It was morning with the morning birds sounds from the trees...the sun at it's highest as the birds flew passed by the clouds....
A red huge house made from wood with tree and fields filled with plants and crops in the countryside some people working, harvesting.....among them was a young boy with black hair and red eyes wearing his farm clothes and gloves...
He wipes the sweat from his forehead with a smile looking at his basket seeing as the tomatoes harvested were growing nicely...
"How's your side of the field going Sakurai!?"..he turns to the right where a young boy who seems to be on his early 20s, having a blonde yellow hair with blue eyes was standing holding a knife....
"Nice, it seems like we don't have to worry about food supplies this season"....he said giving he a smile and a tumbs up....
"Hehe don't go getting a big head now, tho I wonder how much we can make from our harvest?"
"You two should get back to work "..one of the men on the field shouted out....
"We are not here to converse, when you're done with work then you can"
"You don't need to be sure a downer old man"
"Enough Mizuro, let get back to work"...Sakurai said while smiling at him..
"What's with that shitty attitude"..Mizuro shocked from what Sakurai said ...
"Mizuro..you should learn from Sakurai "..the old man said ignoring the fact that Sakurai was just pretending to be serious..in which Mizuro replied..
"Huh?..Sakurai?..this guy is just looking for praises"
"Hehe"..sakurai chuckled facing the other side...
"Yeah whatever"... Mizuro said with annoyance...
The farmers continued their farming...it was already afternoon, the old man and some other elder in front of the red storage house stood there holding a conversation with a man who seem around his late 30s wearing clothes ingraved with gold..
Mizuro holding the basket of tomato and was heading inside the red building where they store their harvests...
He drops the basket but before he heads out he noticed Sakurai already changed holding a wooden sword...
"Sakurai?"..he said out wondering where he was headed..
"Oh Mizuro...you are done with packing the harvests"..walks towards Mizuro with a cheerful expression..
"Y-yeah ....but what's with the wooden sword?"..Mizuro asked him sounding a bit nervous but curious..
"Oh this, I'm headed to the military training offered by the higher ups from the castle"
"Military training...wait but why?.. I thought-"
"I'm pretty sure you're not aware, but the conversation with the merchant isn't going well....for the looks of things the harvests won't go for a good prices"
"How could the prices be low?..the fruits and vegetables were of good quality"..Mizuro said not wanting to believe what Sakurai had just said ..
"I know right...Tho this is just my father's guess, but he thinks the merchant is reducing the prices while selling it for high prices behind our backs.....I told my dad about getting another merchant to do business with but-"
"Which merchant in the continent will want to do business with a bunch of nobodies"..Mizuro said interrupting Sakurai...
"It was by chance that this merchant helped us but things like this keeps happening, and we have taxs to pay not to mention fertiliser and tools"
"What are yo-.....are you trying to say its a waste?"..Mizuro voiced out a bit with annoyance...
"Uh..no that not what I meant"...Sakurai shocked from Mizuro action....
"Sighs...look I'm sorry...I know what you're trying to say, that it will be hard to survive alone in the fields with the way things are going.....and here I was thinking that today's harvest was-...."...Mizuro went slient ..
"Well I have to keep my promise to dad"..
"The one you made, that if things becomes hard you'll join the military to earn a living...that's if I recall correctly" mizuro said..
Sakurai smile and chuckles a little "you remembered...at least you'll not think that I abandoned you in the farm"..he said giving him a big smile....
"Now you are making it sounds as if I'm some child seeing his father off"..Mizuro annoyed from the smile, putting up a gloomy expression...
"Cause you are"
"HEY WHO ARE YOU CALLING A CHILD"..Mizuro shouted....
Sakurai laughed upon seeing Mizuro's reaction...
"Okay see you later"..Sakurai said as he departs....
"....."...Mizuro stood there in slience for some seconds before moving outside...
"Well...what I'm I suppose to do when I'm alone.....I feel so bored"...Mizuro sighs thinking to himself out of boredom while walking out of the red storage house....
On his way out he heard a voice reaching out to him...
