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~A Journal, Chapter IX~ Leaving was never a light option, a lot rode on that change. We had never spoken, but the quiet whispers of "Take me with you" seemed more pleading than I could stand. We didn't take time to exchange details, I didn't even know her name. The move was quick, much exchanged on our behalf by inn keepers and the rest carried in packs, settling in was swift. Seeking a quiet place on the outskirts of the city to study and explore in peace seemed most appropriate and I quickly scored cheap rent in the northeast. Only it wasn't long until I clocked a gaze of the familiar honey pool eyes outside my home. Every so often she would be in the village, tending to flowers and wildlife, many times barefoot in doing so. Her aura was confident - she was familiar with her tasks, looking completely enamoured with the more natural surrounds, unbothered by the dirt that clung to her dress. Her clothes draped, tied in at the waist by dark brown ribbon. Despite her filthy activities, her hair remained shining in ice and silver, another thread of brown tied to keep her lengthly weave from her face. "How is your new place?" She asked me one day as she stroked at a wild rabbit's ears, who appeared seemingly content with their interaction. "Perfect for what I need." I replied with a nod, suddenly curious to whichever case brought her out to the sticks. "Is your home far from here?" I continued. She shrugged with a smile, "Home is never too far from here..." Her voice was low and soothing, and her glances only prompted me to study her more. I wrayngled with the idea that I'd seen her before, long before. I scratched the back of my ear in thought before I posed another question. "Where are you from again, originally?" "Naju" she replied before tipping a nod waiting for my own reply. "Kunsan..." She was from the North, and myself from the South, it seemed unlikely we had met before now. Panic crept up as my throat tightened; some moons had passed since the incident, but that was not without consequence. Nightmares of death had left me waking drenched in cold sweats, and occasionally voices pierced stronger through planes than were usual. The nightmares and whispers were all normal, the Shaman had said. The possibilities soon became too much to bear before I blurted out my disconnected thought. "Are you dead?" She looked at me indignantly before she clapped back her retort. "Do I LOOK dead?!" I took a few moments as I blinked at my own words and hers to observe. She'd had a point, how often did rabbits sit still for anyone, nevermind a spirit? My lip quivered as I shook my head slightly. She held her stare that made her eyes appear as dark as the midnight hours; the warmth had now faded as she frowned in my direction. I swallowed hard and mumbled an apology. I did not want to mess with this woman. She remained fixed in her expression for moments that felt long before her face softened slightly. "Rough week was it?" Her question prompted me to cradle myself almost immediately as I failed to shrug off how much the question bothered me. "Something like that?" She proceeded to get up from giving the rabbit affection, her arms folded in front with her head tilted. "Perhaps we don't meddle where we shouldn't?" I immediately became defensive and stuttered my excuses, explaining about the potions, the water, the darkness. All the while she nodded in listening, obviously still swayed to my incompetence. "You should study more then, huh?" A flush of hot hit my cheeks, embarrassed, I stammered to defend myself before she cut me off? "Just take care of yourself, have trust in what you know, study what you don't?" She paused a moment as if listening to the cool gust of breeze that pulled past us. "I have to take leave..nice to see you, Rosa." I blinked in silence watching her depart. How did she know my name? | |