Chapter 207 In a Cabin sneath a Tree III (1/2)
CHAPTER 207
IN A CABIN 'NEATH A TREE (III)
A fairly quaint atmosphere devoured the small cabin by the river's bank as night outside devoured the world. A few lanterns and gemstones lit up the inside, occasional howl of the wind dying out before reaching in, sounds of flipping pages repeatedly echoing out.
Hannah and Lino both sat on the bed, their backs leaned against one another, each reading a book in silence. They were neither informative nor historical, nor any sort which would inspire one to think deeply of it; Lino's was an entirely fictional tale of the Band of Knights who overthrew an evil King while Hannah's was about a young adventurer exploring a fictional continent called Artia.
Neither said a word as the hours passed, occasionally shifting in their positions, occasionally chuckling and taking a sip of the drinks lined on the table next to the bed. Though both could easily read the entire books in a single sweep of their Divine Senses, they read them page by page instead, burning through the words slowly. It was yet to dawn when they finished, stretching out and putting the books down.
”You have a very bony back...” Lino mumbled.
”That's probably because there are bones in there.” Hannah replied with a faint chuckle as the two sat upright, leaning against the wall.
”We should take them out. They're not good for you.”
”Thanks for the offer, but I quite like them actually.”
”Eh,” Lino shrugged, smirking. ”Your loss.”
”Thanks for being the bedrock though.” she said, grasping at the small bottle.
”Didn't wanna break you.”
”Ah, it's cute that you think you could.”
”Oh, I so could. I mean, as long as you don't use Qi.”
”... humph, well, unlike some people that I know whom I shall not name I take care of my body so it doesn't go out of control.”
”Oh please,” Lino rolled his eyes. ”Every time I'm wearing a shirt I can practically see the disappointment in your eyes.”
”... no reason a lady can't enjoy some eye-candy from time to time.”
”Not at the expense of my dignity.” Lino took a pillow and pulled it over his chest, backing away slightly from her.
”You don't have dignity.” Hannah said, glancing at him.
”... yeah, that's true.” he sighed. ”I'm still wondering what the hell happened to it.”
”Wanna take a walk?”
”A walk?”
”Yeah, there's a nice lake nearby we could go to for a day,” she said. ”We can have a picnic out there and all.”
”... alright, sure.” Lino nodded. ”However, if you have any plans of drowning me, I'd rather you skip it and just blow my head up.”
”But I'd very much like to watch you suffer before you die.”
”And thousands of years from now, I'll make sure to indulge that fantasy. Just endure until then, okay?”
”It's a promise?”
”Of course!”
”Alright, let's go.”
”W-wait, right now?”
”Yeah, when did you think?” she asked.
”... let's go then.”
The two heaved off the bed and cruised out of the small cabin quickly. The sun had just broken past the distant mountain peaks, casting its first rays of light onto a new day. Hannah headed northward toward the mountains as Lino followed in silence, taking in the surroundings. He hadn't left the cabin's immediate area ever since he arrived a week earlier, mostly just sitting by the river and fishing.
It was a flat valley spanning miles onward, besieged with tall grass and weed and occasional flower that managed to break out. The area was quite windy all day through, swaying the grass reaching up to his knees constantly. Though he was there for a few days Lino had just at that moment became aware of the pure serenity of mind and heart.
An old flame rekindled inside his soul, one he had thought to have buried a long time ago -- his almost childlike longing for a much simpler life. His lips curled up in a wide smile as he stopped walking for a moment and looked up toward the sky, taking a deep breath. Hannah turned around and glanced at him, looking curiously.
”What are you doing?” she asked.
”... I grew up wanting this, you know?” he said.
”... what? To stand in the middle of nowhere and look a fool?”
”Oh, I look a fool regardless of where I'm at,” Lino chuckled as he began walking again, catching up to her. ”No, this... peace. No battles. No worries. No new, earth-shattering revelations. No dead or dying or those still wishing for it. Just... this. Day after day of simplicity, of that boredom everyone seems to hate for some reason.”
”... ah. So you're saying I'm boring. Gotchya.”
”Well, compared to me, you know, who isn't?” Lino grinned. ”So don't feel bad.”
”... so you regret becoming a Bearer then?” she asked, glancing at him, her expression hidden beneath her mask.
”... honestly?” Lino mumbled. ”Every day of my life.”
”This way, though, you have a chance to change the world.”
”Heh, I don't think you honestly believe that,” Lino smiled bitterly. ”Every change is temporary. It seems the world has this bizarre ability to gravitate back to pulling out the worst in us regardless.”
”... a cynic, huh? Ah, and you looked so hopeful on the surface.” she chuckled.
”What about you? Do you regret it?” Lino asked.
”... not really. I mean, I'd have gotten involved in the world's affairs regardless of what I did. This way, at least, I can pretend to have some control over it all.”