The sunlight passed through the window, illuminating the room. Lila's red hair brightened at the morning glow. She grunted softly, then stretched her body before sitting up. Elio was on the other bed still stretched out and asleep.
Cassian? Lila looked around, but she couldn't find a trace of him. As she got up from the bed, she felt something on her foot. She looked down and found herself stepping on Cassian's back.
"Cassy???"
Cassian opened his eyes suddenly. He picked himself up on the floor and stretched his back, popping a few bones.
"Morning, Lila," he casually greeted as he walked to the bathroom.
"What were you doing sleeping on the floor!?"
"I was just going to lie for a bit but ended up falling asleep."
"Why were you lying down on the floor in the first place?"
"Checking for monsters under the bed."
Lila was stunned for a bit before letting out an exasperated sigh. Cassian went on to fix himself in the bathroom, while Lila arranged her bed. When her sheets were laid out neatly, she opened the drawer of the cabinet beside her bed and found herself a pen and a piece of paper. She wrote the word 'needs', all capitals in English. She paused, staring at the word silently. She sets the tip of the pen for a second beside the word and lets her hand curve the ink, writing in characters she never saw before. Yet, she knew, like she had known her whole life. If I could read and speak, why couldn't I write? This is insane, really, Lila thought to herself. She remembered the sensation yesterday when she drank the flask. The massive information was suddenly bursting, overheating her brain. If the sisters and Cassy weren't there, what could've happened? She shook her head, dismissing the thought. She inhaled sharply and went back to focus on her list.
"We need to stock up some clothes, toothbrushes, soap... I never saw a general store on our way here," Lila muttered to herself.
Cassian stepped out of the shower. He opened the closet where several sets of clothes were hanged, most were dresses, but some were fit for men. The owner's clothes. We really owe him a lot here. He picked out the white linen shirt, grey trousers, and a brown cotton vest. The texture of the cloth felt soft on his skin. It feels breezy, Cassian thought. A scribbling on paper, he closed the closet door and watched Lila for a moment. He walked silently, not disrupting her focus, and read her writings.
"How about we ask the sisters? Don't mean to sound creepy, but they smell pretty good."
"Hm? Oh yeah."
Lila turned her head around. She recalled that moment when both women sandwiched her. "Bet that was you, huh?"
"What?"
"Uh-- nothing! You're right though. Even their teeth were porcelian white. Let's ask them where they buy their stuff later."
"Hope it's not too expensive or anything."
"I got us, Cassy. No one beats me when it comes to saving!" Lila exclaimed proudly. She then continued to scribble on her notes, creating a plan of action with certain needs. Cassian smiled and left to the balcony to hang dry the towel. The bright light blinded him as he looked up.
"Still the same sun in the morning, just in a different place."
He looked down on the streets. People were beginning to set up their stalls and prepping for their work. Light glistened on the glasses of a man with a large build but rather timid form, with a hunched back hugging his square satchel. He wore a brown coat, a loose v-lined shirt that went to past his chest, and brown leather pants. He ran and ran panting, then he screamed, "AHHHH, I'M LATE AGAIN!!! "
Cassian couldn't help but stare. The word 'scholar' came up in his mind, and then he smiled. It seems to fit the large man perfectly. He saw the stalls being prepped with goods, but one stall caught his attention. A woman with curly-black hair, her skin light-brown, small in stature, but the determination on her face tells not to mess with her. She wore a simple dress, wrapped in light green cloth for protection against the sun. She had a butterfly brooch pinned to her hair, a wing broken. She had a serious look to her face as she grabbed a mirror. She set it at the front of the wooden support of the stall. Both her index fingers went to each end of her lips, then pulls them up forming the curve of the smile, but the rest of her face remained still. She began practising, scratching her head a few times at the failed attempts. Cute, Cassian remarked to himself.
"Cassy!" Lila opened the door to the balcony. Cassian turned around.
"What's up?"
"The owner knocked on the door; Miss Fei and her party came here early. I'm going to wash up now. Tell them we'll join them in a bit, and please wake Elio up."
"Got it."
Lila let the door hang open while Cassian lagged behind. He took one more look at the scenery before he closed his eyes. A mother greeted a gentle good morning to her neighbour, a kid calling out the name of his friend to play, and the old man walked past his friend and joked about the good times when they were younger. Nice place, Cassian thought. He walked inside and sat on the side of Elio's bed.
A few taps on Elio's feet got him awake. Cassian never shakes him close to his head, as the diziness could feed him a bitter morning. "Morning, Elio"
"Cassian? Ugh, what time is it?"