"Mizuro...before I go...I almost forgot to to tell you".
Mizuro turns to the left seeing as it's Sakurai running calling out to him..
"I thought you left, what is it?"...he asked wondering why he came back...
"You should go see Elizabeth...it has been a while since you last saw her, she even came by this morning to see you when you were alway with the village elders"
"She did?..but why would she-.."
"I told her to come since I knew the elders won't be around"....Sakurai said interrupting Mizuro...
"Oh"...
"Anyway I just wanted to let you know so you can sneak out to see her"....said smirking looking like someone with ulterior motive...
"You runt, you just had to make it sound like that"....Mizuro annoyed from Sakurai flazing and expression..
"Oh so am I right or am right?"
"Just so you know, it's not like that at all between us"
"Not yet"..Mizuro said, whispering to himself..
"Yeah yeah whatever "...Sakurai sounded unconvinced by what he said...
"Just don't let anyone see you when you leave okay "...Sakurai said as he depart in a hurry, waving his hand once..
"Yeah you don't have to tell me....sigh"....
Deep within a forest far away from the countryside Mizuro walks looking around the road way as if he was looking for some thing...
"I can't seem to find it"...he thought to himself...
He stops to look around having a strange feeling interrupting atmosphere...
"Mizu-kun?"
Hearing a beautiful female voice Mizuro turns to its direction recognising it....
"Elizabeth?"...
Suddenly, he saw her. Standing silently beneath the ancient trees, was Elizabeth. Her long, black hair cascaded to the ground, framing her delicate features and the striking black fox ears that twitched slightly. Nine elegant tails swayed gently behind her. But it was her eyes that caught Mizuro's attention - crimson pools, yet devoid of any spark.
he said seeing a girl wearing a brown gown walking on bare foot...looking closely she looked like a 21 - 22 years old but her real age was in range of 1500 - 1600.....
With beast men and women lifespan longer than humans, at that age she's still considered a child...
Her lifeless expression, standing there with a smile but hands on her back...
"I-i ah..wanted to see you but got lost on my way"....Mizuro said flustered and nervous from seeing her...he turns to different directions avoiding direct eye contact...
"But wow" ...mizuro chirped, his voice filled with a playful relief. "Fancy seeing you here! I think I took a wrong turn somewhere... several wrong turns, actually. Is this... THE LOST FOREST you were talking about?"
"You haven't changed one bit since we last saw each other"...Elizabeth said walking up to him ...
"Eh?"...Mizuro muttered from her statement..
"You didn't bring the necklace I gave to you"..she said noticed that he wasn't wearing any on his neck...
"The one you gave to both me and Sakurai.....I think I left it back home when I was in a hurry"....Mizuro said noticing that he didn't have it on...
"You were that In a hurry to see me?"..she looked surprised...her fingers on her right hand covering her mouth...
"Eh?....wait, that's not-...i mean I did but-.."....Mizuro stammered with bashfulness having a shade of red on his cheek..
Elizabeth chuckles a little and touches his face with her right arm smiling..."You don't have to be nervous"
"Tho you and Sakurai look so cute when you guys get all flustered"...she removes her arm from his face, facing back to lead the way...
"I-i wasn't nervous I swear"..he ran to caught up to her ...
Elizabeth chuckles ..."Yeah you were..but you know what, I'm really glad to see you"..
"It has been a while since we last saw each other and hang out...so I'm a bit excited"...she turns to Mizuro who was walking by her side and smiled tho her eyes were still lifeless but her expression was filled with happiness....
"...."...Mizuro speechless from Elizabeth expression just continued to stare...
After some moments of walking, the moment the both took one step further, a strange breeze blew passed them changing the surrounding completely....
The world had changed, in Mizuro perception, it was as if he walked into a another version of the world he came from...
He was in a dimension separated from the entire existence hence mortal realm...
They weren't in the forest but a large grassfield with breeze blew passed the grass and their body....the grass having lemon colour.....
From afar they could see a large country fence with lots of buildings after it..
