Veiled Trust

Year 37

*As the party reaches the Inn, Kimmy runs up ahead to quickly head inside. As everyone enters they sit down to rest at the tables as Kimmy runs to her room. After a moment she comes back out with a stuffed animal shaped like Lily.*

Kimmy: I still have it. *Smiles*

Ariella: That’s adorable. Where did you get it?

Emma: I gave it to her. I mailed it to her and Jason made it.

Ariella: Oh! Is this the stuffed animal you talked about? I didn’t realize it looked so lifelike.

Emma: I didn’t explain why but I told him he can’t sell copies of it.

Sunflower: She wanted to bring it but I told her she has to hide Like her Mom’s Lily.

Kimmy: Hey mom. Can I stay here?

Emma: I mean we’re headed back to Inferna for at least another year. I figured you would.

Kimmy: *Shakes head.* No. I mean after. Like when you leave.

Emma: I mean you’ll be fifteen by then, but why did you decide to stay?

Kimmy: The people who visit. I love to hear their stories.

Emma: *Turns to sunflower.* Is that okay?

Sunflower: I’ve been enjoying the help. Honestly, if she stays I might keep the inn open year round.

*Emma looks down in deep thought.*

Emma: You can stay until it’s safe. Then I’ll come get you to visit everyone in the capitol. If you still want to go after that we can discuss it.

*Kimmy’s face lights up as she smiles.*

Kimmy: Thank you, Mama! *Hugs Emma.*

*That night after the lights go out, Emma, in her casual clothes, and Lily head to where they trained with Clayton. After a moment Lyra appears across the field.*

Lyra: Hey goody goody.

Emma: Hey Lyra. What’s up? Is something wrong?

Lyra: Nope just heading back. I won't be leaving this time though.

Emma: Did you mess up?

Lyra: No. Just finished and was on my way home. Haze told me you’d be here.

*Lyra pulls out her blades.*

Lyra: How about a rematch before I go?

*Emma unsheathes her blades and Lyra drops her extra armor.*

Lyra: Don’t want you complaining I was cheating later.

*Lilly and Tilly sit next to each other as their partners stand across from one another. Lyra’s eyes change to Purple as she dashes towards Emma. The two seem evenly matched as Emma is pushed back but dashes back, pushing Lyra. The two continue this back and forth for a moment before colliding. The sounds of the blades ring throughout the trees, cuts form on the earth around them. They jump back from one another and pause to catch their breath.*

Lyra: *Exhausted* So. *breathing* Are you gonna take me seriously or not?

Emma: I am. What’re you talking about?

*Kimmy rustles in the bushes and Lily turns to her.*

Lyra: Your eyes. They’re still green. At least try to make me feel like I stand a chance.

Emma: I don’t use that anymore.

Lyra: Since when? I heard you used it in the Ice bowl.

Emma: That was different.

Lily: Hey Emma.

Emma(TL): Not right now.

Emma: I don’t want that power. Because of it, I hurt Kimmy.

Lyra: That brat you’ve been raising.

*Emma’s eyes crackle.*

Emma: Watch yourself.

Lyra: *Smiles* So what? I heard it all from Haze. You went to kill him got dragged into being a babysitter then took her with you so she wouldn’t think of her dad as a hero after he went around raping elves.

Kimmy: MY DAD DID NOT!

*Emma turns around. Kimmy stands in tears. She looks at Emma then turns and runs.*

Emma: Kimmy!

*As Kimmy runs away Emma hears her faintly*

Kimmy: Stay away!

*Emma’s eyes crackle as she turns to Lyra. Her eyes were a deep purple. In Emma’s voice.*

Emma: Why did you say that?

Lyra: Say what? The truth?*Smiles*

*Lyra crashes through a group of trees and the ground shakes beneath them. At the Inn, everyone wakes up from the noise.*

Ariella: Emma? Kimmy?

*As everyone looks for Kimmy, Ariella finds her outside. Kimmy runs to Sunflower in tears.*

Ariella: Kimmy. Where’s your mom?

Kimmy: I don’t care. She's not my mom.

Ariella: Shit.

*Ariella runs outside towards the noise and Levi follows.*

Levi: What’s the problem?

Ariella: I think Kimmy knows what happened between her dad and Emma. Which means Emma might be in trouble too.

*Back in the field, Lyra begins to stand up and through the dust sees Emma’s piercing eyes appear in front of her.*

Emma: I just wanted to protect her.

Lyra: But who's protecting her from you?

*Emma smacks Lyra at a downward angle. The ground around them collapses leaving behind a crater. Lyra lays on the ground barely breathing. Emma walks over and grabs her arm.*

*Crack*

*Ariella and Levi hear the screams, as they get to the field they watch as Emma slowly walks over to Lyra’s other arm.*

Ariella: EMMA STOP!

