Chapter 44

And spring, when she was 12 years old.

“Father. I am leaving now.”

That day, everybody sang and danced all day. And in the evening, they rented two or three big rooms in the Inn and took a break. Then, they started to drink at late night. It was a farewell party of Hetiron.

The father of the crowd offered a toast as if he knew it already. He was slightly crying but laughed with effort. Although they were not blooded, he considered everybody like his children. Move, proud, sad, longing; the father suppressed his emotions and spoke with a big laugh.

“For Hetiron!”

“For Hetiron!”

Everybody blessed him with all their hearts. Hetiron already fully reached a marriageable age so nobody stopped him that his willingness to travel by himself.

“Go, man! Go!”

Silvia slapped his back without hesitation and laugh happily. Three or four playful men joined, too. They were mixing all kinds of alcohol for Hetiron. They said this was a special drink and giggled.

“Ok, ok.”

“You fellooow!”

“You are drunk, drunk.”

“Make a girlfriend at this time.”

“Whaat? You idioooot!”

“…He looks trashed.”

“Hey, do something with him.”

“Hey, do something about Ploca first.”

One young man glanced at the corner. Ploca was surrounded by sisters and brothers. The only person drinking juice was Ploca.

Hetiron scratched his head. She was a child who followed him exceptionally well. “She must feel disappointed. Will she cry?” At first glance, her shoulders seemed to shake. The others already went through their coming-of-age ceremony and used to their gypsy life, so they were familiar that parting and meeting could also be treated with tearful laughter. However, Ploca…

But he could not go to the kid right away. On the round table, there were ten glasses of liquor with strong color and strong smell.

“Drink!”

Shuman grinned.

“Do you think you even walk to the kid?”

The kid was the nickname of Ploca. Siliva made a piquant smile.

“I bet he can’t. This fellow made this to almost killing him.”

Bill smiled sullenly. Three people made a chorus by humming to death by alcohol.

That night, Hetiron felt dizzy. He had never drunk so much. He stood leaning against the inn door. He breathed out. The night breeze was soft and warm, or it was hot.

Hetiron giggled. He wondered when he could meet again with these people. It was such a precious relationship. He thought he would miss them every day and could not fall asleep every night.

“Hetiron.”

She always called him in that voice, with sorrow that he had to answer right away, that much that he wondered how that little child could convey such feelings. Hetiron looked back.

The little girl stood. She was a very thin and small child. Everyone in the group was trying to make her gain weight. Her rough hands became softer because every older sister in the group helped it. Older sisters and brothers massaged her numbed feet alternately. Hetiron also massaged her feet quite often. They were really small feet. It was sadly pale, or it was dark and hard feet. That was something got better than before. Her boney cheeks took on life. She also grew in stature.

That little girl.

The purple hair that did not lose its light under the night sky was rustling. The hair that had a pretty color on the day when they first met now was shining. The yellow eyes shined like stars. Night, gentle wind, that voice; Hetiron woke up slowly as if he was possessed by something.

“Ploca.”

Ploca was crying. She had held back, but as soon as he called her name, she started crying.

Hetrion’s heart was startled. Was she crying? He didn’t want to see her cry. Hetiron bent his knees to make eye contact with the child. She bowed her head so he could not see her face well. Hetiron flopped down in front of her.

“Don’t cry.”

The child cried bitterly. “Don’t go. Don’t leave me alone, please. What should I do without you?” She had other sisters and brothers, but she could not stop crying. She needed Hetiron. She needed him. She was desperate.

“Don’t…cry, Ploca.”

Although he said don’t cry, her tears fell down. Lot of tears that anybody could wonder how much tear saved in her small body. She had never cried so much. Please,

“…Don’t go?”

“Don’t go, Hetiron.” After checking her face, Hetiron could read the shape of her mouth. Her cheeks were covered with tears, the eyes were red, the little nose was blushed. The sound of crying beat the night, it woke up the quiet time.

Ploca cried and nodded desperately. Hetiron carefully wiped the child’s tears with his big hand.

“Ploca.”

“How can this child make my mind so desperate.” He felt burning. He clenched his teeth. He should have to go. He had already told to father, finished the farewell party, prepared a trip perfectly. He just needed to go the next day. This group had a few people, there were almost 20 people there. Even if he left, there were many other people who would take care of her and cherish her. It would be much easier to travel alone. But…

The child moved up and down her mouth, it looked like her voice was even not coming out. From the beginning, Hetiron was not the one who could withdraw the hand that he reached out to the child. Hetiron sighed deeply.

“Do you want to go with me?”

Ploca suddenly looked up. The bright yellow eyes looked at dark yellow eyes. “Now you raise your head.” Hetiron smiled slightly.

“Pack your luggage simply. Okay? Let’s go together, Ploca.”

