that the roof had a weird stain I hadn’t seen before.

The world I could see was lush and bright. The greenery shone and wrapped me around in its glittering colours. It was the first time I had seen a garden that was better than the one I had taken Celestia to a while back. The scenery looked better than anything I had ever seen before, yet it also seemed familiar.

I could see people who I thought I knew, yet their faces were gone. This didn’t concern me at all as I ran to them though. They all opened their arms to welcome me as I got closer and closer. As I was embraced in their arms, an indescribable joy set in to me different from anything I had felt before. I started to realize this was a dream, yet I didn’t want it to end quite yet.

Maybe it was selfish, maybe I’m just too stupid, hell, maybe I can’t even take it anymore. I don’t want to lose anymore—I can’t lose anymore! I’ve always had everything taken from me! To lose something as pure as this—I can’t let it happen. I need to help everyone. I need to make sure nothing goes wrong.

The people who were wrapping me in their arms had disappeared and in their place was a clear vision of Flint, Allirea, and Cordelia. I need to make sure I can save everyone so I can have this feeling after everything is done. I want to keep this feeling. I can’t let it go. I have to hold on to it.

As my eyes burst open to the light coming in through the window, I could see Cordelia's face hovering above mine. She had a worried expression on her as she gazed into my eyes.

“W-what’s wrong?” I asked, trying to discern the reason for her look.

“Nothing. What’s wrong with you Hibiki?” She replied with a question.

“Huh?”

“You’re crying.”

I was finally able to feel the tears streaming down from my eyes and dripping onto my blanket. Huh? Why was I crying? How could I be so stupid to worry Cordelia like this on her second-last day here? I quickly wiped away the tears from my face before they could go any further.

“I’m perfectly fine!” I responded with a forced glee.

“Are you sure?” She continued, keeping the same worried look.

“Yeah. It was just a bad dream, but it’s over now.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for saving me!”

“Y-your w-welcome.” She spoke, hiding her now red face.

That should get her to stop asking questions, I think. I can’t trouble Cordelia about this. It would only make her feel bad for leaving. I could tell that she wanted to stay and talk last night but never got the chance to. To tell her the things that I was thinking about would only be entirely unfair to her.

“So you’re leaving tomorrow then?” I questioned, trying to act positively.

“Yeah….” The question caused her to let out a large sigh after her response.

“It’s gonna be okay. We'll see each other again after everything is done. We’ll all be happy again like we were last night.”

“Promise?”

“I promise!”

Here I am making promises far out of my control. I have to give her hope but I can’t even guarantee something like that. If only I was more useful like Celestia. Like Celestia? That’s it! I’ll try my hand at learning combat magic! It can’t be too hard, right? With all the money I saved, I’ll use it to focus on learning magic. That way I’ll be of more use. I could help everyone. I have to do it.

Forcing a smile onto my face, I turned to Cordelia, hoping she would approve of the thoughts that I hadn’t said out loud. This only embarrassed her more, causing her to turn entirely away from me. Seeing the reaction caused me to let out a slight laugh.

“Hibiki?” She called.

“Yes?” I answered, confused.

“Can you come to my room tonight?”

“Why?”

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Okay then. I look forward to hearing what you say.” I forced out an even more energetic tone.

Hearing my confirmation, Cordelia silently left my room, not commenting on my tone at all. I’ve got to get ready quickly. I need to help with work for as long as I can. That way when I leave for my meeting with Celestia, I won’t be leaving Flint with too much work.

I swiftly rushed out of my room and took the fastest bath I could. Cleaning out whatever remained in my teeth from yesterday, I made my way downstairs to start helping Flint. I checked the table to see that like yesterday, I had been given bread again. It seemed like we got busier and busier as each day went along.

I gobbled down the bread and made my way to the store. When I entered the store, I was able to make out an even larger line than yesterday. This is nuts! The guards keep coming and coming. Some even seem to be asking for swords with magic crystals in them for free.

I remembered what Allirea had mentioned yesterday, about how almost all their money went into buying the ring for Cordelia. They were hoping that the rebel forces would help keep them afloat by giving them money, but it seems as though that would only be a temporary solution. Maybe I should also look for a way to help make them some money while also learning how to protect them.

Resolving to put this idea on hold, I took a seat at my forge and began working to help lessen Flint's work load, constantly asking Flint for the time. While working, I hadn’t seen Cordelia at all. Maybe she had decided to spend the day in her room for today? I guess she’s probably trying to prepare for tomorrow.

As I worked through all the orders I could—as fast as I could—the time had started to fly by. I completed so many orders, but my accomplishment only felt like taking a drop of water from the ocean. Not to mention it seemed like the metal supply I had bought just yesterday was dwindling again.

“What’s the time Flint?” I pestered him once again.

“Ugh, It’s three forty seven.” He responded, a little annoyed.

“Flint, I need to go. Are you fine here on your own?”

“Yeah. Just hurry up and leave.”

Quickly grabbing all the money I had saved, I dashed out of the store, trying to make it on time for my meeting with Celestia. Since I made it there pretty quickly yesterday, I should be able to make it on time. That’s what I hoped anyways, but there were far more people walking around on the trail today.

With this many people it made it almost impossible to get by them. I slowed down, hoping to avoid causing an inconvenience for anyone else. While there was a greater likelihood I would be late, doing it this way was far better as to avoid any conflict. I’d just have to settle for a bit of Celestia’s teasing, too.

