Elysha clutched the stone close to her chest as Elder Merakia led her through the hallways and into the bathing room. There, the child was immersed in the warm water while the worn clothing was removed for later washing. The little girl closed her eyes and allowed the water to wash away the remnants of the previous day.
Afterwards, Elder Merakia wrapped Elysha in plush towels and kept her warm after the bath. She then presented the child with a set of mint-scented clothes. The little girl slipped into the outfit just enough to fit.
Her guardian pressed her fingers on her cheek and smiled as she brought the child over to the mirror, “Oh how lovely that looks on you.”
Elysha blinked her eyes as she gazed into the mirror: She appeared way smaller—nearly twice as smaller than her guardian behind her. She wore a buttoned-down, navy blue dress—less frilly and simpler than her previous dress with a white collar and cuffs. She appreciated the decorative details and the way it comfortably enveloped her as she held the stone from the necklace on her chest.
“Sit on the chair here,” said Elder Merakia as she placed the wooden chair down behind her. “I will brush your hair before we start the day.”
The little girl sat down on the chair and continued to stare into the mirror, which soon reflected herself raising her fingers to touch her face: soft and smooth as she gently pinched her pale cheeks.
Her long, silvery hair touched below her shoulders as Elder Merakia took a brush and tended to her hair, which fell in neat strands down her neck. Most notably, Elysha stared into her eyes; her irises seemed golden, or was it gray? She wasn't sure, but it seemed to be a mixture of both.
Then, she felt a jolt of pain.
“Eehk—!”
“Oh dear, I accidentally pulled a tangled part of your hair a little too hard, didn’t I?” Elder Merakia spoke up, “Sorry about that, let me do it more properly this time.”
Then she untangled the small knot with her fingers and carefully loosened it. After they had finished their hygiene routine, Elysha and Elder Merakia went downstairs to begin their day.
~ ❈❇❈ ~
As the tantalizing aroma of breakfast wafted through the air, Elder Merakia prepared a morning meal in the kitchen, filling the house with a seductive sense of heat and anticipation. Meanwhile, Elysha, in her mint-scented clothes and with the necklace around her heart, set out to explore the interior of her new home.
That is, when a low growling sound emitted from her stomach.
“...?”
The little girl tilted her head.
‘What’s that sound?’ She thought to herself for a brief moment, before shaking her head and turned away. As her small hands brushed the surfaces on the walls and furniture, she paused at each item, her eyes taking in the details she saw.
After some time of looking, Elysha looked down at her hands and fingertips, where she saw tiny particles of dust and dirt, and wiped them off with her white dress. She turned back at the individual decorative objects with curious eyes, as if there was a story behind their existence waiting to be explored.
She touched more furniture and decorative objects until her steps took her to the second floor, where a partially open door greeted her forward. Satisfying her curiosity, Elysha pushed the door open a crack and entered the room.
“...!”
The room exuded an air of aesthetics and formality, surrounding her with its flattering atmosphere.
Elysha looked around and absorbed the room's essence with every breath: Fancy paintings adorned the walls, adding splashes of color and life to the surroundings. Delicate flowers and plants sat aligned at the windowsill, the furnishings exuded elegance and sophistication, the neatly-made bed with its delicate linens was an invitation to rest, and the desk adorned with quills and parchments—even the curtains with their embroidered flowers, reminiscent of the ornaments in her hair—they all gave hints to the person living within this space.
‘... This must be Elder Mera’s room.’ Elysha thought to herself, staring at the self-portraits of her guardian among the paintings on the walls. She couldn't help but looked at the personal touches that adorned the room, each reflective of her guardian's tastes and nature.
She walked around and touched each object she sees, including the armoire she approached in front of her. She grabbed the handle and pulled it open, and saw a bunch of clothes inside.
