Tales from the Former Universe

21. For Special Occassions

Year 12167: Adapting for Tomorrow

The lengths that Arlaion and Royyega had stepped along together, the trust they preserved together, the aid they always offered and shared with each other, the stories they revolved around—they went thus far together, inseparable, even in high school today, as they ate lunch together by the tree that recently matured in the schoolyard

"So, Royyega," Arlaion chewed his lunch. "How's life so far?"

"Good, so far," Royyega chewed her lunch. "How's high school treating you so far?"

"For school... changed, nothing had, I believe—just us getting taller, cultivated into realization," Arlaion said. "New faces in, formerly faces out, nevertheless. Dilma isn't here anymore after receiving a full scholarship to a special school."

"Special, she really was, no wise poet could say otherwise," Royyega said.

"And seemed like Joyda's parents thought the vale wasn't for them anymore," Arlaion brought up.

"Or perhaps popularity, Joyda is growing presence online. It's why she moved to cities," Royyega believed.

"Ain't that the truth," Arlaion listened. "How's your trip to Mount Mohican with Grandpa Walbode?"

"Believe it or not, while possibly the shortest hike, five hours it was, inspiring it was, for both of us," Royyega responded. "Glorious, my grandfather thought. It was possibly the first, I saw him hike without rest, without not major, but one funny minor accident involving a a baseball. Invincible, he must have proudly felt," she described. "And for me... unparalleled it was."

"Meaning?" Arlaion asked.

"Every mountain we often hike together, beauty and nature, we often see in the summit, always amazing sunrises or sunsets," Royyega described. "But this mountain in particular... uncertain. There's just something... miraculous in the view: the dense clouds, seeing Seneca's plain farmlands, the wind's so snotty, and the fact, that I could still see a dot of the vale from that view," she wholesomely described. "Can you tell me other summits, that could give such a view?"

"Seneca's unique in her ways," Arlaion said.

Then Royyega wondered, "And what about you?"

"What about me?" Arlaion asked.

"Travel trips, your family do not?" Royyega wondered.

"No, in Tilden Vale, we were all born and bread," Arlaion said. "Only trip we went to is if it involved the family business," he said. "But some conventions, we have been through, so that counts, I guess."

"In the city?" Royyega asked.

"No, a cave," Arlaion answered.

"What?" Royyega was surprised.

"Just kidding, in another, way drunker town," Arlaion amused.

Then she asked, "Have you... been to a city?"

"Of course, just not as often. The last time was... two years ago before I met you. Business trip, and mostly, everyone was on board. Least arcades, we had fun with, though I was never good at it," Arlaion said.

"Very well," Royyega listened.

"Royyega, I would also gladly express my late appreciation, for Grandpa Walbode's invitation to his birthday three weeks back," Arlaion appreciated.

"We are glad that you are glad," Royyega said. "He trusted you, Arlaion. Out of other companions... it wasn't that way, and his birthdays and mine... were celebrated alone."