This is my last hurrah, once I start
I ain't gon' stop 'til I go too far
Last hurrah and it's okay
Maybe tomorrow I won't feel this pain
Last hurrah
Last hurrah

-Bebe Rehax (Last Hurrah)

"I want to find Ugo."

When you are little, you might have had or have seen a school play. In that play, some kids are excited and those who would rather crawl to a hole and be forgotten there. Then there is that one child that stands in the middle of the entire stage and at the front to the boot. That spot is mostly where the attention is placed on. Jessy was once that kid – the teacher thought it would be alright to push a shy kid out of her comfort zone and straight to the wolves' den.

She had frozen when the lights were turned off above the audience. She recalls the feeling of her limbs beginning to shake and words coming out so softly that the teacher had to mouth to her from the side to speak louder.

Basically, when the brunette now has dropped the bomb everything falls silent. Much like how it did back in the fourth grade's performance.

Jessy wishes Yunan would be as expressive as he normally is. But that is not the case. His face momentarily shows bland shock – eyes wide, mouth opening slightly and the hat tilting as if the unliving thing actually has ears – and then turns into a mask. The cup of his usual morning tea is set down, which is an alarming sign. She does not think he has ever placed it down unless it is empty. And based on how smoke is still steaming out the thing is not even half-empty.

She curses herself. The woman has an indistinguishable thirst to slam her head against the wooden table in front of her. This all could be a dream, a nasty dream, a dream only forewarning her what could happen, if she opens her stupid mouth.

"Why would you want to find him?"

Jessy looks up, surprised that she has without realization been looking down at her lap. Yunan's face is neutral. It is not judging or angry. There is curiosity, though.

"Home," she manages out, but then clears her throat. "I am -I think he might be able to help me, to get back home, I mean."

Again, he doesn't really show what he is thinking. "That kind of power… Even I am not certain if he could help you. Where would you even find him? He is outside this physical world."

Wait.Green eyes blink. Jessy's stiff shoulders drop, as she stares at him, puzzled. He doesn't know about Aladdin?The question makes her wonder more and sweat pools in her clenched hands. The cogs are turning slowly. Has he even arrived yet?

She doesn't know what to say. Where did the conviction from before fly to? The Rukh keeps on flapping calmly, landing on her head and shoulders. At another time, when she is more alert of the world and not in her head, Jessy would take notice of the small birds and shoo them away. However, they comically keep on lazing around on top of her.

When the brunette gets her wits back together, she brushes the golden creatures off. "He will… appear at some point."

"You don't sound too certain of that."

Her face flushes. "I-I can't recall certain events that will happen very well. I don't even know what time I am at. Has S – "

She falls abruptly silent. The reality slowly dawns on her and cold sweat trails down her back. No, mentioning Sinbad is… Green eyes look up to meet large blue ones. Jessy feels uncomfortable, constricted in her own body, and wishes to swallow her words. She nearly forgot one of the things that she shouldn't mention, especially in front of this blonde magi. That one man who he shares an equal dislike with.

Many details and important names seem to be missing from her memory the more she thinks of it. Like now, she wants to ask about Sinbad's situation, because there really isn't much else, she can think of. When first waking up in here, the brunette had asked about the Kou Kingdom. It has a strong grip on the east – that is what she has been told. Unfortunately, this amount of information isn't enough.

Maybe this was a mistake?She wants to sigh and bury herself somewhere where bodies can't be found.

Then, an idea strikes her.

"Who rules the Bull – Ball – ugh! I can't remember the name," she whines the last part out loud under her breath. Ballda, Budbadd? Eyebrows knit together – frowning so much is starting to hurt. Then, green eyes fly wide open. "Balbadd!"

Recognition appears on Yunan's face. "Balbadd… it's located in the east."

"Yes! Do you know the name of its current ruler and previous?" Jessy asks urgently, praying that she can get this one right.

There is a brief pause. The blonde magi seems to be thinking about something again. "The previous ruler was Rashidi Saluja. After he passed away, his eldest son, Ahbmad Saluja, took over and is the current king."

Those names sound both unfamiliar and nostalgic. The hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "Was there… was there a fire or robbery at the palace around the time that the previous ruler died?"

The silence follows as does the man's strange stare. It can't be pinpointed with one emotion only. He is aware of her knowledge that surpasses anyone's in this world, so she has been expecting a different reaction. There shouldn't be this kind of quiet atmosphere. The conversation should be moving on.

The sight of blue eyes clouding over makes her chest tighten. Please, say or do something, is what she wants to say, but the words get stuck. Her hands are shaking from the tension. Just how much thinking did she put into this exactly? For a strange reason, she is starting to feel like she hasn't thought things through enough.

When Yunan finally answers, Jessy slightly jumps in her seat. "Yes. I heard that there was something of the sort, but people tend to cover up such things. So, I can only confirm it through the words of the people I heard it from."

Her heartbeat speeds up at the revelation. Alibaba's father is dead. Balbadd is under a strain – the fight will begin. It may happen tomorrow, or a year or two in the future. She might get there, and the familiar events might be over, but…

"Please, let me go there – I need to go there."

She isn't a child nor does she need to ask this like asking permission for freedom. Still, she feels extremely nervous. This request is not a small one – she is literally asking him to help her get to Balbadd. Jessy is still not sure how far away it is and how long it would take to get there. There has never been a moment in her life that she has traveled alone, nor very far from home. She has always stayed at the states, but now she has to go to a place she has never thought of as anything but make-believe.

No, she can't do any of this alone. Her stomach is flipping already from the thought of it. Slavery, wars, territory disputes, Dungeon Capturers, bandits – the list of dangers could just go on and on. This is not her modern-day world where she can be prepared and has the means of communication for help and quick transport. Moving around in here is like living in the past and Jessy has always been unfortunately too dependent on screens modern technology.

