After the child, Elysha, fell unconscious into the woman's arms. She carefully lifted the sleeping girl and carried her on her way back to her cottage in the woods of Iröstos. The lady remarked on the necklace the child loosely held in her hand.
On the way back to the cottage, she was cautiously examining the surroundings for signs of an omen when a small gray-furred creature appeared on a branch and asked aloud, "Huh? You found a child?"
“Yes, indeed. I found her under a willow tree in an open grove full of white flowers.” The lady explained. “Other than a bizarre keyhole-shaped object attached to a necklace that the child was carrying, I didn't see any other strange notable details.”
"Huh? That's it?" The gray-furred creature tilted his fluffy head and twitched his pointed ears "So, um, is that girl the source of that big flash of light from earlier?"
“To call this child the cause of the flash of white light would be jumping to conclusions without sufficient evidence, wouldn't it?” She spoke with a grin on her face. "Not only that, but I admired your courage for coming back after taking cover with the rest of our neighbors.”
“Err, I am just a little concerned that something bad is going to happen to this forest! Okay!” He frowned.
“Well, if there were any portentous omens, I would have taken care of all of them, but still, the forest is a relatively safe place from any dangers.” She chuckled under her breath. “I'm a bored lady, after all. A little fun now and then can't hurt.”
“Um…” The gray-furred creature growled anxiously as he lowered its ears slightly, "I'm already getting worried about the child you're holding."
“Oh, are you becoming attached to this child already?"
“M-Me? No way!” His ears perked back upwards in reaction. “I don't even know who she is or where she comes from!”
“I'm a little curious myself as to where this child mysteriously came from.” The lady said. “Perhaps I shall take her in for a while and teach her some good manners on the side.”
The gray-furred creature watched anxiously as the woman continued walking on, and let loose another question he had wanted to ask all along, "And what about that dark and scary aura from earlier that we both sensed? Where did all those bad omens go? And that grove of white flowers and trees? I've never seen this place in this forest before in my life…”
The lady stopped once again and answered straightforwardly without looking back, “I don't know either, my friend.”
She then finally turned to him and continued, “Perhaps we don't really understand the hidden mysteries of this world in which we live, despite the accumulated knowledge of the scholars and the inquisitive. Perhaps we only knew what is closer to nothingness than to what the Asnoiji have created for us…”
~ ❈❇❈ ~
Elysha regained consciousness briefly several times and was able to perceive the surroundings of the forest. During the first few instances, the mystique and atmospheric nature of the forest overwhelmed the child's perception.
As the woman ventured deeper into the forest with the child in her arms, Elysha adjusted her eyes and gazed to the sunlight streaming through the dense foliage, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the forest floor. She gazed at the tall trees, their branches adorned with bright green leaves that swayed as if dancing with the soothing breeze along with the echoing sounds of nature.
The little girl couldn't help but stare transfixed at the rays of light coming from the sky, transforming her sight into a wonderful scene...
“... Are you drooling on my shoulder?” The lady asked in an annoyed tone.
Elysha didn't register what her guardian had said, instead she felt the wind rush against her skin and sweep her silver hair aside. Then she lowered her hand, which she held up to touch the bright glow coming from the sky as she saw something different.
“...?”
She watched as moving, whimsically animated creatures swirled around her, like luminous wisps that danced with their vibrant colors and bathed the air in a magical light. They seemed to be playful spirits, illuminating the surroundings with a soft glow.
In awe, Elysha reached out and tried to grasp one of the flying creatures. Her fingers moved through the mist-like strands, feeling a gentle coolness on her skin as they slid effortlessly through her grasp.
The creatures laughed and swirled around silently, they were like paintings that came to life and offered a storybook-like display.
*Thud*
Elysha saw the stone she was holding fall into the forest floor. She hadn't even realized she was holding it until now. For a brief moment, she watched as the keyhole-shaped stone stared back at her.
Almost instinctively, she tried to reach for it, but her small arms and fingers were not enough. She could only watch as the object became smaller and smaller until it was no longer visible.
~ ❈❇❈ ~
"We are almost here," the lady said with a hint of tiredness in her voice. “Are you feeling well?”
The child did not respond, but instead looked back into the depths of the forest where they had came from. The woman had noticed her silent demeanor since waking up on her shoulder on the way back. Her gaze was distant and she seemed disconnected from the present, as if lost in her own world, seemingly fascinated by the magical impressions she had experienced in the woods.
Eventually they had arrived at a clearing where a cottage stood, warm and inviting, surrounded by trees and blooming wildflowers that painted the view with their colorful and delicate petals. The lady gently placed Elysha on the soft grass so she could stand and allowed her to take in the surroundings, but she fell to her knees in the process.
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Her guardian knelt down beside Elysha, and there was a subtle concern in her eyes. She reached out a hand and gently placed it on the child's shoulder, "Elysha, are you there?" She asked again.
Elysha blinked and gradually turned her attention back to her guardian. She looked up at the lady, and her eyes reflected a mixture of wonder and curiosity. "I... I saw... the trees," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, “I saw the trees and leaves moving, and there were these... paintings. They were like... dancing and happy."
The woman chuckled when she heard the child’s words and said, "They seem happy to meet you, I suppose. You'll see more of them as you experience more of the forest we lived in."
The lady lifted her up again and carried her to the entrance of the cottage. When they arrived at the door, Elysha watched in awe as her guardian drew a key from her dark glove out of nowhere. Particles of light came off the key as she unlocked the door and said, "Come inside.”
Elysha's eyes widened when she entered her guardian's house. Inside, the building was refined and modest in terms of its furnishings and decoration, yet with a touch of artistic sentiment. The items appeared neatly arranged and were accompanied by plentiful of plants and the crackling of the fire in the fireplace in the corner—in its simplicity, it was more than anything that the cottage conveyed that made her heart felt warm and cozy.
