Book 13: Chapter 16
I didn’t return to the forest I first arrived at in this world. My body’s physical sensations were eventually restored. I smelt the unique natural smell of wood. A sensation from my lower body reassured me. It was a totally different feeling to the waves. On the back of my head was a soft cloth material that emitted a fragrant scent. I seemed to be lying on flowers. I heard gurgling sounds by my ear; I thought something was boiling.
I slowly opened my eyes. Overhead was a red wooden roof. I turned over to look in the direction of the wind blowing. What I saw was a large window… Actually, it resembled an open folding door. Outside the building was a gradient red and orange sunset. A bright flame accompanied the clouds in the sky. The lantern hanging on the door gently swayed in the wind. At the centre of the courtyard was a huge tree. An overwhelming number of pink flower petals reflected the setting sun, generating a fiery scene.
*Clink*
I heard the sound of porcelain clink next to me. I immediately turned over to see a white soft yarn. A soft and slender pair of hands picked up a clay pot on the small flame. The heat inside the pot cheerfully burst forth. The soft pair of hands gently poured the brown liquid inside of the pot out into the porcelain bowl in front.
I turned my head again. Her long black hair resembled a black waterfall. From the side, her face was radiant white. Her eyes weren’t on me. Kneeling next to me, she gently picked up a tray with a bowl containing several things inside. She then picked up a grind stone. She slowly ground and stirred away.
I wanted to speak, but I decided it was better not to when I went to speak. I didn’t want to disturb the breathtaking beauty. I saw the sunset, ancient tree, bright flowers, steam that whisked up from the pot, soft and slender hands of the beauty, and gentle eyes of the beauty.
She turned to face me, allowing me to see the front of her face for the first time. Underneath her long black hair was a stunning indifferent face. Her appearance differed to Nier and Lucia; her face was the type I often saw when I was still alive. She had the small and delicate face of an individual of Asian heritage, and it certainly gave off that vibe. Her eyes were the same type of red as Ling Yue’s. They were a darker shade compared to Ling Yue’s bright red eyes, though.
As if she was a statue, she didn’t wear a smile, concern or any emotion on her face. She looked at the world indifferently and silently as though she didn’t care about anything in the world.
We looked at each other. She didn’t say anything. She reached her hand out to help me up. She carried a familiar scent on her. I thought I smelt her scent somewhere before. It wasn’t the scent of flowers, and, if I was correct, it was a scent I often smelt when I was still alive.