"I'm sorry, James… But Sage and I want to get our own place."
"It's alright, just stay safe."
A week went by since we made it to Ard. It's been full of cleaning already. The guys and I do the sort of heavy lifting; honestly I expected differently from evolving. But I am almost as strong as James; his strength is two points higher than mine. Of course, I didn't tell him my current stats out of… well consideration for his manliness.
Which is rather embarrassing, how does a young girl have almost the same strength as him? James is pretty buff, to the point he has very well defined abs and muscles… It still makes me envious and causes some embarrassment when I glare at them.
Anyways, after we were done for the most part… Verd announced his leave. It was still disheartening, I mean… he was with us for a year. I already said my goodbyes for now— not really a goodbye, he's getting his own living space. It wasn't that far, maybe thirty or so minutes away on foot, honestly I wouldn't mind visiting them every few days.
Currently, everyone's at the front porch; no one has gotten the chance to refresh themselves. We were still quite busy.
James wrapped his arms around Verd; the latter responded in such, meanwhile Melinda pulled Sage into a huge hug.
"Just stay safe okay? And if you need a literal hand, come to us."
"I will, I will… Oh! Miss Shen said she'd help with me recovering!" Sage raised the hand that was a literal nub. "She said it's possible I could get a prosthetic hand and arm… or I can have my limbs regrown."
Melinda let out a chuckle before releasing Sage. "You two be good for your mom and dad alright?"
"Got it aunty Melinda!"
"Yes!"
"Good…"
Melinda kneeled down and pulled Sage's two kids into a big hug. "You two be careful too."
"Mhm!"
That's nice…
Both Allisa and I got one last hug before those two left. And you may be wondering… where did Shaun and Jin go?
First, it was collectively decided Shaun isn't going to live by himself… So he has a decently big room he's not come out of for a few days. Jin left mid way through; apparently his family left him a home to take care of. I don't remember him being an Ard native. Well he never really talked about his family.
I wonder if we'll see each other again.
Anyways… we all needed to get refreshed; so we took turns in the bathrooms. Mainly Allisa and I.
After she was done, and I had to wait my turn for the bath, I went inside the bathroom. It was pretty spick and span for a place that was left by itself for fifteen or so years.
That's thoughtful of her. There was a rather large towel rack… Allisa left a few spare towels for me. They were pure white, and fluffy to the touch.
I set my new clothes next to them; I don't know where the pajama top was bought from–Melinda went shopping randomly and came back with it. Foxes' were knitted onto it. Aside from that, they also bought me some shorts too.
Won't go out with them on though. I thought to myself as I began to undress. Why did Shen have to point them out…?
Am I going to get all the memories? Really? I don't want them.
There was a mirror on the right side of the bathroom. When I stepped in the view of it I could see everything about my body.
On my ribs there were dark marks in the shape of sticks beaten onto my ribs; random blotches of green bruises on my stomach and right of my rib cage. And one below my belly button.
Seriously old Yukina… what happened to you…? I questioned when I continued to turn. To be honest, I didn't want to know. I knew how this body tended to respond to my curiosity. On my left arm there was a yellowish bruise; and more stick bruisings on my side. Deep scratches on my shoulders…
I moved past most of my back; self explanatory to my mind, I hope those won't come… hm…?
When I looked past it all, I could see a scabby stub of a tail coming just above my butt. The fur that was there was a grey color at the tip. Really old Yukina… What did you do to deserve all of that…?
… Was she…? … Yeah, yeah she was. The most disgusting and heinous thing someone could've done to a young girl. What the fuck is wrong with them?
An explanation is unnecessary to my diary. With the scratches on my legs and near the area below my stomach, that much is needed.
What am I going to do if I gain those memories…? I don't want to think about them; I don't want to deal with these memories.
To keep my mind… well from the horrific thoughts plaguing it. I got the bath ready. The tub was way more than big enough to fit me inside of it. The faucet was pretty pristine.
Melinda really is the daughter of nobles, huh? Back in Untergrant there weren't any in door faucets so we'd use buckets of water. Meanwhile for this tub there was one— especially two nobs on either side of it. Of course they were enchanted, I can sense the mana radiating off of them.
Hot or cold…Hm… Cold wasn't in the option, you really thought that huh? Nope… Hehe….
Without another thought I brought my hand to the red faucet and cranked it. And as quickly as I did that, steaming blue water began to pour out of the faucet. Huh, it actually works?! It's not going to hurt, right?
It took a few minutes but the water was to the level that's satisfactory— pretty much half way up. Despite the steam fuming above the water was warm enough where it relaxed my muscles.
This is nice… A comforting warmth swashed around my body. It felt like I was being hugged by a person. Reminds me of back home.
My eyes wandered to the ceiling; balls of light illuminated the bathroom; the ceiling was a dark brown, even with my one eye I could see the circles.
I wonder if I could get my eye fully healed…
Wait, hold on. Since we're in Ard, am I going to school again? Melinda said something about schools…
This water… is so…
…
****
"Make sure to stay away from strangers!"
"Mom, I got it! Stay away from strangers, don't listen to people if they are offering things!"
Geez…
Mom's a worry wart… I'm not some stupid kid… I'm ten but I'm pretty responsible! Ugh!
