Fellowship & Fairydust

I sighed as I took in the beautiful day. It was nice to be able to find a place just outside the city where I could relax. Jason was right next to me as he had nothing better to do, but I didn’t mind. It was nice to spend this moment with my family. I just wish my parents could be here as they would’ve loved this world.

This place had been strange and different to learn about. The people here use a twelve-month calendar instead of thirteen months as we did back home. Establishing a conversion system hadn’t been easy, but eventually, we were able to figure it out. According to that system, it had been three Harthyn months since Jason and I first came to Radiant Garden. It had been a long wait, but I have grown used to living here. It was kind of nice to not have technology do everything for you, and I’ve grown to love the two-decades-out-of-date fashion choices. 

I don’t know why, but the outfit I had selected in the marketplace just spoke to me more than what I was used to. So instead of the thermal tights, I was wearing a pair of blue jeans with a sleeveless purple shirt which had a little blue bird image on the right that I loved, and I wore a red vest with a gold border over that. I still did some strands of my hair in the traditional Hocamli braids while the rest fell long around my shoulders. 

I stopped in my meditation as I heard footsteps coming up. Craning my head back I could see a pair of brown boots approaching us. Looking up, or behind depending on your perspective, I saw Aerith coming over to Jason and me. “Oh, hi.” I smiled.

“And here you two are.” She said as she crouched down before us, wearing her white and pink dress again. “What are you doing out here?”

“Just enjoying the quiet,” I said. “It’s nice to be able to find a place like this. One of the advantages this world has over Harthyn.”

“I take it you didn’t come out here just to check on us.” Jason was still as stern and serious as ever. He was wearing a red shirt he had gotten from the market and a pair of jeans that now had a hole over his left knee. His brown hair had grown out since we arrived, and his blue eyes seemed different. I wasn’t sure how, but he wasn’t as angry as before.

The Cetra nodded, confirming his words. “Well, Cid finally finished the machine he and Yeller were working on.” She told us as she changed her position so she was now sitting. “He’s making a few adjustments, but you two should be able to go home in a few hours.”

“A few hours?” Jason stood up at that. “The best news I’ve had these last few months.” With that, he began to head back to the city.

Aerith watched him go before she noticed my reaction. “What’s the matter? Aren’t you glad to be going home?”

“I am,” I told her faster than I intended. “It’s just…” How do I explain this? I felt like I was being torn in half. Part of me wanted to stay and see what else this world has to offer, but I missed my parents so much. Being unable to speak with them for months had been torture. This world could never be Harthyn, and for some reason, I was okay with that. “…I’ve grown to like it here.”

I waited for her to ask me how, but she didn’t. I looked to see her waiting with more patience than I had seen anyone back home with. After a few minutes, I continued to explain. “Back home, books had gone out of existence. Everything is now read on the holo-screen, and people prefer that because of the interactive activities and motion pictures, but I never enjoyed that. Turning the pages of the older books made me feel like I was part of the story. And not having pictures allowed me to create everything in my mind.

“I would spend lots of time in antique shops or online, trying to find books to read. Because of that, I got teased by those who preferred to spend their time changing their DNA, or gossiping about other people, or having fantasies of being with some actor or actress.”

“I don’t believe that’s the entire reason.” Aerith finally spoke.

Her words caused me to sigh. “You’re right. This world has something Harthyn doesn’t: magic.”

“I’ve heard you’ve been having a hard time learning it.”

I looked at her when she said that. “Yes, I’ve been struggling with it, but that makes me love it. Something about success after trial just draws me in. It’s hard, but I feel a… something when I’m pushing myself to get a spell right. It’s hard to describe.”

Before I could say any more I noticed a girl picking flowers in the fields. As she came closer she paused as if she was hesitant to ask me for some of the ones I was sitting next to. Smiling, I picked some of them and got up, moving over to the kid. “Here you go.” I held some out to her, and she accepted them with a grin. Seeing that made my heart brighten up. 

I looked to find Aerith smiling at me. “I think I understand. My people, the Cetra, gave up the luxuries of comfortable lives so we could be closer to the spirit of our world.” Reaching out to a flower that was growing nearby she continued, “Even amongst a field of flowers, I feel at peace with my choice because I can feel the life of the planet around me. And that makes me happy.”

Her words struck a chord within me. “Wow, that’s beautiful. Sometimes when you talk about the Cetra it makes me wish I could become one.”

“Thanks,” Aerith told me. “If you don’t feel ready to go home yet, we’ll speak with Professor Yeller. We’ll see if we can work it so you can stay here and learn more. We’ll even try to arrange for your parents to use the teleportation device to come and visit you.”

That brightened my spirits. “You will? Thank you, Aerith! I would love that very much.”

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