It felt good to be off the boat and back in the city. Having just endured the longest journey of her young life, the mage just wanted to sit on her porch and read by lantern light. The crossing had been difficult, jammed on a ship full of people for so many trials but it was over. After arriving home, she quickly bathed, washed her hair, and slipped into a change of clothing. So much better. Part of her wanted to lay in front of the fireplace and slip off to dreamland like she used to, but she knew better now. Until she was in better control of her abilities, sleeping next to a fire wasn’t such a good idea.

Sitting on her porch with a meditation book, Elisabeth was distracted by the words on the page. She wasn’t paying any attention to the people passing by. It wasn’t until she heard her name being said that her sapphire eyes glanced up…and saw a ghost from her past.

[b]“Ezner?!?[/b]

Dropping the book she held, she slowly stood up, as if somehow that would gain her a better look at the man whose face had haunted her thoughts for almost a cycle. The tears came immediately, her chest releasing a pain she had held for so long. Her legs were frozen in place, unsure what to say or do. He looked different, but she knew it to be him.
 
She had so many questions. Elisabeth always had questions…but this time, they could wait. Her legs swiftly covered the distance between them in a matter of trills, arms immediately wrapping around his neck as her face buried itself against his shoulder, holding him close as her voice struggled to convey…well…anything. “I thought you were dead…” It was the first and only thing that came to her mind to say because she had. In her heart, that is what she had felt for if it had been anything else, certainly, she would have had some sign. 

Elisabeth knew words. Lots of words. Yet at that moment, she couldn’t think of anything to say.