Chapter 5: Ezor's Household

It took about an hour, but we got to Ezor's home, and my guess that he was a farmer by his clothes was correct. We passed the land he worked on and stopped next to a well-kept small single-story cabin-style house.

"It ain't much, but it's home!" Ezor said as he stopped the wagon.

"It looks like a lovely home, Ezor," Lulu added as he helped us down.

"Why, thank you, little lady."

We all made our way into the house, and from the kitchen in the back, we could smell something absolutely delicious. Both Lulu and I were about to start drooling, maybe even go on the attack for the food, when Ezor told us he would introduce us to his wife.

"Ali? I brought home two guests."

Ezor's wife, Ali, walked out, and I had to hold back my shock when I saw a beautiful human woman in a blue dress and white apron walk out of the kitchen to greet us. Ezor appeared to examine how I was reacting, and we both seemingly moved to Lulu, who had glitter in her eyes.

"Wow, you're gorgeous! Ezor, you have an excellent eye," Lulu burst out.

"No, my dear," Ali said, "I'm the one with good eyes. Ezor is just a meathead that didn't realize I was in love with him until I outright told him for the fourth time."

"Ali, it wasn't four times."

"Right, it was five! You damn boy!"

She punched him in the arm and looked up at him as he looked at her, and if I didn't know any better, I would swear sparks flew out of them.

"I think they forgot we're here," I whispered to Lulu.

"I mean, wouldn't you? Just look at her!"

"I like her a lot," Ali said, pointing at Lulu. She grabbed the opposite side of her dress and curtsied. "As you imagined, my name is Ali. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

"Yes, I'm Ash, and this is Lulu."

"Lulu? What a beautiful name. Well, I am assuming—"

Ali didn't even get to finish her sentence when both our stomachs, in sync, growled so loudly they practically shook the ground. Ali erupted into laughter, inviting us to sit down between her unstoppable laugh.

She eventually calmed down, letting out small and quick giggles as she finished up the food in the kitchen and started to bring out multiple dishes. Some I knew, things like rice and potatoes. But the meat was another game on its own. If I were to guess, I'd say some long-lost cousin of that chicken monster I saw and hoped it tasted something like chicken.

With everything on the table that had to be, Ali sitting across from Lulu and Ezor sitting across from me, Ali started writing in the sky using her finger. A white ring appeared, becoming more and more complex as Ali kept adding all sorts of pieces to it.

It was magic! This was our first taste of magic in this world.

She finished and pushed what she wrote in the air down, and it expanded to cover the whole table as she took her seat. Everything began to glow for a moment, and once it was over, they began grabbing food.

We were dumbfounded—I was dumbfounded.

Lulu was too for a moment, but she couldn't hold back anymore and grabbed some food, nearly burning her mouth as it was hot. I pushed down the millions of questions in my head and just ate.

The delicious smell that hit our noses earlier couldn't compare to just how good it actually was, and I was lost to the food. Before I knew it, I was leaning back on my chair, my stomach full yet still desiring just a bite more.

"Wow! And I thought Ezor ate a lot. Guess you kids were starving."

"Yeah, but I'd also say it was because that was the best meal I've ever had," Lulu said, overlooking the irony.

"Well, Ali has always known how to cook."

She smiled as she got up and pulled Ezor's ear.

"I had to, or we'd all starve! Seeing as you lot couldn't even boil water without almost setting the forest on fire."

"That was one time! And we got it under control."

"Yeah, an hour later, after a huge chunk of the forest was gone!" Ali yelled and then let Ezor go.

"Don't get married, Ash," Ezor said, kidding, rubbing his ear. "They just beat you up more, knowing you can't leave them."

"If you ever did try to leave, I'd find you, Ezor," Ali eerily declared, countering her kind look as she moved the plates from the table to the kitchen.

"Here, let me help."

I picked up my plate, but Alie appeared behind me. She sat me back down, grabbed my plate, and told me to relax. Her face told me that wasn't a suggestion but an order.

"Sorry about that. We don't get many guests, so she's just trying to be a good host. Just let her. Here, I'll show you where you guys can sleep. I hope you don't mind sleeping close."

"We don't mind. We've always slept in the same bed," Lulu added before I could say anything.