Elysha blinked her eyes and thought, ‘These are Elder Mera’s clothes…’
She reached her hand down to the clothes and pulled out an undergarment at the end of a band, dangling it in front of her. She blinked again, confused to understand what it was, seeing two large cups in front her eyes.
The little girl placed it back down and closed the wardrobe, then walked back to the desk with the quills and parchments. She sat down on the chair, slid in and lifted the quill.
Elysha looked at the quill, dipped it into the inkwell and made a few squibbly words and drawings before a realization came to her mind. She then rose from her chair and closed the door behind her.
‘I don’t want Elder Mera to get mad at me…’ Elysha mused to herself with a worried beat in her chest.
While on the second floor, she returned to her bedroom and walked over to the window—which remained open through the curtains—and witness the view outside once again.
Elysha pressed her fingers onto the glass. Even after seeing the landscape for the first time, the memory of that sight still held her attention. She still carried the impression in her mind, as if the view of the world beyond the walls of her room was whispering to her, beckoning her to take a step beyond the windowpane.
“How pretty…” Elysha whispered softly, the words barely audible as they escaped her lips.
Reluctantly, she tore herself away from the sight, left her room and descended the stairs—until she accidentally fell halfway down.
“—!”
The sound of her fall and the thud of the impact alerted Elder Merakia’s ears. She stopped her work and rounded the corner to see Elysha lying face down on the stair runner rug.
“Elysha!” She called out and rushed over to kneel over the child at the bottom of the stairs. "Are you hurt?"
Elysha took her hand away from her face and raised her head to show her discomfort. “... My hand and knees hurt…” She mumbled, her brows furrowing in pain.
‘She shielded her face with her left hand.’ Elder Merakia observed, then turned to the rug covering the stairs. ‘It’s good that this long carpet covers the sharp wooden edges…’
She turned back to Elysha and asked, “You weren’t watching your steps when you went down the stairs, were you?”
The child’s eyes widened and she shook her head, indicating, “No.”
Her guardian sighed and then said, “Please be more careful next time, you are making my heart worry for a moment there. I don’t want to see you get hurt like this more than on one occasion.”
Elder Merakia then lifted the little girl to her feet and wrapped one arm around her to bring her into the kitchen. Then she took a handkerchief and rinsed it out before squeezing it and wrapping it around the child's hand.
“Like this,” she said, “and it if still hurts, I can replace it with an ice pack and towel.”
Elysha looked at her treated hand and then watched Elder Merakia went back to preparing breakfast. Her gaze was eventually drawn from the stovetop to the bookshelf visible from the kitchen. Curiosity piqued, she approached the bookshelf and let her gaze wander from the small decorative objects to the spines of the various volumes and books.
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In the midst of the collection, one book stood out that had no title. On the cover was a strange symbol, an intricate depiction of a tree emerging through a window and intertwining into a harmonious design.
Intrigued by its peculiar cover, Elysha took the book from the shelf and settled down on a nearby couch. With a tingling sensation in her fingertips, she opened the book and looked the pages with a myriad of content: Poems, lyrics, narratives, mythologies and other forms of artistic expressions adorned the pages, inviting her to delve deeper into the worlds within. For the little girl, it was the illustrations that appealed most to her eyes, as if they were drawing her into the realm of the imagination.
After flipping through the pages, she closed the book and returned it to its original place.
“I can’t read…” Elysha said in a disappointed tone.
The tantalizing aroma of breakfast once again wafted through the air, and lured her into the kitchen. She stopped at the corner, however, and watched Elder Merakia move gracefully around the kitchen, making final preparations with a sense of familiarity and skill.
Elysha watched her guardian from a distance, as if she were hiding behind an invisible barrier, and her shyness kept her from stepping forward. She touched her left hand, which was still wrapped in a damp handkerchief, and pressed it gently.
When Elder Merakia noticed her presence, she turned her head slightly and her attentive eyes caught the child's facial expression. A warm smile played around her lips as she spoke, "You can come as you wish, there is no need to be afraid."
