Ayane quickly fed the entire bowl of porridge to Matsurize. Afterward, she continued to replace the cloth on his forehead, ensuring it remained warm. Later, she gave him another dose of medicine, using the same method as before.
Since her mother's passing, Ayane had never been this close to anyone. She was normally a solitary person, even avoiding casual social interactions.
By the time afternoon came, Matsurize had still not woken up, but his condition seemed to have improved significantly. Ayane stayed by his bedside, only stepping out to bring in the laundry and clean the kitchen. Aside from that, she simply sat on a stool beside Matsurize, quietly watching over him.
Just then, a voice called from outside the house.
"Ayane, little Ayane, are you home?"
Someone had come looking for her.
Ayane went out and saw a middle-aged man from the village. She recognized him and said, "Uncle Abin, has your hoe broken again? Didn't I just fix it for you?"
The man, a local farmer, scratched his head sheepishly. Ayane had repaired tools for him before.
"Yes, but this time it's not the hoe. It's the plow. My dumb ox broke it while working the fields, so I came straight to you," Abin explained as he unloaded the small plow from his back.
Ayane's family had a long history of blacksmithing. For generations, they had supported themselves by crafting and repairing farming tools for the villagers. Even as a young girl, Ayane had carried on the family trade, which had allowed her to survive on her own. Unlike her ancestors, however, Ayane wasn't limited to making farm tools—she was skilled at crafting all kinds of equipment.
Her courtyard was divided into two sections: the eastern side housed the kitchen and woodshed, while the western side was home to her blacksmith workshop. The forge was much larger than the kitchen and woodshed combined, spacious enough for all her work.
"It's not your repair work, Ayane. My plow just broke because the wood couldn't handle the strain," Abin explained. "And you know we don't have any carpenters in the village. Going all the way to Sunken Ship Harbor is too expensive. Come on, Ayane, I'll pay you 500 Beli—no, 600! The most I can offer is 700 Beli. Please help me out. Without this plow, my family can't survive!"
Ayane glanced at the plow and noticed that it wasn't entirely made of metal—the wooden handle had broken, while the metal part was still intact.
Ayane hesitated, but after hearing Abin's plea about his family's livelihood, she softened and agreed to help.
In the past, Ayane would fix or craft anything brought to her. But in recent years, she had spent more time traveling to Sunken Ship Harbor and had stopped accepting odd jobs beyond blacksmith work. Abin knew this, but desperate for help, he had come to her anyway.
Ayane had another reason for accepting the task: she knew she would be home for a while to care for Matsurize, so she might as well take on some extra work.
If anything, Abin owed his gratitude to the unconscious Matsurize for her agreeing to the job.
"Alright, Uncle Abin, I'll help you, but don't tell anyone. I don't want unnecessary trouble," Ayane warned.
Abin quickly reassured her, "Of course, Ayane! You know I'm good for my word. I won't breathe a word to anyone."
Satisfied with his promise, Ayane continued, "Come back tomorrow to pick it up. One hand for the money, one hand for the goods."
Her words clearly signaled that it was time for Abin to leave. Ayane disliked having others around while she worked and preferred to do her tasks in solitude, a habit shaped by her naturally reserved nature.
Understanding, Abin thanked her and left happily.
Ayane examined the plow and, within minutes, had taken it apart. The problem was simple: the wooden handle was broken, while the rest of the plow was in good condition.
Her hands moved quickly. She recalled having a piece of wood in the woodshed that would be perfect for the repair, and she still had the carpentry tools from when her ancestors had used them.
In less than an hour, the plow was as good as new.
Though she worked fast, Ayane always told her clients to return the next day. This habit helped her avoid constant disruptions from the villagers, as she no longer depended on her craft for survival.
After placing the repaired plow in the courtyard, Ayane returned to her room to continue caring for Matsurize. He still hadn't woken up, and it seemed unlikely he would wake today.
Ayane sat beside him, gazing at him with a gentle expression. It was as if she had poured the emotions she had been missing for so long into this stranger. In a way, she hoped that when Matsurize woke, he might fill the emotional void she had carried for so long.