novelWhy is the white poplar by the river shining alone? (3)
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Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Why is the white poplar by the river shining alone? (3)
"Well, you don't know anything. I no longer feel loneliness, " she said with a moist voice.
"If so, isn't it better for you?"
He grabbed her hands strongly. It was difficult for her to shake off his hands suddenly.
She took pains to turn her head.
The orange-colored water was seen through the branches. The shadow of the silver poplar shadow shook a bit, but the roots of the tree were still strong just like Lard Schroder.
Away from the riverside, the two walked quickly through the twilight forest. They felt it wise to find their party while there was some sunlight left, but soon afterwards it got dark.
Her jacket was caught on a branch. As she was surprised and moved back, the seams on the side were ripped apart and the air filled with the sound of threads breaking.
"...Are you okay?"
Lard rushed to watch her condition. She nodded, looking at him in the dark.
"I'm fine...By the way, I think it's not a good idea to continue walking through the forest."
Lard nodded once, as if he agreed. While walking, he whistled to Balos, but obviously, he didn't hear the sounds of hooves. He thought Balos was pretty far apart from them.
"I'll make a fire." Then he led her to a very spacious lot.
Leaning against a thick wooden pole, she watched him preparing to make fire. He was struggling hard to gather and light the branches in the dark. All the flint and other emergency items were in his saddlebags, so he had to make a fire with flint. But the forest was still moist due to the afternoon showers. Watching him silently, she finally opened her mouth.
"I think it can help you to make a fire."
Lard, who was busy moving his hand, looked up when she spoke with a low voice.
"...I don't think you're going to make a bonfire. Do you mean to use your power?"
"Yes, I've a good idea."
"Are you going to put your finger on the ground again?"
"That's the best way, but I think I can use this piece of wood here. It's a plant that grows well on trees. It's okay, if I touch it carefully on a smooth place."
She approached the branches he gathered and lifted the index finger wrapped in cloth.
When she untied the knot, she could undo the fabric very easily.
She picked up two twigs and touched her finger several times over it. The wound on her hand felt sore, but it was not unbearable.
"When you use that power repeatedly, do you experience any side effects?"
Schroder recalled her actions in light of the wisteria. The images of her feeling dizzy as if she couldn't balance herself came to his mind like haze in the middle of the summer.
"When I use it several times in a short time, I feel a little tired, but there are no serious side effects."
She spoke casually without taking her eyes off the branches, but he did not fully trust her words. Although she said she didn't feel tired, he knew from witnessing her actions that she was exhausted after using her index finger.
Although the imperial knight mercilessly fell down while sparring with him, he didn't even blink an eye. He let out a deep sigh, watching her sucking the wound on her index finger into her mouth and tied it again.
"...Let me tie the knot for you."
Gently grasping her hand, he began to wrap the cloth around her index finger. It was dark, but he did it skillfully. She opened her mouth, watching him.
"This is called firefly grass."
Leaves were sprouting from the branches where she touched her finger. Several white blossoms caught her eye. She handed one blossoming twig to him and said, "Now we just have to wait. Be careful when you see them appearing because they're very timid."
"...What are you talking about? What's going to appear?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Well, they are part of a firefly insect. Late spring, they are the first to light up at night in the forest. The sap from this blade of grass is their snack. It's like sweet dew to them."
Like she said, there were already several clear drops formed on the grass. He put his nose close to the blade of grass, but did not smell anything special except the smell of grass.
She stared at him and chuckled.
The two waited for fireflies to appear, hearing the sound of bugs in the grass. It was a pretty long wait.
"By the way, do you have any idea who gave the medicine to Snowyko? That strange man before we entered the forest... He was suspicious."
It was Wendy who broke the silence. She spoke of her suspicions with a subdued voice, which was suitable for a dark night. Although it was not a good topic between them sitting side by side in the woods and waiting for fireflies, she had no intention of stopping. Actually, he felt the same way. He replied with a somber look that was darker than the forest night.
"I felt suspicious about the stranger, too. That's why I carefully double checked the baggage, but now all my efforts were useless...I'm sorry for that, " he said, looking at her.
She shook her head silently. She felt she was conjuring up the images of his gray eyes and facial features even in the dark, she found it hard to keep facing him.
"Do you know who he is?"
"I couldn't find any sign of any particular family crest from his dress. But I have seen him once in the past, so I guess about his family...He was the guy who was with Altarin in the past. He was standing next to her when she came to me with a handkerchief. As I never forget anybody's face if I saw it even one time, he must be that guy.
"But I'm not sure if he's the culprit yet. If I conclude he is the culprit and take issue with Altarin, I can make an excuse for Count Shalters to counterattack me. But I can promise you one thing. I'm going to have to catch the culprit by all means and have him pay for it. I intend to do it."
He spoke as if he made an oath to himself. The sound of his voice was so solemn and resolute that she could no longer speak. His vow to punish the culprit by all means meant that he would not use only legal means.
Feeling awkward, she hesitated for a while. He carefully turned his head towards the darkness of the forest because he found a twinkling light in the dark. It was the pale yellow light emitted by fireflies.
At first there were only a couple of lights, but in no time they appeared suddenly in many places. The lights that decorated the darkness of the forest were neat and tidy as the stars in the night sky. The fireflies, wary of their surroundings, wandered around the area and soon flew carefully around the two.
Thanks to their light green lights, the area around them gradually became bright. It wasn't as bright as the electric lights, but bright enough for the two to find their way in the forest.
When Lard gently pushed the branches forward, the fireflies flocked into a circular curve, as if they promised to stay together. Sitting on a long, pointed leaf like a bamboo leaf, they flashed light and put their mouths onto the water droplets.
Watching the mysterious gestures of fireflies, she recalled the fairy she had met in the forest, Juasonette, eating strawberries.
If the fairy saw her lost in the woods, could she show her the way back?
Looking at the flickering lights of fireflies and Lard standing next to her, Wendy shook her head. She felt she didn't need the fairy's help to get out of this forest.
They started walking again. The fireflies illuminated the darkness and floated around the branches in their hands. Except that they needed to walk a little slowly, they had no problem walking, using the branches as moving lamps.
"Thank you for this special experience. How useful these fireflies are!" He said, chuckling.
He walked slowly, pointing the top of the branches toward the east.
"The lights emitted by fireflies are a sign of courtship. It's like you're walking down the trail by stealing their love. Of course, I'm an accomplice."
"... They're very brave guys. How can they express their love with their entire bodies?"
Several mysterious green lights were reflected in his gray eyes. As someone who was looking at the beautiful light, his voice sounded lonely.
She felt touched unconsciously because she mentioned 'courtship. ' So, she said dryly to hide her embarrassment, "I would say it's more appropriate to describe them as insects that don't know shyness."
When she watched fireflies sitting on top of a pool and sipping water drops side by side, her expression also hardened. She suddenly felt uncomfortable at the faint green lights.
"Who cares even if they don't know any shyness?" He asked her an unusual question.
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