Conversation

Cobbled roads sprawling through a township of wood stone and metal, the sun has already risen as the streets are occupied with the urging tasks of people living their day-to-day lives. Walking, chattering, laughing, interacting in all of their unity unaware of my observing presence, just when did I? Did I just slip into another one? My head's still feeling a bit fuzzy... that breeze sweeping in between the houses, this floral scent it feels nostalgic maybe? Just oh so faintly familiar, but there's something that I just can't put my finger on, I should follow it. Past this street, the road opens up to a wavy scape off hills bathed in the color purple from its numerous spurts, strange pointy pieces of growth ending in almost mantle like flower buds, and somewhere in the far distance atop of one of the hills, there's the shade of some building standing tall enough so its upper floors peak forth between the flurry of quivering palets.

Behind me, I sense them again, those slashes of wings breaking through the quiet harmony in front and the busy bustle from behind, those two winged shadows observing me, their unnaturally long appendages wrapped around them as coats standing motionlessly on one of the city housetops like they've didn't just land but had stood there all along with their empty indiscernible faces, the brand within my palm is heating up but this time it isn't painful but somehow... it just feels forlorn. My vision, is it growing blurry? The creeping darkness consuming my surroundings, every time I'm taken aback by its sudden nature, even after all this time when I should have grown somewhat used to it, but I never can.

The light is flowing back, my body enveloped by soft linen and coarse bandages, the feathery spring from the bed holding me in a warm comforting embrace. The window from earlier is still open, ushering in that sweet floral scent carried by the warmth of the sun, by the bedside... No one, not that bright man, the tall one, or that strange old man, am I being left alone? Is this how it is going to... Wait, steps, steps coming from the hallway, that light wooden door half-open, from the bedside I can nearly spy into the corridor beyond, from what I can see it seems just as bright and open as this room. There are other notes in the air now besides the whiff of flowers, something mild and alluring giving away a sneaking hint of heat, the steps outside have drawn so close, there's a hand reaching out pulling the rest of the door open, that bright blonde hair, James was it? He is holding some sort of tray in his right hand, on the tray, a bowl of something steaming.

"You're up earlier than expected, feeling any better?" He is smiling such a reassuring smile, the rest of my body... faint, a bit numb, but there's no pain *Nod*

"Oh, that reminds me of something." He's placing the tray on the bedside table pulling something white from his pocket, it, could it be? It is a compact collection of bound yet blank pages, and in his left a dark pointed pen.

"Told you I would get you some later, now we can talk after you've gotten some food, you must be famished." Famished? Oh, beyond the numbness there's that churning yearn for food, leaving my lips wet, I'm already salivating as my stomach twists uncomfortably *Nod*.

"Then let's not keep you waiting, but take care since it's still quite hot." His hands are planted on my back, supporting me as I lean up in a sitting position, a benevolent caring gesture, he doesn't even know me... him and the others, why are they giving me this care when we're outside within such a dangerous world? Uh? This warmth, when did the tray get placed over my lap?

"I wonder what was on your mind just now, but we'll take that after don't you agree?" That smile of his is not just reaching his lips and cheeks, it's swimming through the gleam of his green eyes too. Yeah, we should talk after, I got so much to ask *Nod*

My right hand's a bit shaky, but the soft contents of the bowl remain firm in the spoon as I take the first bite, it is warm, but the texture and taste is so mild and clean with hints of salt and herbs, it just glides from the spoon, over my tongue to all the way down, I just can't stop myself, it just flows into me filling the empty ache inside my stomach. Uh? When did the bowl turn empty? From the bedside, a slight chuckle, did that man just laugh?

"Ah, sorry, that look you had on your face right there just reminded me of my youngest daughter getting a bit lost after ravaging a portion when she's hungry." He has a daughter? I wonder how she's like.

"I'll get you another portion later, how about we start our little chat?" Yes, we should, paper, paper, ah he put it on the bedside table too, the touch of the pen feels a bit chilly against my fingertips.

("Where are we? How did I get here?") Which one will he answer first? His look hasn't wavered one bit from before, he was probably expecting these.

"You got here when me my friend Abel and Maryon found you on the Crioch roadside just outside the forest, you were badly injured so we brought you with us to a friend of the family, someone we knew could help you."

("Arthur?") Crioch, why does it sound so familiar?

"Yes, he owns this clinic Alchemilla hill, it is on the outskirts of Caria Hills."

("Clinic?") His brows, they're frowning a bit, almost like they question what I just said.

"A clinic is like a small private hospital, it is made to help people recover when they are either sick or injured, which brings me to my question to you, don't worry you won't have to answer at first if you don't want to... How did you end up at the roadside there? The nearest town is about 20 kilometers away at the least, where are your parents?" Parents... towns, he is speaking about them as I should have had them, why? My hands are shaking more than usual, the anxious vibrations are even reaching my left wing tip.

("They are dead, I ran from the forest") That gaze, several glimpses of sympathy lining his vivid eyes.

"I apologize, I wish the great maker is with them. I won't ask more if it's too hard on you." Kindness so similar... but I'm putting off what I wanted to ask the most, what I truly must know.

("Why did you guys risk helping me? What about the dangers? The descents?") Wait, that look, it is not just his brows this time but his sparkling eyes seem questioning and lost.

"What do you mean?"