Sylphie's home was located in the northernmost part of Buena Village.
When the location was chosen, it was for the convenience of Roles, a hunter, to go hunting in the forest. By the time Roles's wife, Norn, was about to give birth, they had already agreed that for the sake of their future child's social circle, it was time to move closer to the center of the village.
"Living on the very edge, won't our child have to walk a long way to play with other children?"
That was Norn's suggestion.
Roles naturally agreed with pleasure.
Buena Village was large, with plenty of empty space to build a new home. Besides, the Knight Lord was on good terms with Roles, so he would surely help.
With this anticipation, the child was born.
The moment Norn saw the child, she froze.
Roles also froze for a moment, then shouted excitedly, in a high-pitched tone he rarely used, deliberately feigning excitement.
"My child is so cute! How about we name her Sylphiette!!"
Norn was embraced by Roles and tearfully agreed.
"Okay."
Sylphie was very cute, with soft hair that shone with a jade-green luster in the sunlight, very beautiful.
That's what Norn thought.
That's what Roles thought.
But, they never brought up the suggestion of moving into the village again, as if by a tacit understanding.
Sylphie was a very sensible child.
At the age of four, she softly offered to contribute to the family—by bringing her father lunch when he was on watch at the edge of the forest.
However, she always came home soaking wet after lunch, muttering lies like she had accidentally fallen into the irrigation canal and dirtied the food, under Norn's pained gaze.
At first, Norn would just hold her and cry. Later, when she realized that this display of vulnerability only increased Sylphie's anxiety, she stopped crying.
Instead, she forced herself to comfort Sylphie gently.
After Norn began to change, Sylphie's anxiety also noticeably lessened.
This brought Norn some relief.
But in countless dreams, she would still look at Sylphie's sleeping face and cry silently.
This child.
She rarely smiled.
Why...
Why was it like this??
Dark eyes blinked, and Norn snapped out of her memories. She looked at Sylphie across the table under the candlelight, sitting upright and writing in her diary with a gentle smile on her lips. Her once deliberately short jade-green hair now reached her shoulders.
Norn smiled, a genuine smile from the bottom of her heart.
In the blink of an eye, Sylphie was almost seven.
Since last spring, Sylphie had learned to smile.
That was wonderful.
The door opened, and snowflakes drifted in from outside. Roles stepped into the house, brushed the snow off his shoulders, and after exchanging a smile with his wife Norn, looked at Sylphie, who was now looking up at him, and said.
"Writing in your diary again, Sylphie?"
Sylphie subtly pulled the diary closer to her chest and nodded.
Roles smiled, not minding her action.
Children grow up, and they will have their own 'secrets,' won't they?
He turned to look at Norn, and they both shared a somewhat helpless smile.
It was just that this 'secret' wasn't much of a secret at all.
Roles walked past Sylphie. She didn't turn her head, just stared at the snowstorm outside, her brows furrowing subconsciously.
This subtle facial expression was very similar to a certain someone's over the past year.
The old father saw this, exchanged a wry smile with his wife, and was about to head into the inner room. But just as Sylphie's expression was about to disappear from his view, Roles's eyes lit up, and he turned his head back.
He looked at Sylphie and said with a smile.
"Sylphie, by the way, we've been preparing to clear out the monsters lately. There are a lot of them this year, so I'll probably be out from morning till night. You can leave with me in the morning, and I'll take you to the Greyrat's house, then pick you up in the evening."
Sylphie was stunned. She turned her head abruptly to look at Roles, her eyes shining.
"Is that really okay?!"
"Why wouldn't it be? I didn't let you go out before because I was worried you'd be alone in a blizzard. But if I'm with you, of course, there's no such worry."
A brilliant smile bloomed on Sylphie's face.
Bang.
The wind and snow outside were so strong that they blew the window open.
The family scrambled to close it.
The winter wind gusted in through the window, flipping through the pages of the diary on the table.
January 31st.
Spring is here.
I finally saw Allen.
I haven't seen him all winter, and his hair has grown a little longer. He still has the same expression as before the blizzard last year, always smiling with squinted eyes when he looks at people.
But whenever he looks at the Knight Lord and his wife, I feel like there's something not right with his gaze.
But when I look closely, it seems like it's just my imagination.
March 21st.
I feel like Allen has been looking troubled these days, always frowning.
What is he worried about?
June 17th.
Summer is here, and it's really hot.
Allen's forehead is always sweaty.
Today, while reviewing magic, Allen suddenly suggested we go 'settle the score' with Somar for bullying me last year.
Although I was a little happy, I still found it strange. For the past year, Somar has always avoided us...
When we got to Somar's house, Somar wasn't home. Allen went inside but left me and Rudeus outside.
Rudeus kept pulling at me, trying to get me to leave, muttering, 'Run, run, this is not for kids to hear!'
I didn't want to bother with him; he's always saying strange things.
Soon, Allen came out, looking terrified. He grabbed us and ran home.
Mrs. Somar was calling after us.
She said, "Allen, wait!"
Allen ran even faster.
So strange.
But... I feel a little uncomfortable, though I can't say why.
September 16th.
Allen said that autumn is the season of harvest.
Perfect for eating wild boar.
Is there a connection??
We went to the edge of the forest and found Father.
Well...
The wild boar was delicious.
September 17th.
The wild boar was delicious.
September 18th.
The wild boar was delicious.
September 19th.
Father looked a bit panicked today. He said if we keep eating like this, we'll run out of wild boars. Won't that affect the forest's ecosystem?
Allen paused and said we should indeed be more careful.
September 20th.
The wild boar was delicious.
October 1st.
Rudeus has been a bit lazy lately because a while ago he proudly showed Allen a letter he received from Teacher Roxy.
Of course, I received one too.
One each.
But when Allen heard about it, his expression was a bit odd, and he didn't say anything.
I think he received a letter from Teacher Roxy too.
So I asked him how many he received.
He stammered, looking at Rudeus whose expression was gradually stiffening, and said something like, "Just one, I guess."
But Rudeus got agitated. He didn't believe him and insisted on seeing Allen's letter.
Forced, Allen had no choice but to open the drawer. Inside were six letters.
He was the first of the three of us to receive a letter.
Since that day, Rudeus has been a bit listless, not even studying magic properly.
Well... I kind of understand him, because besides the letters, it seems Allen also receives gifts from Teacher Roxy every time.
Suddenly, I have a feeling... I guess...
Maybe the reason Allen is always frowning is that he misses Teacher Roxy?
I don't know if I'm right.
Teacher Roxy is excellent, and Allen is excellent too.
I want to be as excellent as them.
Ah... I guess I really do miss Teacher Roxy too.
I want to receive her gifts too.
Allen is so cunning.
November 21st.
It's snowing. It's the annual blizzard season again.
Last year, Father was worried about me and rejected my idea of going to the Knight Lord's house to study magic during the blizzard.
I probably won't see Allen again this winter.
Lately, I've been having strange feelings about Allen.
This feeling is completely different from how I feel about Rudeus.
I always want to look at him.
Is it because he saved me last year?
I'm not sure.
But Mom told me that I'll naturally understand when I'm older.
That's true.
Allen also said.
Tomorrow's business will be known tomorrow.
I think he makes a lot of sense.
But there's one thing I know without waiting for tomorrow.
Tomorrow, the day after, and every day after that.
I want to keep looking at him.
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