(08-26-1241)
"Why do my days always have to start like this?"
I jumped backward just as a massive hoof slammed into the ground where I had been standing moments ago.
Crackling lightning burst from the gem embedded within the antelope beast's right horn.
I reached out, my fingers tensing as I harnessed electromagnetism to catch the raw energy in my palm. I hurled it back at the creature.
But it got absorbed back into the gem.
Almost instantly, the gem on left horn ignited, spewing a torrent of orange flames.
I rushed forward, ducking beneath the torrent of fire while conjuring a mana blade into my hand.
With a single, fluid motion, I swept the edge across one of its forelegs. Bone and muscle gave way, and its front leg separated from the body.
The beast lost balance and crashed heavily into the dirt.
I moved in to finish it.
But suddenly its head twisted toward me while its chest swelled deeply.
A piercing scream exploded outward.
Pain tore through my entire body as the shockwave sent me flying through the air slamming me into a tree, the world becoming a blur of gray sky and spinning trees. My ears rang with a deafening, high-pitched whine, and a dull pressure built behind my eyes. I could feel a warm liquid beginning to pour out of my ears and down my neck.
Down below, I saw both gems on the beast's horns glow brightly again as they aimed directly at me.
The attacks misfired wildly in every direction.
Lightning and flames erupted across the surroundings as the beast roared in confusion.
Through the ringing in my ears, I noticed a woman standing off to the side holding a small staff while maintaining a spell.
Before the creature could recover, a massive shadow loomed over it. A large man came charging through the clearing, his heavy shield raised high. With a grunt of pure exertion, he slammed the metal edge down, crushing the beast's head into the dirt in an instant. The glow in the gems flickered once and then went dark.
He lifted his head toward me, his voice thick with a gravelly sort of concern. "Young lord, are you fine?"
"I am," I replied, my voice sounding hollow to my own ears. I focused inward, channeling a steady stream of healing magic into my ear canals to knit back the ruptured tissue. The world slowly stopped tilting as I pushed myself out of the shattered tree trunk, hopping down to a lower, sturdier branch.
Damn it. That thing was hardly a C+ rank beast, yet it nearly took me out. My concentration is slipping under the weight of this exhaustion.
It was already the seventh one today, and the sun hadn't even reached its peak. While it was common for beasts to be drawn to the ripening mana-rich crops of the harvest, this frequency was staggering. We had been forced to divide the knights, Unc and soldiers into small, mobile teams just to cover the barony's perimeter every single day.
To think Mother handled this entire seasonal surge alone every year without a single complaint… What a monster.
I looked down toward the two knights currently storing the beast's corpse efficiently.
Both belonged to Tavian's seven-man squad, though I had barely interacted with either of them before.
Dovan, the man with the massive shield, was a mountain of a person, broad and rounded, standing nearly as tall as Unc. Beside him stood Aniselle. She carried herself with a refined, almost regal air that made her look out of place in the blood-stained clearing. Her bright blue hair was styled into perfect drills at the ends. I remembered Aifa mentioning that she was a specialist in Moon magic.
Today was the first time I had properly worked alongside either of them.
They are quite capable.
"Young lord, should we leave?" Dovan asked, his voice snapping me back to the present as he shouldered his massive shield.
"Let me check if there are any others nearby first," I replied. I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath and expanding my senses outward, letting my perception ripple through the trees like a stone dropped in a pond.
I need to make sure the area is–Huh?
A massive presence suddenly entered my perception. It was full of power that made the Antelope beast feel like a mere insect. My heart hammered against my ribs. Why was it so close? Why did it feel like it was right next to me?
Opening my eyes, I slowly turned my head.
"There's no way—"
A pair of massive, large glass-like eyes framed by sweeping lashes, staring with a look of curiosity from behind a wide, flat beak perched atop a long, feathered neck that disappeared into the foliage of the tree I was sitting in.
W-what?
How did I not notice something this huge standing next to me?!
