Big Sister.

"Hey, kid," a properly dressed man called, bent on one knee, he waved before my eyes. "It doesn't seem like she is fully there."

"Poor one," his bespectacled partner added, standing to the side, her sympathetic eyes watching me from over her shoulder. "You saw it too, didn't you? That basement... And the... And her sister next to her. It's something a child should never go through."

The first man stood, sighing. "Yet, I'm sure she isn't the last to..." Turning around, the man added one final comment about contacting him if I need anything.

I could see where they headed. The village I cherished, the fields my community cultivated, and the houses they established. Ruins. All ruins. Tents were placed around, an aid group from the city--I could see the flag flaunting around in the distance.

They seemed to have driven away the monsters and are now helping the few survivors of the village.

"Why..." I said, calling for the man before he escaped me. My eyes yet lingering forward, watching nothing, seeing nothing. My head was too filled with emotions and thoughts. It was running with regrets and memories. So much...

"Why?" The man immediately spun and fell back on his knee, urging me to speak.

"Why didn't you...?" I said, turning to face the man. "Where were you?"

"Oh," I could see the man's expression die. The beaming smile he displayed to excite me, now a regretful frown. He lowered his head to the side. "We were..." He had no words; whatever he spouted, was shortly trailed off.

"We weren't allowed to," The bespectacled lady cut in. "Sorry, kid. But this is all we could do."

I moved my neck for the first time before the two, finally exchanging glances with the bespectacled lady. She had pretty eyes.

"Why?" I asked. Despite facing the lady, my face was stiff, the same as it had been. Her eyes had stolen me, I had allowed them to. They let me forget what happened, they let me think of something else, instead of the fiery orange, they were a pretty green.

"We can't say that," the woman shook her head. Unlike her partner, the woman was much more collected. I could see sympathy in her pretty eyes, but she was not faltering. Neither was she desperate for anything from me.

"There was supposed to be someone," The man broke, saying. "We were told there is already someone here, or someones, I'm not sure. But, we were told you had already received support..."

"Ryom!" The bespectacled lady called out.

"S-she's just a kid!"

"Exactly! She doesn't need to know that!" She said, frowning. 

"Well, I bet I would've liked to know!" The man, Ryom, replied. "And, I don't want to be the bad guy here! As much as possible at least..."

"I will report this--"

"N-no! Come on, you would've wanted to know as well, no?!"

The two continued their back-and-forth, perhaps any other time, and I would've snickered, perhaps outright laughed. But the woman had turned her face away. I was forced back to my thoughts, to that moment, to my mother's final words.

I fixed my neck back, facing forward, lingering my eyes at no certain point. My senses dulled once again, and only one thing constantly played in my head.

The sound of crackling, burning wood.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lena woke up, a cold breeze shivering her straight. Even within the blanket, she still felt the cold air. It wasn't anything to hide from, it never was, but it did send a chill down her spine now and then.

Yawning, she outstretched her arms--sleeves dropped down to her shoulders. She eyed them for a moment, and then stood as she shook her arms downwards, allowing the sleeves to fix themselves.

Taking a quick look around the make-shift camp, she had an arm under her shirt, itching as she slouched forward. Octan was snoring to the side, as she stepped over him towards the luggage. 

Lena stretched her palms, flexing her fingers, then dug into the luggage, fishing out the washing board. The board in one hand, and the cloth that was piled beside the luggage in the other, she stepped back over Octan, and towards where she was told the running river to be--Octan had pointed towards it the night before.

Lena moved through the shrubbery, it was easier than usual, almost as if a path had already been carved for her. She had entertained the thought of it being wildlife for a moment, but then remembered they had used repellent the night before.

Dismissing the thought, Lena continued her march, the leaf beds atop shading her from the morning light. The silence that filled the morning wasn't new, as it wasn't her first time experiencing this season of the year. The birds will return eventually; for now, she will cherish the solitude.

Lena yawned, smacking her lips as she did. She pondered over breakfast, thinking back to what they had for her to use--she was agonizing over what to prepare. 

The murmuring of running water soon hit her ears. Then an opening through the woods showed itself, a blinding light announcing it. Stepping into the opening, Lena placed the board over her eyes, anchoring it on her forehead, and she shaded her eyes.

Before her was a clear, blue, beautiful stream. Studying its surroundings, she could see animals much further down the left of the run, their necks bent down. She raised an index, considering meat for breakfast. She wasn't much versed in the way of magic, but she could at least hunt a distracted game. She gazed at the thing, steadying her index finger, focusing her vision. She still had the board in her palm, holding it with the other 4 fingers. She frowned, concentrating on the end of her nail. 