“This is where I live,” the lady proudly said, "lavishly organized, a reflection of my aesthetic tastes and individuality."
The child, not understanding what she was saying, continued to try to absorb the interior of the house until she was overwhelmed by the external impressions and could sense a dizzying tiredness.
Sensing the child’s discomfort, the woman said, “Oh dear, it seems that I should save the tour of the place for later then.”
The woman then carried the child to a room with a prepared bed and a window with closed curtains on the side. "This is your room," she said, her voice tinged with fatigue from the walk through the woods. "Albeit dusty, but nonetheless I will let you rest here on your bed."
She gently laid Elysha on the bed in the simply furnished room. The walls were painted in a soft shade of gray-ish blue, subduing the room in a calm appearance. Although the curtains were closed, they let in faint rays of sunlight that bathed the room in a soft light.
The bed itself was adorned with a plain white blanket neatly tucked in and soft in touch. Next to the bed was a small nightstand on which stood a lamp and a book. The room was without any unique decorations unlike outside the room, but nevertheless exuded a sense of comfort.
Against one wall stood a wooden closet with its doors firmly closed. It appeared to be sturdy and well-made, with ample space for clothing and personal items. The floor was covered with a soft, woven carpet that gave the barefeet a touch of warmth.
The woman covered the child on her back with a warm, heavy blanket, then spoke, “It seems to be a little cold in this place at the moment. As soon as I light the fireplace, it will soon get warmer here.”
Then the lady left the room to tend to the fireplace. Meanwhile, Elysha slowly opened her eyes, blinked and looked around. Initially, she had the sense that she was in a strange and unfamiliar place, but she didn’t feel frightened. She felt that the atmosphere was comforting and welcoming even without the warmth of the fire.
Not only did the cottage seem inviting, but the lady who brought her here was very kind to her the entire time. When she first saw her, Elysha didn't react—as if there was no connection or anything, at least until she felt the embrace of her guardian.
The child raised her right hand and tugged on the cloth on her left shoulder. Next, she looked down and touched the blanket and mattress, but it was the pillows that felt so soft and cushy that she snuggled her face into them and rolled around when her guardian came back into the room.
"Now that the temperature is out of the way, I would like to take a break for a while.” The lady sighed, then noticed the child's look and continued, "Is there a question you want to ask me before I go? Come to think of it, I haven't even introduced myself yet. Feel free to ask me any questions you want, because you are not accustomed to this place yet. At least I can introduce myself before you start."
She closed the door and moved the chair closer to the bed and sat down facing the little girl. Elysha sat down cross-legged on the bed, her arms still wrapped around the pillow, and looked at her guardian with a mixture of curiosity and trust, her silver hair cascading down her shoulders.
"My apologizes, I should have introduced myself earlier," the lady began, her voice soft and soothing. "I am Elder Cecil Merakia of the Forest of Iröstos, or you can call me Madam Merakia if you wish. I am here to take care of you and raise you well in the meantime, Elysha. You can think of me as your caretaker."
"Merakia?" Elysha repeated softly, enjoying the sound of the name. "Elder Merakia. I liked your name."
Elder Merakia nodded, a warm half-smile lighting up her face. "Yes, and thank you, Elysha. I'm glad you think so. Now, is there anything you would like to know about me or this house?"
Elysha looked up at her briefly before finally opening her mouth to ask what she considered to be the most important question.
"This is… home?" She asked, curious. “I can stay here?”
"Yes, this is my home." Elder Merakia replied straightforwardly. "Not only is it my home, it's your home as well, and you can stay here for as long as you want."
Elysha's eyes widened. "Really?" She asked, her voice betraying a hint of delight. "I can stay here with you?"
"Oh please, how many times do you want me to affirm that with you?" Her guardian sighed, then a question occurred to her. At first she resisted asking it, but her curiosity got the better of her. “A question of interest from myself, do you remember what happened back then?”
“Back then?”
“Yes, that time when we first met each other.”
Elysha nodded and recalled the memories in her mind, "I woke up and then I met you..."
"That's right," Elder Merakia replied, nodding. "You were sleeping soundly under a willow tree when I found you."
"Found me..." Elysha murmured softly to herself. Those two words triggered an abstract rumination in her mind. She remembered the time when Elder Merakia had found her, and meant that she had found her sleeping under a willow.
‘Why was I—’
A sharp pain shot through her head, snapping her out of her thoughts, "Ah—! It hurts!"
“Elysha?” Elder Merakia voices her concerns.
The child quickly shook her head, indicating her state of well-being.
“Let’s try not to think too much.” Elder Merakia admonished gently. "We can save any more questions for later, since you've only just arrived here. Rest well for a while, you still need to get used to your new surroundings."
Elysha looked back up at her with desperate eyes, and clung the pillow tightly. Elder Merakia regarded the child's expression, leaned down and stretched out her arms to embrace her. The little girl left the pillow aside and accepted the hug once more for a good brief moment, as if frozen in time.
Afterwards, Elder Merakia went out and closed the door, and Elysha was left alone in her new room, still feeling the unwanted throbbing in her head. Although she felt the need to continue sleeping and regaining her energy, she did not feel fully accustomed to the unfamiliar environment.
She looked at her surroundings once more: the room was small and tidy, with a bed in the middle against the wall, a window with closed curtains at the side, and a desk with a chair positioned back to where it was before. There was a lamp on the desk, but it was not turned on. The only source of light came from the gap between the curtains, indicating that it was still daytime.
“Light…”
The little girl wanted to explore more, but the comfort of the bed overcame her and pulled her into the covers. With a yawn, she snuggled deeper into the bed and fell asleep for as long as she wanted.