-Arc 1-

  Chapter 7

  “Velna, Village of Dreams”

  *?*?*?*

  Seraphine: “We’re completely out of tea leaves!”

  Aqua: “We’re runnin’ low on disinfectant.”

  Petra: “My plants aren't getting the nutrients they need with all these clouds!”

  These were all complaints that Eris began to overhear as the week dragged on.

  The manor, despite its isolation and staff of diversely runed maids, was not self-sufficient. To keep the cogs running, they relied on supplies from the local village or delivered from Capella.

  Apparently, on the seventh day of the week, it was customary for one or two maids to take the hike to Velna for supplies.

  Petra: “Eris, why don't we head down to Velna? There's plenty we need, and besides… I’m sure you’re curious about the village, aren't you?”

  Eris: “That’s true. I have thought about it a few times.”

  Velna, the local village, was sort of an enigma. Eris’s life, which was only seven days old, had entirely revolved around the manor, its servants, and its Lord. She had not once stepped from its tall gate, and all areas which were not accompanied by its property were foreign lands to her.

  It would not be an exaggeration to say that the prospect of visiting Velna brought on some anxiety for Eris. It would undoubtedly be a different environment than the manor, which she has gotten used to. Not to mention, there would be people who were familiar with ‘Eris’ there. Petra had mentioned that the young children were particularly fond of her.

  How would a young mind react upon realizing that she did not recognize them?

  Petra: “So, do you want to go or not?”

  Eris: “Oh, right. Yes, I’ll accompany you.”

  Petra: “Yeesh, Eris. I thought we had gotten pretty close? Why do you gotta talk so formally with me?”

  Eris tilted her head as her broom faltered in sweeping. She hadn't noticed herself being formal, and consciously it was not an effort she was making. Thinking back on her words, though, they did sound rather stiff.

  Eris: “Hmm… how about; Sounds great! Let’s go!”

  She wasn't sure what inspired those words, but it was the best she could muster.

  Petra responded with a graceful laugh, her hand over her mouth.

  Petra: “Okay, I guess that works.”

  —*—

  Petra had taken Eris's hand and led her from the hall they were sweeping, to the grand hall, and out the huge door outside. Of course, she told Aqua to tell the others where they had disappeared off too.

  The rains from last night had flushed water over the neat grounds. Runoff had stained mud across the formerly pristine pathways, and the heavy winds had blown leaves everywhere.

  Sticks and branches too, were broken off the trees and were strewn about the yard. The neat trimming that Petra diligently commands with her rune every morning had been undone by the storm.

  Caelia was sweeping without a broom. Instead, her hand was outstretched in the damp air, and seemed to command the wind to her bidding. Sweeping leaves and branches up and putting them into a pile.

  Petra: “My… my hardwork!”

  Petra gazed upon the dilapidated property with horror, as if she watched her child be devoured before her.

  Petra fell to her knees, the damp soaking into her knees. The rain had not dried from last night, making every surface still wet to touch.

  Eris: “Petra?!”

  Eris could not have predicted Petra’s exaggerated reaction, even knowing how much she cared for the plants.

  Helpless to anything else, she could only place a consoling hand on Petra’s trembling shoulder.

  Petra: “This is…”

  Petra did not even notice Eris’s efforts. She crawled down the steps onto the pathway, her legs forgetting how to even walk.

  Curling up by a pile of upturned lilies, Petra began muttering to herself incoherently.

  Eris: “It’s… it’s okay, Petra. I can help you clean up! And look, Caelia’s already started!”

  Petra: “That's the worst part! It’s not even her domain, and yet Caelia began to fix things before even I did!”

  Eris: “That's not…”

  Something about Petra’s ramblings rang true to Eris, though they did not exactly reflect her own monologues.

  Petra crawled forwards, extending her hand out. The wet earth began to warp and slowly fix itself.

  Eris: “Petra, we can go to Velna later. I’ll help you clean up.”

  Petra slowly shook her head in response, still wholly focused on the disastrous lawn.

  Petra: “No, Eris… I’ll stay here. You should go with Caelia…”

  Eris: “Hk~.”

  Eris’s heart sank at the mention of the silver haired maid. Indeed, she was only standing a few meters away, sweeping leaves and branches.

