Voice On The Tree

Chapter 3 - Voice On The Tree

<My lady, you must take shelter.>

<They're here! Protect the great witch!>

Sound of swords clashing invaded Sequentia's ears as she felt her body being ducked down by someone familiar, <Stay here, okay? I'm sure he'll be fine. But you must not use magic,>

<You must not use magic to control death ever again, my lady.>

"..!"

White-grey eyes opened hastily, trembling, and flinched at the sunlight passing through the window and white curtains.

Sequentia held her head with a hand that was not hers and wiped away the cold sweat.

"These are not my memory... And it couldn't possibly be Constance.."

She wanted to think more but the world could not wait for her. As if sensing that she had awaken, the headmaid Lydia knocked and opened the door.

"Good morning, miss. The sun isn't too hot and bright, won't you go out and take a walk?"

As if heeding her words and wanting to find a moment of tranquility, Sequentia nodded and got out of bed. 

The maids instantly took care of her and Sequentia didn't mind being pampered at all.

After changing to a comfortable outer dress, she and a few maids took a walk in the garden. The servants making a beeline behind her.

"Could you leave me in peace for a moment? I'm only going to stay under the shade of that tree."

She pointed to the red oak tree in the distance.

"Understood. Shall we send you crackers and tea?"

"Can't it be cookies and milk?"

"Unfortunately that chocolate party is only available once per five months,"

Sequentia clicked her tongue and nodded. "The tea-"

"Black?"

As if understanding her in-depth, the servants were able to completely read what she wanted as of the moment besides chocolate.

"Black Tea with a light drizzle of honey, also honey biscuits and a lemon-sour candy?"

She frowned. 

'Okay, this was awesome the first time but now it's creepy.'

"Err, have you ever thought of becoming a witch?"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh no, no, nevermind. Yes, that's all the snacks I want right now. Go. Shoo~" Sequentia held her tongue and walked closer to the tree.

"The ladyship is acting too cute~"

"She must be excited to read her new books."

Although she had gotten far from them, Sequentia could still hear their voices and sighed. 'What books? This area is empty of things.'

There was something unsettling about this peaceful unfamiliar yet familiar place.

She sat on the grass under the shade of a large red oak tree and quietly surveyed her surroundings. 

Right in front of her, quite a few distance from where she sat, was a garden of Rosemary shrubs, Lavender, Hydrangea, Forsythia, and Azalea. It was vibrant in color. A common detail was that every flower type had a white version that looked half-withered.

And behind that garden was the average-looking mansion.

It looked extravagant but surely it was simple compared to the other nobles in Sequentia's memory.

There were only three floors, two wings in the second one for the owner's bedrooms and necessary facilities on the first floor and third floor rooms such as study, kitchen, and the home owner's office.

Unfortunately, Sequentia could not hear any news regarding the home owners.

However they have mentioned that Constance had parents and a big brother.

'That supposed big brother would come home from his academy by the end of this week.'

She recalled all the details she's gathered so far.

Her 'parents' were both workaholic but apparently loved Constance very much, and could rarely show it. By the tone of the maids, the home owners are loving parents and expressive about it.

'It's just that they're busy these past few days, miss. We know you understand.'

The servants rather than looking concerned for Constance's thoughts, they seemed to be more worried about the parents.

'Something's going on outside these peaceful walls.'

Sequentia sighed with a chuckle, "Humans can be really tiring..."

Though she was human too, her nature was more like a moth to a flame.

Where there is magic to learn, she flocks over there no matter where or what season.

She might never understand the separate human nature of wanting to gain acceptance and ranking within fellow beings. If they wanted to truly rise, shan't they give being a God a try? or maybe a demon? Or an animal.

There were so many potential and exciting paths for humans yet they stumble and get their foot stuck in a pit called 'human nature'.

"Oh what a plight it was to be human.." Sequentia raised her head and watched the light of the sun pass through the small cracks of the tree's shade. "Oh to be human.."

"I guess it is tiring, indeed."

White-grey eyes turned towards the tree trunk with suspicion.

Sequentia studied the wood and knocked on it, "Are you a dwarf... or an elf...? I didn't know they still existed in these times..." she whispered to herself with uncertainty.

There was no reply for a moment but she waited patiently then-

"Ahahehe.. hehe... ahem! Sorry, huh? What're you.. haha.. talking about? Oops! I wasn't laughing at you! I was laughing at my dog! It spoke weirdly! I mean, it stood up! Yeah!"

The girl with white hair frowned.

She thought it was her mishearing it but the voice sounded like a human boy.

'But how could a human boy-'

"Please don't tell me you were thinking that a human boy was inside a tree?" Sequentia cleared her throat and glared at the tree. However she grew suspicious again after he continued, "We're long past that aren't we, Sequentia?"

"How do you know my name?"

"You introduced yourself as Sequentia. Have you forgotten? And I introduced myself as Kidian."

The name that suddenly dropped made her blood run cold.

'Was it a coincidence?'

Sequentia felt like things were too different than what she remembered.

'What is this?'

The sense of incongruity did not grow bigger, instead, should she say it became smaller? As if finally some pieces are finally fitting in?

But how could that be when Sequentia is only growing disoriented about the circumstances she found herself in?

"Are you really the crown prince?"

Silence again.

"The crown prince? I'm.. I'm not the crown prince though? I'm not even a prince at all! I'm a civilian."

Sequentia frowned. "Is that so? Where do you live?"

"In maple avenue, second block on the left."

"What color is your roof?"

"Brown?"

"One floor? Two floors?"

"Err, I'm only a civilian with humble origins so only one floor."

"How many parents?"

"Two.."

"How big is your home?"

"Really, why are you..."

"I'm gathering details to find you."

"Huh? Wait! No, don't!" The boy named 'Kidian' whose voice came from the tree screamed in surprise.

"Why?" Sequentia stared at the trunk in contempt. "Didn't you say you live in maple avenue? I can check, you know."

"Ah, ah, well.. you said you were a noble, right? Maple Avenue is.. a place not for the nobles. It's very humble! But it has a nice red oak tree in the middle!"

Sequentia's eyes traced the tree in front of her, "I have that tree too."

"Really? I have one in my garden too!"

"Oho? How could someone who comes from humble origins have a garden?"

"Oh? Um, I-I have an errand! Goodbye!"

And as if the communication was cut off forcibly, the boy did not talk anymore.

Sequentia clicked her tongue at the boy who ran away. 

The tranquility finally returned and she sighed.

'Strange. I've never heard of a tree becoming a communication device before.'

She sighed again, feeling as if she had gotten more exhausted instead of charging up her energy. In the end, she decided to walk back to the mansion.

It did not even merely take half an hour for her to get back so the servants were feeling awful they couldn't deliver the snacks earlier.

Fortunately for them, Sequentia liked eating and lounged around in her room with another set of food to binge about.

------

However the carefree days did not last.

Earlier than scheduled, her supposed 'big brother' came home covered in blood.

Chapter 3 End

Voice On The Tree - was a boy who introduced himself as 'Kidian'.