69 Confetti - Part 2

"He left?"

"It was late he had to go home."

"I see… Can I sleep in that room I made tonight?"

"Of course Paroppe. Do you two want to as well?"

Lera turned towards the other Jev and Ayanni.

"I just want to go to bed. It doesn't matter where it is." Ayanni spoke up.

"I'll stay with them."

"Want to go there now then?"

"Yes! It's freezing." Paroppe was shivering as she said that.

"Okay."

---

Paroppe and Ayanni showed Jev their rooms. Lera let Jev make his room too, but he declined. Shortly after everyone was in their beds and asleep. Lera on the other hand lied down on her couch and stared at the ceiling.

Weirdly enough she was starting to enjoy the quiet nights in winter. Even if the stars were hidden behind the clouds, the light from a lamp shining on the snow creates a similar effect when it is pitch black out. Right now staying on the couch would be for the best, just in case anyone of them wants to leave. It would be Jev if anyone…

Now that she thought about it, this was the second time they actually used those rooms. She should let them come here without her. She made a small app on their tech pads. If they press it, it would bring them to the living room area…

'I need to change things up.'

---

A small foyer like area next to a wooden door and a depression for shoes. A small hallway that leads to another door that opens into the standard living room area, but the floor was replaced by a dark grey fluffy carpet. The small kitchen stayed in the same place. The rooms that lead to the rooms of her family were placed within a hall and their names were added onto their doors. She created a hallway and added two doors, one for the lab and another was a small room for the desktop that controlled the different universes. Having that out in the open presented a big hazard, so a lock, the only lock in her void 'home', to that door. Only she could open that door and that would be for the best.

Everyone woke up and walked out to the hallway where Lera had been standing for the past few hours. She really didn't have much she wanted to do and what she already did didn't take that long in the first place.

She told them all of the changes and showed them around and then presented them with breakfast. Well she didn't make anything, she just told them to think of whatever they wanted and it would be there for them.

"Paroppe there is so much food. How can you even eat all of that." Jev tried to decline eating food from his imagination, but the others pulled him into it. Then he looked at Paroppe who had a giant stack of pancakes, bacon, a lot of bacon, and more bacon. "This one is mine."

"Jev if you touch my bacon, I will rip that arm off of you."

Ayanni put his hand on Jev's shoulder and just shook his head.

"Ayanni knows his place." Paroppe was stuffing food in her mouth, so what she said was tough to understand. Even so, Jev was able to get the idea of what she was saying.

"I'm going to enjoy what I have." Jev was having a salad and Ayanni was having a hearty soup.

Lera just stood on the other side of the counter having a sandwich. It wasn't anything special, but she enjoyed it.

---

Since it was night in Suul, the gang showed Jev around the city of Hapho. This time Jev wasn't against it. He had enjoyed the party last night and when they walked to the restaurant he was more than willing to explore later on.

"What's wrong, Paroppe?" Jev looked towards her droopy face. He already knew why she was like that, but he wanted her to say it.

"Lera didn't come with us."

"That's okay. She said she had something important to do anyway."

"But we already planned to do everything today together."

"We can at least enjoy ourselves. If she rejoins us later we can have fun then too, so don't be like that."

"Seriously… Jev?"

"Yea?"

"Can you at least try to act like you care about Lera?"

"No."

"Why can't you… Seriously. Let's just go to this café up ahead. I can't deal with this right now."

Ayanni elbowed Jev's shoulder. "You did well enough last night." Paroppe went off ahead leaving them two alone.

"That was because there were other people. I'm going to be respectful to everyone then, but when we are alone, I could care less about Lera."

"Jev…"

"Please can we do this later, let's enjoy our time here."

"Alright."

---

"You wanted to meet here?" Lera was standing in front of the same school she had gone to when she was in ghost mode and followed Thrann.

"It's not a bad place." Byyuan was crunching the snow under his feet as he walked beside Lera. "There is a hockey game going on right now that I was going to watch."

A small part of that feeling that was always there, even if it was tiny now, appeared when hockey was mentioned. She had a vague feeling of what it was. Lera made sure to follow Byyuan to it. "I don't know the game. Anyone you know playing it?" As a game, there needed to be players. It was a simple question she could ask in response.