"Here, remember you need an outfit for school. Go to [redacted] introduce yourself and pay for it." My dad said to me, a brown sack was in his hand.
"Yes! I know!"
I know! I definitely know! I grabbed the sack and held it tight to my body; I was not irritated… in fact I was excited about this. When Ena is ready I can help her out…
Give it three years…
My parents pulled me into a hug; Mm… It's so warm… I'd ask… but I need to do this— Mom has to take care of [Redacted] and dad works.
…
"Stay safe honey! Don't-"
"I won't get in trouble! Love you!"
"Love you too!"
It's time to go… Coin sack check! Small knife… check! Weee're good to go! With a skip in my feet I started running to the nearby town; this is the first time I went by myself…
Before I fully left, I twirled and waved at my mom and dad.
"I'll be back!"
As far as my legs and mouth could keep up, I kept going… I didn't turn my head again, I want to get this quickly done. Through the grass I loved to play on with Ena and Marc. We'd tickle each other with the blades of grass.
The trees we climb on… speaking of which I'll need to annoy dad to build a tree house….
"Hi mister guards!" I waved with a grin as I got near the town; the two big guards I never caught the name of waved at me with a smile.
"Careful running, Yuki!"
"I'll be okay!"
I heard them say something. But I didn…
…
Huh? Wh- where am I? Why am I in a village-? It felt like everything blinked; there were old medieval houses around me… they were all torn down.
Splintered boards layered the ground; holes in roofs… Destroyed poles that kept the canopies of houses up… Where am I?
What happened? My mouth won't open… and I'm back in my old life's form. Why can't I remember anything…?
Huh? Who's that…?
Far in front of me, I could see a figure in white. From- from what I can see it was like watching a ghost; her feet barely moved, but there was… an oddly familiar limp.
As she limped across the ground she caressed the splintered pieces of wood. Her head didn't even raise to look towards me… She just kept getting closer. I could feel my hair stand up.
Ghost? Speaking of which, why am I here?!
That's an answer you can't get.
A familiar voice rang inside my head; it was unlike that being— the one that kept ringing in my ears. It was… mine, but softer— less brash.
Unfortunately I cannot answer that either.
When I snapped my head to the ghost she was looking at me. Wolfkin? She had ears similar to my current life's ears… but her hair was white— and her eye was a weird green to yellow eye color; and her pupil was a square shape that was flipped.
One side of her bangs covered the other; but through the thin hair strands I could see a void where her-
Can you stop looking at me?
Ah- ahah… Sorry about-
You shouldn't be here. You shouldn't be getting those memories—
What are-?
You shouldn't be able to see me here— these aren't your memories. Stop trying to look for something that isn't yours.
Hold-
I couldn't get another word in. She grabbed my shirt and pulled me down to her eye level.
You should wake up. You're drowning.
E-
Like a light switch everything changed. I felt hot water enter my thr-
"Cough! Cough! Who- Who the hell was that?!" Gallons of water sprayed out of my mouth as I pulled myself onto the side of the tub. "Se- seriously…"
"Yukina?! Are you okay in there?!"
"H-Huh?"
"You've been in there for hours! I'm coming in!"
"H-Hold on! I need- Wah!" As I tried to get myself out of the tub— my face struck the ground. Seriously now out of all times?!
Seriously legs?! Work damn it!Why can't I get-
"Yukinaa…? You okay?"
"-Ge- get out! I said let me get dressed!"
"Mm… Okay… did you fall?"
"Y-Ye-Yes! Now get out!"
No- No, I can't let exhaust- My mind started feeling whoozy. My face was extremely hot- Yes, yes I'm extremely embarrassed about being seen naked… I always used a towel okay?!
Ugh… Somehow I managed to get myself off the ground. My entire body… feels like jello. Clothes…
Ah…there it is… I forgot the tank top and shorts… Why not… I'm feeling… too tired to care about it. When I changed, I sluggishly looked into the mirror.
Seriously…Who was she…?Why did she look like me? I rested my hand on the mirror. She looked exactly like me… aside from softer features and her colors reversed.
Her right eye was missing. She looked really… up-
"Yukina?! You almost done?! Mom and dad have your room ready!" Allisa broke my thoughts again. Her voice was much louder. "Are you dressed?!"
"Ye- Yeah! I'm coming…"
They really care…Why is she there again-? The same white haired familiar was staring at me. Who-
Don't worry about what happened to your body.
It was the last thing I heard before she disappeared. Who-
The door to my right opened and Allisa walked in a second time. "Yukina? What's wrong?"
"Nothing… nothi-" I tried walking but my body felt like cinder blocks. Somehow I tripped over, and was hurdling straight to the ground.
Allisa caught me whilst exclaiming: I got you!
Before I could thank her, my vision was beginning to blacken. I could only hear mumbles from my mouth… My body wasn't listening.
"Yukina?"
"S-..."
Every fiber in my body started to give out; my mind was becoming more muddled by the moment.
"Mom! Dad!"
I… think I pushed myself…. Too much…
"Hehe… You need the rest…" Allisa giggled whilst holding me up. "We'll make sure you'll be fine… get some sleep."
I felt a hand touch my head and everything went black.