That night, I couldn't sleep. I mean, I literally can't sleep as a spirit. So, I decided to go for a walk.
("Carefully now…") [Solace]
I stealthily left the house without waking anyone. It would've been a bit hard if not for the skill |Night Vision|.
("I almost forgot I had this skill.") [Solace]
I slowly closed the door behind me as I left. Thankfully there wasn't any loud creaking.
("Better than modern standards to be honest.") [Solace]
The air outside was cold. I inhaled deeply to take it in and exhaled it all out in a puff of white smoke.
("That feels good.") [Solace]
I used to be pretty weak to the cold back on Earth, but I guess |Cold Resistance| canceled it out. There was just so much that was different here. I raised my head and gazed into the sky, admiring the stars.
"...Wow." [Solace]
The night sky was clearer than I had ever seen on Earth. Each light shone brilliantly as if they were diamonds in a treasure box.
("Maybe the pollution was just that bad.") [Solace]
I couldn't help staring. It was so unfamiliar and… enchanting. It wasn't until I felt something take hold of my hand that I snapped back to reality.
("Huh?") [Solace]
I felt something small and soft wriggle its way into my fingers. To my surprise, it was an unsupervised little girl in a white dress holding my hand. She had long pink hair that ran down her back and matching pink eyes. She also seemed to carry a small leather pouch in hand.
"Uh… Hi? What are you doing out here all alone?" [Solace]
Thinking back on it now, that line was kind of creepy. I also did that thing where people raise their voice a bit when talking to children.
"Are you cold, mister?" [Little Girl]
"Uh… No? …Where are your parents?" [Solace]
She only smiled and pulled me along. I don't know why I just let her pull me along. Still, I went with it.
"Where are you taking me?" [Solace]
"Secret!" [Little Girl]
She took us to the outskirts of the village, where there was a small hole in the fence. Clearly the girl wasn't big enough to climb over so she released my hand and crawled through.
"Come!" [Little Girl]
She waved me over excitedly.
("What the hell am I doing…") [Solace]
I climbed over the fence cause I'm literally six feet tall. Matter of fact, my stats were high enough for me to just jump over. Anyways, the girl just stood there with her hand out.
"Uh… What?" [Solace]
"Hand!" [Little Girl]
("Oh. She's asking to hold my hand.") [Solace]
Even though her hands were covered in dirt from crawling, I decided to hold it.
("|Cleanse|.") [Solace]
I quietly used that lifestyle magic to clean her clothes and stuff. It must've felt uncomfortable to be dirty.
"Ey? I'm not dirty anymore!" [Little Girl]
She turned and inspected herself with a confused expression.
"It's magic. Just ask me if you want to be clean again." [Solace]
The girl looked at me with suspicion.
"...What?" [Solace]
She then smiled and pulled me along. We went quite a distance from the village, but still enough for it to be in view.
"Here we are!" [Little Girl]
We ended up at a grass plain with a random big rock sticking out of the ground. The girl then climbed atop the rock and sat on it.
"This is my favorite spot!" [Little Girl]
"Oh? Really?" [Solace]
The rock wasn't very large when compared to me. Maybe it went up a little over my hips? In any case, the girl scooted over and patted the empty space next to her.
"Sit!" [Little Girl]
The rock was wide enough for maybe two people, so I listened. It was also then that I realized it was not enough for two. I had to kind of do this half-sit on the rock. Maybe if she moved her pouch I could actually sit properly.
"So… This is your favorite spot. It's very nice." [Solace]
The little girl swung her legs happily.
"Mister, I heard that you're a hero!" [Little Girl]
"A hero?" [Solace]
I think she had me mistaken for Wilharrow.
"What made you think that?" [Solace]
"Heroes don't sleep! That's what the legends say!" [Little Girl]
I chuckled. To think a misunderstanding like this would happen from me wanting a nightly walk.
"What else do the legends say?" [Solace]
The little girl started counting her fingers.
"Ummm… Heroes can't die. Heroes only slay monsters. Heroes always come save you when you need help the most. And… hm…" [Little Girl]
The little girl placed a finger on her chin as she tried to think with the little brain of hers.
"Ah! And heroes never lose!" [Little Girl]
I smiled.
("She's adorable.") [Solace]
Such innocence was rare. Not only on Earth, but also on this planet Ashtal. Unless that's just my experience ever since coming over.
"Mister, everyone said that you're staying the night." [Little Girl]
"That's… correct." [Solace]
"Can you grant me a wish?" [Little Girl]
"A wish?" [Solace]
The girl nodded.
"They say heroes grant wishes too!" [Little Girl]
"Uh…" [Solace]
I was unsure of what to say. Are heroes genies too or something?
"How about you tell me your name first." [Solace]
The girl placed her hands over her mouth in surprise.
"I forgot! I'm Elisse!" [Little Girl]
"Well then, Elisse. What is your wish?" [Solace]
"This!" [Elisse]
She reached into her pouch and pulled out a small doll.
"Oh… A doll." [Solace]
"It's me!" [Elisse]
"...It's you." [Solace]
A small doll woven clumsily out of rough threads was placed in my hand. I could see an attempt of making her hair with some kind of pink leaf and pink rocks pushed in as the eyes. Elisse even made a white dress for the doll out of… a handkerchief?
"I wish for you to take me on a journey!" [Elisse]
"...You mean the doll?" [Solace]
Elisse shook her head.
"Me!" [Elisse]
She pointed at the doll and back to her.
"She is me! I am she!" [Elisse]
Kids are confusing as hell. I put two and two together and assumed that Elisse wanted me to take the doll.
"Consider your wish granted." [Solace]
She smiled gleefully as her eyes followed the doll into my pocket.
"...Okay. Go to bed now. Kids need to sleep." [Solace]
I somewhat thought I was going to have to spend a while to convince her, but Elisse actually listened. She hopped off the rock and ran towards the village while waving at me.
"Bye bye!" [Elisse]
I then let out a sigh. One of both happiness and relief.
("Kids are pretty cute when they're not yours.") [Solace]