Nanami was lingering in a small village of hapuna. The area was beautiful, with white beaches like most Kahi settlements that overlooked the crystal clear waters of the ocean that was full of vibrant coral reefs that the hapuna enjoyed exploring so much. The young mage was spending her days helping out around the village since there had been so many troubles as of late. It most definitely was not because she was trying to clear her mind and think of anything other than her friend who had recently left for Matori. Nanami shook her head once more before taking out some bandages and ointments for a hapuna who had injured himself while helping to rebuild a small school to replace the old one that had been washed away in a flash flood a few weeks ago. “So you’re the healer?” The golden hapuna asked, giving Nanami a warm smile as he settled on the patient’s seat and waited for his stitches. “Thank you for helping since our old healer had to take a break to visit family. I’m Konana, a trader for this village.”

“You’re welcome.” Nanami offered a small smile though she was mostly going through the motions of treating him, her mind far away as she cut through the skin with a clean needle and dragged stitches through to close the wound.

“Fairly quiet for a healer. Shouldn’t you be distracting me from my injuries or at least chastising me for even getting hurt like this?” Konana tilted his head as he watched the Kawena take out ointment for his wound. “I’m only teasing, so please be gentle.” He winced even though Nanami did try her best to be careful with how she dressed the wound, her fingers gentle as she cautiously rubbed the ointment against his skin before taking out fresh bandages to cover up the stitches while they healed.

“I’m not a professional healer, I just have basic training.” Explained Nanami after a moment, “Though I am sorry if I seem distant…I have a lot on my mind.” She admitted quietly before tucking in the bandages along his arm so that they wouldn’t fall. Stabbing a pin through the bandages, Noelani gave it a final glance before pulling away. “Any other injuries or is that all?”

“Just an injured ankle, if you don’t mind.” Konana smiled sheepishly before showing her the other injury. “I’m also fairly good at listening if you have a lot on your mind. Maybe I can help while you help me out.” The hapuna seemed honest with his words, the man intent upon listening to Ami as she prepared to wrap his injured ankle.

“It’s probably silly…” She began, biting her bottom lip thoughtfully before deciding that maybe she could discuss some of the things lingering in her mind especially since it was unlikely that she would cross paths again with this hapuna, “I just met a foreigner a while ago and she left an impression on me. I honestly regret….well it would be silly, right? I couldn’t simply go with her overseas and leave my home behind.” It was one thing to leave her actual island, but another thing to completely leave this whole region to venture into the unknown just to track down someone…and to possibly stay there with her.

“I met an Elidae once.” Konana began quietly, his gaze thoughtful. “She was the loveliest person I had ever met, but I simply took her to a ship that left for the other continent.” He paused, attempting to smile though it turned into more of a grimace before he continued on, “I regret it. If I could go back then I would have made the decision to track her down instead of staying here. It felt selfish of me to leave my village, not when they needed me to help bring in goods and supplies every year from other settlements, so I hesitated and watched her leave instead of chasing her.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Nanami felt her own heart breaking as she recognized the sorrow in the hapuna’s expression all too well. It was the same feeling that she had been battling day after day since saying goodbye to Noelani all those weeks ago. Did she even think about Ami? The very thought made her heart twist, fearful of the fact that she could have easily been forgotten since they went their separate ways.

“Don’t be.” Konana shifted as she finished wrapping his ankle, forcing another smile before looking at Ami. “Instead you should make the decision that I wish I had been brave enough to make. Don’t be like me, go and chase your heart.” He insisted as he studied the Kawena. “I’m committed now, only hoping that perhaps fate will let us cross paths again. You though…if you can then go after the person in your heart.”

All Nanami could do was nod before helping her patient hobble from the room, a thankful expression on her face as she waved farewell and began to turn back in for the night. Maybe, just maybe he was right. Would it be so horrible to leave Kahi to find out where her heart could go with these twisting feelings? Unlike Konana it seemed that Nanami was going to pick a different path and venture into the unknown world that existed across the ocean.

[895]