Eleanora had to run away to protect her life and that of her child's just one week before expected delivery.
The Inner parts of the Outskirts doesn't have a lot of places to run or hide in but she knows that the monster she's running from does not have a lot of sway in the sector of the bottom feeders.
Even if he does, finding her would still be extremely difficult as the outer parts of the Outskirts is very vast.
After acting on her decision to escape, Eleanora soon finds herself in the unfamiliar but filthy environment of the outer Outskirts. She hadn't thought far enough about what she would do next and as bad luck would have its way, Labour came knocking prematurely.
Four Days too early!.
The mental and physical stress of running has caught up to her and her contractions were coming in fast and hard.
She can vividly remember the pain, sudden exhaustion and panic of that early morning as she breaks into Old Man Ning's House with her mind cloudex by distress and panic.
Though it turns out that privacy isn't close to the most important thing that a woman in labour needs for delivery. Eleanora is quick to realise this fact but it doesn't matter much anymore as she could barely move from the spasms of Labour.
Hours that felt like days passed by until the owner of the house and her saviour returns home.
Thinking about how much she had gone through in the span of weeks would easily brings tears to anyone's eyes but at the end, she made it. She still recalls her first time of looking into those two immature Monoliths shaped eyes with the most beautiful orange pupils. Her child has made it all completely worth it and so much more.
It's been two hours now since Eleanora has left the old man's house and the sun is already casting its beautiful brilliance over the sea of green called the mystic forest.
Minutes has passed by since Eleanora safe exit from the outer Outskirts environment of filth and then into a tiled, neat and much more organised one. Eleanora has a hazy but helpful mental map of the inner sectors of the Outskirts so it does not take too much thought to pinpoint what direction to walk towards as soon, she arrives at her pre-planned location.
Currently, Eleanora is standing in front of a massive Guesthouse. The area is neat with the environment's make up being lightness, serenity yet liveliness at its genre.
The wide and spacious guesthouse is flavoured in multiple colour settings with the building built in shapes and patterns of Asian architecture. A quick look around and one would see that the wooden guesthouse hosts six separate wooden buildings which are interconnected by high wooden bridges.
On the grounds, simple smooth stony pathways races through with the settings effortlessly hosting an air of relaxation.
Due to the dull tenderness of the early morning, the Coloured lanterns in the corridors of the guesthouse(Okiya) were still at work. These colourful lanterns adds a touch of beauty that's better viewed at night as they still illuminated the walkways and outdoor sections of the Guesthouse despite the already rising sun.
"..Ma'am. May I ask what is your business in this grounds?.", A roaming guard of the guesthouse asks with a bit of suspicion in his tone as he comes closer to the standing and wrapped figure of Eleanora.
The guard is not sure weather the person in front of him is a customer he cannot afford to offend and so he places his speech as politely as he could.
"..I'm a geisha here.", Eleanora says as she pulls down the scarf on her face before bringing out a small piece of slate that validates her identity.
The guard raises his brows before examining the wooden slip with a deep glance. Handing the wooden slip back to Eleanora, the guard question..
"Then why are you dressed like this?..", The guard asks while eying her heavy clothings with a bit of confusion. The suspicion in his voice is mostly gone by now because the slate she has just showed couldn't be duplicated.
"It's personal,.. I need to go and see the Head mistress(Head Geisha)." – Eleanora says before slowly waking past the guard and towards one of the layered wooden buildings.
The guard gives her back one last look before continuing his inspections around the vicinity. Its none of his business why a Giesha has exited the premises nor is it his business on matters about her clothings,.. his job is to maintain order.
Walking towards the building, Eleanora cannot help but get a bit nervous. Although the outside of the guesthouse is quiet and without much activities, Eleanora is sure that the inside is not as quiet.
Even though it truly begins on evenings, life in a guesthouse never truly ends.
Going around the building of her target, Eleanora uses the back door that's only commissioned for Geishas. This door leads to an underground Dormitory for Geisha's to rest and live since their jobs can be considered a 24/7 hours job.
Walking through the hallways, Eleanora sees some if her Giesha peers who give her different looks. Some of them looked worried, some looked uncomfortable by her entry though most showed pity.
In reaction to her, some of the Giesha's present looked down at their feet as they feel awkward about this sudden situation though one thing they all had in common with their actions is that they all kept their distances.
Due to her 'elven' situation, Eleanora is not much close to most of her peers as they fear for implicating themselves to the 'special' treatment she mostly receives.
Eleanora does not blame her peers for holding back as she would have done the same if the situation is to be reversed. She is not social enough to fancy multiple friendships so it is all for the best in her opinion.
With her steps firm but her mind slightly shaky, Eleanora walks through the small hallway before finally arriving at a door that stands out amongst others.
*Sigh*, Eleanora sighs before taking a deep breath as she is now facing of a luxurious door with lanterns on both its sides. This Quarter's obviously belongs to someone special and looking up, one would find the characters 'Head Geisha' carved into a wooden banner.
The smell here has a soft yet intoxicating fragrance to it and accompanied by the sound of simple music coming from behind the Head Giesha's door the atmosphere is serene.
*Knock**Knock**Knock*.. Eleanora politely knocks.
After knocking, Eleanorapulls down her clenched fist as she politely waits for a response which comes exactly ten seconds later.
"Come in..", A cold female voice resounds from the inside while giving Eleanora the permission to lightly fling open the wooden door for entry before closing it back as soon as she has steped inside.
