Sisterly Affection
The seasons must have changed a thousand times more. The mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees must have been born and died ten times over. Through all that endless time, I had merely existed, squandering the years away.
Without accomplishing a single thing, without even harboring the desire to change, I had been stuck in place like a stone rolling aimlessly along a well-trodden path. Yes. Everything I did was something anyone passing by could have done just as well. A worthless existence like mine held no value whatsoever.
"—It's time to get up."
".....Ugh...."
But not anymore. Now, there are things only I can do.
Maybe because I'd read to her until late last night, the child seemed sleepier than usual today. She clung to the blanket, curling up tight as if she never wanted to leave its warmth. I rose early, prepared breakfast, and sat by the side of the girl who still hadn't fully woken. I stroked her silky, beautiful hair, savoring the texture.
A tingling jolt, like electricity coursing through my fingertips.
The food might get cold, but that didn't matter. I could always reheat it. This brief moment was far more precious.
The old me, who cursed the unmoving sun and prayed for tomorrow to come, was gone. Now, time slipped through my fingers like grains of sand, and all I felt was resentment toward its cruelty. I wished this instant could last forever. Only I could be the one sitting here—I believed that with all my heart. I could never allow anyone else to sit beside this child.
It had been a month since I started calling her Alice. Compared to my previous life, it was a mere speck of time. But that speck was exactly what I'd truly longed for. It was slowly birthing value within me.
Yes, this was life. This was existence. A fierce, cruel poison raging wildly—and that poison was devouring me.
"—Alice, if you don't get up, I'll play a prank on you?"
"......Ugh... Just a little... just a bit longer..."
"Really.... This won't do.."
Right now, I felt alive.
The day Elly resolved herself in her heart and gave me a new name. Even on that day when the sun shone joyfully upon us, it rose high and vanished beyond the distant mountains. Time doesn't care about us, after all.
It had been such a fun day. Truly wonderful.
"Seriously.... Even you, Elly sis..!!"
"Ha... haha... I got swept up in the mood. Couldn't help it."
"Hmph! I'm gonna sulk!"
I deliberately pulled down the collar of my clothes to show her. The spot where my neck met my shoulder was probably red by now. I couldn't see it myself, so I couldn't say for sure, but even I had felt a sharp sting, so it must hurt quite a bit.
To think she'd actually bite me for not getting up. The prank went too far. I pouted my lips and showed her my wound. Look! This mark! I was protesting.
"I'm gonna sulk...? Sis, am I... sulking?"
"...Getting sulky now and then doesn't seem so bad."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Ah, nothing."
Since that day, Elly had changed like a different person, becoming far more proactive. Unlike her past self, who kept a distance as if an invisible wall stood between us, her sudden forwardness caught me off guard. Teasing me like she did this morning? That was a first.
People often reveal unexpected sides when they grow close, but this wasn't just a side—it was a complete overhaul. Once a monk tastes meat, no bean in the temple is safe. Having once known love, she could never return to her old life ignorant of it.
Well, I had liked her struggling to avoid growing attached, flailing desperately. It was so obvious she'd sink into the deep mud eventually. She should have just accepted it limply from the start. Love is like a thorn—the more you try to pull it out, the deeper it digs in.
Hehe.
I felt a twinge of regret that I'd never see that cold, rational Elly again, but her current self was nice too, so it wasn't so bad. A good change. Yes, that's how people should be—reaching out first, building bonds.
All I'd done was teach her the right way to live. A brush of sleeves is fate. But where there's meeting, there's parting; where there's love, there's separation.
"So, Alice, what would you like me to do for you?"
".....Feed me."
"Pardon?"
"....Feed me."
"......"
Oh, this is dangerous. I knew it instinctively. With my words, her atmosphere froze. But Elly sis quickly regained her composure. Sensing her shift into some unknowable mood with a silent vow, I thought,
Ah, I said the wrong thing.
The urge to run hit me, and acting on it was swift. But getting caught was even swifter. No sound of her pulling out a chair or walking over—yet in seconds, she had my well-trained body from countless games of tag.
I-it's fine! I can eat by myself!
No. Didn't you ask me to feed you first?
It was a joke! So it's fine!
Pranks come with punishment.
Wh-what—?!
After that, she force-fed me messily. Holding me like a baby, Elly blew on each spoonful before putting it in my mouth. Goo goo, baby Alice. Hng.
(For the record, the food was delicious.) Tch.
In that month, Elly underwent many changes. Her tone, everything—it's easier to list what didn't change.
Let's pick three big examples. First, she started calling me 'Alice.' I have no idea where she got the name. I understand others' emotions well, but I can't read thoughts directly.
She must know my real name and identity is 'Aris.' Maybe she chose 'Alice' from its origin. Plausible, but... something feels off. She'd want to avoid me regaining memories, so she wouldn't name me with hints or hopes of that.
And the deep emotions when she calls me Alice—a tangled storm even I couldn't fully unravel. There's a story there. Ugh... no clue. No hints, and she won't tell if I ask. It's not that important anyway. Whatever, she must've had a friend with that name before. Yeah, that makes sense.
Next, the frequency of 'disinfecting' my wounds decreased. From nearly once a day to once a week. The intensity dropped too—now just a light lick over the wounds. No pain, barely itchy. If it was tanghulu before, now it's a simple coating.
Can't blame healing wounds, since it changed overnight, not gradually. Something's up. After enduring with a calm face, she sighed regretfully. Why...?
Finally, her night hunts increased. No idea why. She walked outside in broad daylight holding my hand fine, so why only nights? And why so frequent?
As a good new-country kid who sleeps and wakes early, I pretended not to notice her odd behavior. I'm such a good girl. From a month's observation, about every three days. And she always returned reeking of blood.
Hunting. So the meat chunks in my recent diet were her catches—mostly rabbit and deer.
Of course, she hunted before calling me Alice, but not this extreme—once a week at most. Not enough to explain just because I started eating meat. I don't eat much anyway.
That intense blood scent I'd felt since we met. No matter how much she washed, it lingered in nail crevices, ankle and knee folds, behind ears—not the kind that washes off.
It had started again.
So much changed, but one thing didn't: the bandages over her eyes stayed, even as wounds healed. I asked if she could remove them sometimes, but always 'not yet.'
Hee? Ah, whatever. I've given her everything, yet she hides so much. Keep it up, and I'll want to know. This is your fault, sis.
That time my instinct warned of danger prying into her secrets.
"......."
My instinct was silent. Knowing she cherishes me made me feel so good.
Elly sis, we're close, right? Friends. Good friends. So—friends don't hide things, yeah?
"Hehe."
I grinned.
***
Episode 2. The Woman with the Scent of Blood (Part 1). End.
After a few side stories, the latter part will air. Side stories based on comment recommendations and what I want to write.