One More Time!

“Lord Eliwood.” The bard said, warmly. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Truthfully he wasn’t sure how long it actually had been. Time was nebulous, with human lifespans going by in the blink of an eye. But even though time had passed, the man that stood before him he could still recognize as the same one that Lord Elbert spoke of so fondly. “I hope you’ve been well.”

Many questions lingered on his mind. He wanted to know how much time had passed, how their old allies and friends were doing.

In the end, he voiced none of them.

“I made my peace with never seeing any of you again, because I knew it was for the best, but….” To keep the dragon’s gate open was to invite tragedy to Elibe all over again. He couldn’t risk the lives of the humans he’d come to care about- or that of his brethren, just so they could be selfish. That’s why he knew it was the right thing to do.

The boy cast his gaze downwards, willing the emotions cropping up inside him to not spill out, warmth pricking the corners of his eyes. His shoulders trembled lightly. “…I’m glad. That didn’t end up having to happen.”

A somber note settles between them. Two friends reuniting after such a long time, no matter how it was spent. It matters not. He is happy to see him again.

Nils's light laugh sounds almost an echo of his flute playing and lifts his spirits just as much. He knows a change of topic when he sees it, and it is for the best as Eliwood does not know if he can keep his own emotions in check if they linger much longer.

"Ah, before I fully inherit the title of Marquess of Pherae, I am here to pass on my skills as a teacher. As a professor of the Golden Deer, in fact. That and, someone must be here to keep an eye on Hector." He smiles teasingly, the light dancing in his blue eyes.

Despite the many emotions swirling inside him, talking to Lord Eliwood was as comfortable as ever. Nils was at ease, something he only was when with a select few people.

“Oh, Lord Hector is here as well? I’ll have to find him sometime soon too, then.” He as well was amongst those Nils trusted. “As for me, I’ve recently joined the Blue Lion house as a student. After Ninian and I stepped through the dragons gate, we ended up in this land, although separated at first. We only just reunited here at Garreg Mach, and…” His gaze shifted downwards for a moment. “I think we must’ve come here for a reason. So I decided that while I’m here I want to come to understand humanity better. Then, when we return home, I can help establish and work on relations between the humans and dragons of my world.”

Realizing what it could be used for, the young dragon set for himself the goal of capturing the visages of as many of his dear friends as he could. That way, even when centuries pass, he could still remember their faces clear as day. That’s the least he could do for them.

And upon learning from Lord Eliwood that Lord Hector was here too, Nils decided to seek out the axe wielding noble. Only problem was.. that a surprising amount of people here had blue slick backs. Seriously, did that specific shade become common in the years he’s been gone or something?

After making a fool of himself for what felt like the 3rd time now, the boy decided to take a break. Finding a place to sit, he let out a sigh. “He’s amongst the tallest people I’ve known. How have I not found him yet…?”

— On the dance floor, naturally. She wraps up a rendition of Lythos’ priestly dance to applause from a few onlookers, thanking them with a smile before fleeing... In part because she wasn’t expecting to draw the eye like that, and in part because she has spotted him in the crowd.

“ Nils! ” She calls out with a dazzling smile, raising her bouquet into the air as though to wave then realizing and laughing it off, still flushed from her exertion. “ There you are... You must have greeted half the room by now, is that right? ”

Her teasing is lighthearted; and she laces her arm with his to tug him back the way she came, though of course she pauses to ask his permission first.

“ You were given orchids too, I see... How fortunate. Ninis must be smiling on us. Ah, speaking of which... Would you do me the honor of a dance, Nils? They are about to begin playing for a dance from Hoshido, if I am not mistaken... ” She is not, having danced them all. “ ‘Tis a slow melody, and I would of course guide your step. ”

Nils decided against it, however. It’s easy to forget when you’ve spent so much of your life in survival mode, but they were safe here. So after a bit he drifted away from her side. After all, Ninian would likely prefer meeting people without her little brother constantly hovering around her. And despite her apparent frailty, she was so much stronger than he’d ever be.

