The sweet scent of cake is calling me.
"... Wake up... Hessuel, wake up!"
That voice resonates in my head. I'm trying to respond according to its dictate but my body seems to lack the strength to move a finger.
"Hessuel, can you hear me!?" her voice trembles.
I throw all the energy to open my eyes. I thought 'twas the rain that drops on my face but it was Dandeline's tears. I can't speak. Another familiar voice resonates before I groan from the severe pains in my body when I'm moved.
"I'm sorry. You have to endure it well," Matheo pardoned.
☪ ✧ ✧
"Hey, Hessuel... that's what you're called, right?"
A girl wearing a peach dress is looking at me with her knees bent, elbow on it, and chin above her palm. She's smiling sweetly but notwithstanding this stranger is frightening me considering my weak condition. I'm howling and groaning at her to keep her away, but she reaches me howsoever with her gentle hand. "Let me help you! I'm not a stranger, my parents and your father have staunch camaraderie!" she said to tame me.
I remember.
She treated my wounds beside a tall rock in the meadow. Her enchantment feels warm and nice. Ever since that day, she got my trust. She's a year older than me. I wanted to play with her often. And that completes my 24 hours. There was an exciting feeling I could not understand as a child, but as long as I can see her every day, talk with her, laugh with her, those would make me ecstatic.
I remember... Her name is Rossy.
We scratch our names on that rock together with our loved ones, our families, and my pack.
I remember one time the bleakness on her lovely face that doesn't match her smile. Under the shade of the same rock, she told me, "I understand your father's decision. And I don't think there's anything better than that. Even I have the ambition to cease the trivial war, to see you racing carefree around as well.
"When you wake up from slumber, I will be by your side too. My name was based on my mother's favorite flower. Then starting from me, the names of my descendants will be after the names of the flowers. In that way," she picked a dandelion in the meadow and blew its soft petals in the air, "remember me."
...
...
It feels like home. My body is filled with strength again the moment I open my eyes. I'm under a tent judging from the very first thing I've seen. I raise my arm because it feels tight and that's because of the bandage wrapped on it. This was where Elibur stabbed me.
I looked around and saw Dandeline sitting beside a table while reading her book of enchantment. She's too occupied to notice me. I grasp on my chest, then cough repeatedly as rough as I can dig. She was alarmed and immediately dropped the book on the table to check on me. She sat beside the cot, held my arm, and pointed at me the warmth magic circle.
"Hey, Hessuel! What's wrong?" she asked with genuine care.
I cut my prank, held her hand, then pulled her on the waist down to me. She was startled but unresistant, so I hugged her tighter and sniffed her hair. "... Rossy."
She submitted herself—lying down to my chest—for a moment then she removed my arms around her. Our eyes met while she's propping her hands on my sides. "Are you okay?" she asked fervently. "You must've hit your head too hard."
"Are you not Rossy?"
"Oh, my—" She covers her mouth. "Who's Rossy? You never mentioned that name to me before."
"Then... where—"
"Are you feeling okay or not?" She stood up with her hands on her waist which signifies danger. "You're kidding, aren't you? What on Eldar's earth were you thinking? Why'd you let yourself be beaten up by those weaklings!? Do you have any idea what happened to you!? You're like a breathing cadaver when I found you!"
I can't answer anything in return. I just hold my chest dramatically while looking at her.
"And who do you expect to help you in that burning woods!? I had had to find a way to cancel the spell that Elibur cast on you before I could heal you! I asked Lanasia and even Zaeramil to bring us the spell to borrow the Eldar's power imprinted in this place! You've been unconscious for seven freaking days without showing us any clue if you'll ever wake up or not, and you haven't eaten anything! What if you died there!? What do you think we'll say to the white wolves waiting for you!? And now you woke up from the tragedy looking for a woman!?"
She's inhaling as deep as she can after she yelled all her frustration at me, tho' I just woke up and clueless. "Dan... I-I was about to ask where we are."
She turns her back on me, wiping her forehead due to her distraught.
I chase her immediately and stand in front of her with my hands coaxing. "Dan, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I thought it would buy some time while the pishnies were evacuating. I won't do that again as much as possible."
"You think that's heroic? You could have been killed—!"
"I'm sorry," I intervened before she could say anything longer. "Did I make you worried too much?" I made a teasing chuckle.
"You are my responsibility, so yes!"
Her straightforward response thrilled me for breaking down my bantering. She sat down on the same chair again and studied the book as if she could focus on it. Too cute to be angry because of her hair braided in twins.. Is it hot outside? Because she looks cool and still beautiful. My eyes are blessed after the seven days of closed-curtain. While on the other hand, I'm wearing the same clothes yet clean as recently washed.
She says without looking at me, "You were bathed and cleansed by Lanasia's enchantment."