Finally, blue eyes look up. It is the sadness in them that completely shatters her thoughts.

"I'm sorry… but I don't think you should go."

He doesn't think… I should go.

You know those moments when you think you merely heard things? You repeat and repeat the words inside your head, under your breath in disbelief, twisting and turning to different meanings of the sentence you have in mind. But no matter what there is only one answer.

I shouldn't go?

She is pacing, bare feet tapping the wooden planks. Jessy's arms are crossed across her chest, she is biting her dry lower lip that would definitely start bleeding soon. The only time she uncrosses her limbs is when a screen of Rukh gets in the way.

Did he mean I shouldn't go to Balbadd? Or did he perhaps mean back to my world?

This doesn't make any sense. If she doesn't figure a way back, then what is she supposed to do? That is a question she should have asked during breakfast, but… after Yunan dropped the bombshell, so to speak, she had no words left. It is like he used magic to completely wipe out her head from thoughts.

Just thinking about the breakfast a few hours ago is making her feel awkward.

Tired and skull filled with mixed thoughts, the brunette slumps down on the bed. It creaks from her weight and she rolls to her side. Is he telling me to forget about ever getting back? A bad taste spreads in her mouth. When he told her that… it was like walking straight into a brick wall blindfolded. It all feels surreal now and while laying on the bed she wonders if it all was a bad dream.

Unfortunately, it really happened. Yunan refused her request.

When that fact settles, out of anger Jessy grabs a pillow and throws it across a room. It smacks against the wall and falls down.

"That jerk!" She huffs and settles back down, fuming at the ceiling for no reason.

She is angry at Yunan and herself. She should have known better or at least tried to persuade him persistently. Without reason, she starts taking her anger out on the golden birds by swinging her hands around them.

However, no matter how angry she is, in the end, the tear gates in her eyes open. She is not confused anymore and accepts the reality that the plan of getting home is too far away. Salty drops are now openly dripping down her cheeks and onto the clean sheets. Gradually, a whimper comes out of her and she clenches the sheets tightly in her fists.

Breathe, breathe. In. And out.

If magi couldn't help her, then Ugo – someone who has his head literally loitering around in another world – was her only hope. She can't think of anyone else on the good side or at least who she thinks would be willing to help her. But seeing how Yunan, someone she thought of as a saint for a while, has turned her down… who is to say that the blue giant wouldn't do the same?

Life just seems to be happy with smacking her in the face.

She is stuck here.

The sadness crashes down on her like a wave. Her shoulders shake and she trembles. This is all terrifying – another world with magic, dark magicians, no familiar technology in sight, the threat of world ending. This place isn't her home. Thee is a possibility she might never even see it again.

An invisible weight crushes her as she continues weeping.

Yunan can probably hear her, she thinks and covers her face with a pillow. It muffles the sounds just a little bit.

Jessy stands before the door to the library as still as a statue. She might as well be one, seeing that her limbs are currently immovable. What makes this scene more awkward than it needs to be is that it is completely silent, and she has been standing here definitely more than five minutes.

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! You are not a coward, it is what she would like to think.

At times like these, there is no use moping around. That's what she has been told since she was little. As soon as she calmed down a bit, Jessy decided to make the next step – she will get Yunan to agree to let her go to Balbadd… as soon as she gets the guts to do it.

Deep breaths.

Her knuckles tap the wood.

"Yunan, can I come in?"

She waits, holding her breath, but no answer comes from the other side. Thinking he might have not heard her – which is very unlikely – the brunette tries once more.

Nothing. He does not answer.

Her shoulders drop from the tension they have been gathering. She feels both disappointed and relieved. If not his room, then…

"Yunan? Are you here?"

This time around, she doesn't bother knocking twice. When there is no response, much like back in his room, she opens the door. The small library is quiet, like the entire house. And even when Jessy starts looking between the shelves and making noise with her feet, there is no sign of long silver-blonde hair anywhere in sight.

He has such a great hearing, there is no way he couldn't hear her when she was loitering around in front of his room. But that is exactly why she starts looking at him around the house more frantically. The brunette peeks underneath the tables, between small spaces of shelves and even looks up for some reason.

"Where are you?" She asks, question floating into thin air. She has ended up standing in front of the usual place where they would study together at this time of day.

This hasn't happened before. If he is going somewhere, he always informs her that he won't be in the house. Or at least there is a note. With that smiley face, she taught him. But because they argued he might have not felt like it to tell her his location. Could it be called anything but an argument that happened this morning? It is when two people are at a disagreement and Jessy can't find a better definition for this situation.

Does this mean… did he leave, for good? Her face pales. He is that upset with me!?

"Yunan!" She calls out again, hands clenched into tight fists.

"Alright, alright, breathe," she repeats the mantra underneath her breath, scrubbing the surface of the table almost violently.

This is the only way for her to calm down in an empty house in the middle of nowhere with no one to talk to – talking to herself and cleaning. The latter isn't out of habit, though. This is only what she came up with to make peace. Yunan could do things like this faster with magic, but this is where she has ended up. There is not much else she can really do for him. This is also what she can use to pass the slow-moving time. Reading is out of the question, she is too restless for that.

He is not in the house and she is not sure when he will be back… if he will even come back at all. It would certainly be out of character for him to leave a woman at the bottom of this place where the sun doesn't even shine. She wouldn't survive long and that is what keeps Jessy thinking that he will be back. Although, she is also thinking that things are going to be terse in this place.

"You just had to open your big mouth, didn't you?" She mumbles at her reflection in the water and soaks the rag in it.

I am not in the wrong… am I? There is no way a normal person could just accept this reality she is in. He has been very kind… but I can't stay here forever. I haven't even really tried to get back home until now. Why did he have to shun me out like that? Didn't he say he would help me? How is any of this helping?