*Emma grabs the arm.*

*Ariella runs over and grabs hold of Emma.*

Ariella: Please come back.

Emma: I never left.

*Crack.*

*Lyra’s screams fade as she loses consciousness from the pain. Emma turns to Ariella and he eyes start to fade back to green.*

Emma: Arie…

*Emma collapses, waking up a few hours later. Resting in Ariella’s lap. Ariella rocks back and forth hushing her as if soothing a crying baby.*

Emma: Arie.

Ariella: Shhhhhh.

Emma: Where’s Kimmy?

Ariella: Levi took Lyra to town to heal. I’ll talk to Kimmy tomorrow. For now, you should rest.

*Emma looks up at the sky.*

Emma: Do you think she’ll forgive me?

Ariella: Of course.

*Emma sits up next to Ariella.*

Emma: Arie. I’m sor.

*Ariella Kisses on the forehead, Emma.*

Ariella: I’m sorry too. It won’t happen again.*Smiles*

*Ariella gets up and walks back to the Inn. Lily walks over to Emma and sits down.*

Emma: Lily. I thought I was in control the whole time but did I miss something?

Lily: No. She kept talking about how she was going to make Kimmy understand tomorrow.

Emma: Okay.

*Emma lays back down resting on Lily. The next morning she wakes up and heads to the Inn. Kimmy runs to Emma and hugs her.*

Kimmy: I’m sorry Mama.

*Emma hugs Kimmy back, bursting into tears.*

Ariella: Auntie Arie had a long talk with her.

Emma: About what?

Ariella: I told her everything, everything.

*Emma looks at Kimmy.*

Emma: So you know then?

Kimmy: You may not be my birth mother. But you still raised me and I’m happy to call you Mama.

*Emma cries again as she holds onto Kimmy.*

Emma: But what about Lyra?

Levi: She’s at the doctors.

Emma: I’ll have Haze deal with her. If she takes too long getting home. I might get in trouble.

Kimmy: So was Misty, really Haze?

Emma: Yeah… Kimmy, you understand why I did what I did right? I never wanted to hurt you.

Kimmy: I know... I wish it could’ve been different... But I’m just happy I have you for a mom. *Smiles*

*Emma cries as the two hug each other. *

Kimmy: What was my birth mom like?

Emma: I never met Sabrina, but, I heard she had pretty short blue hair and green eyes to match yours. Haze would know more. I’ll ask them to send you something about her if you’d like.

Kimmy:*Nods* Yes, please. *Hugs Emma.* Thank you, Mama.

*After Kimmy finishes questioning Emma the party takes their leave. Kimmy waves to the party as she watches them once again.*

Sunflower: Are you okay?

Kimmy: I think so.*Smiles* I always knew something was wrong with Dad. I'm just glad I have my brother and Mama still.

—--------------------------------

*As the party returns to Inferna they stop in a small village called Flarence. A town that’s been reporting an increase in Imp activity. Levi talks to a group of Demons while Ariella and Emma check the surroundings.*

Emma: Hey Arie?

Ariella: Yeah?

Emma: I know I keep saying it but. Thank you for talking to Kimmy.

Ariella: Of course!

*Ariella places her first on her chest proudly as she walks.*

Ariella: She’s my best friend's daughter. She might be the closest I get to a niece younger than me.

*Emma smiles. In her eyes, she still holds onto the guilt. Ariella pokes her cheek.*

Ariella: Stop it.

*Lily and Celestra come back each holding a dead Imp.*

Lily: We could only find three. We left one behind.

Emma: Let’s go check.

*As the party reaches where the body is, they mark the area on their map before heading back to town.*

Emma: So what do you think the new guild rules will be?

Ariella: That’s even if they go through with it. Valoria is the only one who wants to change them. Didn’t they say it was the stupid noble? Krig, Crud?

Emma: *Laughs* Creed. And yeah. But they’ve been winning. If they were to do it. What crazy anti-elf rules do you think they’d try for?

Ariella: * stuck up sounding* In the event an elf is in the party and a dragon is chasing them the rest of the party has permission to sacrifice the elf.

*Emma laughs then does a voice as well.*

Emma: If the men of the party are feeling frisky any female elves in the party must offer themselves upon them.

Ariella: Gross!*Laughs* But probably true.

Emma: I don’t think I ever met another race in Valoria.

Ariella: I met some dwarves. They spend most of their time in the mines so the humans leave them be from what they told me. They were surprisingly nice guys.

Emma: A dwarf! And they didn’t call you names?

Ariella: I mean "long ears" was the worst. But they genuinely seemed nice. They told me gnomes are too frail a slave. Demons are too much risk and Beastkin depends on their size.

Emma: Yeah. If you want the tough-looking ones you have to special order.

Ariella: You're joking right?

Emma: *Shakes head.* No, Hopkins talked about hiring a demon after we had the bear attack.

