Bonus Story 2: A Day in the Life of the Girl

Bonus Story 2:
A Day in the Life of the Girl

 

THAT DAY, I’d gone out into the forest to gather medicinal herbs at Marielle’s request. She had gone to the city to buy some medicine at her friend’s shop, but she wanted to stockpile some ingredients of her own.

I wished she’d take me with her to the city, but lately she always went alone. I was dying to sample all the delicious food in town and window shop, too. But even more than that, it made me anxious to think about Marielle going off by herself.

I was sure that if I told her that, she’d just scowl like she always did. Maybe it was because she looked so young, but I always worried that she’d get kidnapped, or lost, or attacked by wild dogs or something. Even though deep down I knew she was more mature than I was, and capable of fighting off a pack of wolves, much less dogs.

Even if I hated it, I knew why she left me behind.

I went with her to the city a short time ago, and she’d said, “All right, I’m going to visit with a friend. She doesn’t much like strangers, so I want you to wait here.” Then she left me and went into the shop.

I heard cheerful voices in the distance, and I was so curious that I disobeyed Marielle and began to wander on my own.

A cat on the street corner was performing tricks and charging people money to watch. It was a creature called a cat-sìth—rare, extremely intelligent felines that could use magic.

The crowd was large, and I had to stand on my tiptoes to catch a glimpse of the cat’s performance. It balanced on two legs on top of a ball, balanced a smaller ball on the tip of its nose, and danced. Halfway through, a kind person noticed how interested I was in the performance and let me stand in the front.

It was so fascinating that I lost all track of time and watched until the very end. I splurged a little and paid a fee so I could shake the cat’s paw.

When it was all over, I snapped back to reality and rushed to the door of the shop, but Marielle wasn’t there. I went inside and asked the proprietor, but she said Marielle had left a long time ago.

I ran through the streets asking everyone, “Have you seen a little girl? She’s about this tall!” No one had. I couldn’t find her.

I stopped to catch my breath, leaning my hands against a wall and panting. “I’m going to get in so much trouble,” I muttered to myself. Just then, I looked up and saw Marielle flanked by two city guards.

Apparently, much to her dismay, they’d mistaken her for a lost child. She was desperately trying to explain the situation to them.

“As I said, due to my ancestry I appear young, but I’m not!”

“Yes, yes, we heard you the first time. Someone’s been looking around for a lost kid. Maybe your mom or your older brother is out searching for you?”

“I-I I told you!”

The guards clearly didn’t believe Marielle and chuckled at her story. I tried to intervene, but I just ended up making it worse.

 

“Excuse me! I’m the girl’s mother! I’m so sorry about this!” I ran over and dipped my head to the guards. Marielle bit her lip and stared coldly at me. Meanwhile, the guards grinned hugely. I could still see it vividly in my mind.

Marielle hadn’t taken me with her to the city ever since then.

I stopped as the forest shrine came into view. Everyone in town said it acted as a boundary, marking where the deep forest began. Beyond the shrine was where the monsters appeared.

I checked the medicinal herbs in my basket. I knew I should probably turn back soon. I had enough. I’d mainly gathered Sawtooth Grass, good for absorbing blood and the main ingredient in Sawtooth spirits, a cure-all draft. The Sawtooth spirits didn’t actually do anything, but for some reason they fetched a high price in the city.

Well, the mind was a powerful thing, so as long as the people who bought it were satisfied, I supposed it was harmless. I just hoped no one ever tried to start something over its lack of effect.

I headed back to town and headed for Marielle’s house. She was due back from the city, and I hoped she’d brought me back a souvenir in exchange for gathering the herbs. The thought of that put a little skip in my step.

I rapped on her door. No answer.

“Marielle!” I called out as I eased the door open. I always checked on her medicines and took care of her plants when she was away, so I was allowed to come and go as I pleased. I had a spare key and a room made up for me, too.

I looked around inside, but Marielle was nowhere to be found.

“Marielle?” I called out again. I wondered if she could be cooped up in her room, working on something.

I went upstairs and knocked lightly on the door. Normally I would wait until I heard her voice from inside, but visions of souvenirs danced in my mind. I was impatient.

I opened the door and peeked into the room. Marielle was inside, standing in front of the mirror with her head bent. She was looking at the reflection of her feet.

Suddenly, she whipped her head up and blinked at me, eyes wild. She grabbed the mirror and quickly flipped it down to the floor with a thud and a cloud of dust.

“Hrm… Looks like this place could stand to be aired out.” She was trying to sound nonchalant, but the expression on her face gave everything away. Her eyes darted around awkwardly, and the corners of her mouth were tense. “C-can’t you wait to be allowed inside? That wasn’t very ladylike of you.”

“I’m sorry. Um, I did call your name several times, so I thought you would’ve heard me if you were in here.”

“O-oh, did you? Sorry, then.” Marielle finally met my gaze.

Odd. Normally, we couldn’t make eye contact unless she looked up at me, but for some reason we were currently at the exact same height.

I looked down at her feet.

The soles of her shoes looked awfully thick. Was she planning on climbing a mountain of needles or something? She realized where I was looking and met my eyes with panic.

“Well, I’m very busy!” I said. “I-I’ll just put the herbs next to the fireplace!”

“H-hang on a minute. Wait, Myria! It’s not what you think!” She tried to stop me but I ignored her, shutting the door behind me and racing down the stairs.

I set the basket down and left her house. I thought back to what I’d seen. Was she wearing those shoes to make herself look taller? Did she go all the way to the city just to buy them? I guess her height really did bother her.

She must have felt self-conscious about it. That was why she was staring at her reflection. I’m sorry, Marielle. But it feels really weird for you to be tall!