The tower was clear as far as Mesu knew. Sweat and blood ran down her body as her breathing started to regulate itself. She was back on the main floor as the group had arrived. Anna ran over and embraced her as the rest of them gave her reassuring looks.
“How did you all see this place? Or get in here?” Mesu let go of the hug and found one of the knocked-over chairs. She stood it back up and sat down. All of her muscles took this moment to let her know how sore they were.
“That was all, Anna. She told us to trust her, and we did.” Zoe and the rest of the group found seats around the room. Mesu took in the sight. It felt like she was away from them for years. They all looked the same, and she was thrilled.
“Something was pulling me here. I can’t tell you exactly what it was. A feeling or urge to be here. It happened a couple of days ago. We had already lost your trail, but whatever it was, I knew I had to come here as soon as possible. I’m happy that the rest of the group listened.” Anna smiled at everyone and then back at Mesu. It gave Mesu a warm feeling.
“I wish I could help you more with what it is. I can tell you some things about this place. Do you know anything about it?” Everyone shook their heads. It felt weird to Mesu that she knew most of this place. “This structure was built or conjured either by or for Enya. The only reason I was able to see it was because I’m of her bloodline. That does make me wonder. Anna, do you know your parents?”
Mesu felt a little guilty asking this question. It seemed like something she should have known the answer to already. The time they spent traveling, Mesu and Anna mostly talked about Mesu. She tried to recall any facts she knew about Anna, except for the obvious.
“I know my mother, but not my father. He was a wanderer, from what I was told. My grandma had said that if she ever did see him again, she would let me know. It sounded like he only came through one time, though.” Anna hung her head. Mesu felt worse about bringing up such a topic. She started to wish she could take the question back
“Anna, that is a more common story than you think. Don’t be ashamed of it.” Zoe got up and moved toward Anna. She gave Anna a side hug to reaffirm.
“I’m not ashamed. I just hear things and feel like I missed out.” Anna lifted her head back up and looked around the room. It was amazing to Mesu how supportive the group was of each other. It made her feel like she had a family again.
“It seems like you may have been lucky. If the only ones who could see this place are related to Enya, this means you’re part of the bloodline. Maybe a distant cousin or something to me?” Mesu tried to remember the names of uncles and other family members of the past. She only knew stories of Enya or her parents as a child.
“I don’t think that is the case.” Anna shook her head.
“Why not? You’re taking to adventuring so easily. Anna, you’re even more devoted to the training and ways of this life than I am.” Mesu almost gasped as she let those words out of her mouth. She had thought it, but wasn’t willing to admit it. The words stung her and made her start tearing up. “Maybe I’m not cut out for this. I think I should go back to the Inn and work at that. The farm is lost, and I have no idea what I would do with all of these artifacts.”
Anna was the first over and embraced Mesu. She let her full body weight into Anna as she sobbed. It was freeing to admit this. She wondered what was next for her.
“Kid, you know that isn’t true. There are things you have survived that no one else would. You’ve taken on things that no one would have ever dreamed of.” Zoe rubbed Mesu on the back as she spoke. “We have all had our doubts. I can tell you from personal experience that I’ve thought of stopping and settling down, too. I even tried, but couldn’t. This is in my blood. The thrill is what I live for, and I seek it out because no one else will.”
Tai was nodding in agreement.
“You know I haven’t always been like this, Mesu.” The look on Tai’s face was the most serious one Mesu had ever seen. “The world needs us as much as we need the rest of the world. People have bad things happen to them, or are looking for something. Not everyone has the ability to go find it. That’s where we come in. Your first instinct was to seek out adventure when you lost your home. That tells you exactly who you are.”
Mesu started to calm down. The words were comforting, but it was hard to come to terms with them. She didn’t feel like much of an adventurer, and so far her travels have been less than successful. She thought back to how she had been forced out, run out, kidnapped, and beaten up. The next thing that was added to the list was losing a priceless stone and having to be rescued again.
“You’re doing so much better at this than I am, Mesu.” Anna’s voice was shaky as she talked. “You started me on this, and you have been the driving force since. I would still be working at the Inn if it weren’t for you. You gave me the strength to get here and showed me what it means to be a hero.”
“I guess. I just don’t feel like I’m where I need to be.” Mesu let go of Anna and sat back. Everyone else moved back to their seats.”Thank you all. I didn’t realize that this was such a journey, and it seems like I‘m getting where I need.”
“Child, you‘re still in the first steps of your journey.” Everyone turned to look at the stairs. A woman had seemingly appeared while they were talking. Mesu knew instantly who it was and saw that Anna knew as well. The realization started hitting everyone else. “What was taken from here has the potential to destroy two worlds. Now that it’s back in the open, you all need to find it and return it.” Enya finished her descent down the stairs to a mix of looks.