Where is this place? What am I doing here? Why am I here? What happened to me? The Life and Death of The Last Water Nymph Chapter 3: Lost in the world By Shinieris

Chapter 3 – Lost in the world

Shwarze came back with some clothes and shoes for me.
It appeared that he bought them from one of the houses nearby.
I wore the clothes he gave.
I didn’t even care that they saw me naked.
It didn’t matter anymore.

“Are you okay?”
Shwarze asked with eyes full of concern.

I said nothing.
What is there to talk about?
I can no longer go home.
Neither to Broomwich.
Nor to my fairy spring.

She said to chase my destiny?
What is my destiny?
What if I don’t want to chase my destiny?
Where will I go then?

Seeing me that way, Shwarze scratched his head before asking,
“Would you like to come with us?”

“Shwarze!”
“What?”
“Can I talk with you for a second?”
“Wait here.”
Shwarze said to me before he went off outside my hearing range with Garulan.

They seem to be arguing about something.
Garulan’s face is a little strange.
Is it anger, shock or fear I see in his eyes?
Shwarze’s face is a lot more honest.
He’s looking very angry at Garulan for some reason.

“Then what do you expect us to do? Leave her here?”
Suddenly Shwarze shouted.
Garulan made a motion as if Shwarze should lower his voice while looking at me from the corner of his eyes.
“It’s our fault that she’s lost out here. If we leave her here, she’ll likely be captured by slavers or bandits!”
Garulan continued to make gestures as if telling Shwarze to lower his voice.
“Don’t tell me to be quiet! She’s our responsibility now. I’m not leaving her here alone.”

Garulan then sighed in resignation before he waved Shwarze away.
Then he sat at the riverbank alone, staring at the setting sun.
It looked like Garulan was sulking.

“Would you like to come with us? We’ll take good care of you.”
Shwarze knelt on the ground looking up at me as he extended a hand towards me.

I took it.

He smiled.
Swarze called Garulan to get ready to move.
We needed to reach an inn before it becomes dark.
Garulan grudgingly got up and picked up his backpack.
It was considerably emptier since he left many stuff back at the meadow.
Shwarze stood up, not letting go of my hand as he picked up his leather backpack.

Now that I’m standing next to him, I realize that Shwarze is really tall.
The top of my head barely reaches his waist.
Or is it because I’m the one who’s small?
I must look like a child to him.

Ten minutes later, I was out of breath.
I was panting like someone who had run a mile.
I always prided myself on my stamina.
How could I be out of breath so soon?

Is it because I’ve been sleeping for so long, my body is too weak now?

Suddenly I was picked up by a pair of strong hands.
Shwarze grabbed me my waist and hoisted me up.
He placed me on his shoulders.
Both my legs were on either side of his head.
He told me to hold on to his head so I won’t fall.

I’m not a child anymore!
I wanted to say to him, but my voice wouldn’t come out.
Still it felt weird to be so high up.
For some reason, this was very embarrassing.

Garulan chuckled seeing me struggle.

My torment ended when we reached a small inn by the side of the road.
But by then, many had already seen me sitting on Shwarze’s shoulders.
It was very embarrassing.
I ignored Shwarze and Garulan for the rest of the night.
Maybe because of that they ordered for me such terrible dinner.
It was very bad.
The bread was the hardest I had ever eaten.
The water tasted like someone had taken a piss in it.
The roasted rabbit was burnt.
The wooden plate looked like it hadn’t been washed for a year.
It was disgusting.

In comparison, they were eating juicy beef steak.
Good ale.
And a slice of delicious mince pie each.
Totally unfair!