60

Just outside the gate of Clea, Sion helps Anima onto Regn’s back. Sion pats Regn on the head, spurring him forward. Regn begins to run with a large burst of speed. He pulls away from the road, instead moving in the direction of the forest. As he enters the long straightaway, Regn runs quickly. Not so fast as the previous night, rushed ahead at breakneck speed by Sion’s urgency, but faster than he would typically run. Sion looks out at the sky, expanding ever outward. Sitting behind him on Regn’s back, Anima pokes Sion’s back to get his attention. He turns himself around to sit facing her.

“Is something wrong?”

“No…” Since she entered into her alliance with Theyni, Anima has felt far more self-conscious around Sion. “Do you want to talk until we get to your village?”

“Okay.”

“Then… is there anything you’re really looking forward to when you get home?”

“I guess…” Sion thinks for a moment. “There isn’t really anything in particular. I’m just happy to be there again.”

“So what do you think you’ll end up doing?” Sion’s face grows incredibly gentle.

“I would guess that it’ll just be what I always did. I’ll train, and I’ll look after the younger kids, and I’ll help out in the fields.”

“I see.”

“But I guess I’ll have to take care of business first…”

“Is it really so urgent?”

“What do you mean?”

“Whatever it is you need to do. You just seemed so happy about being home, so I was wondering if you really can’t just… put it off for a while.”

“All I need to do is get something I remember seeing as a child, so I guess it’s not really anything urgent. I guess you’re right.” Sion pauses, wondering if telling her anything would be wise.

“Anima, do you want to know why I needed to leave Ecg so quickly?”

“Huh!? I thought it didn’t matter?”

“I didn’t want to tell you. And I promised to tell as few people as possible about what I found out. But it cut the time you had with Mr. Weald short, so it matters.”

“S-so it would be about what happened yesterday?”

“Yeah. Even if I can’t tell you everything, I think you deserve to know at least this much.” Anima understands Sion’s reasoning, but she isn’t sure at all that she even wants to hear anything about it, especially not from Sion’s own mouth. However, she resigns herself.

“If you want to tell me, then I’ll listen.”

“Then… A guard had seen me pushing Lufe down and pulling up her dress.” Anima is shocked into silence for a moment, her face burning red. Sion looks back up at the sky. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have told you about something so shameful.” Anima takes special note of what he said.

“Sion, are you embarrassed about it?” Sion continues to look up at the sky.

“Of course I am. I didn’t want to do something so crude. I had only meant to investigate something. I didn’t want it to end up that way.” Anima laughs gently.

“Sorry. I guess… I just never thought you would have been worried about something so normal.”

“Of course I would. We’re all just normal people in the end.”

“You’re right.” Anima has a sudden thought. “T-then… earlier, when you were calling me cute… were you embarrassed then too?” Sion, though unaware of its nature, can sense something troubling Anima as she asks the question. He turns back around to face forward, leaving Anima to look at his back.

“I was just saying the truth as it is… so you don’t need to worry about it.”

As Regn dashes through the plains, the forest and village begin to come into view. They keep growing bigger as they come closer. Soon enough, Sion can make out a figure near the entrance of the village. Even from a distance, the pitch-black hair makes him easy to recognize. Sion smiles as Regn draws closer.

As Regn slows to a stop in front of the village, Sion hops off his back to greet his father. Tima, in Sion’s eyes, looks the same as ever, only a few months having passed, but the sight of him is incredibly warm. Tima, seemingly collected, approaches Sion. His voice is monotone as he speaks.

“You’ve grown, Sion.” At that, Tima pulls his son into a tight embrace. Though his expression does not change, tears begin to flow freely from his eyes. “Welcome home.”

“I’m back.”

Anima, watching the tearful reunion of father and son, lowers herself from Regn’s back. She doesn’t know what to do with herself. She doesn’t want to interrupt, but both watching and leaving feel wrong to her. She stands to the side awkwardly until Tima notices her. His body shoots up as he lets go of his son. He straightens out his body and dries his tears.

“I’m sorry, young lady, I’ve shown you something shameful, haven’t I?” Anima freezes up for a moment as she tries to figure out how to respond.

“N-no, not at all! Umm… I’m Anima.” Tima walks up to her. He clasps his hands around hers.

“It’s nice to meet you, Anima.” He smiles at her. “So you’re the one Sion’s chosen. Thank you for staying by my son.” Anima doesn’t understand what he’s saying.

“S-sure?”

“To think that at last our little family has grown bigger.” Anima turns red when she realizes what Tima had meant and begins to stammer something out.

“Ah, n-no. T-that’s not… i-it’s not—” Sion pulls his father away from Anima and chides him.

“Dad, that’s wrong.”

“Hm? Is she not your wife?” Anima spirals further at the blunt question.

“Of course not.”

“Is that so?” He turns and looks at Anima with his ringed black eyes. “I’m sorry, Anima. Ignore that. It was just an old man’s rambling.” Anima just nods quietly, her cheeks still red. “Alright then, let’s go home for now.” Tima begins to walk back to the village. Sion gets closer to Anima.

“Sorry. Let’s go, Anima.”

Anima follows Sion into the village, trying to shake off her embarrassment with each step. Soon enough, the three of them reach Sion’s home. Tima opens the door and walks inside, happily announcing the arrival in his monotone voice.

“Sion’s home.” There’s a sound of somebody bustling inside as Sion and Anima walk in. Sion’s mother, clearly having rushed to the door, pulls Sion into a gentle hug.

“Welcome home, Sion.” She seems surprised when she sees Anima. “Sion! You brought home such a cute wife!” Tima puts a loving hand on his wife’s shoulder.

“No, Stearra. I already made that mistake.” Stearra covers her mouth as she gets embarrassed.

“Ah! I’m sorry. I just got a little overexcited.” She smiles warmly at Anima, Sion, much bigger than her, still in her arms. “Either way, thank you for being Sion’s friend. I was worried he’d spend all his time training and running around helping people.” Sion pulls away from his mother.

“Is that wrong?”

“I’m worried.” Stearra’s eyes suddenly dart back to Anima. “I haven’t heard your name yet.”

“I’m Anima… ma’am.”

“Anima. That’s a good name. It isn’t time for lunch just yet, so maybe you can have Sion show you around the village. Not that there’s much to see.” Stearra laughs to herself. Sion starts walking to the door.

“That’s a good idea. We’ll be back soon. Let’s go, Anima.”