Loyal Servant

Echo nodded at his words. “I see. If that’s what you wish, then I will try to speak more casually. It…will just feel strange at first,” she admitted, unsure that she was doing a good job of being less formal. 

Despite the awkwardness of their meeting, Echo was glad to see someone from her world. It gave her hope that she would see Oz someday. Though it was probably selfish of her to wish for him to appear here, she wanted to thank him properly for helping her become the person she is now.

“Is there anywhere you wish to see?” In the end, a little formality couldn’t be helped. Echo was polite even with her friends.

“Well I rather it not feel strange to you. I’ll know if you feel awkward about it.” Leo was quiet for a moment as if trying to think of some sort of compromise. “Just speak however you feel comfortable with. You won’t be condemned for trying.” It was the best he could offer, even if it did sound like an order. That wasn’t his intention at all, but he had to say something to try to ease Echo.

Talent. He hated that word. His skill at the piano was practiced. Earned. He doesn’t get into that argument yet though, instead just frowns slightly and turns back to the piano. “No. I’ve written my own songs though. But that one was just one I like.”

He moves on to another song, one that he had written himself. His fingers move easily over the keys, focusing on the song.

“It’s different here.” His facade fell for a moment as the boardwalk filled with more and more dancing in joy. Different people, from different places, all wearing whatever they had come with or had left on. Drinks in their hands and happiness on their faces. He loathed them with every fiber of his being.

Not that he did not loathe the nobles he normally danced with, but these were different. Nobles from his world often pretended to be happy. A simple facade that was so simple to see through. They were more like him than they knew, and that made them simple to trick.

These people were foreign to him in more way than one.

“But no, this is not any unknown work of the Abyss. I have been here once before, briefly.” Turning to the other, he regarded Leo for a moment, words at the tip of his tongue. “What I am about to say will hurt and confuse you, but may also be…” Good? Hopeful?

“The dead walk freely here, Master Leo. Alongside the living. And so many who do not know what a Chain is, nor a Baskerville nor the Abyss. It is as though we have been whisked away to some unknown plane of existence. Away from that final battle and everything accompanying it.”

Leo took Vincent’s words to heart, understanding every detail given, providing knowledge to the boy to not seem so clueless about this world. Everything here was so different from their home. So advance one might say. Though that matter isn’t a concern. What almost caught the boy to express a bit of panic were his servant’s last words.

To first hear the dead walk freely... would those who died in the past also be seen here? Would that also mean perhaps in this place...

Furrowing his brows at the thought, Leo had intended to move on from that. To not be held back from past mistakes and regrets. “I see. So in a different sense, people from different stories were brought to this place. All united under one story.” Leo let a sigh out, almost as if contemplating if that should remain between them. The secrets and events of their own world. Well, it wouldn’t hurt to ask. “Have you told anyone about the Chains and Abyss? When you were brought to this place, I would hope that secret stays within those of our own story.” For now, Leo would rather be cautious until he has a better understanding of this place.

”There’s ‘a little life’ and then there’s being a nuisance; taking it too far isn’t doing anything but pushing somebody’s patience". Whatever commotion has been about the streets, she can’t overlook his point. Arms folded, her eyes rest upon the black ribbon fastened about one wrist. “I can tell you from experience the latter isn’t an option; it doesn’t stay a dream for long.

Look back on it fondly, but dwell and it becomes stained with anguish. It becomes a nightmare. I’m well aware clinging onto a past out of each serve no purpose but to twist itself — and maybe even you along with it — into something painful. But for all we know, whatever’s ahead might just not be worth leaving them behind”.

“I suppose it’s how you look at it. In the end, if it doesn’t affect me in any sort of way, then I don’t see the need to point something like that out.” Leo gave a light shrug, not sure what made him all bothered about a simple opinion. It just came out. 

Echo relaxed a bit knowing she was speaking to Leo. For some time, both of them had served in the Nightray house. Things had changed…grown complicated, as he’d said. She wanted to ask about many things, but at the same time, she wondered if it was not her place to know now that her role in their world had ended.

“This city brings people together of all words and all times. I was brought here a long time ago, so I can show you around this place as you get settled in. Ah, I am not saying this because you are Master Glen…if you do not wish to be? I do not know what has happened in our world…”

Leo couldn’t help but let a thin frown out, unable to hide the realization of how different the two would now be with one another. Just because he was the current Glen shouldn’t change anything. They should still speak with one another as they use to.

... Funny, that’s something Elliot had always wanted.

Licht is aware that he’s caught someone’s attention, so he keeps playing. He’s well practiced, Gradually, his song reaches an end and he stops, looking up to stare at his audience. 

“Do you like piano?”

The song ends and the boy address him asking about the piece of music. “I don’t particularly hate it, but it has always been a part of me in more ways then one, that I just find enjoyment when I’m behind the keys.” Though after recent events, the piano is just a memory of the joy Leo felt alongside his friend.

  despite the great advances Blake has made to being more open to both friends and strangers alike, she still enjoyed having time to herself. preferably somewhere quiet with a book or two to keep her company. she was never much of a social butterfly and no matter how others may try to get her to be, she’ll still have a fondness to solitude. and after a day spent around others, she wanted to unwind and of course, found herself at one of the many bookstores. she needed something new to read and figured a quick browse would lead to something good.

   that, of course, is still going on hours later. but a voice of a stranger next to her drew her attention away from the titles on the shelf, golden eyes focusing on the boy. at his suggestion, they move towards the book; ‘ Holy Knight’ . Blake had never heard of it before, but there was a mild interest in it.

        “ Any kind, really. I find I miss out on a lot if I limit myself to one genre.” that, and she simply enjoyed reading too much to stick to only one thing. “ Is the series any good? The Holy Knight, I mean. I’m looking for something new to read and the title sounds intriguing enough. “

Well at least the other wasn’t stuck to one genre. Then again, there were so many kinds of books to read that just being open to all kinds make things so much easier to provide different kinds of recommendations. Anything that he could read and wonder off into the world of any good literature is worth reading.

So being ask the question allow the boy to explain the story a bit. “At least you’re open minded to different options, and I won’t have to think of just one genre. It’s one of the longest series I know of from my world. I’m only on volume nineteen, so the fact that I am still reading it would mean that it’s good. It’s about the adventures of a knight and his valet, being thrown into different scenarios and coming out of them safely. Every volume has different twist and turns, it was hard for me to put that series aside.” The only time Leo would have done so would be to give his friend time to catch up. At least three volumes behind.