Lucia Breaks Her Promise

Both Sir Celes and I were exhausted after Miss Lella’s explosive exit.

“Sorry ’bout that. Dario and Flavia had her late in life, and spoiled her. Sometimes she gets bratty,” Missus Romina apologized.

Oh, no... I couldn’t say I wasn’t still hurt, but it was true that I was plain, so I couldn’t argue about that.

“So what’re ye two gonna do? Ye got yerselves a map, so will ye be on yer way?”

“Not yet. It would be too hard to travel without getting food and water first,” Sir Celes said. “Also, a weapon would be nice, if possible. Are there any jobs we could do for you?”

“If yer okay with bein’ paid in kind, I do.”

“That’s fine.”

“Alrighty, then. Can I get ye to chop some wood for me? My old back’s been actin’ up.”

Missus Romina and Sir Celes started talking about our future plans. It was true that we needed to get ourselves traveling supplies in order to make our way back to Miss Maria and the others, so we couldn’t dawdle. But I was still worried about Mister Giotto. Sir Celes told me not to, but I wanted to at least try to save him. At this rate, little Dahlia would be left all alone. I didn’t want anyone else to feel lonely like that. Being alone was scary.

I’m sorry, Sir Celes. I apologized to him in my mind. I needed to sneak away from him somehow and go find Mister Giotto. I knew that he said no, and that I was being selfish and doing it for my own self-satisfaction, but I just couldn’t leave it. Even if I ended up infected by the Fungus, Miss Maria would still be able to purify the Cristallo Sacro. And Sir Celes had the important job of protecting her, so I couldn’t get him involved.

As I watched him head out the door to chop wood, I decided for myself.

◆ ◆ ◆

That night, we ended up staying at Missus Romina’s house.

“Ye can see how small my house is, so I’ve got no spare rooms. If it’s alright with ye, Captain, would ye sleep in the shed? There’s some straw, and we can put some sheets on it. Since the girlie can’t sleep with ye, she can sleep in my bed with me.”

“That would be fine, thank you.”

“Thank you, Missus Romina. I’ll go put the sheets in the shed.” Taking the sheets from her, I headed to the shed beside her house. It had been used back when her husband had been well, but now she was using it as a storehouse. There were lots of vegetables and bales of straw lying around.

I moved some of the straw to an empty corner and put some sheets over it, making a simple bed.

“...He wouldn’t notice if I snuck out overnight, would he?” I whispered to myself.

There weren’t any windows in the shed. I didn’t think he would be able to notice if the door was closed. And luckily for me, it was a full moon. I’d have no problem finding my way, even without a lamp. I didn’t know where Mister Giotto was, but the village wasn’t very big. I would probably be able to find it if I searched.

“It’s okay, I can...I can do it.”

I took a deep breath to calm my beating heart. I was still a bit afraid of the Fungus, it being a monster and all, but not as much as I had been before. Now that I knew that Soap could calm them down, it wasn’t scary anymore.

I looked down at my palms, and the place where he would sleep. “...I’m sorry, Sir Celes.”

The reason I was scared then must have been because a little girl might be left all alone if I failed. I knew that if I didn’t pull through, both he and Miss Maria would be disappointed with me. Forcing the issue wasn’t really an option. I might not be able to keep traveling with them if I got infected.

I might never see Miss Maria again. My chest hurt as the thought crossed my mind. My resolution wavered. I wanted to see her. She was my friend. I want to get back to her, and keep traveling with her. But... I put my palms together, as if praying. That little girl would be terrified if she lost her only family. I might fail. But if I failed, at least I tried to do something. There was no way I would give up now.