Lucy
"Are you sure she's coming?" Eff - or rather
Feyra
, since we were in public and all - asked.
She'd actually asked me that a few times already, but I really didn't mind. She was speaking to me in public, after all! And I was about to introduce my friend to her! In public! I mean, sure, Feyra still didn't want everyone to know we were friends, but we were being seen together! Publicly! Like friends! Or at least like guild mates who didn't have to pretend to have never seen one another before!
"Heroine?"
"H-huh?" What did she ask again...? Right! "Yes, I'm sure! We didn't really set a specific time, but she'll definitely come! Eena would never stand me up!"
Feyra flinched. Maybe because I'd said Eena's full name? But we were in public, so I was pretty sure it would stand out more if I didn't.
"Lucy!" a familiar voice called out to me, causing my head to snap around so quickly that I think it might have even generated a breeze! My hair definitely went flying, anyway. But that didn't matter, because I could see a familiar figure walking down the street towards me!
"Eena!" I called back, launching myself at her. Like before, I basically tackled her - and, like before, she absorbed the impact, only needing to take a single step back. It was actually really impressive! I mean, I was wearing armor and everything! If anyone could handle me at full speed, though, it was Eena!
And maybe other demons, too? Something I'd have to consider... a different time! Right now, I was hugging Eena. Who actually relaxed into it, this time, and put her arms around me! It was so warm!
Not that I could really feel it, through the armor, but the sentiment definitely got through. The knowledge that she cared, and was making an effort for me, even though she wasn't used to this. Just knowing that my affection was getting through to her made me feel all warm and tingly inside!
"My apologies for the wait," she said. "There was... an unexpected obstacle."
The way she said that, there was totally something she didn't want to tell me. "That's fine! You're here now, aren't you? And I knew you would be!"
"Of course I am," she said, putting a hand on her chest. "I swore I'd return, did I not?"
I wondered if Eena knew how dramatic that sounded. Probably not? She seemed to have a pretty big blind spot with that stuff! "I never doubted it for an instant, I'm just excited to be reunited again! Even though it's only been a short while... I guess that's what happens when there's someone you like being with all the time?"
Was this what it felt like to fall for someone? Feyra called it a 'crush,' - not love, but something that sort of mimicked it - and she was probably right. I didn't think that was a bad thing, though! Maybe it was just infatuation right now, but that didn't mean it would stay that way! With the passage of time, and the nurturing nature of her caring presence, I was sure it would blossom into something wonderful!
"I think it's a bit early to make comments like that," Eena replied. "You do realize you've hardly spent any time with me at all, in the grand scheme of things?"
"I know. But that just means we need to spend more time together, right?"
No matter what my feelings were rightly called, I knew the feeling in my heart right then was happiness! I mean, I know she was sort of trying to shut me down, but that was definitely Eena's way of worrying about me, right? Even though she needed something from me, she didn't want to take advantage of me. And not just because she was worried about sinning against the Heroine, either!
Of course, it
did
hurt to think about how she probably thought my feelings would turn to hatred, but time would surely change that as well!
"Oh right! I went to the guild to look for quests while you were gone, and I think I found something? Something I really want to do, and which I hope you'll do with me! It would help a lot of people, while also proving your strength to everyone in the guild, and maybe even helping someone else find their place! But before I get into that, did you take care of everything you needed to do?"
"Did you seriously just present me with a crusade of justice and friendship as if it were a casual aside?" Eena asked me. She sounded exasperated, but I saw the little smile tugging at the corner of her lips! "You can't possibly think it's okay to simply turn the subject to my business after that, can you?"
"Of course it's okay!" I replied, putting one hand on my hip and pointing a finger at her with the other. It was the same sort of thing Father Tuffel did when he wanted me to take something seriously. "Listen, Eena! The importance of my mission doesn't take away from the importance of yours! I can't ask you to listen to my requests without at least checking to see if you need more time for yours!"
"...I wish I could say that you're overestimating the matters I had to deal with, but I suppose I'll settle for a 'thank you' for the consideration. Still, if this request is so important to you, I'd rather discuss it in full. Especially if it has something to do with why that girl - Feyra, I believe? - has gone from staring at us with wide eyes to staring into the void with the deadened gaze of one who has lost her soul. I originally assumed she was simply shocked to realize I knew you, but the shift in her condition has given rise to some concern."
"You know Feyra?" I asked, turning back to look at my not-technically-a-friend. She really did look kinda bad! Maybe she used her Magic Sight to see how strong my adventuring companion was? I didn't know for
