Chapter 15: The First Lesson Together
720 Words
Morning arrived peacefully.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, painting golden patterns across the small cottage.
Echo stretched as he stepped outside.
"...What a nice day."
"...Indeed."
Echo jumped.
"M-Mira!"
She stood nearby, already dressed neatly and holding a small notebook.
"I've been awake for two hours."
Echo blinked.
"...Two hours?"
"I usually wake before sunrise."
Echo scratched his head awkwardly.
"...I was proud of waking up this early..."
A quiet giggle escaped Mira before she quickly covered her mouth.
"...I'm sorry."
Echo smiled.
"...Don't apologize."
"...It actually makes me feel a little better."
For the first time...
Mira's smile lingered.
---
The cottage door slowly opened.
Dorothy stepped outside carrying four wooden baskets.
"Good."
"Everyone is awake."
A loud snore interrupted her.
All three turned toward the large tree beside the cottage.
Kodie was fast asleep on one of its branches.
Dorothy sighed with a smile.
"...Almost everyone."
Echo looked up.
"...How did he even get up there?"
"...Experience."
---
A few moments later...
Kodie slowly climbed down after Dorothy gently tapped the tree with her staff.
"...Good morning."
Echo folded his arms.
"You slept in a tree."
"...Comfortable tree."
Mira looked genuinely confused.
"...Is that... normal?"
Echo and Dorothy answered together.
"...Very."
---
After breakfast...
Dorothy handed each of them a basket.
"Today's lesson is simple."
"We're gathering ingredients."
Echo nodded confidently.
"I know these herbs now!"
Dorothy smiled.
"Then today's lesson isn't about herbs."
Echo tilted his head.
"...It isn't?"
She shook hers.
"It's about working together."
---
The four walked deeper into the forest.
Soon...
They reached a wide meadow filled with colorful plants.
Dorothy stopped.
"There are twelve ingredients hidden here."
"You'll gather them as a team."
"No magic."
"No rushing."
"And..."
She smiled knowingly.
"...No arguing."
Echo confidently nodded.
"We've got this."
Kodie looked around lazily.
"...Can we divide the work?"
"Of course."
Echo immediately pointed.
"I'll search the northern side."
Kodie yawned.
"I'll look over there."
Both of them turned toward Mira.
"...What about you?"
Mira quietly looked across the meadow.
For several seconds...
She simply observed.
Then...
She softly spoke.
"...If we separate completely..."
"...We'll probably collect the same plants twice."
Echo blinked.
"...Oh."
She pointed toward the center.
"The herbs Dorothy grows near the cottage prefer shade."
"Those growing here will likely be beneath larger flowers."
"If Echo searches the shaded areas..."
"Kodie checks near the stream..."
"I'll organize everything we collect."
"We'll finish faster."
Silence.
Echo smiled brightly.
"...That's... actually a much better plan."
Kodie nodded.
"...Smart."
Mira looked down.
"...I only made a suggestion."
Echo laughed.
"Then let's use it!"
---
The work went surprisingly smoothly.
Whenever Echo couldn't identify a plant...
Mira calmly checked her notebook.
Whenever Kodie found something unusual...
He quietly called the others instead of deciding alone.
Little by little...
The baskets became full.
Echo wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"...We actually did it."
Dorothy inspected every basket.
One by one.
Finally...
She smiled.
"All twelve."
Echo proudly pumped his fist.
"Yes!"
Mira looked surprised.
"...We really found all of them..."
Dorothy nodded.
"You didn't succeed because one of you was the best."
She looked at each of them.
"You succeeded because each of you trusted someone else's strength."
The three quietly listened.
Then...
Dorothy added,
"Remember this."
"A team isn't made of people who can do everything."
"It's made of people who know they don't have to."
Those words settled gently into everyone's heart.
---
As they began walking home...
A small white rabbit suddenly hopped across the path.
Without thinking...
Kodie crouched down.
The rabbit happily climbed into his lap.
Echo laughed.
"...Seriously?"
"It likes you already."
Kodie gently stroked its head.
"...Animals don't care how strong you are."
"They only care if you make them feel safe."
Mira quietly watched the scene.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"...I think..."
"...I'd like to learn that too."
Kodie looked at her.
"...Then start by sitting quietly."
"The rest comes naturally."
Echo grinned.
"...That's probably the longest advice you've ever given."
"...I'm tired now."
"...Of course you are."
Laughter echoed through the forest.
Even Mira's could be heard among them.
Soft.
Gentle.
But no longer forced.
---
End of Chapter 15
«Friendship isn't built in grand moments...
It grows quietly...
One shared step, one shared smile, and one shared lesson at a time.»
- Writer
