Bye

Seemingly tired of waiting, the receptionist walked gracefully through the garden. Yet again I found her frustratingly pretty. I pushed those feelings away as she approached us. Her eyes burned with frustration as she opened her mouth to likely hurl some insults.

"Hello!" Jules beamed.

“H-hi.” She seemed kind of taken aback.

“Why aren't you just precious?” She dropped to her eye level.

“Mind if I have a little conversation with your big brother?” She sang sweetly.

“Yeah, of course..." She looked kind of disappointed but walked away. It was oddly well-mannered for Jules. Well, as soon as she was out of sight her demeanor shifted. Icy eyes looked down on me as she rose again.

“What is taking so long?” She whispered loud enough for it to be counted as talking. I stood up and looked through the window. He had moved on from the nuns and sisters and had started saying goodbye to all the children.

“Might take a while longer.”

“What do you mean? Call him, tell him to make it short.”

“You do it.” I sat back down.

“F-Fine, I'll wait.” Guess she does have some sense of humility. She sat next to me, smoothing her skirt as it rumpled up with the action.

“Anyhow now that we're waiting. And since you're literate. Help me with this.”

As if my help was a guaranteed asset with no strings attached. I looked down at her pretty face.

“What do you need?”

She opened a map and traced her finger down from my humble little town to a village farther up north.

“I want you to look at this route.”

“Let's see.” I looked at the line she drew in light pencil strokes, followed it over rivers, plains, hills, and dirt roads. I stopped when I saw the purple dotted line and where her route crossed it.

“Why are we crossing the seal line?”

“Deadlines.” She tapped the map.

“Making it so we stay inside will add a week to our march,” she explained.

A kingdom's seal isn't a big circle around itself. Just like its borders, it follows terrain and makes a unique shape. Some areas are covered; others are not. It isn’t uncommon for the most direct route to be inaccessible because of it. In our case we’ll have to go east into the frontier to then turn north, and walk back into safe borders.

“Is this worth the risk of dying out there?”

“You know what failing means?” She looked at me.

“No.”

“The guild chooses your next quest for you.”

I looked back, needing no further convincing.

“The route looks fine although I wouldn't trust bridges still being there or in any safe condition. I would reroute through smaller rivers if we have to cross water.”

“I think they’ll be fine but there is needless risk in that. Fair.” She looked annoyed having to rework it.

“What? You asked for feedback.”

“I'm not complaining.” She made the changes. Then rolled it back up and put it in her bag. We then awkwardly sat there waiting for him to finish his goodbyes.

“So we are not planning on wrapping ourselves in seals?” I asked.

“It's redundant with the ones I carry.”

“I see.”

Silence.

This is, you know, It’s just so awkward. I saw movement in the corner of my eye. The little one peered from behind a bush thinking I hadn't spotted her.

“Jules!” She flinched and disappeared behind it. I walked over to her. At least hide better. I grabbed her collar and pulled her out of the shrubbery.

“Looks like I caught a ginger stray. Whatever did she hear?”

“Not a thing,” she said, shaking her head.

I shook her a bit, making sure not to actually hurt her.

“Just something about a river. It sounded kind of boring, so I stopped listening.”

“Of course," I put her back down.

“Someone else catching you won't be as forgiving.”

She turned to face me.

“Do all couples talk about boring things?”

“Huh? That girl isn't my girlfriend.”

“Then who is she?”

“A thorn in my side.”

“But she’s pretty.”

“Her looks don't have anything to do with that.” She tried walking away.

“Hey, come back here. You're not getting out this that easily.”

“What are you two whispering about?”

I looked back at the receptionist.

“Nothing just scolding–”

“He called you annoying!” I looked back down at her, Gods, she looked smug.

“Why would you say that?” I asked her. I heard rapid footsteps approaching.

“Why would you say that?!” The receptionist asked me.

I stood up and turned to face her.

“I don't want to be here, and your attitude isn't helping.” She said digging a finger in my chest.

Jules ran off escaping her punishment.

“I didn't say anything like that, she lied to get out of punishment.”

“I'm sure she did to get out of punishment, but I doubt she was lying.”

“You know what? Believe in whatever you wish. I have more important things to deal with right now then you.” We were quiet for a moment before she rubbed her eyes.

“I've been trying to keep my composure, but everything keeps tearing it down. I've been shaking since yesterday afternoon.” She raised a hand keeping it elevated for me to see. She carefully held it to her chest.

“I guess I shouldn't start an argument over supposedly being called annoying.” I did call you a thorn in my side.

“But you also need to understand we're not at odds.” I looked down at her. I guess I had been antagonising her. After all, she handed me the document. But now she's been discarded and put with us.

“It's fair. I tend to be a bit more patient too.” She smiled.

“Only a bit though. And I apologize for showing you none.” She nodded.

“Thank you.” She exhaled.

“So,”

“So?” I repeated.

“I don't think scolding her was a good farewell.” She shrugged.

“I'll wait here until you're both done.” She said walking back to the porch.

I went looking for her, but couldn't find her. I searched the garden between the dorms and eventually reached the small treeline beside the chapel. I found her under a bush. I guess my father’s hunting instinct somehow rubbed off on me. Yet what I found broke my heart. She wasn't just crying but absolutely sobbing. All while trying to keep quiet.

