KeeperAbra Aha! You thought the seriousness would last? That you could possibly escape from the ambiguous flirting, which are in fact just expressions of vulnerability? Naive.

Chapter 82: Kyndling

— On the same day as Arpeggio’s meeting with her father.

Jyn waited outside Freedom’s Peak. Her armor was in good condition today, as well, but her sword had taken far too many nicks. Perhaps...perhaps she should stop being so hard on it. Well, what could she do? A few nicks on the blade’s edge were worth it, if it meant keeping Kalender out of harm’s way.

Speaking of the man, he came out of the resthouse, wearing a green cloak to keep himself warm. The days had been becoming more and more chilly lately.

Kalender smiled for Jyn, though his smile was a little smaller than usual. He was carrying a roll of weapons with one hand and a folded-up blue cloak in the other. “You came out without your cloak, you know?” he said.

“Oh.” Jyn received it. “Thank you.”

She put it on, but it snagged on something on her belt. Kalender moved around her to pull it away, but he noticed it had snagged on her sword.

He’d been seeing it in action a lot, lately. Jyn smiled at him as thanks for taking care of a minor inconvenience, but he could only smile wryly.

Just, well, y’know, she had that stat, okay?

It’d been messing with him ever since it showed up not soon after the incident in the Monster Wall. It had only been three weeks, but the stat was already at 31!

Thinking about it another way, that was also the number of times she’d saved his behind, possibly without even him knowing it.

He was stronger now, too. At Level 15, he’d thought Jyn wouldn’t need to save him as often anymore, but no, the opposite happened: he got targeted more often, instead!

He sighed, facing Jyn. “Let’s go.”

Jyn nodded, and they started towards the blacksmith to have their weapons repaired.

“Still, it’s a lot, huh?” he continued.

“What is?”

“The number of times you’ve saved me.”

Jyn’s heart skipped a beat. It was the sort of deeply personal thing that bordered on being romantic, okay!

“T-that it is,” she said, turning away her face slightly.

“Why do I keep getting targeted, anyway?”

Jyn chuckled. In hindsight, it was like an established routine for him to attract all the attacks, and for her to bail him out of it like he was the designated troublesome character in a story. “It’s because you keep using so much magic. Of course they would target you.”

“Huh? Monsters can tell?”

“Some of them can detect shifts in mana, but it’s not just that. They all have a rough sense that someone is attacking with a lot of power, so even if you don’t use any magic, they’ll see you as a threat.”

“Just pure instinct, is it?”

“That it is.”

They dutifully stopped at the sandwich corner for a few seconds before moving on and rounding it.

Reaching the door to the blacksmith, it was oddly closed. The chimney was spouting black smoke, so Ara-kel should be working the forge right now, but that wasn’t any reason to close the door.

Kalender knocked. “Hello! Are you open?”

“Kalender? Wait a moment!” Kyn’s familiar voice called out.

There was some rummaging, and then the door opened a moment later. “Sorry about that,” Kyn said. Behind her was...an awful lot of crates.

“Cleaning house?” Kalender asked.

“Something like that.” Kyn chuckled — but then her eyes met Jyn’s.

For a long moment, she froze. Kalender tracked her gaze to Jyn, and when he looked at Jyn, her own eyes were also squinting at Kyn.

“Sister?” Kyn muttered.

Jyn shook her head slightly...well, she was unsure. “I don’t remember having a sister who wore a wooden mask.”

“It’s me.” Kyn pointed to herself. “Kyn.”

“Impossible,” Jyn said almost immediately. “I — really?”

“Please come in. It’s...been a while, after all. There’s a long story behind this.”

Kyn held the door open as first Jyn, then Kalender, entered the shop. After sliding a rock up against the door to keep it from closing, she went behind the counter and found her seat on a tall stool.

She saw the bundle that Kalender was holding onto, however. “Oh, let me get that for you first.”

“Sure.” Kalender hoisted the bundle up onto the counter, and Kyn dutifully hoisted it back down onto the ground. She began writing a note, absorbing herself in the details of the usual repair order, then slipping it between the bundle’s cordage.

When that was done, she rested her arms on the counter, not knowing what to say. Well, Jyn didn’t know, either.

