Chapter 3 (2/2)

A girlin the corner of the room looked up to me and spoke

”It is a custom of ours”

”A custom…”

When I repeated this back idiotically, she averted her gaze and hung her head It was her-the girl with amber eyes

”Now is the time when those two cannot be seen by others,” she said and pressed her lips together tightly, as if declaring she would speak no further on this matter

Her eyes, which had sparkled like diamonds in the sun that day, were noncast and filled with sadness

An eerie silence filled the rooirl with looks of disapproval or caution

Still confused, I tried to talk to her once again, but an old irl, took her hand, and said so to her with a bitter expression

Ecudoraara That's what it sounded like I didn't knohat this e her to do so

She whispered so in response, then shook her head and covered her mouth with her hand

The old man led her out of the room by the hand, the tools froround

Just then, the sound of the rain intensified, its roaring surge boohout the tunnels No one spoke, and the tiny room became thick with an uncomfortable silence

Out of curiosity I considered following the girl out of the room but hesitated Before I could ed on my sleeve ”Got any other stories for us?”

As I began to tell a new story, co to the room's doorless exit

But for the rest of that day, the girl never returned to the room

Several days later, on awhen the rains had paused and only a few clouds dotted the sky, the caravan departed The Rainlands

Apparently co business to their satisfaction, they left behind a large nue dried goods whose purpose eluded rant wood that were only available in this area, carrying these on their backs in tightly wrapped packages

They had co roads that prohibited the use of pack anih-priced medicines

After seeing off the caravan, thealong However, perhaps because they considered et in the way and was immediately sent back to the cave

I had nothing left to do but return to one of the larger roo other ith their hands As I entered, I saw their eyes sparkle in the candlelight, as if eager about what sort of extraordinary story they would get to hear today

That day I had planned to tell thee of hues in the western lands

In that region, it was said there was a place surrounded by an abundant forest, called bird's paradise by so calls noisily, and in this forest lived a bird who could speak hue

In one city, the legend said that this bird was an incarnation of God and had helped a group of children lost in the forest return home In another city, there was a story where the same bird tricked aso him to fall from a cliff to his death

By the ti several stories, the athered fro like a porridge ain how their ars were terribly emaciated

The potato porridge was delicious These potatoes, which greith their roots deep into the ground to prevent being washed away by the rain, had a rich flavor that gave the impression they were packed with nutrients Indeed, all one needed to do was step foot in the forest which sprawled far below these barren mountains and you would see the abundance this country had to offer

But in truth, even that forest was a dangerous place, where at any ti river or buried by the cru through the forest was fraught with peril The climb itself was virtually impossible unless the rains let up

Was there really a good reason to prefer living in these iven all the inconveniences they forced upon their inhabitants? In my time in The Rainlands, I pondered this conundrum many a time

Could it be that those who lived here since birth did not consider these things to be inconveniences, but rather a natural part of daily life?

It was evident that their eyes sparkled with delight as they listened tome for more And yet, some time later I had a realization: no one had ever spoken about visiting these distant lands Not even a single person expressed a desire to live in any of the places I spoke of

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