Book Four – Chapter Six – Welcome Back!

Servi’s return was not foreshadowed with any trumpets. There weren’t any bells or whistles, no pomp and circumstance to indicate she was back. The angels—the servants of the Gods and Goddesses—would not come down to the mortal world and soar amongst the clouds to herald the completion of healing.

She was simply locked away within her mind. And then suddenly, she was out.

It was simple as that, possibly indicating Servi was a simple girl when broken down to her bare essentials.

“Servy? Servy?!?!” Without any warning at all, Momo dove from her position and tacked Servi to the bed. The two bounced up and down, causing the mattress to out in a modicum amount of effort.  Momo cried Servi’s name many times over, continuing far past the point where it became funny and odd to say.

A pair of brown bags went for a flight, causing about forty colorful gummies to scatter every which way. A friendly Goddess absorbed them all before they had a chance to slap against the floor.

“Servy!!! Servy!!!”

“Mosie…” replied Servi. She hugged her faithful protector even harder and cried harder.

“That’s the first time you’ve said my name in a long time!!!” Momo’s voice was quite muffled, but Servi understood every little thing she said. “I’ve been waiting for this to happen for a long time!!! Servy!!!!”

The emotional reunion lasted a good while, with both girls eagerly saying the other’s name. Eventually, the passionate atmosphere died down, and all that was left was the deep breaths of a girl in love.

“Mosie… I’m back…” Servi whispered.

Momo lifted up and stared at Servi in the face. With a smile that could illuminate the darkest voids, she said two simple words. “Welcome home!”

They continued to stare into the other’s eyes.

“You…took care of me…didn’t you? You…were always there beside me… Even…while I was trapped in the darkness of my inner mind, I still felt something warm… It was so friendly…and I can’t put a name as to what it was…but I most certainly know who it was… Mosie, you’re my best friend…” It did not take long for the emotions to flow a second time. Servi explained that she was enclosed in a void devoid of warmth or sentiments. It was just pure nothingness in its most basic form.

Then suddenly, she explained that a pink cat appeared from a burst of pink energy. Its glow was the only source of light, and she felt a primal desire to follow it to safety. She waded around the clotting emptiness, wading through the stillness of an empty vacuum. Every so slightly, the pink cat would grow in size. And with that came an increase in the warmth it emitted.

The darkness was being cast away. The very state of emptiness was destroyed in front of her very eyes. An indiscriminate amount of time later, the cat had grown into a tremendously beautiful fox with nine tails. Still, she explained it carried the same feeling she got whenever it was still a simple cat. Eventually, Servi reached the fox. That was when energy coming from it blasted away the hollowness that was the curse keeping her from taking on a completed form. With a mighty growl, the fox destroyed the space, removing the darkness from existence while bringing back the lovely crimson that was her soul.  For the briefest moment, Servi's spiritual existence caught wind of a very familiar Humanoid-like shape of red energy.

This Goddess was listlessly floating around, and while Servi didn't say anything to Momo about this part specifically, Itarr acted in a moment of selfishness and asked for something. Servi nodded, and that was when the world returned to her eyes, sound came to her ears, and scents entered her nose. Moments later, she had found the bag of delicious sweets and started to chow down.

“It was…very abstract… And even as I explained it, I can’t be sure that was what actually happened. Still…if it wasn’t for that cat and fox. If it wasn’t for you, I mean… I don’t know if I would have ever recovered.”

Ah… The Momo inside of me… You helped out my Servy… Thank you… Thank you so much for doing that…

“You’re my closest friend, Servy. I’ll always take care of you… Forever and ever. You’re my bestest best bestest friend!!” Those embarrassing words were a proclamation from the very heart that thumped so wildly within her breast. A thumping noise was also the direct response she made because her tail endlessly bashed into the mattress.

After another heartfelt hug, the two girls got off the bed and sat back down. They just simply stared at each other while Momo asked a crushing question.

“Do…you remember anything?”

“I do not… The last thing I know is you holding me… Next thing? I’m right here on the bed with two brown bags. Can you tell me what happened? Did I miss anything…?”

She really doesn’t remember anything at all… I guess that’s kind of good because of my lackluster confession…but it also means the fun times we had, the cuddling, the sleeping together… It’s all gone… And I have to tell her that stuff… But when… And does this mean I won’t be able to share a bed with her tonight? It’s going to be awfully lonely… Maybe…I can wish for a miracle? I have something crazy planned…but it just might work…

Momo then began to recant the days of their lives. Starting from the walk home from Arcton, Sea, Jeri, the incident with Fisher, the dinner at Claire’s house, and so on. She left no stone unturned and bridge uncrossed. She did chuckle a bit at Servy’s extreme surprise at having been cast in a play.

