the wings that you burn turn to ashes, my dear

runicmagitek

“When Darill died,” he said, “it fell to me to see to her final arrangements. The idea of burying her in the ground, to cover her soul with rocks and dirt, never sat right with me. She deserves to be among the stars.”

She knew what this was, now. When Setzer called the Falcon a tomb, he wasn’t kidding. He’d lovingly restored his friend’s crashed airship and laid her to rest among the ruins. He never expected to return. To bring the Returners to this place — to bring her, a former General — spoke of a courage Celes hadn’t known Setzer possessed.

Celes glanced away. In another life, this might have been Darill’s room. She imagined a proud, tall woman lounging at that desk, feet kicked up, a map of the world spread before her. Setzer spoke of her with such admiration, no wonder walking the halls of the Falcon felt akin to sharing space with a ghost.

The words were heavy on her tongue. “What do you need from me?” she asked.

runicmagitek

His hands were gentler than she expected. He ran his fingers through the strands first, tugging gently whenever he encountered a tangle. Every so often, his fingertips would brush over the back of her neck. Every time, she shuddered. Celes closed her eyes, wondering what he looked like behind her.

Was he smirking still? Was he enjoying himself? Did he think she was some silly, foolish girl who didn’t know how to braid her own hair? The thoughts would eat her alive if she let them.

Having been here several times over the years, a few people nodded to her as she passed, while others did a double take at the light armor she wore and her sword at her side. Creatures still roamed the countryside and Celes would never be caught defenseless. Her cloak billowed behind her as she walked, the royal seal of Figaro clasped at her shoulder, but Celes wasn’t here on business.

The orphanage had its own building now, a modest two story house with plenty of windows. A vegetable garden filled the front yard, tomatoes on the vine almost ready to pick, mirroring the strawberry plants on the other side. Already, she could hear voices coming from the backyard. Bypassing the door, Celes made her way around the side of the building, a route she knew by heart.