Lights

The day went by fast after Kira finished introducing me to her party members. They talked, bantered, told me stories of their missions, how they feel about everything, the monsters they encounter and more. As the sun begins to set, she takes me by the hands and tugs me towards her. “Hey, we should go look for Mabel, it’s been a long day and I want to see her before I leave again.”

“Oh? You’re leaving so soon already? You just got back! Mabel would want you to stay longer and I do too and —”

“Zero.” She sighs softly as she brings up her hand to caress my cheek. “I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to stay for long. The King has ordered a decree that all adventurers that are capable and standing, have to report to the capital. There’s been a high increase of monsters lurking around the kingdom recently, and people from isolated villages throughout the kingdom have been missing for a few weeks.”

People missing? Increase in monsters?

“I only came back here because Iruma Village was between us and the capital. So I figured I could come see you and Mabel before I have to go again.”

I stand still, moving my hands up to clutch onto hers, my grip tightening. “I-I see. I’m sorry for being selfish. It’s just that, when I saw you again here, I just thought —”

She pulls me into a hug and wrap her arms around me. “It’s okay Zero. I know how you feel, but don’t worry. Once everything’s been taken care of, the first thing I’ll do is come right back home and we can go on our own little monster hunt, how’s that sound? We’ll even bring Vivian too, since she probably wouldn’t want you to go anywhere near monsters.” She chuckles lightly.

I look up at her sadly, but put on a cheap smile.

Liar…don’t look at me like that…don’t look at me like you’re saying goodbye forever…Don’t make promises to me that you can’t keep…

I fall into her and wrap my arms around her tightly as I start sobbing quietly. My body, shaking uncontrollably.

Her face softens and she gently strokes my hair. “Still the same crybaby aren’t you? Crying when I first left years ago, and crying here now again.” She chuckles lightly to herself and murmurs. “Become strong Zero. You’ll have to, because —”

“Kira?”

She turns around and standing afar was Mabel, holding a basket of ingredients. I look towards Mabel before slowly extracting myself from Kira. I lift my eyes to look up at Kira. I notice her breath hitching, choking her into silence. She tries to form a coherent sentence, anything at all. Unable to do so, she drops everything and runs to her, like a lost child finding their mother again and crashes into Mabel, wrapping her arms tightly around her, her shoulders shaking as she lets out a loud uncontrollable wail into Mabel’s chest.

Kira. She’s…crying.

For the first time in my life, I saw something that no books, no stories, no legends ever told me. The strongest person that I ever viewed in my entire life, was crying.

Vivian silently walks up behind me and gently taps my shoulder before leaning in to whisper. “Let’s give them a chance to catch up, mkay? Come, I wanna show you something.” She takes my hand and slowly pulls me away. I continue looking towards Kira and Mabel, before turning back to Vivian and following her lead.

“Kira…she’s crying. I’ve never seen her cry before.”

Vivian smiles softly as she tugs me along with her and pulls herself next to me and snuggles into my arm. “She’s a girl, silly. Girls can cry all the time if they want. What matters is that she can rely on you the next time she cries.”

I look up at Vivian and give her a resigned smile. “I guess you’re right. Wait, then why did you cry yesterday when you ran from me? Was that because you just felt like it? Or was it because of me?”

She blushes and releases my hand before covering her face. “N-no! It wasn’t because of you or anything, I promise! I was just thinking too much, that’s all.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good, I was worried I made you sad or did something wrong, but I’m glad that it was nothing.”

She looks at me with a soft stare, tilting her head to the side as she giggles before walking towards the nearby railing and leaning against it while looking out towards the lush greenlands of Hycentia. “You’re looking a lot better than yesterday Zero. You looked like you were hurting so much yesterday, I’m glad that look isn’t there anymore.”

I slowly approach the railing as I stand next to her and lean against it too. I don’t say anything. Nothing needs to be said at this moment. Just her and me.

All of a sudden, she props herself up straight and points out into the distance. My eyes follow her hand to where it is pointing. It was magical. It looked like the sky was being torn asunder, but from it came down beams of colours I’ve never seen before.