The creature stared at me.
And I stared back.
Then its pupils narrowed sharply as recognition crossed its eyes.
"KRRRAAAAHHHHHH!"
A horrifying roar exploded from its beak.
The shockwave slammed into me instantly and sent me crashing off the branch.
FUCK! My ears!
A thick arm wrapped around my torso, catching me before I could hit the ground.
Dovan.
His mouth moved as he said something, but all I heard was muffled ringing.
Great. Just wonderful. I am officially deaf now.
I pushed myself out of Dovan's grip, ignoring the stabs of pain in my ears and the way the trees seemed to tilt and sway in my wobbly vision.
The beast let out another silent scream, the beast casually smashed the tree I had been standing on with one massive stomp before charging forward.
It's an overgrown ostrich.
The creature rushed at us with terrifying speed and lifted one enormous leg.
I jumped backward immediately.
Dovan stepped forward instead.
His huge shield met the descending stomp head-on.
The instant the beast's foot collided with the shield, the impact twisted strangely.
Then the force was sent right back.
The giant creature screeched as its own power launched it backward several meters.
Must be Shielder Arcana.
But the beast refused to retreat.
It charged again even faster this time and slammed its leg down with even greater force.
Dovan caught it once more, though this time his body visibly strained beneath the pressure, his boots sinking into the soil under the sheer weight of the assault.
I was just about to move in when shadows suddenly burst from the surrounding trees.
The soldiers accompanying us attacked all at once.
Blades pierced into the creature's legs.
Spears slashed across its sides.
Magic exploded against its feathers.
The creature let out a deafening roar of pain, its massive body shuddering under the assault. I watched the blades strike, but even through my blurred vision, I could tell none of the wounds were deep enough to reach anything vital. The feathers and thick skin acted like a natural suit of armor.
Next to me, I saw Aniselle. Her mouth was moving rapidly, her expression one of intense, cold concentration as she channeled her magic.
A moment later, the beast's eyes went unfocused. It began to flap its stunted wings in every direction, looking around as if it had lost its sense of where we were. It started thrashing its legs wildly, striking the air in a blind panic.
The soldiers used the opportunity to surround it further.
But suddenly the creature broke through the encirclement and began to tear through the underbrush, running away at a breakneck pace.
Normally, seeing a monster retreat would have been a win, but my heart sank as I realized the direction it was heading…
The soldiers and knights gave chase immediately. I pushed past the dizziness and took to the sky, my flight magic feeling shaky but functional. From above, I could see the feathered monstrosity carving a path of destruction through the forest.
"O mana–Mana Missile!"
Hundreds of glowing projectiles rained down from above.
They tore through the air and struck the creature repeatedly.
Its legs.
Its back.
Its torso.
Blood splattered across the trees.
But its constantly moving neck avoided any serious hit.
"O water—"
I stopped mid-chant.
The beast suddenly planted one foot against a tree as a springboard, its powerful legs launching its bulk high into the air. Its head snapped toward me, those eyes locking onto mine with a terrifying intelligence.
Hah.
You can't reach me.
Ostriches can't even fly—
The thought died instantly.
A spiral of wind began to coil around its body, shimmering with a greenish hue. Once again, it opened its beak and let out a roar that I felt in my very marrow. The shockwave hit me like a physical blow, sending me helplessly tumbling through the air.
The beast shot straight toward me.
"O unseen threads of the world… Repulsion!"
Force exploded outward from my wand.
The creature answered with another monstrous roar.
The soundwave collided directly against my spell.
The air itself shattered between us, creating a violent shockwave that hurled me backward through the sky, while the creature continued its trajectory almost undisturbed.
…Its defense is on the same level as that saber beast.
Running wasn't going to work.
I steadied myself midair and rushed toward it instead.
"O earth, listen to my will and transform—"
The giant ostrich opened its beak wide as if welcoming me.
"Earth Fist!"
