Anima, Ch.25: Home and Heart

[Anima, Ch.25: Home and Heart]
----------------------------
--01-- [Scene: Dunbarton] <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
Another week passed since my meeting with Price. All I can do for now is carry on,
despite my morning headaches getting worse by the day.
I'd thought it was overuse of magic that brought these on...


--02-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
...but now it seems like whatever I do——or don't do——with magic doesn't even matter anymore;
I'm just going to wake up with a massive headache anyway.
Speaking of magic...


--03-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
Stewart had sent me a message to come visit him; he claimed to have acquired something I'd be
interested in. So, here I am at the school.
I found him organizing his lecture notes as I walked in.


--04-- <BGM: The Dream's Reward>
(Stewart)
Good morning, Meara. I see you got my letter.
I've been given something that I thought you'd appreciate...



--05-- <BGM: The Dream's Reward>
(Stewart)
Recently, an expedition to Iria returned from across the sea to report on their findings and to resupply.
They're going back soon to build a permanent outpost.
One of the explorers left me this book.


--06-- <BGM: The Dream's Reward>
Stewart handed me a book that looked very old indeed.
The cover was worn and ragged, and the pages were turning yellow.
"A book? What's it about?"


--07-- <BGM: The Dream's Reward>
(Stewart)
It concerns a new kind of ice magic.
I thought I'd let my favorite student have the first look at it.
Careful with it; though. It's very old, and the binding is wearing out.


--08-- <BGM: The Dream's Reward>
(Stewart)
I hope you find it enlightening.
Well, I need to finish my lecture notes.
Take care then, and good day.


--09-- [Scene: none]
"Wow. Thanks."
I left, crossed the central hall, and sat down in the library to read.
Nice and quiet. I still have that book from Aeira that Price recommended, too.
Might as well read them both.

--10--
The old book was titled 'The Book of Ice Spear,' and true to its name, it detailed a powerful ice magic,
on the level of Fireball and Thunder.
Interesting. I'd suspected a spell like this existed...


--11--
I'll have to try it out later. Maybe my Ice Wand will actually find some use.
I turned my attention to the other book. It's in much better condition.
Hmm. 'Food for the Soul for True Good Deeds,' huh?


--12--
It was a story of a girl and her family that went from riches to rags after Emain Macha was sacked
by the Fomors, and how a good deed to a friend was repaid, which lifted them back up again.



--13--
It seems that the ideas it's trying to get across here are not to look down on others, as you never know
how your fortunes will turn out, and that good deeds are rewarded in the end. Or so I think?



--14--
Maybe I'm just missing some deeper meaning in its pages that I'm overlooking?
Oh well. I'll pass it on to Devin and Vivian like I promised.
How do I get it to them, though?


--15--
I haven't seen them at all since their last day off, over a week ago. They even moved their tents.
I suppose I could just mail it to them.
The owls seem to always be able to find anyone...


--16-- [Scene: Dunbarton] <BGM: New Street>
When I left the library, it was early afternoon.
I went by the bank and put the book in the mailbox, addressed to Vivian.
This way, it'll get to her sooner or later, I suppose...


--17-- <BGM: New Street>
"Hey, there you are, Meara," Kiandra's voice came from right behind me. I turned to face her.
"Oh. Uh, good afternoon. And don't sneak up on me like that."



--18-- <BGM: New Street>
"You heard about the new housing district?" she said.
"Housing district?"
"Might be faster if I just show you. Come on."
She grabbed my hand, led me off to the Moongate, and took me through it.

--19-- [Scene: Dugald] <BGM: The Lumberjack's Skies>
Hm. Dugald Isle?
"Anyway, you know we're facing a little problem with, uh, overpopulation lately?"
I nodded.  "Guess it's a little problematic for the natives to have hundreds of Milletians around."


--20-- <BGM: The Lumberjack's Skies>
"Exactly."
She led me past the logging camp to a path through old ruins leading into the east woods.
"Well, the kingdom seems to be doing something about it," Kiandra added.


