He didn't bring her comfort like he had given to the others. Neither did his laughs, kind words, and pats rang to her like... home. Or safety. Or something else.
To her, what made the man something closer than an acquaintance was his eyes. A pool. Not deep, yet its shallow color brought tides that she felt somewhere within her stir. Was it because she saw him different? Saw him new? Perhaps. She could deny that. She could accept that. But she knew and felt something more than those. More than the word different. More than the word new.
To her, those orbs saw beyond pity, beyond care, beyond other things. The old man, standing tall in defiance to age, held something. Far simpler, far... defining. The girl simply beheld this still pool of gray color that spoke of realness she couldn't word. She was at ease. The man was a comrade, she realized sometime later.
—–·–—
It is often too much of a worry to think about trusting. Not of what it is or of anything else, but of... how long it'd last. That thought lingered in my mind and unlodged a needle in my chest the moment I spotted wood and not the snuggling white sheet. I blinked, then sniffed, the addicting scent of the floorboards equally desirable to that of the bed's.
I propped myself to a seat, the cold wooden board leaving my cheek. Gasping in the still warm air, I realized everything was the same as it had been. No, not everything. I pat my sides that took the brunt of my fall as I stared at the glowing orb.
Mister Orden had not lied. I clutched my head, knowing something was hidden underneath that was quick to fade away. A dream, I know. And it was something... good. Remembering dreams was always rare, and a good one much more. So I tried to recollect what it was. I briefly saw an image in my mind—gray hair, wrinkled skin. Barely remembering how he looked like. But until now, I could still remember this uncertain certainty when I had met him. The feeling of both things. Of... something good, yet something saddening.
I winced as I remembered another thing. Far worse. But something I can fight now.
With a quick heave, I snapped out of my daze. Instead of that, I looked at the dim sky outside unrhythmically blinked to a fade by the rustling leaves. From here, I could already smell its coldness and placating touch by the time I got out. Like it always do. For now, I scratched my head, gently massaged my forehead, huffed breaths, then grinned at myself. Routine done.
Rather than delving to lost memories, I began the new day with a similarly new thing. This time, bringing a new addition onto my routine. Which was bringing the magical words alive. Or absolute, was it? I smiled. Magical words sounds better. And so it came to view.
I relished every word with excitement, making me feel energized. Then I took it to myself to carefully fiddle around with the orb knowing I might not get ahold of it anymore. Or maybe for tonight again? I don't know. But I knew something better. Sliding the window, I sneaked a gulp of the freezing air outside for best effect. Yet it was of better best effect, to my surprise. It was... minty. Like last night had been. But much more invigorating now and I felt it further ignite my excitement. Cool, soothing, promising. As mornings should be. I smiled thinking that it wasn't only because of this. Taking in the image of the bed, I was sure of its assistance was also one of that main cause.
So another satisfied breath escaped.
With that, I knew the morning was complete. A different and entirely new one. I nestled the ragbag into my arms and headed out, waiting for mister Orden.
Bits of blinding, yellow light had eaten a tiny portion of the misted skies by the time Mister Orden had come to fetch me. And we went for that small townwalldoor with expectations burbling within me. Food! Magic! Learning! Those were on my mind but only for a moment. For that was of little importance now.
An odd and nonsensical passage I never had imagined I'd go through filled my mind.
"When you think you're hungry, imagine a pinch of bread. When you think you're thirsty, imagine half-a-cup of water. When you're both, be a licker and a gulper. One, two, three, that's a wonder-spree!"
I had expected that the town would have a shallow steep since it was situated beside a mountain. But oh how I had overestimated myself. Or to properly word it without being too demeaning to myself—how I lacked the required imagination to envision what town the likes of the expensively-clad mister Orden lived at. And that was my first wonder.
The whole place was flattened smooth that I couldn't see the road we were walking on curve upwards. Not even a little. If not for the trees scaling upwards, I would have thought I might have a problem with my eyes. But that little finding was pushed off my mind to process what the town was.
The sight was... slack-jawingy. In the most liberal sense. My mind wasn't with a befitting word in how the place could be lively, peaceful, bright, colorful, and unified at the same time. Neither was my unscrewed jaw ready to meet the extravagance of the breeze cascading past my entirety. Not a passing one, I was sure. The lush greenery all over the town had more than enough of a reserve to blow storms.
