Sylphy's house stood almost at the northernmost edge of Buena Village.
When it had first been built, the location had been chosen for convenience — so that Rold, a hunter, could more easily venture into the forest. But when his wife, Nolda, was about to give birth, the two of them had already discussed: "For the sake of our child's social circle, maybe it's time we moved closer to the center of the village?"
Nolda had suggested this softly.
And of course, Rold had happily agreed.
Buena Village was large enough, with plenty of open plots of land. And since the village knight was on good terms with Rold, surely he'd come lend a hand too.
With that hope in mind… their child was born.
When Nolda saw her daughter for the first time, she froze.
Rold too stiffened for a breath — but then erupted in excited shouts, his voice uncharacteristically high and lively:"Our child is so cute~ How about we name her Sylphyiette?!"
Nolda cried into his embrace and answered simply:"Okay."
Sylphy was adorable. She had a head of soft, silky hair that shimmered with a verdant green in the sunlight.
Both Nolda and Rold thought so.
But neither of them ever brought up the idea of moving into the center of the village again.
Sylphy was a very sensible child.
At just four years old, she shyly offered to "help out" by bringing her father lunch while he stood watch at the edge of the forest.
But she always came home afterward soaked to the bone, muttering sheepishly about falling into the irrigation canal and ruining the food.
At first, Nolda would just hug her and cry. Later though, she realized that her tears only made Sylphy more anxious.
So she stopped crying.
Instead she forced herself to smile gently and soothe Sylphy's little heart.
From then on, Sylphy seemed much less uneasy.
That gave Nolda a little peace of mind.
And yet, late at night when everyone else was asleep, Nolda still often found herself silently weeping as she gazed at her daughter's sleeping face.
This child… never really smiles.
Why…Why was she like this?
——
A pair of dark eyes blinked. Nolda snapped out of her memories and focused on the present — on the little girl sitting neatly at the table, a faint warm smile on her face, writing in her diary by candlelight.
Her once-cropped green hair now fell softly to her shoulders.
Nolda couldn't help but smile from the heart.
Almost seven already… how time flies.
Ever since last spring, Sylphy had finally learned to smile.
That alone was enough to make her mother's heart full.
The door opened, and snowflakes swirled in as Rold stepped inside. He dusted the snow off his shoulders, exchanged a smile with his wife, then glanced at Sylphy and chuckled:"Still writing in your diary, Sylphy?"
Sylphy instinctively hugged her diary a little closer and nodded.
Rold just smiled faintly.
Children grow up, don't they? They all have their own little "secrets."
And though her secret wasn't much of a secret at all, he and Nolda exchanged a wry, knowing look.
As he walked past, Rold caught a glimpse of Sylphy's faintly furrowed brows as she stared out at the snowstorm through the window — an expression eerily reminiscent of a certain someone.
Rold paused mid-step, then turned his head back around and smiled:"Oh, Sylphy — we've been busy preparing to clear out the monsters lately. There are a lot this year, so I'll probably be gone all day from dawn till dark. But… why don't you come with me in the morning? I'll drop you off at the Greyrat house, and pick you up again at night."
Sylphy's eyes sparkled and she turned to him, surprised:"Really?!"
"Why not? We didn't let you go before because we worried about the snow. But if I'm with you, it's fine."
Sylphy's smile blossomed like spring itself.
A sudden bang startled everyone as the wind blew the window open.
The family scrambled to shut it against the storm.
In the meantime, the draft rifled through the diary on the table, flipping it open to page after page…
January 31stSpring is here.
I finally saw Allen again.
After a whole winter, his hair seems even longer. His smile is still the same — eyes half-closed, watching everyone.
But when he looks at the knight and his wife, his eyes seem… different somehow.
Maybe it's just my imagination.
March 21stAllen seems troubled these days. His brow is always furrowed.
What is he worrying about?
June 17thSummer is here, and the heat is awful.
Allen's hair is always damp with sweat.
Today, while we were practicing magic, he suddenly said he was going to "settle something" with Somar for what happened last year.
It made me happy, but also confused. After all, Somar always avoids us now.
We went to Somar's house, but he wasn't there. Allen went in anyway, leaving Rudy and me outside.
Rudy kept pulling at me, muttering "We shouldn't be here! Let's go!"
I ignored him. He always says strange things.
Before long, Allen came out looking scared and grabbed us both to run back home.
Somar's mother called after us: "Allen! Wait!"
But Allen just ran faster.
So strange.
And… for some reason, I felt a little uncomfortable, though I don't know why.
September 16thAllen said autumn is harvest season.
Good for eating boar.
I don't see the connection.
We went to the forest and found father.
The boar was delicious.
September 17th–20thThe boar was delicious.
Father said eating so many might harm the forest.
Allen agreed… but the next day we had more boar anyway.
October 1stLately Rudy's been lazy.
He kept bragging about getting a letter from Master Roxy.
Of course… I got one too.
But when Allen heard, his expression was strange and he didn't say anything.
I asked him how many letters he got.
He stammered something vague.
Then Rudy demanded proof — and Allen opened his drawer, showing six letters.
He'd been receiving them much longer than we had.
Since then Rudy's been moping around.
I sort of understand, though.
Allen even gets little gifts from Master Roxy…
I wonder… maybe Allen frowns all the time because he misses Master Roxy?
They're both so amazing.
I want to be amazing too.
…But I miss her too.
Allen is sneaky.
November 21stIt snowed again. The winter blizzard season is here.
Last year father refused to let me visit the knight's house to study magic during the storms.
So maybe… I won't see Allen this winter.
Lately I've been feeling something strange about Allen.
Something very different from how I feel about Rudy.
I keep wanting to watch him.
Is it because he saved me last year?
I don't really know.
But mother said one day I'd understand.
And Allen said something too:"Tomorrow's worries are for tomorrow. You'll know when it comes."
He's right.
But there's one thing I already know, even without waiting for tomorrow.
Tomorrow, and the day after, and every day after that…
I want to keep watching him.
(End of Chapter)
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