  Eris hadn't told Petra about her first meeting with Caelia. She hadn't even told Aqua. There were multiple reasons for this. Firstly, there was that she did not want to cause a rift between the maids. Surely, if the others found out about how Caelia had acted, there would be some sort of tension.

  Additionally, Eris felt that Caelia was justified in her actions. Not just justified, but correct in them. Caelia was acting the most reasonable. Were Aqua and Petra not foolish for trusting the stranger Eris had become?

  Regardless of how she felt, the fear still plagued her. When she thought of that moment, she recalled the fear that overtook her after it. It was a paralyzing fear, not unlike that which clung to Aíma.

  However, unlike Aíma's dread, Caelia’s was one which was founded.

  Eris clutched her skirt tightly. She knew she was being silly. After all, Caelia had not really done anything to her. She threatened her, but no physical harm was done.

  She hated that. Loathed it. Why was she acting so emotionally? She could stifle her fear for Aíma, her guilt for Seraphine, her confusion for Petra.

  So why did——

  ???: “Fine. I can go.”

  Eris: “Eh?”

  ???: “I haven't left the manor grounds in a while, so I guess I'm feeling pent up.”

  Eris: “Pent, up…”

  The girl who had approached Eris while she was racing through her thoughts, was the one the topic of those thoughts. Caelia.

  Her silver hair swayed in the damp, cool breeze. Her eyes piercing and sharp. Eris felt herself shudder.

  Petra: “Please do. We can't go another day without a trip, but I really have to clean up this mess!”

  Eris: “Maybe someone else should go?”

  Petra: “Huh? Why is that? You were so eager before. I told you before, Eris. I wanna clean this up myself.”

  Eris: “I know. It’s, well… not about that…”

  Eris glanced up at the taller Caelia, who was crossing her arms now.

  Petra: “Then what..? You’re looking at Caelia, so did something happen between you two?”

  Caelia did not reply at all, only focused on keeping her cold face straight.

  Eris: “That’s not it, either…”

  That was exactly it. Again, Eris had apprehensions about lying. However, she refrained from the truth for the same reasons she refrained from telling Petra or Aqua in the first place.

  Eris: “Actually, it’s nothing. We should go, Caelia.”

  Caelia: “That’s right. There's something I wanted to speak with you about, anyway.”

  Eris: “Ngh! Y-Yeah, okay… that’s alright.”

  Petra raised an eyebrow at the two’s interaction, but she swiftly got distracted by a tree which had been violently bent by the wind yesterday.

  And while getting distracted herself, watching Petra do her work, Eris’s heart faced another palpation as she felt a tug at her sleeve.

  She was pulled along from the stone pathway, and out of the gate, leaving the property of Count Schwartzhardt’s manor. New, uncharted territories, where she had never stepped foot.

  —*—

  Up and down. That was what the road to Velna was like. Being situated in a valley, there were many hills in between the village. Going down them could make you stumble if you weren't careful, and going up them exhausted the muscles in your legs.

  It was not a pleasant experience, yet even so, Eris found herself captivated.

  She had spent her entire short life up until now in the manor grounds. While expansive and beautiful, she never had the sensation of being surrounded by nature.

  Damp trees, dripping with yesterday’s rain. Birds singing songs and frogs croaking their own melody.

  The rustle as the wind crept through the forest, the scuttle of leaves across the gravel. There were breaks in the trees where patches of wild flowers spread without regard. Mushrooms and moss over fallen logs.

  Eris stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a large animal with blooming antlers across it’s head.

  Of course, Eris knew the name of the animal; a dear. But she has never been able to put her own memory and experience to the name.

  Caelia: “Eris.”

  Even with all the natural beauty around her, and a plethora of ‘firsts,’ Eris’s heart was still mostly occupied by dread which she could not force out of her.

  The dread was Caelia, who drove fear into her heart. That fear was something that she had an experience to put to the name.

  Eris: “Hk… Uh, yes?”

  She put on her bravest, least fearful voice.

  Caelia: “If we want to get to Velna at any reasonable time, then you cannot dally about like you’ve been doing. I’ve put up with it so far, but it’s growing tiresome.”

  Eris: “Sorry, you’re right. It’s just… —Sorry.”

  Eris began to formulate an excuse, but felt it was better not provide one.

  The two walked side by side, with a noticeable distance between them. The wet gravel crunched under their shoes.

