Through the steep and cold snow bed, they entered the town. The evening had fallen, and the streets were bustling and full of life. The lights of the houses were bright, and people carried their bamboo baskets full of herbs and their catches for the day. The incense of the agarwood and orange trees fragranced a few of the vendor stores.
The street was narrow, and people knew each other in the small town, but unlike at the academy, no one made her feel uncomfortable. Their speeches were warm and polite.
Enticed by its liveliness, her eyes twirled from side to side, enjoying the view. With the growing crowd, Hael took her hands in his and walked along. Um? She slightly shook but then went back to admiring the town.
Hael took hold of her wrist, which was covered in gloves, and walked her to the inner part of the bazzar. Unlike the lively main town, the inner part of the town was somewhat shady.
"Where are we going?" her volume lowered.
"A shop," he answered.
After walking for around ten minutes, they arrived at a shop that sold winter clothes and bags. The shop had a few clothes on display, and Hael entered, followed by Luiza.
"Hello, how may we help you?" a young woman in her late twenties asked.
"Could you bring us three sets of winter clothes for the lady here and two bags?" Hael requested. Their hands intertwined. The shop owner had a soft smile as she went to one of the cupboards and took out a few clothes, which were of different designs.
"Which one do you prefer, Lady?" The owner was very generous with her words.
"Well, all of them are fine," Luiza answered.
"Indeed, they are, but how about this one?" Hael took out a black pancho, which had very fine golden detailing around the edges and the neckline.
"It's beautiful." Her eyes gleamed with happiness.
Hael took the pancho from her hands and wrapped it around her neck.
"You should wear it. It's cold today." Her cheeks and ears were flustered by his actions, and she gave a gentle nod. Hael bought her a few more pairs of clothes, and they walked out of the store.
"Thank you very much, Hael." She gave him a courteous bow while he just nodded, and they continued to explore the town.
"Are you new here, dear?" An old woman in front of the tailor's shop asked as she kept sewing a small doll in her hands. She stopped her steps and replied, "Indeed, we are. It's been a few days since we moved here," with a gracious smile.
"How lovely. How about you come to my home to have dinner? It must have been hard for a newly married couple." The woman assumed, and the dusty pink flustered Luiza's cheeks.
She wished to correct, but Hael did not deny so; in awkwardness, she followed the woman. The woman introduced herself as Granny Alice in her breathy and soft-spoken tone and chattered about her small family, which lived nearby. They walked through the attenuated route. It led to a small wooden hut with a thatched roof.
"Grace! We have guests!" shouted, and a fair woman in her early thirties came mumbling out, sighing, "Mother, you bring too many unknown guests," but she immediately stopped her words after gazing at the couple.
"Hello! You seem new to the town," she said. "You see, my mother loves to bring people to our home. But please come inside and make yourself at home." The woman requested, and feeling burdened, they entered the humble house.
She left Hael's hands and took a seat in the chair. It was a poor house with barely any essential needs fulfilled. Luiza turned her head around, gazing carefully.
"Say, little lad, did you elope here from the capital?" The old man winked. Hael let out a little chortle and answered, "No, we did not, Granny Alice."
"Aw, and here I hoped to listen to a fierce elope of two love birds." The three giggled at her words while Grace called out to Alice, "Mother!!" in embarrassment from the kitchen. Soon she brought some snacks while Granny Alice entertained the two passive love birds.
They munched on the small biscuits made of wheat and barley. Amid the chatter, Luiza asked Granny Alice in curiousity, "Why are you sewing a doll?" She sewed the doll even when gossiping and making puns, which felt odd.
"Oh, this? My youngest son, who is only a few years older than you, has been recruited into the military. We do not know whether he would even return after being recruited, but this is the fate of a man. And so, as a remembrance, I am sewing him this doll. Perhaps, by the time he comes, I shall have died, or maybe he might," she stated. Her old, worn-out hands were cracked and dry, but she continued to sew.
"So he went to the military by his own will?" Luiza asked, and the woman turned her head from left to right. "No. Not at all. For the poor, the military is an opportunity to get a better life. And blinded by the coins, my son is taking part in it. If it were for his own will, he would have become a merchant." Her voice was meek and soft, almost reminiscing of her past.
Luiza nodded in understanding.
Grace further stated, "This is a little town in a magic-dominant kingdom. Our king lowered the tax, but that is about it. Everything else remains the same. We have a small liquor manufacturing business here, and that's our only source of income. Our family does not last us through the winter, and since Ever Hill's region is poorer than other parts, living is becoming expensive.".
That evening, they indulged in the lifestyle of Ever Hill. She learned many things that she did not know.
When the moon shone upon them, they decided to bid their farewells. It was the night of the full moon, and Luiza felt light-hearted. The talk of the woman's cooed scars. Her concerns seemed insignificant compared to their daily lives.
Hael did not speak a lot, but it was perhaps the most she had seen him smile. He had been amazing company, and she was grateful from the bottom of her heart.
It was a very hectic day, and her mind felt exhausted, but perhaps she could push just a bit more, she concluded. Once they reached their small house, she bid her good night to Hael, who too seemed drained by the small rendezvous. She headed upstairs and immediately started translating the diary.
Under the dim lamp, she strained her eyes and continued where she had left off. By means of the book from the library, she started to translate the ancient magic languages one by one.
It read: She manifested the greatest power; there is no one such as her or who will transcend her. When she was held on that huge cross, her raven-black hair was disheveled, and she screamed for her one beloved, her only love, her child, the light."
Any further translation was not possible that night. As the sullen, cool wind clouded her, she fell asleep on her desk, reminiscing that her mother, Loretto, had been a sacrifice.