It's almost been 2 years since I've come to this place and I still can't figure out how I got here. Before all this, I was enjoying the view and the gentle breeze brushing my face on top of the tallest building in my city. And the next thing I know, I slipped and fell and somehow got here.
I don't remember much from that day, but one thing is for sure. This is not the same world I've known. Compared to Earth, which has already been polluted so much that people who want a whiff of fresh air, have to climb on top of tall buildings for that chance. There were not many forests filled with enough trees left and the frequent forest fires turned some of the valuable trees to ashes. There's no denying it, Earth doesn't have much time left and it will only be a matter of time until we all die.
Compared to that, this place is the opposite. Ever since I got here, I felt like my lungs were delighted to breathe in oxygen without climbing on top of tall buildings. It's exhilarating. If I were to choose between my life here and my life on Earth, I will definitely, without hesitation, pick my life here.
Yes, I will definitely pick my life here. That would absolutely be the case if only I wasn't living with a troublesome creature.
"Yv! How many times do I have to tell you to stop wasting the soap! Do you know how expensive the ingredients are?!" I yelled. "If you plan on wasting valuable resources, you need to at least contribute!" I told her.
Yes, her. Because the one I'm living with is a woman. We're in a rather complicated situation but the point is that we're not in a kind of romantic relationship. If that was the case, I wouldn't have told her harshly. In the first place, having that kind of relationship is impossible. She's an elf after all.
Yv is what you call the embodiment of beauty just like how people on Earth envision elves to be. I thought elves were the embodiment of the word beauty but according to Yv, even amongst her people, her beauty stands out the most. Well, I can't really deny that since I can see the proof myself.
"How impertinent! A beauty like me should take care of my skin properly. It' can already be considered a great honor for you to live with someone like me,"
I clenched my fist unknowingly. I really want to hit her whenever she says something along those lines.
"What are you talking about? Living with you? If you're really living with me then you should at least do something while I'm gone! You're just basically leeching off of me!" I told her.
"What? Did you really expect a beauty like me to do some chores? I can't even begin to imagine something like that." said Yv, in a rather cheeky and arrogant tone.
"Wow, how shameless of you. Are you okay living off of someone who's poor?" I asked,
"That should have been clear, no? You ought to serve me, a beautiful maiden, after all."
I can feel my eyes twitching out of irritation from her words alone. Her cheeky, arrogant, and self-serving attitude are the things that prevent her from being a perfect dame!
"What in the world? Am I your slave or something- Ah, stop. I don't feel like arguing with you today." I told her, patting my head. "Can you at least try? If you keep acting like that, you'll never find yourself a husband who will put up with you,"
She immediately gave me a glare. I always get that kind of response from her whenever I hit a nerve that I got used to. I can't even count how many times she gave me that look over the course of us living together.
".........."
"I'm off hunting now. You better be done taking a bath before I get back. Staying in cold water for hours is not a good thing. If you truly care for your beauty, you should know that." I told her, and left.
It's times like this that she goes silent. She may be arrogant and prideful at times but she listens to me. I don't know why but that's good enough for me despite her being a handful.
I made my way to the forest to check on the traps I laid out. The forest is abundant and offers plenty of food for the both of us. I could go fishing but since Yv was taking a bath. Even if I hate her that much, it'd be really rude of me to go fishing. And besides, with her taking a bath fishing would be impossible since she'll scare all the fish away so that's impossible.
In this forest, there is plenty of food to choose from. This world may not be Earth but the plants, animals, and many other things are somewhat similar to that of Earth.
"None today, huh? Well, it's not like we'll always get meat everyday." I told myself.
Just as I was about to turn away, I heard a rustling sound just a little further away from me. I drew my bow and arrow in case it's something that would attack me but as soon as I heard the rustling continued, the target eventually revealed itself.
I can see its white fur sticking out like a sore thumb in the midst of the tall grass. Without even seeing its entire body, I can tell what animal it is. I thought we're not eating meat today so I was bummed. I'm glad I brought my bow.
Despite Yv's arrogant personality, she's an excellent archer. She taught me how to use the bow and thanks to her, I'm able to hunt pretty much everything. Although she only taught me how to use the bow, it's thanks to the videos I watched back on Earth that I'm able to hunt properly. I can't believe those tutorials will come in handy someday.
Before firing my arrow, I checked if the hare had any escape route. Its long ears should be sensitive to sound so the moment I fire the arrow, the sound of the string might chase it away. Aiming for the place where the hare will choose to go is the thing to go.
