Returning to the time when Elara was 9 years old... or maybe not?
"Uh... Huh...?"
Elara blinked in surprise as long-forgotten memories from when she was 5 years old suddenly flooded her mind.
"Ugh...!" Elara held her head, feeling like it was about to explode as she remembered events that should have been long forgotten.
'These memories...!' Elara muttered in a trembling voice, full of fear, as if she had just uncovered a world-shattering secret.
Although she was glad to remember events from four years ago that had remained mysteriously forgotten, an odd sense of anxiety surrounded her.
"... Crazy."
Elara scrutinized her still-small hands, which now looked even smaller than usual.
Her short legs, or more precisely, the pair of shoes she was wearing, a birthday gift she had once asked her mother for, had mysteriously disappeared four years ago.
However, now that pair of shoes is still worn on both of her feet.
Elara had truly regressed to the age of 5!
This was real, as her body ached and throbbed, as if trying to tell her that what she remembered from four years ago had just happened today.
'What is happening?!'
Suddenly confronted with various issues far beyond the understanding of modern people, Elara felt utterly bewildered and wanted to dunk her face in cold water to calm her panic.
Elara took a deep breath and exhaled. She needed to calm her panic first before addressing the emerging problems.
First, the mysterious return of her memories. Second, finding herself four years in the past without a clear reason. Third, her entire body ached mercilessly, as if she had fallen and collided with something, making her bones feel as if they were about to shatter. Fourth, her limited ability to scan her surroundings due to the pain. And fifth, in this bizarre situation, Elara needed to take action rather than remain passive.
Fortunately, the surroundings appeared peaceful, allowing Elara to feel somewhat safe, although she still shivered with fear when she imagined those foreign powers directed at her.
"..."
Elara needed to reflect for a moment to better understand what was happening and why it was happening to her. Perhaps seeking help or talking to trustworthy people around her to find a solution to this inexplicable situation was necessary.
'Right, people!'
Elara opened her eyes wide after remembering something crucial.
Ignoring her pain, she tried to observe the boy next to her. He appeared to be asleep, with an expression as if he were having a nightmare.
'Thank goodness he's okay...! or maybe not,' thought Elara after checking his distressed face. In addition to looking like he was suffering from a bad dream, the boy also appeared very pale with dry, cracked lips.
Biting her lip as she strained to extend her arms, which felt like they had broken bones, she finally managed to touch the cheek of the unconscious boy beside her.
Despite the pain coursing through her body, Elara felt the warmth of the handsome face she was touching. Even in her agony, she found herself smiling, almost involuntarily.
How could she have forgotten the handsome face of the boy who had begged for water like this?
A sense of worry and guilt crept into Elara's mind as she observed the face she had forgotten for four years.
"Did he make it back safely?" Elara wondered as she gazed at the handsome boy whose name she still didn't know.
Considering her mother hadn't said anything when she found her, it meant that Elara had been sleeping here alone.
'If that's the case, did he disappear quietly?' Elara speculated, trying to piece together what had actually happened.
'Wait, didn't Mom say she found me behind the big tree near the back of the house?'
Elara suddenly remembered the story of a young child who had gone missing on the same day as her and had not been heard from since.
Her mind felt like it had been struck by a hammer as she recalled all of this at once.
"..." Feeling an eerie chill, Elara decided to take a deep breath and exhale slowly, hoping to keep her panic at bay.
'Let's think about that later. Right now, focus on the situation at hand,' Elara thought while trying to reassure herself.
Gently, Elara attempted to wake the boy next to her, but there was no response, only a furrow on his handsome forehead.
"Hey...?" Elara called out anxiously. "Wake up, please..."
Despite Elara's pleas and calls, the handsome boy remained unresponsive, with closed eyes, furrowed brows, and a pallid complexion.
"..."
She began to worry that the boy might be extremely thirsty to the point of dehydration. Her mind raced to figure out if there was water nearby. She wanted to get up and seek help.
The panic she had avoided earlier returned to engulf her. She didn't want to see a stranger who had tried to save her die of thirst. Unfortunately, her body throbbed, making it difficult to move.
"It hurts so much...!" Elara whimpered, fighting back tears.
Fortunately, the excruciating pain that had gripped her allowed her to escape her panic.
"Haa... This feels so real. Could I really have traveled back four years? But is that even possible?" she muttered, her voice tired.
After a moment of silence, busy with deep breaths and exhales, Elara sighed, realizing her foolishness.
"I could even be reincarnated in another world with memories of my past life intact. So, nothing is impossible," Elara chided herself.
While contemplating many things, Elara gazed at her surroundings. The sun was almost setting, making her aware that night was approaching.
"Mom must be so worried right now," she murmured.
'... Should I just wait here without doing anything until mother arrives?'
Just as Elara was about to give up and resign herself to the current situation, the boy next to her suddenly moved slightly, emitting a soft, feeble sound.
Realizing this, Elara called out to him again.
"Hey? Do you hear me? ... Are you awake?!"
The boy moved his mouth, but no sound came out of his dry, cracked lips.
"Ugh...!" Elara bit her lip again, forced to lower her head and shift her body closer to the boy.
While enduring the excruciating pain, Elara finally managed to press her ear close to the mouth of the black-haired boy, which now strangely sparkled like a precious gem.
"Th...irst..."
"..." Elara had suspected what might be on the boy's mind, but in the end, all he did was plead for water.
Elara felt an immediate urge to hit him, vividly recalling the annoyance she experienced from the whining attitude of this handsome boy.
Nevertheless, Elaara secretly breathed a heavy sigh, this time feeling a sense of relief.
Even though the boy's face remained pale with a distressed expression, Elara sensed a spark of vitality since he could still whine for water like before.
"Can't you use your water magic? Just a little bit for now?" Elara asked, recalling the water shield the boy had created.
'It seems he has an affinity for the water element... but wouldn't it be strange if he appeared dependent on water, like someone with an acute illness?' Elara pondered.
"Don't want to. I want ... water ... here."
Elara blinked her heavy eyes upon hearing the boy's words. 'Hm, so he only wants water from here and not from other sources? That's why he was so insistent from the start, even though his condition was so serious?!'
'This determined kid, he's truly committed to finding the rumored spring, even at the expense of his own well-being!'
'I feel like hitting him right now, but unfortunately, my whole body feels so numb even with the slightest movement...!'
Elara responded with as much calmness as she could muster. "You could die if you don't drink."
"Don't want to...! Please give me water...."
"..."
After making sure at least that the boy still had the strength to whined, Elara ignored his pleas and shifted her focus to her surroundings, which appeared no different from before. There was nothing around except trees upon trees, denser than usual.
'I don't even know where we are.'
A sense of anxiety almost overcame Elara again, but suddenly, the boy began to whined loudly, bringing her back to the present.
"Water... Water...!"
Hearing the boy talk about water, Elara felt thirsty too.
"Yeah, yeah... I know. I'm thirsty too," Elara replied, wincing in pain, feeling like her body was in ruins.