Cassian turned to the wall clock beside the door. "8:30. Huh, I never realised a clock was there until now."
Lila went out of the bathroom, wearing her pyjamas. She sat down on the bed, wiping her hair. Elio got out of his bed and stretched. A long yawn escaped from his mouth.
"Do we have a towel?"
"You could use mine." Cassian pointed towards the balcony. The hang-dried towel is visible on the window mirror. Elio, dragging his steps, moved to the balcony.
"We really got to thank Miss Fei for getting us this room and the owner too for preparing it well. We got the complete package here, toiletries, and look!" Lila held up a green dress layered over a cream blouse, its fabric soft like cotton. Delicate white frills edged the hem of the skirt, and a vintage green brooch was pinned to the collar. It looked like something my grandmother would have worn when she was young, Cassian thought.
"Cute, right?"
"Yeah, you do."
Lila chuckled. "I'm talking about the dress, Cassy."
"Oh, well, it'll look good on you."
Lila nodded with a smug expression. "Apparently, this was from the owner's daughter. She outgrew this, the owner said, and is now studying at the Academy."
Lila paused for a moment, looking down at the dress. She watched the outlines on the dress, and lets her hand caress across the silk. Even then, the dress is still kept nicely. She's really loved by the owner. Is it okay for me to wear this, then?
Cassian's eyes watched her hands study the dress, and that solemn expression Lila makes whenever she yearns for something.
"I wonder what they're teaching at the Academy." Cassian broke the silence.
"You can't rule out the basic math and language. Maybe that's where they teach all that magic stuff?"
"We could always check it out!" Elio butted in with sparkling eyes and a big grin. "
Lila crossed her arms and gave a stern look.
"Before that, we have to get some other things first; we're meeting people and Miss Efila today, remember? We'll go some other time."
Elio drooped down in defeat as he went to the bathroom.
"Cassy, I have to change. Go meet with Miss Fei first; we'll meet you downstairs."
Cassian nodded and left the room. He walked across the corridor, passing through different rooms with different tenants. On each door a silver plate tag was placed, with an inscription for each with a different name. The names followed: Saelm, Almond, Hayecinth... Strange names, Cassian thought.
"A bar and restaurant at the bottom, an apartment on the top floor," Cassian noted to himself. On the last room of the corridor, an open door caught his attention. It echoed a humming of a sweet tune. Cassian peeked inside and saw an elderly lady wearing a brown apron over her long beige dress that went to her ankles. She was tall for an old lady, as tall as Cassian even when her back was hunched from her age. She sets aside her broom and feather duster as she pats the bed away from its dust. She then neatly folded the blankets and made sure no crease where on the bed sheets. Her hands were wrinkled yet steady and firm. The room was similar to the trio's room, but the furniture seems to be older.
The old lady surveyed the room, eyeing corner to corner if she missed a speck of dirt. Satisfied, the lady relaxed her shoulders and took a breath of the freshly cleaned room, a one final check. She turns and finds Cassian watching by the door silently. Most would be shocked or be uncomfortable; the lady was different. She smiled, bowed her head politely, and asked
"How may I help you, dearie?"
"Sorry, I was just watching you work, Madam."
"And why would a gentleman such as yourself be interested in a maid's handiwork?"
"I'm pretty terrible at house chores, figured I'd get some pointers."
The old maid grabbed her broom and feather duster, then walked out of the room past Cassian. Her steps were light. "Ah, not letting the wife be alone with the housework, no?"
"Oh, not a wife, and there's two of them who might have me sleep outside if I don't clean up my mess"
The lady lets out a gentle chuckle. "I see, then you better learn quickly."
"All I can promise is my best," Cassian snickered. "Well, it was nice watching you work, madam, but—"
The old maid grabbed Cassian's hand and examined it. "Seems like work is not foreign to you, but it would be good to put some muscles in those bones. Come downstairs, I'll fix you breakfast, Cassian. On the house."
Cassian paused for a moment, taking in the words of sudden enlightenment as he looked into the eyes of the old woman. I never told her my name, he thought.
"...That would be lovely, thank you, madam."
The old lady, after a few steps down the staircase, turned her head to Cassian. The light from the window shone on her face, and for just a split second, Cassian saw the face of a young maiden, with sharp features and emerald eyes that reflected his silhouette. He blinked, and then the young woman was gone. He took one final look into the cleaned room before following the old maid.
The inside of the tavern was empty. A sharp contrast to the night before.
"Cassian!"
