Chapter 256: The Cards We’re Dealt

The end of the battle was like the passing of a storm.

The camp was in pieces. The clanging of blades, monstrous roars, and battle cries were replaced by quiet whimpers from injured fighters as they were healed by the mages still left alive.

Rin couldn't help but be stunned by the sight.

She did make sure to get Xhez away from any potentially prying eyes, though. The sprite returned to her bag without a word, and Rin's illusion faded away.

She got quite a few questioning looks but Rin didn't feel she owed anyone an explanation. Well, no one except Miri.

The adventurer stared at her as she lay on a mat, fully healed but still weary from everything that happened.

"You..." She muttered as Rin drew close to her.

[I guess she remembers me.]

"Yeah, it's me." Rin walked over and sat down next to her. "Hey."

"... Did you go get your brother's stuff from Cradle?" 

That was the first thing Miri asked of her. It was such a specific question that it made Rin tilt her head with curiosity. 

"Uh, not really. They didn't let me grab it. Said it wasn't for me."

"What?" That piece of information clearly confused the woman greatly. "But... Tristan told me that what he had in there was for you. How come...?"

[He did?] Rin pulled back. [Then, why the hell didn't they let me grab it?]

"I guess I should go back up to Cradle, then..." Rin murmured. "Once this train is fixed." Noting that, Rin brought her attention back to Miri. "So, uh... I was hoping I could ask you a question or two."

"Shoot," Miri replied, exhaling deeply as she shifted on the ground, getting more comfortable.

"How exactly did you know my brother, again?"

"I..." Miri hesitated just a little. "I'm friends with the girl he was dating before he went missing. Um, the girl I told you about earlier. The one that works at the guild."

Rin blinked.

[Wait, what? Was she working there when I went to Cradle?]

If she had been, then she had some serious explaining to do with regard to Tristan's belongings.

Sensing Rin's internal thoughts, Miri asked:

"So, I'm guessing you're heading to the guild soon, then?"

"Yeah," Rin replied.

"I'll let her know. Hopefully, she can tell you more about your brother than I could."

"Yeah... Hopefully."

"Thanks for your help out here, by the way," Miri said with a smile. "You're a damn good fighter." 

"No problem," Rin replied quietly. 

As Rin turned away, Miri's words danced in her thoughts. 

[Seriously? Tristan specifically said that stuff was for me and they just kept it?] It was as frustrating to hear that as it was confusing. 

But, leaving Miri's side, Rin went back to her friends.

Or, most of them, anyway. One of them was off on her own.

Elisa, who now had a stump where her right arm had been, just below the shoulder, was standing in a grassy field, bathed in moonlight.

Before talking to the noble, Rin checked in with Sye and Sara first.

The raven-haired swordswoman was standing by with her hands crossed, watching the workers who made it through the battle as they regrouped and set up camp once again.

Rin walked up to her with a smile.

"Hey."

"... Hello," Sara responded so quietly Rin almost didn't even hear her.

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Already, Rin was getting whiplash seeing her return to her introverted self after what she displayed during the battle.

"You did really well back there. Though," Rin added, "I don't think I've seen you do anything badly yet. Thank you."

The woman looked away, taking a step back.

"I could have performed better," Sara said. "I... I let my emotions get the better of me. I apologize."

Rin walked up closer. She put a hand on her fellow classmate's shoulder.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. We probably couldn't have won tonight without you. You did great."

Sara looked into her eyes for a few seconds before then turning away without saying anything.

It was hard to tell in the darkness, but Rin swore there was a hint of red on Sara's cheeks.

Leaving things there with her, Rin walked up to Sye who was sitting down just a few steps away.

As she saw her approaching, Sye waved her off.

"Don't worry about me," the Mages Guild representative said. "Got a little shaken up back there, but I'm fine." Hearing that, Rin was going to walk over to Elisa next, but Sye followed up with, "you should keep what I told you in mind."

"About Xhez?"

"Yes," Sye nodded. "From what little I saw of her tonight, that girl is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. But, if her mind gets messed up, whether it's from circumstances or whatever, she could end up being a powerful enemy. I had half a mind to take her back with me to the Guild, but..." She smirked, as Rin glared, "I guessed you wouldn't appreciate that. Anyway, yes. Keep that girl's spirits high, please. For society's sake."

"... I'll try."

Finally, Rin went to check on Elisa.

The noblewoman saw her coming and quickly put up that usual confident smile of hers. It was followed up by a deep sigh, but she looked calm nonetheless.

"Shit happens sometimes, huh?" She asked.

Rin wanted to say something reassuring, but she couldn't think of anything.

"Sucks that I lost an arm but, well, I can still work my way around a maiden with just one, so I guess it's fine."

Rin gave a chuckle, shaking her head.

"... I'm glad I got to fight with you again," Elisa said. "I haven't gotten to see you much since... You know, the whole, ehm..."

Sounding strangely meek, Elisa couldn't quite finish that statement.

"I'm happy I got to work with you again too," Rin told her. "It's always a pleasure, being around you."

The sunlight-haired noblewoman opened her mouth, wanting to say something. Nothing came out, though.

Not until she said:

"I guess, now being some cool adventurer really is out of the question." She laughed. Even to Rin's ears, it sounded forced. "I don't know. Sometimes, you just have to work with the cards life gives you, and... I guess the world's trying to make things clear for me."

"You don't-"

"No," Elisa cut her off. "I... I have to."

As she looked into Rin's eyes, then, Rin saw her doing one thing she hadn't seen at all since meeting her.

The woman began to cry.

Tears fell from her cheeks, landing on the crass below, glimmering in the air.

"I..." Elisa choked up. "This really sucks."

With nothing coming to her mind that she could say, Rin did the only thing she could think of. She hugged her tightly.

Instantly, Elisa reached up and pulled Rin closer, burying her eyes in Rin's shoulder, as though she didn't want the world to see her like this.

All in all, the attacks on the train were repelled.

Sye went back to Cradle with a promise given to Rin that she wouldn't out Xhez to anyone, but she begged that Rin heed her earlier warning. Rin returned to Libera with another question that needed answering and a location to revisit. She didn't expect to find anything too important with regard to her brother, but still, she wanted to check.

And, Elisa's transition to becoming a regular, married civilian was that much more solidified.

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