There was a see-through blanket cast over their entire time together… Well, almost. There were a few exceptions. The friendship kisses, the snuggles, and the sharing of a bed. Momo had a sneaky plan formulating in her mind, and it was one that had no negative outcome.

Servi, meanwhile, quietly listened and waited until the very end to speak. During which, she did not fail to notice the hand that sneaked over to her lip. And when Servi gingerly touched it with her fingers, it came to life and interlocked its fingers around hers. A soft smile birthed to life on the girls’ faces.

Unfortunately, it had to be ruined. Servi’s remarks for Silverado and Desperado weren’t favorable at all. She absolutely couldn’t believe the nice men she had known—the very two that she would have risked her life to save had something so horrible to her friend. Poor Srassa didn’t deserve that kind of treatment at all.

“I know how you feel. But Servy… I think it’s wrong to immediately take everything at face value… And I know you know why I feel like this… I want to believe Srassa wouldn’t have lied to us. But it’s just after…”

Servi grabbed the hand she held and brought it to her face. Then she leaned in and embraced Momo one more time. “I know… Mosie,” she whispered into her ear.

“Yeah?”

“Let’s do our best to give Srassa the experience of a lifetime. Let’s show Silverado and Desperado that they made an awful mistake by kicking her out.”

“Right! I’m right there with you!”

Servi moved back from the hug, but her hands were still on Momo’s shoulders.

“And… I guess I need to apologize to Fisher… And I better thank Claire for the delicious meals, Fisher for coming to handle Sea and Jeri, Dineria for being awesome, and Srassa for being so kind to prepare that trip for us… Well, I have a whole list of people to thank…” Her hands drifted down her friend's arms, stopping right when they reached her opened palms. Instead of snatching them into a loving grip, she just rested her palms right on them. Momo didn’t mind that. In fact, she probably liked it better than normally holding hands because this way, her five fingers got to enjoy the max amount of Servi. “Mosie… Do you think that there can be peace between Arty and us…? When I took his friend's gear, it couldn’t have possibly ended without his death…”

“Servy…” Momo took a second and said what she thought was best, then apologized and said she didn’t know the right words. “I don’t think there are any magic words to say in a situation like that… The only thing I can say are the facts. He attacked us, and we left him with nothing…”

“I suppose someone could argue that he wouldn’t have died had he not tried to steal your bag… But I am tired of being enemies with him… Maybe we don’t have to be friends, but walking by without us at the other’s throats seems like a good of a start as any… But did I really get signed up for a play?”

“Yep! It was actually your decision. Here’s the script. Oh, and opening night is tomorrow evening. Your role is Crying Noise. That means you provide the crying for the other female actresses…” Momo reached into her bag and passed over a script.

Servi flipped through it while Telekinesis kept it suspended in air. She had to do that because both of her hands were currently occupied by a lovable Singi in fluffy pajamas. “You know… It seems so…familiar… I don’t have any recollection of knowing the play’s plot, but it does feel like the information was already within me…”

“Do you think your memories of the past month are returning? Do you think you can still do the role?” asked Momo. She kept a permanent smile on her soft face. Her eyes devoutly stared at the girl she loved. Those blue eyes studied every small detail and absolutely refused to glance away for a moment.

Servi then asked Momo to practice with her for a moment regarding her lines. It took about an hour for the feeling to come back. After fifteen more minutes, Momo regarded that Servi was even better than before, and that was saying something because Bartholomew had the highest praise for her and her talents.

“Oh! There’s also this… It’s the blueprint for the orphanage. Fisher gave it to me the day we arrived back!” Momo excitedly chirped. She had wanted to look at the sealed designs for a while but felt she needed Servi by her side. The red-eyed girl absorbed the script and laid the enclosed folder down on the bed. Momo scooted over until she sat beside the girl she loved. A pair of brown bags floated in front of them. Every so often, a hand would descend into them and fish out a scrumptious, fruity snack.

In all consideration, Servi didn’t know what the hell she was looking at. She knew it was an orphanage, but that was it. It looked like the design documents were for a small town, not a building for raising children. There was the giant house. Five stories tall, it had enough room and beds to comfortably hold 400. That number could be doubled if they slept two to a bed.

