Accidental Escape

Days turned into a week. I have witnessed the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the view of Celphi’s “upscale” tree house. As Raiona calls it in her journal, Daystar. It was written in the alphabet, so that’s a clue.

I was miraculously able to read through the jumbled mess of her penmanship, thanks to the experience of reading much worse doctors' orders writing. The journal has missing chunks, unfortunately, but reading it gave me an insight into her personality at least.

She’s someone who is headstrong and most likely does not follow instructions. Always on the lookout for the next adventure. Smart. Competitive. Unintentionally, looks out for the well-being of others. Or maybe it was intentional?

She seemed to have had the task of nursing her sick queen mother at a young age. She also wrote about her not being sure if she’s from this world.

Suspicious coincidences. Was she also taken forcibly from Earth? She seemed to have Earthly ideas and memories. Overall, potentially a person with whom I can get along and relate with. I can also see why Celphi would be loving and protective of such a character.

I wonder what happened to her. Celphi would only tell me that she disappeared and now she’s back as me. But he eventually dropped that and went along with my narrative. That I am Ina. Not Raiona. But I am Ina! The diary gave me an insight into Raiona’s mind, but doesn’t give me an answer on why I am here.

Now what? Celphi is not telling me everything. How long is his “give this world a chance” promo going to last?

On aspects not related, I have discovered a couple of facts. Celphi was indeed strong. He took down a massive carnivorous spider. If you can call it that. The spider had eyes half the size of my head and a body around 2 meters wide.Eight hairy legs around three to four meters in size.

I was just reading the notebook when something covered my source of light, and when I looked up to the window, trauma.

This is it. Finished.

An awful ear-pinching screeching noise overtook the silence, as I ducked and cowered on the floor until I felt the heat of the sun, or daystar, on my skin again.

No spider in sight, just Celphi dusting his hands. He won’t tell me what he did, but I wish he hadn't eaten it. He’s a reptile after all. Apparently, it was a creature believed to be extinct. If I can be teleported here, then who knows what other creatures can come from other dimensions? I am not above any realms of possibility now.

Was it the creature he said to be the most feared around this parts? Who is there to fear it? I haven’t met anyone else?

Also found out that there was absolutely no way for me to leave this tree without Celphi manually taking me. There were more rooms within this tree, even stairs going up and down, but just a floor down and a floor up, not remotely close to the ground.

Maybe I can have a pulley system elevator thing as well.

With my insistence, after a 3 whole night of my crying over my life on earth and telling him things I have never told anyone, we have upgraded to separate sleeping areas.

I have a new loft on the upper floor portion, and he gets to stay on the level where all his gemstones are. Just because each night I cried on his arms and slept like a baby.

He did not understand how Earth etiquette and politics work, but his listening and nonjudgmental presence were enough. Maybe his warm body and snug hug as well, but that’s a topic for another day.

We have two toilets now. Celphi initially made a makeshift toilet on the downstairs floor. It resembles a Japanese floor toilet, much to my dismay, but it was better than going to the forest where there are strange plants and whatnot. Things I did not know of yet.

But when I built up my courage, he eventually made a seated toilet outside. No flush, of course, but the ‘’output’’ gets absorbed by a certain plant just within hours.

That’s some fertiliser straight from the source for you, alright.

It was housed in an igloo-looking compartment. Just beside it, outside, was my bath. It has to be located outside, as water is tedious to bring up. Just a small 3-walled space. Wooden walls, bark and twigs for the roof and some vines with leaves to cover the entry. One rubber-y material bath in the middle, in an oval shape.

We just need a mirror next!

Nothing special, really. Other than everything was tailored by Celphi for me adeptly. Can’t complain really. We couldn’t heat water in the tree for obvious reasons, but I was able to enjoy a heated bath when outside.

Celphi mentioned he could easily make it all work for me, boiling water outside and bringing it up for me to use. But, I like the idea of me being able to have a ‘I can leave if I want to’ moment, with a bath as a ruse.

’Celphi, I want out, please.’

’Did you want to go hunting with me?’

I’ve thought of various ways of fleeing, but then, where would I go next? It’s not like Celphi was horrible to me anyway. Quite the contrary, even. He’s treated me like a queen.

