A Place In the World

Stepping back through the gate to Rosewood feels odd. There's a pang of nostalgia as I lay eyes on the tree-shaped houses, the cozy brick paths, and the academy building floating high above us.

The part that we arrive in looks just as it did prior to the attack. It's almost uncanny.

"Rosewood is our oldest city, Seb. It's existed longer than I've been alive. It was even here before the human-elven wars. The council wasn't going to let it stay destroyed for long."

"How did they grow new trees so quickly?" Elizabeth wonders, curiously.

"They just got our researchers to speed up the growth using magic. I received a letter about it some time ago, but I just ignored it."

"You didn't want to help?" she asks.

"Nah, I've got better things to do than growing plants."

"Like helping me destroy a critical trading port?" I ask, sarcastically.

Vol bursts into laughter and continues chuckling all the way down the street.

Nearing the edge of the city, we see more of the renovation work still in progress. Groups of elves replacing bricks on the street or planting seeds in places where the grass was torn up. One of the brick-layers shouts over to an elf in a chestplate.

"Vouve, go to the brickyard and tell them to prep another shipment! We're almost out here."

"Got it."

Vouve? I feel like I've heard that name before, but all these elven "V" names are starting to get confusing. The elf named Vouve walks towards us, apparently to pass us, before suddenly stopping dead in his tracks.

"Master Vol!" he exclaims in surprise. All the chatter and work around us comes to a stop as people recognize Vol.

He chuckles uncomfortably, "Ahaha, please, don't stop on my behalf."

Ah, right. This man, Vouve, was one of the guards from Sheere village. One of Vale's friends. They really brought in hands from everywhere to help rebuild Rosewood. Still, he doesn't seem to recognize me. I guess the burnt scalp and crispy skin makes me pretty hard to recognize.

A woman, slightly taller than even Vol, stops in front of us and gives a quick, professional bow of the head.

"Back to work," she says, clapping her hands. "Master Vol. For what reason do you honor us with a visit on this day?"

Her ears, eyes and head all end in sharp points, and she's wearing a parted, plain dress. Her posture is similar to that of the councilmembers, though she's clearly not as high ranking. A manager or regional leader, probably.

"Ah, I'm just here on personal business," Vol says, still looking a bit uncomfortable with the reception, "We're looking for a young girl. I gave her a recommendation letter some time ago."

"Oh?" she says, apparently taken off guard, but quickly recovering.

"The human, yes, of course. She has been assisting the general office with planning. I believe she's currently leading the restructuring in the south."

Leading?

A little while later, having followed the tall woman's directions, we arrive at a park-like area. Unlike the rest of the autumn-colored Rosewood, the park is divided into four sections, one for each season. A thin stream runs smoothly through the areas, various animals occasionally stopping to drink from it.

We pass by a few couples having picnics on the summer grass, and a few kids playing with snow in the winter section.

"Uhm... I'm fairly certain those berries are poisonous to eat, miss," a professional-sounding male says.

"I know, but they're really colorful! Look! Aren't they pretty?" a cheery young voice replies.

"Well, uh, I suppose, yes?"

Crossing the bridge into the spring section, I spot a young human girl lying in the grass and laughing as a perplexed elf stands in the shade of the tree.

I almost didn't recognize her at first. No longer in her nun robes, and happily giggling, Colette is almost like a different person. Still laughing, she doesn't notice us approaching. The well-dressed elven escort does, however.

"Master Vol," he exclaims, jerking into an upright position. This seems to be the reaction wherever we go. "Miss Colette, you have visitors."

"Huh?" Colette looks confused at him, and then over at us, her expression slowly changing into one of pure joy.

"Hello, Colette. Are you settling in well?" Vol asks her, parentally.

"Yup!" she says, getting to her feet and brushing off her yellow sundress. "Oh! I never did get to thank you for the recommendation, by the way, so... thank you!"

"It's no problem. What's this I hear about you helping lead the rebuilding effort?"

"Oh, yeah! I thought I was going to do some sort of manual labor, but they really liked some of my ideas and - well - here I am!" she smiles, stretching her arms wide to the park around us.

"You designed this?" I ask.

"Yeah! I just thought it was a shame nobody here ever really got to see the other seasons! They have some really impressive magicians here, though! I've never seen anything like it at the church. It's much nicer here," she says, smiling broadly.

"It seems like you've found your place in the world," Elizabeth says.

"Yeah~ I think I have."