episode_0013

[Tia!]

I run through the forest. I don’t know where this is. Yet, I kept calling out Tia’s name.

[Tia! Where are you!]

If that tiny kid hides in this vast forest, I won’t be able to find her. It would be a relief if she were just hiding somewhere. Because when dusk falls, she’d just pop out on her own, saying, ‘I was hiding here all along~!’

[Tia-!!]

But somehow, I don’t think that will happen today. Because Tia cried. Because she was crying so very sadly.

I held my breath and listened closely.

[Sniffle-. Sobbing…….]

I heard Tia’s crying. I went there.

Under a large, sprawling zelkova tree. She was crouched down, sniffling.

[Tia. What’s wrong? Why are you crying?]

[Sniffle-.]

[What happened?]

Burying her face, she shook her head.

[Then? Why-.]

[Don’t ask meee…….]

Tia burst into tears again. It didn’t stop for a long time. I silently looked down at Tia.

And what happened ‘that time’ has, ever since, until now. I’ve never heard of it again.

The crying Tia slowly drifts further away. As if being swallowed by that darkness.

[Tia!]

The moment I hurriedly reached out my hand towards her.

… .. .

“……Gasp-!”

I opened my eyes.

“Gasp-, gasp-.”

I exhaled short, rapid breaths and gathered my thoughts. My whole body was tingling, as if I had a terrible nightmare. I quickly darted my eyes around to survey my surroundings.

It was a house, alright. But not my house. Yet, it felt familiar somehow.

This place… I think I know where it is. The savory scent of chicken stew permeating the house. It was Aunt Sherry’s house.

I let out a warm breath.

“…….”

I can’t believe it. Although it felt a little old, it still felt vivid. The sensation of the bear striking me with its paw. I was sure I had died, but here I was, alive.

What happened?

As I lifted my head, the blanket slid down. There was a large wound on my body. A gnarled scar was etched there, as if my skin had been peeled in half.

From my chest to my waist. It was flattened as if crushed by a carriage wheel. My ribs were clearly visible beneath my emaciated skin, and even with the naked eye, I could see that some of them were missing. So badly injured, yet alive? I was astonished myself.

“Ugh.”

I tried to get up, but my body wouldn’t budge. It seemed my limbs hadn’t woken up yet from sleeping for too long.

Just then.

Creak-.

Someone opened the door and entered. A lively girl with flowing red hair.

It was Tia.

She approached me, holding a bowl of water, then wet a cloth and placed it on my chest. Then our eyes met.

“Ah.”

Tia’s eyes widened.

“…Ritsu?”

“Hello.”

“……No way.”

She sprang up and hugged me tightly.

“Ritsu-!!”

“Agh……!”

Honestly, it hurt enough to make me faint, but reuniting with Tia was good enough to make me forget the pain. I was relieved that she was alive and felt infinitely grateful that I could see her again.

Tia burst into tears.

“I missed you… really… I really missed you…… Ritsu….”

“Ugh-. I, I’m in pain….”

“What’s going on? Oh my! Ritsu!! You’re awake!”

Hearing my scream, Aunt Sherry came, and soon, the villagers also began to gather to see me.

I heard their story. Everyone said they had been waiting for me to wake up. Receiving such great attention felt awkward, but thankfully, everything was as it was.

They said Tia fought the bear and eventually defeated it. This was even more surprising than the fact that I was alive. How could she have faced such a large bear all by herself?

But Tia didn’t seem particularly proud. She simply said it was meaningless since she couldn’t protect me.

And they said I had been asleep for about two months. I somehow felt the air was cold, and it seemed winter had already arrived.

The harmonious atmosphere didn’t last long. So, when I asked about the medicine for the Village Elder-nim, the people fell into an awkward silence. Uncle Marvin answered instead.

“The Village Elder-nim has passed away.”

They said his condition suddenly worsened not long after I collapsed. The village had no way to help him, and I had to hear the news that he had returned to the embrace of the Lord Divine Dragon-nim. They also said Grandmother Madrina, who had been ailing since summer, passed away around the same time. The shock was so great that I couldn’t say anything. Uncle Marvin patted my shoulder.

“Don’t be too sad, Ritsu. The Village Elder-nim passed away peacefully. I hope that brings you some comfort.”

“……Yes. Thank you.”

The Village Elder-nim knew his fate. He kept his word that he didn’t have long to live. I had been preparing myself mentally since then, so no tears came. I was just very regretful that I couldn’t be by his side in his final moments.

The villagers left, and finally, Tia remained by my side.

“Tia. What happened to me? I was sure I had died…….”

“That……”

Tia cast her eyes downwards. After a moment of thought, she smiled again and whispered.

“It’s too long a story… For now, get some good rest. I’ll tell you later.”

She was right. Since waking up, I had been in a state of great confusion. I didn’t know why I was alive, and the news of the Village Elder-nim’s death didn’t feel real. Tia also seemed to have a lot to say, but her gaze promised it for another time.