  The maids had multiple pairs of shoes, inside pairs and outside pairs. The outside pairs were more like low boots, while the inside ones were more like loafers. Eris had only worn the outside shoes once before on her first day, but in the following days, Eris had grown accustomed to the inside shoes. So, the outside ones were foreign on her feet.

  The reason Eris was as anxious as she was when Caelia said her name, was due to the silver haired maid’s previous comment.

  Caelia: “There's something I wanted to speak with you about, anyway.”

  The knowledge that Caelia had words waiting to be spoken perhaps caused more anxiety than the words would when they actually came up.

  If that was her prediction, then wouldn't it be a better idea to ask her now?

  Still, bringing it up was not as easy as thinking about it.

  She knew that if she did not force the words from her lips, then they never would, and perhaps Caelia's unsaid words would haunt her for longer. Maybe they wouldn't get said today, or maybe not even until death. Then, nobody would know.

  Eris: “So… Uhm, Caelia…”

  She winced as she spoke.

  Caelia: “What is it?”

  Every word that left Caelia's lips were sharp and harsh.

  Eris: “What was it, that… you wanted to tell— no, speak with me about?”

  Caelia let out an audible sigh. No, it bordered on a breathy groan.

  Caelia: “It can be later. In fact, I don't want to speak about it now at all.”

  Eris: “But didn't you…”

  Bring it up. That was what she was going to say, but she let the words trail off. There was no point in saying it.

  She should have let Caelia bring it up when she wanted to.

  The forest suddenly stopped, reaching a wall erected out of hardened soil. Even through the rains, the wall seemed to have remained strong. It was infused with roots and stones, which probably held the thing together.

  The path led to a gate in the wall, flimsy and constructed from wood. Above the gate was an arch, with a massive hanging sign swaying in the damp breeze.

  “Velna—

  —Village of Dreams”

  Eris: “We're here already?”

  She expected the journey to be quite the trip, but they arrived rather quickly to the village.

  The low hum of voices, people out and about on jobs or strolls, was crammed between the noise of the forest. A mixture of the two sounds, played in different keys, still turned out as a quite pleasant song.

  Either way, Caelia did not wait outside the gate, and instead pushed it open herself and stepped inside. Surprisingly, she waited for Eris while holding the door open.

  Eris, stepping through, bowed her head slightly.

  Eris: “Thank, you…”

  Caelia: “I’m not doing it out of kindness, so you should not thank me.”

  Eris: “Oh…”

  Behind the gate, there were two men in leather armor. Their faces were sunken and one had an unkempt stubble. Both had spears rammed into the ground, which they leaned their weight on to.

  Caelia: “Come, Eris. Do not forget that this is not a trip of leisure, and we have things to do. If you continue to get distracted, I’ll have no choice but to leave you behind.”

  Eris: "Sorry, I get it… I won’t be distracted anymore.”

  Caelia pulled on the sleeve of Eris, who tensed at the sudden contact.

  From Caelia's harsh words today, and her past actions, something built inside of Eris.

  Eris knew herself to be guilty, and out of all the girls, Caelia seemed to act the most reasonably towards Eris. She made the correct assumption that Eris, relieved of the burden of remembering, would be a clean slate. A pawn put on the fence of the conspiracy between servant and master.

  What side she fell on was a new auction, and Caelia was right to assume Carlos would put all of his money into the bidding.

  Caelia, too, was not incorrect to be so harsh to Eris. Eris had been the one to end ‘Eris’s’ life, plunge the ones she loved into despair, and corrupt the natural order of things in the manor. Without the diligent ‘Eris,’ the other maids took on many of the things that ‘Eris’ could do, that Eris could not.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Eris was slow, inexperienced, guilty, out of place, and a liability to the manor. Both to Carlos’s side and the maids’.

  Even so—

  Despite her understanding, nay, agreement with Caelia's actions—

  She hated her.

  She hated being acted upon so cruelly and harshly.

  Though she understood, she even accepted it, even desired it as a masochistic penance…

  She hated it. She hated Caelia, who gave it to her.

  After all, nobody should enjoy being treated cruelly. Even a beast who fed on live animals had the right to recoil when bitten.

  Even more than she hated Caelia and her cruel treatment, she hated herself.

  Herself, who was the cause of all of her problems. The cause of others’ problems.

