ifrit

Silence!

Hey, Ifrit. Welcome back.

You're back early today. No new missions from the Doctor, I presume?

Medical says I need some follow-up exams soon, and I'm not allowed to go running around outside. The Doctor told me to rest up, too.

Silence, why are you packing...? Are you going on a trip?

Yes... It's urgent, and I might be gone a while.

Where are you going? Are you going alone?

Bring me with you!

I'm going alone, but don't worry. I'll have excellent help there.

I can't bring you with me this time, Ifrit.

Why?!

Silence, are you... Are you going back there?

I know Saria has been looking into those in lab coat! I know you have been, too! And MuMu. She came here looking for Saria, and I know that's got to do with them, too!

You guys may not tell me anything, but I can tell!

Tell me, Silence! I'm not a kid anymore!

Ifrit...

Right, you're not a kid anymore.

Okay, come here.

You've lost weight, Silence.

No, silly... You've grown up.

The Liberi's hands, soft and agile yet covered in thin calluses from years of handling lab equipment, slide down from her hair and caress her now pointy chin.

For as far back as Ifrit can remember, Silence has very rarely been so intimate.

Silence would usually only lightly touch her skin as though she was frighteningly fragile.

There were a couple times when she got so sick that she couldn't tell any faces apart, but she could clearly feel a pair of hands like these touching her.

The hands seemed to be trembling, but they immediately offered Ifrit the support she needed and made her feel at ease.

Now, these hands first lightly brush her face, before firmly holding her shoulders. She tries her best to stand up straight, hoping to make herself seem a little more dependable.

The Liberi breathes a sigh and says:

'You're all grown up now...'

'We shouldn't be keeping things from you anymore.'

'Saria and I are going on a trip back to Columbia.'

'What we're doing there has not only to do with everything you went through all those years ago, but also much more.'

'Ifrit, I want you to...'

...frit? Ifrit?

Did you fall asleep? You can wake up now. We're done with the tests.

Mmm...

What's wrong? Not feeling so good?

Dr. Silence isn't here, so we're just doing some basic checkups. So far, nothing's really jumping out at me...

But if you don't feel well anywhere, be sure to tell us!

Ifrit isn't going to tell the medic that ever since the day she lied down on the operating table, the pain in her limbs has stayed with her every waking moment, never abating for even a second.

Before, when she felt the pain, she would cry, make a fuss, fail to fall asleep at night.

But now, Ifrit has gotten used to it. She knows it will stay with her forever.

This is no big deal. She can bear it.

What are you making a fuss over?! There's nothing to worry about! I'm just dizzy from lying down for so long.

Hey, if we're done here, can I go?

Hold on a minute. Let me get you a copy of the report.

Hey, what's wrong? Where's the report?

Uh, hold on. What's that face? S-Stop crying...!

I'm not crying!

Haha, you crybaby!

Ifrit!

It's... It's true that only Dr. Silence has access to the detailed reports, and I've only been assisting her, but I can tell!

Over the last few years, the number of Originium crystals on the surface of your skin has clearly grown...

If this keeps up, your condition will deteriorate even faster! You always say everything's fine, but how is this fine?

Ifrit, I have to recommend you rest—

Enough! Shut up!

Just shut up... I don't wanna talk about it.

I'm not gonna lock myself up in a room, spending my days getting blood drawn and taking medicine. Not a chance! How is that living?

But...!

But nothing!

No buts... Silence doesn't tell me much, but I'm not stupid. I know my own body better than anyone.

Ifrit...

And because I know my condition, I can't just sit here and do nothing!

I need to become even more badass than Saria! That way, no matter what happens, I'll actually be able to help...

I can't waste time anymore.

Alright... I get it.

I'm not going to talk you out of it. I trust you to make your own decisions.

However!

Huh?! What now?

You can bet I'll be on your back about important things like this. You can't be so reckless anymore, like when you burned that bounty hunter camp last time, pressing on with the mission as injured as you were...

If we have to carry you back here again... Hm-hmm! You're in a hospital bed for a whole month!

I didn't have a choice...! It's not like I wanted to do that!

Besides, I'm the captain this time! It's my first time playing the leader.

So what? That's all the more reason to look after yourself!

Take some painkillers. You're going on a field op, so bring a couple extra bottles!

And remember to come in for a checkup as soon as you're back!

Ugh, I got it. You're so annoying.

*cough*... Anyway, just uh, thanks for everything.

Don't worry about me. I'll be fine!

'Ifrit, I want you to...'

Silence did not finish her sentence before she left.

Ifrit can only guess at her intent. What did Silence want to tell her? What exactly did she want for her?

Did she want her to help with something? Did she have a mission for her? Or did she just want her to be a good girl so she wouldn't have to worry during her trip?

Ifrit keeps wondering over and over, and a part of her thinks that, just maybe, Silence was only hoping she would be safe.

Silence's attitude toward her is completely different from Saria's.

Saria might expect her to grow up to become a woman who can stand on her own, while Silence has only ever wanted her to live a peaceful life.

Silence said she's gotten taller, grown up.

Ifrit knows that even if she feels powerful and indomitable, she actually hasn't grown up to the point that Silence would change her mind and think of her as dependable.

Not yet.

Far from it.

She still has a long path to walk, even if there isn't much time left.

Wow... I never imagined there would really be such a huge cave!

That's tremendous, Eyjafjalla! It's almost exactly where you predicted!

Oh, there's a really pretty rock over there!

It's breezy.

This would be a nice place for a nap. It's so cool to the touch when you lean here.

Phew...

Hm... This is strange. The position and scale of this cave system are both a little off compared to the estimates.

It's within the normal margin of error, but it bothers me a little anyway.

The humidity here is rather high, and the soil... it doesn't feel firm.

We need to test the soil inside too... Ahh!