Every time there is a thought of yelling at him forming in her head, two versions of his face appear in her head. One is when he smiles a little sadly and the other is when he has that blank look on his face. Honestly, she loathes the latter. It makes her feel close to what would be called fear. Those eyes that are usually so bright turned empty this morning. It was like the summer and its flowers arrived and winter skipped an autumn season and covered everything in snow.

Yunan's gentle voice and gestures make it harder to know how to feel about all of this. He didn't raise his voice, show irritation or anger, but it still felt like he was upset with her. He didn't even say a thing after their discussion was over.

And I thought we were friends.

She both dreads and is anxious for the moment he walks in through the door.

It's almost time for dinner… I'm hungry.

Suddenly, the golden bird – she is starting to see them more as birds than butterflies now – lands in front of her face. It literally smacks her on the nose and stays at the tip, flapping its wings. Jessy freezes, before frowning and blowing it off.

Maybe she should correct the 'being alone in here' part. The Rukh is literally everywhere in a scattered group and it keeps on bugging her.

She finally snaps under emotional strain, when another few keep on floating around her like bugs.

"Quit buzzing everywhere! Don't you have anything better to do?"

As if to mock her, one of the small parts of life lands on her hand clenching the dripping rag. It would be comical, but all Jessy does is sigh in exasperation. What am I thinking? I am basically talking to air here.

"Where on earth is Yunan?" She whines to no one particularly and sits down on a stool. Her green eyes look up at the flying Rukh tiredly. "Aren't you and magi supposed to be good friends? Go and fetch him for me, since you are getting in the way. Go bother Yunan instead."

I'm losing it.

When back in scrubbing the furniture surfaces, the brunette silently admits missing the Torran village. It was so much livelier there than down here. If only she could get her hands to their alcohol now and drink herself into oblivion.

While her attention rests on her work, the young woman doesn't see how the chirping she has gotten used to fades. After all, what she is thinking is far more focused on what to make for dinner.

She has finished cleaning the kitchen, but now she is left almost drained. Even her finger, that keeps on turning the pages of a book she grabbed seems to move more slowly than usual. Her eyes manage to read the first few lines of an easy text before her mind steers her focus elsewhere. Particularly on the sandglass in front of her.

It is a magical item. There are exactly twenty-four aqua-colored pearls within it. Each one that drops down represents an hour in a day. It has been designed that every time a new day begins, the pearls would automatically go back up and start falling to the lower level again. This way, the hours would not get mixed. And currently, there are about seven pearls left to drop down: it is five o'clock in the evening.

Jessy sighs, closing the book and resting her head on it. The small candles rowed on the side of her table – that apparently never stops burning – flicker from the force of her sigh. She could always lay down on that extremely soft bed of hers just a foot away… but somehow, she cannot even do that.

Perhaps the silence is now so common that the smallest of noises startle her a bit. This is the longest period she has been alone in this world after all. Because of that, when there is a noise coming from outside the door – a plank or window creaking – she stiffens and stares at the door in anticipation.

But because this has happened more than once, the brunette does not react much when another noise reaches her ears. She is not going to get up just because another old wooden piece is –

"Jessy!"

"Gyaaaah!"

Her chair tips back from the force of how quickly she moves without thinking. Her heart, which is located inside her ribcage, jumps up to her throat.

The door has been opened quickly, so suddenly that she could feel the wind it caused on her back. Her eyes are wide as they stare at the sudden intruder – or rather, the one magi she has been waiting for. She is both shocked by his sudden appearance and the state he has arrived in. He looks like he has run a marathon over mountains.

His shoulders are heaving, the collar of his loose shirt almost slipping down from them. Sweat glistens on his skin, which is clammy and pale. There is barely a hint of a healthy glow on his face, which is stricken with shock. Those blue eyes of his are even wider than normal, extravagating the lines between his forehead and the corner of his half-open mouth. His knuckles are alarmingly white, similar to his face because they clutch the wooden staff in his hands so hard it looks like it could snap in half.

He looks terrible, to say the least, and the sight of him makes Jessy strangely nostalgic. This has happened before, but not in this room.

He barged to the library like this a little while ago, too.

…the door is slammed wide open and she nearly drops the book, heart pounding from shock. Whirling around, Jessy sees Yunan standing there with wide blue eyes. With his mouth half-open and hands clutching the sides of the door, the magi looks unstable and a bit taken aback. Although, the latter reaction is what the brunette is wearing on her face.

The magi's shoulders are rising up and down heavily – further clearing the obvious distress on his demeanor. His distressed gaze softens, though, when he notices Jessy simply standing extremely still, like a frozen rock. She can only imagine how startled she looks in this situation, but her mouth has formed into a thin line and she stares at the magi with a dumbfounded expression.

And for the second time, she gets worried about what she is seeing.

"Is… everything okay?" Her voice wavers, she is not sure what to think of this. Just a moment ago, she was waiting for him, but now that she is here…

Neither of the two can say anything for a while. They both merely stare at one another, mirroring facial expressions of shock. It is only when their talk from breakfast comes to her mind that Jessy averts her eyes to the ground at her feet. Her face is suddenly warm, and she grips the hem of her shirt unsurely how to go with this.

The movement seems to snap Yunan out of whatever trance he is in and he lets out a sigh. When she carefully glances up, he has somewhat straightened up and composed himself.

"I'm terribly sorry for leaving without telling you," is the first thing he says, still breathing heavily.

Jessy shakes her head, seeming to forget what she has been thinking of saying to him all this time. "It – you – a-are you alright?"

He brushes a strand of hair behind his ear, breathing calming down. For a moment, his eyes flicker between her face and the ground, before returning back to her with a small smile. This is not the reaction she expects and is momentarily taken aback by his sudden change.

