"You so owe me for this," the cheeky remark was said beside me. It was Marley. Unlike Taylor the girl didn't really know how to hide her presence and stuck out like a saw thumb. She grinned and looked up at me, "I feel like after this you should be my personal chef for a year."
"Is food all you think about?" I eyed her and sighed.
"Well I do have other interests you could help me with," her smile shifted several tones darker.
The shiver down my spine was far too real for comfort, "No, cooking's fine. Maybe not a year, but I can definitely make it worth your while."
"Then we have a deal," she nodded, quite happy with herself. With a hop she turned around about to leave.
"Hold on," I called her back causing her to look at me curiously. Her expression was a mirror of my own. "How are you okay with this?"
"With what?" she titled her head. "Healing is tiring but it's what I'm good at. Besides I also get a bonus when-."
"Not that," I interrupted her. "I mean with all of this here." I gestured around us and to the demons not so far away. Their features weren't at all hidden and open for the entire world to see. Lara I understood, she was a bleeding heart. Ardent was an open book of curiosity. Taylor didn't care. Even I had problems being around demons at first. Marley on the other hand. Since she had been here, she didn't bat an eye.
My question lingered in the air and as she turned to fully face me, Marley's girlish nature evolved into that of a mature women, "Rain. People are people. I was raised by the Temple of the Goddess, and despite everything, we need to love. If we don't, then we're no better than those who don't deserve it."
Her reply caught me by surprise as suddenly my opinion of her reformed. It wasn't just her statement but the look in her eyes that echoed memories heavier than her bubbly nature suggested.
"Besides," she laughed, "Demon, human, we all bleed."
I couldn't help let out a tired chuckle as well, "For what it's worth, I'm glad it's you that joined us for the journey."
"And I'm glad you joined us as well," Marley replied oddly sincere.
"For the food?"
"Not just that." Her hands tightened, "I didn't get the chance before but I wanted to thank you. I freaked out when that Monster attacked us. I was next to useless and if you hadn't been ready, not just Ronalt... we all could have died. So thank you." Before I could reply she flailed her body and pointed to me, "But that doesn't mean you don't owe me for this!"
"I get it. When we get back to Axel I'll make you a feast."
"A feast?" the new voice caused me to jump as it resounded beside my ear. I had become used to Taylor's sudden appearances but hearing Lara's voice so close was something else. She looked at me with all the innocence of the world. "Sorry did I scare you?"
"No..., I was just surprised," I mumbled.
"Marley do you mind if I talk to Rain for a bit?"
"No problem!" Marley saluted and walked away to where Ardent was helping the reconstruction. Though Lara had asked her politely, I feel like it would be hard to say no.
Now just the two of us, I was suddenly very aware of Lara's presence. "So did you need something?" I asked.
"Not really... just, is everything okay?"
I thought about it for a bit before replying, "Mostly."
"Mostly? Did I miss something?" she frowned in concern staring around me with watchful eyes.
I chuckled, "No the village is fine."
"Did Marley do something to you?"
"No, Marley is something else."
"Then it's Taylor? I saw you separate before."
"Actually yeah," I replied honestly.
"Wait really?" she was surprised. "Umm you two... you two looked pretty close now."
"Well we have been hanging around each other a lot," I said simply.
"Then what's wrong?"
I sighed and folded my arms, "Two nights ago the village held this big party to welcome us. I got drunk, Taylor got drunk, Ardent got really drunk, it was a pretty fun night. Thing is I remember going to bed with Taylor beside me and waking up next to her but I don't remember what happened between." For some reason it felt entirely natural for me to talk to Lara. Like I was already used to it. It might have been her charm as a Hero.
"Y-you two slept together?" Lara looked at me with wide and blushing eyes.
"See that's the thing. I don't know. We slept next to each other and I'm pretty sure I didn't do anything but with all the alcohol that night, I wouldn't say I'd trust myself."
"Drinking too much is bad for you," Lara huffed. "Does Taylor know?"
"I don't think so. She woke up after I did and she also drank more than I did." That and the way she was acting was far too normal. If she remembered and something did happen she'd probably gloat to me about it.
"Hmmm," Lara gazed at me sincerely. "Do you want to remember?"
"If it can give me some peace of mind, yes." Though when I really thought about it, if something did happen between us, how would that affect me? Would it change anything? With how Taylor could be I would probably be marked down as just another of her conquests. For me however, I'd never done anything like that....
"Then come here," Lara reached her hand towards me. "I know some magic that can free up your memory."
"You're not going to see anything are you?" There was a lot I wanted and needed to hide in there.
"No, it's not that kind of spell I promise," she said firmly and I trusted her... at least about 95%.
"Might as well," I stepped closer and Lara placed her hand on my head.
"You might feel a little uncomfortable." A wave of light spread around my eyes and after a few seconds a jolt ran through my brain. The world around me was sucked into darkness as flashes of my life spread through my eyes. Home, Axel, growing up. It sped forward. The recruitment as the Kingdom Knights took me away. The Queens speech. The Queens speech again. Me dying. Me dying again... and again. Then it slowed to the night of the party. Taylor and I linking arms as we danced around the fire. She took me into the room. Our beds put close together. Me saying goodnight... and then... and then... oh that was it. We really had just went to sleep.
Just as I thought the spell would end a sharp pain struck into the depths of my head. A flash of red hair. A bright light and a white room. Then I was kneeling and in front of me was Lara. Her sword was stuck into my chest stained blue. Her eyes were cold and dark staring at me with a despairing indifference.
"Die," she said simply and pulled the sword from my chest.
I jumped back and looked around. Where was I? Lara was standing in front of me with her hand still outstretched. Her eyes were bright, filled with life.
"Y-you didn't see that right?" I asked hesitantly.
"No...," she was concerned.
"Good...," I shook it off. Just what kind of memory was that? Nowhere in my previous lives had Lara killed me or at least not that I could think of. Was it a cycle I had forgotten? But her eyes. The way she looked at me. It was definitely Lara but at the same time I couldn't be sure. Or was it simply an illusion made up from my fears? I really couldn't tell.
"So... you two 'did it' then?" Lara asked, her face red. "I mean Taylor is that kind of person but I didn't think you'd go that far."
"Huh?" I looked at her confused. "Oh, no! Nothing happened. We really just went to sleep next to each other." I laughed a little forcefully. "All my worrying was for nothing. Looks like I can trust myself."
"You're not lying are you?" she focused her stare.
"Of course I'm not," I replied seriously. "I wouldn't lie about this."
After a few seconds she nodded and smiled, "I'll trust you." My heart clenched inside my chest. Lara really did look the best with a smile. With that settled I could look Taylor in the eye again without freaking out. Yep, I was still a virgin..., thinking about it, the thought kind of made me feel disappointed.