Slowly but surely, the sun had started to descend the sky. The birds, big and small, flew freely in the air, perching on the branches as they watched the farmers till the dirt, only their chirps and chimes to be heard dancing in the air.
The birds flew once again and the excited voices of children running around replaced their sweet melody. Each and every single one had smiles blooming on their faces as they flew their kites and kicked dust all over the place.
Three figures walked down the brown and dirty road, their voices ringing ever so calmly and freely. Though... Their facial expressions couldn't be any different from being calm. They were rather tired, if anything.
"Big Sister Yuna, Big Brother Grey... I'm really sorry about what happened... I'm sure it must have been tiring..." ［Marika］
"No, it's alright. How do I say this... We're kind of used to it...?" ［Grey］
"Un... Though we can't say it's comfortable at all..." ［Yuna］
Of course, those three figures were none other than Grey, Yuna, and Marika who just came from the warrior's training grounds. And needless to say, they had quite the tiring experience there. Not physically, but mentally.
Though the warriors were very respectful and polite, it was just too much, asking Grey and Yuna for every little thing and presenting them with each and every single thing they found. Especially the Great Chief, he was the worst one. It felt like they were some delicate and spoiled noble brats.
Well, if there was anything which could be called a plus, it was that they managed to get free lunch when the servants brought food for the warriors. They were just as tasty as they were yesterday.
"Then, Big Brother Grey, Big Sister Yuna, where are you going now? Are you heading out to the forest again?" ［Marika］
"Hmm... I don't know... We haven't really thought that far... What do you think, Marika? Any suggestions?" ［Grey］
"Suggestions... Hmm..." ［Marika］
To Grey's question, Marika was put deep in thought, cupping her chip with her hands, and as usual, not looking at where she was going. It was the very reason why she trips and falls time and time again. She was just too careless.
"Ahh! Watch out!"
And in a very comical fashion, as soon as she was deep in thought, a wooden stick came flying towards Marika's face. The moment she noticed it, it was already far too late. The stick was already right in front of her.
Marika closed her eyes in reflec, but contrary to her expectations, no pain came to her senses. She opened her eyes, greeted by the stick, frozen in mid airー or so it would seem. But actually, Grey was holding onto it, not budging an inch.
"Phew. That was a close one." ［Grey］
It was fortunate that Grey and Yuna were there. Though it seemed very fast in the eyes of others, to them, it was slow as one can be. A single wing of his arm and Grey was able to catch it without much effort.
Seeing the stick almost hit someone, the owner of the stick, the village children, came hurrying over to them with a hurried and guilty expression on their faces. It was obvious that it was an accident, the children not wanting anyone to get hurt.
"Kids! That was dangerous!" ［Yuna］
"S-Sorry, Lady Yuna! We didn't mean it!"
"That's right. We used too much strength and it just went flying. Sorry!"
The children hurriedly bowed their heads and apologized to everyone as soon as they could. And in a very motherly fashion, Yuna scolded them with an authoritative voice. After all, if they weren't there, Marika could have been very hurt.
Thankfully, the children were very good kids. Though they were being scolded, they simply listened to Yuna's sermon without uttering a single word of complaint. They were like little puppies who were just scolded by their owners.
"So, what are you going to say?" ［Yuna］
"""We were wrong... Sorry..."""
"Haah... That's okay. As long as you understand... Right, Marika?" ［Yuna］
"Yes. Don't worry, everyone, I'm not hurt at all!" ［Marika］
The worries quickly turned to relief as soon as Marika smiled and forgave them. Especially when she patted their heads, they were so happy, their ears perked up and tails started wagging before they knew it.
"Now, now, before you start playing again, stretch out your arms and legs. Let's see if you have any wounds." ［Yuna］
The only one who remained worried was Yuna, seeing the wounds in the children's hands, elbows, knees, and chins from tripping over and splinters. Her mature and motherly side had surfaced once again as she looked after the children.
She didn't waste anymore time. As soon as she saw the children's wounds, she quickly healed them with magic. With Grey's help, it didn't take too long before the children's pains were eased and their wounds were healed.
"Waah～! It doesn't hurt anymore!"
"Thank you very much Lady Yuna, Lord Grey!"
"With this, we can play longer!"
There were only happy faces to be seen as the children checked out their bodies, innocently mystified as they tried to grasp how their wounds suddenly disappeared. Though they didn't find out the answer, they were still happy nonetheless.
