Meetings In The Middle

Shanna's eyes fluttered opened, and then immediately fluttered closed again.

It was too bright.
It felt too early.
And her entire body ached.

But her mind refused to quiet and so ever so gradually, her eyes peeked open again.

The sunshine and breeze that filtered into the room gently set the thin curtains to swaying. As she adjusted her posture, she soon realized she shared the room with a certain dozy someone who was fast asleep hunched in a chair.

This guy… Will never get a proper night's sleep, Shanna thought to herself with an amused smile.

As she jostled herself upright, the noise of the crinkling sheets awoke Rondy, who stared at her with his usual half-lidded, tired eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Rondy said as he awkwardly shifted his slinged and splinted arm to a better position.

"I'm okay." She began with a half-yawn. "Actually… I'm perfectly fine. This all turned out well thanks to you." She finished sheepishly.

He shook his head. "That's not true at all. It was thanks to your lyre… and besides that, without you the Atristus flower wouldn't have…" His sentence trailed off as he looked aside.

Shanna cocked her head as she considered it.
"That is weird, isn't it?" And then she cocked her head to the other side. "Why exactly did the flower bloom? Did you read about it in Norri's book, maybe…?"

"N-no, well yes… But…" He shook his head before raising his gaze to his erstwhile friend, the ceiling.

"I-I think, sometimes, maybe…" He scratched his cheek. "That sometimes things just… Happen!" He nodded his head sagely. "Yes. This is surely one of those things that just happens. A coincidence. An amazing, and handy coincidence." He said as he nodded his head again.

Well, he certainly seemed convinced, Shanna thought as her gaze wandered to the window, slowly coming to a different discovery.

"The curtains…"

Rondy directed his gaze above yet again as he tugged at an errant hair. "While I don't like the light, I er.... I thought that maybe it would help you rest better…"

Shanna couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
This was… definitely some odd behaviour from the usually reclusive Rondy.

As she considered it further, umming and ahing her dithering thoughts aloud, did she realize that yesterday was actually the first time he'd left the house since his attack from Norri.

So perhaps that alone explained his curious attitude, Shanna thought with a scrutinizing eye.

Seemingly in response to her stare, Rondy raised his hood up as the door to the room swung open, Merridee clopping in obliviously.

"Oho, you're awake now." She said, her eyes already beginning to lose that excited lustre that had once sparkled within. She looked over at Rondy. "Oh, Sir Beckler is ready to see you about that other wrist you nearly broke when you crashed onto that platfor-"

"Shhhhhhhh!!!!!!"

Shanna's eyes widened at Rondy's animated hushing and the serious glares he shot Merridee's way. On the bright side she didn't really pay much attention to it as her eyes and body drooped to the side.

"Well that was mighty rude, Mr Cantarello. I only came to tell you that Sir Bec-"

"Yes, yes I heard. I'm going…!"

As he stalked out of the room, Merridee offered Shanna a confused shrug before continuing her report.

"A manhunt has been organized for that crook, Mr Nystell, also known as the Midnight Picklock. I'll be sure to update you when I can if any news reaches my ears." Merridee said formally, her horse ears flicking.

"But thanks to you, everybody only suffered mild scrapes and bruises. Sir Beckler will want to thank you as well." She said with a nod.

"Oh well… I couldn't have done it without Rondy's help." Shanna muttered.

"Ooooohhhhhh, I see what you mean." She nodded. "So that's why he was up on that platform with yo-"

The door burst open again as Rondy's face re-appeared. "Can you not just blurt out every thing you see and say!?"

She jabbed a finger at herself.
"Me?… Whatdidido?"


~ ~


Shanna stretched her tired body as she left the healers house, Beckler having been satisfied after looking over her. She cast a sidelong look to the shadow who continued to accompany her.

"Um… Is your wrist okay then?" Shanna asked Rondy delicately.

He nodded, his eyes only faintly visible from under his hood as he looked at all the passing sights. "…It wasn't as bad as it could have been." He reported vaguely.

She supposed if she wanted more information, simply asking Beckler or his assistant Nyanshi would yield better results... At least he seemed outwardly okay.

Floraleyse, despite the pandemonium of yesterday was already in a state of repair, the citizenry hard at work cleaning debris and righting broken structures.

Cano had taken charge of the rehabilitation efforts, leading the carpenters and workmen of the town while his father sat close by, quite clearly sulking.

Rosta sat awkwardly, every inch of his body plastered in thick bandages as the supporting splints forced his arms and legs into cumbersome angles. It was crystal clear who fared better from the conflict, as Brava came into view, a single bandage upon his arm.

Lilipa hovered close to her father as she helped support him with the large crate he carried. Although she couldn't hide her wandering eyes drifting to Cano as he continued his busywork.

Her father sighed. A sigh that conveyed his own loss and his recognition of what was more important in the grand scheme of things.

"You will always be my little Lili-Lamb…" He began. "…But I now know that I will not always be your papa." As she turned to face him, her eyes wide from his words, he gave her a nod that fully imparted his approval and affection.

"You great big fool…! You will always <hic> be my papa!" Lilipa cried as she tackled him with a hug.

Impressively, he held true to the crate as he nudged her to follow her heart. And so she did, running up to Cano and grabbing him by the arm.

It was evident to see that both father's remained perfect mirror images of their exact emotional states. With the mutual understanding that sometimes true love was letting go.

Brava loomed over Rosta as he deposited the crate next to him. "It's uh… Meats. Things like that." He looked away as he continued, unaccustomed to speaking to the man without barbs. "Next time we fight... I'll be more competitive."

"Heh. Bring it on, you old fool." Rosta replied powerfully. "I'm ready for round 2 whenever." 
(He was not.)