On the bar counter, Bors sat down with Fei on the bar stools.
"Go ahead, I'll prepare your breakfast, dear," said the old maid as she walked towards the kitchen.
"Thank you." Cassian walked towards the two and sat on the bar stool beside Bors.
Bors wrapped an arm around Cassian's shoulder, pulling him in. "Took you some to come down; hangover got you?"
"I'm still ways before a true drunkard."
"HAHAHA, that was lightwork last night! The young miss did well to keep up though. They still getting ready?"
"They're about to—"
Clack. Clack.Clack.
The sounds of footsteps coming down the stairs made the three turn their heads towards the direction of the staircase. Lila and Elio went out to wave them hello. They both wore a big smile on their faces.
"Sis Fei, good morning! Sir Bors as well!"
"Good morning guys!!"
Bors and Fei returned the same greeting with the same cheer as Elio and Lila sat down. The scent of sautéed garlic came out fo the kitchen, with the faint sound of sizzling oil, and the sound of knife htting on a wooden chopping board.
Lila started to sniff the air. "Eggs, ham, sniff, sniff, celery and... What's that? Smells sweet like honey, but there's also a strong aroma to it."
Elio watched the people's reactions, waiting for that moment of amazement.
"You can tell just by the scent!?" Bors was wide-eyed while Fei smiled sweetly, proud even.
"Ahaha, just comes with experience, I guess," Lila's turned bashful to her habit.
Upon hearing this, the Owner's interest was piqued. He cleared his throat and straightened his back.
"If you wish, Miss Lila, you may work here as part-time. I'll make sure to pay nicely."
Lila suddenly turned meek. "A-Are you sure, Owner? I mean I can try but, I've never tried to cook in a restaurant before. How could I—"
Elio interjected. "Don't worry too much. You cook for like, 7 people in your house every day."
"Plus us sometimes," Cassian added.
"Then you'll be perfect!" said the Owner enthusiastically. "Martha here will be your teacher."
The old maid went out of the kitchen with a food trolley filled with dishes. The owner smiled at the sight of his patrons salivating. Martha began serving their food. Both Bors and Fei were focused on the food, while Lila was at awe, analysing each dish. Elio waited for all the food to be served, stopping himself from grabbing a mouthful in his hands and shoving them in. Cassian felt sentimental. It has been a while when he ate with such a number of people. A faint smile escaped from his lips. He noticed Martha staring at Elio and Lila. In her eyes, the reflection of them in her pupils resembled different people.
"Enjoy your meals!" Martha said heartily. Elio couldn't help but dig in. This surfaced Lila out of her deep thinking. Everyone else were already slicing through their meals but two people stayed behind the counter patiently still.
"Miss Martha, Owner, aren't you going to eat with us?"
"Thank you for the offer, dearie, but policy —"
Before martha could continue, the owner had already set some chairs for them.
"Owner?"
"It's fine once in a while."
"But--"
"Come on, Martha! Eat with us!" shouted Bors.
Looking around, Martha realised the eagerness of them to let her join. Like a mother who couldn't refuse their child's request, Martha sat down across Lila.
During their meal, Martha taught Lila and Elio about the culinary arts of this world. The Owner, Bors, and Fei reminisced about their old adventures with each other. Cassian kept quiet, silently eating, just listening. It has been a while since he ate with this much people.
As they finished their meal, Martha remarked. "Oh, how Barley would enjoy working with you; I'm sure she'd be delighted with meeting a woman of the same passion."
"Barley?" Lila asked on reflex. What a cute name, Lila thought. The image of a cute, small chef with green hair, with a bright complexion, formed from her hearing the name Barley.
"Yes, she's the cook who works the night shift here."
Wait, Cassy went down to return the cups last night.
"Cassy! Did you meet a cute chef named Barley?"
Suddenly, the crocodile wearing a chef's attire popped up from his memory. "Yup, I did."
"What was she like?"
"I gues from a 'scale' of one to ten, she's a 10 overall. Sharp eyes but patient demeanor. I actually oogled her for a bit."
"CASSY!"
"On accident. I was perplexed."
"I didn't know being a pervert comes with accidents, Cassian" Elio rebutted.
Lila leaned down the counter with her hands beside her head. "Ugh, we have to apologize."
"Ohoho~ Barley talked to me about that. She said Cassian here reminded her of her little brother, if it weren't for the bronze skin." The Owner laughed heartily. Cassian lets out a chuckle.
"But you still need to be aware of your actions, Cassy!"
Cassian saluted in silence.
