Black Crystal Part 1 - The Origin

Chapter Thirty One ~ Remnants

December 20th, 1816.

Columbia Gorge, Washington Province.

The morning breeze in the gorge seemed to breathe life into the nature all around. Nineteen year-old Garen Leonhart slept beneath a tall tree to keep from the winter's snow at night, but it was normal for him to see a few snowflakes dotting his hair, his armor, and his face in the morning. A squirrel slowly approached him and sniffed his hair. It started slapping Garen's cheek softly with clawed hands, and Garen chuckled as he opened his eyes, sitting up. "Good morning, Diedrich," he yawned at the squirrel, and the squirrel suddenly scoffed.

"How long's it been since you washed your hair?" the squirrel, Diedrich, who could apparently speak, asked with a thick English accent. "I mean, my goodness. Don'tcha want to be at least a bit more presentable for Princess Lenora's birthday!?" Garen chuckled and stood up, stretching his arms and his legs.

"Oh yeah," he said. "Lenora turns eighteen in just two days, doesn't she? Well, then maybe it's about time to call off this search and start heading back home."

"Finally, the boy says something that actually makes sense," Dietrich scoffed, climbing up Garen's back at great speed until he was able to perch on Garen's shoulder. "Wanna stop for some ale on the way?"

"I'm still under the legal drinking age," Garen replied as he started walking south. "You know this."

"Yeah, but I ain't." Diedrich flicked his tail a bit as he dug his claws into the fabric of Garen's shirt, trying not to fall off. "Don't move too fast, now. I'm still feeling pretty sick from the last fight we were in. Well, maybe more so from motion, but still."

"You say that as if you actually did something of significance in that battle. Diedrich, you were standing behind me the whole time!"

"Yeah! Usin' white magic to keep your cocky behind alive! You should be more thankful for your magic healin' squirrel, pal." Garen rolled his eyes and sighed as he walked through the snow. After some time, Diedrich noticed that Garen wore a rather sorrowful face. "Oi, cheer up, Garen. I know you've been on the lookout for a long time, but you ain't failin' at anything!"

"I appreciate it, Diedrich," Garen chuckled weakly. "Though that's not quite what I'm upset about."

"Than what is it? Y'know you can talk to me about anything."

Garen was silent for a moment before he finally decided to speak. "It's Lenora. I miss her like crazy, Diedrich. Not only that, but... I'm a bit worried. I've gotten something for her birthday that is a little out there."

"Oh yeah?" Diedrich chuckled, listening intently. "Go on, then."

"Well..." Garen chuckled nervously. "I, uh, I wrote her a book."

"A book?"

"Yeah. I got a little help from a friend of mine who also writes. I wasn't quite sure how to tell Lenora I'm in love with her, so I decided to write a novel that tells her the truth. My author friend helped me get it published, and I'm gonna give it to her on the night of her birthday." Garen reached into a pouch he carried and pulled out a book with a hand-drawn sketch of a Princess, and under the Princess was the title of the book. Lenora. "It's a fantasy novel about her. The story is intended to depict how much I love her. That's the idea, anyway." He put the book away and looked forward as he walked. "Lord knows how she'll react when she finds out."

"Are you worried she'll reject you?" asked Diedrich. "I can understand that." But Garen shook his head.

"No, that's not what I'm afraid of," he said. "To tell you the truth, I'm not intending on asking Lenora if she'll want us to be together or anything like that. The book's only intention is to tell her how I feel." Garen's expression became more worried. "My worry is that I'll lose her as a friend. Lenora's friendship is something I never want to lose." Diedrich sighed and put a hand on the back of Garen's neck.