Two long years. They passed so easily and so quickly. It felt like you blinked and everything changed. Your bonds with people only grew stronger, and deeper.

You sat on a chair with a round table before you as you read a letter from your best friend, a smile tugged on your face. Sunlight filtered through the open window, bathing you in warmth.

Ether stretched and let out a cute yawn before turning around and dozing off on your lap. He still was the same size, maybe a bit bigger but that's it. He still appeared normal cat to others except you.

Having read the letter you gently folded it. Diana and your friendship only grew over the years. You thought the distance would create a rift between you two but you were wrong. Instead, your friendship only bloomed more beautifully and brightly. You'd exchanged letters, keeping each other updated on your lives. There something so exciting and intimate about sharing handwritten letters. It brought you two closer. Sometimes she would come to visit you and show what she learnt from her mother. In return, you teach her some moves of your own.

You still remembered her wide eyes and gaping mouth when you showed her Moonwalk like she couldn't decide whether to question your sanity or be amazed at the weird dance moves. You still had a good laugh about it.

The sad thing was you couldn't go and visit her and Siodonna as you desired despite your pleading, Nora deemed you unfit to travel yet.

Speaking of Nora a lump formed in your throat. A sinking feeling swirling around you. For the past two weeks, you'd been feeling restless for some unknown reason. Sometimes you'd dream of things which left you waking in despair and desolation. You couldn't remember the dreams but the lingering remnants always left you teary-eyed.

You have been so comfortable with your life that you forgot that the reason you were brought here wasn't innocent. You knew there was an underlying motive, the one you are kept ignorant about.

You only wished it was something you could handle. You were a pretty strong person but even strong people crumbled at times.

"Oi brat. Done with your revisions."

Iseka's voice snapped you into reality. You looked at her as her figure loomed over you. You recently started learning your Momma's expertise aka medical herbs and plants. Potion and elixirs.

You were pretty decent if you said so yourself. But nowhere near your Momma level.

Realizing the fat lady was still waiting for your answers you nodded. "I'm done. It was easy. I had to only memorize the names and their use. No biggie!"

Your answer made her frown. "Then what are you moping around for?"

Ah, she picked up your melancholy mood. She was quite sharp.

You had to come up with something to throw her back off. "I miss Diana." Not a lie.

Her frown relaxed a bit. She rolled her eyes. "You both exchange letters with each other every week. What's there to miss? And she visits you at least a month."

She had a point but still...

"But it's not enough. She's my best friend. My only friend. I miss her a lot." You whined like the baby you were. Hey, you had to keep up with the persona of a 6-year-old kid.

"And I'm sure she does too. But that doesn't mean she sulks sitting in a corner and wasting away."

You gasped offended. "I do not. I just memorized the work Momma gave. And even helped you with the dishes."

She waved away your indignation protests. "Go play outside for once or you'll grow fat sitting in one place."

Woman do you have to be so insensitive? Remarking about my weight and body-shaming me?! Outrageous!

"Okay, Nana." You pouted at her.

She let out a hum which turned to a fit of coughing. You watched as she tried to regain composure. Breathing heavily, sweat pricking on her forehead.

Worried you hopped off the chair with Ether hissing at you for disturbing his sleep and bringing a glass of water for her from the kitchen.

"Nana, here."

Wordlessly she took and drank the glass half in one gulp. She peered at you shuffling worriedly before remarking. "Go outside and play. Take Ether with you too since he needs sunlight."

Before you could protest she went to the kitchen to wash the glass. Shooting the last glance you picked up Ether and walked out.

The weather wasn't exactly sunny. You could see gray clouds rolling in the distance. But for the most part, the sun and cold breeze calmed you.

What should you do? You weren't exactly a kid so most childish games didn't entertain you.

Rolling off a hill was fun but forbidden by Nora who nearly had a heart attack seeing you rolling down without any safety gear. And you had dragged Diana who reluctantly agreed but left with a huge happy grin.

Playing in the stream was another option but it was cold you didn't want to catch a cold. Should you make a figurine with mud?

What, don't judge me I like playing with muddy clay and making weird things just for a kick. Last time you had made a disfigured doll and gave it to Fat lady as a gift saying 'I try to make Nana. Isn't it beautiful just like you who had made an extremely disgusted face which said 'Have you gone blind? From which angle do I look like a creepy doll' but expected it when Nora insisted, praising the craftsmanship.

Pfft -- just thinking about that had you rolling on the ground in laughter.

Ah. Options. Options. So many options. What to do?

Shrugging off you just decided to go tend the herbs that you planted. See if it had grown up. But at the back of your mind, the restlessness lingered making you feel like something bad was coming your way.

......

You entered the house hours later when the weather outside become too cold to bear. The sky was fully covered in grey clouds as if it was going to rain which was pretty weird since it wasn't the season. And Nora must have returned. She'd probably freak out if she didn't find you in the house. She's overprotective like that.

Iseka turned around at the sound of the door opening. Her face fell from hopeful to disappointment.

You were shocked when she didn't chide you for your dirty, dishevelled state. You were sure you'd have to duck to avoid whatever Nora flung at you.

But instead, you found her pacing the length of the house anxiously. It made you anxiously too.

Your eyes unconsciously darted around the house searching for Nora. The faint restless grew when you didn't find her.

You swallowed hard feeling the air thin. "Momma isn't back yet?"

Dumb question since it was obvious she wasn't smothering in hugs like she usually does first thing stepping inside the house.

Iseka stopped and avoided your gaze. "No, she hasn't. I'm pretty sure the weather must have delayed her ride."

Her answer didn't bring you comfort. Your restlessness grew, and you were pretty tempted to join Fat lady in pacing back and forth to kill some of the negativity.