Ariella: Did you ever tell Kimmy that was you?

Emma: No, I saved that for Haze.

*The girls see Levi up ahead as they reach the road.*

Levi: Is it bad?

Ariella: Not that we could tell. The girls only found three. And the body was left alone.

Levi: Okay. They also talked about needing wood for the winter. The Imps have been targeting the woodcutters, causing a lack of supplies for winter.

Emma: So Levi chops wood and we hide?

Ariella: Yeah sounds good.

Levi: Or you both grab an axe and help.

*The two let out a breath of disappointment.*

Emma: Fine..

*Levi hands an axe to both the girls as they start to head to a clearing full of stumps. They start working, Lily and Celestra take their smaller forms and rest on some stumps. As the first tree falls, The group hears Imp's laughing. A group of five Imps comes out from beyond the tree line.*

Emma: Dibs!

Ariella: Fine but if more come I’m joining. I’m not letting you have all the fun.

*Emma unsheathes her blades and the Imps kneel. Both spirits stand on guard suddenly, almost instinctively, but scared.*

Ariella: Celestra?

*Ariella and Levi turn to see, as watch as a Human male suddenly appears. The human approaches the party dressed in foreign clothing, A formal business suit. He opens his eyes at first they appear as solid black before turning scarlet red.*

Emma: What business does a Vampire have this far north? I thought you hated the heat.

Human: *laughs* That’s cute.

*The human starts walking towards Emma and she attempts to look at his soul but something stops her.*

Emma: What are you?

*Ariella and Levi both look over at Emma.*

Human: Hmmm. I guess you could call me a Devil.

*Two large horns grow from the human's head and Emma steps back.*

Emma: What do you want?

Devil: Don’t you normally greet someone when you first meet? Or is that just the scaly ones?

Levi: How do we know you won’t use our names?

*Everyone turns towards Levi*

*The Devil’s smile slowly fades as he looks at Ariella and Levi.*

Devil: Honestly. I don’t care about you two. But this one.

*The Devil turns back towards Emma.*

Devil: How is she?

Emma: Who?

*Emma’s eyes turn purple and her voice changes to the inner figures.*

Figure: Fine.

*The devil continues to walk towards Emma.*

Devil: Don’t worry. I’m still looking for him.

*The figure nods and tears fall down her face.*

Figure: Thank you.

*The devil places his hand on Emma’s head and begins rubbing his thumb on her forehead in a circular motion. Emma’s eyes turn back to green. As she regains control she shakes her head and jumps away.*

Devil: She’s a special one. You take care of her for me okay?

Emma: What did you do to me?

Devil: Let’s just say that she and I used to. Be of the same mind one might say. Oh and as for the Village. I don’t need any more scales. So I’ll be leaving.

*The Devil snaps his fingers and the Imps disappear in a puff of smoke.*

Emma: What do you mean, “Of the same mind.”? And you wanted our name but you seem like you already know mine. What’s yours then?

Devil: I don’t know yours and as for mine. Ask her. She’ll tell you when she’s ready.

Ariella: Can I ask something?

Devil: She told me I could answer one question. So choose wisely before I go.

Emma: What’s a Devil?

Devil: Are you sure?

Ariella: Yeah. If you’re connected to her then we want to know how you’re connected.

Devil: So which is it?

Levi: How is a Devil connected to a Veil Seer?

Devil: A Veil Seer? That makes sense. Well, I’m assuming that’s what she is. *Points at Emma.* Do you know what she is?

Emma: Supposedly my past life.

Devil: *Claps* Exactly! And in that past life she; as well as some others, myself included, were all one mind in one body. When she died we were scattered. I only recently found out when I found one of the others. I come from the veil, another plane of existence like your afterlife. Except when a Veil seer dies they leave behind a weakened space behind. While investigating I found a familiar trail. Whoever died was linked to here, and that led me to this wasteland where I used those Imps to collect scales so I could return home.

Levi: But you killed them!

Devil: I never claimed to be nice.

*Points at Emma again.*

Devil: She was the nicest one and they convinced her to kill the system. All of us included.

*The Devil turns away and takes his leave. Both spirits calm down.*

Emma: Lily are you okay?

Ariella: Celstra?

Lily: What happened? I saw the Imps then everything went dark.

Celestra: It was like being dominated by a wild animal. A pressure held me down.

*The two elves look at one another*

Ariella: Does Lily remember anything?

Emma: No. They’re both saying the same things.

Levi: Well whatever it is. Who can we talk to?

Emma: Yeah, I don’t think. Hey, we cleared your Imp problem. Turns out it’s a being from another plane called a Devil.

Ariella: What’s a Devil you ask? A human with horns who caused our spirits to cower in fear.

Levi: Well we can just ask if anyone has heard of it.