Ah, I’m so tired.

My eyes slowly closed on their own.

* * *

My physical condition was still not good. My limbs tingled, and my stomach felt queasy. Tia said it was because the effects of the medicine were still in my body. She said some doctor-nim used a strong poison called ‘Enbus’ to save me, and it would take a long time to purify it.

“Try this.”

Tia took out a small bottle of medicine. It was a red-colored medicine.

“Where did you get it?”

“I made it. A recovery potion for Ritsu.”

“Really?”

“Yeah…. I studied with books from the apothecary and made it.”

I opened the lid and sniffed it.

“Oh- what is it made of? It has a nice color and scent.”

“Ah, Rumanes pistil and Mushulin root, and…….”

Listening to her explanation, it was a medicine made from truly diverse and even hard-to-find ingredients. It was surprising enough that she gathered all the medicinal ingredients by herself. The manufacturing process was also a considerably intricate task requiring professional-level skill. It must have been an enormous undertaking, drying, boiling, and simmering it for several days.

No wonder Tia had been looking tired lately. Was she staying up all night making medicine for me?

“I’m sorry. Isn’t it hard taking care of me?”

“N-no-. It’s fine. Ritsu got hurt because of me…. Of course, I have to do this.”

There was no vibrancy in Tia’s voice.

Ever since I woke up, Tia had always felt this way. Perhaps due to guilt over what happened ‘that time,’ she couldn’t properly meet my gaze, nor did she chat in a cheerful atmosphere like before.

This behavior wasn’t like Tia. The Tia I remembered was still a girl who could smile bravely.

“Tia. It’s not your fault. It was an accident that even Lord Divine Dragon-nim couldn’t prevent. If anything, it was my fault for not thinking about the bear.”

“But……”

“It’s fine. I lived in the end, didn’t I? So cheer up.”

Tia looked at me with teary eyes. And soon, she smiled brightly.

“Yes!”

The next day.

I somehow woke up feeling incredibly refreshed. My tingling limbs felt light, and I could perform simple movements with ease.

As the effects of ‘Tia’s recovery potion’ became clearly apparent, Tia was overjoyed. And she promised to make and bring me a recovery potion every lunchtime.

My condition gradually improved. Before long, I felt vitality bubbling up, and the next day, I was able to put my feet down from the bed. I realized again how thrilling it was for the soles of my feet to touch the cold floor.

Although I still couldn’t stand upright completely, I was able to walk using the crutches Uncle Marvin used to use.

Creak-.

The moment I stepped out of Aunt Sherry’s house and felt the cold headwind. Only then did I truly feel that I was alive.

I wanted to tell Tia this joyful news first. Taking difficult steps, I headed towards Tia’s house.

Unfortunately, Tia wasn’t home.

“…It’s changed quite a bit.”

The two months that had passed suddenly felt real. Tia’s house, spread out before my eyes, was very different from how it appeared in my memories. There was a withered vine next to the wooden door, and the backyard, which she said she’d use as a training ground, was overgrown with dead weeds.

I walked around the house and peered through the window. The curtains were drawn, but I could see inside through a slightly parted gap.

“…….”

The interior of the house had also changed a lot. Back then, it felt clean and empty overall because there was nothing much inside.

Now, there were many miscellaneous items. Among them were some decorations that looked quite expensive. I saw a glass bottle filled with white flowers, a sword-shaped statue, and a splendid sapphire brooch. These unfamiliar odds and ends were carefully enshrined on the shelf as if they were Tia’s precious belongings.

On one side of the wall, I saw chainmail, a type of armor, and a belt that looked newly bought. Also, there was a crudely carved bow, suggesting she had gone hunting somewhere.

If I tilted my head slightly, I could see the wardrobe. Originally, Tia’s frequently used climbing robe, boots, shorts, and belt were hanging there. But now, it was full of nameless, stylish clothes.

There was something even more surprising. A ‘white dress’ was actually hanging at the very end of the wardrobe! Although it was partially obscured, its beauty and pure white splendor stood out so much that it was impossible to miss.

A dress for Tia…. It felt incredibly awkward to me. How should I put it, it felt like ‘kind Ruyef.’ It meant the combination itself was absurd to that extent.

Tia didn’t like dresses in the first place. She preferred active and comfortable clothes, disliking dresses or skirts, calling them cumbersome. In my opinion, it was right for Tia to wear pants. That was natural.

But for her to keep such a splendid dress in her wardrobe. It was certainly unexpected. Even so, did she listen to her aunts’ advice to wear pretty clothes and dance at the baptism?

I imagined how beautiful Tia would look if she danced in a dress. She would be like a single flower petal twirling down from the sky. And if she were to present that beautiful dance, holding my hand… Haha. A smile naturally bloomed.

“…Ugh.”

My legs were starting to ache. I felt a sense of longing and wanted to look a bit longer, but my frail body couldn’t endure it.

Reluctantly, I turned my steps back towards Aunt Sherry’s house.