A massive fist of stone erupted into existence between us and slammed directly into the creature's body with a sickening crunch.
The impact echoed through the forest.
The beast was blown backward by the impact, but it twisted its body with unnatural agility, using the wind to steady itself midair.
It was heading straight for the exact direction I least wanted it going…
As it struggled to stay aloft, I noticed its right wing shaking violently.
Good.
But my own condition was worsening too.
Damn it…
Attacking while flying was becoming harder by the second with my head feeling this heavy.
Then, I felt a familiar presence tearing through the sky from the west, moving toward me with incredible speed. A smile tugged at my lips as the pressure in my chest eased. I loosened my hold on the wind magic, descending slowly until my boots met the familiar, firm feathers of a friend.
"Let's go after him," I said, leaning forward.
"Quueeeh!" Fatty answered, his cry confident as he banked sharply to follow the target.
As we closed the distance, the ostrich's long, serpentine neck turned back toward us. It unleashed roar after roar, sending invisible hammers of sound through the sky, but Fatty navigated the air, dodging every concussive blast with a flick of his wings.
My eyes locked onto the creature's damaged wing.
Slowly, I pulled my right arm back while conjuring a mana blade into existence.
My other hand braced against my arm to withstand the recoil.
I've practiced this with Tavian…
Wind spiraled tightly around the blade, spinning faster and faster until it hummed with a high-pitched whistle, accelerating its rotation further.
I took a deep breath, forcing my own 'Willpower' into the mix, weaving Sword Aura into the rotating mana. The sheer density of the power made my hand shake with the pressure, the energy fighting to break free of my grasp.
It would've been easier with an actual sword.
"Zephyr Drill!"
The spinning projectile exploded from my hand.
A violently rotating drill of mana, wind, and willpower tore through the air and pierced directly through the beast's injured wing.
Blood scattered across the sky as a massive hole exploded through the feathers and flesh.
With a painful cry, the beast spiraled out of the sky and crashed violently into the ground.
It rolled through trees and dirt before finally stopping within the clearing near the outer edge of town.
"O earth—"
I began casting another spell.
But before I could finish, Fatty suddenly descended at full speed and charged toward the fallen beast.
"W-wait!"
Just like I feared, the giant ostrich twisted its neck around instantly.
"KRRRRAAAAHHH!"
The roar exploded outward.
I threw myself sideways in mid-air, dodging the brunt of the shockwave, but Fatty took the hit directly.
"QUACK!"
He was sent tumbling backward through the air, his wings flailing as he lost his momentum.
"Fatty!" I shouted, turning to move toward him, but the ostrich was already scrambling to its feet. It didn't stay to fight, it turned its sights on the town and began a thundering sprint toward the gates.
"Fuck!"
I clenched my teeth hard.
"Someone will pick you up!"
Using wind magic, I launched myself back into the sky and chased after the creature.
It's even faster on land?!
Ahead, several soldiers, leveling their spears and bracing their shields to defend the entrance.
"No, move!" I shouted desperately.
Mana gathered around the beast's powerful legs as it leaped straight toward them.
But just before impact, an emerald-colored dome suddenly formed around the soldiers.
The ostrich slammed its feet against the barrier and skidded past them, unable to break it.
"Fua."
A comforting weight landed softly on top of my head.
"... He is already in town!" I shouted, the sight of the chaos below making my stomach churn.
Panic spread through the streets below.
People screamed while running away as the giant beast rampaged forward.
Market stalls exploded apart.
One of the creature's massive legs slammed into a house hard enough to crack the wall open.
"STOP!"
I descended from the sky at full speed.
I focused every ounce of mana downward, increasing gravity twentyfold just before impact, crashing directly into the beast's back.
The force made its injured legs buckle violently beneath its weight.
I immediately conjured a mana blade and rushed toward its neck, but the creature's beak was already wide open.
