The Loner's Choice

Fortunately, we arrived at Eggnew Village without any major incidents.

The bumpy dirt road was flanked by neatly tended fields and low stone walls, beyond which endless rows of tall Lumeberry trees stretched out. Villagers were already bustling about the farms everywhere—some with baskets on their backs, others pulling hand carts, and a few climbing ladders to pick fruit from the branches. The scene buzzed with lively energy.

At the village entrance, a white-haired old man was waiting for us. He leaned on a hand-carved cane with a hunched back, but his eyes gleamed softly, and his sun-weathered face beamed with a warm smile that made him look healthy and robust. He had to be the village chief the nuns had mentioned.

"Welcome to Eggnew Village," the chief greeted us ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in a cheerful voice.

One of the leading nuns approached him. "How have you been, Village Chief?"

"We owe the monastery so much every year."

"Neighbors have to help each other out."

"You've truly saved us. Lumeberries shrivel up fast if you miss this season, ruining their market value. It's such a relief you came on a day like today when we need all the hands we can get."

Soon, following his guidance, the kids headed to the Lumeberry farm behind the village. The farm sprawled across the hillside all the way back to the path we'd just taken, with vibrant purple-red fruits hanging in clusters amid the green vines. The Lumeberries sparkled in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sunlight, looking so fresh and plump they made my mouth water just to see them.

One of the kids spotted a ladder propped against a tree, sneaked up it, and plucked a few berries to eat. He motioned to the others that they were delicious—until a nun caught him and scolded him for acting on his own.

"Now, the work is simple," the chief said, gathering the kids to explain. "Pair up in twos. One climbs the ladder and picks the Lumeberries from the vines, dropping them down. The other holds a basket and catches them as they fall, putting them in. Not too hard, right?"

After a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠few questions from the kids, the chief wrapped up. "Alright, then form pairs of two, grab your ladders and shears, and get to work."

The children immediately started scrambling to find partners.

Hmm...

I looked around to form a pair too. Isaac had been staring blankly at the sky in a daze for a while, looking so lost that I hesitated to approach him.

Leave Isaac be for now.

The other girls had been keeping their distance from me too. Still, I mustered my courage and approached one who seemed to be looking for a partner.

"Hey..."

"...Oh! T-Teresa? Uh, what is it? Something you wanna say to me?"

She seemed... tense?

"Yeah, wanna pair up with me if you're free?"

"...P-Pair!? Uh... that's not really my thing... I mean, it's not that I hate you... just... I'm not ready in my heart yet..."

What's with these kids?

"So... you don't wanna pair with me?"

"...Y-Yeah... sorry."

It was more or less the same with the others.

Annoying.

In the end, I couldn't find a partner even as most of the kids paired off and headed to work one by one.

...Am I really being ostracized?

If only Marie were here... I wouldn't have to worry about this...

Isaac crossed my mind too late. I figured I'd grab him at least, but he'd already paired with someone else and left. Regret washed over me, along with an inexplicable sense of betrayal.

This felt just like elementary school, when the isolated kids or ones without friends ended up without partners to the end. The teacher would pair the leftovers or stick them with herself. I could already picture it.

"Sigh... pathetic."

I plopped down on the ground and stared up at the sky. It was clear and the weather perfect, but my mood was utterly gloomy.

"Um..."

Then someone called ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out from behind me.

"Yeah?"

I turned to see a boy who looked a year or two older than me. Neat hair, tidy features, but his eyes held a desperate glint.

"If you still don't have a partner, wanna team up with me?"

He didn't look like the type to be left till last... but there was a hint of desperation on his face too.

Well, outcasts gotta stick together.

And honestly... I didn't want to be the miserable last kid stuck with a teacher.

"Sure."

"Phew~ Thank goodness. I was worried you'd turn me down..."

"...I get it completely."

He gave an awkward but relieved smile.

"Haha... You're Teresa, right?"

"Yeah. You know me?"

"You're famous among the kids around here."

Well... getting called to the director's office on day one probably made me notorious.

"I'm James. Nice to work with you, Teresa."

"Yeah... you too."

We got our basket, shears, and ladder from the chief, along with instructions on our assigned spot. Carrying our basket and shears, dragging the ladder to our area, James suddenly spoke up as I glanced around.

"So, which do you wanna do? Climb up and pick, or hold the basket below?"

Hmm... which was easier? I didn't necessarily want the easy job, but now that he'd asked, I was curious.

"I'd recommend climbing and picking if possible."

"Why?"

"It looks harder at first—climbing the ladder—but holding the basket below means carrying it the whole time, which is way more tiring than you think."

He picked up a nearby half-full basket—not an empty one—and held it out for me to try.

"Give it a lift."

I hefted it briefly... and yeah, heavier than expected.

"Mm."

Not impossible, but lugging it around for half a day? Definitely not easy.

"See?"

"Yeah, you're right."

Glancing around, I noticed the pattern: boys and girls paired up, the stronger or bigger one—usually the boy—carried the basket while the girl climbed.

"I'll take the basket. You climb and pick."

James grabbed the basket and ladder, handing me the harvesting shears. At our spot, he carefully propped the ladder against the tree. I climbed up, and amid the green leaves, the Lumeberries clustered thickly. The round fruits glowed a vivid red in the sunlight, their surfaces faintly dusted with white fuzz up close.

So this is a Lumeberry.

As the chief had explained, I snipped the stem lightly with my shears and dropped it carefully. James caught it smoothly in the basket below.

About ten minutes into the real work, a notification chimed.

Eh... expected that.

Nothing else seemed to pop up, so I ignored it and focused on the task.

Time flew by as we got into the rhythm. Thanks to Vanessa's buff, it wasn't too exhausting. We finished a bit earlier than expected.

We split the full basket of freshly picked Lumeberries and headed back to the farm entrance. Drawn by the fresh, tangy scent wafting from the basket, I popped one into my mouth without thinking. It burst with juice, sweet with a slight tartness lingering on my tongue.

Truth be told, I'd snuck a few while picking, but they had this addictive quality that kept drawing my hand back.

"Delicious, right?"

"Yeah, you can't stop at one."

"Lumeberries have a perfect sweet-tart balance—the sweetness builds slowly as you chew, making you crave more. Plus, they're packed with nutrients and good for you."

"Heh~ Cool."

James looked kinda intellectual explaining it, so I paid extra attention.

"They improve blood circulation too, and especially good for kids' growth. Eat 'em raw or juice 'em up."

"You're smart, James."

"Haha... not really. Just know a bit about herbs and natural stuff."

On the way back, we chatted about this and that.

"Have you been at the monastery long, James?"

"Nah, not long for me either."

"So you lived with your parents until recently?"

"No, they both passed away not long after I was born. Lived with my grandpa, who was an herbalist, until he died too... then I ended up here."

"I see..."

At the entrance, we reported to the nun that we were done.

"Good work. The village is throwing a party soon, so rest till then."

We'd started last but finished early, so plenty of kids were still working nearby.

"Time to rest..."

I sat in a shady spot to catch my breath when James approached cautiously.

"Hey, Teresa."

"Yeah?"

"Got something to talk about... alone. Can you come with me for a sec?"

Something felt... off, a bit suspicious from his usual vibe.

"Can't say it here?"

"No... it's something I really wanna tell just you. Won't take long."