Dust and Deity - Dear Darkness

Chapter 1.1 - Guardian of The Winds

"For the last time, Mr Lakric Mieror, I won't be repeating myself anymore."

The elderly woman scowled at him while she folded up one of her "back in the olden days" dresses. The dress had been very beautiful. Outside, it would appear at a glance that the skies were fancying a shower. But, it wasn't raining.

She had her hair held back as a large bun. The size of it was so aggressive that it loomed behind her, quite ominously. She also had a lock of white hair hanging down her forehead, which she always had to put in place; just like Lakric.

"Madam Beau... "

To be honest, Madam Beau isn't that good at being strict, and the scoldings were more ceremonious than harsh. She moved on to a pajama one-piece. Cosily sized, the edges fell neatly into place as she made her way through the rest of the washing.

"Back then, we'd have a Whistler, and it'd fix you up." She gestured with her glasses.

A small girl walked in and shuffled behind Lakric.

"Psss". She held a corner of Lakric's shirt and pulled down gently. He tried to give her the now-is-not-the-time-Villia look. But she just tip-toed higher.

"Psss". She said again.

...Lakric swallowed... The two storied cottage is rather segregated from the rest of the town, and lies in an opening of the woods unknown to most. As if blessed by a mythical force, flowers dyed the surrounding wisteria purple, while overgrown grass drenched the cracked ground in luscious green. Where leaves piled is where the wind cleaned away at night.

"Psssssssszzzzzzz." She persisted.

...Madam Beau twitched...

Yet as if cursed by a darker force, the flowers grew like daisies before a grave; alive as still life. Meanwhile the grass grew thick, too thick. And what's most picturesque about the place, is the noiselessness that wailed out louder than the cries. What cries? Where the sun glowed and plants fruited, is also where no being prowled.

"Pssszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzthhhh." She's spitting into his neck.

Madam Beau stood up and interrupted their little moment. "Villia, what's the matter?"

Slowly turning around to look at the madame, as if she didn't know Madam Beau had been watching the whole time, she saw the Madam not amused. The girl quickly reached for Lakric's hands and held them nervously. Then she blurted out: "I found another one." and tugged hard on Lakric's arm - she tried to get him to follow her; then just ran ahead.

"You're not very good at taking care of yourself are you?" Outside, Villia was already merrily scolding a man. She was almost having too much fun. "Shame on you big guy. You need to learn to trust more. But noooooooo you just had to go and fill your mouth with them berries. Look who's too adult for some childish prank like my sign."

The guy had been left to sprawl against a rock. Incapcitated, helpless, and if you asked Villia, the sight was most humorous. But not to the guy.

"Shhhp kid"

He's getting a headache for so many reasons, and trying to explain it wasn't helping. Truth was, he hadn't buried his face in a single meal for as long as his starving stomach could remember. It was more like he just didn't care anymore..

"Nuh-uh, big bro said that honest people see honesty in others, so if you've asked me it serves you right-"

"That's enough now Villia." Suddenly a hand came down on her head...gently patted it...then gently patted her again. Madam Beau had Lakric help her around the overlays of grass and greens; towards a little offspring of the big rock, and sat down next to everyone.

"Why don't you fill us in?"

Alright, so Villia found this man holding his leg in pain. It's not far from the house and he didn't look like he's from around here. She hurried over and saw glittery woeberry juice squirted nearby. Then she looked closer, and then she saw the whole thing snap frozen into crispy flakes. Yes, both the leg and the clothing around it. She put his hands away, and with a stick, poked at his leg....and then the stick exploded into a cluster of icy-pops. And then she dropped it quickly. Yep that's woe-ice again. So, being the responsible lady that she was, she let him leaned on her and helped him walk here. Yes, he could still walk with a frozen leg.... wait....

Wait no! Actually she carried him all the way here.... Alright fine, maybe she sort of dragged him, all the way to the house. But he was sooooo heavy.... Yes there was a little bit of scraped skin but he should just man up.....Alright just stahppp it! Stop bullying her already...She tried her best....

...

Lakric and the madame could still see the band of ice trailing across the ground.

The man tried his best too, to get off his stomach. But the even the raincoat he wore felt like it was a body too heavy. Beneath it was a simple T-shirt and a pair of Khaki pants. It wasn't the rainy season, but for anyone with the resources, a green raincoat is common sense when tracking through rain forests. The benefit of camouflage alone is good enough. Trying to move revealed that he had quite a physique. Though his whole left leg would only drag around, numb.

Then he spoke, "As learned as I am, I'm not quite as acquainted with these woodberries."

"Woe-berries. W-O-E woe. If you ask me, you're never going to win a spelling bee like this."

"The elephant in the room is that nobody asked you kid."

"I was actually going to make soup for you, but because you said that I'm not going to be nice to you anymore."

"I'm not hungry kid."

"The last time I checked, the berry bushes around you were picked cleaner than a paddlepop stick"...

...

Breaths of wind paled through the forest. Droplets of moisture began dabbing on their skins. It was almost like it was raining. The Madame had Lakric carry the man inside. Then she sent the young man off to fetch some medicine from Thatcher's.

Woeberries are fruits grown in the Winterlands up north. Yet its growth was sparked here by some confounded darkness that hurts the natural flow of magic; it robs the living of life and the dying of death. The matter was pressing. Woe-toxins are nefariously potent and they usually make short work of gluttons. In other words, he should be as alive as dead..

She felt Villia tracing her palm lines; the roughness of the skin; Villia's attempts to be gentle...

But the madame kept her thoughts to herself. She had her reasons.

Shadi ravici ada kata malici savosa heena sosa katra matilivasa

I had to lock him in the library again today. Please... don't let him hate me.

- A jade necklace -

Nanana ba shaciko kata lu ru ko mika