A barrier flared around me just as a roar erupted from its throat. The shockwave hit the shield with the force of an explosion, sending Faux and me skidding backward across the street.
My legs gave up.
I can't… any longer…
The ringing and pain in my ears still hadn't fully disappeared.
The beast scrambled to its feet, preparing for another charge, but Faux hopped off my head and hissed. Large, translucent emerald barriers formed around us, boxing the bird in from all sides and cutting off its path.
"Fra!"
Faux didn't stop there. Small, red, glass-like shards materialized in the air around him. With a sharp flick of his tail, they shot forward, peppering the beast from every angle. The shards bit deep into its hide, drawing shrieks of pain from the trapped monster.
Wow. Since when could he do that?
A few more of those glowing red pieces floated toward me, swirling in the air before gathering together and solidifying. They shifted and locked into place, taking the unmistakable shape of a… sword.
"Fua."
I looked up toward Faux.
He nodded proudly while smiling at me.
Slowly, I reached out and grabbed the crimson sword.
I poured a heavy stream of mana into the blade, testing its limits, and it didn't break.
Small emerald barriers appeared one after another ahead of me, forming a path through the air toward the beast.
I forced my exhausted body upright.
Jumping from one platform to another as fast as possible.
Closer.
Closer.
The giant ostrich noticed me immediately and opened its beak wide.
I poured mana and sword aura into the crimson blade until my arm screamed from the pressure.
Then I swung.
The roar and slash collided together.
For a brief moment, everything went silent.
I landed slowly onto the ground.
A heavy thud sounded next to me. I turned my head to see those massive, glass-like eyes, the very first thing I had seen in that tree, finally losing their light. Blood poured onto the street from where the neck had been severed, and the rest of the colossal body slumped down into a heap of feathers.
Faux floated down proudly and landed atop my head.
I could practically feel him waiting for praise.
And honestly…
He deserved it.
I dropped onto the ground tiredly.
"…Good job."
"Fua."
A few moments later, Dovan and Aniselle came running toward me, their faces twisted with worry and relief. I saw their lips moving, but I could hardly hear a thing they said. Their voices felt too soft and distant compared to the thunderous roars of the beast or the clear, resonant thoughts of Fatty and Faux that I could hear directly in my mind.
Fatty eventually found us, nudging me gently before carrying me through the town to Doctor Ridge's clinic. The doctor sighed as he began cleaning the dried blood from my ears, his hands steady as he used flower magic to heal the ruptured tissue. We talked about how we had been meeting a lot recently.
It took nearly an hour for Doctor Ridge to finish treating me.
After that, I stayed another hour discussing Flower magic with him.
Despite his age, the man became surprisingly passionate whenever the topic shifted toward healing spells.
I ended up learning quite a few useful things.
"Please get some proper rest, young lord," Doctor Ridge said while putting away his tools. "You are fortunate your physique is naturally this strong. Someone else would have permanently lost their hearing from that."
…That bad, huh.
"I understand." I gave him a small smile. "Thank you for your time."
We said our goodbyes and stepped out making our way onto Fatty's back. The tension of the battle had finally bled away, leaving only a hollow, gnawing sensation in its wake.
"I am so hungry," I admitted, leaning against Fatty's neck.
"Queh!" "Fua!"
Both of them agreed immediately, followed by the synchronized, audible grumble of their stomachs.
"You two are always hungry," I said with a small laugh, the sound finally clear in my own ears.
I suddenly felt a familiar presence nearby.
"Hm?"
Looking down from the sky, I spotted a tiny figure moving quickly on a rooftop below.
My eyes widened.
"That little… whatever it is! Fatty, go down!"
I pointed downward immediately towards my late-night-visitor spirit.
Fatty tilted his wings and descended, my eyes locked on the tiny creature as it jumped into an alleyway.
Without wasting time, I jumped down after it.
I saw something orange scurrying ahead and landed heavily in its path.
"Oh."
Straightening myself, I turned toward the voice.
A girl stood there.
