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Ranbu No Izayoi
The door to Izayoi’s room creaked open and, while her footsteps were naturally soft, Ciradyl made no effort to conceal her movements. A thousand different thoughts and voices fought inside her mind for center stage, all eager to be heard. The Hubris of Valheim. The loss of Osprey’s crystal and its guardian. The fear that her actions during the fight might have revealed her. These concerns were pushed aside as Izayoi came into her view. Though her expression hardly shifted, Ciradyl felt her heart ache and then stiffen with determination.
”There is somewhere I would like to take you before we leave. That is, if you are not busy…” She hoped the location would come as a surprise and offer a chance for the two of them to speak alone. Izayoi was someone of action and if she had to match it if she wished to break through to her. The distance between them felt greater than she had believed Izayoi to be dead. All Ciradyl wanted to do standing there was cradle her head into her chest, stroke her hair, and tell her everything would be alright. A ridiculous, fanciful thought that was as likely as Valheim peacefully leaving back to their own continent.
Izayoi looked up from where she sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, her sword in her lap. She hadn’t done quite much of anything since returning to Kugane, save for menial tasks and meditating. Or trying to, at least. Fifteen years. She thought she’d moved on past this. Evidently not. To say nothing of what they’d learned below the earth.
”I am not, no.” The former general rose to her feet, sliding her sheathed blade back into her sash.
”You want to speak, then?””That is correct. I have the perfect place in mind.” A faint smile appeared on her lips, though little else changed. Ciradyl had shed the form-fitted armor she wore on their excursion for a traditional Osprean kimono, one that accentuated her natural beauty. She headed out the room with the expectation that Izayoi would follow.
Ciradyl had already informed Hien and Chisaki that the two of them would be heading out. It seemed that Miina’s healing was enough that Chisa was able to walk properly on her own now, albeit with a noticeable limp
”I think the location will be a pleasant surprise. I am feeling excited already.”. The soft, cool tone of her voice did not match her words. Besides their initial reunion, her voice hardly shifted from this tone.
.
”Are you, now?” Izayoi quirked a brow, taking a moment to put her hat on and wrap her traveling cloak around herself. Better to keep as hidden as possible, so as not to cause undue alarm if she was recognized. Five years wasn’t a long enough time for those in the know within Kugane to forget her face, to say nothing of the garrison still on alert for her.
”Lead on.” She glanced around the safehouse as they made their way out.
”You’ve done well for yourself these past few years. One could hardly imagine you were just a singer at one time. Albeit an exceptionally talented one.”The Faye’s brightened as she answered the Mystrel with a single nod, purposefully ignoring the look she was receiving. Her excitement was a bit of nostalgia and fondness, for both her companion and the spot they were going. Ciradyl moved through the safehouse with elegant ease, never once breaking posture and greeted the various servants with a dim, warm smile. All of those under her, and now Hien’s, command clearly regarded her with great respect.
One pointed ear flickered backwards as Ciradyl heard her dear friend speak up
”Thank you, Izayoi. This is certainly not the path I thought my life would take but I have done my best.” She paused briefly as if contemplating if she should continue.
”I do still sing on stage from time to time. I have even written a couple songs about yourself.” The door to the entrance was opened by a figure similarly concealed as Izayoi heading inside, who held it open for the two of them. Luckily, the spot for their small outing was not too far away.
Izayoi allowed herself to make a face at the mention of anything to do with her as they walked.
”I dearly wish you hadn’t, but I suppose I cannot fault you for doing so while believing I was dead.” She murmured.
”You know exactly how I feel about any sort of fame.”They reached their destination, and Izayoi realized exactly where they were going the moment they turned the corner.
”The tea shop is still here?” Memories of better times flashed through her mind for a moment before the reality of their situation set in.
”You’re certain this is a good idea? We were both known patrons of this establishment in the past. All it would take is the wrong person recognizing myself, and your work goes up in flames.””I have only ever performed the one, if that is of any comfort.” Ciradyl teased, though there was a heaviness to her words. There were a couple ballads that, if Izayoi ever discovered them, she would be mortified should they ever become known. They were her way of coping with the aftermath of Izayoi’s death.
The tea shop had not fallen into disrepair but had maintained its quaint aesthetic.
”There is a certain risk that such will occur, but it is one that I think can be managed.” She said confidently, taking the first steps towards its front door
”I have only been inside a couple of times since you die-disappeared. Nothing tasted the same without you there.” Mint-eyes widened a little at this admission, as if she had let something slip, and she hurried towards the door.
”You would have moved on past it, in time.” Izayoi said simply as they walked in, being quickly seated at a table. Unlike six years past, the shop was less bustling than it had been. It still maintained a moderate amount of patrons at this time of day, but nowhere close to what it once was. Likely a result of Valheim’s occupation.
After they ordered, Izayoi reached up and undid the hair tie keeping her ponytail up, letting her hair fall naturally. After all, even in the old days, she’d almost always kept her hair tied up. Without her hat on, there was little else to do in the way of attempting to conceal her identity for the moment. That done, continued on from where she had been speaking before.
”Should I actually fall on this journey, please, for your sake, mourn me less. I would vastly prefer to not be a source of your misery.”Ciradyl offered a gentle smile towards the waitress that seated them
”Perhaps.” She said with a small shrug of her shoulders, turning her attention fully onto Izayoi now. Her eyes blinked a couple times as Izayoi let her hair down and quickly became enamored with this particular look. It had been an instant favorite the scarce times she had seen it.
