Carriage To Home

Naomi and Arnacia stood in front of a carriage. In fact, this was the only cart attached with horses in this small ground. Apparently, the lodgings in the periphery were built around this carriage parking.

The morning was not bustling as expected. And the two girls waited to be let inside the first carriage that would leave towards Vanyawn Village. The driver thoroughly checked the insignia on the silver coins before approving.

"Can we get the corner seats?" Naomi asked.

"They are already occupied, see." The driver said while showing the inside of the carriage. The seats were arranged vertically and the passengers were facing each other. At one end, a woman was sitting alongside her little daughter and in front of them was a grumpy-looking man (the husband). "You can still sit together." The driver said, and pointed to the empty seats.

"Sure sure," Naomi waited for Arnacia to enter the carriage.

This was a two horse carriage. A little faster and smaller with the capacity of eight passengers. Eventually, three more people arrived. It was another family of a young couple and an old man who was apparently the girl's father.

The diver closed the door of the passenger cabin. Unfortunately, these passenger carriages were sealed at the back so that bandits on the way couldn't determine the people inside. The driver climbed to his seat and whistled. The only wide opening in the cabin was directly behind his back.

Naomi looked at Arnacia when the wide opening was covered a little by the driver. The carriage shook and started moving. Soon she could see that they had passed the village and were entering the desolate green lands.

The carriage gradually sped up. Naomi worriedly checked Arnacia, who had closed her eyes. The mother-daughter duo was also uneasy. Naomi could see that the little girl had also closed her eyes and tilted herself to rest her head on her mother's lap.

"Arnacia," Naomi whispered. "You will feel better while sleeping." She shook Arnacia and pointed towards the little girl. And fortunately, her prayers were answered.

Arnacia tilted her body and snuggled her head in Naomi's lap. She was definitely not going to open her eyes until they reached Vanyawn village.

***

"Wake up," Naomi gently shook Arnacia. She was in no rush, even though the driver was glaring at her from the exit.

"Get off now or I won't stop till the next destination," the driver threatened. He pushed the carriage door a little.

"Arnacia-aaaa," Naomi awkwardly smiled, but her hands made no effort.

Luckily, Arnacia woke up on hearing the driver's threat. She apologetically looked at the other passengers and got off. The driver only snorted at the green-haired girl before closing the door and headed towards his seat. Immediately, the horses moved and parted with a small dust cloud.

Arnacia saw the colorful village, houses capped with slanting roofs and chimes seemed to be playing in small groups. The scene was just like a mysterious dream, except there were a few more houses now. If the dream was true, then she knew exactly where her house was. She turned around and there it was.

The faded black roof almost made it feel like the tiles would slip. And there was the sealed window from her memory that looked perfectly normal now, with deep brown curtains. The seemingly ordinary house was, however, patched in dark white sullen walls.

"I am home," Arnacia was in a daze as she walked closer to her house.

"Welcome home!" Naomi excitedly walked ahead of Arnacia and pushed the door open.

"What what wait what," Arnacia couldn't believe this happening to her. Naomi didn't say they lived together! "This is my house, right?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, this is your house." Naomi looked back at Arnacia, who still stood outside. "Come inside, make yourself feel at home." She said and waited for Arnacia to step inside.

Just as she stepped inside, she saw a middle-aged woman appear behind Naomi. The woman had her hair tied nearly in a bun. She was wearing a gray kirtle, but it looked like a frock, it was extremely sophisticated for Arnacia to understand. Naomi also noticed the woman.

"Mom! What are you doing here?" she said as the woman walked into the light.

'This is supposed to be my mom, right?' Arnacia could see the woman's orange eyes and the black mixed with orange hair. But there was no way she could be sure. Seems like Naomi's mom was also living in her house.

"Where else would I be?" The woman caressed Naomi's face, then looked at Arnacia.

"Ah, yes come to your mother!" Naomi awkwardly said. "Arnacia, your daughter isn't feeling well because the road wasn't well."

"I am back," Arnacia tried to put up an expression of illness and got closer to accept her mother's hug.

"Naomi, you are going to start with your jokes again." Arnacia's mother rubbed her daughter's back and continued. "Lay down and I will quickly prepare the bath."

"Sister!" At this time, a voice sounded that drew everyone's attention. A young man walked out from the next room. "Welcome home. I was telling mom you would arrive today, but she doubted me and said it was next week. Eh, why is Naomi here?"

"Call me elder sister," Naomi immediately said. "Why are you also here?"

"I was just resting, and it's my house." Arancia's little brother Archie slowly walked into the room. His eyes looked a little tired, but he had a big smile on his face.

But Arnacia noticed the peculiarity. Just when Archie entered the room, he was resting his hand on the wall. It wasn't anything odd, but when Archie staggered on his left foot, she immediately connected the two. Hearing, 'I was just resting, solidified it more.

"Are you injured, Archie?" Arnacia immediately asked.

"No sister, it is nothing. I am alright now. I am perfectly fine." He was a little worried since her sister called him Archie. Thus, he immediately lifted his hand in the air and shook them as if everything was alright.

"Then why don't you show me how high you can jump," Arnacia directly looked at her mother after finishing the sentence. "Mother, what happened?"

"Forgot about him. He is a fool." Mother looked away. Sadness was clear on her face.

"I am really fine, see?" Archie jumped a little. "All I got are some scratches." He tried to fake a smile, but it was clear that his left eye was a little teary.

"Awwi Archie is just like you Arancia, he is so strong." Naomi didn't notice the pain on Archie's face and praised. "He also looks like a weak you. I wonder if you would be silly like him if you were a guy." Naomi joked, but then immediately added. "I would still like you, even if you were a guy." But then it felt like she was falling into a trap. "No, I mean I like you. This has nothing to do with if you were a guy or not. I think I like it more that you are a girl-"

"Naomi enough," Arnacia said.

"I am going out for a while." Archie didn't let Arnacia speak further and walked towards the door. His face turned serious once he was out. He didn't walk far, instead went around the house and sat in the backyard. His face showed much pain now that he was alone.

"Seems like she was really angry at me." He thought of the last time Arnacia called him Archie. "But, sister, how will you save me this time?"