"A cousin of mine. It's her first game of the season."

They entered a building and there were a bunch of people talking. Some were near a stand that was selling food. Parents and children were walking in, some of the kids were already in their gear. The players seemed to be around twelve or thirteen years old.

Byyuan lead her over to the benches. The ground was metallic and anyone who walked on it could easily be heard. Byyuan sat down off to the left side, furthest away from where they entered the building from in the middle row.

"Ever been to a game before?"

"No…" She wasn't sure, so it was a safe answer.

Lera watched as the families made their way over to the benches.

"Before we start… have you ever died before?" Byyuan was keeping his head forward towards the iced area… 'ice rink?'

"No, I don't think…" She stopped herself because her mind was telling her that was false. That feeling she has brought up the memory when she, Ayanni and Paroppe watched her diary and she had mentioned, Kear, that she had died a few times already. Before she could correct herself, Byyuan continued.

"I already lived my life. I was old and had grandchildren… Actually great-grandchildren. Old age claimed me and I was ready for it. My husband was next to the bed that I was laying for the last month of my life, holding my hand. We both kept a smile on our faces even as I drew my last breath." Byyuan was starting to tear up. "Well, that wasn't the end for me. Eventually I ended up here, this body, this planet, this city. Like I said before my family were strangers to me. I miss my family, but I had already said goodbye to them even before I died. So this new family… It took time."

Shouts from the referee about the match starting in ten minutes.

"Oh man… I'm just rambling on now. I didn't get much sleep last night. Memories of my past kept me awake." Byyuan turned towards Lera for a moment, before going back to staring at the ice rink. "Nothing to concern yourself with."

Lera was going to ask if he was alright, but she stayed quiet.

"I will say the toughest part was getting used to my new body. My daughter would always say 'Mother you are so strong!', but the changes I had to deal with were… are still different. New isn't always cool. Though there are benefits to being a boy. I can admit that." Byyuan chuckled.

"Do you like it here?" Rather than asking if he missed his old life, she opted for a positive route.

"That's a good question. At first, losing all my possessions stung, but there's a lot of convenience here. On top of this new life, I'm learning more than I ever did. In a way I wish school would slow down, but for the most part everything is amazing. Don't even get me started on the food." He sat up straight and turned towards Lera. "Speaking of which, want something to eat?"

"Yes please."

Both of them stood up and went over to the area where they are selling the food. Byyuan grabbed a bag of chips and some cheese to dip them in.

"Molten gold. I love this stuff. Though I'd love it even more if it had a bit more spice to it."

Lera bought the same thing. One to try it out and to share with Byyuan. After all the time they've been together, at work, she knew he could eat a lot.

---

Back at their seat, Byyuan started talking about silly things he heard from his parents and random facts again. They ate and watched the game start to play out. Before the game did start however, Lera saw his cousin. They waved to each other and in doing so Byyuan dropped some cheese on his pants.

As they finished their food, Byyuan started to speak again. He quickly wiped his hands on his pants.

"I saw that you all wear those cell phones on your wrist. That was the first thing I noticed out of place. Not many people wear them on their wrist and you were the first person I ever saw that did that. Even at the party I noticed a few more things. Ayanni is an elf right? Half-Elf?

"Elf from what I know."

"Even with his ears covered up, I could still see them twitching every time he looked at Paroppe. They were like me back in the day. Staring at each other across the table, making silly faces at each other, the banter… The good days. Shamah… I loved that man with everything I had. 'Sarussi, why don't we go out on a walk?' I would respond, 'If you carry me.' That was how I would always respond before following him outside as we would walk across town. Our first date I sprained my foot, so he had to carry me. He carried me on his back even taking the long way to my home and through the garden next to the village."

Lera didn't even need to look to see his smile. Nostalgic and wonderful. That smile held the years they had been together and what Byyuan had left behind.

"You know Lera, somethings stay with you even after you change. I know that I talk a lot. It's just something that is tough to change. Of course when my new father tells me to 'shut up', I listen. I'm a good son." Byyuan grinned at that. "I try my best at least."

The buzzer went off to signal a break for the teams.

"I'm going to meet Frenni. Want to come with?"

