Argoll

"I am not cruel to myself. I simply fail to see the beauty in a world that is so full of destruction and contradictions. I do forgive you but in return, you'll have to forget me. You've lost the right to remember my name. Still, I want you to look forward to the day we meet again. Maybe, when that day comes, I won't be so filled to the brim with hatred."

************

When I regained conscious, I was being dragged away in the snow. It was the same scent, the same warmth, the same golden hair tickling my neck, as that day. Even though, I was awake, I let her drag me through the cold. She breathed heavily every time she carried her feet to the next step. The snow was piling up quite a bit.

I felt a faint numbness in my body, I was completely exhausted. My mind was relaxed though, I knew we'd succeeded in coming back. As for Lubbock, I could never find myself worrying much for him. Perhaps because he seemed so strong that he could do anything. Then again, I would even get concerned about Chopper sometimes. It wasn't that I hated Lubbock that I didn't care for him. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

In any case, when it became way too difficult for her to drag me and I could see she was beginning to lose her footing, I finally straightened up and grabbed hold of her instead.

"Ah!", her voice barely escaped in the cold.

She looked at my face, surprised, worried, but smiling. I smiled back, the best I could do for now. We helped each other back to the inn. The master of the tavern quickly moved us to a warmer place and gave us blankets. When he was done tucking us in, he went to get something warm to eat.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save Serena", I could feel my voice returning.

She looked at me with an exhausted look on her face. I was reminded of the last time I saw her. Suddenly, I felt grateful to be able to see her alive.

"I'm glad you're alright", she said in a low voice.

I wondered if it was the truth. It had to be, right? After all, she dragged me all the way back.

"Where did you find me?", I asked.

"In the temple."

She seemed too exhausted to give me any details. So I didn't ask her anything. I just waited until the old man came back. He served us his utterly bland stew. But just the warmth of it was enough to fill me up. The old man left us. I looked over at her. The color returned to her cheeks as she held the steaming bowl close to her face.

"Are you okay?", I asked.

She remained silent a few moments, carrying a painful look on her face.

"He burned the temple", she muttered.

"He?"

"Lubbock. He put them all to rest", her expression intensified, "He finally saved Agartha, huh?"

I don't think Miss Traveler ever learned about the whole truth. She didn't seem interested in it even when I got around to talking about it. She didn't care much for the past.

"I don't have much time. I'll be leaving here soon", she'd always been saying.

So perhaps, she didn't care for a story like that. Lubbock didn't show up that night, but from what she'd told me, he was alright. She soon went to sleep, snug beside the fireplace. I sat on the opposing sofa all snug too and ready to doze off. But I kept staring at her for a long time after she fell asleep.

I was sure now, that she was the one who saved me on the mountain. I wanted to ask her many things but I wasn't sure she would answer me. So I silently stared at her until the old tavern owner came around.

"Wouldn't you like to move up to your room, son?", he asked.

"I think I'm alright here", I didn't want to be deprived of the view I had here.

"Be more comfy up there, though", he perhaps didn't like how I didn't take my eyes off of the girl for even a second. I, on my part, didn't even care what he thought anymore.

"No, I'll stay here."

"A'right then, suit yerself", he began to go away.

"Ah, there's one thing", I stopped him, "that I wanted to ask."

"Hmm?"

"How do you know Serena's name?", I doubt she herself had told him.

"Why, that's what my father called her. And his father before him."

Indeed, Serena had been around a long time, perhaps a century.

"How'd they know her real name?"

"Ain't weird, I'd say. Considerin' my grandfather's the one who named her."

"Your grandfather? Why would he?"

"Aren't you bit daft? And what's with all the questions? Hell if I know why he did what he did."

He began to walk away.

"By any chance, ", I had a hunch, "was your grandfather called Argoll?"

"Hmm? That, he was. How come you know?"

I chuckled to myself. Doctor Ema didn't know but Argoll had been closer than she'd imagined. I suppose he didn't leave her after all. I wondered if he knew what Ema had done to their daughter. I wonder if he died knowing what was to come for his daughter, what was already happening. I wonder what he was thinking, what he felt about that. I wonder if he regretted anything.

All these questions that could never be answered filled my head until I too, was headed for the land of dreams.