The insides of the Head Geisha's quarters is softly illuminated with a gentle floral-pink glow. Various Furnitures that can be considered luxury in the Outskirts were neatly arranged within the Head Giesha's space in a manner that's both tidy and relaxing.
In here, there's more than enough space for comfort and the small bookshelf at a corner gives a glimpse into the Head Geisha's personality.
A few beautiful and exquisite art are arranged on the room's walls and scent candles of different types gently burnt at the corners of the room with purposes of boosting health and atmosphere.
Eleanora has long since taken off her muddy shoes before even entering the Guesthouse and so, her pale legs were laid bare over the polished wooden floors.
Inside the pink illuminated room, a mature but beautiful woman can be seen lying down on a massage chair with her face pointed to the roof. This mature woman is on the receiving end of a gentle head and neck massage that's provided another Giesha who's standing above her chair.
The woman receiving the massage has her eyes closed as her stress seems to visibly dissolves with each movement over her tense neck and nape muscles. After a few moments of silence, the older woman finally opens her eyes to gaze at the visitor to her quarters(Eleanora).
"She lives.", The head Geisha says with a small smile that's hard to fake as she visually takes in Eleanora's face with a small raise of her brows.
Eleanora puts out a small smile in response with most of her fear and stress vanishing with a breath. After this, Eleanora politely comes forward until she's standing beside the other female Giesha who is handling the neck massage.
"I'll take over.", Eleanora says. The Massaging Giesha looks at the Head Geisha who gives a small nod of acceptanc. getting the signal, the Giesha quietly steps back and allows Eleanora to take over.
Observing that she's no longer needed in this setting, the Giesha gives a respectful bow as she silently exits the room.
After the exit of the Giesha, Eleanora quickly lubes her fingers tip with a translucent oil before she continues the softly massage to the Head Geisha's neck and collarbone but with a softer and smoother pattern.
"Ugh,.. that hits a spot. How come they never do it like you do?.", The head Geisha asks as she closes her eyes once more with a serene smile still hanging on her face but Eleanora only chuckles in response as she continues her massage process.
The massage quietly goes on in silence for minutes until the Head Geisha finally decides to break it open with a question.
"Are you okay?.", The woman asks with slightly concealed concern. Eleanora massaging hands paused for a while before continuing.
"I have already given birth.", Eleanora responds while the Head Geisha springs up to a sitting position in surprise. Turning around, the Head Geisha quickly inspects the young woman in her presence with a small glow in her eyes.
Eleanora gently removes her cloak to reveal her sleeping baby who is strapped on her back.
The head Geisha slowly reaches out to touch the baby's face but the baby soon opens his big orange eyes and blinks weakly and adorably at her.
"Well, he looks nothing like you that's a relief.", The older woman says jokingly with a smile while Eleanora chuckles lightly in response.
"His Name is 'Îgorus Navïælét -Vęr- Firųs', short for 'Navi'. ", Eleanora says with a loving smile on her face while staring at her son with her motherly love pouring out.
The Head Geisha strokes the boy's cheek with her palm before calmly asking his mother. "When can you resume working?.".
Normally, any Geisha that dared leave the Guesthouse(Okiya) even a day without granted permission is fired and made to bear huge consequences talk-less of in a case like Eleanora's. Eleanora has been gone for five days without informing anybody of her intentions!. Being fired should normally be the least of Eleanora's worries.
Although the Head Geisha does not own the place(Guesthouse), she has enough sway to influence some decisions and she's placing a heavy card on Eleanora considering her circumstance.
"In two month.", Eleanora answers calmly with eyes that tell that she's desperately begging for a favour.
"Honestly, the owner doesn't want you anymore and that monster is probably enraged right now.", The Head Giesha says while giving a softer stroke to the baby's cheek.
Looking up at Eleanora, Head Geisha Alicia continues her speech after a small sigh.
"You are to lie low in your quarters till I give the green light.", The head mistress orders while sounding a bit too casual considering the situation. The Head Giesha is so casual about such a extreme topic that she effortlessly sounds cool.
"Thank you ma'am.", A grateful Eleanora says with a bow. The moment she had walked into the Head Geisha's quarters, Eleanora have felt a bit of pressure.
Even though she have had a close relationship with the Head Geisha, it does not at all guaranteed that the other woman would be willing to bear the heavy pressure of taking her back in.
The fact that Head Geisha Alicia had made the situation seem casual does not prevent Eleanora from seeing the magnitude of the favour or being grateful.
"You have better be grateful..", the Head Geisha murmurs quietly as she's already feeling an headache coming up about the stress she would have to go through to fix things up.
Eleanora smiles with gratitude while hearing the woman's murmurs. There is no doubt that she's the woman's favourite amongst other Gieshas and there's also no doubt that the grumpy yet elegant woman cares a lot about her.
"Get some rest, your quarters is still untouched.", The Head Geisha orders while dismissively waving her wrist.
Eleanora lowers her head once more with a smile before heading towards the door. She is about to exit the space when she hears the Head Geisha's voice once more.
"By the way.. Good Job.", The head Geisha says with a small tug of her lip.
"..good Job running away.", The Head Geisha repeats casually as if commending a child for a work well done.
Eleanora turns back for a moment. She pauses for a while before giving a bow with teary eyes.
Swallowing hard, she says the only words that could come close to expressing how she feels at the moment.
"Thank you".
NOTE TO READERS; NAVI IS A REINCARNATOR BUT HE DOESN'T YET HAVE HIS MEMORY FROM HIS PAST LIFE. AS HE GROWS, HE WILL SLOWLY RECOVER HIS MEMORY IN FORM OF DREAMS.