Fred Village

A breeze of wind blows through the crevice of windows, dispersing fresh and cold air of the early time of the day. The sun still invisible from naked eyes, but its celestial radiance already shines through the entire land of Burneu, signifying the arrival of morning.

Oria, being used to wake up early, has already taken her first activity by asking the homeowner, Katze, who also happen to have awoken and preparing her sewing equipment for the day.

"Umm… Good morning, Miss Katze. Err… Where can I wash my face?"

The child is still having issues when conversing with the houseowner. After all, she's not used to live with someone other than Faruk and Dux.

"You can use the bathroom. Don't worry, no one's in there," the red-haired lady said kindly.

Nodding to her lightly, Oria washes her face afterwards. But as she's done, she realizes that she has no other clothes aside from the pajamas she's wearing right now.

"(Oh, yeah… Miss Katze said that my dress was beyond repair. She threw them to the trash last night… what I'm going to wear, then? I think I'm going to ask her.)"

As she exits the bathroom, she encounters Miss Katze, who happens to be looking for her as well.

"Oh, Oria! Are you done?"

"O-Oh… e-em," Oria nodded. "I've washed my face. Uhh…"

"My, my, no need to be shy, sweetie. Make yourself at home, okay?"

"(Home…)" Oria mumbled to herself.

"Oh, right! Come here, Oria."

The young woman takes her to the changing room and gives her an adorable frilly dress to wear. It has white color with sky blue trims, and surprisingly fits her. Oria's hair is braided again with the addition of her Astral Safir hairclip on her bangs.

"Teehee. You look like my niece in her childhood. A'ight, you're good to go."

"Umm… thank you."

"No worries. Now, then… I've got a special customer today. Don't know when they'll arrive, but I gotta prepare the shop as soon as possible…"

"You have a customer?" Oria obliviously asked.

"Well, duh, we're not a shop if we don't have customers," said the woman. Preparing all that she needs at the counter and the tools that she'll require; Miss Katze is ready to open her store now.

"Katze, you're done getting ready?" an elderly woman's voice is heard from upstairs. It is Granny Poly. She's treading down the stairs.

"Yeah, I'm done here, granny. We're good to go!"

"Good. Good. Oh, hello there, Oria. You sure wake up early, eh? Heh-heh." the old woman chuckled. Her voice may be husky due to her age, but her posture is still sturdy, and her movements are still agile, greatly betraying the portrait of an aged human.

"Ah, good morning, too, umm… Granny," Oria greeted back in a low voice. "I was used to be up this early."

"Ooh! How discipline of you. It seems your guardians have taught you well, heh."

"Y-Yes…"

"No need to be so stiff, dear. We're all family here," said the old lady as she goes straight for the kitchen.

"Yes… I'm sorry. It's just… I'm not too used with this…"

The old woman thinks in her mind as she picks up the apron hanging on the brick wall, "(Not too used… hmm, it might be too soon to conclude, but I think she's been living with someone not human. No, maybe not quite that…)"

The little girl notices what Granny Poly is about to do when she picks up a pan from the drawer.

"Ooh… are you going to cook…?" Oria asked.

"Heh-heh. Why, yes. I'm going to make breakfast. We're going to have a soup and hot milk."

"Oh! Can I… help?"

Katze, who's currently busy with addressing her sewing kits responds, "Can you cook, Oria?"

"Umm…" Oria fiddles with her fingers while looking to the floor.

The old woman chuckles, "Keh-heh. Now, now, Katze. It doesn't matter if she can cook or not. Wanting to help is already a good thing. Don't worry, I'll teach you how."

Hearing her said that Oria turns a bright face and nods to her. "Hm!"

Oria's morning in the boutique shop that doubles as a home began smoothly. Katze's grandmother kindly teaches her the methods of her cooking. Eventually, they have a breakfast in such tranquility. Oria watches as the woman with her grandmother converse with happy faces complimented with some laughs.

"Oria? Is there something wrong?" Katze noticed her staring for a while.

"A-Ah, no, it's nothing, ehehe…"

"Ah, I get it!" the lady suddenly exclaimed. "See, Granny? Li'l Oria here couldn't comprehend your wise words~!"

"Hmph! You're none the wiser, Katze. If I let you speak freely, you'll end up spewing curses all over the house."

"What did you say!?"

"Oooh! Are you going to start a rumble!? You little runt!"

"Who're you calling a runt, you hag!"

Watching them arguing against each other, Oria got herself worried, "(Oh, dear… w-what am I supposed to do…? They're going to fight…!)"

Oria dares not to step into their battle of words. She only cowered in her seat as she eats her soup and finish her glass of fresh milk. Though, after a few minutes, they suddenly laugh to each other.

"(H-Huh? Why are they laughing…?)"

"Heheh… fine, you win this time, granny."

