No without a reason this little venture was, walking side by side and steps of many were in rhythm, dragging them across the outskirt of a little village when the night was an infant still, because tints of orange were no longer hanging but only the remnant capable of painting the surrounding ambience by overturning the radiant warm of sunset into something faint the gleaming stars atop this remained-cloudless skies as their shelter only amongst these couple of crimson shining lanterns welcoming them in front of a dark wooden door thus capable of manifesting those standing-still shadows of theirs for they had arrived at the said destination at least, no need to move another step after the little chatter accompanying them along the way till this point of little journey's end.
"Alright. Here were are, Erynew. I welcome you... welcome to the humble cottage of my sister. Ah yes... humble. Well, hope I used that word correct, hehe."
The cheerful tone of embracing the newcomer; stood with both arms spreading out to the side, and that broad smile of his, and his brown eyes twinkling... as if trying to show something that became he was proud of, for many memories came from here thus happened and mainly crafted in this exact location... on the outskirt of the village, notably was quite far from the gathering place of a handful houses and its farmland.
Humble the cottage was, as the little boy had told to this newcomer, as there was nothing that made the said cottage the most stand out from the rest habitations. This humble man-made structure with the same appearance on the outside; from thatched straw that remained as the roof carried up by joists, while the white granite stone was used as its floor and main foundation supporting the above and the building frames made out seemed to be dark wood thus made up the entire wall with the side window exposing still slightly towards the inside... the half-revealed inside which seemingly radiated warm and feeling of snug from it, that same kind of sensation, of killing time by letting one's shoulders inside the embrace of the soft seat... sitting, and facing, and watching peacefully the crackling fire and the hissing firewood were dancing at their own pace while warming oneself, moreover in this colder season such as now,
And the one subtle characteristic that was quite created the difference, a little chimney in thatched properties seemingly producing smoke of thin gray only to enchant that kind of the same feeling... despite all of its humble aspect and size which above all was smaller than the rest,
This, becoming a little wonder therefore, why with that cheerful expression the little boy willingly to express - spontaneously - behind his words voicing gaily the simple excitement - explicitly. Reasons enough this place for him to choose it as one he proud of. This situated on the foot hill, slightly above the ground on which many houses were gathered around thus creating a clear portrayal of many activities happened there, small in quantity yet salient in quality of a small community simply trying to live their life every day from daylight to sunset then resting time at night, hence becoming quite a seemingly watching point this cottage was, always had been the happy reason for the little boy welcoming that newcomer whose yellow eyes seemed to be looked around the cottage instead, as if getting captivated by something which became foggy with questions she should pose upfront... moreover after the auguring assumption of hers proven to be false once she done observing thoroughly the outside yet the inside of that small cottage,
"Wh-what's... is there something on your mind, Erynew? Looks like you were looking for something."
It was quite an obvious response, a remark full of wonder posed from the little girl standing next to this newcomer whose whitehead slightly turning right and left while yellow eyes were glancing back and forth in this quiet vicinity after the cottage itself, seemingly looking for something upon finding the remnant of the black ashes that was noticeable close to this cottage, slightly below this cottage to be precise, as such a solitary mark seemed to be unbound by the wind, as if the wind wasn't strong enough to erase it for some time at least.
"It's... it's nothing, Maya... it's fine. I was just wondering about something."
This newcomer possessing of human-like appearance, the one-horned devil replied smiling a simple one as if trying to preserve her composure while hiding the actual motive that driven her sense of wonder after catching a glimpse of something incorporeal staring at that mark of black ashes she assumed once supposedly to be the trace of burning storehouse that was brought up in discussion with the village chief prior and quite clear his explanation was, however there was something remained the bother on her mind as well its worrying connotation remained the curiosity to be pleased... something bothering that could not be told to these two young friends, therefore Erynew, the devil wanted to keep it that way. And it was fortunate for her... this became unnecessary eventually for her to continue answering that curious look within the little lady's brown eyes, because the subject matter would soon be changed as the little boy with his merry tone and bright grin trying to guess what was on her mind,
"Oh, maybe you were wondering why this humble cottage of my sister was built on this hill and is quite far from the village... weren't you, Erynew?"