The animal kept still, lapping in the distance. Lena had gotten a line to its neck, she prepared for it.

Then she lowered her index.

"We had deer the night before," She mused, yawning. "And it was a hassle to prepare."

She studied the right side of the streambank.

And, close to Lena, sat atop a boulder on the mossy bank of the stream, the third member, Kouko, gazed at the running water. 

Lena stepped on a twig, announcing herself.

"Ah, Lena," Kouko said, acknowledging Lena from over her shoulder. She sat hugging a leg, resting her chin on her knee, while swinging the other. "Morning to you."

Lena nodded back, then crouched down next to the water, pulling back her sleeves, and beginning work on the clothes.

"Up and working, and so early too," Kouko said, bringing down her hugged leg. "Do you need any help with that?"

Lena shook her head without facing Kouko.

"As always, haha," Kouko chuckled to herself. "Difficulty sleeping?" She questioned, both arms to her sides, anchoring her as she leaned forward, still sitting atop the boulder.

Lena shook her head. 

Kouko had stretched her sleeves, the tension visible in the strain lines created down the cloth. Kouko had pinned the ends of her sleeves with her palm, shying her skin away from contact with the boulder.

Lena gathered that the rock's surface must've been cold.

"Well, it has been for me," Kouko said, gazing at the running stream. "Ever since then, 2 years ago. Whenever I sleep, whenever my eyelids slide down, I can hear the sound of burning, crackling wood."

Lena nodded, not to relate, but to show that she was listening. It wasn't the first time Kouko had confided in her, and she was sure it won't be the last.

"But," Kouko added. "Not recently, not last night. I slept peacefully, I slept too well. When I awoke, my clothes weren't sweaty, my hands weren't shaking, and my breath wasn't heavy."

Lena kept working her hands, only nodding occasionally to the woman.

"In those 2 years, I had feared that any moment, they would come. Whether it be the royal guards, the Sage, or maybe even Death. I was afraid. But, I guess, I'm past it; I have finally put it behind me. What about you, Lena?" Kouko asked, still sitting atop the boulder.

"It was never something to worry about. I have seen worse, I think," Lena said, working her arms, her sleeves pulled back to her upper arms.

"Yeah," Kouko sighed. "I've heard from both you and Octan. Whether it be shutting down a village raid, eliminating a monster camp, or even taking down an arcane dragon--I cannot emphasize the arcane part enough."

"However," Kouko exasperated, pushing herself off the rock. "The last 2 years were just... So uneventful."

"It was the same before," Lena said. "Even before you. After the money Octan got from the noble, he stopped having any reason to do anything. So he didn't."

"And yet," Kouko said, stretching out her arms as she strolled towards Lena. "You still left for the camp, for the defense."

Lena nodded.

"And it was your decision, Lena," Kouko added. "To accept the letter--which I still don't understand how it even ended up in your hands--to help what you can."

Kouko crouched down next to Lena, then bent her legs, sitting next to Lena. "Thank you. Even with how it ended up. Thank you, Lena."

Lena glanced at Kouko with a quick nod, then went back to her work. She was about done.

Kouko watched silently as Lena finished up, a cheering smile occupying her face as her eyes followed Lena's hands. Once Lena was done, Kouko insisted on carrying at least half of what Lena had washed back. Despite the silence, none were uncomfortable. Lena was used to the tranquility of silence, and Kouko had learned to adjust. Kouko would even take it upon herself to carry on conversations between her and Lena, understanding that Lena's minimal input was not due to a lack of interest, but rather her understanding of exchanges. She appreciated it.

"Ahh," Kouko sounded beside Lena, gaining her attention. She had freed her right hand from the carriage and had been pulling at her shirt's neck. "It's getting kind of tight, don't you think?" She said attempting to showcase her uncomfort to Lena.

"Wasn't it always?" Lena said. Lena never understood Kouko's way of dressing. She believed that her clothes were always too small for her, that they stuck too close to her skin, barely leaving any room for breathing. And when relatively comparing it to Lena's oversized take on wear, they seemed like painting on a body.

"No, it wasn't!" Kouko pouted. "It must be cause of how good your cooking has been... I've been getting carried away..."

"Should I undercook them? Or perhaps would you rather I overcook it?" Lena asked, then shook her head. "Right, I shouldn't ask. The aim is to not satisfy you."