"Kee-hee. Ooohooho! Finally bites the dust, eh?"

Seeing their interaction, Oria reflectively smiles. In Oria's little heart, once again she feels nostalgic, "(I feel like… I remember this feeling… I feel like I've seen this sort of interaction… but where was it, when was it…?)"

Unfortunately, she has no memories of her past except the time when she was at the slave camp.

After having a meal, Oria offers her help with the dishes.

"Oh? Are you going to help again, dear?"

"Yes, I will."

"Keh-heh-heh. Glad to have your help, sweetie."

While helping the elderly woman, Oria mumbles in her brain, "(Maybe… maybe I can remember something if I keep doing this…!)"

Sadly, it does not give her any memories aside from sensations that she somehow had experienced those activities in the distant past. Somehow, it just felt natural that she could wash the plates and glasses, dry them, and put them back in the drawer, although having no memories of doing so in the past.

"(Huh… when I was a slave… I was only ordered to do their crops… why did I know how to do this kind of things…?)"

Minutes later, Granny Poly wears a wool jacket and a scarf. With a knitted bag in hand, she's about to go out, until Oria stops her.

"Umm… where are you going, Granny?"

"Oh, I'm going to the market. What, you want to come, too?"

"Umm… I-If it's okay… I want to help. (That's right… just like when I thrive in the dungeon, I must not give up. I think I can remember more if I go with her!)"

"Heh-heh. I'll be glad to have a pair of extra hands," the old woman turns around and then shouts at her granddaughter, "KATZE! Get a scarf and a wool jacket for Oria here!"

From the other room, a thunderous voice can be heard, "Don't scream, Granny! I can hear you alright! Sheesh…"

As she fetches a blue-white checkered scarf and a winter jacket, she asks her. "Where are you taking her, Granny?"

"Hm? Oria's coming with me to the market."

"Oria, are you sure? You still need a rest after those hardship you endured yesterday, right?"

Shaking her head, Oria says, "Hm-mm. I'm okay. I don't want to be a burden, so I want to help!"

"*sigh* All right. Come here."

Katze helps her wear the set of warm clothes.

"Careful, okay? Don't force yourself! If there's anything bugging you, just tell Granny. If anyone wants to pick on you, just scream help! Okay, got it?"

"Hm. I'll do my best, Miss Katze. (S-Somehow, Miss Katze reminds me of Faruk…)"

In a sneering tone, Mrs. Poly replies, "Heh-heh. You worry too much, Katze. I believe she's more than capable. Just focus on your work. Our guest may come at any time."

"Hmph. I know that. Well, then, please be careful on your way."

With that, Oria and Mrs. Poly go on a trip to the village market. Since the latter's house is at the far edge of the village—near the entrance—they have to cover a lengthy distance to the main village area. On their way on the neatly paved road, Oria sees a few people passing them, greeting the old woman as they go.

A chilling fear courses through the child's body. The little girl hides behind Mrs. Poly like a shy child.

"Oh? Heh-heh. It's okay, Oria. They're not bad people."

"…"

Oria is still shaking in her shoes. Seeing the villagers' faces gives her a flashback of her days as a slave. It traumatizes her. She dares not to look at them, even though the old lady encourages her not to fear them.

"(This… is harder than I thought… Faruk… Master Dux…)"

Passing through few straw-roofed houses, again, the inhabitants of every flat greet them both. Only Granny Poly responding to them, though.

After a while, they eventually reach a small market, crowded by several people buying and selling things. There are some carts carrying goods from the entrance road.

This, however, instills greater distress upon Oria.

The little child clings tightly to the elderly bespectacled woman's jacket as she cowered in fear. She's hearing tons of voices of people talking to each other, seeing people interacting with one another, and noticing some villagers coming to say hi to the granny. And when some people looked at her, Oria cannot look at their eyes.

She cannot hear what they say, only vibration that grazed her ears.

She cannot see their faces, only dark, shadowing mist.

"…hugh… (I… I cannot take this anymore… F-Faruk…)"

A hand calmly reaches hers. It startled her. When she opens her eyes, she realizes it was Granny's. That old woman smiles, crouching to her and holds both her hands. Her lips moved, but Oria cannot hear anything. Everything is going black and white.

"(What… what is she trying to say…?!)"

Her heart beats uncontrollably. Cold sweat profusely flows down her forehead. The cold air of the mountain suddenly felt thrilling. Her body trembles, confused and scared for not being able to understand what the old woman says.

"(Ah… ahh… n-no…! I can't hear you...! Please...!)"

Suddenly, she sees the environment and everyone pixelating, glitching as if the world is tearing apart. But all those comes to a halt when the old woman carries the scared girl and hugs her in her cradle. She covers her eyes with her gloved hand. From that kind touch, a gentle light slowly flows from her hand.

"(Ah... this… is…)"