I stood, heart picking up pace, and motioned for them to stay back. "I’ll check it out. Could be a ssenger or sothing."
"Or those Rogues from earlier coming with a vengeance," Isobel chid.
"Don’t sound so excited..." I groaned, making for the door.
Another knock. Polite, almost hesitant. I unlatched the peephole, peering out. Moonlight spilled across the porch, illuminating a figure in silver armor that caught the light like liquid rcury.
redith. redith the–... no. She was redith Weston now. Still just a Paladin recruit, not experienced enough in the Order to be granted her Title, not yet bonded with the Life Warden who gave her the Title she’d been known by.
My breath caught as I looked at her. She stood there with a suitcase in her hand, looking equal parts determined and awkward, her silver hair tousled in slight curls that frad her face, green eyes locking onto mine through the slot.
I swung the door open, the cool night air rushing in with the scent of berries. It was juvenile, sure, but damn if it wasn’t cute on her, cutting through the usual hardened vibe of steel and sanctity. She was my exact height, which made eye contact easy, no craning necks needed. Still decked out in that full silver armor, though. One of the few traits that seed to follow her through ti was her lack of any fashion sense. How funny.
"M-redith? What–" I started, but she cut in, her voice proper but edged with that run-on urgency I rembered from her dismissal of my offer at the tavern.
"My cat–Colonel Charcoal, the infuriating beast–locked out. I was... preparing to retire, and now I’m stranded on the stoop like a fool. I want to handle that, truly, but being outside, in the quiet... it made reconsider your offer, Lloyd May. Are you... still considering...?"
I blinked... her cat? I thought she only had the Life Warden...?
"Uh, c-co in. Please. We were just... talking about you, actually."
She stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind her, and I led her back to the dining room. Lyra’s eyes went wide with shock and twinges of that guilt we both shared, while Isobel’s arched a brow. redith, anwhile, paused in the doorway, suddenly seeming smaller despite her height and armor. She fiddled with a gauntlet strap, cheeks tinting pink under the lantern light.
"I... I am a bunch of grapes," she blurted, the words tumbling out in a ss. "And you... You all can be my... barrel. To, er... fernt in, I believe."
"Ah, the ancient taphor from the vineyards of ancient Rushela," Isobel said, her tone like a wisened old professor. "That’s quite the ancient taphor. It dates back to the Age of Harvests, when humans were still attempting to venture into the world of Fairies. The idea is that a single grape, no matter how promising, won’t reach its full potential alone. It needs the barrel: the structure, the like-minded company of other grapes, the right environnt to fernt and mature into fine wine. You only truly bloom when surrounded by those who share your vision, who press you to grow without crushing your essence." She smiled at redith. "You’re either well-traveled or well-read to know it. Not many pull that one out these days."
redith’s blush deepened, her green eyes darting to the floor. "A-An old neighbor. He... quoted it once. Awkwardly." She straightened, composing herself with that paladin poise. "My na is redith Weston. And, if the offer still stands, I’d like to join you all as your Paladin. Paladin recruit, I an. I would like you all to sponsor . For the Paladin Exams. Please."
Lyra recovered first, hopping up with an excited whoop. Despite her smile, her lips were quivering. Her eyes were darting between mine and redith’s. That guilt, the pain of losing redith the Life Warden, contrasted with the joy of seeing redith Weston, was eating her alive much the sa way it ate in the tavern.
"W-we would love to have you," She said, stepping from her seat towards redith. "But you have to recognize this is a lifelong commitnt. Once you join us, you’re with us forever. Y-you... you don’t get to leave us, okay?"
redith nodded, her silver curls catching the light, expression serious but lit with a spark of resolve. "I hear your words, Lyra Knight, but you must hear mine as well. My dream is to be a wanderer. To roam all of Aspia, helping everywhere the sun’s light shines. Should I assist you with your ends, will you allow to pursue my own?"
"That’d be lovely, redith. That’s a lovely dream," Lyra said, voice barely above a whisper.
redith smiled, a real one that crinkled the corners of her eyes, and extended a hand to the girl. "Then I accept. I look forward to working alongside you."
Lyra stared at redith’s smile for a long ti, eyes widening as she observed every crease and fold on our old friend’s face. She smiled back, striding past redith’s outstretched hand and pulling her into a hug. She laughed, even as a confused redith awkwardly patted Lyra’s back. She laughed, and laughed, until she broke.
Lyra was sobbing. Weeping.
"I’m so sorry," Lyra mumbed through tears. "I’m sorry for not being strong enough. I’m sorry for letting you die...! I’m sorry... I’m sorry...!"