"W-wait! That's not what I meant!" Kouko cried. "Or, it is. I don't know. But, don't change, no! It's like the only good thing in the entire living outside experience. Without your daily meals, I would probably explode, or something. Maybe even combust, like kaboom!" She said, attempting a reimagining of what an explosion would be like from her mouth and a display from her empty hand.

"Maybe I'm just hitting a growth spurt," Kouko mused. "I did hear about late bloomers, perhaps I'm one!"

Lena questioned Kouko's knowledge, knowing that she was now 26 years old, she believed that it couldn't have been this late. So she shook her head.

"T-thank you for the input, Lena," Kouko lowered her head.

Lena raised a thumbs up, the board still in her palm.

"Are you developing a sense of humor...?" Kouko asked, a hazy smile playing on her lips.

Lena eyed the woman, Kouko's hand had traced her body, pulling on her clothes. Stretching out the fabric, forcing up some space for now until they reached the next town, she could then attempt to find new clothes.

Lena questioned her habits, she believed that the predicament she found herself in was of her own making. Why get clothes that just fit you? You could outgrow them at any moment, and they weren't as freeing as the ones Lena wore.

Kouko had worn layers of clothes, the surface ones mostly for ornament display. Whether it be ribbons, knots that tied nothing, or even the overly-patterned jacket she wore at night. Perhaps this was the way a lady was expected to wear, as Kouko had continued to try and convince Lena. 

Despite Lena's never-ending remarks on Kouko's take on attire, she did find the woman alluring. Her choice of outfit had always well complemented her physique--something Lena had greatly lacked--whether it be in armor padding, or even in sleepware, there wasn't a moment where the woman hadn't displayed a sense of ethereal beauty.

Added atop her chaotic nature, and some might've even called her charming. Lena wondered, Why? In a traveling party such as theirs, where there was only a kid and a questionable male, what was her goal? Was it to prove something? Perhaps to kid herself away from reality?

Lena put the thought away, finding no more reason to dwell on it.

"Your hair's getting long, don't you think?" Kouko questioned Lena, who had let her hair run down without a band. "I don't think I've ever seen you cut it. Would you like to give me a chance?"

Lena eyed Kouko; her hair, too, was a beauty worthy of its own praise. It was a radiant blonde, its volume a graceful fluff, and its strands ran in delicate twirls. 

Lena had simply let her hair grow; other than washing it whenever she bathed, she had not dedicated any effort towards it. She would tie it as usual whenever they started moving, but that was it. Right now, it just runs down her back, a showcase of her negligence.

"You know, I'm envious," Kouko said, eyeing Lena's hair. "I've seen it myself, how little care you give that scalp of yours, yet still so pretty. I would ask how you do it, but I know that you do nothing." Kouko chuckled.

Lena had some clue for the reason behind it, it was something that she chalked up all her strange physical appearances to; the flow that she and the traveler had discussed 2 years ago.

Kouko started humming, there was no certain melody or rhythm, she simply hummed. Lena listened as they made their way back.

Lena finished her meal, she felt satisfied, glad she hadn't chosen meat, the potato stew was much better she believed.

Perhaps tomorrow, she thought to herself.

Looking at the opposite side of the make-shift camp, Octan and Kouko sat gulping down their portions. Kouko wouldn't stop expressing her appreciation and complimenting the food, while Octan swallowed in silence.

"This is the only thing that keeps me going!" Kouko cried as she brought her hand to her cheek. "It never fails to amaze me how good the food is despite how little you use!"

Lena nodded, working to put away the cauldron. 

"I bet even Octan appreciates it," Kouko said, turning to face him. "He might not say anything, but I bet you he prays you don't leave us!"

Octan swallowed and raised an eyebrow.

"Come on, you must've at least wished it once," Kouko said.

Octan paused, raised his head, stared at the leaves above, then shrugged.

"Then," Kouko said, putting down her food to the side. "What would you do if she stopped?" She protested, arms planted on her hips.

"I would visit a tavern," Octan said.

"Yet," Kouko smirked, believing herself witty. "You travel so much, what tavern would you visit out here?"

Octan sighed. "You understand I wouldn't be so slowed down without you, right?"

"Uh," Kouko jumped, then grinned. "And you also will not be having as much fun!"

"Questionable," Octan said. "Perhaps I might've tried adventuring, aim for a real rank."

"As if your loser person could make it past the receptionist's desk," Kouko sneered.

"Hey," Octan said, pointing at his back. "I might not look it, but I was a great social worker."

"Ha! And I was a Sage!" Kouko laughed, falling onto her back.

"You..." Octan mumbled.

