Alto gives me a puzzled expression.
"Do for me? Why?" (Alto)
"Yeah. Honestly, I'm not sure I've really lived up to what you had in mind when you joined my party. It has put you at the center of one violent incident after another lately, and you've only grown more at odds with elves by association. Having you around has unequivocally made my life better, but I can't help but wonder if it's had the opposite effect on you." (Mizuki)
Those are my true feelings. Especially after the Belmod massacre…the guilt that brought on Alto…I think I bear some responsibility for that. Both for having her in my party, and for bringing her along to a meeting I knew could be dangerous. Moreover, that was just an altercation with humans. What if one day, because of me, she's complicit in killing other elves?
Elves seem generally less inclined to proactive violence than humans, but Alto has already had to put herself on the opposite side of verbal conflicts with elves like Tessa and Jorah. Those could have easily turned into physical altercations if it wasn't for my little lie detector demonstration.
There was also the crisis with Alara – that situation caused Alto to seriously contemplate killing her. If it had come to that…could she have lived with the guilt? The thought of someone who I've claimed to be a friend to suffering like that because of me doesn't sit right.
Noticing Alto's prolonged silence, I'm jarred from my thoughts. To my surprise, she seems...furious!? Before I can ask her about it, her hand flashes towards me and I'm hit with a slap across the face. Thanks to my abilities, there's no pain, but it stuns me all the same. I just can't quite process that Alto has hit me.
While I stare back at her with a dumbfounded expression, she grabs my shirt with both hands and presses her face closer to mine threateningly. What the hell is going on!? There was literally no reason are warning for this level of aggression!
"What the hell is the matter with you, Mizuki!? After all you've done…after all we've been through together…don't you ever imply that I'd be better off without you!" (Alto)
As Alto's screaming subsides temporarily, I can see her eyes becoming misty.
"When those slavers stormed the wolf-kin village, the men were slaughtered by default, along with any women that fought back! I didn't just lose my freedom, I lost my friends, Mizuki! ALL OF THEM! I was powerless to protect them, and I couldn't even avenge them because of the others that were already hostages! In that warehouse, I'd already given up on living…I was willing to die if…I could j-just…" (Alto)
Tears begin to flow from Alto's eyes as her voice falters.
"…Mizuki, thanks to joining your party, I have friends and purpose again! A chance to redeem myself! Do you not understand how broken I'd be without those things!? My life only feels worth living right now because you and Nina took me in!" (Alto)
Alto's tears become mixed with soft sobs, and she leans her head against my shirt between her clenched hands. I finally stutter out a response, trying to get a handle on the situation that I let spin out of control.
"A-Alto, I'm sorry…I had no idea...I wasn't trying to be offensive. It's j-just ...after the events with Belmod...you having to protect me from the elves. You seemed so sad…I worried that…" (Mizuki)
Alto's face snaps up to meet my gaze, and I see anger in her eyes again.
"You worried…what!? That my life may not be totally free of adversity!? I chose to be your friend! Your equal! That means that I share the burden of these decisions with you! Sometimes that will make me sad, but that doesn't mean I'm better off alone, you absolute moron! " (Alto)
I can't help but grimace at her last point…she's right. I know she's right…I treated her like a child that I'm responsible for protecting. I turn an apologetic gaze towards Alto.
"I-I'm…sorry. You're right, Alto. I just wanted my friend to be happy, but what I said was thoughtless. I…hope you can forgive me." (Mizuki)
Alto stares at me angrily for several more moments, then snorts and wipes her eyes. After, she sighs and hangs her head in exasperation. When she finally looks back up at me, she's wearing a mildly annoyed expression.
"Of course I can forgive you, idiot…you're my best friend. Just don't spout nonsense like that to me again. For the rest of our indefinitely long lives, my place is by your side…period. That's what is best for me, and I won't tolerate you telling me otherwise. Got it?" (Alto)
Alto glares at me seriously, waiting for an answer. I just smile and pull her into a hug abruptly. She squeaks in surprise.
"H-Hey, Mizuki, what are y-" (Alto)
"I promise…I won't ever make that mistake again. Thanks for being such a good friend, Alto." (Mizuki)
Alto relaxes, then hugs me back. We stay that way in silence for a while. Eventually, she pulls away and smirks at me.
"No problem. After all, who else would be willing to put up with you like this?" (Alto)
I roll my eyes at her. Yeah, she's back to normal.
"I don't know, probably anyone else that's a gravity spell junkie and enjoys free flights like you." (Mizuki)
Alto shrugs.
"Maybe. Flights are your best quality, after all. Still, being subjected to your sense of humor during them…I wouldn't exactly say they're free." (Alto)
Now, what did I do to deserve that kind of emotional violence? I sigh deeply while staring at Alto.
"Didn't you have somewhere you needed to be?" (Mizuki)
"Fufufu…bowing out of our verbal sparring session already? Zara's right, you are soft." (Alto)
I look at her in confusion.
"Soft? What are you talking about? What did Zara say about me!?" (Mizuki)
Alto winks at me, then turns around to depart. As she walks away, she waves over her shoulder.
"Ask her yourself when you go see her! I've got better things to do than explain everything to you." (Alto)
Without another word, Alto exits the room, leaving me alone. I can't believe she'd just drop that on me and leave. That elf is such a pain in the ass sometimes!
I don't know what I'd do without her.