Part 70: Give my regards to your father. And to Joshua.

-The Dream Continues-































Estelle, I'll be back to play again in the spring, okay?
Well, okaaay, but...You just came by to play and now you're going home already...Can't you stay another day, Schera?
Um...Well, I'd really love to, but...Everyone at the circus is waiting for me, too.
Awwww, who cares about the circus?
Now, now, Estelle. Don't be selfish.
Schera, thank you again for coming over. You always go out of your way for Estelle's sake.
Nah, it's okay. I love playing with her, too.
Besides, Mrs. Bright, your cooking is AMAZING! Like I'd ever miss that!
Oh, don't flatter me too much!
Come by to play any time you want, Schera.
I'll even treat you to some of my special reserve brandy next time.
Wait...REALLY?! SWEET!!!
Daaaar-liiiiiing...?
Hah, it was a joke. Of course.
Schera, please don't take Cassius up on that offer. I don't care how much you want to try it, you're only twelve. Maybe you can have a sip or two, but absolutely nothing serious until you're an adult.
Aww, but--
Scheeee-raaaa...
Uh, yeah, yeah! Totally waitin' till I'm older! Like, totally. I wish someone would let me try a little, though...Mr. Harvey and Luci don't let me have any, either.
Hmhm. That's a good thing. Trust me.
Anyway, do give our regards to everyone at the circus.
Invite Mr. Harvey and everyone else next time, too, if you wish. I'd be happy to host a barbecue in the garden.
Okay, I'll be sure to tell them!
Well, goodbye, Estelle. Be good!
I wiiiiill! Bye-bye, Schera!





She did say she'll be returning in the spring. I do have some time off around then, so we'll make it a big party next time.
Hmhm. That would be perfect.
Um. Papa? Mama?
I...I wanna sib-wing too!
Er, what?!
Oh! Um, well...!
I mean, I only get to play with Schera sometimes, so...I wanna sibwing I can always play with.
Y-You want...um. That's, um, quite a request, Estelle. How do I...?
Hmm-hmm. So, you want a little brother or sister, sweetie?
Well, you know, this is one thing we can't promise we can give you. It's up to Aidios to decide when people are born.
Really?
Yes. You see, when the Goddess decides to give parents a child, She sends a beautiful bird from the cloud tops, carrying the baby. And then, often late at night, the bird delivers the baby to the mama and papa.
Ooooh, I get it!
I'll pray reeeeeally hard to the Goddess, then!
Hmmhmm. Well, that might help, too.
But perhaps if you're a very good girl, Estelle, the Goddess will send us one as a reward.
I'll be the goodest girl ever, then!
You're amazing at this, as always.
Darling, don't act like you have no part in this.
You'll have some hard work to do, too, after all.
Yes indeed! Welllll, we COULD get to work right now, if you want.
Hee, perhaps later.
Right now I need to get dinner ready.
Er. Right.
Huuuuh?
Hmm-hmm! Well, I'll be in the kitchen.
What are you two going to be up to?
What, indeed.
Estelle, want to go fishing with Papa again?
Mmmmm. No, I'm okay. I think I just wanna play around here for a bit.
*gasp*!
Well, I suppose I can catch up on a few things in my office...
Hmhm! Poor thing, to be shut down by both of the women in his life.
Estelle. Be careful where you play, all right?
Yes, don't play near the pond when you're alone.
Okaaay!





...
That's funny...My heart feels kinda weird...It's like...I forgot something...somewhere...
G-Gotta find it...



breakin' the law, breakin' the law



Tonight we'll have omelets, I think.
Really?!
Yaaay, yaaaay! Mama's omelets are the best!
Oh, what's this? I didn't know you liked them THAT much.
Hmmhmm. Mama and Papa like omelets, too. I suppose it's one of those things you've inherited, sweetie.
Tonight will be chicken omelets with some soft-cooked eggs. And with it...some onion gratin, and a salad with wild vegetables. I hope that sounds good, sweetie.



Do you want to play with Papa, after all?
Ummm, not really!
Er, I see.
Papa, whatcha reading?
Ah, this?
It's called 'The Great Bracer Guildhouses of Zemuria.'
Bray-zer?
Yes, although this book might be a bit hard for you to understand, Estelle.
I know. How about I read you a picture book like Mama does?
Mmm...No, not right now!
Erm. Well, if you wish.
The only Bracer Guild chapter house in Liberl is in Grancel...If we had a guildhouse in each major city, it would remove a tremendous amount of pressure from the army in peacekeeping.
Hmm. When I return to Leiston, I should have another go at convincing Morgan it's a good idea.