"Oh, wait, she's here? She met her father-and-son?"
"Yes."
"No way!"
"What?"
"I missed the greatest reunion of my whole life I could've witnessed! I've been rooting for this! This is so unfair. Why did no one wake me up!"
"Serves you right."
"I heard loud voices here—" Matheo came inside this tent and flinched when he laid eyes on me. "Hessuel! You're awake!"
"Hey, Mr. Matheo."
"How are you feeling now? You made us all worried."
Pishnies are squinting from outside the tent until they're coming onto me one by one. They started climbing to my pants and I had to hold it up until their cuddling crushed me down and seized me! I'm wincing from their furs but I can't refrain from grinning because of how it tickles.
"See? They miss you so much," Matheo added.
"But how did I end up here? I heard that Elibur planned to take me to their Alpha."
"Dandeline made it in time. She said that Elibur's Omegas was taking you but you're lucky that you were rescued. You're too helpless that time. Dandeline managed to defeat the whole pack but she can't lift you up, that's when I came for assistance. Don't worry now. We got out from that world and this is the real world. We're almost there to the Moon's Order forest. Dandeline closed the previous dimension we're in to trap Elibur and his wolves. But that only buys some time considering Elibur's knowledge in enchantments, he can unlock it sooner."
"But how did they get in from the first place?"
"They probably spied on us. Using your owl, they tracked where we were after discovering our general whereabouts. Truly, I cannot underestimate Elibur. He's desperate to hunt the truth and make the lies framed on him a reality."
"I don't think he's that kind of person." I smile at him to lift his fear. "A werewolf, I mean."
"... You think so? Before anything else, since you're awake, you should recharge your strength again. My wife prepared today's lunch." He made a playful smile. Dandeline left the tent first then Matheo comes next after calling the pishnies to follow him.
'Twas seven days of unconsciousness. Few things feel new already. But that excites me! I often heard about the name Lanasia, and now I'm going to meet her in person! The moment I came out of the tent, I felt I was blinded by the sunlight. I can only look at the green grass whilst shading my eyes with my hand.
"You've been in darkness for seven days," says Dandeline who was silent beside me, "and we've been in the dark forest. It's understandable for your eyes to adjust to the lights. Here." She lent me an eyeglass with no glass, just the base. I put it on and it reduces the brightness of my sight. I'm more comfortable with this!
"Thank—" I halt when I realize she already walked away. She cares but she doesn't care as well. It's true that I can't approach her casually because of what happened, supposedly. Nevertheless, I follow her steps behind.
The dining table is prepared outdoors under the tall trees. Dried leaves scattered on the ground make me wry, too. Zaeramil already has his seat while Acro is on his shoulder, being fed. "Acro, you traitor!" I exclaimed. Then she came flying towards me and kept on flapping her wings. "You're cured? You look lively." I lend her my arm for her to take steps on it onto my shoulder.
"Hessuel!" Here comes an unknown woman approaching me cheerfully. Her long and puffy hair is braided but looks older like she's in her 30s. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you! I'm—"
"Lanasia?"
"Yes!"
"It's nice to meet you, too~!" We shake hands as we share the same vibe for our introductions, like kids.
"Wow! What energy! As I expected for a little devil." Then she giggles.
My mouth circled. "How did you...?"
"Let's eat!'' She invited me wholeheartedly. I thought Lanasia is a strict, peevish priestess like Dandeline but the exact opposite.
The foods are served on the table. The ambiance and the shade made this gathering unique. But the situation is the same as when I left my consciousness in the dark forest, I want to sit closer to Dandeline yet the probability that it'll vex her makes me reluctant.
As a result, I sit in the distance. The family is sitting in front of us; Lanasia is in front of me and between the parents is Zaeramil. The pishnies are ecstatically serving me as a very important person by preparing foods on my plate and wine.
"Mrs. Lanasia, how did you know about the 'Little Devil'?" I asked.
"I've been exchanging letters with Cormelio. In fact, he's my brother!"
I pause from eating as I listen to her, and am surprised!
"I was the one who asked him to nurture you until the day your power awakens. And he mentioned in his letter how mischievous you are! And also Acro. I'm using her to watch over you."
"What? You're Acro's voice?"
"No. It's hers. It's the intelligence your father imprinted on her. Acro existed merely to be your guardian."
"Oh, my father... B-But you can see me through her?"
"Yes." She winks at me. "Everything."
I made my mouth full, then avoided her glance. I shouldn't have shared my dirty secrets with this bird!
"That is the responsibility passed down on me from my ancestors. It's a privilege that the fulfillment is in my era. You are an ancient being, you know?"
"Will you tell me more?" I'm craving for the truth more than the food. I want to feast on the revelations now that Lanasia is here.