"Right, kids, what were you playing?" ［Grey］
"Ah! We were having mock battles, Lord Grey!"
"Mock battles... I see..." ［Grey］
Now, everything made sense. While they were healing, they found it strange why there were a lot of bruises on their bodies. And with a little bit of questioning, they learned more about them and things finally connected.
It wasn't that they were trying to hurt each other. Being children as they are, they are unable to control their strengths and would end up hurting others unintentionally as they play, adding to the total number of injuries from falling down.
Though it was good that they were having fun, it also makes one worry when they are hurt so much. Their parents have warned them time and time again, but as what one would expect from children, they still kept on playing. Fun is the most important thing for them, after all.
"Hmm... Are you all planning on becoming warriors?" ［Grey］
"Warriors, like uncle?"
"No... I want to become a craftsman like my father."
"For me, I just play it because it's fun!"
What's more, they don't seem to aspire to become warriors. They simply play from time to time, mimicking the warriors when they train and even mock hunting as they chase around small creatures. It was just fun for them to mimic the adults.
"What about tag, then?" ［Yuna］
"But... We already had tag this morning..."
"Then flying kites?" ［Grey］
"Ah! Me! I flew one yesterday!"
It didn't take too long before Grey and Yuna to find out what the problem was. There were just too few games to play in e Chiefdom, even in much lower variety compared to the mainland. The games could only be counted with fingers.
Though they have rubber, iron, straws, yarn, and a number of resources, they simply lacked the technology and knowledge to make them into playable games. Their focus was more into art, crafts, and livelihood rather than entertainment.
Well, it was not just Torogi. Merusia in general is lacking in the ways of entertainment compared to Earth. And the people, having grown up in such circumstances, don't find it weird. Rather, they were satisfied, and so were the children.
"Okay! It's decided then! Let's play another game!" ［Yuna］
There was not a single warning. Yun simply said as she cupped her closed fist with her other hand. After all, if there were no other ways of entertainment, then they'd simply have to introduce some to the Chiefdom of Torogi.
The card and board games may need some time, but if it's just simple childhood games, she knows quite a lot from experience and the ones Grey taught her. Be it from the simple ways of tagging, to hopscotch and dodgeball, and all the way to strategy games. It was easy-peasy!
Everyone's attention was quickly drawn to Yuna as soon as she declared such a statement. Grey may not know what exactly she was thinking about, but seeing her eyes glimmer ever so brightly, he already got a rough idea.
"Then kids, would you like to play with me? I promise you it will be fun!" ［Yuna］
"Playing with Lady Yuna...?"
Yuna asked the children, but no answer came ringing to her ears. The children were confused, looking each other in the eyes and asking each other for confirmation. Soon, everyone's answer resounded in the air.
"Of course! I'll play!"
"Me too! Me too! I want to play with Lady Yuna!"
"Count me in! I want to play as well!"
"Fufufu! That's good to hear. But before we play, you should stop calling me 'Lady' and just call me 'Big Sis', okay～?" ［Yuna］
"""Okay～!!"""
It was a loud, resounding yes. Everyone had the same answer as they beamed bright smiles towards her. It has only been a few minutes since they met, but she already captured their hearts. She really was loved by kids.
Everyone's eyes lit up with happiness and excitement as they thought and anticipated just what kind of game they would be playing with Yuna, unable to stop the excited chatter as their tails wagged left like energetic little puppies.
"Marika, since we don't have any plans this afternoon, I'd love to play some games with the children. Do you want to join?" ［Yuna］
"O-Of course! I'd be glad to!" ［Marika］
With a quick invitation from Yuna, Marika was on board as well. As for Grey, there was no need to ask him. With Yuna being the one spearheading the idea, it was obvious that he'll be joining as well.
Without further ado, everyone quickly followed Yuna to a suitable playing ground. It was a fairly flat and dry space without many grasses growing and rock lying around. It was the perfect place for a game of hopscotch.
"I'll be borrowing this stick for a little while." ［Yuna］
With the perfect place in front of her, Yuna didn't dilly-dally any longer and stuck the tick on the ground, drawing the layout of the game as she walked around. Of course, as there were many of them, she made sure to make it a little bigger.
And as Yuna was drawing the game's borders, Grey created the markers using earth magic, making the shapes different from one another so that the children would recognize which markers were theirs.