“Are you...actually sisters?” Kalender asked.

“I’m sure she’s my sister, Jyn, the Knight among us,” Kyn said, glancing towards Jyn, then looking back down at the counter. “Well, it’s been such a long time. It’s not surprising you don’t know my voice.”

“I don’t remember having any sisters coming out this far,” Jyn said to that. “And that mask.”

“I worked in Violentum for a while, don’t you remember?”

“...I do have a sister who worked in Violentum. I never heard from her after that.”

“That’s because I got a recommendation letter to work under someone in Celesta.”

“That makes no sense,” Jyn remarked. “Celesta is on the opposite side of the kingdom.”

Celesta was a border town in the northeast corner of Lyrica. In contrast, Harmony was to the kingdom’s northwest corner.

“Right, but you see, I had to make a stop in Melody” — a smaller town between Violentum and Harmony — “as a favor for my old master in exchange for the recommendation letter.”

In effect, her route was L-shaped.

“I see. If you’d kept going straight, you would have reached Harmony,” Jyn nodded. “It doesn’t tell me whether you’re my sister under that mask, however.”

“R-right. I got this because...” She paused, trailing off into a daze. Realizing she’d delved into her memories for too long, she shook her head. “My caravan got attacked by wolves, so...”

“Let me see it.”

“Huh?” Kyn looked up at Jyn with shock in her eyes and dread in her heart. Unconsciously, she pressed her hands against her mask. “I-I don’t want you to see it!”

“It’s just a scar.”

It wasn’t just a scar; an entire part of her face had been torn off! She’d been given so much ill for it, been told that she’d never find a husband because of it. The last time she’d shown it to someone, it hurt her to see their eyes momentarily squeeze in disgust, and that person started avoiding her, too.

“Sister” —

“Listen,” Jyn interrupted, “I don’t know any of my sisters’ voices anymore. Even if your name is Kyn, I can’t tell if you are the same Kyn, not until I see your face.”

Kyn turned away, her head hung low.

Seeing this, Kalender got the impression that Jyn might be a little too forceful sometimes. Kyn was obviously irrationally afraid, but that was just how anxiety and fear operated. Even if it was irrational, if it’s completely ignored and not taken into account, then no one would get anywhere.

He put a hand on Jyn’s shoulder. “She’s not comfortable.”

“But” —

“Look, you just met each other today. There’s no reason to rush.”

Jyn didn’t answer for a while. “I suppose you’re right.” She slightly turned to the door, then hesitantly towards Kyn, then surely and squarely towards the door. “It’s hot here. I’ll wait outside.”

Kalender watched her step outside, though she didn’t go too far; he could still see her.

“Hey,” Kyn called his attention, “I — er — what do I do?”

Kalender was a little happy that she’d decided to trust him on this one, but he shouldn’t let it get in the way of the issue right now. “I think she’s mostly convinced you’re her sister,” he replied.

“Then” —

“I think she wants you to trust her.”

Those words sealed Kyn’s mouth. Kyn would only show her face to someone she could trust, like master Ara-kel. Ah, well, she was the one who picked her up and brought her to Harmony after that incident, after all, so she...probably didn’t count.

She wanted to trust her sister, but it was also a fact that they hadn’t seen each other in a really, really long time, so she couldn’t just show her face just like that. It was enough that maybe...maybe they’d drifted apart, after all.

But, no, that wasn’t right. Her sister wanted her to trust her again. Despite drifting apart, there was still some kind of thread, some kind of kindling so that they could really feel like sisters again.

“I don’t think just showing your face will do it instantly, though,” Kalender continued.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, she wants you to trust her, and I guess you want her to trust you, too — but in the end, isn’t it more like...you just want to feel like family?”

Kyn didn’t know what to say to that. The way she stopped moving was her answer.

“Spot-on, huh?” Kalender muttered. “Well, it’s not mana theory. Just go out and talk to each other over lunch and catch up. Think of it like...trying to befriend someone by sharing things about yourself, I guess?”

“Befriending my own sister, huh?” Kyn chuckled. “That makes it sound like we’re strangers, though...”

“It doesn’t sound nice, I know, but that’s...I don’t have a better way of saying this, but that’s practically what you are to each other” —

Kyn looked down.

