Aurelio traversed the picturesque landscape of Bavona village, his steps echoing softly on the cobblestone pathways that meandered amidst quaint cottages adorned with vibrant floral gardens. Each house seemed to tell a story of its own, with colorful shutters framing windows that peeked out from under roofs adorned with creeping ivy. The cottages, with their thatched roofs and flower boxes overflowing with blossoms, seemed like illustrations from a fairytale book.
As he walked, Aurelio couldn't help but admire the rustic beauty of the village. Lush greenery enveloped the surroundings, punctuated by bursts of colorful wildflowers that danced in the gentle breeze. The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from nearby bakeries, mingling with the scent of blooming roses to create a symphony for the senses. The harmonious sounds of birds chirping and the distant murmur of a flowing stream added to the idyllic atmosphere.
The villagers went about their daily tasks with a sense of calm purpose, exchanging warm greetings and friendly smiles as Aurelio passed by. An elderly woman, her hands deftly weaving a basket, paused to wave at him, her face creased in a gentle smile. Children played joyfully in the streets, their laughter echoing through the air like music. A group of boys chased after a hoop, their shouts of excitement blending with the occasional bark of a playful dog.
Despite the peaceful ambiance of the village, Aurelio's footsteps grew heavier with each passing moment. The warmth of the sun beat down upon him, casting long shadows that stretched across the cobblestones. Fatigue began to weigh upon his limbs, the journey taking its toll on his weary body. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, and his breaths became more labored as he continued his trek.
Spotting a solitary tree in the distance, its branches reaching skyward as if beckoning him closer, Aurelio felt a surge of relief. He quickened his pace, eager to find respite from the relentless sun. The tree stood like a sentinel, its wide canopy offering a sanctuary of cool shade. As he approached, he noticed a patch of grass beneath the tree, the ground slightly elevated and inviting, a perfect spot to rest.
With a grateful sigh, Aurelio settled himself beneath the shade of the tree, its branches forming a protective canopy that shielded him from the harsh rays of the sun. The cool grass beneath him provided a soft bed, and the gentle rustle of leaves overhead lulled him into a peaceful slumber. The sounds of the village faded into the background, replaced by the soothing whispers of nature.
He could feel his eyes slowly closing, the fatigue of his journey washing over him like a gentle wave...
....
A few minutes later, Aurelio's eyes slowly fluttered open. He found himself greeted by the sight of an angry girl standing before him, her long, flowing black hair cascading down her shoulders. Her pretty eyes blazed with irritation, and her lips moved rapidly, forming words that he struggled to comprehend in his groggy state. She seemed to be around the same age as him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Who ate your dog again?" he blurted out instinctively, still not fully aware of his surroundings as he rubbed his eyes, trying to orient himself. The unexpected response earned him a bewildered look from the girl.
"No, I said, who do you think you are, invading my space like this? This is my resting spot!" she retorted, her voice tinged with irritation. Her hands were placed firmly on her hips, and her posture radiated defiance.
A short silence.
Aurelio blinks, now fully awake and slightly embarrassed by his nonsensical reply. "Well, I don't see any name on this spot. Besides, can anyone really own a resting spot? If it bothers you so much I'll just go somewhere else." he counters, trying to deescalate the situation.
Before the girl could reply the sky suddenly darkens, and the first droplets of rain begin to fall.
"Looks like we're both getting kicked out of our resting spots now," Aurelio remarks with a wry smile, gesturing to the now- slightly damp patch of ground.
The girl's eyes begin to glisten, her lips quivering slightly as Aurelio watches on, uncertain of whats happening and how to respond to her sudden change in demeanor. The rain intensifies, drenching her as she stands just beyond the tree's shelter.
"Hey, come in here, you'll catch a cold!"
The girl hesitates, her fists clenched at her sides, strands of wet hair obscuring her downcast eyes. "No, it's okay... thank you for being concerned," she murmurs, her tone subdued.
