Outside

"Anything you would like for today Khatryn?" Maryon... Over the past few days, you've grown more confident and cheery when you come over to talk or just hang around this open-aired room. It has almost been a week since I was brought here after my collapse on that dirt road, my body feels a bit lighter and I no longer grow dizzy from sitting upright for extensive periods, in addition, my bandaged limbs have regained some mobility, they still feel numb and sore but its an improvement nonetheless, in some ways I think I've grown restless due to the closure of open-air and new sights.

("Do you think we can go outside?") Her pupils dilate slightly as her face changes to a posture of pondering.

"Are you sure? It isn't much to see out here regardless." Not much? Even still, the small things, experiencing them for real after years within that room, my body, as well as my heart, is urging me, pulling me towards these new visions.

("Please?") Hands crossed, Maryon's shoulders are moving up and down in a shrugging motion, her chestnut locks swaying slightly in response.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do but we got to ask Arthur first."

("Thank you") Maryon's cheeks are growing red, flushed like the dawn, she looks a bit uncomfortable but the response sends small tingling waves through me, last time I felt like this was within a vision where I came across a squirrel that was hoarding a bunch of acorns under an old tree, it was so cute.

"D-don't thank me yet." The door almost swung shut just there, she got out in a hurry, it probably won't be long until I get the answer, In the meantime, some rest should do good, need all the energy that I can get if this venture gets granted.

Huh? The steps outside the hallway, is Maryon already back? Did I doze off whilst resting? Those thuds seem to be right outside the door now, three sets of steps, and somewhere in between a low yet steady creak, Wasn't she just going to ask Arthur?

"Heard you were anxious about getting some fresh air." James, Abel too, and Maryon following behind pushing a chair... with two wheels? Unusual, but why are they...

"Ah the chair, just to keep you from moving too much, you don't want to tear open your wounds while outside." So this is it? I'm actually going to see the outside with my own eyes, whilst not the first time it will be a first not clouded by fear.

"Anything you need before we go?" Maryon's voice is a bit lower than a while ago, I wonder if she grows extra self-conscious around her dad and James? no matter, I should just put them to ease.

("No, everything is fine.")

"Then we should get going." That bright smile and his confidence put's me at ease knowing that it will happen yet I cannot stop my left wing from stretching out as it flutters with excitement.

Again it is just me and Mary, oh, can I address her like that? I should ask when we stop outside. James assisted me into the chair before Maryon left with me pushing the chair from behind down an open wooden hallway smelling of both strange spices and floral scents permeating from the walls and doors leading into rooms with either empty beds or strange-looking flasks and equipment. James and Abel went up a flight of stairs to the left of my room as we headed in the opposite direction and then around a corner stretching towards an arched double door, cut from the same white wood as its surroundings, this pale door almost glowing from the lights cast towards it, is it the way out? The gate towards that broad free realm that I could before nearly just wander through within the scape of sleep?

It's more than I could have imagined, so much more than just a wavy scape off hills bathed in the color purple from its numerous spurts, they are innumerable, stretching as far as my eyes can reach, a pulsing sun, bathing its light over these hills and the cobbled road to that almost... familiar? Town below. The slight creaks stop as we move close to the soft earth coiling around that flat manmade trail, the top of this hill is shaved flat to make room for a garden of numerous herbs differentiating themselves from the sea of mantles in front and beyond, these sharp unknown sensations swaddled within this soft bed of flowers and fertile dirt.

"It's just these hills and the garden, I'm sorry that we can't go to the town tho." I wonder why she's sorry, this is all just... so much more, so much brighter and vibrant than any... ah? My eyes they're stinging, my vision is blurred, and my cheeks are growing wet as my heartbeat liberates feelings I never thought would unravel.

"H-hey, is something wrong?" Here I go worrying someone again, the pen and the papers in my lap.

("I'm sorry, it's just so pretty") Maryon's voice sounds a bit strange, it is light and a bit shaky like she tries to hold her breath.

"If you think this is pretty wait till you see the lakes of Ashwood."

("But I'm not sure where it is") That was a small chuckle, did I say something funny?

"You don't have to, we're taking you with us when dad's business is done." So that's why James was anxious about when at that time.

("Why? Would I not be a bother?") Fast... kneeling down in front of the rolling chair, her eyes moist with laughter and a smile stretching her lips.

"Of course you would be a bit of a bother, but a welcomed one. Now I'm not sure about all the reasons why dad, James, and Arthur are so serious about taking you with, but they won't just leave you alone in your situation, and I am glad for that." Those flaming rays are illuminating the soft nuances of Maryon's chestnut hair and flushed face, every detail so genuine, my heart, it's throbbing with some sort of longing nostalgia.

("Is it alright if I call you Mary from now on?") My face feels so hot... for some reason, I feel like shutting my eyes. In her voice, I can hear her smiling.

"Of course you can Khat."