Huh? Was it this room?
Ummmm...
...I dunno!
Maybe I should ask Papa!



What's in the room on the second floor?
Ah, the one near the bedroom? That's our storage room.
Stowwage room?
Storage, Estelle. It's a place where you keep things you don't use much. Like a toy chest, but bigger. We haven't been in there since...How long now? It must be covered in dust and cobwebs.
Where's the key to it?
Ah, it's...
...Wait, what are you going to do in there?
I wanna go exploring!
Hmmmm...Well, I suppose it can't hurt.
Mama keeps the key to it. Go on and ask her for it.
Okay!



That should be the last of the onions, and now...
Mama! There you are!
Oh, Estelle!
Hmm-hmm! Trying to sneak a bit of food already?
Oh, no. Um, I gotta question, Mama.
Oh?

Oh, my. You want to explore the storage room?
Hmmm. It's all dusty, though. You'll get very dirty...
Awwwww!
Hm...
Well, all right.
You know the small set of drawers near Mama's bed, right? The key's in the topmost drawer.
Thanks, Mama!



Mmph! Mmph!
Here it is! Yay!



Remember, Estelle, it's probably going to be very dusty so try not to drag too much around the rest of the house. Your mother will have a fit otherwise.
I promise I won't!



Wooow! This room has lotsa stuff!
Um. But...
This is weird...Why does my heart feel so funny...



Wooow, it's pretty!
This is a music thingy you blow, right? I'm gonna try playing it!



♪ ~ ♪

It's got a pretty sound...but it's kinda hard!
But, but. It's weird. I feel like I've heard this before!



That's a very lovely harmonica you have there.
It was in the storeroom. Is it yours, Papa?
Hmm, it isn't, but...I don't believe it's Lena's, either. I wonder whose it is?
May I see it for a moment, Estelle?
Ummmm, okay.

Let me see, the stamp of...Rieveldt? Why, this was made in Erebonia!
Now I REALLY have no idea whose this might be.
Huuuuh?

Well! You're the one who found it, so perhaps it is a gift from Aidios, hmm? Why not try playing it?
Okay!



Where...did I hear this? Maybe I should play it there.



Did you find that in our storage room?
Ahaha! Yep!
Mama, Mama, is it yours?
Hmmmm. No, I don't remember ever owning a harmonica. And I don't remember your father ever serenading me with one, either...I wonder who it belongs to?
Hmmhmm! It looks like your little adventure earned you a great treasure.
Now then, dinner will be ready soon, so go wash your hands.

-Silence-





♪ ♪ ~ ♪

Awwww...I can't play it at all.
This har-mo-ni-ca thing is hard! It seems like it should be easy, but it's really way too hard...!

Huh...?

...It was...where...

♪ ~ ♪ ~ ~

No, no, that's not it.
No, it goes like...this.

-The Whereabouts of Light-









Hey, Joshua...I...'The Whereabouts of Light'...I finally played it.
Woman's Voice: Hmmhmm. That's such a lovely song.

-Decision to Leave-



Mom...
Well...I'm not really your mother, Estelle. I'm...a phantom, I suppose. A memory of the Lena Bright you once knew. As I suspect you've already realized, everything that's happened until now has been a dream.
Yeah, I kind of figured.
Even if it is a dream, though...You're still my mom, Mom. This was...maybe the happiest time of my life.
Hmmhmm. A lot of people feel that way about their childhoods, Estelle.
But even so...you're going, aren't you?
Yeah.
There are people waiting for me, and there's something really important I've got to do, so...
I see.
Joshua, you said? Hmm-hmm. He sounds like quite a handsome young man.
Oh, Mom!
Look at you! You're beet red, sweetie!
Hmhm...It's funny. I'm not truly 'Lena,' and yet, I feel...peaceful. My little Estelle is all grown up and strong...She's even found true love.
As a mother, I couldn't be any happier.
Mom...
I...I...
Now, now. Don't make that face. Didn't you remember you have something you need to do?



That is the end of the dream. The way back to the waking world.
Now...go on with your head held high.
Yeah...
Haha. I kinda wanted to eat your omelet again before the end, though.
Really?
If you want to have it, you should try making it yourself. Your omelet will probably be just as good as mine, if not better!
What do you--
Everything you are as a parent--your skills, your dreams, your hopes for their future--you pass down to your children, knowingly or not. Even if you never have a chance to teach them directly, everything you do, every thought and word, they carry with them as long as they live.
You carry me with you, Estelle. Omelet and all.
Mom...
Yeah...I guess I do.
Mom...I'll be going, then.
Hmhm. Give my regards to your father...and to Joshua.
I will...I promise!
Goodbye...Mom!