The Winds of the Past [Rune Factory 4]

Chapter 16

I slept late the next morning, enjoying the luxury of a comfortable bed after several nights of sleeping on a firm mat on the ground. Xiao brought up a breakfast tray to me after I'd risen, and I dined at my desk, sipping tea and tearing pieces off one of Lin's large, soft rolls. As I ate, I reread the translation work I'd finished so far to remind myself of where I'd left off, then I got to work on the remainder of the text. After the excitement of the past few days, though, I found it difficult to focus on such a quiet activity. So after a while, I set it aside and went to bathe and get some lunch.

At Porcoline's restaurant, I found Dylas waiting on tables. "Hey," he said as I came in. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thanks to Avani's healing skills. Speaking of whom, where is she? I haven't seen her around today."

"I'm not sure," he replied with a frown. "I've been working. Last I saw her, she was hurrying down the road on her way to Arthur's, probably for a meeting, but that was a few hours ago. I haven't talked to her since last night." He shrugged, then as he returned to work, he said, "I'm sure she's around. She just has a lot to do right now."

I was surprised, as I'd come to think of them as practically joined at the hip, and said, "Last night? I thought you'd spent the night with her."

He scowled slightly, replying, "No, didn't work out that way. She said she was tired and had a lot to think over and to do and that she needed some time to herself for a few days. So I'm back here in my room for now." Then he abruptly turned away, signaling an end to the conversation.

I didn't see her all that day, nor the next. I began to miss her—miss teasing her, her quick and clever comebacks, the way she'd blush when flustered or embarrassed, her sweet but frank and unabashed nature, her kindness, and most of all, her radiant smile. I wondered what kept her so busy that she couldn't spare a minute to stop by to say hi to me, or even to Dylas.

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On the third day, I spotted her in the lobby of the hotel, just emerging from the baths as I came down the stairs. I felt myself brightening up at the sight of her, and called a greeting to her. To my surprise, though, she just waved and quickly ran out the door without so much as a word to me. Startled, I stood pondering her strange behavior for a minute, then asked Xiao if she'd noticed Avani acting oddly recently.

She looked surprised, but thought it over before saying that she'd seemed pretty normal, just a little distracted. "But that is to be expected, yes? So much rests on her shoulders." she asked, giving me a curious look.

"Perhaps," I said, staring out the door where she'd disappeared, then looking down at Xiao with a smile. "I just hope she realizes she doesn't have to bear her burden alone."

After lunch, I asked Dylas if he wanted to go do some training that afternoon. "I don't know about you," I said, "But I want to keep in shape, and I haven't done much the past few days."

"Can't today," was the slightly terse reply. "Too busy with work."

"Oh?" I replied. "That's too bad. Guess I'll have to find someone else or go it alone, then—you're busy, and I haven't seen Avani around since we returned to town."

He looked at me sharply, saying, "You haven't?"

"No, why? Is something wrong?" I asked, feeling puzzled. "All I've seen of her was just her running out of the inn as I came downstairs. She didn't even return my greeting, beyond just a quick wave as she disappeared out the door. So I couldn't have said if she looked well or not."

Dylas looked at me sadly, then said, "I haven't seen much of her, either. She's been busy.... And whenever I do see her, she's preoccupied. I guess she really has a lot on her mind right now."