Once we left the house, there really wasn't anything interesting… just a patch of dirt with some wires around it, and a thing that looks like an outside toilet.

“We store things in the potty?”

“Hey! That's my garden! And that's the storage shed!”

“You made the potty?”

“No! Do you have any idea how difficult it was to build that thing?!”

Wing looked up at the storage shed and just moved his shoulders up and down.

“Eclaire, it's not a toilet…”

Emma then took a serious look at the storage shed she made, and then after a short pause, slumped to the floor in disappointment. I don’t understand. I wasn’t allowed back into the orphanage for a while and was told to use the one outside so I wouldn’t have to go in.

“It does look like an outhouse. I'll have to re-build it at some point… “

“Did you make home, too?”

“Are you saying my home looks like a potty, too?!”

“Eep—!”

The sudden raising of Emma's voice surprised me since I never heard her raise her voice like that before. It was weird. After she placed both of her arms on my shoulders, she continued speaking to me.

“It’s okay Eclaire, if you want to live in an outhouse, it’s okay… I actually saved money so people could build our house...”

“Why have a house here? There's nothing here.”

“That is where you’re wrong, sweet child. I have plenty of space to grow fruits and vegetables.”

“The ugly stuff that we eat?”

“Well... ahem… never wander off from the garden on your own, okay?”

“Huh???”

Emma sighed while looking around. She clapped her face and turned to me.

“Shall we get some of the good stuff, then?”

“Okay!”

When we left, Emma made me hold onto her left arm, while connecting my other arm to Wing. She told me it's to keep me safe, but I'm sure it's so Wing won't' get lost! We went away from the dirt piles and weirdly shaped potty. There was a small little walk area where some bushes were. I remember going through here when Emma took me here, but it felt more exciting leaving this place for some reason.

Especially since I know I'll be going back!

After walking a little, Wing started to talk to me as I pulled him along.

“Eclaire, do you mind?”

“I mind!”

“Mind what?!”

“Mind.”

I didn’t understand what he meant, but I didn’t care. I was too happy walking with Emma. After making an interesting face, he continued to talk to me.

“You're yanking my arm and swinging it up and down. Could you please stop that?!”

“No.”

“Stop it!”

Emma began to laugh and started to swing her arm in a similar way, at the same speed. I don't know how long it's been now as we walk down this road, but it was fun. Wing told me to stop moving my arms like this, but he still didn't let go!

We ended up passing by the orphanage without noticing since we're nearing Fals according to Emma.

I also didn't hear that annoying lady's voice as I went down the path.

Down the little hill that had the orphanage on it, there was a town.

I was told it wasn't that big by Emma, but it felt huge! From the top of the hill, I see a stone gate with an open area. In front of this open area Emma told me it’s referred to as a 'processing' area where merchants go in order to be let in or something. I think some of it is familiar. Probably?

Oh well.

When walking through the gate, Wing finally let go of my hand, and Emma gave me a smile, so I just continued to hold onto her arm anyways. The knight in the front of the gate greeted Emma.

“Oh! Miss you're with your child... children today?”

“Y-yes! That's correct! I want to show this one around today.”

I didn’t hear any more words they were speaking. I was busy looking around while holding onto Emma’s hand. There were many people, even some animals. I finally got to see all of this up close!

That night, Emma praised me while Wing nagged at me and corrected everything I was saying.

Emma’s smile was bright.

After that weird exchange, Emma pulled me along. When I looked up at her, I kept looking at her gold bracelet instead; it has an unusual look to it with pretty gems stuck in it.

We ended up in the middle of the town. There were kids playing and food carts around the sides. Further down the street, I saw a group of adults looking out at the center, but they didn't look very friendly. It felt like they were stopping people from entering that area or something. Continuing on our walk, Emma brought both of us to a boring looking store. The outside was bleh, inside looked even more boring since there were just books.

As we entered the store, Wing began digging through the shelves. I felt betrayed.

“Uh... Eclaire, don't look at me like that.”

“This isn't good stuff, it's just dumb books!”

“Ahaha... I promise we're going to get things from the bakery after, okay?”

“I guess.”

I followed Wing to see what he was doing; it was as a lame looking woman with lame hair and an even lame-r dress walked to the shop counter.

“That's a rude little girl. She the one you were talking about?”

“Yeah... She's certainly a weird one. I swear she's a sweet girl though.”

“Whatever you say, Emm. Just don't overwork yourself okay?”

“Of course not! They approached me in a panic to take her, but in the end it’s my choice.”

“Do I even want to know what she did to be kicked out like that?”

“Probably not. In all honesty…”

Ignoring the lame lady, I look back to Wing and see him opening various books and place it back in the shelves.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“What’s so good about books?”

“Knowledge is important Eclaire.”

“You can be smarter without books! I think!”

“You’re right, but there are limits.”

“What do you mean by that?!”

I mean, Emma taught me stuff and even Wing taught me stuff earlier. If I can learn more from others than looking at paper, wouldn’t that be better for me? Is there a need for me to do things I don’t want to do every time?

Wing stood up and walked to a different section of the book store. I think I made him angry. I follow him to see what he’s doing. In a few seconds he tossed aside a few books and picked up one that had a little girl on the cover.

“This is actually a history book, but well… It has the story, so listen up okay?”

“Mmm… Okay.”

He cleared his throat, and sat next to me, the pictures in the book were really pretty so I ended up leaning further in. While the cover of the book showed the little girl being scared holding on to some sort of stuffed animal, the inside title featured her holding a glowing sword into the air.

