Chapter 8: The First Field Lesson.
415 Words
The morning was unusually quiet.
Before the sun had fully risen, Dorothy was already waiting outside the cottage, carrying three empty woven baskets.
Echo rubbed his sleepy eyes.
"...Ma'am, are we gathering herbs today?"
Dorothy smiled.
"Perhaps."
Kodie yawned.
"Can I gather them after breakfast... and a nap?"
"You've already had both."
"...Then another nap?"
Dorothy simply smiled.
"We'll discuss that later."
Kodie immediately stood up.
"...I'll carry the baskets."
Echo looked between the two of them.
"...Why do I feel like I just witnessed a battle?"
Dorothy chuckled.
"Experience."
---
The forest slowly awakened around them.
Sunlight slipped through the emerald canopy.
Birds sang.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of damp earth.
Echo couldn't help but smile.
"...It's beautiful."
"It always has been."
Dorothy replied.
"We're simply too busy to notice."
---
After nearly an hour of walking, Dorothy stopped beside a small clearing.
Dozens of herbs grew there.
Bright blue flowers.
Silver leaves.
Crimson berries.
Echo's eyes sparkled.
"There are so many!"
He reached toward the nearest flower.
"Stop."
Dorothy's voice remained gentle.
Echo froze.
"...Did I do something wrong?"
She knelt beside the flower.
"Beneath this plant lives a family of Glow Ants."
Echo leaned closer.
Tiny glowing insects moved carefully around the roots.
"If you pull it carelessly..."
"They lose their home."
Echo slowly withdrew his hand.
"...I never noticed."
---
Dorothy smiled.
"That is today's lesson."
"A mage doesn't ask..."
'Can I take this?'
"They ask..."
'Should I?'
---
She carefully harvested only a few leaves, leaving the roots untouched.
"The forest gives willingly."
"So we should never take more than we need."
---
Echo nodded thoughtfully.
Kodie, meanwhile...
Was staring into the distance.
"...Kodie?"
"Hm?"
"What are you looking at?"
"...Someone's watching us."
Echo instinctively reached for his sword.
"Where?"
Kodie pointed toward the bushes.
A pair of frightened golden eyes peeked through the leaves.
A tiny Fenrin cub.
The very same one Echo had rescued days before.
The little creature cautiously approached.
It sniffed Echo's hand.
Then gently rubbed its head against him.
Echo blinked.
"...You remembered me?"
The cub wagged its tail happily.
Dorothy watched silently.
"You see?"
"Kindness is rarely forgotten."
Echo smiled.
Perhaps...
Being different wasn't such a terrible thing after all.
---
As the three continued deeper into the forest...
None of them noticed...
A cloaked figure watching from atop a distant cliff.
"...So..."
"The rumors were true."
"The Sound Blessing still lives."
The stranger quietly disappeared into the trees.
Unnoticed.
For now.
- Writer