"Y-yes," he says between breaths and leans against the doorframe. "I notice how late it is and hurried back. I was worried that you might not have any dinner tonight."

She frowns. "I know how to cook. I made dinner before you came."

His smile drops and the blonde seems to be taken aback by her answer. "Oh… I see. That's good."

"I left some for you on the table, too. Didn't you notice?" She asks and walks closer to cautiously. The kitchen table and where they usually dine is the first thing you can see when you open the door and let yourself in. There is also the smell of food still waffling in the kitchen. The windows and the door was closed down there, and she was downstairs not so long ago.

He could have only been in a hurry… to make sure I am alright.

The entire situation seems strangely ridiculous enough for her to hold back a chuckle. However, her shoulders do shake once or twice before she can look Yunan in the eye.

"I'm fine," she starts and tilts her head. For some reason, seeing him in this kind of disarray melts away her discomfort from this morning. "The food should still be warm, but not probably as good as yours."

The compliment seems to work because of his face forms into a smile again. "I look forward to it."

"You didn't need to arrive back like a hurricane," she adds and pokes the edge of his tilted hat. "How on earth does this thing never fall?"

And just like that, her worries are forgotten… for a moment.

"It's really good," is what he had says, when he first tastes her homemade soup. It is basically one of the few and only things she knows how to make from scratch. Her stomach makes flipflops from his positive reaction.

It's when they sit down on the table that things turn around again. This is the spot where the talk about her leaving for Balbadd started, this might as well be the spot that that conversation is repeated. Along with that, the atmosphere has changed completely compared to how they were in the library.

Maybe he is really not in a good mood.

Jessy plays with her teacup. Seeing how he is the one who needs to eat, she needed something to distract herself. However, the usual warm liquid has turned chilly while she has been merely sitting there. Yunan keeps on consuming the food she prepared calmly, and the act makes her relax slightly. He does seem to be eating with a little more vigor than usual, though, so that might mean he was really hungry.

But now that they are quiet again, she has had time to think inside of her head. This might be a good time to get their conversation to a finish, but she does not want to destroy this. Starting an argument about this will only continue making things tense in here and she is not sure if she wants that to happen again.

If he wants to explain his reasons, he would have done so.

That is just it. There is a reason that Yunan has not given to her for his rejection. He does not want her to go to Balbadd – that has been established – but there is no explanation. Would he not like to return to his quiet hermit days in this house by himself? Why was he so blunt this morning?

Just ask already!

"So," she starts slowly, "where exactly did you go?"

You bloody coward.

The question makes him halt in eating and to lift his head up to look at her. Jessy has to admit, with his hat gone it is easier to read his expression without that thing shadowing his face. He might as well show what he feels now, though. It makes her feel hopeful when his blue eyes are as clear as the blue sky.

Now, the brief silence is not suffocating. She will ignore his strange behavior, how he came back looking so frazzled, and most importantly she will swallow the rest of her questions. Patience should be the key. She can wait for a little while and listen to what he has to say. When he has said his part, she can start asking about Bal –

"I went to look for a traveling group in town," he starts, not losing eye contact. "Jessy, I have put thought into your wish to go to Balbadd."

"Eh?" Her mouth opens and closes. What can she say to that, exactly?

He continues, not giving her a chance to register the information. "I can't go immediately with you. There are things I need to settle in another place, but after that is done, I will come and find you."

"W-wait, hold on," she raises her hand into a universal 'stop' signal. "What is this suddenly about? Didn't you just this morning say that I shouldn't go?"

He chuckles embarrassedly from her question, which startles her even more. "Truthfully, because I have something I need to do, I was worried that sending you for the most part on your own to this trip would have been too much. I am sorry for not being as straightforward with you as I should have."

His words only cause her eyebrows knit together. He was worried about that? Whether he realizes it or not, he is making less and less sense to her.

"You could have just told me," she finally lets out. "I would have understood that you would need time. I mean… you are basically cooped up with me all day, basically doing babysitting for no payment."

Now, it is his turn to be puzzled by her words. But then he gives her a sympathizing look. It makes her heartbeat fasten because there is no telling what that kind of expression is for. He blinks, momentarily looking to the side. At that moment, long loose bangs slip from his braid and cover half of his face for a few seconds.

"I didn't want to give you a confirmation on whether or not you can reach Balbadd without knowing it would be possible," he starts and turns to look at her again with gentle eyes. "I didn't want to make a promise that I couldn't keep. I understand that you must miss your family, so… first I had to make sure that things would be in order."

Slowly, the more he keeps on opening the reason for all this misunderstanding, the more conflicted Jessy starts feeling. On one hand, she is ecstatic – she now has a chance of meeting Ugo, of getting back to her world. But the rest of her is just… further puzzled. She has spent an entire day worrying over him and his reaction, and now he is telling her it was only because he was afraid of sending her to travel alone? What is she supposed to think of that?

He was only worried, she reassures herself over and over again, barely hearing Yunan telling her how he found a wagon that could take her half-way there. She wraps her arms around her stomach, feeling the sinking sensation in the gut. This isn't nervousness from the idea of traveling, she won't be alone the entire time, after all. Then… why do I feel so uneasy?

Maybe it is just me? After all, Yunan has not lied to her. He has been giving her shelter. He is only looking out for her best interest.

"Jessy, what do you think?" He asks patiently. "The people who own the wagon are actually merchants and they will travel back towards east this week."

"S-sounds great," she stumbles with her words, swallowing the strange taste in her mouth. "But… how long do I have to travel with them, exactly?"

"Just until you reach the port where you will jump on a ship. I will join you there," he explains and pulls out a small map from his pocket. His finger gestures down at the area of the Dark Continent where it trails to the shoreline of the land. "You will travel here by wagon. It will take approximately two to three weeks from what I gathered because the wagon will join a large troupe halfway. From there, the ship will take us all the way to Balbadd through the sea."