"It's you."
The same girl from the forest.
She looked at me with slight surprise in her eyes before a gentle smile curved onto her lips.
"We meet once again."
On hearing her voice, weird emotions swirled within me.
Why?... Why do i feel… sad?
Pushing everything down, I took a moment to really look at her. Her hair was a vibrant, bright orange that seemed to glow even in the dim light of the alley. Her clothes were undeniably expensive, made of fine fabrics that no commoner could ever afford unless they belonged to a incredibly wealthy merchant family. It was more likely she was a noble traveling in secret.
"Uh, miss, who are you and why are you," I glanced around at the damp stone walls of the alley, "here? Are you lost?"
The last thing we need is another noble causing trouble in such a busy time.
"Not even a hello first?" she asked, tilting her head with a playful smile that made me feel like I was the one who was out of place.
I stared at her for a moment.
Uh…
I guess she really is a noble.
All they care about is greetings, manners, respect and all that stuff.
"…Hello."
That only made her smile grow wider.
"There we go. See? Much better."
With her hands resting behind her back like she was simply enjoying an evening stroll, she leaned slightly forward.
"Now you sound less like someone interrogating a criminal."
Before I could even respond, she continued naturally.
"So?"
Her eyes curved beautifully with amusement.
"Why don't we introduce ourselves first? You can go first."
"I am Siegfried Fors—"
Wait. Why am I the one being questioned now?
I closed my mouth, realizing I had just handed over my identity without getting a single thing in return.
"Siegfried," she said slowly, letting the syllables linger as if she were tasting them. "Peace and Victory… That's such a nice name."
A genuine smile appeared on her face.
For some reason, hearing that made me feel strangely happy.
There was no mockery in her tone, just a quiet appreciation that made the tension in my shoulders loosen ever so slightly.
"Thank you," I said, trying to regain my composure. "Can you now please tell me why you are here? Are you lost?"
"Please, you don't need to worry." She lightly waved her hand. "I was just exploring around a little. I thought this path would take me to the square faster, so I came this way." She answered, maintaining that same effortless smile.
"That's dangerous."
The Fors alleys and streets are normally safe under our watch, but with the harvest festival coming and so many strangers flowing in and out of town, anything could happen. A girl dressed like she was worth a small fortune shouldn't be wandering through such paths alone.
"Don't you have someone escorting you? or some guards?" I asked, looking past her for any sign of a hidden protector.
"I'm with someone. But she's waiting somewhere else. She said I'm free to explore as long as I return on time." she said, pointing a slender finger toward the sky.
Above?
"That sounds highly irresponsible," I replied while folding my arms.
"It's fine, really. Cute girls like me know how to handle ourselves." She winked at the end, her confidence radiant.
I sighed internally, nearly wanting to facepalm as I realized this conversation was becoming far more exhausting than the life-or-death struggle I had just finished.
"Yes, yes, I am saying this because you are a cute girl who shouldn't be in danger. Please, just use the main roads from now on and don't go wandering alone."
"Aww, so you think I am cute? That is so nice of you."
"Wait, what? Don't put words in my mouth!" I blurted out. "And that is not the part you should be focusing on!"
She started giggling softly.
"I was kidding." Her eyes curved playfully. "But your reaction made it worth it."
…This girl is really throwing me off.
"Why don't you show me around? You look like a brave, strong warrior," she asked cheerfully. , her eyes gleaming with a challenge that was hard to ignore.
"I am brave and strong, but I don't have ti—"
"Then it's decided. Let's go."
Before I could finish my sentence, she reached out and grabbed my hand, her fingers surprisingly small against my palm. She began pulling me out of the shadows of the alleyway and toward the bustling main streets.
"Wait."
I stopped suddenly.
Because of it, her body lost balance and she nearly fell backward.
Instinctively, I caught her from behind.
…I didn't even pull her.
She almost stumbled just because I stopped.
She felt surprisingly light.