  If she were not here, if Eris had never usurped ‘Eris,’ then no problems would have arisen.

  She had been so selfish as to reap ‘Eris’s’ body and life, and continuing her avarice, she had the self-centered hypocrisy to loathe her punishment.

  She was a greedy woman, who devoured lives without regard, longed for compassion in return, and lamented the consequences.

  That was Eris, whom she hated.

  Caelia: “Go in there and ask for master Carlos’s order. They should already know what that is. Tell them to put it on his tab.”

  Eris: “R-Right…”

  Eris followed Caelia’s point, which was designating a small shop at the corner of the muddy street. The sign was just of ‘General Store.’

  Eris: “And, what will you be doing?”

  Caelia’s eyebrow shot up at Eris's question, something glistening in her eye.

  Caelia: “Not that it should interest you, I’m going to the apothecary and the tailor.”

  Caelia spoke those words with a cutting edge.

  Eris simply nodded, biting her lip. Something boiled inside her. She hadn't really felt anger before, but this new ‘hatred’ in her brought that new emotion forward.

  As Eris turned her back on Caelia and headed towards the store, she felt something wrap around her legs.

  Eris: “Eek~!”

  A visceral reaction took over her. She imagined the worst things it could be. Snakes, sentient vines, tendrils from a beast, a whip from an angry villager.

  Hesitantly looking down, expecting one of the things that she had just imagined, her gaze fell on a bush of pink. The bush swayed back and forth, like it was being spun.

  Eris: “Umm, excuse me…”

  The bush was not in fact a plant, but hair. Pink hair of a young boy who, upon Eris saying that, raised his head to look up at her.

  The boy, wrapped around Eris's leg, had a big toothy grin across his face. Eris's anger was swept away like a wave, gazing upon the boy’s adorable face.

  Boy: “Mish Erish! You’re byack!”

  Eris: “Mish…Erish?”

  That word, ‘Mish,’ Or, since the little boy's face was pressed against her leg, and he pronounced Eris as ‘Erish,’ perhaps he meant ‘miss.’

  Either way, having a strange and respectful word attached to her name was something unexpected to Eris. She found it silly. Mish, or miss, was a strange thing to say to Eris, who was a lowly maid.

  She started giggling at the little boy with pink hair, who tilted his head at her as she did so.

  Boy: “Mish Erish? Ish there shomething wrong?”

  Despite having her leg restrained by the boy's grip around it, she did not feel the need to free herself.

  Eris: “Nope, there's nothing wrong.”

  She smiled down at him, placing her hand in his pastel hair and patting him.

  The boy removed himself from her leg, so his cheeks were not pressed against her.

  Boy: “Eh? But, it does seem like there is something wrong.”

  Eris: “Ah? There does?”

  The boy reached up and took Eris's wrist from atop his head, holding on to it tightly.

  Boy: “You’re acting a bit different, Miss Eris.”

  Eris: “I am?— Oh, right. I am.”

  What would be the best choice here? Lying to a child was a betrayal of their trust in adults. However, telling this boy, who appeared to be rather fond of ‘Eris,’ that the girl who he thought he was speaking to was now dead, also seemed like a terrible idea.

  She was not sure if the little boy could truly grasp that ‘Eris’ no longer existed regardless. If it was a struggle for the dutiful Seraphine and the mature Petra, then how could this small child comprehend it?

  Eris: “Well, you could say I’m just not quite feeling myself lately.”

  Boy: “Your…self? What does that mean, Miss Eris?”

  Eris: “Hm…”

  Eris placed a finger on her chin as she thought of the best way to say it. She knew not why, but something about this boy disarmed her, and made her act as if she were a different girl. Another stranger had taken this body over. How many would do so?

  Eris: “I guess… I’m feeling rather forgetful.”

  The boy’s eyes widened for a moment, but then he took on a grin.

  Boy: “If you’re feeling down because you're forgetful, then you should make some new memories so you don't have to miss the old ones.”

  Eris: “Eh?”

  The boy placed a hand over his small chest, puffing it out as to appear big. His fluffy pink hair catching wind.

  Boy: “If you’re feeling forgetful, then my name is Eitz! Don't forget it again, because I’m going to be very important soon.”