A black dragon flying pass them causing a large breeze to blow them....Mizuro looks up to the dragon as it flew passed...
"Welcome to RAVA Mizuro"...Elizabeth said facing Mizuro who was speechless at the moment..
"Sigh....no matter how many times I've seen this place I can't help but feel overwhelmed"....Mizuro replied walking forward to the country with Elizabeth following him from behind.....
Without a word, Elizabeth turned and began to walk, her gown flowing behind her.....
"You alway say that when ever I come see you "...Mizuro said looking at her ...
"Umm?"...Elizabeth looked at him....
"It's getting old you know"...Mizuro turns to her with her face already facing forward....Mizuro smiled and faces forward as well..
"By the way how come I couldn't find my way here on my own"....Mizuro said recalling he got lost in the forest...
"It's because you weren't with the necklace I gave to you "....Elizabeth replied..
"The forest you were in also known by mages as the "THE LOST FOREST"....has a magically phenomenon that leads people away from the gate to RAVA"
"RAVA been a dimension made out of imaginary space outside of existence and the mortal realm, with the gateway In the forest been the only thing leading to it ..."
"The gate can not be intersected because of the forest and nature of the gate....only those with high level magical resistance and conceptual manipulation and interaction can interact with it"
"That's why I gave you that necklace, it helps interacts with it and gives it wearer high magical resistance"...she shifted her eyes to him for a while and then forward....
"Huh.. that necklace was that big of a deal?!"...Mizuro said out of shock..."how can you give out something like thar?"....
"What?...you scared you might get in trouble cause of it?..."....she turns to him as they walk, her face expressionless and emotionless by default while her eyes remained lifeless...
"No no no I just-".....he rubs both hands in nervousness trying to clear the misunderstanding but was interrupted by Elizabeth's chuckle...
Her covering her mouth as she chuckles..."I was trying to tease you, I'm not mad or anything"..
"Because of her nature it's hard to tell what she's thinking, I can't get a read on her"..he thought to himself as they walk.....
"You-.."
"Um?"....Mizuro looks at her hearing her say something...
"It because it's you Mizuro, that's why I gave both you and Sakurai the necklaces "....
Mizuro kept looking at her when she said that, his eyes wide open with anticipation...
"Sakurai and Mizuro are my best friends and I-...."....she paused for a brief moment and faces Mizuro with a joyful expression tho her eyes still remains lifeless..
"I want the both of you to come see me when ever you guys are free"...
"Sigh yeah yeah we'll-.."...
"We're here"
Mizuro tries to put on a bigboy's act but got interrupted..his expression changes to a gloomy and annoyed look as he murmurs to himself.....
"At list let me finish"....his voice very low as if he was whispering....
They both walks in the countryside border, where a village is....
They walked for what felt like hours, eventually reaching a bustling countryside border town. The sights and smells were alien to Mizuro, strange fruits piled high on stalls, creatures he'd only heard stories of bartering over spices, and children with bright eyes and even brighter clothes chasing each other through the throng....
As they both walk deep into the village which seem large in comparison to a town having a huge wall surrounding it ....the town people greets them with a smile familiarly while the town children were playing with Mizuro, Elizabeth stopped by some shops to pick up some provisions....
Later, as they walked hand-in-hand through the town square, mizuro couldn't resist been forced to join a group of children playing a game with pebbles. He laughed, teased, and even showed them a few new tricks he'd learned back on the farm. Elizabeth watched him from a distance, a flicker of something unreadable in her red eyes.
"No fair Mizuro-oniichan, I want to play with you too"...one of the female children with a group of children all made out of girls said feeling left out, she was a long blonde yellow haired girl with green eyes wearing a black and white maid outfit...
"Hahaha Oniisan likes playing with the boys"...one if the boys said, a short black haired and black eyes wearing a brown tethered cloth.....as he climbs unto Mizuro's back ...
"As if the universe cares about your opinion, let headcanon be headcanon"...one of the girl's said, her appearance been blonde pink haired girl with pink eyes wearing a yellow gown...her face expressionless....
