The days that I saw Emma started to grow thin. I was told that her work had been much more demanding of her as time went by. Her overworking one day would lead into two.

Then after two days it became three.

A week would pass and I wouldn't bat an eye over Emma showing up and taking us out to Fals.

During those times we would spend a night in Karla's spare upstairs room in her bookstore. Wing started becoming busy. There was nothing else to do but play alone outside. I started to read more and found books somewhat less boring, and learned a lot of new words.

Saying that, the weeks would turn into even longer time periods where I wouldn't see her.

She told me that since Wing now runs between Fals and home selling herbs and spices, she could focus more on her job. Wing was hesitant at first, but I was completely supportive of Emma taking more time working. I like it here, so supporting her doing things she wants must be the right thing to do.

Last I saw her would be a couple months ago, when she left her rapier at home. When I woke up that day I just saw Wing at the dinner table reading his usual books. At this point Wing has probably written notebooks bigger than the things he read when I first moved in.

The shawl that Emma got me has been very good at warming me up in the cold nights. In fact even during the hotter days, I put on the hood to block out the sun.

As for the knife Wing has, I would always accompany him whenever he is trying to collect plants to sell. While he would use Emma’s rapier to protect us from nasty animals of the wild, there are times where bigger ones would appear. This is when Wing would explain that ‘dire’ wasn’t a fancy name for the wolf, but rather a labeling that separates a common looking animal to a ‘extremely strong’ version as far as I can tell.

He said that the country categorizes any of these types of creatures as ‘monsters’ instead of common ‘animals’ or ‘wildlife’. Does that mean a Dire Cow exists or something? A Dire Chicken?

Well… Wing told me that technically it is possible.

I wonder what Dire Chicken tastes like.

Anyways, when the monsters that attack us are distracted by him using Emma’s rapier, I would run at full speed into the wolf while holding the knife.

There are times it scares me to think if I miss I would hit Wing, but he always reassured me that it would never happen, so I just kept doing it.

Since Dire things are pretty chunky, he would bring them to town so it could get skinned and sell them. Velbus is missing out.

I was rummaging through the dirt with Wing’s knife until he walked out the house.

“Hey Eclaire, I’m running down to Fals, want to get something?”

“Hmm? You buying a book or something?”

“I’m returning some old ones and getting new ones. I’d like to keep everything, but we have to save a bit.”

“What do we even use money for?”

“Eclaire, you eat a lot.”

“I do?”

“Yes. Whenever we’re at Fals, we go to the bakery.”

“Oh.”

Well… I guess it can’t be helped. I can’t cook. Wing just roasts whatever we catch in the forest, and Emma never could cook.

Truly, needed expenses.

After he finished adjusting Emma’s rapier, we headed off. Fals is as lively as ever. The only the bakery and that one corner Emma goes to is occupied, while nothing of note is happening. I'm now actually wondering how Karla even owns a store.

“That's rude! I’ll have you know that my business is well established. Now anyways.”

“Wha?”

“Young lady, you do know you said that out loud, right?”

“Eh.”

I ended up digging through the fairy tale section again, but nothing grabbed my attention. It's just all dumb things related to some sort of war.

The only good thing was that one story with the dual-wielding hero who would always save the day. He fought righteously and always came home to his family, even when things were looking bad.

Wing keeps telling me to stop swinging around two kitchen knives around the house, but they aren't being used for cooking. Speaking of knives, I asked about using those knives when having to defend ourselves, but he told me that they wouldn't be able to cut through skin like that and would probably break.

As we left Karla's bookstore Wing was stopped by her to talk to him.

“Wing... About Emma...”

“Hold on.”

I was then shooed out of the store.

Rude.

I didn't feel like going off to the central area this time, so I just stayed around the shop. They usually don't take too long to talk about things. In fact, sometimes Karla passes down stuff from Emma who is too busy to see us.

Before Emma's trip some time ago, she promised to teach me how to use her sword, but I guess developing my own brand of style would be more fitting of me!

Eventually Karla and Wing left the store, it took a while so I was just looking at the planter next to the entrance. Karla questioned what I was doing.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Eclaire, what are you doing in my bushes?”

“What? Nothing. You two took forever.”

“Right...”

After Karla gave me a weird look, she continued to speak to both of us.

“For the next week or so, I heard that the Mysmegal Army will be passing through to negotiate in Estevierre. So please be on your best behavior... I don't want to know what would happen if they have a reason...”

Karla sounded worried. “Reason?” What did that mean? I don’t know why, but she was specifically looking at me. How dare she, I exemplify the stories that I have been told. I'm sure that Wing would vouch for me as an individual!

“Yeah... I'll be sure to watch Eclaire when they're around, hopefully we won't need to stop by Fals during that time.”

“I'm hoping so.”

