The Spirited Young Lady (2)
Chomp… slurp slurp…
“Mm… what’s that…?"
Aria felt something warm and wet touching her face, so she slowly cracked open her bleary eyes.
“Pup… puppy?… It’s a puppy.”
Ang!
When she opened her eyes, there was a small, cute gray puppy wagging its tail and licking her face.
“So cute… let’s sleep together.”
Snatch!
Kiiing?
The moment she woke up and spotted something adorable, Aria instinctively scooped the puppy into her arms and tried to lean back against someone nearby to sleep again.
That’s when she noticed something was off.
Huh? Wait, come to think of it, I ran into that super weird animal in the forest! Then I kinda drifted off… so where the heck am I…?
Aria’s eyes flew wide open as she bolted upright and looked around.
Kuuuuhhh…
Snoooore…
A deep, rumbling snore echoed softly through the spacious bedroom, its floor cushioned with thick layers of fallen leaves.
Lying beside her was the mysterious creature that had saved her yesterday, Kong, sleeping peacefully. Looking around, she saw countless familiar fairies, each using their wings as blankets, fast asleep.
“Wow…”
Aria couldn’t tear her eyes away from Kong’s sleeping form up close—it was like a massive statue carved from black fur—and the horde of adorable fairies that made her feel like she’d wandered into the Empire’s capital doll shop. Her gaze drifted to the vast bedroom space, filling her with awe.
“So pretty…”
The ruins’ interior glowed with a soft, warm light that illuminated every corner, creating a cozy, mystical atmosphere unlike any ruins she’d ever seen. As Aria marveled at the novel sights,
Grrrrumble… huhm…
Kong, who’d been snoring away, stirred at the faint noise, opening his eyes and rising stealthily.
Rustle rustle…
Aria jumped a little at the sound of leaves crunching as Kong woke, but memories of his kindness yesterday flashed through her mind. Beast? Monster? Legendary spirit beast? Whatever he was, she knew he meant no harm.
First, she expressed her gratitude.
“H-hello… Kong. Th-thank you for saving me yesterday… I mean, for saving me…”
Aria stumbled through awkward formal speech that felt as ill-fitting as her tattered noble clothes, trying to convey her thanks.
“Huhm?”
Kong still couldn’t understand her words. But he picked up on her gratitude and smiled, sending a telepathic message.
(Yeah, did you sleep well?)
Aria flinched as Kong’s deep voice resonated in her head again, but she nodded, gazing at him with curious eyes.
(Good to hear. You seemed like a pampered noble kid, so I was worried this place might be too rough. Breakfast time soon—let’s eat together, Aria.)
Kong said, then turned toward the still-sleeping fairies and let out a roar.
“Uoooooh!!”
(Get up! It’s morning!)
The fairies clamped their ears at Kong’s booming wake-up call, wriggling and grumbling reluctantly.
(Uuuungh…! Just five more minutes…)
(Kong, just a bit longer…)
“Hooo waaak!”
(These lazybugs trying to sleep till noon again.)
When the fairies just squirmed like caterpillars without getting up, Kong headed to the window. He pulled aside the curtain woven from vines and branches.
Shwaaak!
Zeeeeng…!
Sunlight flooded the room in an instant, forcibly rousing the fairies from their dark slumber.
(Uwaaaah… bu-burning… it’s burning…)
(Eeeeng… so sleeeepy…)
(Kong, that’s mean…!)
“Pfft! Ahahaha!”
Aria burst out laughing at the fairies writhing in agony under the sunlight—they were just too cute.
Kiiing. Euwoong…
Gail, nestled in her arms, turned away with a pathetic whine.
Kong roused each fairy one by one.
(Are you children of the dark or what? Snap out of it and go wash your faces.)
(Aria, follow the fairies and wash up quick.)
“Ah, okay!”
Aria followed the zombie-like shuffling fairies outside at Kong’s words. As the fairies emerged with her, they gradually noticed her presence and started showing interest.
(Huh? The human kid’s up too?)
(She really is…)
(Hmm… hi?)
