VII

It's been two weeks since I arrived in the world of Hestia, and I'm starting to get used to the daily life in Eldergrove. Every morning, I help prepare breakfast. If I'm not out picking fruits with Zane, I'm assisting his sisters with various tasks around the village. These tasks range from gathering firewood and fetching water to helping repair the wooden structures and tending to the garden. Sometimes, I also help their mother, Isabella, with cooking dinner. In the evenings, we sit and talk before going to bed. This routine has marked my first two weeks in this new world.

One of the most intriguing things I've learned is the structure of Hestia's calendar. A year here lasts 400 days, with 40 days in each of the 10 months. Each week spans 10 days, and the days are named as follows: Solis, Lunas, Terras, Floris, Aquas, Ventus, Ignis, Lumen, Tenebris, and Aetheris. I arrived in the seventh month, so there are three months left before the new year.

I'm excited for the year to end because it means we'll travel to the Kingdom of Luminas for the traditional celebrations. I'm looking forward to this trip, not only for the festivities but also because I miss reading. In Luminas, I'll have access to books, something I've greatly missed. On Earth, I read a lot to fill the void left by my lack of companionship. Here, though I have made friends, the desire to read remains strong.

One day, I noticed an elderly villager with a book. When I tried to read it, I realized I couldn't understand the words. This struck me as odd since I can communicate with everyone here without any trouble, and they understand me perfectly. However, I can't read their written language, and they can't read the words in my journal either. This has given me a new mission: to learn to read and write in the language of Hestia( if your wondering, Hestia is the name of the parallel world), which is called Unisian because It reflects the idea of a single, unified language spoken across all continents on the planet Hestia.

Another thing I've noticed is that everyone here assumes I'm a boy. Back on Earth, my androgynous appearance often led to confusion, with people frequently asking if I was a boy or a girl. My soft voice, delicate features, and slender build contributed to this ambiguity. Here, though, no one questions it. They simply see me as a boy.

This makes me reflect on my appearance. I stand at about 1.65 meters, with shoulder-length black hair that falls softly around my neck. My light brown eyes, framed by long lashes, have a feline quality to them. My skin is fair and smooth, and while I have some gentle curves, they are not pronounced enough to clearly define my gender. My lips are full and slightly feminine, and my nose is small and straight. Overall, my features blend both masculine and feminine qualities in a way that makes me look almost ethereal.

Well, not that I wanted them to ask me that question anyway because every time they did before, it made me feel uncomfortable and uneasy in my own skin. Right now, I was out with Zane, gathering some plants, fruits, and vegetables. As usual, we reached a spot where we often collected supplies. Suddenly, I almost tripped and fell when I was startled by a huge snake. "Oh shit, what is that?" I exclaimed, but Zane managed to catch me just in time.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Yeah, I just got a little scared. It's the first time I've seen such a big snake," I replied, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Don't worry, it's harmless. You can even touch it," Zane assured me with a reassuring smile.

I was still a bit scared, but I wanted to give it a try. Tentatively, I reached out and touched the snake. It didn't react aggressively; it just slithered away calmly. I couldn't help but feel a sense of achievement. "Wow, that was so cool! I touched a snake. It was so gentle and cute," I said, feeling proud of myself.

"Zane thought to himself, His skin is so soft, like a girl's. It's just so nice to touch". He blushed at his thoughts.

Then I turned and saw Zane blushing. "Are you okay? Do you have a fever?" I asked, concerned.

Zane seemed a bit flustered but managed to reply, "Yeah, I'm good. Okay, let's continue with what we were doing."

We continued gathering our supplies, and once we were done, we headed back to the village.

When we arrived back at the house, Zane handed the vegetables and plants to his sisters and me. We started sorting and preparing them. Zane, as usual, went to sit on a tree stump a little way from the house, a spot where he liked to sit alone and think.

**Zane's Perspective:**

As I sat there, I couldn't stop thinking about the sensation of Evan's soft skin. How could a boy have such soft skin? Evan is very beautiful; he doesn't really look like a typical boy. This was the first time I had seen a boy without muscles, so fragile-looking, and with such a soft voice that it could easily be mistaken for a woman's.

I remembered the feel of his waist when I stopped him from falling because of the snake. It was soft and... comforting. The sensation was incredible. I felt my cheeks heat up, and I buried my face in my hands, blushing furiously. What am I thinking? Why am I thinking this?

**Back to Evan's Perspective:**

Meanwhile, I was busy with Zane's sisters, helping to sort and prepare the vegetables and plants we had gathered. We worked together efficiently, chatting and laughing as we went about our tasks. The sense of community here was something I cherished deeply. It was so different from the loneliness I had known before.

As the afternoon turned into evening, we finished our chores and gathered around the table for dinner. The meal was simple but delicious, made with the fresh produce we had collected earlier. The warmth and camaraderie at the table made me feel more at home than I ever had before.

After dinner, we cleaned up and spent some time talking in the main room. We shared stories, and I learned more about the customs and traditions of Hestia. Isabella, Zane's mother, told me about the upcoming year-end celebrations and what to expect when we visited the Kingdom of Luminas.

Later, we all retired to bed. As I lay there, I couldn't help but reflect on the day. Despite the challenges and the strange new world I found myself in, I felt a deep sense of contentment. I was part of a family, surrounded by people who cared about me,I felt like I belonged.