Chapter Text
Six months later
Spring was in full bloom, flowers were vibrant and luscious green trees. The cool Spring air slowly gave way to the oncoming summer heat. The semester was at an end and Emmrich had finished his last lecture until fall. He had buried himself in both his teaching and lich duties over the last few months. With no more lectures to give, he decided to return to his old cafe. He hadn't been since his wife's deathaversary.
Manfred had found him crawled in a ball in front of her headstone hours later and helped him back home. That was when he confided in his son everything as he crumpled onto his couch. Tears streaming down skull as his emotional state wouldn't allow him to reapply his glamor. Manfred sat down beside his father and hugged him.
"It's ok dad. I miss her too. Maybe one we will see her again." At those innocent words, Emmrich bawled even harder in Manfreds arms that night.
As he closed in on the cafe, the shame of his actions and how he handled his emotion, he was confident she would never want to see him again. Even so, he would need to apologizes for his behavior.
Taking up his usual spot on the patio, enjoying the aroma black tea. Observing people going about their lives.
"Professor Volkarin?" Her voice graced his ears and he stiffened again. He turned his head and there she stood in her warden uniform. Her eyes were filled with relief, concern, and uncertainty.
"Ms. Thorne." He stood up clearing his throat out of habit instead of necessity. "I fear I owe you an apology for my behavior when we last meet. "
"I was just... are you alright?" Her inquiry held genuine concern. "You ran out and it's been months." Guilt washed over him. He hadn't meant to make her worry. "I'm sorry if I'm overstepping. I just.... felt a connection with you and..." She sighed and scratched the back of her neck. "maker that sounds so stupid."
"Not at all, my dear. Please sit." He waved his hands towards the chair across him. "I must confess that night I was not in the greatest mindset." Taking a deep breath he didn't need to, to help ground him. "It was the anniversary of my wife's deaths and I foolishly thought that if I saw you again that maybe it would ease my heart. My soul." Head hung low as she stared at his folded heads on his lap. " Sadly, it did not."
Over the months he sought solace in distraction via the lecture halls and lich duty; until such a time as his course becomes clear to him, and his desires defined. Time, in his immortal state, possessed a quality all it's own as six months flew by unnoticed.
"Forgive me but…do I really look that much like your late wife?" Emmrich let out a soft, sincere chuckle.
"You could be her twin. Same hair color, eyes, nose even the scar down to it's placement." She hesitantly brought her hand to her face touching the scar on her right cheek. "It is quite scary how much of her I see in you."
The was a brief moment of quiet between them. The roar of the city beyond the thin boarder of the cafe patio as he watched the gears in her head turn.
"So what do you want from me?" She finally spoke, breaking the silence.
Taken aback momentarily by the question, he stared slack jawed at her before regaining his composure and truly considered what he wanted. A soft smile crept across his face.
"Are you happy?"
"What?"
"Are you happy? Does Davrin express his affection for you wholeheartedly? Does your family love and care for you the way you are meant?" All of which he truly wanted for her. "Are you happy, Zea?"
She blinked at him, mouth agape. No longer looking at him, her gaze turned towards the crowd of people that passed by.
"Yes", she finally said with a smile. "I am, truly."
"Then that is all I want. For you to be well and truly happy. For you have no idea how much you deserve it."
He stood to leave before she gently placed a hand on his forearm stopping him.
"Why do I feel like I'll never see you again." He looked at her, sincerely looked. A sadness in her eyes as the reality of it began to hit.
"I wouldn't say never." He placed his hand atop hers and gently squeezed. Silently reassuring her.
After a while, reluctantly she let go.
Though Zea resembled his wife, she wasn't her. If reincarnation was real, then one day his Zea would return to him. He spirit would know cause there would be no other. He would wait another thousand years if it meant having his Zea back in his arms.
He turned to leave but stopped before turning back to her. Locking eyes with hers one last time.
"In another life, perhaps."