The two of them exchanged a final glance that hinted towards a future of free-style wrestling whenever their stressful days sought an emotional release.

Shanna smiled. Smiled for the mutual love of Cano and Lilipa, and the equally mutual love of a father's for their child.

As she mused at the scenes, Yvessa and Laven waved as they approached her, Yvessa naturally freed and cleared of all charges in lieu of the true culprit.

Shanna couldn't help but notice a glaring omission upon Yvessa's visage as she came closer. "Your mask… And the runes…" Shanna began.

Yvessa inclined her head demurely as she brushed a loose hair from her eyes. "Yes... I've decided to do away with it. That I no longer need it." The runes while clearly visible, remained partially legible due to the incomplete nature of her curse.

"When I was arrested, I realized that a certain kind of people will spread ill-natured stories no matter what… And that being secretive is actually one of the easiest ways for them to flourish." She said as she fidgeted with the cuff of her sleeve.

"That perhaps… That maybe if I'd been more honest and told others beside the lady chef when my dress had been stolen, I would've had others be able to vouch for me..."

Ahh, Shanna thought.
So when she'd seen them having that covert conversation before her meeting with Mayor Bunby, it had been about her stolen dress after all.

"Still though…What made you confide in Noelle?"

"Well… My brother informed me that she was a trustworthy person." Yvessa replied amenably.

Ohh, Shanna thought, having finally received the last clue to a puzzle she'd been trying to figure out since she'd arrived in town.

"… The truth is…" Yvessa began.

"…It had been Laven who originally entered the shop, dressed up and pretending to be you." Shanna finished with a finger point.

They exchanged a surprised look with each other as even Rondy turned to face her in surprise.

"W-What…?" He asked.

"Oh, bravo little miss! How impressive!" Laven said clapping his hands eagerly. "How did you know?"

Shanna pat one of her shoulders with the tip of her fingers. "Me and Yvessa only come to about here, shoulder to shoulder. But the person who I'd bumped into…"

"Was tall." He finished in an amused tone.

"And I'm supposing Noelle must've seen through your disguise, but promised to keep it secret for some reason..." Shanna continued.

"Not exactly!" He said boldly. "I actually forgot I'd been in disguise and struck up a conversation asking if the Alchemist was in!"

Shanna reflexively recoiled at Laven's lackadaisical undercover work.
At least she'd gained a new measuring standard for her own future foolishness, from a scale of Laven to Beckler.

"When I asked her to keep it secret, and she said 'okay' that's when I knew she was trustworthy!" He said giving the group a thumbs-up that practically shined with its majestic innocence.

"How… How carefree." Shanna said in awe.

"But why pretend to be your sister?" Rondy asked shaking his head.

"I just wanted to protect her reputation in whatever way I could." He said ruffling his hair. "She'd been so afraid to leave the house ever since her attack, so worried about all the gossip... So when the Alchemist didn't deliver the potion I thought if I went in her place she'd see there was nothing to be worried about."

He cast a warm look his sister's way before it broke into an over-eager grin.
"Besides!" He said. "Don't you think it really helped my character study for future acting roles? I could probably play an actual spy for our lord father now…!"

……………Did it though….? Shanna thought to herself through doubtful eyes
If you immediately broke cover to chat casually with Noelle……………..?

Shanna shook her head as she refocused on Yvessa. "I'm glad it all seemed to work out at least..."

Yvessa nodded her head. "And in the case of the runes, Beckler has spoken to me of various solutions available to me. So please, do not let it weigh on your mind any further." She said staring at Rondy appreciatively.

"I'm glad…" She began. "I'm glad I could find the courage to be honest… And because of that, so many paths have opened up before me that were previously obscured from my vision."

She tilted her head elegantly as she prepared to head off with Laven. "I hope you two find the courage you require to honestly attack the future."

With a final gentle wave, the Goodwill siblings left as Rondy and Shanna found themselves separately considering her final words.

Honesty…
If everyone had been more honest from the start, more open about their feelings and insecurities… Then would they have reached the truth much faster?

"I-I say! Why do you two look so serious? You're the heroes! The heroes, I say!"

Mayor Bunby came into view, in tow with his bombshell wife who draped over him lovingly, showering him with kisses. He looked aside, his face beet red from his wife's display.

"M-My dear…" He began as he looked at his wife with adoring eyes. "M-May I have a brief moment to talk to them?"

His wife managed to pry herself away, sauntering to a street corner where she sent discreet loving looks his way, the passing by men rendered slack-jawed from the sight of a once in a lifetime beauty such as she.

"I'm glad to see it turned out okay." Shanna said with a smile.

"Y-Yes… You were right after all." He said nodding at her, his ever-useful handkerchief about his hands. "E-Even with my skin being the way it is…" He said gesturing to his patchy, blotchy, irritable and scratchy face. "…She loves me all the same, a-as you can see..."

He stared up at them with large soulful eyes as he slowly withdrew a parchment from within his coat. "Before I forget…" He began. "I k-know you said you didn't need this… But please. All of us would love for you to stay."

Rondy raised a brow quizzically as Shanna accepted the house deed with some reticence.

"I'm just performing my due diligence as your Mayor." He said affectionately.

As Shanna inwardly debated how to gently let down the Mayor, Merridee galloped forward with a missive, waving eagerly at the Mayor for his attention.

"Mayor! The princes they…"
Everyone, even passers-by, couldn't help but crane their bodies forward in order to give their ears a better shot of picking up any of her following words.

"They signed another 10 year magical pact! There won't be any civil war." Merridee stated.

Celebratory roars ripped through the crowd almost immediately as the news spread like wildfire throughout the entire town infectiously spreading the cheer throughout.

"Let's celebrate!" Came the raucous cry from the quickly gathering crowd.

"…To another 10 years of peace!!"