Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 43: The Lost Child~

Dusk had started to set on the little village, yet Jiu and Leora still hadn't gone back to the manor; in fact, they'd completely forgotten about it. Nobody had come to search for them either, so it was safe to assume Henry had no clue of their absence. It was nice, to be away from the oppressive weight of death for a bit. Jiu had only been staying in the manor for a couple of months, and even then Henry permitted him to leave the premises when he wished, yet he couldn't imagine how Leora had managed to tolerate it for years. Henry escaping to London, and just handing Leora the manor seemed to make more and more sense to the ghost. Who would want to stay in a manor like that? Certainly not him. It felt as though everyone was just waiting for death, even Leora. Though, maybe that would change once her grandparents had died and she owned the place; Jiu wasn't too sure. Then again, how would one simply rid it of it's oppressive history and mold, mixed with rot? Such things were not an easy task, and would possibly take generations. But there was always the risk of it degrading before any positive change happened in its walls. Yes, Jiu supposed the house itself would die and crumble before any happiness or happy remnant entered its walls.

"I enjoyed today," Leora hummed, breaking the silence as they walked.
Jiu snapped out of his thoughts and met her gaze with a small smile.
"I'm glad."
"Thank you, for giving me the world, Jiu."
Jiu chuckled," I wouldn't exactly call it 'the world', more a tiny taster, no? A free sample, so to speak. There's so much more than this, Leora."
Leora smiled, fiddling with a lock of her hair that was slightly longer than the rest, near her face. Jiu liked it when she thought like that, he felt himself blush a little at the sight.
"Are you ready to go back?" Jiu whispered, gently squeezing her shoulder.
"No," Leora shook her head, her expression falling slightly," I'm not. Just a moment longer?"
"Of course."
Leora smiled, and made her way to the edge of the pier in the village; she sat down at the very edge and took off her boots, dipping her bare feet into the waves. Jiu sat beside her, watching as she plucked each vibrant flora from her hair with a gentle delicacy, before setting them upright in the water; watching them float languidly away. She did this until all the wildflowers had left her hair, and there was a path of them in the waters, trailing into the unknown. As they did, a young girl approached them; clutching nervously at her dress.

"Excuse'," The little girl spoke up, nervously fidgeting with her dress.
Leora and Jiu both turned to look at the small girl; her eyes tear stained and her face bright red from being flustered.
"Have you seen my mummy?"
Before Jiu could say anything, Leora immediately shot up and crouched in front of the girl, smiling.
"Don't cry. You're safe, alright?" She hummed," What does your mummy look like?"
The girl glanced away," She's...got brown hair, and blue eyes. She's a milkmaid."
Jiu frowned, thinking," I don't think we've seen any milkmaids today. Leora?"
"No, not that I can recall," Leora sighed, sympathetically.
Jiu shrugged and stood up, dusting off his trousers.
"Well, there's only one thing for it, let's take a look around with her; try to find her mummy."
"Yes, it's getting late," Leora nodded, before gently ruffling the girl's hair sympathetically," Your mummy must be very worried about you, you know? How did you lose her?"
"I was playing tig," The little girl pouted, guiltily.
"Well, that's your lesson learnt to be more aware of your surroundings, isn't it?" Leora chuckled," Don't worry, we'll find your mummy."

Jiu nodded, before scooping the little girl up and carrying her; Leora walked by his side. The little girl glanced around the street for her mother, her arms wrapped around Jiu's neck.
"Do you know your mummy's name?" Leora frowned.
"I think it's...Emily," The little girl mumbled.
So, the two asked around the village about a woman named Emily who had a daughter. Finally, a farmer who tended to the cows Emily worked with recognised the girl, and told them the address Emily lived at. As soon as they arrived, the little girl adamantly recognised her street and pointed out her house; where a very worried brown haired woman seemed to be pacing about. Jiu set the little girl onto her feet and both watched with a smile as she charged for the mother, who cried and hugged her daughter, thanking both Jiu and Leora. Satisfied that they'd done their part, the two walked off, happy for the little girl and her mother. That happiness was short lived, however, when Leora froze. Walking towards them, on that lower class street, with an expression of great shock; was a well dressed man, smoking some sort of pipe, who did not fit in with the setting whatsoever.
"Is that Leora Mohan!?" He cried with amusement, approaching with one of the ugliest smiles Jiu had ever seen.
"Lord Bunduck, what a surprise," Leora mumbled, yet she seemed almost bitter about this appearance.

Undoubtedly another one of Henry's 'friends'; it was obvious by the way he carried himself.
"I never thought I'd see the day where the princess was let out of the tower!" He laughed, heartily," Henry's gone soft because of his engagement, I see."
Lord Bunduck took a drag out of his pipe in both Jiu and Leora's face. The ghost grimaced, turning away with a small cough, whereas Leora seemed used to such treatment, but grimaced none the less.
"You shouldn't smoke such things, it can't be good for you," Leora stated, trying to put her etiquette lessons from Soren to use.
"You sound like Mrs' Bunduck," Lord Bunduck sighed, begrudgingly.
"I think I should be the one surprised," Leora stated, her tone a little clipped, bringing the subject back to what it had previously been," To see you in these parts, it's unlike you."
"I own the village farm," Lord Bunduck shrugged," I'm here to give notices to my workers."
"Undoubtedly, you're here to shorten their pay to fill your own filthy wallet," Leora scowled, not even bothering to be pleasant with him.
Lord Bunduck met her gaze with his own hardened look," You make me sound like some sort of villain in a fairytale."
"It wouldn't be far from the truth, would it? You yourself know that much."
"I see now why Henry let you leave the manor, he probably could not stand that vulgar manner of yours, Leora."

"I let myself out, actually," Leora retorted.
Jiu grimaced. It probably wasn't ideal that Henry's friend knew about Leora escaping.
Lord Bunduck let out a cold laugh," Did you now? Listen close, and listen well."
He took a step closer to the girl, his eyes narrowing.
"I suggest you go back to that manor, Leora. I have eyes and ears all over this village. If I catch you here any longer, I shall not be afraid to report back to Henry about your little stunt and your disgusting tone. I am certain he will not be pleased. He will most definitely confine you to your room, you will be alone. That much is a promise."
Leora stared stubbornly at Lord Bunduck, as if trying to test how much of that he meant. When she realised the severity in his words, she startled back a little. She swiftly grabbed Jiu's hand, and tugged him back to the direction of the manor, without a word farewell to the Lord. Her pace was quick. She did not speak to Jiu, nor once glance back. She knew her freedom was already limited, and to test it, Henry would undoubtedly clip her wings and make her cage tighter.