"Mother, where is she?" Little Saya murmured, her tiny footsteps echoing down the hallways as she explored room after room.
Just a moment ago, Ivorysis, her mother's right hand, had slided past her bedroom door in an uncharacteristic flurry. Her mother had instructed her to stay inside her room, promising that she'd return later with a delightful present if Saya behaved and remained a good girl.
The notion of a gift excited the young girl greatly, yet the odd flurry of activity within the mansion piqued her curiosity. She had tried to summon Ivorysis with her gentle voice, only to be ignored as the maid never paused to explain the unusual chaos.
"Well, if no one will tell me what's happening, I will find out myself," she announced resolutely, her little mouth puckering in a stubborn pout. She carefully packed her bag with the most scrumptious treats from her candy box.
Half a dozen butter candies should suffice for her adventure, she thought to herself.
As she traversed the endless corridor, Saya approached each room cautiously. She had learned from her storybooks to always scout ahead; after all, mischievous elves, disciples of the cunning Aria, might be lying in wait to launch a surprise pie attack. While she had never encountered such creatures in her home, Saya preferred safety over unfortunate surprises.
After inspecting each room, she rewarded herself with a candy, thinking, "Exploring is indeed hard work!" By the time she arrived at the sixth room, however, her sweet ration was depleted, leaving her wondering if she should retreat for additional supplies.
Just as she pondered her next move, a familiar voice drifted from a room at the end of the dimly lit corridor. She seldom ventured this deep, finding the growing darkness unsettling. Yet now, curiosity and a newfound bravery propelled her forward.
"Are you sure you won't change your mind?"
It was Ivorysis's voice. If she was here, then perhaps...
"It's already decided."
Her heart leapt as she recognized her mother's voice. Saya bolted towards the sound, her excited shout echoing through the halls, "Mother!"
Both women turned to see the small figure standing in the doorway. One face was strangely wet with tears, the other surprised but quickly regaining its composure.
"Saya, didn't I tell you to remain in your room? Have you decided to ignore my instructions?" Her mother's voice was stern.
"I just missed you, mother!" Saya pleaded, leaping into her mother's lap and anticipating the usual soothing pat on her head, which never arrived.
"Saya," her mother continued, "I had prepared a gift for you, but I question if you deserve it after disregarding my instructions."
Realizing her mother's disappointment, Saya withdrew, with her head bobbed down and eyes welling up in tears as she murmured, "I'm sorry."
Her mother softened, her hand hovering mid-air, seemingly on the verge of consoling her daughter. But she only sighed and gently patted Saya's head.
The young girl savored the warmth of her mother's hand as it delicately brushed her sensitive horn and stroked her face, finally resting on her neck, which stayed there for far too long and far too tight. The sudden intake of breath from Ivorysis froze the room.
Abruptly, her mother withdrew her hand. "Saya, it's time to return to your room," she ordered.With just a brief nod from Ivorysis, the maid sprung to action. Her hair flared out, wrapping her body like a woman caught in a cascading ringlet. These ringlets swiftly morphed into scales, enveloping her form.
"Ivory, wait! I don't want to—"
But her words were cut short. The serpent spirit had already enveloped Saya, whisking her out the door, past the hallway, hurtling down the stairs, and zooming through a corridor she remembered took her three butter candies to cross before.
In a heartbeat, Saya was back in her room, and there was Ivorysis, transformed back to her human self, giving a gracious bow before shutting the door.
The adventure was over.
***
Now, Saya lay sprawled on her bedroom floor, idly flipping through the pages of an animal encyclopedia. More than an hour had passed since her mother promised to come and visit, but the corridor outside her room was eerily silent.
“Mother is a liar," Saya mused, her legs swaying in the air as her lips pouted in frustration. Her mother's frequent absences were not a new occurrence. At times, Saya would spot her mother in the garden or near a window, prompting her to climb out her own window and tiptoe along the ledges of the mansion's second floor to catch her mother's attention.
Yet, her mother remained indifferent to her antics, often leaving it to Ivorysis to swoop in and coil her up within her ivory scales, whisking her back to safety.
How can I make mother worry more about me? This thought often plagued Saya's mind.
