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Traveling with Kanata and Misella, leaving Dalchia for the very first time, Kanata finds himself enjoying the moment...and briefly escaping his guilt.
Fandom:Â Tales of Crestoria
Characters: Kanata Hjuger, Misella, Vicious
Rating:Â G
Word Count:Â 1195
Mirror: AO3
Notes: This was written for the Crestoria fan project, Beyond the Lens. A small music video was made featuring art and fic excerpts, which you can view here! I also collaborated on this piece with @frayed-symphony and her wonderful art (featured below!)
--
It was so calm tonight.
That was the very first thing Kanata thought of as he chewed on dinner in front of a small campfire; seasoned soybeans with a heaping of fluffy boiled rice. It was simple, and would not have been Kanataâs first choice for a meal, but it was so very filling and dulled away the ache that had been resounding in his stomach the past few days. He took another bite, spilling a few rice grains on the ground in his rush.
âWow, Vicious, this is really good!â he spoke through a full mouth. âThe soybeans are surprisingly not too dry!â
âThey could be much better.â Misellaâs voice joined his, even as she ate her own meal just as fastâperhaps even faster. She sat next to him, perched on a fallen log, her eyes only lighting up when they gazed at Kanata. âIt canât compare to your own cooking. I know your soybeans would be perfectly moist.â
âUh, thanks?â Kanata took the compliment, even with its odd phrasing. It had been a long day for all of them, and he couldnât help but recall how Misella nearly leapt onto the cooking pot earlier as they watched it boil.
Across the campfire came uproarious laughter, one that Kanata could say he was getting used to by now.
âHeh, I know that look!â Viciousâ own plate was sitting somewhere in the darkness, having already devoured his share. Now he was currently taking long sips from a bottle, the label peeling off, indicative of its cheapness. âI bet youâre bummed that my recipe outshines your pork miso soup disaster.â
Kanata blinked. The smoke from the campfire made his eyelids heavy, along with the chill of the night breeze. Even so, he could still see the man sitting casually on the forest floor, booze bottle in hand, unmindful of his black clothes getting scuffed in dirt. Viciousâ grin was as bright as the sliver of the moon hanging in the sky.
âOh, no itâs not that!â Kanata paused, scratching at his neck. âI meanâŚI am still surprised you can cook.â
âWhat, you think Iâm just some low-life boozing idiot? That all I do is steal and drink all day?â
Kanata considered his answer. âIâm not sure if thatâs a serious question?â
âYou literally stole all of this food and that alcohol from the nearby town.â Misellaâs tone turned harsh, setting her plate neatly on her lap so she could glare at Vicious even more. The previous soft, dancing light in her eyes had turned dark and simmering. âEvery day, you make us fall more into your wretched criminal lifestyle.â
âLook, it was either that or watch you keep eating grass, which was really starting to get sad.â Vicious bent his long legs to finally stand, stretching an arm behind his head. âYou should instead praise me for saving you two from starvation!â
âQuiet,â Misella quickly countered. She glared at Vicious even moreâand Kanata thought he could see the embers from the campfire start to hover in the air around her. âYouâre ruining all of our appetites. Expected as always from you.â
âPft, no Iâm not! Look! You ate every last bite!â Vicious pointed the end of his bottle towards Misellaâs lap and the plate balanced on it. âI saw you lick that thing clean!â
âI just need all the nutrition I can get, or I might collapse when you take us down the wrong mountain again.â
Their argument continued on, most of it filled with snickers from Vicious while Misella continued to comment on his dark and evil influence. It was actually going a lot better than usual, as Kanata was sure a tree would have erupted in flames by this point.
He couldnât help but soak himself into the sounds of their voices, into the pleasantly cool breeze around them, and the flickering light of the slowly dying campfire. His Sin-marked hand was placed against the grass, the bandages still tightly wound to avoid any suspecting eyes, even out here within the darkness of the forestâŚ
He realized something then.
âI havenâtâŚthought about it for hours now,â he said out loud to himself.
âEh?â Vicious turned to Kanata, stopping in his teasing of Misella. âSince when do you mumble?â
âHeâs most likely tired of you,â Misella helpfully explained. âSo as I said, go off into the wilderness and donât come back until the morning, so we can finally get some sleep.â
âW-wait! Itâs fine, I was justâŚâ Kanata smiled up at them both, their forms embraced by the warm flames. âI was just really happy to listen to you two talking like friends.â
Vicious raised an eyebrow at Kanata, then looked at the bottle he still held. âDid you get into my booze stash? Because you sound drunk as hell right now.â Still, he shrugged, turning away and ready to take a deep drink. âMaybe I should have stolen a bottle for you too!â
âOh⌠Iâm not drunk?â Kanata wondered if drunkenness and happiness could really be the same. Then he felt a hand on his forehead. âMisella?â
Her touch was nice and made his heart flutter, but she was also looking at him like heâd grown two heads, which kind of soured the sensation.
âAre you sick, Kanata? Vicious must have infected you⌠making you confused with reality.â She then looked to the empty plate, narrowed her eyes, and turned to Vicious. Her hand slipped from Kanataâs face. âItâs food poisoning. Of course.â
âBut youâre alright thoughââ
By then, Misella was already pointing a finger at Vicious, completely nonchalant in her action as she tried to set the ends of his hair aflame.
âWHOA HEY!â Vicious jumped, patting out the little sparks around his collar. âAt least give a warning! You just made me spill my booze!â
âItâs punishment. For a criminal. Thereâs nothing wrong with what I did. I couldâve made it worse.â
Then both their voices filled the air againâwith luckily no more attempts at immolation. Vicious was pouting, depressed at his lack of alcohol while Misella merely appeared bored. Sheâd got her revenge, and wouldnât pursue more for tonight except for small comments to counter those of the Great Transgressorâs.
It was another welcome distraction for Kanata. He remained quiet, watching them, a small, if sad smile lifting his lips.
I hadnât thought about Father until now⌠Not about the discovery, the betrayal, and the blood on his hands.
Ever since leaving Dalchia, such a scene had kept replaying in his head over and over, never letting him rest. The guilt had been eating him alive.
Yet, just now as he ate dinner made by the man who saved him, as his skin still felt the lingering warmth of Misellaâs hand, such a scene had left his head for a little while.
Where would I be without them? Vicious with his bravado, Misella with her concern. He continued watching them argue with a light to their voices. The breeze shifted the branches of nearby trees, and the grass against his hand was soft.
Kanata wanted to thank them, but maybe heâd wait until they were done.Â
Yesterdayâs Tales of Sunday went to Misella from Tales of Crestoria! Ended up having some family stuff come up, so I wasnât able to post in time. But here she is!
My piece for @livingwithsinzine !!! i'll post my other piece in a bit~ but I had so much fun with this, thank you guys sm for organizing this event!!! :love love love: !!!!