Weight of the World

Chapter Thirty-One

—Tyr Na Vas—

Rare were the days where they could simply sit like this and enjoy each other's company. The last year spent in Tyr Na Vas had been a whirlwind for Idelle. From the moment she woke up in this strange place, she had been thrust headlong into a war she still barely understood. The Creator sought to control all life, she knew, His light slowly beginning to consume the worlds as He spread His influence. Virmira was one of the few who stood against Him, who saw Him for the devil He truly was, but Idelle still had trouble understanding why the Creator wanted to bring everyone under the influence of His light. Virmira said it was because of power, but something told Idelle it had to be more than that.

Her life had been devoted this past year to fighting and stopping the Creator. Whatever His motivation, she couldn't deny He was a true threat. She had seen what His light did when it touched others, had watched as droves of people had been infected and changed forever. She had fought alongside those that sat with her now, bled with them, and in time, they had become her family.

But fighting the Creator afforded them little time to sit and enjoy the little things in life. More often than not, when they did, they were interrupted by some cataclysm or another. Idelle had been waiting for their breakfast to be interrupted, but no messengers came for them, no urgent tidings from far flung outposts demanding an immediate response.

For once, all was quiet.

Sitting at the circular metal table outside her favorite breakfast shop, Idelle laughed quietly, enjoying the animated story Dante told to their small group. They sat with Gaia, Fjola, and Osric, and though she enjoyed their company, she still found herself checking down both sides of the road, searching for Hubert. He was the first one she had met after she woke up in Tyr Na Vas, and he was still the one she looked forward to seeing the most.

She owed much to him.

Gaia bumped her shoulder, a sly smirk on her lips as she raised her glass to her lips. She spoke lowly so that the others wouldn't overhear them.

"Hubert just had a few things to take care of this morning. Don't worry. He would never miss a meal with you."

Idelle blushed at the implications of her words. "We've missed plenty of meals together. And it's not like that. I just want to make sure he eats something. Sometimes he gets so caught up in work he forgets to take care of himself."

Gaia rolled her eyes. "And the fact that you two are constantly dancing around your feelings has nothing to do with this?"

Idelle's eyes widened. "What?! No! I don't have feelings for him. Hubert is a friend. Just a friend."

Gaia patted her knee gently under the table. "Sure he is."

"What about you, Astral One?" Fjola suddenly asked, the attention of the table turning in her direction. Idelle started at the sudden interest. She had completely missed the turn in the conversation. "What do you imagine the Creator is planning? After stopping Him in Andavaran, I can't imagine He'll remain idle for long."

Idelle winced. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not think about it. Fighting Kellaran was taxing enough, and it's only a matter of time before Virmira tells me what we're doing next. I just want to enjoy my breakfast."

Fjola laughed, her pretty blonde hair shining in the light of the artificial sun above. An alchemist with unrivaled talent, Fjola was often traveling between their many camps to help everyone she could, but now she would need to take some time to recover herself after her close encounter with Kellaran. "I don't blame you. I am sorry for the trouble I put you through, though, in my defense, I didn't want to be kidnapped and nearly sacrificed for some dark purpose."