Ploca nodded at once. She laughed with crying. Hetiron felt relieved by then. She was the girl who had a cute smile. Hetiron gently stroke her head just like the first day they met. It was like whispering to stop crying or telling her that she was so adorable.

After that, for about five years, Ploca followed Hetiron. The young child was used to gypsy life so carried out a travel schedule well. Hetiron made a major destination for places they had not been with other gypsies. They went to Claremont where the warmest place in continent Marycury, Herezde which was considered as the most beautiful port. On continent Marycury, they went around the places where had less damage from the war. They were able to move around easier in continent Cruse. They went Uratorium where was the largest craft producer in Latrice. They also went to Pretoria where the biggest mining town in Latrice. They boarded ships, saw seas, climbed mountains, saw Cohelana, saw the diamonds from distance. They ate some delicacies. They met many different people and received warm favor. They also learned some new songs. Sometimes they encountered unusual dance.

Above all, she was with Hetiron. In fact, Ploca was enough for that more than anything.

Hetiron. The child was a girl now. Then, seventeen didn’t feel left too far. Hetiron was still unmarried.

Then one day.

“There is only one room.”

The innkeeper looked at man and woman who were shabby. There were a lot of mercenaries in the country, so travelers were not something surprising. They seemed to have some age gap. They didn’t look like father and daughter, or brother and sister. The owner was about to ask what their relationship was but just shrugged. What would be the matter?

“It’s okay. We will take it.”

“40 ken.”

Looking at the man and woman walking up the stairs, the innkeeper shook his head and snickered. The atmosphere was a bit strange, but would they be in a relationship? There would be no way that they would spend the night together. She was such a young child and he looked way full for his marriage age. He thought he must think of nonsense because of the tiredness. The owner opened his mouth big and yawned.

“Do you want to wash first?” he asked.

Ploca shivered like a watered dog.

“N, no.”

“Why? You can take a bath in a long time. Don’t you like it?”

Of course, she liked it. Ploca bit her lips. “Does not Hetiron matter? He probably doesn’t matter. Well, I only have thing young body. He treats me like a child.”

Ploca suddenly wanted to cry. Silvia, Hemel, and Lunis were all pretty, slim and beautiful. They all have swelling breasts. Ploca looked down naturally. There was no curve on the clothes. Her cheeks were plump. “When will I all grow up?” She Sighed.

“Ok, I will,” she said.

With a lot of warm water, Ploca enjoyed a bath. It was warm and soft. Suddenly, with a though, she bent her head down; “Hetiron’s hands are just as warm, he is kind person, he is an adult.”

He was always kind when they were in the gypsy group, but he was more considerate while they traveled themselves. He asked every morning if there any place she would like to go. When she was about to sit, he always pulled the chair out. When they enter somewhere, he always held the door for her. When they went up the stairs or climbed mountains, he always reached out his hand in front of her. Sometimes they just only walked and for hours. Even though she was tired she clenched her teeth and kept walking, she didn’t want to fell down like a child from tiredness, then he talked to her first to take a break. He kept her bedside until she fell asleep and whispered like a lullaby to sleep well.

Hetiron. Whether the water was hot or because of her thoughts, her face turned red. Ploca took a few breaths and stroked her cheeks before leaving.

“Good night, Ploca.”

Ploca shooted out her lips. She knew it, he was too kind. It was a room with only one bed. How caring he is! He yielded the bed to a young child and lid on the floor piling up some clothes. Ploca patted the bed.

“Hetiron.”

“Yes?”

With that voice, she felt like she was getting smaller. How could it be so soft? It was just like the night breeze touched her ears. It touched her delicate back of the neck. Ploca took courage.

“Sleep here,” she said.

Hetiron didn’t answer. She was dissatisfied. Ploca patted the bed again.

“The floor is cold.”

“…”

“Please?”

“I am not cold,” he said.

The voice seemed to be a little rested. Ploca noticed it. He must be cold as she expected.

“Your voice also rested. Come up quickly.”

“I am okay.”

“…Come up, Hetiron,” Ploca bit her lips and said immediately.

She was young but she didn’t want to look young. She was a girl that breast growing but she wanted to be cute, she liked Hetiron so much that she didn’t know what to do.

“What I only know from the beginning is just you, I hope you look back to me too.”

“I will just sl―.”

“I am cold, Hetiron, please?”

“…”

“Hold me, like when I was a kid.”

That was a few years ago. Hetiron muddled his hair. He tried to say something, then he stood up. Ploca looked straight at him. Hetiron arranged the clothes. The time to fold clothes felt exceptionally long.

“Hetiron.”

“…Yes?”

Ploca made a big smile. She could sleep very warmly. A soft breath was close. With a little stretch out, she could touch his cheek. Ploca was happy.

She was happy.

-To be continued on volume 2-