6th Interlude: Happy Memories

12:45 PM, 22th of October, 206 A.F.
Between Vertraute and Angeblich, Lorinth

Deep in the forest near the coastal village of Grün, in a large mansion that dates back to the first century, the squad members gather for one special event.

The marriage of Nick and Anne.

To everyone's surprise, Nick proposed to his beloved at the most unexpected time: in the middle of a war. Considering the current circumstances however, several members of the party agreed that now was the best time for it. In organizing their escape here, Ingeburg Springer had also arranged for Anne's and Samantha's families to join them at this estate where they would be safe from the new emperor's reprisals.

They were very surprised when they met the fairies. Jacob and his siblings showed them around and helped them settled in their new rooms.

Everyone has gathered in the garden behind the mansion. Although there's a chill in the air, the afternoon sunlight keeps the guests warm enough, and they all find ways to pass the time while they wait in their chairs for the bride to arrive. The dozen or so fairies sitting at the front happily chat about the weather while Ingeburg, who's right behind them, keeps a watchful eye on them. Marcus sits stoically next to her, clean shaven and immobile. Theodore is more to the left, his eyes fixed on the trees whose leaves have now turned orange and red. Edward sits next to Samantha, their son on his wife's lap, giggling at the grimaces the fairies occasionally make at him. Nick's mother and father—two kind people who've tried to make the best of their situation—are eagerly casting glance down the aisle where their son's fiancée is supposed to come from. Nick is of course standing at the altar, waiting for his fiancée to arrive.

But there are other people here attending the ceremony: Smirk, May, Evrard and Rémi. What are they doing?

Evrard is one of the groomsmen. He looks dashing in his bright blue suit. He's talking with Remi about this and that and old memories. This garden looks a lot like the one at the vineyard they used to work on, after all. Just a bunch chillier.

His wife is sitting on a bench nearby, and he holds her hand and casually includes her while they chat. "Hey, Bernie, maybe I could start my own winery while we're here," he jokes. "Me and Remi could make it by ourselves. That'll make the vintage extra rare." He laughs.

May is standing opposite of the boys with the other bridesmaids, bouquet in hand while she makes small talk with some of the mansion staff they roped into being bridesmaids.

Meanwhile Rémi is standing stoically next to Ev, his sour expression making it clear that his wine making days are over as far as he is concerned. He is wearing a suit very similar to Ev's though obviously much larger to fit his muscular frame.

Bernice eyes her husband and says, "I think you're better drinking wine than making it, love. Look at your friend."

Rémi's face says it all.

Meanwhile, the fairies listen closely to Smirk's subaquatic tale, enraptured by the courage he displayed fighting this mighty monster.

"These crabs sound really dangerous!"

                                   "And ugly!"

          "Maybe that's why they're so delicious?"

Although he hasn't said anything ever since he's sat down on this chair, Jacob is beaming from ear to ear, content to share this moment with his siblings. His sister Gab, the one who got injured back on Shadowstep, gracefully brings the others to order by reminding them not to leave their chair until the ceremony is over. They get easily excited.

Then everyone see Anne's mother exit the mansion and walk towards their seats; evidently, she's finished helping her daughter with her dress. She smiles and gives everyone the signal that they're ready to go.

When Nick looks at his parents, he sees his mother silently crying while his father gives him a thumbs up.

"Only kidding. Still, I've been thinkin' of ways to keep busy. Maybe I'll work my magic to make some extra coin."

"Just remember we are supposed to be keeping a low profile out here," Rémi says, motioning his friend to follow him over to stand beside Nick.

May hushes up the other maids and takes her place as Maid of Honor. She can't help but grin in anticipation of seeing her friend walk down the aisle.

A few seconds pass before the door to the mansion opens again and Anne and her father come out.

Dressed in an immaculate white gown that reaches all the way to her feet, with a crown of white flowers that adorns her head, Anne walks towards the altar while holding onto her father's arm. Her smile is as radiant as the sun above them, and the simple sight of her causes her mother to shed a few tears. The fairies gasp in amazement of the young bride, and it takes a lot of effort from Gab to keep them seated.

Once they've arrived at the altar, her father whispers a few words to her ear before he hands her to Nick and returns to his wife's side.

Anne smiles at Nick and turns to face the marriage officiant, who is none other than Jacob; the fairy left his seat when the bride appeared and because everyone was so focused on her, no one noticed until now that he had taken his place on the altar.

"Are you ready?" he asks the two of them, beaming from ear to ear.

Evrard exchanges looks with Bernice, remembering a day like this that he never believed he would get to cherish.

Sam smiles and hushes Triston, hugging him a little closer as she waits for the ceremony to begin.

May is so impressed by Anne's dress, she pulls it off so well. She looks over at the stunned Nick and grins again.

Rémi smiles at seeing the bride, a subtle thing that speaks volumes about how happy he is for the both of them.

"Then let us begin," Jacob says. The fairy clears his throat and rises in the air until he's at eye level with the two mages. He gives the people in the seats one last look and then begins the ceremony. "We are all gathered here to witness the union of two people who love each other very much. For the last three years they have fought together across multiple battlefields, facing enemies who have been relentless in their pursuit of destroying all that is good. In spite of that, they have managed to form a bond that too few people get to experience in their lives. A bond they now wish to sanctify in front of all their friends and families."

Nick and Anne look at each other, smiling. At the same time, a new voice speaks up.

"They look nice."

Jasmine stands behind the seats with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on the young couple. Steve, Konrad and Mihai are standing beside her, feeling as if they've been here the whole time, but unable to realize it until now.

Steve carefully studies the faces of the bride and groom as well as their guests before saying, "Everyone looks so happy." He sighs in sadness at the current state of affairs.

Konrad turns to look at Jasmine, then gazes at the scene continuing before them. "Yes. Yes, they do."

Jasmine lets a few more seconds pass before she speaks again.

"The method Jacob taught you for how to slow down the orbs has bought you some time, but the process is accelerating now. You only have a few more days before your memories fully merge with theirs."

She motions at the three squad members: Samantha, May and Nick.

"That's why I'm here," she continues. "To give you some more time."

"Maybe. It depends on Jacob here."

The fairy is continuing with the ceremony, unaware of the adventurers' presence.

Konrad looks back at Jasmine. "Are you feeling stronger, or still weakening?"

"Weakening. But I'm not the one at risk of dying here."

She shrugs.

"What's important is that you save Breeze, Fedler and yourselves. The rest is secondary."

Nick and Anne turn to face each other to tell their vows. As if on cue, Smirk steps forward to speak in his summoner's place.

"Besides, even if I disappear from your orbs, I will still live within Breeze and the rest of her family. I'm sure you've noticed by now that fairies retain the knowledge and abilities their progenitors possessed in life."

"Come on Jasmine, that's not the same thing and you know it," says Steve, shaking his head in disagreement, "We can't just sit back and let you die again. You're our friend."

Jasmine lowers her head and closes her eyes for a moment, as if to collect herself. When she opens them again, she takes a deep breath and says, "Yes. Friends are nice."

Smirk returns to his place and Anne prepares to tell her vows.

"Tonight, I'll show you what I promised you," Jasmine says. "About my life, and how I ended up... ‘here’. That should help slow down the orbs." She thinks for a second. "But we can do that after the party. The fairies are planning a song."