“Jules,” I said quietly as I sat next to her. She made a high-pitched sob as a response that broke my heart even further.

"What's wrong?”

“You're going away. And I don’t wanna be alone. And you're not gonna come back. So I said goodbye but now you're mad at me,” She said between sobs.

“I'm not mad. You've never angered me, Jules.” I picked her up and hugged her.

“You're still leaving me.” she said, her little hands gripping my shirt like her life depended on it. She broke down, unable to stay quiet any longer. Dammit. It almost moved me to tears.

“I'll come back.” I inhaled.

"You will?”

“Yes. I promise.”

“You’ll come back for me?”

"Of course! And when I do I'll take you with me and we'll buy a cute little house on top of a hilly meadow. With a forest and fields, and sheep and chickens. Like in the fairy tales I read to you before bed.” She seemed to calm down.

“I want a cat too.”

“And a cat.”

I placed her back down.

“So will you be a good little sister and wait?” She nodded.

I gave her one last hug before walking back with her to the dorms. I made sure she was getting along with her friend again before taking my leave. Then I returned to the receptionist.

“We can't die.”

“I wasn't planning to. What are you talking about?” She turned to face me.

“I cannot die.” I repeated making it clear. She frowned.

“What did you promise that girl?” She looked down at me.

I didn't respond. Then I failed to meet her eyes.

“Idiot! You can't promise that!” She jabbed her finger in my ribs.

“Ah, hey!”

“What if we do die? She'll wait one year, maybe two years, but eventually she'll think you abandoned her. Or worse she’ll hold out hope for only the Gods know how long, unable to move on.” She said, jabbing me with every word. Then she walked away.

“Idiot.”

“Dammit, what was I supposed to tell her? See you in heaven? Good luck?” I took a step towards her, she stopped and looked back.

“No, of course not. Not like you'll meet her there.” She rubbed her eyes. “How about an actual goodbye instead of making some empty promise?” She shrugged.

“Okay, Miss Vague, mind telling me something solid next?” She rolled her eyes in response.

“I'm keeping my promise to her! Hell I’ll make sure its solid, I refuse to die doing this shit.”

She frowned, biting her nail again.

“Ugh, fine.”

“Huh?”

“I can't promise anything, and I can't do more than I already have. But let's make it to retirement.” She waved her hand dismissingly.

“Thank you.”

She and I walked to the main gate again, spotting my beloved comrade waiting next to it. Now he was the one waiting.

She spoke up. “Well then, I guess we're ready.”

“I guess.” I lacked any excitement.

“Yes!” He certainly wasn't.

It was a short and silent walk to the gate. I looked up at it. It was tall, fortified, and manned. It seemed a bit excessive, yet this was the largest town near the frontier. You could've almost called it a city. A very tiny one at that. She stepped in front of us, turned around, and pointed at me.

“I never caught your name.”

I guess we never exchanged formalities.

“Fletcher, my name is Fletcher Falker.”

She pointed at the disaster next to me.

“Why, my name is Josh,” he said smugly.

“Just Josh?” She cocked her head.

“I never knew my father but I imagine he's a great adventurer.” She looked confused and I waved my hand telling her to move on.

Then finally, she placed her hand carefully on her chest.

“My name is Laetitia–”

“Lea-what now?”

“It’s Laeti–”

“Liatilia?” Josh tried.

“Dammit, no, Laetil–”

“Latinia.”

“SHUT UP! Stop interrupting me! It's Laetitia.”

“Leatita.”

"Apologise, dammit! How about I start making fun of your names next?” She

pointed at us.

“I– I guess my friends call me Tia,” she said, returning her hand to her chest.

“Yeah, but we're not your friends.”

“That doesn't matter now!” She stomped her foot.

“Use Tia until you can say Laetitia.”

“You better get used to Tia then.”

“Fine! No point arguing this.” A ratcheting sound filled the air as the gates rumbled open. Once they were wide enough, a convoy of wagons began slowly pouring into town.

“Come on, or they'll close it again. I don't feel like asking them to reopen it.”

I looked at the passing wagons, all of them full of commodities and grain. "Can't we hitchhike?”

“No one is going further east than this.”

I looked back one last time, and with some certainty I took a step through the gate.

I'll return.

Epilogue

To Fletcher Falker,

Wilfried smiled caught between fear and melancholy,

“As promised.”

With the envelope addressed, he poured melted wax and sealed it with a stamp that felt heavy in his frail hands. He rose without coughing, even that had become too much.

He placed the letter on the bedside table tracing Fletcher's name with trembling fingers, then he tended the fireplace.

He remembered reading stories to Fletcher in this room whenever Sir Falker was away and especially after Sir Falker passed.

It was so cold, even beside the fire.

He moved to bed sitting on the edge, he took one final look at the letter, reassuring himself that it would find its way to Fletcher's hands, before lying calmly upon his back.

He wonders whether he had been just, in service to the Gods he had been. Of that, he was certain.

but he fears he failed as man,

as a husband,

as a father.

The priest sleeps. He sleeps.

And he'll never wake–

–Arc One: A Catalyst. End.