Let me rest. Just for now.

“Hello?”

Shut up.

“Are you all right?”

Her worried gentle voice reached the clinging consciousness of the young man. She pinched him to wake him up.

Stop yanking me.

She was taken back, her face flushed in red, alarmed when he slowly opens his eyes. Her face returned to normal and asked again,

“Did you get lost, baby boy?”

Alastor’s eyes struggle to focus as the ray of light coming from the sun came to his position.

“What happened?” she asked again.

His eyes couldn’t believe it. His eyes were locked on her face. He thought of her as a perfect likeness to a divine-like the ones he saw in his book. He slowly opens his mouth, muttering,

“An angel?”

She chuckles, “Not quite.” She waives a strand of her hair to clearly see his dark eyes. “But I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The moment he realized that it is not a dream, Alastor quickly stood and was drawn back away from her. His crack sword held aloft and brimmed in light.

She was intimidated by his stern gaze. She shook her head.

“What’s wrong with you? I didn’t do anything.”

Alastor can’t tell whether she’s telling the truth or not. He did not reply, he only showed a doubtful gaze. Given the fact that they’re in Vesoga Plain – that means this girl is not what it seems to look like.

“You’re an adventurer?” She asked. “Did you actually think of me as a monster? How rude.”

Alastor briefly looked away, “How come you’re able to survive this place?” asked Alastor. “Why are you here?” Still, his sword didn’t wane.

The girl looked around her as if she was beckoning him to realize.

“First of all,” She started to explain, “I may be a short woman but it doesn’t mean I can’t handle my own weight, and second, as you can see, we’re in a flower field.”

“Ah-huh.”

Alastor still seems not getting it. The girl sighed.

“I am some sort of an artist.”

He just saw it right now, the camera dangling on her neck. Alastor lay down his sword and gave a breather for them.

“Are you an adventurer?”

“Something like that.”

“What are you doing out here?”

“I accepted a job on slaying a monster.”

“And I guess it didn’t go well?” She observed him from head to toe. “You were badly beaten. Come here, I’m gonna look and see what I can do.”

Alastor raised his guard. She stayed back, reading the atmosphere.

“Relax.” She reassures. “I’m not going to do something to hurt you. Well, the treatment will speak otherwise.” She spoke carefully the right words to make him feel at ease. She gets closer, one step at a time, and pulled her backpack showing a medkit.

Confirming that her intention is pure, Alastor sat down and let her do her thing. He sees no harm in letting her tend his wounds. She started by cleaning his wounds. Alastor put down his shirt and his black jacket on the ground. She squeezed the white cloth and started to clean his back. She noticed now that his back has so many scars.

“Not to pry or anything, but uhm – these wounds look so bad. You should see a doctor.”

Alastor nods, “I will – as soon as I get back in the city.”

“Where?”

“Kayon.”

She poured the cotton with alcohol and gently stroked it to the wound at his back. Alastor's entire figure quivers and hisses, writhing in pain. He glances at the flower field. The flowers expanded across the forest in a circular form. You could say that it is protected by the tall trees and quenched by the river, flowing through the small hole coming in between the space of the low level of a terrace.

“You come here often?” asked Alastor.

“No. Actually, I’ve been here once. When I was a child, my mother once takes me here. I remember when the time when we play here with my sister, my mom would sit down over that terrace and start to paint.” She spoke softly. “When she finished painting, she would always hang it on our house. I thought she would sell it, ‘turns out she likes to flex it to everyone.”

She wryly smiles, “This is the only place she ever spends the time almost as if she’s at peace in here.”

She continued to tend Alastor.

Even he couldn’t deny and hide the bewilderment as his eyes were stuck at the scenery. Some animals were can hardly be seen in the Vesoga Plain. Over the river, a family of deer gently lowered their head to drink the water. A bird land on her nest and gave her child the food she brought. His gaze never left as if his mind is under some spell.

“I can’t believe this place exists.” Said Alastor.

“Why? Because this place is in the middle of hell?”

Alastor simply nods. “It’s surprising a beautiful place like this manages to survive for long.”

When she finished wrapping Alastor's wounds, she sat beside him.

“My mom used to tell us that this was once a garden of God and even now he is gone, his power still protecting this place.”

“What a dumb fairytale.”

She shook her head. “No. She said was it was the real deal. Although she doesn’t have any shreds of evidence, she seems to believe it.”

“What about you?” asked Alastor. “Do you believe that this was protected by God?”

“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know what to believe in, right now.”

Her eyes turned grave and hollow. Alastor didn’t fail to notice this. If anything, he can come out of this is that this woman is distressed. He let her fall in silence and into deep thoughts and didn’t probe anything from his thoughts.

“Do you believe in God?” she asked out of nowhere.

“To tell you honestly.” Alastor gaze at her and met her bronze eyes. “I don’t know. I would like to, but it’s hard to think that way.”

“We’re the same.” She muttered.

“What?” asked Alastor. “We’re not.”

She shook her head “We have a different life, but you and I are in the same situation – we don’t know what to believe in.”

Alastor denies her thoughts and looked at the sunrise, somehow it doesn’t hurt anymore to gaze at it, “No. Maybe, you just haven’t seen or realized the bright side.”

“Or maybe there is no bright side at the end of the road.” She said flatly.