Turning away, she starts to walk off slowly, her steps heavy with a sense of resignation. Aurelio's brow furrows in confusion. "Hey! You'll seriously get sick!" he insists, but his words fall on deaf ears as the girl continues on her path.
Aurelio's heart twinges with an unexpected pang of guilt. Despite knowing it's not his responsibility, he can't shake the feeling of remorse. With a determined sigh, he dashes after her, the rain soaking through his clothes as he catches up.
-- Ugh, why am I doing this?
Reaching her side, Aurelio takes a deep breath, summoning the courage to break the awkward silence. "Hey, i'm Aurelio, Aurelio Ignis" he introduces himself, offering a tentative smile.
No response...
"I-If you want we can go to my house to escape the rain, it isn't very far from here." He blurts out without thinking his words through.
The girl's guarded demeanor softens ever so slightly as she glances up at him, her expression now tinged with curiosity. "I'm Jane," she replies, her voice warmer than before. "Jane Grewsaw, are you sure I can come?".
Aurelio's cheeks flush with embarrassment, unsure of how he ended up in this situation. "Y-yeah, no problem. Come, let's go!"
-- Oh my god why did I say that!?
With a newfound sense of camaraderie, the two of them stride through the rain-soaked streets of Bavona village, their conversation lightening the mood as they approach Aurelio's home.
As they step inside, Valarie's eyes widen in surprise at the sight of Aurelio and his unexpected companion. Her gaze flickers between the two, taking in their soaked appearance and the shared camaraderie evident in their body language. Momentarily caught off guard, Valarie quickly recovers, a playful smirk curving her lips as she approaches them.
"Well, well, well... what do we have here?~" Valarie's tone is lighthearted, but there's a hint of curiosity and teasing in her voice as she addresses Aurelio. She gently nudges him, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Aurelio feels his cheeks flush with embarrassment, unsure of how to respond to his mother's teasing. He shuffles nervously, shooting a sheepish glance at Jane before turning back to Valarie.
"Uh, Mom, this is Jane," Aurelio begins, his voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. "We met... uh, outside, and I offered to let her wait out the rain at our place."
Valarie's playful smirk widens into a knowing grin as she studies the pair. She raises an eyebrow suggestively, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, I see," she says with a mischievous glint. "Well, Jane, it's a pleasure to meet you. Any friend of Aurelio's is welcome here."
Jane offers a shy smile in return, feeling slightly self-conscious under Valarie's scrutiny. "Thank you, Mrs. Ignis," she replies politely, her voice soft but genuine.
Valarie chuckles softly, her playful demeanor putting Jane at ease. "Please, call me Valarie," she insists, gesturing towards the cozy interior of their home. "Make yourself at home, both of you. I'll go fetch some towels and something warm to drink."
As Valarie disappears into the kitchen, Aurelio breathes a sigh of relief, grateful that his mother didn't make things as awkward as he thought she would. He turns to Jane with a sheepish grin, hoping she doesn't feel too uncomfortable under his mother's playful interrogation.
"Sorry about that," he murmurs apologetically. "My mom can be a bit... well, you know."
Jane smiles warmly, her earlier tension melting away as she gazes around the welcoming interior of Aurelio's home. "It's okay," she reassures him. "Your mom seems nice."
Following Valarie's warm welcome, Aurelio and Jane settle in comfortably in the cozy interior of Aurelio's home as they dry off and sip on hot cocoa.
However, as they exchange small talk, an awkward silence settles between them, punctuated only by the soft patter of rain against the windowpanes. Aurelio shifts uncomfortably in his seat, searching for something to say, while Jane nervously twirls a strand of wet hair between her fingers.
Despite their efforts to fill the silence, the atmosphere inside the house begins to feel slightly strained, as if they're both tiptoeing around an unspoken tension.
"So... you said that the tree was your resting spot, do you rest there often?"
-- WHY DID I ASK SUCH A STUPID QUESTION, I MEAN SERIOUSLY!?
"Well, yeah...."
Another moment of silence filled the room.
"Well, u-uh, is there any particular reason you rest there?"
Her face became serious for a fraction of a second before returning to normal. She waited a few seconds before responding.
