# Chapter 14
The sensation of cold wind brushing against my entire body never became familiar, even after years. Despite my feelings, my body seemed to have adapted, skillfully making its way through the snow down to the village. After arriving, I stopped by the grocery store, and it was while I was paying that it happened.
“Ea! Let’s play!”
At a child’s boisterous call, a little girl ran down from the second floor of the grocery store. It was the little girl who had exchanged greetings with Rite through the window last time.
“You’ll fall. You should come down slowly.”
“It’s fine.”
Though the owner scolded her, the child paid no mind and went outside. Her appearance resembled Rite somewhat, which caught my attention. As the girl went outside, I could see a boy waiting outside who smiled, took her hand, and headed somewhere. Both his height and age seemed similar to Rite’s.
“Kids never get tired. If I had played outside like that every day, my knees would be too sore to move.”
The owner said with a laugh. Is that so? Since Rite usually spent most of his time quietly reading books or chattering around me, I couldn’t really relate. When I just stood there blankly, the owner asked:
“Your child is well-behaved, right? You said he’s your friend’s child?”
“Yes. There were some circumstances.”
“Was your friend conscripted too? I heard they’re dragging everyone away these days.”
“No.”
That’s all I needed to say. The owner seemed curious but began organizing the display counter while making light conversation. This was thanks to repeated situations where he asked questions and I didn’t answer.
Though I had finished paying, I fidgeted with my shopping basket while looking at the owner’s back.
“By the way, how old is the child who just left?”
“Hm? Ea? She’s 12. She’s the youngest in our family.”
Similar to Rite’s physical age. It would be nice if they could play together. I was worried that Rite seemed quieter than others his age because he had only been with me, an adult.
Plin always used to say that children should be allowed to be children. I didn’t understand what he meant back then, but now I think I do. Moreover, if Rite mingles with friends, his sleep tantrums might decrease, and he might naturally get used to independence.
“The boy who left with her seems to be her friend.”
“Oh, Cal? He’s Markus-ssi’s son. He’s the same age as Ea.”
Though it wasn’t official, Markus was practically the leader of the village. In Winterishe, Markus was the only one with an auto-carriage, and that wealth played a role.
If asked whether Markus was a good customer, it would be hard to answer, but he wasn’t just causing me trouble.
The fact that I could live without issues among the villagers despite being labeled a traitor was largely thanks to Markus. Thanks to him entrusting me with work and talking to me normally, people who had been wary of me no longer glanced suspiciously at me.
If it was the child of such a person, wouldn’t it be okay?
“Do just those two play together?”
“No. Most of the village kids play together.”
Being a small village, I roughly knew everyone’s faces, but I hadn’t paid much attention to the little ones. I absorbed the owner’s words one by one in my mind like a reporter gathering information.
“The youngest is about 6 years old. To that child, Ea and Cal are like adults, having lived twice as long. Still, they manage to play well among themselves.”
“So those two are the oldest among the group of children?”
“That’s right. Children older than them are nearly adults in a few years, so it’s hard for them to mingle with the little ones.”
Wait, how old was that kid again? While the owner was lost in thought, I grabbed my basket and headed outside. Since there weren’t many kids much older or younger than Rite, it seemed he would fit in well.
Though he might grow faster than his peers in a few years, if things become difficult, I could send him to Pini. It wasn’t a particularly appealing option, but it was better than having no contingency plan at all.
So for now, wouldn’t it be best to focus on building social skills? Even though he still can’t control his horns.
I headed home, organizing my complicated thoughts. Since I just had to retrace the snowy path I came down on, the return journey didn’t take much time.
The days were short in Winterishe Village. Despite it being early evening, the sun was already setting. By now, the inside of the house would be dark, but no lights were on in the small cabin.
Did he climb up to the tree?
I stood in front of the house and looked up at the tree house, but nothing was visible from below. With this curiosity, I opened the front door. Perhaps because I had oiled it during the recent house repairs, there was no creaking sound.
The house was dark, but I could make out my surroundings with the faint light coming in from outside. What immediately caught my eye was Rite standing in the entryway.
“Rite?”
The heavy door closed by itself behind me. I didn’t feel any wind. Surprised, I turned around, but because of the darkness, everything in front of me was just pitch black.
The capricious weather and wind of the Winter Forest weren’t unusual, so it wasn’t particularly strange. But my heart beat rapidly at the peculiar pressure I felt. It was an unpleasant and unfamiliar sensation. The flow of air felt unnatural.