Her throat dries watching his finger ghost over the invisible line that would become the route to the kingdom on the other side of the world. She can see now – Balbadd is not as close as she had hoped. It is also staggeringly near to Kou Empire, that one place she wishes to avoid.

Across the Dark Continent… Her hands tighten to fists and her fingers ache from the force.

"So, I will travel in this wagon to the port," she begins confirming and watches Yunan give her a slow nod. Her chest tightens. "What will you be doing?"

His small silence is beginning to become familiar. He is obviously starting to think about how to respond but then gives her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I do not think I am ready to tell you that."

He's always apologizing.

The brunette frowns again. The heavy feeling in her chest is only adding up, but she ends up shaking her head. His answer is suspicious. It isn't that Yunan is acting that much different from his usual self. He is smiling, there is that familiar twinkle in his eyes and the tone of his voice is as gentle as it always has been. But somehow, Jessy can't ignore the nagging inside her skull that there isn't something right in his explanation. She has no evidence to back up this thought of hers, only the strange sensation in her abdomen.

She could be overthinking all of this, because of how emotionally drained she has been the majority of the day. Was that look I saw at breakfast of him worrying about my feelings?

A day might come when she would be regretting all of this. But the thought of the possibility of being able to return home, to a place where she belongs, makes Jessy wipe away any suspicion and the voice inside of her head disperses.

"It is fine," she says and gives him a smile of her own. She is not sure, whether it seems genuine or not. "When will I leave?"

She pulls on the yellow straw. The rough surface of the plant grades against the skin of her palms. The small lines twist and overlap one another, forming knots and form small squares. They remind Jessy of the sights that you could see from an airplane, yellow block-like fields neatly squeezed together, and barely visible thin roads between them.

Over. Under. Tighten.

The patter repeats itself. The basket isn't anything near being ready, but the brunette has found that her hands move almost naturally. She focuses entirely only on this work.

Under. Over. Tighten.

" Jessy dear, your basket is undoing itself."

She blinks, looking up at the gently smiling older woman who has her eyes on the basket. Around them, other Torran villagers keep on walking, not minding the presence of an outsider who they have become familiar with. However, green eyes don't miss how few women on the side also doing weaving work pause, glance at her, and silently giggle to one another.

Jessy looks down and freezes. While she has been focusing on her hands and what they are doing, the part that she wove a while ago has started to loosen up and a few straws have already fallen from their place.

"Oh," she says, a bit lost expression forming on her face. But then she turns red and lets her shoulders drop. "I am not very good at this, am I?"

Taran laughs good-naturedly and gives the young woman a pat on the back. "This is only your first time. No need to be so hard on yourself. I still remember how they," she gestures at the other two women by their side, "had trouble with this. You will catch up."

Jessy only nods and stares enviously at their work for a moment. She says that but… Knowing better than to just sit and be jealous of how others have more experience than her, the brunette starts over with her work in silent frustration. This time, she won't get distracted. It is a hot day, so maybe she should blame that environmental fact. The heat is getting to her head.

She weaves, doing something unfamiliar that will probably soon become part of her routine. She should continue doing this, it is somehow relaxing. If there needs to be a comparison, maybe knitting or drawing. Those are also relaxing activities that she could start doing. But the problem is how she is going to learn those.

Another straw falls. Irritated that she can't keep everything together Jessy reaches out and takes it into her hand. Without meaning to, she watches the long straw and soon starts seeing it as a strand of hair. It is an even golden color – almost like Yunan's hair color…

She let's go of the straw as if the thing has burned her.

"Is something wrong?" Taran suddenly asks curiously and when Jessy looks up, she has once again stopped weaving. "You have such a deep frown on your face."

That explains the headache, the brunette thinks and tries to relax her facial features. Immediately, she feels a bit better. However, there is a nagging voice in her head telling her not to look up.

"Did something happen, with Yunan I mean?"

The question has a reaction. Jessy looks up and answers just as quickly. "No."

A greying eyebrow rises. "Then why is he suddenly adamant about sending you off?"

The back of her throat tightens. Way to point out the elephant in the room. From the corner of her eyes, Jessy sees to her discomfort that the two other women are clearly listening. They're still weaving their baskets but at a much slower pace. The change is obvious in the air and causes Jessy's parched mouth feel like a desert. They have been curious as to why this outsider has been sitting amongst them while the man that they have known longer has gone off somewhere.

These women next to her do not speak the language outside of their village well. They can barely understand what Jessy and Taran have been saying. However, they are capable of comprehending some words and putting pieces together. Saying the name of the magi is a switch to their interests.

The root of her worries and anxiousness has been brought up in such open space… Oh boy.

"I actually… asked that from him."

"Oh?" Taran blinks in surprise. "Is that so? Where are you planning on going?"

She looks back down at the straw mess on her lap. Her hands need something to do, so they start weaving. There is uncertainty, whether Jessy should open up about her plans or not. However, she looks around the rural village from the corner of her eyes. People are smiling and working. These are secretive, but kind people.

She has nothing to fear.

"I am heading east," the brunette finally answers, lowering her voice unconsciously. "I am going to look for… my family."

It is not the entire truth, but not a lie as well. Something in between. Still, the revelation brings a strange expression to the elder woman's face. Taran frowns, willowy hands halting with their work, and her mouth opens as if to say something. After a few moments of silence, she finally gives a short nod.

"I see. I hope that you get to see them again in good health," she says and reaches out to touch Jessy's hand. "I'm sure that Yunan will find you someone trustworthy to take you there."

