POV: Ash
Location: Northern Empire
The scent of moonflowers wafted through the air as I got closer to the farmhouse on the outskirts of the village, from my position, I could see light purple flowers about four feet tall extending to the horizon.
Their center is painted yellow and the stem is a mix of light green and pink color. The only tall structures on the farm are a wisteria tree located a little distance from the house and the house itself made of different variety of stones.
I passed a sign board saying " Mrs. Welshi's farm" before reaching the door to the reasonably large house. I knocked three times and an older lady opened the to to let me in.
Her hair is as gray as the residue of a burned-down tree, to my surprise there were no wrinkles on her face, it was as smooth as the back of a baby. Standing only four feet tall the older lady gestured for me to come inside.
She started speaking to me as we approached a sofa located in her living room.
"You must be from the guild I suppose,"
"Yes Mrs. Welshi, I am Ash, the crimson witch,"
"You can call me, Shii. It is the name my late husband always refers to me with,"
"Okay Mrs. Shii,"
"Shii is fine."
By the time we have reached the sofa, Shii collected my luggage and asked me to sit down on the sofa. I can make my staff appear and disappear so I don't have to worry about giving it to her.
Watching the older lady as she disappeared through a corner made me think, how could a bad rumor spread about her when she is this nice?
That time I was facing the chimney outlet where a stock of wood was resting, there were two other sofas beside the one I was sitting on, also, there was a dining table separated by a long stone bar with a cupboard full of species behind it.
While my eyes were wandering through the living room. Shii came back from the corner she disappeared from, this time she was holding a tray with two cups on it, she handed over a cup full of green tea to me and took the other to herself.
She then sat on the sofa to my left after placing the tray on a mini table in the center of the room.
"Thank you Ash for accepting my quest," she said, her voice smooth like a melody.
"As you heard from the guild, the fireflies nested in my farm have been disappearing,"
"It is making me scared," She continued, placing the cup of tea she was holding on the table.
"The last time this happened was over a hundred and thirty years ago—the fireflies slowly disappeared and on the night of the first full moon afterward, I found my husband dead—lifeless and bloodless at the center of our farm."
I am not the best when it comes to showing compassion, I know what people do when they hear sad stories, they say stop like "I am sorry for your loss", and their hearts would grieve for the loss of another soul. However, even if I use similar words they would be empty.
No one was there for me when I suffered, my heart has become hardened and cannot genuinely care for anyone except Bash, the only soul that kept me company when the whole world abandoned me.
With my fingers crossed against each other and resting on my lap, I lowered my gaze and softened my voice.
"I am deeply sorry about your loss," I said, my voice slow and calm yet not carrying any scent of authenticity.
I knew it deep down, if not for the high price tag attached to this quest, I would not be sitting with the old lady beside me.
"It's okay, I am over it now," she replied.
The living room become silent after our small exchange, the only sound is that of me sipping the green tea she gave to me. I have not eaten breakfast yet, the tea is doing me more than it is supposed to.
"Shii," I called out her name, "I am a B-rank adventurer, I might not look like it but trust me, I would keep you safe even if it costs me the last drop of my blood."
Lies, my words were nothing but lies, I would indeed do anything to keep her safe but not at the cost of my own life.
"Thanks," she replied, her eyes reflecting a strand of sadness I did not expect.