But you forced yourself to wash and change your muddy clothes. After that, you sat by the window looking anxiously at the grey sky that seems suddenly looked foreboding.

Hours passed excruciatingly but no sign of Nora. The fat lady had just left to search and enquire if the ride had returned. She's probably tired from waiting and doing nothing.

You were left alone. The only company is your cat who sat on the windowsill gazing outside intensely. It made you freaked out at the unusually silent behaviour. Your cat wasn't the one to keep quiet or stay in one place. He's always liked to mess up things just to see you panic.

But he sat there gazing at the dark clouds almost solemnly. As if he could sense something. Something that you did not want to know.

Worry progressively gnawed your inside. Your heart beating fast and your breathing picking up.

That's it. You couldn't take it another longer. Sitting here without knowing was driving you insane.

As soon as you stood up, Ether turned his intense heterochromia eyes on you. For a moment you froze but shook off the weird feeling.

Was it your imagination that you saw his eyes change into bright yet dull indigo?

Yep, sitting here was messing you up.

You turned around and raced out knowing the cat would follow you. True to your words he did. It took a few seconds to race down the hill and reach the village. You mentally apologized to Nora since she didn't like it when you enter the village. The reason being the disdain of the villagers. Except for Pierce and Agatha, everyone would sneer at you for being a fatherless child.

If it weren't for Nora you would've flipped everyone off and told them kindly to mind their own freaking business.

Your heart skipped a beat when you heard a commotion. Passing a few strangely quiet houses you halted in front of a gathered mob.

A terrible feeling started up your chest. You quickly navigated your way through the crowd and reached the other side.

Your eyes scanned the surroundings and the terrible feeling threatened to drown you.

Two carriages stood in line. Once you recognized as the traveller's --the one which normally Nora took-- and the other was a fancy velvet carriage you have never seen before.

Off to the left, you could see Pierce holding a crying Agatha looking himself shaken. Iseka was having what seemed to be one-sided screaming with an extravagant dressed-up man who was calmly yet politely trying to reason with Iseka.

Everything about the scene was setting you off. You didn't even realize when you started running towards Iseka, desperation cling to each step.

Everyone's eyes focused on you. But your eyes were on Iseka who shakily looked at you. Her face scrunched up in deep grief and loss.

"(Y/n)." Pierce voiced out his surprise. Agatha lifted her face to look at you sympathetically. Her eyes still crying.

"Oh, my poor child.."

Their reaction didn't help. It only made you railed up.

"Where's Momma?" you asked Iseka who looked at you with dull empty eyes.

She remained frozen stiff.

"Nana where's Momma?" You tried again more firmly.

She flinched. "She's not here."

"Not here..? But the carriage it's here. Where did Momma go?"

"She's not coming back. She's not coming back ever. She's far off somewhere we can't reach her." Iseka almost talking to herself. As soon as she finished the sentence tears started trickling down coming in full force as if she had been holding back all this time.

You took a step back. Those words would be complicated for a 6-year-old girl to understand. But for a grown girl it wasn't. You wished it wasn't. You wished you could pretend not to understand and be confused.

But the meaning rang in your mind as you blankly stared at her. You could see Pierce cautiously making its way to you as if you were a caged animal about to go feral.

You felt like crying. Screaming. Some part of you hoped this was some sick joke they are cracking up on you. You even waited for the 'Booya got ya!' scream and the following twisted laugh.

But nothing. You were frozen stiff. Your ears kept ringing with your thundering heartbeat, making it impossible to hear anything else above it. She's gone...? Just like that.

The man before Iseka tilted his head to look at you. His brown eyes looked curious yet solemn.

"Is she her daughter?" He asked in particular to no one. But Pierce nodded as he step in front of you, taking hold of your shoulders.

You didn't realize you were shaking until his grip tightened. "Dear, it's alright..." Nothing was alright. But it seems like Pierce assumed that you didn't understand the early words from Iseka and was trying his best to tell you the truth. Softly and carefully.

But there was no way to break the news lightly. To lessen the blow.

You looked at him. "I want to see Momma."

"She's gone, child. Your Mother is..not coming back."

You repeated the request mechanically.

Pierce looked conflicted.

"Let her, Pierce. She's going in shock. We can't let that happen or else there won't be a way we'll able to bring her back. She needs to cry. Have to cry the grief out. If seeing her mother helps it so be it." Agatha's soft shaky voice broke him from inner conflict and he nodded.

Slowly he took your hand and lead you to the carriage. He hesitated to open the door, shooting you a despairing look. He took a deep breath, opened the door and stepped aside.

You swallowed hard. In the middle of the carriage was a body covered with a white blanket.

You didn't want to see what lay underneath it. You didn't think you could handle it. But you had to. Everything felt unrealistic. Like a vague dream. A scary nightmare.

You needed clarity even if it meant losing your sanity.

The truth was more bitter to swallow than you thought when you shoved the blanket aside and saw your Momma's pale complexion. She looked peaceful yet unsettled. Maybe it was because of the untimely death.

You winced at the thought.

How funny it is you realize the importance of something when you lose it. When you realize how granted you took things. Not appreciating it until it was taken away from you. Forever.

Right now though nothing felt funny. You lost your only family. The person who cared most about you and crossed miles to make sure you're alright. Gone.

"She's dead..." you muttered under your breath in disbelief.

Finally, as if someone flipped a switch, you cried out. "Mom! No!"

Big tears rolled down, shoulder quivering in despair, lips trembling in sadness and pain. You sobbed there clutching her cold body. Feeling yourself crumble against her.

Just like that, your life turned upside down. So suddenly. So unpredictably. Without any warning. No, there was a warning, red flags you were ignoring. Now you paid the price for it. For being so oblivious. Everything went spiralling into pits of the abyss where you alone were frozen stiff with agony and despair.