The touch is firm and warm, comforting. But the young woman can't really say it is comfortable. There is a hint of moisture in Taran's dark eyes and it causes a lump to form in her throat. Her concern and support are too familiar, too personal and close. It causes Jessy to reach out and touch her hand back, squeezing it gently in a silent 'thank you'.

What she can't stand, though, is the look aching to pity the Torran woman's face.

"Now, remember, the outside world can be dangerous, so use common sense, do not speak to strangers, even if someone offers you a good deal do not do anything reckless."

"Okay – "

"Oh, how is the weather where you are going? Are you sure you have packed everything you need?"

"I think so – "

"I hear the climate in the north can be quite unpredictable. What about the food? Have you packet anything to eat or will you be provided with it?"

"I-I'm not really – "

"Not sure? Goodness me, has that boy not thought things through? I can give you something to eat then. Will you be having a roof over your head where you will be going?"

The number of questions and advice she keeps on giving the younger woman starts to become overwhelming. Honestly, as far as having a place to stay, Jessy hasn't thought things through that well. She knows that the food supply will be provided for her by the people driving the wagon. They also sound like lovely people, based on what the blonde magi has told her. But as for where she will be staying at Balbadd… she has also been told not to worry about it.

Don't worry about it, easier said than done. She has really never traveled before, so is it normal to be so exhausted by all of this, this late?

"Yunan said that things will be taken care of," she manages out before Taran can interrupt her again. "He said that he will take care of it."

From that answer, Taran smiles brightly. "Isn't that kind of him? He has always been so generous and nice to us. You are very lucky to have lived under his care, even for a brief time."

Jessy smiles a little, but on the inside, she wishes to frown. The older woman is really making it sound like she couldn't survive on her own… which is not that far from the truth. Even now, she has no idea, if what she brought in her bag is even going to become useful in any way. The said bag is resting next to her feet, bulging and appearing ready to break down.

"I wish a good man like Mr. Yunan," one of the women says and the second one giggles bashfully. "Sit around all men do 'ere."

Taran barks a laugh. "That's true! The older we get the weaker the men grow until they start complaining about their backs. You two are lucky, though. You both have such good husbands."

"Tere never home," the woman with two feathers attached to her headband speaks up. Although her words are scolding, there is a sweet smile on her face. The sun-kissed skin on her face appears to glow. "But good meals he brings. Takes Chichi and Mala hunt, too."

"Those are her sons," Taran explains to Jessy who tries to keep up with the names and the strange conversation. "She is also expecting a third one to arrive."

Green eyes widen and look immediately down at the flat stomach before her. Realizing in a split second how rude that must be, she looks at the woman straight in the eyes. "Oh, that's nice. Congratulations."

Instead of a reaction, she hoped for, the woman appears confused by her words. The older woman quickly says something to her in their native tongue and her face brightens up. She quickly faces Jessy again with an even wider smile than before.

"I thank you."

"These two haven't dealt a lot with outsiders, as you can see," Taran laughs again and pats the brunette on the shoulder in good humor. "Their generation is a bit reluctant to learn things about other people," she says in a hushed tone so that the others will not hear her. Then, she leans closer. "I think you have made an impression on them that changes that."

Before she can say anything to that, something is tugging at the hem of her pants. Large brown eyes meet her green ones with innocent curiosity. It is Kana, Taran's grandchild, and she is holding a small brush in her tiny hands. The other hand keeps on holding Jessy's clothes and by the looks of it, she does not seem to be willing to let go. Not even when Jessy, a complete stranger keeps on staring down at her.

Either her silence or the sudden pause in the air causes the older Torran villager to look at the newcomer. Understandably, she laughs.

Kana, in response to her grandmother's laugher, tilts her head and does not look away from the stiff brunette she is clinging to. "Yun-Yun?"

"Aah. That's a nickname she and other kids around here like to call Yunan with. The other names include Mr. Turtle or Camelot, by the way."

She doesn't need to explain where those names have gotten their inspiration. Jessy stifles a smirk forming from the sudden idea to try and call him that, but soon is drawn back to the little girl at her feet. She is now impatiently tugging the fabric of Jessy's pants, looking up with a stubborn pout.

The brunette leans down. "Sorry, but Yu – Yun-Yun," she giggles out the name, "isn't here right now… Can she understand me?"

"Oh, yes," Taran nods and reaches out to pick the little girl. Kana holds onto Jessy a second longer, before letting go and settling on the older woman's lap. She starts playing with straws instead. "I have made sure that my grandchild will know how to communicate with people outside our village. She has such a curious mind that I wouldn't be so surprised if she left to travel when she is older. Many in our village don't usually find that idea very appealing, though."

Jessy's lips form a thin line and she stays silent. Shas a vague idea what these people think of the majority of outsiders. They are very isolated, not to mention she can still recall a few things she read and saw in her own world regarding the Magi show.

"Yun-Yun!" Kana whines, swinging her hands up in stubbornness. She starts whining about something in her language to which her grandmother answers patiently. This does little to settle her down, though, and she looks at Jessy again. "Yun-Yun! Wanna see Yun-Yun!"

Taran sighs in exasperation. "Jessy, I am sorry, but could I ask to entertain her for a little while? I will go and look for Hana, but she is in the fields and I might need to help her. This might take a while."

Say what now? Jessy blinks at her and then at the young child in her arms. The latter actually looks up at the same time and two lock eyes. The older woman obviously has a look of someone who is flabbergasted, but the little girl merely turns her attention back to playing with a straw.

Waking up from her stupor, she looks at Taran with an apologetic frown. "Oh, um… I'm not that good with kids."

That is a downright lie. She has watched over her half-siblings since their toddler age. It taught her both to love and be wary of children. You have to be very careful with them, especially when they learn to crawl or walk on their own because they go to explore places within a snap of a finger. That is why Jessy feels more comfortable with the idea of taking responsibility for someone in a close family circle than she does with this idea of looking after a total stranger's child.

