It is a fine morning but here I am all dressed up with the help of servants. It was awkward since Boaife is here and giving my servants a harsh stare. Now that my Uncle learned that I am a summoner and suggested that Boaife should coexist with us humans, after all she looks like a woman. She was introduced here as my Aunt's distant relative but if someone saw that she came inside by the window might think she was raised in the jungle.
"Ahh! Why don't you listen to me?!"
Honestly, I'm in daze. All of the things she said did not register in my mind. Besides that I received another letter from our estate.
It is the reason as to why I'm practicing my handwriting right now while she's nagging me. My father is the one who sent it, after all this is the first time that he sent a letter for me. If I reply with this kind of writing, I can see my father's arrogant face and I can hear his voice all of the sudden.
Reading the letter again makes me irritated all of the sudden. This letter does not look like a letter for his daughter!!
It says how he was proud of having a daughter with unique magic—which is summoning. You think that was all? No, In continuation he says that, "You should improve your health. It is useless if you faint every time."
and at the very last part he added, "lessen your recklessness as it will be a disgraceful death"
I'm lost for words. Two, no, four sentences in a letter? What a waste of paper and penmanship.
"If you don't control that spiritual magic..." I pushed my palm at Boaife's face.
"Yeah, yeah, nevermind that. Why did you form a contract with me if I'm not stable?"
Besides, I feel perfectly fine despite her saying that my spiritual core is all tangled. The duchess advises me to train together since my awakening is forced and we are doing it even if she's being uncooperative.
It looks is struck with realization as she looks at me, "Oh yeah, Why did I– wait, you really are not listening to me!"
I did not answer her, instead I looked away and hummed. I managed to let everyone out of the room after they finished prepping me up.
Everyone is busy more than usual because this is the 4th day of the festival. This time of the week has more people who attend festivals. The reason why I'm all dressed up is because they told me to participate since I am here and this will be my first time attending the festival.
They do not want me to leave without experiencing the festival and just as always. Remembering the time, I put aside my pen and papers. I will write a reply once I come back. Boaife stares at me while I'm clearing my desk.
"What's with the clothes you're wearing? It looks like you were a fairy"
I'm wearing a simple knee-length puffy white dress with some accessories to go along with and a flower wreath. The maids were satisfied with it.
The festival they were celebrating is similar in my past life which is, 'Halloween'.
The East is the only one who celebrates this and for one week. Everyone can dress up who they want to be and have fun outside. Of course, there are other fun activities prepared for kids and adults. Part of it was the trick-or-treat activity.
the purpose of this festival is to remember and pay respect to our ancestors who fought up during the war and they believe that their souls will come back here to visit us.
If you are thinking where my uncle is, I have an answer for that. Two days ago, he abruptly came to my room and said, 'Haiz... Study on your own alright?'
He left that day and I've never seen him since then. Even Alef is nowhere to be found. When I asked the Duchess about Uncle she looked distress while signing some papers for the festival.
and speaking of the duchess, she and Ceisia left early to go to the temple to offer some prayers and of course to give donations. I didn't join them since I prefer to walk around in the capital.
"Are you going to eat?!"
This woman is suddenly leaning close. I sigh and grab my secret stash of gold in my drawer.
"... Obviously"
Her eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands over mine. That look is giving me shivers as she tug me outside.
"Yum!!!"
I really love my guts, she bought food from every food stall we passed by. Why is this spirit like this? My money will be long gone before I could buy that book.
I have 50 gold coins, if she points out another stall, I will train her to death or I can cook her?
"Wren! Let's try these skewers!"
I felt a small grin formed in my lips as devilish training poured in my mind. Just wait and see you wouldn't eat more after this. I tugged the maid with and pointed at Boaife who was already eating at the stall.
"I take 10 more skewers!" the vendor chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"5 silvers," damn it. I want to strangle her really badly, "Whose money do you think we're using here?"
I ask while giving the payment to the maid. The owner shouts at us for the unclaimed change for the gold coin I paid.
"Come on, You are a daughter of the duke and your Uncle is also a Duke. It wouldn't hurt you to spend this much"
I opened my mouth then closed it as I had nothing to say. What she said is the truth and I can't refute it at all! My family is very, very wealthy that in fact I can instantly buy land somewhere if I wanted to.
That is what I always hear from Brother Caesar. But currently the money I had are from my brother. He gave me before he left and that very same money is going to disappear right in my eyes.
"I hope that you have a stomach ache," my words soon mingled with the sound of items dropping on the ground followed by the small quakes of the ground.
There is loud sound of stomping elsewhere as both the maid and the knights came close, even Boaife stood close next to me
"..." The skewers she had in her hands are now on the gone, she throws the sticks on the ground and holds my hand as she moves away. What kind of mouth does she have and she ate it all in just a second anyway?
The maid is leading me away from the commotion and one knight said in a hurry voice, "Young miss we should get away"
Through the dust, I saw a silhouette of a kid and several big silhouettes, a strong blow of whistle echoed in my ears.