Lean, almost fragile.
"Ah, thank you," she said softly as I helped her straighten up.
Now that I looked more closely, her complexion seems a little white.
"Like I thought, Sieg is really reliable."
She looked back at me, her expression brightening.
"Instead, you shouldn't— wait." My brows furrowed. "How do you know my nickname? I never told you that."
Suspicion immediately crept in.
But her expression didn't change at all.
She simply looked upward thoughtfully.
"Hmm~ Ah, a little birdie told me."
"You just made that up. Stop playing games and—"
"What's happening there?"
She suddenly pointed toward the loud crowd gathered near the square.
"Let's see."
Before I could continue questioning her, she grabbed my hand again and pulled me along.
I felt the urge to plant my feet on the ground and demand the truth, but I suppressed it. There was something about her pace that made it hard to stay stubborn.
We slipped through the cheering crowds, weaving through the gaps until we reached the very front.
Large piles of magic beast corpses had been gathered before the statue of my great-grandfather.
Soldiers stood lined up proudly nearby.
I spotted Ashar, Blake, Dovan, and Aniselle responding to the crowd's cheers with small waves.
…Where's Aifa?
She had gone with them too.
"What are they doing?" the girl beside me asked curiously.
"It's a tradition," I explained. "That statue is of Ravald Fors, my great-grandfather."
I looked up toward the towering figure.
"In the past, before my ancestors settled here, the harvests of this land were constantly destroyed by beasts. My family dealt with them for generations, but things became worse after orcs built a nest far south from here. But seventy years ago, my great grandfather attacked that nest all alone. He killed two hundred orcs single-handedly and took the head of the Orc King, erasing them from the dukedom forever."
I gestured toward the parade of knights and the fallen prey.
A faint sense of pride rose within me.
"Since then, before every Harvest Festival, the hunt is paraded here first to honor him, then to the current lord of the land before everything is handed to the guild."
I looked at the girl, expecting to see her impressed or perhaps taken back by the sheer scale of the hunt, but her expression had shifted into something… solemn.
"Those poor things…"
The moment those words left her mouth, her eyes rested on the dead beasts being carried away.
"What do you mean poor things?" I replied sharply. "If we hadn't killed them, they would've destroyed the fields and Aethelhum knows how many people would've died." I said, the anger rising in my chest. To see our survival and my family's duty dismissed so lightly stung.
"I understand that," she answered softly.
Still, her gaze remained on the corpses.
"I still feel bad for them."
I followed her line of sight.
Among the massive beasts were smaller ones too.
Some barely larger than… Baloo.
…What am I even thinking.
I already made peace with this long ago.
It's survival of the fittest.
I turned around and began walking away quickly.
The celebratory cheers of the crowd suddenly felt like a grating noise I needed to escape.
"Where are we going now?" the girl asked, her voice trailing right behind me.
"Home. You are going to yours and I am going to mine. Goodbye," I said without looking back, hoping to finally end this strange encounter.
"Then let's go to yours," she replied cheerfully.
"What?"
I stopped and turned,my mouth hanging open slightly. She stood there with that same undeterred smile.
"Sieg, where have you been?"
I turned around to see Granny marching toward me with quick steps while Aifa followed behind her, looking exhausted and slightly apologetic.
"Oh, Granny, I was just—"
Her hand shot out with the speed of a striking viper, catching my ear and pulling hard. "Seriously! You are exactly like your mother!"
"Ouch! Ow, ow! Granny, what did do?"
"Joining the hunt after I told you not to! Getting injured! Making a mess in the middle of town and then not returning home after visiting Ridge!" she snapped. "Do you know how long we've been searching for you?!"
"Lady Fors, please calm down," Aifa tried to intervene carefully.
"No, he needs to understand how serious his situation is! He acts as if he is invincible!"
"Ack, I-I am sorry!"
"Excuse me."