“H-hi! Nice to meet you!”
Aria beamed happily as a shuffling fairy approached, chatting animatedly with them.
Surprisingly, the fairies knew human language, so they conversed easily. My vocal cords were gorilla-grade, so I couldn’t join in like that, but since I didn’t know the language anyway, I resolved to have the fairies teach me the local tongue sometime soon.
From what I’d heard, the grammar seemed similar to English.
I hoped these fairies—whose teaching skills might be iffy—would make it easy to learn.
While Aria and the fairies chatted amiably, I drew clean groundwater from the well I’d set up in the ruins and poured it into wooden tubs for everyone to wash with.
The fairies shuddered as they splashed the cold water on their faces, and Aria, watching from the side, tentatively scooped some up to wash too.
“Eek, it’s cold…”
Even Aria found it chilly, it seemed. Still, after washing up, everyone was fully awake and full of energy.
I splashed water from a bucket over my face, shook off the droplets, then filled wooden bowls with water for the meal and headed off to prepare breakfast.
Rediscovering this site had turned up all sorts of useful stuff—huge millstones, mortars, even plenty of stone bowls. A good cleaning made them all serviceable, and I’d been using them ever since.
I pulled fresh fruits from a cool, dry hemispherical stone pit, washed them thoroughly, ground them on the millstone with a bit of water, and made juice. The sweet aroma drew the fairies to the kitchen like moths to a flame, all watching me cook.
As I turned the millstone handle, I said,
(Don’t just stand there gawking—clean the dust off the table and set out the utensils.)
(Got it, leave it to us!)
(Come on, Aria.)
“Yeah!”
The fairies headed to the dining area with Aria in tow.
I glanced sideways at their retreating figures, sighing inwardly in relief.
Phew… good.
Just as I relaxed, something bit my foot. Looking down, Gail was there, tail wagging, munching my toe with hungry, pleading eyes.
Hey, just bark if you’re hungry. Why bite my toe?
This feisty little punk.
“Ueurgh, heuoow.”
(Hungry?)
Ang!
As Gail kept protesting his hunger, I set the millstone aside and fetched two rabbits I’d hunted yesterday from the storage, wrapped neatly in broad leaves. I’d skinned them, gutted and drained the blood ahead of time, so they were ready to eat. I tossed the meat chunks to him.
Whiiiish…
Thud!!
As if he’d been waiting for this, he leaped into the air, snatched both rabbits, clamped down on their necks like he was finishing them off, and tore into them ferociously.
Grrrrowl…
What a tiny beast with the temper of a full-grown predator.
While watching Gail devour his meal, I glanced toward where Aria and the fairies had gone. Yesterday’s events came back to me.
Yesterday evening.
The sun was dipping low as I arrived home with Aria on my back.
The fairies flew out to greet me joyfully, but froze when they spotted the sleeping Aria on my back. Their reaction was colder than I’d expected. The faces that always beamed with cheer were now stern in a way I’d never seen. No, it wasn’t just cold—clear hatred flickered in their eyes.
I’d already guessed from Tipheri’s reaction earlier, but I hadn’t anticipated this level of dislike.
(Kong, why did you bring a human here?!)
(No way! Don’t let humans into our home!)
(Quick! Toss her out before other humans find this place, okay?!)
The fairies weren’t afraid of Aria herself, but of humans as a species, clamoring not to let her inside. Their rejection and blame hit differently from the spirits’, leaving me flustered.
Luckily, Tipheri—who’d helped protect Aria—stepped up first to clear the misunderstanding. She fiddled with her neck absentmindedly and shouted,
(Wait, everyone! Calm down! This kid isn’t one of those awful humans who hurt us!)
(She’s just a lost child in trouble!)
Even Tipheri’s defense didn’t fully ease their fears.
(Still… I can’t trust her.)
(It could be a trap. We’ve been through that—using kids like her to catch us.)
(Yeah, just send her away. Please?)
I watched quietly for a bit, then bellowed to cool the escalating tension.
Uwoooooreeeeh!!!
