Leave

It didn't take them long to pack the essentials. For most of them... Faivere came back quite a bit later than the others with quite a bit more stuff.

While they were packing, I secured myself a sword and all the coin from the town hall. I knew there was more to fighting with a sword than just swinging it, but I didn't know anyone who would teach me just yet.

I felt emotionally detached from the fact that I was looting from a ghost town. Maybe I'd done it enough in video games. Maybe I was just mentally detached to everything. A part of it had never felt real. That I would wake up in a modern hospital bed, and this was just a dream in a coma.

But thinking about that was for while I was alone. I reunited with the others. While the others had half of basket-pack each, Faivere apparently needed two whole basket-packs.

"I think you misinterpreted 'necessary', Faivere." Elengail pointed out.

"But... But we're probably not coming back. I can't bear to leave anything behind!"

Elengail seemed to calculate a retort, but I beat her to it. "She bring, she carry. Others split pack, share."

Faivere's face paled.

"That sounds fair," Elengail noted, "by the way, Argolex, where's your stuff? You aren't going like that, are you?"

"I am."

"No change of clothes? No..." Mayliam trailed off, thinking of what else a guy would pack.

"No. I have enough. We have bandages? Pan? Food?"

"I have those things in the pack with my stuff." Mayliam confirmed.

"I know I forget something."

"A change of clothes?"

I ignored the suggestion, reflecting on my previous life. I had gone camping a number of times there. Most of the things I could remember on the list didn't exist here yet. I guess I could bring a change or two of clothes. In case what I was wearing wore out. That made sense. I thought in silence for seventy-nine seconds.

Finally I conceded. "I get extra clothes while Faivere pick what bring and not bring."

Faivere started unpacking over the dinner table as I went around a corner to the bedroom I had been using for the past month.

It was ransacked, straw bed torn in pieces, with clothes and other belongings that I really had no claim to scattered across the floor. I hadn't been back in here since our return from the cave.

I didn't technically even need to pack anything. I could just magic up whatever I would need. But Kalamay's words echoed in my mind again, "when you've done all you can, ask."

If I didn't pack things, I would not have done all I could, so I dug through the mess for three changes of clothing with underwear. I specifically avoided my old clothes, the only modern-looking clothes in the whole village. I suspected there was at least one other set in the world.

I was done in minutes. I returned to find Faivere repacking one of the basket-packs with half of the things that she had previously packed. As it got more full, she seemed to get more panicked. She got to the point of holding a skirt up in each hand and asking the others for an opinion.

Tired of the show, I wordlessly packed my own clothes in the three-quarters-full bag that Mayliam had. I also put it on my back, draping my cloak over it to protect from the rain. I then walked out and sat on the front porch to wait for the others.

I leaned back gently, careful to not crush the basket between myself and the wall. The pattering of rain was a welcome distraction. It also seemed to be like a melodic lullaby, which I accepted partially.

I started two minutes and twenty-one seconds later when I heard the door open again.

The unnatural vision of my left eye told me that Mayliam and Kendalyn had come out to join me. Mayliam seemed a bit dejected, like a plan had been foiled. The expression changed immediately when Kendalyn made a gesture to me. Mayliam approached me.

"I help you?" I asked without moving from my surprisingly comfortable position or opening my eyes.

She carefully found the words she wanted, "Argolex, can I sit with you?"

"Yes?"

She didn't answer the questioning tone in my voice, instead sitting on the wooden porch next to me. She leaned her back against my left shoulder, blocking the stairs from the doorway. She sat looking up.

We sat in relative silence, listening to the rain, though I was wide awake now.

"Why do you think it rains?" she finally asked.

"I like one man say. He say 'rain is sky crying.'"

She paused, a combination of puzzling together what I said and pondering it. "I like it."

Elengail and Faivere came out with cloak-covered basket-packs. Mayliam bolted upright at the sight of the blonde girl.

"Are we ready to go?" Elengail asked.

"Yes." I replied.

Faivere seemed doubtful. "Why don't we wait for the rain to pass?"

"Animals hide. Monsters hide. We not fight when rain."

"Thats sound logic. Let's go, then." Elengail said.

"But... My boots are going to get all muddy!"

"You don't have to come, but we're going now." Elengail left the shelter of the porch. Mayliam, Kendalyn and I stood and followed without hesitation. Faivere hesitated for a moment. When she realized that we were really okay with leaving her behind, she ran to catch up.

"What happened to having everything?" Mayliam teased as we headed north, following a wagon path, "You went back and got stuff after you said that."

"I change mind. I not do all I can if I not bring stuff. Why ask gods things I have?"

"It's like Priestess Kalamay taught. Oh..." She broke off, seeing the pain in my face. Hearing her name was harder than I'd imagined.

The five of us continued for several minutes. The squelching of our boots, swishing of trees and patter of rain were the only sound. Once we entered the forest, the rain coming down on us was reduced by the trees.

Kendalyn glanced back where we came from longingly. They all did at different points, but Kendalyn the most so.

We had left home.