Cervato - Girl On Fire (Part 1 of Cervato's Saga)

47 Season of the Phoenix 1328 AE

She's back. She's finally back. And she's here. Gods!

Today, I was finally able to convince Kari to meet me for a drink at the Ossan Tavern. As I stated earlier, we're starting to become closer. I had not realized that she had a pet red panda, named Pabu. The small creature was following her politely through the city streets. They just appeared one day, and remained apparently. I realize that perhaps Arvanna's sense of loving animals has perhaps touched me. But Zarek would not want more animals in the house after Winston, Azul, and Ciree....perhaps...we can chat about it.

As we made our way to the tavern, there she was! Her hair had grown much longer since the last time we spoke...since Arvanna's funeral. A couple months had passed without word. I wrote letters but with no idea where to send them, I just placed them in a chest full of the ones I receive from Der and Atreyu. She looked a bit leaner, but also had some sort of glow about her that just...she looked beautiful. Ti'lay. My dear friend. I missed you so much.

I literally jumped down several steps just to wrap my arms and swing her around and around. This small ache in my heart broke free, now overflowing with love for my friend. Quickly, introductions were made between her and Kari, before she went into where she had been gone for so long.

I almost forgot that Ti'lay had been adopted into the Voss family. I remember her telling me of her family, the hardships she endured. The Ogre Revolt. Ebonhawke. Tales of her sister. She deserved a loving family, and I suppose Theron, though as stoic as I remember him, is more of a family man than I realized. And that he actually has quite a large family. Enough that they call it a clan. She stated that they had departed from the city of Ebonhawke together, heading East. Past the edges of the most recent map circulated through Tyria. And now, she was tasked with returning to this civilization. To help those in need and recruit them if they wished to leave this type of life behind. Honestly, it sounds a little odd and strange to me. I could never imagine just packing up and leaving everything I have come to know. Gods know I would never leave my friends.

However, none of that matters now. Ti'lay has returned to Divinity's Reach. We invited her to join us for a round at the bar, and she accepted. There we found ourselves just catching up. Kari still seems mysterious as ever. I swear I'm going to figure out what she does. Perhaps its time to put my detective skills back to work. Ti'lay mentioned that group again. Valor's Lament. She'd been looking for them.

Politely as I could, I informed her that Atreyu had been mulling around with those...a bunch of scratched out words are left until they return to more legible markings...people. Stating that they were currently back to residing in Lion's Arch. At least, that is what he had told me regarding the group. Oh, and I told her exactly how I felt about them too.

She asked if I wanted her to stay. Gods damn everything. I just wanted to wrap her up right there and tell her "Yes!" To tell her to stop leaving me behind. Stop moving on without me. That I miss her so terribly much that it drives me crazy at times. That is my selfish side. But I told her to choose what she wanted to do. As I've told Der before...I will support her in any way. Because I love her. She's been like a sister to me. Unlike my apparent cousin that appeared from nowhere that I suspect is a child from an affair that my father had. Blood means nothing to me. She's more than a sister.

She said she's going to stay. For how long, I'm not sure. But she's going to stay. My heart skipped a beat when I heard that. Praise Balthazar and the other Gods. My dear Ti'lay will remain for now. She'll be living with Zarek, Luke, and myself, in a spare bedroom. I'm so happy. Zarek seemed fine with the idea. He's always been supportive of my friends visiting often.

Us three finished our drinks. Ti'lay and Kari assisting me home. How come every time we go drinking no one else gets as tipsy as me...I'm a lightweight. Ha. I know it. Oh well. It was fun.

Though the fun ended that evening. After Eliza's death, I sent a note to Atreyu. He had been with me the last time I saw Eliza. The two getting into a heated argument. Then just only a couple days later, she was gone from this world. When I had written him, he sent a letter back, indicating he would like to discuss figuring out how to make up with Elizaveta, and this almost caused me to break down. Thank the gods Ti'lay had returned.

I feel if it had just been Atreyu and myself in my home that things may not have gone over as smoothly as they did. There is so much left unsaid between us that it drives me to the point I want to scream. And his habit of going off and not being heard from for months doesn't help. However, he still is...

Ti'lay prepared tea. Trying to calm us. Atreyu seemed rather excited to see Ti'lay again after so long. It's interesting. We all met through Zwe. And it's almost been a year since we first became friends. And looking at us now, seeing how much we've grown, and changed, I truly felt at peace. Knowing I still had the greatest friends in the world.

I laid it out to him plain and simple. There is no way to sugar coat a suicide. It just hits you hard, and then you feel empty. I saw it in him, as he placed his cup down and left the house, slamming the door behind him. I heard him. The shouting, the yelling of frustration, and the attempt at reasoning if he had any part that placed him at fault in Eliza's death. Which is ridiculous. They had only just met, and it was known that Eliza had severe depression. No, none of us did anything wrong. Though I still blame myself for not getting there fast enough to save her. Another regret.

Eventually, he returned, taking his seat at my modest wooden kitchen table. The silence struck us all. I saw the sadness in his eyes, but I could not do anything to comfort him. Bless Ti'lay for being present. She tried to negate the sadness filling the room by informing us both that she has a girlfriend. A girlfriend.

I recall Ti'lay once had romantic feelings for a nobleman, Saromire Lancaster. And he had broken her heart. Now, she had found a new person. Someone new had captivated my dear friend's heart. It felt almost like the time Deronjur had first told me of his relationship with his current dearheart, Caolan. I felt happiness for my friend. And we three chatted for a while longer, as the atmosphere turned more cheerful.

WIth that, I had to end this meeting on good terms. And we all three embraced.

As I said before, I have the greatest friends in the world.