The North Mountain Village.
It had been 5 days already that I was far away from them, from Mr. Kaiza. He must be frustrated and angry. I could feel the red in his eyes.
…
His look like that night, the night that he begged me to be with him and stay with him.
I'm sorry.
"What are you thinking?"
Grandma called me back.
I was sitting at the table outside in the bonfire pit area with Jodai and grandma. We were helping her, slicing the herbs and ingredients and separating the good ones from the bad ones.
After Jodai brought me back from the lake, he wouldn't be far away from me. He was mad, very mad, I could see on his face. And he cursed at me and scolded me as well. He never ever did that before. He was pretty scary.
"You're good at using a knife."
Grandma praised Jodai.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"..."
I kept categorizing the herbs.
"Are you two fighting?"
She asked.
"...I don't know,"
I answered.
"Are we fighting?"
I asked Jodai.
"...No."
He answered.
"Then no, grandma."
"What an odd couple."
She mumbled.
Couple?
"Zephyra!!"
Then Craitis shouted my name from far away and ran toward us.
"Keep your voice down."
Grandma warned him.
"Did you drown!? What the hell were you thinking about going to the lake by yourself?"
Craitis tried to keep his voice down but not his expression.
"I wanted to swim."
"In that hour?"
"I don't have the clock with me."
"...Should that be an excuse!?"
"I wasn't drowning. I was just swimming, and I probably dozed off."
"!!?"
"Who the fuck dozing off when they're swimming?"
He kept yelling at me with a lower tone.
"Language."
Grandma warned him again.
"Me, I guess. I have no idea I could do that...hmm."
I talked to myself and made a face so proudly.
"There's nothing to be proud of."
Grandma told me.
"Yeah, you're insane!"
Craitis supported grandma.
"Sorry..."
"If you want to go swimming, I'll go with you."
Craitis old me.
"Thug!"
And then Jodai stabbed the knife at the table.
"I finished."
Jodai spoke up.
"Here, another bowl."
Grandma gave Jodai a bowl of vegetables.
"Lately, I zone out a lot... I'll be careful next time."
I told them.
"..."
"I forgot to pick the fire leaves, I'll go get them."
Grandma spoke up
"In the forest by yourself?"
Craitis worried.
"Zephyr, come help me."
"...Yes."
I answered her and got up. Jodai was about to follow me.
"You...go play with Craitis."
Grandma told Jodai.
"..."
I looked back at him, and he was still glaring at me.
"Come on, she will be fine.."
Cratis told Jodai. And I turned back to follow the old lady in front of me.
-silence-
During the walk, there was no conversation at all. All I heard was a flock of birds chirping, the sound of the chilly wind, the leaves and branches hitting against each other, and the steps we walked together, including the sound of the air we were breathing in and out.
Then she stopped walking in the middle of the orange plant field.
"Let's pick up the mature ones."
Grandma told me.
"Okay."
I answered her, sat on the grass, and looked carefully for the deep orange tone of color.
"It's time."
She said.
"Yes?"
"It's time for questions."
She enlightened me.
"..."
"She's…gone."
It took almost a minute to say it out
"..."
"My mother."
"...hmm."
"By poisoned."
"..."
"I thought it was her sickness that I was told. But I just found out...the truth."
"...hmm."
"..."
I picked up the herbs one by one.
"And the question?"
She asked without looking at me, but I wasn't looking at her.
"..."
"Do you know the real reason why she chose to leave this place?"
I asked.
"Sovereign City isn't just for big dreams and cunning people. It's dangerous, but sometimes the most dangerous place is the safest place. It's not the safest place, but it's safe for someone like her...at least that she told me. Danger and harm are everywhere, even in peaceful places and far away villages like us. The kids, the young girls, were kidnapped and stolen from their parents. The beautiful ones were the best target for them."
"..."
"Human trafficking, sex workers, and so on."
"So that was the reason she chose to leave this place and live with them?"
"She thought being under that family would help you from the hungry eyes and hungry hands."
"Because Stygians are the most powerful family."
I said.
"And runs the business with...others."
"!!"
"That man was so in love with your mother, but she was already engaged with someone else."
"!!"
"But her fiancé wasn't there for her much. He traveled around the world for his business...One day, that man came to the village to see her, and he wanted her for himself. Instead of selling her to others, he kept her, and that.. was your mother's solution... because she secretly knew that her fiancé might not come back to her soon...or maybe not ever... whereas your mother is pregnant."
Me?
"She kept you until you were 6, and during that time, the Hungers searched around for children and young girls."
"Charon came to help her and saw me?"
I predicted.
"Yes, and she told that man that you were his child. That man seemed to fall head over heels for your mother. He would do anything for her..."
"...Did he come back for her…my mother's fiancé?"
"...Yes, but she told me to tell lies.. that you and your mother were dead."
"!!"
"Why?"
I asked.
"To be honest, between me and you, Zephyr. She might run away from him as well. I got the feeling that he was way more crucial than those hungers. I met him twice, but it was just my first impression."
"..."
"But after I told him lies, he…was devastated. His devil eyes turned to be just.. a normal human being who was very heartbroken. Those devil eyes shredding in tears, but it didn't change the fact that he was the devil… But if you change the perspective in an optimistic way, maybe your mother didn't want him to get involved with her mess."
It could be both.
"....What does he look like?"
I was curious.
He might be my real father.
"..."
"Black hair, silver eye."
"Eye?"
"Um... He has a tattoo, the traditional black dragon."
"!!!"
That... It's like on Jodai's arm. Coincident maybe...
Grandma glanced at me.
"How long have you known your friend?"
She asked.
"...Almost a year."
Her question made me question the recent thought in my head.
"He's just like him..."
"!!"
"Only the eye's color is different, but the same eyes look… Zephyr, and you too."
"What..."
What do you mean by that?
"Tell me honestly, why did you bring the sword with you?"
"...To protect myself"
I answered.
"Hmm."
She didn't believe me completely.
"How is your bag? Still heavy?.. Does the truth set you free?"
"..I don't know...Grandma...everything just..."
Things were clear, and the truth was out, but why was I still confused? Perhaps,
I was confused about myself...
"I think you know, child, you just want someone to say something… Isn't that why you bring the sword with you? Or do you want my permission?"
"!?"
"If that family is the true core reason for everything, do what you want to do. It's your life. But if you choose that path, you can't be hesitant anymore or look back. You can only run through it, so it will hurt you less."
"Aren't you ashamed of me if I...do that?"
"Are you ashamed of yourself?"
She asked back.
"...I..."
"That's the only thing that matters, child...Do you remember what I told you last night? About the kids and people here are leaving the village."
"Yes."
"The Hungers...they are coming back again. Actually, they haven't stopped."
"!!"
What...
I looked into grandma's eyes, and her sorrows spread out to the orange field. She told me this to tell me that she allowed whatever path I chose, right?
"If I was not mistaken, grandma, it seems like you want me to go that path."
"...blood over blood isn't the best choice. But if you know, you can make it and get the result that you really want. I surely love to wait and see..."
"..."
"But you should know there are consequences whatever you do… Well, I am just an old lady who tried to protect the village in peace, but it's getting harder and harder every day."
She explained why, stretching her back and arms and about to go down the hill.
"Grandma..."
"Hmm..."
"Can you help me?"
"...What can I help?"
She smirked on me.