章節 4: A Return to The Beginning
Tobias was running frantically, sweat pouring down her face as she searched for Ephi. They had been separated after Ephi had used a powerful gust of wind to propel Tobias upwards, laughing as she did so. However, Ephi didn't expect Tobias to be thrown so far. Tobias had landed in a haystack in the South District, quite a distance from their starting point in the North District.
Tobias, who had always had trouble with directions, found herself in an unfamiliar place. She had no sense of cardinal directions and was feeling lost. As she stumbled through the area, she saw a tower in the distance, one that she recognized from her previous visits to the market. Though she didn't know which direction it was in, she felt a sense of familiarity and hope. She made her way toward the tower, using it as a guide to navigate her way back to where she needed to be.
Ephi and Tobias had been wandering through the grand mansion when Bell suddenly appeared from a door. He looked at Tobias suspiciously, "Ephi, I venture forth towards the capital of Antemur. Pray tell, have you uncovered any recent tidings regarding Aeria?" Ephi replied with an annoyed tone, "What? You think I'm hiding something from you?!" Bell's expression remained neutral as he casually responded, "Nay, merely a query I did pose." Ephi emphasized, "If there's anything, I'll tell you right away, you understand?"
Tobias couldn't focus on their conversation, her curiosity was piqued by the exciting things she had just seen in the room. She knew that Bell didn't like her and she was a bit afraid of him. She purposely kept her distance and focused on the objects in the room.
Ephi interjected, "South Antemur District? Can I go there instead?"
"The path ahead is perilous, and I cannot in good conscience subject thee to such danger. Rest assured, I shall protect thee at all costs," Bell's voice was firm as he forbade Ephi from venturing out into the world. He always held her back, not allowing her to help with even the most mundane tasks. "Verily, I am privy to the occurrences that transpired within the walls of Antemur, and I am aware of your clandestine endeavors therein," Bell's voice was cold. Ephi's voice was filled with emotion as she pleaded with Bell, "That's why I can't stand you, Bell. You always see me as a child. Don't you remember how old I am?" Bell was silent. "I promise I'll be back as soon as I'm done. Can you still not trust me?!" Ephi's voice was filled with frustration and hurt.
Tobias watched as Bell pointed his finger at her, but Ephi quickly brushed it away. "This has nothing to do with her. This is between you and me," Ephi said firmly. Bell glared at Ephi, her sharpened eyebrows and serious expression making it clear she meant business. "Will you allow me?" Ephi's voice rose with frustration, tired of Bell's constant interference. Bell walked away with a sigh, "Per usual, I shall undertake this task single-handedly. For your sake, Ephi, I do it all. The exterior realm is not meant for one so precious as yourself." The words were spoken with a mix of concern and condescension. Ephi's fists clenched, feeling both angry and hurt by his words.
Ephi's voice was shaking with emotion as she spoke, "No! You never!" Bell's steps halted abruptly. "You always lock me in here for the same reason! That's why I feel lonely! Nobody can live like this, Bell. You can because you are always by yourself, but not with me. Let me go out for a bit to have some fun. I know you're afraid I'll end up like 'her'. But I'm not her, Bell. I'm a different person." Ephi's eyes were filled with tears as she spoke, her voice heavy with the weight of her emotions. Bell looked at her with a mix of confusion and guilt, as Ephi's words hit home.
Bell stood in silence, torn between his love for Ephi and his fear for her safety. He knew the outside world was dangerous and it pained him to even consider letting her leave the mansion. But he could see the longing and frustration in Ephi's eyes and knew he couldn't keep her locked up forever. It was a gamble, but he couldn't risk losing her.
"We have the intricacies I have previously imparted unto you," Bell spoke, his voice heavy with emotion. "Forevermore, I shall tend to your every need, Ephi," he said, his eyes filled with love and sadness as he stepped away. It was clear he was struggling with the decision, but ultimately, he knew he had to trust Ephi and let her go.
Ephi called out to Tobias, who was on the other side of the room. She explained that they had a new mission to complete and that it would take place in the Southern District of Antemur City. She turned to Bell and said, "Give it back to her. You have fixed it, right?" Tobias was confused until Bell handed her a bag she had never seen before. "M-my bag?!" she exclaimed, hugging it tightly. She quickly checked the contents and found that everything was still there and undamaged. She thanked Bell with a cheerful "Thank you, Master Albalbel." despite the fact that he still looked at her with suspicion. Ephi smiled, knowing her plan had worked. Bell looked at her with suspicion, "Ephi, pray do not impart unto me that thou hast ... " But Ephi cut him off with a cold, "Never mind, Bell. Don't talk about it."
Tobias dug through the black coins in her bag, her hand finally closing around the book she had been searching for. She let out a sigh of relief as she flipped through the pages, finding that none of her writings had been lost. The pages were still intact and untouched. But as she looked through her belongings, she realized something was missing. She looked down a feeling of disappointment washing over her. Ephi noticed her distress immediately and asked, "What's the matter, Tobias? Did Bell steal some of your stuff?" She turned to look at Bell's expression, but he seemed unfazed by the accusation.
Tobias hesitated, knowing that her question might sound impolite, "Mr. Albalbel, do you know where my apple is? I had it in this bag earlier." Ephi turned to Bell with a fake look of suspicion on her face, "Really? You ate it?" Bell replied with a straight face, "The fragile fruit was shattered in a previous encounter. I beseech thee, do not inquire further."
Tobias couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as she thought about the apple, she should have eaten it right away. Ira had taught her the value of food, and the broken apple felt like a disrespectful gesture to Granny Wilson who had given it to her. She couldn't help but think that if only she had been more careful, the apple would still be whole. But in the face of the god of war, it was almost impossible for her to do anything about it. She couldn't help but feel regret for her inability to properly take care of something that was given to her.
