Chapter 107 Maiden

Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, Morgan has finally fully ascended the stairs of the cliff.

She leaned against the red gates that lined the path as she caught her breath and let her legs rest for a moment.

After taking a few seconds to rest herself, she continued on her way.

The top of the cliff is a flat open space, filled with nice flowers and trees to provide shade under the still rising sun.

Morgan walked through the garden via the ornate pathway, looking at her final destination.

At the end of the one and only pathway, a walled off section of land housed a few pink-leafed trees that Morgan can see poking out of the tops of the walls.

Although it was surrounded by walls, there was no gate. It's entrance way was wide open, allowing the aroma of the flowers outside to enter the place with the help of the friendly wind.

As Morgan stood in the entrance, she looked down the wide, yet linear pathway that's surrounded by cherry blossoms that offered their leaves to Morgan, almost like they noticed her presence and let their leaves fall to the ground to make a sort of carpet for her to walk on.

All the leaves, the flowers, the trees, the pathway, and even the wind all pointed in a single direction. The small, quite, building resting at the end of the walkway, overlooking the city by having no walls at the edge of the cliff where it rested.

Although the scenery is calming, Morgan didn't let her guard down and remained vigilant. As she cautiously walked down the pathway, ever so slow and methodical.

As the wind blew onto the cherry trees once more, shaving just a little more of their leaves, Morgan reached out to her side, only for her hand to grasp air.

After realizing what she thought that was there wasn't really there, she returned her hands close to her body.

After that, she then clung to her clothes, her unfamiliar clothes. And for a split second, an expression of loneliness, realization, bitterness, and longing, showed upon Morgan's once emotionless face.

And almost as quick as it appeared, her expression changed into a blank, emotionless one as she took a deep breath, composing herself and surrounding herself with an aura that demanded respect and awe.

At the corner of her eye, she saw a twig from one of the trees laying on the ground.

As her face remained ever so cool, she knelt down and tried to pick it up.

But before she could pick it up, a voice called out. "Is there someone there?"

Immediately, Morgan calmly backed away and searched for the source of the voice. She then found herself looking at the lone building on the cliff.

The building, that looked more like a house, had a nice little wooden balcony area that wrapped around the entire building.

It's walls are made from a buck of laquered pieces of wood put together in a masterful way. Atop it's tiled roof, Morgan can just see ever so slightly a yellow piece of metal ornament, but the trees and their leaves that over hung over the place prevented her from seeing it all.

In the middle of the building, like the non-existant gate, the main door is gone, but more like there was never one in the first place.

In it's place, a blind decorated with flowers and the sun looming above sat just ever so slightly inside, letting Morgan see some of the contents of the building.

A few decorations, a fair few flower pots, and most importantly, even though she could barely make it out thanks to being far away and the light of the sun against her eyes, she saw a beautiful blade, in it's scabbard, resting on a sort of decorative piece.

But then, Morgan's eyes picked up movement. The movement came from within the blind, or more specifically, the shadow of the person that made it's way onto it, somewhat glowing thanks to the sun just behind the person.

Morgan's insticts kicked in and it told her to go hide.

As she carefully but hastily made her way behind one of the trunks of the trees, the voice then asked in a louder more clear voice. "Is there anyone there?"

"Umm..."

As Morgan peeked just ever so slightly, she saw the feminine figure, that she knows thanks to the figure's voice and body structure, seemingly deliberating with themself.

After a few seconds, the person behind the blind then said. "I never did like these blinds." Before she kicked them onto the ground, producing a bit of a large thud.

As the blind was now laying on the ground before her, Morgan can now see the person behind it in their entirety.

It was a rather small young lady, about a few inches shorter than Morgan, wearing a pure white dress with little reds here and there to break it up.

Her long, black hair is tied in a neat manner, showing off her beautiful face in all of it's glory. As her pinkish eyes reflected the surroundings she was currently scanning.

But, even though she was essentially a very beautiful lady, her looks and the way she carries herself was not the thing that caught Morgan's eye.

On the woman's pretty face, a rather large cut, which has long healed now, rested on her left cheek, ruining her rather perfect face.

After the woman with the pink eyes remained motionless for a few seconds, scanning the surrounding with a hawk-like gaze searching for their prey, she opened her mouth and calmly said. "You there. Behind the third tree on the right. Show yourself."

Morgan, who was behind the third tree on the woman's right, did not show any reactions whatsoever. Instead, she calmly retraced the steps she took to get there with her eyes.

She then saw the things that gave her away. A few pink leaves, laying in such chaotic way compared to the rest.

