Chapter 04

As I walk down the road, I encountered some kids who were happily running around. Thinking back, when did I ever laugh like that? It never happened.

I am not some soft-hearted caring person, but it feels like this village has some magic spell. It's slowly changing me, my whole existence.

It's as if I am being reborn again.

I hurriedly run when I saw a kid fell down.

"Kiddo, Are you okay?" I calmly asked and helped him stand up.

When I asked him that, and that was when he started crying while having his eyes on me.

What do I do now? I have never encounter this scenario before.

"Are you embarrassed?" I ask.

When he nodded, I softly gave him a smile.

"D-Don't touch me! You filthy city girl!" He shouted, wiping his tears down.

I went silent for a moment and recalled that he was right. I forgot that I was an outcast tourist here, but is my status really important when some kid got hurt?

"You can call me anything you want, hate me all day long, but let's treat that wound first." I said, dragging him in the corner of the road and made him sit.

I always carry an alcohol and a handkerchief as I am really sensitive on the things I pick up and to wipe my blood because it could trigger anytime.

"Why are you treating me like i'm some kid?! I'm a grown up!" He shouted again.

I was really annoyed because of how sharp his tone are, but nonetheless I didn't mind it as he is still a kid.

"The pain doesn't choose where it goes. It would fly to wherever it wants, so regardless of what you feel, I also know it." I calmly said, while cleansing his wounds.

[Meaning that no matter you are an adult or not, there will always be a pain in our hearts that people wouldn't understand. that the pain doesn't choose who it would cause a harm, because after all we are all humans.]

"Y-You...Why are you so kind?" He asked.

I sigh, "Treating your wound isn't really kindness for me. I just hate seeing someone getting hurt in front of me, not having the capability of helping theirselves."

He was in awe when I answered his question. of course he wouldn't completely understand it, he's still a kid after all.

"I want you to become my older sister! You are kind, I want to protect you from bad guys!" He proudly said. Although he was feeling embarrassed, and his cheeks were burning, I knew he was sincere.

I laugh, "Sure, from now on you are my knight!" I said, riding his words.

"My name is Zak, What's yours Sister?" He ask.

"Me? I'm Xian, Zak." I responded.

After covering his wounds, He stood up and put his hands on the side of his stomach and shouted loudly.

"When I go back, I'll brag to anyone that I have a beautiful kind Sister now!!" He said proudly.

"Yeah, Go back now. Be careful and tell your parents about your wound so that it can be treated again, Zak." I said, worrying that it might get worse.

He nodded and run as fast as he can, feeling embarrassed. I don't know why he was embarrassed though.

It was fun dealing with him, I feel like I had some younger brother that's foolish and a troublemaker.

.

.

.

When I stood up, I was utterly shocked.

'Why is the Grannies staring at me...?'

"Ah, Good afternoon..." I said, greeting them respectfully.

They all looked to each and everyone, and turned their heads at the exact time to me.

"You don't need to act like you're kind, we know you're just hiding your true colors...!" They suspicously said.

I expected this.

"You don't need to worry, I'll be quiet on my stay here and won't cause you some inconvinient." I said, giving them some assurance.

They didn't answer, so I bowed my head and left the place.

.

.

.

And again, I arrived at this lake.

I saw a woman crying over there, so I was planning to head back.

But...It failed. I broke some wood, and that made a noise so the woman turned her head on me.

'Why am I so dumb! What am I going to do now?'

"D-Did you saw me crying?" She asked, wiping her tears.

"Actually, Y-Yes. But I really didn't mean to!" I truthfully said.

She laughed as I answered her immediately while panicking.

"Relax, I'm not going to get mad just because of that trivial thing." She laughed.

She held my hand and dragged me in the side of the tree and made me sit down.

"Why are you here though?" She asked.

Not knowing what to answer, I let my thoughts get over me. "I don't know, I think this lake became my comfort place because whenever I felt so wrong in life, my feet always lead me here."

She nodded, "I see."

"Why...are you crying earlier?" I hesitated on asking this, because I don't know if it's a personal reason or what.

She bitterly smiled, "My boyfriend broke up with me. We were together for years, and he just suddenly dumped me on the road."

As I saw her forcing herself not to cry, I said a few things.

"Let the sharp knife stab through the cutting board. If it's tough enough, it won't even budge and break. But if it lets the knife stab it, it would really stab it through." I calmly said, patting her back as I saw her started crying again.

[Means that we are the cutting board, the sharp knife is our problem. If we let our problem beat us, we would really be beaten. But if we remain strong and become courageous, It won't affect us even a slightest bit.]

No words were needed, she just cried and cried in my arms. Even though we were not close nor I know her, I felt a close connection between us.

I came here to be fix, to heal. But why am I the one who's comforting everyone I encounter here?

Either way, this village is a magical place full of these magical people who's slowly changing me.

And I am thankful.