"Not really, but if I had to say it would probably be the calming nature of the tree"
Now Aurelio was never good at social ques and such but even he could see through the facade of this girl, there was clearly something that she was not saying, because although she said that, her body language said something else. However Aurelio didn't inquire further as she probably didn't want to share it.
"I see..."
The girl looked down at the ground.
As the awkward silence lingers, the sound of footsteps approaching the living room breaks the tension. Haiya enters the room, her eyes widening with curiosity as she spots Jane sitting beside Aurelio.
"Oh, you're bac- Eh? Who is this pretty girl, big brother?" she chirps, her voice innocent and filled with wonder.
Jane becomes incredibly flattered and starts fawning over Haiya's adorableness.
"Aww, shes such a cutie-! My name is Jane"
Haiya beams at Jane, her excitement palpable as she bounces on her toes. "I'm Haiya! Do you want to play with me?"
Jane's heart melts at the adorable sight of the enthusiastic little girl. She can't help but be charmed by Haiya's innocence and enthusiasm, and any lingering awkwardness dissipates as she finds herself drawn to the child's infectious energy.
"Of course, I'd love to play with you, Haiya," Jane says, her voice gentle and filled with warmth.
With a delighted squeal, Haiya grabs Jane's hand, pulling her towards the center of the room where a pile of toys awaits, a bunch of wooden and stone dolls. As they begin to play together, laughter fills the air, melting away any remnants of discomfort and replacing it with joy and camaraderie.
-- I have no idea how to thank Haiya, that was hella awkward and if she didn't come I'd probably want to kms from the inside.
As the laughter and playfulness fill the room, Valarie enters the living room, her eyes sparkling with warmth as she observes the scene before her.
"Would you like to stay for lunch, Jane?" Valarie asks, her voice warm and inviting.
Jane hesitates for a moment, her upbringing and sense of propriety urging her to decline. But as she catches Aurelio's hopeful gaze and Haiya's eager smile, she can't help but feel a sense of belonging in their company.
"Oh no no- I wouldn't want to impose," Jane begins, her words polite but her eyes betraying a longing to stay.
"Nonsense, it's no imposition at all. We'd love to have you," Valarie insists, her motherly instinct prompting her to welcome Jane into their home with open arms.
With a grateful smile, Jane accepts the invitation, her heart swelling with gratitude for the warmth and kindness shown to her. Together, the four of them gather around the dining table, their laughter and conversation filling the air as they enjoy a delicious meal that looked similar to what he knew as chicken pot pie.
It's quite impressive that this world has such advanced culinary recipes despite being so primitive. Aurelio can't help but notice that Fabian isn't around, so he decides to ask Valarie about it.
"Uh, mom, where is Father?"
"Father is attending a very important meeting in the village assembly hall with the village elders."
"Really, what are they talking about?"
Valarie shrugs her shoulders.
"I'm not sure, but I do know that whatever they are talking about is probably boring" She says with a smile.
-- I guess meetings are universally meant to be boring, both in this world and my old.
As they finish their meal, Jane offered sincere compliments to Valarie for her culinary skills, expressing her gratitude for the warm hospitality. With the rain having stopped and the skies clearing, Jane mentioned that she should probably be on her way home.
"Thank you so much for the wonderful meal, Valarie. It was delicious," Jane says, her voice genuine but tinged with a hint of reluctance.
Valarie smiles warmly at Jane. "You're very welcome, dear. You're welcome to visit us anytime."
Aurelio notices a subtle change in Jane's demeanor as she prepares to leave. Though she smiles, there's a fleeting sadness in her eyes, masked by her polite demeanor. He can sense the weight of something unspoken weighing on her mind.
"Take care on your way home, Jane. And don't hesitate to come over again if you ever need anything," Aurelio says, his tone gentle and supportive.
With a nod and a grateful smile, Jane bids them farewell and steps out into the crisp afternoon air. As the door closes behind her, Aurelio's gaze lingers on the empty space where she stood, a sense of melancholy settling over him.