"We're here," Eisen says, his tone as gruff as ever.
Guided by Eisen, I arrive at our destination—a clearing in the forest, bathed in moonlight, perfect for a quiet talk during a stroll. Himmel and Heiter aren't here, but it feels like old times, journeying together.
The clearing feels familiar. I've seen a place like this recently—and five years ago, I read about it. "Is this where you and Himmel spoke with Aura?" I ask.
Eisen's eyes narrow. "How do you know that?"
I smile faintly. "Maybe we should start there."
He's understandably confused. I've never been here, yet I know its significance. In a way, I'm cheating—carrying knowledge I shouldn't have. It's not the kind of advantage I enjoy. So, I reveal my source, holding out a book, just as I once did for Heiter.
"What's this?" Eisen asks.
"Himmel's diary," I reply. "Just this one for now, but there are dozens, spanning roughly fifty years."
Himmel's diary is my burden and guide, a weight I carry as penance. "Heiter didn't know about it either," I add. "He was as shocked as you. Laughed it off, saying it was so like Himmel."
Eisen chuckles. "Hiding it like that? Typical dungeon-obsessed Himmel."
"Exactly."
His reaction makes me smile. I can picture Himmel, older but unchanged, pulling off such a stunt. Eisen, my old comrade, remembers him too. That connection warms my heart.
"Have you read it all?" Eisen asks.
"Every word," I say. "Over and over."
"I see…"
I steel myself to face him, as I did with Heiter. My body trembles; I can't help it. This diary revealed my sins, my regrets. Clenching my fists, I'm about to confess when—
"I get it now," Eisen interrupts, his voice calm but certain. "Why you've changed, Frieren. You've grown stronger—not as a mage, but as a person. Your heart is stronger."
"Stronger? Me?" I echo, stunned.
"Yes," he says firmly. "Not your magic, but your spirit. You're leagues beyond who you were."
I don't understand. "No, I'm not strong. I'm weak. I only realized it recently. Living over a millennium, yet always crying."
I was weak. Reading the diary showed me that. I was only ever protected by others, crying endlessly as if making up for a thousand years of tears. I was ashamed of my weakness.
"You're the strong ones," I continue. "Despite your short lives, you're so much stronger than me."
I envied them—Eisen, everyone. Living so vibrantly despite their brief lifespans.
"I wanted to apologize," I say, my voice trembling. "You cared for me, over and over, and I never noticed. So… I'm sorry."
Tears well up as I speak. Eisen always looked out for me, like Heiter, maybe even more. As a dwarf among humans, he tried to teach me how to connect, but I was blind to it. I said cruel things, things that could've made him despise me. Yet here I am, apologizing too late.
"Enough, Frieren," Eisen cuts in, his gruff voice gentle. "No need to apologize. You're strong now. That's not weakness. Remember? I'm the biggest coward, but that's my warrior's pride. You all taught me that."
He strokes his beard, proud. Eisen always trembled before great foes, but I never saw it as cowardice. It was his strength, never fleeing. Now he's saying I'm the same.
"You can be proud, Frieren," he says. "I'm proud of you. Every effort makes you a warrior."
His words warm my chest. Unlike Heiter's praise, this is Eisen's way of acknowledging me. I fight back tears—he doesn't want to see me cry. But…
"That doesn't make sense," I protest.
"It's convenient," he replies, echoing Heiter's old words with a smug grin. "Right?"
I take it back—Eisen hasn't changed a bit. The Eisen I know, the one I cherish.
"Thank you, Eisen," I say. "I'm glad I got to see you before… well, before I die."
"That's one word too many," he retorts. "It's not my time yet."
I throw a sarcastic jab, but he sees through it. This is us—our bond. It'll last a while longer.
Noticing my ring, Eisen says, "You finally realized what it means, huh?"
His gaze lingers on the ring on my left hand. Of course, he noticed the moment we arrived—maybe even during our old travels.
"Everyone knew?" I ask.
"Obviously. Only you didn't. Heiter was horrified."
I recall Heiter's shock at Eisen's recklessness, mirrored by his dismay at my obliviousness. My mistakes rival Eisen's durability.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I grumble.
"Tell Himmel that," Eisen says. "We didn't want to get kicked by a horse."
"You'd survive that," I tease.
"Heiter wouldn't," he counters.
"True. I'll tell them both in heaven."
My complaints don't faze Eisen. Himmel's feelings were obvious, yet I missed them. My own obliviousness stings.
"Speaking of Heiter," I pivot, "you were close to that demon, Linie, right? What's she like?"
I shift topics to avoid spiraling. Heiter mentioned Linie, saying Eisen knew her better.
"Didn't you read about her in the diary?" Eisen asks.
"The diary's biased by Himmel's perspective," I explain. "Especially about Linie. Heiter wouldn't elaborate."
Himmel's diary, while detailed, was skewed—especially about Linie. It read like a doting father's ramblings, making it hard to discern truth from exaggeration.