She’d come see him when she wanted to, and that ended up being the case. “Ninian!” He greeted her back, features mirroring her own in both appearance and the way they smiled. “I wanted to, but you were just being too mesmerizing. They preferred watching you dance over talking to me.” Nils teased back, giving a playful wink.

Naturally as she put her arm around his, he was happy to follow along. The way she smiled, laughed and teased, it was clear to him she had been enjoying herself thus far. There seemed to be a joy to her usual grace that he hadn’t gotten to see in a while.

Taking a step back had been the right move, then.

On the mention of their bouquets, he glanced at the bundle of pale blue flowers in his hand, and the similarly shaped flowers in hers. Huh, what are the odds? He wasn’t left pondering about it for long however, as Ninian invited him to dance with her.

But.. Ninian was safe, and so was he. They no longer had to fear for their lives, thanks to three brave people and their steadfast allies. People Nils had come to consider near and dear to his heart.

Having taken a moment to step out and take a breather, the boy found himself looking out at the sky from the balcony in one of the monastery’s many towers. It was quiet moments like these where he wondered how all their old friends were doing. His sister might’ve been closer to them than he had been, but it was undeniable how much of an effect they’d had on him as well.

The sound of footsteps snapped him out of his thoughts. As they drew closer, at first the boy subconsciously tensed. But when their presence felt not just harmless- but familiar, Nils turned around.

Noble blue and hues of fiery red. It was just as he remembered.

His own eyes widened.

It feels almost a trick of the light when he sees a familiar shade of cerulean hair as clear as the sky. He stops, the click of his boots falling to a soft silence, and his breath stills.

Years ago, he had been parted from his dear friends. It was for the best and wishing for them to remain would only be a selfish request on his part. So he had never said it. Making their choice harder would be the unkind thing to do. Instead, he had wished them both well and let them know, near or far, they would always be friends.

”Nils?” A smile breaks across his face, like the dawn after a long dark. “Is it truly you, my friend?” He crosses the small space between them and reaches to take his hands. Emotion wells in his throat and stings his eyes. “What…how?” Eliwood shakes his head. “No, it doesn’t matter. My heart is filled with joy to see you again.”

“Lord Eliwood.” The bard said, warmly. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Truthfully he wasn’t sure how long it actually had been. Time was nebulous, with human lifespans going by in the blink of an eye. But even though time had passed, the man that stood before him he could still recognize as the same one that Lord Elbert spoke of so fondly. “I hope you’ve been well.”

Many questions lingered on his mind. He wanted to know how much time had passed, how their old allies and friends were doing.

In the end, he voiced none of them.

“I made my peace with never seeing any of you again, because I knew it was for the best, but….” To keep the dragon’s gate open was to invite tragedy to Elibe all over again. He couldn’t risk the lives of the humans he’d come to care about- or that of his brethren, just so they could be selfish. That’s why he knew it was the right thing to do.

The boy cast his gaze downwards, willing the emotions cropping up inside him to not spill out, warmth pricking the corners of his eyes. His shoulders trembled lightly. “…I’m glad. That didn’t end up having to happen.”

But.. Ninian was safe, and so was he. They no longer had to fear for their lives, thanks to three brave people and their steadfast allies. People Nils had come to consider near and dear to his heart.

Having taken a moment to step out and take a breather, the boy found himself looking out at the sky from the balcony in one of the monastery’s many towers. It was quiet moments like these where he wondered how all their old friends were doing. His sister might’ve been closer to them than he had been, but it was undeniable how much of an effect they’d had on him as well.

The sound of footsteps snapped him out of his thoughts. As they drew closer, at first the boy subconsciously tensed. But when their presence felt not just harmless- but familiar, Nils turned around.

Noble blue and hues of fiery red. It was just as he remembered.

His own eyes widened.

The reports continued to come in, from all corners of the Kingdom of Faerghus, from great city to small village, trickling down threateningly close to the mountain range where the monastery lay. Some who had ventured forth to investigate the illness had returned with their own strain, somehow individual and yet exactly the same as all the reports – which was to be expected, and was treated with caution as those people were sequestered and monitored. 

