Chapter 5: The Feelings

Asteria rubbed her temples, feeling the frustration that had been building up to hit her like the waves of an ocean. She sank to the floor, hugging none but herself. Having experience those upleasant events lately caused her to feel slight fatigue.

Uncle Han's answer had crushed her expectation. Indeed, the higher one expects something they yearn the most, the harder the fall once they fail.

"City of Citrus, the capital of Razor Kingdom. Most people must've already known about this one." Uncle Han mumbled. "Let me remember more ... ah, yes, Ceilla city and Lunar city. Those are the names of big cities that tribe leaders mostly know about."

Asteria sighed and smiled to hide her disappointment. This place seemed so secluded that she couldn't help but doubt if Uncle Han's conjecture about those cities being the biggest were true. They seemed as if they had never left too far from this village anyway.

Annie looked concerned as soon as she saw Asteria's expression that didn't reflect any joy nor relief. The meaning was clear that Asteria didn't recognize any of those cities. She wanted Asteria not to worry too much, but she was also confused about how to offer Asteria some reassuring words.

"You don't recognize any of those cities, eh?" Uncle Han frowned slightly. "Let me ask about some information from other tribes then when we go hunting next time."

Asteria nodded and said her thanks.

It was such a mystery that she had gotten here in the first place. She was supposed to be dead, yet this unfamiliar world...

Asteria didn't want to believe it, though some facts pointed to what she was currently thinking right now was probably true, she still refused to believe it. She wanted to prove it once more and tried to go back at all costs.

Subconsciously, as she tried to live in the village as normal as possible with Annie. Annie had quite a big house, yet surprisingly she lived alone in that house. Asteria didn't ask for the reason. They have just met and it wouldn't be convenient to ask something that could be considered private to someone you've just gotten to know.

"You want to go with me to Mrs. Ford's house to exchange for some loaves of bread, Asteria?" Annie's voice sounded, knocking on the door. Asteria sighed softly and answered her. "Alright, wait for a moment."

Asteria changed her clothes into the ones that had been prepared by Annie. It was created from mink fur. The design was simple; short-sleeved, and thankfully, the length reached below her waist. She was also wearing a skirt that went below her knees, as for what materials it was made, Asteria wasn't sure.

Asteria opened the door after she finished getting ready. She was also curious about this village. The location of the houses of Uncle Han and Annie was quite close, in the area of the outer region, so she didn't know how the depths of the village looked like.

The houses were almost identical. Everything was created from wood, and the only difference was the design and the size. Annie's house belongs to the big ones. Though most of the designs were always high houses, probably to protect themselves from the possibility of the flood.

"You look good in that clothes," Annie commented.

"Thanks." Asteria smiled.

Annie nodded and took the pot from the table. "Let's go. I will show you about this village."

The two girls walked out of the house and began to head towards the deeper part of the village. Surprisingly, the place was quite spacious.

Around a few hours later, the two arrived at the front of a house that was neither too big nor too small. Asteria was a stranger here and she had been getting some stares from the villagers as they headed to Mrs. Ford's house.

Fortunately that now they've arrived. She had also been panting slightly and they were forced to take some rest. Asteria found the situation quite embarrassing. Even so when the number of people staring at her didn't decrease at all. Annie just told her. "People in the deeper part don't easily accept strangers. Just directly ignore them."

Asteria brought a pot with her while Annie was carrying two; each in hand. Annie knocked on the door lightly. "Mrs. Ford, we are here to exchange for some pieces of bread. Here I bring some meat from Uncle Han's hunting yesterday."

"We? Do you bring that boy David with you this time?" A voice sounded from inside as the door suddenly being opened, revealing a granny with hair that was mostly had turned while. However, her eyes were still sharp, and that pair of hands didn't look fragile at all.

"Eh, who's this little girl?"

"Mrs. Ford, this is my new friend, Asteria. She was lost in the forest and Uncle Han found her." Annie explained.

"Hmm." Mrs. Ford just nodded and no longer paid any attention to Asteria. She focused her attention on Annie who handed her the two pots filled with meat inside.

She took the one brought by Asteria directly, without noticing her that Asteria was startled. The pot almost fell into the ground.

Mrs. Ford looked displeased by Asteria's action. "Try to hold the pot more tightly next time. The meat is precious, if it had been falling to the ground and get dirty, it would be such a waste."

Mrs. Ford didn't speak anymore and directly went inside. Annie was also surprised by Mrs. Ford's action that she couldn't help but sent Asteria an apologetic look.

Asteria just smiled and didn't say anything. She had noticed Mrs. Ford's dislike the moment that woman landed her eyes on her. She could sometimes observe a person's mind from their expression. Not only Mrs. Ford but also some stares that had been trailing after her figure all the way to this place.

It seemed that they have difficulty in accepting strangers. It was different from the outer area where Annie's house was located. Those gazes only held curiosity towards her, though there was also one or two that has a trace of dislike in their eyes.

Mrs. Ford came back with some slices of bread wrapped in cloth. There was a total of six cloths filled with slices of bread in exchange for three pots of meats. The woman handed four to Asteria, and the other two to Annie. "Learn to train those fragile arms."

She turned to Annie. "You should bring your uncle and that boy David to have some dinner in my place sometimes."

She didn't mention Asteria at all.

Annie just nodded awkwardly. She hurriedly excused herself, dragging Asteria with her. "Let me bring some if you are unable to carry that many cloths."

Asteria shook her head. "Don't worry, I can bring it myself."

"I am sorry about Mrs. Ford earlier." Annie bit her lip. "I never thought that she would treat you like that."

"It's alright," Asteria answered curtly. She also didn't know what to say. Staying in this kind of place where most everyone was hostile towards you wasn't pleasant at all. But, she currently didn't have a choice. Either this village or in the forest where she could lose her life any moment to wild animals.

Besides, Uncle Han, David, and Annie were have been kind to her. So, staying in the outer area of the village shouldn't be a problem.