Chapter Text
It was so stupid.
Why was she up at three in the morning thinking about him?
Late night study sessions were more the norm than the exception for Rinwell, but this time she wasn't awake because she was delving into seven different tomes to find a shared connection for an ancient discovery. No, instead, she was laying in bed, staring angrily up at the ceiling while her heart could not settle down and her mind kept circling back to him. She couldn't surmise why. He was annoying. He was interested in other girls. He could never love someone like her. And he was the world's most daft and dense idiot.
With an annoyed huff, she decided to go for a walk. If I'm not going to get any sleep, I might as well find some kind of distraction. She couldn't focus on her books or studies, so a walk in the brisk night (or early morning?) air could do her some good. She wondered if she would encounter Hootle out hunting.
Even after the twin worlds merged, Menancia remained a pleasantly temperate climate. It certainly turned a little more cold in the winter and a little more hot in the summer than it used to, but still within a comfortable range. It was late winter, spring just around the corner, and she didn't need a coat or even her boots. She walked out in the grass fields barefoot, something she could never enjoy all her years growing up surrounded by snow and ice. Law called her crazy for walking around barefoot when he passed by Traslida highway one day, and-
Rinwell let out an infuriated shout. I'm supposed to NOT be thinking of Law! Curse her brain! Why was it broken and continually thinking of the one person who annoyed her the most?! She heard a cry on the wind and observed some hawk zeugles headed her way. Perfect, she thought, a violent distraction. Harnessing her magic was the easiest way to get her mind on something else and let out some aggression.
Her astral artes easily took down the three giant fowls, however, three against one still meant she ended up with a nasty talon scratch on her upper right arm. As she held the injury tight, blood oozing between her fingers, she vividly remembered the source of her constant thoughts of Law. Several weeks ago, he finished an escort in Viscint, but when she saw him he had several injuries that were a cause for concern.
"It's fine, I'm in Menancia now, so either Shionne or Dohalim can heal me," he had said with a dismissive wave of a hand. "Whoever is less busy, I guess. Or if Dohalim is even here. I don't know where the boss is anymore."
"Tsch, you're one to talk." She crossed her arms but couldn't keep the frown on her face. "I... I never know where you're at unless you happen to be near Viscint."
"That's kind of the nature of being an escort or going on zeugle hunts." He rubbed at the back of his neck but quickly winced in pain from the motion.
"Okay, seriously, Law. You need to see a medic, now. I've never seen so much blood on you before." Her words were supposed to come out reprimanding, but she couldn't help the tremble near the end of her observation.
"Oh don't worry, I've been through much worse than this," he said so nonchalantly Rinwell wasn't sure if she should be indignant or sick.
"Law!! That only makes me worry more! You're — one of these days you'll get yourself killed! Can't you please take this seriously?!"
He blinked a few times, taken aback by her words. "I... sorry. I just — I didn't want you to worry."
"Well good job, because now I'm going to wonder every day if you're dead in the wildness because you were too reckless in a fight."
In the present, Rinwell sighed. "So much for not thinking about Law." But she realized now why she couldn't get him off her mind, and why she laid wide awake all night worrying. I'm worried for his safety. Which... meant she cared for the idiot, at least a little bit. Just as friends though. It's nothing more than that. She reasoned through her denial with the example of how she would worry the same for Alphen or Shionne or Kisara or Dohalim. All of them could be reckless in their own ways as well.
And yet, she only actively worried about Law.
Winter finally shed the last of her icy grip, trees slowly beginning to bud in pretty shades of white and pink. It was strange to see spring in Calaglia, where Law was so used to seeing everything arid and barren year round. Calaglia was certainly still the hottest region, but each season changed a little bit. Even summers, which were closest to the old Calaglia, had far more plant life and various green pastures. It was strange — having grass instead of just dirt and rock and sand.
Cyslodia mostly remained the same, which didn't surprise Law much considering most of the region was high up in the mountains. The snow did eventually melt in the summer though, and there were faint traces of spring and fall. Unfortunately the people of Cyslodia mostly remained the same as well. Their hearts did not want to thaw and tensions were still tight. It was nowhere near as bad as when Ganabelt and the Snake Eyes were around, but most everyone remained cautious, distrusting, and vindictive. He did what he could to help Bregon whenever he passed through, but some days Law felt like fixing Cyslodia was a lost cause. That damn viper had his fangs in too deep for too long.
It was always a pleasant respite to reach Menancia. Law enjoyed the warmth and the abundance of flora. The trees were in bloom, petals gently scattering in the refreshing breeze. He wasn't sure why, but Viscint felt more like home in a way he could not explain. Calaglia had his childhood memories, but a lot of those memories were more painful than not. Menancia must have felt that way because it was a fresh start, in a sense. Much like the blossoming trees, Menancia felt like the promise of spring. It was like leaving the dearth of winter behind to embrace new life.
