Peaceful Life
You haven't talked in months.
It's not because you cannot, it is because you have no reason to. The servants here have learned what you like, and where you go. You haven't had to ask them for a thing, because they have already put it out. Today you wake up to the smell of grilled leek, some rice and a small portion of meat, probably chicken.
You eat breakfast in bed, even as you stroke Autumn's fur. He has grown large enough that lying on your chest or your face isn't really practical, even if he does it anyway. You take a deep breath and hold it. Drawing in the scent of your companions and smile. It is delicious and you nod your thanks to the absent servants.
You don't need to talk to your companions either, Autumn leaps out of bed the instant you put the plates on the side table, the perfect picture of feline grace and strength. His rumbling purr accompanies you as you yourself stretch and slowly creep out of bed. Your cane had fallen over in the night and you don't even need to lean over to pick it up before Autumn places it in your hand. He butts his head against your chest, nearly knocking you back into the bed and you give a silent laugh. He then leaps to the door and gives out a soft basso roar for you to hurry up.
Autumn's own breakfast awaits outside, probably a goat, and he doesn't like to leave your side so you oblige him. You are slow thanks to your legs, but you are in no rush. Today is just another day after all.
Mountain Peak Blossom shifts against your skin even as you feel the pinpricks of its roots as it takes its own breakfast. Like Autumn it has grown large and while you do wear clothes for the sakes of the servants you probably did not need to, as Mountain has long since grown around you in a viney approximation of an outfit, well preserving your modesty and protecting you against any incidental dangers. You indulgently run your fingers along a flower and sniff it as Mountain presents it to you. It smells sweet.
Autumn is a mess as always after he eats, and so it is time to go off to the baths. Here, you need help, Peak Blossom as always is reluctant to give up its grip around you, and sulks as the two maids help you wash your body and your hair. You close your eyes at the contact. You... hate to admit it, but this little bit of human contact? Even if it is their jobs? You treasure it.
You are pretty sure no other human will touch you willingly, your wounds have made you ugly.
After the baths you hesitate, then head into the manor. Today, today you will read. You've been teaching yourself the more difficult words, both as something to do, and to gain access to the worlds that open up to you in the library. It is difficult without a tutor, but none of the servants have offered to help, and you have not asked. You however don't mind the time taken. If it is one thing you've learned since your first days of coming here, is patience.
And that is how you pass the day. You find a cup of tea next to you, then lunch, then dinner. And when your eyes strain, and each word seems an indecipherable blur, you put your books away. Then, with Autumn at your side, and Mountain Peak Blossom wrapped around you, you once again head for bed.
The next day happens. Library again,
And the next. Today you spend the day in the gardens, watching Autumn play and frolic as you wander the paths.
And the next. And so it goes.
The fifth day something breaks your routine. A letter is waiting for you at your bedside table. It is from Peach Blossom. You open it, honestly you didn't think she could even read, let alone write. It's been at least a year since you last saw her, when you thanked her for helping you against the fox. You honestly don't know what to make of the letter as you skim the first few lines.
Rival!
I bet you've gone on lots of Adventures since your last letter to me. I am a bit worried that they stopped coming.
You had occasionally written to her and Thoughtless as ways to practice writing with your left hand, but you had never intended to send those letters, as they were more like fiction then anything resembling reality. Dreams of another life. You have no idea how she got a hold of them.
So! I thought I'd give you some incentive! I've reached level 20! And am a full member of the Guild! So take that. Tomorrow I go on my first assignment of guarding a caravan as it travels to another city. There I will be sure to face many bandits and I shall defeat them all.
Bandits? Oh right. Your first encounter with her. She was a bit obsessed with defeating bandits.
It will not be as grand as facing a Dire Wolf Pack with only a plant to back you up...
You stop reading. Mainly because the parchment is getting wet. You are crying. You don't know why. They were only flights of fancy, daydreams put to paper. Why is it so hard to see that Peach Blossom believes every word? She is an idiot, she'd believe the sky was green with purple polka dots if you told her.
You sob out a laugh brokenly, a gross croak of a sound. You are lying to yourself of course. You know exactly why. You want those daydreams to be as true as Peach thinks they are.