No wonder mister Orden looked so... free.
I didn't bother reserving my curiosity. Left and right, I cupped in the scenery of the few people treading by, of their homes fringed with bushes and fruit-bearing trees. Shaded in different colors, the amount would have been enough to call the yards a plantation already.
I ooh-ed silently at the infrastructures that looked far better than what was built outside. They were tall and built not only of wood but also of stones. Windows in varying shapes homed the walls, it looked fragile but must have been as sturdy as metal. I mean, magic.
Even their fences looked nothing simple with how they stood straight and were protruding in varying heights. Probably a decoration to showcase the flowerbed by their yards and make the small trees that bore something colorful to those treading by. I don't know what other reason there could be why it was built like this except for one. To have magichouses.
I ooh-ed and gulped. Amazed and tempted. Then quickly had some more slurps, some craning, and some more oohs. These were true mansions! I thought. And there were more.
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The roadside had bountiful colors of flowers stretching along wherever the road lead to. As if it was a part of it. Blooming trees that wasn't only there for shade similarly lined up to a satisfying sight, but in a much greater distance from one another. Not only mansions were around, there were odd-looking houses that had been architectured not only with pragmatism in mind but also of art and magic. I was sure I had not seen anything that looked dilapidated yet. Or there may be none at all.
I rammed those perceptions into my mind as I trailed behind mister Orden, keeping his black figure within my periphery. Or at times when I couldn't, glimpse at him every now and then.
The buildings ended abruptly when we went further. Trees and empty fields of grass replacing either sides of the road. Further scrutiny beyond the greenery allowed me to see that they actually had a river inside the town. Or was that a stream?
River
Ah. I forgot. I have this magic.
Trees blocked the view of the rippling water as we moved along, the splashes minutely turning into whispers as well. The river must have bent to avoid the wall of earth in front... probably. I don't even know whether it flowed towards the wall or the opposite of that.
The land turned uphill and we climbed earthen stairs—that might have been actually rocks—for a moment before I was yet again in wonder. Like down below, the whole area is also not the least bit steep. A full flat land that was a little less spacious as the earthen stairs ahead was already in sight.
Apart from that, the only thing I could see besides the sloping trees were some erected pillars that I only seemed to notice now. I don't know what it could be, but finding that out was for the days ahead.
My second wonder wasn't because of that, however. A huge section of the land in either side were caged with trees, some spilled inside the open land in scarce number. Most fringing the whole empty land. But it wasn't grass nor flowers that filled this open space. They were just decorations to the mini-lakes that were laid out in the open. Willing words out of them provided no words to appear, so I just called them mini-lakes. They numbered perhaps to a hundred or more but nothing less of that. All of varying shapes that never looked out of place with one another.
Actually, they might have looked like huge globs of water that a rain had created from hollowed earth. The absence of people might have suggested the same. But I was definitely sure that it was made with some kind of goal in mind when I saw strings of water connecting them to one another.
And upon tracing where those thin strings of water originated, I saw that the water seemed to come from the land uphill. Spilling over circular holes in huge splashes that should have flooded the plains.
As we got closer another set of earthen stairs, the sound of burbling water confirmed the source of water. Another river.
I must ask of that. For it if there was a river, then that only means bath! There had been no near rivers back in the town. So I really am excited to see that they have so much here.
We passed through the stairs and crossed a short bridge this time. To my expectations, I found none were having bath at all. Hmm. A waste, but surely they must have found a much hidden and comfortable place than be an exhibition for the people passing by? Or they'd have it for later? Was it occasional? Could it be expen—ah, it's morning. I realized when I looked to my left. The sun still anchored halfway the mountains.
I grinned. No longer just to myself. I couldn't even if I wanted. Later I'll know just what these are! I ran towards mister Orden and hoped that things would go just fine. Everything had been.
Yet again. I had thought that was enough to lose the grin I had unintentionally donned. And I asked myself why I never stop wondering about every single thing.
No no no. That's a wrong way to put it.