“You must not look things at that way.” Alastor dismisses her pessimistic words, “Listen, not all roads are smooth, some are rocky, others are messy to take, but there is no easy road to a successful life, you must pave your own way to reach your destination.”

She felt relieved from those words.

“If you ever find your beliefs is in haywire and beginning to think you would fall – take a deep breath and step backward, one at a time and look for an answer within yourself.”

“How would you know if you found one?”

“I don’t know.” He paused. “But if you saw a glimpse of hope of a realization, then that will do.”

Alastor was startled when she looked closer at him. “What’re you looking at?”

Her eyes gleam like a child, “For a brooding guy like you – you seem to be better than an old book.”

“What does that mean?” asked Alastor.

“It means you’re not all looks and dumb.” She jests. “You’re pretty good, too.”

Alastor evaded her cheery smile. She saw a glimpse of a proud look on his face before returning to a poker expression.

The two gaze back at the flower field. The chrysanthemum finally shows off its buds.

A single snowflake had touched the flower.

“Where did you take the route to get in here?” asked Alastor.

“Well,” She shows off her map. She began to point at the main road to Kayon city. “You have to cross a forest in the Enlean in a westerly direction to the river. There’s a small bridge that we can cross, so, don’t worry about it.”

She gazed at him and sat more comfortably under the tree in the middle of the open space of a forest. “When will you start your journey?”

Alastor looked at his wounds before he put his clothes back on.

“Looks like the wound will heal faster. It should be okay for me to go on. Thank you.”

She didn’t interfere and just gave an empty look. Alastor’s strength faded for a moment and he crouched. His stomach grumbled.

“You sure you want to go? Looks like your stomach can’t handle it anymore.” Alastor gave an over-the-shoulder look and saw her preparing some food and placing it under the four-corner blanket.

His stomach grumbles again. The two exchanged glances, her eyes beckoned him to join her. He could smell the tasty smell of the fish and the crab hanged in the air.

He glances away. Even his stomach cannot deny its emptiness. He was about to walk away, but he felt someone pinch him and pull him over, making him sit down.

She hands him over a fork and a knife. No words were coming out of her mouth as she starts to dig in. She noticed that he didn’t move and had him scolded.

“Dig in, shy boy. The foods will get cold.”

Without a doubt, Alastor digs in like someone who hasn’t been fed for days, savoring every moment that the food melting in his mouth.

As soon as the two finished eating, she immediately packs the items back into her backpack. Alastor looked down, a realization washed over his face. It seems that he went overload and eat her share. He feels guilty.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

He didn’t reply. His eyes avoided hers.

“You had jitters?” She asked. “Is it not good?”

“No. Not actually.” Alastor finally spoke. “It’s actually pretty good.”

“Good. I would’ve been disappointed if you lie to me. Given that you eat a lot.”

“Sorry.” Apologized Alastor.

She shook her head. “It’s okay. No worries. I’ve had enough too.”

“How can I ever repay you?”

She brushed her chin, her eyes gleaming like a child.

“Stay with me for a while.”

“What?”

“I’ve been traveling alone recently. It would be nice if I have someone to talk to or a have a company.”

He was drawn to thought for a minute. It seems he can’t deny her request given the kindness she showed to him. If he ignores this – it would put him on a roller coaster of guilt.

He nodded. “Alright.”

Even if he wants to go out right now, his stomach would be upset for moving on without resting. He leaned against the tree looking her behind as she sat down on a trunk. She pulled out her sketchbook and coloring materials and began to draw.

His eyelids slowly fell as the gentle cold wind touched his face.

Alastor's eyes slowly opened. The orange ray of light coming from the clouds focuses on his lenses. He covered his face as he stands up. He moved forward to the girl’s location and saw her smile over her shoulder.

“Are you done?” He asked.

She nods. “Yep.”

She gave to him her sketchbook. He reluctantly accepts it. He looked at the flower field than at the sketchbook. The drawing is completely alike to the field ahead of them.

“What do you think?”

“It’s quite good.” He commended. For him that is not an artist – he couldn’t get the standard of what kind of good they consider, but for him – he genuinely likes it.

She smiled. “Glad to hear that.”

He doesn’t know where’s that sorrowful smile is coming from. Alastor thought that she was expecting something more. He moved to sit next to her and felt the breeze washing over their faces. Alastor glanced back to the sketchbook and began to flip pages. There are other paintings she had drawn, others were canvas, some were about unfamiliar places, but they’re all possessed the same aptitude, they’re beautiful.

“A real artist.” He softly said. “I can see it now.”

“If you like it, then congrats.” She smiles. “You have a good taste in art.”

Alastor snickers.

“So, where are you going next?”

“I haven’t thought of that yet. You?”

“Never thought of that. I was thinking of resting for a while.”

He gazes at the horizon and saw a flock of ravens bullying a single bird. A premonition had washed over his face.

“Maybe you should get head south, to the Leafol region.” Alastor flatly said. His cold interjection didn’t fail to get in her nerves.

“What?”

“Trust me, you won’t like it here.”

His face remained expressionless.

“Alright.” She agreed.

The moment she looked into his cold gaze – she knew there was something behind that made him feel unease. She didn’t bother to ask him anymore. The two stairs back at the scenery. The fleeting petals had caught their entire attention.