#Sticking this kind of in endgame so like before the party actually heads to Tarqaron because why not

[talesofourworlds]

While the rest of Brave Vesperia rested up in Capua Torim, Raven found himself restless. Just restless enough to wander north with the intention of coming back later, it seemed. They'd be pretty mad at him if he didn't, and he didn't blame them after the stunts he'd pulled in the past. Still, Raven hadn't been able to settle. He needed the fresh air and a change of scenery.

Truth be told, his mind had been wandering back to certain things as of late. After encountering Gauche and Droite the way they had some time ago, finding a certain compact, trading it for the bow... it was hard not to think about the war. About her and the others they had lost. How he should have been among them, but hadn't because Alexei had needed someone. He'd just happened to be the someone that was fortunate enough to be brought back. Or unfortunate, as it felt some days. He'd promised Brave Vesperia he would live, though, and so live he did. Because that was what the rest of his old friends would want too, wasn't it?

Such thoughts left Raven a bit preoccupied as he walked, unaware of his surroundings except for what he happened to catch here and there, and so he was unaware of another presence until he happened to look up. When he did, he froze. Pale blue hues widened as he caught sight of the familiar brunette before him.

He'd had dreams of scenarios like this. Dreams were so fleeting, though, and he feared this was another one of them. His mouth opened, then closed again, only to open again with no sound to follow. He knew her. At least, he thought he did. Unless Casey happened to have a twin sister hidden away somewhere that she'd never mentioned, he felt certain. And yet... what if it wasn't? People could have doppelgängers somewhere in the world, right? That was a thing? What if that was what this was? She hadn't broached conversation with his name, so... what if she just didn't know him?

What ifs. All of these what ifs wouldn't get him the answers he was looking for. Tentative steps were taken closer. One, then another, until he stopped again. Then she spoke, and any doubt he felt vanished in that single instant. Her voice was just the same as he remembered.

It was like she'd stepped out of a dream.

"Casey...?" He hoped. Hoped that this was as real as it felt. Hoped nothing would come and snatch away this one, singular moment. Hoped beyond hope that he wasn't about to make an even bigger idiot of himself than he often felt.

༶♡༶ @talesofourworlds ♡ ೃ༄

༶♡༶ A small village a little ways to the north of Capua Torim, to most it was an insignificant place not even marked on the map but to Casey it was her place of solace. A place she had somehow find herself in long after the day she should've died. Yet it was if her time had come to a complete stand still.

༶♡༶ The first few weeks she had spent moping around, mourning the lost of everyone she had ever loved and cared for. There was the guilt and self loathing. Yet over time she had acclimated a bit to her surroundings. The villagers gave her a sense of comfort and reason to live on.

༶♡༶ This day had been like most of her newfound days patroling the surroundings for monsters or bandits followed by the occasional trip to Capua Torim. Yet it felt as if fate had plans to throw her life off course, she could feel the piercing gaze of another.

༶♡༶ ❝Do you need something?❞ the bruntette questions, turning to face the other. His eyes were the same mesmerizing shade as Damuron but he was dead... They all were. Maybe she had stumbled upon his brother? What a tragic coincidence.