The girl stepped forward with her hands neatly clasped before her. "Sieg got late because he was helping me," she said, her tone dripping with a sudden, polished innocence.
Granny's gaze shifted, her eyes traveling from the girl's bright orange hair down to her expensive boots. At the same time, the grip on my ear loosened enough for me to quietly slip free.
"And who might you be?" The question was pointed, but her eyes peeked back at me for a split second, demanding an explanation I didn't have.
…I never got her name.
The girl took a few elegant steps back and lightly lifted the hem of her skirt in a flawless, noble curtsy. "It is an honor to meet you, Lady Elaina Fors. My name is Perpetua. I am just a girl visiting your marvelous town for the festivities."
Perpetua? That name... it feels familiar and strange at the same time, like a word from a dream I can't quite remember.
"So captivating," Aifa murmured from behind Granny, her eyes practically glued to the girl's perfect posture.
What captivating? I am more captivating than her.
I stood there feeling completely out of the loop. This girl was playing the part of a refined lady so perfectly that even Granny seemed momentarily disarmed.
"I-I see," Granny finally said after a moment, seeming to break free from whatever spell that smile had placed on everyone.
"Would you mind telling us your family name?"
"Shh, that's a secret," Perpetua replied, placing a single delicate finger against her lips and offering a playful wink.
Granny looked genuinely puzzled for once, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find a proper response to such a brazen answer.
Good.
So it's not just me struggling with this girl.
"Um, Miss Perpetua," Aifa spoke gently while stepping forward and leaning in. "You must have come here with someone, right?"
"There is no need for 'Miss,' please just call me Perpetua. Actually, I personally prefer to be called Per," she said, her voice light and airy.
"Okay, Per, who accompanied you to this town?" Aifa tried again, her tone soft and patient.
"I have someone with me. But let me apologize first. I cannot tell you where they are. I was specifically told to keep it secret."
Granny and Aifa exchanged a complicated glance.
Yeah.
What exactly are you supposed to do with that answer?
They tried asking a few more questions, attempting to peel back the layers of her mystery, but they weren't able to get anything out of her. The only thing we learned was that she was eight years old, the same as me. She answered every inquiry with that same unwavering smile. The weirdest part was that she wasn't forcing it, I could feel a genuine joy flowing from her throughout the entire conversation.
…I seriously don't understand this girl at all.
She doesn't talk like an eight-year-old.
While the questioning continued, I realized I was missing my two companions. I expanded my senses, letting my perception drift back toward the rooftop where we had originally landed. High above the bustle of the street, I felt two familiar balls of light. One small and one large, both of them were peacefully snoring away.
…Those two are unbelievable.
"Alright. Come with us to the manor. We can talk more while we eat," Granny said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"What?" My head snapped back toward her, my eyes wide with disbelief. "Granny, she is a complete stranger! We know absolutely nothing about her!"
"Since when has our house been closed to strangers?" Granny replied calmly. "We took in a flying fox, a fat bird, a green cub, and even a boy of unknown origins."
Her eyes shifted toward me meaningfully.
"What difference does one strange little girl make for a few hours?"
My mouth was left wide open as I struggled to find a comeback.
…What kind of magic did this girl use on Granny?
"Isn't this great, Sieg?" The girl asked, moving closer into my personal space. Her eyes were practically sparkling with delight. "I can't wait to see where you live!"
Then she grabbed my arm again with that same bright smile.
"Come on."
She sounded so genuinely excited that it almost felt like this was the happiest moment of her life.
And somehow…
Seeing that endless enthusiasm made a small smile appear on my face too. I couldn't help but feel the corners of my mouth twitch upward. I let out a soft, defeated huff and allowed her to lead the way.
That was the day we met, the moment that sparked a tumultuous, hectic season of being followed by a girl who refused to be ignored.
But it was also the beginning of the brightest and happiest days of my life in Fors Barony.
And though I did not realize it then, it was also the first sign that my days with my family were slowly coming to an end.