The moment I let go of the string after choosing where to aim, just like I expected, the hare reacted. Thankfully, I picked the right spot and struck it down. It was still moving around, I had to end its misery.
"Thank you for your sacrifice. Your sacrifice will provide us with nourishment. May your spirit return to the great earth."
I offered a prayer before sticking a knife through its head, ending its misery. Before going back, I skinned the hare and cleaned it thoroughly. At first, I thought it was disgusting and I couldn't help but throw up. But after doing it a couple of times after that, I got used to it.
I need to be able to at least do that in order to survive.
When I got out of the forest, the first thing I checked was the river and it seemed like Yv was done taking a bath.
"If only she's always this docile then we wouldn't have to argue most of the time." I said to myself, shaking my head.
"Looks like you're back."
I turned around and saw Yv carrying firewood. I froze for a moment. The selfish elf that's always going on about not doing chores was carrying firewood.
"I'm not seeing things, right?" I asked.
She glared at me as if I said something rude. But that wasn't what I intended to do. I was just purely shocked by the sight.
"I just thought I'd start pulling my weight. This is what you wanted right?"
She walked past me and laid the firewood she collected, and sat down. It was truly an eye-opening sight that I couldn't help but blurt out something.
"I wonder if the crows will turn one tomorrow." I said.
"Do you want to die?" she immediately responded, "More importantly, why don't you go start cooking? It's going do be dark soon."
Her words snapped me back to reality and I immediately started to prepare our dinner.
"I'm surprised you're able to catch a hare," said Yv. "They are surprisingly agile so I'm taken aback a bit."
"You sound like you don't trust my skills. I may not look like it but I'm far different than how I used to be. I admit that I sucked at it at first and I failed countless times. It is thanks to that experience that I've grown." I told her.
Unlike our usual argument, there are times when we have a normal conversation without going at each other's throats.
"Well, you certainly changed."
After cooking the hare meat with the mushroom and other vegetables, we ate. I washed the dishes since there's no way Yv would do such a chore and sat around the bonfire. Yv sat beside me and offered me tea.
"Here," said Yv.
"Thanks,"
"You look like you have much in mind." she inserted.
It's rather unusual for her to start a conversation with me on top of offering me tea. Not that I hate it, I just find it unusual.
"Nothing. I'm just happy living like this. Simple and hard at times, but comfortable." I told her, taking a sip of the tea.
"Comfortable, huh? Even with me constantly arguing with you?" asked Yv. "You go on and on about me being troublesome all the time yet you say it's comfortable?"
Somehow it seems like she sounded confused and that's understandable. At first, I really thought of her as nothing but trouble and I wanted to get rid of her. That was what I thought at first, but now I think differently.
"I know it sounds strange but yes. It's only natural for us to be arguing most of the time. I mean, it would be strange for us to not argue in the first place. I know that you're arrogant and prideful but it's not like you're like that because you're an elf, right?"
When I told her that, she immediately turned to my direction, looking surprised.
"There's no need to look at me like that. I can at least tell that you're someone important, you know. Despite your arrogance and prideful demeanor, I get the feeling of elegance and air of dignity around you. No matter how hard you try to hide it, it sometimes shows. That's why it's natural for us to argue because we are two different people with different standing in life." I continued, taking another sip.
"H-How- when did I show such kind of-"
Before she could finish what she was about to say, I held up the cup of tea she gave me. Yv is not stupid, so as soon as I did, she realized what I meant.
"So that's how it is." said Yv, finally confirming it herself.
"Yeah. Someone with an exquisite taste for tea would be able to brew tea of the same level. Of course there are other things as well but this is by far the one thing that gave you away." I told her.
"I did not expect that you'd catch up on something so simple. It seems like I looked down on your perceptiveness too much," responded Yv, slightly nodding her head, "I still don't understand why you can call it comfortable after all the trouble you've gone through because of me. Care to elaborate on that?"
So she's curious about that, huh? Well, it wouldn't hurt to tell her about it.
"Are you curious about that? It's an incredibly simple reason though?"
"I don't mind listening."
"Hmm, that's because you're generous enough to accompany someone like me and live in the same living conditions despite your stature. And I'm thankful to you for that. It's also thanks to you that I'm able to understand the ways of the world." I told her, "Thanks, Yv."
She immediately turned away from my gaze, embarrassed. I don't know why she's embarrassed all of a sudden when it's supposed to be me but whatever.
We finished our tea and went inside the house. I gave her the bed while I slept on the floor. It's uncomfortable but I can handle it. Despite how she is, I can't possibly let a woman sleep on the hard and cold ground.