kingkingcxiii | Hugtopia Mailbox/Inbox

Oh Era, my darling...

[She's right about it upsetting him. How could it not? Even knowing parts of it from here and there doesn't soften the blow that having the whole thing out and the parts all in their proper places delivers.

He knew it was bad, but...]

It was not your fault. Not at all, but there is no way for a child to have known that. Not one so young.

[Oh, how he wishes he could hug her through these messages. Would Ardbert be upset if he just suddenly showed up at the door?]

At two years old the concept of death was not so easily understood. If I could just return his head to his shoulders... surely that would wake him up? But I was too small, and his horns too large and heavy.

In the end I survived, which was Nobuyuki's most fervent wish.

I was born too early, you know. My mother was a shinobi who never wanted me, but she loved my father. He saved her life, so she spared mine.

He was barely Noct's age and suddenly had this sickly little wisp of a newborn. Had he and my grandmother not been such skilled herbalists I surely would have died. The village didn't expect me to see my first birthday, but I did.

That was one of the memories I saw. My grandfather, Ganbold, sitting at the edge of a spring surrounded by blooming plum trees. She found stray petals in the mud and gave them to him. He scooped her into a hug and gave her a name from his culture.

My grandmother arrived shortly after, angry he stole me away on my birthday. He scooped her up into his arms, too, and carried both of his girls back home.

In a different memory I was much younger. A handful of months old, perhaps. I was teething on my grandfather's tail and he was delighted. My father came through the door and I saw him and smiled my first smile. I think you would have liked to see that memory. Auri babies are very cute, with their nubby little horns and tails.

Noctis was born early as well...

[There is a short pause before he continues because this similarity between her and Noctis reminds him of how what should have been a joyous event had turned into a sorrowful one. Perhaps it is fortunate for them both that she shares the cute memories she does next. After all, who could not be happy hearing about such precious memories?]

It makes me so happy to hear you have some joyful moments to think back on. I can't help but smile at the thought of you teething on your grandfather's tail. I never got to deal with Noctis teething, but perhaps that was for the best. I have no tail for him to chew on! I suspect if he had chewed on my fingers, they would never have been the same. Fingers are not so rugged as a tail is.

[Had he ever really thanked the nannies for seeing Noctis through that troubled time? If not, he really should.]

I didn't know Noct knew how to be early for anything.

[ She can't help but poke fun at Noctis' expense, hoping to lighten the mood somewhat. ]

I have one of his scales, if you would like to see it. I believe it's from his tail, as the shape is the same as my tail scales. My hair is like my father's and his mother's. Bàba and my grandfather ('Ga-böö', I called him, instead of Övöö) had much darker skin than I do, but they both had freckles like me.

How old was Noctis in your last memory from home?

[Regis smiles at Era's joke. Love of sleep is something everyone in the family seems to share.]

I would love to see it! Scales are such a wonderful way to keep a part of your loved ones with you. It must be comforting to be able to see yourself in them.

Noctis was a little over three when I was brought back here. Still young, but very much starting to become himself.

[ Her reply takes a bit longer than the norm, mostly because she had to fetch her grandfather's scale from where she keeps it safe.

She attaches a picture of her holding a dark, ebony scale on her palm that is nearly the size of her hand. She wasn't wrong when she said the patterning was identical to her own tail, and the similarity is especially easy to see in the second picture she sends, which is her holding his scale against her tail for comparison. ]

My grandfather was a Xaela, not a Raen, so his scales were very dark.

Ah so he hated vegetables already? :)

Astrals, it is beautiful! I can only imagine what a sight he must have been. It is quite similar to yours too. I see you weren't exaggerating that.

[It is much larger than Regis was expecting. He isn't sure why. Perhaps, because Era herself is so tiny.]

Oh yes. Already, I have had several chefs worry for their positions because they tried to sneak some vegetables into his food. I know it is a useless endeavor, but I do appreciate their attempts.

He was so tall too! Over seven fulms. Nobu was nearly as tall. My grandmother was tall for an auri woman as well. My biological family were all tall, yet I am small even for an auri woman.

The woman who birthed me had hair like silk soaked by jet black ink. Nobuyuki pressed a flower into a letter that was the colour of her eyes. They were a bright violet, with limbal rings the colour of rich plum skins. Her skin was like a pale lilac shadow, and the shape of her horns was like mine.

Her name was Sayuri. He loved her dearly. My grandparents didn't like her, but he understood her duty would always come first, you know?

I haven't told anyone else about her yet.

[ She has complicated feelings about her biological mother, but in the end Era knows she doesn't begrudge her what she did. She is the Crystal Bearer; the Warrior of Light. Duty and its constraints is something she understands all too well. ]

The poor chefs! 😂 I would like him to eat more vegetables for the healthy vitamins and minerals, but so long as he manages a balanced diet without them I am happy.

When you describe Sayuri like that she reminds me of my Aulea. She was small, but as bright as fierce as they come. If she had not passed so soon, Noctis would have been luckier than you, I suspect. Her duty was always to me and her son first, even when she knew that my duty had to be the Crystal and Lucis first. Perhaps, that is why she made her duty that.

[There is no way for him to know that for sure, but he can't help but know deep in his heart that it is the truth.]

Thank you for sharing her story with me. My family didn't like Aulea either, as you know, but that doesn't mean her story or Sayuri's should not be known and told to their children. I know I regret not telling Noctis more of Aulea back home. He should have known her better.

Had she loved Nobuyuki any less she would have ended my life before it began. This is why my grandparents disliked her.

[ She would rather Aulea not be compared to such a person. ]

[Those words make Regis draw in a hissing breath. It almost feels like he's been hit in the chest. No, despite some surface similarities her mother and Aulea were not alike at all then. Aulea had died for her son and never regretted it. The idea of losing their child would have killed her just as much as having him did.]

My dear, I am so sorry. I did not mean to upset you. I truly cannot imagine a parent feeling that way about their child.

I am not upset. I am alive, and have a Mother who loves me dearly as her beloved daughter.

That is all that matters, then.

[Regis feels as if he should say more, but feelings are a complicated matter, and ones like these even more so. As long as Era is happy, then he is content.]

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