Chapter 6: Conjecture

Asteria had been trying hard to adapt to this place. At the same time, she had distracted herself with other things so that the thought of going home, was shoved into the back of her mind. She didn't intend to forget. She just didn't want to feel burdened. Perhaps, going with the flow a little wouldn't hurt.

She had been feeling more relaxed lately. Her stay here was very enjoyable, especially Annie was very kind. She didn't want to freeload off her, so Asteria tried to help Annie or Uncle Han with anything within her capabilities.

There was a river near the village; that river was probably the reason why the ancestors of the village chose this place back then.

At first, Asteria was quite shy of bathing so publicly in front of everyone.

"No, no. It's not like that." Annie laughed so hard that tears were coming out of her eyes. She bent her body slightly with both hands on the knees, her body was shaking due to laughter.

Asteria didn't know what she said wrong. Even so, she couldn't help the red hue that slowly covered her face. In exasperation, she continued to look at Annie, waiting for her laughter to die down, and explained to her slowly.

"Bathing naked in public? Of course not. We are still gonna wear some cloths to cover our bodies. Also, the women have their place specifically for us, so that men wouldn't get close." Annie explained, wiping her tears.

"Alright, then." Asteria let out a breath of relief. She had thought that they were going to be naked in public to have a bath. The culture of this place, Asteria currently knew zero things about it. So, she couldn't help but be stunned as soon as she heard that they were going to take a bath open in the river.

The only thing that Asteria truly hated was the food. The meat was cooked raw on top of the fire, without even giving any more seasonings besides the salt. It was eaten like that. The bread was also tasteless, and the texture was quite hard to be chewed on.

As a foodie, indeed this was one of the worst kinds of sufferings, but she had no right to complain. This was better than nothing at all. At least she wasn't being starved in the forest or even worse, she became the food for another creature.

"Is your hometown called New York city?" Annie asked curiously after they had spent half a month living together. Uncle Han seemed to be happy about the idea that he also often visit them. Uncle Han's scolding to Annie so that she would eat more food was an everyday routine. Annie was quite skinny indeed. Though Asteria couldn't be sure, Annie seemed to hold some of the distress.

"No." Asteria shook her head. "It's just a small city, but also not too far from this city called New York," Asteria explained, but she didn't want to divulge more about those places or how she lived her life there.

There was something, a kind of instinct that told her she should be wary and keep some information for herself. She instinctively just followed it.

It was some kind of uneasiness though she also didn't know why. This place or she should say this whole place started from the forest to this village, there was an inexplicable feeling of discomfort. The discomfort didn't come from Annie or Uncle Han. Neither it was coming from the villagers.

The villagers were hostile to her, most of them, but it was just that. They didn't like her presence here, but they never tried anything that physically would hurt her. Their actions were limited to words and little schemes. Those things were trivial for her, thus she remained unbothered.

But, it was different with this apparent feeling of discomfort. Most of the time, she would just brush it off, but she couldn't truly get rid of it.

"It's quite strange that Uncle Han had never heard of your city, yet you arrived near this region." Annie's words were neutral, but Asteria could perceive a tinge of doubts in them.

"I also have the same doubts about it." Asteria's voice carried a trace of helplessness. "I was chased by the wolves and nearly being crushed under its paw. It was also due to sheer luck that I managed to escape."

Asteria didn't tell about the odd action of the wolf; that it let go of her after it had pinned her down.

Annie listened to Asteria attentively, shaking her head. "The forest is indeed dangerous. I have been nearly chased by wolves as well, but I was quick to escape on time."

"Wolves like to eat humans? Then, this village..." Asteria subconsciously asked, frowning slightly. Her voice was low, but Annie surprisingly had heard it.

"This village received protection from a powerful person in the past. It was also the reason why our ancestors built this village in this place back then. The spell by that powerful person still stays until now." Annie explained in slight admiration. Her eyes flashed with something unreadable, and Asteria couldn't conclude what it was in Annie's mind.

"In fact, the powerful person not only did he cast protection spell in our villages, but also some villages around this forest. Wolves couldn't get in at all, as they got burned as soon as they stepped into our ground."

Asteria nodded at Annie's explanation. She didn't know if Annie felt even a bit suspicious of her or not, but she didn't want that to happen. She also didn't know the exact reason why the villagers were so hostile to strangers. She had a feeling that it was more than just the feeling of unfamiliarity. For most people, unfamiliarity would turn into indifference, and not hostility.