— “Despite that, you still want to relate to each other. Isn’t that good enough?”

Kyn looked up. He was right. Jyn had been really kind to her before, but that was a long time ago — a time still fresh in her mind. A part of her wanted that relive that time with her again, even if she knew that, with things as they were, Jyn would probably have to set out and do Knight stuff, and herself...well, she was just Ara-kel’s apprentice. They were both busy with their own lives.

It’s not like she actually wanted to relive the past. The least she hoped for was to drop by, say hi to Jyn — what’ve you been up to; oh, nothing much — then disappear for another five years and do the same thing again, maybe in some other blacksmith’s shop in a different town.

At the very least...she didn’t want Jyn to feel like she had no effect on her life today.

The resolve was already squarely planted in her heart. One day, she’ll take off her mask and show her face to her sister.

She looked at Kalender. This guy’s got too good of a head on his shoulders. “Kalender, can I...”

“What is it?”

Kyn fumbled over her words, though she managed to let out, “...a favor?”

“Uh-huh...huh?”

Kalender watched as she ran around the counter and closed the door, leaning against it to block it off.

She closed her eyes. Hesitation crept in, but she knew if she tattled any longer, the fear would win.

Her hands reached for her mask, and she yanked it off in two parts: the lower one for the area around her mouth, and the upper, for her eyes.

Kalender’s eyes went wide at this sudden demonstration of courage — even if Kyn’s eyes darted every which way to avoid his gaze.

Her scars weren’t just scars. He could see her cheek bones protruding through a thin layer of scar tissue, and he could see some of her teeth through holes in her cheeks.

“Sorry, that just — you surprised me,” he said.

“Isn’t it ugly?”

“Well, it looks bad, but...I don’t think anything else of it.”

“You’re...not going to avoid me, are you?”

“Huh?” The incredulous sound he’d let out surprised Kyn and even himself. It was the sound that someone made after hearing the stupidest thing they’d ever heard in their life. Indeed, musicians would deem its tonal quality to be offensive in every respect.

That very same, stupid sound made Kyn indescribably happy.

Kalender covered his mouth. “I-I’m sorry. I meant” —

Kyn raised one hand while using the other to replace the lower half of her mask, covering her mouth and forcing down her giggle. “I know, I know,” she managed to say, doing her very best to withstand the giggle-tide.

Well, at least she was happy.

Kalender left the shop, and Kyn waved goodbye to both him and Jyn.

“What happened?” Jyn asked.

Kalender smiled. “Look forward to it.”

