Ersia: Raven Dawn

In the eastern part of the central plaza, Viena and Eleanor are waiting for Randia to return. The old lady sits anxiously, while Viena plays by the fountain. The little girl wonders how the fountain works and how long it takes to make the woman statue that sits in the middle of it, especially with all of its intricate details. Seeing the sparks in her eyes, Eleanor feels her burden lessened, albeit a little.

"What are you doing, Viena? Why are you staring at the air like that?"

"Hm? No, I'm not. I'm just trying to figure out how this whole thing works."

"The fountain?"

Viena nodded.

"Well, aren't you a curious one? It's too bad that it's beyond me also. The fountains have been here ever since I was a tot like you."

"I've seen three of them, including this one! But Papa said there were four in total, is that true?"

"Yes, he is right."

Eleanor pointed far to the west, southwest, and northwest. She explained that the parks were made according to the four points of the compass as a tribute from the late Second King of Rosmayne to his wife. They serve as a parable of all the beauties of each direction of the world gathered in one place, and they are all meant to be only for his beloved.

"That's kind of . . . ."

"Romantic?"

"No, it's selfish."

The old lady is surprised upon hearing an unusual comment coming from such a tiny mouth. That answer is clearly different from her granddaughter's. She raised her eyebrows and bent her lips, slightly amused by the difference in thinking.

"Selfish? Why, that's certainly not what I expected. What makes you think so?"

"Because I think fun things, delicious things, and beautiful things would be even more enjoyable if they were shared with everyone? Was I wrong, Granny?"

". . . Did your father teach you that?"

"Not really. It's just that, he never eats until I finish my meal. One time, I asked him why, and then he said, 'Just like seeing someone in pain can make you feel horrible, seeing someone eating can also make you feel full'."

"Ooh, is that so?"

"And then he said, 'However, that's not the case. I don't eat with you because you eat like a pig, so I lost my appetite", before choking me with all of his manner lessons."

Eleanor laughs out loud.

"His silly remarks aside, what he said doesn't make sense to me, to be honest! Because I would've just felt hungrier! That's when I started giving him the first spoon anyway! Or more like - forced him to take the first bite! So he won't be too hungry waiting for me to finish my plate!"

"But then again, I think what he meant was that people should always share with others. After all, even I feel a little happy whenever he finally starts eating," Viena insisted.

"Hm. You do love your father, don't you?"

"L-Love? No way! He's so old and I'm not even ten yet! That's so gross! Yuck!"

"Oh my, I don't mean it that way, you know? There are many kinds of love, and I personally think the one between you and him is the purest one. It's paternal."

"Huh?! I don't know what you're talking about, but no! I told you we don't roll that way! No love! Ewh!"

Blushing face, hands that busy crumpling the skirt, and skewed brows make it all crystal to Eleanor. She ended up quite enjoying Viena's companion and it lessened her anxiety more than she thought. Then, Eleanor kneeled and tapped on Viena's clothes to clean the dirt that she got from playing all day.

"Is that so? Do you hate him then?" Eleanor teased her.

"Hate? Nng . . . He's a jerk most of the time, especially when it comes to money. He always told me never to buy things that we can find for free, be it food or herbs. Also, he ordered me around like a horse to gather stuff saying that it would fetch a lot of coins, but then he ended up using all those things that we gathered for other people for free every time he had the chance! Can you believe it?!"

"Oh yeah? But did he ever let you starve though?"

"N-No, he didn't. Especially today. He's being weirdly nice today. I guess I can bear with him for a little longer. At least for now."

"Hahah. You sound like someone I know just now. I think you will do just fine, Viena."

Viena's confusion and cluelessness about herself make Eleanor very amused. She caressed the little girl's hair as if she was her own. Consequently, that reminds her of Lisabelle. Noticing the despondency that resurfaced in the old lady's face, Viena took hold of her hands.

"Are you thinking about your granddaughter?"

". . . Yes, I do."

"It's okay. I'm sure she will be fine also. Papa is good at doing odd jobs."

Viena told the story of what kind of odd jobs they took during their travel as they waited for Randia to return. Finally, after roughly two hours, Viena spotted Randia on the bustling street. He piggybacked a girl that is basically an exact duplicate of Eleanor. Her long light-ashen hair and thick eyebrows are distinct enough of features for anyone to see from afar.

