My Warmth Is Yours

Chapter 14: What's In A Name

Aether kicked his legs back and forth under the table, swirling his drink in his hand. Technically he shouldn't be having food or drinks in the library, but it had a lid on it and a straw. So Lisa had let him keep it.

Aether, Paimon and the Kriedeprinz had first come to the library looking for anything else that might have been missed on Sal Vindagnyr, but wound up taking a break after Paimon found a few volumes of The Fox in the Dandelion Sea and Heart of Clear Springs and decided they should take a break because good novels should be read while they're in the library. Truth be told, Heart of Clear Springs was actually a very nice story, if a little sad. Aether was surprised he hadn't read it before, since he had the series himself. Well, he didn't always have the time to read the books he collected. He hadn't read Flowers for Princess Fischl either, although he probably should, considering he knew Fischl herself.

"Hmm, still here? Lucky you, cuties. I have someone who might be able to help." Aether looked up to see Lisa walking down the stairs, with another woman in tow. He hadn't met her, but he knew her on sight- she was the spitting image of her young daughter.

"This is Alice. She's been around for a long time, so I thought perhaps she'd be of some help. You're lucky she was in the city today, cutie." Alice waved.

"Why, hello, Traveler. It's nice to finally see you in person! I trust you've been taking good care of Klee when you've been together, hmm?" She asked. Aether nodded.

"It's nice to finally meet you, miss." He replied with a nod.

"Oh, don't be so formal! It does feel like we've been long friends. Well, I suppose we've met before, in a way, haven't we?" She patted his shoulder. "Now, what's your dilemma, hmm? Need help with a dear friend of yours? Well, we'll see about that. Where is he, by the way?"

Paimon looked around.

"Um, he's somewhere in here… putting books back, I think. He should be back in a minute, as long as he doesn't get distracted." Lisa chuckled.

"Seems like he likes his books. Well, I'll leave you four to it, hm? Just put the books back in the right spot, hehe. And do tell me if you want to borrow them." With that, the librarian left, walking back up the stairs and disappearing around the corner. Though she was out of sight, Aether knew she was still watching, likely with a cup of tea in hand. Alice tapping the table absentmindedly brought him back to his thoughts.

"So what's exactly the problem, sweetie? Lisa really didn't tell me much at all, I'm still wondering why you need me- oh…" she trailed off suddenly, looking up.

She'd locked eyes with the prince, who'd emerged from behind the bookshelves. The look of curiosity in Alice's eyes was no match for the sheer and utter bewilderment on his face. What colour that had been on his face was gone.

"You look familiar…" Alice said. "Now who could you be making me think of…"

"...Aunt Alice?"

His voice was quiet, almost too quiet to hear, but that was all it took for the witch to rush forward and envelop him in a hug. She laughed, holding him tight.

"No wonder you were familiar! You're Rhinedottir's little boy, all grown up! Where did you go all those years? You just disappeared, I thought I'd never see you again…"

Aether smiled, watching the prince tentatively return the hug. If he personally knows her, then there's no way she shouldn't be able to help. Honestly, I'm surprised any relatives of his survived at all, although if it's Alice it makes sense, I suppose…

Paimon shook her head next to him.

"Not to interrupt the family reunion, but how are you two related? Paimon thought all your relatives lived on the mountain, she doesn't get it…"

Alice looked over her shoulder at Paimon.

"We're not actually related, my dear. I'm a close friend of his mother's. This is a relatively common thing, sweetie."

The Kriedeprinz pulled away from her, turning towards Paimon and Aether.

"She's right. Technically, she's my godmother, but I call her my aunt." Paimon still looked confused.

"But if she's not your aunt, then why do you call her your aunt? And what the heck is a godmother?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure why I call her my aunt. It's just something I grew up doing when I saw her." he said.

"And Paimon, a godmother is essentially someone who's chosen by the parents to help with the child's growth. It's like a second mother. Or something, it has different meanings in different places," Aether chimed in.

"Absolutely correct! In our case, it's officially for religious education, but honestly I don't know all the traditions of that old kingdom and I'm rather sure that's not what I was chosen for at all, if I know his mother." Alice nodded as she spoke, confirming Aether's definition. Paimon nodded, finally getting it.

"Oh, Paimon understands now. Thanks! Also, weren't we here for something else?"

"Oh, that's right. You asked me to help you with something, didn't you? Ask away." The witch pulled up a chair and sat down, as did the prince. He sighed.

"This may take a little explaining, but I'll try to be brief with it. To be frank, the only reason I survived the annihilation of Sal Vindagnyr was because I was essentially cryopreserved. Since being, for lack of a better word, resurrected, I… haven't been able to recall my own name. Though I have most of my memory intact, my true name eludes me. I was hoping you would be able to help in some way, as we haven't been able to find a trace in any physical records."

Alice chuckled.

"You came to the right woman. Of course I remember, I was there when it was given to you." She gently ruffled his hair. "Your name is Albedo, sweetie. Albedo."

He looked down at his hands. Albedo. It fit- like finding a missing piece of a puzzle. A key in a lock. He tested it on his tongue under his breath. If his name were the key in a lock, then the door was now open. Releasing all the memories he'd lost because he didn't know his name.

Albedo. It was echoing in his mind, said by so many people he'd lost and loved. It was hard to articulate the way it fit, but it did.

"Albedo…" he murmured, turning the name over in his mind. "Yes. Yes, that works… that fits." He nearly laughed with how easy it seemed to slide into his memories, like it had always been there. Well, I suppose it always was there, wasn't it? Alice smiled, putting her arm around his shoulder.

"I'm glad I could help, honey." Aether laughed, giving paimon a high five. He stood up, stretching out his hand.

"I guess I should reintroduce myself then. I'm Aether, a traveler. This is my companion Paimon. Nice to meet you, Albedo."

The prince stood up himself, returning the gesture.

"I am Albedo, former Kriedeprinz of Sal Vindagnyr. It's my pleasure to make your acquaintance, Aether." They shook hands over the table.

Albedo smiled, and for once, it felt sincere. Not stiff, or fake. Not a fallacy for the sake of politeness.

Just a smile, as genuine as his name.