Chapter 35 - The Calm Before (2)

[POV - MIYU]

"Magic is a scam"

"Aren't I supposed to be Super Woman or something now? Like Jennifer Walters or something? Then why am I cooped in this ward like A CRI-[REDACTED]"

Similar complaints and whines echoed in the ward. Many of them were worse, mixed in English and some other strange language.

"GIATI PONAEI TOSO KAKO, TI EINAI AUTI TI CHALIA APATI, TI GAMAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Then there were the odd shrieks of pain. Those who walked in the hallway by the room were spooked. So many, the rumors of a strange new Fyrrath that had somehow infiltrated the outpost spread.

Fortunately, it was only Miyu having her first Mana Overdraw. 

37 system hours later, for better or for worse, the shrieking eventually subsided. And preparations for an inevitable evacuation continued.

Miyu was resting in the bed, when a certain Varric entered through the door.

"Has no one ever taught you how to knock?"

"Knock what?" He replied.

"Knock on the door, before entering. Basic etiquette? Ever heard of it?"

"What's....eTEEE-ket? is that how you say it? A custom from your home world perhaps?"

Hearing the word 'Home', Miyu became silent, previously irritable due to a lack of sleep and pain, but now....she became pensive. 

'Home'

She hadn't heard nor seen home in nearly 8 months. 8 earth months anyway. She missed home. Her room, her violin. Her orchestra friends. Her dog.

She missed Olive. Her fuzzy wuzz-

"Miyu?"

A voice, a tired one. It broke her out of her trance.

"Hm?"

"What's wrong?"

She looked up from the sheets she was laying in, and took a look at his face. He looked no older than the average 20 year old. Yet, he felt older. Lines of wrinkles here and there, mostly on his forehead. The most noticeable was something everyone who was part of the had now developed.

Miyu included.

Heavy eyebags, from a serious lack of sleep. 

"What's Eteeket?"

'Close enough' she thought. She wasn't going to go ahead and correct him. She wasn't bothered enough.

"Etiquette. Something's we do, just basic politeness, back on Earth"

"Earth? Is that from where you hail?"

"Yeah" Miyu said, a bit...down?

Varric picked up on the que. He was thick,but not that thick. So he switched the topic.

Varric's expression softened as he changed the subject, sensing Miyu's somber mood. "So, how are you feeling now? Better, I hope?"

Miyu nodded, offering a small smile. "Yeah, much better, thanks. Just... adjusting, I guess."

He nodded in understanding, taking a seat beside her bed. "It's a lot to take in, especially for someone new to magic. But you'll get the hang of it."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I hope so. It's just... overwhelming, you know?"

Varric nodded sympathetically. "I understand. Magic can be a double-edged sword. It grants power, but it also comes with its own set of problems."

"It's give and take a the end of the day."

She tilt her head at him, amused.

Miyu looked at him curiously. "You seem to know a lot about magic. Are you a mage?"

He chuckled softly. "Not exactly. I'm more of a... jack of all trades, you could say. But I've picked up a thing or two along the way."

She smiled faintly, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. "Well, I'm glad you're here. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

Then the smile smile faded, as if it wasn't there.

"Why are you really here Varric? You're not here to see how I'm doing"

Miyu had gone through a lot in the last 8 months. From bring dropped into alien world, to fighting monsters considered alien, even on an ALIEN world. Often betrayed, scammed, stolen from. Once even left for dead, by a party of 'Pathfinders' she had know for a month.

Too much, she had been through. 

She had grown a lot, and not of her own accord.

She knew better than to trust first impressions by now.

Varric's smile slowly faded, hearing her cold words. Internally he grimaced. 

'I should've left this to Bob....or Bearof. Goddess help me, even Leahna would've been a better pic for this.' he thought.

'Well, here goes nothing' he though as he took in a deep breath and looked at her evenly.

"You're right, I'm not here from the kindness of my heart."

"I could tell"

"....w...we're planning to evacuate the outpost."

"...I see"

"Hm...the nearest out-the nearest INTACT outpost, is nearly 300 kilometers away. The carriages, albeit damaged, can get us there. The issue is-"

"They're not fast enough" she continued.

Varric nodded. The carriages were the same ones from the original caravan, but from the occasional run-ins they had with fyrraths on the way to the outpost had worn them down. Still functional, but slower.

Too slow for his taste. Too slow to be safe.

"So in order to make sure the main contingent of civilians remains safe... the combatants will stay behind"

Miyu's eyes widened in surprise, yet internally, she was half expecting something like this. They weren't going to last at this rate, so it was better to evacuate. But...

"Your wondering why the combatants will stay behind right?"

In truth, Varric was apprehensive of the plan too. In the beginning.

Initially, everyone was to pack up, and leave together. But after the mechanics...or what was left of them, had inspected the remaining carriages, they determined they wouldn't be able to outrun Siege.

So Bearof had made an alteration. The remaining survivors would split. Most of the combat capable ones would remain to stave of the waves of Siege, while a select few would remain with the civilian group for assurance. 

The ones who remained would hopefully act as a distraction. Hopefully.

Varric snapped out of his thoughts when Miyu voiced a reply.

"I'm assuming you're asking me to stay behind with you?"

"No"

Miyu raised an eyebrow, skeptical of Varric. And he answered back with an amused look of his own.

"What? You think we'd need the help of a fledgling? One who's barely grasped her path?"

"Yes?"

"Well, then you thought wrong. Bearof- no, not even I am that foolish. The spectacle you put on last time was nothing short of a miracle. And that came at the cost of overdrawing your mana too." he said, a bit exasperated at her attitude. 

There was no doubt, she was definitely a Traveler.

And with such a peaceful attitude, it could only mean that her home world was peaceful. At least more peaceful than his. He was jealous.

Very jealous. What would a life be, when not forced to wield mana and blade? 

Yet he was also filled with pity. Without the conditions of his world, he wouldn't have found strength. And he knew without strength, little was possible.

This difference in mindsets, between the two in the room really showed that they were actual worlds apart.

"No Miyu, we want you to go with the contingent of civilians. Fyrraths would be sparse, with us holding them back." he said

"I see" she replied

"And you will be part of those who stay behind?" 

He smiled wryly.

"Yes"

She became silent. She contemplated his words.

He became silent, watching her process his words.

For a brief moment, silence ensued. A much needed silence.

"When?" she said

Varric took a moment to compose himself before responding to Miyu's question. His expression softened, though the weight of their situation still lingered in his eyes.

"We're aiming to begin the evacuation within the next system hour," he replied, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "The sooner we can get everyone moving, the better chance we have of reaching the outpost safely."

Miyu nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Despite her reservations, she knew that she had to trust in their plan. It was their best chance of survival, even if it meant facing the dangers that awaited them outside the fortress walls.

"Understood," she said, her voice resolute. "I'll do whatever I can to help with the evacuation."

Varric offered her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Miyu. Your willingness to help means a lot to us."

"Hm" she said, noncommital.