Elysha's heart thumped at her guardian's reassuring words, but uncertainty still clouded her mind. With slow steps, she approached Elder Merakia and stood next to her while she placed the used utensils and plates in the sink.
Elder Merakia turned, met Elysha's gaze and said, “Behind you is breakfast,” her voice sounded calming as she set down the last of the utensils. "Sit down and help yourself. You haven't eaten anything today, have you?"
Then, as if she had finally noticed, the smell of the prepared breakfast drew the child's attention to a table with two chairs behind her. The table was adorned with a delicious selection of dishes, neatly arranged for their shared meal. An open window stood to the side of the wall facing the table, providing pleasant light to complement the quality of the meal.
Elysha blinked her eyes and walked toward the culinary delights on the plates that awaited her: On her side is a large dark brown plate held a seasoned fried egg and triangular cuts of golden-brown potatoes. Beside it, a few slices of bacon and flaky croissants tempted her taste buds. A wooden cup filled with milk and a bowl brimming with mixed fruits completed her side of the table.
In the center is a plate of delicate crepes, and at the other end of the table is a bowl of breakfast salad, and a glass of warm tea waiting to be enjoyed, a cultivation of delicacies reserved for the sophisticated caretaker and teacher.
Her stomach growled again.
Elysha placed her hands on her stomach, frowning, then sat down at the table and gazed into her food and drink for a whole minute.
Then her eyes wandered to Elder Merakia, who had already settled at the other end of the table.
"What is troubling you?" She inquired, her eyes expressing concern. "Perhaps you are not hungry? Or is my cooking not good enough or even contaminated somehow?"
Elysha shook her head, her disapproval and confusion evident. Elder Merakia stood up next and walked back to the kitchen while silence reigned at the table.
The little girl’s brows furrowed in worry and felt a pang of guilt, questions swirled in her mind, each one amplifying her concerns.
‘Am I in trouble?’ She wondered. ‘Did I do something wrong? Why…? I don’t know…’
The child struggled with her thoughts, not knowing how to express herself from where she sat when Elder Merakia returned to place a plate of napkins.
Her guardian settled back into her seat and began to eat her meal, then took a sip of her warm tea before finally breaking the silence, "If something is bothering you, sweetie, it's important to talk about it and free your mind from the burden." She advised. "Sharing your worries with others is often the first step towards an answer."
Elysha listened, then lowered her eyes and stared at her plate again as she pondered the guardian's words.
‘Is something worrying me?’ She wondered, hesitating for a moment as she looked at the potatoes. Seconds later, she touched one of the pieces with her right index finger and took it in her hand to inspect it.
Then she put it into her mouth.
“…”
She eats another, then another.
And more, savoring every bite of the potatoes dancing on her tongue. The potatoes melt in her mouth, exuding a delicious flavor that encourages her to keep going.
"This..."
Confusion mingled with delight as Elysha continued to devour the food in front of her. She enjoyed the harmonious combination of flavors as she ate, her appetite growing with each bite like a wild animal consuming its first meal in a long time.
While the little girl cut into the seasoned fried egg with her knife and fork, Elder Merakia couldn't help but chuckled, "Take your time, dear, and eat as much as you want. I’ve made more than enough for just the two of us here.”
With her hand resting on her chin, Elder Merakia looked at Elysha's fulfilling meal with a half-smile. Her eyes then shifted back and forth between the child and the morning sunlight streaming through the open window.
‘A fine, lovely morning it is.’ She thought to herself. After that, Elder Merakia proceeded back into enjoying her own morning salad. It was only when she took the salad fork in her hand did she noticed that tears were running down the child's cheeks.
Concerned, Elder Merakia paused mid-bite and set down her fork.
“... Elysha, dear child, why are you crying?”
“…”
The child froze, her tear-streaked face turned to the worried lady on the opposite end of the table, searching for answers in her perplexed gaze—as if she was unaware of the moisture still visible on her cheeks.