"Halt!!!"
I feel the ground intense shakes. They are coming this way too fast!! I squeezed Boaife's hands and she grabbed me like a sack of potato as she flew to the sky. Leaving the maid I came with. Well, she was a maid of Aurea she can handle this kind of commotion.
From above, I saw a kid still running away from the knights with a bag. A huge bag and I don't know what it is but I guess it was important as he was clinging to it tightly. His clothes are all torn apart and he is running by foot. He must be an orhan and he stole that sack. This is another regular scene of theft.
He was fast escaping the knights—except, there is another kid that can catch up with him with only small gaps between the two of them. My mind is spiraling from watching them. But, why is there a kid in the knights? He is ahead of those adults.
Then it seems like Boaife doesn't have any plans of putting me down. Then the kid seems to turn in a dead end, the knights pursuing him are behind and close especially that one—I guess he lost him for a short time.
'Give him a hand. Leave him be?'
As I am pondering my choices, Boaife suddenly squeezes me tightly, "Wriggle and see yourself crushed."
She... threatened me and she was serious. The fxxk!!! Look how dark her aura is! I don't even know what made her so angry like this!
"You are crushing me!" I shouted and smacked her back. She looks frustrated as she grimaces, "What did I do wrong in the first place?!"
"You, just thinking of involving yourself is going to be a problem for me!"
my mouth hung up at what she said. I can tell that her character as a spirit is very different than I imagined as time goes by. I never thought of a spirit who has no intention of helping someone. Aren't they supposed to be nice and affectionate beings?!?!
"This is why I hate kids."
and I developed hatred for birds.
She turned around and held me on my waist, "That kid can manage himself. Look, he can manage by himself"
I did look at the kid and he started to disappear into thin air... huh? Is it just me or what? Before he disappeared he gave me a glare. Or maybe I am mistaken because there's no way he can see me from up here. When my gaze returned to where the thief left off, I saw the same kid that chases the thief. He also looks from above and I can see he saw me! But I cannot see his face because of the hood.
Aiya... I want to resume my trick-or-treat and my shopping. I'd also like to buy some things for Jemina, Anna, Noland and for the others when I come back home.
"Now, buy me some food in exchange for saving you."
"Are you serious right now?" She nod and pointed one of the stalls below who had not been affected by the horses.
shameless, just shameless.
---------------------------------------------------
There is no mistaking it. I can feel something similar to that girl. If only I am not in such situations. Those knights specially that young boy with hood covering his face almost caught me. Just what kind of a monster is he?! He almost got me!
These bags are my lifeline. Steal a bag of expensive herbs and bring it to the cabin, on top of the hill. As I was walking my way up there, I felt a chill land on my face. I did not realize that it was winter already.
Snow falls from the skies and my surroundings are slowly being covered by white snow. I have to earn more money for winter or else I may die from hunger on the streets. I heaved a sigh, seeing my breath in the air makes me calm because I know I am not dead yet. I have to deliver these first to get the payment.
When I reached the house on the hill, I felt a sense of danger and my heart pounds on how eerie the atmosphere surrounding the cabin. It is too quiet.
"..."
The one who ordered me to says to leave it here and the reward is under the rug. There really is the payment. Now, I should go and ignore the feeling of uneasiness here. Nothing good happens to people who succumb in their curiosity.
damn it, I pushed away my remaining sanity and ignored the foreboding that I sense. I slowly entered the house; it was dark and dusty, it wasn't a place for people to live in. The floor has holes and it creaks with each step I take.
If outside was eerie enough, then inside is much scarier that I felt shivers to my body. Despite the feeling I had I still ventured inside the cabin, until I saw a single light—blinking on a small gap of the door.
even though it felt like no one was inside the cabin, I couldn't help but to keep quiet while walking until I came close to the door, it stinks that I winced because of the strong smell.
I looked between the gap and my eyes widened in shock on what I saw, I covered my mouth shut to avoid making a noise
then, behind me I heard footsteps with something heavy being dragged on the floor
"...!"
The lifeless body on the table with dried blood on them seems to not remove in my head as I crawled to get far away from that room and the footsteps.
"failure."
his cold and sinister voice scared the shit out of me as I summoned all the remaining mana in my body. I will use it to get away from here instantly.
"hmmm? who's there?" my heart pounds loudly as I felt him closer. Finally, before he could come close I used magic and in the instant I was in the alleyway with money on hand.
But, It couldn't stop the trembling from earlier. Those kids on the table seem to be older than the kid I saw earlier. I feel like my stomach turned upside down, I sigh and look up. I haven't calmed down yet, he will not find me. What I seen in that cabin is something sinister.
But... what is he doing to those to have them in those state? Most of them look like orphans though.
I shake my head to erase it on my memory. I should focus on how to budget this money I earned for the whole winter. I hid the money and wished that after this harsh winter, I can meet her again.