Memories and Shadows [Rune Factory 4]

Concession

My dreams of days in the sun with him were all that kept me going some days that long, cold winter. I felt so weak most of the time, and I longed more than ever for the warmth of the sun. And knowing my weakness, he sought to help me in any way he could. But it wasn't enough—I needed more.

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"Amber? Amber, are you okay?" Piers' voice sounded so far away, even though he was standing right next to me. I gave my head a little shake to try to clear the cobwebs from it, but they wouldn't go. I hated the cold. It made me felt so stiff, and I didn't have much energy. Like butterflies, I needed heat.

Frowning in concern at my unresponsiveness, he turned around and pulled me back into the castle and to his rooms. There was a big, crackling fire in the huge old fireplace, and he pulled a chair up close and pushed me down into it before pulling off my snowy boots and cloak. "Let's forget about going to the observation tower today. It's much too cold for you. We'll just stay here in my room where you can be warm by the fire."

I nodded, still almost numb with cold, and after a moment, he disappeared through the doorway to his kitchen. A few minutes later he came back with a steaming cup, and he held it to my lips.

"Drink this," he said, and I cautiously took a sip. It was hot and spicy, and although I grimaced a little at the taste, I could feel the heat rushing through me, warming me to my fingertips and my toes. After a moment, I sighed in relief and took the mug from him.

"Oh, thank you! It's just what I needed. What is it?"

"Hot-hot juice," he said with a smile. No wonder it was so zippy, I thought as I took another sip—the fruit of the hot-hot plant were strange little seed pods that people used spice up foods and drinks, and were supposed to be almost unbearably hot eaten fresh out of hand. I'd never tasted it before, and I didn't really like it all that much—but I loved how warm I felt after drinking even just a few sips of the drink.

"Better?" he asked after I drained the cup of the last drops. I nodded and he took the cup from me, then pulled up a chair beside me and sat down, stretching his feet towards the heat of the fire.

"I need to talk to you," he said, looking into the flames dancing, orange and red and golden yellow.

"You do? What about?" I asked him, curiously.

"You see, I'm going to be leaving soon. In two days' time, in fact."

"L-leaving? You're leaving?" I squeaked, sitting upright, tears springing to my eyes.

"Not forever," he hastily assured me, then he reached out and took my hand. "You see, it's for Venti. I have to go—I promised her, you know. And it's time I made good on that promise. I know she's your friend, too, and that you want her to get well as much as I do. Besides, we need her—all of us, the whole town. She's the heart and soul of Selphia... of all Norad. So for her sake, and your sake, and everyone's sake... I have to go."

I nodded, trying not to cry.

"I don't know how long I'll be gone. It could be just a few days, or it could be weeks. I need to go find this thing that will help her, and then... well, then we'll see what happens. I'm hoping to be done before spring."

I sighed and thought wistfully of spring, my favorite season. Even if I didn't love it for its own sake, I'd love it just because it meant the end of winter. And how I hated winter, and snow, and most of all, the bitter cold.

"So will you be all right while I'm away?" he continued. "I won't be completely gone, you know. I'll still be here, just... just not very often. I'll be away most of the time, trying to find that rune stone."

"Rune stone? That's the blue shiny stone you were asking about a while back, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah, and I got a lead on the third stone. I think it's in the Delirium Ruins, in the old volcano a ways off of the Autumn Road. The traveler who lost it there warned me that it's very dangerous in there, so I've spent a lot of time preparing. Now I think I'm ready, or rather that we are—Dylas will be coming with me."

I nodded again, unable to speak around the lump in my throat. I couldn't bear the thought of him leaving, of him heading into unknown danger like that, even if he was taking someone with him. If something happened to him... if he didn't....

Seeing the tears starting to trickle down my cheek as I stared into the fire, he put his arm around me. "Hey, don't cry," he said, squeezing me shoulders gently. "I'll be fine, I promise." I couldn't stop crying, though, so he took my hand and pulled me over to him, settling me onto his lap. "Listen to me, it'll be okay. I can handle myself. And even if I do get hurt, I won't be alone there."

I nodded and rested my cheek against his chest, sniffling as I tried to force the tears to go away.

"I've told you first, other than Dylas and Arthur, that is," he went on after a moment. "I still need to tell the others. So please don't say anything, not yet. I want each of them to hear it from me. But I wanted you to know first."

I looked at him, startled. "Wh-why?" I sniffled, wiping the traces of tears from my eyes.

"Because, my dear, sweet Amber, I worry the most about you. You... you're so helpless, especially now when it's cold. I wanted you to have some time to, well, to prepare yourself. And I want you to promise me something."

"What's that?"

He pulled me close to him, holding me tightly, as if he feared I might slip away. "I want you to promise me that you'll stay in town where you'll be safe, and not go out into the Plains, even though it's so much warmer there. And I also want you to promise me to take very good care of yourself for me until I return. Keep nice and warm, and don't go out into the cold anymore than you can help. Promise?"

My heart sank at the thought of staying indoors for days or weeks or maybe even longer, of avoiding sunning myself out on the summery Selphia Plains until his task was complete and he could once more escort me there himself. But I couldn't say no—not when he looked into my eyes with so much love and concern.

"I... I promise, darling Piers. But please... come back soon," I pleaded.

"As soon as ever I can," he murmured, and we spent the rest of the afternoon like that—snuggled together before the fire, his arms around me to warm me from the chill that stabbed my heart.