KeeperAbra Aha! You thought the seriousness would last? That you could possibly escape from the ambiguous flirting, which are in fact just expressions of vulnerability? Naive. Chapter 82: Kyndling On the same day as Arpeggio's meeting with her father. Jyn waited outside Freedom's Peak. Her armor was in good condition today, as well, but her sword had taken far too many nicks. Perhaps...perhaps she should stop being so hard on it. Well, what could she do? A few nicks on the blade's edge were worth it, if it meant keeping Kalender out of harm's way. Speaking of the man, he came out of the resthouse, wearing a green cloak to keep himself warm. The days had been becoming more and more chilly lately. Kalender smiled for Jyn, though his smile was a little smaller than usual. He was carrying a roll of weapons with one hand and a folded-up blue cloak in the other. You came out without your cloak, you know? he said. Oh. Jyn received it. Thank you. She put it on, but it snagged on something on her belt. Kalender moved around her to pull it away, but he noticed it had snagged on her sword. He'd been seeing it in action a lot, lately. Jyn smiled at him as thanks for taking care of a minor inconvenience, but he could only smile wryly. Just, well, y'know, she had that stat, okay? It'd been messing with him ever since it showed up not soon after the incident in the Monster Wall. It had only been three weeks, but the stat was already at 31! Thinking about it another way, that was also the number of times she'd saved his behind, possibly without even him knowing it. He was stronger now, too. At Level 15, he'd thought Jyn wouldn't need to save him as often anymore, but no, the opposite happened: he got targeted more often, instead! He sighed, facing Jyn. Let's go. Jyn nodded, and they started towards the blacksmith to have their weapons repaired. Still, it's a lot, huh? he continued. What is? The number of times you've saved me. Jyn's heart skipped a beat. It was the sort of deeply personal thing that bordered on being romantic, okay! T-that it is, she said, turning away her face slightly. Why do I keep getting targeted, anyway? Jyn chuckled. In hindsight, it was like an established routine for him to attract all the attacks, and for her to bail him out of it like he was the designated troublesome character in a story. It's because you keep using so much magic. Of course they would target you. Huh? Monsters can tell? Some of them can detect shifts in mana, but it's not just that. They all have a rough sense that someone is attacking with a lot of power, so even if you don't use any magic, they'll see you as a threat. Just pure instinct, is it? That it is. They dutifully stopped at the sandwich corner for a few seconds before moving on and rounding it. Reaching the door to the blacksmith, it was oddly closed. The chimney was spouting black smoke, so Ara-kel should be working the forge right now, but that wasn't any reason to close the door. Kalender knocked. Hello! Are you open? Kalender? Wait a moment! Kyn's familiar voice called out. There was some rummaging, and then the door opened a moment later. Sorry about that, Kyn said. Behind her was...an awful lot of crates. Cleaning house? Kalender asked. Something like that. Kyn chuckled but then her eyes met Jyn's. For a long moment, she froze. Kalender tracked her gaze to Jyn, and when he looked at Jyn, her own eyes were also squinting at Kyn. Sister? Kyn muttered. Jyn shook her head slightly...well, she was unsure. I don't remember having a sister who wore a wooden mask. It's me. Kyn pointed to herself. Kyn. Impossible, Jyn said almost immediately. I really? Please come in. It's...been a while, after all. There's a long story behind this. Kyn held the door open as first Jyn, then Kalender, entered the shop. After sliding a rock up against the door to keep it from closing, she went behind the counter and found her seat on a tall stool. She saw the bundle that Kalender was holding onto, however. Oh, let me get that for you first. Sure. Kalender hoisted the bundle up onto the counter, and Kyn dutifully hoisted it back down onto the ground. She began writing a note, absorbing herself in the details of the usual repair order, then slipping it between the bundle's cordage. When that was done, she rested her arms on the counter, not knowing what to say. Well, Jyn didn't know, either. Are you...actually sisters? Kalender asked. I'm sure she's my sister, Jyn, the Knight among us, Kyn said, glancing towards Jyn, then looking back down at the counter. Well, it's been such a long time. It's not surprising you don't know my voice. I don't remember having any sisters coming out this far, Jyn said to that. And that mask. I worked in Violentum for a while, don't you remember? ...I do have a sister who worked in Violentum. I never heard from her after that. That's because I got a recommendation letter to work under someone in Celesta. That makes no sense, Jyn remarked. Celesta is on the opposite side of the kingdom. Celesta was a border town in the northeast corner of Lyrica. In contrast, Harmony was to the kingdom's northwest corner. Right, but you see, I had to make a stop in Melody a smaller town between Violentum and Harmony as a favor for my old master in exchange for the recommendation letter. In effect, her route was L-shaped. I see. If you'd kept going straight, you would have reached Harmony, Jyn nodded. It doesn't tell me whether you're my sister under that mask, however. R-right. I got this because... She paused, trailing off into a daze. Realizing she'd delved into her memories for too long, she shook her head. My caravan got attacked by wolves, so... Let me see it. Huh? Kyn looked up at Jyn with shock in her eyes and dread in her