The house had notes for every little detail. The four baths, three kitchens, the numerous play areas were meticulously configured to the smallest nail used in the floorboards. Some choices had to be regarding the construction. Did the financier—Servi—want the house to have a number of Wash Stones equal to the number of baths plus kitchens? Or perhaps the water should come from a lake? Disregarding that, if she wanted a single Wash Stone, would she would be comfortable running pipes around the house? There was the option of using Drip Stones. That little comment was scribbled in the corner, and Momo explained what it was.

“So it isn’t that reliable? Screw that. Orphans do not need to have even more stress applied to their lives… And if it’s for them… And I definitely have the money… I’m just going to go with individual Wash Stones… However many they need, I will buy it for them…” Servi said. Momo hugged her once more, and they kept looking at the design document.

Other than the house, there was space available for four large patches of farmland. The notes detailed that unless there was a lake or stream nearby, Wash Stones would have to be used to provide the water. For Servi, that was fine. She believed a Wash Stone was the most valuable Skill Item out there. For good reasons, too, since water was desired by all living things. It was a precious resource, and it was no wonder the blue crystals were so expensive to buy.

“Servy, couldn’t they use the water from the stones to water the farmlands? Seems like a lake isn’t needed, but a lake can be pretty,” Momo said.

“I’m just worried about their safety. A single stone is worth as much as a treasure. But seven? That's like a gold mine waiting to be plundered.” Servi flipped the page, and Momo giggled.

“Seems like you don’t need to be worried anymore. This place even comes with a guard tower. Four of them, to be precise. It says here that each will be at least equivalent to Rank 3 in the guild. In addition, each will need to be exceptionally experienced in the handling of children. That’s good, right? Oh! It says there’s an armory inside each of the towers… They all have their own training arena, so couldn’t the guards instruct the children how to fight?”

“Possibly, but—no. Having the orphans learn to defend themselves will be nothing short of fantastic. Mosie, it’s really happening, isn’t it…?”

“Yes, it is… I wonder where it's gonna be built at?”

Servi replied she didn’t know, and she kept flipping until she had gotten to the end. Notes about a barn big enough to keep small animals, like sheep and pigs, were jotted down as more feasible than cows. Horses weren’t even mentioned, and Momo pouted for a little bit.  Servi did come across a scribbled note detailing that after a decade of selling what the orphanage produces—such as fruits, vegetables, and selling meat from the animals, it would have paid for itself and eventually made a profit. Servi found that interesting, then immediately thought that whatever money was made had to go back to the orphanage. That could pay for the teachers and staff and whatever supplies to fix whatever problems it may have.

“I’m not asking for the money back. As far as I’m concerned, any money earned from day one belongs entirely to the orphanage. They can pay for supplies that way. And additional guards as well. They could even give the orphans an allowance to spend within the city,” Servi said. Momo found it endearing how her lovely friend was the type of girl to not want anything in return.

Each individual material needed to build it was itemized with a price tag, and the last twenty sheets of the design document added everything up. At minimum, the cost was going to be well over 8 million. With the most expensive options, 15 million. The choices that Servi felt the most comfortable with was only 10 million. But she argued against herself that since she had an exorbitant amount of money, it only made sense to go big. That way, the dupla she stole from Parrel will be recirculated around the economy.

“If that’s what you want to do, then I’ll support you! In the morning, let’s go talk to Fisher. I forgot to mention earlier, but he said the governor was getting worried that you were getting cold feet…”

“The governor, huh?” Servi raised her arms and wrapped them around her adorable Singi. She giggled and rested within her embrace. The next few minutes were spent walking about anything Momo might have possibly missed. Finally, she yawned and wiped her tired eyes.

“I guess you’re sleepy?”

“I am… But I don’t want to go to sleep…” Momo whined. “Not when I finally have you right here beside me.”

Servi got off the bed. Momo followed behind. She reached out to brush a finger against Servi’s hand, and the girl gave Momo another hug. This was about the tenth or eleventh one in less than an hour, but such overindulgence was fine.

Especially considering the circumstances.

Servi began to speak once more, affirming her desire to find the secrets of the Forbidden Skills and using Necromancy to bring back the Innocents. “Even Nimea… He had good intentions, but I believe he just didn’t know how to express them… I honestly believed we could have been good friends with him.”

Momo replied that she thought that too and spoke about her imprisonment. “He talked to me… About his past… I want to think he was a good man. Maybe a little bit misguided... Servy, I’m going to be there to support you. Together, we’ll find the secrets to Necromancy… That’s something I can promise you.”

“Momo… I never really felt like I belonged anywhere. I was just a girl with no memories… But now? I think I almost like this city because it’s where I met you. And Claire, and Srassa, and Dineria, and Fisher… I know Fisher has his past, but from what you told me… He’s possibly taking it even worse than I did… But I know with him, this city is in good hands.”