Teeth grinded against each other as she barely maintained her composure. Fingers with delicate, glossy nails that were resting on the edge of the table began to dig into the dense wood. The humble serenity that she had so far projected cracked underneath the weight of Izayoi’s words
”Then do not.” These words came sharp and heavy as a deadly seriousness washed over Ciradyl’s beauty. She took a deep breath and repaired the cracks in her expression
”I will not lose you again, not when you are all that I have left. I apologize if this burdens you.” Her voice and eyes gradually softened until a somber sadness had replaced the silent fury.
”Ciradyl, please. Do not ask something of me that I cannot guarantee.” Izayoi sighed, letting herself slump slightly as she sat. They sat in silence for a few minutes until their tea and accompaniments were served. A few sips of bergamot later, and she spoke once more.
”Besides, I am not all you have. You’ve no few subordinates that rely on your leadership. To say otherwise cheapens their loyalty. Unlike myself, you’ve not gotten all of them killed.”Ciradyl took the time they enjoyed their tea to contemplate Izayoi’s response and gather her thoughts. The tea itself was a hit of tasteful nostalgia, its flavor dragging her back through time. It was perhaps because of this that what Izayoi said next stung.
”I am certain those under your command would argue otherwise.” She contested lightly before continuing, quickly devouring a bite-sized tart
”You have a number of new companions that rely on you, enough to make me a tad jealous.” Her lips curved into a smirk and drew her teacup to her mouth in an effort to ease the atmosphere.
”Hardly,” Izayoi scoffed, ripping her dango off the stick with her teeth.
”Allies of convenience, at best. The Edreni tolerate me for my supposed strength, and I to them in return. The Skaelans sent the most obvious spies in recorded history to bring word back to their land regarding the Blight. And the younger Mystrel is here solely to find her brother.” A gulp of bergamot tea washed the sticky dumplings down before she continued.
”They all fear a shadow and a dead woman. I am not what I was even ten years ago.” She remarked bitterly before shaking her head.
”But enough of me. I never quite enjoy that subject. What of you, and your thousand suitors, men and women? Surely you’ve picked someone by now.”A thought came to Izayoi’s mind, unbidden, and she frowned.
”If it is the boy,” Izayoi had only ever referred to Hien in this fashion to Ciradyl in the past.
”I may have to chastise you. Severely.””Is that a promise?” A light giggle escaped her lips, knowing fully well it was no mere joke and content to move the topic of conversation along. It was adorable that would be so protective of the young lord. She cradled the delicate cup in front of her with both hands
”You can rest assured, he does not interest me in such a way.” This she said seriously, taking a sip.
With that answered, she was now pressured to reply to Izayoi’s previous inquiry. Would she dare to answer truthfully?
”My mother would ask the same of me leading up to Valheim’s invasion. It is true. My family’s status and wealth combined with my talents secured no shortage of potential partners.” This was said with some annoyance instead of any kind of pride.
”There was no one that could compete with my love for music and performing. There was little I did that seemed to deter them from trying.”Ciradyl paused for a moment
”It was not too long after Valheim occupied Osprey that they became my main audience and pool of suitors. They would like me as one of their prizes, like so many treasures pillaged from this land. I am sure you share my feelings regarding that. ” She purposefully avoided mentioning there had been someone she had developed feelings for. It was too late by the time she realized them.
”Until…ah.” Izayoi winced slightly as her fears for Ciradyl’s parents were confirmed.
”I hadn’t dared to ask.” She took a sip of tea to marshal her thoughts before continuing.
”But I do understand. Until Isshin, I had little interest in that sort of entanglement, myself. And now I do not, once again. Still, I implore you to not let myself be your only companion remaining on this earth. I would say to speak to some of my compatriots, but that will mean little once we leave for Drana Asnaeu.”She popped a block of mizu yokan in her mouth, savoring the flavor. Certainly better than the ones she’d tried making at home.
”The woman I was when we first met would be disgusted to see how far I’ve fallen.” Izayoi opined, her memory stretching near a decade back to their first meeting in this very teahouse.
”Is Mizutani Tane dead yet? If this occupation could yield but a single benefit, I would wish it to be that wench’s death. Surely, she’s run afoul of Valheim by now.”Ciradyl simply nodded regarding her parents’ deaths, the cool expression on her face indicating it did not need more mention. Her heart sank a little hearing that Izayoi confirmed what she had already known.
She followed suit and selected a piece of mizu yokan for herself, it was slightly different in favor compared to ones her servant made.
”Perhaps, but I think that would be the least of her surprises.” It was still difficult for Ciradyl to process that Izayoi had been a mother, if only briefly.
Ciradyl’s brow furrowed a little at the mention of that name
”The gods would only be so kind. The snake has managed to slither her way into their good graces for the time being. She is their little puppet.” Venom seeped into her words. Tane had caused them no small list of issues.
”Unbelievable. That bitch truly has no limit in the depths she’ll sink to for her own gain.” Izayoi spat, setting the dregs of her tea down.
”I should have killed her all those years ago, consequences be damned. Come, let us be off. This has suddenly put me off my appetite.””Indeed. Her death will taste the sweetest, I think.” Ciradyl coldly mused. She rose from their chair and set down the payment for their meal
”We should take the scenic route to cool our heads. The lighting should be just right this time of day.” She said matter of factly as the two of them left the cafe.
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