But when he reached Viscint, he was greeted with an exceptionally furious Rinwell.
Oh shit.
She carried a few large books in her arms as she stormed over to him, her heavy footsteps crashing like thunder. He could almost feel the static electricity coming off her, thunder blade likely in reserve to use at a moment's notice. Damn, Rinwell can be terrifying sometimes. As his mind ran through all the possibilities of what he could have done wrong to make her so upset, Rinwell finally reached him and carefully set down her books before slapping him across the face.
"W-What was that for??" he asked, holding a hand against the slap mark with his jaw agape.
"You know exactly what warranted that," she snapped with furrowed brows. He swore her golden eyes looked more stormy, like electricity crackling to life.
"I don't, actually, which is why I'm asking."
Rinwell let out a loud sigh-groan, as if the answer were painfully obvious. It was definitely painful, but Law had no idea what could have made her so indignant this time. Then her features quickly softened and her eyes became wet and on the verge of tears. "I haven't seen you in six weeks, Law." She pressed her lips into a thin line, hands clutched at her sides. "I had no idea if you were okay, if — if you were even alive!"
Oh. Yeah, that's something to be upset about.
Law released an uncomfortable hum, gently rubbing his burning cheek. "I seriously didn't really notice how much time has passed... I've been super busy helping fix the trade routes between Calaglia, Ganath Haros, and Cyslodia. They want to have everything improved before spring hits, and it's already here."
She stood so still, her eyes wounded. He wasn't sure what to say, or if he should try comforting her. She looked so lost.
"Rinwell-"
"I get it, I do." She bit her lower lip and took in a deep breath. "But not even Alphen, Shionne, Kisara, or Dohalim knew if you were okay in the last few weeks. None of us have heard from you or seen you in that time. I..." Her eyes lowered to the ground, the tears accumulating as her voice lowered. "I wasn't sure if... if you were in a dark place again..."
He took a step closer, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Hey... I don't want you to worry like that... but I'm not sure what else I can do. Sometimes my jobs keep me away and I can't just take a week detour to visit Menancia every so often. Do you have any ideas?"
She looked up at him, her expression utter disbelief. "Law. There's this invention called writing letters."
"Oh. Right. Yeah. Yeah, do you want me to write you if I can't visit?"
She sighed and placed a hand over her face, then started laughing. "You're insufferable, you know that?"
"I am well aware," he said with a grin. "Shall we pinkie-promise it? The letter writing thing?"
It was her turn to blink several times in confusion, her lips in a frown as her brows lowered. "A what now?"
"You've never heard of a pinkie-promise??? It's like the most basic way of creating an unbreakable pact with someone."
"No? I'm a mage who grew up in a secluded village in Cyslodia, in case you forgot."
"For some reason I keep forgetting that." He frowned in one corner of his mouth. "It's hard to believe you were there that long. Just a few years destroyed me."
"I wasn't exactly in the Snake Eyes though," she added.
"Right, just a mage who was persecuted for existing."
Though she smacked him in the ribs, she couldn't stop laughing. "Okay, are you going to tell me what this super secret pinkie-promise thing is?"
"Alright, it's real simple." He released her shoulders and held out his right hand with the pinkie finger extended towards her. "All you do is lock pinkie fingers and that seals the promise."
"Huh." She put out her hand and her tiny pinkie wrapped around his. "So this means you promise you'll write me occasionally? Like at least every few weeks?"
He gave her a nod. "Mmhmm. And if I don't keep my promise, depending on the region you come from, you can either break my pinkie finger or amputate it!"
"Eww, Law!!" She withdrew her hand as if she just participated in something vile. He was surprised at how deflated he felt when her hand left his. "So which one is it for Calaglia?"
"Breaking."
"And Cyslodia?"
"Amputating, of course."
She let out a disappointed sigh. "I should have seen that one coming."
They both laughed and Law realized how much he missed her and the sound of her joy. He wondered if she missed him too. He supposed in time he would know through their exchanged letters: if Rinwell's request had less to do with worry for his well-being and more to do with missing his presence. He couldn't quite imagine her wanting him to be around her more, but here she was reprimanding him for not doing so. He could really use a break after all his traveling, so he figured he might as well spend time with Rinwell.
"Do you have something you're studying?" He gestured to the books on the ground and quickly picked them up for her. "We could go chill in the library where you can yap all about your nerdy stuff and I can catch you up on what I've been doing, if you'd like?"
She blinked a few times, her cheeks as rosy as the spring blossoms, a small smile forming on her lips.
"I'd like that very much."