"Sure…"

"I know you're shy meeting new people, but she won't bite you."

Lera put out a fake smile.

---

"Byyuan!" Frenni waved towards Byyuan.

"Frenni, you did great out there."

"Thank you! Who's that?"

"This is Lera. She's a friend from work."

"Friend friend? Or girlfriend?"

"Friend friend Frenni."

"Hello!" Lera gave a small wave and a similar small smile.

Frenni was wobbling over to sit down at the bench.

"Mom! Did you see that…"

Lera was quickly forgotten as Frenni's mother walked over. It was turning awkward, so Lera turned away.

"It was nice seeing you again Byyuan."

"Same. I'll be over there. Keep up the good work and have fun Frenni!"

"Thank you Byyuan."

Before Lera could walk away Byyuan said that and walked with her back to where they were sitting.

"What do you think about her?"

"She's very… like you."

"Ha! So true. Neither of us can keep our mouths shut. Being able to talk to someone about my past has been… liberating? No, that isn't the right word. Nostalgic for sure, but there is more to it. I can't even think of the word. Still, thank you Lera."

"Yes…" Lera wasn't really sure how to feel. It wasn't like she did anything of worth. All she did was listen.

"You guys travel by some portal or teleportation? I never understood how you did that. My specialization was swordsmanship and healing magic. I could never really understand how those people could teleport long distances. I know it took a very different mind than my own, but still I sometimes wish I had it back then. Even now actually."

"Well… It's teleportation…"

'Fake teleportation.'

"Makes sense I guess. Do you know if it's possible for me to go back there with you? Just for a little bit. I never got to see my great-granddaughter. Just to see her one time… It wouldn't even take long."

"I can bring you there. When do you want to go there?"

"You can do it anytime? Well, after Frenni's game here if you have time."

"I was…" She trusted Byyuan. "I was going to go join the others as they showed Jev around. But I can stop time, so it doesn't matter really."

"Time? You must be really powerful then. Never heard of anyone that's able to affect time. Won't that take a lot out of you? Teleportation is one thing, but stopping time… Even when I tried to save this woman's life as her arm was torn off, I almost fainted after the operation. I can't imagine what you would have to go through to do both of those at the same time. Not including the return trip back here."

"You don't have to worry about that."

"Lera, I'm glad we're friends, but was this really a meeting of coincidence?"

"What do you mean?" Lera didn't understand where Byyuan was taking this conversation now.

"You just so happen to be from my original world. You also happen to work at the same job as me. From my point of view, it's a little too coincidental for me. Did you really meet me by chance?" Byyuan was waiting for Lera. Looking at her eyes, searching for what she was about to say and if it is the truth.

"Yes! Rozaa just mentioned that place was hiring, so I went there to work."

"Someone as powerful as you wants to work as a dishwasher?"

"I just wanted something to do. A job seemed like something I could do for myself. I have all this power and even if it's a part of me, doing things on my own with my own 'power' gives me a sense of accomplishment." Lera felt like she was just defending someone else rather than herself when she said that, but it still was the truth. Paroppe and Ayanni were working towards something, even getting jobs to accomplish that. She just wanted to be like them. To earn something on her own.

"I believe you Lera. It's a little surprising, but I understand you. When I was a little girl, I had told my father I wanted to work with him. 'Sarussi, if you want to be an adventurer, you need to grow up strong.' I trained my body, and mind to a lesser extent, day after day. I grabbed on to my future with my own power. I didn't need to rely on others unless I wanted them to help me. That was something I saw in you when we first met. It was probably why I gravitated towards you. Look at me using words I learned in school!" Byyuan patted Lera's back. "Oh sorry about that."

"It's fine." Hearing the words 'I believe in you' made Lera smile. She did do something herself and with the money she got, she was able to use it in the party to celebrate with her family and friends.

---

They walked out of the building following Frenni and her mother. They separated and walked down the street.

"So how does this work?" Byyuan walked around a blatant ice patch on the ground.

"You're ready?" Lera already told him that it was night over there.

"If you can stop time, then there isn't an issue. I only wanted to see my great-granddaughter."

"First let me do this first so you can get used to it." Lera stops time. The light snow falling was no longer moving. Frozen like a painting.