"Hehehe hey now guys you shouldn't fight over me"..Mizuro said smiling...
"Now Oniichan is just like king".....the pink haired girl said...
"Teehee"
"The children sure do like Mizuro-dono ".....an old man running the shop Elizabeth was buy some provisions from said while seeing as Mizuro was with the children...he was a white haired man with white long beard and mustache human man...
"....."...Elizabeth turns back to look at Mizuro who was playing with the kids...after some moments of slience from the shop owner and Elizabeth the old man muttered...
"You must really like him".....the old man said looking sat Elizabeth completely gazing at Mizuro...
"Ugh...no no"...Elizabeth said with shock as she turns to the shop owner..."it not like that between us, i-"
"I know about your situation Elizabeth but you don't have to face it alone..."
"....".
"Like the saying goes, two heads are better than one...sometimes you just have to lean onto others...I'm not saying this to force you but to help"
"You know how Mizuro feel about you right?"
"Eh?"
"I can tell that much just by observing you both for some time"
Elizabeth turns back to Mizuro for some time and then back to the shop owner...."Mizuro is like a brother to me and I think he feels the same way too"...she said, her expression a little bit down but tries to keep her composure....
"Sigh....if you say so"
"Elizabeth is anything the matter?"....Mizuro said walking towards Elizabeth ...
"Nothing"...she waves her head in answering him...."You shouldn't bother yourself, I can't handle the shopping....you hang out with children instead"..her voice a low melodic whisper....
"That's good to hear...hey gramps.."....Elizabeth charmed for a moment by Mizuro's cheerful expression as he stopped at the stall overflowing with dried meats and vibrant vegetables. She purchased a generous amount, never uttering a word, her expression unchanging... Mizuro, meanwhile, was busy charming the stall owner with his playful banter and surprisingly insightful farming tips....
Finally, they reached Elizabeth residence nestled deep inside town, completely made out of wood with a grassfield to the right, A young boy, no older than 5, with messy brown hair and a scattering of freckles, was playing in the soil. Elizabeth smiled faintly as she knelt down, dropping the bag of provisions and embraced him.
"Mizuro," Elizabeth said, her voice slightly warmer, "This is my son, Nova"
Nova looked up at Mizuro with wide, curious eyes.... Mizuro, in turn, flashed him a friendly grin.
"Hey there, little guy! You must be Nova Your mom's told me all about you. I'm Mizuro, and I'm here for lunch!"
"What kinda lame ass introduction is that?"...Nova's look turns gloomy as if he was tired of mizuro presence....
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"Nova you shouldn't-"
"Mama"....Nova said facing Elizabeth..."niisan is the one been rude and weird here"....he faces Mizuro pointing him...."You can't walk into someone's house and be like-"
"Uhh my name is Mizuro uh and I came to eat your food"...Nova tries deepening his voice to imitate mizuro..
"Wait I didn't sound like that!"
"You sure did mister"
"No I didn't!"
Elizabeth stands picking up the bag of provisions..
"I have my doubts but you guys sure get along quite well"..she said as walks into the house ...
After a hearty meal of stew and freshly baked bread, they sat outside, watching Nova meticulously build a miniature village in the dirt...The sun warmed their faces, and the air was filled with the sounds of birdsong and Nova's happy chatter...
Mizuro eyes turning to Elizabeth direction every minute, catching glances of her..
Mizuro took a deep breath, turning towards Elizabeth. ...He'd come all this way, all for a chance to be near her. ..Now, the words he'd rehearsed a hundred times threatened to choke him.
"Elizabeth,"... he began nervously, finding it difficult to make direct eye contact with Elizabeth facing him...
"There's something I... I need to tell you."
He glanced at Nova, then back at Elizabeth... Her expression remained impassive, her red eyes fixed on him, waiting....
"...like you"
"Hmm"
"I... I really"... he stammered, the confession tumbling out in a rush but paused .... "More than just a friend I know... I know you're way older than me....and I'm just a silly farmer boy...still i just have to tell you that....I... I care for you deeply"..