Emma: From my experiences. Asking stuff like that gets you targeted by hidden groups. I don’t feel like fighting whatever has the power to make Lily scared like that.

Levi: I think it has power over names. It seemed strangely interested in learning ours and wouldn’t give out his.

Ariella: That’s not true. He said Emma could ask, her?

Emma: Does this mean each seer has a devil then? Because if that's the case.

*Emma grabs Ariella's shoulders and looks her in the eyes.*

Emma: Arie. He calmed her down. Like.*Smiles*

*Emma backs up and looks at herself.*

Emma: I feel lighter. Like I had something holding me back all this time that I didn’t even know and it’s just gone.

Ariella: It might be temporary. If they know each other maybe she’s just happy?

Levi: Well whatever it is. We should get back already.

*The group heads back to the village and explains the Imps are gone and they couldn’t recover any bodies. Families cry and that night they have a bonfire to honor the dead. The party watches as each family brings an item from the fallen and tosses it in the fire.*

Emma: Do you know why they do that?

Levi: The Demon people believe that by burning something precious to someone who has died recently they can find it in the afterlife.

*Both elves look at Levi in tears.*

Ariella: That’s so sweet.

*The village Chief walks over to the Party*

Chief: The Items are placed before Drakthar. The Item is burned in his flames and out of the ashes we are reborn. We believe our magical abilities tie to what we loved most in our past lives.

Levi: What if what you burned wasn't actually their prized possession?

Chief: Then I suppose they'll live a completely new life. *Laughs*

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Six months pass and Emma is walking into the post office. Upon entering she waits her turn before reaching the counter where a male demon greets her.*

Demon: Morning. It’s Emma, right? We just got a Magic letter for you.

Emma: Nothing for the other two?

Demon: Nope.

*The Demon hands a letter to Emma and she heads to the guild reading the letter while she walks. As she enters the guild she sees Levi sitting down and runs over to him.*

Emma: Where’s Arie?

Levi: Toilet.

Emma: Ruddy is leaving Valoria for Lycaris at the end of the Summer.

Levi: Where are we supposed to meet him?

Emma: He said a small village called Kitspaw? He’s delivering some fabrics apparently.

Levi: It’s in the south of Lycaris. A lot of elves visit there.

Ariella: A lot of elves visit where?

*Ariella walks over and sits back down.*

Emma: Kitspaw. We need to meet Ruddy over there but they’re leaving in the fall.

Ariella: Yeah but they don’t have mountains. We should probably leave soon.

Emma: I’m waiting on a couple more letters before we leave. And your mom's letter wasn’t there either.

Ariella: That’s fine. I just accepted a quest to help some kids later anyway.

Levi: Why are you helping kids? *Realization* Oh wait, the orphanage.

Emma: Why didn’t you invite me?

Ariella: Because you left too early this morning. So while I’m busy can you stay on mail duty?

Emma: Fine…

*A few days pass before the party leaves. The first night as Emma drifts to sleep she finds herself in a room with no door or window, just five different-looking chairs with a name tag on each. Emma walks towards a green chair. As she studies the chair she sees a leaf pattern. As she looks at the name tag the letters change between different characters. Each name tag; four letters.*

Emma: Hello?!

*The figure appears almost pure white.*

Emma: Who was that devil, guy?

*The figure points at a black chair, The arms of the chair look like closed scrolls, and heat radiates from it. Emma looks at the name tag, but can’t read it just like before.*

Emma: I can’t read it. What does it say?

*The figure smiles and speaks a single word, her voice still distorted but softer*

Figure: Guardian.

Emma: What can you tell me about him?

*The figure shrugs. Then turns around as if leaving the room. Emma reaches out to where the figure disappeared and nothing happens. The sound of a chair being pushed in causes Emma to jump. Emma turns to see the figure has appeared with a new chair. The chair looks like it’s made of vibrantly colored books frozen over. Emma looks at the other three chairs: The fourth chair, made of a deep purple with floggers for the armrests. The fifth chair is yellow with floral patterns, in front of it rests a children's book with a dog and a ball on the cover. The final chair in the room is a red chair with an abacus built into it, black skulls at the ends of the armrests, and a small stuffed dragon placed in it.*

*As Emma looks at the stuffed dragon she turns to the figure who places a small folder on the table in front of the Vibrant chair*

Emma: Who are these seats for?

*The figure points at each chair: green, icy, purple, yellow, and red.*

Figure: Host, Scribe, Protector, Caretaker, Bubba.

*The figure smiles as she pets the dragon then quickly stands upright. Ariella’s voice quietly and muffled slowly starts to echo throughout the room. *

Ariella: Emma. Emma, wake up.

*Emma wakes up.*

Ariella: You turn for watch.

Emma: Oh, okay.

*As Emma sits on watch, she thinks back to the names the figure gave her.*

Emma: *Quietly* Bubba? Like Dad's Bubba?