Making My Jacket

Tiny leaves fall to the ground because of the wind. Next, fly into the sky because of the wind. They fly off the branch without blaming the wind.

Elestria swept quietly inside the boutique. She chose to disappear.

"Why? Not wanting to travel for four months? I thought... you needed to meet our mate." Scarlett rolled her eyes in disgust. Some days had passed, but Elestria was busy brooding.

She swept the dust into a shovel. Then, she threw them away through the back door of the boutique.

"It's not about four months."

She closed the back door. She stood in front of it with a sigh.

"I don't like winter. The snow covers everything. Everything becomes white like a punishment."

Scarlett shook her head lightly. "Then you need to be warmed up."

"A bonfire? I'm not keen on collecting wood when we're on a frozen road."

"A bonfire isn't the only thing."

"So?"

Scarlett chuckled. "Our mate. He must know the way."

"You and your dirty mind." Elestria rolled her eyes.

Scarlett giggled. Finally, Elestria was no longer flat-faced. 

"It's sacred. You've always dreamt of spending time with the one who will always protect you and take you everywhere."

Scarlett spoke like she was reciting poetry at the Sunday market.

"I can't meet him if I don't survive the cold weather."

"The expedition is at the beginning of winter, right? Why don't you gather warm clothes immediately? Did you do it on purpose?"

Elestria walked away while stomping. She could no longer endure Scarlett's demonic words. She bit her lower lip. Damn, I'm hooked, she fumed.

She went to the kitchen. The warm air throughout the room came from the stoves cooking the cream soup. Sitting here like your world is fine.

After that time, she went to the warehouse. Many fabric scraps were lying around, piled up, and curled up. Buying thick clothes was too expensive. She decided she would make them again that day.

***

The boutique's lights went out after the last customer boarded the train. Elestria helped out in the workspace, tidying up the notebooks. Meanwhile, Lusi still sat and read today's unfinished to-do list.

Elestria paused for a moment. She had been waiting for a chance to talk to Lusi. Luckily for her, Lusi realized that.

"You have some special news, Els?" Her lips curled, as did her eyes. Her smile had never changed since they became friends.

Elestria gave a small nod. Her body swiveled from the desk shelf. She stood politely before Lusi. "I went to the palace this afternoon, to the soldiers' camp, and got a job," she explained.

"Is that so? Keir must have seen your potential to decide that."

"I-yes."

"What will you be doing?"

"It's... a wonderful job, thanks to you." His hesitation couldn't be hidden. Several times, she stopped talking and bit her lip.

Lusi was reluctant to interrupt. If Elestria wasn't ready to speak, she was willing to wait.

Elestria played with her fingers. She looked at them with much emotion. Slowly, she calmed herself through sighs.

"Lusi," she called, then looked up, "maybe we won't see each other again after I start working."

"I might... miss you."

Lusi laughed softly. "I'll miss you too, Els. Let's write to each other. Please visit me when you're free."

"Of course!" Elestria beamed. Her confidence increased because of Lusi's response. It's not that hard to hide secrets, she thought.

"So, when do you start working?"

"Early winter."

***

That night, Elestria had trouble sleeping. She blamed herself for being incompetent. She didn't tell Lusi about her work. She didn't think Lusi would be curious. Still, Elestria was frustrated!

She got out of bed. There was a blanket on her shoulders. She took a patchwork quilt. After setting up her workplace, she immediately started modeling warm clothes. The pieces of fabric were arranged like the design of a top.

"Maybe Lusi will ask Keir," Scarlett chirped.

"Keir said it was a secret."

Scarlett gave a short hum. 

"You'd better explain your task as the groceries guard."

"That would threaten the survival of the expedition."

"At least say goodbye when you leave for the expedition."

Elestria nodded after inserting the thread into the needle. Her nose was slightly red because she was too close to the flame of the oil lamp. "Yeah, I must make her not worry anymore."

Scarlett nodded.

The tip of the needle penetrated the cloth. She gazed at the details of each thread trace she made. That would be a three-piece jacket. 

"Perhaps Lusi is curious. You can tell her you're an assistant chef."

"That's fine," Elestria replied. She sneezed three times and continued stitching.

***

The oil lamp began to dim. The cold wind was killing. The sound of a twig snapping is like a sign of something frightening to come. There was a faint howl.

Elestria wasn't done yet. She forced the needle through the second layer of her jacket. She mustn't sleep because the day of the expedition was fast approaching. She didn't want to freeze to death for not having proper warm clothes.

Sewing by hand was time-consuming. Her hands were pale, her shoulders ached, and she might catch a cold. She felt like the most miserable person ever.

No one had protected her since she was a small child. She had to fight alone from ridicule. If she wanted something, she had to make it. She hoped her meeting with her mate was a lucky thing. She just wanted to be protected.