  Eris’s breath had been physically taken from her, and she placed her own hand over her chest. The little boy in front of her, Eitz, with a huge grin, had proved his maturity in a way that Eris believed she did not possess herself.

  Eris: “Eitz… I won't forget it again. Especially since you’re going to become so important, it’d be pretty bad if I couldn't remember it.”

  Eitz: “Hm, maybe I made a mistake.”

  Eris: “Huh?”

  Eitz: “You're acting a lot like normal again. That’s definitely something you’d say, Miss Eris.”

  Eris, feeling a twitch in her eye, gave another smile at Eitz, and patted his head once more.

  Eris: “I see. Well, I guess I'm alright then, huh?”

  She said that calmly, though she did not feel ‘alright.’ Her words were merely comforting the child. Of course, Eitz did not need comforting, as he seemed rather sure of himself.

  ???: “Eris!”

  Eris: “Eek!”

  A cold voice called out to her, causing Eris to flinch. The voice was Caelia’s, who held annoyance in her voice. More than usual.

  Caelia: “Why haven't you even stepped foot in the store?”

  Eris: “I got distracted— no, I had to speak with Eitz.”

  She realized that she went back on her promise, and got distracted again. However, admitting that she had gotten distracted would most likely bring on more animosity from Caelia.

  Eitz: “Uh-oh, Miss Eris, did I get you in trouble?”

  Eris: “No, no. She’s just mad all the time, so it can't be helped.”

  The boy grimaced, saying ‘yeesh,’ and widened his eyes.

  Caelia: “You continue to prove to be a liability.”

  With that, Caelia took Eris’s sleeve and pulled her along into the general store. The door swung open, the bell ringing through the warmly lit shop.

  As Caelia pulled Eris up to the counter, she glanced behind her. Eitz was following the two, watching them with a studious face.

  The counter was devoid of any clerk. In fact, the whole store was empty. The sign outside said ‘open,’ and the door was unlocked, so it was doubtful that they were closed.

  Caelia reached over the counter, ringing the bell. When nobody came, she rang it repeatedly.

  A gray feeling rose in Eris’s spine.

  Caelia’s impatience, ringing that bell repeatedly, what would it help? The clerk was not here, and it only served to annoy her and Eitz.

  Eitz: “Silver lady, I don't think Mister Tiek is here today.”

  Caelia: “Nonsense. The shop is open, where else would he be?”

  Eris looked down at the boy, who matched her gaze. They both shared a grimace at Caelia’s response.

  Caelia: “And my name is Caelia, not silver lady. So call me that.”

  Eitz: “Miss Caelia...”

  Caelia: “Just Caelia. Caelia is my first name, so saying ‘Miss’ doesn't even make sense.”

  Eris felt Eitz’s hand clutch her skirt, and looking down at him, the boy held a discontent look in his face. She let him take that discontent out on the fabric of her uniform, and gave him a pat on the head.

  Eris’s discontent grew too. She understood Caelia’s crudeness to Eris, but why to this adorable young boy who had done nothing but be charming?

  The glass door behind the counter suddenly swung open, and an aging man with a square face and red hair stepped up to the counter.

  He held a look in distress, sweat beading down his blemished face.

  Clerk: “What… can I do for you?”

  Caelia: “Carlos’s order… however—”

  Clerk: “However?”

  Eris also was surprised by Caelia's self interjection.

  Caelia: “You seem to be rather disturbed. Not to mention you were not behind the counter when we came in.”

  Clerk: “Sorry, sorry about that. A lot of things are… going on right now.”

  The man cleared his throat, dabbing his face with a rag.

  Caelia: “Like what? What is ailing you?”

  Eris tilted her own head this time. She could not tell if this was Caelia’s coarseness, or a benevolence she had not revealed until now.

  Clerk: “It’s nothing. Nothing related to the store. So, what can I help you with?”

  Eitz: "Something's the matter with Mister Tiek.”

  The young boy said that while tugging at Eris’s sleeve. Eris nodded at him. She of course noticed what the boy had pointed out, but she was still in the speculation stage, rather than the acting stage.

  Caelia: “As servants of the Schwartzhardt household, we, by extent, carry our master’s vow of protection over this village. If there is something that compromises the well-being of Velna’s citizens, it is our responsibility.”

  Mister Tiek, the clerk behind the counter, stared at Caelia with his mouth slightly open. Eris, too, had a similar reaction. Though Caelia put the words through an icy filter, her words insisted on helping.