"Yeah, thanks. This is weird… Cool, but weird." He poked one of the snowflakes and then pulled his hand back as if it was on fire. Shaking his head, he turned back towards Lera. "I'm good now."

Lera nodded and then made sure that they would travel near her daughter, not appear in walls or in uncomfortable situations. From a screen that appeared before her, one she didn't know she needed, it stated that her conditions were alright and they could leave anytime now.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes."

---

They arrived outside a building. In front of them was a sign 'Herbs \u0026 Healing'. The moon was just peaking over the building giving off a faint light. Though around them many street lamps were lit.

"This is a shop? Did you get the right place Lera?"

"I did, but I've been here before."

"She better not be working… Actually I'm only guessing, but she might be the same age as this… me. That is if time is similar. Before I was born into that family, I felt like I spent a long time in a void."

Lera was starting to think that she knew who she was looking for and then it was going to be a bigger coincidence than she would like.

For now, she just needed to follow Byyuan, who opened the door to the building. Time was still stopped so they were the only ones making sound. The opened up the door into the main shop area of different herbs and various forms of salves. There was a small light coming from the back room. They passed by a staircase leading up to the second floor and entered the room with the light.

Six different clean beds sat there. Only one of them had someone in it. Lera followed Byyuan over to see who it was.

"Well at first I was a little worried, but seeing the old dude, well I can rest easy. I didn't think my grand-daughter or her husband was interested in owning this place. If she ain't a patient, then they must live on the second floor, although I can't imagine there being enough room for the whole family. You've been here before right, so I guess you must have met them."

"I did meet three people, but… I will tell you afterwards."

"We got time… We got time right? This whole stopping time, how long will that last for?"

"However long you need."

"Convenient, but I guess we got to go upstairs."

They turned around and right. Going up the staircase into a small hallway and opening up the door, to find it locked.

"Oh yea. Got any magic to get inside there?"

"Yea." Lera waved her hand over the door handle for effect. Right now she was dealing with that feeling and it was telling her to run away. "It's open now."

"You alright? It looks like all this magic is putting some strain on you."

Byyuan looked at her worriedly, but Lera shook her head. Telling him why she was like that right now wasn't the best idea.

There was a bed, small table and pillows for people to sit on. Next to the bed an end table with a lamp stood on top and a notebook was sitting underneath it.

Byyuan went over to the bed to see the sleeping girl in it.

"She looks just like I did at that age." He brushed the hair over her face. "She can't wake up right? Even if time is frozen?"

"Correct."

"I wonder where her parents are? As far as I could see, this is all to the building, unless they have something in the back for them to sleep. Though it didn't look like anything was connected."

"Um…" Lera really didn't want to explain her story, but it would be difficult not to and explain what happened. "I think there are some things I need to tell you."

---

"I was lost and broken. Paroppe, Jev, and Ayanni found me and took care of me. As time passed, I was able to think better and eventually found my home. There was a diary and it talked about Heryan here. I had met her before… I ended up hurting her."

During their conversation, Byyuan was lovingly caressing Heryan. It was sweet and he stayed quiet as Lera told him about herself. Though as soon as Byyuan heard that Lera hurt Heryan, he paused for a moment before continuing. Lera didn't stop though.

"That led me to how the others found me. Uhm… Anyways, when I was able to think better I had met Heryan. She was working here, an adopted daughter of Ty'marr, since… well, she has been healing others and she helped me."

She looked up to see Byyuan smiling. He turned towards her to speak up.

"If you're worried that I don't like or hate you because you hurt Heryan… Don't be. We are friends and I can tell you aren't someone who 'hurts' others with any malicious intent. I think it's a funny coincidence…"

"I didn't do anything to manipulate you or intentionally meet with you. I…" Lera interrupted Byyuan as she feared that this was too much of a coincidence. He did the same thing to help her out.

"Lera, don't worry about it. Let me thank you for letting me see my granddaughter. I think we should head back now." He stood up and walked over towards Lera with his hand out.

"But…" She was really unsure. It was awkward and she still felt bad for what her previous self, Kear, had done. Lera could tell that Byyuan was trying to help her end this conversation, but she did want to know how he felt.

"Let's go back. I'm sure your friends want to meet with you."

"Yes…"