Chapter 14: A New Beginning
721 Words
The evening breeze gently swayed the trees.
Silence filled the little clearing before Dorothy's cottage.
Echo looked at the young girl standing quietly behind Edric.
She looked about the same age as him.
Long silver hair rested neatly over her shoulders.
Clear blue eyes.
A calm expression.
One hand gently held the silver ring she wore.
She looked...
Perfect.
Almost too perfect.
Dorothy smiled warmly.
"Welcome."
Edric bowed respectfully.
"...Ma'am."
"I've brought Mira."
Dorothy nodded.
"I'm glad you made it safely."
She turned toward the young girl.
"Mira."
The girl immediately bowed.
"My name is Mira."
"...It's an honor to meet you."
Her voice was calm.
Gentle.
Almost...
Too gentle.
Echo quickly bowed back.
"I-I'm Echo!"
"I mean..."
"...It's nice to meet you."
Mira offered a polite smile.
"The pleasure is mine."
Silence.
...
More silence.
...
Echo scratched his cheek.
"...So..."
"...Nice weather?"
Mira nodded.
"...Yes."
Silence returned.
Echo internally panicked.
"Why is this so awkward?!"
---
A loud yawn interrupted the moment.
Kodie slowly walked over.
"...Who's the new person?"
Echo looked relieved.
"Kodie!"
Kodie blinked sleepily at Mira.
"...Do you cook?"
Echo stared.
"...That's your first question?"
"...It's important."
Mira blinked in surprise.
"...A little."
Kodie nodded seriously.
"...Welcome."
Echo covered his face.
"...You accepted her because she can cook?!"
"...Partly."
Dorothy laughed softly.
The tense atmosphere immediately became lighter.
Even Mira looked slightly surprised.
For the briefest moment...
The corners of her lips lifted.
Just a little.
Dorothy noticed.
So did Edric.
Neither of them said a word.
---
After dinner...
The four of them sat outside beneath the stars.
Dorothy quietly poured tea for everyone.
"Mira."
"Would you tell us about yourself?"
Mira carefully held the warm cup.
"I grew up helping Father at the clinic."
"I enjoy studying."
"I practice healing magic every day."
"I also..."
She hesitated.
"...Like watching the stars."
Echo smiled.
"...Really?"
"I do too."
"They're peaceful."
Mira nodded softly.
"...Yes."
Kodie looked up at the sky.
"...They also don't ask me to wake up early."
Echo sighed.
"...You really relate everything to sleeping."
"...It's a talent."
---
The peaceful conversation continued.
Mostly led by Echo.
Occasionally interrupted by Kodie.
While Mira quietly answered every question with perfect manners.
Too perfect.
Dorothy watched silently.
Then...
She gently placed her teacup on the table.
"Mira."
The girl immediately looked toward her.
"...Yes, Ma'am?"
"Why are you trying so hard?"
Silence.
Echo froze.
Edric lowered his eyes.
Mira's fingers tightened around the silver ring.
"...I'm not."
Dorothy's smile remained gentle.
"You haven't relaxed once."
"You've thanked us six times."
"Apologized four."
"And smiled..."
She paused.
"...Only when you thought no one was looking."
The words hung quietly in the air.
For a long moment...
No one spoke.
Then...
Mira slowly lowered her head.
"...I'm sorry."
Dorothy softly shook hers.
"No."
"That's exactly what I mean."
Another silence followed.
Not uncomfortable.
Just...
Heavy.
Dorothy stood.
She gently placed a hand on Mira's head.
"You don't have to be the perfect student here."
"You don't have to be the perfect daughter."
"You don't have to carry every burden alone."
Her voice remained warm.
As gentle as always.
"...Here..."
"...You're simply Mira."
The young girl's eyes widened.
The silver ring trembled slightly in her hand.
For the first time in years...
Someone had looked beyond her achievements.
Beyond her smile.
Beyond the image she tried so hard to protect.
A single tear rolled quietly down her cheek.
She hurriedly wiped it away.
"...I'm sorry..."
Dorothy smiled.
"No."
"This time..."
"...There's nothing to apologize for."
Echo quietly smiled.
Kodie looked at Mira.
Then silently offered her the last rice ball from his plate.
"...Here."
Echo whispered,
"...I thought you were saving that."
"...I was."
"But..."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"...She looks like she needs it more."
Mira looked at the rice ball.
Then at Kodie.
A tiny laugh escaped her lips.
Soft.
Quiet.
But...
Real.
Dorothy closed her eyes.
A peaceful smile appeared on her face.
"...Welcome home, Mira."
The night breeze gently carried those words into the quiet forest.
And somehow...
For the first time in a very long while...
The word 'home' didn't feel so distant anymore.
---
End of Chapter 14
«Home is not always the place where you were born...
Sometimes...
It is the place where you no longer have to pretend.»
- Writer