"Right...okay, just follow me."

I had to help Lulu get up. This was not only the first time she had ever eaten, but she had also way overrated just how much she could eat, and her balance was out of whack.

Ezor led us to a barn he had to the side of his house, and luckily it wasn't being used by other animals yet, so it was clean. Ezor gestured to the corner where a pile of hay was inside the barn. I was confused, but Lulu just fell right into it, laying down like it was a bed.

"Sorry that it isn't much. The house was only ever meant for Ali and me to live, so I never made a place for guests to sleep."

"Oh, this is just perfect!" Lulu exclaimed.

"Yeah, what she said, Ezor. Thanks for doing this for us. We'll be out of your hair quickly."

"Think nothing about it, Ash. I wouldn't sleep if I let you stay out there to starve."

"I see you," I nodded my head. "Your conscious would have kept you awake."

"Conscious? Not all that sure about that. I was talking more about Ali yelling at me that I would let you kids die."

He laughed as he walked away, and I couldn't tell if he was joking, or if I had to thank Ali again for not just the food but for saving us through proxy.

"Ash! Lay down and feel how soft the hay is!"

Lulu grabbed me, pulling me down, but I missed the hay and hit my head on the ground. She wouldn't stop apologizing to the point that I had to bonk her lightly on her head and call it even so we could move on.

I wasn't all that hurt anyway and just wanted to enjoy the softness of the hay.

"Like a cloud, huh?" Lulu says.

"Yeah...just like a cloud."

I finally relaxed my mind as I closed my eyes. I had been on edge all day long, not knowing what to do, doubting each step I took. But now, I had some better footing than when I first woke up, and that was all I could ask for to help.

I could hear the hay rustle. I opened my eyes, and Lulu was as close to me as she could without touching me.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm...cold, yes I think I'm feeling cold."

I laughed, and even though I knew it would overheat the both of us, I pulled her close to me. She was hesitant, but the calming warmth was too much for us, and we were out.

***

I jolted awake. It was still late. The moon was still out and was the only source of light that let me see. I glanced over to Lulu as she had rolled to the other edge of the hay. The heat must have been too much...

My face burned when everything that had happened so far between us replayed in my mind. I was both embarrassed and filled with pure joy, which only added fuel to my embarrassment.

I needed to take a walk to settle my mind.

I pushed Lulu back to the center of the hay, brushed some hair away from her face, and walked out of the barn using the moonlight to see where I was going.

I wandered the farm, enjoying the cold breeze and the moon's soft glow on my skin, when a sound caught my ear. I began walking towards the sound and found Ezor swinging a wooden sword.

"Don't hide, Ash. Come out."

I walked out to where he could see me. I didn't mean to hide. It was more out of instinct than fear or even me trying to be sneaky. Ezor threw the sword at me. I managed to catch it, but I wouldn't have any more fingers if that were a real sword.

"Have you ever used a sword, Ash?"

"A few times. My dad was huge on getting me to try a bit of everything."

"And how good were you?"

I held the sword with one hand properly and recalled how it felt the first time Pops showed me how to fight with one. I sensed something rushing throughout my body, and I felt as if every muscle fiber had just awakened from a deep sleep.

I rushed towards him, nearly colliding straight on with him by how much speed my body mustered. But it wasn't enough. He not only stopped my attack but managed to get it to slide right off and then struck me. Well, strike the sword as I had moved it quickly enough to protect my back before turning around to face him again.

"So I take it that you're quite good?"

"Of the many things my dad ever showed me or taught me. Sword fighting was the one that I had always enjoyed. And it was the one thing that I could beat my dad at."

"Did you give it your all when learning?"

"No, I didn't realize how much I enjoyed it until it was too late. I could only watch. Sometimes, I would train a bit with a stick when I was younger, but I was never truly taught how to fight."

"And yet you nearly got me. One night, until the sun climbs high into the sky. Give it your all until your muscles are crying to stop, and then keep going. I'm not much of a teacher, but I should be able to give you some tips and just a bit of experience."

Under the glow of a full moon, the sound of wood rattled all night long. I never got Ezor to admit defeat no matter how much I tried, and I knew he was still holding back even as I shredded every fiber in my body to keep pushing forward.

But I kept fighting.