A cloak and some gear flew out from the passage, instantly wrapping themselves around Ephi's body. "Let's go, Tobias," Ephi said, and started to walk. Tobias, still preoccupied with thoughts of the apple, tried to push them aside and followed Ephi's footsteps. However, as she was adjusting her bag, she bumped into Ephi, who suddenly stopped in her tracks. "Connect us to a door in the Northern District, Bell," Ephi said, her voice firm. Bell simply nodded in response, not appearing to be doing anything. "Why are we going to the Northern District, Ephi? Shouldn't we be going to the Southern one?" Tobias asked, confused.
"That resplendent bracelet ... Perchance you were unaware, but it seemed to materialize from your satchel," Bell said abruptly. Hearing this, Tobias immediately checked her bag and saw a jet-black bracelet with a white line on her right wrist. She was confused and wanted to ask Bell more about it, but before she could, Ephi had already taken her by the hand and pulled her toward the portal door. Tobias could only glance back at Bell one last time, wondering what the bracelet meant and why it was in her bag.
Ephi let go of Tobias's hand and they found themselves in an unfamiliar room. It was clearly a room of an inn, with a bed and a wardrobe. Ephi quickly walked over to the window, throwing it open. Bright sunlight flooded into the room, momentarily blinding Tobias. She shielded her eyes with her hand, trying to adjust to the light. Meanwhile, she noticed that the white line on her bracelet was still glowing, a constant reminder of the mysterious object that had appeared in her bag.
"What a hot day. Let's go, Tobias," Ephi said as they walked out of the inn. The innkeeper greeted them as if they were familiar guests. As soon as they stepped out the door, Tobias felt a sense of familiarity with the quiet, hot streets.
"Is it already noon? I thought it was night when we were at Master Albalbel's mansion," Tobias wondered, confused. Ephi, who heard her question, laughed and explained, "Hahaha. That's Bell's personal dimension. He can control the intensity of time in it. It's hard to explain, but now it's noon, just like the day he first appeared in front of you. Maybe only a few minutes have passed."
"Is it still far away, Ephi?" Tobias asked, feeling the sweat pouring down her face. Ephi, on the other hand, seemed cool and collected, with the wind blowing her hair effortlessly. "Ephi seems to be wearing a cloak to cover her hair, but mine, Ira dyed it black," Tobias thought.
"Look at that big building, Tobias," Ephi said, pointing in the distance. Tobias looked and saw another towering skyscraper, similar to the one in the southern district.
They walked for a while and soon arrived at a square. The vast, circular plain was made of stone floors arranged in a neat pattern. There was a big tree in the middle, and they decided to take a rest and sit under it for a while. The heat of the day had left the area deserted, with no one in sight.
Ephi, who had limited knowledge of Tobias, struck up a conversation, "It's always so quiet and still during the hottest part of the day in this city. The heat is so intense that it feels like the air is standing still." Tobias could feel the heat too, the air seemed to be simmering in front of her. "Is your hometown as hot as this?" Ephi asked. Tobias thought of her childhood home, "Well, it's not as grand as Master Albalbel's mansion, but my home is surrounded by vast meadows. The wind is always gentle and cools the entire house. We had gardens, farms and even some cows," Tobias reminisced fondly.
"Cows? I've only heard of them. I've even had their milk before," Ephi said.
"We milked the cows every few days. Ira and I always did it together. Because we lived in such a remote area, we had to rely on our gardens and farms for food. So, Ira would scold me if I accidentally spilled the milk. And sometimes I would step on the plants she had been taking care of. I don't know why, but I always seem to have bad luck. But even so, I know she cares for me," Tobias said as she looked up at the leaves above her that were providing shade from the sun. "I wonder what she's doing right now," Tobias added with a hint of longing in her voice.
"Who is this Ira to you, Tobias?" Ephi inquired.
Tobias quickly responded, "She's the one who raised me." Ephi pressed on, "Is she your mother?"
Tobias looked at Ephi with a bewildered look. "Mother? What is that?" Ephi couldn't fathom that Tobias was unaware of the term. "Where did you come from that you don't even know what a mother is?" Ephi exhaled heavily, "Your question just made this already sweltering day even more unbearable, Tobias."
Tobias leaned back, squinting against the scorching sun. "Why don't you take me flying like before, Ephi?" her voice heavy with fatigue.
Ephi perked up at the suggestion, a smile creeping across her face. "You want to fly? Are you sure you want to fly?" She couldn't hide the excitement in her voice.
Ephi grinned as she held out her hand to Tobias. "Are you ready for this?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Tobias hesitated, unsure of what Ephi meant. But before she could even process what was happening, Ephi grabbed her hand and was swinging her into the air with a powerful gust of wind.
Tobias felt her stomach drop as she soared high above a grand palace, the wind whipping through her hair. She realized too late that she had been flung into the air. Panic set in as she struggled to figure out how to land safely. Her grip on her bag tightened as she frantically searched for a way to stop her ascent.
Meanwhile, Ephi stood back and watched with a satisfied grin, seemingly unconcerned about Tobias's well-being.
Even after getting to the South District tower, Tobias still didn't know how to reunite with Ephi. Unknowingly, from a distance, someone was stalking the confused Tobias.
創作者的想法 
Unwisher
Unwisher I am enamored with the art of writing. Though my skills may be considered nascent, I am confident that with time and perseverance, I shall eventually achieve a level of proficiency. I implore your understanding for any grammatical or lexical errors, as English is not my mother tongue.
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-- 推薦票
榜單 
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