(Enough! Quiet!!)
The chaotic air went dead silent at my roar.
From listening to their chatter, I finally grasped why they stayed in this dangerous place and why they feared and hated humans so much.
Human greed knows no bounds, and their malice has no bottom. There was no way such people would leave these fairies alone.
They were beautiful and cute enough to be perfect ornamental pets. And the magic powder they produced was wondrous even to my eyes. They could churn out unlimited amounts of any effect given time—obvious bait for those kinds of humans to capture and exploit them.
I didn’t know the details of their pain and suffering. But.
Aria was just an innocent child who needed help. Blindly rejecting and hating her would make us no better than the ugliness we despised.
I persuaded the fairies firmly, like a scolding parent.
(Listen up. This ruins is the ‘home’ we built together. And I, its guardian, promise you this:)
(If she tries to harm you or brings other humans here, I’ll stop her myself first. Have you forgotten my arms are tougher than that spirit’s rocks?)
(Trust me—the one who gives you sweet fruits and protects this house. Whether that little kid becomes your friend or not, it’s not too late to decide after giving her at least one warm meal.)
I didn’t go for sappy pleas about pitying Aria. That wouldn’t land with them right now.
Instead, I appealed to my strength and credibility, asking them to trust and watch me.
The tension eased at my words. The fairies’ gazes toward Aria softened.
Alpha, their leader, approached with help from the others. Unable to fly after her fight with the spirit, she looked at Aria with complex eyes.
(She really is… just a child…)
(Yeah, I saved her from goblin attack.)
(I see…)
Alpha stroked Aria’s sleeping cheek, noting the tear stains, bit her lip, and spoke with effort.
(We still… can’t trust humans. But we trust Kong, so we’ll give it one more shot.)
Only then did I relax.
That allowed me to lay Aria down in our bedroom in the ruins. The fairies gradually approached the sleeping girl, showing curiosity.
As hatred faded, curiosity filled the void. Some pitied her scraped, bloody knees and even applied their magic powder to heal them.
Such good kids. What on earth had they been through to react like that?
My heart grew heavy.
To learn the truth, I approached Alpha, who watched Aria from afar.
(Alpha, you okay?)
(Hmm… honestly, no. My heart stings. It’s complicated.)
(I don’t know your full story or your pain yet. But we’re family now—can you tell me?)
Alpha stared at my face intently, then shook her head.
(Sorry, but no. I don’t want to relive or speak those memories again.)
Moisture welled in Alpha’s voice.
(I just want to forget that time and live happily now.)
(Yeah, sorry for bringing it up.)
(No, it’s fine because it’s you, Kong.)
Thankfully, the fairies started warming to Aria after that.
Aria frowned and shed tears in her sleep, as if having a nightmare. Gail would approach then, lick her face surprisingly gently to wipe the tears, and curl up beside her to sleep.
Seeing that raised the fairies’ opinion of her even more. Animals’ pure souls approached good ones, they said.
Pseudoscience or whatever, but this was a fantasy world, so I let it slide.
As I turned the millstone, lost in thoughts of yesterday, I’d ground all the fruit for juice. Time to set the table.
I went to the table, now spotless and neatly arranged by Aria and the fairies, and laid out the food.
Freshly ground fruit juices. Bread-fruit that mimicked bread’s texture and taste—I’d even named it that. Various fruits and veggies filled wooden bowls on the table.
Aria’s eyes widened at the surprisingly bountiful, exotic spread.
“Wow!”
(Dig in.)
Aria nodded eagerly, took a sip from her wooden bowl of juice, and her eyes went huge in delight. She downed it in seconds.
I refilled her bowl with satisfaction, hollowed out a bread-fruit, dipped it in juice, and ate.
(Don’t just pick fruits—eat your veggies too.)
(Eeeh, they’re bitter!)
(Hey now, eat balanced for health!)
We ate together amiably, the mood warm and harmonious.
Aria, right in the middle, looked utterly at ease and happy, savoring the moment as if a weight had lifted from her chest.