Dream Beyond Life's Edge

Reunion

Alexia bawled, drowned by rain crashing. "I-I thought... I didn't think you were coming back," she cackled.

"Yeah. Honestly, I would've died without Stadtmen's help," Talia said. "Hey, can't we get under the tree at least? Getting sick after surviving isn't my goal here."

Swiping his hand at the sky, Leo formed a barrier pathing to a tree clearer of rain. "How did it go?" Leo asked. "Were you spared?"

Talia shook her head. "The trial is postponed. When Lohires comes back from his, um, mission, my trial will continue."

"Don't worry, it's half a year away," Stadtmen said. "Prepare it for the while. If more were to be uncovered about the monster, I guarantee you a light punishment."

Talia nodded and tapped Alexia's back. "Let's go home."

"Yeah... you must be tired."

"I guess," Talia said. She circled her arm around Alexia, leaning on her.

"Talia, take off the necklace," Stadtmen said. "It takes a decent amount of mana to maintain it."

"Eh." Talia snapped her gaze to Stadtmen. "Why didn't you tell me that sooner?"

"Because it keeps you safe. And, you should've noticed it sooner; it's your own mana."

"Yeah." Talia sighed. Letting go of Alexia, she took the necklace off.

"Let's go home." Alexia grabbed Talia's hand and, with Stadtmen and Leo behind them, walked through the forest. "Also, I made some progress in the investigation."

"What is it?" Talia blurted out.

"Under the mountains near Danberg, there is a giant hole." Alexia explained to Talia the discoveries she'd made. Fortunately, it fitted with the plan Talia made in her journey back to Meridionale. "I discovered it only today, so we don't know much about it yet..."

"Still good. Better than the past month or so," Talia said. Checking her mana, she found it to still be quite full—maybe three-quarter.

I should train again...

"Hey," Talia whispered to Alexia. "Later, when my mana has fully recovered, we should go back in time again. I think I know how Noah survived; I'll tell you after I clean myself."

Though Talia felt quite smart for thinking of that theory, the same couldn't be said for her nearly taking the wrong path to Leo's home in the crossroad. She apologized to Leo. The two then split off for Melinda's home, drenched in rainwater.

Talia cleaned herself before taking Alexia to their shared bedroom. "So, I can't confirm this, but I think Noah survived because we asked Florres to save him. When Florres left the park she wanted to go save her parents, not Noah. She didn't know that you abandoned him. And even if she did know, she couldn't have known where he was. That means that we told her."

"But I thought you couldn't travel that far back anymore?" Alexia furrowed her brow.

"My mana still grows when I cast magic. I'm just hoping to find the balance between growing and spending mana." Though with Talia's and Leo's attempts at finding it all failing, this was the hardest part of the plan.

"And, how are you going to find Florres?" Alexia asked.

"I was thinking of waiting at her house until she comes," Talia said. Although she didn't think they would be able to change the past, to strengthen her argument, she continued, "And if we're lucky, then maybe we can save Florres as well."

"Really?! Do you think you can go to that time again?" Alexia asked, her eyes widened.

"If I can increase my mana enough in a week, I think I can do it."