Chapter 38 : Chapter 38
Volume 2, Chapter 7. Four Children
Rona was a rather plain-looking child. She was quite tall—among the children she stood like a little giant, lanky and thin.
Her reddish-brown hair was tied into a thick braid that hung down her back, looking like it would hurt if she swung it into someone’s face.
After helping her father Nicola sort through the day’s harvest, she told her family something briefly and went out.
After all, she had already noticed Joey sneaking glances at her earlier, and had seen the hand signal he made—the secret gesture that had once belonged only to them, back when they had been inseparable.
It had been so long since she had last seen that signal.
Thinking this, Rona couldn’t help but smile faintly, that little smile brightening her otherwise plain face.
“Rona? Hey, Rona!”
On the way, another girl suddenly popped out. She was small, so beside tall Rona the two looked like a giant and a dwarf, almost like a little bird beside a tall tree, inspiring instinctive affection.
“Wah! A-ah, what is it, Ilo?”
Startled by the smaller girl, Rona smiled as she asked.
This black-haired girl was quite strange. She often did unexpected things, yet always with control—never too much, never enough to make others dislike her. Her blue eyes, said to be inherited from her mother, were like a deep lake, impossible to read. Her lips often held a faint smile, that easy, natural expression masking her face like a perfect yet childish poker face.
Ilo circled around Rona once, sniffing. “Something’s off about you today, Rona!”
“Eh, eh?”
Hugging her arms nervously, Rona asked curiously, “What’s wrong with me today?”
“Hmph...”
Frowning, Ilo must have thought the first circle wasn’t enough, so she walked around her again. “I don’t know, it just feels like you’re strange! But...”
Suddenly leaning in close, sniffing near Rona’s neck, Ilo grinned. “So fragrant! The smell of forest, the scent of herbs... and Rona’s own scent!”
“Ah, really... Ilo, don’t tease me...”
Half-shy and half-annoyed, Rona pushed her away. “Where’s your father, not home?”
“Mm, that’s right!”
Ilo nodded indifferently. “Rona, you know already, right? That guy’s home maybe a day and a half in a month! Honestly, I think it’d be better if he didn’t come back at all!”
Ilo’s father was infamous in the village as a loafer. Ilo herself had been born from one of his careless mistakes. Her mother had died young from illness, and her father paid little mind to his daughter. This small child had grown up suffering countless hardships, saved only by the kindness of many villagers. Otherwise, she might not have survived.
“Don’t say things like that carelessly... If others hear, it won’t be good.”
Rona’s eyes dimmed slightly. Looking at the sky, she exclaimed, “Ah no, I still have something to do. Time’s running short... Ilo, go home first. I’ll bring you some vegetables later!”
“Ah? Oh, okay.”
Watching Rona hurry away, Ilo remained where she was. Her smile slowly faded, until only the faintest curve lingered on her lips.
“So Rona has things of her own too~”
Her fingertips brushed her lips. Ilo murmured with a half-smile, “Well, someone like me doesn’t have the right to meddle anyway~ After all, I smelled that faint fragrance of longing. How sweet...”
She almost wanted to follow.
“Hey, Ilo?”
“Mm, yes!”
A villager greeted her kindly. Ilo responded politely enough, but at the edge of her vision she kept watching Rona’s direction.
Rona turned a corner and vanished... Ilo decided she would wander that way later.
...
“Sorry... I’m late!”
Panting lightly, Rona ran to the meeting spot.
This was outside the village, closer to the small town. On both sides lay gently rolling green fields, with a shallow stream running between. A stone bridge crossed it.
Beneath the bridge were places one could stand. Joey and Rona had once spent wonderful times there together.
Would those times be resumed and continued, or left buried as memories? Leticia felt that today would bring the answer.
“Rona!”
Seeing her figure, Joey was clearly thrilled. He stepped forward a couple of paces, then stopped, his face flushing red. “Th-thank you!”
“Eh, eh?!”
Rona blinked in surprise. “Th-then... why thank me?”
“B-because you saw me, and remembered our signal...”
Joey’s voice grew quieter and quieter. “I’m really, really happy!”
This atmosphere... if she stayed here, she’d only be spoiling the moment.
So Leticia walked over, patted Joey on the shoulder—both to cut the growing embarrassment, and to remind him to say what he needed to say. “Good luck.”
“Ah, okay, thank you!”
Only then did Joey realize he’d never asked this strange boy’s name.
“It’s fine.”
Leticia walked away, leaving the two children to their explanation.
After all, she already knew Rona’s family made medicine. There was no rush. You couldn’t escape a temple—why hurry now?
Besides, she had ways to pass the time—chatting with that brat Stano, keeping the books.
Sitting casually on the grass a short distance away, Leticia gazed at the bubbling stream, watching the little fish and shrimp flit in the water.
“Ah, who are you?”
Just as she was about to speak with Stano, a voice sounded behind her.
Turning her head, she saw a small girl. Quite pretty, though thin, her hands and feet covered with scars and calluses. Her black hair was smooth, cut to her shoulders, her blue eyes bright with curiosity like a mirror.
She tilted her head slightly, smiling faintly. “I’ve never seen you before.”
Disgusting...
“I haven’t seen you either. Who are you?”
Leticia looked at her coldly. For some reason, the first sight of her stirred an inexplicable dislike, a feeling this person wasn’t good.
“Ah, I’m Ilo.”
Tapping her forehead, Ilo said with sudden realization, “All right, now you know me. So what about you?”
“Me?”
Leticia’s eyes narrowed slightly, then she put on a gentle smile. “I’m Stano.”