The Tragedy of Renya

4.5 Revelations

12th day of the fifth month, Viusi

Erica had been In Viusi before, almost a decade ago. Her parents, or, to be more accurate, her mother, had dragged her along to see a play. And where other to go for that than Viusi, city of arts? Erica remembered the play well. Or at least, she remembered that she did not like it one bit. Too dramatic, and the characters were all so… so… stupid! Maybe she’d just been too young for it, she would wonder nowadays, or maybe the play had really been that bad. After that play they decided to go out and explore the city. Her father had been meeting with one of his friends, or colleagues, or someone who was both, she couldn’t remember. So Erica and her mother had been shopping (Erica no longer owned any of those clothes but her mother did), and looking through the museums in the city. It was already late in the evening when they met up with her father again, as they were sitting on a giant fountain that was decorated with statues of men and ancient gods. Erica remembered that fountain well; as the light of the setting sun had hit the water flowing out of the fountain it had lit the plaza in a sea of rainbows and light.

Now, ten years later, Viusi had lost much of the charm it had ten years ago. But as the sun was setting Erica decided to go out and find that fountain again. Even though she’d only been there once before, and even though the city had changed, she still knew how to reach it by instinct.

The first thing Erica noticed when she reached the plaza was that the fountain had been shut off from the water supply. The plaza, like most of the city, had been abandoned due to the economic crash that had hit the entire region. She sat down on the fountain’s edge, looking at the waves of stone that decorated the foot of the fountain. The little water that had been left behind in the fountain had evaporated and left behind a layer of grime and trash. The statues on the fountain had fallen in disrepair and were now covered by bird droppings and the signs of the weather. Still Erica knew it was the right fountain. She remembered sitting on this fountain, waiting for her father to show up, while she was enjoying a cookie her mother had bought her. What was she waiting for now, she wondered.

A few moments later the answer to that question stepped out of the shadows from one of the streets.
“I knew I’d see you here,” he smiled at her. Erica frowned in return. That man would not leave her alone, she sighed, although at least he had now moved on from hiding and actually faced her. She noticed something flying towards her head and instinctively caught it. She looked down at what the Wyndri had thrown at her. Half a bread. She looked at him and noticed his grin.

“It’s not poisoned,” he said.
“You stole it, didn’t you?” Erica said, trying to ignore her hunger and how good the bread smelled.
“They won’t miss it; don’t worry.”

Erica frowned at him but then the hunger took over and she bit in the bread. It tasted weird; almost sweet. Not like anything she’d had before.
“This isn’t local,” She said, after she’d eaten half of it.
“I’m impressed you noticed.” After a few moments he continued: “Not from this time either.”

Erica finished the bread as the man sat down next to her and handed her a cup of water.

“Would you be able to help?” he asked. Erica looked at the man confused, wondering if she’d missed the context for that question. She then noticed his absent smile.
“Of course you will.” He said.
“I won’t.” Erica frowned, “I’m not going to help you.”
“Why not?” the man asked, “I even got you out of that situation just now.”
“You’re the reason I’m in this situation.”
“You yourself are the reason for that,” he said, then chuckled as if he’d made a joke.

Erica got up and left the cup next to the man.
“I’m leaving.” She walked away from the fountain.
“Where are you going?”

Erica stopped. She didn’t really know where she’d be going; out of the city and to the south would be a good idea.

“The south’s already blocked up. It’s amazing how much influence your fiancé has, you know.” The man said it as if he’d read her mind. Erica shivered and then realised that mind-reading was not a skill that Wyndri were said to have. He’d probably guessed her plans. It wasn’t as if they were that well-hidden.

“Fine, then what do you say I do?” Erica turned around and looked at the man. He smiled.
“You’re going to Kresida next. And then to Renya.”
“I had the feeling you wanted to keep me away from Renya,” Erica raised an eyebrow.
“I changed my mind.”
“Why?”

The man remained silent. Then he got up and shoved his hair out of his face, showing his purple eyes for the first time.

“I’ve seen the future. You will be the one to discover Renya’s secrets, Erica. The future’s already decided on, much like the past,” he chuckled, “they’re actually the same thing.”
Erica frowned at the man.
“Like you haven’t changed this time enough. You can’t tell me the future remains unchanged.”
“Details,” the man shrugged, “details can always be changed. In a hundred years nobody will care about the details. What matters is that you will be the one to break Renya’s curse.”
“I refuse.” Erica walked away from the plaza. She stopped as the man grabbed her arm from behind.

 “Look,” he said, “Viusi isn’t safe anymore. You can’t go to the south. At least go to Kresida; I promise I can help you if you  just go there…”

Erica looked at the man’s face. He didn’t seem to be lying.
“You know a way out of the region from there?”
“If you still want that, yes. Please, Erica. I know you don’t want to help me: I wouldn’t want to help me. This is all for her sake!”