The Chaos Valentine Paradox

Chapter Eight

After that fateful night, two weeks went by. Two weeks of Grimoire talking with Seto and Bugenhagen, who turned out used to work with Shinra... the same company Grimoire was working with.

At first Grimoire was cautious with talking to Bugenhagen. It was one thing, talking to the guardians of the canyon, but it was another when talking to a fellow human being. In fact, Grimoire was still cautious.

However, during the two weeks spent discussing Vincent, his son had gotten better. Little Nanaki was something Vincent needed. After everything cleared up (the fact that the people of the canyon were to trust the strangers, and they to trust the people of the canyon back) Nanaki had taken Vincent around to both human and guardian alike to meet them. It was cute, a young child introducing his new friend.

And how young Nanaki was. Grimoire thought that being ten could be old for the young child. No. He was like a four year old in actuality. The guardians were truly an old species.

Yet, they had finally came to a conclusion and it pained Grimoire to leave Vincent.

But he knew he couldn't take his son back to that cave. No. If he did who knows what else could happen to him.

"He will be fine." Nina, Nanaki's mother, said to him as she walked up to Grimoire.

"Am I that obvious?" He couldn't help but ask.

"I am a parent, just the same as you. Even I'm nervous with leaving my little flame. But I know my beloved and the rest of the Canyon will watch over him." Her deep voice was just as soothing as her words.

Turning to her, Grimoire stared into her sandy coat as she herself stared forward. The reds and browns of her species were beautiful; their coats helping them blend in with the rocks of the canyon. Nina was of the lighter side, which apparently was more prevalent every other two generations or so. She looked rather majestic, and Grimoire couldn't help but think she would've blended in more with the dunes of a desert. Perhaps the coloring came from those who did originated from such a place, and had came to move in with the others belonging to the canon.

Even if Grimoire wasn't a scientist, he would have loved to learn more about the creatures that call themselves the guardians of the canyon. Their culture, their lives, and all the little things that made them majestic.

But that would be for another time.

"Even so," he finally spoke up, "it has only been two weeks since we've met. And then... and even then there's a nagging feeling that won't go away. That something will go wrong."

"Then we pray to the planet that this will be enough, and that nothing will go wrong."

"And if it still does?"

Her deep, wise, dark brown eyes stared into his own. "Then we must accept that even if we were here, there are things outside of our control."

Wise words from a wise creature.

"... Thank you." His voice came out as a whisper.

Nina dipped her head down. A nod.

Turning away, Grimoire headed back to the car. They've wasted enough time.

He will forever be grateful to the kindness of Nina. Of the guardians of the canon. Of the people of the canon.

Of Nanaki who helped his son heal.

——

The drive back to the cave was faster than the drive from Nibelheim to Cosmo Canyon. Yet it was still... too long for his liking. And while his heart was pounding with many emotions, he couldn't help but watched in awe as Nina took everything in stride.

He had asked her, as they were traveling, if she ever went outside of the canyon. She had said no. And as they got further into the colder climate she made a quip about how she wasn't meant for the cold.

That had lessened his tension.

If there was one thing he learned about Nina, in their time of traveling, was that her sense of humor was similar to his. Perhaps, at the end of everything, Grimoire can call her friend. Maybe Seto as well, once they got back.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Grimoire asked Nina, a third time.

She huffed at his worry. "I've told you, the spray from the waterfall will do nothing to my flame. The flame on our tails are quite hardy."

As if to demonstrate, she slapped the end of her tail against his thigh. Which was soaked after taking a fall into the lake.

The man grumbled as his companion chuckled.

His demeanor grew grim as they entered the cave. It still looked just as mesmerizing as he had found it, but incident with his son now taints the area.

"It is amazing." Nina said, once they stopped. "The power here... it leaves me in awe."

Grimoire's eyes trailed away from the dark pool to his companion. "The power?"

A low nod. "I may not be able to sense it like the Cetra, or the Ancients as you may call them, but I can still feel the power. Not everyone in the canyon has the gift I have, but mine is not quite as strong as others before me."

"Will your ability grow stronger?" He asked.

Nina tilted her head. "I'm unsure. For everyone who has this gift, it tends to vary. But there's only so many differences between one another." She then shook it. "That's neither here nor there, I think. Let us focus on the situation on hand, shall we?"

His mouth stretched in a grimace. "I suppose there's no other time than the present."

——

I've given Nanaki's mom a name! Let me know in the comments what you think of her!