She has to already worry about leaving today. The last thing she wants is to

Either Taran knows that she is lying or is adamant in proving her wrong. She literally picks up and pushes her grandchild into the reluctant woman's arms with a smile. "Nonsense! You seem to be very comfortable with Kana here and she is a well-behaved child."

Indeed, the kid doesn't make much fuss, when placed into the strange woman's lap. Although, Jessy is wearing the clothes that Taran gave her and they are very similar Torran tribe members' clothing. The little girl might be braver than usual because of this.

Green eyes look down at the top of dark brown locks urgently. Start a tantrum or something already!

"Let's hope that Yunan shall return when I bring this little one's mother. She is pretty much the only one that can hold her back when it comes to chasing him around," Taran chuckles and walks away. And that is it, she just leaves Jessy with the child.

Oh, boy, is what the brunette thinks the moment the child in her lap starts squirming and presents obvious signs of wanting to get down. Tentatively, the older woman looks at the other two grownups she is left with. They are obviously avoiding her eyes and she sees glimpses of small smiles playing on their faces. They are amused by her misery.

This is nothing to laugh about, she wishes to hiss but bites her tongue. She is more shocked than anything how easily she been given this kind of responsibility. There are no signs of that Torran hostility towards foreigners like herself anywhere in sight.

Not knowing what else to do, she places Kana down. She hopes that the child stays in the area where she is visible. Jessy is in for a surprise, though, when the girl turns back and grabs her by the pants for the second time.

The brunette holds in a sigh. She would like to look at the girl with heavy exasperation and ask, what now?

As if the little Torran child has mindreading abilities, she raises the strange brush she has been holding onto. Jessy, in return, looks at the thing as if it is a knife with her eyebrow raised.

"What?" She asks, trying to keep her eyes on Kana's face.

For the first time, the small round face stretches into a wide smile with a few tooth gaps.

"I wanna paint!"

It is during the time when Jessy is trying to distract and entertain the child in her care that Taran's husband walks by. He appears to be only taking a leisure walk but stumbles upon them sitting on the ground next to a tent.

Honestly, she would prefer the option where the old man keeps on walking. Her stomach sinks when he approaches instead. Green eyes remain on the little girl in front of them when his thin form casts a surprisingly wide shadow over them. Kana pauses with whatever she is doing for a moment and says something that could be described as a greeting with a bright smile, before turning back to her work.

"Well, well, if it ain't Gessii."

"It's Jessy," she corrects without taking her eyes off the top of Kana's head. The sun shines on it and the greasy strands glisten.

"Keeping company to my granddaughter, I see," he nods and then holds out a bowl. Inside it, a bunch of fat worms wiggle around as if trying to escape from their captor. Jessy's face immediately stiffens from disgust and the corners of the man's lips lift up from the sight of it. "Care for a bite?"

"N-no, thank you," she declines with a weak shake of her head. However, she has to stop almost immediately by a grunt of disapproval from the little girl. "Sorry."

Kohan is not offended by her refusal. Instead, he takes one and starts eating. The scrunching noise makes her shiver, not believing what is being consumed right next to her. "Shame. Although you start looking like the folk around here, guess you still don't have the taste for these."

He isn't talking about clothes. Her facial muscles barely twitch, when a paint-covered brush trails across the skin on her forehead. It has already gone through both of her cheeks and now the color red has probably dried. Whenever she speaks, the skin around the painted areas tightens.

"Yunan isn't with you?" Kohan asks between mouthfuls.

This time, she doesn't shake her head to mess up the paint job. "No. He went to help with preparations. We will take a boat to the nearest town."

The old man snorts. "I would like to see him lift an ax and not fall over."

"He is not that weak," she defends, more so because he clearly isn't aware of who he is talking about and for generally getting on her nerves. Jessy honestly has no idea why Taran married him in the first place.

"I certainly hope he ain't. I warn you, there is a world full of dangers out there. Watch out for yourself."

"Huh?" She wants to turn her head, but another annoyed noise from Kana halts her.

He sounds so…

Before she can inquire further, she can hear his willowy feet stomp away, leaving the two of them where they sit. His dark shadow that had felt like it was swallowing them slides off their forms like a blanket. The hot sun's rays hit her in the face with full force again and Jessy closes her eyes, still not used to this kind of climate.

He sounded so serious.

Of course, she is aware of how dangerous it can get out there. Even Taran had fussed over her a little while ago, but to think that Kohan would also give her a piece of advice like this… Jessy didn't think from the first impression that the man is even capable of making such a grave voice. Even if he meant for it to be a warning that she can hold onto to remember how to stay safe… it merely makes the brunette feel like she is about to jump from fire into a volcano.

Looking at these people basking in the sunlight and weaving baskets, hunting, and preparing meals in peace, no one would think that such a dangerous world exists. It makes her want to go and chase after the old man and make him tell her more.

Kana continues painting, oblivious to the conversation that occurred between the two adults.

To distract more herself than the child, she decides to inquire. "So, Kana, how old are you?"

"I'm six!" She answers excitedly. "Hold still now."

The corners of her mouth turn up. "Yes, yes. Do you have any siblings?"

"No. Do you?" The girl's brown eyes light up with curiosity and she taps the tip of the brush against the forehead again.

That one question makes her regret opening her mouth. Jessy is not sure why now of all times but seeing Kana like this reminds her of her half-siblings. And she misses them. She Misses how they would come and ask her to play with them, whenever she visits. The way she used to help them eat and tuck into bed… it all comes back without a warning.

She bites her tongue. The pain only makes it worse, though.

"I have," she finally gets out, swallowing thickly, "five younger siblings."

