~4~
"Finally free"
That is the first thing that comes out of my mouth when we got out of that damn castle.
'We can get on with our lives now'
"You sure you're not gonna regret this?" my brother asks.
"Of course not, I dreamed about this my whole life, and now you want me to abandon it?" I respond with what was obviously another question.
"I don't think he was trying to tell you to abandon your dream" Mitsuki says lecturing me.
"Stay out of this, Mitsuki!" I angrily shout at him.
"Hiro, I think we should be going now" Ayame points out.
"I guess you're right"
'How come I'm the only one who gets the blame?'
We go and pack up our stuff. Apparently we had to be guarded and my brother has to come with me and Mitsuki has to go with Ayame. 'I think Ayame feels as uncomfortable as I do'. After that we meet up at the border, we say our goodbyes, and by goodbyes, I genuinely mean another long minute of shouting at one another, and then we part ways.
"Is that it?" Ayame asks me with what seems to be a sad tone
"It is! Now we're free, we're on our own, we're no longer bound by anything or anybody, no rules, no more annoying guards to keep an eye on us. We are FREE!" I reply
"Optimistic as always" she pauses "You're right! We are now free, and no one can deny it, we have been officially exiled"
As this conversation continues we are actually going through the spirit forest, Seishin, the border between us and the World of the Living, and about half way through...
"Hey, Hiro?"
"Yes?"
"Have you ever wondered why aren't humans attacking us anymore?"
"Not really, why do you ask?"
"I've heard that because spirits are neutral in this war and because they can poses the human body and are so protective over their sacred land, humans are afraid to pass through the forest to attack us"
"I think I've read about that somewhere in an old history book. Do you think it's really the case though?"
"Are you saying you're doubting half of me?"
"No just..., besides your family I've never seen any spirits what so ever no matter how many times I was in this forest"
"You just have to look closely"
:me:
~staring at the top of the trees~
"What the hell are you doing" she asks
:me:
~still staring~
"You said to look closely"
"I didn't mean it like that!"
.
.
.
'Hmmmm...oops'
We walk another 100 meters and Ayame asks me
"So where are we headed now?"
"The closest city"
"Which is?"
"Erydon"
"Erydon? Is it a neutral city?"
"Nope. It's a human one"
"Isn't it dangerous then?"
"I don't think so. I heard that they usually don't have anything against demons unless they cause trouble"
"And trouble is written all over us" she murmurs
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Let's go"
"Sure"
We walk through the forest and then we see the light, the light of the day, of The World of the Living. The moment I see the other side of the forest I run in front. I dreamed about seeing this beautiful land again. It isn't a disappointment. Green and lively just as I remember it.
~And the moment was ruined~
"Hey are we gonna stay anywhere for the night?"
"What do you mean, Ayame?"
"I Mean according to this map 'where did she get that!' Erydon is another 2 days on foot"
'when did she learn how to read a map'
"Don't worry, on the way to the city we're going to pass through a village, I think we'll find somewhere to stay. Right?"
"I think so"
'this is awkward'
"Less worrying, more walking. You better hurry if you want to get to that village before dawn"
And another 12 hours of awkwardness and aimlessly walking passed by and we are able to see the village we are going to stay in. According to Ayame's map, which I still don't know how we have, this was a very small, apparently neutral village called Ravenshade. I say 'apparently' because there are some rumors that the people in this specific village are extremely distant and have something against demons, spirits, even elves and other humans. 'I have a bad feeling about this'
"Look there!" Ayame exclaims relived "is that it?"
"That's it all right" I reply "Ravenshade"
"Let's go"
"Wait for me, Ayame!"
"No way, it's a race!"
"Not fair!"
We are looking around for an inn and everyone is staring at us weirdly. 'Maybe they don't get that many visitors, or is it because we're wearing cloaks?'
I am intensely thinking while Ayame is hanging onto me like these people are murderers or something. One second I take my eyes of the road to see if Ayame is ok and I bump into somebody. 'Great, I am seen as weirdo and now I walked into somebody'
"You ok, miss?"
I look up and I see a redheaded boy, about the same age as Mitsuki, reaching his hand trying to help me. 'Just my luck I guess'
"Yes, thank you"
I give him my hand 'might as well behave like a lady'
"Are the two of you travelers? If you don't mind me asking"
"We are" I kindly reply to him "Do you live in this village?"
"Yes, sorry for the behavior of our people we don't have many visitors"
"I see, it's ok don't worry about it"
"So why are two little girls traveling on their own?"
'Who do you think you're calling little!?'
"It's a long story, but we were hoping there might be an inn somewhere around here"
"There is, come this way"
"Thank you very much, mister"
"Please, call me Ayato"
"Nice to meet you Ayato, I'm Hiro and this cute thing over here is Ayame"
"Hello" she whispers from behind my back
"Nice to meet you too girls"
~End of chapter 4~