"Typical Himmel," Eisen sighs. "Linie and Himmel were master and disciple, nothing more. Demons don't have family ties, but Himmel went overboard. He'd dote on any disciple, demon or human."
"But you treated Linie like a daughter too, didn't you?" I tease.
"You've gotten sly, Frieren," he grumbles.
"Thanks to Heiter."
I grin, finally getting one over on him. The diary noted Eisen's fatherly bond with Linie, just as Himmel saw it. Eisen doesn't deny it.
"She's a demon who doesn't lie," he says. "No malice, almost innocent. Maybe she's fooled us both."
"A demon who doesn't lie?" I muse. "That's bizarre."
"She's like you among demons," Eisen says.
"What?"
"She hides her magic, living a lie to deceive others, just like you. Her whole life, she's masked her true self."
I fall silent. Linie, restricting her magic, deceiving demons as I deceived others. We're mirrors—her a demon, me an elf, both hiding our power.
"Was that… Aura's doing?" I ask.
"Likely," Eisen replies. "Himmel may have started it, but Aura raised her as a trump card against you. A demon trained in swordsmanship, tailored to counter you."
"Is she strong?"
"Don't ask stupid questions. Himmel named her his top disciple and entrusted her with his sword. You know what that means."
A demon wielding the sword of a false hero, trained by the true hero. It's almost a cruel joke.
"If you meet her, be careful," Eisen warns. "She's your natural enemy."
"Why do you sound proud?" I snap.
He just grins. "Your whole party raised a demon. What's that about?"
"Aura asked the same thing," he adds.
"Great."
I ask about Aura. "What do you think of her?"
"You already know," Eisen says. "Same as Heiter."
I nod. Words unspoken carry weight, a lesson from Himmel. I'm starting to understand the beauty of short-lived beings.
"There's something I need to apologize for," Eisen says suddenly.
"What?"
"Aura. We could've told you after Himmel's funeral, but we hesitated. Heiter too. Sorry."
They held back, fearing it wouldn't help me then. They were right—back then, I wouldn't have believed or handled it well.
"You were right to wait," I say. "My fault for not coming sooner."
"We weren't ready to accept Himmel's death either," Eisen admits. "Like Aura now."
"Like her?"
"She hasn't accepted it. She founded Freesia, thinking it's what Himmel would've wanted, but she's got it wrong."
Himmel's way—our guide when we're lost. But Aura's twisted it into a curse, binding herself to a false ideal.
"She's trapped by Himmel," Eisen says. "The last thing he'd want."
I nod, feeling a strange kinship with her. "Kindred dislike."
Eisen laughs. "You, a demon? The world's upside-down."
"Don't say that. I know."
"I'm praising you."
He shifts gears. "I need your help. Find Flamme's grimoire. It's said to record conversations with the dead."
Flamme's grimoire—rare and legendary, supposedly in the Voll Basin, where I lived with my master. The implication is clear.
"To talk to Himmel?" I ask.
"Yes," Eisen says. "Heiter and I thought you deserved to know him better. But now, show him how strong you've become."
"Not just to know him?"
"You already do. Show him who you are now."
I hesitate. "Is that enough?"
"Of course. Flash that ring. He'll ascend again."
I laugh. "Maybe with a blown kiss. If such magic exists."
"Did you tell Aura about this?"
"Heiter did. She refused. 'Himmel's gone,' she said."
"Typical demon," I say. "No belief in heaven."
"Once, I thought the same," Eisen says. "You changed me. Now, show her. You're going to Freesia, right?"
"Heiter planned this, didn't he?"
Eisen smirks. "I never said it was one request."
I sigh. "I don't want to go."
"Pay your dues," he says. "You don't want to be heartless."
"Monster."
"I'm a dwarf."
"And I'm an elf."
Human, dwarf, elf—different lives, yet comrades. What about demons? I gave up understanding them, but maybe Freesia holds answers. Still, I don't want to go.
"It's late," Eisen says as dawn breaks.
"It's fine," I reply. "Fern will forgive me if I apologize."
We return home, having talked all night. I recall Fern's warning to not be late. My body shakes—not from cowardice, but because Fern's scary. I'm different now, though. Eisen said so. I just need resolve.
"Lady Frieren," Fern's voice cuts through.
I nearly jump. She's at the door, waiting, her gaze icy, darting between me and Eisen.
"Fern, I'm sorry, I got caught up—"
Her stare silences me. It's not her usual scolding. She's… colder.
"Lady Frieren," she says, "coming home at dawn is disgraceful."
The accusation hits hard. To an outsider, I look like a reckless master carousing with an old friend.
"No, Fern, it's not like that—"
"I don't care. Stay away."
Her contempt stings. My resolve crumbles as she avoids me like I'm filthy.
"It's about to get lively," Eisen says, heading inside, seeing echoes of Himmel and Heiter in us.
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