Ninth

Her encounter with Kieran left her emotionally spent. She didn't even notice how badly such a brief encounter drained her until after the brief flare of rage and frustration left her.

She wiped at her eyes, trying to rub away the dried tears and snot from her face.

She looked a terrible mess, and she didn't have any tissues to fix it with.

It was easy to say she'd just ignore Kieran, not care what he had to say...but the words he said spoke to her own insecurities. It wasn't like what he said was that...wrong, after all.

Adrien was sweet and kind, and they were only friends, but...was she just..doing the same thing? Getting swept up like a fool again, only to get used again.

She didn't have much experience with love or lovers in her life back home. She was too busy working, or too busy hiding out as a NEET, to dress up and get attention from men. And the men here were so beautiful.

It felt a little like she was star-struck just looking at them.

It was so easy to get swept up and away, believing flattery was actually some indicator of love. She'd even fallen for something as obvious and textbook playboy as Kieran.

If Adrien were just...

She wasn't sure she knew what she'd do if that...

She hesitated.

Maybe I should just...go back to my room, sulk, and not come out of it today. Adrien doesn't really need my company...

"Keybearer?"

A voice called from behind her, and she turned to look.

It was an elderly servant man. He smiled warmly and bowed to her.

"I wished...to thank you. For coming to our lands. For promising to offer protection. There is little one such as I can offer in gratitude but...your appearance is...greatly appreciated."

He gestured at himself and two other servants approaching, an older woman, and an elderly woman leaning on a cane.

"We may be old but..." He gestured toward the woman with the cane, who beamed up at her, despite her cloudy white eyes. "Madame Lydia wishes to meet the one who holds such promise."

The blind woman held out her hand. "My dear. I have...waited so many decades. To be blessed to live long enough to meet the Keybearer..."

She tentatively reached out, clasping the woman's hand lightly between hers. "...Me? That's...really flattering but..." She laughed a little to herself. "I can't do anything special. I might be called the Keybearer, but really I..."

Lydia patted her hand. "Just by being here, you show your kindness. To an old woman like me...that is the greatest power of all. You will accomplish great things. In time. The keys will come to you, and you will come to them. It is as the Keybearer shall be."

The other two servants nodded. "You bless our world with your arrival. The greatest gift we could wish for was to meet the Keybearer one day. To witness the one who would save us, even if it means great difficulty ahead..."

The elder woman took hold of her hands in her wrinkled ones as the old man continued speaking.

"To protect the Keybearer and ensure her safety is the greatest honor we could be afforded." He bowed to her.

"Although there is little we can offer in the way of protection anymore, know that we will put in all of our efforts to ensure than any you desire you have, any need, will be fulfilled!"

"B-but I..." She pulled away. "I'm not anyone special! I'm just..." Her shoulders drooped. "Someone who fell here by chance...I don't think that I-"

Lydia chuckled. "There is no such thing as chance." The blind woman patted her arm. "Fate has chosen you."

She looked up at her with a sightless gaze, and smiled. "You cannot escape the flow of fate. None of us can, my dear. Fate weaves us all together into a stunning picture. And you...are the golden thread it's chosen to weave our world around."

She put her hand on her head, rubbing at her hair as she looked away from them. "...But..."

She rubbed her eyes and looked away. Everything they said was...lovely. Reassuring. Kind. But it was...hard to compare it to the reality she lived just now.

"I...can't do anything. I don't know how to find the keys or use magic and I'm just...some useless girl."

"You've given us hope, Child." The other woman gently touched her shoulder and squeezed it.

"Even if we do not see the keys or magic with our own eyes. If you remain, you bring us light, Keybearer. Your existence means this world has hope."

Lydia smiled and nodded, reaching over and touching her forearm. "Please. Stay strong and fight, and have faith. Our world is a better place with you here. And though...we may only be old servants, close to death, your existence brings us hope."

She laughed awkwardly, wiping at her face to rid herself of the fresh new wave of tears their kind words brought her. "I...I should be the one thanking you..."

Lydia tilted her head curiously.

"All of you." She looked at the three. "If you hadn't all said such kind things..." She glanced at her feet and shook her head. "...Well. I just...it helped...me, more than you know."

The three bow once more, and the old man speaks. "When I go to my grave I will do so happily, knowing I helped the Keybearer."

"Geez...!" She covered her face, hiding it in her hands. "That's so...!"

Lydia nodded in agreement. "Come, my children." She took the arm of the man, who assisted her as the elderly trio turned to leave.

..The Keybearer...really does make people happy, doesn't she?

She could hardly believe it.

But...

She glanced down at the ground and allowed herself a small smile.

I'm more...than just what Kieran says.

She nodded, drew in a breath, and marched back to her room.

It didn't dispel every insecurity she felt but...

She did feel better.