Chapter 79 – Do I Tell Them?

Chapter 79 – Do I Tell Them?

It had been a long day.

First, there was the surprise meeting with Ovia, which was only made more surprising when I noticed that Ava was also there. Then we got to go out and see the city, even if we just ended up seeing a ship run into the pier instead.

We did manage to go shopping in the end... but all I had to show for it was the ring I had been given by Elenia. It was still on my finger, forcing me to remember that it was there through the ever-so-slight warmth it constantly gave off.

Despite that, there was another feeling looming over me. That feeling of being watched had hung over me the whole day, not letting up for a moment, even after I had entered the inn.

...

I quickly finished off my plate, barely taking enough time to process the flavour. It was definitely good; I could see why Daleia was so confident in her cooking. It’s just that I didn’t want to spend any more time in that crowded place than I needed to.

“You’re already done?” Ava said after she swallowed a mouthful of her own food, “I’m struggling to get even this much down after how big our lunch was, yet here you are with a clean plate.”

“...” I didn’t say anything in response, just keeping my head down.

“Hey, you can head up first if you want to,” She said as she brought out a key and placed it on the table in front of me, “Just... try not to fall asleep too quickly. I’ll need you to let me in once I’m done down here.”

“Okay,” I whispered as I took the key.

Ava just went back to eating as I left the table and made my way towards the stairs. After that, it wasn’t long before I was stood in front of the door to our room.

As I pushed the key into the keyhole, I immediately felt an overwhelming sense of relief, as if something had just been lifted off of my shoulders.

What was-?

My thoughts were stopped in their tracks as I almost immediately realised what had changed. That feeling of being watched had just disappeared all of a sudden. It didn’t make any sense. Maybe it would have if it had disappeared once I was inside the room, but it disappearing like that was just... strange.

I decided that thinking about it probably wouldn’t change anything, so instead, I just made my way into the room, making sure to lock the door behind me before falling onto the bed closest to the door.

As soon as my head hit the pillow, it was like all the events of the day hit me at once, holding me in place. It was like I traded that heavy feeling hanging over me for a heavy body as fatigue started to set in. My eyelids were already struggling to stay open, but I knew I had to stay awake for when Ava tried to get in the room.

Hopefully, she doesn’t take too long... I don’t know how long I can hold on for...

...

‘K-Kierra!’ Ovia’s hurried voice shouted in my mind, helping to wake me up again.

‘Ovia?’ Even if it was unlikely, I had to make sure that it was really her and not me just imagining things.

‘Yes, it’s me. Can we... talk?’

...

‘Where did you go earlier?’ I asked, a little worried about how she had abruptly stopped responding to me earlier.

‘I went to talk with Ellar-’ Her voice cut off momentarily before quickly resuming, ‘Aria about something... T-That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.’

Is Aria there as well?

I couldn’t come up with any other reason as to why Ovia would abruptly correct herself like that.

‘I- um... We have a task for you... something we want to ask you to do while you’re in Haelmor.’

It was rare for Ovia to directly ask me to do something for her, which only made me want to listen to her requests more, even if it was just a way for me to repay her for everything she had done for me.

‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Today you met another kitsune... Elenia... I... I don’t know how to say this.’

Ovia’s hesitation was making me a little more anxious, but I also knew that she wouldn’t ask me to do anything dangerous. However, despite that, I couldn’t deny that the longer the pause was, the worse I started to feel.

‘Ah, alright. I would like you to take her up on her offer to continue your conversation from today.’

I could feel my heart stop for a moment as her request sank in. I didn’t know what to do, what to say. I was willing to do anything she asked, but this... was difficult... I really didn’t want to talk to anyone I didn’t need to; I didn’t want to take any risks. Despite that, I knew that I couldn’t turn her down with that as my only reason.

However, before I was able to say anything to her, Ovia spoke up again.

‘There’s something specific for you to ask about... so it should be a little easier... Earlier, you seemed interested in the village that Elenia mentioned... I was hoping you could ask her about it.’

...

‘Why?’ I accidentally said to her, confused as to why she would ever need me to ask someone about a village when she could probably just see it for herself at a moment’s notice as a Goddess.

There was another awkward pause before Ovia replied.

‘So... Um... Both Aria and I know about the village... b-but we know about a very different version of that village because... it’s where we grew up. It’s where all kitsune grow up, even now...’ Her voice got a little softer, ‘We... We thought that talking to someone about it might help you to remember something... about... before...’

‘...’

My blood ran cold as her words played over in my mind. She wasn’t doing this because she needed something for me; she was doing this because she wanted to help me... but...

I... What do I do? I can’t- I-I don’t know.

Ava didn’t say anything in response, yet I could see from her expression that she was thinking about it.

‘Specifically, what I would like to ask is if you could go with her just in case anything happens, even though you probably already would. I had just hoped that you would be able to help her with what she’s been tasked to do, maybe even help encourage her if you think that it’s appropriate.’

“I mean, of course I’d go with her,” Ava said as a matter of fact, “I wouldn’t just let her wander around this place. She’s only been here a day. If I lost her, I don’t even know what I’d do with myself.”

Wait... I... I don’t know if I can do it...

I haven’t said yes... I haven’t said that I’m going to do it...

I... I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.

‘Oh, and for the little kitsune. Sister left out an important detail of her request,’ Aria giggled slightly, ‘Once you’ve completed this little task, you’ll receive one wish from Sister. What that wish ends up being? Well, that is entirely up to you.’

...

I didn’t know how to respond. It was all too clear that Ovia and Aria were trying to help me... even I could see that much... and now Ava was also getting involved. This wasn’t something they needed me to do for them; it was something meant entirely for me... but I knew something they didn’t. Something I just couldn’t bring myself to tell them out of fear for what might follow.

A wish from Ovia...

How much must she trust me... I could ask her for anything...

...

They... just want to help...

...

I... I can’t...

...

I... I know that the answers I want aren’t there.

I know I won’t find what they want me to.

I don’t... want to disappoint them.

...

I... Maybe I can just ask... if I ask and just say that it didn’t help me remember...

...

But should I lie to them?... Could I even lie to them?...

...

Aren’t I already lying to them by not telling them what I know?

...

I... I just need to ask a question...

I ask one question, and everyone is happy...

...

Everyone that needs to be at least...

‘... I’ll try.’ I eventually responded.

In that moment, I was glad that I had spoken through the pendant; if I hadn’t, I knew that the words would have gotten stuck in my throat before they even got close to coming out.

‘That’s great!’ Ovia suddenly shouted, ‘And remember, I’ll be watching as well!’

‘Alright now, let’s let the two of them get some sleep,’ Aria said, ‘It would do no good for them to be left wandering around town while half-asleep tomorrow.’

At that moment, Ava took her hand off the pendant and jumped back onto her bed.

“Well, you heard them,” Ava said as she picked up the pillow she had knocked onto the ground, “And I very much agree. Sleep is great... and I, for one, could really use some.”

She brought the covers over herself before continuing.

“I’ll just get changed in the morning. I don’t think I have it in me right now to figure out how a shirt works.” With that comment, Ava quickly fell asleep.

I honestly wasn’t in a much better state myself and lay down on the bed, once again feeling the day’s fatigue take hold. Sleep was so enticing that even the thoughts racing through my mind weren’t enough to keep my eyelids open.

‘Goodnight Kierra.’

‘Goodnight Ovia...’

With those last words, sleep finally took hold of me.