A Simple Wish

There was more to these brothers than she had realized. While she couldn't put her hands on it, Edelgard found something in the behavior of Starkus, now that she looked for it... She had no idea what it was, though.

Claudia wouldn't say anything else, either.

"If you want to know, you need to ask Starkus," was all she told her. "I've revealed enough about him as it is."

In an attempt to get more information, she asked Almerya an innocent question while she cut her body hair.

"How old are those brothers, anyway?"

Almerya's hands stopped and a troubled expression found its way on her face.

"You mean Starkus and Karkass? Why would you want to know?" I-am-suspicious was written across her forehead in bold Elven letters... figuratively speaking. Then Almerya narrowed her eyes, a realization coming to her. "Claudia? I didn't think she'd talk about that. Edelgard, do you know how big of a testament of her trust towards you that is? That's no easily-disclosed information, you know? I never thought she'd ever talk about that."

"She mumbled something about Starkus learning the language after she woke up from a nap," Edelgard admitted, scratching the back of her head.

"I can't believe she took her guard down like that... you are quite something, Edelgard," she said, her hands starting to move again.

"Will you tell me the same as always? That I should ask him myself?"

There was a chuckle behind Edelgard.

"No, this time will be a bit different. You should ask his brother." Edelgard stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. "Starkus won't talk about it, I fear. It might seem like he forgot it since it was so long ago, but I believe it haunts him as if it happened just a week ago."

"It haunts him?"

"Information is powerful, Edelgard. Make sure you understand that," Almerya warned. "It causes us to do things we shouldn't do, think about things we weren't supposed to do... Words can cause us to act... they are powerful things..." Here, her hands stopped again. Almerya laid down her hair-cutting knife and hugged Edelgard from behind. Her modest breasts rubbed against her back, and something was running down her back, from where Almerya's head met her shoulders. "Edelgard. There was more to me vouching for you to learn our language than you might think. I want you to be ready, and not make a mistake. Can you promise me that?"

"How will I know if I'm doing something wrong?" Edelgard asked.

"If you feel uneasy... if you think something terrible might follow, stop reading. Stop learning. Stop writing. Sometimes not knowing is the best kind of knowing."

"..."

Almerya continued to embrace her until the tears stopped. Edelgard didn't look at her when she stood up, swooped up the hair, and deposited her utensils.

"I'm sorry, but I don't feel well. You might have to walk alone, today," the elder then said, sounding weak. Edelgard nodded, stood up, and left. "And be careful..."

They were spoken as a mere whisper, but to Edelgard, they echoed louder than a scream.

"Hello, Opus!" a woman called.

"Oh, Edelgard! This is a pleasant surprise!" Opus exclaimed, no doubt approaching her. He always said that when she came. "What can we do for you, today?"

There was a moment of silence.

"I want to speak with Karkass."

"With Karkass?" Opus confirmed, sounding troubled. A conflicted feeling spread through Karkass's body. What did she want from him? "I fear that's not possible at the moment," Opus said. He sounded as whiny as he did when he refused Karkass his wish. He pictured the elder holding Edelgard's hands when he said that. "He needs rest."

Another moment of silence.

Karkass held his breath, waiting for her answer.

"Then I will wait for him," she announced. "How about we drink some tea?"

That was enough. With a motion too swift for his sickly body, Karkass stormed through the door into the next room, almost falling over.

The occupants looked at him with startled eyes.

"She doesn't need to wait," he said, waving Edelgard towards him. "I feel fine."

"But Karkass-"

"I said I feel fine, Opus. Come, Edelgard."

With another doubtful gaze towards Opus, she got in, looking around in wonder. This room was the first of many libraries in the elders' tree, after all.

There were way more scriptures upstairs, though.

Like, a few dozen rooms more of this.

"Uhm..."

"Now, I really didn't expect you to visit me again. You must understand my wonder... why did you come?" Her hands fidgeted cutely, and Edelgard sat down. Karkass followed suit. She seemed to fight with herself over something... "Just ask away."

"... Say, how old are you?"

"Why would you ask this?"

An expression close to nostalgia came across her face, and she pouted. Karkass was startled, as this was a thing he thought to be exclusive to children.

"Can't you just answer me?"

"... Now that you said that..." Karkass shook his head. "I don't talk about me when my counterpart doesn't even state her reasons. Conversations go both ways."

Edelgard narrowed her eyes, and she sighed.

"I heard that Starkus learned how to write a long time ago," she revealed, not meeting his eyes. Karkass fought hard to keep looking at her. "I also heard that most of the time, only elders learn how to read and write... what's up with that? Are you two elders?"

"That voice I heard when you were first brought up here...?"

Edelgard tilted her head, thinking.

"Do you mean Claudia?"

"..."

"Hey, why are you looking like that?"

"What's your connection to them?" Karkass asked, coming closer.

"Connection... hey, too close, too close!" She blushed as the gently pushed him away. "I live with them... Claudia vouched for me."

She smiled sweetly at the thought.

Karkass was enamored with this smile.

He would love to give something back to her, but...

"To think that you would know my brother... I'm sorry, but that topic is not easy for me to talk about," he said. "We are not elders, but that's all I will tell you. That being said, do you want to know anything else?"

"..." Edelgard looked around the room, eyes sparkling. Then, a gloomy expression washed over her. Karkass didn't like her face like that. "Say, are you really not allowed to leave?" Karkass shook his head. Edelgard looked at him, donning a curious expression. "Say, what would you want to do?"

They shared a meaningful look.

Karkass found himself smiling.

He had never talked about this with anyone... she was a special person.

"I believe that should I get down from this prison of mine, I'd become happy. That is my only wish."

Edelgard's smile was radiant as she said, "That sounds doable!"

They chatted for a few hours after that.