He’s granted all my requests, on renovations and culinary aspects too, specially. He has learned to cook food to my liking, using edible plants as seasoning, even pairing meat with a fruit that has the same consistency as a potato. However, I was still looking for anything that resembled rice.

‘Ina?’ Celphi recalled my attention.

‘Oh yes. Yes please. We might even discover a new edible plant on the way.’ I smiled. The look on his face showed that he knew that despite his doing everything within his capacity, I was still curious about a lot of things and was planning on leaving at the first opportunity that I could. This mental connection baffled me.

It is one thing for him to assume what I am thinking, but for him to know for certain is something else. And the idea that I also know that he knows is just weird.

With each day that passed, Celphi and I seemed to get more and more attuned with what the other was thinking. Yet still, he won’t disclose to me why he has held me captive. He would tell me to give him time over and over again. He was giving scarce information about this world. He did show a great amount of interest in my life.

Is reality harsh? Was I transferred into this world to be killed? Did Celphi bring it upon himself to keep me alive instead? Why did the people who transported me not just let me die on Earth then?

I was optimistic with this give-this-world-a-chance business. My full patience and faith.

Well, maybe not entirely.

But I would like to think that I deserved to know what I was working towards.

It is not that I am distrustful of Celphi. Each day, I feel closer to him. Each day, he gets to know me and does everything I want him to. I am just distrustful of the situation. He has been an absolute champion for me.

*ring*

The bell chiming snapped me back to reality. We have made bells to attach to net traps so we would hear and locate right away if there is a freshly trapped noisebird.

‘Ina, there seem to be two noisefowls that've been caught’, he said as he looked at the ground.

I walked over to him and looked at what he was pointing at. It was a bit too far for my eyesight.

‘You can see that far?’ I looked up at him.

That’s a few hundred meters away, estimate.

‘Yes, I can, in fact, I can see and hear from here that the river is running wild with both flood and debris.’

I’d have to keep those factors in mind. I felt bad thinking in such a manner, but I had to keep all cards close to my chest until I had a good grasp of this situation.

‘Shall we go soon?’

’Sure. Let me change.’ It had been our routine for me to change into outside clothes before we head out. The reason is that we want to cover up the fact that I am not a magical being. We haven’t come across another magical creature so far, only unmagical animals that can be eaten.

Thus, my disguise hasn’t been of use yet. But today, I decided to wear Celphi’s handmade white dress, underneath a layer of what seems to be bear fur.

Is it ok to be wearing another human being’s body part? This is technically his old skin…

‘I’m ready.’ I automatically took my position beside him. In his arms. I have never seen him looking so satisfied.

Is it the fact that I am now used to close contact with him, or that I am wearing his skin?

He took on his half-human, half-serpent form and lifted me.

It’s my first rainy day. We crawled around the tree as we went down, with extra care. Drizly but humid and warm. The damp conditions have made the traps Celphi made more hidden. A puddle could have sharpened wood underneath, some could have nets, and some could just be mud. Try your luck.

‘Celphi, do you know the gender of these birds?’ I asked as we went closer to the source of the bell chiming and birds squawking.

’I can figure it out for you. Does it affect the flavor or cooking manner?’

’No, I thought if we could make them breed, I could have eggs too.’

‘Brilliant idea. We can capture a good amount of them and keep them all together. Anything forced together for a long while is bound to procreate.' He said simply. I suddenly became self-aware that I was being held by Celphi against his chest.

I don’t even want to think about it... Do I?

Abundant and weaving through his impressive muscular arms, bluish-green veins contrasting his porcelain skin tone, pop out from exerting force to carry me. My eyes trailed his neck, slender collarbone, engaged arms, up to his fingertips.

I wouldn’t call him very muscular, but I could see and feel that he has a strong core, and that his manliness perfectly balances his delicate features.

Devil on my shoulder: What’s wrong with just living with him in peace? Just enjoy this. You’re treated splendidly by a beautiful man.

Angel on my shoulder: Wait wait wait that’s not the point. Wake up. Don’t be blinded by his looks. And good manners. And a thoughtful nature. Anyways… WAKE UP.