heart. Unconsciously, she pressed her hands against her mask. I-I don't want you to see it! It's just a scar. It wasn't just a scar; an entire part of her face had been torn off! She'd been given so much ill for it, been told that she'd never find a husband because of it. The last time she'd shown it to someone, it hurt her to see their eyes momentarily squeeze in disgust, and that person started avoiding her, too. Sister Listen, Jyn interrupted, I don't know any of my sisters' voices anymore. Even if your name is Kyn, I can't tell if you are the same Kyn, not until I see your face. Kyn turned away, her head hung low. Seeing this, Kalender got the impression that Jyn might be a little too forceful sometimes. Kyn was obviously irrationally afraid, but that was just how anxiety and fear operated. Even if it was irrational, if it's completely ignored and not taken into account, then no one would get anywhere. He put a hand on Jyn's shoulder. She's not comfortable. But Look, you just met each other today. There's no reason to rush. Jyn didn't answer for a while. I suppose you're right. She slightly turned to the door, then hesitantly towards Kyn, then surely and squarely towards the door. It's hot here. I'll wait outside. Kalender watched her step outside, though she didn't go too far; he could still see her. Hey, Kyn called his attention, I er what do I do? Kalender was a little happy that she'd decided to trust him on this one, but he shouldn't let it get in the way of the issue right now. I think she's mostly convinced you're her sister, he replied. Then I think she wants you to trust her. Those words sealed Kyn's mouth. Kyn would only show her face to someone she could trust, like master Ara-kel. Ah, well, she was the one who picked her up and brought her to Harmony after that incident, after all, so she...probably didn't count. She wanted to trust her sister, but it was also a fact that they hadn't seen each other in a really, really long time, so she couldn't just show her face just like that. It was enough that maybe...maybe they'd drifted apart, after all. But, no, that wasn't right. Her sister wanted her to trust her again. Despite drifting apart, there was still some kind of thread, some kind of kindling so that they could really feel like sisters again. I don't think just showing your face will do it instantly, though, Kalender continued. What do you mean? I mean, she wants you to trust her, and I guess you want her to trust you, too but in the end, isn't it more like...you just want to feel like family? Kyn didn't know what to say to that. The way she stopped moving was her answer. Spot-on, huh? Kalender muttered. Well, it's not mana theory. Just go out and talk to each other over lunch and catch up. Think of it like...trying to befriend someone by sharing things about yourself, I guess? Befriending my own sister, huh? Kyn chuckled. That makes it sound like we're strangers, though... It doesn't sound nice, I know, but that's...I don't have a better way of saying this, but that's practically what you are to each other Kyn looked down. Despite that, you still want to relate to each other. Isn't that good enough? Kyn looked up. He was right. Jyn had been really kind to her before, but that was a long time ago a time still fresh in her mind. A part of her wanted that relive that time with her again, even if she knew that, with things as they were, Jyn would probably have to set out and do Knight stuff, and herself...well, she was just Ara-kel's apprentice. They were both busy with their own lives. It's not like she actually wanted to relive the past. The least she hoped for was to drop by, say hi to Jyn what've you been up to; oh, nothing much then disappear for another five years and do the same thing again, maybe in some other blacksmith's shop in a different town. At the very least...she didn't want Jyn to feel like she had no effect on her life today. The resolve was already squarely planted in her heart. One day, she'll take off her mask and show her face to her sister. She looked at Kalender. This guy's got too good of a head on his shoulders. Kalender, can I... What is it? Kyn fumbled over her words, though she managed to let out, ...a favor? Uh-huh...huh? Kalender watched as she ran around the counter and closed the door, leaning against it to block it off. She closed her eyes. Hesitation crept in, but she knew if she tattled any longer, the fear would win. Her hands reached for her mask, and she yanked it off in two parts: the lower one for the area around her mouth, and the upper, for her eyes. Kalender's eyes went wide at this sudden demonstration of courage even if Kyn's eyes darted every which way to avoid his gaze. Her scars weren't just scars. He could see her cheek bones protruding through a thin layer of scar tissue, and he could see some of her teeth through holes in her cheeks. Sorry, that just you surprised me, he said. Isn't it ugly? Well, it looks bad, but...I don't think anything else of it. You're...not going to avoid me, are you? Huh? The incredulous sound he'd let out surprised Kyn and even himself. It was the sound that someone made after hearing the stupidest thing they'd ever heard in their life. Indeed, musicians would deem its tonal quality to be offensive in every respect. That very same, stupid sound made Kyn indescribably happy. Kalender covered his mouth. I-I'm sorry. I meant Kyn raised one hand while using the other to replace the lower half of her mask, covering her mouth and forcing down her giggle. I know, I know, she managed to say, doing her very best to withstand the giggle-tide. Well, at least she was happy. Kalender left the shop, and Kyn waved goodbye to both him and Jyn. What happened? Jyn asked. Kalender smiled. Look forward to it.