It has been a few months since Mrs. Potts was reported missing. I was still pretty much devastated about it.
However, life goes on.
We were still training as if nothing terrible had happened. People still continued doing what they usually do daily. It's not like I could force people to pause what they were doing and asked for a search party. We are just a tiny, desolate town at the edge of Northnuria Province.
In simpler terms, I can't do anything about it— just like two years ago.
It's all happening all over again.
I hate feeling helpless all the time. Is there no way for me to save the people I care about? I felt so powerless even after doing all this training.
I sighed again for the nth time. I was on my way home after another week of living in the forest. Yes, we're back here again.
Actually, it wasn't that bad. I became accustomed to doing this multiple times now. This is only my 3rd time doing this practical training, but it felt like I was here longer than that.
I never saw the Red Tail Foxes again, though, even when I went back to where I left them before. I don't know where they went, but I hope they're fine.
Recently, I've been using this as a way of escaping reality since I was still pretty much in denial of the things happening in town, especially the Mrs. Potts incident.
The forest helped me breathe in this suffocating town for a while. It also calmed me down from the continuous onslaught of pain in my shattered heart.
Even if I didn't like going outdoors, I decided to stay later than I usually do. It felt liberating going into the unknown world. I felt like all the shackles that bound me finally loosened up. Honestly, doing this made me cope with all the whirlwinds of emotions brewing inside my heart.
The thing is, I am torn whether I should still hate the forest or start liking it. It's been pretty much helping me escape my reality these past couple of months. However, my instinct is telling me to stay as far away as possible.
The warning bells in my mind kept ringing on high alert— it's as if telling me that something terrible is about to happen. But what could be worst than losing Mrs. Potts?
Maybe, I will stay out of it when I can handle my own emotions.
Lately, I have been dreaming weird things. I kept waking up feeling out of breath and terrified out of my mind. It was a bizarre dream that I always forget the contents of.
But it's probably nothing. I might as well focus on something that's actually productive and helpful— not at some unnecessary dream. Dreams aren't real anyway. Maybe it's the stress that has built up over these past few months of mourning.
I don't want to go back home yet, but today is the day I need to return home. So I need to go back and submit a complete report to my mom.
Yes, she still kept giving us a list of things to collect before the week is over.
'No matter what, you must return home, with or without a complete list.' That's what she said.
I still don't get it. The forest is said to be dangerous, and we should stay out of it, but my mom does the opposite of making us stay away. She just straight up sends us here.
I arrived earlier than I expected and had more time to spare. Having free time is the worst because I have to think about things I don't want to even remember. Something that I'd rather forget.
I thought no one would be home, but I saw Lilianna's things in the living room. I don't know where she is, though. My mom is probably out of town, and Lilianna is surprisingly home. That's a shocker.
With them always gone, I felt like I only live by myself.
I was surprised when Lilianna came down the stairs and started a conversation with me. "Umm. You should go to town today," she said a little awkwardly.
Well, it's really awkward, especially if you haven't talked to that person for a while, but you're still crossing each other's paths.
Anyways, I can't believe she talked to me on her own— without me forcing her. I usually start the conversation with her since she doesn't really wanna talk to me. We used to be close but not anymore.
"Uh— sure! Do you need anything from there? I can pick them up for you," I offered, wondering what made her say that I need to go to town today.
It's pretty weird since she's been doing everything on her own. She's very independent that she doesn't need anyone to help her. I wonder what she wanted me to do for her. It's been a very long time since she asked anything from me.
"Well..." she trailed off, hesitating to say what she needs. "...Can you pick up the thing I asked Mr. Pockey to make? I think it's ready for pickup today," she walked towards her backpack on top of the coffee table in our living room.
I guess she also just got back. She started rummaging through her assortment of things inside her backpack and managed to pull out a shiny stone.
Wait— a weird looking stone... That's— a gemstone! How the heck did she find that.
"Uhh..."
"Here, give this to him when you collect my stuff," she handed me the gemstone.
I just stared at the thing in my hand, shocked. It's not common to see gemstones around this part of the Province. Well, it's mainly because it's not easily accessible. You'd have to go deeper in the cave to find something like a copper, but a gemstone?
I don't even know what kind of gemstone this is. I put it away in my sling bag that I always carry whenever I go out.
"Uhh... are you sure?"
She looked at me and nodded her head while she got back to arranging her things again.
Uh okay... that was that.
I felt like that was the end of our conversation, so I didn't really say anything else. Plus, if I did talk, what would I'd say anyway?
But the good thing is, that interaction was a further step into building back our broken relationship. I'm delighted that we talked even just for a little bit. It means Lilianna is open to the idea of rekindling our sisterly bond.
Now, I feel a little giddy going into town. Well, it's not like I'm going there just to do this favor. I decided to use this time to talk to Maecy anyway. So going to town is my actual agenda for today.
It's been months since I last talked to her; I think it was the time when I found out about Mrs. Potts. After that day, I never went to town again. So, I had no chance of meeting her.
I wonder how she had been all this time.
I don't frequently go into town either. There was a point where I hated going there because people continuously pester me about things related to my grandma.
I wonder if people had been like that to her too.
