It was a tree.
A tree stood before me.
It wasnât particularly large, but its dense foliage was striking.
At first glance, it resembled a plum tree, yet the flowers blooming on it were different.
I reached out and caught a falling leaf.
It was shaped like a feather.
That meant⦠this was a tree I had never seen before.
A tree with soft, magenta hues.
I gazed at it in silence before shifting my focus elsewhere.
âWhere is this place?â
The space around me had changed.
I had been transported somewhere unfamiliar.
A pristine lake stretched out before me, with the tree standing at its center.
Leaves continued to fall, piling up on the ground, carpeting it in layers of magenta.
The air was thick with a subtle floral fragrance, tickling my nose.
Especiallyâ¦
âThis scent.â
The aroma surrounding me felt familiar.
Where had I smelled this before?
As I pondered, I turned my headâ
And met Yarangâs gaze.
Right.
This was the scent I had always noticed on her.
Breathing it in left a strange warmth curling in my chest.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Suppressing the odd sensation, I asked,
"Why did you bring me here?"
Why this place?
As always, Yarang remained silent.
"â¦When someone talks to you, you should at least answer."
My tone sharpened with irritation.
Thenâ
Srrrk.
Yarang moved.
I narrowed my eyes.
I had no way of knowing what her masterâthe current oneâmight do to me in her amnesia-stricken state.
The same could be said for Yarang.
I raised my guard immediately.