Stars Of Memory

Chapter 28

She brings her head back down and looks at Jīvitaya. "We should probably head back now, it's getting dark."

"Why, does the forest get more dangerous after nightfall?"

"Well yes, but all forests do that, even the ones on Earth. It's because we, as in beings that appear like us, aren't adapted to the night and there are dangerous creatures that are. But that's not why I want to head back."

Jīvitaya frowns. "Then why?"

"I don't want to be near the well after dark, and I want to eat some food, don't you?" Jīvitaya smiles softly at that, and her stomach rumbles. Her mother lets out a tinkling laugh. "I guess I was right!"

They head through the woods back to the palace, not realizing that the well behind them flares up again with its dark light. The spot remains flickering in Jīvitaya's mind like a beacon, but she pushes it aside. If it's so dangerous that no one will go there, then she shouldn't let it pull her in. Despite knowing that the well is dangerous, she feels sad for the girl in the story. What did they think she committed? By the time they arrive back at the city, the sun is almost set. When they get to the palace, it is fully dark, and both the Laial and Kysanden are pacing. As the girls emerge into view, the Laial practically lunges forward, stopping just in front of Nitheina.

"Where have you both been! You've been gone for hours!"

Jīvitaya stares down at the ground, but her mother places a comforting hand on the Laial's - her father's - shoulders. "We were in the woods, Alder."

"What were you doing?"

"Making sure Jīvitaya didn't get herself into trouble."

Her father looks over at Jīvitaya, and she waves at him sheepishly. He runs his hand along his face and sighs. "What were you even doing in the woods, you don't know the dangers yet."

Jīvitaya retorts back. "Just because I don't know all the dangers doesn't mean that I can't take care of myself! I'm not a little kid. Besides, I have Laira to protect me." From her side, Laira lets out a huff.

Jīvitaya's mother's face twitches into a brief smile, but her father's face looks set in stone. Her mother saves the day, or at least saves Jīvitaya from feeling her father's wrath for the first time in her life.

"Alder, let us eat before we all collapse from hunger. It's late and I know my stomach is grumbling."

As if on cue, Jīvitaya's stomach grumbles, as if it wants to echo the sentiment. Her mother laughs and her father's face finally cracks into a tiny smile.

"Very well."

He leads them to a small circular table set up in a courtyard, and they all sit down in a chair, Kysanden next to Jīvitaya, with Jīvitaya's mother on her left side. Almost instantaneously after they take their seats, a small group of people carrying trays enters the courtyard. As they distribute the plates, the royals thank them, and Jīvitaya happily follows suit.

She looks down at her plate to see something that looks very close to foods on Earth, just with subtle color variations. She takes a bite of the bird meat on her plate and is pleasantly greeted by the flavors of honey and garlic intermingling with the bird meat, which is like the most flavorful piece of chicken in existence. She internally moans at the flavor combination and beside her, her mother quietly chuckles. When Jīvitaya looks at her quizzically, her mother explains.

"Your aura is showing how much you enjoy the meal."

"Aura?"

"It shows your emotions with a band of light around the edges of your body."