Devil: Do we really have to? Just live in ignorant bliss. Who cares. Just be happy here. No more investigating. Just leave it. Enjoy life. He seems very satisfied serving you. Let him. Don’t go seeking problems.

Angel: THIS. is the problem. Snap out of it.

Devil: He can be the solution too. Look at him. Just imagine one drink of-

*slap* oops.

I had to slap myself back to reality. Here’s to hoping he doesn't mind my gawking while I was having an internal turmoil. My chest pressing into the side of his abdomen gave away that my heart was beating faster and faster. I loosened my grip around him immediately, but it was probably pointless.

Just because someone handsome is doing all my bidding and showing interest in absolutely all avenues of my life, then I waver? Tsk tsk tsk. Ina, you’re better than that.

He would have noticed me trying to contain myself already. However, he also knew I have always held a position where I am openly showing my boundaries, regardless of his feelings. Or mine.

‘Since they are noisy, we must keep them in a distant area. I will make a container shelter.’ Celphi always made sure that it was never awkward. I will always admire that about him.

’Thank you.’ I meant that for both his efforts, ensuring I have food and making sure I am not left feeling awkward. ‘Also, the term for that is “coop”’.

We settled on a location that is sheltered but still visible for Celphi, and most importantly, won't have much noise reaching the treehouse.

‘Do you think it’s safe if I tie them up on this branch while we look for wood and an ideal area for a base?’

’You don’t have to do that. You can just stay here with the noisefowls while I quickly gather the materials you said you needed to make a coop.’

’ Uh-huh. So you think I make things move slowly?’ I teased.

He giggled and puffed in resignation. ‘Ok, have it your way. I will tie them up on this thin tree and attach bells so we can track escapees, but you also take one so I can have an idea of your general whereabouts.’

Heh, as if he can’t hear me from a mile away.

I smiled and leaned my head on his shoulders for a brief moment. ‘Thank you.’ And skipped away. I can feel Celphi’s gaze on me, so I went a bit further into the forest.

I did not have plans of escaping at that moment, but I still wanted to have time for myself. I avoided a particularly muddy area and patrolled a section that had a collection of fallen twigs and vines. I started picking up useful-looking items and stashing them to one side. Also secured a strong vine and wrapped it around my waist.

I kept my head down and continued looking down on the forest floor, picking up what I thought was useful and stashing them in a visible location so I could determine where to return to.

Thanks to Celphi already giving this area a thorough check a few days ago, I feel reassured exploring on my own. Nomore monstrous spiders.

’Oh wow that looks almost like a massive red blood cell.’ I went a bit further to pick up an object that looks like a good foundation for a bird coop cover. The shape is that of red blood cells, but the color is brownish green with white spots. I wondered if it was tree bark, a huge leaf, or maybe a mushroom head?

Astonishing!

The item looked heavy and sturdy, but on closer inspection, it was like a rubber cushion to touch. I waved it around, and the lightweightness left me speechless for a good two minutes. I threw it up and it landed on a hanging vine and rolled a bit of a distance. I eventually caught it before it fell on the ground.

A pillow! Looks huge, but is light and soft!

A moisture buildup inside my boots took me by surprise.

’Oh, I thought it was dry around here. I am going to have Celphi make me a new one.’ I jumped from root to root, avoiding stepping on the deceitful ground.

As I jumped on the next root, I seemed to have miscalculated the height and distance, snagging my foot in the process and projecting me straight to the ground with my face first. Thankfully, I landed on my giant red blood cell cushion.

I am pretty sure I skipped fine. It wasn't too far off. Unless I imagined it, then the roots must’ve risen. Snagging my foot as a result.

Ouch! I felt tenderness when I tried to stand up. I sat on my cushion and inspected my foot.

Did I just feel the ground shake?

There was a low vibration, ominous rumble and sounds, growing louder and more insistent by the second. But I couldn’t see where it was coming from.

Where where where where where where where.

I’d given myself whiplash from the number of times I turned my head desperately to any noise that surrounded me.

What was that?

I looked to the direction where I thought Celphi was and saw that the trees and foliage were getting bigger and bigger. Or higher?

Uh-oh. That can’t be good. The forest changed. Surely I am not THAT lost.