Morgan then concluded that it was caused by her body moving and gathering air, moving the leaves out of the way ever so slightly.

After this, without a single bit of hesitation and emotion, Morgan left the tree and revealed herself with her empty hands being shown clearly.

As the woman in the building took a long, hard look at Morgan, she asked. "Why did you hide from me?"

To which Morgan immediately replied. "You scared me. It was so tranquil and quiet then I suddenly heard your voice."

Looking a bit taken aback by Morgan's immediate answer, the young lady then gracefully bowed her head saying. "If that's the case... I'm deeply sorry for disturbing you."

"There's nothing to apologise about."

"Ah, thank you."

"..."

"Now then, can I ask what you are doing here? It's a bit unusual for me to receive visitors since no one would willingly climb those stairs."

Morgan then calmly and emotionlessly replied. "I was here a few years back, and I was rather fond of this place thanks to it's view of the city. I was just curious to see a building has been built here."

Feeling suddenly a little bit flustered, the young lady then gracefully bowed once more before she said. "Hello, I am Hanabi. I have taken up this place as my permanent residence, so please, make yourself comfortable."

Morgan just gave her a little nod.

As Morgan was about to turn and leave, Hanabi then said with a smile. "Can I ask for your name?"

Morgan turned back before saying. "Mo-"

But before she could finish her sentence, she thought to herself. "Should I tell her my real name or come up with a fake one?"

But, before Morgan can make a split second decision, Hanabi then said with a bliss-filled expression. "Mo-chan it is."

Morgan was snapped out of her thought process as a small hint of surprise showed on her face. But, like before, it disappeared after only existing for a moment.

Now looking blank and emotionless, Morgan then said. "What ever you wish."

Seemingly happy with Morgan's response, Hanabi walked out of the inside of the building and entered the balcony area. She then said with a pure, friendly smile. "Would you kindly accompany me in a little chat, Mo-chan? It's rather lonely up here."

After a few seconds of just blankly staring back at her, seemingly thinking to herself, Morgan replied. "I'll kindly take you up on that offer."

As Morgan casually yet cautiously approached the building where Hanabi resides, Hanabi went inside and grabbed a pair of pillows from inside.

As she placed the pillow onto the wooden balcony with some space between them, she asked. "You wouldn't mind if we talked outside, right? It is a rather nice day, I'd rather not spend in a cramped room."

As she continued her approach, Morgan just shook her head."

As Hanabi took a seat on one of the pillows, Morgan began ascending the stairs of the balcony.

The wood creaked as she began placing her weight onto it, feeling like it was screaming with an untold amount of fee1ling just waiting to blow.

But before it could blow, Morgan placed her weight onto her other foot.

A few moments later, Morgan sat down on her pillow, directly facing Hanabi who sat within arms reach.

As Hanabi was about to speak, Morgan noticed a furball approaching them. She remained cool and composed as she watched the furball willingly enter Hanabi's grasp.

Hanabi then picked up the furball, without seemingly surprised at all by it's sudden appearance as she said. "Ri-chan, where have you been all this time?"

But, the only response Hanabi received was a stare from the furball.

Then, Morgan, looking a bit uncomfortable yet remained calm and composed, asked. "Is that a dog or a cat?"

"Uhhhh..." Hanabi did not immediately answered Morgan's question and just stared at Ri-chan. She then decided to ask. "Ri-chan, are you a dog or a cat? Bark for dog and meow for cat."

Ri-chan, who has the body of a cat and the face of a dog, just stared at Hanabi with it's typical cute animal eyes.

"Aachoo!"

Hanabi nearly dropped Ri-chan as she thought that it sneezed on her. But, she immediately realized that Ri-chan wasn't the one that sneezed.

As Hanabi peered just a tiny bit past Ri-chan that she was holding, she saw Morgan, pressing both hands onto her mouth and nose as her eyes where closed shut.

Morgan then opened her eyes, feeling a bit itchy, she leaned back a bit as she said with her voice sounding a bit raspy. "A cat. Definately a cat."

"Oh, oh! I see, let me just place Ri-chan over here while I go and grab you some water and some herbs." Hanabi said, looking like she figured something out.

She placed Ri-chan a bit away from Morgan before heading inside the building. Leaving Morgan to just sit there.

After taking the things necessary to help out Morgan, she returned. Only to be surprised at what she saw.

She saw Morgan, with a hint of a smile on her face, dangling a tree branch with a few leaves on it over Ri-chan, who was playing with it.

As Morgan did this, she kept her distance away from Ri-chan.

"He!" Hanabi let out a little giggle before placing the things she gathered for Morgan beside her before she returned to her seat with a smile on her face.