“It’s the same with me. I love Canary! Grampy did too… I don’t know what it was back then, but he loved it enough to constantly tell me stories…”

Another hug later, the two girls were in the other’s embrace, and Momo was absolutely loving it. Her eternal smile was like a beacon of safety and romance, and it had caught Servi’s attention.

“Tomorrow… During the play… I’m going to be cheering as loud as I possibly can…”

“And I’ll do my best so you’ll be proud of me! It’s all coming back to me… Not the memories, per se, but the ‘feelings.’ I can’t wait to meet Grid, Myrabel, and Denaire… We’re friends, but I’ll be meeting them for the first time. Oh, Mosie?”

“Servy, I’ll always be proud of you. No matter what, okay? And what’s up?”

“Do…” Servi’s tone changed, and she spoke with a bit of force to get the words out. “Do you not have any questions? About me, I mean? I explained what I could at the time, but I’m a fusion between a Human and a Goddess.”

“I do a few small ones,” Momo admitted. “But I know you’re tired… Even if you can’t get tired, I feel like you need to rest before I ask anything at all. We can talk again in the morning, okay? And we can talk about eventually going to Waveret. You remember it, right? It’s the port town about a week away from here?”

“I remember it… And okay… Thanks, Mosie.”

“You’re very welcome! Hehe!” Though they were still in a deep hug, a small squeeze acted as a second embrace. “Sweet dreams, Servy. And good night, Itarr… I’ll see you two in the morning, okay?”

Ah… I didn’t even ask if Servy has talked to Itarr… Maybe it’s best I didn’t say anything before giving them a chance to talk it all out…

“Yeah. Okay…” Servi pulled back, her arms reluctant to let go of the Singi that held her heart in a loving squeeze. “Mosie, I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here…” Servi quietly whimpered and cried into her hands. The tears so suddenly appeared like a flash mob. The water draining down her eyes seemed to have no end.

“Servy,” Momo held Servi’s hand to her face, then held it against her heart. Finally, she just gave her friend the ultimate hug. “I made a promise to myself… I’m always going to be here for you. I’ll be here tomorrow, the next day, and the next year… Twenty years from now? Fifty? Guess where I’ll be? Right here beside you. I won’t ever run away… There is nothing in this world that would cause me to turn tail and leave you alone. Even if you want me gone, I’m sorry because I’m staying right here. So I hope you get used to having me around because I’m stuck with you!” Momo’s tail surged with life and wagged. A small giggle welled up within Servi, and she stopped crying.

“Then doesn’t that mean you’re stuck with me?”

“Same thing. And I don’t ever want to think that that’s a bad thing. Being with you? As far as I’m concerned, it’s going to be so much fun.”

“You’re my best friend, Mosie. You… won’t be gone when I wake up?”

“And you’re mine, Servy. I promise you that I’ll be outside your room bright and early with a smile and a big ole hug! You better be ready for it!” The Singi escorted her very best friend to the door while remaining connected via their hands. Such an act of affection was so engrained within their beings that neither of the two saw anything odd with it. But before Servi went back to her room, she grabbed Momo for one more hug and buried her nose within her hair. It smelled so fruity and pleasant.

The embrace lasted well over ten minutes, spent in complete silence. Only the beatings of their hearts were audible. Eventually, they broke away after saying good night a second time. When the door shut and Servi was gone from view, Momo dejectedly walked back to her bed. At first, she was alone with her pity in the deep sadness since the floating Lux Spheres had disappeared.

Then an unbearable happiness overcame her face. She hopped onto the mattress and rolled around like a pig in mud. Her tail was uncontrollable. Even as impossible as it seemed, it was happier than the girl it belonged to.

“Servy’s back!! Yay!! She’s back!! She’s back!!!! And we held hands!!! And we hugged!!! And she didn’t seem to mind it at all!!!” Momo stopped, caught her breath, giggled a few more times, and continued to roll in happiness. “And tomorrow—no, I guess it’s past midnight… So tonight… I’ll tell Servy… After the play? No… When we’re back here… I’ll say something like, ‘Hey, wanna hang out for a few?’ and Servy would be like, ‘Yeah. Let’s talk a little bit!’ And I can see it now… Sitting on the bed… I’ll take her hand and hold it… Squeeze it… Then I’ll stare into her eyes… I’ll obviously have to talk about the friendship kisses, and then I can be cool and say. ‘What about a real kiss?’ And then… We kiss… And I’ll admit my feelings… I better go ahead and rehearse my confession because it needs to be absolutely perfect!!!”