Present – Café, day 3 of Khiva’s annual bazaar.

Latla was seated on a sofa, legs crossed on a table, head rested on a soft cushion, damp towel over her eyes to cool her. She was as calm as still water, the sight suggested. Looking at her appearance alone, no one would know—about the fire burning within her.

She was calm, that part was true. However, more like a quiet mountain with lava bubbling and building up inside that—unknown to the world—would someday burst into flames.

I had seen him coming, she thought, and I had let him steal my wallet.

That was a mistake.

Remembering what had happened the day before angered her.

The thief had been more skillful than she thought. The chase had wasted her time—time which could’ve instead been spent to make money for guild creation. Worst of all, stopping the falling wooden shelf had injured her. One of the many weapons which had fallen off, a blunt one, had hit her head; now, the wound caused a painful sting when she least expected it.

Latla had sustained a minor injury, nothing big. If she wanted to, she could go to Khiva’s annual bazaar today and make money. However, Scarlet had stopped her this morning, said that she needed to take care of herself better. Considering that the bazaar would last a week, today being only the third day, she decided to listen to her and rest.

The chase was a mess. I was only lucky that the old man I had saved was willing to set the matter straight to return the favor. Or else I would’ve been targeted unfairly by merchants for repairs to damages caused by someone else.

… What could I have done differently yesterday?

Could I have just chased after the thief immediately instead of following him? No. Considering his caution, he would’ve spotted me faster then. Should I have caught him on the spot as he was stealing my wallet? No, considering his skill, he would have evaded me; suppose he didn’t, he could have shouted for assault and turned the crowd against me.

She played the scenarios in her head, figuring out what she could have done differently. She couldn’t change the past, but she could change the future by reflecting on the incident.

This reflection wasn’t as lengthy as she wanted it to be, for having her eyes closed and herself seated on a comfortable sofa… it was no wonder that… slowly but surely… she drifted to sleep…

***

Scarlet.

‘Syr, I’m counting on you to share this with Trisha.’ Scarlet handed Cirrus a basket, sandwiches inside. ‘Make sure she gets it before her lunch break. Then you can go and play with Noir.’

‘Mm!’ He nodded. The cat was rested atop his head.

‘No going to the bazaar, understand? It’s not safe.’

‘Mm!’ Again, he nodded.

‘Off you go then.’ Scarlet smiled. As Cirrus turned to leave, seeing his back caused a sense of unease that slithered around her heart. ‘Syr,’ she stopped him, ‘one last thing… You have been good on your promise and haven’t been going to the forest, right?’

‘I have! We haven’t gone to the forest at all, right Noir?’

‘Meow,’ said the cat.

‘You heard her!’

‘That’s—not reassuring at all…! You said the same exact thing last time and you had lied! Cirrus…’

‘I’m not lying! I’m serious this time!’

Doubting her brother felt wrong. However, she couldn’t help but worry. He had lied before… and what was stopping him from lying this time? ‘… I changed my mind. Come back immediately after you give the basket to Trisha, understand?’

‘Mm!’ He nodded.

‘Promise me?’

‘I pro-mise!’

‘No lies this time?’

‘No lies! I’m serious!’

‘… Alright, off you go then. Remember, Trisha needs to receive this before her lunch break, and you return immediately after that.’

‘Okay!’ Cirrus turned to leave; this time, Scarlet didn’t stop him. ‘See you, sis!’

‘See you, Syr.’ Scarlet waved back. Watching him leave, she wondered if… if things had changed from before…

What I’ve been doing for him, is it enough?

She had got herself a job, but it felt as if nothing had changed. She was still the same: overprotective, stubborn, and selfish.

Her brother was not a liar; that was not who he was, and she knew that. There must be another reason for his lying before. Perhaps her. What if he had lied because it was her fault? Because she wasn’t someone that he could tell the truth to.

Was she someone he could tell the truth to now?

Can I truly call myself his older sister?

Scarlet felt like crying, but if she did, then that would confirm that nothing had changed.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Borrowing Trisha’s wisdom, what she needed to make herself feel better was a distraction. She could do her job as the receptionist of this soon-to-be guild, her task being: to secure income. The other day, she had received a good plan from Trisha, and she could discuss this with Latla.

Scarlet glanced toward Latla. She noticed that she was peacefully still.

The sight gave her a sense of conflict, one that lasted only a moment, for she knew what to do. Instead of carrying the proposal paper to her, Scarlet carried a blanket—taken from above level—and wrapped Latla with it.

It would be wrong if she woke her up, especially when she needed rest.

I hope she has a good dream.

***

Latla. Past – Caravan.

‘Give it up,’ said she, blowing smoke on her face.

Latla was dreaming about the past, of her encounter with one of her temporary mentors, about the person responsible for teaching her the basics of magic. This mentor was a lady who wore a broad hat, a traditional mage who carried a refined wooden staff, and a smoker who brought her hookah on travels.

Her name was Flamme. She was, as many were, someone who angered Latla.

‘Someone like you,’ she continued, ‘can’t become what you strive to be; it’s impossible.

‘Some things in this world are—not meant to be. Ice can’t be hot. Fire can’t be cold. And a manaless like you can’t become the greatest mage in all of existence.

