A Feeling I Thought I’d Lost

"Miss... miss?"

A soft but insistent voice slipped into my drowsiness. Then a second voice, deeper, with a unique accent.

"Miss, please wake up... it's almost nightfall."

I slowly opened my eyes. The orange glow of dusk blurred my vision, but two small figures stood right in front of me. I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sure I was seeing them right.

"Eh… HAAAH?!" Instinctively, I sat up in a panic. "Who are you?" I asked hoarsely.

The tiny figure in a cloak laughed kindly. She didn't even reach my waist. Her face was framed by a thick beard neatly braided in two, and her eyes sparkled brightly beneath a wide grin. She wore a simple green robe with golden embroidery at the edges, giving her a warm, friendly aura.

"I'm Charlotte," she said proudly, patting her small chest. "And this is my friend, Isabella."

I turned to the other side. There stood an elf—or more accurately, hovering slightly in the air. Her body was petite, no larger than a child, yet her movements were graceful. Her silver hair flowed in waves, her glowing blue eyes were striking, and from her back spread a pair of transparent wings that sparkled faintly each time they fluttered. Her elegant attire was adorned with floral embroidery and light metal trims, resembling royal garments.

"Greetings, human," she said softly. "I… was once an elven princess. But a curse trapped me in this small form."

My eyes widened. "A princess?"

She gave a bittersweet smile, her face still graceful. "We were just passing through. Seeing you asleep for so long in the open… we got worried."

I lowered my head. "Sorry, I was exhausted. I'm a newcomer from Shionra. I arrived earlier today… and must've fallen asleep here."

Charlotte nodded, crossing her tiny arms. "Then you don't have a place to stay yet?"

I scratched my head. "Not yet. I was so amazed by the view of the village from this hill… I forgot to look for an inn."

Isabella leaned in, her wings fluttering gently. "If you don't mind… stay with us tonight. We're only here for the evening too."

I paused, then smiled softly. "Thank you… you're both so kind. Sorry for the trouble."

Charlotte waved her tiny hand. "Bah! What good are new friends if we can't help each other?"

Night had begun to fall when we arrived at the village. Stone houses with earthen roofs were embedded into the slopes, blending with nature like part of the hill itself. Crystal lanterns hung from wooden poles, casting a dim golden glow. The cold air had started to creep in, but the warm welcome from the villagers made everything feel comfortable.

"Charlotte! Isabella!"

A middle-aged man with dark brown skin and a gray beard waved as he hurried toward us. Behind him, two teenage girls carried sacks of grain, and several young children ran around, laughing as we passed by.

"Welcome back! Are you staying the night?"

"I figured today would be lively," murmured a mother leading her youngest child. "If they're here, something must be happening."

Charlotte only grinned, giving a lazy salute with two fingers to her temple. Isabella bowed politely. I just stayed quiet, a little awkward in the middle of attention that clearly wasn't meant for me.

I leaned closer to them and whispered, "Uh… who are you guys, exactly? Everyone seems to really know you."

Charlotte chuckled instantly. "Eh, I heard Shionra's full of fancy tech. But you don't know who we are? What… because of the monster incident? Hahaha."

"Aish, Charlotte." Isabella gave her a light slap on the shoulder, then turned to me with a warm smile. "Sorry. My friend here likes to talk nonsense. But… who are you, if I may ask?"

I hesitated for a moment. "Rose. My name is Rose."

Isabella nodded slightly. "A beautiful name."

Charlotte stepped a bit closer, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Rose, huh? Fitting. Like a rose—pretty, but hiding thorns. Heh."

Isabella slapped her shoulder again, sighing,

"Aish, you."

---

We stopped at a building slightly larger than the others—its roof curved low, and the windows were round like narrow eyes peeking into the night. Above the old wooden door hung a sign painted with a cup and blanket. For some reason, it felt warm just looking at it.

A petite woman, maybe in her fifties, greeted us from inside. Her hair was tied with a red cloth, and her smile was wide.

"Charlotte! Isabella! It's been a while! You've brought a guest?" Her eyes then landed on me, full of curiosity.

Isabella nodded. "She's a new friend. Could we book a room for the night?"