"And... Done!" ［Yuna］
It didn't take too long before Yuna finished the layout, a large rectangle to be seen drawn on the ground. Inside it were even more lines to draw the borders between the squares, rectangles, and important lines.
"Then, since you still don't know how to play it, me and Grey will demonstrate it to you. Pay attention, okay?" ［Yuna］
"""Okay～!"""
The children were very responsive, answering each and every single one of Yuna's questions. Of course, Marika also answered as well, sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the little children.
"It's been a long time since I've played this... I wonder if I've gotten rusty." ［Grey］
"Fufufu! You can just admit it if you're scared, you know?" ［Yuna］
"And who is exactly the scared one here?" ［Grey］
"My～ I wonder～..." ［Yuna］
Of course, what game would be complete without provoking the opponents. Before they threw their markers, Grey and Yuna took their sweet time to tease one another. Well, rather than teasing, it would be more accurate to say they were flirting. It's Grey and Yuna, after all.
Soon enough, the game started, and Grey and Yuna both threw their markers without much effort. The one which landed closest on the line was none other than Yuna, and so she became the first player.
Yuna didn't waste any time and demonstrated to the children how to play the game. Be it throwing the markers, skipping over the squares, returning, and picking up the marker back, she made sure to explain it as briefly as possible.
After Yuna, it was soon Grey's turn, and he also started explaining the capturing process of the game and what should be avoided. Soon, the game was over, and all the rules were explained very smoothly.
"Then, does anyone have any questions?" ［Yuna］
"""None～!"""
The Children were quick learners, and though some were still a little confused, it didn't really matter. After all, the children can learn more as they play along. What mattered is that they captured the children's attention and they were excited.
"Fufufu! Then enough talking, let's play the game!" ［Yuna］
"Yaay!" "I'm going to win!" "Nuh-uh! I'll be the winner!" "Let's play! Let's play!"
Excited cheers rang throughout the vast blue sky as everyone raised their hands and made their little declarations. Everyone was enthusiastic and without further ado, the game has finally started.
Like Grey and Yuna demonstrated, the game started with deciding the turns by throwing the markers towards the line. A number of stones darted through the air, soon landing on the ground one after another.
Surprisingly enough, the ever so clumsy Marika was the one who managed to get the first turn, her marker landing directly on top of the line. Bit as one would expect from Marika, it hasn't even been a few minutes yet she already tripped on her own foot, losing balance and getting out of bounds. Fantastic as usual.
The game continued and the markers progressed from square to square as the kids hopped from square to square. Even when it was their first time playing, they were surprisingly good. Well, all were good, except Marika that is.
Of course, Grey and Yuna intentionally lost to them. It wouldn't be any fun if they used their full power, after all. They could just finish everything in a single turn.
"Yaay～! I won! I won!"
"Ugh... I was so close too..."
"Agh! I promise I'll win next time!"
It didn't take too long before the game was decided, and the one who won was a little girl who was about Elnart's age, hopping excitedly as she celebrated. If one could see the bright smile on her face, they would surely think she won the lottery.
"Ugh... Am I no good, after all?" ［Marika］
Of course, as one would expect, the one who was in last place was the Marika, only reaching until the 3rd square, a long shot from the other children. Not to mention that the children were about half her age.
She may be skilled and knowledgeable about many things, but she sucks at games because of how clumsy she was. Now, she was crouching on the ground, depressed as one can be. It was an interesting sight to see.
"Now, now, don't be too depressed. Let's play another game, shall we?" ［Yuna］
"""Yaaay～!"""
The fun continued and winners were decided time and time again. It wasn't just hopscotch that they played, they also played dodgeball, slipper mannequin, sack race, telephone, simon says, and many more. It was a fun time.
Eating childhood treats in the morning, and now, playing childhood games in the afternoon. It was not something Grey planned at all, but he enjoyed nonetheless. With it, he could relive the memories of the past with a smile on his face.
The clouds drifted and the shadows moved. Soon, the sun finally set, dyeing the sky black as the stars appeared one after another. Night had already fallen and so, it was finally time for the children to go home.
"Goodbye, Big Bro, Big Sis! Let's play again!"
"Me too! I also want to play next time!"
