After a while, the man standing in the middle of the group seemed to have made up his mind and began to move into the store. The other two quickly followed after him.

“Oh, welcome!”

The store owner, who had been standing blankly behind the bar, suddenly came to his senses and came forward to greet them.

“Three of you?”

“A seat in a corner, please.”

One of the group members answered the owner’s question.

“We’re a little tired after riding a horse for a long time.”

“Ah, yes yes. Please come this way.”

The owner directed them to a seat at the back of the store. Clank, clank. Every time they moved, there was a small sound of metal. It was invisible because it was hidden by the hem of their long cloak, but it was clear that they were wearing a sword at their waists.

‘Hunter? Or mercenary?’

Each of the people in the store looked at the three strangers and made a guess at their identity. However, they moved silently, not paying attention to the gaze of the people around them. Draag. There was the sound of chair legs dragging across the old wooden floor, and then they sat down unpacking their things.

Coincidentally, it was not too far from where Herietta was sitting.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“Three double scotch. Without ice.”

It was a very short and concise order. The owner scribbled something on a yellow piece of paper, replied in affirmation, and walked quickly behind the bar.

The eyes of the people who had been focused on the new guests were scattered one by one. The store, which had been quiet for a while due to their appearance, became more and more noisy. Finally it became noisy again like before. It was as if nothing had happened in the meantime.

“From now on....? This place..... Aftermath.... It seems bigger than.....”

“Think.... history.... tomorrow evening.....”

Herietta heard the sound of the conversation behind her back. However, due to the loud ambient noise, it was difficult to understand what was going on.

“Sister! Sister!”

As Herietta sat still without saying anything, Lucas, who was by her side, raised his voice and called out to her.

“Huh? Huh, sorry. What did you say?”

Herietta, who had been listening to the conversation of the three people sitting behind her, turned her head and looked at Lucas with an apologetic look. He had a pouty face as if he didn’t want her to turn her attention to something else.

“So what happened to Lynn?”

“Lynn.... ? Ah, Lynn!”

Herietta then remembered that she had been telling Lucas a story.

‘What was I doing? Trying to eavesdrop on someone else’s conversation.’

It was an unconscious act, but she couldn’t help but feel guilty.

‘Let’s just ignore it. They must have nothing to do with me anyway.’

Herietta struggled to suppress her growing curiosity as she looked at Lucas, who had twinkling eyes in front of her. The child looked very anxious in a harrowing atmosphere. She opened her mouth slowly, clearing her mind.

“Then Lynn looked through the rocks in the forest and found a small cave in between them. There is a lot of green moss at the entrance of the cave, perhaps in a place that is hard to reach by people....”

Herietta continued her story, speaking calmly. The curiosity that kept coming gradually faded.

In the fireplace, the wood burned with a crackle.

A young woman and a young boy, completely engrossed in a fairy tale of magic told in a low voice. Like white ink accidentally dropped on black paper, the appearance of the two did not match the noisy and boisterous atmosphere of the store at all.

“Is this a true story?”

As Herietta finished her story, Lucas asked, with twinkling eyes. Anticipation, like an inflated soap bubble, was in his eyes. She chuckled.

“Of course. Lucas, this is our secret..... Actually, Sister’s grandmother knew that girl named Lynn.”

“Lynn?”

“Yes. When my grandmother was the age she is now, she met a girl she named Lynn by chance. It happened that she was on her way back from a trip, and my grandmother was running away because she didn’t want to go to a meeting she was invited to. Anyway, she was lucky enough to meet Lynn, so I could directly hear all the stories I told you a moment ago from my grandmother.”

“Wow.... !”

Lucas exclaimed.

“I envy you. I hope to meet Lynn someday too.”

Lucas murmured with a slightly flushed face. The eyes were really envious. It was an absurd story, but as a child, he seemed to sincerely believe in Herietta’s words. The anxious look on his face a moment ago was no longer to be found.

“Yes. Lucas. Did you know that there is also a song about Lynn?”

“A song?”

“Yes. It’s a simple song, would you like to listen to it?”

Hearing Herietta’s words, Lucas nodded vigorously again. Seeing him pull his chair closer and closer to her, Herietta smiled softly.

‘It would be fine if I sing it quietly.’

After looking around her, Herietta opened her mouth after a little hesitation.

[A small cabin on top of a round hill.

A girl with green eyes full of freckles.

A skirt one size too big fluttered in the wind.

Red shoes worn on both feet, walking often.

A gentleman who came with clouds on a rainy day.

Tall as a pole, dressed in soft silk.

A long staff held in a white gloved hand.

Eyes deeper than the deep sea, blacker than darkness.

Come, come come to me.

That beautiful flower you have.

Though your flowers will wither over time.

My gold never loses its light.

Come, come come to me

The one and only flower you have.

Just as flowers bloom and wither, your life will also end.

My magic will make you a legend.

The wind. Oh, my wind.

Blow that gentleman far away.

With that black rain cloud he brought.

Fly him far away, where he will never come again.

The wind. Oh my wind.

Blow us away.

Far away where that gentleman won’t find us.

To the end of eternity, where no one will ever find us.]

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