"H-hey!" Kouko barked, fixing her back as her hair was muddied. The back she had fallen on was suddenly turned from solid soil to mud. "Unfair! Completely unfair!" She stood up, patting her back.

Octan grinned, finishing his meal.

"W-what will I do now?!" She exasperated, pouting at Octan.

"Change," Octan said, pointing to the side as he finished his meal. "We are leaving." Lena had already packed up, ready to move. She sat watching the two exchange, expressionless as always. Kouko had questioned if it really was something she picked up off of Octan, as not even Octan had pushed the poker face that hard.

"Oh," Kouko said, eyeing the sat quiet child. "I-I see. tsk." Kouko clicked her tongue at Octan, reaching for her travelling wear.

"Also," Octan said, triumph in his voice. "Where do you think the kid learned to cook--" As he ended his sentence, Octan's face was blasted, leaving him with water dripping down his face.

Octan faced the culprit. They had an index pointed at Octan and a mischievous smile.

"Heh," Kouko sneered, then immediately escaped to change.

Octan, in disbelief, turns towards Lena. He finds her watching in silence.

He brought a palm to his wet face and lowered his head, heaving a long sigh.

Lena was by herself. Having arrived at a town, Lena was given her usual errands. She moved around the market, filling out a checklist in her head. Children played around, adults conversed with a smile, and the elderly watched contentedly. It wasn't her first scene of such, she had long experienced the markets of towns and cities, even the fields of villages. 

Lena found her errands to be strange, perhaps due to how the norm continued to change. At the start, when she had first followed Octan, she would run the errands by herself. Then, after the dragon hunt, without a reason for Octan to leave Lena, he didn't. He would join her as she completed the checklist, though mostly just standing on the side without commenting. It was the same when Kouko first joined; she and Octan would follow Lena, though, unlike Octan, Kouko would enthusiastically join alongside Lena, even going far enough to bargain when she seemed necessary.

Octan had tried to shut her down once.

'I have more than enough,' He said. 'Some of those prices are such for a reason, whether it be fairly priced, or out of need. You never know someone's circumstances.'

Kouko had quickly shut him down, saying she knew when the seller was nothing short of a rat, proudly proclaiming herself to be a market expert.

Though every now and then, Lena would be back to running them by herself. Octan and Kouko would separate with her whenever one of them had plans, like Kouko's search for a new set of clothes today.

Lena finished up her market run and went through a quick run for herself. She had noticed her band had gone bad, so she had made for the accessory stand.

"How could I be of help?" The gently smiling woman attending the stand asked.

"I will just be taking a look," Lena said. She put her carriage to the side.

"Of course," The woman didn't push Lena any further.

Lena took her time, eyeing each of the hair bands to the side.

Finding the one closest matching the colour she usually wears, she picked it up.

Lena drove her empty hand to the pouch at her waist. Fishing out a couple of coins, she handed them to the woman.

"Thank you," The woman said, putting away the coins.

Lena nodded, attempting for the carriage she had dropped.

"Ah, excuse me," The woman called for Lena.

Lena stopped, cocking her head to side.

"Is that all...?" The woman asked, eyeing Lena. "Wouldn't you wish for a little more? I see you seem not to care much for accessories, yet why not try? Here, how about this?" The woman raised an earring.

Lena eyed it, then shook her head.

"I just need it for my hair," Lena pointed at the back of her head. At the top of her ponytail.

"Oh," The woman understood. "But, it's a waste, don't you think? Such young beauty, I would bet if those little things could talk, they would be begging to be displayed upon your person." The woman chuckled to herself.

Lena eyed them over once more.

She reached her hand and picked out another item.

"Oh, but of course!" The woman happily received her pay.

Lena nodded again and this time left without interruption.

Lena had been sitting, watching the distant fields of the town, awaiting the sunset. As it had arrived, Lena stood up and made her way to one of the paths leading out of the town. She remembered during her first days with Octan, first years really, she would have to always agonize and attempt to keep up before him, hoping he had not left her behind. And, somehow, she had never missed him. She wondered if it really was due to her skill or if there was any help from Octan. Had he, in reality, not wished to leave her behind? She had called back to her conversation with the traveler--something she had been doing a lot recently.

Though her train of thought was quickly taken over as something crossed her vision.

In the distance, a part of the market she had missed.

"Meat," She mumbled, believing that being a bit short late would be forgiven. "For dinner... it will work."

Lena, a cumbersome bag on her back and a coin pouch to her waist, made way towards one of the paths leading out of town; she believed it was the one most likely, and she wasn't wrong.