"Of course, of course! I'll have my children prepare an extra bed."

Soon, we entered a simple yet clean room. The walls were made of smooth stone, and the floor was covered in a worn carpet. Two thin mattresses were already laid out, and one rolled-up bed rested in the corner.

Isabella immediately helped unroll the spare mattress, while Charlotte threw herself onto one of the beds and rolled around like a child. "Finally, I can lie down! My back nearly snapped on that last hill!"

I sat on the floor, hugging my knees. It felt calm. Too calm, even, after today's recklessness.

"So," I asked softly, "do you always travel like this?"

Isabella smiled as she adjusted the pillows. "Charlotte loves it. She can't stay in one place too long."

"I don't hate staying still," Charlotte mumbled from behind a pillow, her voice already halfway to a yawn. "I just… hate quiet places. They make me think."

"Think about what?" I asked.

Charlotte raised her hand, tracing something in the air. "Life. The past. Ugh. No thanks."

We chuckled quietly. That night, for the first time in a long while, I felt… not alone.

"Thank you," I said. "If it weren't for you two, tonight would've been too heavy."

But before Isabella could reply, a loud GGRRRRKKKHHH echoed from across the room.

We turned in unison. Charlotte was already fast asleep, snoring like a monster. Her head was half off the pillow, her mouth slightly open.

Isabella sighed, slapping her forehead. "Aish… she's doing it again."

"She always like this?"

"Every night," Isabella whispered with a groan.

I tried to hold back my laugh, but gave in, quietly giggling under the lantern's light.

Yeah… this place was strange, but for tonight, I felt safe enough to laugh.

Whispers stirred me from sleep. I was still half-conscious beneath the warm blanket, but the words slowly slipped into my ears.

"…hey, I don't want to leave her in the morning. Shouldn't we just leave now?" That… was Charlotte's voice?

"No, Charlotte. We can't do this. Even if we're not bringing her along, we should at least say goodbye," Isabella replied, her voice a little shaky, uncertain.

"Besides," Charlotte answered quickly, "she can find her way with the help of the villagers. She doesn't need our help, right?"

Silence followed. No response right away. Just a breath held. Then…

"…Alright. Let's go, then."

The creak of the door echoed faintly. Careful footsteps crossed the wooden floor. Cold morning air slipped into the blankets, making me shiver slightly.

But they didn't get far.

"Hmm? Where are you two going?" I asked, leaning on the doorframe with one hand holding my head, eyes still half-closed.

Charlotte and Isabella turned around instantly. Surprised. Charlotte even looked like a kid caught stealing candy.

From inside, I heard Isabella whisper, "Told you, Charlotte. I told you…"

Charlotte quickly spun around, trying to smile.

"N-no, really! We were just stepping out for a bit, then coming right back," she said, nervous.

I yawned wide, unable to resist the pull of sleep. "That so? Alright then." I turned and walked slowly back to the room, letting my body fall onto the mattress I'd left just moments ago.

Before drifting off again, I mumbled, "So… it really was just temporary, huh…"

I opened my eyes as the morning light slipped through the window cracks. Two figures stood before me—hazy, silhouettes blurred by the glare. But their voices were clear.

"She's awake," Charlotte said.

I blinked a few times. "Huh, you guys… where'd you go?"

Charlotte crossed her arms and answered firmly, "See? We came back. We just went to the forest to get something."

I sat up on the mattress, looked down, then stared at the empty floor in front of me. "…You were really going to leave me, weren't you? It's okay, really. But… well, you were kind of noisy in the middle of the night."

Isabella flew closer, her face worried. "Charlotte asked me to go back to our place. She just… didn't want to feel abandoned. Because she knows how that feels."

I lifted my head and looked at them both.

"…You're not from around here, are you? Where do you really live?"

Charlotte answered quickly, "Far from here. But you're not supposed to know that."

Isabella turned to me, her voice gentler. "Will you be alright if we leave? We're heading off soon. But… what did you come here for, Rose? Maybe we can help?"

I glanced toward my bag, checking to make sure the book was still safely inside. Then I pulled it out and opened it, flipping to the last page I read last night. My fingers paused at three words:

"Earth… element… users…"

I looked up. "Do you know them?"