“... Crying?”
Elysha touched her fingers to the traces of tears glistening on her skin, and the chains of the necklace around her neck reflected the light like a captured tear.
Startled, she dropped her cutlery, her body tense with bewilderment; her trembling fingers clutched at the keyhole-shaped stone attached to her necklace as panic gripped her spirit.
Elysha stood up abruptly, pushing the chair back as her voice shook while she struggled for words through her tears. "I…” Her voice was brittle and hoarse as more tears escaped her eyes, “I don't… I don't know why I…"
Elder Merakia rose from her chair, and with a white handkerchief she took from her pocket, she gently wiped away Elysha’s tears.
The child’s cries echoed in the room as Elder Merakia tried to comfort her. "It's going to be all right, dear child. Whatever happens, I will be there for you."
Elysha sobbed, her voice choked with emotion. "Elder Mera..."
A warm smile curved around Elder Merakia's lips, accompanied by a soft chuckle, "You called me by my name."
~ ❈❇❈ ~
They held each other for a momentary pause, and Elysha found comfort in the familiar embrace of her guardian. The soothing warmth of Elder Merakia gradually calmed Elysha's troubled emotions and allowed her to regain her composure.
"Come now," said Elder Merakia, breaking the silence. "Let us finish breakfast together."
With an approving nod, Elysha loosened her grip on her guardian, and they resumed their seats at the table. As they continued to eat, the child mustered the courage to speak, her voice still tinged with vulnerability. "Elder Mera?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
“This food tastes good.”
Elder Merakia chuckled again heartily. "Thank you,” she said. “I take great pride in my cooking. My dishes surpass those of most chefs in the world, so you should feel privileged to have me as your one and only five-star chef." She gave her a sly smile with a playful tone in her words.
Elysha's curiosity continued as she asked another question. "Can you teach me how to cook one day?"
"Of course," Elder Merakia replied, taking a sip of her tea before setting it down. "This is my home, and you live here with me. I’ve spent many years cooking for myself, taking care of our neighbors in the forest, and tending my garden."
Elysha's gaze wandered to the open window, prompting her to inquire about the view. "And what’s outside the window?"
Elder Merakia followed the child's gaze, her eyes reflecting the light that fell from the window. "What lies outside the window is my garden.” She said. “It has been my place of relaxation ever since I settled here, and it has remains so to this day.”
"Garden?"
"Yes, a garden where I tend my precious plants and perform my dance routines.” Elder Merakia explained. "If you step through the back door and follow the path, you will reach the entrance to my sanctuary."
“Oh,” Elysha's eyes glistened as she remembered the picturesque sight she had witnessed earlier. Oh how wonderful she had seen such a landscape… The vibrant colors, the lush greenery and the magical beauty of the scene were stroked into her memory like an enchanted painting. The way the sun's rays illuminated the whole scenery made it even more breathtaking than before.
“... Are you drooling again?” asked Elder Merakia with a raised brow.
Elysha startled herself out of her absent musings and wiped her mouth with her sleeve, then she shook her head, indicating, “No.”
“... That being said, the natural world has always had a deep meaning for me, and although it may seem simple, it is full of wonders that cannot be imagined without having a childlike spirit." Elder Merakia's face softened with affectionate pride.
She paused, her gaze expectant. "I was wondering if you might like to visit my garden sometime soon."
Elysha blinked her eyes: If the view she had seen came from Elder Mera's garden, then....
She squeezed the sides of her dress, her heart quicken with anticipation and her chest swell with the growing desire to explore the cottage's surroundings. A mixture of excitement and nervousness coursed through her, causing her lips to tremble and her stomach to flutter like butterflies.
Determined, Elysha voiced her decision, "Elder Mera, I would love to see the garden."
Elder Merakia's smile widened and her eyes twinkled with delight. "Of course," she replied. "After breakfast is done, we shall visit the garden together."