A Storm Is Brewing

For the first time since being hanged to a tree upside-down, I was greeted by a cloudy morning. The sky isn’t fully gray as there are still spaces of blue here and there and the sun manages to take a peek from time to time. But, all in all, the weather indicates it’s going to rain. Perhaps, not in an hour or two, but surely some time within the day.

Regardless, it’s a cause for worry. The tree I was hanging to may be brimming with leaves, but it’s only good cover for a drizzle. If the incoming rain was stronger, then I could still get wet from all the drops that go through. Then, of course, the tree can’t save me from a storm with strong winds.

I started wondering if I could use the blanket as some sort of roof. Placing it on top of me, or, from my perspective, under my feet causes it to behave as if it was on the floor. Spreading it out evenly makes it function as a rug. But, its material looks like it will simply absorb the water then, when it cannot hold any more, drop the excesses onto me.

Still, with the effects of the gravity changing when I come into contact with an object, there might be value in investigating how I’m going to place the blanket on top of me once it rains. It could be that, since I’m touching the blanket, the water may still react differently and avoid me altogether.

Besides, it’s been an uneventful morning. The most excitement I’ve had so far is hearing a multitude of bird noises as if they were being disturbed or chased out of their nests, which I thought was ominous, but nothing has come my way so far. I also haven’t had much to do so I may as well prepare for rain, even though the only thing I could do is think what the best position to put my blanket in is.

Afternoon came and the sky was getting darker. The winds were also getting stronger, which has blown my blanket away. I haven’t even set it up yet, but I still felt dumb for not accounting for the wind in my long preparation for the rain. In any case, now that I’ve seen a glimpse of what’s to come, the blanket likely wouldn’t have mattered anyway.

No doubt, a storm is coming.

However, I didn’t realize there were two storms heading my way.

Aria appeared before.

Her clothing this time is a long coat to protect her from the weather and my eyes. She wore no hat this time, probably because it would be difficult to keep on her head while the wind is blowing hard, so her full head is exposed. Her long hair is neatly tied in a ponytail, but appeared to be at risk of being untangled due to the strong winds.

Although, the most noticeable of her appearance was the grim expression she was wearing on her face.

“Yo”, I greeted. “Unfortunately for you, you didn’t catch me with my pants down this time.”

She did not react to my light-hearted greeting, however.

I wanted to make another joke to lighten the mood, but all I could think about is telling her she looks like someone had died. That’s a joke that could easily backfire if someone did die so I held my tongue.

Before I could embarrass myself, she started talking, although not with a greeting.

She asks me, “What’s the big idea?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Stop playing dumb already”, she scolded, raising her voice. “Just how many girls were you seeing while I wasn’t here?”

Without digging deep on what’s behind her question, I honestly answered, “I don’t know, I didn't count.”

“You didn’t count?” she echoed, sounding surprised. I wasn’t sure what she was expecting me to say, but it was evident it was more than what she was expecting as she seemed overwhelmed.

“Oh, but I wasn’t seeing them all at the same time”, I followed up feeling like I had to add that bit of information.

“Not at the same time, you say”, she said as she held her head with her hand as if nursing a headache. “You know, I came here looking for an argument, but you being honest is just throwing me out of my rhythm.”

“An argument? Why?”

“It’s related to why I got angry enough to hang you here”, she stated.

I stare blankly at her. I still have no idea what made her angry enough to hang me.

“The look on your face says you still have no idea”, she said, exasperated.

“I mean, how could I? We’ve only met for the first time in a long time and, in that short meeting, I barely did anything to you to make you mad.”

“It’s not something you did to me, but it’s the thing you were doing with someone.”

“What do you mean?” I still don’t get what she was trying to say.

“Let me give you a hint”, she sternly said. “What were you doing that night at the pub before we met?”

“I was talking to the barkeep.”

“What else?”

“What else what? I haven’t gotten a drink yet at the time.”

“No, I mean the things you were saying to the barkeep?”

“You mean when I was asking her out to a picnic.”

“That’s right.”

“And?”

I was trying to ask what the problem with me inviting someone for a picnic is, but Aria seemed to have misunderstood that I was asking for more reasons.

“And then there’s that thing the following day where you said you’ve taken different girls on a date.”

“Where did you hear that from?” I asked, although I already have an idea on how she knew about it. I just wanted to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth for confirmation.

“A little bird told me”, she replied. It was not a direct admission, but it may as well confirm that she was related one way or another to the blue sparrow from the other day.

Still, I was wondering why Aria was taking issue with me going on dates with other girls. But, before I could ask, she started talking again.

“Not only that, but you were even eyeing other women.”

Aria was probably talking about the traveler she was sitting next to that night at the pub. I also talked about it with the bird.

“I mean, it’s not like I didn’t have my doubts. We haven’t seen each other for years, after all. My mentor did warn me about it so I was mentally prepared that you would be doing it. But, once I found out you were doing it, I was willing to talk it out once I’ve calmed down. I just haven’t been able to since you’ve been making me furious for other things.”

She lost me this time with that small rant. I wasn’t sure how the things she said related to the other things.

“But then!” she exclaimed before taking a dramatic pause.

“But then?” I chimed in to encourage her to continue her thought.

“I finally got a chance to walk around town yesterday for a change of pace after visiting relatives the previous days, and then, for some reason, random girls started talking to me about you and telling me… things.”

