"It would be better if you didn't touch me!"
The deadpan delivery by the girl made Sarra hesitate to move again. Sarra felt her eyes narrowing in distaste as she took her in her blunt honesty with a slight annoyance in her heart. She curbed this distasteful feeling in her heart for being on other side of this blatant arrogance for the first time in her life and promptly took a step back and raising her hands in compliance,
"Well, it's not like I am too keen on doing that. But I want to know what you are talking about. Who are you? Where am I? And what…is all of this?"
"Envy…" The young woman sighed and placed her hand on her chest while introducing herself. But she felt her tongue tied up as to how to answer her next set of questions? How could she say what awaits her next? Or… Within a split second, she decided it wasn't worth a hassle as she pointed to the half-closed door,
"Ask Maya, as she brought you here. As for why I am sure she would be happy to answer you that. For now I am out. "
With a short rough declaration Envy began to leave without caring for what was going to happen next. Suddenly, likely following her words the half closed door opened and an old lady with a head full of white hair along with abundant wrinkles on her face, walked in with a wooden walking stick in her hand. She giggled coarsely like feeling amused upon seeing a child throw a tantrum as she raised her stick and halted the way of the retreating Envy,
"Stay Envy. It is beneficial to be on good terms with your partner in your mission. Do treat her with courtesy, okay?"
Envy stopped and hung her head low as she turned to stand obediently behind her, appearing meek. But Sarra who was witnessing this from a close angle could feel the apparent insincerity in her stance. Like she was bowing her head with quite an arrogant attitude, instead of faithfulness.
Maya, the stooping old lady finally turned towards Sarra and gave her a look from head to toe and then tapped her walking stick on the floor to bring Sarra's attention back to her from Envy. She then smiled kindly,
"Pardon her, dear. She is a little rebellious because I took her in without her approval. You should first dress up and then eat your food while it is hot.
I will be waiting for you outside in the living room to answer any question of yours, including last night too. Take your time as you should be prepared for a life changing talk ahead. "
With these words, she slowly moved outside with Envy behind her steps who still had that same vacant look on her face. Sarra wanted to stop them, wanted them to answer the questions that were burning in her mind immediately. From who they were?, where were they? And why did she save her? To what she wants from her?
But unexpectedly Sarra felt her stomach twisting in hunger which made her realize that it was protesting against her raging curiosity. Ultimately, hunger won as she concluded that it was more than likely that she was right now safest as she could ever be, therefore she could have some time herself for gathering her thoughts back to normal. As for now, her mind still hadn't reeled through the shock of last night completely.
From the time Sarra had woken up, she was on pins and needles from the 'unharmed state of right arm' to the 'waking up in a completely unfamiliar location'. But now finally meeting her hosts, neglecting how brief and unsatisfactory the meeting was, she could at least feel a little safer. Thus prompting her to relax a little.
Sarra crashed on the side of her bed and took her time to relish the noodles that were still steaming hot. Only when she began to eat, she found out how hungry she really was and how tasty this ordinary bowl of noodles felt to her. But her euphoria was short lived as she only realized the end of noodles when her fork ended up hitting against the empty base of the bowl.
Licking her lips and in the process of trying to engrave the experience of having this heavenly meal after revival she quickly jumped into the shower.
While standing beneath the running cold shower, Sarra felt the memories of the last night coming back to her quickly. But this time she was not scared, as she purposely recalled them back to the minute details she could remember. From the feeling of being watched to the brush of harsh wind against her body, she tried to recall it all.
Clearly Sarra's old state of mind was back - protected inside her weaved net of indifference. She went through the whole process and quite accurately grasped the mistakes she had committed during the evocation ritual. And it was also this time she completely confirmed the fact to herself.
"I should have died back there. So foolish…how could I be so foolish? And one more thing also needs to be updated in my notes, that otherworld demons… No, it is not yet clear if it is only demons or every otherworld creature, have the ability to interact with our reality on their own.
It was also a fatal mistake of mine to assume that they can't maintain the bridge to our world by themselves. In my hurry, I forgot to research about them at all. It's all my mistake. But now I can't afford to make any more such foolish mistakes.
Hah! Sarra, remember - In this world if I have to survive, one mistake and it would be the end like last night. There wouldn't be another chance like this time.
Somehow I am alive right now, it is nothing short of beginner's luck. And I shouldn't… I-I couldn't lose this chance ever again. For if I have to…"
Sarra's final words were so low that they were drowned by the sound of rushing water. Ultimately, she walked out of her quick bath and upon thorough search found her clothes on one side of the dressing table along with all her notes and bag.
Sarra quickly changed back into her old clothes but wasn't in a hurry to rush outside. She first took time to inspect her notes and then added her latest thoughts and honestly recorded her mis-experience of last night with the evocation ritual. And at the end of page she wrote with bold capital letters,
'DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE DEMONS EVER.'
Finally everything out of her way, Sarra breathed in relief and brought back her signature look of indifference to her face as she patted her hood jacket and found the reassurance through the weapon that was concealed inside its pocket, which was fortunately untouched.
With that Sarra walked out into the living room of the unfamiliar house, ready to face whatever life had prepared to throw next in her way. Though she was assured that it would be anything but easy, owing to the ominous words of the Envy. But she was ready to struggle as hard as she could to survive though it. This second chance of life she was given, she wasn't going to lose it easily.