Lila sighed. Martha picked up the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them.
"I'll help with the dishes." As Lila began to stand up, Martha dismissed her.
"Thank you dearie, but its better to go on about your day, no? This town may not be much compared to the capital itself but, it's a good town."
"But, um..." Lila was hesitant. She felt the paper in the pocket of the dress where she wrote the needs they're going to buy. She sat down again and composed herself.
"Okay."
Martha smiled at her and went on to wash the dishes, humming again that sweet tune.
The Owner stood up also. He looked at Lila, a bit of sadness as the muscles on his face relaxed.
"The dress suits you well. Do you like it?"
"Ah yes sir! It fits me nicely."
"Then keep it."
The sudden remark caused her to stiffen. "W-Wait, this is from your daughter. I couldn't possibly—"
"It's alright. My daughter has grown now, living up to the best years of her life. It would be a waste to just keep those. Better in the hands of those who wore it well, like you. Keep all the other dresses in that closet as well. I'm sorry about the boys though."
"It's alright, Mr Owner."
"Yeah, we'll just buy our own."
Lila was overwhelmed that the words 'thank you' didn't seem enough to express her gratitude, yet that's all she could, even in the newly acquired language.
"T-Thank you, Mr Owner. I'll be sure to take good care of it."
The Owner combed his mustache with his fingers, and siad with his chest puffed out. " I heard you have a lot of agenda today? Go now, as long as TavernHold exists, its doors will always welcome you."
"Look at this guy, acting all mature and savy~" Fei teased the Owner poking on his chest with a cheeky smile. Bors patted the Owner's shoulder proudly. "You really are a man now, Owner! HAHAHA"
The group set off leaving the Owner and Martha on the TavernHold. Before they went out to the door, Lila turned followed by Cassian and Elio. She puts out her hand in the air and waved them goodbye smiling like the bright sun. "We'll be back!"
The Owner and Martha watched as the doors closed. The once cheerful mood was now suddenly empty. The part where most patrons don't see.
"She reminds me of the young miss, Sir Owner."
"She does, doesn't she?"
"She'll come visit, Sir. Eventually."
The people began to pick up once again, filling the streets of this town. Elio, Lila and Fei, walked up front chatting together while Cassian and Bors lagged a few steps behind.
"Oh, Miss Fei, I've been meaning to ask, where do you buy all the general products, like soap, clothes, things to keep your hygiene?" Lila took out her notes from earlier and began going over their needs.
"We have some shops for that; I'll introduce you to a friend where you can get some discounts."
Lila then gleed with joy, hearing the word 'discount'.
"Where to first, Miss Fei?" Elio asked.
"We'll be going back to my sister first. We still have to talk about what happened yesterday?"
"Would that be about our reactions?"
Fei nodded. "My sister wanted some time to prepare to at least ground her theory. She's normally a klutz, but anything myth-related, and you can trust her."
Lila smirked as she gazed at Elio. "Look's like you found your match Eli~"
"Are you interested in mythology as well, Elio?"
"I-I guess I like it to some degree..."
"To some degree? You have a whole shelf of books with folklore and myths."
Fei laughed. "You and my sister would get along very well then."
Fei met Elio's gaze, his cheeks a bit flushed from the sudden exposure of his hobby to a beautiful woman, especially. From what he used to receive, such as teasing and mockery, he expected the same, yet Fei's expression stayed as elegant and caring.
"There's no need to be shy about it. It's something you like, right? I'd say that being able to do something you like is a privilege."
The wind blew past them, carrying Fei's hair through the direction of the wind. She tucked a bit of it behind her ear. Elio saw a glance of the strength that supports that beauty, in which he felt the comfort to express more of his curiosity.
On some steps back, Cassian listened to their conversation.
"How are you all doing?" asked Bors. His voice lacked that booming glee, and more of a stern tone. It reminded Cassian that Bors is a man under a suit of armor.
"We're doing pretty well thanks to all the help we've got ever since coming here."
"That's good to hear. Just remember we're here to help." Bors patted Cassian on the back, his strength made Cassian flinched a bit. He turned to look at Bors where he got a bright smile back. He just sighed and laughed at the stinging pain on his back.
"We really can't thank you enough for the help, but why are you guys so eager?"
"AHAHA, I guess you're the type to be a sceptic, huh, Cassian? That's a good habit actually; don't trust too easily, especially in foreign lands."
Cassian scratched the back of his head. "More like I'm curious as to what drives you people to do good? Sorry if that's a bit personal."