"Lisabelle!"

Eleanor immediately ran towards her granddaughter, but Randia stopped her. He gave a sign for her to lower her voice, and approach him as calmly as possible.

"Dear good sir! What happened to her?!"

"Ssh. I shall tell you everything that you need to know later. For now, she needs to rest."

"Then, would you be kind enough to bring her all over to my house? I know this is shameless of me, but she has gotten pretty heavy, and I don't think I can carry her alone. It's okay if you can't, though. I'll just ask the guards."

"Of course, Madam. That was my intention after all."

The old lady is now no longer feeling distressed. She thanked the goddess and Randia many times along the way. She also invites them to stay in her house, but Randia kindly refuses the sincere invitation and insists that he and Viena will only help her by carrying Lisabelle home.

---

 

When they all finally arrive at Eleanor's house, Viena is surprised to see that it turns out to be a really decent house, or rather, even better than the inns she used to sleep in.

"Wow! Look, Daddy! This fluffy chair is so big!"

"That is not a chair. That is called a 'sofa'. Now, come here and stop embarrassing us, Viena. Mind your manners."

"It's alright, Sir. I owe you both so much."

Randia shook his head, and he called for Viena for the second time with a slight glare after putting down Lisabelle on the sofa. The little girl reluctantly walks up to him with a disappointed face.

"I'm glad everything ended up well for you, Madam Eleanor. Now, if you may, we'll take our leave."

As Randia is about to walk towards the door, Eleanor hastily passes through him first and blocks the way out.

"No. You may not."

". . . I'm sorry?"

"I will set a bad example for my little moon if I can't even properly thank the people who saved her. I'm not even sure if I'm eligible to call myself her grandmother had that happened."

"Madam, I think you misunderstood things. I just found your granddaughter sleeping in one of the guard outposts. It's nothing much really."

"And the bruises?" Eleanor raised her eyebrows.

"She was hit pretty hard by a passing carriage and was invited to rest and taken care of by one of the patrolling officers. Then, she ended up sleeping on their post."

Knowing that Randia was most likely telling the truth, Eleanor let out a breath, given her granddaughter's look. Then, she turned her eyes towards Viena and raised her eyebrows twice with a smirk on her face.

"Sweet child, I thought you wanted to try 'that'?"

"Hm . . .? What do you . . . OH! THAT!"

It takes some time, but Viena eventually catches on with her code and immediately switches sides. She hugged Eleanor's legs and glanced at Randia from the crumples of the old lady's long skirt.

"What are you doing? Stop it right now! you're being very impolite!" Randia nagged Viena.

"A-Aah, I'm so tired, hungry, and sleepy. I don't think I can even walk in this state."

"Oh, what a coincidence! We have extra beds upstairs, food stock for TEN persons, and even a bath! And more importantly, everything is FREE of charge for people with good hearts!" Eleanor gently stroked Viena's hair.

Upon hearing what she has to offer, Viena turns into a fighting stance. She raises her fists towards Randia with a fiery determination on her face. She demonstrates a few punches like Randia did to the knights months ago to demonstrate her stout resolve.

"I dare you to stop me! Just so you know, you'll have to drag my dead body to make me leave this house!"

"Sigh . . . ."

Randia let out a big breath as he conceded. They ended up accepting Eleanor's hospitalities and decided to stay for the night. With the heavy sounds of Randia's big bag thumping down on the floor, Viena commemorates her triumph with arms akimbo.

"Good call, Papa! I knew you would understand!"

"Be quiet. You have embarrassed us too much already," Randia tweaked Viena's ear.

"Ouch! I-It hurts!"

Randia then takes a step forward and bows to Eleanor. He takes out his coin pouch and tries to pay a deposit to her for their stay in the house, which Eleanor rejects in the blink of an eye, almost feeling insulted. Both insisted on doing things their own way for a while until they finally found a middle ground to agree to; Randia would pay only for the three meals per day and do chores around the house to make up for the free charge of stay.

"Thank you for having us, I apologize in advance for any inconvenience we might cause in the future."

"Please, it was me who must thank you for giving me an opportunity to repay your kindness, even though only in the most modest way possible."