  Eris: “It’s true… We want to help if something is wrong.”

  She did not have a way with words like Caelia did, but still she asserted her own lukewarm opinion.

  Eitz: “Me too, of course! I’m going to be a hero, after all.”

  Mr. Tiek took a sharp breath, scratching at his wrinkled neck.

  Mister Tiek: “Well, I guess any help is good. It’s our son. He’s been missing since last night. He said he’d be back home for bed, but he never returned.”

  Eitz: “Rory?”

  Eris’s breath hitched. A young boy— she assumed young, missing. She looked down at the pink haired Eitz, whose grip tightened on the frills of her sleeve. If he knew Mister Tiek’s son by name, they must be close. It made sense, after all it was a small town and the children most likely all knew each other.

  Caelia: “He went out, then? Where does he usually like to play?”

  Caelia crossed her arms, bringing her finger to her chin.

  Mr. Tiek: “I’m not sure. I don't join him, after all.”

  Eitz: “Me, Rory, and the others usually play out by the grass patch across the stables!”

  Caelia: “The stables, I think I get it now.”

  Eris did not think she got it, however. Of course, she did not know the layout of Velna. Her best theory was that it had something to do with horses, but that was only because stables were mentioned.

  Eris: “We should start looking there, then, right? Unless you have any other clues, Mister Tiek?”

  The clerk, face pale and sweating, shook his head.

  Caelia stepped past Eris, opening the door and glancing at her as she did so.

  Caelia: “Come, now. The boy has been out in the rain overnight, he may not be well.”

  It was Eitz who heeded that command first, pulling Eris along by the arm. The boy had a surprising amount of strength, though Eris would have no struggle resisting him if she tried.

  Eitz: “I didn't notice until now, but it's true that I haven't seen Rory this morning. It’s weird that he wouldn't come back home. Especially ‘cause he doesn't like the dark.”

  Eris: “That poor boy.”

  Caelia: “Thinking about it like that won't help anything. We should start at the stables.”

  Caelia said that, even though they were already heading towards them.

  Caelia’s sharp tongue was the thing that wouldn't help anyone, Eris believed. There was nothing wrong with feeling bad for somebody, especially a child. But there was something wrong with pushing empathy away for no reason than to uphold a stern image.

  That was Eris's image of Caelia. A painter of her own self image. She presented herself as a sharp-tongued, stern woman who got her things done without complaint.

  That was an annoying thing to Eris. She hated hating Caelia, but Caelia only made it harder to not be hated. Isn’t it Caelia’s fault, then, that Eris hates her? Since Eris hates her because of her rudeness, and her rudeness is a self constructed performance?

  What—

  …Just what was she thinking?

  Eris reached up and pulled on her own hair. The sharp, eye-watering pain that stung her scalp brought punishment for her own thoughts.

  She was already bad enough to hate a woman only doing what's natural, and now she was trying to justify that hatred.

  And how hypocritical can she be? Even if it was true that Caelia put on airs, Eris did so tenfold, did she not?

  Not only was she playing the biggest act of all, living in the body of ‘Eris,’ but she hid her own true feelings inside as well. She hated Caelia, feared her. Felt burdened by Seraphine, who poured her aching heart onto Eris. She mistrusted Aíma, diligent and dutiful as she was. Yet she acted as if she was indifferent or receiving them.

  These thoughts which she tried to avoid, bounced in Eris’s head, driving forth the nausea which she knew they would result in.

  Caelia knelt down in the mud across from the stables. The bright green grass swaying in the damp, cool breeze. Eitz dropped down to his knees in the mud next to her, looking at the same spot she was.

  Eris: “Is there a sign of him?”

  Caelia: “Footprints, but as the child says, many children play here. It does not have to be Rory’s.”

  Eitz: “I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up…”

  Eris, unable to help herself, comforted the dejected boy with a gentle pat on the back.

  Eris: “It’s okay. There's no way we won't find him.”

  Eitz: “That’s pretty optimistic for you, Miss Eris. Oh wait, you did say you weren't feeling yourself.”

  Caelia stood up from her squat, gazing across the field. The view was interrupted by the walls which surrounded the entire village.