It was things like, 'You must have missed Abelene, sincerely.' 'Abelene, would be proud of you, Kiddo.' 'Your grandma will be happy to see how grown you are now.' 'Don't be sad. Your grandma won't want that for you.' 'Abelene's soul will feel at ease if she knows that you're doing great.'
I get it, but I don't want to hear it. I know the truth, but I'd rather think that my grandma is always on vacation.
Things like that annoyed me to the point where I almost cursed at them— almost breaking my image as the perfect child. But, at that point, I didn't care anymore.
I walked into town and happily walked down the streets. I was planning to go to the blacksmith first before anything else. However, as I was about to turn a corner, someone called me.
I saw Milvard standing at the entrance to the Sheriff's office beside the Poris Herb Shop. I turned towards him and waved.
"Do you have a minute?" He asked while slowly walking towards me.
Well, it doesn't hurt to waste more free time anyway. Plus, this won't even take that much time. So I might as well talk to Milvard and Baddock and ask about the latest news. I feel like in these past 3 months, I missed a lot.
I haven't really kept up to date with the latest trends. It's mainly because I don't really have anyone to ask.
I jogged towards the entrance of the office— where he's standing and smiled. It was to reassure him that I'm fine. I have a feeling that he called me to ask how I was doing.
"I haven't seen you in months," he gestured for me to come inside.
I willingly went in and was surprised to see Baddock, sitting on a sofa, located at the corner of the office— with a table full of different kinds of food.
"What is this? Is there a party? What are we celebrating?" I asked, pertaining to both of them— well, to anyone who would answer.
To say that I was surprised is an understatement. I was not expecting something like this to happen.
"Oh, this is just something we prepared for you," Baddock replied and gestured for me to sit on the single-person couch.
I obliged since they prepared all this for me. But I feel a little bit overwhelmed by this. I really didn't expect anything like this to happen.
"So, We know that you've been feeling down this past couple of months, and it's just something we prepared to make you feel at least a little bit better," Milvard explained, sitting down beside Baddock on the big sofa in the middle.
"If it makes you feel a little happier. Your sister actually had something to do with this, too," Baddock said in his deep calming voice.
"Oh yes! She helped us prepare all this. But unfortunately, she couldn't attend because she had something to do." Milvard added and started putting food on his plate
"Yeah, she said she'll make it up to you someday." Baddock looked disappointed tht Lilianna isn't here today.
Wait... Did I hear that right? Lilianna did something like this?... for me? Is that why she asked me to come here today?
I looked at them, teary-eyed. I really appreciate it. I almost want to cry because of how happy I felt right now. Lilianna also helped prepared this.
That... that is so heartwarming.
"Hush. Hush. No crying now!" Milvard smiled widely while giving me a plate full of foods.
I smiled my sweetest smile at them. "This is so... special. Thank you!"
(๑>◡<๑)
We mostly spend our two hours just eating, laughing, and talking about life.
Just some random things here and there. We talked about our life experiences and how we view life.
Honestly, they both had difficult lives when they were young. Milvard was an orphan, and Mrs. Reta found him in the woods. I never met her because she died of some incurable illness when Milvard was like 9 years old. I was only born two years after that.
During his childhood, he worked anywhere just to fill his stomach since Mrs. Reta doesn't have any relatives to take Milvard in. When he was 16, he became part of the police force and was moved to here— in the desolate town called Phena Village.
Ever since then, his home is here. He soon moved on from his past, tried to live his life to the fullest, and lived without regrets.
I can't believe he started working when he was about 9 years old. I can't even imagine working at that age. I'm 16, and I am still dependent on my mom's money.
Meanwhile, Baddock had always lived here. But his parents aren't the best when it comes to taking care of children. Both he and his 3 siblings had to endure a week without eating anything because their parents gambled everything.
Baddock, being the oldest of the siblings, had to work at the age of 14. Frequently, he would be forced to give his hard-earned money to his parents. But Baddock had enough of it and decided to break off from his family, bringing his 3 siblings with him.
After a few years, he became part of the police force and had a stable job ever since. His parents were then thrown out of town with him leading the case. Honestly, how incompetent could their parents had been.
Now, Baddock is 30 years old and is only supporting their youngest sibling. Baddock's life was surely enraging and challenging, but the present is as fulfilling as ever.
He managed to feed his 3 siblings and himself for the past 15 years of his life. It was pretty impressive that he can do all that.
Both of them may have complicated lives when they were young, but they always knew that living in the past is like sabotaging the present and the future.
They had to survive in the present and let the past be a past.
That basically ended our conversation since a messenger from the mayor arrived. It said to summon every police in this town to his office in the town hall.
We all went out after we finished cleaning. I will go my way, and they will go to theirs.
Since I am already here, I might as well go in a quick stop to talk to Maecy. I was am going to Poris Herb Shop anyway, and it's just beside us, so it's convenient.
We were saying our farewell when Milvard spoke just before we parted our ways. "You know, girly. We shouldn't let our past control the present, but let it be a lesson that teaches us the things we shouldn't do again."
"Hmm," I nodded.
"Well, see ya when we see you," Milvard waved me goodbye as they were heading the opposite direction I was going.
I waved back at them, seeing their backs disappear down the corner of the street.
It was an entertaining day and it made me happier than all the days in the past 3 months.
I hope things will only get better after this.
I'm looking forward to it.
ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•
TO BE CONTINUED...