Free Web NovelChapter 209: 10 Years Ago
It was around 10 years ago.
Lily, who was 5 years old at that time, was on her way home from Loogam. She went there for a weekend trip with her parents after she begged her parents to take her to Loogam as she grew quite an interest in that nation after being able to control her magic.
So as a reward for her hard work in her magic studies, her parents agreed on that trip. However, due to the distance, they could only stay there for a day.
Including breaks, the Hayths needed a little bit more than a day to arrive at Loogam, where they would do some sightseeing and activities as a family until they went to an inn to stay for the night. Following that, they woke up early in the morning and departed again.
However, on the way back one of the tamed monsters, who pulled their carriages sprained its ankle.
The carriage driver notified the family and suggested to Louis to stay at a nearby village and to treat the monster.
And after agreeing to that, they paid the village chief a visit and explained their situation. Fortunately, the village chief and the other people there welcomed them kindly and offered them their help.
Thus, the village’s vet took care of the injured monster. It seemed like it took a few days for the injury to be healed so it was suggested that the family continued their trip with normal horses. But because it was already dark outside, the family was given a place to sleep for that night.
They would then proceed to spend the night with the family of the vet, who had a wife and a daughter and son the same age as Lily.
The next morning.
"Is there a way for us to repay your kindness?" Louis asked with a genuine smile.
"Haha, there’s no need for that!" the woman of the household replied with a small chuckle.
Louis and Lena were currently chatting with the house’s couple at the table, where they just finished their breakfast. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
They were chitchatting and exchanged stories about their children.
"By the way, I haven’t seen your daughter or son yet. Where’re they?" Lena wondered, looking around the house.
"Ah, that’s right. When I brought you to our home, they were already asleep." the vet said embarrassed.
"Hehe, they had an appointment with a friend this morning so I guess they must have gone out before any of us were awake." the mother giggled.
"Oh, is that so...? Well, we will depart this afternoon so maybe there’s a chance that we will see them until then!" Lena stated cheerfully.
While the grown-ups were talking, Lily sheepishly walked over to her mother and tugged on her blouse.
"Hm? What’s wrong, Lily?" she asked her with a gentle smile.
"Can I go outside, too...? I want to look around the village...!" Lily asked nervously.
"Of course, my dear. But how about later? Mommy and Daddy are still talking here. Can you wait a little longer?" Lena said apologetically.
"B-but I want to go now...!" Lily was about to throw a tantrum.
"Huh...? But well..." Lena hesitated for a moment as she was too overprotective and scared that something could happen to her.
"Heh, what’s the harm? The village is small after all so nothing will happen if she’s taking a short stroll around." Louis chimed in.
"That’s true! And if there’s a problem, the villagers will come to help!" the man across from her stated with a proud grin.
"Well, if you say so..."
Lena smiled wryly but she was still somewhat reluctant.
"I will be out then!" Lily announced brightly after she made herself ready and opened the door.
"Be careful!" Lena replied concernedly.
Thus, Lily stepped out.
With curiosity, she strolled and looked around. The villagers, especially the older folks, were fond of her and talked with her a little. They told her about the village, the people, the life there and the places one should definitely visit when there.
One of those places was the nearby forest, where pretty and rare flowers grew. Furthermore, some special herbs and other ingredients could be found there, which were usable for medicines.
"However, it’s better to stay at the edge of the forest for the time being." the old lady, who was talking with Lily, whispered vigilantly.
"?"
Lily tilted her head.
"For a while, there are rumors about very dangerous creatures lurking in the depths of the forest so it’s better to avoid entering the forest...!"
"Sure... I got it!" Lily instantly switched back to her bright expression.
And after saying goodbye to the old lady, Lily continued her little adventure until she made her next encounter.
"Jeez... Where’s he...?" a girl with brown and braided hair pouted.
That girl was sitting on a well and kicked her legs.
"Uhm... Are you searching for someone...?" Lily asked nervously, not knowing where to look.
"Hm? Who are you? I haven’t seen you around here." the girl wondered.
Slightly surprised, the girl checked Lily out and then jumped down from her seat.
"I-I’m..."
Lily began to explain her situation to her.
"Ah, I see! So you’re staying at our place, huh? What a coincidence to meet you here! I’m Ain and you?"
Ain stretched her hand to Lily.
"M-my name is Lily..." she introduced herself shyly.
"Nice to meet you then, Lily!" Ain stated with a wide smile.
Lily could only nod softly.
"I was actually waiting for a friend but he still didn’t show up yet even though he was the one, who offered me his help to collect some herbs!" Ain complained with crossed arms.
"Y-you’re collecting herbs...?"
"Hm? Yes. I’m helping out at my family’s business from time to time. Well, they usually only let me do the collecting of ingredients as of now though." she explained.
"T-that’s still amazing...! You’re already working even though you’re so young!" Lily commented in admiration.
"Hehe... Is that so...?" Ain muttered bashfully.
Then, an idea popped inside her head.
"Hey, do you want to collect some herbs with me?" Ain suggested.
"But what about your friend...?"
"Forget him already. He most likely wandered somewhere off again. And maybe my brother is with him." Ain replied, shrugging her shoulders as she lost all her hope in that friend of hers.
"So you want to come with me?" she repeated.
"S-sure!"
And now, the two girls were on their way to collect herbs for the Sacra family’s medical business.
"So... Where exactly are we going...?" Lily asked Ain anxiously, looking constantly at her surroundings.
The two left the village behind them.
"We’re going to the forest." Ain replied bluntly with a smile.
"T-the forest...? B-but isn’t it dangerous there...?"
"It’s fine. I’m still going there every day. Furthermore, we will only stay on the forest’s edge."
Now it made sense to Lily, why Ain took a strange route to get outside the village. She did not want to be spotted by others when she headed to the forest.
"..."
Lily still had her doubts but she did not want to return yet either.
And after passing a vast grass field, the forest was in sight.
The gigantic trees with their dark green leaves dominated the sky and from the outside, the forest looked so thick that one could not perceive what was inside there aside from darkness.
There were no signs of any animals in the vicinity and the area around the forest appeared rather abandoned and cold, which made the sight of young innocent children even more unfitting there.
"Oh, lucky me!" freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
With beaming eyes, Ain crouched down in front of a tree, ignoring the atmosphere. Or rather, she was already accustomed to that gloomy atmosphere as she went almost every day to the forest.
"Lily, look! Normally, you wouldn’t find this mushroom so far outside the forest!" Ain proudly explained, showing off the mushroom in her hand.
"..."
Lily nodded reluctantly as she could not shake off the bad feeling she sensed for a while. But after looking at Ain, who was enjoying all of this, Lily thought that she could let her guard down a little. After all, Ain knew a lot more about the forest and its circumstances than Lily, who came here yesterday.
And maybe she should just put her trust in Ain and enjoy this little adventure outside the village.
"...?"
In her field of vision, she noticed a beautiful-looking flower and approached it with a faint smile. She reached her hand out, attempting to pluck the flower.
Lily thought that her mother would be happy about getting the flower as a gift.
However, she stopped.
Her hand shook a little.
Slowly, Lily lifted her pale face, which already broke into a cold sweat.
"..."
Behind the tree, where Lily was crouching in front of, she heard a beastly grumbling.
"A-A-Ain...?" she whimpered with tears starting to dwell in her eyes.
Hiding behind said tree was a tall black bear, who had surprisingly thin arms and an overall skinny body structure. Its claws were, however, extremely long and sharp.
And with an anticipating and hungry look, it waited for Lily to come closer.
