Chapter 32

“How do you even know that we’re the witch?” Lia asked the obvious question.

“The hair,” he gestured at Tamara’s platinum blond hair. He hesitated for a while but shook his head. “They said that was the telling sign. They didn’t mention the two of you though.”

“The people had only seen her once,” Tamara said. “Now that you’ve seen us, do you still doubt us? Do you want us to go to the town?”

Lia turned to her mother in shock. She offered to deliver themselves willingly. Lia would not stand to that. There was bound to be a limit to her kindness. “Mother!”

Eldric waved his hand weakly. “No need. It is obvious that you are used as a scapegoat. You are not the ones who attacked us last night.”

“Obviously.” Lia murmured. She was not sure if the other two heard her but Eldric glanced at her direction. This was just absurd. If something went wrong it always had to be the witch, wasn’t it?

“Alright. But you are free to inspect our house if you would like to satisfy your curiosity,” Tamara offered.

Eldric shook his head. “Although you can–”

“No.” Lia said, staring directly into Eldric’s eyes. She did not have to hear the rest of the words but she was certain that he was going to offer her mother to help them know the contents of the gin. And of course, Tamara would oblige, anything to help the people blah-blah. “No.” She repeated, more forceful this time.

“Lia.” Tamara spoke her name as if she was talking to a petulant child. The next time she spoke it was for Eldric. “I think the best course of action is for your wounds to heal first. For now, you need something to eat. Wait here while I prepare. Lia, continue the dressing.”

As Tamara went out, Lia went back to work aware of Eldric’s state. Eldric continued to watch her every move.

“It’s rude to stare,” she said.

“So that explains the cross-dressing.”

Lia set her jaw, eyes focused on the bandages. “Yes.”

“But not the avoidance.”

“Nope.”

“May I ask why?”

“You may not.” After a while, she added in a low voice, “We don’t want a part in this. We don’t want trouble.”

Eldric nodded and sat back and let Lia continue her work in silence. For that Lia was grateful. In her previous world, she would have done the small talking. There was a constant fear in her that she was the cause of the silence. So she did everything to fill them, however uncomfortable she became. But that was then. It was funny how in this new world, she was growing comfortable with the silence. She was no longer afraid of being misunderstood. People would misunderstand even without any help from her.

After a while, Lia finished the bandages and started gathering the materials. She was about to stand up and leave when Eldric grabbed her wrist.

“Thank you.” He stared at Lia’s eyes, sincerity reflected in them.

“No need.”

“No I mean, thank you for everything, in the woods. You are the one who found me right?”

He tried to move forward, causing Lia to panic. She moved fast and steady him to avoid opening his wounds.

“Don’t overexert yourself now. And you’re welcome. You should rest, you seem to need more of it.”