"Wha-? Oh, yeah... that's right, Gizado... I want to know why. I thought it'd be safer to build it close to the others houses, because you know... often wild animals are hunting on a lone prey."
Quite startled by that surprising guess of his, Erynew was simply compliant with his guess however, slowly nodded and finally capable of focusing on something presented before herself. No longer looking around, hoping to find something that still bothered her inside that cottage... as she had thought about it after all, maybe the answer she would find once she placed her feet inside that humble cottage,
"There's nothing to worry, Erynew. After all, this cottage is not used as a place to live in. For the whole night, there'll be no one in it... well, at least now... because once it was Sis Gisalda who lived in it,"
The answer the little girl gave, was surely short, straight into the core of reasoning why with that lit lantern and the reason why the chimney remained producing thin gray smoke from the inside, albeit empty, the absence of living being nearly never reached zero, thus in reality there was no purpose of keeping that fireplace burning all day and night... at least that was from the devil's own reasonable perspective, devoid of one's heart involvement which the sentiment inclined to make unreasonable decision. Therefore no words the devil seemed to dare conveying her understanding which she surely did understand... after all, such a kind of human nonsense that brought her into their world in the first place and up to this moment in which she could have a chance to understand more of it,
"It was indeed once my sister's humble cottage, until that... uh wait, I've told you that, have I? Ahaha," such a cheerful chortle of that little boy was once again heard following the explanation his same-aged friend's had been delivered, "I always come here to check on the fire and woodpile, and sweep the floor sometimes... you know, the usual things to do before night while sometimes spending time here waiting for dinner. You can say, it becomes my... I mean, our own routine, since Maya often wants to come too. Well, more of that later after we get inside. It's getting cold out here. I'm sure you'll know the reason why my sister built such a small cottage quite far from the village after you take a look the inside... and maybe you can also find the answer you... uh, seek? Right. the answer you seek about that devil portrait you both were talking about, that one Maya... uh, accidentally found."
The sealed dark of single wooden door, no longer became such a thing once the creak was heard when three pairs of eyes - one yellow and two shared the same brown hue - slowly watching the gap of the wooden door, the gap between it and the wooden front wall created a distance in between with simply a gentle push of a child's hands, with two hands to create that sound of subtle crack on its iron hinge which surely did seem old aging by time, however its shape was rustless despite always being exposed to the outside moisture and climate alike... seemingly had been nurtured since old it was and were also the others shapes that all together strengthened this humble cottage... the same dark wooden wall and its white granite stones to its thatched roof and its small chimney; something that pair of these yellow eyes were eventually capable of catching it a glimpse - a glimpse of tender yet dimmer orange light emitting from that gap of the unsealed dark wooden door.
"So, it used to be where your sister lived. It somehow feels comfortable and... warmer."
Nothing to hide nor hold back, because it would only be futile trying to muffle one's feeling wholeheartedly without concealed expression. Simply letting the five senses to feel and lips to move conveying the truthful fruit, the result of relishing this very moment which this newcomer as well, tasted the flavor once her feet were no longer outside but inside of this cottage and were placing them on its wooden floor, instead stone or dirt like the rest available.
"It does, Erynew... it does feel comfortable in it and the warmth also hits right, hehe. Well, seems I did it, Maya. I manage to keep this humble cottage warm and dealing with that stubborn dust. And of course with your help," grinning and chortling out of proud, the little boy kept puffing out his chest high as if he had achieved something great upon receiving such a positive review from the newcomer who put her feet inside this cottage for the first time, and quite a good first impression she had upon entering this cottage. Therefore that seemingly everlasting proud smile of his would never be faded for a little while, and this could be understood its reason behind such a happy goofy face.
"Yes. At least there's something good you've achieved so far, Gizado. Glad I could help." the little girl who heard that, simply smiling and giving her usual trademark by telling her same-aged friend when he was overjoyed, "It's good to feel proud of oneself, however don't get cocky because of Erynew's kind words. The journey is still in the beginning... to preserve Sis Gisalda's legacy."