"Fufufu! Sure, let's play again sometime." ［Yuna］
The children had gone home and so did Marika. The noisy and lively atmosphere is now gone, and the only sounds which rang inside Grey and Yuna's ears were the solent howls of the nightly breeze, the beauty of the night gracing their eyes.
"The children sure were energetic, weren't they? I never thought I'd get to move my body around so much today." ［Grey］
"Fufufu! You can say that again! It was quite a day, I'd say!" ［Yuna］
"Well, you were also quite something." ［Grey］
"Hehehe!" ［Yuna］
Two figures turned around and soon, footsteps echoed in the air. With the children now back in their homes, there is nothing much else for Grey and Yuna to do. It was also time for them to head home and retire for the day.
It was a silent night, only a quiet melody to be heard. The owls hooted, the crickets chirped, and the flames in the torches crackled. In such quietness, a random thought appeared inside Grey's mind as he recounted their days together.
"Come to think of it... It's been more than a year since we left the forest, hasn't it? To think so much time has passed already..." ［Grey］
"Hm? Why all of the sudden?" ［Yuna］
"Nothing much, really... I just thought we've been through quite a lot this past year, haven't we? It seems so absurd now that I look back at it." ［Grey］
"Hahaha. That's true..." ［Yuna］
Destroying a large-scale criminal organization, raiding labyrinths, becoming heroes, stopping floods, and meeting royalties. No matter where one looked at it, it was in no way a normal flow of events. It was baffling to think about it.
"But... It's not like there have always been bad things. After all... It's because of those things that we got our feelings across each other." ［Yuna］
"Well, I suppose that's right... Though, I didn't think you'd become this spoiled after we started dating. You've really changed a lot. I wonder where the shy and reserved Yuna had gone to." ［Grey］
"Uuu... That's... That's, you know... Umm..." ［Yuna］
To Grey's words, Yuna could only blush furiously. After all, it wasn't only Grey who thought of such. Yuna also thinks that she has changed quite a lot, getting more embarrassed as she thinks of how different she was from before.
"It's your fault, you know? It's because you're always spoiling me that I became like this... Do you prefer the old Yuna, after all?" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. What's with that silly question? Be it the old Yuna, or the current Yuna, you will always be yourself and I'll love you no matter what. You're the only one I love and will always be. That's a promise." ［Grey］
She was the one who asked the question, but hearing the answer, she only became more flustered, her face turning redder by the moment as her heart raced harder and harder. It was yet another critical hit.
"Uuu... Grey has also changed a lot..." ［Yuna］
"Hm? I did?" ［Grey］
"Of course! For example, you've become a lot meaner since we started dating! You always tease me whenever you get the chance to! It's so frustrating that I'm always the one blushing!" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. That's because your reactions are so cute! Even now, seeing you blush like this, I just want to tease you more." ［Grey］
"Uuu... Grey, you meanie..." ［Yuna］
Yuna tried to fight back, but Grey always had something to say. She kept blushing and blushing, whilst Grey kept chuckling to himself. Little did she know, Grey's heart was racing as well, a smile forming on his face as he watched her vent
Thinking back at it now, she has always been by his side for almost four year already. It was only then that he realized how lucky he has been, unable to imagine how life would be without him by his side. He simply couldn't.
Be it the past, the present, or the future, he wanted to hold her close and dear. He may be dense with her feelings at first, but now that they knew their feelings for each other, he didn't want to let her go anymore. He simply wants to be by her side until the end of time, forever and ever.
'I see... Forever, huh...' ［Grey］
The cold winds blew and the leaves rustled. It was the same sky, the same stars, and the same moon. Under the light of a billion stars, like a lightning bolt streaming from the heavens above, Grey's heart raced madly once again, sending thunders all over his body as he clenched his chest.
It was fortunate that it was nighttime, else, Yuna would have seen how beet red his face is. He just loves her too much, that he doesn't care anymore. He loves her and that's all that mattered. It felt like he was going crazy.
"Grey, is something wrong?" ［Yuna］
"No, nothing at all... It's just... The moon really is beautiful, isn't it?" ［Grey］
"Fufufu! What do you mean? It's always been beautiful, silly." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. That's right, isn't it?" ［Grey］
"Fufufu!" ［Yuna］
The night was cold and silent, yet Grey couldn't feel any warmer. His heart continued to burn, pounding as loudly as it could. He has fallen far too deep. All he could see was the young lady before her. The night was still long.
CHAPTER 234 END