"Five!? That is a lot!" Kana's mouth opens in awe.

"Yup. The eldest is around your age, actually," she reveals, recalling that said child and biting her lower lip. Don't think of them.

"Can they come and play with us?" The little brunette asks without trying to hide her eagerness. The idea of getting new playmates is clearly an exciting idea for someone her age and living in such a limited area.

Kana's innocent little question only makes Jessy's throat clog up and almost laugh weakly. There is no way she could ever get her siblings here, but she can't come up with a way to tell her that. The growing hole in the woman's chest steals her voice.

Push them away.

"Does this look good?" She asks instead and gestures at her painted face.

Brown eyes narrow. "Hmm… Yup! All good!"

"Thank you, Kana," Jessy says, although she looks forward to washing her face later.

Now, where is Taran? She left to get Hana quite a while ago and they have not returned. One might think that the elderly woman is taking her time and having a laugh at the thought of Jessy handling her grandchild. Although, her comment on how well-behaving Kana is hasn't been proven wrong, yet. She hasn't run off, whined, cried, or been cranky, which is precisely what the older woman has feared.

Feeling more confident in the child and that she won't cause trouble, Jessy rises up to her full height and stretches her stiff legs. She has no idea how long she has been sitting on the ground.

"Wait here," is what she tells to the small Torran child before hurrying over to her bag. The two women from before finished a little while ago and only a few straws remain on the ground indicating that they were even there at some point. First Yunan leaves, then Taran and now these two.

Green eyes glance over a shoulder to make sure Kana is where she was left. The girl has settled with washing her paintbrush. Taking that as a great sign, Jessy doublechecks her stuff and picks the bag up.

"Alright Kana, let's go and look for…"

When she turns to look for the second time, Kana is not where she left her. The girl has bolted, leaving the paint supplies behind and her tiny form running between two tent houses towards the edge of a wild forest, or what could rather be described as a jungle.

The hell!?

Jessy has to bite down a yell and swallow it to the back of her throat. Cold sweat drips down her stiff body. Without a thought, she drops her traveling bag to the ground and sprints after Kana.

"Kana! Come back here!"

Jessy does not call for help – she does not think the situation is that serious.

"Stop running! Kana! Seriously!"

The child has definitely been raised in this place her whole life, not that it needed further proof. She keeps on running like an agile deer through the thickness of the forest growth and her small head pops up at a new place every time she disappears from view for a second. There is innocent glee in her movements and the sound of her laughter.

Jessy is the opposite of her – she is not amused by this chase. She has been hit to the legs and face by bushes that reach her height easily. The only thing giving her advance is the small trail created by Kana. It doesn't help her to get any closer, though.

She regrets leaving Kana even for a second to pick up her bag. That must have been what provoked the child to start this 'game' or whatever she thinks it is. She should have held her hand the entire time. That is one of the most efficient ways to make sure children stay near. Jessy should know that. Just like her siblings, Kana is at the age that she can be right before your eyes for a second and gone the next.

"I will tell your mother you have been a bad girl if you don't come back. Right. Now!"

That seems to do the trick. The brunette bursts through another row of bushes to see that Kana has halted in a small clearing. Kana has the nerve to appear struggling with the idea of continuing her game of tag and not testing how far Jessy is ready to go with her threat.

Huffing and trying to even out her breathing, the woman stomps in front of the little girl. She does not attempt to hide a scowl and Kana's shoulders actually hunch over when she approaches.

"W-why did you run? We are n-not playing here, and I told you to stay put," she pants between shallow breaths, ruffling her hair in frustration. A six-year-old runs faster than me… ugh. Frankly, she is not sure, if she is angry because of that or that Kana disobeyed. Well-behaved child my ass.

Brown eyes dart down. "I-I'm sorry."

"Y-you should be sorry," she scolds and then takes a hold of her hand. The jungle she ran through has already hidden the trail they came from and no doubt the village is already a little long way from here. "Now, we are going back. You are not going to run off this time and we are not going to play. This was not fun, Kana – I told you to stay put and you disobeyed me! Do you understand what I am saying?"

She gives a meek nod, not daring to look up at blazing green eyes.

Jessy gives a nod of her own from satisfaction and tightens her hold on the child firmly. "Good. Now, c'mon. I don't want an entire village after me."

However, the two of them don't make it far.

Nature is peaceful. Because of being too used to the city environment, even the green color on plants under the sun is startlingly bright. This place does not make much noise either unless animals or the wind is involved. That is why, when something moves or an out of place noise reaches your ears, it is not hard to hear it.

The shadows grow from behind the trees and the swaying figures approach rapidly. Immediately, Kana ducks behind Jessy's legs. She in return touches her shoulder with her hand. The last act is supposed to comfort, but it definitely has little effect. They both freeze like prey, unable to move.

Three men come to the light and her gut tightens into a tangled knot. What makes cold sweat trail down her neck and her heart hammer like a drum in her chest is the sight of their clothes – they are not wearing any clothing linking them to Torran village. The man at the front has an outlandish green vest with bright gold beads hanging from a white turban on his head.

Most of all, the grins all three are attempting to suppress is the most alarming sign of trouble.

"Good day," the man greets the two as pleasantly as a snake coiling around a mouse. Sickly sweet.

No.

Green eyes dart down to the weapons at their hips. Three long swords, perfect for cutting long stripes down the flesh.

"Kana," Jessy breathes out faintly, feeling the small hand grasps hers as an answer. "Run."

She turns first, the child follows. Everything happens too fast, however.

There were other men behind them all along and they throw a large net. It falls first on top of her and she lets out a scream. Kana follows and they hold each other as the rope wraps around them. Jessy's heart is pounding painfully loud, she clutches the girl like she is her lifeline and feels the weight of the net on top of her head and shoulders.

The warm day turns cold.