For the Limitless Sky

Young Akiva lived her life to the sound of her father’s hammer. It was the beating sound of the home she shared with many.

There was beauty in the noise; there was hope in the noise.

When her father would fall sick, others wouldn’t be able to sleep. When her father was inspired, the people danced the night away.

Day without a sun.

Night without the moon.

Akiva never understood the meanings of those words. All she knew was that a pointed-eared man would visit their town every once and awhile and share items from hence he came. He would descend from his home onto theirs. However, the most valuable material he brought was his tales of fancy.

A world with no bounds.

As a secret, this man gave Akiva a bracelet. A beautiful gold trinket embedded with gemstones. She would constantly hide it in her gloves as she helped her father per the directions of the man.

However, the consistent years would eventually birth a day was unlike the rest. Akiva, now a young woman encountered the elf one more time. He was hurt.

The people of the town did everything they could to help him, but he had a purpose. He had to warn these kind people he loved with all his heart.

“My gifts are at an end. I wished for more time, but I just hope the seeds I sowed were enough.”

They were coming soon.

Akiva never understood those words; the town’s people just resumed their days and treated the elven man. They treasured him as much as they are treasured, but they could never comprehend his ideas of beyond their sky, beyond their own world.

Yet, all the same, things must change.

From the same place the man came from, chaos had arrived.

Terrifying monstrosities with neither face nor form.

Instinctually, when they arrived, everyone ran as far as they could, but this is a world with boundaries. They weren’t hunting them. There was no need to; everyone would naturally end up at the same area at some point.

The elven man confronted young Akiva and told her to go to her father. Confused, she ran as fast as she could to her father’s workshop. He was still working. Why?

What was so important that he needed to work on all the time? She would help him all the time, but he would never explain any of it. Yet, at this very moment, he looked Akiva in the eyes and with bated breath, he prepared himself.

He handed Akiva his masterpiece; an inherited will born of bonds; not just as a father and daughter, but also of the ancestors before her.

With a roaring light, it shone throughout her home. Upon sight, the terrifying monstrosities that plagued her home shivered in fear.

With a mighty swing, the darkness was no more.

By day, the land was caressed with the loving light of an illustrious sun.

By night, the lands were bathed with blessings born from the dance of the moon and the stars.

The people of the town would hear constant lovingly crafted tales of the outside world, but never in their lives would they know just how beautiful it could be. Akiva would forever be known as the one who brought light into the darkest sky.

What a cool girl! Once Wing closed the book I couldn’t help but applause. It was a pretty story! The pictures were also very pretty! I look through the book further, but in this fat book, only this part has pictures. The rest is just scribbles I can’t understand.

“Well, it is actually a history book, apparently. I wonder what the story is actually based on.”

“Eh? Whaddaya mean?!”

“Nothing. Anyways, books have stories like that.”

I see his point! They’re still boring though, but sometimes not! I decided!

“Wing! If I find you an interesting book, would you read me more stories like that?!”

“What? I guess?”

Without any delays I started to dig through more and more books. I can't read anything so I just kept grabbing heavy books and giving them, but he would always say the same response.

“I already read this.”

“How?!”

Each new one would lead to the same reaction. We also had a lot of them at the house too!

“Uh... Eclaire it's fine, I'll still read you things.”

“No! I have to find something now!”

I got it! He's short! He must of not reached the top shelves! I started to climb up to the top shelves.

“Eclaire?! What are you doing?”

I heard Emma shout and I lost my hold on the shelf. I heard her scream as I dropped, but I landed on Wing, so I didn't feel anything.

“Ow. Could you get off of me?”

I looked at him for a few seconds. He actually moved under me so I did not get hurt.

“Wing!”

“H-Hey! What are you doing?!”

I started to hug him and noticed he wasn't very strong. My hugs started to turn into wrestling him down as he wiggled around trying to get away. Eventually he gave up and just laid there.

Emma sighed and tried to continue talking to the other lady. However, the moment Emma started to relax the bookshelf started to tip over onto the both of us.

In a panic, Emma rushed towards us and stopped the shelf from squashing me.

“Jeez... Eclaire be careful please.”

“Okay.”

I looked up at the shining bracelet on Emma's arm and remembered the story Wing just told me.

“Akiva!”

“Wh-wha?”

“Bracelet, like story! Akiva! Bracelet with gems in it!”

“Oh this... Well, I'm not sure about the story, but this is called an Edonai.”

“Edennaii?”

“An Edonai.”

She kneeled to me after she pushed the shelf back without any effort. Emma is so strong.

“This little bracelet can let me do amazing things, you know?”

“Amazing things?”

“Yes! Let me show you, let's do something about this mess!”

There was this mysterious feeling surrounding us as Emma closed her eyes. She spoke words I didn't understand, but in just a few moments there was an unnatural breeze.

An unnatural breeze, but it felt... Nice.

A gentle wind that brushed up against my hair and lifted all the books. After they remained in the air, they slowly were placed back into the shelves.

“That's amazing!”

“Heh... Glad you liked it!”

“Would I be able to use that?”

“Unfortunately, these bracelets can only be used on one person each.”

“Aw...”

I wanted to be able to do stuff like that, but I guess it's fine. It makes me happy to see so many new things. I get off of Wing. Afterwards, Emma finally brought us to that bakery she would always talk about.