Six Summers have passed now, ever since Aikirees first reached this place. She always likes to come back and reflect on the year that has passed. Originally she’d come here alone, but after our journey to the ends of the universe and back, I’ve been accompanying her since then.
This time, Aikirees was there well earlier than I was, and since she’s grown this past summer by quite a bit, both literally and figuratively, finding her in the usual spot was pretty easy to do. I landed close by on my golden glowing bird, and headed over to greet her.
“Beat me to the spot this year!”
Aikirees nodded with the biggest adorkable grin on her Hrothgar snout.
“Zee yup yup! Got zee here’sies at zee dawnbreak’sies!”
Aikirees over the months had gotten a lot more quiet; she hasn’t really explained as to why, but I suspect it has something to do with her transformation, I suspect even now it weighs on her mind.
“I probably would have gotten here sooner, but letters from Laureine and the Leporines held me up. It’s not because of the mess on the desk!”
“Uh-huh’sies, you ever gonna’sies clean that thing’sies?”
I paused, stunned to think of something witty to reply with.
“Y-yes, j-just… oh shush!”
Aikirees bellowed in laughter; her laugh especially now is really contagious as I started to as well.
“It’s good to see you like you used to be, ‘Little’ One.”
She smiled, and gave a slight nod. We glanced out over the clear skies of the Churning Mists. It’s been at least the summer since we were here together last. Always gorgeous views there, and the crispy cool winds over my ears felt so nice. Thoughts of our Tural journey went through my mind, and began where we’d head to next and as to what is going to happen with the strange ‘Vana’Diel’ in the near future.
“…Mama said’sies to tell you zee ‘Hi’sies when I returrrrrned from my journey’sies.”
Unprovoked, Aikirees said the first thing ever involving her journey. I looked at her in complete surprise.
“Y-you saw mother??”
She simply nodded with a warm smile.
“I didn’t realize that you– wait don’t tell me, did you die again!?“
“It’sies a bit zee complicated. Lot’sies of zee things I don’t understand’sies, but zee Sissy Tess and zee Miss Laureine probably’sies know zee more about it. Zee Mama did give’sies another life’sies, which kind of might have caused zee beeg change’sies.”
Mother always said she’d give her life for us, I didn’t think she’d do it literally, even after she’s been gone for so long now. I honestly didn’t know how to react to the information, but the fact that Aikirees is still here, even if she’s bigger an a lot more fuzzy, is thankful enough to whatever happened out there.
“…Thank you, mother.”
I said quietly to myself, but I suspect Aikirees heard it as well.
“So, tell me, you have anymore surprises like that up your sleeves?!”
Aikirees just laughed.
“Zee nope’sies!”
“Ah, well, I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised honestly. Having a Viera pop out the Archives, Tess’ odd behavior the last time we all got together. We certainly are a quirky trio of sisters aren’t we?”
Aikirees laughed and beamed a grin.
“Just zee awesome’sies that way’sies!”
“I suppose so!”
We both laughed a laugh that could be heard across Moghome, and then small talked for a bell or so. Not sure what this next year holds for us; only the path we walk will tell that tale, but I know we’ll be back here once again next year to swap stories and enjoy celebrating another Churning Mists Day again together.