The springs were an immediate relief to the awkward tensions that had flared during their encounter with the goblin gang; Aldiphor was meant to be a place of enjoyment, not one of discomfort. Pippy could still see discomfort in Livia, who, even as her muscles relaxed in response to the waters, was still sending jagged vibrations through the red. Pippy sometimes forgot that not many others could see the red like she could, the arcane energies that flavoured the mana of all beings. Livia, at first, remained closer to Krey and Emilie, trying to join in in their antics, like scooting down the little waterfalls that connected the pools. Pippy had wandered off down a different chain of springs, but, eventually, as she knew she would, Livia came looking for her.

The two of them stood together naked, though Livia thought that she might be even more exposed, as if her soul was on display. In one respect, Livia thought it probably was. Almost as if reading her mind, Pippy smiled at her, wading a step closer. “Livia… do you remember when I kissed you? Back on the Ijiak Open?”

“Of course,” Livia tittered sourly. “How could I forget?”

“Do you know why I kissed you?”

“Because… because you’re just a very affectionate person?”

Pippy giggled, shaking her head. “That’s sweet of you, and I suppose it’s true, but… no. I could feel you reaching out to me, and… well, I’ve never been able to resist the call of another’s soul. It’s what drove me to become an adventurer, roving the land and helping whoever I came across. I could feel the world calling out to me, begging for help, and I had to answer.”

“You felt me… begging?”

“No! No, I…” Pippy cleared her throat. “I just… I just want you to know that I would’ve never invaded your personal space like that if there wasn’t something deep inside of you that wanted me to. I just want you to know that… it’s okay to be more open around me. You’re trying to be the indestructible hero, protecting all off us, being there for us… but, please, let us be there for you too. I mean, seriously… ‘I don’t think we can trust these thieves’? What were you really thinking?” she took Livia’s hand. “You don’t have to hide your true feelings from me. Please?”

Livia drew her hand away, turning her back in Pippy. She knelt down in the water, breathing deeply as the warmth made her suddenly shiver. Pippy’s mouth opened to speak, her hand reaching out to hold… but both fell short in hesitation. For a time, the two outlanders sat alone together, only sharing the sound of the running water.

Then Livia broke the silence, her voice tender. “Pippy… did you ever… visit Tyger Mountain? Back in Aubade.”

“Y’know, I actually did!”

“Then… I don’t suppose you went down through Rictora and into Tygerside Valley, did you?”

“Yep! Stayed in a town called Alialo for a couple of nights; it was such a gorgeous place.”

“Then you have been there… you…” she cleared her throat. “It was my hometown. I was born and lived pretty much all of my life there before... before it all started. You’re the last one… other than me, you’re the last person who remembers… who’s even been anywhere near…” a tear ran down her face, down the black line below her eye. She pulled Pippy close, and she didn’t hesitate to return the embrace. “You’re the closest thing I have left to home, Pippy… but it’s so hard to trust… after what happened in Aubade, after what those bastards did, the ones I thought I could trust with my life… it’s so hard…”

Pippy said nothing, and just held Livia tighter, resting her head on the space between her shoulder and her breast.

“Pippy… I’m sorry, but… there’re still some things I’m not ready to talk about yet. But… thanks for the offer. I still don’t like that you can read into my soul, but… maybe I’ll take you up on your offer. Someday.”

“Any time you’re ready, ya big dork~”

“You’re one to talk,” Livia managed to chuckle. “You’re the dork here, not me.”

“Livia… I know the bastards you’re talking about. I had the displeasure of meeting those so-called ‘heroes’ in battle. I knew you were once one of them when I saw the tattoos under your eyes. I promise… I’m not going to betray you the way the Onyx Taurus betrayed our world.”

“I know…” Livia shuddered. “I know. Of course I know. But…”

“It still hurts. I feel it too. The others would never understand… but I do.”

“Yeah…” Livia realised. “You do. You’re the only one who could now. I guess that’s why… even when we were strangers… I felt so protective of you. Wanted you so badly to come with us. You’re all I’ve got left.”

“Livia… can I say something crazy?”

“Sure.” Livia felt a smile forming, a painful smile, but one that hurt so wonderfully. “Shoot.”

“I… I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but… I know you feel it too. I know because you’re the only one who could… because we’re the only ones that could for each other.”

“Go on,” Livia urged, tearing up again.

“I… I think I love you, Livia,” Pippy near-whispered.

Livia’s smile twisted downward. “You better mean it… by all the gods in all the worlds, Pippy, you better bloody—”

“I do! I mean it!” She leaned in to kiss Livia, but stopped herself. “And… I can see you feel it too. In your soul.”

“Then… why don’t I feel it? Why can’t I feel it?” Livia burst into tears completely now, falling to her knees and pressing her face into Pippy’s stomach. “Why?! What’s holding me back?! Why can’t I let myself embrace you?! I say these words, words like home and… I can’t…” she threw her head back and cried out to the heavens above. “I want to go home! Every second I spend with you hurts, because I can never forget how we’ll never, never, be able to go home! No matter what we do… no matter how much I might, deep down, want to love you… the last person in existence I could possibly love, because you’re the only one who understands… I feel so selfish, like I’m clinging to you just so I can feel like I belong! It’s not you betraying me that I’m afraid of… I’m scared that I’ll betray you!”

Pippy knelt down with her, and kissed her on the forehead. “We’ll make a new home. It won’t be the same… but we’ll have each other.”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry I can’t look at you without it hurting.”

“Let the pain flow. Let it hurt. I’ll hold you all the way.”

And so she did. When their time was up, and they had to leave the springs, they decided not to tell Krey or Emilie anything that had happened. It was their secret… another bond that drew their souls closer, another burning chain staked into the hearts of the last survivors. They left holding hands, though, and that was enough for their companions to let the matter rest.