Welcome Back

The trip back was smoother. Once in a while Ar would glance at me. Maybe because I charged his friend with some honey in exchange for my blood.

"Don't looked at me like that. They need my blood once a week for a year. And they didn't tell me that using people blood for medicine was a taboo."

"But they told you in the end! Well, who cares about church people? It's not like they will told anyone. A bucket honey for a few drops blood? Please!" Ar looked upset.

"I just didn't want the bee tribe owes me. I help because of the tornado incidence, and because I pitied them. Because the same reasons, I didn't want to be their savior, and so I made this a business deal. And... we need money, remember?" I said helplessly. Well, the main reason was, I must not attach my feelings to anyone.

"It's...," Ar stopped walking and looked at me. "Sigh... you don't need to mind every Arfeena whims, you know? Our own mother didn't even care, that's why she left."

"Well I care about myself. In this world I didn't know, I was like... alone in the darkness. You five... soon to be six, are my light. Your well-being and mine are tied together. So let's get so well that when those who left coming back... just show to their face, we're fine without them!" I told him my motto.

Ar chuckled, "That... I agree."

Ugh, this kid... I appreciated that he's quite mature. But... I wouldn't mind, if he's childish once in awhile. He knew many things, could do almost everything. *sigh*

We ran all the way and reached the town. Ar was going to merchant guild while I strolled around. I spent 1 sg and a few coppers.

I thought 20 coppers for an apple was expensive, but I was totally wrong. There were many meat and fish, average 15 c/dish. Snacks from stalls on the side road were just 2-5 c. I found a vegetable store, and seriously, I couldn't find any decent fruit. No fresh fruits on the market. For someone from modern day, I couldn't name those ugly dried and full of wrinkles things as fruit. No way!

"The buildings have no style, I couldn't tell... is this eastern or western fantasy world?" I murmured to myself.

If I looked at their colorful eyes and hair, and open clothing styles, it's a western one. But their skin... and face, more like eastern one. I saw many kind of Asian, American and European beauties, but I still couldn't sure.

"Am I in some kind of novel or anime? Or maybe some kind of video game? But I can't remember any book with Jaq hero in it."

"What are you mumbling by yourself?" the voice so soft, I shuddered hearing it.

I was in front of an ornament stall, choosing some hairpin. Beside me was the source of voice, a (human?) boy, late teens, black hair and silver eyes. He's sooo... I lost my word.

"..." I was speechless. This world's god definitely has good sense of aesthetics. Or maybe he/her was just an otaku.

"Thanks to you, I got my holiday. Now that your seals are gone, I see you're now free. How was your life these days? Are those demons still bothering your family?" he's talking like we're familiar.

"I... how did you know me? Are we friends?"

"Wh... you...," he poked my forehead and frowned. "You're really Sally."

I slapped his hand from my head. "Who are you, kid?"

"I... I am sorry." He looked at me with apologetic face, then vanished just like that.

"Who are you talking to? Are you gonna buy or not?" the seller looked at me with weird eyes.

"That kid... did you not look boy who was talking to me, sir?"

"What boy? Don't talk nonsense! Are you trying to scare my customers?" he said angrily.

"I apologize, sir. I'll go."

I tried to remember the weird boy, but I couldn't. Somehow his face was blurred in my mind.

"Sal... let's go home!" Ar popped up in front of me with the most brilliant face he made so far. I guessed, he got quite sum of money.

I was in trance for moment. Felt like I was forgetting something.

"Okay. Let's go!"

"If we run full speed... I mean, my full speed, we'll make it in less than three hours." (Ar)

And so, the two of us ran and got into the village in the evening. The village was surrounded by forests, so the sky got dark pretty soon.

"Tired? Take a warm bath, don't sleep right away." I told him.

Ar sweated all over his body, panting heavily. That's what you get for pretending to be tough. Haha. But this side of Ar was cute, I wouldn't tell him this.

"Mommy...!"

I just wanted to knock, but the door opened before I did. The little elf rocketed right to my stomach. Fortunately Ar was behind. I was fine, but Ar fell from the impact.

"Mommy, welcome back...!"Rooga hugged me tightly. He poked his head under my arm and realized there's Ar there.

"Welcome back! Sorry, big bro. I didn't know you are there."

"I... I'm home," Ar too tired to be angry. He just laid there on the ground, didn't feel like moving at all.