--21-- <BGM: Wake Up in the Morning Sun>
We entered a massive clearing in the woods, with dozens and dozens of small houses
in various stages of construction. Probably about a quarter of them looked complete.



--22-- <BGM: Wake Up in the Morning Sun>
"Houses?" I looked about quizzically. "They wouldn't just be doing this out of kindness, would they?
What's the catch?"
"Well, they're being auctioned off. Takes money to build them, after all."


--23-- <BGM: Wake Up in the Morning Sun>
"And they're more like monthly rentals," she continued. "Beats an inn every night."
"Or a tent," I added. "I've been at the inn in Tir Chonaill for months, but Devin and Vivian aren't so lucky."



--24-- <BGM: Wake Up in the Morning Sun>
"I dragged you here because the first round of bids is closing in half an hour. Why don't you pick one out?"
Hmm. A home? Well, I'm making a fair amount of gold from my potions. Why not...?



--25-- <BGM: Wake Up in the Morning Sun>
I decided on a cheaper-looking house that was off the main path, and posted a bit more than the minimum bid.
Kiandra had picked out one of the fanciest-looking homes in the district. Figures.



--26-- <BGM: Wake Up in the Morning Sun> {SFX: huge success}
With some trepidation, I waited.
An owl flew by, dropping a notice into my hands. What? I won?
How do they know these things?
It's another one of these deep, dark mysteries that'll drive you mad.

--27-- <BGM: Wake Up in the Morning Sun> {SFX: slam}
Kiandra found me a moment later. "Did you win?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Of course!"
I stepped inside and looked around. Just four walls and a wood floor. Guess I shouldn't have expected better.
"How quaint."
--28-- {SFX: failure}
She poked me in the side with her elbow. "Just get some furniture, and you'll feel right at home."
"Home, huh? Pretty sure the last time I had a home, I had a family to go with it."



--29-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
"Still on about that, huh? Home is whatever you make it. And, well, as for family..."
Her expression turned somber, as if she was recalling something she didn't want to think about.



--30-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
"A home and a family are really quite similar. In a way, they're inseparable.
There's two kinds, though: the kind you're born into, and the kind you create for yourself."



--31-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
"As the years go by and you get older, the former fades away, and the latter is all you'll have left.
What you create will come to matter more than anything else to you..."



--32-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
She looked down at her feet. "And it's what you'll be remembered by."
"You sound like you're speaking from experience..."
"That's just how life works, well, at least where I'm from."


--33-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
"And I guess it's probably the same from where you came from, too," she added. "Not sure how it
works *here*, since we don't grow old, but I suppose it's not much different?"



--34-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
"Think about what you want to do with all the time you've got, Meara. Just because we're immortal here
doesn't mean you should waste your life doing nothing with it."



--35-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
"You're not the first to tell me that." I sighed. "But it's easier to know where you're going
if you know where you came from, though. Or where you can even get to."



--36-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
"I do think about it a lot. What about you, Kiandra? What are you doing with your life?"
"I'm just enjoying the chance to be creative and work with my hands again. It's been far too long."



--37-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
"That, and enjoying being eighteen again." She giggled. "Anyway, I'm going to go move in and set up shop.
Why don't you settle in too? There's a furniture shop in the square. See ya around, Meara."



--38-- <BGM: Splitting a Gray Sky> {SFX: slam}
Kiandra walked out, leaving me alone in the empty house.
Hmm... Well, I have this, might as well make the most of it.
I guess a table, a couple of chairs, a bookcase, and a bed would be nice to have?


--39-- <BGM: Splitting a Gray Sky>
It took me several trips to carry back my new furnishings, and I needed some help to get the bed in.
Fortunately, a couple other helpful Milletians saw me struggling with it, and lent a hand.



--40-- <BGM: Splitting a Gray Sky>
Well, I guess it's not so bad now.
I suppose that home *is* what you make of it, but having four walls around you that you can
call your own sure helps.


[chapter end]