‘You’re chasing a rainbow. An impossibility. The sooner you give up, the better for you. There are other ways to live, little girl.’

Her talk enraged Latla. ‘Who decided that?’

‘Nature, I suppose? You don’t see—birds swimming in the depths of the sea, do you? Or fishes—swimming in the skies. In the same way—'

‘I won’t let such insignificant standard define me.’ ‘It’s not insignificant.’

Flamme gave her a cold stare. Her pupils expressed the same light as an extinguished fire; reflected in that darkness was Latla.

‘It’s the truth.

‘The sooner you accept it,’ she inhaled—and exhaled smoke, ‘the better your life will be. You don’t seem—convinced. Fine. How about this: I’ll teach you magic—the moment you can look left and right at the same time.’

‘That’s—’ ‘Impossible.

‘The thought—crossed your mind, didn’t it?’

Latla glared at Flamme, seething with rage.

Had Latla known that she would’ve dreamt about this annoying past, she would’ve chosen not to rest.

***

Scarlet. Present – Café.

Some time had passed since her little brother left.

Just as Scarlet was about to worry for him, someone opened the door to the café, and she saw Cirrus. He kept his promise, she thought, relieved. He didn’t lie.

Though, he wasn’t alone. Beside him was an old man. His size was small, his back was hunched, and his walk required the aid of a stick.

She knew him.

‘Elder,’ Scarlet greeted. ‘Nice to meet you.’

‘Scarlet.’ He nodded. ‘Nice to meet you too.’

Scarlet didn’t expect the elder. The same way she hadn’t expected Trisha yesterday. ‘What brings you here today?’

‘I would like to ask you a favor.’

A favor? ‘Please, go ahead. I’m grateful for you having taught my brother lessons from time to time. As long as it is something I can help with, I would be happy to.’

‘I want to ask you to allow Cirrus to venture into the forest.’

‘I’m sorry? Elder, I believe I heard you wrong. Would you please repeat what you said?’

***

Feeling a momentary killing intent, Latla awoke.

She calmly lifted her damp towel and peeked, observing the situation from the sideline.

***

‘I want to ask you to allow Cirrus to venture into the forest,’ the elder repeated, cold sweat dripping across his forehead; he knew his requesting wasn’t right. ‘I need him to get a particular herb.’

‘Elder, you know what my answer will be.’

‘My granddaughter, Mia, has been struck by a strange illness from the forest. She has extremely high fever and occasionally bleeds from her eyes. If left without cure, her fate is sealed. I understand that the forest is dangerous. I understand that your little brother is an important family member to you, Scarlet. And I understand that it’s wrong for me to ask you this. But, as it stands, Cirrus is the only person who can save Mia.’

‘… I’m sorry, elder, but my answer remains the same.’

Hearing this, he let go of his stick, dropped his knees, and touched his forehead on the floor. ‘Please. Allow Cirrus to venture into the forest.’

‘Sis,’ Cirrus joined, ‘if Mia doesn’t get help, she’ll die.’

‘Then let her die!’ Scarlet voiced her outrage. She meant what she said. She would rather someone else die than risk losing her brother. The forest was dangerous. All it took was an encounter with a monster—and he would never return to her.

Yes, she would admit that abandoning a lift that could be saved was wrong. But there was no guarantee that he would succeed. What if he failed? What if he suffered a fate that could have been avoided?

I can’t lose you…

Scarlet looked toward Cirrus, hoping that he would understand. However, the expression she saw broke her heart. His eyes wide, pupils shrank, mouth opened. Betrayed. His stare seemed to say to her: You’re not my older sister.

In her effort to avoid losing him, she lost him.

I… can’t call myself your older sister. The truth dawned on her. ‘I’m… overprotective, stubborn, and selfish. You’re right about that, Syr. And I… won’t ever change. Never. That’s what I’ve decided. I’m sorry.’

Scarlet shed tears.

‘Elder, I can’t allow Syr to venture into the forest. Instead, I’ll be the one to.’ This is for the best. This way, I won't lose Cirrus. This way, if I fail, I—

‘If you fail, you’ll die,’ A voice said, Latla’s. ‘What happened to what you said to me before? What happened to being someone who could call herself an older sister for his brother? You can’t accomplish that if you die.’

‘What else am I supposed to do? If you have a solution, then let’s hear—’

‘Send Cirrus with me. He’ll get the herb; I’ll make sure he returns to you.’

‘And if you fail?’

‘I’ll die, but he’ll live. I’ll make sure of that. That is, if I fail.’

Scarlet was against putting Cirrus at risk. Yet, why was it that Latla’s words felt dependable? Why was it that it felt as if she could trust her? Why was it that it felt as if everything would be fine if she let her handle this?

Scarlet glanced at Cirrus. His stare had changed. It now seemed as if to say: Please.

‘Latla, I won’t forgive you if you fail.’

‘I won’t. I can’t become the greatest mage in all of existence if I fail here. We’ll return with the herb, so all you have to do is wait and believe in us.’

Thus, it was decided that Latla and Cirrus would venture into the forest.

***

Present – Khiva’s Forest.

The herb which they would after was bathing under sunlight.

Nearby, knowing how sought after the herb was, a monster lurked in the shadows, waiting for its prey.