[OPEN] The light that seemed to disappear

[bearshermark]

Who: Eleven and OPEN
Where: First District/Academy
When: September 3rd-ish
What: El has returned from his world, a bit disoriented by a mix of somewhat obscure visions/dreams, multiple sets of memories, and general time shenanigans.
Warnings: None.. at the moment, I think.



His feet hit the ground, and Eleven landed in a crouch. He held the stilled position for several moments, eyes focused on the shadows spread over the dirt a short distance from his fingertips. Then just as swiftly whirled on the person stepping up behind him. A civilian, he noted belatedly, and dropped his sword with an apology.

The newly forged Sword of Light gleamed in the afternoon sun. He rubbed his eyes and glanced up to clear blue skies above. Sunlight so bright that it seemed impossible. A spread of foreign scenery slowly resolved into distant familiarity.

Not Hotto, but Noa.

A world full of life, not yet fallen to darkness. A world ambivalent to the title of Luminary. Overlapping visions of two very different, yet puzzling dreams.

He'd regained his companions only to lose them again, but traded them for cross-dimensional friendships.

Hendrik. Yotsuyu. Isabel. Lea. Tenn. Isa. Kuja. Atem. A number of others.

Yet his feet hesitated to return, found himself caught between a strong desire to stay, and the compulsion telling him he should go. Mysteries and memories held him captive, conflicting, weighted, and scattering his focus.

He stayed.

It took a few days to feel ready enough.

When Eleven finally returned to Anastara, it was with a practiced smile: patient and friendly yet at odds with purposeful strides and drawn shoulders. He passed through the First District and into the Academy grounds with a polite nod to everyone he made eye contact with.

Nothing seemed terribly different from what he last remembered of the place. The people he thought he knew still recognized him.

"Has it really only been a few days..?"

Comments

[unswervingcompanion]

The purple head shook. Had he been at the Luminary's side like he was supposed to have been, none of what transpired between him and Yotsuyu would've occurred. None of this came to his mouth though and he just shook his head again.

"I was here, and you were nowhere to be found. Isabel came to tell me you were gone and I looked everywhere."

[bearshermark]

The complexity of time and dimensions threatened to confound him. How could Hendrik be in two different places, in two very different times?

"I.." Feeling a bit unsteady, he threw out an arm for Hendrik- habit now, after months of relying on the knight sworn to his service. "So you don't remember recognizing Sylvando? The ruins beneath Dundrasil. Alizarin. Erik's amnesia. Veronica."

He stopped, eyes blinking away the sudden sting of tears. "And.. Erdwin's Lantern. It was falling over Gallopolis. You helped forge the Sword of Light with me."

[unswervingcompanion]

By now Hendrik could feel a headache coming on. Shaking his head again, the knight had taken hold of the arm to steady the other.

"I am afraid that I was here as I could not be in two places at once. I do not know what has transpired since you were discovered missing unless somehow time has passed."

This was just his observation of the Luminary's new..something. He couldn't quite figure it out yet.

[bearshermark]

Eleven's eyes searched Hendrik's, then blinking, lowered his gaze and shook his head.

"I don't understand it, but you were there with me. Some part of you was. You swore yourself to me, and became my.." He paused a moment, considering, then shrugged. "..Well, I don't think I would have made it without you."

[unswervingcompanion]

"I do not know. But if I could have been there, I would have been. Though to my ears it is strange to hear you say that I was indeed there."

Hendrik moved around a bit, trying to figure this out. "Could it have been some will of Yggdrasil's?"

If anyone could know anything about the Tree's will, it would have to be the Luminary.

[bearshermark]

Eleven watched him pace.

"Your destiny was to become my protector," he said after a moment. "And so you have- in both worlds. You've never left me, and divine will or not, I'm grateful for it."

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight stopped when the Luminary mentioned destiny. The only one with that kind of a fate was the boy, not himself. So he shook his head and was about to say something when the last part came out.

Staring at Eleven for what seemed like an extremely long time was actually more like a minute or two. But then Hendrik seemed to come back to himself. "I do not know how I could be in two worlds at once, but if I was indeed in this other world to protect you, I am the one who is grateful."

[bearshermark]

Eleven nodded, smiling slightly.

"There. And now I'm here again, there's no need to worry. I'm well-protected in both worlds."

[unswervingcompanion]

Arms folded across Hendrik's chest as he looked at the boy.

"Does this mean you intend to stay this time or are we on another time frame before you disappear yet again?"

[bearshermark]

His face fell, meeting Hendrik's eyes with quiet compassion.

"I still have to face Mordegon. You know that. When Yggdrasil deems me ready, I'm sure I will return to fulfill that destiny."