"Ah," Kouko called as she noticed Lena. "There you are." Kouko was standing next to Octan, one was sitting on the grass, while the other stood fidgeting with her hair.

Kouko waved at Lena as Octan stood up.

"Seems you were on quite the run," Kouko laughed as she eyed the package Lena carried.

Lena nodded.

Octan immediately started moving down the path.

"Ah," Kouko sounded. "Let's move." She said, immediately attempting to rush behind him.

"Wait," Lena said, stopping Kouko.

"Yeah, what is it?" Kouko faced Lena with a beaming smile. It wasn't often that she would be the one called.

Lena ran a hand into her pocket. Pulling out a thread, she stretched her arm toward Kouko. "Here," she said.

"Lena!" Kouko said, beaming even more. "Y-you didn't have to!"

Lena shook her head, stretching her arm further.

"Ah, of course," Kouko said, taking the ribbon from Lena. "Let's see~"

Kouko eyed around herself, searching for a place to tie the new ribbon to.

Lena took the moment to study Kouko's new outfit.

She wore a blue, pink-patterned shirt. Its sleeves extended further than her arms, as Lena could see the wrinkles from having it pulled back. Despite that, the body seemed to be tight, showcasing her physique well. It perhaps could've been due to her gifted physical appearance, but it did seem like either purposeful or negligent to Lena.

It seemed that the shirt moving down to her waist also grew loose, as she could see it bagging around itself over, and running down to her waist, for her to then duck it into her trousers. Her white, pink-patterned trousers expressed a similar take on fashion, as the waist was quite tight, with the loose shirt ducked beneath not helping, and growing loose as it fell to her feet. Lena could see the bottom of her trousers flap around the back of her feet as Kouko fidgeted for a place to tie the ribbon.

At the very end, peaking out of the front of the overgrown pink-patterned cloth, the tips of the travel boots were found. Ribbons tied the sides of said boots. It was head-turning pink. Lena questioned how she was planning to keep the color during their travels.

Satisfied with the description she had made of Kouko, Lena faced her back. Kouko was still turning, searching herself up and down. Lena gazed at her swaying hair, as usual, it never betrayed the care Kouko had given it. But that wasn't what had taken Lena's attention. Rather, it was something that stuck out on the top side of it. Something that held no point except for ornamentation. A blue hairclip. One that stood out atop her graceful blonde.

"Ah," Kouko sounded. "I know!" Stretching the ribbon towards Lena.

"Hold it for a second," Kouko said, a confident smile towards Lena.

Lena nodded, taking the ribbon from her.

Lena had already guessed where she would tie it: the side of her boot. It would fit with the boot's ribbons, she thought.

"Could I borrow that for a second?" Kouko said, taking away the knife that hung from the side of the luggage. It was something Lena believed she needed quick access to, so she hadn't thrown it in with the rest of the package.

"There!" Kouko proudly claimed, piercing the waist part of her trousers, and the shirt part slightly above the waist. "Here, you can have this, so I can have that," Kouko said, playfully pointing at the ribbon Lena held.

 Lena nodded, giving back the ribbon and putting the knife away.

"And..." Kouko said, driving the ribbon into one of the holes and out the other. "Done!" Kouko claimed, twirling the loose end of the ribbon. "It's gonna make changing a hassle, but it's pretty, don't you think?"

Lena eyed the new accessory. It seemed to work as some kind of connection, perhaps something to help her trousers not loosen--not that they could with how tight the waistline was.

Lena nodded.

"Hehehe," Kouko grinned, hands on her hips--a giddy display of achievement.

Kouko gazed at the new ribbon, her smile overwhelming. "Was this why you were late?" Kouko asked, even in questioning, her happiness was as vocal as it could get.

Lena shook her head.

"Huh?!" Kouko's eyes widened, though her smile didn't disappear.

Lena showcased the meat she had bought. "For dinner. Found a butchery on my way here."

Kouko eyed Lena. Attempted to hold herself back and then bellowed.

Lena raised an eyebrow, confused.

"You never fail to entertain me, Lena," she said, holding her belly. 

Lena nodded, putting away the meat she had showcased.

"Now, let's hurry," Kouko said, pointing down the path. "He hasn't slowed down one bit." 

Kouko spun around and scampered down the path.

Lena followed, the image of the ribbon proudly displayed at the center of Kouko's person in her head.

As she watched Kouko before her, her fluffy hair bouncing up and down as she almost skipped her steps.

Lena could feel her lips contort and twist. A strange bubbling sensation within.

Lena smiled.