I do always wonder. And this was the last of the wonder-spree. The last cycle of the first wonder-spree. The mere notion that death still is life before the true afterdeath was just the beginning. Staring with scrutinized gaze and bit lips, the glowing redness of the apple felt surreal to me. Never mind sitting on the most comfiest wooden chair I had ever claimed a sit at. Even its magical warmth can't take my mind away from the first bite of the succulent fruit.
Juice. Sweetness. Tenderness.
They overflowed from my mouth in the most literal form, sliding on my chin to my neck. Then partly from my hand before towards my elbow. All because it tasted of something I couldn't believe I would be able to taste for years to come.
Magic.
It was a magical fruit! I widened my eyes in reservation as I pumped in my guts the first crunch of the apple. A kind of fruit only the wealthy could ever have. No wonder it looked amazing. But to stare at it and be lost in wonder wasn't within my list now. So gobble it I must.
Bite after bite, I made sure to never let a drop escape from me. Yet the taste. Somehow I just couldn't help but savor it with gradual adoration upon every bite. In a way that it told me it wasn't anything that could be wholly gobbled in a gulp. It needed time. Devotion. It was far beyond the rest that could be swiftly munched to bits. Again, all because it was a magical fruit. That realization had me lapping the juices that flowed on my elbow, sometimes flicking my finger on the table that a drop had escaped onto.
Mmn. Delicious.
My bites turned into shallow ones as I opened my eyes, meeting black, meeting skin. I looked at mister Orden who was busy looking beyond the open window, humming to nothing at all except for the overlooking sun who had freed half its body from the big mountains there on beyond.
I put my arms away from the table and huddled into my chair, eating the delicacy in reservedness this time. I got nervous remembering we were in the townhall—a much grander building above the rest—, about to meet the town... administrator for my situation. I had not asked what an administrator is, or why it's not a town head. Because... why should I?
It must be something new!
Still, even with my nerves forcing a thump in my chest, I wasn't about to stop gobbling the magical fruit to bits.
"Mister Orden, I presume?"
A braided and smiling tall lady initiated a conversation with mister Orden. My heart returned a response to my nervousness as I quickly realized it was time to meet the town administrator. I immediately cleaned my drenched arms on my shirt. Okay, breathe in. Let's hope this would go okay. I assured myself and huffed, ready to follow after mister Orden.
"Great! The town admin will have you in the second five. This is the token you have previously requested for an audience." The lady handed a black, squarish object to mister Orden before she looked at her paper again and waved a goodbye to us. I returned her smile with a blink, before quickly giving nods to her waving hand. Shifting back comfortably to my seat, I was taken with relief that it wasn't judgement time yet.
"You really worry too much," mister Orden said with a grin as if he could sense the distress I was trying to mask. "We'll be there in time so finish that first. And here."
I lightly nodded and gave him an apologetic smile. "Umm, sorry, sir. Thank you," I took the black object from mister Orden, noticing it was actually made of metal with its smooth and cold surface.
"That's a key used to have an audience with the admin. We didn't have that before but influx of visitors and other things necessitated the ruling town council to have this employed," mister Orden explained.
I nodded in response. This time, finally having had the chance to ask something important, I voiced my concern.
"Is there something I should do and not do when I'm there, sir? And umm, is there anything I should ask? Or should I just keep myself shut, sir?" I asked. Although I knew that this place was different, that also means the place must also be ruled differently. The word administrator is already a proof. Meeting someone important must also have specific rules.
But I was surprised that it was mister Orden who was puzzled about what I meant for a moment. He just waved my question away as he pointed at the bracelet.
"You just need that and nothing else. You already got the nods and the sirs at the right place. So you just gotta do what you do. Just keep the smile on, okay?" he explained. "And don't worry about the questions, I've already informed them of your situation. You'd be just be there for clarification and something more."
Ah, okay. I nodded in response. So I just have to do just as I did. I noted that to myself, glad there's no complex things to be done. Though, I sneaked a look at Mister Orden idling again with a tune, then I looked at my garbs. I smoothed what could be smoothed and brushed what could be brushed. As for the wet stains... ah. Nothing I could do about. It was worth it anyway. I got back to eating the rest of the apple again as we waited.