“What kind of things?”

She seemed to be forcing herself to answer the question as she furrowed her brow.

“Things like I shouldn’t show myself to you anymore and that I should completely sever ties with you”, she grumbled begrudgingly. “That continued until this morning and that just made me even more angry that I felt I had to take it out on you today!”

“I feel like I’m missing some context here. Why would random girls tell you that?”

“I was going to ask the same thing. I thought those girls dumped you after the second date?”

That was a harsh way to put it.

“Wait, who were the girls that were saying this to you again?”

"Girls who seem to have a thing for you."

"Like who?" I have no idea who they were because I've been unsuccessful in terms of romance as far as I know.

“Lily, for one. I met her when she was minding their family’s bakery this morning.”

“But, she stopped accepting my invites in the winter.”

“Then, I met Mae in the market.”

“She also stopped accepting my invites, but around early spring.”

“I also talked to Catherine yesterday.”

“The new year’s.”

“Then, around lunch today, some girl I’ve never met before named Shey-na?”

“Shana? I took her out once last month, but no luck with her either.”

“I’ve also met Mariana, Gretel, Kimbell and Wendy at different times yesterday.”

“All of them have been refusing me since last year.”

“There were other girls I forgot the name of, but…”

As Aria was recounting the girls that she met and got annoyed with, her facial expression and her voice was indicating she was getting more and more irritated, so I nervously waited for what she was about to say because I expected she had already reached boiling point.

“But, I don’t get why you’re so being honest about this!” she exclaimed angrily.

“Why? Is there any merit for me to be dishonest?”

“Aren’t you being unfaithful? My mentor said, when men cheat, they will do everything to deny it, but you’ve been an open book!”

“Unfaithful? Me? To whom?” I was genuinely confused.

“To me!” she yelled. “Aren’t we lovers?”

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

The both of us stare blankly at each other. I’m not sure what face I was making, but Aria wore a puzzled look on her face. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was the same as the conversation has been confusing me from the start.

The wind was picking up again and only the rustling of the leaves could be heard until one of us decided to restart our talk.

It was Aria who made the first move. Without changing the dumbfounded expression on her face, she asked, “We’re lovers, aren’t we?”

But, before I could answer her, something came out from the bushes that interrupted the conversation. Or rather, I wasn’t sure how it could just appear out from the bushes as it was as tall as the trees. Neither I nor Aria noticed it coming as it didn’t make a sound when it approached us.

It was a boar.

A giant boar.

It wasn’t any ordinary oversized boar either. It was a sacred beast, a divine creature. I recognize it because it’s the one that the nearby elves worship as a deity. Consequently, it was not afraid of humans. But, normally, it's tame and enjoys a life under the protection of the elves. However, if it was provoked and became hostile against Aria and me, we would be lucky to escape alive.

"You've got a lot of nerve complaining to me about leaving you exposed to animals, Erik, but you're not even using the potions I sent you", Aria said to me now with fear in her voice and understandably so.

"Your accusation hurts me, Aria. I've been using the potions since the first time you sent me those." I could also hear the nerves in my own voice as I said it.

"Then, how do you explain this?" she asks, obviously about the giant boar that's been standing off against us since it appeared.

"It's a sacred beast, repellents for animals don't usually work against it. If anything, I would say it was attracted by…"

Then, the realization hit me.

In the old legends, there would often be a mention of human sacrifice to the gods and, to a lesser extent, sacred beasts. They may be legends, but it doesn’t mean they were completely detached from reality and human sacrifice was one aspect which certainly happened in mankind's history.

Now, the usual preference in a sacrifice is someone who holds some level of magical power. People have surmised that gods and sacred beasts are attracted to magical power, but, as for why exactly, no one knows.

Regardless of their reasons, following that line of thought, it would explain why the elves’ deity would appear before us. There was someone with ample magical power right here - Aria.

“Aria, run away!” I tried to shout at her.

However, she was rooted to where she stood, frozen in fear, as the giant boar inched closer towards her. I wasn’t sure if she heard me so I yelled at her to run away again.

This time, she attempted to flee, but the boar was already too close to her and grabbed her by the collar with its mouth.

“Erik, help!” she cried as the boar lifted her up.

I wasn’t sure what she was expecting from me as I was still hanging from a tree. Although, I do know I should at least try to help her.

I also wasn’t sure what I could do, however. But, for now, freeing myself from the magic that ties me to the tree comes first before I could do anything else.

I took the dagger which I enchanted the day before and braced myself for a fall before cutting the invisible rope.

Without fanfare, I picked myself up and looked towards the direction the giant boar ran to. For some reason, it’s headed towards the direction of the village. It was lucky because I will be able to collect some equipment, which can help me in saving Aria. If it had gone any other direction, I wasn't sure how I would be able to perform the rescue.

But, it was fast and had a head start. Even if I was one of the faster runners among the men, I would still take around ten minutes to reach the village from where I stood. I just hope it slows down when it meets people.

In the meantime, ten minutes is plenty of time to come up with ideas and admire the underwear that Aria wore today.

It was purely coincidental, but I was able to see up her skirt earlier. As the boar lifted her up, the wind also blew and lifted the hem of her coat and the skirt underneath to reveal her panties to me.

It was black lace.

My dear Aria, how much you have grown.