The faint light disappeared, and pitch-black darkness enveloped the house. I caught a glimpse of Rite’s purple eyes. Rite was standing still, looking at me.
I reached out habitually to turn on the house lights. Like a flame just starting to rise, the aether lamp expanded its blue body. I couldn’t open my eyes for a moment in the suddenly brightened surroundings. Only after blinking several times could I properly see Rite.
“What are you doing here?”
Rite stared at me without blinking, his eyes severely bloodshot. What happened? My heart felt like it was sinking. I put down my shopping basket nearby and hurriedly approached the child to meet his gaze.
At that moment, the unpleasant sensation vanished without a trace.
“Did something happen? What’s wrong, Rite?”
Right now, Rite was more important than the strange sensation. When I stroked his bloodshot eyes, only then did Rite blink. As I habitually brushed back the hair that had fallen onto his forehead, I saw tears welling up in Rite’s eyes.
“…I did something wrong, Arden.”
Thick tears fell from the child’s eyes. Rite spread his arms, wrapped them around my neck, and clung to me. Though I didn’t understand the situation, I instinctively embraced Rite’s back.
“Why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare?”
“Arden, you, me…”
Overwhelmed with sadness, he couldn’t continue his words properly. I quietly patted the child and listened carefully to the unclear pronunciation caused by his crying.
“I thought you left and abandoned me.”
Surprised by those words, I tried to check the child’s face, but when I tried to pull away, Rite panicked and burrowed deeper into my arms. Since Rite seemed more startled than I was, I had no choice but to hold him and comfort him.
“Why would I abandon you?”
“Today Arden didn’t talk to me, and just went out alone.”
He seemed to have been quite upset, as words poured out. It seems my hasty departure had made the child anxious. Since I left in a hurry after saying just one thing, from Rite’s perspective, it might have looked that way. But.
You were the one who didn’t want to talk to me. I swallowed the words that had risen to my throat. They say raising a child is a continuous process of understanding and patience. Recalling the phrase written in the book, I held Rite tightly in my arms.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you would think that way.”
“I couldn’t see you outside. No matter how much I called, Arden didn’t appear. And you told me not to go down to the village alone, so I couldn’t follow you.”
“I see.”
Did he want me to approach him more? I thought he needed time alone. As I indulged his whining, Rite behaved even more like a baby. The way he burrowed into my arms and nuzzled his cheek was both pitiful and lovable.
There were words lingering in my mouth, but I couldn’t easily say them. With just that one sentence, Rite would feel somewhat reassured. Hesitantly, I stroked his soft black hair.
“Would you like to sleep together tonight, Rite?”
Finally unable to hold back, I spoke. Rite nodded immediately.
Perhaps reassuring the child was just an excuse. Above all, I myself wanted to do it.
It had only been a few days since his independence. Looking at Rite, who had fallen asleep on my chest with my finger in his mouth, my heart was troubled. They say guardians should be firm, but it seemed I would struggle to be the ideal guardian.
Neither the orphanage nor Plin raised me with such indulgence. I couldn’t understand why I was behaving so indecisively.
* * *
“Rite, wait a moment.”
Unlike yesterday when he was sulky, Rite’s mood recovered quickly. I caught Rite’s hat like a fish as he excitedly tried to run outside. As a result, the hat came off, clearly revealing two adorable horns. I put it back on straight, secured it with pins, and made eye contact with Rite.
“What did I tell you?”
“Don’t take off the hat. But just now, Arden, you took it off.”
“Yes, and what else?”
“If others try to take off my hat, I should say I don’t want to. Say I’m embarrassed.”
“And what else?” At my question, Rite fell into thought for a moment. Unable to remember, he furrowed his brow and pursed his lips. Finding it cute, I tapped his lips with my finger and said:
“If someone asks how old you are, what should you say?”
“Oh, 11 years old.”
Rite smiled brightly, raising both his index fingers. I patted Rite’s head over his hat to indicate he had done well.
“Let’s go now.”
I took Rite’s hand and stepped outside the house. Exceedingly excited, Rite led me with a faster pace than usual.
Is this really such an exciting event? Having preferred playing alone rather than mingling with others since I was young, I couldn’t understand.
We came down to the village and headed for the square. In front of the fountain in the small square were Ea and Cal. It was just as the grocery store owner had said yesterday.