"Legacy... ahh yes, I've heard that word and of course know its meaning. I'd never forget that word. So don't you worry about it, Maya... I will always preserve her legacy."
Legacy, such a strong word and heavy in meaning yet also impactful for those who were being trusted with it... transcending will itself to protect because it was simply to protect no longer a physical shape but more to an abstract concept; name, memories and the nostalgic feeling of a wistful memory of times which then seemed better and simpler... involving a longing for long-gone moments. Despite of that however, such saudade could also be manifested in interactive manner such as places, evoking such a melancholy sensation for both who were remember and willing to preserve the memories.
Keeping this humble cottage for the dead sister for instance... something that had been done and would be done still for indefinite future. As the newcomer to this room, the devil had noticed the seriousness in it, and the passion the devil had acknowledged the existence within moments after she found herself within as her feet was unable to feel what this wooden floor was supposed to provide; colder floor, especially when it came to colder season approaching not far in the distance... normally to get really cold such a floor was, however with the right, tender and loving care, they were more than capable of damping the unpleasantness,
By keeping the tender of warming flame for this humble cottage for instance... the simple venture that had always been done through the cold months as the little boy had claimed prior, and such claim of his surely could be proven its integrity as the devil had perceived moments after she walking inside this room, and gazing at the fireplace was the first thing her yellow eyes did... one and the only fireplace connected to the low ceiling, making her capable of staring at its dark wooden frame holding up the thatched roof more clearly. With such a low ceiling, the heat spread evenly and spread evenly it did the warmth which embraced anyone in it, even with that dying flame. However remained capable of protecting them, that dying flame, from the outside breeze slowly getting colder as the trace of sunset was hardly to be noticed from the open window with many bookcases squeezed it in between - hugging each side of the wooden wall, and only leaving the corner for a single chair, table and bed being placed in the opposite direction from that single window,
And either in the bookcases with books being stored in it, the wooden wall and floor itself, and that single chair, table and bed... there were none dust nor even mold were visible for supposedly an empty dwelling... as the whitehead of the one-horned devil had been scanning around the room through yellow stare carefully seeing everything and further upon her glowing yellow eyes eventually catching the same incorporeal figure she saw prior, standing far beyond that single window, and its seemingly semi-translucent body however, albeit the distance, would never escape the devil's eyes for her yellow stare finally caught a smile of the figure staring at this exact room through the same window. Feeling that was no threat, the one-horned devil instead responded to that smile with smile of hers, though that figure seemed has yet to realize it,
"Really Gizado... he has changed, huh."
It was no time yet to think about that figure and seemingly there was no intention from the devil to tell these two young friends of hers about this unexpected meeting as she felt it was better to keep it a little secret of hers, because sometimes... some secrets were better remained secrets. Therefore focusing back to the present moments after she accidentally heard the little lady whispering; the whisper that was meant for herself without even herself realized that both of her feet remained standing still besides this one-horned devil who seemed to have quite an ear,
"Has he, Maya? What has changed in him?"
"E-Erynew?! Y-you heard that, did you? D-did I speak too loud?"
"Sorry, Maya, I didn't mean to pry. I, by accident, heard what you just whispered. Well, since I only know you two and about this village for half a day ago, I somehow would like to hear more of it. That is... if you wouldn't mind."
Would be soon altered into more muffling moments, thus into the soundless inquiry and utter curiosity... aiming to please such an inconclusive hunger or merely to verify the known ken the devil had come within the inner realization of hers, and seemingly for her only to keep it as her own little secret after the prior first glance she was taken to the outside of that window upon finding the special scene which were just standing there... which now it seemed to have vanished. Neither the trace nor the black mark of the ashes were seen in her yellow stare,
Therefore, with this courteous curiosity the devil had been conveyed through the polite inquiry of hers, as if compelling the little lady to tell a beautiful however tragic story of which the devil would like to listen... the story being told assuredly in whisper, meanwhile the little boy was being busied by the dying flame,
"N-no, Erynew... I... I wouldn't mind. I understand. I would try to tell you however as much as I capable of."