Welcome Home - B Part

The twitch from the bony fingers latched on my shoulder probably gave away who it was.

"Cour, I'm not up to anything funny, I swear," I said, raising my hands in surrender.

The guy simply puffed a huge cloud of smoke. Of course, how could I not notice. There's nobody who smoked like the factories in the city except from Cour.

The hand released itself and I shrugged. I didn't turn around just yet. It's bad manners.

"Mind if I smoked?" His hoarse voice eked out.

"Don't ask me," I said, now turning to face him. All I could see was a thick cloud of smoke. The smell was refreshing—he used the town leaves and not the offensive ones that drove my nose crazy back at the city. That's the reason why I didn't notice him. The smell of tobacco and dried leaves were too different.

"You're visiting the forefounder, right?" he asked.

"Yup. Seems the timing isn't right though."

"They're here. Just knock."

"Great. Oh, feel free to take the crickets if you'd like."

He chuckled. "It's the fireflies, now."

"Ah. They do look pretty in thick fog."

"Didn't know you got the eyes still."

"I don't. Trust me, it's all in the head."

A pair of receding footsteps signalled the thinning of the ridiculous fog. Cour was quick to understand. The forefounder only appeared once the rules they set was imposed. As far as I remembered, only one townsfolk could visit them at any moment. Was he in the middle of a visit himself though?

I shouldn't waste time on other peoples business.

I gave the door a good knocking. The forefounder was often immersed in their own little world they wouldn't entertain a visitor even if we pounded incessantly, even if we used a battering ram. Sometimes, it all boiled down to luck.

After persevering for quite some time, the locks on the other side finally unbolted themselves.

The thick stone doors grinded sideways until a space wide enough for one to pass was created. A small, hooded figure emerged on the other side.

"Did the forefounder finally found a suitable partner?" I joked. As far as I remembered, the forefounder was... very different appearance-wise.

The figure removed their hood, revealing a young girl's face, her dust and cobweb laden golden hair covered her face in a mess. Realizing her blunder, she tucked herself back in the hood and timidly said,

"Every forefounder is sterile, have you forgotten?"

"Of course not," I smirked. The forefounder was so adorable I could easily put her in a sack and run away.

She beckoned me in.

The dim manor offered nothing to the senses save for the awfully humid air and the sweet smell of burnt fat.

"You don't have the eyes, I hear?" she asked.

"Well, it'd make my job easier for one."

"Right. About that."

The forefounder led me to the fireplace. She immediately jumped to the seat nearest to the bright flames leaving me to take one of the many chairs stacked high with books and dust and cobwebs. Once I didn't move, she continued.

"You shouldn't have to do this. You shouldn't have any obligation left once you left."

"Perhaps."

POP! Crackle! The flames chimed in the conversation as if scolding me for my mistake. True, once I walked out of town, I ceased to be part of it and could choose to live whatever ruin I desired to take.

"Or perhaps," I smiled wryly. "This is the ruin I've always dreamt of."

The forefounder motioned with her finger and the treated wood piled beside the hearth quivered and begrudgingly trotted to the flames. With the fire now fed, the smell of fat grew stronger.

"Like a moth to the flame, huh."

"The forefounder themselves defaming their own town? That's... are you joking or what?"

She shrugged. "I'd also like it if I am. Tell me, what made you return?"

I shrugged back. "Well, maybe, because, at the end of the day, a city was too much for a being used to quiescence. I just felt like I'm more suited to an ordinary seaside town."

"Oh please, anything but nothing happens here."

I pointed at my eyes.

"Hmph, so be it."

She stood up while I fell on my knee. As if a sovereign knighting her vassal, the forefounder bent slightly. I felt a warm, damp sensation to my forehead.

After giving me a tender kiss, she said, "Thus concludes your third and final wish. I am no judge to your desires be it foolish or righteous, only you yourself are to blame. However, when all is said and done, praises are in order. You've done well child! The blood of the forefounders stir with glee! Now, sleep well, and find comfort in knowing your deeds were honorable for acting like us."

+++++++++++

Most only thought of themselves when given wishes. Possessions, life, death, everything was made only for personal gain. That's fine. That's natural.

Me? I just wanted to have a place to rest, and what better place to do it than home?

Home is where the heart is. So long as the other I lived, even without eyes, I'd be fine.