Finally reaching the meeting place, I looked at the position of the sun to help me guess the time. I also used my intuition to help guide how long it took me to get through everyone. It's four or four fifteen, I think.

I looked around but couldn’t see Celestia anywhere. Maybe she was running late? I should wait for her. This gives me the perfect opportunity to tease her a little instead. Of course I could also use this chance to hide the fact that I was late as well.

I patiently waited, and waited, and waited. The sun had begun to set, which made me realize I had been here for over three hours now. The beauty I was expecting to show up at some point had not. Was she caught up in something and she couldn’t make it or did she just not want to come?

Feeling slightly depressed, I decided I wouldn’t end this trip empty handed. I made my way over to the library using the shortest path I could think of. I still wanted to get back home soon so I could at least meet with Cordelia like she wanted. Reaching the library far quicker than I would have by following the normal paths, I knocked on the door, hoping someone was still there.

“What do you want now?” A woman spoke as she opened the door.

“What?” I responded.

“Oh, ah, nothing. What can I help you with today sir?”

“Can I take out some books?”

“Only two and only if you can pay the fee.” She spoke while looking at my clothes, trying to hold back her laughter.

“Here.” I hand her the six silver.

In shock, she could only watch as I entered. I quickly make my way around the maze of books, looking for something on magic. The first books I finally found on magic seemed to be earth and fire magic. While it would make more sense to learn one at a time, I didn’t have the time to do that. I needed to find a way to help quickly.

I made my way towards the front, hoping I’d be able to take these books out. I tried looking around for the front, but it was like I had gotten lost in this maze. Each wrong turn kept making me angrier and angrier as I was using precious time on something so miniscule.

After searching for what felt like an hour, I finally found my way out, thoroughly annoyed at what had happened. I looked around for the woman who I could only assume to be the librarian. Finally spotting her, I made my way over to ask her if I could take these books.

“Can I take out these books?” I asked in a far harsher tone than I meant to.

“Y-yes. Just return them in a week.” She responded in a meek tone.

Feeling bad about what I had done, I ran out of the library hoping not to scare her anymore. With these I’ll finally be able to be useful to Flint and Allirea. I can do it, I can save everyone. Making it home, I quickly made my way through the store and into the back.

I reached the main room where I could see Flint and Cordelia sitting there. With my entrance, Cordelia's face lit up like a Christmas tree. It seemed that she had been waiting for me all this time.

“So how was your meeting?” Flint asked.

“Uhh, she didn’t show up so I decided to stop by the library.” I answered.

“Well, what can you do? That’s a shame. Wait! The library? How did you get there? It's pretty expensive, you know.”

“Well I’ve been saving all the money you were paying me until I could afford it.”

“Oh I see. Sorry Hibiki, I can’t pay you as of recent.”

“It’s fine. Slaves shouldn’t even be getting close to as much as you're giving.” I respond with a forced smile at his concerns.

“I’m gonna go to bed. See you tomorrow.” Cordelia had spoken.

“Goodnight!” Both Flint and I replied.

“Where’s Allirea?” I questioned Flint.

“Oh, she’s still doing some meetings, but she should be home later tonight or tomorrow morning.” He answered.

“I see.”

“Tomorrow’s the day, huh?”

“Yeah, but it’s okay. Once everything’s over, it’ll all be fine.”

“Yeah…” He agreed with an air of melancholy.

“Well, I’m feeling pretty tired so I’m also going to go to bed. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight!” He told me warmly.

I made my way upstairs and entered Cordelia’s room instead of my own. Looking around for her, I saw her on the floor fiddling around with the ring she had just gotten yesterday. She seemed a little sad as she traced her finger around the ring.

“Cordelia?” I spoke.

“Huh? Oh, Hibiki, you came.” She lost the sad mood she had just a second ago.

“So what did you want to tell me?”

“I want you to keep this ring.”

“I can do….HUH?”

“It doesn’t fit me and it’ll probably fit you, I think.”

“But Cordelia, that’s a gift from your parents! There’s no way I can take it.”

“Then borrow it!”

“What do you mean?”

“Think of it as something to remember me by. Once everything’s over, return it to me.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Then how about we trade mementos?”

“I own nothing of my own to give you though.”

“Yes you do.”

“I do?”

“Your blanket. Present for present. We’ll trade them back once we’re all together again.”

“Then what would I use at night?”

“My blanket. It’s not like it’s going with me.”

“I don’t know.”

“Please Hibiki!” Her desperate plea wiggled its way into my thoughts like a worm.

“O-okay, fine.” I relented at her desperation.

I slowly creeped over to my room so as to not alert Flint that I was still awake. I saw the fuzzy blanket sprawled out over my bedding. Flashes of the Christmas I spent with everyone came rushing back to me. The warmth the memory brought with it only hardened my resolve to protect such a fond thing in me.

Lifting the blanket and creeping my way back to Cordelia’s room, I prepared to hand it to her for a trade. What I thought would feel like cold metal was nice and warm. The ring felt almost like it served as the perfect replacement for the blanket on its own. That was until I realized the rest of my body was still getting cold.

“Thank you for this, Hibiki.” She gratefully spoke with a large smile on her face.

I guess she had fully prepared herself for tomorrow. This was just the last thing she needed to do.