"L-Lyra," I stamred, my own dam threatening to break.
She didn’t let up, though. Hundreds of years of guilt spilled out as she wept into redith’s arms. Lyra fell to her knees, where redith, gracious as she was, t her. The poor girl was confused, giving a confused look as she held Lyra as though she were going to break.
"I... I don’t understand..."
"It’s fine, redith. I just wanted to get that out." Lyra looked up, smiling through her tears. "We’re in this for the long haul, okay? No more leaving you behind. No more leaving anyone behind. You’re going to live out all of your dreams, and Lloyd and I are going to make sure nothing gets in the way of that, okay? I want to see more of your smile. I want you to live in ways you never got to before, okay?"
The world seed to react to that. It was as odd, as transient as that mont where I’d traveled back to Fairy World. Isobel, who’d been silent this whole ti, was gone. When had she left...? Why was it just the three of us in the dining room?
And why was redith’s hair getting brighter? Why was she aging so quickly...? Why did she look so...
...so much like our old friend...?
"Thank you for coming back for , Temporal Mage."
Lyra’s eyes widened as she pulled back from the hug, staring into the soft eyes of redith the Life Warden. Our old friend smiled as she turned to , a faint smile tugging at her weary lips.
"Demonsbane," She said to with a nod. "It’s good to see you again, old friend. I always knew you were destined for more than campgrounds and poorly-seared boar."
"H-how...?" Lyra and I seed to ask at the sa ti.
"Who knows?" redith shrugged. "Fairy World is a strange place. I stopped trying to understand it many moons ago." She stood, separating from the hug to face Lyra and with the sa resolute gaze we’d grown so accustod to. "My ti with you two is limited, so listen to these words and do not protest: look after my young counterpart. She is not the ally you once knew, nor should she be. redith Weston is her own woman, one not yet truly jaded by the whims of Aspia. I believe it is no accident that the Fairies have led her to you. My dear Life Warden seed to believe you two would project an image onto her that wasn’t fair to who she is ant to be in this ti." She snorted. "He seems to like this redith quite a lot. Perhaps if I were mortal, I’d feel jealousy? No matter. My words remain true: treat her as you would any other recruit. Furthermore, I would appreciate it if you kept this conversation between us. Neither redith Weston nor Isabella’s daughter should know about it." She turned to . "And Demonsbane, should redith introduce you to my Life Warden, I’d appreciate it if you kept any acknowledgent of this conversation to a simple nod. Even if he tries to goad you into acknowledging his power and connection to Fairy World. This isn’t a requirent or anything, I just don’t think he needs the ego boost."
redith’s words hung in the air for a long ti. How long had it been since we’d heard her? How long until we’d ever hear her again?
We never would, I realized. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I knew this was the last ti I would ever speak to this version of redith. Ever. Even when I died, she wouldn’t be there. This... this was it.
But was that an issue when her current incarnation lived? redith Weston. Who she was always ant to be.
redith the Life Warden watched as understanding played on my face, a calm, solemn nod exchanged between us. Lyra, anwhile, stepped forward, head still heavy. redith placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping any words that could escape from her lips.
"I died for the people of Aspia, and for the two friends I made within it. My suffering pales in comparison to the suffering you two have shared. Do not burden yourself with my departure, dear friend. Your life, the smile on your face, the beauty of your youth, and the hope in your eyes give honor to the lives I have given by your side. Thank you for standing beside , Lyra Knight. It truly has been an honor."
Lyra wept fresh tears, hugging redith tight. The aged Paladin reciprocated, holding Lyra close.
"Goodbye, redith. I love you."
"I love you too, Lyra Knight."
I smiled, finally allowing the dam to burst, tears staining my cheeks as I joined the hug. "I’ll take care of this new you. I promise."
redith held us tighter. "I look forward to it, old friends."
***
"I hear your words, Lyra Knight, but you must hear mine as well. My dream is to be a wanderer. To roam all of Aspia, helping everywhere the sun’s light shines. Should I assist you with your ends, will you allow to pursue my own?"
Lyra stared up at redith Weston, a wide smile on her face. "Of course, we’ll let you be our little vagabond!"
Isobel nodded. "It would be quite the statent to have a Paladin under our banner making a na for herself across Aspia."
redith bristled, a timid smile playing on her face. "I-in that case, I would love to join you all."
Lyra pulled her into a hug once again, though tears thankfully didn’t fall this ti. "Welco to the team, redith."
redith awkwardly reciprocated. "A-ah, a physical one. I see. I-it’s... nice to be here."
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