  Caelia: “I didn't really want to do this, since… I can't trust you to not get lost. But, it would be far more efficient for us to search separately. Since you are less effective, you should take the boy who knows the land.”

  Eitz placed his hand over his puffed out chest.

  Eitz: “Not that I like you saying such things about my Lady, but I don't have any complaints about being relied on!”

  Eris: “Your Lady?”

  Eitz: “Fufu~.”

  The young pink haired boy gave Eris a cocky grin, as his small hand slid into hers.

  Caelia: “That works. You shall grow to be a fine young man.”

  Eris & Eitz: “Eh?”

  Caelia’s surprisingly sincere words were possibly the most unexpected thing that happened today.

  Caelia, rolling up her sleeves, closed her eyes in a prideful way.

  Caelia: “Though, maybe you should pick a Lady who will not forget you.”

  Eitz: “There isn't a worry about that anymore. She promised that she wouldn't forget again. I’m going to be very important, after all.”

  Eris felt her hand tighten around Eitz, but failed to release the pressure in time before—

  Eitz: “Ak!”

  Eris: “Sorry!”

  The Maids of

  Count Schwartzhardt's Manor

  The two walked side by side as Eitz rubbed his hand.

  Eris: “I didn't break your hand, did I?”

  Eitz: “That would be pretty embarrassing if it were the case, so luckily not.”

  Eris often found herself giggling in the presence of the boy, despite her mood and situation.

  Eris: “Again, I’m really sorry. I guess I just did it because I was so focused.”

  Eitz: “Hmm, I get it. You’re really worried about Rory, aren't you?”

  Eris: “On Rory, yes… I was.”

  Eris: “——”

  Eitz: “——”

  Eris: “Ahem… anyways, tell me about Rory. Is there anything you can think of that would make him not come home?”

  Eitz put his unhurt hand to his cheek, humming a thought out.

  Eitz: “Hmmm, well… maybe it’s not much— but, Rory can get very curious. So, maybe he saw something while out and about and got lost going after it? But, he is kind of a scaredy-cat, so maybe not…”

  Eris: “So, you’re saying he might have left the village? I get it, since if he were in Velna somebody probably would have found him.”

  Eitz: “That’s true, but…”

  Eris: “But?”

  Eitz: “I’m not sure if I’d like to leave the village. I heard it’s pretty dangerous in the forest.”

  Eris: “Then it’s even more important that we find Rory fast! But, if the forest is dangerous, I couldn't bring you in there in good conscience.”

  Eitz huffed as Eris made that claim. He crossed his small arms, glaring up at Eris.

  Eitz: “That's no good! I’m supposed to be your hero, not the other way around.”

  Eris: “My hero? When did that become the case?”

  Eitz: “Hmph. Of course, you forgot that, too. But it doesn't matter.”

  Eris didn't even have the chance to spiral again. Eitz turned around and extended a finger towards Eris’s nose. He wasn't close to reaching, but the attempt was recognized.

  Eitz: “I’m going to be a very important person. A knight, or hero, something like that. And every knight needs a lady!”

  Eris: “Is that, right..?”

  She let out a small little giggle at that too, making the boy’s rosy cheeks puff out further.

  Eitz: “That wasn't supposed to be funny. You'll see!”

  Eris: “No, no. That wasn't my intention. I believe you, really. You already exemplify many heroic qualities.”

  Eitz’s amethyst eyes lit up from that statement. He clutched his fists together, standing on the tip of his toes as he beamed towards Eris.

  Eitz: “Really? You think so?”

  Eris: “Well, I think so. I haven't really met many heroes.”

  Eitz: “Except for me!”

  Eris: “Yes. You're my first hero. Those are pretty big shoes to fill, so you better be a good, true hero, okay?”

  Eitz, despite being a child, was easy to talk to. His words never staked Eris's heart, and she felt no pressure to be ‘Eris’ around him, despite her knowing he still is speaking to ‘Eris.’ Even if that were not the case, the boy did not grasp Eris’s amnesia completely.

  Being seen as a valued Lady, too, soothed Eris, despite ‘Eris’ being the ‘Lady’ Eitz had in mind.

  Eitz nodded vigorously, then suddenly, he stopped to clear his throat.

  Eitz: “Well, then I should lead the search! And I’m not scared of the woods, either, just so you know.”

  Eris: “Maybe you should stay out of the woods, though!”