"Who is this powerful person?" Asteria was surprised that things such as magic existed here. Just what the hell is this place? The longer she stayed here, the more surprised she became, and the more it was unfamiliar. Some of the things had shattered the world views that she had built for nearly twenty-two years.

Besides that, Asteria also felt alarmed. Threats from wolves and those wild animals were certain. Though those species were oddly bigger and more powerful in this area than her place of origin, she still had some general knowledge of them. But if one talking about things like magic, witchcraft, and things related, she knew nothing.

Asteria had always been a cautious person. She had always been striving to survive her whole life to accomplish all her necessities, but she was also never had any real close entanglement with events that nearly endanger her life before. Yet as soon as she came here, the threats were apparent.

This was new, and she didn't plan to fail either. If she wanted to go back, she should think about surviving first.

Annie shook her head. "None knows about his name nor what he looked like. Even more, this is the story from many years ago and generations had passed since."

Asteria wondered. Is there exist such a benevolent person that would help one in need without expecting something in return? With motive or just pure sincerity, perhaps, something as setting up protection for villagers was an easy thing for the powerful person. In the end, the conclusion remained the same; it did help a lot of people.

What would she need to come back though? Should she also gain some power here? But the question is how?

Magic! Asteria suddenly thought of that word. Did her appearance here also related to magic then? It was the most possible conclusion she could come up with right now.

"Ah, I would never expect that this village has such a history," Asteria said.

"Right?" Annie sounded excited. "If that person is so powerful, he might be still alive by now."

"Still alive?" Asteria was taken aback. But her voice remained neutral as if she had just casually humming the words in a rhetorical question.

Annie nodded. "Just imagine it. A person who built a lot of villages with just some spells! I heard that this powerful person only came here once. That means that he just needs one visit to make all of that happen."

Annie continued to chat merrily. "What a pity. Wouldn't it be great if he could come back here? I would die if that means I could be his apprentice."

Asteria didn't know what to say about that. Nonetheless, she was also curious about the identity of this person now. Perhaps, if her guess was right about where she currently was right now, she could ask this person to help her with magic?

It was merely a wish. Asteria shook her head inwardly. In this world, she didn't even know what to be used in the exchange for someone's favor. It could even be her life.

As time passed, it was only less than a week away from the hunting day routine Uncle Han's group had created before. In five days, the group would hunt for the food.

"Asteria, I would go out of the village the same day Uncle goes out for the hunt. Are you alright by staying here by yourself?" Annie informed her all of a sudden. Annie had probably also noticed the villagers' dislike for Asteria and was concerned, in case she got bullied if she left her alone.

"Where are you going?" Asteria asked. Going out of the village if one wasn't strong enough to protect themselves like Uncle Han's group or had some means of protection was a big deal.

"I am going to the mountain area quite far from here to pick for some herbs," Annie informed. "Winter is coming soon, and some people may get sick. Stocking up some herbs would be good prevention."

Asteria thought about it for a while before she clenched her fist and said to Annie with determination. "Can I go with you?"

Annie was taken aback for a moment. She thought that this girl must've been quite traumatized since she had been in a near-death situation of being chased by wolves, but she surprisingly recovered herself quite fast. "You know that the trip is going to be dangerous, right?"

Asteria nodded. "Since you are going, I will also go."

"Are you sure?" Annie asked again.

"I am sure, don't worry. Two is better than one anyway." Asteria told her. "I can help you pick some herbs. I have some knowledge about medicinal plants as well."

Annie sighed and finally agreed. "Alright if you insist. But you must watch out for your surrounding then. Some of those wild animals are quite sly. If that isn't for my strong instinct, I may have a harder time right now."

Asteria and Annie made some preparations before they went out. Uncle Han would always worry every time his niece went out of the village. "Be careful, don't carelessly touch any plants that you don't know. Don't go out for too long, and return as soon as possible once you have gathered enough herbs..."

And Uncle Han went on with his series of 'dos' and 'don'ts'. Annie who had been listening to this multiple times that she could almost be able to recite it back to her uncle just let out a breath of exasperation, but she didn't stop her uncle from explaining.

Instead, it was Asteria who listened more attentively. Uncle Han was an experienced hunter and could fight a huge wolf by himself. So, some of his advice, though it may didn't seem much and could be considered trivial in some parts, could even be important later. Who knows?