"That's not a kind thing to say about your mother, Saya," a voice remarked from the doorway. Saya's head snapped up, and she saw her mother standing there. She jumped up to run to her but halted midway when she noticed a box in her mother's hands.
"What's that?" she asked. Her eyes brightened.
"Is it my present?" Saya asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Saya, we need to have a talk," her mother started, setting the box down on the floor and maintaining eye contact with Saya. "You've lived inside this house your entire life. I imagine that might be quite lonely, which is why I brought you a small companion."
Her mother lifted the cloth covering the box to reveal its contents. Saya's eyes widened in surprise and curiosity. The box contained a tiny creature with orange fur and fluffy ears. It was curled up with its tail wagging slightly, its sparkling eyes looking up at Saya.
"Is this… is this…" Saya stammered, unable to find the right words.
"It's a cat," her mother announced casually. "Once upon a time, cats were humans' best friends. It's rare to find one these days. You're lucky, Saya."
"A cat?" Saya looked from her mother to the cat. The creature responded with a soft purr."It's so adorable! Thank you, mom! This is the best gift ever!"
She carefully picked up the cat and held it close. She felt a sense of warmth spread through her as the fur brushed against her chest.
"You should name it," her mother suggested, turning to leave the room.
"A name! I have the perfect one for you!" Saya quickly went over to the books that were strewn on the floor. Before flipping through the pages, she gently set the cat down.
As she was engrossed in her search, her mother murmured something under her breath, "This may be your only companion you’ll ever have, Saya."
Saya finally found what she was looking for in the book. "There it is! I knew you reminded me of something!"
She pointed at a sketch in the book. It was a depiction of a legendary creature, a powerful animal said to have once roamed freely.
"Lion! From now on, I'll call you Lion!"
The kitten seemed to approve of its new name, responding with a soft purr.
Saya nestled Lion against her chest, her face beaming as she spun in circles while holding Lion high up the air. Her smile bright. When she spun to face the door, she found her mother had already left.
Suddenly, a sound from outside caught her attention. Dashing to the window, she looked down at the spectacle unfolding in the garden by the fountain. A sleek airship had just landed. Ivorysis was carrying a few bulky suitcases, and her mom was gracefully making her way out of the mansion and towards the ship.
"Are we going on a trip?" Saya blurted out to the empty room. She didn't remember her mom mentioning any trip, but the idea sent a thrill of excitement through her. "Hear that, Lion? We're going on an adventure!"
Realizing she had to get ready quickly, Saya dashed over to her wardrobe and yanked out her favorite dress, mittens, and hat. Without a second thought, she crammed them into her little backpack, which still had some candy wrappers in it. As she packed, she grumbled about how Ivorysis should have given her more time to prepare.
She quickly scooped up her diary, feather pen, and ink box from her desk. "I'll have loads to write about on this trip," she thought. She considered bringing a travel-themed storybook, but her bag was already full. She snagged a pair of socks on her way out and tossed them into her backpack.
Carefully, she picked up Lion and nestled him in her backpack. The kitten purred softly as she settled him in. She closed the bag, but left a small opening for Lion to poke his head out. Then, she rushed out of her room and down the stairs.
By the time Saya made it to the garden, her mother and Ivorysis had already boarded the airship. They were sitting at the back, and Saya could just see a glimpse of her mother's hair."Wait for me, mom!" Saya yelled, running as fast as her legs could carry her. However, as she approached the ship, she noticed Ivorysis weeping. She whispered something to her mother, but her mother didn't respond or turn around.
Suddenly, the airship started to lift off. A chilling sense of dread seeped into Saya's heart. She began shouting, but her noise was drowned out by the rumbling of the propellers. She ran faster, her little arms outstretched towards the ascending ship. Yet, the airship kept moving higher and higher, until it was above the mansion's roof. Then, it propelled forward, towards the cloud and away from Saya.
At that moment, Saya tripped. Her small body flew forward, crashing into a puddle of mud. She was covered in muck, and her skin was bruised. But all she could do was cry.
"Mom, Ivory, don't leave me here! Please come back…" Her pleas echoed in the empty garden, but there was no answer. All she could hear was the soft purr of Lion, who had crawled over to sit beside her.
Saya pulled Lion close, pressing the soft fur against her tear-streaked face. Her sobs filled the garden until the rain began to fall.
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