Lachesis pressed her fingers to her lips as she stepped out from beneath the threshold of the villager's house and onto the street, hoping that the wave of nausea and dizziness would not linger. She had felt the grime of a cough that had not surfaced at the back of her throat as she spoke with some of the people who had claimed no adverse symptoms, who had insisted they were not sick as their neighbors were - which brought a spike of concern. 

Was it able to move regardless of contact? Like some sort of sentient, malicious creature? 

And, quieter but more insistent, was her constitution as strong as it had once been, before the long dark? 

It was a question she had not thought to ask, aloud or to herself, when she had determined to venture forth and gather information for the medics and mages of the monastery. She was not predisposed to illness, or...she wasn't all those years ago. 

The stickiness of the cough threatened to tremble up from her throat, and she frowned, as though it might cow back from the sheer force of her determination. It tickled in response, but did not surface. 

Sweeping her hair over her shoulder, Lachesis turned onto the main road of the village, glancing about for someone else to question, perhaps a place to rest her tired lungs for a moment, and she cocked her head at the sound of music filtering through the heaviness of the air. 

Following the sound dragged her into the main square, and eyes alighted on the sight of a young man in the monastery's uniform. She waited a moment before approaching, listening to the song and watchful of the other children that had gathered at the edge of the fountain in the centre of the village. She propped herself against the low ledge, dragged a hand through the water to rub along the back of her neck while the song came to a close, and the children scattered back to their families. 

That’s why, when an illness swept through the country, one that downed many humans, he was quick to offer assistance.

This is what led to the current moment. A group of children were left without someone to care for them, with their parents being ill.. or worse, in some cases. As most of his tasks were finished, Nils had taken it upon himself to raise their spirits a little.

The fountain plaza was his stage, a group of children his audience, as he performed his songs. Some of the rowdier kids danced along, whilst others decided to simply listen and enjoy. Either way, he could see a little more light in their eyes when they left compared to how they first came here. That was enough.

Though the children had left, one woman remained there. He noticed her approaching at the end of his performance. Judging by her clothing, she didn’t seem to be one of the villagers.

“I came here to help, of course. That’s what I’ve been doing since this morning, Miss.” The boy kept a light smile on his face, but there was some sort of underlying tone in his voice. “But those children.. all they can do is wait and hope for their parents to get better. So, I wanted to cheer them up a little.”

“ I am counting on your guidance, Nils, ” she says, with a soft exhale that isn’t quite a laugh. “ Oh, and please do forgive your sister her amateurish playing. ”

Although she says that, Ninian is not quite an amateur. A beginner, certainly, but she knows the basics well after seeing Nils play so many times... and after practicing in his absence. Never with the fervor with which she always practices her dances, nor even with any real frequency; but practicing nonetheless, when she was able.

— That is, when playing the flute did not break her heart. The feel of it in her hands, the familiar notes... They could either deepen or lighten her heartache in Nils’ absence, and she never knew which it would be till she played.

No matter. He is here now.

Though longing cannot halt her playing, something just as familiar can — and does. Ninian starts, just slightly, to realize she is swaying to the music; and not only that, but she has stepped to the beat even while setting it.

“ Ah... I'm sorry, Nils, ” she says, with a sheepish little laugh. “ My feet started moving on their own... ”

“Have some faith in yourself, Ninian. I’m sure you’ll do great.” The boy said, encouraging his sister. Normally he’d be the one playing the flute, guiding Ninian’s graceful steps as he did. But this assignment asked of them to try something different, and so the siblings decided on switching roles. “I trust you and your ability completely, as I’ve always done.”

And as she began to play, Nils followed the music with his steps. He wasn’t unfamiliar with dance, as he’s spent plenty of time watching Ninian and helping her practice. But when he tried to copy her steps, seeing himself in the mirror it looked decidedly.. different.

Ninian was always graceful, every movement of hers flowing like water. But when Nils tried to copy those same movements, perhaps due to the shorter length of his limbs, it lacked that same refinement.