I am shocked! The betrayal!! It's Karla's fault that Wing would even think that!

Regardless of Karla's warnings or not, we ended up going to the usual place for baked stuff then returning home.

----------------------------------------

Man, this sucks. We’ve been staying at home for a week now. That dumb army is apparently still lingering in town, but who cares?

“It’s better to not risk the possibility of things going wrong when you can guarantee things to go well.”

“Didn’t you say things are always worth trying?!”

“There’s a difference between trying to solve things, and looking for problems.”

“I see! But, I don’t get it!”

Wing just sort of stared at me as I swing Emma’s sword around. It doesn’t quite feel right compared to other stuff. I was told it was about balance or something, but it’s like an assault of boring words that I have no understanding of. Angulation? Balestra? Flank? Finesse? What even is “finesse”?!

“I prepare for solutions once I know the problem. I make steps to prevent it and make a back-up plan. The problem is Eclaire. To solve this problem… Going to town while an enemy country’s army is there, means that instead of risking everything, all you need to do is to just stay home. Understand?”

“Hmm… I guess so..?”

After another couple of boring, lackluster days, I sort of just started to pace around.

I guess I’ll wander about the garden for the time being. We ended up putting spiked fences after that incident, so I can safely watch as dumb beasts poke their butts trying to get over.

We take turns checking for weaknesses, but there is that one area I’m usually too lazy to go to; behind the house near Emma’s old garden, where that wolf went into. Usually, Wing or Emma maintained it so I never really bothered to go there.

I was asked if I was comfortable going there, but really I just don’t want to step over Emma’s plants and lift the fence in an odd angle, then test its sturdiness. That sounds agonizing.

“Nnngh!”

I tried to lift part of the fence, but budge, it did not. Very good. I start hitting the wood along the wall while trying not to get gunk on my shoes. Suddenly, I reached a board that just fell down as I hit it. No resistance at all, it just plopped over the other side.

Dang it. I have to pull it back somehow.

I also don't want to be on the other side of the fence without Wing around since we always are wary of anything dangerous. Then again...

I'm pretty sure even if it hurts a bit, I'd be able to hop back over the fence without any issues. I can just walk around the outside with the knife. Wing would probably be grateful if I fixed something that was inconvenient.

Plus, it gives me something to do.

I go to the entrance of our home area and walk along the outsides of the fence. So many bushes. The grass is halfway to my knee, but I brush aside the itchiness for glory.

After hopping around a bit, I almost trip over the foundation of our home, when I look inside the window I see Wing studying at the dinner table as usual. I think he was reading some book about magic or whatnot. I find that strange since he was told he had no affinity for it. I'll have to ask him later. Continuing, I hop around to the back of the detached board.

Upon further inspection I have come to the realization that I literally didn't bring anything to fix it.

Well this sucks. I dumbly stumble my way back to the entrance until I trip.

Thankfully I feel fine since it's just really thick grass, but I couldn't help but notice something weird. Beyond the bushes there was an opening, as if it was pushed aside by a sword or something sharp. My assumption anyways…

It basically just looks like a space I could walk through. Don’t tell me bandits have been going through here or something. I never really thought about it, but while living with Emma and Wing, I haven’t seen any, just wild animals.

I clutch the knife closer to my heart. I really should get Wing for this…

I really should, but… Something in my heart stings. I feel pain and a compulsive need to see the depths.

When I walk further, I notice some trees even with gaping holes through the center, some have weird abstract shapes… Some are even cut to a stump.

Not a clean stump, but as if it was torn out into the sky.

Destroyed foliage, damaged grass.

An unnatural destruction. A warning.

I really shouldn’t be here.

However, my legs keep bringing me forward.

More and more my heart sinks.

I finally reach a clearing in the woods. Not a natural one by all means… There’s light shining through the forest, trees torn from the surrounding circle.

A singular tree remains in the center.

I don’t want to be here.

I walk slowly to the other side of the tree, wary of any dangers that could come from the area. My hands start to turn a bright pink as I grasp Wing’s knife.

However, right before I looked down at the roots, I heard a familiar voice calling me from where I came from.

“Eclaire?! What are you doing here? I saw you wander into the forest so…”

I made an involuntary squeak at the suddenness of Wing’s voice. I think I straightened my back fast enough to give myself a cramp.

“Eh?! Oh. I saw a busted up fence so I wanted to fix it and…”

Same as usual, he is always focused on his studies. Yet, the moment I do something rash, he will always be there. I bet he didn’t notice how strange this path was because he ran to chase after me.

My face drifted away from the confused Wing.

Downward.

To see something I really shouldn’t.

Down…

The loss of sophistication.

An unnatural fabric that has no place in the verdant green.

The embedded gems.

An unnatural gold that could never belong to this forest.

The rush of emotions.

I can’t turn back.

“Mom.”