"Argh ah nothing....it's nothing"
He trailed off, avoiding her gaze. ...The silence stretched, thick with unspoken words... He knew she saw him as a child, a fleeting amusement in her long existence... 1500 years was a lot of memories, a lot of lives come and gone. He was just another one, a brief spark in her eternal night....
"I can't tell her, I don't want the relationship we have now to end.....I'm afraid that might happen ".....he thought to himself..
While Elizabeth recalls what the shop owner said ...
"You must really like him..."
"You know how Mizuro feel about you right?"...she recalls the old man face while saying the latter..
"....."
Elizabeth remains slient..
The two went slient with just the breeze blowing the trees and Nova chattering ..both not facing each other, avoiding direct eye contact...Elizabeth remains expressionless, her eyes lifeless as she faces the ground...while mizuro faces the opposite side...
"Meow-llo"
Mizuro and Elizabeth both turned their attention to the voice...walking towards them was a cheerful Sylvie bound into view, cat ears twitching. ....Aria follows at a more measured pace...
Looking closely were a cat girl with visible brown cat ears and tail, having brown mid-long hair and golden eyes....she was wearing a blue and white maiden outfit..
Accompanying her was a serious looking elven girl with lemon hair and blue eyes, seemly taller than Sylvie Rudious who is shorter than both her and Elizabeth...
The elven girl "Aria Mistorgan" was wearing the exact maiden outfit Sylvie is wearing...
"Lizzy! There you are! We thought you'd gotten lost in the sugar again!....we were miaowing everywhere fur you and you were at home as well"...Sylvie shouted out to them to get their attention...
"Or perhaps caught in a particularly sticky situation"...Aria said With a slight smile
Sylvie skips over to Elizabeth, grabbing her arm... Aria stops beside Sylvie, observing Mizuro with a knowing look....noticing his flustered expression..
"Lizzy....Mama Kumuri got alot of orders from a lot of customers, so we need your assistance. .. come on, we'll be late.."...said Aria...
"It's already afternoon-meow"
Elizabeth relieved and flustered but eyes remain lifeless replied.."Oh right I lost track of time.. Mizuro-san, I... I have to go"..
Mizuro dejected hiding his embarrassment..."Oh.. Right.. Of course. See you tomorrow then, Elizabeth-san..I'll just hang out for a bit than go back home"
"Yes, tomorrow"...She offers a quick, her voice remain calm and steady..nodding while speaking, then allows Sylvie to pull her away.."Bye"..
Sylvie and Elizabeth start walking away, Aria pauses for a bit, giving Mizuro a small, almost pitying look, then follows after the women...
The group walking down the street through the market place crowd ..
Sylvie giggling "Ooh, Lizzy! What was mrrrr all about? ....The air was practically sparkling with awkwardness when we got there!"..she said looks at Elizabeth with a cheerful expression but still curious..
Elizabeth Scoffs, but her cheeks are pink ...."Don't be ridiculous! He's a nice young man, but..."
"But what-purr? He's cute! And he's always staring at you when he thinks you're not looking!"...sylvie said ..
"He's just... young..and i have a son"
Aria smiling knowingly said ..."Ah yes, young. ..Relatively speaking, of course. After all, you're only about 1599 this year, correct Elizabeth? Just a year away from the big 1600"
"Oh Aria my dear friend..being older doesn't mean you're not still young... in spirit, we're going to be seriously late.."said Elizabeth completely expressionless and eyes lifeless..
"Someone's de-purr-sive! Don't worry, Lizzy! We won't tell anyone your real age... purr-bably"..said Sylvie teasing Elizabeth..
"She didn't say she was hiding tho"..Aria said
Sylvie winks, and Aria just smiles as the three of them hurry towards the bar leaving the unsaid confession hanging in the air...
Back at Elizabeth residence Mizuro looked at the sky eyes closed as he feels the breeze blowing passed his face...
"Niisan, Niisan! ...."
Mizuro turns to Nova...
"I'm headed to see my friends "
"Sure"....Mizuro replied as Nova walks away..