I turn to face her, but she was already looking at me excitedly, trying to hold back a smile. “See! This is what I wanted to show you! I was reading some books and I read that today was the day that the Weeping Sky appears for all of Frynlon to see! You know, it only happens once every 1000 years and that — “

I notice something, something I’ve never noticed or have seen before. Something that I don’t think anyone else would understand unless they were in my eyes right this moment. Looking at her, under these lights, seeing her smile, looking so carefree. I couldn’t help but think of this one single word that could define this experience in my life when looking at her at this very moment. “Beautiful.”

Vivian tilts her head to the side with a look of confusion. “Did you say something Zero?”

Oh crap, I said it out loud

I step back a little to make some space and look back out towards the greenlands. “H-ha, it’s nothing, I just thought the lights look very pretty, that’s all.”

She smiles brightly and moves closer. “I know! That’s why I wanted to see it with you! It’s our special secret!”

“No one can say they watched the Weeping lights with you! Only I can for the rest of our lives.” She covers her mouth as she giggles.

You know…maybe being a hero can wait. Maybe…this is where I belong.

Her eyes widen and she pulls out a note. “Oh right, I almost forgot. Here, hide inside your shirt!”

I quickly take it from her and place it inside my shirt. “What is it? A note?”

She giggles and leans in closer. “No, silly. It’s the mission pamphlet you kept asking for. My father had so many laying around the table so I just snatched it and ran.”

Did I just hear her right? Mission pamphlet? She was able to get one?!

I pull her into me before she could react and wrap my arms around her. “You’re amazing Viv! I’m so glad I could rely on you!”

She blushes and extracts herself slowly away. “Ahem.” “But you have to take me with you! I’m not letting you go alone! So that way if we get found out, we can both get in trouble together! Plus someone needs to keep you safe from trouble!”

I chuckle and nod in agreement. “Deal, not like I’ll need any help, but having a spare set of hands is always useful.”

“It’s getting late, we should head back.”

Vivian, remembering something quickly takes my hand as we start walking. “Don’t you have to go home?”

She nodded. “Mhmm, but I’ll go after I take you home first!”

That’s different. She never usually does this.

I shrug, not noticing anything weird as we walk back to the inn together.

***

“SURPRISE!”

As soon as we both enter the inn, we’re greeted by Mabel, Kira, and many others as they all yell out.

“HAPPY NAMEDAY ZERO!” The room erupts as everyone calls it out.

“W-what’s going on? My nameday? But that’s not for a few days.” I stuttered out, confused at the commotion, glancing around the room. Jaro, Kira’s party members, some adventurers from the guild too.

Vivian giggles as she pushes me forward. “We know, that’s why we wanted to surprise you! Because if you were expecting it on your nameday, then it wouldn’t be a surprise would it?” She leans in and whispers. “Plus it was Mabel’s idea, thank her later.”

Kira shouts out towards me. “Come on heroboy! Don’t be shy! A year older! Not long left until you can do whatever you want! I’m sure Vivian is looking forward to it.” She gives me a teasing wink.

Flustered, I look back towards Vivian. She blushes and looks away. I turn back to Kira and run up to her to push her in annoyance. “Shut up Kira! I’m not like that!”

Mabel walks up and gives a soft smile. “We know that you wouldn’t have wanted to celebrate it with anyone, or even alone by yourself. I just wanted to do it. That’s all.”

“YEAH! YOU’RE NOT A HERO, BUT YOU’RE STILL OUR ZERO!”

Everyone bursts out laughing and pulls me into a group hug as they all start to sing a song. An annoying, but welcome song.

Mabel and Vivian both appear in the hall with a cake in hand, a candle lit on top. I hesitantly step closer towards the cake.

My first…ever cake. With everyone.

“Come on Zero! Blow it out!”

“Yeah, make a wish!”

“I’m hungry, come on!”

I smile cheerfully and lean in to blow the candle.

For the first time in as long as I could remember. I’m not alone.