Bors stopped in his tracks to stare at Cassian, his eyes wide. It doesn't hold anything but bewilderment. Bors laughed,
"You sure are strange, Cassian."
Cassian let's out an awkward chuckle. Bors went back to his steps. He looked into the sky, and the memory of a past came to him, with each stomp of his foot on this road he first took years ago.
"I remember when I just landed here from my hometown, ages ago. I was very different, different among the others in the village, a delusional kid always dreaming of exploring the world and becoming a legend. Different here also, a savage from the snow mountains who eats raw meat with his bare hands, atleast that's how they described me." Cassian stepped back a bit, to look at the frame of the man who was once a stranger to this place, like him.
"One time, after a gruelling quest, I went to the temple of Avia to pray. Pray that I find peace in this place even for just a moment."
Avia, preistess, isn't Miss Sheva a preistess?
"And that peace was your wife?"
"HAHA! I met her there but it sure wasn't peace! She kept nagging on and on about how everytime she sees me, I was covered in bandages or I'm bruised."
Bors lets out a soft breath. Even though throughout their time together, Cassian had seen Bors smile, but this was the first time he also looked solemn.
"She didn't give me the peace that I asked for, but the strength so that I can keep my head high no matter how loud the hurtful words of others. In that way, I am able to find a new type of peace, one that doesnt simply waver."
Cassian reminisced over the years, to the first time he met both his sun and moon, the point at which the path of his world changed. "I'm also the same, in that aspect."
"Oh? You're dating one of them? HAHAHAHA"
Cassian laughed at the sudden comment. "You really think they would date someone like me?"
"Bah! No need to play dumb, my fellow outsider! As an adventurer, I'll tell you now, the heart is a labyrinth. Finding the right path at every given moment would be impossible! But if you see the whole labyrinth and not the path itself, you won't lose your way."
People still seem to like that teenage romance, even in this world. Cassian thought.
"That's pretty wise advice. Let's see, can I reach the depths of Miss Fei's heart?"
/Many have tried but none yet have succeeded. You can try but dont expect too much/
/Ah, I guess that goes for every beautiful woman, how about her sister then?/
/Then you will face Fei herself! HAHAHA good luck with that one./
"Bors! Come over here; Elio wants to know more about being an adventurer." Fei called out. Only now did Cassian realized that they were already lagging behind.
/Coming! Let's talk about this again sometime!/
/Guess my teenage romance just have to wait/
After talking a bit more, eventually, they came to the store and found Efila at the garden watering her plants. She wore a large straw hat, a purple blouse with ribbon on her collar.
"Oh, you're here!"
*pop*
One pitcher plant opened its mouth, where a frog leaped out of it.
"Ah! Have a good day, Mister Popper!"
The bipedal frog waved as he moved and disappeared into the streets. The group couldn't help but stare in silence.
"Well, let's come inside; we have lots to talk about." Efila sets aside her watering can and went inside the shop. The group followed but Lila who were still eyeing the streets.
"What's wrong?" asked Cassian.
"Cassy, did that frog just walk? And Sis Efila called it Mister Popper..."
"Might be related to Kermit."
He answered as he made his way into the shop.
"Ker—Cassy, wait!"
Inside of the shop, Efila set out a round table and chairs. The table was covered in lavender cloth where cups and a pitcher of yellow liquid was laid out. Efila poured liquid in the cups, her movement was gentle and firm.
"Refreshments, everyone?" Efila sat down on the table raising her cup.
"Oooh~ You woke up early today, Efila."
Fei said teasingly.
"What could you possibly mean? I wake up early everyday, ahaha. Thank you also for coming all this way, sir Bors. How's Sister Sheva?"
She dismissed that so naturally. Lila thought.
"You look chipper by the day Efila! She's doing pretty fine; miss your shopping together."
"Been very busy as of late but please tell her I'll make it up to her as soon as work's finished!"
"AHAHA she'll be delighted! Just tell me if you need any muscle to carry your bags."
As both Fei and Bors settle down, Lila whispered over to Elio. "Miss Efila, she seems tired."
Elio wandered his eyes around the edges of Efila's face. The same pretty smile, but a hint of eye bags under those jolly eyes reveals a hint of a sleepless night masked by white powder. The three followed suit and sat down together.
"Now then, allow me to tell you a story, in our world we call this, the new beginning."
Cassian took a sip of the refreshments, his shoulders and back rested to the chair. Lila seemed to be on guard, she clutched her cup in both of her hands. Elio stood upright, his gaze straight to the woman in violet blouse.